The tellings of a vampire
~
Cadence
~

The aroma of wood and wildflowers welcomed Cadence out of sleep and filled her senses with such a longing she opened her eyes adamant she could inhale the scent for the rest of her days.

She moved ever so slightly but came to a halt as the softness against her wasn't a pillow, but someone else, her head rubbing against another.

His soft waves of hair bathed beneath the sunlight, revealing golden streaks and strands blending against the light shades of brown.

Cadence sat up, a sensation of annoyance pattering through her hazy gaze. How did this happen? Their heads were parted when sleep came over them and then when the sun rose, they connected more than their souls by physically touching.

No.

If Cadence stared at him any longer, the boy who prevailed in beauty and living, she was sure she would have a longer life expectancy than she initially thought.

On the coffee table in front of her, her phone lit up and buzzed against the wood.

Seeing a familiar name, she answered the call and placed the phone to her ear.

"Cadence," Lycus's voice held no sense of greeting. "Where the fuck is my brother, you psychopathic hunter?"

Cadence chortled into the phone and looked over to see Rexton stir over, his peaceful face turning to her.

"How do you know I have him? Maybe he had enough of you and took off."

Lycus growled on the other line. "Accalia told me he ran off with you in the woods at the party. Now where the fuck is he?"

Cadence looked at the clock ticking on the kitchen wall and saw it just passed seven o'clock in the morning. She almost admired the aggressive concern he had toward his brother, enough to want to tip him over the edge with worry for it.

"Got him wasted, pierced his tongue and completely ruined him. I'll see you back at the house. Have everyone there."

"Cadence Larren—"

Cadence cut the call and stretched against the couch, stifling a yawn.

Rexton heard the movement and shot up, scanning the area with prying bloody and obsidian eyes.

Cadence steered back, placing her hands up but didn't close them into fists to protect herself. "Easy, tiger, you're fine. Nothing is around."

Rexton blinked and shook his head, shaking away all the bad. "Did I wake you?" He husked, his face torn with sleep and worry.

Cadence wasn't about to tell him how the sun rose with her head against his and as far as she was concerned, she would be taking that to her grave where it would die with her.

Dismissively, she waved him off and said, "Er, no. But your brother called, the aggressive and dramatic one."

Cadence slanted him a sly look at that, but Rexton wasn't pleased, scratching the back of his neck as his breathing shallowed.

"He will be angry with me," Rexton concluded, closing his eyes a short moment as a waterfall of disappointment ushered across his sleepy features. "I betrayed his trust."

"Been there," Cadence grumbled at the hybrid and clapped her hands together in finality. "Done that. He'll get over it. We'll head back to the pack soon."

Rexton wasn't comforted, but Cadence didn't have time to focus on him as scampering echoed down the halls and Erisa appeared.

The Jaeger hunter didn't skip a beat as she pulled the bow off her shoulder and tossed it to Cadence.

Cadence caught it swiftly from the couch and angled it back to Erisa in question. "What's this for?"

You couldn't mistake the searing determination fuelling those icy eyes and Cadence would be a fool to ruin it for her. It was perseverance that Erisa plucked up from the trenches of past hopelessness and despair.

"Come on," Erisa hollered, twirling an arrow between her fingers and a crafty grin tugged at her lips. "We gotta train."

~

Cadence and Rexton couldn't linger any longer and departed from Frankie's cabin as soon as they filled their stomachs with the roast he prepared in the late afternoon for dinner.

After hours of training, draped in sweat and skin burnt by the sun, Erisa continued practising with a bow and arrow.

Previously, her aim was atrocious and concentrated with so much thought the aim looked thoughtless. Now, it was direct and mighty. Targeting it exactly where she wanted.

The Jaeger family were much better with knowledge and books — their brain overruling their brawn.

Rexton and Frankie got along better than Cadence expected, the hybrid divulging information about vampires and the first lycans from the original Fenris pack that wasn't written on a blotchy and stained paper.

From where it stood, Cadence believed a part of Frankie didn't mind the Fenris hybrid and valued his knowledge.

But as Lycus blew up Cadence's phone continuously throughout the day, she decided then, after toying with the Alpha to get a rise out of him, it was time to depart.

Cadence was hellbent on having their new plan executed and a possible execution on Cole's part if it all came into play. Erisa, Rexton and reluctantly, Frankie agreed on the plan of kidnapping Cole.

It could be done so simply, seamlessly even, but Cadence had a few people to persuade.

Cadence and Rexton crossed the highway, heading closer to Lycus's territory and weaved through the towering grass that brushed against them in the crisp breeze.

"Aren't you two a cute couple," a voice chimed behind them like a squawking crow.

At the same time, they whipped around and a flare-up of annoyance passed through Cadence's heart.

"What do you want, Alexene?" Cadence spat, releasing the handle of her sword, but still wanting to use it on the vampire.

Alexene's blood-red eyes gleamed against the moonlight and she strolled up to them, tucking her dainty hands into her long travelling coat. "I am here to report to Rexton that I have spoken to a few vampires and they haven't the faintest idea who Cole is."

Rexton shortly nodded. "It makes sense, some vampires prefer to keep to themselves."

Alexene passed them and tapped her chin in thought. "But why would one be in Cole's home? It makes no sense."

Rexton huffed and then smiled at Alexene. "Thank you for looking."

Alexene mirrored the same face and they looked more connected than Cadence and the hybrid was bound to be.

"There is without a doubt Cole would be in contact with this vampire, he would have invited them into his home." Alexene clucked her tongue.

Why would he? Cadence pondered, her head hurting even trying to come up with a logical answer. But it was Cole, there was nothing remotely reasonable about him. He was insane, no doubt about it, but why the relation to a vampire? How did he even know of them?

The point of Lycus and Gabriel killing them was to wipe out their race and in turn, their history clean.

"What if the vampire looked for Cole directly?" Cadence questioned.

Alexene frowned, no lines carving into her face and nodded in contemplation. "Lycans and werewolves were supposed to forget about my kind. No one would know about us unless we made it known. You could be right, Cadence Larren."

Cadence mastered a mocking smile. "It doesn't matter anyway, we're going to kidnap Cole."

A laugh manifested out of Alexene's bloodstained mouth and her eyes lit up like red wine. "Look at that, you're learning from the best, Cadence." The vampire taunted, looking impressed.

Cadence scoffed and turned on her heel, stalking through the grass to get back to the pack.

Rexton and Alexene picked up her stride and settled on either side of her.

They reminded Cadence of flies, always pestering and unwanted company. It peeved her even more Alexene decided to join, breaking the zealous silence Cadence created with Rexton.

She could feel herself becoming comfortable in his presence, especially when he didn't speak to her or make an effort — she would forget he was there with her. A ghost that didn't haunt or taunt her, but was shadowed by her.

"Another vampire, who the hell could it be?" Cadence said to herself, digging her chipped nails into the palms of her hands.

"One that likes the attention of Cole Canus. His pack was quite filthy, I could smell raw flesh." Alexene said and Cadence's stomach grew squeamish.

"You think that's filthy? You drink human blood on a daily. All vampires do."

"Not all." Alexene protested and gestured over to Rexton. "Your mate doesn't. He only drank human blood twice, once when his vampire side was controlling him when he first found out what he was and another, you. After all, he shouldn't touch the stuff."

"Best he doesn't?" Cadence pried, curious as to why a bloodsucking vampire would deem that best for a hybrid. Didn't Alexene crave the blood and chaos?

Alexene nodded distantly and Cadence felt her left side become colder. Rexton drifted off, his long legs walking ahead of them.

"You've only seen his eyes, haven't you? The black and red?" Alexene began, her voice becoming darker with every word.

Cadence nodded at Alexene, recalling it this very morning and how it seemed to take a toll on Rexton. As if he hated the very sight of his body doing that.

"I'm sure you remember how I look, Cadence. Rexton becomes that, but worse and it only occurs when he consumes human blood. The worst part of his hybridity is at times, he can't come back from it. He hardly came back the last time, that was how I met him. His brothers had no idea what to do with him, he was a creature no one knew of. I helped him by changing his diet to animals and managing his bloodlust. I gave him blood bags the night of his freedom to ensure his life, but it was a good thing Tristan shot him that night." Alexene told Cadence in a melodic tune, recalling all that had passed.

Cadence stared a hole at Rexton's back, picking apart how tense he appeared with clenched hands and taunt shoulders. He was able to hear their conversation, his senses betraying him, but he didn't stop them, merely listening in.

"Does he hate being a hybrid?" Cadence asked, casting her attention back to the vampire.

"More than you'll ever know."

"Well, what else do you know?" Cadence demanded and side-eyed Alexene with a troubling glare. "There are more questions than answers when it comes to Rexton. A lot of secrets. Do you know something no one does?"

Cadence didn't hide the accusation in her words and gladly let them bite at Alexene like she would anyone else. So many demands crossed the borders of Cadence's skull, dwelling on the ideas of how the vampire came across a hybrid.

Alexene paused, looking at Cadence with a mischievous expression, sparring a glance to both her and Rexton. "So protective. Why the sudden interest? I thought you despised my dearest friend."

Cadence did despise him, she told herself that every day, a tinkering and constant routine to do so.

He is my enemy.

"But how did he come to be?" Cadence asked Alexene rhetorically. "Do you know? Does anyone? He came from a pure lycan bloodline and yet, became half of you. Does anyone bat an eye at this? Is there a worse reason he was locked up?"

Alexene searched Cadence's face, attempting to look beyond the harshness and sheer indifference.

"He's important to you." Alexene acknowledged, her thin lips pulled into what could be described as a smile bleeding with emotion. But her eyes did not show it, nor did rosy cheeks.

Cadence's jaw hardened. "He isn't."

"He will be," Alexene claimed, but she didn't stop there, a sentence so wrenching Cadence swore to hell and back she wouldn't forget it for the rest of her days.

"I don't regret forcing your hand those months ago. You're loyal and strong, Cadence. You may regret it now, freeing my brother, but you won't always. There was a reason I chose you."

"And what's the reason, huh?" Cadence snapped and stopped at the wired fence that separated the green field and the Fenris lands.

Rexton stopped amongst them, stuffing his hands into his pockets and turning to face them.

Alexene grinned, this smile more genuine as it reeked of trickery and said, "Perhaps it's because hunters and vampires go way back. Old friends ..."

Cadence whipped around to Rexton, brows pulling together in question. "What the hell is she on about?"

Rexton inclined his head to the pack and ushered Cadence along.

"I'll speak to you soon, old friend," Rexton stated solemnly to Alexene.

"You will. There are a lot of guards around the borders of the pack, Rexton. Keep that in mind." Alexene nodded at him in farewell, fondness in those bloody eyes and swept back into the field, the darkness taking her into the night.

"You're not gonna tell me what the hell she's on about? Old friends? Your friend is mental." Cadence scoffed and leapt over the wired fence, Rexton following after her.

Vampires and hunters did not go way back. Cadence hadn't the faintest idea of the infectious and repellent race until Alexene sought her out. Frankie only knew from old books, but the rest lay dead with the immortal race.

"She is quite strange, isn't she? But come on, a guard is nearby, we will have to run to the manor." Rexton exclaimed and laid out his palm, waiting for her.

Cadence grimaced. "I'm not taking your hand, I can walk."

Rexton scanned the area, ruffling his hair nervously. "I can smell wolves on every perimeter, do you want to be stopped and interrogated? Don't you want to tell everyone your brilliant plan?"

Cadence's lip nearly lifted into a smile, but she stopped herself, crossing her arms. "You think my plan is brilliant?"

Rexton laughed, a sound so harmonious and full of life it reminded Cadence of music. "It's you, every thought and movement you make is filled only with brilliance, Cadence."

A shard of emotion pierced through Cadence, into her ribcage and to her cold heart. It was a warming flutter that coursed through her as if it was supposed to feel like that.

Ruin it.

"You're full of lies," Cadence mumbled into the night, her breath of fog shadowing her strict features.

Rexton shook his head. "I will never get past that heart of yours, will I?"

"Not a chance."

If it was hurt he was feeling, Rexton didn't show it. He revealed a hint of nothing, similar to how Cadence would and backed off into the fringe of darkness, inclining his head for her to follow.

"Let's go to the manor before the wolves find us." Rexton voiced hoarsely and they seeped into the woods.

Rexton dodged every patrolling and prowling Fenris wolf until they were outside the door of Lycus's manor.

Cadence wondered if being caught by Fenris wolves would be more ideal than the Alpha himself.

Rexton pushed the door wide open, urging Cadence to go in first and he paced behind her.

They didn't get far, not even a few steps as the door slammed behind them with a bang and a voice boomed throughout the entire house.

"Well, well, night out, unknown whereabouts and of course, not listening to the rules! You two — a matter of fact, you—" Lycus flailed a finger at Cadence accusatorially with a curled lip. "You're trouble and you, little brother, betrayed me just as I was beginning—"

"It's not his fault!" Cadence argued at Lycus and he raised his brows, taking a threatening step toward her.

Cadence didn't move away even as she felt Rexton shoulder past her to get between them.

"Don't be angry at her," Rexton murmured and nodded hastily at Lycus. "I am sorry for leaving, I know I shouldn't have done it, I know I shouldn't have crossed the border but Cadence was walking on her own to the Jaeger family, I didn't want her to be alone."

Lycus's jaw hardened, but his eyes softened, levelling Rexton a look. "I can't always be there, Rexton, and neither can Gabriel. I can't always protect you."

"I know. But Cadence has a plan, a brilliant one and we all need to hear her." Rexton said, sweeping his gaze across the lounge room and Cadence just realised there were more people than just them.

Accalia settled by the staircase, watching everyone from afar and sent a knowing look to Cadence with a quirked brow. Gabriel and Nina stationed themselves on the couch, Luna rubbing her belly and of course, the mystical oracle stood at a distance, her silver eyes taking everything in.

"Let's hear it," Lycus grumbled and crossed his arms, stalking over to the staircase to Accalia. "It will probably lead to all of our demises, anyway."

"Not counting on it," Cadence retorted slyly and stepped in front of everyone. "But I am counting on kidnapping Cole the next time he sees Erisa. It's direct, Vaela will be able to extract his memories by touching him. We will know everything and be able to kill an Alpha. We could end this war."

Cadence immediately found Accalia's head falling into her hands and with all her might, trying to drown out the clashes of an incoming war.

Gabriel and Nina wouldn't speak, as if such topics would echo in Nina's womb and taint their unborn child. They had an alliance with Lycus, their blood brothers and blood packs, but they didn't want a bloody war.

Vaela's eyes gleamed like liquid pools of silver and there was a show of white teeth. She was smiling broadly at Cadence.

Cadence viewed that as a message of approval by the oracle and finally, turned to Lycus.

He stood by the staircase, his body clung to Accalia's as if he couldn't be parted from her, but his searing eyes stung Cadence like a bee.

"You're something else, kid," Lycus said to Cadence and peered over to Rexton, a smirk on his lips. "Why the hell not? Erisa can distract him while we take him out. It's a dangerous plan but with an Alpha like that, an effective one."

Cadence turned to the hybrid, flashing him a wide grin she never thought to give on any other misery-filled day.