Together

Women of the Otherworld Fanfiction

Singingfrogs

No copyright infringement intended

As Nick watched the stream of moonlight that was reflecting off the wooden paneled flooring he had a reflection of his own; Karl Marsten and the rest of the world really needed to mind his or it's own business. Sure people's natural curiosities had led to outstanding and remarkable discoveries when it came to scientific elements and the medical marvels around today; but deep within their hearts, they didn't understand how the constant interference could sometimes have disastrous effects. That had been why the Pack had to destroy Daniel Santos and his minions no more than five years ago; it was his anger and his meddling of the Pack rules that had ultimately led to his death.

It aggravated and confused him at the same time. He just wished the mutts of his race would willingly stay out of the Pack's way, to just get on with their nomadic lifestyle and leave them well enough alone. But considering he knew how difficult it was to control urges, to reel in his emotions and use his instincts he was surprised that he wasn't recalled back to Stonehaven every week to face another set of problems. It was this reason why he got so angry over peoples desire to seek revenge on enemies. He had seen it many times over the years with Santo's being the main perpetrator. However, as he thought back to his own life, many times dates or hook ups with the many women he had seduced had ended in catfights or explosive arguments when ex-lovers met with the woman who had replaced them. It seemed even humans had the uncanny ability to interfere or force themselves into different people's lives.

But, times had changed for Nicky and as he readjusted his tie against his expensive suit he was seriously considering Riley's offer to vacation on an island that was off the grid so no one could bother either of them; he had to admit, he rather liked the idea of being isolated on a tropical island with just Riley for company.

The foyer of Stonehaven was empty as his smart classy suit shoes clicked against the wooden floor, the werewolf absentmindedly playing with the buttons of his suit blazer as he continued to observe the moonlight. The air was cool as the winter chill propelled through one of the open windows in the living room, the wind bellowing through the curtains and circled the beautiful smell of burning wood throughout the house. Stonehaven was normally bursting with loud conversations and exclamations of love, but as he stood on his own, his home was unnervingly silent. In the quiet, his sensitive hearing could pick up on the crackling firewood, the tapping of computer keyboard keys and the mumblings of Clay and Elena who had taken it upon themselves to look at the Pack records. Nevertheless, he was abruptly pulled from his daydream when a voice called from behind him.

"I still don't understand why we're the ones who have to meet with him." Riley's gentle voice uttered as her high heels clinked against the wooden stairs as she sauntered towards him. The older werewolf couldn't stop his mouth from hanging open as he took in Riley's apparel; the graphic designer reveling in the opportunity to see her dressed up for the night considering she favored jeans and a comfortable t-shirt. Her black cocktail dress clung onto her curvy figure and travelled down to the middle of her thighs. Her shoulders were distinctively noticeable due to the elegant shoulder pads that enhanced the shape of Riley's physique and the overall beauty of the dress. Nick could only smile towards her as he watched her pulling on a black cardigan that would help to defend her against the cold.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Nick replied as he took a few steps towards her and took her phone from her hand. She just smiled her thanks when she watched him tucking the device into his inside pocket. "But then again, when he meets the Pack he tends to bring out our bad sides."

"Don't forget his uncanny ability to flirt with Elena." Riley expressed as she and Nick headed towards the rail of coats that were hanging by the large grandfather clock.

"Which puts Clayton in a very bad mood." Nick voiced as he grabbed Riley's trench coat and continued to help the petite Doctor into it. "Who is none to happy with you I might add." Nick finished as he straightened out the material on her shoulders and smiled down towards the young woman who was holding a confused expression.

"What the hell have I done wrong now?" Riley intoned as she distractedly went about straightening out and buttoning her coat. Nick in turn turned away from the redhead and heaved his arms through the sleeves of his own coat.

"He's pretty pissed that you readily volunteered your services to the Sheriff concerning the autopsy of the murdered girl."

"I was trying to help." Riley said through gritted teeth and moved her eyes back to Nick before timidly running her hands through her thick side fringe. "I thought if I got a look at the body I would be able to give a medical diagnosis to see if it was a wolf or a human kill. I could also get a closer look to see if the creature that attacked me conducted it. You never know, I may have been able to shift the investigation away from Jeremy and the others.

"It was a good idea and an idea I will take advantage off." Jeremy pronounced as he strolled from the depths of the house, an apple in hand.

"But if Clayton is angry I don't want to…"

"Ignore Clay." Jeremy interrupted. "It wasn't his place to judge you for your actions, and defiantly not when you did it for the good of the pack." Jeremy finished as he came to stand in front of the two of them. Riley just looked behind her shoulder and up towards Nick who just gave her a comforting smile.

"He's only doing what he believes to be right." Riley said softly.

"Which is fine, but he gets blinded by his protectiveness and fails to see how siding with the Sherriff and his men may be a good thing. But, that is a conversation for another night, tonight I need you to talk with Marsten, to see just what information he is offering and see whether he wants to join us in this battle. When you have all the information give us a call and we shall take it from there." Jeremy ordered, his hard eyes looking between his two delta wolves that simply nodded at their orders before headed into the snowy surroundings of the night.

0-0-0

They had come to the start of their investigation, but neither of them seemed thrilled by that sentiment. Instead they tried to talk of other matters such as Nick's new business venture that his Father had wholeheartedly established and given Nick the reigns in designing, constructing and running; they talked about her patients and the rather imprudent Doctors that refused to converse with her while Riley outwardly enthused about Sophie and her brother Ryan's friendship that kept her sane while she was living in London.

It seemed they did not want to speak of what weighed on both their minds, although Riley could hear it in Nick's voice, and in her own as well, so flat, so subdued and for once she really could blame it on tiredness due to her difficult nightmares. Both of them were struggling to comprehend the enormity of the situation, each of them fraught with worries about the unidentified creature, the message so blatantly left for Riley and the impending Police investigation into the Danvers family.

Riley looked out the window at the cars splashing through the downpour, allowing time with her thoughts. She knew what she needed to do when she reached Nick's club; she knew that Karl Marsten was going to be anything but difficult and from the phone call Jeremy had received it seemed he might have come into some information concerning the creature that were their biggest concern. How he happened to have this information she didn't know. It was surprising considering he was technically a Pack member now, but each time she prepared herself to converse with the man her body trembled with anxiety, a fear that could never be shown in front of him; if on the wrong side he possessed too much of a threat and Riley dreaded to think about those possibilities.

"You're very quiet." Nick said. "Is something bothering you?"

"I'm fine." Riley expressed as she shrugged her shoulders with and a smile. "Just got a little on my mind."

"My dear Riley, I find that thoughts that render you silent always tend to mean you're anything but fine." Nick said with a smile, his face momentarily turning towards her before he moved his eyes back to the snowy road.

"And that makes me feel so much better."

"Oh come on, you know what I mean."

"I know, but we're all struggling with different things, I don't want to burden you with mine."

"Riley, I want you to talk to me, I want to be able to be there for you." Riley ventured a look at him; the gloom of the car could not hide the comforting lines of his expression and the smile of adulation that took hold of his lips as he turned his brown eyes towards her.

"Do you think I could do it?" She said, "Find this creature, kill it and then deal with the repercussions of its murder?" He passed her a comforting glance as he removed his right hand from the steering wheel and lovingly encased her hand with his large one.

"I know you can do anything you put your mind too. I have no doubt that when the time comes you will make the right decision and the Pack will stand right beside you." The young werewolf simply rested her hand to his forearm as she leant over and placed a delicate kiss to his cheek, Nick fluttering his eyes momentarily before he turned his attention back to the road.

Nick swiftly pulled up behind an expensive Porsche that was parked neatly on the driveway. For a moment they simply sat without looking at each other before Riley turned her focus to her companion. Nick was squinting through the dark windows as if searching for an unseen foe that may have been stalking them like a lioness would her prey. It seemed he had come to the conclusion that no one was going to potentially ambush them and he heaved at the car door handle.

The street was suffering with incessant activity as Riley continued to get a better look at the building Nick had acquired to act as one of the bars involved within his and Antonio's building project. The architecture was simple but provided a great sense of sophistication due to the large planters that stood high next to the main entrance and under the windows. A smile engulfed her lips as her eyes fluttered towards the beautiful wave like circles of light shining behind the main door; Riley had no doubt that the light circles had been Nick's idea.

Nevertheless, before she could curl even a finger around the handle of her car door Nick was graciously holding the door for her. The young Doctor thanked him as she slowly withdrew from the vehicle and gave a curious gaze down towards Nick's offered arm; she beamed up towards him before hooking her arm through his and allowed him to guide her towards the bar.

"So is this the place you were telling me about while you were staying in London?" Riley questioned with a smile as she looked up towards him. It was no secret that while Nicholas was in London to aid in his Father's business that he had been staying with her to lower the cost of his trip. But, while he was staying Riley had taken him to a variety of different iconic landmarks of London, one of them being the Thames River. That was the night that was burned forever in her memory as the pair of them had spoken secrets, desires and their most troubling emotions and predicaments that had seen them talking into the early hours of the morning. It was also the one night that had seen her finally confirm exactly how she felt towards her old friend.

"Yeah, I thought it was about time I showed you considering I've been bouncing ideas off you for the last couple of months." Nick explained with a smile as they weaved through the think traffic of humans and headed towards the back entrance.

"You feeling more confident about the whole thing now considering the other two bars have done so well?"

"I have to admit it's all still a little surreal. This is the first project that I created, drew up and presented to my father that's worked." Nick responded "But yes, I guess I'm a little more comfortable with the idea now that everything seems to be doing okay." Nick finished a gentle smile on his lips as he looked down towards Riley who was holding her own smile. Riley could still remember the way she gaped at him as he said his words of doubt. She could remember thinking that Nicholas Sorrentino, one of the biggest womanizers on the planet was openly admitting to her of his unease at his Father's instructions and doubted his own confidence. Normally he exhumed self-assurance, with charming pick-up lines or seductive proposals but back then, he had behaved so much differently while he was in her company.

"Antonio must be overjoyed that you're finally taking a more active role within the company." Riley started "And he gets to see you more often."

"I guess you're right." Nick voiced as he pushed open the heavy back door and held it out for her. Riley gave him her thanks before heading into the dark corridors of the bar before waiting for Nicky who quickly grasped hold of her arm once again before guiding the pair of them through the corridors. "I wanted to show you the club, so I thought I'd have Marsten meet us here." He expressed, as the bland white washed walls of the back corridors were unable to keep in the heat of the building resulting in the biting chill from outside was slowly creeping into the bar.

"Fair enough, but I would have seen this place before I left." Riley expressed with a cheeky smile as Nick once again readjusted his hold on her arm and redirected them down another corridor and through a large grated gate.

"That's not the point." Nick countered with an eyebrows raised look. "Besides, I know how Marsten reacts to you. You're going to need your breathing space." Nick finished, moving in front of her so he could grasp both of her hands and started walking backwards as they moved through the large doorway and into a large living space.

Riley couldn't stop the smile from engulfing her features as she noticed the first details of the nightclub. On the ceiling effectual LED lights were dotted across the roof as if imitating the starry night sky while comfortable cushioned booths were inbuilt to the side of a lowered open space that she knew to be the 'dancing' area. Nevertheless, as her eyes continued to take in the bright colours and the nice layout, the large scaffolding levels and the plastic tarp that was hanging all over the place made Riley realize just how much work still needed to be done.

"So? Medical opinion?" Nick questioned with a joking smile.

"Medical opin…." Riley smiled, her words trailing off as she spun back around to Nick who was intensely studying his young companion who could not keep the awe from sparkling in her face as she looked around the club. "You don't need any medical opinions this place looks great."

"Thank you." Nick expressed with a smile before he recognized Riley's frown and spun around to see his assistant heading towards them.

Riley knew some girls looked pretty in dresses. Some girls held the air of a professional and confident woman and still look charming and feminine. So as Riley observed the woman in front of her why did she feel like she wasn't one of those girls? She had stood in her Stonehaven bedroom, staring at her reflection in the full-length mirror and thought; how the hell does someone parade with confidence in this thing, and now, as she watched the beautiful woman gaining on Nicky all of those troubling thoughts engulfed her once again.

The soft material of her dress was unable to stop the biting chill of the building, her internal temperature cooling in the freezing air as she wrapped the loose tendrils of her hair around the outer shell of her ear. Her mind suddenly elsewhere as she thought back to the troubling situation she was caught up in and now she was about to face a werewolf who made her uneasy and destructively angry at the same time. For the last five years Marsten had an uneasy peace with the Pack and the pleasure he got at her families anger only fueled their dislike for the man; and it was in these five years that she had really formed an opinion about him.

She struggled to keep her emotions hidden when she spoke with him and she struggled to deal with the incessant teasing of Marsten. Her pack were getting more and more frustrated with her lack of emotional outbursts as he mocked her, her family demanding she stand up for herself unknowing that Riley had spent years of her life suffering with the bullying of others and she really did not care for what Karl had to say or said to her.

However, both Riley and Nick knew that Jeremy was entrusting them with an important job considering Karl possibly held some vital information concerning the enemy in which they were facing. It was times like these when the pair of them felt Jeremy's close eye on them, monitory their progress; he knew that they would try their best, and most of the time it paid off, but when Clayton constantly second guessed his alpha in sending a pacifist Doctor against an egotistical felon it was Riley who really doubted Jeremy's strategy.

But, as she continued to stand there, watching the young woman who was talking with her companion give arbitrating gazes she could not stop her mind from falling back to her own life. Karl constantly harassed her about her lack of a personal life. Sure, she hadn't had an intimate relationship in a good four years, and many of her university friends had married in large ceremonies and most of them were preparing to become parents for the first or even the second time. But, when you lived for as long as a werewolf, Riley did not feel the urgency to find her mate and have a litter of pups; after all her body was the age of a twenty-three year old. Karl however, did not care in belittling her lack of a family, her chosen career, her unjustified fear of flying and any other thing he could think of.

A large, warm but very soothing hand encased the shape of her shoulder that finally managed to pull the Doctor from her reprieve, causing Riley to look up towards Nick who had nothing but concern shining deeply in his brown eyes as he tried to introduce her to his friend.

"Riley, this is Penny. Penny, I'd like to introduce you to my old friend." Nick voiced gently, his comfort vibrating within the tone of his voice as he slowly guided Riley to the elegant woman who cautiously looked at Riley's outstretched hand.

"It's nice to meet you." Riley voiced as she forced a smile to her lips, her stomach churning like the ocean during a thunderstorm.

"Pleasure." She replied with an apathetic look, looking at Riley's hand and refusing to shake it. Riley just gazed up at Nick whose eyes were hard with annoyance as he unclipped his coat and shrugged it off his shoulders. "But Nicky, I wasn't expecting you. The carpenters won't be here for another week."

"That's alright, I've just got some business to attend to. So if you'll excuse us, we'll settle down for a drink." Nick answered before his hand curled around Riley's arm and dragged her towards the bar and inviting her to sit on the bar stall as he made her favorite drink from memory. "You have to ignore Penny, she's still a little sour that I turned down her offer of dinner."

"You turned her down? Surely she's just your type?"

"Normally I would have said yes, but I don't sleep with people working for me."

"That's new." Riley laughed, her smile growing even wider as she took in Nick's expression a look that quickly morphed into a smile of his own.

Half an hour must have passed, the pair of them enjoying a drink before Nick faltered in his drinking and his face-hardened. Riley's heart dropped within her chest as she realized who must have walked through the door. The young Doctor gave a cautious glance behind her shoulder and sure enough, Karl Marsten had arrived. His dark hair and sharp features did nothing to dull his piercing eyes as he admired his surroundings. With his pressed pants, linen shirt, Italian loafers, faint tan and manicured fingernails he looked like an action hero, idling on the sidelines while his stunt double worked up a sweat for him. But, Riley knew him better and those expensive cloths did little to hide his powerful build. She hated to admit it but he reminded her of Nick; a version of Nick who had not had the peaceful and happy upbringing of a Pack wolf.

"Looks like it's time to rock and roll." Nick mumbled as he stepped from his stall and towards Marsten whose sensitive eyesight took in Nick's immaculate form heading towards him.

"I was wondering who Jeremy might have sent. I was rather hoping Elena would be here to greet me." Karl said with a sickening smile as Nick came to a firm stop in front of him.

"Well, you'll just have to make do with me." Nick replied as he placed his hands to his hips, the lapels of his grey blazer lying over his arms as his brown eyes gazed intently into his.

"Oh come now, we both know that you didn't come alone." Karl charmed with a smirk, lifted the back of his hand and placed it to Nicks shoulder as he scouted passed him and headed towards Riley who was still seated at the bar. "And there she is, the snow queen herself." Marsten mocked with a showman's air spiraling around him. Riley just rolled her eyes as she looked between her elders. Nick just shot her an apologetic look, a look she just waved away. "At least crack me a smile."

"When you've deserved one I might consider it." Riley stated her expression hard and her voice emotionless as she coolly turned to face him, her face never turned from his as she made sure to never give him the satisfaction of an emotional response.

"Still an emotional retard I see." Marsten mocked as he fluttered his eyes towards Nick who was standing extremely close to Riley's back; so close that he was momentarily distracted by her intoxicating scent that lifted to his nose. Riley however glanced over her shoulder towards her companion who shared her unease as Marsten sat to the edge of the bar stall.

"Yes, well at least I don't have to terrorize a woman to make myself feel like a man." Riley retorted as she rolled her eyes from Nick towards Karl as if bored with his continuous insults. Nick couldn't prevent the smirk from engulfing his lips.

"Huh…" Was all Karl could muster before he clasped his hands together and stared intently towards Riley whose expression was still emotionless but held a quality of 'don't you even think about messing with me.' "It seems, for the first time, you've rendered me speechless."

"Then you have finished with the unnecessary harassment and you can tell us what we want to know." Riley voiced with a no nonsense tone. Nick balked at Riley's sudden confidence. For the first time since he had known her Riley was standing up for herself, she was taking none of Karl's nonsense, she was exhuming a strength she very rarely showed with someone she didn't completely trust. She never showed it in front of Clayton and all he felt was pride and adoration for her as she stood up to her tormentor.

"Straight to the point. Jeremy always said that about you"

"Then you know I care little for small talk."

"I would take her word for it." Nick interrupted, his hand resting on his hip while his other hand was resting to the corner of his bar.

"Very well." He uttered as Penny, who had momentarily been forgotten passed Marsten a drink before Nick dismissed her for the evening and turned his attention towards his untrusting pack mate.

"So why did you call Jeremy?" Riley questioned as she crossed her legs, the hem of her dress riding up her thigh and she couldn't help but inwardly smile when she noticed Karl fluttering his eyes towards her. It's a good thing it was her and Nicky because if he was talking with Clayton and Elena, he wouldn't have any eyes left.

"I came into contact with some sensitive information concerning the deaths of several different individuals in a variety of countries." Karl exhumed as he reached into his pocket and pulled out one of his expensive cigars.

"You mean this isn't the only killing by this creature?" Nick questioned as he shared Riley's troubled look.

"That's what I'm saying. It also gets around considering people have been found in seven different countries."

"How can you be sure there is only one creature? For all we know there could be hundreds of them" Riley inputted as she blinked away Karl's exhaled smoke.

"Then I want to know where they've been hiding. As it is the Pack barely managed to keep their existence from the Supernatural Council for a few hundred years and now, since Jeremy has been alpha we're sitting comfortably as one of the more extinguished races."

"What has this got to do with anything?" Riley grumbled as she momentarily fluttered her eyes away from Karl and then back to him, the older werewolf grating on her nerves when she took in his smug smile.

"All I'm saying is that it's difficult to hide a race with large numbers. Especially now considering only a few people have come into contact with them and survived."

"Do you have any idea who or what we're dealing with?" Nick voiced as he pulled Marsten's attention towards him.

"I've not heard much from my old mutt associates, but rumors are spreading of a bat like creature with dragon horns and talons like a Dinosaur." Karl explained. Nick simply placed his hand to the bottom of Riley's back as he tried to provide her the comfort that she required. She was trying her damned hardest not to falter and show her weaknesses in front of Karl who was scrutinizing her intently. She had far too much practice in keeping her emotions hidden.

"I've faced a creature like the one you are describing. I've been tracking one all over England for the last few years but the most recent contact I've had with it was a few months ago. Long before any of the incidences in Bear Valley has occurred."

"So you're not denying that you were clawed by this thing?" Karl questioned as he narrowed his eyes in her direction. Riley herself just readjusted her position as she narrowed her eyes, struggling to read the werewolf in front of her as she tried to judge his question as a loaded one.

"What are you implying?"

"You are one of, if not the only individual who has been attacked by this unidentified supernatural. You've been tracking it for years, you know its methods in fighting and fleeing and you know its weaknesses. Maybe it's searching the planet for you."

"We don't know that." Nick interrupted. "This thing could have just found a look alike living in Bear Valley."

"Marsten has a point Nick." Riley interjected as she ignored his surprise and Karl's knowing expression. "The woman that was left near our property holds certain physical traits as me, and what's the betting that the other victims look very much like me?"

"You would be correct." Marsten answered. "Each of them were also a Supernatural. A couple of them were witches, while a Shaman, Clairvoyant and a Necromancer were also killed."

"So this thing is coming after Riley?" Nick questioned with a seriousness that did not suit him.

"It could be." Marsten smiled as he breathed in the smoke of his cigar.

"But we can't be sure?" Nick stated quickly again.

"Are we ever sure of anything?" Karl started as he replaced the glass to the bar top. "But what we know is that this thing is going after people looking like Riley, each of them non-human and all I can assume is that this thing won't stop until it's dead. From the evidence it's sure as hell coming after you, and it is coming for it's revenge."