Clouded Vision

Clouded Vision, Chpt 5

Adair circled him; Vincent circled the opposite way, matching Adair to the stop. Adair lunged. Vincent jumped back, but it was a fake lunge. He was testing his skills. Adair fell back, grinning toothily. Vincent growled. Adair lowered himself. Come get me. He teased.

Vincent bristled, and leapt. Adair swerved to the side, surprised he actually leapt, and bit his side. Vince turned and jumped at him, biting and clawing, then leapt away. Adair walked backward, lapping up a breath of air.

Stop playing with me! Vince shouted out to him. Adair grinned, and suddenly struck him like lighting It hit his side like a bulldozer. He could hear Eve gasp behind him. Vincent fell on his side, immediately stood, wobbled a bit, and steadied himself. Adair leapt again, but this time Vince could follow the movement, pushed Adair to the side and opened his mouth. He could fell his sharp teeth puncture skin, and tore in deeper. Blood flowed in his mouth. Vincent released his hold. Adair swerved to the side with blood pumping off his neck. Adair was snarling, a nightmarish scene with blood flowing down his snout into the dirt. Vince ran forward to finish off the source of his misery. Adair copied the movement Vince had done before, moving to the side and biting down. Vince could feel his blood flow. Adair shook him, attempting to break his neck. Vince whimpered. Adair bit down harder in reply. He was blocking Vince's windpipe.

Then, unexpectedly, Adair, released his hold. Vince looked back to see a female with fiery red hair pushing Adair from Vince, prying his jaw away. "How dare you, Adair?!" she exclaimed. "Would you really kill this man over something this stupid? Can't you see that what you've done is unforgivable? The pack won't stand to see you lead anymore, even if you do kill him." Her voice was condescending, as if she was lecturing a small child.

"It's best you leave now." She stated plainly.

Adair gave her an astounded yet betrayed expression. His eyes were dark. Enough then. He thought to all in the clearing. I

won't stay. It's obvious I've been stabbed in the back. With a shiver he regained a pitiful, nude human shape. Vincent moved aside,

watching Adair stand, his legs shaking. Adair looked over every one of his pack members. All looked him in the eye as he gazed at

them accusingly. His stare fell upon Eve.

"My dear," he whispered. "How could you condemn me this way."

"I'm sorry." Eve's words were true; sincerity rang in the word.

Adair lowered his gaze. "You can come with me, if you wish."

"You know I won't."

Adair sighed. "I know." Then he assigned to the group before him. "I don't need to tell you are making a mistake." He

spoke. "But when you are all found out and killed, I will cry more for the pack that betrayed me than this traitor-" he nodded toward

Vincent "-ever wept for the pack he deliberately destroyed." Then Adair trodded through the trees, a trail of blood the only remnant of

his existence.

Vince turned to Eve There were tears in her eyes. Vince looked at the ground, feeling shame. Eve, after a moment, wiped

away her tears and faced Vince. "You're part of us not. "she told him. "Come. I'll show you around."

Vince shrugged out of his wolf form and grabbed Eve's outstretched hand. Eve led Vincent into the house, dropped his

hand, and walked blankly into a room. Vince followed. Eve was sitting against the wall, eyes on the floor. She smiled weakly up at him

as he entered.