Feral Desires

Trust Nobody

   Pain. That's all I know. All I'm aware of. And it's all deriving from the fire in my chest. The white hot agony that started where my heart used to beat and spread through out my entire body. Then suddenly I want to scream as the pain in my chest sends a fresh stab a pain through my body when something moves. Then nothingness.

   I go in and out for I don't know how long. I feel movement. Like someone's carrying me. Then uh sharp jostle that makes me want to scream again. But I can't I can't move. Can't even open my eyes. Can't talk. I don't think I could breathe if I had to. It's as bad as it had been when I'd been changed. Complete agony in an almost catatonic state while only semi aware of what's going on around me.

   A voice. Shouting.

   "Kai!"

   "Who is . . . where did . . . Xander! What were you. . ." I don't even hear half of what is said. My body is is still screaming.

   " . . . African Blackwood stake." Fear washes through me at that and I have a sudden moment of clarity. If I was staked with African Blackwood then they wouldn't have need to burn me. African Blackwood is very deadly to vampires. That would explain the pain I'm in. I know the stake has been removed, but the effects are still there because the wood already started poisoning me. I feel something go into my arm and relief starts flooding it, slowly chasing away the pain. Very slowly. And I eventually black out again.

   When I wake up next, I realize I can move. I slowly blink open my eyes . . . and see eight pairs of eyes staring right back at me. I'm up and on the other side of the room in a heartbeat. One of them moves to step closer and I crouch down in a defensive stance, snarling. I take a quick assessment of my body. It still screamed in pain, but everything seemed intact. That vampire must have just missed my heart.

   "Whoa, whoa. Take it easy." The one that tried to come near me says. "I'm Kai. These are my siblings, Alexander, Ciarra, Silas and Kendall. My wife, Cora. And my parents, Lyle and Josephine." Everyone either stares at me in pity, distrust, worry, or caring. What were these people on? I let my senses roam and feel multiple other people in the house. "Xander and Si saved you from the Zugami. They were going to kill you. They brought you back here to me and I gave you some blood." I know there's a window big enough for me to smash through behind me and I'm ready to bolt. Why did I have to be so careless and come into Zugami territory? I knew it was a bad idea.

   My gaze scans over everyone and catch on a guy with hair a white blonde and eyes a striking blue. I think this was Alexander. He was staring at me intensely and for a moment I calm down a bit. But then I see Kai take a few steps towards me and I spin and crash through the window. My feet hit the ground running and I take off. I hear the sounds of multiple people giving chase. Someone comes flying at me up in front of me and to the right. I grab their arm and spin, throwing them back into the people chasing me.

   I hear grunts and know I took down somebody at least. I come across a large river and leap across. I land on the other side and sense them all stop at the edge of the river. I glance back and see the original eight people along with about two dozen others. Kai and his family watch me worriedly. I hear a growl and look up. I pack of wolves are surrounding me. I silently curse.

   I'd crossed into wolf territory. Great. I leap over them, narrowly missing their snapping teeth, and take off up the bank. I hear a snap and glance back to see them right on my heels. I jump up and push off a tree limb. I continue running through the trees, silently praying I don't miss a limb or one doesn't collapse under my weight. I reach a water fall and look up. They wouldn't be able to climb the rock. I quickly start scaling the rock wall and hear growls from below me as they try to jump into the air and bite my feet.