A/N: Hello you guys! Here's the third chapter of Throne of Petals. I know it's starting off a little slow but it should be picking up pace soon. First part of this chapter is a lot of background on Meridith. This is an AsilxOC but there will be some elements of BranxOC and SamuelxOC. I will be making a lot of changes to the actual storyline but not for a while. This means flashback/thoughts. This means thoughts in flashback. This is regular talking. Please enjoy!
I met Viktor when I was fifteen at a small coffee shop in a Portland mall. I was sitting down reading a random book that I had found at one of the bus stops on my way up here. I had ran away from home frustrated with the fact that no one was there anymore. Mom was more attached to the bottle and dad well he just loved bouncing around from bed to bed. For two months I lived alone in our tiny downtown apartment. Only the bills cluttering up the kitchen table told me that yes, I did have parents somewhere out there. One night I gathered all of the jewelry in the house, packed up my red backpack, and just left. I pawned everything for a measly five hundred bucks then bought a one way ticket to a random city I picked off of a map. Portland, Oregon it was.
I spent most of my time bouncing from bench to bench with the last of my money. Summer was starting to peak through here but the air was still chilly. I happened to splurge on myself one day buying a jacket along with a latte when he came to sit down in front of me. My first thought was to scream out "Stranger danger!" then splash my hot latte over his face. When I looked up however that changed everything.
He was about six feet even with cropped blonde hair and stunning blue eyes. A cream T-Shirt fit snuggly against his shoulders outlining the slight muscles along his biceps giving off a slight peek of his tattooed clavicle. It was a lettering of some sort that curved yet fell in hard lines in a language I could not understand. "Hello," he said his soft baritone rolling over me. He fingered the lid of his cup as he looked down at the cover of my book. "Tithe. Hm. I've never heard of this one. Isn't it a little bit too old for someone your age to read? You should be reading Nicholas Sparks or Jodi Picoult. Lovely tales of love and sacrifice." He grinned taking a sip from his cup.
"How old do you think I am?" I tucked the book into my backpack as I watched him fiddle with a few of the sugar packets I had thrown on the table. He doesn't like to keep still, I thought to myself, he has to keep his hands busy.
"You don't look a day over eighteen. My name is Viktor what is yours?"
"Meridith." I answered him while I crossed my legs at the ankles. He was one of the most beautiful people that I had met. His skin pale despite the fact that I could smell the scent of the trees on him. It hung to him like a second skin lingering in the air around him. Who was this person? Why did I feel drawn yet repelled against him? I had never felt so fascinated by another person-not since I had my first kiss in the seventh grade with David McGuffin behind the cafeteria. I was so enchanted that I missed how his eyes took a slight glowing quality.
"Do you have a place to sleep tonight? I've seen many wanderers around here but none so young as you." He brought his hands to his lips blowing on them slightly to fight off the soft chill in the coffee shop.
"Sixteen."
"Sixteen?"
"My birthday was last Monday. I bought myself a pair of socks to celebrate. I didn't want to buy anything too big for me to carry around or a new pair of shoes that would do me no good when the season changes again." My latte was getting cold too fast for me. I had over half a cup left for me to drink. Making a face I took a sip before putting it down with a soft thunk against the tabletop. Viktor chuckled as he scooted his chair back.
"Wait here. I shall get you a pastry as a belated gift. It's better than socks, I swear; everyone deserves a sweet on their special day." He walked over to the counter stretching his body as my eyes followed him across the room.
Meri girl you are in trouble! You better stop it now before you dig yourself into your own grave. How many stories have you heard of the long lost girl getting herself killed by going off with the stranger to his house? I scolded myself, but I'm so tired. I haven't had a decent meal in a few days and a soft warm bed wouldn't hurt much either. Just this once, I told myself, I will do this.
Viktor had returned at that point with a small Danish in his hands. He handed it to me with a shy-like smile which I took eagerly. He watched me as I ate it; I could feel his roaming eyes taking me in slowly. Weighing options in my head I wiped away the crumbs from my mouth. "Where do you live," my voice was hesitant as I flicked my gaze to his once again. I could see the muscles in his neck flex a bit as he became tense then relaxed when I dropped my eyes to his dimpled chin. An imperfection on his person-a reminder that he was human.
"I have a small house just a few blocks from here. Its two bedrooms with a futon in the other that I use as an office. I swear to you that I will not do anything to harm you. My hand to God." He raised his right hand with the palm turned to the ceiling of the coffee shop. I nodded my head slightly before wrapping up the remnants of the pastry in another napkin and tucking it into my backpack. "Alright. I trust you."
"Good. Come, my car is parked this way; do you know how to drive?" He asked as he shouldered his leather jacket on.
"No clue how. I'm mostly chauffeured to wherever I need to be. Public transit system does offer free heat and all that." I slung the backpack over my shoulder while I zipped my red jacket up following him slowly out of the shops back entrance to the parking lot. It had warmed up a bit but I still felt the need to keep my jacket on as I headed towards the black two door sedan in front of me. I should have listened to my intuition to stay back in that coffee shop but I didn't. Instead I followed him having no worries when he shut the passenger door for me that it was locked from the outside. I just kept my eyes forward while we drove to his house. That feeling of fascination had a hold of me that made me just want to melt into the seats or the crook of his arm for no reason.
"Two waffles with scrambled cheesy eggs and two pieces of whole wheat toast. I have you're fruit bowl here as well as some extra jelly packets." The waitress's voice brought me back from my wandering mind as she set the plates down before me. The food was still steaming from the freshness of it coming out from the kitchen. She pluncked a glass of ice water before me with a straw before leaning on the table. "Is there anything else I can get you?" She asked me.
"No this will be just fine for me. Thank you very much." I grabbed my fork as I pulled the plate with eggs closer to me.
She nodded her head before walking back behind the counter without as much as another word. I was too interested in the fluffy golden eggs to really pay attention to her as I stabbed at them with shaky hands. The food from earlier this morning had kept me full for a bit but I knew I had to keep eating. My stomach ached from hunger again reminding me that if I felt this bad then my little one would be feeling worse off than me. The door chimed as a small group of teens walked in from the rain. The laughed at one another as each undid their jackets tracking in mud as they walked up to the counter at the front part of the dinner.
Their rambunctious laughing kept the wolf on edge as they huddled close together. One of the things that I had learned when I was turned was the dislike she held towards gatherings of people my age. The door chimed once again causing for the teens to grow quiet while the sound of boots walking down to where I was could be heard. The wolf stood at attention her nose working to process the scent of the new person in the room. Male, mated, but with another male, she licked her jowls before baring her teeth, he knows about us. He is here to take us. She began pacing once again as I imagined her fur standing on end in anticipation of a sudden fight.
The man paused next to my booth before turning around abruptly leaning a hip against the empty part of the table in front of me. I circled the remainder of my eggs with my fork watching his reflection on the polished table to. He wore a button down plaid shirt with jeans and a decorative belt buckle. His sleeves were rolled up revealing long fingers that were dirtied and rough from years of hard work. He had the beginnings of a beard lining his jaw which stayed shadowed from the brim of his hat. Reaching up he pulled it off settling it in his lap while he extended his hand out to me.
"Hello, Miss, my name is Warren. I was asked to meet you here by my alpha Adam Hauptman to take you to speak with him. I believe you met with Robert earlier today as well." I stared at his hand for a few seconds before gingerly lifting my own to shake his hand. The group of teenagers had started talking amongst each other in whispered tones before standing abruptly to leave. Someone had left a few ones on the counter which fluttered in the wind from the opening door. My eyes lingered on the paper as he nervous fluttering in my stomach was followed by gentle rolling.
"What's Adam like?" I asked offhandedly. I felt sick all of a sudden. I covered my mouth before turning to stare at Warren's face. His eyes were downcast with a slightly confused look as he stared at my red backpack then flicked his gaze to my midsection. He was in disbelief, I could tell, about the bunching of my dress around my slightly noticeable stomach. I forgot how much this black dress tented around me despite the fact it was black. I draped my arm around my belly which caused him to snap out of his trance. His eyes flicked to mine holding my gaze until I looked down. He was higher than me, I could tell, but I didn't need to listen to him. It was something that I had discovered with Viktor-as much as he would yell our orders I never once had to obey them.
"He's a good man that is concerned for you. By pack law you have to come with me since you are female. I don't want to cause you any trouble or harm but its better if you just came along instead of me having to force you." His voice had gained a commanding edge to it as he reached into his pocket pulling out a cell phone. "Do not make it more difficult than it has to be." He skimmed through the contacts before pulling up a picture of a heavily tattooed woman covered in flour. He kept his eyes on me as he pressed the call button holding it up to his ear while it rang.
I pushed my plate away from me as I stood grabbing my red backpack in the same movement. I turned from him walking slowly to the door just in time for the same waitress to step out from behind the counter. She stared at me before moving quickly towards the counter. "Excuse me but you haven't paid for your meal. I can't let you leave until you do so." I mouthed out help, as she looked at me. It took her a second before she diverted her attention from me to Warren as she scooted up to him. "Excuse me sir but I need payment before either of you can leave." She placed her hands on her hips standing wide legged in his path.
Nodding his head Warren held the phone in place as he began to dig into his pockets for his wallet, "Mercy," he said, "I'm gonna need some help-Shit!" He shouted as I ran out of the dinner. I heard the crash of him pushing past the waitress who yelled out at him before I was off high tailing it down the road. "Wait! Dammit stop running! Mercy hurry up!" I could hear him gaining ground behind me as he caught up to me. I hadn't even made it to the streetlight before a silver car pulled up in front of me. A man got out as I skidded to a stop in front of them while Warren slid up behind me grabbing firmly to my backpacks strap.
"Let go of me!" I yelled trying to pull away from him. The feeling of being trapped ran through me again as my eyes widened. The tattooed woman got out of the driver's seat jogging around the front of the car towards me. "Back up a bit guys she's freaking out. Warren hold onto her for a bit longer."
I thrashed in his grip trying to kick at his knees as he lifted me from the ground into a more secure hold with his arms wrapped around me. "Easy, Easy there darling. Calm down no one here's going to hurt you just breathe." He huffed out loud from the effort of holding me still. "Mercy you better hurry it up or else we're going to lose her to the wolf." Mercy nodded in front of me before placing her hands on each side of my face forcing me to look up into her eyes. They flicked over me in concern as she started to speak rapidly.
"Listen to me. No one here is going to hurt you, ok? I promise! My name is Mercy Hauptman and I'm Adam Hauptman's wife alpha of the Tri-Cities pack. We mean you no harm. You're safe you understand? You're safe." I stared at her in disbelief as she held me still. "I'm taking you to see Adam and that is it. No one is going to touch you or do anything to you without you Okaying it." I nodded as she removed her hands from my face. The weird blanketed tingling that had come over me when she touched me left me dizzy. I wobbled a bit as Warren set me back on my feet again. He motioned for one of the other guys to help me into the car, "Ben, grab her back please." He handed over my bag before getting in the back seat his hand lingering on my stomach. Once he had me strapped in along with himself he turned to Mercy who had started up the engine. "Please turn up the heat Mercy she feels like an icicle." He kept his hand against my stomach protectively the long fingers spanning against it as he looked out of the window protectively. I stared down at his hand clearing my throat until he removed it with a quiet, "Sorry."
"Bran hasn't left yet. When Robert called he was on his way out but he overheard his conversation with Adam." Mercy flipped on her blinker as she made a hard left. "He wants to talk to you when we get home. Why does it smell like sausage in my car?" Mercy looked in the rearview mirror as Ben help up my backpack. He began to dig around in the bag before letting out a low whistle pulling out the pistol Robert had lent me. "My, my, someone's a little bit recreational now aren't you?" He dangled it between two fingers checking to see if the safety was on.
"Ben put that back. I do not feel like getting pulled over today with a loaded gun." Mercy shook her head tiredly as she pulled over in front of a two story house. Ben laughed before pocketing the gun and getting out. I stared up at the house nervous of what was inside. For all I knew there could be a weed shop or some sort of gun runner. Mercy pulled the door open for me as I undid my seatbelt eager to get out of the car. I buried my hands in the pockets of my jacket before making my way up the steps behind Mercy. Ben still held my bag in his hand as he dug though it to the sausages buried inside. He sniffed one then took a bite before making a face as he handed it over to Warren who just shook his head. "Nope. That's all yours brother." He smiled crookedly at him as he held the door open for me.
Once inside I felt that blanketing feeling of magic overcome me as we headed deeper inside. Oh man, I thought to myself, I've really done it now.