Fate of the Blood Moon's Path (18 page)
Read Fate of the Blood Moon's Path Online
Authors: Tiffany Potter
The whole time riding through the city I knew we had eyes upon us. Eyes were everywhere constantly watching and probing. I now know why Akuma chose this place out of all the places. Because it was busy, and it was confusing. All the smells were mixed, so it was hard to distinguish the difference between a Vampyre, Werewolf, human, or anything else. There was just so much human waste here that the stench was nostril burning. And hearing all of those human thoughts mixed with the Vampyres. This just made it all so hard to know which way was up and which way was down.
“So, we’re here. Now what?” Scarlet asked as we rode through the streets.
“Just follow me.” I said. I could feel their presence, though I didn’t dare glance around; not just yet anyways. Something inside of me just kept telling me to keep my eyes forward. My eyes remained forward while the rest of my senses went into over drive.
We rode on through the streets until we came to the area of the local blacksmith.
“Could we board our two horses here blacksmith?” I asked the heavy set balding man.
“Of course, but it will cost…” He didn’t have time to finish his sentence because I handed him a small purse of silver coins.
“Get these horses!” He screamed to his two small apprentice boys who were making shoes.
“Yesum.” They both said and ran over to us. I patted them both on the back and handed each of them a silver coin, through passing, as we left the blacksmiths.
“We’ll be back for them soon.” I stated.
“Keep them here as long as you need to milady.” He yelled to me out from under his roof while he counted the coins from the pouch.
“What did you give him?” Scarlet asked me.
“Money.” I said and kept walking forward into the streets. “Stay close.” I whispered to her. She stepped a little too close, stepping on my heels. “Not that close.” I turned my head and gave her a slight smile. This girl was growing on me.
“Sorry.” She whispered to me, with a look on her face as if she were in trouble.
I looked over my shoulder again at her, motioning for her to follow me down to the crowded tunnels.
“Why are we going down here?” She asked cautiously and quietly.
“See if I can pick up on anything…or anyone.”
“Seriously? What will you find down here?”
I didn’t answer her. I just shot her a glance as if the answer to that question was obvious.
“Just stay with me and talk to no one. Don’t even look at anyone. Got it?” I sounded a little harsh, as I always do.
“Got it.” She tried not to smile at me. I shook my head, proceeding forward to the passages and tunnels with Scarlet on my heels.
Angel.
14.
By Chance or Fate?
1646.
The human stench was everywhere here. Throughout the tunnels, passages, and alleys. Not just the scent of humans, but there were also Vampyre scents mixed in. And a Wolf.
I could sense the approach of someone coming up behind us. I never showed panic, but I turned ever so quickly with my hand at-the-ready on my daggers. All I sensed were humans. There had to be more. My senses have never lied to me nor have they failed me before.
From the darkness of the alleyway I saw him. A man dressed in dark clothing and a brown leather coat. He was just standing there watching me. Staring.
“What is it?” Scarlet asked me quietly.
“A hybrid.” I said slowly and in a whisper.
“What?” She yelled her whisper. Some glances came our way.
“Come on.” I turned back towards the opening of the tunnels.
“You’re not at all curious?” Scarlet hesitated to ask.
“Of course I am. But there is way too many people around here to be curious.”
“Oh.” She said simply.
“
You’re not in the least but curious about me?”
I heard inside of my head.
Quickly I turned my head again to where he was. There was at least ten feet between us. He had a thick Australian accent. He was taller than me, had dark hair and very dark eyes. I didn’t sense danger in him. But there is always danger in beauty. Just watching him, looking at him, made me feel very attracted to him. I’m not sure where it was coming from.
“
Should I be?”
I replied to him turning my head back forward to watch where I was walking.
“Yes, you should be. And I’m extremely curious about you.”
He responded, and I could sense his grin that he had on his face.
I looked over to see Scarlet who had her eyes forward, not really paying attention to me or what was going on with this other hybrid.
“
Tell me, sir, why you’re so curious about someone like me?”
I asked.
“
It should be quite obvious.
”
“
I beg your pardon?”
“
You’re Angel.”
“Hmmm.” I only made a noise as my response.
“
Are you not?”
“I am.” I glanced sideways at him.
“Tell me Hybrid, what is your name?”
“
Kane Reagan
.” He stated proudly.
“How long have you been here Kane?”
“A few years now. I’ve been keeping peace between the wolf clans here. I was supposed to be away fighting, but opted out.”
“Keeping peace?”
“Clans here feud over power and control. Everyday someone dies. I’m a sort of messenger or peace keeper for them.”
“Interesting.”
“And you Angel, why are you here?”
“Vampyres.”
“I thought I smelled them. They came in late last night.”
“Angel, are you with me?” Scarlet asked me grabbing a hold of my arm lightly.
“What?” I asked.
“I asked where we were headed.”
“Oh, um, lets come in here. We’ll get something to eat.” I suggested nodding to a pub to our right side called “Mackenzie’s”.
I looked around before entering the pub, not seeing Kane anywhere.
“Can I help ya’s?” The man behind the bar asked.
“Yes you can. Two Ales and a platter of meat please. Bloody.” I smiled at him. He didn’t look at me like I was strange. He must be used to this request here.
“Aye. Will do. Go get yourselves some seats loves.” He winked.
“You’re loved by all aren’t you?” Scarlet asked me with a smile on her face and sighed.
“I really don’t pay much attention to it.” I said sitting down at a table in the corner so I could watch the room.
“Sure.” She said smiling.
“
You really are.”
I heard Kane’s voice inside my head. I looked up and saw him at the bar with a few others.
“Scarlet, do you see that man at the end of the bar?”
Scarlet looked and nodded waiting for my explanation.
“He’s the man from the alley way.”
“Oh. Now I recognize him. He’s the hybrid right?” She asked.
“Yes.” I went on to explain to her our small conversation that didn’t really reveal anything other than his name and his occupation.
“So he’s not from here? And he’s like a peace keeper or something?”
“Something like that.”
“Ladies.” A male voice that I knew shadowed us. I looked up to see Kane Reagan standing there with a drink in his hand. I nodded to him and gestured to have a seat next to me, the only open chair at our table.
“So tell me about your business here with the Vampyres.” He said taking a sip from his stone mug.
“Vengeance.” Scarlet blurted out angrily.
“Sweetheart, we all want that against them.” Kane half smiled at her, then took another sip.
“Calm down.” I said.
Kane smiled. “Learn to control your pup.”
I didn’t respond, however a low growl came from Scarlet next to me.
I looked over at her, then over at him. “We are here on business unknown.”
“It’s probably their attempt to get you on their side.” He stated.
“That won’t happen, will it Angel?” Scarlet asked me.
“You never know what the future holds.” I replied picking up a piece of bloody meat and gnawing on it.
“I couldn’t agree more.” Kane agreed smiling at me. Scarlet had a very disgusted look on her face and pain in her eyes. “Where is this business taking place?” He asked.
“Greyfriar Graveyard.” Scarlet said without thinking as she started picking a piece of meat apart with her fingers.
“Ah. The most haunted and dark place around. Good choice.” He responded sarcastically.
“We didn’t choose it. Look this isn’t the best place to discuss any of this.” I said.
“These humans don’t know anything here. They’re too ignorant to the things around them.”
“Aren’t they all?” Both Scarlet and I said at the same time. The three of us laughed. Kane had a deep handsome laugh that made his whole body shake.
Yes. He was growing on me too. And it hasn’t been long since we met.
“Can I ask who are meeting with?” Kane asked.
“No.” I said as Scarlet said, “The leader of the Vampyres.”
“Scarlet stop.” I set my drink down and glared at her. “It’s no ones business but our own.”
“Sorry.” She put her head down. I turned to look at Kane.
“It’s ok. Your secrets are safe with me. But can I ask you this? Are you insane? Meeting with that clan of Vampyres is complete suicide.”
“They want to kill me.” Scarlet whispered. “They killed my family and they want to finish the job. Angel is going to hand me over to them.”
“I am not. Stop that.”
“I’m sorry about your family Scarlet.”
“Thanks…” She sighed. “You’re not going to hand me over?”
“No. I’m not. I’d at least want to trade.” I smiled at her. Scarlet looked up at me with a surprised look. “I’m kidding.” I smiled.
“Ok, you have to stay calm.” I mouthed slowly to Scarlet on the way to the cemetery.
“I know.” She whispered in her annoyed tone. I could see in her mind the anger building up inside of her. Her anger was blinding her from the present.
“I mean it Scarlet, I’ll kill you myself before they even get a chance.” I said in an angry tone. She shot me a worried look.
We entered through the gates to the cemetery slowly and very alert. I could sense their presence further in. Then we saw them as the lightening above us flashed.
Akuma, his eyes glowing red, and his long black flowing hair down over his robe. There were five Vampyres on each side of him.
I heard growling behind me, and in front of me was Akuma laughing.
“Ahhhhhhh!” I heard Scarlet scream and felt her anger. She ran past me, her eyes black in anger. I threw my arm up before she had a chance to pass me. She bared her teeth at me and then to Akuma.
“
Enough!”
I screamed inside of her head. An unbearable loudness to her. It shook her back reality, her eyes changed back to her normal pale blue.
Looking back at Akuma, still grinning.
“Well…?” I asked.
Angel.
15.
In These Twisted Ways.
Present Time.
“The desires of the heart are as crooked as corkscrews.”
-W.H Auden
I sat out there most of the night after Draven left, and watched the sun come up.
“Angel?” I heard Rayna’s voice calling me back into reality.
“Hmm?” I turned to her, trying my hardest to not look guilty.
“What are you doing out here?” She hesitated. “Who were you with?” She raised an eyebrow with a serious look on her face. She was eyeing the hoodie that I was wearing.
“Oh.” I simply stated.
“What’s going on?”
“I have to show you something.” I finally decided to give in to her and let her know everything that’s been going on and what I’ve been hiding from her.
I slowly walked towards her, while her feet never moved from the position that they were in. Her nose wrinkled when I came up closer to her. I knew that she smelt Vampyre on me. Hell, I could smell the Vampyre on me.
I stood in front of her, with a few moments of eye contact and silence. We both reached at the same time, as we always do, my right hand touching her temples and her right hand on mine.
Then she saw it all. Everything. Robert Draven. From the first meeting, to him being in the woods during our council, his past and our kiss that didn’t last very long. She saw everything. Felt everything. She finally broke the connection between us. She stumbled backwards and looked at me like a worried mother.
“Are you kidding me?” Her voice rose loudly. “What in the hell are you thinking?” She quieted her voice. In her mind I saw and heard that she really wanted to scream at me, but she cared too much, and didn’t want to get the attention of anyone that may be around listening.
“I’m not.” I said sitting down on the shoreline letting the waves crash on to my feet.
“Why did you keep this from me?”
“I didn’t want you to freak out.”
“You still should’ve said something. I could’ve tried to talk you out of it!”
“What’s done is done.” I sighed. We sat in silence for a few minutes to only have it broken with her sarcasm.
“You kissed him.” The way she said it made us both laugh. “What’s this Scarlet going to say whenever she find out about this?” She asked me.
“He’s different. I know that’s ignorant of me to say.” I stated quietly.
“A Vampyre is a Vampyre and he will always be a bloodsucker Angel. They will never change. One taste of blood and it’s over.”