CHAPTER THREE
' What happened to you?' That's what my chocolate chip smelling saviour says first thing? I was falling in and out of consciousness for a long time. And truth be told, I can't remember most of it. What I did remember is almost a blur. The first time I started coming around, I was on a cold, wet stone floor. I could barely smell the werewolf, the Lycan, and the two vampires that stood nearby.
"How long until it wears off?" a male voice asked.
"She looks awful," came a female voice. Gee thanks
It hurt to open my eyes. When I did, everything was blurry. I couldn't put faces to the figures that watched me. I could, however, tell that they stood on the other side of bars. Was I locked up? Darkness once again took me. Crap. Just...Crap.
I started to come back around again. This time things were a bit clearer.
"Hey ... did you find the dealer?" someone asked. There was a growl in-leu of a response. "No then," replied the voice.
"Can she hear us?" a new female voice asked.
"Probably, she is semi-conscious at the moment." Another new voice. What, was I on display for people to see? 'Hey kids, this could be you if you take the drug Night Shadow.'
"What ever was in those pills... it really fucked her up." No shit Sherlock.
There was a long silence. No one spoke, only watched.
"We should move her. I've seen the side effects in others. If she wakes in a strange place, it could send her into a panic." That voice...
What he said was very true. But what were they going to do? Take me home? Did they know where I lived? Creepy.
"I'll take her to my room," came the familiar voice. More silence. Why did I get the feeling that had been an odd sentence? I heard the cell doors open, footsteps came closer just before they reached me, I once again fell into darkness. I didn't stay there long as I was hurdled into a memory.
New York 197 Years Ago;
"Come on Yukina," the man who had been taking care of me for the past three years called over his shoulder. "We'll be late."
I stood up. I had been picking up wild flowers to make a fairy crown. Hey, I was ten!
"Late for what?" I asked quickly catching up to him. Looking around, we were in a large forest. There was a certain smell. Familiar.
"You'll see," he answered as we came to a large deep ditch.
In the spring it would probably be filled with water. Across the ditch was a large fallen tree making a bridge. He stopped at the tree staring into the forest on the other side. I said his name. But for whatever reason, I could not remember it. He looked down to me, his icy blue eyes staring into mine. He bent down to my level.
"Listen Yukina. You ...are a one of a kind creature. I've taught you all I can about the ways of a vampire. You have so many traits of one. Except needing blood. You don't drink it. But it's starting to... look you just can't stay with me anymore," he said coldly. "I've made arrangements... so you can continue your learning." He looked behind me. "With them."
I turned and almost backed into him. A rather large Lycan pack stood there in human form watching us. The Alpha walked onto the tree, only coming over halfway and stood there waiting.
"It's okay... they won't hurt you," the man promised. This time it was him that took my hand and lead me over to the Alpha. "Yukina, this is Grant," he said calmly. "And over there," he paused, nodding to a young woman with long chestnut brown hair. "Is his mate, Connie. They will be taking care of you from now on," he said softly. "They will teach you the way of the Lycans. You belong with them"
I shook my head. No. I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay by his side. That's where I belonged!
Grant looked down, his hazel eyes locked on me. "You will be safe," he said, nodding. "We have granted this fang-" he stopped, saying the man's name instead. "Arthur," he continued. "Permission to come and visit you here. At the border."
I looked at him. To Arthur. "You'll visit... right?" I asked.
Arthur nodded slowly, though I saw doubt in his eyes. "As often as I can. Now go," he said, releasing my hand. Grant took it once again, leading me across the rest of the tree. I looked back and Arthur was gone. I never saw him again. No matter how many times I went to that tree, he never came back to see me. Not even when...
New York Present Day;
I inhaled deeply, as I started to wake up fully, instantly smelling nothing but chocolate chips. Arthur. I was in a very warm and cozy bed, under the covers. The bed was sooo soft. I was face first in the pillows and my head was pounding as I lifted it up. I instantly regretted it when the sunlight hit my eyes. I could hear a faint cry of a baby. Somewhere. God, it was a loud thing.
"You're back," came a deep voice. Arthur's voice. I sat up straight, blinking to try and get my focus back. The sunlight was really pissing me off. When my normal sight finally came back, I spotted him. Arthur was sitting in an old Victorian chair by a set of double doors. His icy blue eyes stared me down. He had a short army-cut hairstyle now. His face hardened. Old and new scars could be seen on his pale skin. I backed against the headboard as he shifted and stood, not once taking his eyes off me. I felt like an animal trapped in a corner by its predator.
"Who are you?" he asked in a cold tone. At first, I couldn't answer. Just like all those years ago. Instead I went with my smart-ass mouth.
"Since when do you have a beard?" I asked, trying to glare. Failing. But I tried.
Arthur walked towards me. Causing me to tense. He stopped instantly. He must have noticed. "Who. Are. You?" he asked again.
I took a deep breath. "You should know, you did raise me for three years. Then again... you abandoned me so fast, I would be shocked if you actually remembered me," I said in a bitter tone.
His eyes softened very slightly. "Yukina," he said letting out a breath. Why was he so shocked? He shook his head. "How..." he began, then suddenly became all business. "What's the name of the dealer. The one who sold you the... the drugs?" he spit out.
I raised an eyebrow to him. But kept quiet. Why was this any of his business?
"Yukina... please. If he was just targeting vampires, it wouldn't be a big deal. But the drug is starting to be sold to humans too," he said, making a fist. "It drives them mad," he added.
I frowned. Humans? Those pills were made to mess with vampires, giving us a high. Letting us feel human. But for a human to take it...
"Name. Now," Arthur commanded. This was not the man I remembered.
"He goes by Scott. He's just a dealer. The one who makes it is a vampire."
Arthur nodded, seeming a bit relived. "We can start there," he said and turned, heading for the door. "I'll be back... don't move," he said, simply leaving me alone in his room.
Gone again. Good. I took the opportunity to make my escape. Going to the window, I pushed it open. We were clearly far from the city. Shit. I could find my way back easily enough. Climbing out, I jumped and landed on the ground below. I had been on the top floor of the ... house? Castle? ...Large friendly looking prison? I surveyed my surroundings more. I didn't know where I was yet. I then heard foot steps from inside and turned to face large glass doors that lead to a dining room.
Arthur was coming down a set of stairs, talking on his cell phone. He froze when he saw me outside, completely out of the room. Shit. Again!
"Yukina!" he yelled, and then I was running, wanting to get away from my past. I thought I had been making good speed. Key word here being 'thought.' The next thing I felt, Arthur came at me from my left side, tackling me to the ground. We rolled a few feet until he sat there on top of me, pinning me to the ground. He was breathing heavily, glaring down at me.
"Are you crazy?!" he yelled. "That drug is still in your blood! Its been laced! It kicks in every time your heartbeat rises!"
I went to tell him off, but the feeling came back. Blurred, colourful vision. The tilt-A-whirl dizziness. My face must have given away how I felt because Arthur's face went from furry to worry. "Yukina?" he asked, his right hand coming up to cup my face. When I didn't answer, mostly because I couldn't, his other hand came to my left side, holding my face in my hands. "Hey...HEY! Yukina!" he yelled.
My eyes roll into the back of my head as the world went dark very fast. I could feel Arthur shaking me, still calling my name, though he was seeming further and further away now. "Yukina!" I heard once more before everything became silent.