Burned at the Cross

Burned at the Cross ~ Ch. 7

        {[Alyssa]}

        What have you done? Eamon's voice rang through my head.

        I stared down at the two men who had attempted to harm the Overlord and the Prince. I felt no pity as I stripped their magic from them. They were planning something; and I planned on finding out why they had interfered with the Ceremony... as soon as they woke up.

        The two former Mages were unconcious as Loui looked down on them, waiting to see if they would move -not that they could, under the gigantic daschund.

        I glanced at Aiden who was still in his lion form, seeking for his commands.

        Let them go. he said.

        Narrowing my eyes, I stared at the two captives for a minute, silently seething.

        Alyssa, Aiden said with more force. Let them go. You've already punished them, we have no need for them anymore.

        "But they were after you for a reason. There could be more coming." I said.

        Are you arguing with me?

        The thought wasn't a threat, just a question. A question that sent chills down my spine.

        "Fine." I growled. "Loui! Up!"

        Loui got off of the two strangers and sat down, staring at me, waiting for my next command.

        I turned around, snatched my cloak, and started walking back towards the town. "Let's go before more people show up."

        I felt the air shimmer around Aiden that notified that he'd Shifted back to human -silver hair and all. We both looked back at Eamon who was staring at us in confusion -and hunger. Aiden and I looked at each other.

        He never went hunting.

        When a Shifter Shifts for the first time, they're always overwhelmed by a hunger that only a savage beast could understand, but it basically consisted of hunting the prey. And in our human forms, we looked like the best snack in the clearing.

        {[Eamon]}

        I stared at my Father and Alyssa with a primal instinct in my belly that confused me. They both looked sharpened in my new sight where everything else seemed red, where it wasn't lik that before. They looked at me with a mix of fear, caution, and determination.

        Father said something that I didn't understand, something that I didn't want to understand as he walked towards me, slowly.

        Alyssa tried to restrain him but he kept on walking towards me.

        Playing his game, I circled them both. I licked my chaps in anticipation, almost tasting their blood, feeling their flesh sliding down into my stomach.

        The me that still thought to be human, reared up, disgusted at the thought. I shoved the human me towards the back of my animal mind, only thinking about the hunt.

        Finally, I couldn't wait anymore. My muscles bunched up, then sprung towards Father who looked at me in shock. But before I could even reach him, a force slammed into me, launching me and someone in a different direction. I spun on the one who had tried to interfere, and found that it was Alyssa, looking at me wearily.

        I lunged at her, only to land on empty ground. Alyssa dodged to the left, missing me by a hair, not expecting my direct speed. I went at her again and this time, she didn't have the time to put up a spell or get out of the way.

        Fear shone in her gray eyes, and when I went down on her, her black hair went everywhere. Then I sunk my sharp teeth into her arm.

        Red, hot blood gushed into my mouth and I shied away from the taste and then, just when I was about to rip her flesh, a voice boomed in my head.

        EAMON PRICE!!!! YOU STOP THIS AT ONCE!

        {[Alyssa]}

        Pain pierced my arm, or more acurately, teeth pierced my arm. I gritted my teeth against the scream that threatened to rip from my throat. Instead, a single hiss seemed to seep through. Then, Eamon suddenly let go of me and jolted upright.

        The moon seemed to shine directly on Aiden Price, the Overlord who stood only a couple feet away from us. He seemed to be communicating with Eamon.

        I took advantage of Eamon's distractions and rolled away, wincing at the sharp twang against my arm. Looking at it, teeth marks now lined my whole forearm, leaving blood and bruises. I was about to put a spell on it to heal but then remembered. Wounds inflicted by Shifters were to be healed by Shifters. I cursed silently.

        Glancing over at the two, I saw that Eamon had managed to Shift back to his human form easily. My blood dripped down his chin and his green eyes were still ablaze, still focused on the hunt.

        "Eamon, listen to me." Aiden said, quietly.

        Eamon snarled at him, not caring about what he said.

        "Go get him some kill. I'll watch over him." I managed to say.

        Aiden looked over at me then back at the crouched leopard in human form. I was clutching my arm, trying to stop the blood flow.

        "I can't leave you here with him." he said.

        "You know that I can't hunt."

        He still looked uneasy but nodded reluctantly and left.

        Once gone, I shifted, still in my Warrior's garb, and faced Eamon who was staring at me intently.

        {[Eamon]}

        Once I was back in my human form, I slowly registered what had happened. Alyssa's blood stained my lips and I licked them, trying to get the metallic taste to disappear. I felt revolted by my previous actions but that still didn't quelch the hunger that still blazed within me.

        This time, I shoved my animal instincts away, and stood up from my crouched position. Alyssa stood by a pine tree and was clutching her arm, watching me. The dog that she had called Loui was by her side, glowering at me, knowing that I had caused the wound. She must have commanded it to stay because I had the feeling that it wanted to tear me limb from limb for hurting his master.

        Silence passed as we just stared at each other at mutual distance. Neither one of us decided to speak which was fine with me.

        By the time that Father had come back with some fresh carcass, my mouth was watering. We both dug in, forgetting the witch that watched us gorge ourselves. The knawing in my stomach dissapated as I ate, letting the flesh of another animal settle it.

        My animal side had finally calmed down and seemed to go to sleep, leaving me with nothing but human thoughts.

        "Look," I said to Alyssa, about to apologize.

        She held up a hand. "Don't worry about it. We have other issues to deal with right now." She pointed towards the two people who had tried to kill us all earlier.

        The two were starting to stir. 

        Who would want to harm us? I thought.

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Sorry that it's a little boring, but I had to get something in after Eamon's Ceremony and of course, a leopard has to eat right? Try not to worry about Alyssa too much. She'll get better... I think... who know, maybe I'll add a little twist to that ;)