Sorry I haven't updated in forever, but I've just been out of the mood. When I have wanted to write, little sister demands the computer so yeah. Luckily, in 27 more days this senior will be free! I have senioritis so I don't really want to do much. I'm writing while I have the energy. REVIEWS ARE NICE!
Btw- it's Nana ("Naw-naw") when you get to it.
That night was miserable. Stephen's room was much darker than mine because he kept his only window locked at covered. Not even the faint light from my bedroom could enter his room because he decided to lock his door tonight, too. I felt trapped and stuck in an act I didn't belong in.
It was raining as usual, and the wind blew leaves and tree branches against the window, the cracks and slaps stabbing me like an ice pick. Between the whispers of the wind and the earth-shattering thunderclaps, I heard animal noises. Some where howls, some where birds, others might have been raccoons or possums looking for shelter in a metal box or trash can outside. Every time, I prayed that it wasn't my own people coming back for me.
I didn't sleep well either, though I never expected to. Sleep didn't stay long, always running far away when the smallest noise came. If it ever came back, he gave me the worst images, blood, fighting, creatures jumping out from nowhere, fangs ready to take a bit, human images of what I'd dreamed of once becoming. Rarely would he give a sweet vision, and when Dustin would enter my thoughts, he was the same, unromantic Dustin from real life. The dream usually ended with me angry at life and my family with their perfect couples.
Though my night was a mental hell, Grandpa seemed slightly peaceful. He didn't wake, stir, or anything most of the night. He'd stayed with me for hours after the wolves left, and when he though I'd fallen asleep I heard him clean up the damage from my room. The hours long work must have exhausted him because when he hit the sack at two-thirty, he quickly fell into a temporary coma. He slept on his side, always facing me, with his left hand on my shoulder. The warmth didn't help me sleep either.
It was night and dawn at the same time when sleep finally felt comfortable staying with me. In my final seconds I mumbled prayers to God and Nyx- taking a common vampire view that they were different people- to help me through the rest of all this. I'd never addressed the two immortals as separates, but fear can do funny things to one's head. Just to be sure I was safe, I pledged loyalty to both.
Something large, rough, and warm shook me! I screamed and jumped up closer to the headboard, already deciding which attack would be the best plan of action, but my waker wasn't dangerous.
"Oh," I huffed as I wiggled back under the sheets, my eyes trying to block out the morning sunlight. The thought of sun made me feel like a real vampire, coffins, anti-God, and all that. "It's just you, Grandpa. Going to work?"
He shook me again. Obviously forgetting about last night, I groaned, wishing that the warmth was the familiar ice instead.
"In about an hour," he said. "Come on. Get up and get dressed. You can sleep in Coquille. Jerry has an extra room you can throw some blankets down in and sleep on."
"What?"
"I said you can sleep somewhere on the reservation, but you've got to get up now."
"No. I sleep now."
He ripped the covers away from me sending a cool breeze across my body. I shivered, groaned, and mumbled a few words. He heard.
"Don't talk like that. Come on, now. Do you really think I'd let you stay here alone after last night? I wouldn't even go in today if I didn't think I could find out if the police found anything or not."
"I'm up!" I cried tried to swat Grandpa's unhelpful arms away from me.
With all my strength I rolled off the bed and landed on my feet. I forced my eyes open, unfortunately in front of the mirror. My face was still as white as a vampire's, and my eyes were bloodshot either from the attack or lack of sleep- maybe both. The left side of my head was mostly crimson and crack, a layer of dried blood that must have come from the reopened cuts. My white and crimson pillow confirmed my suspicions.
I shuffled across the hall to my room to find some clothes. I knew Grandpa had spent the majority of the night cleaning it, but I still expected a mess or at least the same mess I'd made before the attack. Instead, the room was as clean as it was when I first moved in. My suitcase was stuffed full and zipped closed. The closet that had held some of my nicer clothes was now open and bare, hangers gone, shoes stacked beside the suitcase. The desk and dresser were also neater than I'd left them. All the papers and books were stacked according to size, the pens and pencils put in their separate cups, and my laptop unplugged and resting inside its case on the middle of the desk. The jewelry box I'd smashed was cleaned up, but the glass wasn't in the new trashcan. Grandpa had also changed the bloody white sheets into fresh blue ones.
Despite the complete changes to the room, I could still feel the tension and terror in the walls. The windows were like gateways to and from Hell, the bed was a coffin, and the now very clean floor was a river of blood, permanently staining my white mind. I could barely walk to my suitcase three feet away. Tears blinded me from seeing what I was pulling out. When I thought I had a shirt, pants, socks, shoes, and undergarments, I ran out at full sleep, colliding with Grandpa hard enough to knock him down a foot away.
"Maddy?" he asked.
"I'm hurrying. Be out soon," I mumbled through my tears.
The hot water from the shower relaxed my aching muscles and steamed up the mirror enough so I couldn't see the monster's reflection. The water erased my worried, and by the second rise I was able to breathe evenly. It took four times to wash out all the blood from my hair, and I would have gone for a fifth if the water didn't hurt so bad.
I got out and did what I could with my hair. I put on my forest green turtle neck and Aeropostale jeans, slipped on my Converse, and pulled my hair back in an ugly ponytail. There was no time for make-up or pain killers.
"Maddy, are you ready yet? We need to go. You'll have to eat down there," Grandpa called from door.
"Yeah, just let me get my jacket."
I opened the door and found Grandpa with my jacket over his arm. I took it, and we jogged down stairs. He threw me the keys to the truck.
"When you're Mom got married, I sold the truck to Danney. Jerry let you borrow it while you were here. I don't know when your parents will be here, but I think it's time we gave it back."
"Basically, I'm not going anywhere anymore."
I sighed. I should've known, but the final-ness of my Spring Break hurt. I'd come to meet my grandfather. After tomorrow, he was off all week, but I might not be here. I doubted Mom and Dad would give me another chance, and if I could persuade them to crowning me before college-preferably before I was eighteen- this would probably be my last chance anyway. A new round of tears reached my eyes, but I didn't let them fall.
Maybe to make sure I didn't leave him, Grandpa made me drive first. We followed a straight road to Coquille. It was the kind of road that I would have normally gone ninety in, but the old truck and Grandpa wouldn't be able to keep up. This truck already had a thing about going over forty, always whining and groaning when my foot pressed the pedal.
We passed through the streets of Coquille. Many waved or nodded as we passed, others obviously knowing what happened, smiled apologetically or looked away. Soon the town became the reservation, and Jerry's house was in view. I parked in his driveway, and Grandpa circled around out of the reservation.
Two dogs or werewolves greeted me as I locked the truck.
"Back! Give her some room, you crazy boys!" shouted who I presumed to be Mrs. Redbane, John's wife. I'd seen her beside her at the campfire.
She was short and had short black hair to go with her dark skin. She was plain, but her silver eyes were breath-taking.
"Hey, Maddy. This is Landon Amery and Justin Redfox. I'm Marilynn Redbane by the way. You look dead on your feet. Umm… well, Jerry's over at Danney's place with most of the others. Maybe Nana can patch you up, too," she said.
Landon, a completely brown wolf, and Justin, looking more like a weirdly shaped red and white fox than a wolf, trotted away towards a small forest behind the reservation, and Marilynn took my hand, leading the way to the Black house.
All the houses here must look the same because at first I though maybe she'd lead me n a circle, somehow moving the old Ford to another driveway, but Jerry's house didn't have a porch swing like this one. Other than that, I noticed no difference from Jerry's home to Danney's. All that was missing was the Ancient One looking over his land.
"I should warn you," Marilynn said as we stopped in front of Danney's front door. "Eutalka, Leader, fully phased last night. He's only been human for about an hour now, so we've got him over here. Danney and John and Caleb have been trying to help him all morning, and our medicine woman, Nana, is cleansing him and all that."
"O…k?"
"He won't hurt you," she lied. The truth was clearly written all over her face. "We won't let him. Charlene still doesn't know about all this though. Danney says he'll try to tell her again after things calm down with Eutalka, but… well, you'll see. She's a very practical woman. A good queen, but zero belief in magic. She and Nana are into it again."
"Fun," I halfheartedly laughed. Oh boy.
Danney's little house was crowded. His living room surprisingly had a sofa, coffee table, lamps, and a TV even though they technically didn't live here anymore. They must not have planned to stay in Eugene long. The kitchen was almost made from the living room, taking up a large corner and shoving a refrigerator, island, cabinets, sink, and oven into the tiny space. Pots hung above the island, and a rack of wet plates were drying next to the fridge. The back of the house opened up to a porch and yard. At the far right was a narrow hall where the bedroom must be.
"This isn't normal. The Alpha almost always phases first. Why is Leader phasing now? And Harvey?" angrily asked Tyler Redfox from the kitchen. He, Jerry, John, and Danney were all gathered around the island.
"I hate to say it, Danney, but what if Caleb can't fully phase? Charlene's not one of us. That could be the problem," John sighed.
"Ridiculous!" shouted Jerry. If he can't become a lycanthropy then why can be become a wolf?"
"He's a half-breed," John explained.
"Almost makes sense," Tyler agreed. "Look at Madison. She's not human, yet she's far from being a vamp."
"It doesn't take two to make a werewolf," Danney growled. "Andrei, Eutalka the first, married a Coquille when lupi didn't exist on this side of the world. That's how we're all here. Caleb's eyes are darkening. He doesn't have long now."
"Out, you non-believer! You'll taint the magic at work with your stubbornness!" screamed a very old woman from down the hall.
"You can't tell me what to do in my own house!" Charlene roared. "I thought it was against tribal law to disrespect the queen."
"Your power is fading and limited. I doubt you have a moon left in you!"
Charlene stormed out the hall, angry as hell. She threw her hands up in the air and muttered gibberish. She sighed, glared at her husband, and jumped when she saw me and Marilynn.
"Oh! Maddy, oh my, sit down before you fall."
The men noticed me for the first time.
"Hey, I'm sorry, but we couldn't find them last nigh," Danney said softly as he rummaged around the kitchen pulling out a bowl, spoon, and cereal. Charlene was ready with the milk.
"I hope you like Life," she said smiling as she set the full bowl down on the coffee table. Marilynn already had a blanket over me before I could really sit.
The Coquille all sat down in the living room in silence. I finished my breakfast and waited impatiently for some sort of news.
"Are your parents coming?" Danney finally asked when I'd finished.
"Yeah, but they're in northern Alaska right now, so it may take a little while to get a plane or car. They weren't near any civilization last night."
"Tell us when they're close. Your attackers won't expect you to move again, we don't think, so getting you out of the area is best. I'm assuming your father doesn't want you to…?"
"The crown? Nope. I have to go to college first. At least that's their plan."
"You expect sooner?" asked John. Charlene looked at her husband, puzzled.
"Hope."
"Like mother like daughter," Tyler sighed. All four men laughed a little then looked back at the hall.
Harvey and Caleb walked up, both looking like they hadn't slept at all last night. Behind them was probably the oldest looking woman I'd ever seen. She had long, wild, grey hair that didn't look like it had met a comb before, and her washed out skin was nothing but wrinkles. She wore only animal skins and moccasins; a turquoise and obsidian necklace. A large seashell acted as the special pendant. She looked more like the witch from Into the Woods than a Native American. Well, lupi did strongly believe in magic…
"He is sleeping now, and shouldn't wake up until exactly twelve o'clock. I then expect Prince Caleb and New-Third Harvey to stay with him all day. Harvey, you remember the change. It's not pleasant to have to belong to someone that isn't there. He feels lost, and could snap at any time. Who is this?" she shrieked seeing me for the first time.
"That is Madison Reynes Hawthorne, the Halfling," Caleb said rudely.
I was tired, my head still throbbed, and I'd lost so much blood the night before that I couldn't stay focused, but I'd had it with him. Thomas had told me injury after countless injury when I was little that it was easier for me to lose my blood than my venom. More venom meant it was easier to lose myself in my darker side. Now I was practically a living Queen!
I jumped off the couch and onto Prince Caleb's shoulders, knocking him back against the corner of the hall. Without meaning to, I tried to growl, my fists tightening around his shoulders, drawing blood and possibly fracturing the bones. My knees were buried deep into his stomach and lungs, pinning him down without air or an escape. I could've killed him then, but I'd forgot to add in the lycanthropy at his side and the six others in the room.
Harvey kicked me off him not even a second after my perfect landing, and in another quick turn he Caleb completely free. But I was strong and pissed off. I faked a jump and raced under Danney's instinctive top guard. Harvey was shaking, losing control of himself, talking himself into becoming my greatest enemy, Danney was trying to stop me without hurting me, his way of thanking Mom for his life, and Nana was changing. Her attack was the most successful.
"Congelato pietra!"
My body felt like it'd be turned to hot lead. I couldn't move my limbs, and breathing became a chore. I could blink, but the lack of sleep couldn't keep them open long, and I could move my mouth, but it was either talk or gasp for more air.
"Stop!" Danney shouted as everyone backed away from me. "Nana, release her."
Nana glared at her chief for a long time, never blinking, never breathing. Without looking at her captive, she reversed the spell and set me free.
Air rushed into my lungs, and I wheezed. My muscles jumped from shock, and my head spun. Slowly, using much more caution than I'd ever had to, I got up on all fours and looked up at the witch.
"Nana, will you take care of Madison now? She's lost a lot of blood, and her scars need much attention," Danney asked.
"You ask me to care for the miniature pría? You are not my Alpha. My leader ended before Jerry was born!"
"That's because you're older than dirt, you old bat," Jerry muttered.
"I, your chief, ask you to tend her cuts," Danney announced.
The old witch glared at him again, but sighed in defeat.
"As you wish, my lord."
"The danger is hitting here at home now. I want this ended now! I don't want the younger Pack to phase today. Town kids need to stay in town; rez kids stay here. Cale, Harvey, stick around Leader today, help him out. I want three or four lupi around Brandon. Coquille should be fine, but someone needs to talk to Bows about what's going on. Make sure he knows the Reynes will be coming before too long. The reservation is also safe.
"Maddy, you need to get out of here as soon as possible. I'm assuming that your attackers don't know you're here, and I'm hoping that leaving the area all together will throw them off. But we don't know how much they know about all this. I want two lupi in Eugene, and ten circling Eugene, Brandon, Coquille, and the reservation. Generals and I will meet with the Ancient Ones at one. The wives need to meet, too. Charlene?"
"You think they'll come here to find her?"
"Maybe." Several lupi cringed at the thought.
"Ok. We'll meet at the circle about two?"
"Great. Caleb and Harvey, when Leader wakes up, take him to Guiana and have her look at your eyes. They're so black now that it can't be long." Danney ordered.
Everyone left, leaving me with just the witch and human.
"Maddy, what kind of Jello do you want? I've got orange, lemon, lime, grape, and this red stuff… cherry, I think?" asked Charlene as she dug around in the kitchen again.
"Umm… orange is fine," I replied.
"You're not human," Nana accused. "yet, you're not the undead. The spell should have complete paralyzed you, not risked your life or had no affect at all." She pushed me back against the couch and sprinkled some power over my cuts. "Your heart is so slow and pumps so hard. Is this normal?"
"It's not normally this slow, but it's never human speed."
I felt like a traitor, revealing secrets to an outsider, especially one who almost killed me. No one except Thomas really understood how I worked biologically, and the thought of lycanthropy magic trying to cure me terrified me.
"Hmm," was her only reply.
After about twenty minutes of tsking and rubbing and washing sand off me, she was done- with my head at least. She'd started working on a potion full of seaweed, powder, herbs, clovers, and other unidentifiable things.
Charlene gave me a large glass of water.
"The Jello will be ready this afternoon, and" she dropped her voice to a whisper, "drink that crap she's giving you then chug the water. After she leaves I'll get you whatever you want. Blame Daniel."
I smiled until I saw the muddy substance waiting for me in Nana's mug. She grinned as she offered it to me. Bravely I took it and took a small sip. It took all my will not to throw it up in her lap, but her faded, grey eyes threatened me. In three humongous gulps I swallowed the tonic and shoved the mug back at her.
"It will restore your strength. Rest, and you'll be fine when you wake," she promised as she packed everything back into her little, animal skin-purse. "My queen," she said softly as she left the house.
I was asleep within minutes.