Crescendo
~
Cadence
~
"Wear the leather jacket, you gotta have that coldness somewhere," Cadence murmured, curving the collar of the jacket downward and smoothing it over.
Cadence looked from the ankle boots Erisa wore up to the crown of her cascading black hair that curled effortlessly against her small frame.
"You look ... nice." Cadence commented, clearing her throat.
Erisa's eyes dulled. "I'm not keen on the dress."
Cadence wasn't either.
It was a blue slip dress that came to her upper thighs and the material insinuated the slimness of her stature. It was flimsy and satin — made to capture the eyes of Cole Canus.
"Perhaps show your shoulders."
At the same time, Cadence and Erisa rounded on the hybrid who sat in the back seat of the car and their faces contorted in displeasure.
"No one asked for your input." Cadence sneered and faced back to Erisa.
They've been outside of Hell Blue's bar for over an hour and they had yet to see Cole.
After convincing Lycus yesterday, Cadence had to forcefully swallow her swelling hate toward the hybrid and bring him along for the ride, because — to her annoyance, she knew he was their best bet in all of this.
Accalia was out of the question with her scars and the imprint she would have on Cole with her scent. He would be able to sense her presence within a short distance.
Lycus wouldn't be able to keep his cool if he latched eyes on the Alpha that maimed his mate. It would be a bloodbath and they weren't in the position to do that yet.
And the same rule applied, Cole would recognise Lycus within seconds of being in the same environment.
They needed a being powerful and efficient, the hybrid unwillingly came to Cadence's mind and she wasn't about to let it go even if she wished it.
"Maybe Rexton is right, Cadence ... I need to not be me," Erisa muttered into the stuffy air of the vehicle.
That is the point, Cadence thought darkly and once again, scanned the many banged-up cars and humans stumbling in and out of the bar.
No one stuck out, some people were at the hip, and others smoking and drowning in booze. Cadence averted her eyes from the couples making out like animals.
"Whatever you say, Erin," Cadence mumbled her fake name and leaned her forearm on the side of the car.
Erisa pulled the leather jacket past her sharp shoulders and the bright lights glistened on her pale complexion.
Cadence wanted this over with and in the back of her mind, she didn't want to be here even if it was her idea. She didn't want to be in the same car as Rexton who she would be spending her Friday night with whilst Erisa played the spy.
"He's here." Rexton declared.
Cadence turned to Rexton, glancing at the ticking of his jaw and his warm eyes becoming heated scorn.
"Where?" Cadence demanded.
Rexton's jaw clenched and dragged his forefinger against the window's glass, stopping dead in the corner. "There."
Cadence followed his direction and sure enough, the lycan came into view at the entrance the door outside the bar. His lean built was hooded with a black leather jacket and his slick dark hair had strands framing over his gaunt face.
Cadence's stomach did a flip, a recoiling and blistering flip that made her grip the dagger at her side. "Maybe we should kill him now."
Surprising her with a sharp gasp, Rexton came forward, his chin leaning on the seat and he gently shook his head. "No, Cadence, not tonight."
His voice offered a wilful surge of gentleness that sent a shockwave through Cadence's chest. So genuine. So polite.
"Whatever." Cadence snapped and let go of the handle of the dagger, ignoring Rexton.
"He just went inside," Erisa muttered, not taking her eyes off him.
Cadence met Erisa's expression with a mirroring fusion of unsureness and vengeance.
"Showtime. Message me as soon as you wanna leave." Cadence affirmed, gripping Erisa's shoulder tightly enough to show her that was her way of being affectionate.
Erisa grinned feebly and opened the passenger door, stepping out. "I will. And try not to kill Rexton, he needs to be back at the house in one piece."
The door slammed closed and Cadence watched her friend's every step until she was inside the bar.
Cadence couldn't handle the breathing of the hybrid by her side, how lightly levelled it was and how it cooed by her ear. She tore the radio up, drowning out every possible way this night could lead to their deaths.
____
Erisa
~
Erisa's pulse leapt to her ears, every pitter pattering sound galloping in her senses and she fought the sudden urge to vomit.
The bar was stuffy-aired, the strong smell of alcohol swooping through her nostrils like a tidal wave and she realised she wouldn't be able to have a sip tonight.
Erisa occasionally drank, to soothe the rippling nerves and nightmares that haunted her during the day. The burning liquid offered her a sense of comfort nothing else could. But she couldn't exactly drink herself away while being under the roof of her uncle who didn't even have a bottle of wine in his liquor cabinet.
The population of the bar were ridden by more men than women. Their ages ranged from Erisa's age, nineteen, all the way up to elderly people who looked like they needed more sleep than a pint of beer.
Her loud boots blended with the rock music that whooshed through the bar with every step she took to the bathroom. Greasy and unimpressionable men gawked, whistled and she regretted not suiting a knife to her side.
Erisa couldn't be here with her breathing uneven and weak, Cole would be able to sniff out her fear. But she recalled that Cadence would come if she became unbearably uncomfortable and that made her breathing even out.
Erisa didn't feel the bearings of her body wanting to become a shell with nothing left inside of it the way she once did. That part of herself slowly resurged, she had blood pumping through her body, bones that could snap and break but could still heal. A heart that could suffer with another ache and yet, mend.
Her shell protected her inner self she thought was once lost.
She didn't hide her blatant disgust tonight. She hated many men, too many to count on her fingers and it disgusted her more that this was simply normal. The prying, the demands and unsolicited attention.
A hand swayed by her side and she hissed, flipping the balding man off with a crinkled nose. "Fuck off." Erisa sneered.
Erisa darted into the bathroom, a hazy smoke wafting all around her as women swept in and out of the smelly area.
Her breathing relaxed, comfort ebbing into her bare shoulders and unloosening the knots that dared become undone in the pits of her stomach.
Over the days of preparing to do this, she had to rid herself of the earthy scent that clung to her from living in the woods. The burning ash and old books had to be overturned into a feminine floral perfume she had to use every day to wash out her other scent.
Lycus and even Rexton confirmed this was important as Cole could lock onto her scent within seconds. Erisa realised that if Cole wished, he could track her once he had her essence in his primitive senses and there was no escaping a lycan once they wanted you.
It helped that both Fenris brothers affirmed they couldn't smell her natural aura tonight, no essence left from the embers of fires and old books her uncle continuously read.
Erisa scanned the blurry mirror in the bar bathroom and wiped the rim of her eyes that had no black eyeliner staining them. She felt she lost a distinct part of her outer self, she liked eyeliner erupting her blue eyes in a cosmic clash. Black and blue were her favourite colours.
Accalia had dabbed makeup on her face, giving her cheeks colour with blush, her pale mouth a red lip and mascara that extended her eyelashes in a teasing manner.
The only resemblance she had was her thick and big leather jacket that swept along her upper thighs and she had to roll up the sleeves to see her hands. Oversized and baggy, she would always continue to wear her late father's jacket. Erisa hated being without it.
Pinching her cheeks and wiping the gathering sweat off her forehead, Erisa left the bathroom and searched for the Alpha.
It didn't take long. He was up at the bar, swarmed by three women he paid all types of attention to. Different shades of dark hair on them, different palettes of skin complexions and all starry-eyed at the Alpha that could maul them to death.
Erisa resisted a tremble and strolled up to the other end of the bar. Taking a seat on the stool, she scanned the Alpha and watched as he had one arm secured around one lady's hips and another hand skimming another's bare back.
"Yer wan' a drink?" A voice pulled Erisa out of her thoughts and a little too late did she realise she was gawking at the Alpha.
Snapping her head to the old man with a gold tooth that was drying glass cup, Erisa managed a nod. "Just a Coke, thanks."
She didn't want to make the mistake of taking anything other than that tonight. She had to be on guard, observant and somewhat sane.
The bartender nodded and moments later, a glass of Coke was placed in front of her and she paid.
"He has all the girls' attention tonight, doesn't he?" Erisa commented, screwing her brows together at the bartender whose eyes narrowed immediately on Cole, knowing who she was speaking of.
He made a face, turning back on Erisa with a leer. "He's 'ere now and again. Always has a girl or two at his side, the playboy. Be wary of that one."
Now and again, Erisa mused and gulped her Coke to ease her dry throat. "Why wary?"
The bartender leant forward, his smelly breath wafting around and said, "'cause some of the girls don't end up coming back here after they leave with him."
That wasn't surprising to Erisa. Far from it. Not when Cole had the eyes of a cold-blooded predator. She expected the very worse of him, she wouldn't pass him to bite his victims just for the sake of being a biter.
He didn't notice her watching, but Erisa could see through his exterior, as plain as day, the emotionless regard he had toward these very ladies he pretended to fawn over.
His humanness deepened as much as his skin did, one layer and nothing more.
Erisa wanted to leave, already having enough of the mere sight of him that made her blood run cold. Right as she turned to leave, gripping her phone to message Cadence that she already failed, a figure drew too close for her to do so.
The girls behind Cole Canus made faces of jealousy and spite, but Erisa almost considered them saved. Saved from him and his bite that lingers.
I'm here for Accalia, Erisa said to her mind. I'm here for Cadence.
Smoothly, Erisa rotated back on her stool and clutched the glass. She was glad her erratic heartbeat was overruled by the thumping music.
He won't be in my nightmares.
Cole was smooth in his approach, calculated even as he prowled instead of stalked.
There was a chair separating them, but Erisa could feel his desire to close the distance.
She scanned him briefly when he wasn't staring her down, catching his angular cheekbones and the paleness of his skin that aligned with Erisa's complexion.
There was something terrifyingly fine about him.
His style lacked colour but was exaggerated. Leather jacket fitting across his lean stature, silver jewellery branding his wrists, slender fingers and a chain dangling across his neck.
Erisa wondered if he came here often in his human form. He wouldn't be able to carry all of this stuff in his lycan form. He was far more stylish than other lycans and werewolves Erisa had come across. Exaggerated and sharp — even Lycus blended with his environment of rough boots and loose-fitted shirts.
Erisa took a sip of her drink, juggling with her thoughts as she swept her eyes elsewhere.
He could be here to see someone, she concluded.
"It's inappropriate to stare at people, you know?" A voice swept by her side and she could hear the snark in his tone.
Erisa was glad the leather jacket shielded the goosebumps prickling her skin.
Play the game, Erisa willed into her crumbling mind, he's just a dog that needs to be put down.
Put him down.
"Maybe I was just admiring you."
By rising him up.
Cole chuckled, a set of straight white teeth flashing at Erisa and she swallowed the nausea rising in her throat.
"What's there to admire?" Cole teased, swiftly taking the empty seat beside her and his arm brushed against hers.
Erisa got a clear look of him, his slick black hair and how grey his eyes were, like dark clouds over the ocean when it was about to rain.
His angular face suited him well, in a gothic and precise sense. But he needed sleep, heavy bags beneath the eyelids that dragged his face down. Perhaps he was high or tipsy.
"You have grey eyes," Erisa murmured, unable to look away. "That's very rare."
Cole's pupils dilated, the blackness almost invading the grey and he asked, "Is that so?"
Erisa stopped herself from a retort. She had to be pleasant, compliant and a reminder of his mate.
He also killed his mate, Erisa thought fearfully.
"I'm Cole." He thrusted out a hand and the message that laid upon it made Erisa cringe inwardly.
The greeting could lead to much more.
But she swept her hand into his, meeting a hot temperature that was natural for lycans and plastered a smile across her lips. "Erin."
Erisa went to take her hand back, having enough of the skin-to-skin contact, but he didn't let go, gripping tightly.
Erisa's stomach dropped, plummeting to the floor with shuddering fear and she willed away the water tainting her eyes.
"You have nice hands," Cole commented, tilting his head in scrutiny and giving a final squeeze before releasing.
Erisa exhaled, placing her hand in her lap and forced a confused frown. "Something to admire?"
"That," Cole murmured and scanned her mindfully, taking her in. "Among other things."
Erisa didn't want to know what he meant by that.
"What brings you here, Cole?" Erisa asked politely, tucking a loose hair behind her ear and meeting his grey eyes head-on.
"A quick fuck."
Erisa almost choked.
"You won't need any luck with that." She said in a strained flirty tone that sounded unfamiliar to her ears.
"Trust me, I won't," Cole said, staring down at her for a brief moment with fixated eyes.
It didn't take long for Erisa to see the lycanthropy orbs come through. His eyes flashed completely black, the whites of it gone and flickering with subtle grey.
Erisa acted like she didn't notice, even more so as he didn't realise it himself, complete and total lust filling his every sense.
"I haven't seen you around here," Cole observed, orbs going back to normal and a string of control pulling him back in.
"I made plans with friends to come here, but they bailed on me," Erisa lied, memorising the plan she went through before walking through the door of Hell Blue's bar. "So I came here on my own."
Cole drummed his fingers along the surface of the bar and nodded at her every word, not caring about the minor details of Erin's life. "You want another drink?"
Erisa looked down at her glass and realised it was nearly empty. "You buying?"
Cole pivoted his body to face her, rocking on the stool like he couldn't sit still for long. Erisa couldn't help but notice how erratic he appeared.
He winked at her, a lust-filled, lazy grin twisting across his lips. "Of course, what do you want?"
"Coke."
Cole paused, slicking a hand through his silky hair and made a face. "No alcohol?"
Erisa laid her boots flat across the wooden floorboards and resisted the urge to run. Another simple lie flew from her mouth, "Can't. My family won't appreciate alcohol on my breath."
"You live with your family?" Cole pried with lightness in his voice.
Erisa nodded at him, knowing what he was hinting at. He wanted to know about her, not out of genuine interest but sick curiosity. Who could she live with, where did her paths lead and who was she connected to? How easy would Erisa be to him?
"My father and brother," Erisa explained and playfully rolled her eyes at Cole. "They're very protective. If they found out I'm here by myself ..."
"I won't tell them," Cole murmured and Erisa played at his words, smiling sweetly at him.
"Promise?"
Cole nodded firmly, fake seriousness waning across his face and winked at her. "Pinky promise."
He raised his slender pinky finger to her face and Erisa made sure that smile of hers didn't falter.
She hooked her finger around his and gripped securely enough that he received the message she entailed: a vow.
"Can I tell you something, Erin and you promise not to tell another soul?" Cole chimed.
Cole liked to play games, sending wolves over to the Fenris pack to taunt and tease. Not exacting a battle for the sake of hiding and seeking. Killing others just for the fun of it.
Erisa wondered what game he was playing with her tonight.
Nevertheless, she kept her finger coiled around his, making her own promise as she nodded in response.
He leant close, his mouth brushing by her hair to her ear, leaving a cold trail and his voice travelled louder than the music as he whispered, "I've been admiring you since you first walked through that door, but I want to do more than just admire."
Don't stiffen up, manage your heart, manage your breathing, Erisa breathed through her spiralling thoughts that threatened to destroy everything in the making.
She wanted to crumble and have the ground swallow her whole. She pushed through, lightly giggling at Cole's attempt at flirting. "Such as?"
Cole pulled back, a sick and teasing smile on his lips and rose from his seat. "Come with me to find out."
Erisa wondered what lay beyond the gesture of Cole laying his hand out for her to take.
She dabbled with the scale of possibilities, would he kill her straight out, use her as a toy for his fulfilment, cannibalise on her body and have his pack members join. Perhaps all of the above.
The murderous and cold-blooded Alpha thought he had her because he wanted nothing more to have her.
Erisa's lips parted and Cole zeroed in on it as he had done with every detail of her body. Transfixing every nerve and move she had made.
A vibration buzzed through her jacket and she jerked. Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she mumbled a fake apology to Cole and answered the call. "Hello?"
"Rexton has been eavesdropping and I've been making him report every single word back to me," Cadence yelled into the phone and Erisa immediately clicked the sound lower so Cole wouldn't hear. "You're done. I have had it. Get your ass back to the car, we're circling now to pick you up and—"
"Fine," Erisa grumbled to her and rolled her eyes at Cole. "I'm coming now, I'll be out in a minute."
She hung up, slipped the device back into her pocket and turned to Cole. "I'm sorry, my friends told my brother where I was and he's pissed. I have to go."
Erisa slipped out of her chair and Cole took an unwanted stride toward her, closing in on her.
Her back pressed against the edge of the bar table and Cole's arms settled by her sides, caging her in. "If I'm not going to fuck you tonight, I at least want to see you again," Cole said in a smoky drawl.
His sentence clouded Erisa in a suffocating haze and her throat closed up for a short second as her blue eyes struck with a surprised look.
Cole revelled in it, eating up the innocence and smirked down at her. "What do you say, Moonbeam?"
Erisa couldn't help but laugh, red ess brightening her cheeks under Cole's harsh glare. "Moonbeam?"
Cole's face softened, the sharpness in his face releasing all control and tension. "You remind me of the moon,"
"How?"
"Come here again next week, same time, same night and I'll tell you," Cole responded and pushed away from her to let her pass.
Erisa's heart almost took off, to the stars and moon, not wanting to return to this earth again.
They wanted Erisa to seek Cole out and unearth the hidden information he kept beneath the soil. He was known as the Alpha lycan that never changed, the Alpha of Death that made himself this way and many praised him for it.
The oracle, Lycus and Accalia need to discover Cole's motives for the incoming war, the presence surrounding him and how to tear him from the inside out.
Erisa was the eyes and ears of this hunt.
"You promise you'll tell me?" Erisa asked, sweetness honeying her voice that surprised her. She was used to the roughness and swearing. She preferred it.
Cole mischievously raised his brows and those grey eyes darkened. "Don't keep your brother waiting, Erin. I'll admire you as you walk out the door."
Erisa grinned, her cheeks hurting. "I'll see you next week."
With nothing else to be said, Erisa turned away from him and walked to the door through the warren of music and drunken fools.
The worst part of this night was that she felt his words burn through the back of her head as his gaze didn't drop from her until she left Hell Blue's bar.
——
I'm not sure with the turnout of writing in Erisa's point of view.
Tell me how you feel about Cole Canus.
I wanted him to come across as vulgar, straightforward and kind of creepy. I don't know if I achieved that completely.
There are going to be more chapters with Cole and Erisa. Any ideas of what will happen between the two?
— Caranyx.