The alleyways were dark danger lurked in the shadows, not for him, but for the human giving of their distinct smell, the one their kind knew as fear. Some of his kind got off on it, loved the hunt, the chase, the capture and finally the kill. He had no reason to like it, he wasn't a monster, craving blood to keep him alive, they had a special source, provided in exchange for their cooperation and protection of the innocents. With being master's they didn't require a constant supply, just enough, that should, they require healing it was there. Running towards the aroma, his feet silent he found a woman on the floor,surrounded by three men, already roughened up. He didn't need to read their pathetic minds to know their intent. Taking the first one down, he thrust him against the wall, the man unconscious before his body hit the floor, leaving the two remaining,not as cocky now, they had seen their ring leader, hit the wall.
"Did you see that...what the...?" before his sentence finished another was in a heap on the floor, the last one running as if the hounds of hell were on his of being who he was, speed was on his side, leaning towards the woman, he held his hand out.
"Ya ok ? They are gone now, ya safe" Her small hand slipped into his, arousal replacing the fear in her eyes. Hiding behind his long hair, he kept his head bowed, unsure of what to do, with the look she was sending him. He come smell her, yet his body didn't react, there was nothing about her that had him aching. Unlike her, with the scent she was giving off, almost made his stomach churn.
"Thank you, I don't know what I..." The tears seeping from her eyes, hell he was no good with women, who used tears to get what they wanted. He knew she had been through a traumatic experience, and yes he could understand her being upset, yet deep down he knew those tears were forced, her way of bringing him in
"Ya make sure, ya don't entice the wrong men, next time" Her gasp was loud, as her hand reached out to slap his face, being caught before it even reached it's mark. Squirming under his strength.
"How dare you.?" she screeched
"I dare darlin, cos ya bated them men and ya damn lucky, I put a stop to what they intended, to do to ya. Get the fuck outta here and go home. Ya too damn young to be playing with the grown ups" He sensed her annoyance and was none to surprised when she spat near his feet, yet he continued to watch her, making sure she made it into the well lit area of down town. Stupid woman should have known better, had Rick not stressed enough that the area was dangerous now at night?.
"She offered it ya on a plate and ya didn't take it?" Daryl didn't even bother acknowledging his brother as he continued along the back streets. He had a destination in mind, and he had no time for his interfering brother tonight.
"Yo Daryl come on man this ain't like ya..." His words stopping when he reached out for his brother's arm pulling him round to face him, even though there were years between them , they were close as can be, each brother being able to read the other's mind, should they allow them to.
"Shit Daryl, ya found her ain't ya?" Daryl had no reason to lie to him, though the situation was grim.
"Don't wanna talk about it" Merle wasn't having any of it, his lil bro had finally met his soul mate, without thought he went into Daryl's mind
"Get the fuck out of there Merle, told ya I don't want to talk about it" Merle didn't need to question any further, the one word that had come screaming out at him, the one thing they were never allowed to turn or touch, no matter what. Human, letting him go, losing him within the shadows, Merle turned towards the town, he needed to locate his Pa. He had always said things happened for a reason, so why the hell did their makers see fit to subject his brother to this pain?.
"So Ed we have this small family to see this evening, haven't been paying as they should. I am sure we both know what happens to people like them" Ed actually felt sick to the stomach, having witnessed a side to this man he never knew existed. Oh he had read about the demons in books. Seen the damn movies on TV, but this was different, seeing it up close, those teeth sinking into the vein of life, was disgusting. Hollywood made it seem sexy, the reality was far from it and the mess was vial, making him chock as the smell hit the back of his throat. The body was left to rot, ready for some poor unsuspecting passer-by to find. Now they were heading to the family near the docks, this was one thing, even Ed could not watch, this family had young children, how could the man live with himself, after ,what he did?. But there again, he had always said he had no soul, how true that was. Ed may be the lower form of shit, beating his wife when she was pregnant, but even he could see the wrong in this whole scenario. He actually wondered what the police were doing? Had they not worked in out as yet?, that innocents, who were in debt with The Governor, or even pissed him off, were turning up dead, Their life lines drained from their bodies, leaving behind a ghost like skeleton.
Swallowing the bile down into his stomach, he tried with all his might not to throw up, seeing the children cry over their parents, was enough, they had seen the whole thing, were scared, shaking like leaves in the wind. Yet The Governor had chosen them to live,was this a good or bad thing? The jury was still out of that verdict.
"So Ed now you see what we are really about. I want you to join us, become one of us" Ed could feel his blood run cold, did he want to become one of these things, was his soul that dark?. The Governor waited with baited breath, he was offering this human a gift beyond his wildest dreams, the opportunity to be one of them, all powerful, in control and running the town. It did help that Philip liked Ed's wife, there was something about her, that had his blood boil, well if it could. He wanted Ed as one of them, under his control, then if anything went wrong he had good reason to destroy him. The only thing keeping Ed a mortal was his wife and child, Philip couldn't and wouldn't turn him unless he had permission from the man. He did have a good side to him, well that's what he told himself, if Ed didn't comply he would just turn the whole damn family, and he knew what hell they would go through. The more he thought about it, the more it felt the better option.
"What do I get from it?" Philip had been so deep in his thoughts, he forgot Ed was there, placing his arm around the man's shoulder, he guided him towards the club, recently opened.
"Let me show you what you get Ed. After tonight I think you will agree being one of us, is the best thing".
At times Daryl was grateful for his sense's, his speed and his wonderful ability to hide within the shadows unable to be seen, heard or smelt. His family had never carried the distinct smell other's did, only their kind could smell each other, but with The Dixon's they were unique.
Letting his head rest against the wall, he lit his cigarette, pulling the nicotine deep into his lungs, rubbing his fore head, he wondered what she was doing. Was she still awake? Nursing the little one?. Or was she sleeping, waiting for him in her dreams?. He ached for her, his whole body craved her touch, he had touched her, worshiped her in his dreams, yet all he wanted was a look, a smile, a touch. He had never allowed her to touch him, always holding her hands high above her head, keeping himself in the shadows away from her sight. The dreams weren't enough, he had to see her, dropping the butt of the cigarette into the bin, he hit the roof, without so much as losing a breath, then he saw them entering the club he had just exited. Damn, his body ached to see his mate,yet he had to follow them, see why The Governor was guiding, his mate's husband into the club. Most people knew that after a certain time, the club opened it's doors to the less savory characters.
"Pa wants ya bro need to get ya ass back here" Merle spoke through Daryl's thoughts, annoyed he cut him off, blocking any further contact from his family, he headed in after the two men.
"You are so good Sophia, mummy is so pleased you were born, I love you so much, You are the only thing keeping me going darling." Carol mumbled to her daughter as she bathed her before bedtime, Ed had already called saying to expect him late, in fact she would be lucky if she saw him at all tonight. She wasn't bothered if he wasn't home, he wasn't forcing her, she knew he was ready to take back his husbands rights as he called them. Why couldn't he love her,be gentle and loving like... no she could not think about him, it was wrong so very wrong. After all he hadn't been tender all the time, he liked it rough too, shocked to say she loved it like that with him. Just who was he?, and why did her body tingle when she thought of him?. Cuddling Sophia to her, she placed her on the warm towel, snuggling her up as she dried her. Reaching for some lotion she rubbed it on her daughter, as a cool breeze came across her cheek. Checking the window was shut, she tried to ignore what her heart was telling her, he was near, yet how could that be?. She wasn't asleep, he hadn't come to her in her dreams, but she could feel a presence around her, Shaking it off, she continued to dress Sophia, thinking she was mad, surely her daughter would have picked up on anything strange. Cuddling her to her chest, having made sure she was wrapped up tight in her all in one, she went to sit on the rocking chair in the nursery, she always fell asleep in Carol's arms as she sang to her. Watching the town come alive, from her window, she almost missed the shadow that flashed across, getting to her feet, she tried to get her eyes to adjust to the darkness outside, no nothing, it had to be her imagination. Walking back to the rocking chair, she didn't see the two men peer inside the bedroom, then disappear without a trace.