Fables/Fairytales Fan Fiction / Romance Fan Fiction ❯ HOWL ❯ Fortnight ( Chapter 8 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Curiosity almost killed the cat.

DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright � 2008 by Annalee, whenpigsfly8992.
Any retranscription or reproduction is prohibited.

Miscellaneous: Fables/Fairytales Fan Fiction / Romance Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Horror / Fantasy / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 09.07.2008 | Pages: 8 | Words: 5.2K | Visits: 204 | Status: Completed

Fortnight

After that morning, I never even caught a glimpse of Xak. That night, I found myself

sitting on my bed, thumb hovering over the call button of my phone. I wanted to hear his

voice. I wanted to be selfish and keep him to myself and let that pack find someone else to

be the Alpha. But Xak seemed like an Alpha, the perfect one for the big pack. I knew he

wanted it, too. When he told me about it, I saw the pride in his eyes. He was a natural born

leader.

Without him around, my life seemed to go back to the way it was before I met Xak.

Uneventful, boring… Only this time I embraced the distractions my classes provided me.

Anything to keep my mind off of Xak's absence. In the halls, everyone walked too slow —

so slow I could hardly stand it. Sadie's unusual silence during lunch nearly drove me insane

and I forced myself to eat my lunch. Zeno was no help either, with all his thoughts on his

ninety-seven-year-old lover.

As if my nerves weren't all ready shot, I was also worried sick about the pack's

reaction to our relationship. I would either continue being happy with him or never see him

again.

To top it all off, my parents were now becoming concerned. When they talked to me

Thursday night, they asked about my sudden change in behavior. They thought that Xak

really had turned out like the other guys, since I hadn't heard from him for a few days. I

chided them, explaining that Xak had extremely important business to attend to with family

and that I had to give him the time and space to do so. Technically, everything was true. A

pack — as I saw it — was like a family.

The next Monday, I had to keep reminding myself that the wait was half-way over. I

felt like being invisible for a while. I walked to the back of the school building and sat against

the bricks. The seed of doubt that had been growing in my mind for the past week. I was

beginning to wonder if he had been exiled all ready and I didn't know it. I wouldn't know

until after this week. I willed the tears away and tried to ignore the huge, aching lump in my

dry throat. How did Xak expect me to cope without knowing one damn thing? I sat here,

tortured by my own thoughts. Xak was either training to be Alpha, or wandering around

alone, banished by his own kind, destined to become a rogue werewolf.

It was the little things I was beginning to miss: the strong planes of his face, the way

his hair would hide his eyes when he was embarrassed or ashamed, and the way he blushed

when he admitted to playing with my hair, or blindly changing my clothes. I missed how his

eyes, so inhumanly colored, would sparkle or flash. I missed his wolfish smile and the

dimples that would crease the skin on either side of his mouth.

I terribly missed the casual banter we had, telling each other stories, making jokes. I

missed his complaints about not being yelled at. His kisses… Most of all I missed his kisses.

They ranged from playful to serious, soft and sweet to raw and passionate, slow and loving

to fast and forceful. They were always so diverse that each one surprised me and kept me on

my toes. Each kiss was like a first kiss all over again, but comfortable and familiar at the

same time.

I checked my cell phone. Forty-five minutes before school would start.

"You might want to wake up soon." A voice like small bells rang into my ears. I

squinted through my lashes. "Hello. The bell will be ringing in—" there was the very

shortest of pauses, "—ten minutes."

The mousy girl that Zeno had been speaking to stood three feet away from me. She

wasn't looking at me, or even paying attention to me it seemed.

I stood up slowly, sluggishly slinging my purse onto my shoulder. A gust of wind

swept past and the mousy girl turned, her attention completely on me. She stared at me as if

she hadn't even realized I was the person she was waking.

"Oh, I see…" She muttered.

"What?" I asked in a challenging tone.

"I see why Zeno has taken such a liking to you."

"Why should that matter?" I snapped. The hairs on my neck prickled, sensing

potential danger.

"He's a powerful one… More powerful than you could begin to imagine." She

smiled menacingly, "We usually give him the pleasure of taking the first drink… Looks like

he's saving you for a special occasion." It seemed as if she was talking to herself more than

she was talking to me. "He's… distracted for the time being with that human… If you could

still consider her human after what he did… Surely he wouldn't notice if I stole a small sip."

Her skin was cold and hard as steel — no, titanium — as she snatched my wrist and

yanked it to her mouth. I tried to struggle, but her grip was firm. Her upper lip curled back

over her teeth, displaying razor sharp teeth and canines. All of this occurred with nearly

complete silence. It was like watching a wreck — everything slowed down and I couldn't

look away from the oncoming danger; but it also happened like lightning, so fast that my

eyes could only catch a glimpse before everything was gone.

Zeno had the predator facedown on the ground, holding her arms behind her back.

"Must I remind you that keeping this particular human unharmed is of the utmost

importance?" Zeno said with an emotionless voice and an expressionless face, "Or were you

so overcome with bloodlust that you didn't notice—?"

"—Notice what?" The girl snapped back.

"Look closer, Nola." Zeno commanded, lifting her face up forcefully. The vampire,

Nola, fixed me with a studying gaze.

"You're not that blind, are you Nola? It's plain as daylight." The football playing

vampire teased, grinning and leaning against the brick wall.

Nola gasped, "Shut—!"

"That's enough, Orrin." Zeno chided calmly, "Do you see it, Nola? Her aura…"

I stared at the three vampires, bewildered. My aura? What about it? Why was I so

special to them?

"I see…" Nola muttered, standing up and shaking Zeno off. Her eyes landed on

mine. "So from the start, you never planned to drink from her."

"Exactly. But you see, that's the reason he scent is so… decadent."

Nola nodded. She and Zeno were staring at me, while Orrin stared at something

above my head. Zeno stepped forward, taking my face in his hands.

"I am truly sorry about this, Etruria. It absolutely will not happen again. Off to class

for you." Zeno pushed me in the direction of the school doors and my feet did the rest. I

didn't even notice that I was moving until I was inside the building, which they were keeping

at a toasty sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit. All of my thoughts, however, were far away from

Nola, Orrin, Zeno, and the freezing school.

"Ru, are you okay?" Sadie asked while getting ready to leave. I was leaning against her

bright yellow bug, staring at my Ford Escort without a single thought.

"I haven't even seen him in a week. I haven't talked to him in a week. Hell, I haven't

even gotten texts from him" I said bluntly. Then my throat tightened, "I wasn't expecting to

feel so lonely… I mean, you and Zeno are there, but… It's a different kind of lonely."

"Kind of like half of yourself is gone and the part that's gone is like an empty hole."

"Yeah." I whispered, and even then, my voice cracked.

"I'm sorry, Ru…" Sadie muttered, wrapping a comforting arm around my shoulders.

Thank god for best friends.

Tuesday started out as any other day — routine as usual. But routine was making me

restless and anxious. How long did routine have to last? I woke up bleary eyed and stumbled

around my room for an outfit. I packed a lunch consisting of soda and an apple because the

thought of any other kind of food sounded unappetizing that early in the morning. Though,

I know that by the time lunch starts, I'll want any other kind of food. I got into my car and

drove off.

The same old routine.

Suddenly, I slammed on my brakes and wondered how I got to where I was now.

I was in the middle of the street that lead to Xak's house.

"Xak…" I whispered under my breath. Maybe I should call him or send a text… Ask

him to simply peek out the window and give a small wave… But I remembered his words, "I

would love for you to visit during that time, but…" It would cause him trouble if I contacted him…

I didn't know yet if he had told them… But I had to know something — anything.

I eased down on the gas pedal and my car crept further along the road. As I neared

his house, my heart pounded wildly, making me dizzy. I chanced a glance toward his house

and my heart lurched to a near stop.

A woman was lounging on the steps, casually sipping water. She looked lovely, with

smooth, dark skin and gracefully long limbs. Her hair was extremely short and curly, and as

black as black could get. She had the beauty of a super model, but had more curves.

I couldn't admire her beauty, though, because her eyes directly met with mine as I

glanced. Don't panic, don't panic, I told myself, but I couldn't help it. Her eyes, though they

were dark, still pierced mine almost like Xak's did. Maybe the difference was that because

Xak was an Alpha, his gaze was stronger. Keep driving, just keep driving.

Once I parked at school, that single moment crashed down on me and I nearly

started hyperventilating as the panic rose from the memory.

-..__..- * -..__..-

Everyone else was still asleep, except for me and one other member. I was laying on

the sofa, staring at the navy ceiling.

The ache was back. Not the ache from the growth spurt I was going through. It was

an ache in my chest — my heart would throb painfully, my chest would tighten as if the air

was being sucked from my lungs. It was enough to make me collapse sometimes, but only

when the other members weren't there to see. I wondered if she felt the same ache whenever

she thought of me…

My thoughts were interrupted by car tires rolling across the road outside my house.

A sudden, distinct scent hit me — one that only I recognised, thankfully. My heart seized

me, though. What was she thinking? Coming here at such a critical time. The others would

be deliberating the situation for the rest of the week. In the mean time, they continued to

train me.

Fayth walked inside a moment later. My muscles tensed.

"A car just passed. One that is not familiar to this neighborhood." Fayth's rich, alto

voice said.

"Maybe they were taking a shortcut." I didn't miss a beat. I continued to stare at the

ceiling, appearing uninterested in the conversation. I couldn't afford to blow this now.

The clock struck eight. Relaxing time was over. On cue, the other representatives of

the pack filed out of the hallway. I was on my feet, at attention. I was still getting used to the

sudden change in height.

"Xak," The Alpha-Female said in a clear voice, which was laced with authority, "We

have come to a decision about you and your so-called 'mate'."

My heart practically leapt out of my mouth. This was it. This was the announcement

that would determine mine and Etruria's fates. It was time for the verdict.