Chapter 2
New York Present Day;
I blinked awake, scowling at my right hand as it gripped my bed sheet like it was a life line. What the hell? I hadn't dreamt of the chocolate chip smelling man in... weeks. God, I couldn't even lie to myself. I always dreamt of the man who saved me. There, I said it. He saved me. He raised me until I was ten years old, then he found a Lycan pack that was willing to take me in and continue raising me. He left without even the smallest of good byes. No good reason. Never to be seen again. Not even when my pack was killed for their part in harbouring an abomination (AKA me). I was almost killed, only surviving because I had found a human to feast on. Not once did that man ever try to find me.
I sat up, grabbing my hair brush. My shoulder length blackish brown hair was a big tangled mess. I could almost call it an afro. When I finally managed to tamed my hair, I opened the window curtains, blinking at the lights of the city. Night. It was night time. It had been a long time since I'd slept the day away. A two day alcohol and drug binge will do that to you. Years of trauma didn't help.
The 'Great War' of the turned and Born vampires had ended almost a year ago. The Lycans had joined the Born in an effort to stop the turned. Word had spread that an all powerful vampire had shown up and ended the whole thing. For now, anyway. There was a bounty out for the vampire Alistair, a wanted war criminal.
I wondered if my blue eyed, chocolate chip smelling saviour had been part of the war. Was he even still alive? I shook my head. Who cared? Not me. Nope. The night was young. I had things to do, and people to see. A look in the mirror and I was glad that my brownish green eyes did not look bloodshot as I thought they should have been. Good.
Now to get out of...Friday's clothes. Good God, I smelled. Digging though my dresser, I pulled out a black lace bra and matching panties. I then found my black tank top that had a faded picture of vampire fangs on the front. Inside joke. Dark blue jeans and converse completed the look. I was set to go, grabbing a faux leather jacket on my way out. Leaving my hair down for the night seemed good. Plus at the moment, there was no need for makeup. Throwing on my black messenger bag with my collection of photo buttons, I walked out into the hall, shutting the door.
I ran back in half a second later and grabbed my smart phone. Not that I made or revived any calls, but I liked having it. Once again, I headed out. The streets of the city were alive. God bless NYC. I looked back to the run down looking apartment building. Did I lock my door? I let out a scoff. Even if I didn't, the locals were wary of me just enough to stay away.
It wasn't long before I reached my first destination: Starbucks. Entering, I inhaled the scent of freshly made chocolate chip muffins. Toby, the young collage aged human behind the counter, grinned when he saw me. He was cute for a human. Blonde hair, emerald green eyes, and tattoos all over.
"Yukina," he called over the noise of the cappuccino machine. "The usual?" he asked. I gave a simple nod and took a seat while I waited.
I watched a few people walk by. All mortal. Good. Coming down always made it hurt my head to push my scenes out. Only when or if they got really close I would have to worry. I went to great lengths to avoid Vampire and Lycan alike. Even with a peace treaty, I was still an abomination. He must have thought so... otherwise he never would have -
"Yukina!" came Toby's voice from beside me.
"Oh, Toby!" I let out a breath, startled.
"You okay? I called you like three times," he asked, setting my chocolate chip muffin and iced Mocha on the table in front of me.
"Sorry, I was lost in my own thoughts," I said, handing him some money. "Keep the change," I added quickly. He watched me for a bit then headed back behind the counter. Good. I sat there in silence, picking apart my muffin and eating it in small bits to keep my hunger in check. Not at all like my first time eating with my saviour.
New York 200 years ago;
"Geeze kid, slow down," the man across from me scolded. "Your eating like you haven't had a meal in weeks," he said as his icy blue eyes once again looked me over. "Use your fork at least."
I slowly set down the chicken I had been eating like corn on the cob, wiping my hands off in a clothe napkin. "It is," I said quietly. This was the first time I had spoken to him.
His eyes darted to mine. "So, you do speak," he said as a small smile came to his face. Then blinking to break his stare, he went back to eating. "I'm sorry. I know it must be hard on you. You're but a child and have already lost those closest to you. How have you lasted this long on your own?," he asked, biting into a bread roll.
I looked at him for a long while, then spoke softly. "Running, hiding, digging though the trash. People waste a lot of food," I said, shrugging, then continued eating 'like a proper lady.'
The man let out a sigh. "That's hard. Look, until ...until you can fend and hunt for yourself, you can stick with me," he said, and went back to his meal. When I asked why, he never answered.
New York Present Day
A buzzing snapped me out of my memories. I looked down to my phone and saw 'Unknown Caller' had popped up on my caller I.D. Swallowing, I swiped the 'Decline' option. There was only one person that hid their number and I was not about to get caught up in the mess he had made.
I stood up and with a wave to Toby, I was headed out to my next stop which was my favourite bar. There, I could feel human, for a few hours anyway. I slipped in without having to show I.D. Perfect. I looked around for my dealer. I could smell him here. Somewhere. The bar was crowded, and loud music was playing. I could also smell a few Lycans nearby, but luckily for me they were too busy with their mates. I paused because in the far corner sat the vampire Lisbeth and her Werewolf mate, Knight. Werewolf... like my mother had been. It warmed my heart to know that part of my kind was out there. Then I froze. A brief smell of chocolate chips drifted through the bar. Strange.
Before I could look around, a man with long greasy blonde hair came into view.
"There you are!," he snapped, grabbing me by my forearm and yanking me to a corner of the bar. "Do you have the money?," he asked, his eyes darting around the room more so than they normally did.
"Umm, do I ever not have the money?," I asked, handing him a hundred dollar bill which he quickly snatched from me. Humans.
"Here," he said, digging into his inner pocket and pulling out a small zip lock baggie. Inside was liquid looking pills, almost the colour of blood, only they had a tint or purple in them. There was two, almost three, weeks worth. Didn't know, didn't care.
"Look, you're going to have to pretend that you don't know me for while... I need to lay low... you should too," he said, and with that, he disappeared into the crowd.
What was that about? Shaking my head of the strangeness, I took out one of the pills, staring at it. Sometime last year, before the war, a human and vampire got into 'business' together, creating a drug for Vampires and Lycans alike. It made everything colourful, warm, and fuzzy, numbing any negative feeling. I quickly swallowed the pill, sighing happily. Waiting.
I suddenly felt a sense of danger. I was being watched by many eyes. I started making my way to the door, stuffing the baggie into my purse. The perks of the pill was starting to take effect, but this was different. I stumbled out the doors, catching myself on a bike rack. Someone nearby yelled, "Wasted!" I could feel the danger getting closer. I tried to run, but I couldn't. I could only stumble and sway.
There was definitely something wrong with the pills. I heard a voice yell, "Freeze." But I still darted, well more like rolled, into the alleyway next to the bar. I laid on the cold wet pavement, the world around me spinning faster and faster like I was riding a Tilt-A-Whirl. I suddenly felt the presence of many Lycans, the werewolf, his mate and... the smell of chocolate chips.
"Do we take her to the cells for questioning? She obviously knows the dealer," someone asked.
"Force it from her?" came another.
Things were fuzzy now. Then came a familiar, and comforting voice. "No. Wait," it said.
"Arthur ... what's wrong, you look like you've seen a ghost," came the female vampire's voice.
The smell of chocolate chips was right beside me now, lifting me from the ground, up in his strong arms. "I... I think I am," he replied. Just as the world around me went quiet and dark, his voice still came though. "Yukina... what has happened to you?"