Chapter 27 TWENTY-SI

MORGIANA'S POV The cabin was cold at night but the fireplace that was constantly filled with firewood somehow made the room bearable. Living in the woods made it even colder at night that even a wolf's ruff wouldn't probably last in the cold. I was brewing something when my door burst open, letting a gush of wind come in. I shivered and whirled to the doorway only to see Alaris in his wolf form. His golden eyes glimmered and he looks so big standing there. But that's not what caught my attention. It was the person on his back. It was Arleigh. I immediately went to help him get Arleigh off his back. She's unconscious and her clothes are soaked in blood. I didn't need to know the exact details of what happened. Alaris told Mr. Hawthorne to leave Arleigh alone. I'm guessing he didn't heed his words. "She bit her father and almost did the same to her mother," said Alaris inside my head. "How...how did you know?" "A wolf saw her and told me right away. When I called Glenda, she just said Arleigh ran away." "But I compelled her, Alaris. I told her to behave and control her hunger--" "Compulsion can give her the illusion that she is not hungry and that she could control her hunger. When Lukas and Glenda entered the room, the compulsion must have broke. We shouldn't have left her there." "How is the mayor? How is Mr. Hawthorne?" "He's still alive, thankfully. Although, he's still unconscious. Glenda, on the other hand, wouldn't even speak about what really happened." I looked at Arleigh who was still unconscious. I was too confident she wouldn't break the compulsion. I should have known better. Why did I even think it would control her? I carried Arleigh to the couch and got a blanket to keep her warm. Alaris transformed back to his human form and thankfully, he was done putting on his pants by the time I turned around. "What are we going to do with her, Alaris?" I asked. Vampires and wolves are enemies. Having Arleigh here would only spark conflict. The wolves here were not so friendly with me and I was half-wolf. I don't want to think how hostile they could be if they find out about Arleigh. That a vampire was in their midst. Wolves would come after her and it would be very easy for them to kill him. Especially since a vampire could die even with just a scratch from a wolf's teeth. Worse, if Arleigh stays, many wolves will question Alaris. What if someone snaps and decides to challenge Alaris' leadership? "She can't go back to her house. Not after what she's done. And I don't think her mother would allow it. I think she's traumatized. Hawke had made them some objects that could protect them from vampires. We never know how many of them are here." I closed my eyes firmly to process what had just happened. I suddenly have the urge to dig up Adrian and kill him again with my hands. Turning Arleigh into a vampire was a power move. He knows she's the daughter of Lukas Hawthorne, the man who was so driven on driving the vampires away from his town. So he turned Lukas' only child into a creature he would hate the most. That's just the cruelest thing to do. The door opened again and in came Laurent. His eyes went to the couch where Arleigh was resting. A low whistle came out of his mouth. "What's that little vampire doing here?" he asked and he looked at me and Alaris, waiting for answers. Then Alaris said, "Your place downtown is still available, yes?" Laurent's eyes narrowed. "Yes, why?" "This little vampire is going to live there." "What? No way!" "It's an unused house, Laurent. And she has nowhere else to go. She's not like other vampires. She just turned and she certainly won't kill you in your sleep." "What do you mean to kill me in my sleep? I am not sleeping there." "Someone has to watch her," I said and he gave me an incredulous look. "Besides, if she's such a little vampire, you wouldn't have any problem dealing with her, right?" He narrowed his eyes at me before he looked at Arleigh still unconscious. "Well, it's clear that it's already been decided. What can I say?" he sighed and looked at Arleigh again. "What will happen to her now?" I looked at Alaris and then he said, "If someone finds out she's a vampire, she will be executed." The hairs on my body rose the moment he said it. He's basically saying it would happen to me too. In this town, I would be killed for being what I am. I am not going to be an experimental specimen. I would be executed on the spot. I have a feeling keeping my being a hybrid a secret won't last very long. "It's better that I live with Arleigh-" "You stay here in the camp where it is safer for you. Arleigh won't be safe for her around the wolves. And besides, it's better to have her outside as much as possible." He took something out of his pocket and gave it to me. It was a ring with little stones around it. I gave him a questioning look. "That's a vampire ring. Give that to Arleigh the moment she wakes up and tell her not to remove it. It will keep her from burning in the sun and that will also keep her blood lust at bay. I asked Hawke to do a spell." I nodded and looked at the ring. It doesn't look special but I could feel the pulse of magic on it. It thrummed on my fingers as though letting me know its presence. "So when is she coming over?" asked Laurent. "Tomorrow before sunrise," answered Alaris and we were all set. *** I jerked awake when I heard the noise and when I opened my eyes to see the couch in front of me empty, I immediately stood. But then the moment I did, I felt something sharp on my neck. Seriously? "Don't move," Arleigh said behind me. Her hand is on my shoulder and a knife is on my throat. A little more pressure on it and it would draw blood. "Still a bully even after becoming a vampire, I see," I muttered and I know it's particularly not a good time to rile her up but I couldn't help it. "Where am I?" he said, pushing the knife slightly harder and I felt a trickle of my blood down the length of my neck. "Somewhere temporarily safe. Put the knife down and I'll tell you more." But instead, she pushed it harder causing me to wince. I heal quickly but that doesn't mean I don't feel the pain. It still hurts. "Why am I here?" "Ala-Mr. Alaris saw you on the street covered in blood and it wasn't really a good idea for you to be out until sunrise." I felt her freeze behind me, perhaps trying to recall what happened last night. I looked at the wall clock and muttered a curse when I saw it was only three in the morning. "Look, Arleigh. Why don't we settle down first and I will tell you everything? Then we can both go back to sleep. What do you say?" "Oh my god." Her voice was barely a whisper behind me. Then I felt her hand loosen on my shoulder and the knife fell on the floor with a thud. The next thing I knew, she was sobbing on the floor. She must have remembered everything that had happened before she came here. I didn't know how to comfort someone crying so I stood there and watched. "I killed him. Did I kill him? Oh my god, I can't-I can't live like this. I-I deserve to die with what I did! And my mom. Oh god, my mom-" She looked up at me, tears streaming down her face. "I almost did the same to my mom, Morgiana." "They're both alive," I said and I saw the flood of relief on her face. She sobbed harder and I don't know for how long until the door opened and in came Laurent. I nodded at him and I went to crouch in front of her. Taking the ring out of my pocket, I gave it to her. She looked at me questioningly. "You can't go home yet. Your parents-" "I know," she said, sniffling. "I...I was thinking of killing myself last night but no matter how much I slice my wrist, it won't work. How...How can I kill myself?" "You don't kill yourself, Arleigh. You can't kill yourself. You will live and you will get through this. I will be here for you." I jerked my chin to the ring she was holding. "Wear that. It will not burn you from the sun and it will control your hunger. Mr. Hawke put a spell on it." "A spell? What is that?" "Well, Mr. Hawke is a witch." "A what?" "Your family is one of the founding families and you are not aware of that?" Arleigh looked at the floor and I instantly regretted I said it. Then she said, "My mother wouldn't let me. I think there might have been some point when my dad tried to tell me but my mother would always intervene. And I wasn't curious enough to find out." I sighed. It's not really her fault that she wasn't aware of it. I think most kids from the founding families have no idea at all. "A witch is someone who can perform magic," I answered and I looked at Laurent asking for help with the explanation. "And some of them are strong enough that they could kill a vampire or a wolf in an instant if they want to. Like Hawke Flint." Laurent went to sit on the sofa. "So...you are a wolf?" Arleigh asked and he nodded. Arleigh turned to me. "And you're both a vampire and a wolf? How did that happen?" "That's a story for another time. This time, I think we should get going, princess," Laurent said and Arleigh frowned at him. It was a bit surprising knowing that at school, she looks at him like he was her last meal. "Don't call me that," she said but Laurent just ignored her. I have a feeling it's going to be a long discussion to convince her to go with Laurent. "You know you can't go back to your family, right? You can't go back to what your life was like. You will live with me downtown." "What?" "Trust me, I had the same reaction and I don't like this idea at all but this is the safest way for you. I will be there to watch over you and make sure you won't mess up like you did last night." I gave Laurent a sharp look and he just shrugged. God, can't he be more sensitive? "Why can't I just be here with Morgiana?" "Morgiana is different. She's under the Alpha's protection and she will not be harmed here since she is also a wolf. But you...you are a vampire. Vampires and wolves don't really get along well." "So why will I have to live with you? You're a wolf!" "As if I like this arrangement. Listen here, princess, you're stuck with me. We're stuck with each other. And among the wolves here, I'm the most patient so I'll be the one to watch over you." Arleigh bit her lip. Probably to prevent herself from saying another thing. I was actually expecting her to say another thing but then she just sighed, nodded, and said, "Fine." Well, that was quick.