Queen Rouge

Chapter 2

Dawn came around way too fast. But that's just the way things are. If want something time will pass at snail pace until you get it but when don't want something... Time couldn't fly by any faster. So here I am standing atop a crumbling stone wall watching as the first rays of sunshine peak over the edge of the mountains. Everything silent, unmoving, like the world has just come to a standstill to watch the beautiful sunrise. The creatures of the night having already slipped inside their dens, already fast asleep, hiding from the light. And creatures of the day haven't yet awoken, their dreams slowly coming to an end, their consciousnesses on the brink of waking, but not quite. The sunrise being both yet neither world. The Inbetween.

Then the awakening of the world begins. The beginning of a new day. The birds slowly start to chirp. More and more jumping into the fray. Flapping their little wings before leaping off from where they're perched up in the trees. The breeze gently rustling through the leaves. Pushing away the fog that clings to the chilly morning air, revealing the glistening dew drops decorating the early morning world. A world so much different from the world it will be. From the world where the dew drops have dried up. Where the fog is gone not leaving a single trace. Where the sun has fully risen. Where reality comes crashing down onto you. Where perfection doesn't exist. But for now I'll enjoy this little bit of perfectness. This tiny bit of peace. Where the problems of the world float away, pushed from the mind. Because here those trivial things don't matter. Because everything is perfect, albeit momentarily but still perfect.

"Enjoying the view?" A gruff voice rings through the air, chasing away the peace, scaring of the perfection, destroying my reprieve, my escape. Tearing it to shreds. "I didn't pick you as the type."

"I like the dawn." I reply, still staring out at the freshly woken world. "It's peaceful. Calm. Gentle and quiet. And for lack of s better word, perfect. It represents everything that I stand for, yet also everything I oppose. The end of night, the start of day. It's both dark and light, yet also neither."

"Well. That's an interesting way to look at it. I've never thought of it like that before. In fact most of us here wouldn't think of it like that."

"True. To you it's just a time of day. A point on a clock. But it's so much more than that. It's the bearer of misfortunes. The reminder of truth. It's the turning point. A split decision, to stay or leave. It's where you draw your line in the dirt. It's where you make your stand. To do or die. To run or hide. To love, or to.. Or to.. Oh, what does it matter." I say, turning and jumping down from my position. Landing effortlessly next to my early morning companion.

It's Crusher. Well that's not his real name just the nickname he's been given. Because he has a tendency to leave his victims with crushed bones. He looking at me. As though I'm crazy or something. Not being able to find it within him self to understand or believe that the words he just heard were words said by me.

"There's a whole another side to you isn't there Demina? You're not as heartless as you'd have us believe." He says, de-coding my previous words.

"The same goes to you, old man." I reply, walking away from him. "You not so heartless yourself. Perhaps even more so."

He turns to face me. Confusion written all over his face. "What do you mean 'perhaps even more so'?" He asks following me.

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

"It's not nothing. You of all people Demina don't say things for no reason. You always have a reason. Some hidden meaning behind every word."

"The dark is there for a reason. Its in us all. We're rouges for a reason. Both reasons are all the same. But the question is, what is the reason? Is it worthy? Was it the only choice? What was it that tipped you over the edge, into the darkness?"

"So?"

"So... everyone has different reasons, right."

Right, and?"

"And some people have reasons that are better than others."

"What exactly are you saying, Demina?"

"I'm saying, that your reasons are more reasonable than mine. Less dark. Lighter at heart. Better."

"How on earth would you know that? You know nothing about me and my reasons?" He growls out, my statement angering him. His claws coming out.

"Oh really. So your mate didn't die right before your eyes??" I snap at him, my eyes flashing with anger. My claws and teeth lengthening, responding to his threat.

Hurt flashed across his face at my words. They stung. I knew I probably shouldn't have, but I couldn't help it. He stumbled back. My harsh words shocking him to his bones. His eyes watered. But he refused to let the tears of pain drop. His eyes glazing over, he's remembering that moment. The moment she died. The wound of losing her still fresh in his heart.

"How... How do you know that?" He asks me, his voice thick with pain.

"You used to be one of the AlphaKing's warriors." I simply state. "I've heard a lot about you actually. Andrew Johnson. Your wife Laila, she was in child when she died. Twins. You lost them all that day. You had no reason to live, yet you did. Most wolves don't survive the passing of their mate but you did. You held onto the face of her killer. To the vow you made. You held onto the promise of the revenge that one day you'd get. Unable to get the revenge which you seek while still a member of the pack you asked the AlphaKing if he'd let you leave, turn rouge. You said that if he'd had a mate he'd understand. And he agreed. He let you go. Even though he didn't want to. His last words to you were 'I know your pain. I too have lost a mate. But unlike you I have the promise that I might get her back again. So go, get your revenge, then come back. You will always be welcome here.' His words shocked you, you had no idea he had a mate. But you didn't question it. You just said thank-you then left, on a quest for revenge."

His face was one of pure shock. He had no idea I knew so many details of his life. The exact words that were said. I'll never forget those words. They're burned into my memory. For I was there. I heard them with my own two ears. Neither man aware of my presence.

"There is no way you know that. You can't know that." He whispers. His eyes sharpening, their steely gaze attempting to break me.

"I know a lot of things I probably shouldn't." I simply say before I disappear into the shadows. Hoisting myself up into the branches of a tree waiting for the others to arrive. They are officially late. The sun has risen. Dawn is over.