Forbidden |18+

IV: Looming Darkness

IV: Looming Darkness

That was the eeriest sound I've ever heard in my entire life. It causes a stir among the men, Alpha Ernouf leading them out of the medical building. I can barely breathe as I watch everything happening...surreal. It's when Ulric's eyes darken, that moments pass before the same woman, Noir, who had brought me clothes comes through the door. His eyes suddenly revert back, watching him rest his gaze on me.

"Noir will watch over and protect you," Ulric nods as he's leaving, gathering a bag from under a set of cabinets. He throws it over his shoulder, turning to Noir and ordering, "You will give your life before anything happens to Wren."

Noir nods and replies with authority, "Yes, sir."

"Ulric?" The air leaves my lungs as he moves through the door. I know that Alpha Ernouf wants him to aid the pack, though I didn't expect the feelings I have to surface so suddenly.

Noir quickly grasps the top of my shoulder when I foolishly try to wander off and follow him. She pulls me back and states, "We need to get down behind the desk. Out of sight, though we'll see any and everything that happens."

I nod quietly as I follow her to the desk. She halts and urges me to move forward before her. Only once I'm safe and hidden, does she lower herself down and behind the desk. We are quiet, waiting, listening.

It seems like forever, though I know it's hardly more than a few minutes at most before she suddenly changes her demeanor.

"We need to move you to the underground safe house bunker beneath the pack lodge," Noir whispers to me and slowly lifts from where she kneels. Slowly, I get to my feet as she helps me from our hiding spot. She moves with such grace, holding my hand as to guide me through the chaos.

Running with her, it's an expanse of grass, a field, and trees. It falls in around us, suffocating me as Noir tries her best to get me safely to an exceptionally large, rustic lodge-cabin style building. I'm in awe at its beauty, though it's short lived when she grabs my arm and directs me through the doors, down a staircase beyond a trap door.

Coming down a set of stairs, I feel so many heartbeats. They are fearful and frantic, glimpsing faces to match as I receive looks of many. Old and young, babies, those that are already wounded or sick...I feel these are those who cannot protect themselves.

I lean against a wall that Noir sets me near, keeping quiet while receiving many different looks. Whispers, how they swirl around my ears and imbed themselves in my head. Assuming things about me, and all I want is to just understand.

Aren't they curious?

One notes, "I saw when they brought her into the territory. It's true though I thought I was dreaming!"

"Vamps can't be trusted! They are sneaky and will get us to break the Treaty!" Another manages to raise their voice enough I hear it all.

So many assumptions...

A loud noise coming from the trap door opening draws my attention. I can smell the blood before I see two men helping another down the stairs. Noir's eyes widen, moving away from me as she nears the men while questioning, "Idris?!"

One of the men shakes his head and states, "He was blindsided by a group, though they've been taken care of now."

While the two men lower Idris to the floor, I can see the large gash across his chest. What looks like teeth, large, sharp teeth...they have ripped a chunk of flesh near his shoulder. His other arm is missing, torn right under the shoulder and I can feel how weak his heartbeat is.

Noir kneels next to Idris and questions the men, "Where is Ulric?"

The second man who speaks for the first time, he has a grim look on his features. Turning away slightly, he says with unease, "The Luna is in critical condition after being separated from the pack. Alpha Ernouf found her when he was ensuring everyone was being taken down here that couldn't fight, though..." as his voice trails off, I hear a pang of sadness. A sense of dread fills my being.