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Kai's POV:

Lies

I stare sombrely out of my bedroom window. It's a full moon tonight. I used to find staring at the moon relaxing, where I could sit and observe the one light in the night sky not killed off by the glow of the city. But now, instead of being comforting, the silver orb seems to sneer down at me, mocking me for my own ignorance and gullibility.

A part of me knows I'm being unreasonable. I mean, how could have I known about an alternate dimension? How could have I known about the existence of creatures that I've been taught my whole life exist only in books and movies? Before today, if anyone told me that my dad was suffering from a vampire bite, I probably would have laughed in their face. But even knowing that isn't enough to get rid of the pit of resentment that's settled in my heart.

Cinder knew. I took her to see my father. She knew what was wrong with him. She knew how to cure him. And she said nothing! I'm honestly starting to wonder what words out of her mouth weren't lies by this point. Her name is a lie. Her life is a lie. Even her species is a lie. Same goes for Iko, Cress's dad, and that guy who disappeared a couple days ago, Jacin. They lied to everyone's faces for years without a single untrue word troubling their consciences. At least Cress told the truth, or, thought she was anyway. Because guess what? Her dad lied to her about her entire life!

I cast a glance at my bed. You'd think that, after all the excitement of today, I'd be exhausted. But the thought of sleeping seems unimaginable to me now. I haven't even changed into my pyjamas yet. My mind is buzzing with all the revelations that confronted me today: werewolves, vampires, elves, fairies, another dimension ruled by a tyrannical queen that Cinder-no, Selene-is trying to overthrow… I might as well have drunk ten cups of coffee before bed.

My eyes find my hoodie, draped over the back of my desk chair, and I sigh. What I'm about to do is probably going to earn me a Darwin Award. But I can't stand just staying in the house with my mind-controlled dad all night with all this new information flitting around my head like millions of fireflies. I've got to get out of here.

Walking along the infinitely familiar footpaths, the chill night air worming its way through my hoodie and stinging my skin, I can't help but feel like it was a good idea to go for a walk. For the first time since the trip to the hospital, I can ignore the knowledge that has been steadily nibbling at my mind, demanding my attention. Instead, I can focus on the cold air against my skin, the sound of my footfalls against pavement, the stench of blood in the air… wait, what?

I stop dead in my tracks, trying to sort out what I'm really smelling. It's probably just my memories of the stink from Sybil's death and Scarlet's bleeding hand. I inhale deeply through my nose, trying to convince myself. But there it is, the unmistakable bitter smell of life's fluid.

"Probably just a rat." I mutter to myself, "Or a stray dog that's just gotten into a fight over territory or something."

A pointed muzzle cautiously pokes out of the shadows between two buildings and I breathe a sigh of relief. There, see? Just a dog. Nothing to worry about.

The owner of the muzzle slowly creeps out of the darkness into the lamplight. Now I can see its gigantic head, broad shoulders and bushy tail, all too big to belong to any kind of dog. At least, not any Earthen variety of dog.

I slump over. I'm definitely going to get a Darwin Award, aren't I?

Blood drips from deep gashes along the werewolf's shoulders and belly, but it doesn't seem to notice or care. It raises its muzzle and sniffs the air.

All at once, it stiffens, every predatory muscle tense. And I don't need its head snapping around to stare right at me to know why.

Giant green eyes stare at me warily, as if the werewolf is trying to decide whether I'm worth the trouble of killing.

I take a slow step back. The wolf doesn't react. I take another step, just as slow. And another. And another. All the while the wolf just stands there, not taking its jewel-like eyes off me.

A small flicker of hope ignites in my chest. Maybe it's not hungry, or it's too tired, or its wounds are too painful for it to bother hurting me. Maybe I'll actually get out of this alive!

The unmistakable howls slicing through the air are enough to make that hope gutter into nothingness.

The wolf that had been staring at me suddenly bolts towards me. With a yelp of fear I scramble onto the road in an effort to get away from the charging animal, tripping over the edge of the sidewalk and falling back onto the tarmac. But the wolf just sprints right past me, like a giant arrow released from a bow.

More werewolves dart around the corner, cutting off the other wolf's path. It snarls, pivoting around to run the other way. Pushing myself to my feet, I prepare to do the same. Until I see the group of wolves charging off in that direction.

The first wolf's great head swings around, looking for an opening to escape, but the wolves are already moving to close the few gaps left. The manoeuvre is so smooth, so coordinated, and so out of place in the movements of giant, fierce animals. But then again, Selene did say that they were soldiers. Animal soldiers… I still can't quite wrap my head around that.

The first wolf bares its teeth and roars at the newcomers. In response, they throw themselves onto its back, sinking their teeth into its neck, its legs, its spine. Their victim is big, bigger that most of them, and puts up a fight, throwing them off as though they're nothing more than toys. But for every wolf it discards, another is there, ready and waiting to take its place.

Forcing myself to turn away from the fight, I try to make a break for it, running towards the opposite side of the road. But something catches my hoodie, bringing me to a jarring stop.

"Well now," a rough voice murmurs in my ear, "what do we have here?"

I flail desperately in the person's grip, trying to rip the fabric of my hoodie away. But all that does is make them switch to holding my neck.

"What should we do with you Earthen?" The voice says mockingly, "You've seen a little too much today. Human flesh always tastes sweet."

I reach up and try to pry the fingers off my neck, but I might as well be trying to bend iron bars.

"But then again," the voice continues, "Her Majesty might reward me if I bring her a new servant. You seem to be her favourite age."

Footsteps sound dully on the road as someone else comes up to us. "Quit playing around Jerrico." The newcomer growls, "Give the human to The Queen, or give it to one of us to eat."

"You ought to treat me with more respect, mutt!" Jerrico snaps, "I am the Captain of the Royal Guard!"

"Well, I'm not a Royal Guard last I checked." The second person grumbles. "Just get on with it! My pack is hungry, and this world is rich in prey!"

Jerrico makes a sound not unlike the growls of the fighting wolves. I don't really know what I'm hoping he'll choose. One of them will result in my death, the other will result in me becoming a present to their "Queen", which I'm pretty sure will involve my eyes going completely black. Why didn't I just stay at home?

"I'll give him to The Queen." Jerrico decides finally.

The second person snorts. "Figures you'd choose kissing up to your boss than eating perfectly good food."

"Has the rogue been subdued?"

"Depends. Does "subdued" mean having a bunch of wolves piled on top of him? Because that seems to be the only thing that's working at this point."

"It'll do. Now, it's about time we reported back to The Queen."

A squint as a sudden bright silver light glows in my peripheral vision. A soft humming sounds in my ears, growing louder, and louder, till it drowns out even the snarls and barks of the wolves. I squeeze my eyes shut and grit my teeth as the humming grows louder still, tearing at my eardrums and reverberating inside my skull. It drowns out my very thoughts, sinking into my consciousness like a particularly sharp stone, burrowing its way deep into my mind. I doubt I'll ever go another day without hearing the dreaded noise.

And then comes the pain.

A/N: Cliff-hanger! Did you guys think the excitement would end with Sybil's death? Well there's going to be a heck of a lot of stuff going on from here on out, let me tell you.

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