Chapter Two: Deception
Snow blew roughly through the mountains of Western Canada, blocking in all who lived
in the valley below. A small house built in the traditional cabin style sat in the center of
a fenced in farm. A chickencoop, outhouse, and small barn were strategically placed around the
small dwelling, yet no animals were housed in the buildings during the winter. They were kept
at Old Man Logan's on the other side of the mountains until a chinook blew in to unthaw the
untamed land. Old Man Logan was chosen to look after the animals because he was the only
one who could survive in this forsaken country during winter.
Cecily stood by the window, arms folded over her plaid covered chest, staring into the
storm. She said a silent prayer that she'd sent her sister to help Old Man Logan during this
season. Merry had become restless lately, but that was to be said of any fifteen year old girl.
Logan would teach her how to survive and all the life's lessons that he'd taught Cecily
when their father had taken ill. Their father, Jacob, had passed on last year, forcing Cecily
back home from her sixth year of med school. How proud her father was when Cecily settled on
becoming a doctor. Anyone in that profession were scarce in their part of the country, except
Doctor McNaught two territories over, although he was on his last leg and rapidly considering
retirement.
Turning from the storm with a small sigh, Cecily laid on her couch and pulled her favorite
yarn woven blue blanket over her. Yawning wearily, she snuggled into it's warmth and slept.
Her last thoughts were of her beautiful little sister, and their cantankerous neighbor. She
wondered what he was showing impressionable Merry right now...
THWUMP!
Swearing, Cecily jumped from her slumber, stumbling to the back door. She grabbed her
trusty wooden ballbat on the way, then peered through the side window, scanning the forest behind
her house. Her heart jumped into her chest when she saw the dark form lying on her snow
covered doorstep. His head was covered in bed and he looked soaked to the bone.
Quickly, she slid on her boots and jacket before opening the door. Good heavens, he's enormous!
After her initial panic, her medical training kicked in, forcing her to move quickly. She put her
body under his right arm and half carried, half dragged his hulking form into her bathroom.
Thank goodness the outhouse was just for visitors, she grinned halfheartedly, filling the tub
with luke-warm water after sitting him on the floor. One thing Logan had taught her was to
never put a frostbitten body into hot water, that only made it worse.
While the tub was filling, she turned to her patient and checked him over to make sure
nothing was broken before checking his pupils. Hmm, he seems fine, she thought while undressing
him. His clothes were heavy, soaken with melted snow. Once she'd stripped him bare, she cleaned
his bloody head with a warm wet cloth. She looked over his head, but could find no cut.
Stumped, she half carried him over to the tub, gently lowering him into it's semi-warmth.
Making sure that he wouldn't fall under the water, she went to her cupboards and warmed up a jar of
homemade chicken soup. While it was heating, she ran back to her patient and found him looking
up at her. His eyes were a clear sky blue, their intensity causing a shiver to race down her
spine. Mentally shaking it off, she hurried to his side.
"Do you know who you are?" she asked, kneeling beside the tub.
He nodded silently, trailing his right hand down his face, wearily, she assumed.
"Can you speak?"
He nodded again, still not speaking. Then he yawned, exposing straight white teeth, and his
overlarge incisors. Cecily started at the sight of his fangs. Would wonders never cease? she muttered
to herself.
"You can't fall asleep, alright? You might still have a concusion. Does your throat hurt?"
He shook his head no, his eyes starting to narrow.
"May I look? Please don't worry, my name is Cecily, and I'm a pre-med." She waited a moment
impatiently, wondering to herself if she'd have to pry his mouth open when he yawned again, leaving his
mouth open for her to inspect. Cautiously, she leaned forward, gently tilting his head back
a little further to look at his throat in the light.
"Well, it's not red, and I don't see any abrasions on your neck. Will you speak to me?" She
asked him slowly, reaching for his hand and giving it an encouraging squeeze.
"My name is Victor," he rasped, his deep voice appealing and sounding like it
hadn't been used in years.
Cecily smiled at him, exposing her own white teeth. "Hello, Victor," she replied, letting go
of his hand and reaching for a large cotton bath sheet. "Let's get you out of this tub and into
some clothes, okay? Do you need help standing?"
Victor nodded slowly, reaching an arm around her shoulders. She helped him stand in the tub,
then waited patiently while he stepped out. She wrapped him in the bath sheet before gently
walking him to her bedroom. She helped him sit down on the side of the bed after helping him dry
off. Taking the damp towel, she hung it in the bathroom.
"Are these okay,"she asked while sorting through the baggy drawstring pants and cotton long
sleeved shirt in her hands. "The pants might be too short, but I have some socks, too..."she trailed
off, gasping as she bumped into his chest. Victor stood there, staring down at her
with his fathomless eyes. "You need to lie down,"she murmered, helping him into the pants, then
the shirt. Thank goodness for those years in pre-med, or I'd be blushing like a schoolgirl!
He sat down on the bed, putting on the socks himself. She plumped up her mound of pillows behind
his back and head and pulled the heavy comforter over his long form.
"I'll be right back, but first things first," Cecily said as she slid a thermometer under his
tongue. "Don't talk, and I'll be back, okay?"
He stared at her, and closed his mouth.
She took the soup off the stove and poured it into a large earthen ware bowl. Along with
the soup she placed tomato juice, orange juice and water alongside it. As an afterthought,
she placed a shot of Logan's whiskey beside the juice and carried it into her bedroom.
Victor was staring out at the window, his throat working convulsively. Cecily placed the tray
across his lap, the legs on each side accident proof against any spills he might make on her
bed. Taking the thermometer from his mouth, she glanced down at it and sighed in relief. 98.6.
"Well, that's a good sign,"Cecily smiled, before turning back to him. Everything was still
full except the shotglass. Her dark brown eyes shot down to his hands, which were shaking slightly.
"So, what brings you to my neck of the woods,"she deadpaned, sitting beside him and
nonchalantly bringing a spoonful of soup to his lips. He paused, staring into her eyes before
slowly opening his mouth.
Cecily fed him the entire bowl, and was just reaching for the tomato juice when he spoke.
"Drink it,"he rasped,"can't stand the stuff."
"Okay,"she agreed, reaching for the glass-his hand shot out, grasping her wrist.
A startled breath escaped her tight throat. Had she made a mistake taking him in? Was he
deranged or worse, dangerous? Her bright eyes stared into his suddenly clear blue eyes.
"Thank you..."he said huskily. He moved to let go of her wrist before he spotted
the thin line of blood his sharp nail had made. Cecily held her breath when she followed his
gaze. Her breath caught in her throat as he slowly brought her wrist to his mouth, his nostrils flaring.
His heavy lidded eyes bore into hers as he gently kissed the area, his rough tongue slowly,
sensuously following the line of blood. Cecily's stomach clenched, she sat there mesmerized.
"I, uh..."she whispered, not noticing him setting aside the tray.
Victor didn't bother responding. Instead he kept his eyes locked to hers, pulling her
forward until her chest was flush with his, her legs entwining with his under the blanket.
Tangling his hand in her long chestnut hair, he firmly grasped the nape of her neck and pulled
her forward. Cecily nervously licked her lips. Victor's glanced sharply at the movement.
Abruptly, he seized her mouth with his, parting her lips and plunging his tongue inside. Cecily
moaned, entangling her tongue with his, her trembling hands softly pulling at his thicket of
chest hair. He groaned, a deep growl that erupted from his chest, tightening his hold on her neck
and squeezing her firm ass with the other.
Suddenly, he rolled over, pinning her beneath him. Amazingly, his great bulk didn't
crush her, but Cecily wouldn't have noticed. Cecily gasped for breath as he trailed his tongue down her throat, dipping it into
the hollow and twirled it around. She didn't notice his hands pinning her to the bed as she
quelled her mind and allowed herself to simply feel. Never before had she felt desire
this strongly. In med-school, she'd only had one boyfriend, which only lasted a month when she
wouldn't sleep with him. Her father and Logan had instilled strong moral ethics in both sisters, especially
since their mother had died during birth with Merry. Logan had always made her laugh with his
craggy opinion; 'Why buy the cow when you can get the milk fer free?'
Cecily's eyes shot open. What was she doing?! "I can't do this," Cecily gasped, struggling
against his hold. Victor's face was inches from hers, he tilted his head, much like a predator
would while watching it's prey.
"Do what, doc?"he snarled, brushing his lips against hers, his fangs grazing her full
bottom lip. He sucked it into his mouth, lapping at the blood.
Cecily stilled, arousal mixing with fear. She relaxed her body, then sprang him off her.
He hit the floor with a thud. Both quickly stood, panting, facing each other over her bed.
"Look, I just wanted to help you, not sleep with you," she panted. "This was a mistake,"Cecily muttered,
running her hands agitatedly through her hair. She ran her tongue over her bottom lip,
wincing as she felt the cut he'd made.
She left the room, going to her dryer where his clothes were. Pulling them out, she folded them
then quickly walked back to her room. She set them on the bed, not quite letting herself
look at him, her face flushed, her eyes faintly ashamed. He must think I'm a-, but she didn't get
to finish that thought because he'd bounded over the bed and slammed her up against the wall.
"I never said I needed your help, little girl,"he snarled, his eyes bright and maddened.
"B-but, the blood-"
"Who said it was my blood?"he smirked, triumphant when terror filled her.
"I want you to leave-NOW!"she ordered, struggling against him.
He grabbed her hair and slammed her head into the wall. Cecily screamed, dazed. She could
feel blood running down her neck, soaking her hair. "I will leave, doc, but not without my
trophy."
Cecily's head throbbed, she felt nausous. "W-what trophy?"she asked faintly, the room
wouldn't quit spinning, she felt so weak....
Victor leaned down until his face was a breath from hers. His maniac eyes bore into
her dazed ones. "Why, you, little girl." he boasted proudly.
Cecily started struggling in earnest then, her foot flying up into his groin.
Surprised, he dropped her to cup himself. He'd let himself believe she was too disoriented to
fight back. The next thing he knew, a wooden ballbat was being swung at him. With surprising
force, it connected with his throat, shattering, he went flying back and slammed into the other wall.
Cecily didn't wait to see if he was following her. She tore out of her house and ran to
the barn, where she kept her skijet. Frantically, she revved it, and raced out of there.
She had no idea how she'd get to Logan's, but she knew she had to. Her life depended on it.
Never in her life had she wished her cell phone worked then at this moment. It wouldn't have
mattered, she knew, because Logan didn't believe in phones. 'Damn contraptions are nuisances. I'd
rather shit on a bear then use one a them things.'
Oh how she wished she'd gone with Merry to stay there. But she had to have her stupid
downtime from college. All thoughts were wiped from her head when she heard the demented
howl coming not far from behind her. He'll kill me, she realized. She couldn't believe
she'd let that-that animal touch her. She couldn't believe he'd tried to abduct her, he'd-he'd
staged everything-everything! she thought incredulously. Why? Shit, forget why! He's after
you, girl, and if he catches you-Cecily shuddered, not letting herself finish that thought.
The pass! I have to get there, she frantically thought. Logan will hear me if I just get to
the pass! It wasn't completely blocked yet! She whimpered when she heard the demented howls
getting closer. He wasn't human! No one human could run that rast! She didn't dare look behind
her. She revved her engine, shooting farther over the deep snow. Blinking rapidly against
the snow flying into her face, she wiggled her nose and moved her mouth around, trying to
stave off the frigid cold.
She was almost there! Almost-there! "NOOOOOO!!!LOOOGGAAAN-LOOGAAN!!LO-"he tackled her,
leaving the skijet to go on without her, veering crazily before crashing into a tall pine tree.
Kicking out at him, she stumbled to her feet and ran to the pass, her light weight barely
sinking into the hard packed snow. "LOOOOOGGAAAAN!!! OH GOD LOOGGAAAN!!"
The world went black. He had won. He would kill her. Oh, Logan...please protect Merry.
Snow blew roughly through the mountains of Western Canada, blocking in all who lived
in the valley below. A small house built in the traditional cabin style sat in the center of
a fenced in farm. A chickencoop, outhouse, and small barn were strategically placed around the
small dwelling, yet no animals were housed in the buildings during the winter. They were kept
at Old Man Logan's on the other side of the mountains until a chinook blew in to unthaw the
untamed land. Old Man Logan was chosen to look after the animals because he was the only
one who could survive in this forsaken country during winter.
Cecily stood by the window, arms folded over her plaid covered chest, staring into the
storm. She said a silent prayer that she'd sent her sister to help Old Man Logan during this
season. Merry had become restless lately, but that was to be said of any fifteen year old girl.
Logan would teach her how to survive and all the life's lessons that he'd taught Cecily
when their father had taken ill. Their father, Jacob, had passed on last year, forcing Cecily
back home from her sixth year of med school. How proud her father was when Cecily settled on
becoming a doctor. Anyone in that profession were scarce in their part of the country, except
Doctor McNaught two territories over, although he was on his last leg and rapidly considering
retirement.
Turning from the storm with a small sigh, Cecily laid on her couch and pulled her favorite
yarn woven blue blanket over her. Yawning wearily, she snuggled into it's warmth and slept.
Her last thoughts were of her beautiful little sister, and their cantankerous neighbor. She
wondered what he was showing impressionable Merry right now...
THWUMP!
Swearing, Cecily jumped from her slumber, stumbling to the back door. She grabbed her
trusty wooden ballbat on the way, then peered through the side window, scanning the forest behind
her house. Her heart jumped into her chest when she saw the dark form lying on her snow
covered doorstep. His head was covered in bed and he looked soaked to the bone.
Quickly, she slid on her boots and jacket before opening the door. Good heavens, he's enormous!
After her initial panic, her medical training kicked in, forcing her to move quickly. She put her
body under his right arm and half carried, half dragged his hulking form into her bathroom.
Thank goodness the outhouse was just for visitors, she grinned halfheartedly, filling the tub
with luke-warm water after sitting him on the floor. One thing Logan had taught her was to
never put a frostbitten body into hot water, that only made it worse.
While the tub was filling, she turned to her patient and checked him over to make sure
nothing was broken before checking his pupils. Hmm, he seems fine, she thought while undressing
him. His clothes were heavy, soaken with melted snow. Once she'd stripped him bare, she cleaned
his bloody head with a warm wet cloth. She looked over his head, but could find no cut.
Stumped, she half carried him over to the tub, gently lowering him into it's semi-warmth.
Making sure that he wouldn't fall under the water, she went to her cupboards and warmed up a jar of
homemade chicken soup. While it was heating, she ran back to her patient and found him looking
up at her. His eyes were a clear sky blue, their intensity causing a shiver to race down her
spine. Mentally shaking it off, she hurried to his side.
"Do you know who you are?" she asked, kneeling beside the tub.
He nodded silently, trailing his right hand down his face, wearily, she assumed.
"Can you speak?"
He nodded again, still not speaking. Then he yawned, exposing straight white teeth, and his
overlarge incisors. Cecily started at the sight of his fangs. Would wonders never cease? she muttered
to herself.
"You can't fall asleep, alright? You might still have a concusion. Does your throat hurt?"
He shook his head no, his eyes starting to narrow.
"May I look? Please don't worry, my name is Cecily, and I'm a pre-med." She waited a moment
impatiently, wondering to herself if she'd have to pry his mouth open when he yawned again, leaving his
mouth open for her to inspect. Cautiously, she leaned forward, gently tilting his head back
a little further to look at his throat in the light.
"Well, it's not red, and I don't see any abrasions on your neck. Will you speak to me?" She
asked him slowly, reaching for his hand and giving it an encouraging squeeze.
"My name is Victor," he rasped, his deep voice appealing and sounding like it
hadn't been used in years.
Cecily smiled at him, exposing her own white teeth. "Hello, Victor," she replied, letting go
of his hand and reaching for a large cotton bath sheet. "Let's get you out of this tub and into
some clothes, okay? Do you need help standing?"
Victor nodded slowly, reaching an arm around her shoulders. She helped him stand in the tub,
then waited patiently while he stepped out. She wrapped him in the bath sheet before gently
walking him to her bedroom. She helped him sit down on the side of the bed after helping him dry
off. Taking the damp towel, she hung it in the bathroom.
"Are these okay,"she asked while sorting through the baggy drawstring pants and cotton long
sleeved shirt in her hands. "The pants might be too short, but I have some socks, too..."she trailed
off, gasping as she bumped into his chest. Victor stood there, staring down at her
with his fathomless eyes. "You need to lie down,"she murmered, helping him into the pants, then
the shirt. Thank goodness for those years in pre-med, or I'd be blushing like a schoolgirl!
He sat down on the bed, putting on the socks himself. She plumped up her mound of pillows behind
his back and head and pulled the heavy comforter over his long form.
"I'll be right back, but first things first," Cecily said as she slid a thermometer under his
tongue. "Don't talk, and I'll be back, okay?"
He stared at her, and closed his mouth.
She took the soup off the stove and poured it into a large earthen ware bowl. Along with
the soup she placed tomato juice, orange juice and water alongside it. As an afterthought,
she placed a shot of Logan's whiskey beside the juice and carried it into her bedroom.
Victor was staring out at the window, his throat working convulsively. Cecily placed the tray
across his lap, the legs on each side accident proof against any spills he might make on her
bed. Taking the thermometer from his mouth, she glanced down at it and sighed in relief. 98.6.
"Well, that's a good sign,"Cecily smiled, before turning back to him. Everything was still
full except the shotglass. Her dark brown eyes shot down to his hands, which were shaking slightly.
"So, what brings you to my neck of the woods,"she deadpaned, sitting beside him and
nonchalantly bringing a spoonful of soup to his lips. He paused, staring into her eyes before
slowly opening his mouth.
Cecily fed him the entire bowl, and was just reaching for the tomato juice when he spoke.
"Drink it,"he rasped,"can't stand the stuff."
"Okay,"she agreed, reaching for the glass-his hand shot out, grasping her wrist.
A startled breath escaped her tight throat. Had she made a mistake taking him in? Was he
deranged or worse, dangerous? Her bright eyes stared into his suddenly clear blue eyes.
"Thank you..."he said huskily. He moved to let go of her wrist before he spotted
the thin line of blood his sharp nail had made. Cecily held her breath when she followed his
gaze. Her breath caught in her throat as he slowly brought her wrist to his mouth, his nostrils flaring.
His heavy lidded eyes bore into hers as he gently kissed the area, his rough tongue slowly,
sensuously following the line of blood. Cecily's stomach clenched, she sat there mesmerized.
"I, uh..."she whispered, not noticing him setting aside the tray.
Victor didn't bother responding. Instead he kept his eyes locked to hers, pulling her
forward until her chest was flush with his, her legs entwining with his under the blanket.
Tangling his hand in her long chestnut hair, he firmly grasped the nape of her neck and pulled
her forward. Cecily nervously licked her lips. Victor's glanced sharply at the movement.
Abruptly, he seized her mouth with his, parting her lips and plunging his tongue inside. Cecily
moaned, entangling her tongue with his, her trembling hands softly pulling at his thicket of
chest hair. He groaned, a deep growl that erupted from his chest, tightening his hold on her neck
and squeezing her firm ass with the other.
Suddenly, he rolled over, pinning her beneath him. Amazingly, his great bulk didn't
crush her, but Cecily wouldn't have noticed. Cecily gasped for breath as he trailed his tongue down her throat, dipping it into
the hollow and twirled it around. She didn't notice his hands pinning her to the bed as she
quelled her mind and allowed herself to simply feel. Never before had she felt desire
this strongly. In med-school, she'd only had one boyfriend, which only lasted a month when she
wouldn't sleep with him. Her father and Logan had instilled strong moral ethics in both sisters, especially
since their mother had died during birth with Merry. Logan had always made her laugh with his
craggy opinion; 'Why buy the cow when you can get the milk fer free?'
Cecily's eyes shot open. What was she doing?! "I can't do this," Cecily gasped, struggling
against his hold. Victor's face was inches from hers, he tilted his head, much like a predator
would while watching it's prey.
"Do what, doc?"he snarled, brushing his lips against hers, his fangs grazing her full
bottom lip. He sucked it into his mouth, lapping at the blood.
Cecily stilled, arousal mixing with fear. She relaxed her body, then sprang him off her.
He hit the floor with a thud. Both quickly stood, panting, facing each other over her bed.
"Look, I just wanted to help you, not sleep with you," she panted. "This was a mistake,"Cecily muttered,
running her hands agitatedly through her hair. She ran her tongue over her bottom lip,
wincing as she felt the cut he'd made.
She left the room, going to her dryer where his clothes were. Pulling them out, she folded them
then quickly walked back to her room. She set them on the bed, not quite letting herself
look at him, her face flushed, her eyes faintly ashamed. He must think I'm a-, but she didn't get
to finish that thought because he'd bounded over the bed and slammed her up against the wall.
"I never said I needed your help, little girl,"he snarled, his eyes bright and maddened.
"B-but, the blood-"
"Who said it was my blood?"he smirked, triumphant when terror filled her.
"I want you to leave-NOW!"she ordered, struggling against him.
He grabbed her hair and slammed her head into the wall. Cecily screamed, dazed. She could
feel blood running down her neck, soaking her hair. "I will leave, doc, but not without my
trophy."
Cecily's head throbbed, she felt nausous. "W-what trophy?"she asked faintly, the room
wouldn't quit spinning, she felt so weak....
Victor leaned down until his face was a breath from hers. His maniac eyes bore into
her dazed ones. "Why, you, little girl." he boasted proudly.
Cecily started struggling in earnest then, her foot flying up into his groin.
Surprised, he dropped her to cup himself. He'd let himself believe she was too disoriented to
fight back. The next thing he knew, a wooden ballbat was being swung at him. With surprising
force, it connected with his throat, shattering, he went flying back and slammed into the other wall.
Cecily didn't wait to see if he was following her. She tore out of her house and ran to
the barn, where she kept her skijet. Frantically, she revved it, and raced out of there.
She had no idea how she'd get to Logan's, but she knew she had to. Her life depended on it.
Never in her life had she wished her cell phone worked then at this moment. It wouldn't have
mattered, she knew, because Logan didn't believe in phones. 'Damn contraptions are nuisances. I'd
rather shit on a bear then use one a them things.'
Oh how she wished she'd gone with Merry to stay there. But she had to have her stupid
downtime from college. All thoughts were wiped from her head when she heard the demented
howl coming not far from behind her. He'll kill me, she realized. She couldn't believe
she'd let that-that animal touch her. She couldn't believe he'd tried to abduct her, he'd-he'd
staged everything-everything! she thought incredulously. Why? Shit, forget why! He's after
you, girl, and if he catches you-Cecily shuddered, not letting herself finish that thought.
The pass! I have to get there, she frantically thought. Logan will hear me if I just get to
the pass! It wasn't completely blocked yet! She whimpered when she heard the demented howls
getting closer. He wasn't human! No one human could run that rast! She didn't dare look behind
her. She revved her engine, shooting farther over the deep snow. Blinking rapidly against
the snow flying into her face, she wiggled her nose and moved her mouth around, trying to
stave off the frigid cold.
She was almost there! Almost-there! "NOOOOOO!!!LOOOGGAAAN-LOOGAAN!!LO-"he tackled her,
leaving the skijet to go on without her, veering crazily before crashing into a tall pine tree.
Kicking out at him, she stumbled to her feet and ran to the pass, her light weight barely
sinking into the hard packed snow. "LOOOOOGGAAAAN!!! OH GOD LOOGGAAAN!!"
The world went black. He had won. He would kill her. Oh, Logan...please protect Merry.