~ * The Hunt and the Hunted * ~
Chick-a-tee-in-ur-face
AN: I hope you like this chapter and I hope it makes sense of almost everything. Thank you for reviewing, it's very much appreciated.
Disclaimer: SM does not belong to me.
Chapter Five
Lita gasped her hand flying to her cheek which burned with the hand imprint of the man before her. Several bystanders were watching the scene not one making the effort to stop him. She winced as she saw him lift his hand again closing her eyes, waiting for the inevitable. But it never came. She peeked through her lidded eyes and saw a taller guy had caught the man by the wrists.
"Stefan, you should no better than to hit a lady." He said through clenched teeth.
The man who was Stefan growled. Then he turned his sapphire blue eyes on Lita and she shuddered. She had seen in his eyes hate, and his hate was so strong it burned with a black flame.
"Why don't you mind your own business Nathan? I have to teach this girl a lesson not to make a fool out of me."
"I'm sure it was an accident. You should be glad she didn't hurt you. Only your pride is wounded so why don't you dust yourself off and leave while you still have some dignity."
The two strangers stared at each other, fighting a battle of will. Sparks could be seen flowing between them. They stayed that way for a long time before Stefan finally cracked; taking his bruised wrist in his hand he glared at Lita once more and stalked off in a huff growling at anyone in his way.
Lita breathed a heavy sigh of relief as she watched him walking away his head held high. She heard the sound of someone clearing his voice and looked to see the other stranger had offered her his hand. Taking it she scrambled to her feet. "Thank you." She said.
The man before her just stared at her, a small flicker of recognition in his blue eyes. Then he smiled his most dazzling smile. "It was unfortunate of you to have met Stefan; he doesn't cope well with people."
Lita blushed. "Well it was my fault; I wasn't looking where I was going..."
"I think that is a habit you need to rectify."
Lita looked up confused. He had a sparkle in his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"A few days ago a lovely young lady bumped into me. I guess she was in hurry. She had her cloak on but when she fell her hood let go and I managed to see that she had brunette hair and the loveliest pair of green eyes I have ever seen. Perhaps you know this lady and would you kindly offer her my apology for not moving out of the way quicker."
Lita felt her cheeks spread with a blush. The tall guy near the market. "I'm really sorry..."
"Nathan." He offered an amused glint in his face.
"I was in a hurry and..." Her sentence trailed off. She couldn't think straight. Her thoughts were all confused and he wasn't making things any easier looking at her like that. His brown hair glowed with the sun reflecting of it. His eyes bore into her soul as if searching for some hidden secret and his smile...
"I'm late and I have a lot of things to do, sir."
"Nathan." He insisted.
"Ok, thank you Nathan for stopping your friend."
"Don't mention it."
Lita was getting frustrated; he kept interrupting her by adding little comments between her sentences.
"But I really have to go now."
"Well does the lady have a name?" He called out while she ran.
Lita looked back at him, standing tall and elegant, "Lita." She called back already a few yards from him, "Lita." Then she dashed out the village gates once more being watched until she disappeared entirely around a bend.
Lita...Has a nice ring to it. Nathan smiled and in the corner of his eyes he saw something shiny lying on the ground where she had fallen. It was a ring. A small gold band studded with pink diamonds, three down each side and a larger perfectly cut diamond in the centre with an emerald stud on one flat surface. He admired the symmetrical evenness of the ring and wondered who had given it to her. Then his smile faltered, she could be engaged. He didn't like to think that. Ever since she had first bumped into him his thought and dreams had always revolved around her and now he knew her name. Lita...He needed to get her off his thoughts. He looked down at the ring again and smiled. A reason to see her again. Maybe if I see her a lot, I would get over her faster. Maybe my growing fascination with the girl has something to do with her innocence. He smirked. That could be it. Once I have what I want, she'll be out of my thoughts completely.
~ * ~
"Luna, I don't know what do anymore. Should I tell her, should I train her harder? Luna... I miss you." Artemis was on his knees before the fir tree praying. He had waited and watched a few days for a sign but none came his way. He was beginning to doubt his own abilities and to make matters worse, he was no closer to his vows he had made ten years ago and the new moon was coming.
"Luna, give me a sign to guide me." He whispered his voice hoarse with heartache.
"Oh Artemis," a soft laugh echoed in the clearing. "Since when did you ever need a sign to do what you thought was right?"
Artemis looked up startled, he couldn't believe his eyes. He blinked a few times but she was still there. Standing majestically in her silk creamy gown. Her long raven hair flowed down her back, her blue eyes, the one he fell in love with was still the most beautiful he had ever seen them. And she was smiling down at him.
"Luna..." He stammered still unbelieving. "Luna, is that really you?" His eyes were trained on her image, running down her entire being and settled on her creamy neck which bore two evenly parted teeth marks. Everything was just like he remembered it fifty years ago.
"Artemis...my love," Artemis smiled. That was what Luna called him. She was the only one who could say that and make tingles run up and down his spine. He felt his heart soar as her presence became clearer.
"But how? Luna how I've missed you." He stood up and went to embrace her only fell through her image instead and landed sprawled on the ground. "Wha..."
"What you see before you is my spirit." Luna said downheartedly her smile faltering. "Because your soul is not dead, mine is still alive."
Artemis was still in shock and then slowly absorbed the meaning of her words. "Of course." He nodded in understanding. "When we bonded both in body, mind and soul. The consequence is that as long as one of us remains, the soul of the other will still roam this plain."
"Yes. So I have come to your plea and Artemis. You have done a wonderful job looking after the chosen one. You should not worry about her so much, you must trust her to use your training well and I have been keeping an eye on her as of late. The cycle has almost begun. In two days from now it will be..."
"Seven days before the full moon. Time of the feasting."
"You must tell her Artemis. Everything...let her know...destiny brought us together and destiny brought her to you. Prepare her for the rest of her journey. Trust in her...like you trusted in me."
"Luna I..." Luna moved closer to him. She caressed his face a sad expression in her eyes. "I have never regretted the choice I made." She smiled wryly. "It's time for me to go...my love."
"No don't..." Then she slowly faded disappearing before him and Artemis felt the hot tears streaming down his cheeks once again. He put his hand on his cheek relishing in the memory of her soft caress even though he couldn't feel her hand, he felt the soft tingling sensation of her love. "Tell her..." The wind whispered.
~ * ~
When Lita reached the little cottage she was red faced and puffed. Sweating she decided to go for a bath but saw Artemis who was weeding the garden stand and motioned for her.
"We need to talk. I have something to say."
"I have something to say to." Lita said. "But not now."
"Now Lita."
"After I have a bath."
Artemis sighed. "Lita you don't know the great importance in what I have to say. It's a new moon..."
"And it's really dangerous for me to be staying out late this time of the month." She mocked mimicking Artemis. "Yes Artemis, you told me that so many times already. What I want to know is why? Why you didn't tell me you are a wolfdietrich."
Artemis was stunned at this sudden outburst. The clear shock of it gave Lita courage to continue. "Do you deny it? No I guess not."
"Wolfdietrich...How did you..."
"How did I know? Let me see, a couple nights ago after shooting down a wolffiend this person comes out of nowhere and right before my eyes transforms into a wolf-like creature. Looks like a wolffiend only its fur was white. Oh and before he changed body he was a younger version of you. Today I went to the library and found out about shape shifting and wolffiends and wolfdietrichs."
Artemis looked grim. He opened his mouth to say something when he suddenly looked around the area, his eyes narrowing and he made a small sniff in the air. "Come inside Lita." He ordered.
Lita followed him still angry. "Why didn't you tell me about it?" She asked more softly. "After all that training...I thought you trusted me enough to tell me everything...even when I asked you to tell me the truth you kept the most important part of you a secret...and...and everything I went through with my mother...I..."
"Shh..." He snapped going to a window and looking out of it carefully, hiding behind the wall so as not to be seen. "Something's out there."
Lita was curious and wanted to know how he knew that but instead walked to another window and spied out towards the forest. A flash of gold flew across her image and hid behind a tree. Lita gasped. Then all was silent. The air was tense but nothing came from the trees.
"What was that? Was that a..."
"A wolfdietrich? I can't tell, it could have been. It must have picked on your scent and followed you here."
"But how did it know, I was the one...I only ever went out at dark but I always covered mulberry juice like you said."
"It doesn't matter, it picks up on a scent and it will follow it."
"Then I was right wasn't I, about that whole Wolfdietrich thing."
Artemis looked at Lita sadly sighing heavily. 'Tell her...everything. Trust in her...like you trusted in me...' "Sit down. This is going to be a long story." He watched as Lita sat on a bench and he made himself comfortable, a faraway look in his eyes. "A long time ago...the land of Crystal Mountain was lush and green and trees grew to a majestic height. The river filled year after year with pure water from the top of the mountain where we 'the wolfdietrich people' lived. We were normal people hunting rabbits and boar and lived in an unbroken cycle of life until one day when outsiders broke through our barriers and filled our minds with power and greed corrupted our way of living...
* Flash Back *
"Get out of the way you old fool." Someone snarled pushing the crippled man in front of him away.
At least half of the village bodies were marching down the street, some holding lighted torches, some with different types of weapon. They all had a frown on their distorted features and with the light from the torch reflecting off their faces, they made horrifying men and the remaining villagers cowered when they passed or hid in their homes.
The chief who had not fallen to greed grimaced at the upcoming onslaught but held his ground. His staff dug firmer into the soil under his feet.
"Wise Man, it's time you stepped down and let one of us lead this clan." He said this with an evil glint in his eyes, hunger...for power...
"No."
"We're giving you a choice old man, step down willingly...or we'll take what we want using force." His eyes narrowed and his threat was just barely above a whisper.
"Demando...how little you know about who you're dealing with."
Demando laughed at this unexpected response. "You think, you can stop me old man? And I thought you were wise." He cracked up laughing again his head tilted back.
The wise man hit his staff to the ground and a small rumble jolted through their legs, soon the earth parted, one side the wise man stood and on the other a stunned Demando and his followers stood gaping. Then he brought his both his hand to the air and started mumbling in ancient dialect.
The sky that was clear and blue just a few minutes ago turned black as black rain clouds swirled above their heads threatening to rain, clapping thunder and lightning. Demando and his followers were horror stricken to say the least. Some dropped their weapons and fled but the most loyal stood by Demando, who after a while composed himself and smirked.
"You can't scare us with your little magic old fool." He sneered. Then with a wave of his hand the remaining torch bearers moved out. "Set anything in your way to flame." He barked. His eyes never left the wise mans hollow ones and in the background he could hear screams as his men alighted homes, some deserted, others with mothers and children still inside. The screaming grew louder as they tried to break through the door which was heavily barricaded and the sky filled with smoke and their noses filled with the burnt ashes.
All through this the wise man felt his will waver. He watched as innocent people burned in their homes their cry of agony piercing through his mind. "Stop this." He yelled hitting his staff to the ground and the rain cloud burst showering the burning village. The his eyes began to glow and his staff started to burn bright with a deathly white light.
"On you and any of your followers, I curse: you shall not feel the emotions of good for your hearts are black, you shall not taste what is flesh or made by flesh, when the moon is high you shall feel the blood of your ancestors course through your veins and be forever held by the power of this ring, ring of the Wolffiend."
On Demando's hand a solid bronze ring clasped to his finger burning his flesh and the light seeped into his mind. Pain soared through his body like fire running in his veins.
"I sacrifice myself to protect my people, only the ring of the wolfdietrich can wield you to it's command so stand before me now Demando and feel the wrath of immortal pain."
Demando fell to his knees at his words, his body alight in flames. He felt the pain the villagers felt burning, suffocating in their homes but he endured it. Through angry eyes he watched the wise man take out a sabre knife made from a wolves teeth and slice his veins along his wrists. Then he too was set to flame, his body disintegrating to ash. From his ash Demando spied a shiny silver object. The ring, wielded from his blood, his body and his soul. Then it disappeared.
Soon the black clouds dispersed and the sun was setting. Then men stood in fear of what had just transpired. Demando stood up, his muscles screaming at him, his step faltered but he steadied himself. He looked at his men, fear etched in their eyes and lifted his hand in the air. A victory sign. They cheered him on, still amazed that he had not been burned alive when they saw him alight. Indeed he must be strong to have endured that.
They were celebrating when the moon rose. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He took a scull from his goblet and spewed the contents out, his wine tasted like blood '...you shall not taste what is flesh or made by flesh...' He stared at his plate of food and found that it disgusted him, than his eyes darted to the sky,'...when the moon is high you shall feel the blood of your ancestor's course through your veins...' He looked at the moon, it was still climbing. What could possibly happen? He soon found out when he heard one of his men scream, holding his head in his hand. His copperish hair grew longer turning to a brown colour, his eyes which were grey were a cherry hue colour almost gold. Fur began to sprout from his arms, down his spine, across his chest. Then his face twisted, his nose grew bigger, his eyes narrower, his teeth larger. Soon he was on all fours growling with ferocity. All their eyes bulged and then one by one, they in turn changed. Demando threw his great head back and growled.
* End of Flash Back *
"That is how the Wolffiends came." Artemis ran a hand through his hair a sad look in his eyes. "I was only a boy when it happened."
Lita felt her heart go to him. "Oh Artemis, I'm so sorry...but that only tells half of what I want to know. How did the wolfdietrich come?"
Artemis stared at her long and hard. "When the wise man uttered his curse, he had meant to only wrap his power among Demando and his followers, but his grief for his people had wrapped them in his curse too and the ring of the wolfdietrich made them...me a part of this. Our village split in two. The wolffiends moved down here and the wolfdietrich stayed to guard the sanctuary at the heart of Crystal Mountain."
"How did they, you survive?"
"Demando soon found a flaw in Wise Mans curse living on the energy of mere mortals. Its our energy boost for our immortality. The Wolffiends were evil so they tore at the neck of mortals to suck on their energy. But we Wolfdietrichs...we slowly started to hate because of what happened but we still only fed when we were hungry. We only ever made quick, clean feeding. We don't need to change to feed but to hunt."
"There's still more...why were you arranged to marry a Wolffiend? Why every fifty years?"
Every fifty years is a new moon. Time of the harvest and breeding."
"What???"
"Seven days before a new moon the feasting begins. This is when our hunger is at it's height feeding on mortals. One usually keeps for a month at most but this time of the year, one doesn't even last us through the night."
Lita gasped. No wonder he didn't want me out so late.
"It's also the time of the year when women are fertile. So they tend to eat more to give birth to healthy babies. At least four or five. Our race has slowly died so we made a pact...you need to understand this was for survival."
"Tell me about the rings Artemis?"
"The leader of the Wolffiends Beryl," Artemis started before wincing at the name.
Lita nodded, "The one you were engaged to but broke it off to marry Luna,"
"She has the ring of the Wolffiends, passed down to her from Demando. She was also the one that killed your mother...Lita."
Lita sat stunned, shocked. Her mouth opened to say something but nothing came out. In her eyes was hurt, then confused, then hate. He saw her clench her jaw, her fists tightening, blood trickling down her palm from where her fingernails dug into her skin. "You knew." She bellowed. "You knew and you didn't tell me." Lita didn't know she did but the resounding sound of a slap echoed in the room.
Artemis just sat there, his eyes not moving. He didn't give any indication that he felt pain. "Yes, Lita. I have vowed ten years ago when she had Luna killed that I would kill her before she spread her spawn again. This is my last chance. And I need your help. Please..."
Lita felt her chest rising heavily, her breathing came in uneven gasps, then she burst into tears. She felt Artemis stroke her hair.
"The rings of wolffiends inevitably brings power, but not always happiness and sometimes tragedy, if corrupted by greed. It has been this way ever since."
Lita sniffled, that did correspond to her notes she took from the library.
" The ring of the Wolfdietrich no one has ever claimed nor has it ever been found." He said this looking at her swollen green eyes, a knowing smile on his lips. "Demando only had a glimpse of it, silver. The pure ring of the Wolfdietrich were symbols of a ring lord's circle of power and everlasting fame. Whoever wielded this ring will be powerful and can command both rings and their servants."
Lita nodded her head. That too also made sense. "How do you stop them? Before they hurt more people?"
Artemis dropped his head. This was the difficult part. How does he tell someone that was close to a daughter to him that she was the only one that can save them all? That she had the will and power? Lead her into danger where she could very well die? Just like Luna did. "Lita, you have to find the ring...control it or destroy it but they both come with consequences. I...It could be dangerous. Luna...she tried and..."
Lita was silent. She watched him battle his thoughts. "Tell me about Luna?" She asked quietly. She quickly saw the hurt in his eyes and then the love the emancipated from him. His eyes lighted and his smile widened.
"Luna was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. The sun rose every morning with her..."