Chapter Two: Of Monsters and Wolves
To the West of Klaus's kingdom, miles and miles away, a wolf pack was on the hunt.
Led by its Alpha, the pack moved swiftly through the forests, tracking down the scent of its wounded prey.
Blending into the surroundings, the Alpha came to a sudden stop, listening intently. The pack Beta, who stood to the Alpha's right, moved forward to investigate the sound that had pulled their leader off course.
Staying low, the Beta moved underneath some shrubs that blocked the path. Then he yelped, jumping back, when he saw what was in front of him.
Pinned to a tree was a vampire, who was impaled by a stake in his chest. Long dead, its corpse smoked from being out in the sun. What remained was gruesome, filling the air with an awful smell.
The rest of the pack came forward to see what had startled the Beta, and many others gave a startled cry as well. Only the Alpha remained calm, shifting back into its human form.
In the wolf's place stood a tall, athletically built woman. She had dark hair and wide, greenish hazel eyes, and wore a serious expression on her face.
Soon the rest of the pack shifted back as well, all uneasy by the sight.
The Beta, a man by the name of Mason Lockwood, stood next to his Alpha with a deep frown on his face. "What is this, Hayley? Who could have done this?"
Hayley Marshall, the Alpha, crossed her arms over her chest. "Another vamp, a wolf, you name it. I can't smell anything else but that vampire's rotting meat."
"This is within our territory," Mason pointed out. "If someone is hunting vampires, maybe they're hunting other things too."
Hayley turned away from the body. She looked up at Mason. "Take it down and bury the body. If there are Hunters in these areas, we all need to be ready and alert."
Mason nodded, before beckoning two other wolves to help him.
After it was done, the pack moved on, opting to stay in their human forms. Although they were stronger and faster as wolves, they were easier to spot.
Werewolves varied in shape and size from average wolves. Werewolves were much larger in size, much swifter, and each had bright, golden eyes when shifted. To the average human eye, they could probably appear to be a mere wolf pack, but to the skilled eye of a Hunter, they were easy targets.
Hunters had existed as long as any other supernatural creature. Descending from ancient bloodlines, groups of five or six were born at one time and would band together to hunt any werewolf, vampire, or witch in their path. They too were gifted with supernatural speed and strength, and were known to be fierce and absolute.
Hayley had only encountered Hunters once in her life, when she had been very young. They had attacked her home and her pack, slaughtering them all except for her. She had managed to hide herself away in the trunk of a dead tree, using her small size to stay hidden in the shadows. When the Hunters left, she fled, running until she could not run anymore.
Later a woman would find this strange and dirty child lying outside her home, drawn by the warmth coming from the fireplace inside. This woman had taken Hayley in and had raised her like she would if Hayley was her own daughter.
But things changed on the evening of Hayley's sixteenth birthday. After coming home from a friend's house, Hayley found the front door ajar and saw that a man had broken in and had a gun trained on her adoptive mother. Instinct had taken over, and when it was done, Hayley stood over the man's broken body, her eyes changing from hazel to gold as the final transformation took over.
So she ran, afraid she would hurt her mother, and mostly because she was afraid of herself. She never returned to that house and after a year of searching, she was declared dead by the local police.
Ten years had passed since then, and Hayley found herself in a whole new world, surrounded by a new pack, immersed in a world filled with monsters and wolves.
The pack kept on moving until sundown, reaching their destination with an air of relief. Their home was nestled in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies, far enough from civilization so no unsuspecting humans walked into their territory, but not far enough to keep them isolated from the outside world.
The rest of the pack was waiting for them, those who had stayed behind to guard the surrounding area. This band consisted of several wolves, all of whom approached when they saw their Alpha.
Eve, the eldest of them all, nodded in greeting. "How was the journey?"
Hayley looked around. "Let's get inside. Mason, call a meeting."
As soon as the entire pack was gathered in the main hall, Hayley stood at the head of the long table. She told them about the vampire they had come across while journeying to the far edges of their territory. She discussed her suspicions of Hunters having a hand in the matter.
"Hunters have not been spotted in the last decade," Eve pointed out. "How do we know this isn't vampire on vampire warfare?"
"Eve is right," another wolf, Jackson, agreed. "I wouldn't put it past the vampires to kill their own."
Hayley drew herself up. Her height wasn't formidable, but the way she carried herself gave the appearance that she was taller. "It doesn't matter if this is the vampires doing or if it is the Hunters, all I know is we have to prepare for whatever might be attacking other supernatural creatures. We are the Crescent Wolf pack. We defend our own."
Heads bowed at the Alpha's words.
"I want extra guards posted at every entrance. Mason, draw up a schedule. I don't want anyone getting tired while on look out. If you need to rest, get someone to cover for you."
When she dismissed the meeting, Hayley stayed behind, rubbing a hand over her eyes.
"Maybe you're the one who needs some rest," a deep voice told her. It was followed by a pair of hands rubbing her shoulders kneading the tense muscles.
Hayley opened her eyes and looked up at Jackson. "Are you saying I work too hard?" she asked, quirking a brow.
Jackson smiled. "Maybe. Even an Alpha deserves a break."
Hayley stood, then leaned back against the table. Her eyes were challenging. "How do you suggest I do that?"
Jackson's smile widened into a grin before his hands gripped her hips, his mouth descending on hers.
Ooo0ooO
Later that night, Hayley laid awake, staring out the window in her bedroom. Next to her was Jackson, snoring softly, his arm thrown over her middle.
Hayley sighed and shrugged out of his grasp, before standing and moving to the window. She leaned against the pane, pressing her forehead to the cool glass.
Her thoughts drifted for a while before she felt a pair of warm lips press against her shoulder.
Jackson traced the crescent shaped birthmark there, a mark most of the pack bore. "Why are you awake?"
Hayley shrugged. "I have a lot on my mind."
"Care to share with the class?"
Hayley shot him a look.
Jackson grimaced. "I'm guessing this is one of those 'none of your damn business' moments?"
Hayley looked back outside, towards the northern watch tower. "No," she conceded. "I just have a weird feeling about this."
"What, the vamp? Who cares? The world is better with one less bloodsucker here."
Hayley gave him another unamused look. "They would say the same thing about us. If we think like that, we're allowing ourselves to be blind to the real threat."
Jackson's expression sombered. "So you really think it's Hunters?"
Hayley looked grim as she nodded. "I don't know how I do, I just do. I haven't had this feeling in… a long time."
"Well, it's the middle of the night, so there's nothing you can do about it now. Come back to bed."
Hayley felt a surge of annoyance, but quickly tampered it down. Jackson was a distraction, and right now she needed distracting. So she gave him what she hoped was an alluring smile before following him back into bed.
Ooo0ooO
Back in the Quarter, Klaus was also stretched out across a massive bed, complete with rumpled, crimson sheets. His hands were tucked behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling, his expression smug.
His companion sighed, stretching out like a cat. Her dark eyes smiled at him, and he could all but hear her purr.
Katherine reached out, touching the tattoos on his shoulder and arms. "You look like the cat that ate the canary," she pointed out, her voice equally as smug.
Klaus turned to look at her, rolling onto his side. He ran a hand down her hip, then along her inner thigh. "On the contrary, it was I who ate the cat," he said, before dipping his fingers along her warm, wet slit.
Katherine shuddered against his touch, but managed a breathless laugh.
They had already enjoyed each other for hours, their appetites equally insatiable. Now that the sun was rising, Klaus knew he would have to leave his new lover's arms to go about his duties.
But perhaps they can wait a little longer, he thought to himself before he gave into his desires once more.
By the time the Hybrid emerged from his rooms, the worn out Katherine was sound asleep. The first thing he did was order one of his lackeys to move her into her own rooms. He never allowed any of his lovers to actually sleep in his bed.
There was a gust of air and suddenly, Marcel was standing next to Klaus. "You smell like sex," the younger vampire remarked.
Klaus gave him an amused look. "I suppose I do," he agreed. "And you-," he paused, "smell like my sister. Tell me, Marcel, have you been engaging in similar… physical exercises that I have with the lovely Katherine?"
Marcel raised a brow. "Maybe. Does that bother you?"
Klaus laughed. "Why would it?"
"Because it's your sister for one thing."
Klaus rolled his eyes. "I know you two have been lovers for the better part of a century. Why would it suddenly bother me now?"
"Hey man, if it's cool with you, why don't we skip this awkward conversation I'm having with my lover's brother?"
"Indeed," Klaus chuckled. "Tell me, what did I miss while I was otherwise occupied?"
"There's not a lot to report. Rumor has it that there's been trouble brewing out west. I've already got my feelers out to see what it's about."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble?" Klaus asked, moving down the stairs and into the drawing room.
The room was littered and lined with canvas after canvas, piled with used and new sketchbooks, and papers covered every inch of surface. It smelled like oil painting, turpentine, and ink.
Marcel shrugged. "Nothing solid. Rumors say there's been a large number of vampires killed, staked to trees and left to burn in the sun. We just don't know if it's other vampires doing this or something else."
"Hunters?"
"That's what some believe," Marcel confirmed with a nod.
Klaus made a nonchalant noise. "Anything else?"
Marcel poured Klaus and himself a drink. "Two humans were found dead at the edge of town. I had my day walkers take care of it. They attended the games last weekend, so I'm guessing someone got a little hangry."
Klaus frowned. "Do they know who?"
Marcel shook his head. "No scent, no distinctive marks or bruises. Just a messy feed gone wrong."
"Remind your vampires that we keep a low profile for a reason. This is why the mayor and the governor look the other way when we go what we do."
Marcel nodded. "I'll remind them."
Klaus drained his glass.
The vampires in this town were divided into two groups, the day walkers and the night walkers. The day walkers were the ones who followed Marcel's orders and were gifted with daylight rings that helped them withstand the sun.
The other vampires, on the other hand, were subjected to living in the shadows like any other vampires. They came and went more often than their daytime counterparts, since they did not pledge their loyalty to Klaus, but only pledged not to kill inside of Klaus's territory.
Klaus glanced at Marcel. "Is there anything else?"
"No."
"Then take a few of your men to patrol. I want to be alone for now."
Marcel nodded again before disappearing from the room.
Klaus poured himself another drink before standing in front of a canvas which held his latest work. His eyes assessed every detail and he finished his drink in one go before getting back to work.
Ooo0ooO
Disclaimer: I do not own the Originals.
Author's Note: Please review!