"Do you remember that awful day?" I shook my head at Thorn, "No... I don't. What happened? Will you tell me?"538Please respect copyright.PENANAddCZhghYq7
538Please respect copyright.PENANAYYhrFHoQWV
"There-" He shut his eyes then opened them, looking at the moon. "There was death everywhere. Blood covered the halls and rooms where the deniers dwelled. The wolves and vamps that lived were either traitors that caused the event, or the ones that believed our Seer and escaped."
"What of the Royal family you spoke of?"
"They all live, that's the most I can s-" he gasped, a small blade suddenly going through his heart. I looked up and saw a cloaked vamp, holding up another weapon. "Traitor!" The vampire threw their knife at me, but I couldn't move. Thorn grabbed me and quickly pulled me into my apartment. I slammed the sliding door shut, and spun around to face Thorn.538Please respect copyright.PENANANNg65JwRT3
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At that moment, he yanked the weapon out, and his wound began to heal. "Are you alright," I asked. "I'll be fine. But now you have a larger target on your back. We need to leave." Then the sliding door shattered-
I awoke with my heart beating heavy and my head throbbing. I've had that dream every night since Thorns last visit. It's been three days of Werewolves glaring at me and Thorn- and he at them. Three days of nearly zero sleep. When was it going to end?
When was I going to get a break?
I rolled over, and looked at my alarm clock. 10:37. Shit. I'm extremely late for school. But would there even be a point in going? All I do is read on subjects I already know, and train. And get threats from everyone else. They wouldn't miss me for a day. I know that I'm not that needed.
I couldn't be.
***
I leaned back on my sofa, staring at the ceiling. The image of Thorn would randomly appear in my head as the hours passed. Why? Why him of all people? He's supposed to be my enemy, and yet he has treated me like an ally.538Please respect copyright.PENANAOoglnANocX
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Suddenly I was pulled out my thoughts, hearing my back door slide open, then slam shut. I rose and turned to see Thorn heading straight for the open curtains. He closed them, breathing heavy. "She's-" he gasped, "she's found out. The Hunters will be here any minute."538Please respect copyright.PENANAIEIBpeT3VI
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"What do you mean? Who's found out?"
"Queen Nira. She knows that we've been talking, as friends. Hunters are coming after you. You need to leave, or they'll take you to the Palace to face the Queen." I only nodded and began locking my windows and doors. Then, I sat back down. "Then I will face the Queen. You should leave."
"Are you insane?! She may have you killed!" I shook my head, and met throbbing pain as I spoke. I couldn't hear, nor did I know a single word that I said. "I cant let you, Hel."
"GET OUT! Please..." There was silence for a few moments, then he spoke once more, "No. Hate me if you will, but I won't leave."
"Why?"
"I have my reasons. If you're going to hand yourself over, I'm going to be sure that she doesn't have your life." What the hell am I doing? He was right... I needed to leave. But why won't I? Why won't my body move to walk out the door?538Please respect copyright.PENANAQZDhn5n4dk
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"Just... Don't get into Hell with her because you're protecting me."
"I'm already in Hell... I just don't show it." He walked over to the fridge, pulling out a few large bottles of blood. "Drink up. You'll need it if you want to put up any sort of fight against the Hunters," he said as he gently placed it all next me. I drew in a deep breath, opening a bottle and chugging like there was no tomorrow. "I'll let you know when I smell them coming," Then I heard his bones snap, and crunch. He looked unphased, not at all affected by the stucture of his body rearranging. Of course, that must be because he's done this thousands of times. Thorn began to grow in size, his clothing ripping. Dark brown fur covered him head to two now, his clothing falling to the floor... Then in the blink of an eye he was pure wolf. 538Please respect copyright.PENANAYc7blYSvfc
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Thorn still seemed to tower over me, while I was on the couch. However if I were to stand, I would have to look down at him. He's astonishing. You're gawking.538Please respect copyright.PENANAnHQpqAnhC0
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I jumped from the sudden sound of his voice in my head. Scared ya?
"You merely startled me." He gave me a toothy grin, Sure.
“You sound sarcastic.”
That’s because I am.
I scoffed rolling my eyes. You look tired.
“I haven’t been getting the greatest of sleep lately.” Thorn sat down, slightly tilting his furry head, Why?
“A nightmare.”538Please respect copyright.PENANAVhhk2v3ES3
538Please respect copyright.PENANAc3UHFa14Os
Willing to tell what happened? I nodded, “We were out back on the porch. The moon was high above us. You asked me, ‘do you remember that awful day?’. I told you no, and then you proceeded to tell me what had happened. Death was everywhere. Blood covered the halls and rooms where- what was it- where deniers dwelled. The ones that lived, vamps and wolves, were traitors that caused the event, or-”
Were the ones who believed our Seer and escaped. I know what day I described to you in the dream. Continue.
“I then asked, ‘What of the Royal family you spoke of?’. You said that they lived, then suddenly a blade went through your heart. I looked up and saw a vampire in a cloak, hovering in the air with a knife. He cried traitor, and threw it at me, but I couldn’t move. You grabbed and pulled me into the apartment. I was able to move again, and slammed the door shut. I turned to you right as you pulled the blade out of your chest. Immediately, your wound began to heal. You said you’d be fine, that I had a larger target on my back, and that we had to leave. Then the sliding door shattered. I always wake up at that part.”
The dream is prophetic. You broke vampire laws by trying to be secret friends with me, hence considered a traitor. The cloaked vamp you saw? A Hunter- which is what your Queen made you to be, after you killed one of her prisoners. I grabbed you, told you that there’s a larger target on ya, that we had to leave. That represents I trying to protect you, coming here, telling you that the Hunters are after you, that you needed to leave. Nearly everything in that dream has happened, Hel.
“Well, damn.”
Yeah. Start paying close attention to every dream you get. They could very well change lives and- He turned to the front door, they’re near. Stand ready. 538Please respect copyright.PENANAfZ1c234Xo6
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I stood, quiet, and tense. They’re at the back and front. Five of ‘em in total. I’ll take the four out front, you take the one on the porch.
“Four on one? Are you sure you-”
It’ll be difficult, but I'll live. I sighed, “Fine,” and quickly went to my room. If the Hunter enters, I might be able to come at ‘em from behind if they walk past me. Suddenly I heard loud thuds on the front door, and then it crashing open, simultaneously with the back door shattering. Be careful, Hel. A stranger's voice came from the destroyed back door, “Stand down, Thorn. We just want the girl. Fight, and the Queen will call for war.”
No. There will be war either way.
“Why’s that?”
Don’t play dumb.
I watched the Hunter walk past my room door, laughing. “Ah. You have me there.” Carefully, I stepped out of my room, grabbed the Hunter, putting him in a choke hold. He growled, and there was a sharp pain in my leg, but I didn’t let go. “Bitch,” he gasped. I watched the other four walk in, Thorn growling, baring teeth. Finally I felt the Hunter go limp, his legs giving out. I dropped him, and tried to take a step towards Thorn. Pain shot through my leg, and I fell to the ground, unable to move. My back and wings became numb, my vision turned blurry. Barely, I could see Thorn attacking the Hunters, right as heavy exhaustion took hold. I couldn’t keep my eyes open, no matter how hard I tried. The sound of more glass shattering, growls and hissing filled my surroundings. It lasted for a good while.
Soon, I felt a calloused hand touch my shoulder, “Shit…” Thank the heavens, it was Thorn. “Hel? Can you hear me?”
“Yeah.” My voice was barely a whisper. What did the Hunter do to me? “Are you able to move?”
“No. What happened to the Hunters?”
“Dead, except for the one you choked. I put him in the cuffs he was carrying. I have help on the way. I can’t move you, not with-” He drew in a breath, “Hel, your wings are gone. The Hunter used a poison that could instantly kill you if you move at all right now.”
“Well… Shit.”
“I know. You’re going to be okay, though.”
“Oh Jeeze… What the hell did you do, Thorn,” An unfamiliar voice asked. Then there was another voice- a woman, “Did you really have to tear them up like that?”
“Shut up, and stop staring at the vamps! We have a bigger problem, you idiots. Or did you not pay any damn attention to what I said in the text?”
The male stranger talked once more, "Right. Here, throw this on, Thorn." I heard receding footsteps, and rustling, then approaching footsteps. "Hey, hun," The woman… "This'll sting. You'll be able to move in a minute." There was a slight burning on my arm, then nothing. In exactly a minute, I could open my eyes again, and move, but my back felt on fire. The woman, with bright pink long hair and green eyes, put out a hand, "I'm Mo." I grabbed her hand, and she helped me up. "Take it easy, alright?" I nodded, looking over her shoulder. Thorn, in jeans, and a man stood over broken glass, and the four dead Hunters. Blood was everywhere. "Seriously, man, did you have to rip out throats, take off hands, and tear the wings to that extent?"
"They're Hunters, Siroe, so yes. Somehow they always have a trick up they're sleeve to stay alive, when they should have died."
"Thorn," I said, "What now?" Thorn turned around, and looked at me dead straight into my eyes, "We leave."
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