Warriors

Eleven~ Change Of Plans

Pax had fallen asleep on the kitchen island some time after midnight, no one was really keeping track of the time at that point. Lilith had gone on to tell Tristan all that she had heard from the Solar camp and her worry for Lenora.

The sun had risen already, it was just a matter of time before the Solar's would arrive. Tristan was growing anxious by the second, he'd checked on Kyler at least ten times to make sure he was still alive. Every time he went up, Kyler's breathing was more haggard, he was almost out of time.

A breeze through the open window carried all throughout the kitchen, chilling Pax to the core, waking him almost instantly. They were here. They all felt the presence outside, hoping it wasn't too late.

Lilith ducked behind a wall, scared to be seen, Tristan leapt up from the couch, reaching for the door before Pax could get up to stop him. It swung open to reveal the three faces they had seen just yesterday.

''Are you ready to hand over the Wolf?'' Shade was growing impatient, the more days that passed, the closer the prophecy was to come true.

Tristan looked at Pax, he returned the gaze, there was no other option. He was doing this for Kyler.

They were all so absorbed in the predicament, no one had heard Kyler run down the stairs, he sprinted outside before anyone could react.

''You can't have him. I won't let you.'' It took all of his strength to stay on his feet, but he'd never let anyone see that. Tristan and Pax couldn't do anything but stare, eyes wide.

''Well isn't this brave, true love to the rescue. Let's see how your Wolfy responds to this, shall we.'' Shade had a gloating grin that looked like he'd already won, maybe he had. With a snap of his fingers, Lenora had sped forward, holding Kyler's head to the side, forcing him on to his knees. He yelped in pain as she bared her fangs.

''WAIT!'' Tristan had screamed. Kyler was pleading with his gaze, to let him do this, to save his beast. ''Lenora, if you do this... I will never forgive you.'' It took everything he had to say but he knew he meant it. Lenora knew too, he had never been one for bluffing.

Lenora stood with a pained look in her eyes, that only Tristan saw, before she glanced down at the human, ready to commit. Looking up, she held eye contact with Tristan as she bit down into Kyler's neck.

Kyler screamed, a high pitched shriek, as a tear escaped slowly making its way down his cheek. Tristan fell to his knees, unsure how they went so wrong. A fury lit in Pax as he tried to run but Willow held him back, knowing that if he went out there, the Solar's would take him.

Willow watched, wishing she had arrived just a few minutes earlier, to have any time to stop this. She could see the pain plastered on, not just Pax's face, but also Tristan's.

''This is war.'' The shorter of the boys had spoken, as they turned and sped off. Lenora turned one last time, knowing what she was leaving behind and went anyway.

Willow let go of Pax, who ran out to hold Ky, helping him to his feet, guiding him to the porch. They stumbled a bit as they reached the door, where they felt a barrier.

Tristan had managed to get back on his feet as he cleared the door way, ''You need to invite him in.'' He called over bluntly.

''What? No I don't, he's always welcome here.'' Pax felt insulted, not realising what Tristan was saying.

''No, he's a Vampire now, he needs to be invited in, that's how it works.'' Tristan sauntered over, feeling exasperated with Pax's ability to comprehend quickly. ''Come on Ky.'' Reaching his hand through the doorway, Kyler took it and slipped past the invisible force holding him back mere seconds ago.

Letting Kyler's hand drop, Tristan sped up the stairs, anxious to get away from everything that just happened, unnerved by the new possibilities of the future.

Pax let Ky gently down onto the couch, where he gasped, still feeling the after effects of the burn leaving his system.

Curious to why Tristan had taken such a downer, Pax followed him, wondering what else he was missing with Ky's new found Vampirism.

Tristan was leaning all his weight on the bannister atop the stairs, feeling he might not get back up if he sat down. Rounding the corner, Pax was unsettled by Tristan's appearance.

''What's biting your neck?'' It was a joke the Werewolves used when something was bothering you, Tristan found it less than amusing.

''That's not funny. This is really serious.'' Tristan grunted, dropping his head into his hands, not sure how to go on. Pax could tell he still wasn't understanding and he didn't like where this was going.

''Lenora was my sister,'' Pax was startled when Tristan started explaining, ''She used to be as sweet as anything, sweeter even. It wasn't until our dad started waning for more power than we had, I guess that's just the Solar way.'' A tear escaped, Pax would've sworn before today that Vampires couldn't cry. ''It was his fault they died, he destroyed my family and now Lenora's doing it all over again. I never would've thought she was capable of such evil.''

Pax turned away, glancing at his quaint hallway filled with his mothers knick knacks and his fathers paintings. Returning his gaze, he knew he had to ask.

''I'm sorry about your family, I really am, but what does that have to do with Kyler?'' Pax kept his voice light, gentle, he wanted answers not to pour salt in the wound.

Tristan glared right into Pax's eyes, straight through to his soul. ''Kyler's a Solar. That means he's gonna become one of them, an evil, unthinking, bloodthirsty maniac.'' His eyes glazed over and his head slowly dropped, ''And there's nothing I can do about it.''

Pax's eyes were wide, confused. ''How do you know he's gonna be a Solar, isn't there like a waiting period to find out or something? You can't just know-'' Tristan cut him off, sensing the anger, knowing it was pointless.

''He was bitten in the sunlight.'' An exhausted sigh escaped as he went on, ''It's not as complicated as you think, you're bitten in the moonlight or the sunlight and THAT'S the kind of Vampire you are. My sisters are twins, born hours apart, one by moonlight, the other by sunlight. It was the cusp of sunrise that made all the difference for Lenora.''

Pax stood, frozen, really wishing he had, at least, a basic concept for how the species worked. His eyes, too, dropped, feeling as helpless as Tristan. There was nothing to be done.

Downstairs, Lilith had been watching out the window, making sure they wouldn't come back, Willow paced the kitchen, still scolding herself for those mere moments. None of them had noticed Kyler approach the bottom of the stairs, his new Vampire hearing had let him know exactly how Tristan felt about him. He'd let both of them down, his best friend and his boyfriend and now he was paying the price.

''I won't become evil. I promise that.'' It was a thought, but he couldn't control who heard his thoughts yet, forgetting about the Vampire telepathy, he had more pressing matters to worry about.

Tristan jolted up right as he heard Kyler's message, just a second too late as Kyler ran out the front door, into the tree line.