I stand dazed as the heavy door shuts after me. Walking through the corridor to the living room feels like an effort. My body is laden, as if I have woken up from some fever. I can barely drag myself to the stairs.

“Danny! You missed dinner. Where have you been?”

It’s Tina from the top of the stairs as I stand at the bottom pathetically. Darn! From here she looks so high. I don’t know how I’m going to reach there.

“I was just in the library. Forgot the time.” I manage to mumble.

“Oh, right.” She shrugs. “Do you want to eat? I can ask Jenna…”

“No no. Adam said he would…”

“You were in the library with Adam?” Tina’s eyes narrow. “Alone?”

I curse my foggy brain. “No. I mean… I was there, but then Damien came, then Adam came and so I came out. I just need to get upstairs now…”

“Damien!” Tina squeals as if I announced an early Christmas. “Damien is here?? Gosh! I must tell Tammy!”

She races off back in the direction of the top floor as I stare after her stupidly. Teenagers. They have an attention span of a fly. But I can’t really blame her. At this moment, I too have the attention span of a fly’s soggy behind.

Right. Where was I? Yes. Still at the bottom step. Bollocks!

Ten minutes later, I am back in my room, having hauled myself up the stairs at a snail’s pace. I do not understand what’s wrong with me. It feels like something heavy has settled in my head, weighing me down, leaving no room for anything else. Random snippets of words flash through my mind, but they make no sense. This must be how they felt when people did meth.

I walk to the bathroom to splash my face with cold water, then flop in the bed. Sleep comes like an avalanche. The only memory I have before I go down under is a pair of deep hazel eyes sucking me in.

*****

“Diane Winters, tell me what you are hiding…”

“You deserve love, sweetheart…”

“Under the wolf’s paw…”

“Diane Winters…”

“I’ll make you bloom…”

“What lies beneath, Diane Winters? What are you hiding?”

I break into a cold sweat, my heart hammering in my chest. My eyes scrunch shut as if glued together. It feels as if someone is squeezing my brain to get the answers to those questions. The words impale my conscious, leaving me bloodied yet there is nothing to show for it.

My eyes stream. I cry out in pain.

“Danny! Open your eyes, please. Are you okay?”

This is Adam. It’s Adam’s voice calling me back to sanity, but I cannot answer the call. I am being pulled into a whirlpool. A demonic power holds me to it, not letting me go. My heart is being twisted by spiky claws. I cannot free myself.

Answer me, Diane Winters. You owe it to me. Submit to me, surrender to me, obey me.

“Arome, do something!” Adam says as I cry out in pain. “What’s wrong with her?”

“It’s the spell, Beta. The spell has a power no one can fight. And Diane is a mere human.”

“She is not a mere human, dammit! She has the blood of the First Wolves. She cannot succumb like this…!!”

“Nothing is a guarantee against such a powerful spell, Beta. It’s an ancient power, full of deep malice and evil. Even the elves could not stand being touched by a Depraved.”

“But she is not bitten! I came there before he…”

Let me take you to the moon! But tell me first…

“And that is our only hope, Beta.” Arome sounds tired. “Your arrival has just about saved her.”

“But why isn’t she waking up?” He sounds so worried.

“It’s the hypnosis of the spell. It will take time to wear off.”

A few moments pass by as someone takes my hand. It’s a rough, rugged touch, yet tender and insisting. A gentle warmth seeps in, soothing me to no end. I know it’s Adam. It could only be him.

“She…she has a weak heart. Could it be making it worse?”

“Possibly.” Arome sounds surprised. “But I cannot sense anything, Beta. How do you know her heart is weak?”

“It…it went into an arrest during the rogue attack.”

“Then how did she survive?”

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Even in that state, I yearn to hear, but Adam does not answer. He does not want to reveal it; he had warned me too.

Adam’s hands leave me. “It’s not important.”

“Not important? But to me it sounds extremely…”

“I say it’s not important, Arome. Just heal her already! She needs to survive this.”

I sink deeper again. My head explodes with vengeance. The voice claws at my brain, ripping it apart. I don’t have the answers it needs, so now it’s trying to find those for itself. My brain is in shreds. I writhe like a slaughtered animal.

“Aaarrgghhhh!!!!”

“Arome!!”

“On it, Beta.”

A thin and wrinkly hand covers my forehead, as another presses my chest. Arome murmurs something in a language I do not understand. The words pour out like an ancient chant, from Arome’s mouth, into my ears, to reach my brain. They shroud my brain in a warm embrace as the heat from his hands soothes my heart. The evil voice slowly leaves to fade int darkness.

I slump back with exhaustion, ready to sink back into an oblivion, when Arome’s last words register into my ears.

“I have shielded her for now. The spell can’t reach her. Lucky you were there for her, Beta, on both occasions. Otherwise, she would either be dead or undead.”

*****

I open my eyes to the sound of a gentle rustle. It’s morning. There is a woman in my room I have never seen before, wearing a white headscarf and a gown. In her hands is a small book that she is reading with all her focus. The moment I stir, she looks up.

“Ah, you are awake. Arome did say it would be about this time. Well Done!” She gets up and comes near to take my pulse. I swallow.

“Err…where is Arome?” And Adam? “And who are you?”

“I’m Dina, I work with Arome as a nurse. He had to head back as the Alpha needed a report. But don’t worry. I’ll help you with anything you need.”

I do not need anything, except for some food maybe, as I had skipped my dinner last night. And of course, I too need to see the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, up to the Phi, Chi, Psi, and Omega, whoever can fill me in about last night. My head is hurting now but with a different kind of ache. I need to know what’s going on. Too many riddles are making me restless. I just cannot fathom why is it me that keeps getting into all sorts of trouble.

I wolf down the porridge that Dina offers me and race downstairs. I need to catch them before they leave the house. But all I see are empty rooms. The kitchen has activity, but a sound from the study pulls me in that direction.

The voices get louder as I walk nearer. It’s John talking, and Phyllis and Adam. I come to the door and stop.

“But how dare he come here? Who let him in?” John is belligerent.

“It was for the quarterly council meet,” Adam sighs. “It was our turn to host it and Gerald said he’d invited the Nightwatchers, but I never knew they would send Damien.”

“Gerald! That guy is getting too big for his boots. Just because he’s got deep pockets…”

“Now now, John. There is no need to use that language for Myra’s father. It’s not Gerald’s fault that he is rich and is helping our cause.” Phyllis’s voice is patronising as usual.

“Helping my foot!” John snaps. “The man is nothing but a blackmailer. And what were you doing, Adam? How did he enter this house when we have such tight security? Any guests are supposed to be contained to the pack office. I did not expect this lapse from you.”

“I do not know father. I had made sure everyone stays in the office, but I do not know how he… He cannot enter a house without an invitation and none of us invited him. I just cannot understand it.”

“It was me.” Phyllis says. “I invited him.”

“What? You invited that depraved vampire into this house? Are you insane?”

“I am only doing what’s good for the pack, John. Nightwatchers are our allies and Damien is the most powerful among them. I think it’s high time we accept the fact…”

“High time, my foot! I am not going to sacrifice my daughter at the altar of the pack. Even Tammy doesn’t want it!”

“Tamara is still immature, John. She would agree if she gave it a thought. It’s a boon from the moon goddess and she must accept it.”

“Can you hear yourself, Phyllis? That bloodthirsty vampire a boon! Why don’t you just go mate with him yourself!”

“John!! How dare you insult me!”

“Father, Mother. Please!”

“This is insane! Your mother is gone insane, Adam. First, she sells her son to a rich scavenger and then wants her daughter to be with a deranged killer. Next, she’d commit us to some other horrible creature and all in the name of this pack!”

“That is not what I do, John!!” Phyllis is beside herself. “How dare you accuse me!”

“That’s ENOUGH!” Adam thunders and the door itself shakes. The room goes silent. Outside, I can hear my own ragged breathing. My head is swirling again, and my legs may give up at any moment.

“Mother please, leave us alone.”

“But why should I…?”

“Please, Mother. Leave us for now. I’ll talk to you later.”

The door opens, revealing a thunderous looking Phyllis. She gives me a scathing look, then marches out.

*****

“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to overhear, but…”

“It’s okay Danny. There’s nothing to hide from you. You need to know this all, anyway.” John says as he pulls a chair for me. I take it gratefully. My fingers are shaking, and mouth is dry. It feels like I opened Pandora’s box. Now I have to take it come what may.

“Here.” Adam hands me a glass of water. I drink it thirstily. My eyes meet his as I finish my drink. Last night his eyes were full of concern. Today they are shielded like stranger’s. I wonder if he knows I heard his talk with Arome. Apparently not, or he wouldn't be able to keep that stone-face.

“So, Danny. You might have overheard us, but I’d like to fill in the gaps.” John starts wryly, taking his seat behind the study desk. “As you might have gathered, the person you yesterday encountered is a vampire. Not just any vampire, but an erstwhile High-Elf, rich, greedy and vicious. He was invited here to attend a meeting, but someone very high-handed took it upon themselves to extend that invitation to our home…”

“Father, please.” Adam’s tone is warning. John humphs.

“But…why did Phyllis invite him here?” I dare to ask, grateful that she is not present.

“Because unfortunately, Damien is Tamara’s mate. And Phyllis thought this was a great opportunity for them to be acquainted with each other.”

It takes me a minute to understand what he said. Tamara’s mate. Damien is Tamara’s mate. A thousand years old wretched high-elf-turned vampire is Tamara’s mate. And she is barely my age. Is this even possible?

“Don’t ask me how. It’s just fate. I curse it every day, and at the same time, Phyllis thanks the moon goddess for such an amazing match. For the pack’s good, of course.”

I do not know what to say. First Jeff and then Tamara. What good is the pack going to achieve by making such miserable matches?

“May I ask you a question, Danny?” John’s eyes narrow as he looks at me. I sit up straight.

“Of course.”

“What did you talk with Damien?”

I lick my lips. That’s the part I want to forget. That sweet, honeyed voice commanding me to obey. Those hypnotising eyes, sucking me into their dominion. The wretched helplessness. The galling pains. I cannot afford to recall them. Arome’s chants have made them fade, but I know they are still there, waiting under the surface to pounce on me at the right time.

“Danny? Did you hear me?” John repeats gently. “It’s important Danny. Do you remember anything?”

“He asked me who I was.” I answer, suddenly feeling tired. “Under the wolf’s paw, into the deep… who I was in my heart.”

A moment passes as John purses his lips. His eyes flick to Adam, then back to me.

“And what did you answer?”

“That I am Diane Winters. Just the normal, plain Diane Winters.”

***** ******