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Prologue
Once my life was perfect….I had a nice house, a dog, little sister, and the most important thing I was normal. So normal it was bliss…But now I’m getting ahead of myself I must leave the blissfulness that is the darkness….the deep sadness that engulfs me…and go back all the way back to the painful beginning….but were is it, I remember very clearly every detail…the whole story…..but its jumbled I’m confused. Should I start at my beginning or should I start a week in advance or simply from the funeral….yes it makes since to start there so much more…
“Sigh……” I sighed for the hundredth time in ten minutes. But I cant help it I mean honestly I’m sitting at the funeral of a women I never knew. Who you may ask might this women be well, She is my late mother. Surprised yeah I know and I suppose you should be….I mean who sighs at there own mothers funeral. But if you knew my story you wouldn’t think ill of me. You see my mother was a very beautiful lady once….she had been loved by all because of her happy nature. But that person is not the mom I knew….no the one I knew is lying cold and still in her casket with a soft peaceful look adorning her face. I don’t think I have ever seen her with such a peaceful look on her face……she always looked so sad when she was alive….so much like a lost soul…she was in a since herself lost.
But that’s not what’s important at the moment. Currently my mom is lying peacefully upon her deathbed surrounded by beautiful lavender and lilac. She is dressed in a simple but eloquent black dress with her long dark hair framing her beautifully crafted face. She looks like one of those fragile china dolls or as if she’s merely sleeping….as if at any moment she might get up and be her same distant sad self. But I know that it’s not so. I mean I know she’s gone and not coming back, but I don’t mind really maybe whatever made her so sad in her life is finally gone.
Your probably wondering by now why I’m not sad and why I said I didn’t know her…..and the truth is I didn’t. my mother never had anything to do with us. Oh I forgot to mention my younger sister Carrie….she was a sweet girl, but her story is for another time. Back to mom, she was just a ghost when I saw her it was like she wasn’t there or as if her eyes were watching a movie in the distance that only she could see.
I think we spoke once me and my mom…..and the more I think about it the more I convince myself that our one talk was a dream. I mean how could it not be….if she never saw me how could she speak to me. I mean it could have been a dream created by my mother deprived brain just to console me, never the less I remember those whispered words.
“I’m sorry Alexandra. I’m so sorry I never meant for your life to be like this. Please. Please forgive me….I love you. Take care of your sister.”
As I said I have now convinced myself that she was only a dream. She was sick so sick….and I knew her sickness is what made her look through me but it still hurt for awhile…..then after some time it became a constant thing of me seeing her, her not seeing me, and me feeling nothing. So it could very easily have been a dream, and now you also know why I feel almost nothing at my own mothers funeral. Its because she was dead to me long before…I have already mourned and still have an aching hole in my frozen heart were she should have been.
Now let me explain my new life, the life after my mothers funeral. After my mothers funeral my life was pretty much the same until I turned sixteen years old. My sixteenth birthday my life was flipped upside down. Because when I turned sixteen I learned that I was never nor ever had been completely human……I suppose after all my rambling you guessed that though…..
“Sigh.” sorry for rambling on but its been quite awhile since I have had anybody to talk to…and it does get lonely here once in awhile…..anyway back to the story. As I said I am not a human….but its hard to explain what I am….or rather what I have become. I’m rather confused about it myself because you see I am a hybrid between a veela(my mother) and a panther demon(my father). So I have the power to summon panther demons, travel to hell and back, and demonic features like my father. But I also look like my mother I have her eyes and hair, physically I am exactly like her. Now here is where it gets complicated my transformation, when I transform I have bat like demon wings with veela colors, I have a cross between fangs, and I have the physic of a demon with veela power. Alas because I am a veela I have a mate whom my life depends on but as a demon there are a whole new set of rules.
Leaving Home
“Hey sister were are you going? Please don’t leave me I don’t care if your half demon!”
My sister Carrie’s voice sounded through my head as I walked away from everything my sister, my life, my sanity…everything.
After my mother died I was shocked not by her death or even sad really, no what was shocking was the fact that I hadn’t dreamed up my mothers whispered words. This knowledge seeped in biting deep into me sinking in sharp hard fangs and grinding deep into flesh all the way down through bone. It hit me hard, like a sharp blow to the gut. I mean how would you feel if your mother never spoke to you and when she finally did you thought she was a dream and didn’t responded to the only words ever directed at you.
She only spoke to me once in my life and all she said was how sorry she was about my life and asked me to promise to take care of Carrie. All I did…….all I could do was sit and stare at her as if she had two heads. Which is why I’m feeling so guilty now, guilt was welling up in my heart. A deep, dark, thick pool so dark that it could swallow the stars. So deep that there was no bottom. So vast that it covered everything leaving no room for anything but pain. Just a small splotch of heart left were there used to be to much.
See after she died I found out what she had been apologizing for. One bright sunny way to cheerful day we had a visitor come knocking on our door. I heard my sister yelling for me to come to the kitchen and obliged. Walking in I stopped dead there standing in our kitchen was a complete stranger. “What the hell do you think your doing letting a complete stranger into our house!” I demanded. She stared at me a moment before turning her gaze to the stranger.
“Sorry she’s so rude….it’s just in her nature. Um do you mind telling me your name now?” she asked. My mouth dropped open my sister had let a complete and total stranger into our house and didn’t even know his name. But now that I looked at him he was handsome. With shaggy sandy blond hair just long enough to fall into his eyes. A perfect face structure with thick full lips and a tall lean build.
“My name is Derek and I am a friend of your mother. I was around when you were born…..actually I gave you your name he said looking straight at me. My eyes snapped up to meet his deep green. I shook my head there was no way he was telling the truth he didn’t look a day over twenty. He smirked at me for a minute before answering my unspoken thought as if he had heard it himself, “Did your mother look her age or was she often mistaken for your older sister?” My face must have shown my shock because if at all possible he looked more pleased with himself. The sad thing is that he actually had reason to be, I mean he had hit the hammer right on the nail. From the look he was giving me he knew he had as well. “So know I think I should explain some things that I have been informed your mother did not. Al….” He was cut off as my sister chimed in, “Our mother never spoke to us let alone explain why she never did anything with us………we were pretty much alone from day one or at least Alexandra was………” her voice trailed away when she caught sight of Derek’s face, he looked murderous. “What do you mean left alone…you mean she never told you anything about her home your heritage she never taught you about any holidays or religion…I knew she was sick but that is no excuse for neglect and friend or not had any of us known she would have died long before the illness claimed her.” he said it all in a voice completely void of any and all emotion. As his words faded from the air around us to dig themselves down into the crevices of our brains I got angry. ‘How dare he! How dare he speak of my mother that way!” the thoughts were barreling through my head at uncharted speeds. I don’t really know why I guess it has to do with the loyalty all children hold for there mothers deep inside. But before I could even open my mouth my sister beat me to it, “How dare you talk about our mother that way you creep if you were really her friend you’d understand that her sickness was holding her hostage. You think she didn’t want to spend time with us, buy us things, or teach us about our family history. I mean its not like she had a choice…… I mean its not like she planed to get sick why would she have had us if she was just going to ignore us.” by the time she stopped speaking she was sobbing.
I went to her immediately wishing more by the second that he would just go away. Derek sighed then walked across the kitchen to pull out a chair. After seating himself he just stared at both of us thinking god only knows what kind of thoughts. He waited until Carrie was under control before continuing, “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you its just in my nature to automatically get mad at friends if they need my help and don’t call. Your mother was a good friend….the best actually and it kills me to know that she got so sick and didn’t contact me for help. But that’s in the past now and what’s done is done there is no changing it………now to more important matters you girls. -Sigh- this is going to be hard to take in.”
Which brings us back to the current position me walking out on my sister(did I mention that she‘s only about two years younger then me). I mean she actually believed that psycho why the hell would she believe some freak we have never met. For crying out loud he could have at least come up with a better story. Everybody sane knows that demons, veela, magic none of it exist. Even as I told myself these things a nagging little voice in the back of my head was telling me it was true. I pushed it away.
I had left and hadn’t planned on going back but when I got into trouble I started to miss home. I had been gone a total of two weeks when one night while I was walking I was grabbed by some guys. God only knows that I fought like hell to get away but with little to no fighting experience, a completely exhausted body with equally exhausted mind, and starving on top of it I was no match. Blackness consumed me and I was drifting in a shallow pool between the realm of the conscious and danger of the unconscious.
When I awoke there was sound all around me and all jumbled together. It was incoherent noise, I opened my eyes only to have bright spots of light swim before them. I groaned wishing for all the world that I hadn’t woke up. After a moment I became aware of the voices speaking around me and rough hands ravaging my body yanking me upright and holding me still. Then a woman’s voice cold demanding, “You filthy disgusting pigs wont touch her do you understand, not so much as a look do you hear me!” At these words the hands holding me fell away causing my only support to vanish effectively pitching me forward. I managed to pull myself upright and look at my surroundings but I couldn’t take much in. I dimly saw the woman standing above me looking very intrigued. “A veela huh I haven’t seen one of your kind in quite some time. Especially at your age your more vulnerable before your first transformation.” after that the world was again lost to me.
When I again woke it was light , I was lying on some pelts, and all around me people were going about daily activities. I got up and started to wander around hoping to find the woman from before. The small village was intriguing the people were plain enough with their dark hair pale skin and almost identical clothes. But when you saw their eyes that was the amazing part, no two people had the same color eyes not to mention that they all had eye colors impossible for any human. The color of their eyes ranged anywhere from black to neon pink and that was just a handful of them. I was just getting into my exploring when I finally and quiet literally ran into the woman I had been looking for. She explained to me that I was going to be her apprentice I had no choice in the matter and if I failed I died.
I spent a few years in the village learning the ways of an assassin. I learned to fight in every style four of which I completely mastered, I mastered the use and creation of various weapons, as well as hunting, tracking, and hiding. I was taught how to preserve my strength until the best moment. I put my body and mind through hell training and enduring so that I could increase my stamina, mind capacity, strength, and level of pain endurance. They may not have been allowed too but that didn’t stop the warriors from beating me when they managed to catch me. At such times I was informed that whatever happened as a result of my weakness was my own fault so nobody but me was punished. These things combined caused my mind to grow sharp, my body hard, and my soul though…..that’s when I devised my plan and ran away. Fully aware that they would follow and be under order to go to any lengths to get me back dead or alive. It was my life for theirs and neither side wanted to give up.
Meeting Damien
‘Run! Run!’ My mind was screaming at me. My lungs burned as if lit from the inside by a thousand small flames. My legs ached and screamed in protest but with each new snarl behind me more adrenaline was pumped through my already to fast heart. I was running as if Lucifer’s pack of hunters were after me themselves, and believe me at this particular moment I would much rather have had the hunters. With each swift step I was propelled faster and faster through the dense dark forest. Only the moon was over head to guide me; a deep, full, blood moon. Luckily for me I was so familiar with these woods having escaped into them many times before. But this time I was not sure I could escape I never expected them to get demon hounds after me.
I can fight don’t get me wrong I have been alive a long time and have trained in every type of fighting style imaginable but I prefer not to. I stumbled when my foot hit a ruff spot. ‘Damn! Damn! Damn how did I miss that. I need to concentrate on were I’m going what I’m doing.’ I continue berating myself as I run suddenly the trees become so thick and old that I’m having to leap and duck more often just to gain a foots distance.
I stop dead I have no idea were I am I hear the dogs all around me but cant get the exact direction as to were the snarls are coming from. My veela half is panicking and screaming at me to run hide fly away….but my demon half is battling it telling it to shut up calm down and fight. Now don’t get me wrong veela are not cowardly creatures but they do not fight unless their mate is in direct danger. Veela are very submissive to their mates, very peaceful for the most part, and very logical. Demons on the other hand are a very cold, very fierce, very war like race. So you can imagine my inner turmoil as the two fought.
‘SHUT UP! BE QUIET! I CANT STAND FIGHTING MYSELF!’ I screamed at myself. ‘Now I know most of you are probably thinking “oh my god the girl is insane” and well your completely right.’ I looked at my surroundings once I quieted both my inner beasts. I was in a graveyard, it was beautiful. Old worn headstones dotted the long forgotten yard everywhere. Some still had ancient writing on them but do to nature most were sanded smooth. I gazed about me at the weeping trees, the cloaked angels, and hooded reaper. All of which seemed to be looking at me with reproach for disturbing the peace of this place with my presence.
As I gazed upon this place….this place that time had so clearly forgotten I became afraid. An illogical fear had started to sprout deep within me. It sprouted so deep that its origins were unknown but the longer I stood here the bigger and more sever this fear became. Then I realized why….nowhere did I hear the sounds of life. I couldn’t hear the flutter of night birds wings or their mournful calls. There was no rustle of leaves from wind. There was nothing absolutely nothing but the snarls of the hounds and the crackle of flames.
That’s when it hit me, ‘oh my god they are trying to burn me out.’ I heard the spirits of the trees, spirits that had been around as long as time himself, screaming in anguish as they burned. Slowly painfully they burned their beautiful, proud, branches snapping and breaking as they caught fire. Their wonderful songs turned to horror filled screams….and I fell. I fell to my knees tears streaming down my face danger forgotten. I was the cause of this. Me, I was the cause of so much pain. Because of me all of theses mysterious creatures were dying all of their rituals forgotten never to be done again, all their dances, all their songs. I heard screaming pain raked screaming. I had never heard anything like it before it was so full of pain so full of rage and hate. It wasn’t coming from the trees or any of the other forest creatures….so were….were was this horrible screeching coming from. ‘Me….me….there my screams all mine…..’ then everything was darkness.
When I awoke my throat was raw and flaming vines of pain were shooting through it. My head was pounding and my mind was numb. I couldn’t remember were I was….I was laying on my back on a soft….‘wait soft….WERE THE HELL AM I! I WAS IN THE FOREST! Of gods the forest….it burned….‘and as the thought came to me so did all my memories. My mind(both parts)were telling me to stay calm focus and find out what was going on. But as always seems to happen in theses situations my body refused to obey.
“Oh your awake I see….hum that’s good though I suppose it was to be expected from someone like you….” the wonderful masculine voice trailed off as the guy noticed I was looking at him. He was gorgeous with wavy brown hair, full thick lips, soft blue eyes, and a slim lean build. He looked like nothing I had ever seen before and I’m sure he thought the same of me. He grinned at me a bit lopsidedly and then a strong scent crashed down upon me effectively crushing me. The scent took me up in its tight, strong, clutches and refused to let me go. It was tantalizing so sweet but pungent at the same time. My head swam were was it coming from…..this scent of green tea and herbs. My eyes grew wide, him this scent it was dripping off of him. Pouring off him in strong intoxicating waves and I immediately knew who he was. He was my mate.
I panicked at this….I started scrambling out of the furs and babbling nonsense…..not intentionally of course. He just stared at me bemusedly for a minute before saying,
“Um your ok I’m not going to hurt you. I don’t have anything against different races….although I really have never seen anything as remarkable as you. Um exactly what are you? I can tell demonic features but um what else?”
He stopped at my shocked look. My mind was in turmoil ‘how does he know? How I never told him…never…..I’ve never even seen him before.’ then I realized that I was partially transformed and I know my face lit up like a candle. He smiled at me with a look that said “oh she didn’t realize “
“Uh….I….I’m sorry….wh….who are you?” I stammered in a rather pathetic voice. He grinned a bit sheepishly at me then replied,
“Oh um I’m sorry I guess I should have remembered my manners a while ago…….my name is Damien.” we stared at each other for a few moments in silence before I spoke again, this time in a much calmer but more husky voice,
“Oh….well I suppose I should thank you for keeping me here. How long have I been here? OH MY GOD THE FOREST! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FOREST?” my voice cracked dying away as his face morphed into one of sadness before he answered,
“A lot of it was burned….quit a few of the trees died but most of the other creatures made it out….and strangely the graveyard I found you in wasn’t touched at all. Your welcome I actually didn’t mind keeping you here….I really wanted to ask you some questions, and you‘ve been here for three days.” I stared at him for a long time lost deep in thought. ‘ three days how did I manage to stay unconscious for three days…..and the graveyard….I knew there was a spell on it but for it not to burn it must have been one hell of a spell. MY MATE DAMN I HAVE TO LEAVE.’
I realized he was staring at me when I stood, but I ignored him. I gazed around me at the dwelling. It was nice and cozy but I could tell it was made of stone. The room was lit by two candles and what little sunlight filtered through. Even in the dimness I could make out wizard, mage, and sorcerer supplies. ‘Now I bet most of you are saying “but isn’t that the same thing” and the answer is no.’ it amazed me that this man could combine all three arts together and succeed in making them work.
Once my eyes took in the magic supplies they roamed over the rest of the place. I saw an old stove in a far corner, an assortment of weapons including an ax, sword, net, and a few magical weapons(all of which seemed to be hand made.) Then there was the amount of books he had it seemed that everywhere I looked there were books. All manner of books most of them looked like potion, cook, and herb books but I wasn’t sure. The last few things in the room were the furs I had previously occupied and a huge black fox.
My eyes grew huge at the sight of the fox. Foxes are very beautiful creatures, very mysterious, and very clever. To have one laying so close to me was amazing and it made it even more amazing that the fox was black. Black foxes are very rare and known to be tricky as well as dangerous. Damien saw me gazing at the fox and said,
“He’s beautiful isn’t he, I found him when he was newly born his mother had been killed. I took care of him until he could take care of himself then let him go….but he came back. His name by the way is Blood.” I nodded once before saying in a whisper(my throat still hurt),
“I have to leave it would do you no good to follow. But I shall tell you; my name is Alexandra, I am half veela, the graveyard had a spell around it and it is my fault the forest burned.” I answered all of his unasked questions in turn. He grinned at me and replied,
“Oh, well I wont stop you from leaving but wont you at least stay until your wounds heal? Plus you need supplies don’t you, and I can help you with that. Besides I would really love the chance to learn about veela’s…I mean I have heard of them but have never actually seen one.” his voice trailed of when he caught my icy gaze.
“I am not a test subject. I do need supplies but it wont take long to get them and I do not want to owe you anymore then absolutely necessary. Not to mention that because of my demon half my wounds will heal very quickly.” Damien looked completely shocked at this. While he was deciding what to say I walked past him and out the door into a beautiful, cool, forest evening. Looking around me I quickly realized that I was in a completely different part of the forest. In fact I had no clue were I was and as it was my pride wouldn’t allow me to ask.
Damien came out right behind me followed closely by Blood. Both of them seemed to be waiting for something but I couldn’t figure out what. Then realization hit ‘their waiting for my reaction….well I’ll be damned if I give them one.’ I thought venomously. With this thought I closed my eyes and summoned all my honed panther senses, being only a half breed they are not as good as a full blood but still better then human, and scented the air. I picked up the sweet scents of various flowers, the tangy scent of water, the pungent mixed scent of a variety of creatures, and then the all to recent bitter sting of smoke, ash, death, and decay. As these scents hit me my eyes began to water once again I heard the mournful screams of spirits. Then in a voice that was a bit to shaky for my liking I asked, “D…do you have some water?”
In a hesitant voice Damien answered, “Yeah I was bringing you some when you woke…..by the way you don’t and will never owe me anything. If I hadn’t wanted to help you I wouldn’t have got Blood to lead those hunters of track.” my face must have showed my surprise because he was smiling when he handed me the water. I took it and drank gratefully, and was significantly surprised when the water tasted strongly of fruit. After draining the glass of its contents I spoke, for the first time with my real voice, “Hum…..nobody does anything civil for free….besides for all you know I could be a murderer or something. I mean you have no idea why trained and armed hunters with demon hounds were after me now do you?” Damien just stood there shaking his head and smirking for a few moments then answered with an amused undertone, “Well I doubted that an un or rather semiconscious teenage girl with so many wounds and barley any clothing was very dangerous.”
I stood there mouth open eyes wide in shock. ‘How dare he think so little of me I am a highly dangerous person when I want to be. My wounds were not as serious as he’s making out and he would be semiconscious too if he had ran, jumped, and everything else I had already done. As for the barley clothed part……’ my thought trailed off as my face turned as red as blood. For you see I was standing in front of a guy I barley new in the tattered and frayed remnants of a black tank top, jeans, and tennis shoes. Seeing my discomfort Damien said, “Um are you going to take up my offer now?” I rather grudgingly snapped back, “Yes now hurry up and help me find clothes.”
Damien just grinned as he turned and went back into his home. After a few minutes of rummaging he came back out to hand me a black t-shirt, baggy camouflage pants, steel toe combat boots, along with a rather durable looking bag. Needless to say all these items were out of place in the forest but then I guess so was I. Besides I was grateful to have the new clothes even if they were his and the bag would come in handy. The longer I thought about it the more I realized all I had lost. My bag, clothes, weapons, guide, and anything else that had previously been of any use. So no matter how much I wanted to leave I would have to stay here long enough to regain supplies. I was dimly aware of Damien speaking and quieted my mind to listen. “Your welcome to keep the clothes I no longer need them, the bag is magicked and I do have a spare so its yours too, your also welcome to take some of the copies of books in the house if you wish, and you can bathe and dress around that bend. Blood will go with you not only to keep you safe but he’s going to be scavenging for me as well.” I nodded my head and walked off.
As I walked I let my mind wonder….I began to relax the woods were peaceful and calm the water deep clear blue. I reached a deep spot in the water near the bend just as Damien had said. I stood gazing at the water for a few moments before striping and stepping into it. The shock of the cold water sent a shudder up my spine and I sank lower into its depths. I allowed the water to relax my aching limbs and taut muscles. As my body became relaxed I allowed my mind to wander. I lay listing to the breeze play through the trees, birds chirp from their roost, and animals rummage through the brush.
After relaxing for a bit I got up and swam out to the middle of the deep space I was in. Once I got there I trekked water while looking at the sparkling river floor. Suddenly my head jerked up as the sound of cracking twigs came to me. I looked frantically all about me but couldn’t find the source of the sound near the water so I looked away from the banks. When my eyes feel upon Blood I relaxed and said, “Oh you silly creature you nearly gave me a heart attack….what are you doing here I thought you were gathering herbs.” The fox stared at me for a moment before walking to the edge of the water and dropping a bundle of some kind. I smiled already knowing it was for me and thanked him. After dropping the bundle Blood left disappearing into the surrounding trees to finish the task given to him.
After finishing in the river I climbed out onto the bank to sit, the soft grass tickling my bare skin. I sat for a few minutes before reaching over to pick up the bundle. Picking it up I saw that the bundle consisted of a black short sleeved shirt, black pants with buckles up the legs, and a strange backpack also black. ‘Hum he must think I’m going to be doing all my traveling at night.’ I thought. Then I realized that not only was that my plan, but I still had the clothes from earlier, which would be great for day travel, and the bag. I put on the old clothes and bag after packing the new bundle up. Just as I stood Blood came back, the strange black fox walked up to stand in front of me. He looked me up and down then seeming satisfied he sat another bundle down in front of me. This one earthy smelling and tied with twine. Picking it up I finally realized what the second bag was for and getting it out I carefully tucked the herbs into it. Then with Blood in the lead we headed back to his masters house.
Years With Damien
The first week I spent with Damien was not pleasurable at all. All we managed to do was argue. Me wanting to leave while he denied me by saying “No it’s not time yet you still don’t have all you need.” and me answering, “Fine how much longer is it going to take to restock my damned supplies.” Truthfully I was happy there I felt safe. Safer then I had ever felt in my life, I had never felt this way with my family, not with Anaya and her warrior camp, and definitely not when I turned sixteen and ran away from said camp a week before. I knew that my feeling of safety was do to the fact that Damien was my mate……but I refused to tell him my reasoning.
While I was with him Damien asked a lot of questions and I answered all of them to the best of my ability. So it was of little surprise to me when Damien walked in one night, Blood close on his heels, and looking straight at me asked, “There is a completely different reason you're staying with me isn’t there?” I gave him my most innocent look while shaking my head no. He gave me a strange look in return before replying, “Please tell me I know there is another reason.” I sighed then nodded before saying in my completely calm voice , “Yes, actually there is…you see um…well veela have mates…remember I explained that to you…well anyway we can find our mates by scent…and well….”my voice faltered out of existence. Damien stood there completely still absorbing then processing the information before a look of understanding then shock took over his features.
“I’M YOUR MATE!” his voice was calm but the tone gave him away. He was completely shocked and upset so I did the normal thing by saying, “I’ll be gone before the hour is up.” Damien whirled around and said in a much more collected voice, “You will do no such thing your going to stay with me…I mean I know your only half veela plus the demon blood in you gives you a better chance of surviving without your mate…….but half veela or not you wont live long. Plus I would love to teach you some things that will help you…things like magic.” I smiled at him truly grateful that he was willing to take up the burden but still not fully ready to let him.
The first month I spent with Damien was a lot of fun I taught him a few assassin tricks and he started teaching me about herbs. Not only did we teach each other but Damien became increasingly more interested in the bonding ritual we would have to perform. All the while he was learning about it he made sure he understood everything before allowing me to continue claiming that he didn’t want to mess it up.
By the third month Damien knew everything about me and I him. This caused not only my veela half to love him but all the rest of me as well. We were laying together under a beautiful weeping tree the darkness around us enveloping us in a blanket of black, stars twinkling above us beckons in the sky, and cool , sweet, scented wind brushing gentle fingers against us. Damien pulled me close pulling me into his chest and kissing my neck. “I love you.” he breathed against my ear. I smiled and returned his kiss maneuvering my body so that I was folded into his chest mine against his. Taking in his sweet earthy scent I breathed out, “I love you too” His hands were working over me sending shudders up my spine and my belly flopping. He ran his hand down my back, up my shirt removing it while still administering delicious kisses across my shoulders and neck.
I awoke with sunlight filtering into my eyes. I was lying on my side curled against a warm hard body. I smiled dreamily half asleep the events from the previous night replaying through my head. I slowly, cautiously reached my hand up to brush fingers across the mark still tender on my neck. It was the mark of a bonded veela, it was a symbol proving that someone loved me, needed me, wanted me. I smiled contentedly smile coming into full bloom as Damien breathed against my neck, “Morning love, did you sleep well?” I nodded my head before pulling him up and laughing raced him to the water.
The next couple of years with Damien were great I grew to love him more everyday, and everyday he proved his love to me. The first year I spent learning about plants, animals, herbs, and Damien himself. I learned to navigate all parts of the forest and tell what kind of animal was where just by listening to the rustle of leaves or bubbly splashes of water. I learned how to speak and write many languages and communicate with things that I never knew could communicate. I also read all the beginner books Damien possessed on magic. I even practiced some minor magic and cast minor spells.
My second year with Damien I spent learning the art of making weapons, growing plants and making hybrids of different plants. I read all the second level magic books and began placing minor magic’s on small objects. This is also the time I spent training my other halves in the basics.
My third year with Damien I read the remainder of his magic books and mastered the art of magic. I also rescued Disturbed from certain death receiving in return the snakes loyalties as my familiar. After gaining my familiar I learned to do various magic’s with him as well as the art of summoning. After gaining a familiar I was able to adapt my mind magic’s and develop telepathic links as well.
My fourth year with Damien I spent all my energy on fully training my other halves and reading the remainder of his books. This is also the time me and Damien started thinking about having a child. I wanted a baby, being twenty years of age I decided that a baby wouldn’t be much of a burden. But before our plans got to fully take off we were attacked. Our forest home burning around us, Blood unconscious on the ground, and us laying low.
Destruction
‘Run! Run!‘ my mind was screaming at me as an all to familiar scene played out before me. I woke up screaming as a strong grip tightened around my waist. I screamed and thrashed fighting against the arms until my brain wrapped around soft soothing words “Shh….shhh…its ok love its ok your safe.” “No! No!” I wailed, “Something horrible is about to happen. I should have left I knew I should have……” “Shh….love its ok nothing bad is about to happen….and I’m glad you didn’t leave I knew the consequences of you staying with me you did tell me about your veela heritage. Plus your demon form of course and I took it all in stride fully knowing the dangers. Are you calm now love or do you need more time.” I smiled weakly up at him then nodded before replying, “No, I’m fine love but I do need to disappear for awhile. Unless whatever or whoever it is already knows about you in which case it wont matter.” He smirked then kissed me, lips brushed lips tongues met dancing and twirling between teeth.
I awoke with an odd since upon the outer reaches of my mind. I lay in bed my mates strong warm arms around me and bare muscled chest at my back, thinking about the odd presence pressing at my mind. As I lay half in and half out of sleep I suddenly jolted up. My violent start woke my mate and sent him reaching for his sword. I looked at him eyes wide and murmured in a hushed voice, “Death…” once uttered the word echoed around us in the silence rolling and tumbling about itself. He looked into my eyes then voiced both our thoughts, “Why did Blood not warn us?” I shook my head unable to speak. Then stood grabbing my clothes and the packs both of us kept ready and turned to him.
“I must go I cannot stay here as long as your in danger because of it…my veela self wont let me. I have the bags you gave me when we first met, still full of good and unused supplies. You have taught me to use weapons and magic’s as well as the ways of the woods. I have also trained myself in both my other forms so that I am just as capable in those as human. Besides as long as I have Disturbed with me nothing will go wrong.” Damien looked at me for a moment then began to nod his head, while preceding to gather his own things. “I’m not leaving you alone in the care of that sadist snake. He’s crazy and Blood doesn’t like him. I know your capable of taking care of yourself so don’t give me that look. I will go with you no matter what you say or do to stop me so you might as well help me seal everything into scrolls. I do not want to lose any of theses items they are far to valuable.” I sighed and nodded reluctantly before gathering up an arm load of scrolls and starting to seal the various magic things into them.
After finishing our job Damien began looking for Blood. Both of us crept out of the house and into the cool night air. Looking about I saw dark clouds of black billowing towards the sky, the sharp bitter tang of smoke hit my highly trained senses. Then I saw the flames flickering in and out of the trees, the ghostly shapes dancing and swaying trying to move away from the reaches of the hungry flames. There moans and screams as they burnt sending me back to that night in the graveyard only four years ago. I snapped back to myself when Damien was suddenly shoving me to the ground. “Be still I saw Blood he’s lying on his side I cant tell if he’s live or not.” his voice was harsh and low.
As we lay there breathing dirt I became aware of something slithering up my legs and across my back. Then a soft voice sounded in my ear, “Young missstress I sssaw them, the fox iss not dead the other humanssss just ssstund him." I was relieved to hear that but angered at the fact that Disturbed had not warned us of intruders so I asked, “Where were you? Why didn’t you warn us of danger?” The black cobra jerked his head in a defiant no motion before sliding off my back to coil on the ground.
Damien stirred beside me having just noticed the snake. He looked at me and I nodded when I saw the question in his eyes. Relived that Blood was alive he started crawling inch by slow inch on his belly towards the wounded fox. I reach out my hand to fingers grasping to stop him but to late he was hit. Neither of us had noticed the spell barreling towards him. He screamed in pain I cried out in rage and anguish. Then I transformed. I grew two inches taller, leathery bat like wings colored in deep royal purple sprouted from my shoulder blades, and finally my veela and demonic features came through(imagine a large human shaped creature with long black fur, slit pupil gray eyes, a cross between panther and snake fangs, and bird like features).
I was ugly but terrifying and I knew it oh so clearly as a half roar half screech left my lips. I delighted at the screams I heard, relished in the since of pure power, delighted at the feel of blood dripping off me…my enemies blood. I laughed as I threw out my wicked clawed hand and sliced out the intestines of a victim his intestinal fluids flowing out to slosh on the ground at my feet. I bared my fangs in detest as one human was brave enough to slice into me with her sword. I screamed in rage then lunging forward I ripped into her throat blood spurting as I tore out her jugular while racking my barbed claws through her chest hooking her ribs and ripping them out. I laughed maliciously as her blood seeped between my jaws dripping down to splat pathetically on the ground. Her fellows were terrified now I could smell it, their terror. Its sweet scent engulfing me helping the beasts within me to take control, fueling their blood lust, enticing their rage.
Full throaty laughs escaped me as they fled. I laughed and laughed then lunged none were escaping. I would catch them all, taste all their blood, hear all their screams. My claws moved ripping and slashing blood flew while my fangs tore and mutilated beyond recognition. Once all of them were dead I stood amongst the scent of burning earth, dying flesh, decaying bodies, and bodily fluids smirking. I was happy, all sense of my human self was gone fully replaced by my demons(even the veela was hiding). With each snap of a branch I grinned, with each wail of a spirit I lusted for more, with each soft plop of the thick red liquid of life my fist clinched with anticipation, and with each dying breath I reviled at the destruction.
Damien’s Death
All to suddenly my human self slammed into the demon. Throbbing pain shot through my skull racking through my brain shredding it then slamming the pieces together again. My demon wasn’t leaving without a fight it had been locked away for far to long. Suddenly my veela half was there it leapt at the demon from behind and together both of us managed to lock it away. Back in the darkest reaches of my mind where it lay snarling from darkness. As soon as my mind was fully human I forgot about why I had so urgently wanted the demon to go back into sleep. I crumpled to my knees the weight of what I had done fully resting on my shoulders. I wanted to puck. I wanted to curl up and cry until my throat bleed. I had been raised as an assassin I had taken life’s but never like this, never this brutal, never this full of pleasure, and it scared me. It scared the hell out of me to know that I was capable of such things. Then I remembered why I had pushed the demon away……..
‘Damien.’ My mind screamed at me for forgetting. I immediately surged to my feet all previous thoughts of what I had done forgotten. I stumbled then moved into a full out run towards him. I landed on my knees at his side sending jolts up to jar my teeth. Disturbed looked at me, “Missstressss he iss not doing to well…he will not die immediately…but living is completely up to him.” as Disturbed stopped speaking I began to cry. My own sorrow filled sobs joining the symphony of chaos already going on around me.
I awoke the next day exhausted from the previous night. Blood had finally awoken but Damien was still unconscious. I had managed to move him out of the area of flames and fix the exterior wounds but I still wasn’t sure of his mental state. As far as I knew he might never wake, but that didn’t matter to me my veela half over road the other two making me prepared to wait forever if need be. I was currently sitting with my back against a tree so that I could see all around me, Disturbed was being lookout from above and Blood was helping lookout below. My assassin training having kicked into full gear after last nights threat.
I had been sitting for sometime when I felt fingers brush my arm. I jerked and drew a blade to the hand before stilling myself and realizing that the fingers belonged to Damien. ‘Damien.’ my mind registered even as I spoke, “Your awake!” I was thrilled, so inexplicably happy that for a moment I didn’t realize that he was trying to speak. “So I guess that we should pay more attention next time right.” his voice held tired humor. I smiled wearily at him before asking, “Are you able to walk or do you need to rest here longer?” He hesitated before attempting to stand, abruptly ending the attempt wit a grimace and thud back to the ground.
After helping him into an upright position against my tree I proceeded to feel him in vaguely on the previous nights activates. “So let me get this straight you managed to get rid of that entire group but are not going to tell me how you did so? You are also not going to tell me about the forest or house……correct?” I sighed, once he put it like that he made me seem like a hypocrite.
 RedDyeNumberFive · Sun Feb 15, 2009 @ 11:50pm · 0 Comments |
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