The Choices That are Made (Book Three of Hidden Secret Trilogy)

Chapter Six

 Being "human" again was like going backward into a past life. I somewhat missed all the powers I had as a vampire, but Kristillier promised me that once I was an Original vampire like him, the life of a vampire would be 100 times better than what it was before. I often wandered outside to go adventure off somewhere to keep from being inside all day.

I traveled down to a small market area watching people wander through the busy streets. I stopped to examine some scarves and other accessories when I felt a soft touch on my shoulder. 

I turned and saw Liam towering over me with anger pulsing in his eyes. I felt myself gulp as I realized Liam was a vampire and I wasn't. I hoped that he wouldn't be able to smell the change.

"Where have you been?!" he growled, his eyes turning a dim red.

"I...I don't know. I've been off doing things..." I stammered. The lie, I knew would never get past Liam, and the look on his face was enough to tell me that.

"Jacob and I have been looking for you for days! Even Marcus couldn't locate you," he said.

"What does Marcus have to do with this? He's a vampire hunter, not a tracker," I retorted. Liam narrowed his eyes at me suddenly becoming suspicious.

"You seem...different. You sure you're yourself?" he asked, taking a step closer to me.

"Um yeah, I'm ok. I just had to get out of the house, I was getting bored," I said, lying once again. Liam suddenly grabbed my arm and dragged me from the marketplace to a secluded area. "Liam, let go, this isn't funny," I said trying to pull away. Liam stopped, but now took both of my arms in his harsh grip.

"Anna, I don't know what's going on with you, but you're not what I remember," he said looking me in the eyes.

"I've just been gone for so long, you can't remember how I acted," I spat and pulled away not looking at him, when he harshly pulled me back.

"You're not leaving until I get some answers," he growled nearing my face when he stopped and sniffed the area near my neck. "Your blood...it's not vampire," he said with surprise in his voice. He looked at me. "Why are you human again? You're supposed to be a vampire," he said clenching his teeth.

"I...I don't know...maybe my magic turned me human again," I said with a shrug.

"But you wished you could have your powers and be a vampire, you told that to Selene. Anna, I was right there with you," Liam said. I shook my head and gently stepped from his grip. Reluctantly Liam let me go.

"Liam I'm sorry about my change. I should've told you, but you weren't yourself either," I said, playing with my daylight ring. Liam looked at me again.

"Where did you say you were all this time?" he asked, a line furrowed his brow.

"I never did," I answered quietly, avoiding his eyes.

"Well, are you going to tell me?" Liam asked approaching me, causing me to backup a step.

"I...I can't. You'll get angry if I tell you," I said, beginning to worry.

"Anna, I've found you after my raging state, I'm better now. You can tell me," he said softly, approaching me slowly. I felt his finger brush against my cheek sending a few shivers through me. I bit on my lower lip gently still avoiding his eyes. "Anna please. If I know how you turned back into a human, then maybe I can help find a way to change you back," he said, his tone brightening with a small bit of hope.

"Liam stop... there's nothing you can do to help me. Please just go," I said, with a slight plea in my voice. Liam's shoulders shrugged in defeat and his head hung in despair.

"Ok...I guess I'm never going to get you back. You're human now so I guess you're feeling like your actual normal self," Liam said, clearing his throat. He stepped away from me and walked away with no goodbye.

I stood there in the alleyway, hating myself for hurting Liam like I had. A feeling of regret crept through me, but I angrily shoved it away. I began to walk back to Kristillier's mansion, hoping that he'd turn me into an Original vampire soon, so I could forget all my thoughts of Liam and Jacob.

I headed toward a forest to take a shortcut. The sun was beginning to set as I trekked further into the woods. Fear crept through me, hearing rustling in the shrubs, and owls hooting in the trees above me.

 I found a small dirt path and began following it when I heard a growl behind me. I stopped and turned around to see a huge wolf nearing me.

I gasped in fear and started backing up, when up the path another wolf began its way down to me. Hunger reveled in the depths of their glowing yellow eyes. I began to notice that more wolves were closing in towards me, eliminating my escape. 

One of the wolves closest to me with a dark charcoal grey coat, and a scar running across its right eye, snapped its jaws at me, causing me to stumble back onto the ground.

The wolf saw its chance and leaped at me, jaws wide open. A scream escaped my mouth as I feared for the end, when a figure leapt out of nowhere and plowed into the wolf, knocking it away from me.

The other wolves went for me, not allowing me to get away. I had no weapon to protect me, but I quickly searched for a big branch or something.

 I looked to my left and saw exactly what I needed. I sprinted toward a big branch on the ground and almost had it when one of the wolves jumped in front of it, making me slam on my brakes to stop.

I realized that the wolves were closer and a sound of clothes tearing came to my ears. A wolf had gotten the back of my shirt and was pulling me with it. I screamed as another one of the wolves came up and sank its teeth into my arm.

I collapsed and I felt more pain in my calf as yet another one of the wolves bit into my flesh. The pain was agonizing and tears started to spill down my cheeks. The figure that had stopped one of the wolves, came to my rescue and started attacking the pack that surrounded me.

Howls and whimpers came from the wolves as one after the other fell dead. I thought I was safe, but saw that two more wolves stayed near. The figure swiftly turned and cleanly cut off both of their heads, where they toppled down the path.

When all the wolves were dead, I tried sitting up, putting pressure on my injured arm and I fell back down with a cry.

"Don't move," the figured hurried to me. I looked up and saw Kristillier kneeling over me. Relief flooded me and I forgot I was in pain for a moment. "Why did you go through here Anna?" he asked me in a stern voice.

"I...I wanted to take a shortcut," I answered, watching his face swim in and out of focus.

"Well, it was a bad choice," he answered. His voice sounded muffled and I felt that I was on the verge of falling unconscious. Kristillier looked at my injuries and growled, angered. "Damn wolves," he muttered. Both my arm and my leg were throbbing horribly and I clenched my teeth from the pain. "Can you stand?" he asked.

"I don't know," I answered.

"Try," he said and slowly and carefully helped me up. I was up for a minute feeling fine, when dizziness hit me. I felt my good leg give out and I fell against Kristillier, who caught me in his arms. In a swift movement, he had me cradled in his arms.

"We need to get you back," he said softly and began to walk. Blackness swam in my eyes as I blacked out.