She gasped, her eyes shooting open as she sat up in her bed. Her alarm flashed the bold numbers:
7:25 AM
She ran a hand over her face, feeling her skin drenched in sweat, her tank top clinging to her body. She kicked the blanket off of her, feeling like it was suffocating her. She pushed her wild hair from her face as she got out of bed, stretching in front of the lit up curtains.
“Amira? You awake?” A deep voice called to her from the other side of her door. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, glancing around the room she stood in. It was a motel room with the standard box TV, box spring mattress and the cliche floral blanket and curtains to match. A knock came this time, a bit aggressive.
“I’m up.” She yelled at the door in annoyance, rubbing her temples. It didn’t help that she had that dream again, let alone going to bed late as well.
“Hurry up. The others are gathering to start setting up hunting grounds.” The voice came again with the same annoyance in his tone. She listened to his fading footsteps before going to the bathroom. She grimaced at the discolored bathtub and mold that coated around the base of the toilet. She looked in the cracked mirror, rubbing her face as she turned on the faucet.
“With all the money we have, you’d think we’d stay in someplace a bit more...” She nearly jumped out of her skin as she watched a cockroach crawl from the vent above her and quickly running back in, “sanitary.” She brushed her teeth quickly before her tiny visitor reappeared, switching out of her clothes to her casual jeans that fit her slightly thicker thighs that went well with her ass, and a crop top that exposed her stomach and curved hips. She wasn’t unaware of her body, she learned overtime to appreciate what she had, but that also meant appreciation from unwanted eyes. She combed her long, white wavy hair, reminding her so much of her mother. She grabbed her leather jacket, throwing it on before grabbing her backpack and leaving the disaster of a room behind.
“There’s sleeping beauty.” A woman spoke up cheerfully as Amira walked into the small lounge of the motel. The woman walked up to her with a cup of coffee from the gas station. Her ash blonde hair stopped at her shoulders, and her jacket matched her own. She wore loose jeans and a white shirt that was a little large for the woman’s small frame. Her hazel eyes were warm, but Amira didn’t want warmth right now.
“Thanks Leyla.” Amira replied, taking the coffee and sipping it, sighing happily as it cascaded down her throat and settled into empty stomach. The woman looked at her face closely, her brows coming together.
“Did you sleep okay? I know staying in a motel isn’t exactly the greatest, but it’s cheap.” She said, taking up her own coffee and took a seat at a table near the group. She sat beside her, ignoring the chatter at the next table.
“Yeah, it was just really hot in my room. The AC wasn’t working.” She lied, taking another sip from the coffee. Leyla nodded, but her eyes gave off that she knew there was something else, but she wasn’t going to press on it.
“Well, it’s our last day here.” She said until everyone started to hush near them and their attention went to the man that stood at the front of the group. He wore a plaid button up sweater with jeans. His salt and peppered hair had grown slightly long over the past couple of years, and his age started to show in the wrinkles beside his eyes. Amira lowered her gaze right away, hoping to avoid a confrontation with him.
“Now that everyone is here,” He turned a gaze toward her, “we can get down to the new rotation schedule for the hunting grounds. I’ll start listing you off with your location.” He took up a small notepad and started going down the list. People were already adding to their GPS and talking amongst themselves.
“I bet you’re getting out on your own finally.” Leyla said to her, but she rolled her eyes.
“Unlikely. I can see myself being trapped with him for another rotation.” Amira grumbled irritably. Leyla rested her hand on hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Amira knew she was trying to ease her mind, but it wasn’t working. Nothing has changed since that day, what would make the difference now?
“Amira, you’ll be heading out to Darlow, Wisconsin.” He finally said, and she looked up at him. He continued down the list, unfazed by her surprised reaction. She looked over to Leyla who gave her a wink as she sipped her coffee. She couldn’t believe it.
“Now that you all have your new grounds, be sure to have all of your weapons and supplies ready to go before moving out. I’ll be calling each of you on a monthly basis for updates about what you come across.” His eyes finally lift from the notepad, “Well?” With that everyone rose out of their seats and started to depart. Amira remained seated however, still trying to wrap her head around what just happened.
“Earth to Amira.” Leyla snapped her fingers in front of her face, causing her to blink and refocus back on her, “You spaced out on me. Are you in shock?” She asked her.
“Sort of. I don’t understand. Is this a prank?” Amira asked doubtfully, staring down at her coffee.
“Would you rather I keep you with me?” The man stepped up to their table, drawing both of the women’s attention.
“I just want to know what changed?” She asked him, lowering her gaze again. She gripped her coffee, feeling an uneasiness in her chest as she felt his hard gaze on her.
“It was pointed out to me that you are at the right age to have your own hunting ground. So, that’s what I did. It’s small, and from what I have been able to gather, supposedly the Rogue Alpha is located there. It’s nothing definitive yet, but you’ll be going there to scout. You will not be taking any further action until it’s confirmed the Alpha lives there. Once confirmed, I’ll come up with back up and finally end this stupid rebellion.” He grumbled, his eyes moving away from her as he scratch his unkempt goatee. Amira took a glance at Leyla again who was sipping her coffee, but the corners of her lips were lifted.
“I can do it.” Amira said firmly, and the man met her gaze. His hard eyes had softened a bit for the first time in a long time.
“I know you can. Your contact will get ahold of you the first night of your arrival. They won’t disclose their name for their own safety. Darlow has a very small community college that I enrolled you in as cover,” He took out a sheet from under the notepad and handed it to her, “This has your schedule. Your books are already with Miss J.”
“Miss J?” She asked, the name was ringing a bell.
“She’s a very old friend of your mother’s,” His face twisted with pain for a mere second before resetting, “She owns a Bookstore in town. Above the bookstore is an apartment that is currently being renovated and furnished for you.” He said, handing over a smaller piece of paper to her. Amira took it, trying her best to disguise the excitement that she was feeling, “Those are the directions to get there. After that you’ll be on your own aside from the monthly updates. Any questions?” He asked her. She looked up at him as she took everything in, unable to hide it anymore. She smiled at him, a habit she didn’t do often.
“Thanks dad.” She said as she got to her feet, taking up her backpack.
“Hold on,” Leyla said to her as she got to her feet next. She dug into her pocket and handed over a set of keys. Amira took it questioningly until she recognized the large key on the chain, “A twenty year old needs her own set of wheels, don’t you think?” She asked her, and Liliana restrained herself from jumping up and down. She nodded as firmly as possible, giving them a small wave and walked briskly out the door. Leyla let out a laugh, taking her seat again as the man joined her, rubbing the bridge of his nose, “You did good, Jax.”
“Was it right to send her off on her own? I don’t think she’s ready. I should send someone else in her place.” He reached for his phone, but Leyla smacked his hand hard.
“Don’t you dare. She’s more than ready.” She let out a sigh as he fumbled with his notepad, “She needs this, Jax. Don’t take it away from her now.” Jax looked over to her, the tension in his shoulders leaving as he rested a hand on hers. He nodded, but the doubt still lingered in his chest.
Amira stared happily at the ’78 Ford F-150 parked just outside the motel. She clenched the keys in her hand as she tossed her backpack in the front seat. She took notice of several suitcases, especially a rather large black one that an instrument usually sits in in the bed of the truck. She ran her fingers along the shining red paint, watching it sparkle in the morning sunlight. It finally begun. The moment she had been waiting for so long. Darlow awaited her.
----------
The sun beat down with extra intensity, the trees blurring on by. The hot breeze made it hard to breathe, but the freedom that blew with it surpassed the need to roll the window up. She can think freely now. She had discarded her jacket, but the heat still made her uncomfortable. She turned the AC dial on high, but nothing came out.
“Well fuck, a heads up would have been nice.” She grumbled angrily, turning it off as the sign for Darlow appeared around the corner. It had an orange frame, the test in large white letters with a dense forest and a lake carved into it. She looked out at the forest around her as she drove. This was her hunting ground, but it didn’t mean it was hers alone. Other monsters hunted these grounds as well, and she had to tread lightly.
The road curved around a cliff side, several buildings rising in the distance as she slowed her speed entering into town. It was like stepping through a time machine and getting sent back into the fifties. Each building had their own unique twist that attempted to be modern to keep up with the current times, but the brick structures contained their old charm. She drove past a movie theater with the wide board that curved around the front with the movie titles listed and the teller window being beside the front entrance. As she drove on, she admired the old fashion pillars that some of the buildings used. The bank, the library. Amira checked her GPS, taking a turn down a street where multiple shops lined up on both sides and came to a halt in front of a store front. As she turned off the engine, she glanced at the window where the store name was written in white:
THE READING TEMPLE
“That’s a cute name.” She commented as she hopped out of the truck, taking in the building. The brick structure stood tall before her with wide windows on either side of the door. Past those windows she could see book shelf after book shelf with countless titles on them. There were small platforms just before the windows, presenting the newest novels that were just published. She peered up to the windows above her. Her new home. She took a breath, steadying herself before pushing open the door.
A bell chimed above her head as she walked in, looking about with curiosity. The book shelves lined the wall and made several rows. It looked like a place so lost in time as she walked down one of the aisles. She spotted book covers that were faded over time, even the titles on their bindings were nearly gone. As she exited the aisle, she found a table in a corner with a chair and a couch. But the place appeared vacant from what she could see.
“Hello? Miss J?” She called out as she made her way further back to a wooden desk that had a monitor sitting there and a small register. She looked past it to several packages and more books behind a locked gate. A hall way ran alongside of it with another door at the end. “Miss J? It’s Amira.” She called louder. This time there was a small cry coming from the back followed by several small thunks to the ground. A woman stumbled out of the back, her thick coarse hair tied back into a bun, her dark skin complimented her grey eyes beautifully. She wore a purple floral dress with pockets when they met gazes. The woman smiled warmly, a smile she hadn’t seen in years.
“Oh child, is that you?” Her southern accent chirped happily as she hustled to the front and took Amira into her arms. She was so warm and welcoming, Amira found herself hugging her back, “I’m glad you made it here safely.” She squeezed her tight before holding her at arms length, “You are a splitting image of your mom. It took me a moment to realize it was actually you and not her standing before me.” She smiled. Amira lowered her gaze awkwardly. She wasn’t used to this amount of affection from someone, let alone a stranger. Miss J released her shoulders and reached into one of her pockets to pull out a set of keys.
“Let me go ahead and introduce myself in full.” She took Amira's hand and placed the keys in her palm. They were warm from sitting in her pocket, “I am Janice, but everyone calls me Miss J. I suppose you already know that I run this shop. The keys I gave you are to this store and the apartment upstairs. Everything is furnished for you, so whatever you have can just be put away.” She inclined her head at Amira, giving her a soft smile, “Your mother was a dear friend to me. So, when Leyla reached out to me about you getting out on your own finally, I just had to whisk you away.” She giggled and turned to the door when it chimed, “Oh, hello there.” She called to the front door. Amira turned to see a woman slightly taller than her with long black hair, fair skin and dressed in a red tee and jeans, but it was the man behind her that caught her eye more. He stood like a tall, bulky statue behind her, practically filling up the doorway. His hair slightly short that was black as the darkest of nights. He was clean shaved and she could see his deep green eyes. Even though he stood so far away from her, she could smell fresh oil and sweat, but she could also pick up the smell of the forest coming from him.
“Hello Miss J, I came to pick up the book I ordered.” The woman said, her voice like sunshine that broke through dark clouds after a heavy storm. Her eyes were gentle as she approached them and came to a halt when she took in Amira, “My, who is this young lady?” She asked with a smile.
Why does she seem so familiar? Her face isn’t recognizable, but her eyes though...
“Oh, this here is Amira. She will be staying in the apartment upstairs and running this book store for me.” She rested a hand on Amira’s shoulder. Amira looked past the woman to the man again as he walked down one of the aisles, avoiding eye contact. The woman raised a brow at her, glancing over her shoulder and let’s out a soft chuckle.
“That’s my son, Aiden. He’s not much of a people person. He’s a mechanic at the auto shop at the end of town.” She informed her, turning her attention back to Amira. Miss J had gone behind the desk to retrieve one of the packages, “My name is Lymeria. Are you here for school?” She asked Amira.
“Oh, yes. I’ll be taking classes at the community college next week.” She replied, and Lymeria nodded with a smile.
“That’s lovely. We have nice courses, so I know you’ll enjoy them.” she said. Amira stared at her, “Is something on my face?”
“No. I’m sorry for staring. You’re just really beautiful.” She complimented, feeling her face grow hot with embarrassment. Lymeria stared at her for a moment before laughing.
“I’m glad to know I still turn heads after all this time. Too bad my husband doesn’t feel that way.” Her eyes got dark when she mentioned that.
“Well, he’s definitely missing out then.” Amira said firmly, making Lymeria laugh more. It was comforting, like a mother’s laughter. She couldn’t remember how her own mother laugh anymore. Has it truly been that long?
“Here you are, Lymeria. For now on, please direct any further questions to Amira here.” Miss J presented her package to Lymeria and she took it happily. Lymeria seemed to hesitate a moment, looking at Amira's face intently. She returned the gaze, looking deep into her forest green eyes.
Why do they look so familiar?
Lymeria reached out, taking a lock of her hair and wrapped it around her finger. A look of nostalgia crossed her face and her eyes got distant, “It’s as white as snow and soft as Wolf’s fur.” She spoke softly as the hair spun loose from her finger and rested back with the rest. Amira stared at Lymeria as she smiled sweetly at her, “I’m sure I’ll see you around, Amira. Have a lovely day, ladies.” Lymeria wiggled her fingers in farewell as she made her way to the exit. Aiden stepped out from the aisle he had tucked himself behind as his mother walked over. Amira felt her heart flutter at the sight of him as he followed Lymeria out the door, the chime dinging again.
“Come Amira, let’s get you moved in and trained before your first day tomorrow.” Miss J said cheerfully, linking her arm with her own. Amira could only nod as her mind was busy elsewhere.
Maybe it was the heat that was driving his brain crazy, or maybe the stuffiness of the shop that was confusing his senses. His mother insisted he take a break from his work and walk with her here, but he could barely get past the first aisle of shelves before he saw her. A woman that looked to be a few years younger than him standing alongside Miss J. Her white hair flowed down her back like a snowy waterfall, swaying against her open lower back. Her curves fit perfectly in the clothes she chose, her crop top giving more to the imagination. Her pink lips looked soft and inviting, but her eyes drew him in. Her blue eyes were like the ocean on the clearest of days and her scent. By the Gods, he wanted to wrap himself up in it and be smothered to death by it. Yet here he was, hiding behind books as his mother talked to her so freely. All he had to do was move, to step out of hiding and get close, yet his feet wouldn’t budge. There was a stirring inside of him, a low growl making itself
Amirastretchedher arms above her head as her last class wrapped up at noon. As the other students filed out, she looked out the classroom window to the large oak tree in the center of the courtyard out front. She watched the leaves dance with the breeze, her mind fading off to the same silhouette that stood at the back of the book store. He's the one I'm after. He appeared to be normal, if not socially awkward. Perhaps the info we received was mistaken? And why did he have to look so goddamn fine? “Miss Haddock.” A male voice interrupted her thoughts, drawing her attention to the approaching footsteps. A young man in his late twenties stepped up to the desk she stood behind, one hand in his brown slacks pocket. He wore a soft grey vest with a light brownsweater underneath. His slender body fit the style nicely, along with his clean face and short brown hair neatly combed back with the sides shaved low. He held a textbook under his arm.
Oh,theirony... When he touched her cheek, it was barely a graze when it hit him like a freight train. A jolt of electricity electrified every nerve in his body. He became more aware of her presence, the softness of her hair, the smoothness of her skin, the deepness in her eyes. He watched her face light up as she must have felt the same sensation rush through her body and her breath held. She looked in awe and surprise as she drank him in. His Wolf howled with glee. Mate. Aiden washed his face repeatedly, hoping with each splash that he’d wake up from this dream. Did he truly hope that it was a dream? Finding his Mate was fate, no matter the location or situation. Why did he brush her hair away again? He couldn’t hold back his reflexes. She was in a trance by that damn Vampire, his instincts just kicked in. He needed to protect her, but if he hadn’t stepped in, would she have snapped out of it? Her scent was familiar.
Sheinhaleddeeply,taking in the scent of the rain on theconcrete, and the aroma the surrounding forest gave off. Her feet tapped the ground,splashing lightly through the puddles. A single car drove past her, theirheadlights shining on her face for a moment before the darkness of her hood consumedher again. She stopped at an intersection, looking around before crossing. She skippeda step. A step sounded behind her before lining up with her own again. Sheknew she was being followed, she knew she was being watched for some time now.She just had to wait until the time was right for the prey to become the predator. What would Aidenthink of me? She shook her head. She can’t be distracted now. She slowed her pace a bit, hearing the footfalls behind her quickening. Most people would panic. They would run. They would freeze. She remained calm. She steadied her heart, her breathing and let herself get cl
Mark her... His Wolf growled deeply within his mind, applying just a bit of pressure to make his presence known. He looked into her eyes, seeing the clouds reflect in them as if her eyes were the sky itself. Strands of her white hair swayed and danced across her face, her appearance practically angelic until his eyes rested on her soft pink lips. His hand came up to rest on the side of her neck, his thumb brushing over her lips slowly. He watched as her eyelids fluttered from the electric touch he gave off, her breath escaping her. Mark her... His Wolf growled more persistently which confused Aiden. His thumb stopped just off the side of her lips as they parted slightly. All he had to do was lean in and kiss her, and the rest would be history. She's a Hunter... He stopped himself as his conscious warned him suddenly. He looked down at the woman beside him, her eyes having shut now and waiting for him to close the gap
“I’m what?” Amira let his words register for a second as a glass slammed down on the table, forcing them both to separate from one another and take notice of the waitress standing at the end of the table with Aiden’s drink in hand. There was a forced smile on her lips as she stood up straight, yet there was a twitch in her brow. “I’m so sorry about that. I can be such a klutz sometimes.” She giggled, her eyes sweeping over Amira and rests on Aiden, “I would be more than happy to replace this drink for you.” Aiden slid the glass over to him, taking a napkin from a dispenser just off to the side of them and cleaned up the minor spill the waitress had created, “That’s alright. Accidents happen.” Amira watched his face, not a hint of a smile anywhere on his lips. “Are you ready to order?” She asked him, ignoring Amira’s existence again. She sat back, obviously annoyed with the situation, but not very surprised either. She couldn’t deny that Aiden was one very goo
He half expected her to not come along. To turn away and go back to her apartment. After explaining everything, he expected her to drop all contact and maybe even leave the town. Yet here she was, looking unsure of the situation as she stood before his mother, his grandfather and... Miss J?"Hey there, Sugar." She smiled warmly, her grey eyes sparkling knowingly."Janice?" Amira addressed her questioningly, "What are you doing here?""Well," She looked over to Lymeria who smiled a bit awkwardly, "I believe we're all here under the same reason." Her grey eyes turned back to Amira, "You have questions, and I fortunately have your answers.""So, you knew who they are? Why didn't you say anything?" Amira asked her, but the Witch was already shaking her head."This is more than about hunting down Rogues, Amira." Her eyes darkened slightly, "So much more..." She looked over to Lymeria again who nodded and stepped forward.
Why am I even thinking of considering the idea?She tightened the strap around her black boots before slipping a wooden stake into a slit she had created within it. She looked down at her black box, running her fingers over the selection of daggers and smaller knives before grabbing two identical knives and put those in the holders on her belt. She side eyed the firearm, a pistol she was all too familiar with from practicing every day with Jax. She ran her fingers over the barrel, her eyes softening as she thought back to the days she had spent with her father."All I ever wanted was to make you proud. You and mom." She mumbled softly to herself. As if on queue, her phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced at the caller I.D and noticed it was Leyla that was calling her. She hesitated for a moment, her mind spiraling as she tried to figure out a way to describe her situation before picking up the call."Hey sweetheart, I haven't heard from you in a bit.
The moon hung high in the sky. The windowpane gently rattled from the wind. Fresh leaves had begun to bud on the trees in their garden. Spring had finally arrived. She hummed softly, her fingers tracing a small circle on the infant's back as she rocked him to sleep. His head snuggled against her chest, the light sucking of his pacifier filled her ears. His twin snored softly in his crib with a light blue blanket snuggled into his arms. She shut her eyes, her heart beat steady and her mind at ease for the first time in months. The birth of the twins took a toll on her body worse than she had ever imagined. She was hospitalized. Bedridden until her vitals were normal again. Even with Nox assisting her, there was only so much the Wolf spirit could do for a vessel that wasn't his own. A gentle knock came from the closed door before it creaked open for Jayce's head to peer in. His tender smile still made her heart flutter as he stepped in and made his wa
Darlow turned into a ghost town once the battle had officially ended. Any memory of the town had been wiped clean from the citizens that had called it home. The Werewolf community took it upon themselves to clear it out and put whatever was left behind to good use in their new home. Lymeria was on rest after her collision with her ex-Mate, but she was stronger than what he gave her credit for. As for his own Mate. She was still healing after she lost her father in the fight. Leyla had taken temporary leadership of the Hunters until Amira felt she was ready to take over her father's footsteps. She was still healing as well with the loss of her lover, even with the brave face she had put on. The world still moved on and darkness still lingered at every corner. Willow advised later it to burn the deceased that were not turned during the fight, in order to prevent any further undead to wander about. She was handling things slowly with her new abilities. Aiden had caught her freque
Lymeria snarled aggressively at Godfried. The fur on her back rose to make herself appear larger than what she was. Whatever had gone through Godfried's head in that moment must've vanished as he lowered his head to the ground, his black stained teeth bare as he growled challengingly at Lymeria. Amira looked between them when she felt Jax shift in her arms. She looked down at her pale-faced father, his eyes dark as he struggled to speak."Don't speak. Please." Amira swallowed her emotions that fought to come forward. She glanced around the battle with urgency to find her Mate across the clearing with a few of the undead creatures surrounding him. A howl ripped through the air that drew her attention back to Lymeria as Godfried charged and tackled her to the ground. Lymeria barked and snarled as she clawed and bit him, but it wasn't enough to faze him. His jaws snapped at her throat, but she wiggled free in time. His claws dug into her ribs, that caused Lymeria to
Everything happened so quickly. Echoes of gunfire rang loud and clear. The snarls and growls of both monster and beast reverberated in the night. Aidan disappeared into the fray while Amira kept her crossbow up and her back turned away from the monstrosities. Yet with each one that fell, another would take its place. Even with the extra magical power that Willow had extended to the rest of them, it barely put a dent in the Dark Witch's undead army. The unsettling part was that Godfried hadn't made a single move yet. He remained poised beside his Witch near the back of the clearing where they had entered from. Even from the distance, he was an imposing figure.A bark caught her attention. Her gaze swiveled around to find a she-Wolf cornered by two undead creatures. Blood and black ooze coated her grey fur, claw wounds exposed on her chest and she panted heavily from exhaustion of the fight. Amira could see the energy leaving this Wolf's body and it wouldn't be long
He let out a slow, steady breath after getting out of Amira's truck. His eyes scanned the dark forest while Amira grabbed her weapons from the bed of the truck. He could hear the light crunch of snow being traveled through by his pack while on their way to the destination. He peered over at Amira after she closed the back up and slung her crossbow over her shoulders. She set aside her casual brown leather jacket and jeans for a tight fitted black leather jacket, black cargo pants and black combat boots to match. She had pulled her white hair back into a ponytail with braids tied in it.She lifted her gaze to meet his and tried to give him a reassuring smile, but the corners of her lips just wouldn't rise. He walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Everything will be alright."She let out a breath. "I know, but this feels almost like déjà vu." She looked over as another set of headlights came up behind her truck and parked there.
Snow crunched beneath her boots as she walked alongside the lake. Ice layered the surface of the water and gave a beautiful reflection of the moon and stars. Time was about to run out before Godfried and his Witch would arrive, and she still felt ill-prepared for what laid ahead. Even though a truce was made between the Hunters and the Werewolves, the tension was so thick, not even a knife could cut through it. As reluctant as everyone was, training and preparations were still coming along as well as she could hope for. Even in the short time frame that they had."Amira?" Jax called out to her from behind. She peered over her shoulder to her father who looked far older than she remembered him being the last time she saw him. He had his hands stuffed into his dark leather jacket as he walked up to stand beside her. His dark hair streaked with grey and bags lined under his eyes."When did you sleep last?" She asked him as a cold breeze brushed through t
He folded his arms over his broad chest as he gazed at the sleeping Willow and Dante snuggled up on the small sofa tucked into the corner of the bookshop. When he awoke and noticed that his Mate hadn't come to bed, he grew a bit worried and came down to investigate. He wasn't expecting to find the Vampire and his partner asleep on the sofa when he came to check up on her. He inclined his head as he admired the view for just a moment of the two lovers. In their peaceful sleeping state, they appeared as an ordinary couple that happened to doze off together.Aiden peered over to the open gate to the restricted section and saw Amira slightly slouched forward while sitting upright. He shook his head, not at all surprised that she had fallen asleep in that position as he had caught her doing it once before. He walked around the desk and stood behind her while he leaned against the metal doorframe."Hey." He nudged her gently with his foot, "Sleepyhead, wake
The warmth of the sun surprised her as her eyes fluttered open to find herself standing in a grassy field with dandelions scattered about in all directions. The air was still chilled yet not a speck of snow in sight. She patted herself down, feeling the fabric of her clothes and the softness of her face and hands. It all felt real to her, but it also felt like a dream at the same time. She ran her fingers over the blades of grass when her she felt someone watching her. She looked around and spotted a woman dressed in an off white tunic that fell just below her mid thigh. The tunic was pulled over her right shoulder with a clasp that seemed to pin it in place. A leather belt wrapped around her waist with what looked like a thin quiver attached at her hip. On her arms were braces strapped to them with gloves that had the index and pinky finger exposed. She had what appeared to be thin leather straps wrapped around her calves, but with the grass it was difficult to tell if she was
She peered over to Dante's half-naked sleeping form beside her. She brushed her fingers through his dark hair and caressed his cheek. He stirred slightly, but did not wake as she crawled out of bed as slowly and quietly as possible. She stepped up to the mirror that occupied their hotel room and in the dim light of the moon that came in through the window, saw her reflection staring back at her. Willow ran her fingers over the fresh bite mark on her right breast Dante had left behind. She didn't feel fatigued like she normally did after he drank from her. It was strange, or perhaps with her new powers she inherited from Janice, she's able to withstand the effects of a Vampire's bite. She tugged on the longer strands of hair, her lips pursed as she mentally decides on a trim when her eyes shifted over to the white book on the nightstand beside her bed. The same book she always met with Hecate whenever she needed her wisdom. Except this time, she felt certain that this is where