Xeranthemum (Discontinued)

Chapter 13

Artemisia- absence
~Luna~

The ache in my chest intensified with every step. It was as though my heart was being ripped through my chest and shredded. It felt like lava pouring through my blood stream followed by a flash flood of ice.

But even through the spots in my vision I kept putting one foot in front of the other. The pain made me wonder whether I was sick or suffering a side effect of that stupid Bond that I had with Adrian.

Damnit! I just wanted escape. Running away had always been my solution to my problems and it seemed like this one time I wouldn't be able to.

I already knew Adrian had sent Kira. How I knew was a mystery. Maybe it was my "psychic" connection with her, maybe I just knew Adrian better then I thought I did.

I let out a long howling curse. I was currently walking through a town and many people turned to stare at the demented girl staggering down the street. My goal was the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. It had been a vampire den before I cleaned it out.

Being who I was, I wanted to release some stress and, hopefully, kill any vampires that may have survived the ordeal earlier this year.

I let out a shrill laugh, startling bystanders into scuttling away like insects. I swayed on my feet as the black dots started swirling around my vision.

"Hey!" A voice said.
"Hey! Are you OK? What's wrong?"

It took me a while to realise my head was resting on someone's lap. I stared up in confusion at the stranger. He had a particular smell... Not unpleasant, but reminded me of...

I gasped and leapt up. I landed crouched in a fighting stance, but swayed as my vision turned murkey.

The guy? held his hands up in a show of surrendor.

"Its OK. I don't want to hurt you." He looked at me, slowly blinking his hazel eyes at me. Instead of relaxing, I let out a hiss of disbelief.

"You expect me to believe that dog." I spat at him.

"Hey, that's not a very polite thing to say." He cocked his head to the side and took a long sniff. "What are you? You smell of vampire and huntress and..." He furrowed his brows. "I can't place it."

He looked at me curiously. "What are you?" He asked.

I growled at him. "Not that its any of your business, but I'm human."

"No you're not." He stated simply. He seemed to shrug it off though. "So what is a lady like you doing on my territory."

I looked at him confused. "Yours? Does that mean..." My voice trailed off as another round of nausea attacked me.

"I am the alpha of the pack that runs this territory, if that is your question." He confirmed.

"But aren't you just a monster?" My voice was unsteady and held a warble of insecurity. I had never questioned the Institute. I had been the heartless assassin with more kills then any other member. I had never stopped to consider that the "monsters" had senses of humour, experienced emotion or were anything other then unlawful imposters on the planet.

"I am not a monster." He snorted. "You want a monster... You should meet my mate." He shuddered. "Woman are really scary, but I never said that." He eyed me suspiciously as though I knew his mate and would spill his secrets.

"What's it like having a mate?" I ask softly.

His impish smile brightened. "Its like the world, the stars, the universe."

I grumbled under my breath that you couldn't feel the universe and he just laughed at me. I smiled and felt myself relaxing.

"You never answered my question about why you're on my territory." He said. "I hope you weren't here to cause trouble 'coz you seem like a rather sweet little lady."

I looked into his eyes and answered honestly. "I was looking for a vampire den that I cleaned out to see if there were any left that needed to be dealt with." My voice was steely and filled with all the hatred I felt for them.

"Sorry to tell you that my pack and I ran them all off the ground about a week ago. Is there a reason you would be picking a fight with them now?"

"Bad day?" I replied feebly.

He laughed and I felt myself smiling in response. "What about I take you back to the pack house, let you heal up and eat something before you go home again."

"I'm fine!" I said standing up to quickly.

"No you're not." He states catching me before I fell down. He picked me up, and I was to weak to fight or solidify the idea that I didn't need help.

He walked towards I large beat-up truck.

"You pick up another broken girl, Louden?" A voice asked. The hazel eyed male laughed and replied with an affirmative nod. "Better hope Ashlin doesn't get jealous." The voice teased.

I struggled feebly to get out of, who's name I know knew was, Louden's grasp.

That was when a black Hersch came speeding up the road. I couldn't help but admire the black funeral car. I wasn't much of a car person, but I could still appreciate the man-made beauty of the speeding car. I bet Kira would have loved to stand and admire it.

I let out a gasp of suprise when the demon in my thoughts flung the door open as the car screeched to a halt. I realised it only stopped because a rather sickly looking Ryan was clinging to the hand break.

If I had had the energy I would have laughed at the comical scene, but the murderous look on Kira's face wiped any trace of humour.

"Ohhhh you are in so much trouble, missy!" She screeched stalking towards me. I felt Louden shrink away, intimidated by my feisty, green eyed friend.