Wolf Sirens: Forbidden: Discover The Legend (22 page)

Full moons were always pack nights. It was inevitable
the moon in its full state would win one night of the
three it shone to transform them. So it was better
to plan for it and welcome it when it came, taking
away their human will not to phase, more powerfully
than a sudden burst of anger. They could not control
it then but all other times, to an extent, when not
taken by severe anger or grief they could phase and
un-phase at will.

I didn’t yet understand the ghost within me felt
the same and that there was a reason we were pulled
together by some force beyond my own comprehension, this pack of werewolves and me. There was a
part of my mind as unconscious as a dream which
stirred in their presence. Sky held the key to the hidden door, he had a talent he had not yet realized: he
could smell a threat out and subdue it, but he was
still young for an immortal and did not realize his
powerful skill, his gift - though he had used it more
than once to his pack’s advantage, inadvertently. All
animals have a sixth sense and Sam’s was the most
improved as she was the oldest, even when considering human life time, as well as wolf life, which was
never-ending.

I would have thought my powerful urge to
exercise would have waned in the wake of my involvement with Sky or ceased altogether. However
it almost grew. I arranged it around his visits and
school, but I was driven like never before and now
that there was no practice, I had plenty of spare time.
I put it down to wanting to keep up with my new life,
to be as good as I could in my human form so that
when, I hoped, he or they changed me, that I would
be ready or worthy.

My mother arrived home late while I was making dinner. She was tired from work, and exhaustion
was stale across her face as she automatically tried to
help me.

“Mum what are you doing? I’m fine here, I’ve got
it.” I stared at her with intensity as her dull eyes barely focused on mine. “Maybe you should take some of
my vitamins?” I injected a hint of humour that fell
flat.

exhaustion before, and I knew there was nothing anyone could do about it. Like my father before me I was
helpless to stop it. “Is the…sickness coming back?”
I had forgotten its name on purpose. “The chronic
fatigue?” I swallowed pretending to concentrate on
stirring the wok.

She breathed deeply.“No,” she protested defensively, as though I’d accused her of something worse.
“I’ve got a headache,” she spat, reaching for the medicine cupboard. “I’m going to lie down.”

“Is it bad?” I asked unnecessarily, as she had already left the room.
I made the dinner and took it up to her. I snuck
in some seeds. Hopefully she’d be a good sport and
eat them – or, better yet, not notice. Sophie was such
a fussy eater. Her headaches could be lasting. I knew
things wouldn’t change. This was how it had been
before we moved.
I tapped on the door to my mother’s room. “Are
you going to make it back in the morning. Do you
want me to call work?” I offered.
“No, I’ll call them,” she said from under her pillow. I placed the tray down on the bedside table and
left. We had never had the touchy feely sort of mother daughter relationship, and she liked it dark and
quiet when a migraine struck. I was simply returning in kind, whilst remembering the brief moments
she had showed some parental compassion, which
was direct. Most of her love was not. She showed it
by killing herself slowly, by not loving herself, so no
one else could either, like Sky said. I guess that’s why
my father had given up - when the person you love
doesn’t let you show it. She had withheld it so long it
had turned stale.
I thought to call him then, my dad; we had
spoken only twice in five months. I didn’t want to
acknowledge the existence of his girlfriend. So I had
avoided him. Not returned his calls. He made me feel
sick. He was as good as dead to me, anyway.
I knew he wouldn’t be capable of doing anything;
I felt frustration as I picked up the receiver and hung
it up again. What could he do? I didn’t want to be
faced with him but he wouldn’t come down anyway,
they weren’t at that place yet. The ink on the divorce
papers wasn’t yet dry and neither was my mother’s
pillow from the tears of hurt. What if he brought
the new girl friend, God forbid? Betrayal strangles
its victims.
I thought I heard her cry at night but I could
have imagined it.

The next day when I got home there was a message
on the phone table. Cresida called. I was alone and
mum was at work. It was Tuesday, which meant Sky
was with the pack.

“What?” I said out loud to the note. I wracked my
brain as to what she could possibly want. Nothing
concrete settled in my mind. Should I call her back?
All that time I’d wanted her attention and now when
I didn’t want a thing to do with her because I had
what I wanted, here she was, calling me! I ran my fingers through my hair; this was definitely a bad omen.

I scrunched up the note and threw it towards the
bin. It missed and bounced on the floor; I felt a surge
of anger then and I kicked at the air. After wandering
around a little, trying to think of something, anything
to do, I circled the carpet in the house, pacing.

I looked down at the note on the floor. I left
it there and ran upstairs. I threw off my shoes and
pulled out my jogging pants, jumper and put on my
new fitted sneakers. It was light out and Sky was
out hunting with some of the others. I told myself
on the way out that I would be back before curfew
time.

I jogged the usual route, but as I turned to go
back I no longer felt tired and I saw the way to
Sam’s cabin, Stones Road, which curved up and to
the right out of town and instead of turning as I
usually did, I followed it, not really thinking, just
feeling and as I continued it was as if possessed. It
would be hours until Sky appeared at my window.
I continued not wanting to go home and face my
mind, knowing I might get bored and call her out of
curiosity. I realized I was doomed anyway. If Cresida
wanted to find me she could - calling me was just
her way of being polite. Unlike Cresida’s aunt my
mother would have gladly let her in our front door,
even to wait for me. I wasn’t ready for the bubble to
burst and I knew it would inevitably, sooner or later.
Somewhere in my mind, I knew this was now the
catalyst. I worried that something had to crop up
that would break us up or kill one of us. Whatever it
was, it would bring this happy part of our relationship to an end. I thought about going to the cabin
and asking them all to change me. I envisioned Sam
ripping my head from my body, as a possibility, but
I didn’t care and on my legs beat, closer and closer
to the cabin, where I dared not go for months. I
ignored the sick feeling, the knot inside my gut,
which warned against the consequences of me arriving at the cabin.

Running further my legs automatically pounded
the asphalt, I kicked rocks smacked tree branches,
gave the finger to a few cars that tooted me, as I had
to run on the road because there was no path on this
outer town roadway. My lungs burned from the cold
late afternoon air. I gasped, but I didn’t stop, not to
catch my breath or turn. I did not break into walk
when I felt a stitch start to rise and eventually I saw
the gate in the distance. It was covered by trees. I
knew its unmistakable austere stone pillars and log
post fence anywhere. I told myself I would just stop
at the gate, but once I reached it I ran up the drive
flanked by agapanthus and only broke into a walk,
or more of a stride, when the house was only metres
away. My breathing was laboured; I collapsed down
onto my butt, against the outer wall, near the front
entrance steps, under the shade of a short gnarled
apple tree. My throat was dry and searing from the
cold air as I caught my breath and the sun started
to set.

Once I had steadied my breath, I stood leaning
over onto my knees and then full of coursing adrenaline, my wobbly legs jogged up to the door and I
knocked.

I was not invited, but something told me by now
they would know I was here, whether they heard me
out the front or smelt my scent. I was drenched in
sweat.

“Come in!” called out a male voice. I opened the
heavy door. I could make out Jackson down the end
of the hall at the back of the house standing side
on to me, casually holding a plate. The air smelt of
toast. He didn’t greet me but huffed and walked on.
I couldn’t tell but I thought his head shook in disapproval or disbelief that I was there.

I swallowed and walked down through the back
of the house to the main living area where I hadn’t
been since Reid had fought Sky the night Sam had
taken me away in the weeks after Lily was killed.
Although it had been only a few months it seemed a
lifetime ago

I shouldn’t have been surprised to see Sam on
the couch, sitting up casually in the lounge area. She
saw me, watched me before I noticed her sitting like
a luxuriating queen on the furthest couch, her hair
nearly as white as the leather.

I noticed something had changed and I remembered the matching sofa and recliners used to be
brown.

“Did you change the furniture?”
“We had to replace the set. Reid’s temper got a
bit out of control, following certain goings on.” She
gestured for me to sit beside her. I had the feeling I
was very much expected.
The room was cleared as if the members of the
pack in this space had been feathers and I the breeze.
As far as I could see everyone had dissolved away
out of vision, conveniently as the sunset, or they were
still out hunting. They had split into teams lately -
Sky in one and Sam in the other. I glanced out of
the large glass window and saw the last of Jackson’s
clothing fall to the ground as he swiftly slid over the
back fence, naked.
I shifted uncomfortably.
She breathed in then, almost sighing, her head
tilted slightly.
“We have been observing your transformation”.
I knew then that this creature was the real Sam, not
the reminiscent 1950s cheerleader act she put on for
school, to win trophies for her dead sister.“You have
shaken our little pack, since your arrival.” Her left
brow waved and arched. “I think you and Sky will be
a couple for keeps, don’t you?” She contemplated me
with her hand on her chin.
I had a feeling she wasn’t pleased by this.
“I’ve never seen him so taken by anyone…and
there have been a few.” She said it as if she expected
a rise out of me. But any animosity I held was overestimated, probably from being measured against her
own.
“I’m here because Cresida wants to contact me.
I don’t know why.” In fact I had no idea now what
compelled me here - and Sky was not here, I thought
growing anxious.
She smiled, almost.“Why do you think?”
I played innocent.“Because she’s worried about
me, maybe she’s had a vision?” Seeing her seemed the
lesser of two evils now. I stood alone with Sam eyeing
me like I was defenceless prey, and I felt I was.
“And why are you here?”
“I know I’m not welcome but-”
“Are you worried?” She obviously noted my
sweaty body as my pulse increased.
“About what?” I lied back.
“You want to become one of us? Don’t you?” Her
shimmering eyes beckoned me.
“Yes.” I answered confidently - of
that
I was sure.
“Tonight, Lila?” She was devoid of expression.
I didn’t try to conceal my surprise. I wanted
to scream ‘yes’ but I was clever enough to realize
something was up; perhaps she was going to kill me.
I felt like a lamb to the slaughter. Was this what happened to Cresida? I stood frozen to the spot.
Would Reid and Sky save me?
“Where is everybody?” I asked cautiously.
“I think, hunting,” her truculent eyes flared in
rapture during the uncomfortable silence.
“Why, so you can eat me,” I barked bravely.
She laughed then, seething. “Lila, it’s in my best
interests to change you. Now that you’re here it’s the
perfect opportunity. Sky would only interfere – it’s
what you want?”
“I’d rather he know,”I said,shifting uncomfortably.
“He’d only try to stop me.” She slid from the
leather couch and approached.
“Where is he?” I looked around feebly for signs
of him.
“Hunting -the others are keeping him busy.” Her
voice was gentle and sharp.
“It sounds like that’s what you meant for them to
do,” I said aloud. I was not quite sure if I was making
sense. I began to feel light headed, which could have
been attributed to the run.
“Yes, they will keep him entertained elsewhere,
and I will entertain you. You want to be changed into
one of us, don’t you?”
I wondered if these were orders and not questions.
Be strong, I thought, but at the same time she was offering me what I ultimately wanted, no matter her
motive.
Though I knew there was no rush to become
one of them, I felt that if I left it too long, I would
change my mind or the opportunity would disappear.
I wanted to trap myself into it as much as she wanted
to tie me to it, which made her ruthless gift more
powerful to resist.
I was scared. Sky would be angry and despite my
courageous front I was frightened. What about my
mother?
I couldn’t conceive much beyond those thoughts.
My thinking became laboured. I was feeling the full
force of her persuasion. My head swirled jumbled
thoughts. I blinked as the world around me began
to warp, the way it does when you are about to faint.
She beckoned me closer, her pull was hard to
resist. I didn’t know if I had not been so willing to
change if it would have been easier to withstand. I
took one stiff step towards her, pausing midway. I
tried to think but no thoughts came. What was I
doing?
“You want to be one of us, like Sky, part of the
pack. I can help you.” Her robotic mannerisms were
turning sympathetic. Something she only had to employ when her power on its own was not enough.
She moved towards me easily, coming at me
smoothly from the side.
“Come here Lila, please,” she hissed, coolly. “I can
give you the venom you desire, everything you want,”
she urged. I was frozen in some sort of stupor when
glass sprayed across the living area with an almighty
crash. Sky in wolf form threw himself full spring
through the glass wall of the lounge. I was knocked
in a spray of glass to the floor and the sound of vicious growling ensued. I felt helpless, powerless as
I was thrown to the carpet like a rag doll. I crawled
up onto my elbows and struggled away behind the
couch. I squeezed my eyes closed. Glass was stuck in
my skin, and someone grabbed my arm. I looked up
and the hard face that met mine and dragged me up
was Cresida. I could still hear growling and yelping
and another smash of glass as she dragged me from
the room into a bedroom off the hallway, opening the
door with her foot. She dragged me up again, shoved
me inside and slammed the door closed behind her.
Outside there was a vicious fight; the only thing
stopping Cresida from taking out the entire pack was
her truce with Sky and Reid. She was only gone a
moment before I grappled with the door and burst
back out into the hallway, to witness the unfolding
sight. I was scared Cres would shoot. I was evidently
attempting to put myself back in danger and tonight
I was crazy.
“Sky!” I called.
Another crashing of glass and more growling
sounded. I made it out of the hall in time to see them
tossing each other by their teeth and tumbling down
across the lawn. Cresida still human, ran down after
them, rifle in hand but not yet pointed. The other
pack members sprang over the fence and bounded
towards the fight, coming at them twice to separate
them, teeth and claws flared. It seemed like a huddle,
and then I heard yelping. Suddenly the continual
snarling ceased, replaced by panting. They backed
away from where Sam lay thrashing in anger or pain,
so badly wounded she could not will her legs to move
her. My approach set off the sensor light and they
all looked at me and resumed their grim trains of
thought, ignoring my presence in that moment.
Cresida pointed her gun at Sam’s head, as she lay
badly damaged on the ground yelping and trying to
pull herself up by her front legs as her hind paws
dragged. Sky’s compassion kept him from finishing her off. He had backed off twice but with every
ounce left in her she came back at him until she lay
defeated on the grass. Blood-soaked fur was matted
to her body. Sky spoke then. Through heaving breath
he morphed, coughing and shuddering in pain.
“Sam get out of here, I won’t be able to stop
Cresida.” Then almost breathless and writhing in
pain, he stopped to spit out blood. “And I might just
finish you myself.” He heaved, yelling at the ground.
“You’re overthrown, Samantha – leave! Take whoever
will go!” He coughed, writhing in discomfort.
Jackson continued breathing heavily from adrenaline as he morphed into human form.“You get out
of town, out of the country.” He shook with intensity - even his voice seemed to shudder. “I’m sorry I
helped you,” he growled. I had never seen him talk
like that.
Sky collapsed then. Sam lay awake but motionless in her canine form. One of her legs was obviously
broken. Even from my distant stance she looked
shattered. Cresida stayed with the long black hunting rifle pointed at Sam’s head. Blood smeared on her
thick white fur shone like wet paint. Cresida mumbled something too low for me to hear. I stepped
closer and stopped as Reid looked at Bianca. He
nodded towards Sam’s shuddering, convulsing body,
which morphed back and forth in disfigurement as
he spoke.
“Take…Get her out of here,” he advised, gravely.
Cresida retreated with a stride. Face towards
them.
Bianca cowered in to touch the crippled animal
that contained her friend, morphing at her side into
a crouching human.
“Take care, she can’t move,” he cautioned in a
hard tone.
Bianca shot him a look as she leant over her
friend’s injured body. Sam’s fur quivered and I didn’t
think it was the late afternoon breeze blowing. She
convulsed, her body jerked and she whined.
But empathy was dry.
“I’ll get the truck, you can put her on the back
and go then,” Reid warned.
Sam’s eyes closed. I couldn’t be sure but I thought
she had passed out, in too much horrific pain to even
yelp.
“This is it, she’s not in charge here anymore.”
Reid raised his voice. “Do you hear me, Sam? Don’t
turn up, don’t pull your shit on us, and stay away.” His
voice cracked.
I couldn’t be sure if she heard his harsh words.
Her stained canine form, eyes closed, was unceremoniously tossed like road kill into the back of
the blue pickup. Sky mumbled something to Bianca,
Jackson pulled a tarpaulin, over her limp body. Bianca
jumped in the front driver’s seat and Jackson tossed
her something through the window - a purse I think.
The pickup sped away. Cresida’s squinted watching eyes followed it, her gun firmly gripped across her
body. They noticed me then, in the wake, standing
in the glass and blood which splattered the paving
and carpet behind. Sky’s pallor had greyed but he reacted first. Cresida was at my side I looked at my arm
which dripped a few small rivers of blood.
“Did I do all this?” I heard myself say, as I looked
at the small crimson circles on the grey slate. “I mean,
is this because of me?” Cresida grabbed my bloodied
wrist. I suddenly felt the burn of the open wounds,
the sting of my fingers, nicked in places from pieces
of glass.
“It’s okay,” she said coaxing me cautiously. “Come
on, let’s go down to the basement and wash this blood
off, okay?” I noticed she held me at a firm distance,
as she guided me back inside and down the stairs to
the basement – but not before I saw through the jagged glass that remained in the window frame Sky
collapse into Reid’s arms. I heard him cry out. The
inhuman yell carried down the basement stairs. We
both jumped when we heard his pain.
Cres adeptly flicked the light switch with her
elbow and overhead fluorescents flickered. The basement of the cabin was a makeshift hospital. Cresida
lifted me onto the counter like a child with a scrapped
knee. She turned the faucet on heavily and let it run
then turned her attention to the overhead cupboards,
rapidly opening, closing and slamming each door
until she pulled out a medical supply box and flung
open the lid. She flicked through the contents - bandages and dressings - letting them fall everywhere
until she found what she searched for. She dunked
my arms under the stream of water and began washing the closest one, pulling tiny shards from my other
arm with her stubbed fingers.
“No gloves?” I asked still in shock, as the sensation of the burning icy water ran down my arm.
She looked annoyed.“Do you want me to get it
out, or not?” She picked the shards out under the
lamplight and tossed them in the sink. She wrinkled
her nose.
“Does it smell bad?”
“No – good.That’s the problem with being a wolf.
I’m not well fed.” I realized it smelt good enough to
eat. She craved the flesh she tended. Jackson and
Reid carried Sky carefully down the stairs somehow
rushing whilst remaining steady.
Reid dragged Sky across the other side of the
room, to an old couch. Cresida grabbed a tube in
plastic off the counter. “Reid!” she called. “Here,” she
urged, placing it in his palm, and he pulled the plastic
off the needle with his teeth and injected Sky with
morphine promptly.
“Is it dislocated?” he asked Sky, hastily.
He was taking control but he was panicking and
Jackson stood close, looking on with his arms by his
sides. Cresida left me then to assist.
I heard a crack. “Is it back in?”
Sky’s muffled, gargled screams rattled the room.
“Now it is,” she said.
I wanted to go to him but I didn’t. From my position on the bench by the sink I knew I would have
only been in the way. They both fussed over him, arguing about what to do, pushing each other around
him.
“I’m fine,” Sky yelled through gritted teeth.
“Cresida, get Lila.”
Cres looked over her shoulder at me.
“She’s fine - you can’t wait. If we don’t get them
right it’ll be worse later.”
I attempted to move off the bench. Cresida struck
a finger at me. “Don’t move,” she warned. I stopped
and dropped my arms.
He moaned and then scoffed. “That bitch gave
me a run for my money.” Cresida and Reid looked at
each other.
“The morphine’s set in,” Reid said. “Jackson, go
and clean up the mess out there!” he ordered. Jackson
leapt to it, obviously glad of something useful to do.
I thought about Giny then. I wondered what
would happen to her. Would Sam come back for her
or abandon her?
“Where’s Giny?” I shivered and my teeth started
to chatter. I told myself Sky would be okay.
A blanket was thrown at me then. Werewolves
had the gentle touch.
Reid and Cresida took turns pulling splinters
from my arm. He rubbed me gently as I shivered out
of control, like it was an obligation. I knew it hurt
him to touch me, I had stepped on his heart. Now I’d
broken up the pack, all the stress seemed to vibrate
out of me. I could make out Sky across the room,
trembling behind Cresida. He seemed feverish. He
looked ashen and he trembled violently despite the
morphine.
Reid and Cresida looked in his direction as they
faced me and then looked at each other concerned,
wide eyed.