Fables/Fairytales Fan Fiction / Romance Fan Fiction ❯ HOWL ❯ Annabelle ( Chapter 7 )

7

 

Annabelle

 

"Is there anything wrong?" Xak asked. He leaned against his car.

"No…Why?"

"You haven't yelled at me in a week." He mumbled.

"Oh… Has it really been that long?" I wondered, leaning against Xak.

"Mmmhm."

"Why would you want me to yell at you? Couples don't normally yell at each other on purpose." I interlaced our fingers and smiled up at Xak.

"I think I'm used to being yelled at by you." Xak smiled back, kissing me soundly.

"How strange. I think it's a very unusual thing to be used to."

"Mmm… Don't care what you think."

"…What?" I asked sharply. I began to pull away, to go into my house and end this date. Before I could, Xak flipped me around and pinned me to his car. His smoldering eyes bored into mine.

"You know that's not what I mean." Xak growled. His lips attacked mine and I wasn't aware of anything except the numbing warmth his skin radiated. I moved do his neck and heard him make a deep "urrr" sound.

"Hnnn… What are you doing?" He asked, stroking my arms.

"Revenge… Mine hasn't… Gone away… and… it's… been… eight… days." The kiss mark he left on my hip was still pink and could be clearly seen, so I still had to be careful to keep it covered. In my parents' eyes, I was still their perfectly angelic child who never dared to do more than kiss after her tragic incident a few weeks back. They were the kind of parents who didn't enjoy seeing their only child growing into a woman so quickly.

"This isn't going to stay for even an hour." He laughed quietly, tracing circles on my back.

"I'll make it stay…" I felt his heartbeat speed up steadily with each passing moment. His hands were exploring more as well.

He backed away suddenly and hugged me, pulling me into the shadows.

"Shh…" He whispered into my ears, "Your parents are peaking through the curtains right now… I'd better go…"

I sighed. Thank goodness for that super-hearing of his, I thought. "Right… Of course they spy… I should have remembered."

"Why? Did they drive away the other guys?"

"Out of the previous two I had? No. They dumped me because I wouldn't give 'em any action. My parents just don't trust guys anymore. They just want to make sure I don't get hurt."

Xak stifled his laughter, "How ironic."

"Yeah. Who would have thought there's actually a girl who doesn't throw her self at men?"

"Shocking. I have to admit… I'm a bit jealous… Two other guys?"

"Never actually got serious. Both lasted less than a week and I was the one who got dumped both times. No emotional attachment, so why give a damn?"

"Lucky me, then." He smiled, then became serious, "I've really got to go now." He said leaning slightly away. "Your parents aren't even trying to be sneaky about it anymore. Go inside before they come out thinking I'm ravaging you."

"All right, all right. I'm going. You can ravage me some other time."

"Sounds good." He said, grabbing my hand and leading me out of the shadows. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the curtains close. He led me up the pathway to my house, stopping short of the porch. They were peaking, I could sense it.

Quickly, with ease, he swooped down and planted a small, light peck on my cheek.

"Night," He growled softly so only I could hear. He flashed a wolfish grin and disappeared from sight.

I turned smoothly and opened the door. I found myself backing up onto the porch, though, as my parents rushed forward. I glanced over my shoulder — Xak's car was no where in sight.

"That's the same boy, right? The one who helped you that one time… you… you know… right?" Mom asked.

"Yeah…" I answered cautiously.

"Does he treat you well? Is he respectful? He's not like those other guys you liked, is he? Because they turned out to be jerks and I don't want you to have to go through that again —"

"—Akira. Slow down and let Etruria answer." Dad interrupted, placing his hand on Mom's shoulder.

Mom's jaw clenched shut and she glanced at Dad and back to me, "Ru… Sweetie?"

I simply smiled at my parents and said, "He's good." And practically sprinted up the stairs.

 

School the next Monday was relatively uneventful. School would be out for summer in two week's time. Major projects had all ready been assigned, completed, and turned in to be graded. Teachers would be busy grading them during those last two weeks. Final examinations were scheduled for the last two days of school to prevent students from skipping.

By lunch, we were sitting on the rusty trunk of Xak's Cadillac Seville, eating the pizza we had delivered to us in the parking lot. Sadie and I shared one and Xak had two to himself.

"Where's Zeno?" Sadie wondered, her eyes sweeping over the parking lot. The sunlight made her eyes light gray, only a few shades from white.

"Who gives a damn where the fuck he is?" Xak mumbled with great irritation.

"We do." Sadie and I said.

"He's our friend." I reasoned.

"Only you can be friends with a vampire." Xak sighed.

"And only I can be a werewolf's girlfriend." I said through pizza. Sadie giggled and then a moment later gasped and pointed to the back of the parking lot.

Zeno stood with two others — a buff, platinum blond football player who must have been a good two feet taller than Zeno and the other. The second was a very plain-looking girl with mousy hair that was in pigtails and seemed shorter than I was. Their expressions were grim as they spoke in deep conversation. The football player's eyes flickered towards us. With piercing accuracy, he found my gaze and held it for a split-second. It seemed to last longer, though, as if time itself had slowed. He looked back at Zeno and his lips moved ever so slightly. Zeno and the girl visibly stiffened. The football player and the plain girl walked their separate ways, watching out for other onlookers besides us. Zeno half-ran, half-walked to us, lowering his head against a strong gust of wind.

"What was all that about?" Sadie asked.

"Yeah, what were you discussing with the other blood-suckers?" Xak growled.

"They were vampires too?" The words slipped out of my mouth.

"Honestly…" Xak sighed, squeezing the bridge of his nose.

Zeno was fighting a laugh and Sadie patted my shoulder.

"You know what I mean. They don't look like vampires." I said.

"It's their disguises. They're not always perfect or beautiful. The point is blending in as much as we can." Zeno said.

I nodded, "So, what were you talking about?"

Zeno was silent for a moment, his caramel eyes watching his feet. His lips had a slight hint of pink, as did his cheeks. His hair, which was now completely black, blew into his eyes. He parted his lips and a single name escaped them, "Annabelle."

"Who?" We asked.

"A prostitute I fell in love with eighty years ago." Zeno said simply. I felt my jaw slack and fall open. From his eyes, I could tell he was completely serious.

"A p-prostitute?" I sputtered.

"Yes. I've finally answered your question." Zeno said, examining a hangnail and biting it off.

"My… question?" I asked.

"You don't remember? You were drunk and asked me who I loved. The answer is Annabelle."

"Wait, you said eighty years ago." Xak pointed out, stacking the empty pizza boxes.

"Yes. She is ninety-seven…" Zeno answered.

"So, she's still alive?" I asked incredulously.

"Yes." His voice shook. A slight smile crossed his lips. "Two years after we met, she decided to travel alone. She never sent letters, never told me where she was. I could tell she was frightened of me. But… At the same time she loved me. She was just running away. From me… From the world… Everything. For all these years I've been searching for her. She was always eluding the search parties I sent out. She knew how to run from them, how to mask the scent of her blood.

"After all those years and they've finally tracked her down. They said she's practically comatose because of how weak she is. She is asleep more than she is awake. They're keeping an eye on her, though they doubt she'll be strong enough to get away. Once school is over, I'm going to visit her. Settle eighty years of unfinished business." Zeno said, nodding to himself.

"Can… Can I go?" I asked.

Zeno smiled charmingly, "I would appreciate the company."

"Then I'm going too." Xak growled, pulling me closer to him.

Zeno's smile widened, "Even better." Small fangs glinted in the sunlight. They weren't extremely noticeable, but they were longer than average canines and had a sharper point.

"Then… can you tell me about everything? I'll be with family by the time you go." Sadie said. I responded by nodding.

"Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?" Xak mumbled.

I caught his lips with mine. "You won't."

 

The day went by like a breeze. Sadie and Zeno said their good-byes and left quickly. Xak walked me to my car.

"Hey… Make sure you're in your room by midnight tonight." Xak said suddenly.

"Ehh? Why?" I asked, perplexed.

"I want to visit you secretly." Xak whispered blatantly against my cheek, kissing it, then my lips.

"W-what? NO! You can't!"

"Aww, why not? Any other werewolves I should be aware of?"

"I-I… Th-that's not—! Damn you!" I yelled, my face burning.

"That's more like it." Xak said, smiling. When I cocked my eyebrow, he said, "So it's a fetish for yelling. So what?" Then he added, purring against my neck, "I'm still coming over no matter what."

I let out a shaky breath and nodded reluctantly.

"Tonight, then. I have something important to tell you." Xak called, walking to his car.

 

All night, I kept glancing at the clock, waiting for midnight to arrive. Seven o'clock rolled around and slowly ticked to seven-thirty. Then eight, nine, ten… Slower with every minute. I was about to go mad.

I sat with my parents watching TV, but not actually listening to the lines. I counted the ticks of the second hand. One… two… three… four… seventeen… eighteen… nineteen… thirty-eight… thirty-nine… forty… It was mind-numbing. When I remembered to look at the clock again, it was twelve-ten. My heart lurched and I stood up.

"I'm going to bed." I said. My parents' heads snapped up to the clock as well.

"Oh, geez. I didn't realize it was so late." Mom said, giving me two small pushes toward the stairs. "If you wake up late in the morning, there's nothing I'll be able to do."

"I won't wake up late, mom."

"Mhm… Right. I know full well that you plus six hours of sleep do not mix."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry." I said, half-way up the stairs. Although, I thought, I don't know how long Xak will be visiting tonight. I found myself blushing at the images that popped into my mind. I am such a pervert. I thought miserably.

"Night, mom! Night, dad!" I called.

"Good night, sweetie." Mom replied.

"Night, kiddo." My dad called vaguely.

 

I hesitated in front of my door. Before I could stop myself, my feet had carried me into the bathroom — and I was glad. My eyeliner had smudged onto my upper and lower lids, making my eyes look hollow. On the toilet lid was a pair of pajamas I had brought up earlier but had forgotten about. How convenient.

But what if it gives him ideas? I asked myself.

Well, what do you think he's sneaking into your room for? In the middle of the night, to boot. Besides, he only said he had something important to talk about. I answered.

I changed into my pajamas and stared at my reflection. Why would Xak have to visit me tonight? Why a Monday night? Why did it have to be secret? I swallowed hard and walked back to my door. I twisted the cold doorknob to the right and stepped into my room. My lights were off except for the dim lamp next to my bed. I had déjà vu of Xak's room for a moment.

He was there. Sitting on the edge of my bed, his back facing me. I swallowed again, my mouth unusually dry.

"You're late. Fifteen minutes late, to be exact." Xak spoke quietly, not looking up or even facing me.

"Sorry… I lost track of time." I apologized.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you it's rude to keep people waiting? You should pay more attention." His voice seemed distant, almost gloomy. What was his problem?

"If it's that big of a deal, then you can just leave… Sorry I took a few minutes to look decent for my boyfriend. Or do you not mind me looking like a banshee?" I was careful to keep my voice down.

Xak sighed, "Learn how to take a joke, Ru. Honestly. Besides," Xak turned to me, his eyes half-turquoise and half-golden in the lamplight and wearing the warmest smile, "you'd never look like a banshee— no matter how hard you tried. Now come here."

I walked to my bed in carefully measured steps, not wanting to seem too eager. I sat daintily next to him — about a foot away. Is this too far? I thought nervously.

I saw Xak roll his eyes and sigh, "No, Ru. Sit here." He patted his lap. I perched carefully on his knees and Xak let out a quiet, dissatisfied growl. He held me by the waist and pushed me down onto the bed. He pinned me down and kissed me passionately and aggressively. My arms and shoulders stiffened with anticipation. So this really was what he wanted? Surely not. But…

He parted long enough to utter a breath of a question that I barely caught.

"Are you nervous?"

His lips were upon mine again, but this time with a slower pace; deeper, more meaningful. Gently, and with the most pleasant amount of pain, he bit my lower lip and sucked on it for a few seconds before returning his attention back to the rest of my mouth. His hand slipped under my night shirt, his rough palm skimming over my stomach and the equally rough lace of my bra. His other hand slithered up my back, swiftly unhooked my bra and slid back out to rest beside my head. Xak lifted the bra and cupped my breast, rubbing his thumb in continuous circles on the soft skin. He left a trail of kisses down to my neck, where he left hot spots along my jawline every time he kissed the skin. Then, there was a noise, quiet and weak sounding; an airy sound. It was the strangest noise I had heard and I briefly wondered if Xak could hear it too.

His lips left my neck, "Shh, Ru. Quiet now…" His mouth covered mine again and the strange sound was muffled. Too late now did I realize that I was the one making the sound.

The next noise came from neither of us. Someone was knocking softly on my door. We weren't being that loud were we?

"Etruria, sweetie?" My mom's voice asked, testing to see if I was awake or not. I kept my mouth firmly shut. In a flash, Xak had rolled off of me and lifted the covers for me to climb under. There was no time for Xak to find a hiding place or to escape, no matter how quick his reflexes were. I pulled Xak under the covers with me and pushed him further under the sheets. I draped the cover over the two of us and clicked the lamp off.

The moment the cover had settled, my mom opened the door. The hallway light slightly illuminated my room. Xak pressed himself as far as he could into me and the bed, making the form under the covers look more natural and less like a mountain.

"Oh, you're asleep. I'll just put her clothes here." My mom mumbled softly to herself. I barely heard her, though, as I was overly-aware of Xak's face in my chest, sucking on my breasts like a newborn. I stifled a moan which ended up sounding like a sleeping grunt. I pinched Xak's ear and he stopped immediately. "Good night, sweetie." My mom whispered, closing the door with the greatest of care so she wouldn't wake me.

I counted out ten seconds silently in my head before throwing the covers off. I switched the lamp on again.

"You idiot." I mouthed to Xak.

Xak gave a sheepish grin an mouthed back, "Sorry." Wasting no time, he continued where he left off.

 

Giving my alarm clock the quickest of glances while Xak nipped my ear, I saw it was one-forty and, as much as I enjoyed this, I wanted to know his real motive for sneaking into my room tonight. Xak pulled my face back around. Each kiss was different, each one better than the one before.

"Wasn't there… something… you… wanted… to talk… about?" I breathed between kisses.

Xak stopped dead and sighed heavily. "I was hoping we could wait until later." He whispered.

"Xak, you told me it was important. You shouldn't put it off until the last minute." I whispered back, pushing him off and tidying myself up.

Xak watched with disappointment as I slipped my nightshirt back on. "I guess so…" He muttered.

"So, what did you have to tell me?"

"Well… I'm taking all my final exams tomorrow— well, technically today. So, you won't see me at all after school starts."

"Is that it? Wait… why are you—"

"Actually… You probably won't see me until after the school year ends."

I gazed down at my hands. Two weeks without Xak? I clenched them into fists.

"Why?" Was all I could manage.

"Well, some members of the main pack, the one that mine is part of, will be staying at my place. I was informed about a week and a half ago. One of the two leaders disappeared a while back. They recently found his dead body a little south of their headquarters… They… They need me to be the new leader of the main pack."

My numb mind cleared long enough to ask, "I thought the oldest became the leader."

"I am now the oldest out of the main pack. It's a good sized pack, but the members are young. For the main packs in various areas, they have two leaders— on male, one female. Fair decisions, opposing opinions. That type of thing. There's always a balance."

He spoke so casually. I wasn't in the mood to hear useless explinations.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? You've known for this long, so why tell me the night before? Can't I at least visit?"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Ru… But I knew you'd say that. I didn't want to see that troubled expression on your face. I would love for you to visit during that time, but…"

"What? Why can't I?" I kept my voice down still.

"But they are going to be training me to be the leader. Plus, they don't know about you. They don't know that their future leader is dating a human. I have to tell them myself and I don't want you to be there in case their reaction is bad. If it is… I would be exiled, ignored, and forgotten as a fellow werewolf. And you…" He whispered, caressing my cheek and brushing his fingers through my hair, "I would never be able to see you again. It isn't easily accepted…"

"They'll accept it… They have to," I said desperately.

"It isn't our decision, Ru."

"But it's a young pack. Younger generations are always more accepting—"

"—Depending on how they are raised."

I sighed and slumped against Xak, "This sucks."

"I know… Have faith, though… However little it may be." Xak kissed my temple, each eyelid, and finally my lips. I snuggled into his chest and pulled the covers over us.

"Don't even try leaving while I'm asleep. If I wake up without you by my side in the morning, I will never forgive you."

"I will even take you to school. In your car."

"But you're going to leave an hour before school ends… How will…? Oh wait… You're going to run." I answered my own question. Xak nodded. "Well… Good night."

"Good night." Xak reached over and clicked off the light.

 

White snow, so cold it burned my face as the wind whipped it in my direction. The snowy mountain. Again, something was watching me. The same something. This time I sensed it tenfold. My heart smashed wildly against my ribs, and panic bubbled up, eating away at me like acid. How would I get back to that cabin again? How would I know what direction to run this time? I couldn't be sure of the time, but because of the clouds overhead, I wasn't able to tell whether it was day or night anyway.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are…" A voice hissed suddenly, somewhere in the distance. I started and my legs tore through the deep snow. I desperately hoped it was the right way to the cabin. If I got there, I would be safe. I was nearly hysterical. How long had I been running? I looked behind me. The trench I had made while running had all ready filled half-way with fresh snow.

"Found you." A low, victorious voice said. The same voice from before. I whipped my head around and was face to face with a man who was both beautiful and hideous for a split-second before the scenery changed.

In a blur of movement, I was traveling through an alleyway. It was late at night and the dirty bricks on the buildings were illuminated by the street lamps on the sidewalk ten feet away.

I turned and saw Xak. Joy rapidly washed through me. How great! Xak is here with me!

"Xak!" I said happily. He didn't even notice me.

"Vermin." Xak hissed gazing at the shadows. I could see his strong profile from where I watched. Who was he talking to? "Don't even think about it." Xak warned.

Then a cold, harsh tenor voice said, "Then I shall have your blood!" There was a hint of glee in the voice.

There was a blur of color. Trying to attack Xak was a pale creature with disturbingly red eyes and fangs. Xak held the creature up by the neck, it's feet dangling nine inches from the ground. The vampire was snapping at Xak, it's teeth hitting together loudly. It had a mad expression, one of bloodlust. Before Xak could block it, the vampire tore through Xak's side with it's hand.

Xak growled and gripped the vampire's neck tighter. There was a sickening crack and in one simple motion, Xak ripped the vampire's head clear off it's neck.

There was a spray of blood and I raised my arms to block it. But there wasn't the feeling of it splashing onto my skin like I expected. I looked down and there wasn't a drop of blood on me.

Then Xak collapsed. "Xak!" I tried calling, but now my voice wouldn't even work. No sound.

Breathing raggedly, Xak weakly said, "Ru… Help…"

 

I bolted upright in my bed. In my bed alone. Panic spiked at an alarming rate inside me. It couldn't be…

It was a dream. Just a harmless dream. But where was Xak? I checked my alarm clock. It read three-sixteen in the morning. I groaned silently to myself. Can he ever keep a promise? I thought fleetingly.

My door opened and to my relief, Xak slipped in. He was wearing nothing except his boxers. I pretended to be asleep and controlled my breathing with long, deep breaths. Xak snuggled up behind me, one hand finding my own.

Then Xak sighed, his warm breath raising goosebumps on my neck and arms. Then he whispered to himself, "How can you make me love you so much, even while you sleep?"

It took all my strength and willpower not to sit up and gape at Xak. That was the first time someone had ever confessed to me… And he didn't even mean for me to hear it.

"Xak…" I breathed, eyes still closed. His heartbeat sped wildly and he held me tighter. Soon after that, I really was asleep.

 

My alarm went off. When I rolled over, there was no one there. He had all ready left.

"Dammit." I muttered, now in a foul mood. I officially wake up and he isn't there like he promised? I threw my covers off and began the daily routine of getting ready for school.

I walked into the kitchen afterward and took out a cereal bowl. When I turned to get the cereal box out of the pantry, I saw it sitting, freshly open, on the counter. It was half-empty. I walked hesitantly to the dining room.

Xak was sitting at the end of the table, in the same clothes as yesterday, almost finished with his giant bowl of cereal, and scanning the front page of the newspaper.

My mom bustled into the dining room, "Etruria will probably be down in a— oh, you're here! Well, nevermind. Morning, honey. Xak says he is taking you to school today."

"Thanks." I say, hugging her before she left the room. I didn't bother counting this time. I leaned down to Xak and whispered, "You promised me that you would be there when I woke up."

"One: it wasn't my fault that you sleep in later than I do. Two: I know, and I wish I could have seen your smile after waking up next to me. But you were asleep when I woke up. I—" He hesitated and blushed. Then he mumbled, "I spent about thirty minutes playing with your hair…" Then, back to normal, "Three: I never even left your property. I hopped out the window and went around to the front door."

"Okay, okay. I get it."

"So I'm forgiven?" He asked hopefully. I rolled my eyes and smiled at him.