The Lady of the Valley

TLotV Chapter 6

6.

Angry and feeling helpless, Derek didn't fly home. Instead he stalked the town, at first considering feeding, but then deciding against. He wasn't sure hunger was high in the twisted nest of feelings running through him. He veered on an updraft and headed out, away from campus and the town proper and into the winding neighborhoods of Mystic Valley's upper class. Large, lush homes perched on steep inclines, well lit and caressed by wide, impractical concrete drives and foliage that didn't double as herb gardens. There were hundreds of small tells betraying the well off from the average folk. Perhaps one of these homes was where his sister holed up.

This bit of detective work was made infinitely easier when he recognized the still, brooding shape of his sister standing on a patio on the top floor of a row of condos perched halfway up the mountain. The view was probably stellar, watching the sun rise over the peaks. But honestly Derek didn't bother to notice.

Ellie raised a hand half-heartedly at his approach. She looked troubled.

Derek fluttered to a perch on the railing. After a moment Ellie broke the silence. " I guess you should come in."

Derek's shape shimmered and reformed into a human body. "I'm not here for a polite visit. Why are you following me, Ellie? I told you I wanted nothing more to do with family business."

"Contrary to what your ego says, brother, not everything is about you. I'm not following you. I didn't even know you were here until I saw you in the bathroom."

Derek fought the urge to pace. But one didn't show weakness in front of a predator. "Why are you here then?"

She shot him an unfriendly smile. "I'm not at liberty to say."

Derek glared. The smile became sharper. "It's your own rule, Derek. You said no more family business. I'm merely honoring your request."

She had no honor. She was toying with him. No matter.

"Are you responsible for the corpse in the northeast side of the city tonight?"

Then the bitch look slid from her face, leaving a mask of neutral interest. "A corpse in the city? How unusual. Mystic Valley has one of the lowest violent death rates in the nation."

Clearly he wasn't going to get anything out of her. He snarled.

Ellie held his gaze evenly. "Are you just bitching, or are you breaking your vow against being evil already?"

Derek moved as a blur, slamming Ellie into the bricks behind her. Something cracked. She barely blinked. But her eyes flashed with the promise of a fight and her fangs gleamed in the early dawn light. "Bark or bite, dear brother. Which will you do?"

Derek slammed her against the wall again then shoved himself away. "Stay the fuck

away from me, Ellie."

Before she could respond he jumped from the patio, transforming back as he fell.

There was more than anger and distrust between them, between all three of them. Anger and bitterness didn't come without betrayal and hurt. Once, he'd been willing to do nearly anything for his family. They were the only things that meant anything to him in the world.

Then he realized he built his life on the whims of monsters who were just as willing to devour him as they devoured everyone else around them.

No more, he told himself. There were times it needed to be a chant, like a monk in meditation. Now, as he flew home it was a reminder. Reassurance.

No more.