Alpha Vaughan

Chapter 25

I rapped off yet another row of knocks on the towering oak doors, and still no one answered. The neighbourhood was stiffly quiet and my knocks were the only sounds that could be heard in a distance, asides the dogs barking.

The barking of the dogs gradually grew louder, and very soon a tall, lanky boy holding the leashes of two German shepherds became visible. When he spotted me standing by the door, his pale face contorted into fury.

He barked in a heavily accented voice, "Why the f*ck is there a bloody werewolf standing in front of my bloody door?!" The dogs started to growl viciously.

Wasn't this just the warmest welcome I've ever received.

My hands automatically went up into the air. "I'm not here to attack you! I'm here to f--"

He brought out a gun from his low slung jeans. "Go! Go back to your bleeding slum, you bloody dog!"

Okay, now I was getting pissed. "Dog? Really? Someone would think you were the dog, what with the way you've been freaking barking."

The clicking sound of his gun cocking filled the space between us.

"Hey!" I pleaded. "If you'd just listen to m--"

"I said get the f*ck--"

"Frederick!" a male voice called. A tall man with a shock of white hair approached the lanky boy, and snatched the gun out of his hand. He subjected the boy to a feral smile, saying, "That's no way to treat our customers." He patted the boy's multicolored hair.

The man turned to face me. His fit and muscular body belied his old,  wizened blue eyes, eyes that had seen generations form and pass. I was guessing this was Dmitri, the seven-centuries old rogue vampire. I made to state my business, but was cut short by more vampires joining up with Dmitri and Frederick.

Five more men and two women walked up the driveway and came to stand beside the rogue vampire. A dark girl with long purple hair cocked her head at me, drawling, "Why's there a human at ou--wait." She sniffed the air. "Not human... Werewolf. What's a f*cking dog doing at our doorstep?"

Despite the nerves spiking up my heartbeat, I rolled my eyes.

A short Latino vampire traced to stand before me, baring her fangs in my face. "Would you look at that, the perro's got an attitude."

Wincing, I shrunk away. "And you've got a bad breath."

A moment of stiff silence passed. Her eyes suddenly flashed red and she raised her claws--

"Isabella!" Dmitri called. "Come to me."

I watched, surprised, as Isabella stiffened and, as if controlled, mechanically walked over to where Dmitri stood. He clucked his tongue at her, murmuring in disapproval, "Your temper will be the death of you, my child."

Dmitri faced me, appearing apologetic. "I apologize for the discomfort caused to you by my children, please do excuse their brash actions." Then he asked, I assume you're from Beastclaw?"

His children? He looked like he was just a couple years older than them. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I replied, "Yeah... Yeah, I am. And I'm here to enquire about my bes--I mean, a girl that'd been taken from the Stillmoon pack." There was no need to give out personal info. if I could avoid it.

He looked at me closely for a while, then as if realizing himself, he said, "Where are my manners? Please come in, come in." He traced to the door and pushed it wide open, ushering me in.

The white and black checkered tiles extended to a grand staircase covered with red rugs. Glowing candles, warm coloured drapes, and brown and burgundy furniture were scattered around, giving the wide living room a homely feel. I mean, it would've looked homely if the pictures on the walls were taken down. They were dark and gory; one featured a scene where a wooden stake protruded out of a bloodied chest.