Hidden Essence Book I - The Bloody Moon

Chapter XIX

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I think I'm officially going to commit suicide. She's been running around, yelling my name and wanting to dance with me for two days straight. She walked into my trainings earlier on and I had to stop beating up Jonas because of her. She wants to sleep in my bed, do my hair, hug my leg, and it's killing me! How does someone deal with a kid, how?! It's literally the most time-consuming and distracting thing in the world. I've never been so annoyed. And you know what, to top it all off... I can't do anything about it. I can't scold her, because she'll cry. I can't ignore her, because she'll ask questions until one of us drops dead. I can't put her down the hard way, because she's a kid. I can't do anything but listen and die inside. Holy crap. 

I am now trying to train with Michael. The Bloody Moon is in three days and we have been doing mixed combats over the past week, which means that they could shift into their wolf form during the fights and I could use 'weapons'. Sticks and knifes, no guns because those are mortal. But nothing is more mortal than the little mutt that is jumping around me right now, making it impossible for me to spar with Michael. She's sweet, like sugar and I would kill whoever tried to hurt her, but oh my god she's so frustrating. It seems to amuse Michael as he is chuckling behind his hand. She's singing Christmas carols, it's freaking July! "Adelaide, could you please sit down so Michael and I can train..." I try again, I've tried about a hundred times now. She stops spinning around and looks at me with a confused expression on her face. "What are you training for?" She asks and I sigh. Does she even know of the Bloody Moon. I would guess she does, as her parents died because of one. I look at Michael with pleading eyes. I hate to do it, but I have no choice. I need help with this. "There's mean wolves that want to kill us." Michael bluntly explains and my jaw nearly hits floor. Why is he so crude? She's a kid, he can't just talk about death like that. "Michael..." I say in disbelief and he frowns confused. "Don't worry, every werewolf is taught this when they are very young, so they can prepare for whenever danger is nearing." He explains and I nod. I turn my attention back to Adelaide. She's standing next to me, peeking up from behind her ginger bangs. "Why do you have to train and the rest not?" She asks innocently. Her blue eyes pierce into my unpatient ones and they somehow calm me down instantly. I bend down so my face is closer to hers. Adorable little girl that she is. "I'm not a wolf, Adelaide. So I need to train more to become as strong as a wolf." I tell her and she nods. "Are you going to protect me from the mean wolves?" Her voice is soft and full of hope. How is that even considered a question? It's not like I can say no to that. I place my hands on her cheek and brush my thumb over her soft baby skin. "Of course." I force a smile for what feels the thousandth time. She smiles back and skips out of the training room whilst singing the Christmas carol she was singing before. I sigh deeply, what an effort it is to deal with a kid, especially such a sweet, but broken one. I hear Michael giggle behind me and twist around to see what's so funny. I give him the soul-piercing stare to get the words out of him, it works. "Stop looking at me like that! It's just so weird to see you all sunshine and rainbows with her..." He continues to giggle. "Don't get used to it. I only have thunder and storms for you." I sneer and his giggling stops. He steps forward and stands still when he is only a feet away from me. I guess combat has begun again. He doesn't charge though. A new tactic? Interesting. He is still gazing into my eyes with a look I have never really seen on his face.

It's seductive and filled with lust, I think. How is that possible? This is Michael, he doesn't generate other feelings than cheerfulness and happiness. The brown of his eyes switches to light blue and I gasp at the sight. What a contrast, it's so wonderful. When will I ever get used to this wolf magic? I mean, how fascinating is it for brown orbs to suddenly fade into cristal clear blue... How does that even work? Lost in his mysterious wolfish eyes I almost forgot that he is standing right in front of me, a little closer than before. Wait a minute. Lust? Shiny eyes? Heavy breathing? He's hitting on me. He starts to slowly lean towards me, but my hands stop him from coming any closer. Oh gosh, this is so wrong. Hurt flashes through his sea blue eyes and I almost feel guilty for rejecting him, but we can't do this. I can't do this. "I'm sorry." He apologizes as he composes himself, his eyes are the chocolate brown color again. I don't say anything back. I have nothing to say. He got carried away, he should just figure out on his own. He's fidgetting with his fingers, I can tell he's very uncomfortable. "How about we take a break for today and I'll continue the training tomorrow with Becka?" I offer to pull him out of his misery. I really should just leave, but he's a nice guy and it won't kill me to be decently nice to him back. He nods very shyly. If his skin would've been of a lighter tone, he would've probably looked like a tomato. I start to make my way out of the very tense training room, but I am held back as he grabs for my arm. "Uhh, Sage. I really didn't mean to offend you or anything, I just-" He begins but I cut him off. "Michael, it's fine. Just... don't do that anymore." I stumble a little over my words. I don't really know what to say. I honestly want to tell him to stay away from me, but that would just hurt his little soul. Sage, you said no exceptions. You're making tons of them. Continue like that and you'll fall onto your knees in front of the bastard you're trying to kill. The thoughts are mashed up into my skull and a slight panic takes over my systems. I tear my arm out of his grip. "Don't come near me again." I say with a warning tone. He needs to know his place. I can't be making all these exceptions. One exception. The kid.

I trudge out of the training room to get to my bedroom. There, I strip out of my clothes and hop into the shower. I'm planning on showering, eating and finally sleeping. I know it's only six pm, but I'm not in the mood to stay awake anymore. People are driving me mad and I can't be driven to madness only three days away from the Bloody Moon. Sage, don't forget about the nightmares. Great, even in my sleep I'm driven to insanity. I can't break down though. I need to cement the walls I've built around me, day in day out. I need to keep myself as hard as rock, sharp as a spear and remorseless towards everyone. One exception. The kid. The cold water hits my skin, but I don't flinch one bit. I need the coolness. I'm boiling inside, that might be the reason why. I rub over my skin and massage my biceps. They're not sore, I haven't done much training today, but massages feel so good lately. My hand is on my left arm when I feel something rub against my right arm. My eyes shoot open and I look to my side, but there is no one. I could've sworn I felt something, someone. I'm panicking, this is not good. I swallow the lump of stress in my throat and continue my relaxing cold shower. The water drips on every inch of my skin, gradually reviving every fiber of it. I lean against the wall and give my legs a bit of rest. I'm not tired or anything, I just feel worn out. Like my body is slowly getting destroyed by the world. All of a sudden I feel two large hands wrap themselves around my waist pulling me closer to the wall behind me. I gasp and look down, but I only see my naked lower half. Nothing else. What the hell? Why am I feeling stuff that aren't here? What am I, no, who am I feeling? I shrug the weird sensations away as I begin to shampoo my hair. I'm probably more tired than I think I am, I'm going nuts. I rub the shampoo deeply into the roots of my hair, as if I was trying to massage my brain to calm it down. My eyes are shut as I try to avoid the shampoo getting in them. 

"You're mine." I hear him whisper as a hot, very hot, breeze rests upon my neck. My eyes snap open once more and I do a one eighty twist. I meet the plain white wall of the bathroom, nothing else. I heard him, I felt him. He's here. I quickly wash half of the shampoo out of my hair. I don't bother to wash the rest of my body as I rush out of the shower and dry myself up at light speed. I jump into my training close, I had left in a pile earlier on and when I'm done I sprint out of my room. I feel him all over me, I don't how to explain it, but he is here. I push myself through the crowd as I try to find the leader of this pack. I barge into his office and interrupt a meeting he was having with Zach and Jonas. He looks up at me and worry flashes through his eyes. "Sage, are you-" He starts, but I don't let him finish. "He's here." I shout whilst panicking. I should collect myself rather than panic, but he is too close to me. I can't handle it. George stands up from behind his desk and gives a look to the others. Zach turns to me and tries to grab for my arm, but I jerk away. "Sage, calm down. Did you have a nightmare again?" He says and I nearly lose my patience and attack him. "I feel him, all over me. He's nearing, I can feel it!" I urge, but they don't seem to believe me. I pinch my eyes shut to try and calm down, but it doesn't help. It makes it even worse as the only thing I see when I close my eyelids is yellow. I open them up again and nearly faint, because of the overwhelming emotions I can't seem to get ahold of. My heartbeat is speeding up by the second. I hear him in my head, whispering, taunting me. I feel him against my skin, caressing it, coming closer, too close. My body is trembling as if an earthquake was occuring inside of me. "She's having a panic attack. I say we put her down for a while." Jonas offers with a hint of mockery in his voice. "Believe me!" I yell as I push Jonas to the floor. His blonde locks fall in front of his eyes and he growls deeply from behind them. Zach manages to hold me back and pull me into a warm hug. I don't need this right now, I don't need comfort. I need him to get away from me. He's sinking into my head, slowly and painfully. Someone enters the door behind me and I recognize Michael's worried footsteps. "What's happening?" He asks as I try to wriggle myself out of Zach's strong arms. "She's doing it again." He tells him. "Bro, her essence is bright yellow." As soon as the word leaves his lips, something in me snaps. I push Zach away from me and retreat myself into a corner of the room. Yellow. "He's here." I say desperately, but no one listens again. When will they ever trust me? A tear of angst escapes my eyes and stings me in the very bottom of my heart. I'm breaking down. He's breaking me down again. Michael nears me, but I refuse to let him touch me so I set myself on defensive mode. Whoever tries to touch me will lose his hand. I will not allow it that I get broken down so easily. "Sage, I just want to hel-" He begins, but he is immediately interrupted when an unfamiliar blonde girl barges into the office with the most palest face. "Alpha, intruders!" She informs George and my heart drops. I knew it. Michael frowns at me in confusion. I knew it."How did you-" He is again interrupted, but this time by an ear-splitting scream. 

Adelaide.

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