Falling Feathers Book I - Rogue Without Fear

Chapter XVI

>>> Autumn Rose <<<
I was tackled to the ground by someone I couldn't see.  I fell flat on the dirt, and felt a crushing weight over me. I tried getting up, or turning to fight my chaser, but it was no use. I was trapped.
    "You'd better have a damn good excuse for eavesdropping, or I swear to God I'll tear your throat out!" The person on top of me hissed furiously.  I knew instantly the voice was familiar, but I couldn't quite recognize it at first.  After a few moments, I realized I knew exactly who it was.  It was that fellow who helped me train!  The weight on top of me lifted.  He grabbed my shoulders and flipped me onto my back.  He gasped slightly after seeing my face.  In the darkness, I could see the edges of his hair, and couldn't make out facial features.  I still don't know who it is!  I grumbled to myself.
"You..?"  He gasped.  I nodded.
"Yes, me."  I grumbled.  He stood up, and dusted himself off.
"What're you doing?"  He sounded completely shocked.  I didn't blame him.
"You were being weird at the end of training, so I followed you!"  I explained before standing up myself. I dusted the dirt and twigs off my blouse and pants, and turned back to face him.
"How long were you there?"  He demanded.
"Only long enough to hear your plot to overthrow Danny," I answered.  "You want to overthrow our leader?  That's traitorous!"
"I know, but we need a change."  He tried explaining.  I shook my head.
"I'm going to go and warn him, this is wrong!"  I exclaimed before turning to run off. He grabbed my wrist and held it tight. I tried yanking myself away, but his grip was too strong. No matter how much I tugged he still had me. I glared at him furiously. "Let me go!"
"Not until you wait and let me explain myself..." He growled. I considered it for a moment. I knew what he was doing was wrong - this was a murder plot! But, at the same time, I was also mixed up in their kind, stealing and killing was what we did best. I guess that makes me just as murderous as him, I thought to myself.
    "Talk fast then," I sighed with defeat.
    "Danny's been trying for centuries to find something that he intends to use to wipe out the vampires, and any human that won't convert.  I can't let him have it." The stranger explained rapidly. I raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
    "What?"
    "There's a legend.  Long long ago, creatures forgotten to humans crafted stones that let the holder turn into a dragon.  They made keys too, and your necklace is one of them."
    "My necklace?"  He sighed.
    "What do you know about your parents?"
    "We lived in a village, and they died in a fire."
    "Your father was Artemis Rose, alpha of the werewolves.  Your mother, Scarlet, was a vampire fledgling.  They were also founders of Shepherd's Rest, it was actually how they met.  Well anyways, they fell in love after the war, when love between two races was forbidden.  They stole the key from the werewolves, who had it at the time, and ran.  They hid for a century or so.  Then, one of the werewolves found your parents at the village.  We burned it down, to kill them both and you, their child."
    "Child?  Vampire and werewolf?  You mean...  I'm half-vampire and half-werewolf?" A knot formed in my stomach. He had to be lying. That couldn't be true.
    "Yes, you're a half-blood.  Half-bloods are generally born either werewolf, vampire, or most common, human until someone converts them."
"That can't be true. My - my parents were humans! Both of them!" My voice was rising with panic. "It can't be true, it can't..." He was silent for a bit. "And what did you say about a legend? Dragons? You must be pulling my leg, this is all a joke!"
"Autumn, there are many secrets in our world that you have no discovered. There is more to this planet than simple humans. Your father was a werewolf. Your mother was a vampire. There are plenty of other creatures that share this world with us. You have to calm down," he urged. I felt dizzy. I wanted to wake up, to hear someone tell me it was a dream. I can't believe it, I thought. Why did they never tell me? I swallowed hard, struggling to digest what he had told me.
"Anyway, Danny wants the key back to kill everyone, and I don't want that to happen."  I looked to him, and studied his shadow in the dark.  It was hard to see anything, but I could tell that he was tense and nervous. I left my thoughts behind, and thought once more about what he was telling me.
"Fine, I'm staying quiet."  I growled at last.  I couldn't bring myself to betray him.  After all the training and after taking me in and saving me, I couldn't betray him.  After all, I figured, it'll be a whole new adventure, being in a murder plot.  "But I have one condition,"  I added.  The stranger shifted from one foot to another.
"Name it."
    "You let me help you with your little plot." I folded my arms, and waited. I heard a grunt and a huff, then a reply.
    "Fine, but you better not blow this.." He growled. I smiled in the dark with satisfaction. I took a step towards him and extended my hand.
    "What's this?" He asked.
    "I want you to shake my hand and make this official. We are partners in this, and whoever you were meeting, although I think that you two have already sorted the matter." I saw him look down at my hand, then back to me. He shook my hand and chuckled.
    "Partners in Crime, it's official," he agreed. I smiled to myself at the thought.  Partners in Crime, huh?  I like the sound of that...