I'm so sorry I haven't written more; things have gotten really hectic and I've been creatively retarded, so please forgive me!
~Jacki
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Chapter Four, Part Two.
The once silent courtyard was now buzzing with activity. Men and women of all ages, even some children, milled about, speaking hurriedly in voices that seemed to hold just the slightest bit of panic, and there was an overall sensation of unrest. I heard snatches of conversation here and there- "Who was it?" "I heard it was a newblood" "I knew this was a bad idea", and so on and so forth. The sensation of having so many wolves nearby was new to me, and their presences buzzed in my head, the pressure making me wince.
"Rafael," I whispered.
"I know you have a lot of questions, but this isn't the proper forum," he replied, uncharacteristically serious.
Unsure of how to respond, I fell silent, following him through the Den's huge wooden doors. There were people here too, though nearly as densely packed as outside. Those who were in here seemed to be more collected here than outside. And they seemed to be generally older, too. Outside, no one noticed my presence, despite the fact that they cleared the way for Rafael, owing, no doubt, to his position as Beta. In here, I could feel the weight of the others glancing at me discreetly, and by no means accidentally. It was uncomfortable. I could feel that not a single person here was human, so perhaps only the higher-ups knew of me, as a Princess. Or maybe they knew that I was... a mutt. I still couldn't get over the revelation that I was not only a wolf, but royalty and an outcast. It was hard to tell what they saw in me, because their faces held no emotion. It was kind of creepy, and I unconsciously pressed closer to Rafael's back. He glanced over his shoulder at me, and I just stared back wordlessly. Weaving through the passages, we arrived at the carved double doors that marked the Council chambers. He breezed through, and I followed in his wake.
They were all there: Dionysia, Tassilo, Celestria, Adellinde, and... Aubrey... Their eyes were all hard, their mouths set in identical grim lines. However, the Alpha's held some softness, concern softening his gaze just the slightest bit.
"Athaliah," Aubrey said, his voice hard.
I flinched. "Yes?"
"Do you have any idea why you're here?"
"Rafael said someone is dead."
"Not dead," Celestria cut in imperiously. "Murdered."
My response was to stare at her blankfaced, though my thoughts screamed, "You fucking witch, accuse me of being a killer already." Rafael's face shifted to a look of mixed suspicion and understanding at the same time. He subtly tapped Aubrey's wrist, and they exchanged looks.
"If you cannot hold your tongue, Celestria, it can be arranged for it to be held for you," he said calmly, smiling through the threat. She stiffened, glaring at him. He turned to me again. "You are here because we need to know that you had nothing to do with it," he said. Celestria glared at me darkly, her eyes bearing nothing but pure hatred. It was clear that she felt certain that I was to blame.
I looked him dead in the eyes and replied, "I don't know anything about what happened."
"Do you swear on your sister's life?"
It was a strange response to my answer, but I answered "yes" unwaveringly. He nodded. "Well, she's the last. We're finished here," he said, standing up. As he swept out of the room, he grasped my upper arm and led me out. "We need to talk," he said.
"What, you don't believe me?" I snapped, planting my feet.
"That isn't the issue," he replied, attempting to pull me along.
"Answer the damn question."
He sighed. "I can't trust your answer. You don't have the experience that I do, and you have nowhere near the knowledge that I have. You need to accept this."
I set my jaw and didn't reply, though I was furious that I was being suspected for doing something that I hadn't. Or had I? If even Aubrey suspected me, something was definitely wrong. He had more faith in me than anyone else; sometimes even more than I had.
"Rafael," I whispered.
"I know you have a lot of questions, but this isn't the proper forum," he replied, uncharacteristically serious.
Unsure of how to respond, I fell silent, following him through the Den's huge wooden doors. There were people here too, though nearly as densely packed as outside. Those who were in here seemed to be more collected here than outside. And they seemed to be generally older, too. Outside, no one noticed my presence, despite the fact that they cleared the way for Rafael, owing, no doubt, to his position as Beta. In here, I could feel the weight of the others glancing at me discreetly, and by no means accidentally. It was uncomfortable. I could feel that not a single person here was human, so perhaps only the higher-ups knew of me, as a Princess. Or maybe they knew that I was... a mutt. I still couldn't get over the revelation that I was not only a wolf, but royalty and an outcast. It was hard to tell what they saw in me, because their faces held no emotion. It was kind of creepy, and I unconsciously pressed closer to Rafael's back. He glanced over his shoulder at me, and I just stared back wordlessly. Weaving through the passages, we arrived at the carved double doors that marked the Council chambers. He breezed through, and I followed in his wake.
They were all there: Dionysia, Tassilo, Celestria, Adellinde, and... Aubrey... Their eyes were all hard, their mouths set in identical grim lines. However, the Alpha's held some softness, concern softening his gaze just the slightest bit.
"Athaliah," Aubrey said, his voice hard.
I flinched. "Yes?"
"Do you have any idea why you're here?"
"Rafael said someone is dead."
"Not dead," Celestria cut in imperiously. "Murdered."
My response was to stare at her blankfaced, though my thoughts screamed, "You fucking witch, accuse me of being a killer already." Rafael's face shifted to a look of mixed suspicion and understanding at the same time. He subtly tapped Aubrey's wrist, and they exchanged looks.
"If you cannot hold your tongue, Celestria, it can be arranged for it to be held for you," he said calmly, smiling through the threat. She stiffened, glaring at him. He turned to me again. "You are here because we need to know that you had nothing to do with it," he said. Celestria glared at me darkly, her eyes bearing nothing but pure hatred. It was clear that she felt certain that I was to blame.
I looked him dead in the eyes and replied, "I don't know anything about what happened."
"Do you swear on your sister's life?"
It was a strange response to my answer, but I answered "yes" unwaveringly. He nodded. "Well, she's the last. We're finished here," he said, standing up. As he swept out of the room, he grasped my upper arm and led me out. "We need to talk," he said.
"What, you don't believe me?" I snapped, planting my feet.
"That isn't the issue," he replied, attempting to pull me along.
"Answer the damn question."
He sighed. "I can't trust your answer. You don't have the experience that I do, and you have nowhere near the knowledge that I have. You need to accept this."
I set my jaw and didn't reply, though I was furious that I was being suspected for doing something that I hadn't. Or had I? If even Aubrey suspected me, something was definitely wrong. He had more faith in me than anyone else; sometimes even more than I had.
Chapter Four, Part One.
When I woke up, I found a note left on my bedside table. In excruciatingly beautiful calligraphy, Aubrey explained that my sister was in the elementary wing, and if I could get my butt out of bed, I'd have time to pick her up before class. I delicately tucked it under my pillow, and rushed off to get my stuff together. I got to the room just as Carmen, Delilah, and two other girls were leaving.
"Lali!" Carmen hugged me. "Miss Kathleen" (The housemother, I assume?) "said you were sick, so I'd be with them for a day or two. Do you feel better?"
"Much." I stroked her hair. "Did you have fun?"
"Yeah!"
"Good, because the fun ends tonight, 'cause you're back to being with your boring sister."
She grinned.
Apparently, Aubrey had found a way to inform my teachers that I had been "sick". I made up most of the work in study hall, ignoring the notes and paper planes flying through the air. What struck me as odd was the look that crossed over Mr. Conricht's face when I came in. It was totally respectful, and if I wasn't mistaken, he inclined his head slightly. I sat at my seat and pretended I hadn't noticed. Aubrey behaved no differently, and neither did I, though it kind of stung that he was pretty much ignoring me after everything that had happened. Trent was in detention for the week because he'd set off a stink bomb in the girls' locker room, so it was quite peaceful. Brenner would never behave like his usual sycophantic self without someone stronger to instigate any harassment. Finishing my test, I looked up at Aubrey. When he was in class, he was a completely different person. Though I understood the need for a somewhat different attitude to hide his secret, why such a change? Maybe he'd tell me if I got up the nerve to ask... After all, we were partnered for life.
Lunch period came and went, the same as it always did. Overall, life remained largely unchanged, aside from my desire to howl at the moon whenever I caught sight of it, but that was to be expected. I fell back into my regular routine. That is, for a few weeks.
I was sleeping soundly when a sharp tap-tap-tap came from the window, rousing me. I figured it was just a tree branch, tossed in the wind, so I ignored it, rolling over to go back to sleep. The tapping came again, louder and more insistently. Okay, so maybe it isn't a tree. Annoyed, I rose and walked to the window, and there was Rafael, sitting in the tree. He was also knocking on my window with a really big stick.
I opened the window, stage-whispering. "What in the hell do you think you're doing? It's like, two in the morning!"
"You need to come with me."
"It's two in the morning, in case you missed that last part of my statement. What could possibly be so important?!"
He looked me dead in the eyes, all trace of his obnoxious sense of humor gone. "Someone's dead. And a wolf killed him."
"Lali!" Carmen hugged me. "Miss Kathleen" (The housemother, I assume?) "said you were sick, so I'd be with them for a day or two. Do you feel better?"
"Much." I stroked her hair. "Did you have fun?"
"Yeah!"
"Good, because the fun ends tonight, 'cause you're back to being with your boring sister."
She grinned.
Apparently, Aubrey had found a way to inform my teachers that I had been "sick". I made up most of the work in study hall, ignoring the notes and paper planes flying through the air. What struck me as odd was the look that crossed over Mr. Conricht's face when I came in. It was totally respectful, and if I wasn't mistaken, he inclined his head slightly. I sat at my seat and pretended I hadn't noticed. Aubrey behaved no differently, and neither did I, though it kind of stung that he was pretty much ignoring me after everything that had happened. Trent was in detention for the week because he'd set off a stink bomb in the girls' locker room, so it was quite peaceful. Brenner would never behave like his usual sycophantic self without someone stronger to instigate any harassment. Finishing my test, I looked up at Aubrey. When he was in class, he was a completely different person. Though I understood the need for a somewhat different attitude to hide his secret, why such a change? Maybe he'd tell me if I got up the nerve to ask... After all, we were partnered for life.
Lunch period came and went, the same as it always did. Overall, life remained largely unchanged, aside from my desire to howl at the moon whenever I caught sight of it, but that was to be expected. I fell back into my regular routine. That is, for a few weeks.
I was sleeping soundly when a sharp tap-tap-tap came from the window, rousing me. I figured it was just a tree branch, tossed in the wind, so I ignored it, rolling over to go back to sleep. The tapping came again, louder and more insistently. Okay, so maybe it isn't a tree. Annoyed, I rose and walked to the window, and there was Rafael, sitting in the tree. He was also knocking on my window with a really big stick.
I opened the window, stage-whispering. "What in the hell do you think you're doing? It's like, two in the morning!"
"You need to come with me."
"It's two in the morning, in case you missed that last part of my statement. What could possibly be so important?!"
He looked me dead in the eyes, all trace of his obnoxious sense of humor gone. "Someone's dead. And a wolf killed him."
End of Chapter Three.
School is starting in about a month, and I've been trying to make the time I have with my boyfriend meaningful, and make this summer really worth remembering, so I may not be writing very much. Sorry. Do know that I haven't forgotten about this story, it's just... Sleeping.
Thanks for reading!
~Jacki
Thanks for reading!
~Jacki
Chapter Three, Part Six.
Author's Note:
Oh, gosh, I am so sorry this update took so long... Like, what, four months(!)? I've had all this written for a while, but I just haven't had the time to type it, nor been in the mood (Cue guilt). Hopefully I can make up for it by the length of this part of the story. Chapter four is beginning, too!
As always, thank you for reading. Those few of you who are. :P
Breathing heavily, I turned my back to him, facing the balcony.
"I am not a beast. I'm a Shadow Child, not...That."
"You're right. You are no beast," Aubrey replied softly, appearing at my shoulder. "But make no mistakes: though you are not a Shadow Child, you're not a Hunter, either."
"So I'm back to when you first dumped all this on me. I don't know what I am... All these years, I thought I was human; I never questioned it for a second.Suddenly, I discover that I'm not, nor was I ever. And now, even my existence as this... thing... is up for debate." I dropped to my knees. "God... What the hell am I?"
Aubrey knelt, lifting my chin to meet his eyes. "You are Athaliah, daughter of Joche, the sole possessor of the blood of the original lycan line, and you are a myth incarnate."
I looked at him, grasping for words.
"There was a story about a wolf a long time ago who was the bastard son of a Shadow Child and a Hunter. Unfortunately, his mother, shamed by his paternity, deserted him in a village. Though he was taken in by a couple in the village out of pity, he never let go of the pain from his abandonment, and that weakness allowed his stronger Hunter blood to reign supreme. Susceptible to the full moon, he transformed into the sort of wolf that legend describes: not quite wolf, but not human, either, walking on two legs, with a beastlike muzzle and a mouth full of teeth designed to rip flesh from bone. He slaughtered the inhabitants of that village, including his adoptive parents, and those of two other villages before the survivors managed to trap him in a house that was burned to the ground.
Being of both clans, he could have begun to bridge the rift between us. But because he was raised in ignorance, he only contributed further to the necessity of living our lives in the shadows. You can do what he didn't. It's your choice... Unlike that pitiful creature, you have everything you need to know at your fingertips. And your Shadow Blood, being pure, runs stronger in your veins than your Hunter blood. Your first change showed that- you were in control one hundred percent."
"But I'm not supposed to exist."
"Yet here you are."
I had no reply to that, so I simply sat in silence for a while. "How did you know what I am? I don't mean you, specifically, but all of you."
"Your fur."
"...Huh?" The simple answer baffled me.
"We Shadow Children are all solid shades of varied browns. Hunters are always black. Your fur is black, tipped with brown."
"Oh." All this other crap is complicated, but that is the one thing that's simple? Christ...
"You are the most beautiful wolf I've seen. Celestria can say what she chooses. She's stubborn on a good day, and flat-out arrogant and self-serving on a bad one. I wonder if her skills as a negotiator went to her head."
"Oh, I've been meaning to ask you something else."
"And what would that be, Princess?"
"Why do you flirt with me? You took over Vera's job, and it doesn't seem that you've told me anything she couldn't."
He fidgeted. "Uh...God, you're probably going to eat me alive..."
"Just tell me already. I'm tired of being in the dark."
"Well, wolves don't choose their mates as humans do- you know, trial and error. We just... know."
"Okay, so what I'm getting here is that you're weird and you're acting like a human boy."
"Ehh, not really... Look, when I first met you, you were an infant. It's going to sound creepy, but the instant you opened your eyes and saw me, I knew it was you."
I stared at him, gaping. "You're lying."
"No, I'm not."
"Then why didn't I feel it?"
"You didn't?"
"Well, I um, I don't know how I'm supposed to feel or anything..." I mumbled.
"Look, why do you think you feel the need to defend me? Why did your heart beat so fast when we spoke alone for the first time?"
I flushed bright red and looked away quickly. "I don't know what you're referring to."
"Oh yes, I know about that," he said, laughing.
"So... What? We're going to get married, ride off into the sunset on a white horse, and live happily ever after?"
"We could, if you wanted to. We would still need to stay in contact with the pack, though. They need us," he replied, looking thoughtful.
"...I was being sarcastic."
"I guess I did a bad job of playing along." He cupped my cheek in one hand. "You're not ready for this on top of everything else. You've had your world turned upside-down, and then was tossed into another one. I know that, and so do you. When you are ready, I'll be here."
"I...I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to. Just answer this-Did you feel like you've known me for years when we met?"
"Yes."
"That's because you have. From the first touch, our souls have been connected permanently." he chuckled. "Sorry, that came out cheesier than I thought it would."
"But it's true, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"When do I go back to the Academy?"
"Whenever you like."
"I'd like to go now. Carmen needs me."
He leaned towards me and lightly pressed his lips to my forehead. "As you wish, your Highness."
And we left. Not another word was said; I was too busy absorbing everything I had just found out. I don't think he was so preoccupied, though, because he was sure to stroke my hair and kiss me again before he left my room.
Oh, gosh, I am so sorry this update took so long... Like, what, four months(!)? I've had all this written for a while, but I just haven't had the time to type it, nor been in the mood (Cue guilt). Hopefully I can make up for it by the length of this part of the story. Chapter four is beginning, too!
As always, thank you for reading. Those few of you who are. :P
Breathing heavily, I turned my back to him, facing the balcony.
"I am not a beast. I'm a Shadow Child, not...That."
"You're right. You are no beast," Aubrey replied softly, appearing at my shoulder. "But make no mistakes: though you are not a Shadow Child, you're not a Hunter, either."
"So I'm back to when you first dumped all this on me. I don't know what I am... All these years, I thought I was human; I never questioned it for a second.Suddenly, I discover that I'm not, nor was I ever. And now, even my existence as this... thing... is up for debate." I dropped to my knees. "God... What the hell am I?"
Aubrey knelt, lifting my chin to meet his eyes. "You are Athaliah, daughter of Joche, the sole possessor of the blood of the original lycan line, and you are a myth incarnate."
I looked at him, grasping for words.
"There was a story about a wolf a long time ago who was the bastard son of a Shadow Child and a Hunter. Unfortunately, his mother, shamed by his paternity, deserted him in a village. Though he was taken in by a couple in the village out of pity, he never let go of the pain from his abandonment, and that weakness allowed his stronger Hunter blood to reign supreme. Susceptible to the full moon, he transformed into the sort of wolf that legend describes: not quite wolf, but not human, either, walking on two legs, with a beastlike muzzle and a mouth full of teeth designed to rip flesh from bone. He slaughtered the inhabitants of that village, including his adoptive parents, and those of two other villages before the survivors managed to trap him in a house that was burned to the ground.
Being of both clans, he could have begun to bridge the rift between us. But because he was raised in ignorance, he only contributed further to the necessity of living our lives in the shadows. You can do what he didn't. It's your choice... Unlike that pitiful creature, you have everything you need to know at your fingertips. And your Shadow Blood, being pure, runs stronger in your veins than your Hunter blood. Your first change showed that- you were in control one hundred percent."
"But I'm not supposed to exist."
"Yet here you are."
I had no reply to that, so I simply sat in silence for a while. "How did you know what I am? I don't mean you, specifically, but all of you."
"Your fur."
"...Huh?" The simple answer baffled me.
"We Shadow Children are all solid shades of varied browns. Hunters are always black. Your fur is black, tipped with brown."
"Oh." All this other crap is complicated, but that is the one thing that's simple? Christ...
"You are the most beautiful wolf I've seen. Celestria can say what she chooses. She's stubborn on a good day, and flat-out arrogant and self-serving on a bad one. I wonder if her skills as a negotiator went to her head."
"Oh, I've been meaning to ask you something else."
"And what would that be, Princess?"
"Why do you flirt with me? You took over Vera's job, and it doesn't seem that you've told me anything she couldn't."
He fidgeted. "Uh...God, you're probably going to eat me alive..."
"Just tell me already. I'm tired of being in the dark."
"Well, wolves don't choose their mates as humans do- you know, trial and error. We just... know."
"Okay, so what I'm getting here is that you're weird and you're acting like a human boy."
"Ehh, not really... Look, when I first met you, you were an infant. It's going to sound creepy, but the instant you opened your eyes and saw me, I knew it was you."
I stared at him, gaping. "You're lying."
"No, I'm not."
"Then why didn't I feel it?"
"You didn't?"
"Well, I um, I don't know how I'm supposed to feel or anything..." I mumbled.
"Look, why do you think you feel the need to defend me? Why did your heart beat so fast when we spoke alone for the first time?"
I flushed bright red and looked away quickly. "I don't know what you're referring to."
"Oh yes, I know about that," he said, laughing.
"So... What? We're going to get married, ride off into the sunset on a white horse, and live happily ever after?"
"We could, if you wanted to. We would still need to stay in contact with the pack, though. They need us," he replied, looking thoughtful.
"...I was being sarcastic."
"I guess I did a bad job of playing along." He cupped my cheek in one hand. "You're not ready for this on top of everything else. You've had your world turned upside-down, and then was tossed into another one. I know that, and so do you. When you are ready, I'll be here."
"I...I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to. Just answer this-Did you feel like you've known me for years when we met?"
"Yes."
"That's because you have. From the first touch, our souls have been connected permanently." he chuckled. "Sorry, that came out cheesier than I thought it would."
"But it's true, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"When do I go back to the Academy?"
"Whenever you like."
"I'd like to go now. Carmen needs me."
He leaned towards me and lightly pressed his lips to my forehead. "As you wish, your Highness."
And we left. Not another word was said; I was too busy absorbing everything I had just found out. I don't think he was so preoccupied, though, because he was sure to stroke my hair and kiss me again before he left my room.
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