Twists and turns of the south side Bronx finally brought me to the front of the dive bar that acted as a club hub for those of us who identified as night demons. The girls dancing out front parted as I approached, silent nods disguised in their drunk appearing glee. I only growled at the door man who was quick to ensure the path remained clear in through the door. Ignoring the shouts from the line that had no doubt formed about 9pm. Cause after all - I looked like fucking shit right now.
Marcus was the first that found me, sliding up next to me as we struggled through the mass of gyrating bodies.
“ You look like shit - more than normal, lass. Rough night?” He asked in the south London accent I was sure he faked.
“ Fuck you Marc, I need to see David. NOW.” The music hiding the growl that followed. The dark look I gave him was enough however to have him shove forward and keep his mouth shut as he worked to get me to the stairs, ignoring the girls attempting to sway his attention. My fingers fumbled with the buttons of the coat I had stolen as I began to shed the layers I had picked up to hide my self. It was sometimes good to have a reputation as an evil bitch - when you were pissed off no one bothered you. Bodies continued to part like the sea behind Marcus as he led me to the stairwell up to David’s office.
As we reached the top of the stairs it was clear Marc was finally picking up my scent - he was trying to outrun me to the door ahead of us. I couldn’t help but smirk at the sight of the wana be male model speeding ahead of me.
“Be warned - she’s pissed. “ He announced as he broke the threshold breathlessly.
“ DAMN RIGHT I AM… That fucker is going on a pike if I find him tonight.” I hissed as I pulled the scarf off my head. “I mean fucking look at me! That asshole beat me with a brick from the monument library’s foundation for fuck sakes!” I opened my arms as though I was going to be crucified so David could see the drying blood on my shirt and the bright purple bruises forming on my arms and chest.
David calmly stood and began to circle me, his eyes didn’t hide his worry despite the calm mask his face maintained.
“He was so desperate to get to her he took me out in public!” I growled again, my tail violently flicking behind me. “ In front of humans no less. I had to leave a dummy copy behind for the police just to make it back here. “ The soreness of my trip and exerted energy was settling in, it felt like my bones ached. Maybe I had broken something initially. It was hard to tell now.
“ Did he get her?” He asked moving to the windows over looking the club below.
“ From my last conscious moment - yes. I blacked out for a second..” I growled lowly, looking to the floor. Oh how I burned in annoyance right now it was a wonder my clothing hadn’t caught fire.
“ When I came too I had humans standing over me, I had to crawl to an alley for darkness to mask the change and leave the dummy copy behind. Hopefully someone of our clan is working tonight. “
I was expelling too much energy right now. Marcus had crawled into the corner and was trying to edge around the room to make an exit. I was torn between just ripping him apart in the office or curling up on the floor right there. David caught my eye though and shook his head. Was I that predictable now?
“You are going to end up blacking out if you do that. Just relax - your safe. “ His voice like water was refreshing, but I also knew it was him trying to reign me in using his powers. Something we often fought about. A soft hiss slipped past my lips as i watched him, allowing my glamour to drop. Sometimes it was better to keep a human skin, my teeth clenched as my fur felt tight from dried blood and made bruised areas ache more.
He only rolled a shoulder as he moved back to his desk. His eyes going over the map of the city.
“ I knew they were an obsessive bunch.. but I don’t get why Mika has.. “ I began tugging at my clothing, wincing as the dried blood pulled at the fur below. “Struck their fancy so much.”
“ Neither do I or the elders… this is a problem.”
“ YOU THINK?” The sarcasm dripped from my lips as I turned from him. His heavy sigh was his only response to it.
“You should really begin behaving like a alpha.”
“Oh you mean like a proper responsible high demon, or better yet a ‘human’? I tried that.. cost me a few of our kin remember? “ My ear flicked back at him as I rolled my head groaning softly. “ Since I’ve become known as “That evil bitch” no one seems interested in treating our cubs and kin for hunt amusement. I think its working out quite well thank you..”
Marcus shoes on the floor and the click of the door was my warning. Gee thanks you fucking whelp. Though at least he knew better than to be in the room when his alphas fought. To my surprise though rather than being knocked across the room, his hands came down carefully on my arms, though he could force me he only urged me to turn to face him.
“I know you're upset because they got to you, and got to her.. But we don’t know the whole story here. “ He was being restrained. Any more he knew when it was better to keep those emotions in check, my tail however flickered wildly behind me in my rising irritation and aggravation.
“This is beyond that.. the plan failed. We failed. They got her and we’ve no fucking clue as to..”His hand was quick to come down over my muzzle, glaring up at him didn’t win me my freedom to speak.
“Stop. This is not Venice. This is not Rome. “ I could feel my self vibrate with old rage as my ears pressed back. “We will get her back. Jack made sure she was given a tracking mark. I need you calm, healed and ready to lead. Not bent out of shape over a lost fight and a girl who we have no idea if shes one of our kind or something else. “
I felt my shoulders slump against the weight of the logic he had placed on me. I hated it when he was right. Almost as much as when I lost a fight. I shook my head shaking away his hand, leaning back from him. Even glamored he was a towering impressive sight in his tailored suit and slicked back ebony hair. His soft blue eyes and caramel skin belying the real beauty he kept hidden. Once upon a time our roles would have been reversed, and it would have been me calming his rage - but twisted and tainted demons seen fit to change our balance. The sick humor wasn’t lost on me even now. How things, events and time can change you.
“ Sometimes I hate that you of all of them are my Yin. “ I managed a sigh as a slid to move past him. The jeans I was wearing creaked in protest - meant for my glamored form, not my muscular larger feline frame. If I wasn’t careful I’d lose them - but given the blood stains and vomit on one leg, it might be worth it just to let them go.
“Yes, well I can’t fix time nor the ironic fates as they have been.” He sighed, not moving from where I had left him to look out over the club below.
“If I find him… elder or not.. I will rend him. This is the last time. I don’t care if I’m caged by the council for it or banished… that.. “ My words dissolved into rage filled growls as my hands clenched at the air - imagining his head there, bleeding and bruised. “ It makes me wish I had killed him in Venice or left him for dead…. It makes me regret kindness..”
“The folly of kindness is reserved for humans. At this point… if things went the way you described.” At his words I turned abruptly, hackles raised.
“IF THINGS??” I roared in his direction. He put his hands up as though he was trying to calm me by waving me down or maybe he was preparing for an attack. My rage blazed to life in hot heat, I could see the wisps of smoke rising as my clothing finally began to smolder. “ You of all beasts know better…”
“I’m not saying you are lying.. but the council has to be open to seeing your version of how it went down. Your last visit to the chambers wasn’t exactly what many reflect upon with fondness.”
“ Lucifer skin you.” I hissed as the man made materials melted and sprang small fires to life as I tried to pull it back in.
“ Yes, if I recall correctly that was what you told the council before leaving last time.” His eyes rolled before he locked eyes with me.” This little show of yours benefits neither of us. You're going to end up passing out and forgetting things we need to know..”
My only response was a snarl as I snatch up the chair in front of his desk and threw it at him, despite the protesting muscles of my arms. I didn’t care if it hit him or the window, nor the fact that the wood frame was turning to charcoal in my hand and smoldering as well. I listen to it splinter as it hit something, my hands tore at the remaining fabric and pulled its now further tattered remains away, grimacing as it pulled at fur. Sometimes the inventions of man fucking sucked. Plastic clothing fiber - great idea unless you catch fire and it MELTS to you.
“Yeah cause the council always knows best right?” I called sarcastically over my shoulder as a moved naked to the door. A low growl was my only warning before I felt his weight against my back and we collided with the reinforced door. Tonight's theme apparently was Pain. “ Celiest, these aren’t the old times, we agreed to the forming of the council. Hells fire you could be leading it…”
Old wounds and pains have a way of setting new fires, my head snapped back before he could finish in attempt to break his nose and shut him up. It went farther though and I hit his collarbone with a soft crack dislocating it, he’d feel that for a while at least. He knew me too well, his sigh buzzing past my ear. I could feel him fighting the urge to change as he pressed against me, muscles pulsing below the layers of cloth.
“I’m sorry for that…” he growled softly near my left ear before slowly releasing me. The weight of the night was starting to press in on me. He may have even been adding to it, I was no longer sure. I was weak from expelling so much power as it was. Rage can be an amazing fixture for energy till it goes out. My forehead dropped to the door I now used to support my weight.
“I’m old Zapherua… I’ve outlived too many of our cubs and kin. For the last hundred years the council has been idle.. something isn’t right.. even for demons. “ I murmured over my shoulder, fighting the urge to shrink to the floor. “ And I think that girl is the key..” I felt so heavy. My legs gave below me as I sank down, my heat withdrawing back in to my core.
“ I know my dear Cerlistria, I know..” His voice was again near my ear. I could feel his hands pulling at my body, lifting me up against him. Cradled in his arms I felt a wash of energy over me, mending my wounds. “ Right now though.. you need rest. “
I couldn’t fight it anymore and darkness overcame me
6000 years earlier in the wild forests of what would become the border area of Russia and Germany
The biting cold wind was a signal of the coming winter. It always felt better at this time of year to remain in my true form. A thick fur coat was a bonus, also helped to have easier access to that inner heat. The wood creaked and protested as I flexed my claws, I had dug deep in the branch to keep my balance against the stiff wind that kept trying to take me off of my perch.
“ Anything?” Zapherua called from his pacing below, circling the tree should I not keep my balance. Such a worrier.
“ The heards of the two legs are moving… south it seems. “ My nose flared as I drew deep in the scents on the wind. “ Malinar’s pack is following I think.. “
Even without looking I could tell that got a head tilt from him.
“Wonder what that little snipe is up too..” I muttered as I began the descent down easily head first, using my claws to keep me latched to the trees trunk. “ He normally leaves them to their business.”
“Well he was always curious about them… maybe they are in trouble?” A thick brow raised as he watched me come down, ever vigilant till I was back on the ground next to him. The wind picked up again swishing our fur around madly before it died down again. When it was like this it was always hard to tell the age of the scent - it carried so well from far distances when it was like this.
“ They are trouble..” I shook my head at the thought. These creatures had been ruled off limits to the packs by mutual agreement. We didn’t know what they were capable of or if they were poisonous - too risky a meal choice. “ But he’s has too many young cubs and yearlings with him for us to not see what's going on.”
That was all he needed to hear, starting ahead of me at a quick pace. I followed, nipping at his tail when it brushed too close. I could have caught up easily, but it made the run more fun when I taunted him. His only response for now was to growl in annoyance and pick up the pace. Soon I was no longer able to nip at his tail as we tore through the forest sounding like on coming thunder as our paws beat the freezing ground.
The forest grew thick forcing us to duck and weave through the brush, forcing us apart as I took to the heavy lower limbs of trees. Here it was easy to find a path with the leaves gone, I could see a way ahead of me as I jumped from branch to branch - causing the trees to shake from the sudden weight. My nostrils flared at a new scent and it was like being struck. The scent of fresh blood hung heavy on the air. I nearly cracked a branch to halt my self from my rapid strides. Suddenly spinning in place to spot my mate.
“Blood.. Its fresh…” I called out as I worked to relocate him. My head snapping in directions trying to find where it came from.
“ I know.. Head higher if you can.. find the source.” He was somewhere to the east of me. “ We’re close..”
I growled softly and shuffled among the trees to find one that could support my weight higher. Wood splintered from the impact as my paws slammed down in rapid succession, claws sinking into the wood as I hoisted myself skyward. It wasn’t long before another wave of the scent rushed at me, carried on the wind as I looked southward again. This blood smelled sour and sweet. I hung from the side of the tree staring out, ears up listening for anything but the wind was making it hard. Higher I went, ignoring the protest and moving in to risky placement upon the top of the tree. Somewhere its got to let me hear the world again.
The tree swayed against the wind and my weight as I strained to listen south.
“ STAY back..” Someone roared, but I couldn’t recognize the voice. The winds screaming distorting it. I took advantage of the swaying tree and leaned with it deepening the sway till I could jump to another tree top. I kept up, gaining momentum as I headed in the direction I heard the roar from. Jumping from tree to tree was nothing new, thank Goddess for that. Noises of a battle became clear as I made quick work of the distance. And then a howl.. My wolfs howl.
Speed was picked up, I was no longer jumping from tree to tree but bouncing off of them in my rush to find him. I could make out a clearing ahead, the sounds were louder now as I closed the space to it. Risk or not - I knew where I was needed. I could smell my kins blood among other. Concern and anger sparked inside, fueling the motion as I hit the last tree near the edge. I had only a moment to take in the sight of slain cubs and Zapherua’s larger form circling a two leg hunter.
The reverberation of hitting the tree at the pace I had forced me off, down into the clearing with them. Paws pounding the ground as I dropped as if from nowhere behind the hunter. The sound must have been deafening for his poor ears, he dropped his crude weapon as he fell to his knees hands on either side of his head. Restraint was required - beyond not knowing what they were capable of, we also knew they were delicate. Not like us despite looking like one of our forms.
Zapherua moved in, but I shook my head, motioning with one paw towards the crude weapon it had been wielding. The hunter didn’t move as he moved in to sweep it away - I assumed still reeling from the sound. A head butt from me to his back dropped him the rest of the way. I wanted him under foot to ensure he didn’t go anywhere, placing a paw on his back. Huh, look at that so large it covered most of it. Damn these creatures were small.
I could feel him tremble through the furs he wore over his back. And then the smell of urine hit the air. Ew.. he thought I was going to eat him. A low growl and snarl as I looked down - his noises were guttural and distorted. Now that this issue was dealt with - just what in the skys name was going on here?
Sometime in the late Bronze age....
Sometime in the late Bronze age....
The bass of the drum rocked my insides. I felt the heat of the night and bathed in the glory of the moon as the tribe sounded the warning drums. Intruders had made their way in and were being funneled in towards where we now waited. Unsure of who our surprise guests were I felt the ripple of my glamour fall over me, like being doused in water then frozen in ice as the magic fell in to place. A furious shake of my head settling the long pale blond locks over my shoulders.
My mate groaned as he did the same, pacing in a circle still. We both wore the guise of humans, but were anything but. Night deamons was the term given to us - since many of us only felt safe to even risk an appearance at night. Though the sun was no enemy for us - some or our cousins weren’t so lucky. My fingers roamed across my now furless flesh and the slightly different shape it took in subtle ways.
It was always intriguing that we found this form, once upon a time I felt I knew why - anymore though the memory escapes like a rabbit running in to the under brush from predator. The only penalty it seems of immortality was a shitty long term memory.
The grass and ground shuddered - seems our kin chose to welcome the guests in true form. I didn’t stop the smile from crawling accross my lips as I looked in the direction it came from. 
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