The ghostly figure zooms towards me, its deathly intent clearly evident. However, I don’t notice its speed at all, my mind suspended in a hazy fog of memories that are coming together, returning at an alarming speed. The screams I had heard earlier starts again, reverberating throughout my thoughts, distracting me from the present. I clearly hear two voices, one high pitched and the other a little lower but still womanly. The one that clearly belonged to an older woman strikes pain in my chest, recognition forcing itself to the surface. That beautiful voice, contorted with pain and surprise…
Mom. My eyes widen as everything comes back; the pain, the sorrow, the hurt.
The tears start to flow as the ghost hastens to meet his destination. I can remember every detail now; the way those creatures had delved into him… when his eyes turned a frightening red…
It finally reaches me, barely more than a whisper of air, charging towards my chest. However, the ghost bounces off, my body suddenly surrounded with an eerie glow. What is this? It is green and bright, like the emerald in my ring, almost like one of those auras I have read about in fantasy books.
I back up against a huge oak tree, fear mounting in my heart. Am I going to live against this deathly thing? How can I fight against something I don’t even understand?
I watch the deathly creature, at its cloudy form and its bright red eyes. They are like lasers, ripping into me, seizing my terror and amplifying it. My heart beats faster as the horrifying eyes squint, determination in its depths. Foreboding races through my blood, symbolizing what is to come.
I wrap my arms around my knees, burying my face into my legs as the ghost once again zooms my way. This, I suppose, is my punishment for disobeying Xavier’s orders. But how was I supposed to know there is a way out of the boundaries without crossing the moat?!
Peeking once more at the apparition, I almost shriek as I survey its closeness. It seems to be observing the things around me, as if it is looking for something. I shudder as it crosses its murderous gaze across my body, hunched up into a tiny ball. It looks at the tree behind me, a huge one that might even be four foot in diameter, and smirks with its beady eyes. With a screech that cuts through the air and makes my blood run cold, the white blur of energy delves into the oak tree, making me wonder exactly what is going on.
I stand up, turning to face the tree as it suddenly whirs with energy. Bright, fire-like sparks explode from the trunk, blood seeming to run down it. It rapidly grows in size, from four feet in diameter to around five feet, and who knows how much taller. Before, it seemed to be rather lifeless, an old tree that had reached its peak, but somehow, it now looks youthful. Scarier.
This tree is taller than the others by far, stretching to reach the clouds. I am fervently wishing for the werewolves to see it, but they are probably consumed with whatever they are talking about. It sounded important when I tried to eavesdrop, though I didn’t quite understand their topic.
It is Ray’s fault, I think feverishly, for casting me out of their meeting room. He probably knew I would find some trouble to involve myself in. But I can’t truly blame it on him. It is my fault for taking those first steps towards the dangerous road. It is my fault for not sticking to the beautiful garden.
And now, I am going to pay.
The tree totters, swaying in that rough wind. My dress presses against me, forced back by the terrible gales. The force of the wind increases, nearly pushing me to the ground as the tree reaches full height and strength. It ripples with energy, the bright red crackling around it like lightning. The wind seems to circle around this giant monster, almost like a tornado with its speed and focus.
But then, there is a crack that stops my heart.
The tree suddenly snaps, the red energy possessing it still. The breaking of the suddenly colossal tree surprises me; with its newfound strength, it seemed to be invincible. It almost looks to be a deliberate breaking, the now severed trunk cut cleanly and smoothly. How is it doing that? What is going on?
I hardly notice the tree as the rest of it tumbles towards me, my thought muddled with confusion. It must be the ghost. The ghost is controlling the tree!
Wait… I glance upwards, at the blur of speed as it travels to squish me. “Oh no,” I whisper, my voice shriveled and weak. I try to scream, but I can’t. I am frozen solid with pain, fear, and hate.
I can’t move.
I can’t think.
I really am going to die, aren’t I? No more silly games of hide and seek. Death has found me, sinking his talons into my skin. Glaring at me with his giant red eyes that haunt my memories.
But what, truly, do I have to live for?
I think of a certain man, with emeralds for eyes and azure hair that sparkles in the bright sunlight. He would miss me for sure.
My cheeks burn as a tear runs past my eyelashes, down my chin, onto my ratty clothes. I wonder why I am crying, when I had tried to commit suicide only two days ago. But so much has changed since then. There is so much more…
Right before the tree hits the ground, squelching me in the process, there is a thump. Glancing upwards, I wonder why I am not dead yet. Why the pain is only inside of me, blinding my thinking. There are no scratches on my arms and legs, only dirt and leaves, making me wonder if this is only a dream. There is no way this can happen in real life. I am just going crazy, imagining such nonsense.
But then why does my head hurt so much?
I stagger, scanning the area for the tree with the evil red sparks. Everything is going blurry, the screams blocking everything. My mother’s thin voice, repeating itself over and over and over…
“Are you okay?” a familiar voice erupts through the void, ripping its way towards my understanding. I blink, my eyes focusing. The masculine voice seems to harness my thoughts and drag it to reality, everything becoming clearer.
It is then that I notice that the tree is lying to the side of me, held by a man who has saved my life three times in the past two days. His muscled arms bulge as he lays the colossal tree on the ground, his beautiful eyes widening at the red sparks exploding from it. The eyes narrow, his fist drawing back and slamming into the trunk of the tree. There is a boom, shaking me to my knees, like a tiny earthquake. I look up once more, to see the tree almost in splinters. The red is gone, and so is the ghost that vanished into it. How did he do that in one punch?
The handsome man runs my way, wrapping his firm arms around me concernedly. “Are you okay?” he repeats the question, taking one now gentle finger and stroking some strands of my ruby red hair. I lean against him for a second, dwelling in his warmth and comfort, trying to throw out the endless pain. There is silence, and then the hurt leaves me, only leaving cold memories that stain my heart.
“How did you do that?” I waste no time, grabbing one of his hands, marveling at the lack of cuts and splinters, “you made a little earthquake!”
He laughs, “it’s called an Earthquake Punch. It is something werewolves have to train for years and years to attain, and one of the six Talents. Now answer my question.”
“Well, I’m not hurt, but…” I squeeze his hand tightly, almost delirious with confusion, “what was that ghost thing?”
His eyes widen, bafflement dancing across his features. “You… saw it?”
“Yeah. It was so scary, with its bright red eyes…” I shudder, causing him to pull me into a hug. I am too tired to care, although stiffening slightly at his movement.
“Everything’s okay, Mona,” he murmurs as I bury my face into his chest. I need his warmth, the security he offers. For it seems that I won’t find survival anywhere else. After a while, he slowly breaks apart, leading me with him back the way we both came.
His form straightens as we walk, I turning away from him in embarrassment. He must think I’m pitiful, always needing to be saved. I used to think of myself as being independent and able to support myself, but this one day has convinced me otherwise.
The ground beneath us crunches, the leaves producing a snap as they crack. Whispers of the past wind, once a terrible gale, still brush our hair and shoulders, dancing along our skin. I now feel cold and almost emotionless, the pain having eliminated all other feelings. And now that the pain is gone, there is nothing.
When we finally reach the garden, four miraculous figures come to meet us, each handsome in their own unique way. Wes stares at me, his gaze of concern. “What happened, Xavier?” he questions the man beside me, drinking in his face of weariness.
“A Shifter,” he narrows his eyes, “was on our property.” The stunning men all rear back in surprise, pure disgust lacing through their features.
“Here?” Jake erupts, his voice furious. Ray shakes his head, Yi looking at the perfectly manicured lawn near his feet. I breathe a quick sigh of relief; I hadn’t exited the grounds. Now Xavier can’t get mad at me.
“Why didn’t you just stay in the garden?” he turns to me, his expression of anger, “if I hadn’t look out of the window and seen that gigantic tree, you would have died!”
Obviously I thought too soon. Xavier can get mad at me for anything.
My eyes narrow, my determination showing through the terror. “What was that white thing?!” I demand, “Tell me now!”
Ray’s eyes widen, his expression suddenly of excitement. “Xavier,” he begins, “if that girl’s a Seer, then we might be able to get ourselves a Spier! Imagine what we would be able to do…”
“No,” he says fiercely, “I won’t allow it. Ever.” His face is hard and resolute, his hair sparkling in the beating sun. I look up at him, at his lightly tanned skin, straight nose, and absolutely gorgeous eyes, and frown.
“Tell me,” I nearly growl, invoking an irritated glance from wolfboy himself.
“Okay, we will,” he huffs, “come on.” He drags me towards the mansion, the others following behind.
We enter the mansion doors, where I once again am faced with those evil, all knowing eyes. I shut my own in response, not wanting to see their brightness, the terrifying memories they cause. Xavier glances upwards with me, but doesn’t shy away like I do.
“Are those what you saw?” he asks. I only nod, trying not to gaze into their fiery depths. His face seems to grow more certain as he walks, though darker than usual. His hand is like a steel bar across my back, not loving and comforting like it usually is… and I hate to admit that I miss it.
We enter the small room once more, with Xavier lifting me up easily and placing my form on the bed. The rest of the pack shuffles inwards, Ray swinging the door shut with a loud clang.
Immediately the interrogation starts. “How can you see a Shifter?” Yi asks in amazement.
“Are you a Spier?” Jake stupidly questions, causing a slap from Ray.
“Wow, Xavier, picking a Seer as your mate. Aren’t you sly,” Wes comments with a slight smirk.
“Shut up, everybody!” Xavier roars, causing even Wes to fall silent, “let’s answer Mona’s questions first.” He peers into my eyes, disarming me with one glance. “Go ahead, Mona,” he whispers, somehow making the words seem intimate and exciting, “we will tell you everything you want to know.”
I choke on a breath at his close proximity, pulling away slightly. I tilt my head, wondering what exactly I want to know. What I need to know.
Might as well start with the basics. “What is that white thing?” I inquire, my voice still shaking from fear of the monster.
“It is called a Shifter,” Wes speaks up, words flowing like melted butter from his lips, “and they are the sworn enemies of werewolves. They are creatures of chaos, death, and misery, with eyes that mirror true hell. Invisible to the human and werewolf eye, the only way to detect a Shifter in its true form is to smell it. We are the only species that has a powerful enough sense of smell.”
“However,” Xavier jumps in, “there are some humans able to see these Shifters. We call them Seers. Usually this sight is caused by a near death accident that a Shifter is involved in. That’s you, Mona.”
I think back to those burning memories, full of bitterness, fear, and hate. I can remember it now… the white cloud with those terrible eyes, floating in front of me right before wreaking havoc upon us all.
“A Seer can be awakened to become a Spier,” Ray says, his voice tinged with excitement, “one of the six Talents!”
“What is a Spier?” I ask, gazing at the way Xavier’s face turns hard at Ray’s words. I grow even more interested, noting his discomfort.
“A Spier is able to conjure a spirit spear, and kill a Shifter in its true form. One can be aligned with every pack, and would complete our own. With you, we would have the six Talents,” He gestures to the four werewolves surrounding him, “Yi is a budding Stealth Talent, which means he can turn fully invisible when he finally develops his skill. Jake is a Sabertooth Talent, which means he has long, retractable claws that are somewhat like a Sabertooth Tiger’s teeth. Xavier is an Earthquake Punch Talent, which pretty much explains itself, and Wes is a Charm Talent. He can charm his opponent within a couple of seconds, and almost hypnotize them into doing his will. And I… I am a Beast Talent.”
“What’s that?” I wonder, staring into Ray’s almost perfect face, stained with a darkness I can’t quite explain. He is a mirror image of Xavier, but yet they are they so different. How can this be?
“When I morph, I can truly be a beast,” he says softly, his menacing eyes scouring my skin. Under his gaze, I feel tingles of terror shiver through my spine.
“Anyways,” Wes says, slinging a graceful arm around my thin shoulders, “what else would you like us to explain?”
“How do you become a Spier?” I wonder, “do you have to be a werewolf? It seems cool…” Spirit spears? The chance to abolish my parent’s murderers, the ones that deprived me of a happy childhood? Everything seems too crazy, too wild to believe. But somehow, I know that it all is true every time I gaze into their emerald eyes.
“No,” Xavier states fiercely, “you are not going to be one. Don’t tell her, Ray.”
Ray looks at Xavier with a mixture of confusion and annoyance. “She deserves to know,” he replies, “she made the choice when she decided to run into the forest in the very beginning.” His brown hair glimmers as he makes his way towards me, his emerald eyes unblinking. “You do not have to be a werewolf, yet you will gain immortality. You will be with your loved one forever-”
“I said NO!” Xavier growls, pushing Ray to the wall, digging his fingers into his throat, “she is not going to be awakened, so shut up, Ray!” Tension mounts in the room as everyone grows silent, my head still spinning from the madness I have launched myself into.
“Why can’t I know?” I question, my voice stammering, tinged with fear at Xavier’s anger, “why is it so bad?”
“You only have a fifty percent chance or lower of surviving to be a Spier when you are awakened,” Jake answers quietly. Xavier shoots a scowl at Jake, roughly releasing Ray from his grasp. Ray takes a step away from Xavier, and smiles.
“Think about it, Mona.” With these last words, he disappears out of the room, slinking away so fast that even Xavier has no time to slug him with one of his potent fists.
“Ray…” Xavier moans, putting a hand against his forehead. He looks up and faces Jake, Yi, and Wes. “He doesn’t like me very much, does he?”
They all look at each other, and then simultaneously nod. “But we’re behind you all the way!” Wes pumps his fist in the air, “right, guys?”
“Yeah,” Jake agrees, but Yi stays silent, like he has been almost the entire time. A piece of his coal black hair falls into his face, his green eyes expressionless.
“It’s not my business,” Yi says, not looking into Xavier’s slightly irritated face. Wes’s face is bent in annoyance also, my expression of pure confusion. He turns to leave, muttering, “I’m going to practice.” Without another word, he vanishes, leaving uncertainty behind him.
“Oh, he’s just like this because he’s the youngest and he hasn’t developed his Talent yet,” Wes tries to wave it off, “he’s probably jealous of you because you have everything he doesn’t; the best Talent, looks, and position in the pack.”
“But we don’t need jealousy,” Xavier laments, his voice rough and full of anguish, “we need loyalty.”
“Now, now Xavier,” Jake smiles, patting him on the back slightly, “we’re a family. It is good for families to have little disagreements every once and a while. It helps us grow closer.”
Xavier looks at them both, his eyes fierce. I gaze at him, drinking in his startling blue hair and enticing eyes, his lips as he forms his next words. It is all—his face, his body, his every movement—perfect.