Chapter Twelve
Micheal paced back and forth in the small cave. His anger and frustration growing. Michelle wanted to comfort him in some way, but didn't know what to do.
"It has been almost a year since I have seen her. We have to do something!"
Micheal punched one of the cave walls, denting it and cutting open his hand. He cursed under his breath. Kellen approached him tentatively.
"Siree said that she isn't being harmed. This is the only way to assure her safety."
Michelle wringed her hands.
"Please calm down Micheal or you're going to wake the pups."
Soft whimpering came from the adjacent rooms as if to prove her point. Micheal smiled at his sister.
"I still can't believe the whole litter survived, I mean seven pups, wow. They all look like you two too."
" You will see Lorena again Micheal."
Micheal grimaced.
"I hope so. I wonder if she loves him more than me. Vampire marriage binds them after all."
Michelle crossed her arms and shook her head.
"Don't say that Micheal. You know she loves you."
Micheal nodded.
"It's hard you know? I know that she is with another man and it kills me. I always worry that he isn't treating her right or that he is taking advantage of her. I always expect that I will wake up one day and found out that all this was a horrible nightmare. That she is still in bed beside me. When I dream at night it is about her. Sometimes I never want to open my eyes because I know that once I do the harsh reality will set in. You guys are married and have a family, while mine was taken from me. I know that is selfish of me but it just hurts..." Micheal slid down the cave wall and fell to his knees. His head was bent but his tears left puddles on the stone floor. His crying echoed off the cave walls. It was difficult for Kellen and Michelle to watch as Micheal was bit by bit consumed by his depression. Micheal knew it had to be this way for her to stand any chance of survival but that didn't make it any easier or less painful for him to bear. He slowly raised himself and stumbled to the cave entrance. Kellen and Michelle`s cave were one of hundreds cut into the side of the mountain. The mountain encircled a large meadow. Micheal watched pups romp and play around. This was one of the few things of their werewolf side they held on to. That and the fact that every pregnancy resulted in at least two pups, if not more. Micheal`s mother had four liters. The first litter produced no surviving pups. The second, only Danny had survived out of three. The third, five pups were born and only Michelle survived. The next litter, six pups were born and Micheal was the only one to survive, not even their mother had lived. Their father killed himself days after their mother`s death and the pack leader, Mother, raised Micheal and his siblings. Micheal swallowed hard and tried to keep the memory of Danny`s death at bay. He had told the story to Lorena a thousand times but it never eased the pain. He quickly turned his thoughts back to the young pups playing in the meadow. When he was younger he always thought that he would find a mate within the pack and they would have pups of their own, as was customary, but it didn't work out like that. Its funny how so easily your entire world changes. Micheal was startled as the sky above him grew dark, the sun blotted out by inky darkness.
"What the hell?" Micheal whispered. Then a terrifying thought occurred to him. One that made fear take hold of him.
Draco has escaped.
Lorena looked back behind her as she ran. The blood dripping from her mouth. Darrain was a few feet behind her but slowly closing the space between them. Lorena threw back her head and laughed. Three humans were released into the enclosure, two of them they had shared, but the third was a challenge. Lorena threw Darrain a smile. Her eyes were crimson red, same as Darrain `s, and fresh blood dripped from his fangs. Their instincts had taken over and they were overjoyed by the feeling of freedom it gave. Lorena listened carefully for the rapidly beating heart of the only human left. He was close, and he was scared. Lorena pushed herself faster and came to a clearing where the man was running through. Lorena was on top of him in seconds. His screams were cut short as her fangs slid into his neck and the sweet liquid flowed into her mouth. She drank greedily and blissfully unaware as Darrain tackled her to the ground. Lorena laughed gleefully and Darrain nibbled her neck playfully before rising and sinking his fangs into the unconscious mans neck. Lorena pushed Darrain off of her kill and bared her fangs at him, hissing angrily. Darrain laughed and held his hands up in surrender. Lorena stood from her crouch and smiled.
"We can share..." Darrain said sexily and gave her a mischievous smile. He ran his blooded hands through his hair. Lorena smiled and nodded. She sank her fangs deep into the man`s neck as Darrain did the same on the other side. When the man was drained, they let the limp body slide between their fingers. Darrain was on top of Lorena suddenly and smiled down at her. They were both giddy from having consumed so much blood. He slid his fangs into her neck and she shuddered with pleasure. After a few moments he removed his fangs and stood, wiping his face.
"We have to attend to our duties now. We have a meeting with the Speed Demons in a little while, so we better get back to our chambers and clean up."
Darrain helped Lorena up and they headed back.
Lorena emerged from the shower and wrapped a towel around herself before opening the bathroom door and stepping out into the bedroom. Darrain sat in one of the chairs across from the bed and smiled at her. He nodded towards the bed where an elegant white and gold gown was draped over. She snatched the gown and disappeared back into the bathroom again. She dressed and braided her hair down her back. Darrain knocked softly on the door and leaned against it.
"Be careful around the Hybrids. They can be very dangerous. They won't dare lay a hand on you while I am around but you never know. They need to drink blood only once a month, but they rely on other Hybrids bloody venom to survive, particularly the opposite sex. It is a very sexual act, much like us biting one another, and they tend not to care when others are around...their fangs are a little shorter than ours. They are much more fragile, like humans in that way, but are harder to kill than humans. They are also immortal unless they are killed. Their most lethal weapons are also similar to ours, their venom, strength, speed, and agility. They can be killed by all species, excluding humans. They are like us in every way except in one major way; they can reproduce thanks to them being half human. They have many other differences including that they can also catch sickness, although very rarely, and they can Turn humans, although it rarely works.
If they impregnate a woman that is not of their own species, both the female and child die during child birth, there are no exclusions. Werewolves are most effectively killed by our kind but can be killed by any species. They are the only species that can also be killed by humans. Werewolves tend to avoid humans at all cost. They hunt the wildlife found here but they most enjoy killing our kind and they won't hesitate to do so. The first Werewolves were once human, but can no longer return to their human forms, if they are still alive. As the generations went on, the human half was completely bred out of them. They are very dangerous creatures and I pray to whatever God there may be that you never come across one alone. A werewolf can easily kill one maybe two vampires. Their claws and jaws are lethal and they can easily catch up to us if we were to run but they cannot stay at that pace as Lytherian can. A werewolf can easily kill three Hybrids, but a werewolf cannot take on a Lytherian alone. Lytherian were never meant to be created, neither were the Hybrids. A vampire disobeyed the rules and created them. They can reproduce and have litters, like the Wolves do. They live in caves as the Wolves do but are civilized and have human forms as you know from experience. Their weapons are similar to the Wolves with a notable difference, they have venom like us and it is very bad. It immobilizes you and kills you from the inside out as they rip you apart. The venom alone will kill you. It is so effective; their venom combined with a vampire`s is the only thing our kind uses to kill each other. It is faster than just vampire venom by itself. Lytherian is very strong. Their numbers grow each day and we fear that they will ally themselves with the Wolves and destroy us. That is why our alliance with the Hybrids is so crucial. Together, we stand a chance against them."
Lorena emerged from the bathroom and stood with Darrain against the door frame.
"Are we ready?" She asked, trying not to think how easily Micheal could have killed her.
Darrain helped her out of the car. Darren Thorn, the Hybrids governmental body the Speed Demon`s second in command greeted them. His hair was dark brown with crimson red tips and brown eyes rimmed with red. He wore red leather pants and a red leather jacket with black stitching opened to reveal his chiseled chest. He even wore red and black leather riding gloves and black combat boots to complete the look. He was a very attractive man but Lorena knew he was dangerous. He bowed to them politely after giving them a fanged but very attractive smile that startled Lorena. He gestured that they should go ahead of him.
"Chris Stefan has been awaiting your arrival." His voice sent chills down her spine. They were a very dangerous race indeed. They relied heavily on their sex appeal.
A woman opened the heavy doors as they approached the house. She smiled and looked Darrain up and down. When she turned her gaze to Lorena her face turned into a sneer. The woman wore little clothing that left little to the imagination. Her body was sculpted much like Lorena`s own, and she showed every bit of it off. Her blond hair hung delicately around her and her blue eyes were pretty but not as stunning as Lorena`s. They could have been sisters in another life. She smiled at Darrain, but envy towards Lorena showed plainly on her face. Lorena was disgusted with the girl who obviously got around quite often. Lorena shoved her way past the girl and the girl bared her fangs at Lorena. Lorena bared her own back. Darrain quickly stepped between the two. A man emerged into the room and hissed at the woman who quickly retracted her fangs and went obediently to the man's side. He was also a blond but had light hazel eyes and a very lean and muscular body that he hid behind a loose fitting white shirt and black jeans. This was obviously the man in charge. Lorena straightened from her crouch and nodded towards the man.
"Please excuse Tasha`s behavior, she doesn't do well with...competition. Natasha Phillips is used to being the one who has the attention of all the men in the room but as of now, it is you Lorena who has their attention, and rightfully so. May I say that you are the finest woman I have ever had the honor of laying my eyes upon?" He smiled at her before continuing. "We have important business matters to discuss yes? Tasha, you are excused."
Natasha looked at him in surprise. "Chris, you can't be serious?" She sounded offended.
Chris eyed her angrily. "You are excused Natasha."
Natasha crossed her arms and flipped her hair behind her and sneered at Lorena before sashaying out of the room, swaying her hips. Men`s hungry eyes watched her exit from the room before returning their attention back to Lorena. Chris turned to them and smiled. He gestured for them to sit in one of the many couches lining the huge floor to ceiling windows. Lorena sat down and Darrain took the seat next to her with Chris sitting in another couch across from them and faced the two.
"We will ally ourselves with you out of the necessary need of survival. I also believe that this alliance could have other benefits as well..." Chris began in a very business voice.
Then suddenly the daylight was sucked away by a dark mass. Chris turned his attention to the window behind them.
"I think our discussion is over for now..." Chris said as he pointed outside.
Darrain felt an overwhelming sense of dread as he and Lorena turned to look, not even the sun`s rays could not penetrate the black smoke A small gasp of fear emanated from Lorena`s lips. Darrain took action immediately, thanking Chris for his time and allegiance before ushering Lorena out the door, quicker than Lorena thought possible. Darrain had to get her safely back inside the secure walls of their chambers and surrounded by people Darrain trusted to protect her. He would do anything to protect her. Even if it cost him his life. If she wasn't completely safe, she had to remain alive at the least. Darrain didn't get back into the car, which was far too slow. Instead, he swooped Lorena into his arms and ran.