StoryMask.com

Darkclaw

Written by: Ben Marroquin

StoryMask.com

Shadows flitted behind her as she walked down the street toward the Warrens. The moon was partially covered by autumn clouds, but she could still feel its radiance pulsing within, drawn in through her grayish blue eyes. She wrapped her red coat round her athletic body, lifted her head slightly, and breathed in deeply as her hair, pitch black and layered, fell past her shoulders. She knew she was headed in the right direction, even before she heard the scream ring out in the night from the alley just ahead.

Jovianna Lynette Wynters raced to the entrance of the alley and braced herself as a battered, tear streaked blond teen ran into her. She held the shivering girl up by the shoulders and peered into the dimly lit alley as a large gray haired beast came to a wary halt on all fours, just 10 yards away. Inch long fangs dripped drool onto the ground as it snarled at her.

Jovi looked into the eyes of the terrified girl, pheromones permeated the air, calming the girl. She returned her gaze to the beast, and sent the girl running up the road towards safety. The beast’s muscles rippled as it prepared to bound and drag down the prey it had been toying with.

“So wolfie,” Jovi said with a smirk on her darkening face, getting the werewolf’s attention. “You ready for a real fight? …”

The werewolf’s eyes widened as it looked a short distance past Jovi, focusing on the two figures that stood several yards silently behind her. A pale skinned, well-built male with dark chestnut brown hair, a black tasteful sweater, and chocolate hued pants smiled at the young werewolf. His arm and hand were entwined with the arm and hand of a slender woman; she had straight white hair down to her shoulder blades, a dark green long sleeved blouse, and black jeans like Jovi.

The chestnut haired man glanced at the young woman in his arm, “Mmm, what have we here Jasal?”

“Red and the big bad wolf, what a delicious treat,” Jasal said with a silky smile. “Which one do you want Aidan?” Their wicked smiles became twisted as fangs lengthened and faces became a humanoid blend of the demonic and bat.

Jovi slid the red coat off, still staring at the werewolf, continuing her conversation with the young Were, “… because I’ve brought one for us.” The werewolf responded with a growl, not even taking its blazing eyes off the two vampires.

Jovi knew she had nothing to fear from turning her back on the werewolf because of the utter hatred that resided between all lycanthropes and vampires. Hatred bred in blood since their existence.

Human blood gave vampires life, but drinking Lycan blood gave vampires certain abilities that made them even deadlier creatures of the night. It allowed them to permeate the air with lust building or fear chilling pheromones, provided them with the ability to transform into more powerful and dexterous bat-like beasts (eventually sprouting wings), and in some cases, allowed them to communicate with certain animals.

But vampires weren’t fools, they knew just how dangerous it was to hunt and kill Weres, especially without silver since it poisoned a Weres blood making it undrinkable. And their blood was just a precious to Weres, turning the hunted into the hunters.

For Lycans, Vampire’s blood held the key to immortality, allowing them to greatly extend their lives and youth, the more vamp blood consumed the longer they lived. It also made them highly resistant to the hallucinogenic drug-like bite of vamps. A bite that allows vamp’s to turn humans into drug-like junkies; allowing them to use humans as toys and food in order to get their fix, eventually owning their bodies and minds.

The werewolf bounded past Jovi and barreled straight towards the couple with deadly intent. Jasal and Aiden gracefully separated as the werewolf landed in the spot they had just vacated. The werewolf turned to face Aiden leaving Jasal behind him.

Well that answers that question Jovi thought to herself as her foe was now chosen for her. Jasal smiled at the sight of the werewolf’s vulnerable back and leapt. She was fast, but Jovi was faster.

Aiden’s eyes flared as he looked past the werewolf and saw Jovi smash into the side of his leaping Jasal. He clenched his jaw as he heard them crash into the brick wall of the closed building.

(to be continued)