hey peoples!!!! sorry this took so long but my internet was screwed up and there was really nothing i could do about it, the fact that all my stuff is written by hand and not pre-typed probably doesn't help either…………. anyways, this chapter has the action i promised, and i hope it doesn't disappoint!!!!!! R&R peoples!!!!! Thanx
ENJOY!!! )
The day droned on slowly, all I could do was sit at my small desk and will the clock that hung on the standard white walls to go faster. Though, as always, the clock was unwilling to cooperate.
When the bell finally rang a grueling seven hours later, setting me free, I gratefully ran out the door and breathed in the air, crisp and fresh after a rain. Carina offered me a ride home in her old truck, but I declined so that I could savor the fresh air. The woods were best at this time, clean and new with raindrops scattered on the forest floor.
It took less time than I remembered to get back to my old, two story brick house. Annette's car was already parked in the gravel driveway. I didn't see Helena's, my aunt, but she would be here in about half an hour, as usual.
I came through the front door to find Annette already in the kitchen. The green walls went well with my lightened mood; I was relaxing, despite myself. We have been hunting almost every day for about two months now, un- relentless in our quest to eradicate the vampires. We haven't made a kill in weeks, and in the process Alexandra, or rather Alex, my cousin, had been wounded. She received a deep wound on her back right leg from one of their females that had only just gotten the twenty seven stitches removed from it.
In a matter of minutes my bleak mood had returned. I flung down my bag and walked to the counter. I picked up a couple of strawberries and a bottle of water before sitting down.
After eating one I made to ask Annette what the game plan was for tonight, whether the forest, city, or a specific place would serve as our hunting grounds, and the groups and such, but she beat me to it.
"The family's coming tonight." She said turning to look at me.
"I expected as such." I snapped. I instantly regretted it; I had to remember that none of this is her fault. Of course she meant the pack, not all of them were my blood relatives, only my mother, aunt, and Alex. But I suppose that "family" was a good way to describe us, we are very close, but my mother probably uses it because it "pack", apparently, is too savage a term.
She looked puzzled and slightly hurt and I was about to apologize when realization dawned on her face.
"There is no hunt tonight. We are going to take the day off for your birthday, everybody will be here for you." She said excitedly, I only groaned. I do not like attention in any form, and it was hard enough to get them to stop worrying about me, openly, after the accident two years ago.
I opened my mouth to protest, but my mother is fast today. "Now," she instructed, "go upstairs and take a shower, you're a mess. Then put on something that has not just been pulled off your floor. You can clean your room next week, but please, get some of those tubes of paint off the floor; you'll ruin the hardwood stepping on one of those. Now go! Hurry up!"
I was too surprised to come up with something to say so I just closed my mouth and headed up the stairs to my room. I had just shut the door behind me when it dawned on me that I would be getting my first break in weeks. I smiled genuinely as I simply kicked some of my clothes, books and paints against the wall. I actually liked the dark paneled wood that went well with my black furniture. I have deep red walls and long, black curtains on the only window. I also have a black dresser, rarely used, I through my clothes on the floor, bookshelves, and bedside table in my spacious room.
I grabbed a towel and headed off to the bathroom door that was in the far left corner of my room. I felt more relaxed than I had in a long time. I turned on the water and waited for it to get hot as I pulled off my clothes that were still wet from the rain earlier. When the water was hot I jumped in and let the water soothe my stiff muscles. I soaked my thick raven hair with a calming mint shampoo. I took almost half an hour enjoying the luxury before I decided to get out. I even took the time to dry my hair. Despite what my mother said I picked up a pair of black capris and another red tank top off the floor and put them on.
I had gotten so caught up in relaxing that I had forgotten about the fact that the family was coming, and I was slightly startled to find everyone in the living room when I got down the stairs.
"Iris!" I heard someone yelling. I looked to see Alex running towards me, then into me. She hugged me tightly "Happy birthday!"
"Thanks," I said, out of breath as she still had me in a death grip. "Uh, Alex, can't breathe." She let go only to link her arm in mine. She's about my height and has black hair like mine, but its cut short and sweet, and she's only four months younger than I. She also has the strangest, yet the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. They have a golden ring around the outside of them followed by an amber color, then a deep green, and finally, the green fades into a blue around the pupil.
"I see your wounds have healed nicely." I commented, assuming from the dive she had just taken at me on the stairs.
"Yup! I'm as good as new!" she crowed." Got a nasty scar though, can't wait to get that vampire back, and repay her in kind." I laughed along with her as we planned her revenge.
"Alex, share Iris would you?" came a voice from the couch. I looked and noticed Caleb, Julian, and Christopher on the couch. "Hey everybody." I greeted them and sat down on the now overcrowded couch.
We chatted happily for a long time, and I received various gifts from them all. A couple of shirts from Helena, paints and brushes from Julian, CD's from Caleb (who shares my music obsession), a gift card to the bookstore from Chris, and my favorite, a knife with irises etched into it with a matching sheath from Alex. My mother didn't like that one too much and we were trying to convince her otherwise when a knock came on the door.
Annette got up to answer it and I noticed that Leopold, Leo, was not here. My mother looked worried for a moment, and then opened the door.
It was Leo, and from the look on his face we all knew something was happening, and we all immediately quieted.
"I have news. The coven has a new member, and from what we know he's strong. They are going to the city tonight and taking the path through the woods to get there. And what's more," he said, looking at me,"he comes from Washington, and could be the one that forced us from our home there."
I stared at him in shock, the words barely processed in my head. Washington, this newcomer could be the one that I have been hunting these past years. I have finally found him.
They were all looking at me, worried about my reaction.
"I know this is not the best time-", but I cut him off.
"When do we leave?"
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I changed quickly into sweatpants, but kept the old red tank top, knowing that my clothes would be ruined from the change. I rushed out to meet them and we headed out to the woods on the outskirts of town. Alex grasped my hand in support and I smiled at her gratefully.
"Alright," Leo started,"you know the drill. Wait for my signal and attack, separate them and run them off the grounds if you can. Kill when the opportunity presents itself, but leave the newcomer for questioning." I growled at this but nodded.
We all agreed that this would be the best time to change, so we all summoned the transformation, and I was surrounded by the familiar forms of wolves, from Leo's brown, Chris's golden that perfectly matched his hair tone, Julian's silver, and Alex's red. My own coat was as deeply black as the sky above us.
We slinked silently into the trees and put a couple feet in between us all. After about three miles our heads shot up simultaneously at the scent of the coven. After another mile we could see them. I counted seven, six familiar and the new one on the end closest to me.
Leo signaled us to walk forward, and I eyed the newcomer, waiting for the right moment to strike.
A sudden gust of wind brought their eyes to our direction, they had caught our scent.
We chose this time to attack. Chris and Alex went after the ones that were gathering on our right, trying to surround us, Leo took the stranger, leaving me to help Caleb and Julian with the four that were trying to attack Chris and Alex as the tore at the other vampires. It was a flurry of claws, fangs, and a couple weapons from the coven. Alex tore the arm of a blonde vampire, and he in turn pinned her to the ground and went to rip out her very throat as she kicked at his stomach. I howled furiously and jumped on him from behind, clamping my jaws around his own throat, and tore him apart. Alex thanked me silently, and ran to help the others. They were all chasing the other five and were already very far away. Apparently they didn't like a fair fight.
I froze.
One dead and five chased away. That makes six, what about the seventh?
The attack came with a strong force from behind me. He had a blade and slashed at my right leg. I snapped at him and bit his arm. He let out a small scream and grabbed my left paw and arm and twisted them at impossible angles. I yelped loudly as the bone cracked and kicked at him, but he only applied pressure to my wound. I snapped until I had wounded his chest. He hissed in pain and let me go, clutching at his own wound.
I took the chance to run; this was a fight that even I could not win. My paw and forearm ached sorely and I felt as if I would die from the pain of it. After an agonizing mile I slowed and hid myself in the roots of a tree. I could not sense him in any way, and I could not keep myself from whimpering. The pain of it forced me to change back into an eighteen year old girl. My spare clothes were too far away and all I had on now, apart from my necklace, would not be fit for rags. I had so many cuts and bruises covered most of my bone white skin. My left hand was severely broken in many places and I could feel blood dripping into my eyes from a gash on my forehead. I could feel myself slipping into unconsciousness and I tried futilely to keep my eyes open.
I could hear someone walking towards me, and as my eyes closed I could see my attacker walking leisurely toward me. The last thing I was aware of before fading into the darkness was his unnaturally cold hands sweeping the hair that had fallen across my face out of the way, leaving my throat exposed.
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cliffhanger!!!!! what will happen?! review to find out!!!!
i think this made up for my being late ) and reviews only make me write faster!!!! reviewshappiness!
thanx peoples!!!
the-truth-about-heaven…