Fighting for Fate

Chapter 4

Lara's Point of View-

The bus ride was miserable. Tight, smelly, and long. But eventually after ten hours I reached my destination. Traverse City was beautiful. And perfect. If I could choose anywhere to stay it would be here. But that wasn't possible, if I remembered the map in my father's study correctly, I was standing very close to another pack's territory. The largest pack in this hemisphere's territory, in fact, led by one of the most powerful werewolves alive. Alpha Argint was known for being extremely traditional and amazingly attractive. There was speculation on his past and nobody knew how old he was exactly but I wasn't going to stick around to find out, they weren't the largest pack in the area for no reason.

I needed to stay for the night though so I grabbed my bag and headed for the information booth. There was a bed and breakfast farther in town and soon enough I was checking into it. I couldn't stay long, being this close to a pack meant that they would think I was a potential threat if they found out I was here. There was one thing that I wanted to do while I was in Traverse City, though.

I would definitely get to that after I slept, I thought to myself after the longest and most unattractive yawn in history came out of my mouth.

That night I dreamt of the evil black creature that had attacked me. But this time when it came at me I didn't duck and cover but I fought. I fought hundreds before I heard someone scream my name, when I turned around I saw something that chilled me to the bone and almost brought me to my knees. There stood Aaron, my mom, and a man I had never met but immediately felt connected to being slowly leeched of life as a black creature entrapped each person. They were covered in blood and I knew it was only seconds until they died. Then a frightening voice whispered "If you fight us we will take all that you love. We will slowly drain out your very existence until you are no better than us." That night I woke up screaming.

The next morning I had bags under my eyes and my shoulder blades burned. I dismissed both thinking that I had just slept wrong. I took a shower and changed before walking down to the smell of an amazing home cooked breakfast. I sat down at the table surrounded by strangers.

A middle aged women with brunette hair and a kind smile walked up to me, "Good morning Miss Knight, breakfast this morning is Belgian waffles, sausages, organic oatmeal, fruit salad, and freshly squeezed orange juice."

She reminded me of my mother I thought sadly, "Sounds amazing, I'll have all of it." Well, that caught all their attention. The men leered at me while the women stated at me in jealousy. "I have a big appetite."

After breakfast I headed to the public library hoping I could find something on this black creature. Knowing that whatever it was it was probably important. There was one problem though; I had no idea what I was looking for. It was definitely supernatural. I'd start there.

I found the section after fifteen minutes of fighting with the libraries computer. I pulled out a couple of prospective books and headed to a table. This was going to be a long afternoon.

My stomach growled and I woke up from my very inconvenient nap. I looked around to see if anyone had heard and just about died when I noticed a group of teens staring at me with curious looks. Talk about embarrassing.

I looked down at the book I had fallen asleep on and sighed. So far I had found nothing of use and it was freaking frustrating! I decided to put a few books on hold and go get lunch, thinking that a fresh mind and a full tummy would help me think clearly.

I spotted a Subway and darted towards it. A few people were staring at me when I was waiting in line, making me feel uneasy. I concentrated on my senses but didn't notice anything off, which was strange. How had I not run into any shifters yet? I knew I was close to the Argint pack territory. I didn't have too much time to ponder this though because it was soon enough my turn to order. Half a turkey sandwich later I was staring out a window when a boy around my age came up to me.

"Nice tattoo," he stated while tracing a shape on my shoulder blade.

"Excuse me?" I say as I visible cringe back not liking his touch on my skin.

"Um, the tattoo you have right here on your back." He stares at me like I've lost my mind and walks off.

Well, okay then. That guy had to be wrong, I didn't have a tattoo. I wanted one but I certainly didn't have one.

Suddenly I didn't have the appetite that I originally had. I threw the rest of my food away and went to the dingy Subway bathroom. I turned around and craned my neck to look at my back.

"What the hell..." It was right there, starkly standing out on my pale back. Well holy hell. Things certainly just got interesting. The mark was almost like a cross but the left and right arms were faded out like ghosts on the image. The top and bottom were pointed like sharp arrows and there were words etched into them. It wasn't pretty, but looked crude and almost ritualistic. So many questions were buzzing around in my mind, my head started to ache. Okay, I don't have time to panic. I need to get back to the library. Hopefully I'll be able to find something that connects this all, but with my luck it isn't likely. For some reason I couldn't stop hyperventilating. Oh wait, I know why, I have a freaky tattoo on my back that mysteriously appeared over night!

I made my way back to the library and soon was back sitting isolated from the world with my nose stuck in a book. It was nearing ten o'clock P.M. when I decided to look in a different section.

This corner of the library was dark and sketchy so of course it would be there, right? I found an old book that was encased in glass, the pages were so old they looked like they would tear with the slightest touch. I walked over hopeful. As I read disappointment washed over me. God, this was so frustrating! I needed answers and instead I was here reading the journals of possible the most boring person ever.

I was about to leave when another book caught my eye. It was simple and the binding was thin. I picked it up on instinct and walked to the table. I opened the book to the fist page and thought to myself, this looks promising. I continued to flip the pages until I found it. Right there was an image of that shadowy monster. The book called it a wraith. I was about to read more when someone tapped on my shoulder. I turned to see the sour faced librarian.

"The library is closing now." She states bluntly and I couldn't believe my ears. She's gotta be joking, right? Right when I find what I'm looking for the library closes? Ridiculous.

"Can I check this book out, then?"

"Do you have a library card?" She scrutinizes me.

"No, but-"

"Then I'm sorry but you'll just have to come again tomorrow."

"Okay, then just give me a minute to pack my things," I say as my cheesy fake smile makes its way onto my face. She leaves me and I slip the book into the bag I brought just in case I had to skip town. I hoped to God that this small town library didn't have sensors at the door.

I quickly made my escape. The library didn't have sensors but I still felt extremely bad about taking the book. I decided not to dwell on it, though, as I began to ponder what little I read about wraiths. The only thing that stuck out to me was that you couldn't- no shouldn't- touch them. They, supposedly, drain your body of existence while physically torturing you. And of course they were following me around.

I was lost in thought when suddenly I felt a drop in air temperature. I quickly looked up to see three wraiths leering at me with almost sad eyes. God, could this day get any worse!