New York,1977
"So...did you like it?" I asked Kasey and she looked at me with her beautiful green eyes, making me smile.
"Yeah, very much." She said and I beamed at her. I had been trying to get her to go out with me for over two months.
"I told you so." I said and she smiled brightly. I once again admired her beauty. She had big eyes, round lips, heart-shaped face and beautiful dark hair. I didn't want to get my hopes up but I had the feeling that this might turn into something more.
"I know you did. I am glad..." And I never got to hear what she was glad about because at that moment we heard loud footsteps, someone was running towards us but from where we were standing we couldn't see who. I looked around-there was nobody this late. We were alone and I was just about to push Kasey behind me when I saw a feminine figure in the distance. We still couldn't quite see her but as she got closer to us and obviously saw us, she started waving her hands and running faster.
"Help...please." She yelled breathlessly and I quickly murmured to Kasey to stay back. I moved closer to the girl and as she got closer I got a closer look at her and...she literally took my breath away. I seriously hadn't seen more beautiful woman in my entire life. I don't want to sound as a complete prick...but as she got even closer...the thoughts I had had about Kasey somehow disappeared. All I wanted was to help this fragile creature running towards me.
"What's the problem?" I asked when she stopped in front of me and I reached my hands out, seeing that she would almost pass out. Her gorgeous eyes were widen, full with distress, her entire body was shaking, her cheeks pink from running.
"My friend...it was hit and run...I couldn't stop him...he is not breathing." She said in between sobs and leaned in my arms. She looked up and I stopped breathing again as her eyes pierced me."Help...please."
"Of course..." I looked back at Kasey and she walked to us."...where is he?" The woman grabbed my hand with her small one and started dragging me. I didn't know if Kasey was behind us...and quite frankly all I cared was to help this exquisite creature. She had pearly skin that was amazingly soft and long silky mahogany hair.
We continued running for a few minutes, the girl still holding my hand. We turned around the corner...and I saw him. A dark figure lying at the middle of the street. I was no doctor...but even from that distance I knew that it was impossible for that man to be alive. His head, leg and arm were in unnatural positions and there was blood...a lot of blood.
"Kasey..."I turned around and she nodded, taking the sobbing woman in her arms. I slowly started walking towards the body, occasionally looking back. The young woman's eyes were pinned at her friend's body, her body continuing shaking. I turned my head back at the body and walked to it. It was even worse than I thought. His neck was definitely broken and so was most of his bones. He was lying on his stomach, his head away from me. I was just about to kneel down to check his pulse when suddenly a cry broke the silence. Kasey's cry.
I abruptly turned my head around but they were gone. My eyes widen and I started looking around frantically.
"Kasey!" I turned around."What the..." The body was gone! The dead body was gone! I stepped back and crashed my back at something. I jumped from surprise and fear and abruptly turned around, facing...Kasey. Her eyes were full with fear and there was something weird in the way she was standing."Kasey?" I reached out, slightly shifting my position and I...saw it. A hand was holding her neck tightly, not letting her move even a centimeter. Before I even got the chance to say something the hand abruptly pushed Kasey's head, revealing...the woman's face. The sadness and distress were gone, replaced by emotion I couldn't recognize. She smirked evilly and I naturally turned around to run...only to be faced with the...dead body- a man in his mid twenties wearing the same expression as the young woman.
"Nice catch, uh?" Asked the woman and the man smirked.
"Absolutely...which one do you want?" There was something in them that was paralyzing...I couldn't move and I couldn't bring myself to say anything coherent. The woman tilted her head and looked straight at me.
"The boy...I like boys." She smirked again and I felt how my blood was freezing. What were they doing to me? I couldn't move...all I could see were her eyes...they were hypnotic. With one single quick movement I suddenly felt her behind me, I was still facing Kasey but this time the man was behind her.
"Very well...I like girls." He smirked and they laughed. I was trying to move or yell but I couldn't."Cheers."
"Cheers and happy birthday." Said the woman behind me and the last thing I saw before the darkness consumed me was his face...his face which shifted into a demon's one.
DPOV
"A guy is starring at you." I almost yelled at her ear, trying to over shout the loud music. Currently, we were in Billy's- my favorite club, the underground of the underground. Belle and I were dancing, her hands were on my shoulders, still a little high on our snack earlier that evening. Belle shifted her head, tracing my gaze to the huge guy, leaned on the opposite wall. He was starring at her and I didn't like it and judging by her snort...she didn't either. She rolled her eyes and I somehow got the feeling she wasn't seeing him for the first time. "Ex?" I asked and she looked at me then at him and then started laughing.
"No...no, he wishes but no." She shook her head and I recognized her mean-bitchy look she gave him. Not too long ago I was at its receiving end and I have to tell you...it's not fun."No, that's just my personal torturer." I furrowed my brows as she took my hand and started dragging me to him. He was tall and muscular with copper-colored hair and pale green eyes.
"Joshua! To what do we owe this astonishing surprise?"Belle asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. But Joshua seemed oblivious to her obvious dismay.
"We need to talk." He simply said and I felt Belle squeezing my hand.
"Sure...talk."She said and raised her chin higher. Joshua darted me with his eyes and I smirked.
"In front of him?" He looked unsure but Belle's voice didn't take 'no' for an answer.
"Yes, in front of him."Joshua hesitated." Look, sweetheart, talk now if you want me to listen because I am famous for losing interest very quickly." He pursed lips and stubbornly looked at her. Oh...she was going to eat him for breakfast...metaphorically, of course. I smirked.
"Does he know?" I snorted and rolled my eyes. This secrecy was kind of getting on my nerves. Yes, I knew that Belle had a secret and yes, I knew that I had promised her not to ask any questions until 'it was safe' but...I couldn't help but to feel a little left out. Her hand, squeezing mine, was the only thing stopping the Fountain of snarky-ness coming from my mouth.
"He knows..." She smirked cockily and paused, enjoying his little panic moment."...enough for you to make it work and I sure as hell want to see how this sounds like." Joshua didn't look very happy but he saw that she wasn't going to back down.
"Fine. My boss wants to see you."
"Well, can't your boss wait a few more days? We have an arrangement for next week anyways."He shook his head. I furrowed brows. It almost sounded like they were really talking about work.
"No, he needs your...expertise on...something."I tried to repress the millions of questions I had.
"My expertise? Seriously? He can't use anyone else's expertise ? What about Eric? I thought he was his lap dog." Joshua shifted uncomfortably in his spot.
"He is in the Netherlands." Belle looked at him with surprise.
"Netherlands? What is he doing there?"
"He is there with..." He stopped abruptly and looked at me, making me roll my eyes again."...my boss' son." And then the strangest thing happened. Just for a second...a split second...all the cockiness and determination disappeared from her eyes, being replaced by...hurt? But it was just for a second and then her cocky smile was back on.
"Well...I am here for my best friend's birthday and I have no intentions on leaving him."
"Atta girl." I said with a smirk but Joshua shook his head.
"It's really important. He really, really, needs your help." And then he gave her meaningful look. Belle paused for a second and looked at me then at him. She snorted with annoyance and stomped her foot like a little child.
"Where is he?" He beamed at her.
"Just outside New York. "
"How incredibly convenient."
"It will take you no more than two hours."Perfect! Belle squeezed my hand and looked at me with apologetic look.
"Will you hate me for the rest of the eternity if I leave you for one hour?" And then she did THE face. Her lips slightly trembled and her astonishing eyes sparkled with hope and plea. I...hissed. Every damn time!
"No, just a few centuries."She beamed at me and quickly kissed me on the cheek.
"I'm going to make it up to you!"She yelled while walking away. I watched her leave with that guy and I clenched my fists. I didn't like him. Not one bit. And I sure as hell didn't like leaving Belle with him.
After a few minutes of pointless staring after her I pursed my lips and looked around. I didn't like it but I couldn't do anything. Plus she could take care of herself, right? I scanned the club one more time. And it wasn't like she was going to let me babysit her. I needed distraction, I moved my eyes to the opposite corner. I smirked.
Blonde hair, low self-esteem...I believe we had a winner.
BPOV
"I'm glad you could make it." He said and smiled warmly. I continued walking towards him and pursed lips.
"It's not like you gave me a choice." I nodded towards Joshua and he nodded with an apologetic smile and put my hand in the crook of his arm, guiding me through the corridors. "So what is so important that couldn't wait a few more days." He narrowed eyes and looked down.
"We found a new Cold One."I made a face and he waved his hand, cutting me off." I know what your opinion is...but this particular one might be extremely helpful." I sighed. Once he had decided on something there was no way for me to convince him not to do it.
"Fine. But why do you need me?" He made a funny face and looked at Joshua then back at me.
"Well...she has a very powerful gift that...has kind of intercepted our attempts to explain to her why we brought her here. And so I figured that you could use..." Compulsion? Hell no. That was the exact opposite to everything I believed in. Yes, I used compulsion to get a free car or clothes, or a backstage passage to concerts but not for this. People who helped us had to do it on their free will.
"You know I am not going to do this."I shook my head."I am going to talk to her but I am not going to compel her. Her gift can't possibly stop me. What is it anyways?" He smiled and looked straight ahead.
"Electricity. She can produce an electric current that can shock and incapacitate attackers. It can be turned into something extremely useful...but it proved to be incompatible with our methods of convincing." He started walking faster and continued filling me in the details of this vampire he so much liked. We stopped in front of a room and with one last look at him I pushed the door open.
The room was small and white, there was a table in its centre and two chairs opposite each other. On one of them was sitting a tall blonde woman with fierce expression on her face. She slowly turned around to look at me, her eyes dripping with hatred.
"Hello. My name is Annabelle but you can call me Belle."She snorted and looked the way. Ok. "Your name is Kate Denali, right?"
"What do you want? To tell me more about the scary new kind of a vampire Mikael or something about your stupid little war?"I resisted the urge to say something really mean." When will you understand that I don't care and that it's not any of my business." I stepped forwards and slowly sat down on the chair, looking her straight into the eyes.
"Oh, I get that but you see..." I leaned over the table and nodded towards the closed door."...my colleagues are not as understanding as I am. In fact, they called me because they wanted me to use my special...gift on you..." I made a little trick that had proven to be really effective. I blinked and heard her gasp as my eyes were now completely white. I blinked again, turning them back to normal and continued as nothing had happened."...and normally I would have used by now as I understand that you are quite the troublemaker but since I kind of like your spirit, I am willing to offer you a deal." I spoke with a calm voice that sounded even more treating than if I had shouted. Kate had leaned away from me and was now studying me carefully, probably wondering if she could take me on.
"What deal?"She asked cautiously and I leaned back in my chair, crossing my hands on my chest.
"Because I understand that it's quite a lot of us to ask you to fight something you don't know...I will tell you a little story...if you listen to me, at the end I will give you the opportunity to make a choice-to either leave or stay."She looked at me suspiciously.
"How do I know you are not lying to me?" I shrugged my shoulders.
"I don't know. But given the fact that if I go, far worse than me will come..."She pursed lips and stayed silent for a few seconds."You won't lose anything if you listen to me."
"Fine."She spit out the word and I smirked, getting comfortable in my chair."Tell me."
"Oh...when I said 'tell' I meant 'show." With one quick movement I leaned forwards and grabbed her right hand. She was so surprised by my actions that she didn't have time to be surprised that her electricity didn't work on me. And before she had had any time to do something I took a deep breath and started 'showing'. It was something that I had developed throughout these 500 years. It was basically a projection of my own memories and I had gotten so good that now I could go so deep in my memories that I could make the person experience the same feelings as me, smell what I had smelled...it was just like you were there.
Pictures started moving in front of my eyes.
"Eric, are you sure that's the place? It looks empty." I said looking at the small house in front of us. It was winter, right before Christmas, everything was covered in thick layer of snow and I could feel the bitter coldness everywhere.
"Yeah."He nodded with a weird expression on his face. We had information that here lived a werewolf with his family. It was rare for a werewolf not to be in a pack so we decided to check it out. And also we found out that he was a particularly strong one and we all hoped that he would join us.
We quickly walked to the door. I reached out to knock but suddenly as the wind shifted, I froze dead in my tracks. Blood. I darted my eyes at Eric who had smelled it too. He moved in front of me and pushed the door open. The smell hit us right in the face. Eric put his hand in front of me, looking around but I pushed him away and followed the source of the smell. I turned around the corner and pushed a door open.
"Oh God." I gasped at the sight in front of me. The entire room was covered in blood, the mother was lying on the floor, her neck broken as every bone in her body, the man was in one of the corners and his heart was in the other...but what made my stomach turn was the sight of a small body, covered in blood. It was the body of the small boy, his hand was missing and his legs were bend in unusual way. With a hand over my mouth I moved closer to it, I kneeled down and felt how my throat clenched. The boys eyes were open so I gently reached out to close them but suddenly pulled it away. He was breathing! I listened harder and heard his quiet, almost non-existent heartbeat
I felt Eric coming behind me. I didn't lose time and quickly brought my wrist to my mouth and bit hard, maybe I could save him. And then right when I was about to feed him my blood, his eyes rolled towards me, shining with pain and hopelessness, and second later let out a shaky breath and never took one again.
Then various pictures of dead or tortured bodies went in front of my eyes, feeling the despair and hopelessness all over again. I showed her the hundreds of times me and Eric showed up just a few minutes too late like the that time with the little boy, whose eyes were permanently burned in my memory. I showed her the times when we found not werewolves' or Nightwalkers' bodies but bodies of her own kind, bodies of Cold Ones. The torn limbs and the choking smoke of the fires.
I showed her his face. His cold face with eyes vicious, mad eyes. His voice, dripping with madness and hatred when he spoke to me.
I showed her the hundreds of torture rooms, covered in blood, we found all over the world. With big posters on the wall, saying what's the best way to torture different species, and the most horrifying part was that there were pictures.
And finally, I showed her just a small part of my pure agony when I had to leave Nick. The burning feeling in my chest that I felt for so long that it finally became a part of me. The despair and sadness I felt when I sat in that carriage, watching as it took me away from my one true love.
I let go of her hand as suddenly as I had grabbed it and quickly composed my face. She, however, didn't. On her face was written the complete and utter horror.
"Why...why is he doing this?" She asked, her eyes still a little shocked. I leaned back in my chair and crossed my legs and arms.
"He has a personal vendetta against the supernatural race."
"What would somebody do to deserve this?"
"Well...it's a very long story...but basically long time ago he and his family lived in a small village. They lived in peace with its other inhabitants-the werewolves. Until one full moon...when things went completely wrong. Mikael took the only decision he thought was right- he forced his wife, who was a powerful witch, to turn him and his family into something more. Something faster, stronger, something that could not be hurt...and she did and that's how the vampirism was born. "Kate's eyes widen."Yeah, well after that things went from bad to worse. Mikael found out that his wife had cheated on him and that one of his sons was actually not his, and since he had always had a very, very bad temper, when he turned...his temper magnified. He flipped and killed the lover's entire family, burnt them alive, almost killed him and then killed his own wife. And because obviously that wasn't enough, he started chasing down his kids, wanting nothing more than to fix his mistake. He realized, too late if I might add, that he had made a mistake so he decided to fix it by killing them all but he wouldn't stop at just fixing his...he decided to kill every supernatural creature he came across." I shrugged my shoulders and looked at her.
"But if he comes, I will be able to protect my family with my gift."Oh, silly little girl.
"No, you won't."
"Why not? I managed to slow your friends down." She smirked.
"Yeah, but the key phrase here is 'slow them down', not stop them. Even if you managed to take one of them down, you wouldn't be able to take fifty of them. However," I smirked. " if you stay here, you will be taught how to fight and more importantly how to use your powers to actually stop them." She opened her mouth to say something but I stopped her. "Ok, look, I suppose that they used the word 'army' a lot ,didn't they?"She nodded." Yeah, but it's not, it's just a word the boys like to use to make it more dramatic. In fact, it's more like a...web. And you can imagine that for 500 years it's pretty big."
"Web? What do you mean?"
"Well, let's take you for example. You say yes to my proposal and you stay. You then are going to be trained different fighting techniques, different poisons to slow down the different species and also how to use your gift. You can now what, project it on your skin? Well, imagine if you could expand it, something like a bubble, so that you can disarm your attackers from distance. So, now you are trained to not only take care of yourself but for your family, too. After you have finished your training, you go home."
"Home?"
"Yeah, home. And then one day you wake up and find out that there are Mikael's people in your town that are causing havoc. You ,now, take your phone and call all our people in our web that live or are currently in nearby towns, cities, villages, etc. , and they immediately come to help you, not only protect yourself and the ones you love but also to reduce and control the damage Mikael's people cause so that no one gets hurt."I paused." We have people everywhere and wherever you go you'll be able to seek help." She impressed.
"And this way you can keep track of where Mikael and his people are."
"Exactly. As I said...it's a web and with every new member we get, Mikael tangles himself deeper and deeper in it." She nodded and looked up at me. She couldn't find a single reason to say no. And just like that with a simple conversation she was going to join us because she wanted to, not because she was brainwashed to.
"I have to admit that this is pretty brilliant." She said and I smirked from ear to ear.
"I know. It was my idea."