District 17

Ayla let out a soft chuckle and grinned as Ren spoke. “At least I’m not stuck with the Grand Council.” She made a disgusted face. “I ran from my coven because they were monsters.” She shuddered. “Eva…really saved me, I’ve devoted my life to her. To the coven, to this.” She pulled a small vile of the serum from her pocket and held it up.

“I’ll take that.” Dr. Knightley came by and took the vile, “Let’s get testing, huh?” She winked as she walked off toward the lab.

Ayla looked after the doctor for a moment and then looked to Ren. “Um…” She then gave a shy smile. “I’ll see you later?” She ran off after Dr. Knightley then.

“This seems awfully clear.” Dr. Knightley spoke as she inspected the serum. “How long have you been working on this? What happens when you drink it?”

Ayla stood on the other side of the testing table. “It works, for about an hour, no matter how much you drink. If you drink too much it makes you very ill…I’ve spent many days with a fever…trying to hone in this serum. I’ve been working on it hard the past few years, I just haven’t had the time, or the facility.” She looked around the room.

“Now, we do.” Dr. Knightley grinned. “There’s one thing about this.” She poured the serum into a container and began pulling it into pipettes where she distributed it into different test tubes. “We have to find the missing ingredient. It sounds like you’ve been on the right path. Just, human blood is a hard thing to synthesize.” She began searching through chemicals. “Do something for me.” She held a test tube out. “Drink this, I’ll draw your blood immediately after. I want to see the chemicals.”

Ayla gave a nod. She sat down in a patient chair and rolled up her sleeve. She watched as Dr. Knightley got the tools together, she stuck a needle into her arm and readied the collection hub and tubes. Ayla then downed the small tube of serum. Her pulse increased, she shut her eyes, it didn’t taste the same, it honestly had a plastic like flavor. It tasted fake. She winced slightly and shook her head. “It’s worse than liquor.” She chuckled.

Dr. Knightley smirked as she pressed the collection tube into the hub and allowed Ayla’s blood to drain into the tube. “Now let’s see…” She spoke as she turned and began drawing the blood into test tubes. “Get a pack of human blood for me.” She spoke as she began testing everything. “We will get this, Ayla.”

**

Skylar glanced around to the sounds of the forest as they hiked. She smiled as the sun beat down on them, the rays were warm and relaxing. She looked to Eva as she asked to stop for a break. She studied her, “You’re tired…” She spoke, worried. She reached and grinned to the deer leg which she began to eat, her fangs ripped into the flesh. Skylar tossed the bone to the side and sighed. “If you ever need a break.” She gave a nod before she fell into silence again, listening to the world around them. The sounds were overwhelming. She could hear everything, down to Eva’s heartbeat. She could feel Eva’s heartbeat. “Hm…” Skylar sighed heavily when Eva asked her what her plan was. “It isn’t an if.” She responded. “It is more of a how, in the case of how severe it will be….” She shoved her hands into the pockets of her bomber jacket. “If he threatens to kill me….us…” She looked to Eva. “We will have to run…they are too strong…and…I can’t kill the people I love…Eva I just can’t…” She fell silent for a long moment. “Just…keep quiet when we meet with him. The sun will still be up, so we will have that on our side. He will not suspect us to be what we are.”

As they crested the hill and looked down into the valley Skylar chuckled to Eva’s comment. “You haven’t seen the inside.” She winked. “Come on...I have no choice but to do this.” She looked to the sun, a few more hours of daylight remained. This was the best present they had on their side. She hiked down the mountain side, following the pathway as it curved down into the valley. Before long they came to the bridge. She ran her fingertip along the old steel of the bridge as her boots knocked against the wooden planks beneath her feet.

“Skylar!” A familiar voice yelled from across the bridge.

Skylar stared ahead to Booker. “Just keep calm…” She whispered, though inside she was beginning to panic.

Booker ran up to her and wrapped his arms tightly around her in a warm embrace. He took a step back and paused, looking to Eva. He looked back to Skylar and smiled. “It’s good to see you, I’ve heard horror stories, your father thought that you were dead…even with the letter…um…” He looked to Eva again.

“This is my friend Eva.” Skylar gave a weak smile. “Where’s my father?”

Booker gave a gentle smile, “Nice to meet you.” He shook Eva’s hand. “I’m Booker.” He then looked to Skylar. “Inside, why?” He drew his brows together.

“I need to speak with him.” Skylar seemed to command, her voice took on a tone that made the words sound more like an order.

Booker let out a chuckle, “I’m sure, he’d be upset if you didn’t come see him, your mother as well.” He smiled, “Come on.”

Skylar glanced to Eva and took in a deep breath as they stepped toward the mountainside, toward the large door that was carved into the mountain. Her breath shuddered slightly, she was terrified. She looked to the familiar arched walls as they stepped inside the tunnels. Soon they entered a large room that had stairs that led down into the underground world. Booker walked with them as they passed through a doorway that was at least 12 inches thick of metal. In case of emergency this doorway would lock shut, locking everyone inside, protecting them from any attack. She’d seen it before as a child. Lycans attacked their bunker, none of the lycans survived. This locking mechanism locked into place and the huge door outside sealed the lycans in, her father activated the silver nitrate gas that killed all 25…in a matter of minutes. Skylar shuddered as she thought of that day, she’d been twelve or so, that was the day that really set her on the path to end the war. There was no reason for this. No reason at all. They rounded into a large room where men, women, and children played about. Throwing footballs, riding bikes. It was a huge opening the size of a football field. The play area. Skylar glanced to Eva as they turned down another hallway toward her father’s office. They walked passed several bunker rooms which had been turned into homes for the residents.

“Have you ever been here, Eva?” Booker asked, “I don’t recognize your face.”

“I met her, when I left the coven. She needed my help.” Skylar butted in. She bit at her lower lip, her pulse was quick, she could hear it, feel it. The sound of her own pulse caused her to become anxious. She could hear Booker’s breathing, his pulse. She could hear other heartbeats. She clenched her jaw.

Booker glanced to her, “Touchy today, aren’t we?”

“You didn’t get attacked by a coven of vampires.” Skylar snapped back quickly.

“Right, right.” He stepped aside as they came to the bottom of a staircase. “Have fun. Oh, and try not to…um…you know, be you, he’s already mad enough that you were across the continent when this happened…you could have died Skylar…you’re so lucky.”

“You have no idea.” Skylar muttered as she climbed the stairs. The room that her father’s office was in looked out over the play field. Skylar already had a plan in her head, if things went wrong she could bust through the window and her and Eva could get to the top of the stairs before the outside gate closed. Hopefully...at least if they were lucky. Skylar glanced nervously to Eva. “No big deal, right?” She gave a weak smile as she pushed the doorway open to her father’s office.

Amara stood with her back to them, she turned and a huge smile crept over her face. “Oh my baby!” She ran forward, “Sky!” She wrapped her arms tightly around Skylar. “I thought you were dead!” Tears welled up in her eyes.

Mavis sat at his desk, he stood slowly, his eyes looked to Eva for a moment before he hugged Skylar after Amara released her. “It’s good to have you home, Sky.” He gave a smile. His jaw was tight. He glanced to Eva. “And who might you be?” He asked.

“This is Eva Brewster, she has helped me, father.” Skylar began.

Mavis brought his eyes back to his daughter, causing her to pause. He stared at her for a long moment, he reached forward with quick speed and gripped her jaw. “What’s wrong with your eyes?” He asked, turning her head.

“I can explain.” She spoke softly.

Amara smacked his hand down. “Mavis, that is no way to greet our daughter.” She snapped. “It is lovely to meet you Eva.” She gave a warm smile.

“Smile for me.” Mavis spoke, his hand on his gun.

Skylar took in a breath that shuddered. “What?” She asked, her voice shook slightly.

Mavis drew his gun, “Smile, I said. You heard me.” He held the gun to her chest. “Don’t get any ideas.” He looked to Eva. He was incredibly observant.

Skylar bit her lower lip, she placed her hand on the pistol. “Father, I can---…”

“No.” He spoke and cocked the gun. “Do as I asked.”

Amara stared with wide eyes. “Sky?” She asked as she took in the color of her daughter’s eyes. “What’s happened to you?”

Skylar took in a slow shaken breath, she slowly opened her mouth for her father to see her fangs. “I…” The sound of a gunshot rang out then. Skylar felt the burn of the bullet in her chest, she gasped, her eyes wide.

“No!” Amara cried as she ripped the gun from her husband’s hands. “No! Mavis!” She screamed. She knocked him back as Skylar fell to her knees. “No…Sky…No..no…no…” She gripped at Skylar’s face as she took in shaken breaths.

Mavis turned then and ran to his desk. He pulled out a rifle and aimed it at Eva. In an instant Skylar was off of her knees, she gripped the end of the rifle and bent the barrel down. She then leaned against the desk, gasping. “Father…let…me….explain…” She said through grit teeth.

Amara rushed forward, “Stop it!” She cried, “She’s our daughter, Mavis! She isn’t a monster!” She stood between him and Skylar.

Mavis glared at Eva for a long moment. “What happened to you?” He snapped as he looked back to Skylar.

Skylar gasped as her body fought off the bullet her father had shot her with. She winced as it fell from her chest. “A lycan bit me.” She whispered softly. “I was going to die, I was terribly ill with a fever. We were attacked by the lycans that is how I was bitten…Eva saved me.” She paused then and looked to Eva. “If it wasn’t for Eva, I would be dead.” She lied. “Now you need to listen, there is something far bigger than all of us happening. The lycans have gotten into something they shouldn’t be toying with. They are opening portals to hell, demons are escaping. They plan to capture those demons and kill all of humanity as we know it.”

Amara stepped around the desk and helped Skylar to a chair. She looked to Mavis with angry eyes. Mavis stood behind his desk. He slowly sat the rifle down on the table, his eyes looked to Eva. “You’re a hybrid?” He let out a soft chuckle. “How very interesting.” He knew Eva was a vampire. “Tell me, Eva, how is it you walk in the sun?” He stepped forward, toward her, examining her. “How do I know this isn’t a trap?” He questioned.

Red lights then began flashing, the sound of sirens blared through the bunker. “We are under attack!” Someone screamed. The men and women in the playing field scrambled toward their homes.

Skylar stood and stared at her father, “If it was a trap, you’d be dead. Close the gates, father.” She leaped forward as vampires stormed the bunker. At least twenty of them. They ripped throats out of humans with their fangs, stabbed others with daggers. Skylar burst through the glass and landed in the huge open room. She snarled as she ran forward, her ears lengthened her claws elongated. The vampires rushed toward her. She slammed a vampire to the ground and slit his throat, another slammed into her knocking her to her back. Skylar took in a quick breath, the world paused around her as she pulled her pistols. She released several shots as time sped back up. 8 vampires fell to the ground in a flash of light from her UV bullets. She growled as she leaped into the air, flipping over backward as she shot a vampire beneath her. This was just the beginning as more swarmed into the bunker…Skylar fought endlessly until every last vampire lay severely wounded. He pulled himself, trying to get away as she marched toward him. She flipped him onto his back and planted her heel into his chest. Her golden eyes were cold and threatening, she aimed her pistol at him, “Who sent you?” She questioned.

The vampire let out a chuckle. His abdomen was cut open. He grinned up at her a bloody smile. “And why would I tell you?” He asked.

Skylar leaned down, she gripped his throat and tossed him into the concrete wall before she rushed forward with incredible speed. She slammed him again and shoved the pistol into his throat. “Because, I can make this last as long as you’d like.” She sneered. “You tell me, I’ll end your pain.” She snapped as she slammed her fist into his chest, bones snapped. She gripped his arm and snapped his bones easily, the man cried out in pain.

“They sent us for her!” He cried and looked to Eva. “The Grand Council.” He whimpered. “They want her for betrayal. She…killed a second hand at the Peacekeeper’s…c-c-coven.” He stuttered, blood in his mouth. Skylar stared at him with a loose jaw. “We were ordered to kill…the humans…and take…her back…to kill you…but…you…are…not…human anymore.” He gripped onto her and in a swift motion he bit into her neck. Skylar let out a cry as he drank deeply of her blood. He bit down hard and tossed her to the side as he stepped toward Eva. “I’ll take you home to the elders.” He chuckled as he wiped the blood from his mouth. In the next moment he gripped his chest, he gasped. His eyes widened before the whites of his eyes turned black. He let out a painful cry as blood began to pour from all of his orifices. He fell to his knees, gripping his chest as the shadows crawled from his mouth. He fell over, dead in a matter of moments.

Skylar lay on the ground, she gripped her neck tightly as blood gushed from the bite, he’d ripped her jugular. She grit her teeth as her healing began to take place. Her breaths were quick and uneven, her eyes caved in and out. He’d hurt her. “Eva…Eva…” She whimpered as the world finally caved in and she fell unconscious.

Amara rushed through the huge room. “Sky!” She cried as she knelt next to her daughter, she placed pressure on the gushing wound. “Skylar.” She shook her gently.

Mavis stared around the room at the fight as it played out. He shot a few of the vampires with his pistol. But….Skylar and Eva…protected them. He looked to the flickering Eva’s that surrounded him, keeping the vampires at bay. “How…?” He questioned. Then suddenly Amara was at Skylar’s side. Mavis rushed forward as Eva continued to fight. He stared as the fight ended, he watched as Eva collapsed onto the floor.

Skylar’s eyes opened to the sound of her name being called. She choked a bit on the blood in her mouth as she pushed herself up. She glanced around the room and sprinted to the backpack. She ripped it up from the ground as she slid to a stop in front of Eva. “Hey…” Skylar carefully grasped the hilt of the dagger and pulled it from Eva’s back, she grit her teeth. She pulled Eva into her lap then, Eva’s blood leaked into her shirt. “Come on. Don’t give up.” She whispered as she lifted the bag to her mouth. She bit into it and then held the bag to Eva’s mouth. “Come on.” She squeezed the bag. A bit of the blood ran down the sides of Eva’s mouth. “Come on, Eva.” She whispered, Skylar held her hand over the gash on Eva’s forearm. “Please…” Her voice was full of worry. “I’m sorry…”

Amara stood in front of the two, her hands covered in Skylar’s blood. She turned to Mavis, her eyes angry. “You shot our daughter!” She snapped and shoved him. “How dare you!”

Mavis stumbled backward as the residents began to come out of their homes into the large room to observe what happened. He stared to his daughter for a long moment and lowered his eyes. He was so full of anger, his actions were not normal. He’d already deemed Skylar dead in his mind, so it made shooting her easier…at least that is what he wanted to tell himself. He’d lived such a rough life, his exterior was incredibly rough. He’d fought with Skylar since day one. She’d always rebelled against him. And Amara always fought for her daughter. Mavis stepped forward. “Sky.” He leaned down and carefully lifted Eva. “Come.” He carried Eva off into the bunker. “So…” He spoke softly. “She has blood packages? She doesn’t drink from humans?” He questioned.

Skylar followed, Eva’s backpack in her hands, she stumbled slightly and Amara helped hold her up. “That’s correct. Her coven isn’t like any other, they don’t hunt for sport, they don’t torture.” Skylar followed her father as he stepped into a room that was decorated very nicely. Skylar’s room. He set Eva down on the bed and took a step back. Skylar pulled another package of blood from the backpack, she pulled Eva into her arms once again and bit into the package. She then held the package to Eva’s mouth, “Drink, Eva, come on.” She hugged Eva to her body.

Mavis stood, he watched his daughter and sighed, he then turned to find Amara glaring at him, her hands on her hips. “I need a minute.”

Amara placed her hand on his chest, she stared into his eyes. “Mavis, you need to study long and hard, what you’ve done can not be taken back. You’re god damn lucky you didn’t kill Skylar. They saved us. Did you see all of the people Eva saved? They would all be dead if these two hadn’t shown up.” She snapped before she lowered her arm. Amara stepped forward as she watched her daughter tuck Eva into the bed gently. Skylar wiped away the blood and sat on the edge of the bed, worry in her eyes. “Do you…need anything honey?” Amara asked softly.

Skylar looked up to her mother, “Do we have any blood packs in medical?” She asked.

“Yes of course, I’ll go get some.” She came forward and hugged her daughter. “I’m sorry about your father…” She whispered before she ran from the room to get more blood for Skylar and Eva.

Skylar kissed Eva’s forehead, “You saved so many.” She whispered softly, her eyes fluttered, she too was weak from the amount of blood she’d lost. Between getting shot and her jugular being ripped out. She was lucky to be a hybrid in that moment. Skylar took in a slow breath, “I could smell them…Eva…I knew something wasn’t right…I just…I didn’t know what it was…I’m sorry…” She pressed her lips to Eva’s forehead again.

“There is no need to send anyone here to protect us.” Mavis spoke as he came into the room, his jaw tight. He looked over Eva and then to his daughter. “Skylar you need to go, you’re not welcome here.”

“Father…” Skylar stood slowly, her jaw loose, her eyes soft. “We…I…” She looked to Eva.

“Thank you for helping us, I am sure that many of my people would have been injured or murdered from this attack.” Mavis then looked to Eva, “But as you said, it’s your fault. With any vampire comes trouble. It’s always been that way with you nightwalkers.” His voice was cold. “Skylar, I am only going to ask this one last time, I want you to leave, and never come back.”

Skylar took in a shaken breath. This was more painful than the bullet he shot into her chest. She looked to Eva a long moment. “Okay…I…I understand.” Her voice cracked. She knew he would be upset about her being turned, but she never dreamed he would have a reaction like this, first he tried to kill her, now he was banishing her from her own home. Mavis snapped his fingers, two soldiers stepped into the room, they held shotguns with uv bullets in them, ready to shoot if there was a discrepancy. He stared to his daughter for a long hard moment before he turned on his heel and left the room. Skylar turned and pulled a duffle bag down from her closet, she shoved several things into it. “L-let’s go.” She whispered, tears welled in her eyes. She couldn’t believe what was happening. Skylar tossed the bag over her shoulder. “Come on, Eva.” Her voice cracked again, she sniffled as she stepped from the room. Skylar looked to the floor, her hand held onto the strap of her duffle bag. She could feel the eyes of the residents on her as she made the long walk out of the bunker. She wiped a few tears away, trying not to break down.

It wasn’t until they were halfway across the bridge that tears began to roll over her cheeks as the moonlight shone down upon her. Skylar walked silently, with a sob here and there, to the barn that held the vehicles. She reached forward and pulled a quilted blanket from an object. “We can take my motorcycle.” She spoke softly as she pulled a small key that was attached to a chain from her bag. She climbed on and pulled her helmet over her face before she slipped her goggles over her eyes. “H-here.” She handed Eva a helmet before she kick started the motorcycle. The engine revved happily. Skylar waited for Eva to climb onto the motorcycle before she peeled off. Dirt kicked up from the knobby tires as they shot out into the night, with only the headlamp of the motorcycle to guide them. Skylar’s body shook as she cried beneath the shield of the helmet. She didn’t have a family. She’d lost everything she knew. As she drove on slowly the trail began to thin and soon snow began to pack on the trail as she rode up the road toward the bunker she’d named home to her pack.

Two lycans rushed forward when they got close, running alongside their alpha, they howled happily as they ran through the snow toward the bunker in the distance. A large garage door opened as they came up to the building. Skylar pulled the cycle in and killed the engine. She hung her helmet on the side of the handlebars and looked to Eva just as Ayla came bursting through the doors.

“Eva!” Ayla grinned from ear to ear. She hugged Skylar and then hugged Eva. She took a step back and smiled happily, “It’s good to see you, here.” She held a glass of blood toward Eva. “Have a drink.” She offered. She had her own glass which she sipped happily.

Dr. Knightley walked in and chuckled. “We cracked the code.” She grinned, “No more humans for you, now you have your own delicious synthetic blood.” She paused, “It actually should make you feel energized, more so than human blood.”

Skylar reached forward as Dr. Knightley handed her a glass. She smelled it for a moment before she lifted it to her lips and took a sip. It was delightful. It truly did taste better. It was like a strawberry milkshake on a summer evening. Skylar grinned, her body buzzed, “This is great.” She smiled. She then looked to Eva. “So, what do you plan to do about the council, Eva?”

Ayla stared to Eva for a long moment, “What happened?” She asked, her voice full of concern. She then thought to their adventure here. They had to run from the Peacekeeper Coven. Eva killed the right hand man. She swallowed as she came to the realization. “They are going to hunt you down like a dog…” She then looked to Dr. Knightley. “No…pun intended sorry..” She let out a nervous laugh.

Dr. Knightley chuckled and then turned her attention to Eva. “We will protect you, Eva. You are part of the pack, as is this silly girl.” She chuckled and pat Ayla on her back before she left the room.

Ayla was silent for a moment before she looked to Eva. “You wouldn’t go to the council would you? They will kill you, Eva.” She muttered. Skylar looked to Eva then, awaiting the answer.

Skylar’s eyes looked about the room as Eva spoke, and then when Ren looked to her and asked her what the plan was her eyes widened slightly but only for a split second. She took in a slow breath as she looked to Eva, Ayla, and then finally Ren. She cleared her throat slightly, “Right…” She bit her lip, “From what I know of the council, this isn’t going to be easy, Eva. Come on.” She stepped from the garage and into the bunker where she entered a room that had a table in the center, it was a military plans room. Skylar searched through a cabinet and pulled out an old rolled up paper. She spread it out onto the table and anchored the ends with shell casings. “This is us, here.” She pointed on the map. She took a step back as she analyzed the map, humans and packs were between them and the council, and whatever else lay in their path. Her golden eyes glanced to Eva a moment before she looked back down. She was broken. The pain from her father pushing her away caused her mind to cloud over. She kept replaying the moment over and over again in her mind.

“Are you okay?” Ayla asked after a long moment of silence.

“I’m quite the opposite.” Skylar spoke she lifted a quill from an ink jar of red liquid. She circled the council and a few other places on the map. “This isn’t going to be easy….” She shook her head. She then began drawing onto the map, a line, the path they would follow to the council. Once done she went and pulled another set of rolled up paper. She lay that out. It was a map of the exterior of the old castle, weak points that her father’s men found on a mission at some point in the recent past. “We will head north, it’s going to take a few days, but we have no choice it seems…” She looked to Eva again. Her father’s voice in her mind. Skylar you need to go, you’re not welcome here. She looked back down to the plans as she fought with herself, trying not to break down again, especially in front of her pack members. “There is a small settlement here.” She pointed to a place she had circled, “This is Norwich, I know several humans here, we will rest here the first night…so long as everything goes as planned…”

Dr. Knightley placed her hand over Skylar’s to stop her. “Hold on there.” She looked up to Eva. “I have no way to mass produce this blood, Eva.” She spoke, her voice not as energetic as before. “It can be done, but Ayla and I are still working on everything. This was our last batch, the winning batch that is perfect. To mass produce this…” She shook her head. “It’s going to take me days, if not weeks to get all of the proportions down. We have a small barrel, but for now, that is all. We need more supplies. This is going to have to be manufactured in an old brewery, or something of the sort. A few of the ingredients are hard to come by….”

Ayla stared to Eva, worry in her eyes. “Eva it’s too soon, what if the next batch we don’t get it just right? The Council will destroy you…”

Skylar clenched her jaw as she thought, her eyes searched over the map. “Just make enough for the council, Ayla.” She stared to Eva as she spoke this, then her golden eyes turned to Ayla. “We only have one shot.”

Ayla gave a nod, “Of course…we can use the barrel that we have, it should be enough for the council to all try some at least.”

Dr. Knightley stared to Skylar, “We don’t have a lot of time to waste with the council out for her head on a platter.” She commented as she looked to Eva. “If there’s one thing I know about vampires, your elders are all a bunch of backstabbing snooty power hungry assholes. The reason the vampires are they way you are is because of the olden ways.” She shook her head.

Skylar stared to Eva for a moment before she looked back to the map. “Alright.” She traced her finger up the map. “We will stop in Norwich, the next morning we are going to head up into the mountains. Hopefully during the day, we will not run into any trouble. The nights may be rough, but my hopes are that we will be safe.” She looked to Eva. “You should send the council a letter, tell them that you have a gift for them and that you are coming to them. They do not need to hunt you down.” She looked back down to the map. “By dusk we should reach the town of Everwinter. The climate here is very cold. Most lycans would run the other direction.” Skylar paused, I want you to leave, and never come back. Her voice caught in her throat as she shook her head, “We will spend the night here…” She gave a nod, “The next morning we will head to the council, we should reach them just after sunset.” She pulled the map of the castle over the top of the area map. “Ren.” She looked to the lycan with her golden eyes. “I will need you to line the building with our pack. I need you here….” She pointed. “Here…..here…and finally here…” She placed Xs on the map where she wanted them to stage. “If something goes wrong, I only want you to focus on getting us out, we will not be strong enough to defeat the entire coven that surrounds the council.”

Ayla furrowed her brows, she didn’t like the idea. She felt like they were a piece of meat being lowered into a cage of starving lions. She stayed silent though, through the years of being under Eva she learned that an idea at first may sound like an insane plan, but in the end Eva’s plans turned out well in her favor at least. Ayla glanced to her queen before she looked to Ren, her eyes took in the features of the lycan that stood before her before she turned and looked to Skylar. “It’s crazy, but I’m in.” She nodded and gave a gentle, nervous smile.

Skylar gave a nod. “Alright then, in the morning we will head out. Get some rest tonight.” She turned and left the room then. Skylar found her way through the halls to her room. She slung her duffle bag on the floor and made her way into the bathroom where she undressed and stepped into the steaming hot shower. She leaned her forehead against the cool tile for a moment as she washed herself down, getting rid of any left over blood from the battle. She couldn’t stop thinking about Mavis. His voice. Her father hadn’t ever sounded so cruel. She sniffled slightly, her tears hidden by the water. Eventually Skylar climbed from the shower and pulled on a pair of pants and a tank top before she climbed into the bed. She leaned against the wall and stared at the ceiling, her mind was running and million miles per second…

Skylar turned off the water to the shower, the sounds of the water running down the drain began to subside. She wrapped a towel around her body and stepped from the shower as she pat her hair with another towel. She pulled her brows together, a smell came into her nostrils. She paused, listening. She moved to the door and placed her hand on the knob. Just as she turned it she was slammed against the wall. Skylar let out a yelp that was silenced by a hand. She felt a sharp stab in her side. She could smell something that was held against her mouth, a cloth that held a chemical. Skylar tried not to breathe but only found herself gasping for air as the world around her began to fade.

The next moment she could hear Eva speaking. The bathroom was dark. Everything felt as though it was underwater. She pushed herself up and fell against the wall. An alliance with Lycans? She heard the voice of a man that she didn’t recognize. Skylar reached to the handle of the bathroom as she continued to listen. She heard him wish her good luck and then she heard the sound of the shutter on the window. Skylar pushed against the door. It was blocked by something. She grit her teeth and slammed against the door, breaking the lock. “Eva…” She rushed forward, she leaned down and placed her fingers against Eva’s neck, inspecting the blood. She searched her eyes for a moment before she sat down next to her and lifted her hand to her head. She felt dizzy still from whatever chemical he used to knock her out. “We aren’t safe anywhere, are we?” She muttered softly. Skylar stared to the window, the shutter flapped slightly. The glass on the floor shined in the light of the room. “If I wasn’t in the shower…” She shook her head. “If I was ready for him…” She grit her teeth slightly before she stood. She made her way to the closet and pulled on clothing. She dressed in black pants, a black tank top with a bomber jacket over the top. She reached to her dresser and strapped her pistols to her thighs. “There is no time to waste, love.” She helped Eva to her feet. “Pack what you need, I’m going to get everyone ready to go.” She then left the room. Skylar sounded an alarm which caused the Lycans to all run from the various rooms of the bunker. She stood in the middle of the large meeting hall. “I need everyone to get ready to move tonight. A vampire has broken into our bunker, we need to move now, there is no time to waste.” She spoke before she stepped off through the crowd.

A hand caught her shoulder. “Sky.” The voice belonged to Ayla. She turned her and looked into her eyes. “What happened?” She questioned.

“I can’t remember, he jumped me.” She whispered softly.

Ayla gave a nod. “Come with me.” She pulled her off to the medical wing and mixed a few things together before she turned and held a glass of a pinkish liquid. “Drink this, Blake injected you with some kind of sedative, I have a good idea that it may have been Blight Cap. It’s a plant that is actually quite effective to put a vampire out for an extended period of time. You seem to be exhibiting signs of it, you seem confused, Skylar.”

Skylar took the glass and inspected the liquid. “The more that I learn about the vampires, things that I didn’t know, the more it seems that the council is out for its own accord….” She muttered before she lifted the glass to her mouth, she drank it quickly and wrinkled up her nose. It tasted disgusting. She handed the glass back to Ayla and within seconds the cloudiness in her vision and hearing drifted away. Skylar gave a gentle smile, “Thank you.” She spoke and gave a nod. “I’m counting on you to help keep us safe, Ayla.” She smiled before she left the room.

Alya winced when Skylar spoke the last line. “If you only knew…” She muttered. “She’s going to kill us…” She turned and packed up her things.

Skylar gathered everyone together and climbed onto her motorcycle. She also pulled the keys to one of their all terrain vehicles that she gave to Ren. “Keep up.” She smiled as she tossed the keys to the Lycan. Skylar started her motorcycle and waited for Eva to get on behind her before she peeled out. The pack all transformed and ran alongside her. They howled happily. A few ran out in front, scouting to keep them safe. The moon was bright as they tore through the night.

Ayla looked over to Ren as she held onto the side of the vehicle. “I don’t feel right about this, Ren.” She spoke, “Something is going to go wrong…I can feel it.” She focused ahead, she could see Skylar and Eva in the distance on the motorcycle. They were bringing up the rear of the caravan.

The night passed quickly, they dropped in altitude as they headed to the north. Now they were traversing through a thick forest. Skylar’s eyes scoured the forest, keeping an eye out for any signs of danger. She followed the road toward the north into the early morning hours until they came to a field. She slowed, they were on a foothill that over looked the town below, Norwich. You are not welcome here. Her father’s voice again reminded her. She grit her teeth as she pulled forward into the forest and found an area that they could set up camp in. Skylar turned and looked to the lycans that surrounded them. “Set up camp. Eva and I will go get supplies and food from town.” She then peeled off, dirt flew from beneath the rear wheel of the motorcycle as she carved down the mountainside and into the city.

Residents of the city looked to the two as they came into the town. She pulled her motorcycle up to a shop front and pulled her helmet off as she climbed from the bike. She gave a gentle smile to Eva. Skylar stepped up a set of stone stairs and into an old shop. “Marcus?” She asked as she walked in, the bell rang happily on the door.

A man in a butcher’s apron came up front. He looked to Skylar and his eyes widened. “You can’t be here, Sky…” He spoke softly. He stepped to her quickly. “Your father…” He looked to Eva for a long moment and then looked into Skylar’s eyes. “He…said that…”

“Marcus, I’m not a monster.” Skylar spoke softly. “I…”

Marcus stared to her fangs that showed when she spoke. He stared into her golden eyes. “What do you need? You need to get out of this city before Mavis’ men come after you and your friend and try to kill you…”

Skylar took in a shaken breath. What was her father doing? What happened to him? She gave a nod. “I need food for my pack.”

Marcus stared to her for a moment. “Alright, whatever you need, Sky….how many?” He began walking to the back of the shop.

“40….” Skylar spoke as she looked around the meat shop. Her mouth was watering from the smell of the delicious food. She looked to Eva a moment before Marcus came back with the help of his other butcher with four large boxes full of meat.

“Is this enough?” He asked as he put it into bags so she could fit it on the back of the motorcycle.

“Yes, thank you, Marcus.” Skylar spoke as she pulled money from her wallet.

Marcus placed his hand over hers. “Don’t worry about it, just get out of here, Sky, you aren’t safe in any city that your father has rebellion members, he told everyone to spread the word about you…I’m sorry.” He then pulled her into a tight embrace. “If you ever need anything, I will always offer you a safe haven.” He released her.

Skylar stared to Marcus for a long moment. “Thank you…” She whispered as she left the shop. She packed the bags into her saddle bags and attached others to the outside.

“You’re not welcome here.” A voice stated. The sound of a shotgun cocking filled her ears.

Skylar looked up to see a group of men with guns standing near her motorcycle. She looked to Eva with worried eyes for a moment and gave a nod. “We were just leaving.” She spoke. “No trouble here…” She climbed onto her motorcycle. “Come on.” She spoke as Eva climbed onto the motorcycle. She then started up the bike and sped off into the mountains. She looked over her shoulder a few times but the men didn’t follow. Skylar sped back to the campsite where the lycans had put together the tents and had a fire going to cook the food. She climbed from her bike as a few of the lycans came and grabbed the food from the back. Skylar looked to Eva for a moment. She stepped forward and kissed her, the kiss was full of passion. She then took a step back and sighed. “I just...I miss you Eva.” She gave a weak smile. Being pushed away by everything she knew was hard on her emotionally. Eva was the only thing she had left that she knew, and the Eva of this world wasn’t the Eva that she knew as well. “Two more days, and then we put an end to this.” She smiled as she looked to the camp.

Skylar gasped as they teleported home. Skylar looked around the room for a moment in awe just before Eva kissed her. She let herself get lost in this kiss, she pulled herself closer and shut her eyes, a smile crept onto her lips as she watched Eva step to the refrigerator and bit into an apple. Skylar ran her tongue along her teeth, no more fangs. She let out a sigh of relief. Skylar chuckled as Eva begged her to do something fun. She stepped to Eva and stared into her eyes, her eyes remained the golden hue of the hybrid. “That sounds excellent.” She looked down to her clothing and smiled, she was wearing her usual, jeans and a v-neck with a shoal over the top. She grinned happily and kissed Eva once more. “Dinner sounds excellent, I’m starving.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed her mother. The phone rang several times.

“Hello?” Her mother’s voice spoke.

“Hey! I was thinking we could do dinner tonight, would father be interested?” Skylar smiled.

“Honey…” Her mother groaned slightly, “Honey it’s four in the morning. Are you alright?”

Skylar blushed, the time of the worlds was off. Clearly. She looked to the clock on the oven and let out a sigh. “Sorry! I was just excited. Eva and I will be over tonight, at dinner time, normal…time…sorry mother, love you!” She then hung up.

Skylar let out a nervous chuckle. “Time isn’t the same…huh?” She brewed herself a cup of coffee and grinned to the smell of it. “Oh my friend I have missed you.” She grinned as she sipped from the hot beverage. A spider crawled down from the ceiling then and held a paper out to her. Skylar sighed slightly and took the paper. “Thank you.” She gave a nod as she opened it. Blank.

“That’s for me.” Remi spoke as he appeared and pulled the paper from her fingertips. He smiled to Eva as he moved to the breakfast bar. He grabbed an apple from the basket and bit into it, the crunch seemed to echo through the whole house. “You know.” He began and smiled. “Freezing worlds like that, comes with repercussions.” He took another bite. “Skylar is going to be the one that suffers the most. A world is already frozen, Eva. One is enough.” He looked to Skylar then, “You made a good impression on the council, you have Kratos quivering in his boots, as he should be. You’re on the right path to ending that war, both of you.” He smiled. “Have your vacation, take a quick break. I’ll watch over that dimension. I’ll guide them toward the council for you.” He spoke before he vanished, the core of the apple remained on the breakfast bar.

Skylar stared to where Remi was, she then felt a weight on her body lift. She furrowed her brows slightly. She then looked to Eva and gave a smile. “Come on.” She wrapped her arm around her and pulled her outside into the frigid air. Skylar started up her old MIN and drove through the city. It seemed to be asleep. A few cars drove on the road, but for the most part it was completely empty. “That world is horrible.” She spoke as she took a turn. “Absolutely horrible.” She stopped at a red light. “I feel like it is a nightmare that I can’t wake from. You know?” She then shook her head as she drove on. Eventually she pulled into the parking lot of the park. “Come on.” She grinned as she helped Eva from the car. She grasped her hand and ran into the park, a smile on her lips. She pulled her up to a small building that had a rental sign illuminated. She stepped inside and shook the snow from her jacket before she walked up to the counter. She placed her money on the counter. “Two please.” She smiled.

“Miss Greystoke, it’s good to see you.” The woman behind the counter spoke as she leaned over the counter and looked to Eva’s feet. She then disappeared into the back and returned with two sets of ice skates. “Here you are.” She gave a nod.

Skylar grinned, “This is going to be great.” She said as she sat down and changed into the skates. She then held Eva’s hand as she made her way to the back door where they set off on the ice. Skylar skated along, she’d been many times. She had such precision on the ice. She giggled as she turned and grasped Eva’s hands, skating backwards.

Skylar chuckled as she grasped onto Eva’s hands, “I’m not laughing at you.” She helped her balance as she carefully skated backwards, “See?” She smiled, she felt the trembling of Eva’s balance lessen as she held her hands, giving her something to grasp onto. “It is like a bike, yeah.” She winked and giggled. Skylar took them around the lake as she skated backward, she knew every curve of the lake. This was one of her favorite places in the whole world, her mother had taken her here since she was a young child. She’d been in lessons, and the like. It was a place of many memories. “Domum…looked quite beautiful, didn’t it?” She spoke after a long moment of silence. “To think, a city exists that the gods live in.” She let out a soft laugh, “I bet it is a glorious place, to be filled with such magic, it’s incredible to think about.” She then slowed to a stop, they were on the middle of the lake. Skylar leaned forward then and pressed her lips to Eva’s for a long moment, a cool wind kicked up the fresh flakes of snow and caused them to swirl about around them for a moment before it settled down once again. Skylar smiled as she pulled back, she gazed into Eva’s eyes. “I’m…really glad that I have you.” She spoke softly, “Like Lucille said…most go through this alone….” She looked away slightly, “I’ve been alone much of my life, all but my books and studies.” She shook her head and let out a laugh as she brought her eyes back to Eva. “I’ve never felt so alive, so happy.”

Skylar turned her eyes then to the light of the moon that looked down upon them. She smiled as she began to skate backward with ease once again, her hands never left Eva’s. It was like a dance as she pulled Eva along fluidly. She grinned as she would skate around Eva, carefully keeping a hold of her, her hands on her hips at points even. She then would return to the front of Eva and have her hands in hers once more. Skylar’s smile was as brilliant as it had ever been. She was truly free here, not a care in the world. They skated for an hour or so before Skylar pulled Eva to the edge of the lake. She slipped her skates off and handed them to the clerk at the counter. “Have a great day, Miss Greystoke.” The girl said as the two left the building.

Skylar laced her fingers in with Eva’s as she walked along. She paused a moment and looked up into the frosty trees as a spider came down with a small piece of paper. She reached her hand up and took the paper from the small creature before she gave a nod. Skylar unfolded the note as she stopped walking, she looked down to the paper and in that moment her brows drew together. “No…” She spoke softly. “This…can’t be…” She looked to Eva with worried eyes. The note was held in her fingertips loosely, her breath quaked slightly. A slight breeze kicked up, the note slipped from her fingertips and flipped about through the sky, landing in the snow. The words were face up, Mavis Greystoke. Skylar took off then, at a full sprint. “I have to stop it!” She cried as shadows surrounded her, she burst forward through the night, jumping through the environment through the shadows.

Skylar didn’t stop until she stood in front of the mansion. Her breaths were quick, a bit of blood trickled from her nose, she hadn’t used that amount of magic before. She looked to the front door, it was ajar. Skylar pushed inside and ran through the house. She climbed the staircase quickly to the next level, her footsteps boomed as she ran. She used the shadows to leap forward through the mansion until she grasped the handle to her father’s study. She burst into the room. “Father!” She flung forward into the back of a man, she tackled him to the ground. She balled her hand into a fist and hooked him in the jaw. The man slammed her side, he rolled her to her back and gripped her tightly around her neck. He wore a black mask. Skylar gripped his arms as she fought against him, she punched, hitting the side of his head a few times before she was able to knee him in the abdomen. This knocked him from her. He stood and chuckled as he took a few steps back from her. Skylar stood up and rushed forward she planted her foot in his chest which caused him to slam into the bookcase behind him. Several books clattered to the floor. Skylar stepped up to him and kicked him several times in the side before she took a step back. She couldn’t breathe. She looked down to find blood soaking her clothing.

The man pushed himself up and stepped to her, her gripped her around her throat and held her against the bookcase. “Think you can save your father?” He asked with a bloody smile. He pulled a gun from his hip and looked over his shoulder. Mavis was at his desk, unconscious, a bloody wound on his head. The man had broken into the room and had just enough time to knock him out before Skylar came rushing in. Any minute longer and....he’d be dead. He brought his eyes back to Skylar a smile still on his lips. “Would you trade yourself, for him?” He asked with a cynical sneer, he brought the cold metal of the pistol to Skylar’s jaw. “Hm?” He traced the cold barrel along her jaw. “That’d be rather wasteful, wouldn’t it?” He chuckled as he cocked the gun. He leaned in close to her then, Skylar’s vision was beginning to fade from his grip around her throat. “Especially when I could just kill you both.” He whispered into her ear. “Kill off the family line.” He snickered.

Skylar pushed against him, though her attempt was weak. Her eyes fluttered. She grit her teeth and in that moment she willed time to stop. Skylar slipped from his grip and stumbled over to the desk. She choked as she leaned heavily against the desk. Time sped back up as she reached into the drawer, looking for her father’s pistol. She fell to a knee. Her vision was caving.

“Interesting trick.” The gun pressed against her head. “Tell me…how is it that you pulled that off?” He slammed the butt of the pistol against her temple then. Skylar fell limply to the side, in her hand was her father’s pistol, it clattered to the floor from her grip as the man stepped forward, his aim on her.