Converted

Chapter Six - Unexpected

Ethan instantly got up pulling me with him. He held me close shielding me with his body one arm wrapped around my shoulders. My hands rested on his chest. We said nothing. I just listened and looked for any sign of as to where the sound had come from. I strained my eyes listening for anything. Both of us were tense. I pulled away from Ethan shaking off his arms. He looked at me. His eyes held a mixture of anger, fear and ‘are you seriously crazy’. He moved to follow me I held up a hand stopping him in his tracks. “What are you doing?!” he hissed at me. I moved quickly my hand silencing his mouth in no time.

“I’m the least likely to be killed. I go first. Don’t try to be the big macho super hero type guy. It doesn’t work like that and you know it.” I said barely audible my mouth next to his ear. He wasn’t happy but he knew better than to argue with me. 

I moved quietly to the door easing it open. I could tell Ethan was following me but I didn’t bother to stop him. It would be easier to let him follow me but make sure I’m in front of him than try to make him stay away. We slipped out of the room closing the door behind us. Ethan’s hand found mine. Both of us were tense but we also took comfort from the fragile security we had in each other. Our linked hands represented that. I stepped out further into the hall to be met by the sounds of scratching. It raised goose bumps on my skin and I felt Ethan tense even more. I squeezed his hand. He looked at me and with a grim smile kissed the top of my head and squeezed my hand in return.

I turned towards the store room following the sound. We moved quietly until we heard a creak. We turned startled to see Steven hovering on the stairs. I shot him an evil glare to which he raised his hands in surrender but came down to us anyway. “Get back upstairs!” I hissed.

“You and Ethan are here I’m not going anywhere.” Steven said.

“I’m here because I have to be. If I could make him Ethan would be getting his butt up there to! No offense but you being here complicates things!” I said back. They gave me a funny look. “Steven get up there now and stop anyone else from coming down!” 

“Fine!” he said. “If you get killed, either of you, I’m bringing you back to life just so I can kill you myself.” I looked at him in disbelief. As he went up the stairs he looked back and did a double take at mine and Ethan’s hands interlinked. He raised his eye brows, grinned and gave his brother the thumbs up. I shook my head. This seriously just happened while we were looking for an intruder?! I cleared the seemingly bizarre thoughts from my head a moved towards the door. My muscles tensed in anticipation as I slid the key from my pocket. I took a deep breath before placing the key in the lock. I looked at Ethan making a move back motion with my hands. I knew I could hold my own for a while against one of them but although Ethan was strong he lacked the technique I somehow had which is essential against them. He moved back but remained close enough to step in and pull me out of the way. He remained in immediate danger. I didn’t like it but I knew he would move further back. The key was ominous as it turned. The soft click of the lock echoed.

I swung the door open to an empty store room. The window and door was battered and more moonlight leaked in than should have but the defences hadn’t been breached completely. I held my breath there was no sound. I began walking towards the window and door shaking off Ethan’s hand. I kept a safe distance from the window and looked and listened for any sign that something was still out there. “Do you…” as soon as Ethan opened his mouth a snarl tore through the air. Ethan pulled me towards him clutching me to him. Something flinged itself at the window and door. Scratching and clawing at the defences. From the animal like cries I knew it was much younger than most. I pulled away from Ethan he grabbed at me thinking I was out of my mind. I shook my head at him. I knew what I was doing. How I knew it would work I didn’t know but I knew that it would. 

“Leave now. This house and the people in it while they are within its walls are protected by the elders. Leave now or you risk upsetting them. They may care more for their own than for us humans but they care even more for what they want. Leave!” on my last word the snarls cut off turning to a whimper.

Ethan pulled me to him kissing me quickly and deeply. “Tomorrow night we’re all staying in the shelter.” He said in one of the instances he pulled back. After a few seconds of kissing I pulled back. “There’s really no need we’re through the worst of it now. Plus I for one like the privacy of my own room.” I realised how he could interpret that in a different way too late. He pulled me closed against him. His lips hot and damp against mine. My arms reached up around his neck pulling him closer my fingers playing with the soft texture of his blonde hair while he wrapped him arms around me his hands grabbing at my waist. We heard a cough and turned to see Sadie and Steven standing on the stairs. Steven was just grinning at his brother with a ‘you are so explaining this later’ look on his face.  Sadie someone who I didn’t expect to be inclined to gossip was clearly ready to make an exception for me as she raised her eyebrows questioningly. I sighed stepping away from Ethan.  I didn’t think of how this would spread like wildfire. Oh well I didn’t really care about what people would say but it meant Ethan was even more of a target.

Just then something launched itself at the already weakened defences of the back door. Make that two something’s judging by the four hands clawing at the gaps. The silence shocked me. If they were the new ones they’d be screaming to the high heavens. “Everyone behind me!” I said. A few wanted to protest. “Just do what I say!” They complied with what I asked grudgingly. The hands clawed forwards exposing long pale blue-ish tinged forearms. One set or arms was thick and muscular the other although had defined muscles was gentler and more delicate looking. I guessed that one of the creatures was female. The twins tried to step in front of me I elbowed them in their stomachs forcing them behind me. “Cut it out already!” I groaned frustrated. They responded with irritated sounds. The creatures forced themselves through the smallest gap possible for them. They dropped to the ground standing up gradually smoothing out they’re clothing. To my surprise they manipulated the boards in the doorway so nothing else could get in. or out as most likely was the intention. I studied the two creatures. I was right one was a woman the other a man. The man was pretty much the typical image that comes to mind when someone says tall dark stranger. The tight fitting black t-shirt emphasised defined muscles. The twinkle in his brown eyes made it seemed like he was brains as well as brawn. The woman was the opposite petite and pale. Delicate and beautiful as a rose but with thorns of poison. Her blue eyes chilled the room. Her blonde hair in a blunt severe cut around her face adding another texture to her cruel and dangerous beauty. She reached about the man’s shoulder in height and was shorter than everyone in the room including Sadie. Although despite her size I knew she’d have no trouble wiping us out. 

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