Sixteen
evening found Damien in a state of unrest. His mind was running wild with everything Jill told him regarding her history.
His dreams shifted from different scenes of the story. The Purifiers, battlefields littered with the dead and dying, screams of mothers as they pleaded for the lives of their children. The pain he felt threatened to tear his soul to shreds.
Eventually his mind settled on a single scene.
He stood in what appeared to be a clearing in a ring of trees. It was burned to cinders leaving nothing more than the crippling black bones of trees that desperately tried to hold onto their roots. In the distance were huge structures resembling giant stones set in a circle. Animals ran in all directions around him, nearly hitting him as they tried to escape from what was about to transpire.
From the colors of the sky it was the hour of twilight, only less beautiful in light of the flames raging in the distance.
The sky was masked in blackness from falling particles of ash. A thick miasma poisoned the air, making it hard to breath.
The moon began to rise in the east following the setting of the sun, stained red as if it were a harvest moon. Only the color seemed to drip from the surface. It sounded to Damien as though she was crying. Her soft face stained with blood.
From the west rose Tenebris. His ears straight up in the air. His sculpted chest heaved forward. A long white tail flowed behind him. He stood on two muscular legs that bulged with power. His elongated feet crushed the earth beneath him. His fur was as white as snow, flowing as though it was created by sheets made of wind.
The god’s eyes were a crystal blue illuminated by the light of the stars in the sky. The heavens radiated with a power so great it could make the earth itself quiver in reverence. He stood as a mighty titan upon the ground poised for the battle to come. He was beyond beautiful to Damien's eyes. So much it overwhelmed him.
The wolf god let out a howl of challenge across the sky.
Suddenly, Damien felt the earth under his feet splinter and crack. It was if it were struggling to give way to whatever was trying to burst from its bowels. He had to step back with each fractured piece as it tore away like a scab from a wound. The severity of the quakes made it hard to stay standing.
From the east, a giant creature resembling a giant flying fox stood on the same types of legs that Tenebris possessed. It had a tail and face that reminded Damien of a wolf. Its eyes burned the colors of ember flames. Its fangs bared in a rage so powerful Damien could feel the hate burning in his chest as it eyed its opponent. Its wings were massive, leathery structures protruding from its arms. They extended down the lengths of its sides to thighs so muscular, a body builder paled in comparison.
The thick fur was as black as night, smoking with the ashes of the flames. The mane around its neck behaved as if it were only wisps of shadow as it flowed with the soft breeze of the evening.
Barghast, the Shadowed One made his appearance, answering his brother's call of challenge with his own loud roar.
With another roar, Tenebris ran towards his brother, lunging at him with nails made of pure silver.
When they hit each other, it sounded like a crack of thunder so loud and real, it ripped Damien out of his dream.
He sweated profusely, saturating the bed beneath him. His chest heaved to keep up with the terror instilled within him from the pure power of the two beasts he'd just seen. He could still smell the burning cinders of the forest, hear the roars the two titans let out as they challenged each other.
Jill was still asleep beside him, curled up in the blanket they both shared. The look on her face content despite the story she'd told before they both lay down to get some sleep.
Damien got up to go to the bathroom to splash some water on his face. His head hurting with each flash of memory.
The dream felt so real. His legs remembered the shaking of the ground. He could feel the rage in Barghast's eyes as he glanced at him just before Tenebris smashed into him.
Unable to go back to sleep, Damien sat on the edge of the bed. Jill's cool hand against his heated skin made him jump away. The panic forced his breaths to come out in short and shallow bursts.
“I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. What's wrong? You're as pale as a ghost.” Jill rubbed the sleep from her eyes, trying to hide her concern. Damien’s body seemed to be trembling. “Damien?”
Damien wanted to answer her but he didn't know how. He felt as if his very soul was on fire. It felt as though Barghast had burned a reminder into him that he was in way over his head. Almost to the point of drowning.
“I... nothing. It was just a dream I had.” Damien replied, his voice trembling the same as his body. He did his best to sit back down, trying to calm down.
Jill moved to sit next to him, leaning a cheek against his bare shoulder. “Okay, I won't push you to talk. Just promise you won't hide your heart from me.”
“I won't. It was just a nightmare.” He tried to smile to show Jill he was okay. The lie he was telling didn't do much to reassure either of them.
It wasn't just a nightmare and Damien knew it. He’d seen the dark god’s eyes before. He’d heard his laugh. He just couldn’t remember where.
****
The following night was the night of the meeting of the elders. The lycans all waited in anticipation to learn which alphas would be gracing them with their presence.
Kain stood next to Gabriel as though he were protecting him while they waited. Dolph and Chase took their places next to their alphas.
Holt and Cade had gone to the town's station to pick up the new arrivals in Holt's truck.
Damien sat next to a fire with Jill who was playing with the pups. Answering questions in regards to how old she was, if she ever killed anyone and how lonely it was to be by herself for so many centuries. The smile on her beautiful face a dim mask to try and hide the years of pain she'd endured.
A sense of protection rose up in Damien's chest as he watched her. She was so strong and beautiful yet the scar on her shoulder reminded him she could still be hurt. Immortal or not.
He was so angry at himself for his own mortality. He should be her shield against the world as her boyfriend, not make her protect him whenever he got in too deep.
The flames of his dream burned inside of him, making him wince at the pain. He tried to hide it to avoid worrying Jill.
“You have seen something.” Kain's soft voice took Damien by surprise with his sudden arrival.
The alpha was always capable of relaxing him for some reason and seemed to always know when he needed his advice.
When their eyes met, Kain could see the sweat on Damien's brow. “I can tell from your eyes you have seen something. Care to tell me what it was?”
“It was a nightmare, Kain. That's all.” Damien replied, frustrated.
Kain didn’t appear convinced. He sat down next to Damien. His arm rested on his bent knee, his other leg extended in front of him. “Damien, one does not shake or start sweating from just a nightmare. Something you saw is affecting you. Tell me.”
Damien acquiesced. “Fine. I don't want to say anything in front of Jill. Can we speak somewhere?”
Kain nodded, standing back up and offering Damien a hand to help him to his feet.
He led them to the tent Holt kept for him when he chose to visit, offering Damien a seat so he could make them some hot tea to warm them against the cold night.
Sitting down across from him, Kain asked Damien again. “So, what was it? What did you see?”
Damien's body burned with the flames. His jaw tightened as he wrestled with how to tell Kain what was happening. His eyes squeezed closed. “I don't even know. Jill told me the story of the gods before laying down. I guess I must have fallen asleep. I'm not sure when but I found myself standing in a burned meadow. All around me the forest was burning or burnt. I could feel the heat of the flames, smell the cinders of the wood. Even the animals as they brushed by me gave off a breeze I still remember.”
Damien felt the burn intensifying as he recalled the dream.
“There were two colossal beasts. The first one looked like a giant bipedal wolf. His fur was pure white. His eyes glowed a blue so light it reminded me of the stars at night. He let out a roar, like a lion, not a wolf. It shook everything around him like he was challenging something. Something he didn't want in his territory. For some reason, I knew he him. I was seeing the Night Father in his full lycan form.”
Damien's chest ignited in a searing pain as he neared the part in his dream where Barghast appeared. It felt like his body was being ripped apart from the inside. His heart beat quickly behind his ribs, making them hurt.
The look in the devil's eyes was still fresh in his mind.
“The other one was terrifying. He looked like a mix between a bat and a wolf. His fur black as coal. His eyes burned with a hate so strong I felt it trying to borrow its way inside of me. He had giant, leather wings and thick horns coming from his brow. He rose from fire and ash, angry and tormented. His roar sounded like the screams of a thousand souls. The Shadowed One. I don't know how I knew him. Tenebris began to run towards him,”
“When they clashed it sounded like a loud crack of thunder. Just before I woke up, Barghast's eyes fell on me like he saw me. Kain, I can still feel the flames his hate burned into me. It felt so real.”
Kain got Damien some water. Damien’s tongue felt like sandpaper in his mouth form the heat inside of him. He took the water and hastily drank it dry.
“It was no dream. It was a vision, that is why it was so real. Barghast is aware of you now, Damien. He sees you as a threat and he won't stop until he gets his way.” Kain didn’t appear to be shaken in the least.
“What should I do?”
“Nothing, just keep your guard up and be aware of anything that feels like a sign to you. Tenebris' appearance of challenge means he knows you as well and is prepared to defend you. Congratulations. You are now in our gods' eyes. This has never happened before in our history.”
Kain smiled at Damien, extending his hand. “You have my friendship and my loyalty.”
Damien's breath stalled. The look in Kain's eyes was one of pure respect unlike any he'd ever given him in their time together. He took his hand, letting him help him up.
“Damien, listen to me. Up until now, you have been asleep. Your abilities as a Purifier have been dormant inside of you. The gods’ appearance means that you have begun to awaken.”
“How do you know all of this?” Damien inquired, his sense of caution coming forth with the sudden change in Kain’s attention to him.
“In time you will know. For now, be careful and stay alert.” A soft howl alerted Kain to Holt's return. “We better go. The others are here.”
****
Holt returned later in the evening with two other alphas and their betas. To Damien's surprise one of them was a woman. He'd never seen a woman alpha before.
With a nod, Holt led the alphas and their betas, Lune, Damien and Jill to his tent. He posted a guard outside to keep away any prying ears or eyes. They all sat in a circle in human form so Damien could understand what they were saying.
“Welcome friends. I know it has been a while since a few of us have seen each other. My heart sings that you were able to make it.” Holt opened the introductions. “Jill, I'm sure you know Yuna, Galeck and their betas, Harou and Channon.”
“Yes, it is my honor to meet you in the flesh though I have heard of your exploits in aiding us in time of need.” Jill lowered her eyes out of respect at each of the alphas. “This is Damien. He's my lover and the keeper of the soul of a Purifier.”
Gasps could be heard from the new alphas and betas. Their eyes locked on him as if studying him.
“So, you are the one we have heard so much about. We welcome you, great one. It is an honor to be graced with your presence again after so long.” Yuna's voice held an eastern accent as she spoke, her head bowing to Damien in reverence. “To you, lycan of legend, please do not feel you need to lower your eyes. We have heard the tales of all you have done over the years. It is we who should yield to you.”
In a gruff voice that sounded like a lumberjack from the old country, Galeck spoke. “I am Galeck of the western packs of the Rockies. This is my beta, Channon. It is an honor to be in the presence of both of you. We agree with Yuna. Please, do not feel either of you have to lower your eyes for it is we that respect you and will yield as well.”
Damien didn't know how to take all of the respect he was getting. Until now he'd gotten looks of only disgust and disdain from the people of Big Timber.
“I know we’re all aware of why we're here. The vampires of Big Timber have begun moving against us. Demetrius Stone is dead, killed by his own daughter. Lilith has declared open war. She is threatening to kill Jillian and take her lover for her own. We need as many of you who are able to come aid us.” Holt's voice was full of dire need.
Yuna took a deep breath. The look on her face calm as she took the time to think. “We will help you. In times as dark as these, it would be foolish for us not to stand together. Our numbers are falling. Our pups dying. My pack will offer every available soldier we can.”
“We as well. The mountains have been our safe haven but it has been harder and harder for us to find food for our young. I cannot tell everyone here how many I have had to bury in the past few years. It has to stop or we won't last another century.” Galeck replied, downtrodden. From the look in his eyes, he'd buried more than his fair share of pups and loved ones.
Damien looked around at the depressed mood that fell on each leaders’ face. The wicked grin Barghast gave him started to make more sense the more he heard.
A vibration from in his pocket alerted both Damien and Jill to his phone. Rob sent him a text telling him he needed to see him immediately.
Worried it might have to do with vampires, Damien stood up. “Forgive me but I have something I need to attend to.”
The elders all looked at each other then back at him. Kain's eyes held him the strongest.
“My lover’s needs come before my own. Forgive me but I must go with him.” Jill was unsure as to the reason why Damien suddenly had to leave. She rose with him. Her loyalty to him unshaken even if it meant angering the elders.
“Of course, a lover’s loyalty is to be unquestioned.” Yuna addressed Jill for the other alphas as the two of them turned to leave.
Kain walked out with them, pulling Jill close to him. “I will catch you up when you come home, Jillian. Be safe.” His eyes met Damien's as he held Jill's hips. “Remember what I said. Be mindful of what is going on around you, Damien.”
Damien nodded, the understanding between the two of them almost confused Jill as he walked away with her on his heels.
****
Rob paced outside of his house, his face distorted in confusion when Damien walked up.
“Rob, what's going on? Why the sudden text?”
Rob was more frustrated than Damien had ever seen him since they'd been friends. Usually he was laid back and didn't let anything get to him.
“What hell, D?! Where have you been?! People have been going missing left and right. Then you just up and vanish?! Chelsea was gone for months!” Rob exclaimed.
“Rob, will you calm the fuck down? I hadn't seen Chels since the college, I told you that. She got upset at me and then left. I’ve already been questioned by my dad and Callahan. Her parents won’t even talk to me anymore.” Damien kept his reserve despite the lingering feelings of frustration at being treated like a criminal. His mood wasn’t made any better with Rob’s accusations being added on.
Jill walked up behind Damien, getting the attention of Rob who eyed her with a look of intense annoyance and frustration. “Let me guess, Jill, right?”
“Got a problem, Rob?” Damien put his hand on Jill's hip, pushing her slightly behind him.
“Problem? Hell, yeah, I've got a problem. Chelsea came to see me last night. There was something way off, D. She was pale with circles so dark under her eyes, it looked like she was dead. She told me some crazy shit about someone named 'Jill'. Said she was a witch or something, casting a spell on you.”
Damien's eyes widened. Chelsea had openly lied about Jill. What was worse and slightly more terrifying was the description he’d used.
“Rob, do you know how crazy you sound? Jill didn’t do anything to me. I fell in love with her. She’s my girlfriend, not a siren.”
“Dunno, D. No one saw her during the whole time you were ‘falling in love with her’. Seems weird to me.” Rob crossed his arms over his chest. His overall posture showed the amount of distrust he'd been holding onto until he was able to see Jill in person.
“Rob, I'm sorry I haven’t been around but there are things going on that you don’t understand. If Chelsea comes back, don't talk to her. She's not the same. I'll try to explain better. For now I need you to trust me. Jill’s not the villain here.”
“Sorry for flipping out, man. Just scared the shit out of me with all this talk of wolves ripping people up.” Rob replied, taking in a deep breath. “I still don’t trust her though.”
Jill winced. The paranoia was setting in among the humans. She worried about the fate of her people.
****
hadn't said a word on their way back to Gabriel's gym. He'd been wondering about what happened to Chelsea and how. It hurt him to think she had been turned and no one knew what happened.
Jill sat silent, letting Damien drive her car as she wrestled with her own thoughts.
When they arrived back to Solstice, they walked upstairs to Jill’s room, speaking only after Damien closed the door behind them.
“Chelsea’s a vampire now, isn’t she?
“Yes.”
“Jill, what’re you going to do? She’s my friend. One of the only ones that ever stood by me after what happened.”
“Damien, I’ll do what needs to be done to protect you and the packs. If it means killing Chelsea, then so be it.” Jill’s voice was emotionless, unwavering as she changed into her black clothes and coat.
“Wait, you would just kill her? Jill, you can’t.”
“What would you have me do, Damien? Let her kill my people just because she can?”
“What if I can reach her? Let me talk to her.” Damien pleaded with Jill. He could see she was angry but Chelsea was his friend.
“Damien, she could kill you without batting an eyelash or worse, turn you. She’s already proven she doesn’t care. Did you hear what she said to Rob? She’s not the same woman you knew. She would kill you just to spite me. Do you really want to take that risk?”
“What I want, Jill is to believe not all vampires are manipulative war mongers. What if there are some who want peace too? All I’m asking for is a chance to talk to her.”
Jill could feel the emotions going through Damien’s body growing stronger. “I can’t take that chance. Damien, I can’t lose you. Even if it means hurting you. I’m sorry but my people are in danger. Please, trust me.”
Damien wrestled with himself. He wanted to try and make things right with Chelsea. He’d hurt her feelings. He couldn’t help but feel somewhat responsible for her changed state.
“I do trust you, Jill. I need you to trust me. I won’t let you hurt Chelsea, I have to try to reason with her.”
“I’m sorry, Damien. It’s not you I don’t trust.” With her last words, Jill left the room.