Dark Angel
Chap 6
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Alpha!” She cried, racing through the woods blindly, feeling panicked, as
though she’d provoked a hive of bees and the whole lot of them were chasing
her, changing tactics in calling her father, “Papa! Papa, o
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'> est-tu?”
answer, she continued running in as straight a path as possible, seeing not so
much as a bird fluttering in the trees, something that worried her greatly.
There was always something moving about these woods, and the only time the
woods were quiet happened to be whenever in the presence of a predator… so what
had frightened them off? Was it her? She was the only predator in these woods…
right?
over the sun just then, thick black ones that blocked even the thinnest ray of
sunshine, crushing it like even the barest sliver of hope. The unexpected
darkness made her stop, choosing a small copse of trees in which to hide in,
pulling some branches in close to hide her dark hair from view.
came.
tall, dark, and — honestly — frightening. It had the form of a man, but yet, it
wasn’t a man. It had dark red eyes, hair that looked to be flames in the
shadows, with thick, black leathery wings folded at its back. It had just
materialized right where she’d been, and it lifted its face to scent the air,
taking mere seconds to turn its ember-like eyes in the direction of where she’d
hidden. Right as their eyes met — despite her hiding place —
naked beneath his heated gaze. Looking down at herself, she found that she was
indeed naked, when she’d been wearing jeans and a T-shirt just a few moments
before.
suddenly at his feet, kneeling with her hands on his thighs and her face level with
his knees. What black magic was this?
remember me, Little Wolf?”
you are,” she said, digging her sharp nails into his thighs as she pushed away
from him without bothering to cover herself, “you’re the one who killed me.”
kill you, Sweetheart,” came her mother’s voice as the scenery changed to that
of their den they’d had for the summer lodgings, her mother sitting cross-legged
at the back of the den with a blanket about her shoulders as she wove flowers
together for some occasion or another, “you’re dreaming, Lila, and you need to
wake up now. You can’t stay here.”
nothing more than to crawl into her mother’s arms and stay there for all
eternity, but she couldn’t move her feet to reach her, “But Mo-…”
to your father. He misses you. Don’t be so hard on him, either.”
question, before I go?” Lila asked, feeling herself fading even as she spoke, “What
do I do about… about the stranger? What should I do?”
only response was a soft smile before she went back to weaving her flowers with
not so much as one more upward glance, leaving Lila with a sense of emptiness
and longing just as she’d felt when her mother died… a feeling she’d never
voiced even to her father.
was back.
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>*~*~*~*
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>It had been four days since he had drank from
her in the former interrogation room. His mother hadn’t bothered him since, but
the young girl had been in critical condition ever since he’d taken her back to
her family, her father speechless and glaring daggers at his mother the entire
time the older woman had been caring for her granddaughter.
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>It had surprised him, however, that the father
hadn’t blamed him in any way, even though he must have known it was entirely
his fault. As being the Alpha and
being her father, he should have been placed on a rotisserie in the center of
the pack’s camp and his cooked carcass would be shared throughout the pack’s
ranks. So why had such steps not been taken?
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>As though such thoughts had been a summons, her
father approached him where he sat overlooking the camp, “May I have a word
with you?”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>He was Alpha, his daughter was more than three
quarters dead, and he was asking permission from a stranger? This was certainly not the behavior of any Alpha
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>“You may.”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Rather than sit and place himself beneath a
stranger, the Alpha remained standing, “Who are you?”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>“I was born Thane Dageus Suiryan,” he answered,
figuring a lie would do him no good, “I would prefer to be called Aesir.”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>He blinked, “Is there… any particular reason for
that?”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>“None that I’ll share with you.” He replied
tersely.
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>“Fair enough,” the Alpha nodded as he crossed
his arms and merely looked out at the camp before asking his next question, “
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>“I am one of the Fallen.”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>The Alpha nodded, as though he’d figured as
much, “Please, Aesir, I want to understand you. My mother seems to know quite a
bit about you — I haven’t the slightest idea how — but she isn’t sharing much
of it with me. I wish merely to know what you are and why you have such an
interest in my daughter, who happens to be my only child.”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>“I am well aware of that.”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>“Tell me. I want merely to learn.”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>He kept his eyes trained on the camp as he
spoke, as did Aesir, who now sat thinking whether or not to discuss his past
with the young girl’s father. He researched her memories, attempting to learn
the man beside him as she knew him, and made his decision from stolen memories.
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>“You wish to learn but I have no will to teach
you. Send a messenger to the standing stone near the mouth of the stream in
three days’ time. I will await him there.”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>“What will you feed from?”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>“Nothing,”
he thought, for he would starve himself until he could taste her sweet essence
on his tongue again, “that is of no concern to you. Have the messenger there.
You have three days.”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Her father looked aghast, “And if she is not
well by then? What will you do, eh? Swoop down upon us and drain every last one
of us until she wakes? Carry her off for your own amusement until she wakes
bound in chains? Oh yes, I saw the marks on her wrists and ankles. Will you
have vengeance on us? Punish us for her weakened state? Well? Come now, you
needn’t hide your agenda from me, after all, I’m only her father
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Even Aesir had to admit the Alpha had guts to
speak to him that way, “Yes. To all, none, or one of the above. I’ll let you
decide which one. You have until dusk of the third day. I will see you then.”
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>Then he was gone, as though the night had merely
swallowed him at that very moment, leaving Lila’s poor father to wonder just
what vengeance would be exacted upon them if they had not met Aesir’s demands on
the date he had set.
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>From what his mother had explained to him, creatures
of Aesir’s kind spoke the truth at all times, upheld the Laws, and were
generally peaceful of nature. However, his mother had also said that it
appeared as though Aesir had been trained in the arts of war, for no truly peaceful
creature would have calluses on its hands from wielding a sword, as it appeared
Aesir did, from what Selira had said after her examination of his hands after
he’d died. But Aesir was one of the Fallen, a creature that had broken a Law or
maybe even more than one, and had been banished by his leader and sent down to
this plane of existence as punishment.
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>But why?
What had he done? Why send him to this plane and curse him to never touch the
sunlight — which, with time, would fade away, a sort of self immunization from
the way Selira had described it — and to drink the blood of others? And why did
he only want Lila’s blood? What about it was different? Why not merely drain
them all dry until he’d had his fill? Not that Remus wasn’t thankful his
daughter had been left alive, but why did he continue draining her until she
was at Death’s door and then leaving her to suffer time after time? What
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>So many questions and the one who could answer
them was gone until three days had passed. What if Lila wasn’t awake by then? What
would happen to them after she did
wake? Would he feed from the messenger? If not, what message could he have that
he could not merely deliver himself? Who, what, where, when, why, how… he could
answer none of this nor had he any reasoning for it, but he did know this:
"Century Gothic","sans-serif"'>He had three days to get Lila as far away from
the Pack as possible.