“WAKE UP!” a female voice kept interrupting in my head, “WAKE UP!” My body pulsed with the gentle breeze that floated through leafs above. The sun’s warmth felt alive, moving in spurts over sections then back again. I could feel the beats of every heart in the wooden landscape.
“I’ve died and gone to peaceful heaven. I’m fine now,” I thought out.
“Do not think you are died. You lost blood, a lot of it; you need to wake up now.” The female’s voice sounded worried, beseeching me.
“I can not move. Besides I’m comfortable, feeling at peace. I want to stay here.”
“You need to work through your own consciousness and wake up. Your Alpha needs help so does the other. If you do not wake all of you will die.”
“Who are you?”
“I am known by many names but call me friend.”
“How can I hear you?”
“I am speaking into your subconscious, one of my many helpful tools.”
“I almost died, Shorty almost killed me.”
“Was it her fault? You knew her nature, you have a similar one; which you hide from. She can not. You need to restore your monstrous nature and fight her.”
“She’ll kill me!”
“Cedar you are not weak. Wake up! Wake UP! WAKE UP! All three of you in there!” A sudden searing pain ripped through my brain. My head throbbed with pressure building up. It just kept growing, my blood began to boil as the pain became over powering.
“STOP THIS!” I begged the mystery voice. “MY HEAD IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE.” There was a long silence as I started to fade from my own subconscious.
“Listen carefully, you have less then 48 hours before they find you. You need to push yourself so you do not became one of them without a soul.”
“How do I stay having a soul?”
“Find an alpha with good standing. Never give into the flesh of humans, they who have souls. I have to go for you are about to wake up. I have given you extra strength mentally and physically for your lack of use before. I activated the Nymph’s inability to harm mankind, while lowering your taste for human blood. She needs your help, only you can help her. Now go bring her back to the monster we all need. Help them!”
My head began to feel light, “Thank you.”
“C. J. please wake up I can’t keep this pace up,” I could hear Willow’s voice in my head. Trying to force my lids to open a blinding flash forced my lids closed again. Moving towards the sound of the wind brushing against the bark, I reached out to feel the course grain of the tree's skin. The earth poured into me as I leaned there, resting my head. The energy in every living thing soaks into my body restoring the strength I need to finish my heal. With a groan I stand straight with the new energy causing the nymph genes to feel alive.
“Bring her to me Willow,” I speak into my mind trying to reach her. No response sounded out to me but I heard a howl after coming towards me. I stand still imagining a tree where I stand with every detail in my mind. Once the image came through I quickly pulled up an image of myself and blended the two pictures in my head.
Willow came running by, to stop just past where I stood. Looking around as she came to a complete stop. “C. J.? Where are you located? I smell you faintly around here.” She kept sniffing around for a few moments before crawling under the truck. Almost as if it was timed, once Willow was out of sight Shorty came hauling through the tree branches. As soon as she crossed in front of me, quickly I encircled her. Growling she tried to be released from my arms, by scratching and with strength pulling on me.
In the next moment after she stopped moving a strong wind blew up circling our presences. Thunder cracked with the rain’s down pouring on my head. I stood tall holding this woman tightly, this is until a sudden crack of light came and hit my shoulder. I squeezed my lips in a line as I bite my tongue breathing slowly out the pain. When her normally green eyes turned an eerie shade of greenish gray. I realized that I no longer had an advantage over her. Thunder boomed next to my ear as I stumbled back watching her fangs elongated before she jumped at me. The storm continued as she landed on my chest, sticking her teeth into my neck.
Through Sortie’s Eyes
I spent most of the day running through the woods chasing that magical dog. I lost sight of her for a couple minutes, as she was heading back to the metal box on wheels. When I rounded the last bunch of trees I found a new smell. Following the intriguing scent I bounding near a tree when it suddenly wrapped branches snuggling around my body. Fighting to release myself to no avail. I summon the wind bringing in a storm that was on it’s way. I focused my energy at the center of the tree when the lightening struck the image of a tree around me started to fade in and out. Turning around I quickly saw an image of a tall male. The enticing scent increase despite the down fall of rain drops around us.
Greeting the bright blue eyes, sensing the magical power deep with in his body. I take a long sniff as the smell of Nymph and Lycanthrope encouraged my thirst. He stumbled back as his face became blotchy I knew immediately he was trying to change. A low growl left his chest taking a chance I flung my body in the air landing my feet on his chest bringing him to the ground. Sinking my teeth into the soft bend in his neck. Bringing in the sweet taste of a strong magical being into my mouth. Shuddering as it slowly dripped down my throat, allowing the light airy taste absorb into my throat.
I open my eyes slowly before rubbing them to bring in my surroundings. Vibrant blue orbs stared at me with a tint of concern. Why was I on C. J.? I quickly look around to see we sat in a wooded place. Blinking I looked around and quickly gathered something is wrong. I jumped to my feet holding my body ready to take on any enemy.
“Shorty? Are you there?” C. J.’s voice whispered out.
“What happened? Where are the attackers?” I mumbled back while looking around for the enemy.
“Attackers?” I look back at the befuddled man still on the ground.
“Were you not attacked?” I raised a brow towards him.
“Yes, I… um… was?” Was that a question really?
“Are you asking me?”
“Well you attacked me, this is the second time.” Stunned I continued to watch C. J.’s large body stand towering over me. Blinking I kept watching him carefully.
“Why the heck would I attack you?” I stood stunned watching his movement.
“You were not in your right mind. It’s alright though,” he brushed off his shirt with a half smirk. “I know you have a soft spot for me,” winking with a full blown smile.
“Keep dreaming, idiot;” I snarled back. “I’m going to get Willow.” Walking away from the beaming moron that kept a step behind me. Quickly turning around to face him I narrowed my eyes. “Do NOT ever call me SHORTY!”
Stalking off from him I could hear snickering behind me. Whipping my head behind me I watch as he raised his brows while tilting his head slightly. I growled low at his perfectly calmed demeanor, LIAR my growl screamed in my head. I want Willow and to go where we need. I kept trudging forward while annoying snickers wafted to my ears. Willow’s head popped out of from under the truck with her half floppy ears aimed forward at attention. Cocking her head to the left she locked eyes directly onto mine. I dropped to my knees along side the truck.
Willow crawled forwards to bump my forearm with her big puppy eyes boring into mine. Ugh, she can be so annoying with how she calmly deals with everything. I smiled at her as I bopped her black nose. She ruffled her neck fur at the contact. Reaching out I began to rub her ears roughly using nails at the base. Her soft whimper showed her contentment with my touch. Getting up I looked around settling on the sky above. “How long have I been asleep?” I asked absentmindedly.
“Asleep?” C. J. baffled.
“You have been asleep since last night,” Willow answered me quickly. Both of us ignored C. J.’s question. As his eyes kept roaming between us.
“You are honestly telling me that you have been asleep this whole time?” C. J. stood dumb founded watching our every move. I rolled my eyes as I turned to face him head on.
“Yes, asleep. I do not sleep ever when I have daily doses of blood. However, I haven’t been able too with how badly things came about. I would normally know how many extra blood pouches to have on hand to help the craving. Time was not with us, so I apologizing for not being prepare. Congratulations for unlocking your monsters though. I will be keeping my sights on you forever. One slip up I will destroy you.”
“Um, sorry what?” C. J. looked completely freaked.
“He activated his powers?” Willow asked while cocking her beautiful blue face.
“He was a tree no one else noticed?”
“Wait that actually worked?”
“Yes, C. J. you awoken your Nymph side completely. I’m assuming your mutt side is trying to break through when I pounced on you fur started to sprout.”
“Hold on, I thought you were asleep.”
“Yes, I was. Dream I had seemed to be real seeing I woke on your chest,” I stated. “You should not have tried to wake me. Learn next time.”
“Soulless, waking up soulless when you are woken early but we had a mission.” Willow stated with a growl.
“Soulless!” C. J. gasped.
“WAIT how can you hear my Willow!”
“Alpha Willow.”
“Alpha?” I whipped to glare in Willow’s eyes. Out of the corner of my eyes I sensed motion. Turning towards the movement I turned to face whatever was about to come. Sniffing the air for the upcoming threat.
“What do you mean soulless?” C. J. queried out loud.
“When she is woken up she becomes a soulless monster hunting anything that is like her prey.” Willow answered while ignoring my alerted behavior.
“Almost soulless Willow, almost.” I muttered softly, “should have let me sleep.”
“You know we could not have let you, C. J. is in danger and you agreed to help him.”
“Wait, so you become compelled to hunt off every ‘monster’?” C. J. shuddered. “Why couldn’t you just sipped off my blood?” I hissed at the awful thought. “Or how about Willow?”
“Can’t, now stop,” I lifted a finger to my lips and pointed at a very sneaky image through the thick trunks. They all stared at where I was pointing. C. J. heaved out a deep breath, as a growl released through his perched lips. Willow snarled as she prepared herself for an attack.