"Man do I hate orientations. They always act like we don't know anything about how school works. Like none of us have ever been in public school. It's almost insulting. Am I right?" Rob stretched his arms above his head as he spoke, an air of annoyance in his voice. Rob had been another one of Damien's only friends to stick around with him after the accident happened, more curious than disgusted or freaked out like everyone else was. He was mostly into technology and spent most of his time he wasn't out partying, sitting at his computer playing video games and drinking soda.
Damien was too distracted by the woman he saw earlier to immediately respond. The woman had seemed so familiar to him, yet something about her scared him. She was almost too beautiful, flawless like an angel one might see at the top of a Christmas tree or in a painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
"Dame, you alright, bro?"
The snapping of Rob's fingers in Damien's face had him focused back on the reality going on around him. "Yeah, sorry Rob. I was just thinking about something."
Rob shrugged, knowing his friend always had been kind of a space case, prone to wander off into his own daydreams. "Nice to know you still space out on us, D. I swear man, where do you go in these crazy trances of yours?"
Damien hadn't intended to space out, there was just a lot on his mind that he was still sorting through. Everyone around him didn't seem to recognize him as the one they once slapped the label of town freak show on but the feeling of the pain of the isolation and prejudice still lingered inside of him. He just didn't feel like he belonged there. Despite how friendly Rob and Chelsea were, deep inside, Damien still felt alone and empty.
"Hey Rob, mind if I get a lift home? My old man took the truck."
"Sure, bro. Want to get a burger like old times on the way?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
#
Once they made it back to Damien's house, Rob asked Damien if he wanted to go hiking over the weekend to try and get some sense of normalcy.
"Yeah, I'd like that. It'd be nice to head into the hills like we did when we were in the old scout days. I can get some killer photos for my portfolio." Damien had taken up photography after his accident when he decided that collecting memories was more important than going to the skate park to see how many bones he could break to be the next Tony Hawk. He was pretty good at it and did some freelance work for the local coffee shops in the town he moved from. He often got asked to put his photos in small galleries but he refused the offers since he didn't see memories as something to sell for money.
"Cool! I'll bring my old man's poles. You still remember how to pier fish?"
How could I forget? Damien and his father often went pier fishing on the weekend when his family held their annual summer get together, bringing the catch home so his mom could cook them in the family fish fry. He fought back his emotions as he remembered the fresh smell of cooking catfish that had been dipped in buttermilk and battered in breadcrumbs alongside his uncle's famous seasoned fries. His mom often had to swat him to keep him out of his grandmother's hush puppies before the family had a chance to sit and eat together. He couldn't help but lick his lips as his nose remembered the delicious smell of those hush puppies.
"D, my bad man. I didn't mean to kick up any painful dust. Gonna be okay? We can do something else if it makes you feel more comfortable." Rob had been told by Damien's father that his son was still trying to recover from his mom's death without Damien knowing, asking him to try to help as best he could to help ease Damien back into a sense of a normal life.
Surprisingly, Damien chuckled. "It's fine, Rob. Yeah, I'd love to go. Saturday at the crack of dawn as usual?"
"Stop off at old Bill's for sodas, bait and jerky? Hell yeah."
Old Bill Hutchinson often smoked his own jerky for his shop and smokehouse in his backyard in homemade smokers he'd made out of kettle grills that didn't work anymore. Rob and Damien often stopped by when they were set to go out with their scout troop, staring in the window until he brought out the fresh meat, earning them the first pick of the day.
"Sounds good. See you Saturday, Rob."
"Yep, see ya then D!"
#
It was shortly after moonrise when Jillian arrived back at Damien's house. She had just hunted and was at her peak for energy. She watched as Damien paced his room without a shirt on, reading a book. His perfect hips swaying side to side with each step.
The hair on the back of her neck prickled sending shivers of white hot flame down her spine. Great Luna, he was a feast for her eyes. How she longed to get him into bed with her.
She could hear he was stressed; his breath quick, his heart pounding in his chest pushing his blood quickly through his veins. She couldn't help but wonder to herself why he was so stressed.
She'd nearly had him again earlier that day following the orientation until his friend, Rob broke her spell on him by shocking him so bad when he threw his arm around his neck, Jill thought she would have to strangle Rob to protect Damien. How in the sun's hell am I going to seduce you if everyone keeps getting in the damn way? A low growl of frustration once again rumbled through her throat.
When the light went off, Jill snuck into his window. Her heart stopping for a brief moment the instant the smell of his body mixed with cologne and aftershave hit her overly lusting nostrils. Her fangs longed to taste him so she leaned down close to his throat, stopping where his neck met his shoulder. Letting her fangs linger so she could inhale the taste of him through her mouth. Damien's taste was rich and spicy on Jill's tongue. Like the darkest chocolate mixed with the spicy kick of red chili pepper.
He turned over, freezing Jill in her place when her own icy green eyes were met with gorgeous amethyst pools drunk with sleep. "Mom?"
Jill didn't know what to do so she went along with the dazed dream he was having. "Yes, baby. Go back to sleep." Her heart warmed when he gave her a tired smile, closing his eyes. She sighed in relief.
That was close. Jill thought to herself, sitting gently down next to him, softly stroking him and running her fingers through his dark hair. How I long to tangle my fingers into this beautiful hair. She imagined herself taking him down on his bed, savoring every piece of him and pleasuring him in ways that would make a priest blush. Even his wildest, kinkiest dreams wouldn't be a match for the erotic desire she could ignite inside of him.
The moments she was with him were always so magical. Jill cursed the dawn for forcing her to leave him again, longing for the day that she could stay by his side, learning all she could about him and sharing her world with him in return. Her heart ached in her chest at their separation as she leaned down into his ear, speaking gently to him as she did every night she spent with him. "Don't worry, baby. I will see you again come moonrise. Soon, we will be together, I will take your pain and give you my love in return."
#
"Shit!" Damien shot up in his bed, cursing at the wave of dizziness that hit him from getting up too fast. The ache in his body once again haunting him, the familiar feeling that someone had once again touched him tickling his skin. "Damn it." He ran his hand through his hair, grabbing a t-shirt and heading downstairs to breakfast with his dad.
Charlie sat at the table reading the morning paper as was his morning routine when Damien arrived, getting his own cup of coffee. "Well good morning, you're up early. That's not like you."
"Hey pops. Couldn't sleep anymore. Thinking about sleeping in the den tonight." Damien sat down at the table, taking a sip of his cup of coffee. He was so exhausted that he had to close his eyes against the dizziness of the fatigue.
"Something wrong with your room?"
"No, it's just that I can't shake this feeling that someone keeps touching me. I know it sounds insane, but it's the happened every night since we've been back here." He rested his head against the heels of his palms on the table, his stomach full of rocks at the growing unease inside of him.
"Maybe lock your window?"
"That's the insane part, I can swear that I do but every time I get up, it's open. Dunno pops, maybe I've finally cracked." It had been nine years since his mom died and almost ten since his accident and he still had nightmares about both. Damien leaned back in the chair to stare at the ceiling. "Maybe I've finally lost it."
Charlie's hand landed hard on his son's shoulder. "You're not crazy, Dame. I think you just really miss your mom. I know how you feel, son. Maybe go out with Chels today to get your mind off of things. I have to work a longer shift today anyway so there's no point to you staying here by yourself and wracking your brain over things."
"Okay, pops. Have a good one."
"You too, Dame." Charlie grabbed his keys and jacket, closing the door, leaving Damien alone with his thoughts.
#
Frustrating. That's what it was like watching them. Sheer, unadulterated frustration.
Jill watched from one of the cast iron benches on the other side of the street as the one called Chelsea, her rival for Damien's affection, walked arm in arm with him. She couldn't hold back a proud smirk at the look of disdain on Damien's face as Chelsea bounced around him, showing him each of the window displays in hopes of getting him to focus on her.
Too bad, sweetheart. I've waited centuries for that soul. There is no way Tartarus I am letting you have him. Jill had already decided she hadn't really cared if Damien truly was Lucius incarnate, she was going to pursue and eventually court him as her own. He was going to be her mate, she'd just have to get him used to the idea and win his love and trust.
The two of them went into a cafe for lunch, sitting down outside in the cool breeze of the day. Jill waited until Chelsea left to go inside the cafe before she made her move.
Damien just sat at the table reading. Aren't we the little bookworm? Jill giggled to herself. He read a lot from the many times Jill had watched him. Mostly mystery and horror books but it gave her hope that they had the love of suspense in common. She couldn't blame him, books were a good escape from reality and often had been her own source of sanity throughout the centuries.
"Hi there." Jill gracefully sat down, using the natural seduction of her people to tempt him to look up at her. She had chosen to wear some of the most provocative clothing she could, settling on a light blue shirt that rested on her shoulders and tight blue jeans and black and white tennis shoes, hoping her attempt at enticing him wouldn't be foiled as her last two attempts had.
Damien lowered his book, his mouth about dropping to the ground that he was actually seeing the woman he'd thought he'd imagined up close. She was stunning. Her long dark hair, those frozen green jewels hypnotizing him as they locked on him as though she was studying him, her flawless porcelain skin that looked as soft as satin. "It's you. I wasn't dreaming."
Jill chuckled, scooting her chair closer to him, putting one hand on his knee. Making sure to keep her voice as smooth and sexy as possible, she spoke. "My name is Jillian Styles. May I ask yours?" She knew from the soft trembling beneath her hand that she'd had him interested, her hand moving slowly up his leg. She just needed to find out if he'd recognized her as he had in every rebirth she had managed to see him again before Demetrius got to him.
A soft blush ran over his face as he felt her hand caressing his thigh. "I'm...Damien Pierce. I've never seen you around until the day of orientation. Do you attend the college or?" He'd never really been one to take affection too well, it made him uncomfortable but for some reason, when Jill did it, it made him feel hot inside.
Jill's heart stalled in her chest. This was the first time he didn't recognize her. Could she have made a mistake? The scent of Chelsea on the wind had her making a hasty retreat.
"Here, Dame!" Chelsea's voice rang out as she set down their drinks. Damien had settled on a hot tea while Chelsea chose cocoa.
"Wait. What?" Damien stood up, scanning the surrounding crowd for where Jill could have gone. He almost felt disappointed that she left, the lingering feeling of her warm hand on his leg leaving him running his own hand along the path hers had. Where did she go?
Hiding between two buildings after taking the time to run when she saw Chelsea had drawn Damien's attention, Jill had to take the time to compose herself. Could I have made a mistake? He's never not recognized me before. She shook the thought away. No, it wasn't possible. She'd never mistake that soul; never mistake the song it sang no matter how faint it was.
#
That night, Jill stood above Damien as he slept. When he didn't show up after his usual nightly shower, Jill snuck in through his window and tracked his mouth-watering scent through the house only to find him curled up on the couch in the den. The television set on some football game was the only light in the room, illuminating it in a soft blue tint. She didn't know why he'd chosen to sleep there instead of in his room. She was already aggravated from the events at the café so his little attempt at trying to avoid her had just made it worse.
Leaning in close, she took a deep breath through her nose, his scent filling her greedy nostrils. She hadn't made a mistake after all. Damien did have Lucius' soul inside of him so why had he not recognized her? Had he truly forgotten his promise? Forgotten her?
Well this complicates things. I guess I'm seducing you the old-fashioned way, hot stuff. Jillian didn't mind. It'd been a while since she'd actually had to pursue someone. She smiled at the thought of how many ways she was going to make sure he enjoyed it as much as she did.
Jill had already started introducing his body to her touch as he slept and gotten his mind used to her voice by talking gently to him. From the reaction he'd given her at the cafe she could tell he was attracted to her, the pain in his eyes she'd seen making her heart ache that she had to once again run from him. Eventually his desire would drive him towards her, she was just hoping she could last through the pain of having to stay away from him long enough for him to come to her on his own.
#
Damien's head hurt. For some strange reason, every time he'd seen her, Jill made his head pound behind his skull. He felt dazed as if she were putting some kind of spell on him. She was beautiful, almost hypnotic but something about her had seemed dangerous, warning him to stay as far from her as possible.
Their exchange had been limited to only a brief introduction and then she'd run once Chelsea came back. The touch of her hand on his leg hadn't left him since the café. It was like it was burned there but felt good. God, what was she doing to him?
Even after he'd chosen to sleep in the den due to being scared awake every night since they'd moved back to Big Timber, he still woke up with the same damn headache and sensation of being touched. The only difference now was that his body was beginning to burn with a heat he didn't understand.
What is going on? It couldn't be a dream because it'd felt so real and hadn't left him even when he woke up. He could remember the touch as if it were still happening.
"D, hey!" Rob snapped his fingers in front of Damien's face. "You still having those headaches?"
"Yeah, they've been pretty much a constant since we came back here. I hadn't been sleeping well, feeling like I'm being touched every night. I have this voice in my head that I can't seem to shake. It's weird, Rob. I know it makes me sound like a complete psycho." Damien ran his hand down his face to the back of his neck. He'd felt more insane the longer he'd even allowed himself to think about it, let alone say it out loud.
"Nah, you know me, D. I'm not one to put anything past the supernatural. Remember when we were kids, we debated about becoming a cryptozoology team? Investigating the mysteries unknown to humanity." Rob put his arm around Damien's neck, his other outstretched and moving across the sky, his voice slowing to a sarcastic pace and tone.
Chelsea smacked Rob's arm. "Come on, Rob, you were the only one who wanted to go through with that nonsense. Damien and I wanted nothing to do with it. So, Damien, tell us about this mystery woman you keep seeing?" Chelsea didn't have to try to hide the disgust in her voice at Damien's new obsession.
"Mystery woman? Wow, D, you're seeing someone? Really?" Rob didn't conceal his sarcasm. It was no mystery that Damien was attractive but he never really asked anyone out and was quick to shut down any woman that tried asking him.
Damien ran his hand through his hair, knowing anything he said regarding Jill would make him look more like he needed a strait jacket. "Well, actually, she's not really so much a mystery anymore, at least to me. I learned her name when she sat with me while we were getting lunch Chels. It was only for about five minutes and then she just disappeared when I looked away. Up until then, I'd only seen her around campus, thinking she was just another student or a figment of my sleep deprived imagination. It's just, every time I see her, my head starts hurting and I get really dizzy. It's like I'm being put under some sort of spell. I know it makes me sound nuts."
"Dame was spaced out by her when I ran into him on campus. She vanished then too. I never saw her at the college or at the lunch table."
"Damn, seems like you've got a stalker. Maybe a spirit from the sound of it. As for this 'spell' she seems to be casting, you think it could just be the old southern border overreacting?" Rob elbowed Damien in the ribs, winking as though he'd just said something only guys knew about.
"No Rob, I'm pretty sure that's the furthest from what it is. If anything, I'm feeling I should try to avoid her, not get into her pants, you pervert." Damien wasn't the sleeping around type; his biological mother had made sure of that when he was growing up before Charlie and Sarah saved him.
"Yeah Rob, Damien's not a man-whore like you are. He's into girls with more class and dignity." She flipped her blonde hair, raising her nose in the air to act more upper class.
Damien and Rob looked at each other then back at her, both confused that Chelsea considered herself classy or dignified. They'd known her since she was nine and knew she was as flirty as they came. If a guy looked good, Chelsea was flirting with him, often earning her jeers from her classmates. Most of the time her escapades had been attempts at making Damien jealous though it never really worked.
"Hey, what if we go bowling? It'll get your mind off of your stalker and give us some time to catch up since you've been gone, Dame." Chelsea leaned into Damien's chest, wrapping his arms around her.
"Yeah! Sounds fun! D, you in? I remember you used to bowl some killer games, man."
Damien ignored Chelsea's antics, looking around him, once again feeling like they were being watched. Once he snapped back to attention with some help from Chelsea's elbow in his ribs, he replied. "What? Yeah, sure. I hadn't gotten to school you in a good game of bowling in a long time, Rob." Damien felt like his old self before all of this drama with Jillian as he unlatched Chelsea to put Rob in a playful headlock.
#
The bowling alley was all decked out in its Halloween décor. A giant grim reaper that spoke in a dark, creepy voice stood sentry at the front, spooking the children and making them jump as they walked up to the sliding doors. Their parents had to calm them down before they even entered. Some even ran into the parking lot forcing their parents to keep them from getting run over by the cars entering and leaving the lot.
The walls had glowing paint that only lit up in the black-light while rubber bats hung from the ceiling and paper pumpkins decorated every table. Chelsea jumped, squeaking when she went to get her ball and saw a rubber rat staring back at her, taking the opportunity to run into Damien's arms.
When the game started, it was apparent that Damien either had a unique ability to coax the ball to hit all of the pins or he was just really lucky.
"Strike!" Damien pumped his fist in victory. He'd nailed yet another strike, putting him ahead of Rob on the scoreboard.
"Damn, D, I'll never figure out how you do that. It's creepy as hell though, bro. Almost like you're a pin whisperer or something." Rob's mouth was agape in amazement. "Alright, my turn. Watch and learn, sisters." He rolled the ball, knocking down all of the pins over save for two on opposite sides of the box.
"Oof vampire fangs. Those are never easy to recover from." Chelsea commented with a slight mocking chuckle after taking a sip of her soda, picking up another nacho to munch on it.
Rob rolled his ball hard enough that he managed to hit one of the pins, knocking it into the other earning him a spare. "Ha! Eat that, Chels. Your turn."
Chelsea stood up to bowl, only knocking down the center pins, making Damien choke back his own laugh while Rob burst out laughing. "Damn, I'm still no good! Next time we go to a movie or something. I suck at this." She stomped her foot in frustration, using yet another opportunity to hug Damien around the waist. He just rolled his eyes, patting her head.
The game went on with Damien scoring the highest as usual, taking a break to go sign up for the laser tag session set to happen in about an hour. Chelsea chose to sit out the laser tag, saying it was more of a guy thing. In truth, she didn't want to embarrass herself further after bowling such a bad game.
"Your loss. Course if you shoot as well as you bowl, our team would lose anyway." Rob laughed, earning him a smack on the arm so hard that even Damien hissed through his teeth in pain.
Damien rolled his eyes at his friends' antics, enjoying his hamburger, fries and soda. They really hadn't changed much in all the time he'd been gone. Rob was still his goofy, nerdy self and Chelsea still paraded herself around like she was a prima donna, thanks to her mom, taking every opportunity to get into his arms that she could.
As a matter of fact, not much had changed in Big Timber at all since he'd been gone but as crazy as things were since he moved back and meeting Jillian, he still found he didn't feel comfortable in the company of normal people. He still felt like there was something missing, an emptiness he couldn't describe nor did he know what to do about it. The sudden on-set of another headache made him clench his teeth, rubbing the bridge of his nose between his fingers and thumb.
#
Jill leaned against the bar, watching the three of them as they ate, her eyes locked on Damien, her temper fuming at how Chelsea had the audacity to touch his body not only once but twice. It had taken a great deal of control to avoid walking over to them and taking him by force, knowing full well that doing so would lose his heart to her forever.
"Hey gorgeous, how about I buy you a beer?" Here we go again, yet another stubborn male thinking she was even remotely interested in entertaining him. A quick glare at him sent him running, his tail between his legs back to his friends who had been staring since she walked in, no doubt trying to think they could stand a chance against her if they tried anything after she left.
"That him?" The bar tender, Alexander Kain, a fellow lycan and one of Jill's oldest friends from the past, stood cleaning a cup and organizing the bottles.
"Yes. I'm sure of it. I'm sorry I was late Kain, how long has he been here?"
"I just got on shift but they were here when I arrived so it had to have been two hours at least. You sure about him, he looks more like a vampire than a lover to a lycan." Kain was suspicious. To him, Damien looked like he could actually be a vampire with his dark hair and light complexion.
"It's him, Kain. I can hear the song his soul sings. It's faint but I've gotten his scent on more than one occasion. It is him, there's no doubt in my mind. He's very perceptive but resistant as sun's hell." Damien had been resisting her lycan seduction most of her people possessed, choosing the pains in his head over the growing hunger in his body. Jillian didn't truly understand his reasons but for now it was all she could do. If she chose to push him too far he would run and try to keep away from her. It was too risky so she chose to seduce him slowly. "I'm not sure why but for some strange reason he's wearier of me. From how his body reacted to my touch on his knee, I know he's attracted, so close to coming to me. It's all so damn frustrating."
"I can only imagine. Usually we have to fight them off. It's rare to have one of them actually trying their damndest to stay away from us. Give it time, he'll come around." Kain was always a nice lycan to have around. Though she chose to remain a lone wolf, she still valued Kain and his pack as close friends. It was Kain that introduced her to Gabriel and his gym.
When Damien and Rob left for laser tag, Kain sent his adopted son in to fill for the last slot on the team. Clint worked at the same bowling alley as his father but was off that day so he went in with them to keep an eye on them.
"Thanks, Kain."
"No problem. Are the vamps aware of him, yet?"
"Not to my knowledge but you know Demetrius as well as I do. He doesn't stay blind for long. Has humans even working for him that want to get into his good graces enough to be turned. I've been informed that some of them even serve as bleeders for them now. Makes me sick to think about." Demetrius had continued his crusade against the remaining lycans, forcing them to either become human, forgetting how to change or driving the remaining packs to hide in order to survive. The situation grew more dire with the arrival of Rayes and his group whose sole purpose was hunting down the lycans and slaughtering them. "Thank you for being my eyes when I can't be around, Kain."
No problem. I'm still in your debt for getting as many of us out as you could after that last vamp attack. You know humans Jillian, they're afraid of their own mortality. They'll do anything to stall death and aging as long as they can."
Kain and Jill had been raised together but when she left to go search for her lover, they fell out of contact. It was only when she was hunting and heard a howl of distress that she discovered that Kain had been cornered by the vampires, his alpha and beta had both been slaughtered so the pack broke apart, fleeing in a frenzy that got all but four of them killed. Kain, his adopted son, Clint and two others. Jill's arrival had saved them when the silver weapons the vamps used only stung but didn't kill her, allowing her to go on the offensive against the vampires and giving Kain and his pack time to escape. Kain had promised her that she would always have their loyalty and do whatever it took to repay her.
"It wasn't a problem, Kain. It was the least I could do for Pentacost for giving a mangy stray like me a home. We look out for our own since there are so few of us left." She looked over to see Damien and Rob heading back to Chelsea to pack up and leave. "It looks like they're done and leaving. I'll be on my way. They may have been dormant for a while but the vamps are still hunting us so keep your senses strong."
"We will. Good luck, Jill. May Luna always shine on your back and hear your song of praise."
"You as well, old friend. Tenebris watch over you and yours."
#
Jill took her usual spot in the tree that overlooked Damien's bedroom. He'd gone through his usual routine of taking his shower and pacing his room with his nose deep in what appeared to Jill to be a textbook. Maybe he had an exam the following day, Jill couldn't be sure. College was still a new thing to her. Everything he was learning, she'd seen most of it occur in history.
Damien always looked so adorable to her as he read, the expressions on his face changing depending on what he was reading, sometimes actually talking to the book as though the characters or words could respond.
As the hours went by, Jill found herself getting more anxious. At this rate, she wouldn't be able to be by his side for long. "Go to sleep, baby." Her gaze locked on him, her eyes softly glowing.
Damien sat on his bed, dropping the book to the floor. His hands going to his head and rubbing it against the sudden headache that hit him like a sledgehammer.
Jill hated that Damien had to suffer but his resistance to her was what had been causing him so much pain. "Stop resisting. Go to sleep." She'd made sure to speak to him as he slept, knowing it would give her a way into his mind that would allow her to use this type of hypnotic suggestion. Only the oldest and the strongest lycans were able to use the ability. Jill had only learned it after the last time she'd met Lucius' soul, not even aware that lycans were able to use it in the first place.
Eventually Damien succumbed to her voice in his mind, laying down on his back hoping to get some relief against the pressure in his head.
Jill only had to wait a few minutes before she could hear the soft breathing of sleep. She dropped onto the ledge, opening the window, slipping inside to take up her nightly place at his side. Lying down next to him, Jill carefully fit her body into the curves of his, feeling that he was tense with stress.
"I'm so sorry you have to suffer like this, baby. It won't hurt like this much longer. I promise. Soon I will take your pain and replace it with pleasure." She knew if she could keep enticing his body to respond to her, he would come to her. The pain of having to stay away from him was almost overwhelming but being patient was the only way to make him hers. As the dawn birds started singing, Jill did something she usually didn't, she planted a soft kiss on his lips before she was forced to leave him, the pain in her own heart making her sick to her stomach.
#
After his usual bout with his morning headaches, Damien jumped out of bed excited before the sun was even up. It was the day he and Rob were going hiking and pier fishing. He stopped briefly as a soft twinge had him touching his lips, a sense of sadness filling his heart. He shook the feeling off quickly. There was no way he was letting the morning creeps make him miss the weekend he'd waited for to get a break from the constant discomfort of his mornings.
Moving more quickly than he usually would being a night owl, he packed up his camera, some extra changes of clothes, film and his notebook into his backpack before heading downstairs where Rob sat joking around with his dad.
"Morning, D! I was fixing to come toss the mattress over to get your lazy ass outta the bed!" Damien thumped the back of his head in a playful manner, making Rob flinch against the firmness.
"Hey, sun's not up yet, I hadn't broken the rules. Now come on, we're taking my truck so we can pack up the poles and coolers."
Damien loaded the cooler with sodas, bottles of water and because they were guys, a few beers. He didn't usually drink too much but he knew that Rob could almost out drink a sailor in a drinking contest.
Rob jumped into the passenger's side, Damien in the driver's side and they headed out to Old Bill's smokehouse. By the time they arrived, the old man had already opened up the main part of the store.
"Well hey guys! Hadn't seen you in ages. How you been Damien? I heard bout your mom. Sad to lose such an amazing woman, she will be missed." William Hutchinson or Old Bill as he was known to the town rung up the packages of jerky, bait and sodas that Rob and Damien put in front of him as he spoke.
"I've been okay, Bill. Took some time to get to a level of coping but I'm finally starting to get a sense of control. Going back to school finally to finish my bio-chem degree." Since his accident, Damien had long wondered how he was able to survive being hit so hard without anything but a few scratches so he delved into biochemistry with a specialty in life sciences. "Start my internship up this fall."
"That's great! You were always studyin' somethin'. Never saw you without a book in front of your face. Glad your old man instilled in ya that brains are better than brawn." Old Bill let out a raspy bellowing laugh at his own joke.
Rob took the bag and grabbed Damien. "I'd love to let you two ladies chatter the day away but I've got fish to catch and hiking to do."
Damien waved to Bill and headed out to the site they chose to hike and fish for the day. It had been their favorite spot since they were younger kids and their dads would sit around and drink while their moms had coffee and talked.
#
The woods always made Damien feel calmer. He loved to be outside, the freedom and openness relieving him of the stresses he was constantly under. He also didn't have any headaches or burning in his body which put him in an even better mood.
He was so deeply enthralled with the woods around him, getting his camera set up to start taking photos that he didn't even notice the large wolf that had made its presence known in the trees. He about jumped out of his skin when he saw it, his fight or flight senses kicking in until he looked deep into its eyes. The fear inside of him melting away the longer their eyes met. The icy green orbs held a sense of familiarity to him. What surprised him the most was that it didn't really seem to want to hurt him, only staring at him as though it were just watching.
"Um, well, doesn't seem like you want to eat me so, mind if I take a picture?" He had no idea why he was talking to the wolf as though it could understand him but it was so beautiful he wanted to try to catch a picture of it. It's fur as black as night, not wiry at all like a normal wolf with a blue sheen like a raven's feathers when hit with the splotches of sunlight that were able to peek through the leaves.
Slowly the wolf walked down the steep ledge towards him, stopping short in front of him, soft whimpers escaping its throat as it sat down as if it were posing for him.
What is the deal with this thing? It's huge. I've never seen a wolf this big. Damien had just set up to take a photo when Rob called to him. When he turned back around the wolf had vanished.
"Damn. It was so gorgeous too." The sudden appearance of Rob's arm around his neck brought about a slight jump. "Shit Rob! You scared the tar out of me!"
"Sorry dude. What're you doin' anyway?"
"Well I had a good photo opportunity of something I probably won't ever get to see again until you came along, you big moron." Damien shoved him off of him, mad as hell that he'd missed the greatest photo of his career.
Rob chuckled. "Was it bigfoot?"
Damien rolled his eyes. Always with the cryptos. "No, it was a wolf. One of the largest I've ever seen with the most beautiful fur as black as onyx and piercing icy green eyes, if you must know. It would have been perfect for my portfolio." He punched Rob's arm making him wince in pain.
"Sorry man. Sounds like a tall tale to me but hey let's go fishing. Maybe the heat from the hike got to your head. Geesh man, first it's women, now it's large wolves. Maybe you should drop the photography thing and go for being an author with all these daydreams you've been having." Damien sighed in frustration. He knew what he saw wasn't a hallucination or a delusional fever dream. There was something familiar about that wolf. It was almost like he knew it. Like he'd seen it before.
The catch they hauled in hadn't been that bad for the warmer weather. A few catfish, some sand bass and even a black bass all the right size for cooking were loaded into the spare cooler Rob brought with him.
"Man, that was fun. We need to do this again. You can have some of the fish if you like, D. My old man doesn't know how to prep them properly. Hey, I know! Old Bill does some killer smoked fish so maybe we should take them to him, huh?"
"Yeah." Damien was still upset about losing the photoof a lifetime and being told he was once again crazy enough to dream somethingup like large wolves that posed for him. A sharp howl through the waning lightof day reminded him that thankfully, this time he wasn't dreaming.