The room was dark and haunting. Mossey green walls and rusted, sturdy cell bars surrounded me. The musk of the room was enough to make my stomach churn. I had only been in the dungeon of the clan house a few times before, to make sure our livestock hadn't escaped before dinner, but there was no denying that was where I was now.
I had become the livestock, inclosed and unable to escape. The bars were sprinkled with garlic powder and guards most defiantly secured outside door. I was weak again. My head was woozy and limbs felt almost like jello. There was barely any strength left in me.
I couldn't beilive I allowed myself to get captured again. The me I knew would have been able to fight my attacker off and teach them never to mess with me again. Instead, they had played dirty and shot me up with what I was now guessing was snake venom (something my clan had perfected extracting from the creatures in the forest and using against our enemies). My naivety had lead me here. I was trapped once again by those who once were the ones I believed in.
Up above, I heard the whining creak of the rusted door hinges and clunking footsteps down plank wood stares. My body instantly tensed up, trying to get prepared for any attack. But with the way I was feeling now I doubted I could defend against anything a fellow vampire could deliver.
The steps were slow and calculated, not rushing or hesitant. The man who owned them slowly revealed himself from the shadows, a deceivingly polite grin on his face.
He was tall, short compared to most though, with curly brown hair and stubble itching along his face. His eyes were dark and menacing, filled with malice and cruelty. Though his skin was pale there was something about him that set him different from the rest of us to the point he could pass most easily for a corrupt human.
David stepped forth towards my cage, making sure to be far enough away in case I tried to grab him. He cast me a smile as warm and welcoming as possible for someone as devilish as him. If it had not been tinted with a hint of annoyance it would have been believable.
"Raven. I'm so glad to have you back." David said deceivingly fake. I only narrowed my eyes at him, keeping quiet in hope he'd get straight to the point.
When I didn't answer, an irrated smirk tugged on his face making him that much more ugly.
"I heard you have been dabbling with an unauthorized species. Naughty girl." David said, starting his speech.
"You see for a while now we have been facing off against those stupid mutts. Because of the mortality possibility of war, we had agree to stay in peace with them. Even though I wanted to extinct them filthy pups, I had to live with that. But just recently one of the dogs, the Alpha no less, broke the treaty taking one of our own and holding them prisoner." The man began to circle around my cell, trapping me in like one of my own prey.
"At first, I planned just to send your friend Alex and a few others to come and get you so we would plan an attack later. Then, however, I found out your that poor mutts mate." My heart clenched involuntarily at the remark. From his attitude so far, I knew what would come next would be bad.
An even wider smirk grew on David's face, knowing he'd caught me in his web.
"So I brilliantly hatched an plan. Alone, we wouldn't stand a chance against the wolves, they out number is quiet substantially. But together paired with an common enemy, we could destroy them at the roots. Pairing up with the rogues would allow us secrets only real werewolves know. We that we could take down those arrogant mutts and have all the land and prey to ourselves." A triumphant smile was now shining on the man's face, victory just barely at his grasps. He had been waiting for this moment ever since we appointed the leader ten years ago. Back then we had chosen Richard because David's methods we thought as to barbaric. But now, with war brewing, that was exactly what this clan wanted. Revenge was something all vampires craved.
With David's plan working out so well, there would be no other candidate for the next clan leader.
"That of course came with its risks. Many would unavoidably die if we chose to go to war; Not to mention we would have to share the land with the rogues. So I am going to offer you this one last time. Join us so we can use you against your puppy. Tell him how you hate him for trapping you up. Reject him and say you never want to see him again. Tell him unless he gives us the land you'll hate him forever and kill yourself."
My anger grew with each of his words, burning me from the inside. By the time the foul vampire had gotten to the last sentence, my control had completely snapped.
Ignoring the gruesome burning, I scooped up some of the garlic power from the bars in my hand and threw it in David's face.
The vampire stumbled back screaming, clutching his face. Redness and bumps grew on his face rapidly, puffing it up to look similar to an swollen mushroom. He let out a powerful roar, body shaking from the resistance to kill me himself.
"Your an disgrace! Just like your parents!" David screamed. My body froze and eyes widened. My heart beat trembled in my chest but I remained still. All the memories came flooding back with his words. The pain of losing them but also never knowing what really happened to them. Not knowing if they were killed or purely ran away and left me behind. What did David know about them?
"Just like you they love those foul beast and want to 'live and harmony together'. Your parents believed that bullshit so much they were even going to give the idea to Richard. But I made sure they were never able to." He seethed. My fists clenched tightly, the large burn of my right hand sending stings of pain up my arm and teeth bared into an menacing snarl. Every muscles in my body was itching to run through the bars and rip his throat out. I had gone years without anyone, alone without any family to care about and it was all because of him!
"I slit their throats and burned their bodies like the filth they were!" He yelled. I couldn't hold myself back any longer. I launched myself at him, steels bars of the cage stopping my body but my hands managing through. I slashed a quick fingernail across David's cheek, red line appearing instantly.
The vampire let out an angered snarl.
In a quick movement to my still laggy body, David ceased my arm, gripping it and yanking my body harshly against the bars.
"Your lucky I need you alive a while longer or I'd treat you just the same." He spat.
Before I could rip my arm away, David slipped an hand through the bars and jabbing an sharp needle into my neck.
At Caleb's Pack Ground
Caleb exited the house and began walking towards the spot he usually found Raven in. He had just finished with his Alpha duties and wanted to spend a little time with her.
When he got to the plane of land he frowned not seeing his mate anywhere in sight.
From the right, the Alpha's two third-in-commands came walking up. Both held an subtle worried look.
When they approached the alpha, they saw the confused look on his own face and decided it would be better to wait on their own news.
"Have either of you seen Raven?" Caleb asked. An growing concern was filling his chest. He had not seen her all day and she was now missing in her usual place. It wasn't odd for her to explore around but dawn was coming. She would usually be back by now.
Joseph looked around quickly, before shaking his head.
"Last I saw her she was playing with Adeline and some of the kids before the curfew." He said.
"Why? Do you think somethings up?" Matt interjected. Caleb had an half mind to say yes before quickly stopping himself. He was allowing his werewolf traits to get the better of him. He knew Raven was strong and could protect herself. She was most likely just off enjoying her free hours outside before daylight.
Still something nagged at the Alpha. A sense of uneasiness came over him for no explainable reason but wouldn't go away.
Catching sight of a small brunette out of the corner of his eyes, Caleb went to investigate.
Adeline was sitting on the ground, playing peacefully with a doll her dad had bought her. Normally at this time all pack members would be asleep but because of the rogue alert all were still awake.
Caleb approached his cousin's daughter, bending down so they were at the same height. Adeline beamed upon seeing him.
"Caleb! Do you want to play with me?" The girl asked, sweetly. Caleb smiled lightly but shook his head.
"I'm a little busy but do you know where Raven went?" He asked. The girl frowned a little at the rejection but nodded her head.
"Yeah. She went for a run in the woods a little bit ago." The girl said. Caleb's eyebrows scrunched up slightly. Despite his trust in his mate, he couldn't help but have a sense of worry she might have run away. The guilt that hung over him for initially capturing her made the thought seem that much more plausible.
"Alpha!" Someone yelled behind him. Caleb noticed the distress in their tone, quickly standing up and turning to where the voice had originated.
Out of the dark woods, three figures appeared with porcelain like skin and dressed in all black. Vampires.
Caleb quickly told Adeline to go back to her house before making his way over to the approaching group. Casper, Joseph, and Matt were already there, carefully analyzing the group of males. The one in the middle with bleach blond hair and tight leather clothes was obviously the leader. A confident smirk was plastered on his face. The two behind him were more muscle and clearly his bodyguards.
Caleb stood his ground as the group approached, coming to a stop a few feet from them.
"What brings you here gentlemen?" Caleb asked as politely as possible despite his feeling of overwhelming unease. The middle one smirked cruelly, fangs peaking out from under his lips.
"Just thought we'd drop in. See if everything alright with the wolves next door?" He chuckled, amused with himself. The man's voice was slick and oily, cunning yet filled with bile. Caleb's Beta instantly tensed at it, fits clenched at his side to hold himself back from doing something impulsive.
Caleb had managed to remain seeming unfazed.
"Everything's fine here." He said simply. The vampire let out an taunting laugh, cocking his head to the side.
"Are you sure? You don't happen to be missing anyone? Not even a mate?" Then it snapped. Any optimism Caleb had left fled instantly. Something was wrong with these vampires.
The Alpha's fist clenched at his side, ready to attack if needed.
"What are you talking about?" Caleb demanded. The blonde laughed, strange triumph coming over his face. To him this was a game and he was quite enjoying it.
"We have her. The traitor." He said. "We know she's your mate so we're prepared to offer an deal."
Caleb's eyes remained steady on the man, unmoving and giving the blood sucker his full attention. The other members of the group seemed to be on the edge of their seats, ready to attack. Luckily, the calmness of their Alpha held them back.
"Forfeit your pack to us and we'll let her go. Don't and we kill her and all of you." The vampire stated bluntly.
He didn't wait for a answer. The sly vampire turned around, hands in pockets, and began walking back towards the woods. His beefy body guards gave the pack one last studying look before turning and following after their superior.
"You have two days before the attack is set." The man called back. And with that the vampire's left the disrupted pack to their decision.