AUTHOR'S POV
The first light of dawn washed the Devlin property in pale gold. It should have been beautiful as it always should, instead, it illuminated destruction. The aftermath revealed what was left. The lawn had reduced its green, marked with streaks of last night's battle. The windows have shattered, staring back like empty eye sockets. The broken pieces of furniture scattered everywhere, as much as shards of glass that came with it. It looked less of a home now.
Apart from the broken mansion, loyal lives of the household were all gone in one sweep of a deadly night. Tragedy stained the great memories that every wall witnessed. Frozen bodies lay on the floor, with their face contorted from sheer pain. Their blood spilled on paintings, making them more strikingly capturing. Unimaginable, hurtful.
Roman and Scott brought their shaken Luna inside the wrecked living room. For moments in the driveway, no words calmed Diana from the taking of her dearest friend. The hands that shackled her from running after Kate could barely stop her hysteria. Exhaustion gave her in. Sebastian put on a warm blanket over Diana's shoulders as he let her sit on the sofa. Reina cared for her wounds, treated every scratch and wiped all gory smudges on her skin. However, still, no warmth in that room heartened Diana. Retrieving the family she have left were her only words, along with the quiet tears that seemed to be never ending. If she could kneel, she would, as she beg to save her friend on Scott and Roman.
It was sad, and almost pitiful until the Alphas reluctantly agreed on Reina's suggestion through mindtalk. They let her slip small pill in Diana's water, forcing Diana's eyes to sleepily flutter, slowing down her excessively distraught mind. It was necessary seeing her more pale, trembling, and cold. A rest, recovery and healing is what she needs best at the moment. From there, they'd pick up the pieces of what's left, and maybe, consider what she insists. Nevertheless, as what Roman kept saying, Kate is good as dead knowing Original Vampires don't play.
The rest of the pack teamed up, and made rounds to make sure there are no vampires left lurking in the mansion. Two packs from different clans set their differences aside for one Luna. They made sure that every newborn caught by sunrise inside the mansion met their demise. Once done, they returned to the living room, hearing no words from anyone. Just eyes staring at the Luna sleeping peacefully.
It was a long day thereafter.
Reina was entrusted to stay with Diana and Ofir, who were both restoring their health. Lucas and Cory disappeared into the study, making one call after another for hiring new households for the Devlins. They depended on their families' recommendations to fervently choose the trusted ones only. David and Allen took charge of the estate itself. They called in contractors, engineers, cleaning crews and disposal teams. In an hour, work began. The broken furniture were carried into trucks. All the shattered glasses were swept away. Ashes were washed off the marble. Dried blood were scrubbed from the walls.
The grand hall mourning for two bodies was changed to a memorial not just for Priscilla and Damon, but also the entire household of the Devlins who succumbed to the fangs of the newborns. The trampled flowers were replaced with fresh ones. The candles were again dripping wax upright on candle holders. Brown velvet chairs swapped with all the broken ones for the grieving, and new carpets were laid on the floor. More pictures were planned to be displayed on easel stands as they wait for the urns to arrive. The pack intended to have the mansion to stand once more by sunset. Not because it had healed, but for Diana deserved to wake somewhere that no longer resembled her nightmare.
Meanwhile, with Austin, Stanley rode the ambulance to the hospital. The old man deteriorated even more as soon as the dawn broke. The brothers, Scott and Sebastian, watched the ambulance disappear from the driveway before turning away. There was no time for them to spare to grieve, well, not yet. Scott had to make arrangements on the transfer of assets from Priscilla to her sole heir, Sebastian. Every property there is that Priscilla left becomes an open home to vampires. It supposedly something that had to be done immediately, however, the situation turned to what he expected after being late for over a day.
While the Grayback pack had their hands full, Roman and his pack occupied the kitchen. None of them were actually hungry, but they just had to eat something. Overthinking got them crazed the moment they all finished a plateful of sausages, eggs, and mashed potatoes. Flynn broke the silence first, insisting on taking the Luna now while Scott and his pack are snowed under. More chewing and gulps of water answered. And yet, he continued anyway. Troy suddenly agreed convinced that the mansion was attacked once, and will surely happen again. The Luna is unsafe with the Graybacks.
Unexpectedly, Gunner opposed. Another war will ignite if they forcefully take Diana against her will. He wanted to wait, wait until Diana wakes up and decides for herself. The argument volumed louder. One reason justified over another. The pack was divided with their opinions, all for the sake of their Luna. Amidst it all, most gaze shifted on Roman, who remained silent in front of his untouched food and cold coffee. His hands were fixed on the breakfast nook, tight lipped in a conversation concerning the Luna. Despite his muteness, they knew something is stirring beyond the dark corners of their Alpha's frightening eyes.
More than half a day, Scott wandered the mansion like a ghost. His stomach had forgotten hunger hours ago and the nicotine had become the only thing that kept his body standing. The mansion came alive around him. Motorcycles boomed outside has Roman's pack leave the estate. The noises gave them a headache, deciding to leave for a while. He walked past the dining room, where his pack were sharing a meal. It was agreed that they will pop out for a bit after their lunch, and return to make plans saving Kate.
Then, Scott came across men hauling shattered cabinets through the front doors. Vacuum cleaners were almost done roaring over carpets blackened with soot. Carpenters pack their tools after measuring fractured beams, replacing what could still be saved. In some areas of the mansion, fresh paints battled the lingering scent of blood. In every corner, they were people were almost finished rebuilding, trying to erase the nightmare that had just happened.
Scott rubbed his fingers over his eyes before making upstairs. His feet carried him to the one room he had his mind constantly. The only place that would ease his troubled mind. He pushed the door open, and his eyes landed on Roman who was already there. Reina, who was sitting on a nearby sofa beside the dozed off lythari, stands up, crosses the room, and nodded at Scott. "I'll come back later", she says, leaving the room.
The rival Alpha was sitting on the hardwood floor beside the bed. One forearm resting against the mattress, as he gently held Diana's hand. His thumb lazily stroke the back of her hand, watching her dream. Scott's jaw tightened, as he turn green in envy. The unbearable ache of seeing another Alpha touch his woman sored his eyes. And in one moment, he wanted him gone. Nevertheless, seeing Diana resting easy forced him to cross the room calmly instead.
Roman glanced up. "She's still asleep", he was calm, but somewhere in those words was demanding Scott to return later.
"You don't have to say", Scott acted as though the words had never spoken. He made his way around the bed, on the opposite side. Up close, Diana is too peaceful to be disturbed. He simply lowered himself on the mattress softly. His weight almost made the spring of the cushion barely shift. Then, he reached for her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers... feeling her touch softly, just enough not to wake her up.
The room settled into another kind of prolonged hush - strained, territorial.
"My pack isn't going after Claudia", Roman speaks out, thus, Scott's eyes never left Diana. "I will take my Luna, and let the original vampire come to me. All the vampires from that night who saw the power of her blood would come for her. Only I can protect her", Roman continued. Scott's finger tightened around Diana's hand. His jaw flexed, but never spared time to look at Roman. "And the girl", he paused, as if mentioning her name would wake Diana. "She is a lost cause. You should stop giving Diana false hopes and make her understand that", Roman drew a slow breath, preparing to speak again before a weak voice interrupted him.
"Lycan... king?", Ofir whispered. The lythari elf sat upright slowly, clutching his head. Something had turned him terribly wrong. His face had lost its color, and his skin looked paper thin. Find wrinkles spread across his tiny hands before Scott's eyes did.
"Ofir?", Scott called, as he slowly let Diana go, arising from the bed. He reached Ofir in a few strides, who is now swaying side to side. "Are you alright?", no words came out from Ofir. Suddenly, the lythari elf's eyes rolled completely backward. The temperature inside the room plummeted and every light flickered.
"What the...", Roman rose abruptly on his feet, protective of his Luna. Scott backed away, as a strong power surges inside the room. Before they could completely recognize the incoming danger, the room has already lurched. The bed slid several inches across the floor. Diana drowsily paced, with a large hand on her back pulling her up. "Diana, come here", Roman said.
"What's going on?", she asked, rubbing one of her eyes.
The windows bursted in, along with the door that have exploded inward. Roman covered Diana's head like an impulse. Scott's back blocked everything that would fly towards Diana. A strong gust of wind circled inside the room. And then, through the broken doorway, a woman, elegantly dressed in a navy blue tailored suit walked in with authority. A wide-brimmed black hat framed her face, casting a soft shadow over her eyes making her look untouchable. Timeless even. Large pearls swayed gently by her ears, and two strands of luminous pearls strike contrast against the hue of her suit. Following her immaculate arrival, monstrous nagas slithered through the doorway and the windows.
The room held its breath at every clack of her white pumps. The nagas slowly surrounded the Alpha's and their Luna. She stopped mid-room, made a side glance on the lythari elf who couldn't even stand on its own.
Breathing shakily beside Roman, Diana didn't removed her gaze up to the time she sees the woman's face. "Tamara."
Tamara tilted her head, and smiled. It was warm enough to fool a stranger. She had waited too long for this vulnerability. To crush them as soon as they have met their downfall. And now that the perfect timing has arrived, she wanted to seize the moment. The packs gone, the lythari elf depleted of its power... now is her time. "It's about time. I'm taking what's mine", her voice carried the polished cadence of superiority. Then, the nagas slithered in and grabbed Scott and Ofir out of the mansion.
SCOTT'S POV
Her beauty is incomparable, just like the first the way we met. Only this time, she caught my breath in one of surprising charms. Dancing on moonstones, her hair flowed with the wind as she twirl and spin. She was happily bathing under the moonlight, showing her fair skin. With eyes so blue unrelentingly staring back on mine, I reached for my Luna who completed everything I lack. She looked up as she mouth something to me. My eyes followed, almost narrowing to the moon glowing, making a celestial bow. I smiled at how beautiful the night is. Just me and my Luna. My returned to her... but then, she's already leaning against a tree. Looking frightful like she have seen a ghost. Diana held up a silver dagger with gems of three. The closer I drew near, the more she lifts the dagger. Pointing the tip of the blade right on my face. I tried to calm her down, and yet she only gets more frightful. Trembling even, despite holding that dagger against me. Then, she wounded her hand, squeezing her fist until her blood drips on her arm. I closed my eyes briefly, and when I opened them, my hands were already stained with blood. So much blood that I could no longer tell if anything of it is real.
"What a beautiful dream", I opened my eyes at the voice of a woman who seemed to know the series of images that just occurred in my head. Lifting my face towards the light, I saw Tamara looking closely at me as she crouch on the ground in between two large rock formations. This time, she takes her real Nagual form. With head full of ruffled hair which looked hard like wire, rough brown skin with a bit of fur, and toned abdomen that looked much leaner than mine. Truly a sickening sight to be feared. "She's very beautiful in your visions, like she always have", she said with her shining golden elliptical eyes under the beaming sunlight seeping through the century old trees.
I tried to move my hand. There were no visible ropes or chains to hold me down however I was bound on a boulder with somewhat runic inscriptions. As I look around, I saw Ofir in the same condition as I am. Stuck on a spellbound rock in the middle of nowhere. "Where am I?", groaning as I squirm. My head spun, throbbing hard on my brows that it almost feel like skull is breaking apart.
"My home", Tamara stood up as she spread her arms. "Wonderful, right?", she said as she breathe deeply.
I closed my eyes, and tried to relax my mind as I take each breath slowly. With my hands kept on the side, I radiated my powers to release me from being pinned on the rock. Grunting from so much effort, I gritted my teeth as I use much power that I can radiate to escape this captivity.
"That's not going to work.. no matter how hard you try", she said with a smirk. "But you can keep up, it will be my pleasure", she said as the large moonstone resting nearby started to blink like Christmas lights.
"Where's Diana? What did you do to me?", I continued demanding for answers, and yet, Tamara stood there enjoying the sun.
"My daughter, she'll be here soon", Tamara said. "Don't worry, it will all be over soon", she stared at the moonstone which have stopped glowing.
When my senses were more than calm, it was only then I was able to observe the place I'm kept in. There were three boulders with runic inscriptions. One was with Ofir, another was with me, and the third one is still unoccupied. "I wonder, what else would you want from her."
Tamara let out a wicked laugh. "You still have no idea, don't you?"
"You're shifting powers. From me, the lythari... and Claudia.", I leaned my head back on the rock, staring at the ugly beast grinning in front of me. "Diana is just a tool, for your plans."
Tamara made a sharp error buzz hinting that I got a wrong answer. She let out a baleful laugh, as she brush her thick hair with her rough palms. "The strength in your Lycan blood, the immortality of an original vampire, and the lythari elf's immense power will be all transferred to me, and I will turn myself as a newer version of the moon goddess", she flaunted herself along those deceptive words that were hard to believe.
I'm at a loss of words.
Have this Nagual lost some screws in her head and have gone completely insane? These creatures are truly ambitious and hungry for power, as what they have always ought to be. But, I have never taken into thoughts that their obsession for power and delusions of grandeur would reach up to this extent. In spite of her absolute atrocious scheme, the Nagual's attempt to combine all the powers of us three for the divinity of one body is greatly dangerous not only for everyone else, but also for the recipient of power itself. I have never heard of such thing. According to the clan elders, Nagualli can perform transfer of powers, only one person at a time. As Alphas who are strongest in our clans, we were taught that too much power could kill you. That's why the moon goddess gifted us a right combination of strength, agility and wits. If the plans of this nagual pushed through, I hope the immense power she's forcefully snatching from us rips her apart, for that's what she deserves. What I know about this kind of dark power, the body of the creatures that will be taken their powers from will become paralyzed like a log. Numb and weak, the physical body won't be able to move even an inch while the mind is still aware of the imminence of the circumstances at hand. They say, you'll just wish you were dead after the ritual. "You'll be one ugly moon goddess", I said with a smirk.
"That's why Diana is here. I'll be taking her form. As soon as my wolf delivers Diana and my original vampire, I'll slit her throat right in front of you and claim her body, fit for a goddess that I'll be", she said as she lifted her sharp fingernail in the air.
The moment she mentioned my Luna's name, rage naturally heated from inside of me. "You wouldn't dare", I radiated my powers from my hands. The ground shook and rumbled at the release of my aura. Instead of panicking, Tamara smiled at the moonstone which was once again glowing a bright shade.
"You won't get out of there anyway.. might as well give you the best seat while I kill your Luna", she continued to stir up my anger delightfully. "Go ahead, Scott Lockwood! Let me feel your rage", she breathlessly said, eyes widened in wonder.
But then, I stopped using my powers.
Tamara stared at me, blinking. Waiting for me to become wrathful again. And so I did. I let out another wave of my power and observed closely. There it was again. The moonstone started glowing even brighter. It was then I understood what she was trying to make me do. What a clever beast. Admittedly, I'm greatly angered for being unable to release myself from this rock. I've got to think better before time runs out. The lythari elf is no use. Ofir is still knocked out and completely out of this world.
I am totally fucked right now.
"You said.. you possessed another wolf. Who the fuck did you casted a spell over with now?"
"Ah! Any ideas?", Tamara laughed out loud at my unawareness.
I tried to decipher the indifference among the wolves in the pack. Aside from Damon, none of them are poor in spirits to become possessed. Not anyone of them seemed awkward or not themselves lately. I thought hard, until one person came to my mind..
No shit.