Twisted

Chapter 6

"It is both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so deeply." -David Jones

~~

"Fascinating," Elijah's smooth voice drifts around me. I can feel his presence, silently moving nearby. I want to open my eyes, but they remain sealed shut, as if not willing to open. Nothing happens when I try to move, I'm not even able to twitch my fingers. I am aware of my surroundings, but cannot pull myself out of the darkness that is my mind. I feel a sense of déjá vu, but I know that this time I have not been drugged.

"There was something off about her scent," Benjamin speaks, sounding further away than Elijah. His voice is laced with curiosity. "But I thought she was merely a new rogue."

"Foolish Alpha Benjamin, that is not the smell of a rogue." Elijah taunts.

"Elijah," Benjamin rumbles low and intimidating.

I hear the shuffle of light footsteps around me. The bed that I have been placed on dips and a hand grasps onto mine. The hand is soft and brings with it a sense of protection: Sara.

"She turns eighteen in a few days," Benjamin has returned to his normal calm demeanor.

"You believe she will shift?" Elijah questions, amusement evident.

"I don't know what will happen, but her scent is that of a wolf."

"Yet I sense her presence. It is very strong. You know there must be the blood of the cursed running through her veins for me to do so," Elijah interjects.

"Impossible." Benjamin's voice is back to one of authority, threatening those who wish to challenge what he says.

A finger lightly traces over the pulsing vein in my neck. A strange sensation ripples through me and my heart rate speeds up. Sara growls a warning, trying to protect me, which leads me to believe that the finger must belong to Elijah. But remarkably, I enjoy the strange sensation and long for it to return. What is happening to me?

"Brecken," Sara's voice is like a knife cutting through the silence that has fallen over the room. "A legend circulates between gossiping she-wolves about an Alpha named Brecken. No one knows if it's true. We all regarded it as make believe..." She trails off, as if afraid to continue.

"Continue," Benjamin orders.

"The legend states that a werewolf, Brecken, the Alpha of a pack known as Obsidian Moon, was fated to a woman named Ilaria. A vampire. The legend suggests that they completed the mating, but it's only a legend, some foolish story, dreamt up by a child," Sara's voice trails off at the end, as if she is trying to persuade herself.

"That's impossible. We do not mate with wolves. We would not be so unlucky as to have one of your kind as our mate," Elijah's voice is deadly.

A low growl travels throughout the room. "Elijah, I suggest you watch your tone." Animosity laces each of Benjamin's words. "Besides, Obsidian Moon is nothing but a myth, it doesn't exist. They can't exist. We would know."

Silence once again settles over the room. Nothing but the faint sounds of breathing can be heard.

I decide to try opening my eyes again, and this time they respond to my command. My vision is fuzzy and I wait for it to become clear. Once in focus, I scan the room that we are in and recognize it as the bedroom I had slept in previously. I feel some relief knowing we are still at the pack house.

My eyes travel around the room before landing on Benjamin and Elijah. Benjamin is staring sullenly out the window, while Elijah glares with indignation at Benjamin's back.

My gaze shifts to Sara, who is staring at her hand, which is still holding tightly onto mine. I manage to squeeze her hand and finally her eyes travel to mine. Sara notices my eyes are open and leaps up, dropping my hand. "Oh Elyse, honey you're finally awake."

Everyone's eyes immediately shift to me. A part of me wants to hide under the covers, but the other tells me that I should stand my ground and find out what is happening.

I clear my throat. "What's going on?"

Benjamin crosses his arms, still standing near the window, but says nothing.

"It's nothing for you to worry about, dear. You need to rest," Sara insists.

Irritation rises within me and I feel it consume me. "You were talking about me. I have every right to know!" The strength of my voice causes everyone in the room to jump, myself included. I have never spoken to anyone like that before.

Sara takes a step away from me and regret courses through me. I didn't mean to yell. "I-I don't know where that came from. I-I'm sorry."

Sara's eyes shift to Benjamin and I watch them change to gold. I know that I am not imagining it this time.

"What is happening? Why do your eyes do that?" Annoyance seeps from my words, but I don't back down this time. "Someone needs to tell me what is happening!"

Benjamin's eyes return to their normal color. He turns to look at Elijah and gives a slight nod. Elijah slowly approaches me, as if I am fragile and will break if he takes one step incorrectly. "I am Elijah," he says, while extending a hand.

I hesitate, still not sure if I can trust the man who stands before me. "Elyse," I say before extending my own hand. My hand connects with Elijah's, but a painful shock immediately makes me pull my hand away. "What the hell?"

Elijah looks stunned. He stares down at his own hand. Almost immediately, his look changes to understanding and excitement. A smirk makes its way across his face. He extends his hand for a second time, as if asking for my hand again. "May I?"

I look at him with concern. The shock was not pleasant and I am unsure if it will happen again. Elijah gives me an encouraging smile and a nod.

I extend my hand once more, gently placing it in his. I brace for the shock, but am instead met with the most unusual sensation. Af first I feel intrigue, then unease quickly travels through me, before settling on excitement, but none of the emotions belong to me. I gasp as I realize that they belong to Elijah.

Elijah finally drops my hand and all of his emotions disappear. I stare up at him and he gives me a devilish grin. "Welcome to the family, Elyse."