© 2017 SilverStream22. All Rights Reserved.  

~

  I watched it all in my head, perfect sense

They'll take me from me my bed

Leave everything that is worth a single cent and

 just take me instead  

 ~

"Lux, stay back." Stark muttered, kneeling down to further examine the ash that burned.

It was terrifyingly beautiful, black with specs of glittering purple. 

Tempest crouched down with him, swiping some of the dust on his hand before pinching it between his fingers. "This is Varanicon." 

Stark seemed mildly surprised that he knew what it was. I was surprised that he knew what it was. 

Ignoring my father's warning, I stepped closer, Mom following in suit. "I thought Varanicon was a byproduct of Underworld creatures?"

"It is." Mom bit her lip, crossing her arms as she contemplated the meaning. "But this doesn't make sense. I asked Kendra to place barriers around the villa. No unwelcome visitors should've been able to pass through."

Tempest glanced up at my Mom after meeting Stark's eyes. "What if it was a Trojan horse?"

I raised a brow but kept silent at the look Stark gave me. 

"Hear me out," Tempest stood up. "Gemma was a welcome guest, wasn't she? The creature could've snuck in using her."

"But how would she not know she was being tagged by an Underworld creature?" I pointed out.

Stark analyzed the dust once more before standing up. "I am unsure of that. I'll consult with Draver and Jazz. As of recently, they're more familiar with the Underworld."

Stark walked off, gesturing with a sleight nod to Jasper and Draver to follow him. Tempest went with him, meeting my eyes over his shoulder before they disappeared into the villa.

"Come on, let's go inside."

I broke my gaze at the door to see Faye. She was beautiful as ever, even more so with her hair tied up in a high ponytail, her face framed by long wispy bangs.

"Sure." I agreed shakily, grasping my Mom's hand tightly as we walked inside.

Babushka was no where to be seen, and neither was Varian or Nikolai. 

Damen was inside, clearing up the remnants of a medical kit. His head tilted to the left, a sign that he heard us entering. "If you're looking for the men, they're in the conference room."

"I'm just going to sleep." I smiled weakly at Mom. 

She frowned but pulled me into a hug. "We'll make sense of this. For now, just stay in your room and be safe, okay Lux?"

She pressed a kiss on my forehead before walking down the hallway to the conference room. 

Faye escorted me upstairs, pausing before entering my room.

"Just so you know," Faye said quietly. "You're not wrong, or messed up, or a defect in her bloodline. All that shit your grandmother said isn't true."

I roughly scrubbed at my eyes, "Aren't I though? A Royal who can't turn werewolves into Lycans?"

Faye punched my shoulder lightly, though due to her strength it felt like an actual punch. I grimaced but played it off, not wanting to worry her. Faye was always sensitive about her new strength. 

"Don't say stuff like that. You're one of the coolest kids I know."

I groaned at her voice. "Faaayyee. I'm not a child!"

She laughed and gave me a noogie. "I know, Lux, it's just fun to mess with you." she then gave me a straight face, holding me by my shoulders. "No, but seriously- you're fine just the way you are."

I nodded miserably, still feeling the echo of hurt from the words Babushka said to me. 

Faye nudged me inside, closing the door behind me. 

I collapsed onto the bed, tossing my arm over my eyes.

"Damn." I whispered, my voice hoarse from the emotional roller coaster I had gone through.

Today was too much for me. 

I glared at my hands once more, hoping that they would reveal themselves and the secrets behind it. Sitting up, I slid to the edge of the bed and concentrated once more, searching for the ebb and flow of a steady current that Mom always talked about.

Instead, I hit a blank. There was nothing- not even the raging fire that burned within me when I tried to turn Trinity into a Lycan.

Biting back a frustrated growl, I slammed my fist against the bed post before taking a deep breath and trying again.

This time, I pushed forward through the roadblock, edging deeper into my new found powers.

But then I felt something cold, something dangerous. It was brewing beneath the surface of my skin, burrowed into my bones. And just as I was about to grasp it, discover it- the current of fire slammed me out, guarding against my entry to the coldness.

My own body was fighting against me. 

A hand on my shoulder pulled me out of the depths. I jerked up, meeting the mismatched eyes of Kendra, the Nymph.

She was cloaked in black, a velvet hood drawn over her head. 

Mom and Stark warned me to stay away from Kendra, but I never really understood their need to protect me until I'd heard the prophecy that they always whispered about. 

I stood up, Kendra mimicking my movements.

"What's going on?" I asked normally until Kendra held a finger up to her lips for me to keep silent.

I zipped my lips shut.

"You need to come with me." she muttered, pulling out a cloak from her satchel. "Wear this?"

I gave her a confused look, holding up the suspicious looking fabric.

She scoffed at me, "Woman, it's like a poncho just-"

I shook my head, gesturing at the whole situation. Why?

Her eyes hardened into an orange gold. I noticed that about Kendra- her eyes changed to reflect her emotions. It was a trait she gained after absorbing her sister Kaleesi's powers.

"There's been another killing- Yuna, the Sakurai family's daughter. Your parents don't know about it yet." she muttered as I awkwardly fit myself with the velvet poncho cloak. "That fabric is charmed to hide your scent. We'll be good when we're running."

"Running?" I tried out my voice, hoping it came out as soft as I intended. "From who?"

She narrowed her eyes, a crisp cerulean that focuses behind me at my window. She yanked me down against the wall next to it, pressing her hand to the glass. It shimmered and vibrated like ripples in a wave.

"Not from who- more like what." She jerked her chin up at the window. "I've charmed it so it's safe for you to see it without it seeing you."

I peeked out the window and nearly pissed myself.

In the courtyard was a nine foot humanoid figure with no face and leathered skin that looked like a potato sack. It kept slamming into the border that Kendra placed, desperate to get in. 

I gasped when its grotesque face came into view. A smile was etched onto the skin, carved by a knife. It was an unnatural curve. The eyes were gaping slits, still leaking blood. 

I stepped back in horror, covering my mouth to calm myself.

"Oh my Goddess," I whispered.

And then, just as I said it, the creature's head turned at an odd angle and looked directly at me.

"HOLY SHIT!" Kendra shoved me down, kicking my leg. "What the fuck, Lux? Did you not hear me when I said don't talk? You broke the illusion!"

I stared at her incredulously. "When did you say not to talk?!"

"I don't know!" she burst out, half whispering, half yelling. "Half the time I don't know if what I say in my head actually comes out or stays in but either way- you just screwed us over."

"Why?" I dreaded asking the question.

"Because," Kendra snapping, flicking my hood on for me. "You're that creature's target."

~

"Oh my Goddess." I breathed out once more, my hands shaking as we descended the stairs. "It's dark outside. Can't we wait until tomorrow to leave? I mean it's not like that thing is going to enter, right? And what is it anyways? Am I going to be alive tomorrow? Should I write my will? Just letting you know, I bequeath my fancy spoon collection to no one, okay?"

Kendra elbowed me as we walked down the stairs.

"So here's the plan," Kendra whispered. "You and I are going to exit the front entrance-"

"And how are we going to do that when creepy no face keeps stalking the perimeter!?" 

"Just let me finish! Anyways, we exit the front entrance and meet my accomplice, then we head out."

"Where? Huh? I'm pretty sure that this creature hunting us will follow us anywhere. How are we going to lose it?"

Kendra paused, glancing over her shoulder as we passed the dining room. "You know what, I haven't thought of it that far. My plans are usually made up as I go."

"Made up? Made up-?" I groaned, shaking my head. "I'm going to die tonight, aren't I?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

My head whipped around to see Temp on the front porch.

"That's your accomplice?" I hissed at Kendra.

She grinned at me wryly. "Not only that, but as of that meeting earlier, he's now your new bodyguard as per Stark's request."

Temp was wearing his cloak, his a lot longer than mine. His cloak wasn't even really a cloak, it was more like a trench coat with a hood.

"I can't believe this. What about Mom? And Stark? Won't they be in danger?"

Kendra shrugged. "I'm sure they won't. Katya has her ways of taking people down and so does Stark. Powers or no powers, your parents are quite capable of handling themselves."

I hesitated, noting that the creepy creature was about to come on this half of our property. "I don't know...I feel like we should tell them. I know they'll be really worried if I just vanish."

Temp forced me to make eye contact with him. "If you do tell them, think of their reaction. First, they'll want you locked up while they battled this demon thing out. Second, you've seen what that thing can do- having that done to your family isn't exactly something I see you as the type of enjoy. The easiest, least painful way is to run away. The creature isn't coming after them- it's coming after you."