The Protector

Chapter 10

^The Ballroom^

CHAPTER 10

Tracy felt as though someone had taken a razor to her chest, yanked out her heart, and marinated it with salt and vinegar before grilling it on a George Foreman. Then as a bonus, her brain pulled out and fritter fried. Closing her eyes she refused to stay here and cower. Leaving the library, something dark caught her eye. Walking after the shadow she spotted the mystery figure disappearing down the stairs to the first floor. Quickly she ran after the retreating form. Reaching the first floor she didn't see anyone but her now advanced hearing picked up the sound of a click to the left. A set of ornate double doors stood closed.

Opening the door she heard the sound of music playing. The room was amazing. Huge windows let in natural light, while chandeliers hung from the ceiling, behind them recess lights would provide extra lighting for night time gatherings. In the middle of the checkered floor sat a grand piano. The keys were being brilliantly played by the same girl Tracy had stood up for the other day. Carrie? Chloe? No Carla, that was it.

Still dressed in all black, her dark brown eyes were closed and her body swayed as her fingers effortless glided over the ivory keys. She was so engrossed in the haunting melody she was playing that she didn't hear Tracy approach. 

For a long time, Tracy just stood there listening. Finally, as the last few cords were played Carla looked up and stopped playing.

"Don't stop. Please." Tracy pleaded.

"No one should be in here." Carla said quickly standing.

"Why?"

"Shouldn't you be somewhere else?" Carla asked irritated by the interruption to one of the few times she had alone.

"I was ditched both literally and figuratively." Tracy said warily. 

"Great." Carla responded with sarcasm. 

"Aren't you going to ask what happened?"

"I don't care."

"Shouldn't you be in training?" Tracy asked.

Carla sighed, "I'm an Omega, we don't train with the others because we're considered weak."

"I don't believe that." Tracy said studying the girl in front of her, "Teach me to be a werewolf."

"No."

"Why?"

Carla growled in annoyance as she opened the doors to the ballroom. Looking both ways before she exited with Tracy right behind her. Carla walks down the main corridor and takes a small door that leads outside into the woods. They past the trees for about a half a mile until they reach a clearing.

"Why are you here?" Carla demands, "You are not a werewolf. You don't have to be here."

"I'm a Protector." Tracy said.

"So? From what I heard your powers kick in automatically. You don't have to do anything."

"That's not true." Tracy said, "If I don't learn to control my powers then my energy will be drained making me and those that depend on me vulnerable. I have to strengthen all pieces of me if I don't then I'm useless."

"There are a bunch of people back there that can teach whatever it is you want to know." Carla said dismissively. It occurred to her that this has been the most she's spoken to any one person since her mother died. She wasn't how she felt about that. 

"You mask your scent." Tracy observed, "Why? Who are you hiding from?"

"I have a scent." Carla said perturbed.

"No you've hidden your true scent." Tracy said wrinkling her nose at an unpleasant odor. "But how do you stand the pepper smell? It's making my eyes water."

"I block it out." Carla sighed.

"Why do you use it?" Tracy asked.

Sighing again Carla looked at Tracy, "My mother was human. She was very beautiful. My father was a lone werewolf that had killed his mate in a fit of jealousy. I hated him. He would hurt my mother, have sex with her while calling out his dead mate's name. I was ignored by him mostly. He disappeared for over a year. I had hoped more than anything that he would never come back. But he did. We tried to lock him out but he broke through the pitiful locks and barricades as if they were nothing. I was so scared. I called the police. My mom was dead by the time the officer arrived. My father is serving time in the penitentiary for involuntary manslaughter. Courts sent me to my Uncle Jordan's home since he was my only living relative that was somewhat willing to take me in."

"Mr. Baines is your uncle?"

"Yeah. My father was his older half brother from a drunken mistake their father made in college." Carla sighed sadly rubbing her temples, "Seems like mistakes run in the family."

"You're not a mistake." Tracy said firmly, "Do you hide your scent because he might find you?"

"Partially though I doubt he'll come looking for me." Carla said reluctantly.

^Carla Staunton-Baines^

Noticing how uncomfortable Carla looked, Tracy asked, "Why are you telling me if you don't really want to?

"You are a Luna. I am a mere Omega. You have the Alpha's power as his mate, even if the bond is incomplete, and can compel me to tell you the truth." Carla said wearily.

"What?" Tracy yelped shocked, "That's terrible! That's like an invasion of privacy. I'm sorry. I don't want you to tell me because I've made you. I really want to be your friend and tell me of your own free will."

"Why would you want to be my friend?" 

Despite the tough girl loner appearance, something about Carla struck a chord. Tracy had been so determined to "be fine" with everything from her dad dying to moving and most recently, the discovery of unknown powers hence responsibilities she hadn't asked for. They both have suffered but had no one to truly lean on.

"Because you're alone like me. Because you hide like me. Because we both lost someone we loved and needed." Tracy said.

"You have friends." Carla said with a hint of jealousy.

"I laugh, I smile, I'm amusing. People don't know me. I hope they turn into real friends but you're more real than them because we didn't share pleasantries, we shared a piece of ourselves." Tracy smiled.

"Fine. I'll teach you to be a werewolf." Carla said, "First, you're going to need some better clothes."