Story: Flesh (AU Kiddy Grade) (chapter 6)

Authors: Vexed Fusion

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Chapter 6

Title: Discoveries in Death 3

[Author's notes:

So it's 11:30 at night and I have to be in bed for class in the morning.  What does that have anything to do with my update?  Well I haven't edited it yet.  Forgive any errors and if I have time I'll go through it later.

Feedback... I thrive on it.  I'm a writer, afterall.

]

Discoveries in Death

Chapter Six

Part Six


Caprice and Liquide sat in the teacher's now empty classroom having a staring contest. The victor would explain first. At least, this is what Caprice assumed was the case. She tried to ask the woman about it in the hallway but the blonde threw up a silenced hand and walked back to her room. Caprice, of course, followed and stood off to the side when she dismissed the class for the day. Lucious had attempted to stay back to see if he might get an apology but the look Liquide gave him seemed enough to send him on his way for the day.


Now, six minutes later, twenty-four left, neither had yet to say a word. Caprice sighed and turned to look out the windows. The sky had darkened, again, like the previous night. What else could be expected of the spring weather in the northern states? What was that saying she'd heard growing up? April showers bring May flowers. Sounded right. The werewolf groaned loudly and caved.


“Listen, whatever, we'll talk about this when I get back. I don't have time anyways.” She jumped down from the desk she had been sitting on and made for the door.


“Wait,” came the teacher's voice. Caprice looked back over her shoulder at the woman. She was standing in the corner near her desk—none of the students had tried cleaning anything up, nor did the two of them. Papers, broken computer monitor, flipped chair, scattered books, they all laid in a pile waiting for someone to come rearrange them into neater stacks and fix what had been broken. “Okay, I'll talk.”


Against her better judgment the brunette went back to the desk and actually sat down in it properly (instead of on top of it) and stared at Liquide with tightly pursed lips. “You've got... 22 minutes now.”


She watched the blonde glance up towards the clock and then away to rub behind her neck. “Caprice, I don't want you to go out there. You of all people understand how strong your kind are. They'll tear you apart, and...”


“And?” Caprice looked on doubtfully.


“And I don't want that to happen.” Liquide hugged her arms around herself tightly. She looked so small in the corner, so frail and weak. Caprice nearly got to her feet to go help her... or do something? She checked herself, however, and stayed seated still wearing the face of doubt.


“Did you know I was a werewolf before?”


The blonde shook her head and replied, “I had no idea. I mean, now looking back, it makes sense. He used to give me those same looks after all.” She closed her eyes and knocked her head against the wall several times. “I'm not going to get into the details, but, this guy fell hard for me a few years back. We started dating and a month or so in he confided he was a werewolf. He even took me somewhere and showed me how he could change. Yes, I was very surprised, but I thought I loved him enough to look past it all.


“He took me to meet his family. I suppose you would call them a 'pack'. He began to take my acceptance of him as something very serious. He said that werewolves needed one person, a person they loved truly over anyone else, to continue living. He said I was his person. He became very possessive of me and so did his family.”


Caprice rolled her eyes. “What's any of this got to do with me? Why do I care about some past lover who just happened to be a werewolf?”


Liquide's blue eyes softened. “Well, first, I thought you'd like to know because you seemed confused at my awareness of your species and second,” she paused and turned her head away in a coy manner. “Secondly, I think I kind of understand the whole 'partner' thing Raoul talked about. I ended up leaving him because I thought he was just a crazy stalker guy who just happened to be a werewolf, too. But I think I see now... I see what he was talking about.”


Caprice felt her cheeks grow warm. Did this woman really feel it? Could humans sense the minute emotions like their enhanced predecessors? She slid up from the desk and took a hesitant step towards the blonde. There really was only one way to find out, but, would the woman allow her to do something so careless—especially after hearing about her past?


“I... What is it... that you see... that he was talking about?”


The teacher took a deep breath and raised her eyes to meet Caprice's. “That whole partner thing.” Caprice watched the other woman's brows knit together. “You don't have a partner, do you?” Before the werewolf could respond Liquid launched into worrisome chatter, “Oh god, you do, don't you? And it's Éclair, isn't it? That would make complete sense. The reason you showed up so suddenly and Éclair trying to pass you off as her cousin even though you two look nothing alike. I'm such an idiot. I don't even know why I felt that way.”


While Liquide spoke the brunette closed the distance between the two. She put her hands on the woman's shoulders and had leaned in to kiss her. Liquide only had a moment to respond and being taken so off guard she pushed Caprice back away from her. “What are you doing?!”


There was hurt in those emerald eyes. Caprice looked away and muttered that it was nothing. She cleared her throat and stated in a loud voice, “Éclair isn't my partner.” Liquide's eyes shown pleasant surprise and her face melted into a gentle smile. Caprice glanced towards the clock and added, “I've got nine minutes. Stay here. I'm not arguing.” Her stern voice caused the teacher to frown.


“I'm not staying here and letting you die. Isn't there anyone you can call to come help? I was under the impression that werewolves lived in packs.”


“Not me. I've only got Éclair.” Caprice covered her mouth as she said it. She hadn't meant to 'out' Éclair; she wanted to girl to feel comfortable telling only those she trusted. The damage was done, though—no taking it back now. “Forget I said that, okay? And don't tell anyone.”


Liquide shook her head and took a cell phone from her pocket. “I'm calling her. She's not actually sick, is she? I don't want to get her involved in this but you'll be killed, otherwise. Until she gets here maybe we can talk it out with them.”


Caprice closed her hand over the cell phone and growled. “There is no talking things out with our kind. If you've actually had experience with werewolves then you must know that. And don't bother with Éclair. She can't control her powers yet, not to mention her partner is a vampire who can't exactly go walking out into the sun.” For the second time the werewolf mentally slapped herself. She might as well tell the blonde her pin number, date of birth, and parent's maiden names while she was at it. Éclair was going to be very angry.


“A vampire? And a werewolf?” The blonde's eyes were wide with shock. Caprice decided to use this moment to her advantage.


“Yes. They can't exactly be out and about letting themselves been seen, either, you know? Besides, I'm strong. Real strong. If worse comes to worse I can outrun those two and lead them far away from town and then double back to get reinforcements. There's no reason for you to get involved, though. I'm going out there considering I only have,” she paused mid sentence and glanced towards the clock. Looking back to Liquide she said, “Four minutes now. Don't follow me or I'll knock you out cold.”


Caprice turned on her heel and proceeded towards the door of the classroom. Behind her she heard the teacher say in a rather calm voice, “But there's just one problem with your oh so intelligent plan.”


“What's that?” asked the angry werewolf.


“The school bell is ringing in five minutes. All those students will become involved in your squabble.”


The brunette looked to Liquide over her shoulder. She grinned like the wolf she was. “You think we fight out in the open for others to see? This is guerrilla warfare, mon ami.”


She didn't allow the blonde to respond and continued out the door and then out into the hall she broke into a run. Liquide wouldn't be able to follow even if she tried. She sighed and turned back towards the windows. The skies were covered with thick, dark clouds and thunder began to rumble in the distance. Another storm. So what if Caprice didn't want her help—or anyone's for that matter? No one was the boss of Liquide Ulfr Cole except Liquide Ulfr Cole.


Part Seven


“They said they know you.”


Lumière sat with her legs crossed on top of Éclair's bed. The look on her face said she had no idea what the werewolf was talking about. Éclair sighed and joined the small woman on the bed and, without thinking, leaned up against her. A moment passed where both tensed, the memory of the kiss still fresh in their minds, but it quickly faded away. Lumière sunk against the warm redhead and did nothing to stop the smile from tugging at her lips.


“I don't know them, however. Did they act like they were going to attack you?”


Éclair shook her head. “Not really. The girl was friendlier than the guy. I got this feeling he didn't want me near her or something. But they don't feel malicious.” She closed her eyes as the scene of the dead farmer and his wife replayed through her mind. “I've never seen a dead body except at funerals...”


Lumière's head tilted and the smile dropped from her face. It was easy to forget the age difference between the two considering they appeared the same age. “Éclair...”


The redhead sighed and shifted her body a fraction away from the woman at her side. Lumière followed the movement with hawk-like eyes and couldn't dismiss the tears welling up behind the long strands of hair. She wrapped her arms around Éclair's body and pressed her face against her shoulder.


“Éclair, do you know the first time I saw a dead body, I cried for hours. I was 13 years old, we were in Laos and the South Vietnamese army had just invaded. A stray bomb hit our village. We were unharmed but when we went to help I saw one of the bodies that had been burned by the blast. I couldn't even move. I just kept staring at it.


“We heard yells from the platoon, Americans and Vietnamese alike. So we ran. My mother fled with me to shelter and covered me in blankets to keep me quiet. As the battle raged near us she told me that it was okay to cry. She said that feeling sad was our way of remembering them in life. But there was no need to fear the bodies. In fact, it is considered custom to mourn the loss of someone for days and nights without any regard to your own life. It is our way of ensuring that we'll remember them, long after they've gone.”


As Lumière talked Éclair shifted in the embrace so she could watch the vampire. Once the vampire finished Éclair jumped in saying, “That must have been terrible!” She closed her mouth, her eyes widening and a blush crawling outwards from the middle of her cheeks. “I'm sorry,” she gasped.


Lumière laughed lightly. “It was a long time ago.” She brushed a tear away from her partner's cheek. “I guess talking about more tragic things doesn't really help, hm?”


“No, no, that's not it.” Éclair moved again, changing positions so that she could lay her head in Lumière's lap. The movement reminded the vampire of a cat. She had to chuckle considering this woman was more on the Caninus rope end. Éclair either ignored the chuckle or didn't notice. Once she was comfortable she continued, “I think I understand what your Mom was saying. It does help. Plus, it doesn't hurt that I didn't know them very well. I don't think they liked children very much. At least, that's what my mom said.”


Éclair frowned. “Speaking of which, I wonder when my parents are coming home.” She covered her face with her hands. “God. How am I going to tell them all of this? Do you think they're going to buy the whole 'oops I'm a werewolf and here's my partner who is a vampire' story?”


Lumière grinned. “Don't forget that we have two vampires in the barn. A werewolf at your school and two dead people.”


“I think it's safe to say I'm grounded for life.”


The room was silent for a moment. Then it became filled with the two girls' laughter. After several minutes they finally got a hold of themselves and calmed down enough to talk again.


Éclair spoke first, “Vietnam, huh? I was wondering, I mean, what with your eyes and everything.”


“My eyes?” Lumière raised a brow at the redhead in her lap. She pursed her lips as though offended. “What about my eyes?”


“Oh, well...” The werewolf felt caught and began to ramble, “You know, they're Asian, right? With the slant and all. I mean, I was going to ask anyways, but you just said it right there. You don't have much of an accent. I mean, not like my dad. He's got a terrible accent. My mom was pretty terse about making me speak proper English, as she put it. But you, well, can't quite place it. I do like your voice, don't get me wrong...” She trailed off when Lumière put a finger to her lips.


The vampire smiled. “Yes, I am Vietnamese. But I did spend a number of years in Mongolia and then wherever I desired.” She slowly dropped her hand down, resting it on Éclair's collarbone. Even from up so high she could feel the girl's heartbeat. The rhythm soothed her and brought her back to a primal feeling she once thought lost. “As far as the accent is concerned, I've had almost 30 years to change it as the need arose. This particular one is best suited for traveling across America. The fewer the questions about my origins the better.”


“Oh.” Éclair's expression dropped. “I'm sorry...”


“I'm not talking about you.” Lumière ran her hand through her partner's soft hair. “You may ask me anything you like. I'll tell you anything you want to know about me.” They shared a brief, but chaste, kiss.


“I wouldn't know where to begin, you know?”


“Perhaps it's best to let it happen naturally?” Lumière glanced towards the open door of Éclair's room. “For now, I think we should focus on what to do about those two.”


“Well, they didn't try to attack me, but I was still out in the sun light so...”


“Do they know about us?”


Éclair turned a pair of concerned eyes on her partner. The vampire tensed a little when she asked her question. “It didn't exactly come up in conversation. But...”


“But?”


Éclair looked away. “The girl eyed me and said, 'So this is what Lumière's partner has become.' She kind of said it like... I dunno... accusing or snide. I didn't really care for her tone.” The werewolf grunted and pursed her lips which caused Lumière to smile.


“I see. Well, we'll just have to wait and see.”


“Wait and see?”


“Yes. Once the sun goes down we'll have a talk with them.” Lumière traced her thumb over her partner's lips. “Until then, stay in here with me. I can't lie: it really bothers me when I don't know where you are or what you're doing.”


“Me too,” Éclair responded softly. She felt her eyelids droop. Whatever the other woman was doing to her was making her happy, but sleepy. Just the simplest touches made her heart swell too big for her chest. “But isn't it dangerous to not do anything about them? What if they attack us?”


“As you said, they just want to come in and talk-”


“To you,” Éclair mumbled. The jealous tone was difficult to miss.


“And talk, so I doubt they plan on attacking us... at least tonight. But we do have Caprice on our side. One vampire and one transformed werewolf are more than enough match for two vampires. Besides, I'm curious.”


The werewolf in Lumière's lap pouted out her lip. “What about me? Just because I'm not a vampire or able to transform of my own will doesn't mean I don't know how to handle myself.”


Lumière couldn't resist pressing her lips against that lip and soothe her partner's ego. “I bet you'll be a wonderful wolf when you're able to take control of your powers. Even if you can't, it won't matter to me. All that matters is that we have each other.”


On some level Éclair knew she was being pandered to, but she chose not to care and allowed herself to sink into the small kisses. “Hey,” she murmured between them, “Think we could try some of that kissing like before?”


The smaller woman placed a small kiss on the redhead's nose. “I don't see why not. We have time.”


No further words were needed as the two sank into one another. Their inflamed desire sat like an iceberg in water and both felt they had only just begun to witness the very top of it. But the feelings were too great and the wanton too powerful; becoming lost in passion was still too much for either to submit to. They were content, however, in settling for kisses and timid exploration.


Part Eight


Several hours later.


“Anyone home? We figured we'd let ourselves in.”


“They're upstairs.”


“Well let's go get them.”


“Let's just wait down here. They heard us, I'm certain.”


The dark haired young man glanced up the stairs and then back to his twin sister. Twins though they were, they were not identical except in hair and eye color. Both had jet black hair and ruddy brown eyes, though her eyes were large and inquisitive while his were more narrow and distrusting. Well, he assumed he they were, he compared the way his sister described him to the way he described her.


The obvious physical differences were that she was a foot shorter than him and her skin appeared much more fair against his. Her hair was long and thick and especially wild after feeding. He would run his hand through his shorter hair and sometimes be envious of his sister's. He wouldn't feel like that for long, however, because she would follow his fingers with her own and tug his short locks. She had said their differences were refreshing. It could get boring with the same things.


He watched her run her fingertips along the furniture. Having lived so long with each other he sometimes felt like he could read her mind the way she did others. And right now he knew she was seeking out the thoughts of those above. Thought is my music. It's easy to get lost in the rhythm when you're trying to find the harmony. She told him that once. He'd never heard the music and she couldn't describe it. It was the one major difference he hated most of all.


“You're the boss,” he said as he moved towards the fireplace. “Does she remember us?”


His sister shook her head. Her lips turned downward. “I don't think they've been together very long based on the other's thoughts. Éclair and Lumière. Interesting names this time around, don't you agree, Tweedledum.”


“I wish you wouldn't call me that.” He put several logs onto the cold ashes and searched for something to light under them.


“It is your name. These are the names we decided on, remember? Besides, I do recall you enjoying the name last week.” She winked in his direction and he looked away.


He had a ready retort but his attention diverted to the stairway. Two teenage girls made their way down. The taller one, the redhead, stood in front of her partner in a protective stance. She glared at him and his sister, her purple eyes were like violets on fire. Behind her the other girl was a collection of eerie calm. Her wide red eyes reminded him of his sister's. She had a stark contrasted light blue hair which was pale like her skin.


“Éclair and Lumière.” He looked towards his sister. She had moved towards the stairs and had her head bowed showing she meant know harm.


“Tweedledee and Tweedledum. You're early,” the shorter girl responded. Tweedledee glanced back at her brother. He could see the frustration in the momentary look. He shared it. They practiced this several times but try as he might he couldn't grasp the concept of keeping his mind closed—especially to a seasoned mind read such as that girl.


“Lucky for us the storm moved in. Even you can be down here and it's only,” his sister glanced towards the clock on the wall as she spoke, “It's only three in the afternoon.”


The redhead looked back at her partner. They both nodded at each other and continued down the stairs. His sister backed up towards the couch where a sleeping dog drearily lifted his head and gave a small bark.


“Go back to sleep, Donner,” the redhead said.


“So you seem to know us. But we don't know you. I can get the explanation but I'd rather you tell us so that Éclair will understand as well.” Éclair is the redhead, the werewolf, he thought, not much different from last time. He wondered if all their lives were like that. “All our lives?” Lumière turned an eye on Tweedledum.


His sister stepped in front of him before he could respond. “I can read her mind as well, Lumière. I know that you two just met and that you're only just beginning to understand what being partners mean. Also,” she licked her lips at the pause, “She's not a matured werewolf yet. She has no idea about the world we're well acquainted with either, aside from the basics the other wolf told her.”


Éclair turned a faint shade of pink. Her confusion was so blatant that Tweedledum felt a little sorry for her. He and the wolf were in the same position of not being able to read minds, unlike their partners. In spite of his better judgment he decided to give a helping hand to the girl. “You got kindling for this fire place? It's been a while since I sat in front of a roaring fire that didn't have a body inside it.”


The redhead managed to tear her eyes away from his sister. She seemed confused for a moment and then mumbled something about it being above the fireplace. He smiled and retrieved the desired objects. Lumière and his sister continued to talk while he worked on starting the fire.


“You were the one back at the bus, weren't you?”


He could feel his sister's smile. “Astute. I'm not going to lie, I half expected you to still be learning your powers at this point, especially when you've lived so long without your partner. Also, I was kind of hoping you hadn't learned your powers yet, because I wanted to chance to look inside that fascinating mind of yours.”


“Will I be able to unlock my memories of the past?” Lumière's voice was still calm and analytical. She was like the Yin to Éclair's Yang, in Tweedledum's eyes. He could still sense the anguish in the werewolf and distrust of the two strangers in her living room talking about things she couldn't comprehend.


“Now wait a second,” Éclair began, “What the hell is going on? How did you know all of that stuff and who are you? You killed those people out in the barn and you expect us to be on friendly terms with you?” Tweedledum lifted his head just in time to see the disapproving look she gave to her partner. “Tell me your names and why you're here now. I think I deserve that much.”


In a smooth movement Lumière took her partner's hand in her own and gently pulled her to the couch. She sat the redhead down next to the injured dog and took the spot on the armrest. Neither Tweedledum or his sister failed to notice the protective arm that slid around Lumière's waist.


“You're right, I'm sorry,” Lumière said to Éclair. The two shared a moment, something that felt extremely private, and then turned their gazes back to the twins. “Please, have a seat.”


Tweedledee sat down next to the now-lit fireplace. She smiled at her brother. He knew she enjoyed the warmth fires offered. He tried not to look pleased with himself and contented with studying the large living area and it's vast windows. In the distance he could see sparks of light which he assumed to be lightning.


“Éclair, right? I'm sorry if I've upset you. I'm just excited to have my friend back, you can understand, can't you?” Tweedledee gave a smile which Tweedledum knew to be fake.


“Don't indulge her. Just because she can't read minds it does not mean she's a child.” Lumière's voice was stern and uncompromising. Tweedledum chanced a look at his sister. The smile dropped from her face. He felt her anger and shame. “Éclair, that woman, Tweedledee, can read minds. She has already read yours several times.”


The redhead frowned and turned her attention towards the dog. “I kinda figured that out. I just wish she would have told me she'd be doing that earlier.”


“My rule is to never read and tell, unless, the information is important enough.”


Lumière cut in, “And you assume that our relationship is important enough to announce out loud?”


“Of course. You don't remember anything.” Tweedledee pulled a knee up to her body and rested her chin on it. “You told me I should seek you out if anything happened to either of you. You said it was a guarantee that you'd be reborn—you just weren't sure when.”


“Reborn?” Éclair studied the twins.


“Apparently this isn't our first life together,” Lumière responded as she looked to her partner out of the corner of her eyes. The redhead gave a weak smile. She looked back to Tweedledee. “Do you know why I had you seek me out?”


“You said you were trying to change fate. I have to tell you, we were skeptical. But when I saw that man's mind back at the bus, I knew it was you. Except you were alone. Although you said that was possible, as well.”


“That's not answering my question.”


Tweedledee looked to her brother. He sighed and shrugged. She looked down. “Your questions will be answered when you look into my mind.” Lumière's eyes lit up and his sister quickly added, “but I'm not keen on the idea. You were very powerful when I met you the last life. I wanted to get to know you better. We got along pretty well, I thought. That's why I allowed you to seal the information in my brain.”


Tweedledum turned his attention towards Éclair, who, kept twitching every so often. Lumière placed a hand on her knee which served to calm the redhead's nerves. He wondered about them. Were they already as close as he and his sister? Had they explored the bonds of partners? He didn't think they had. Their connection was primitive, one based on touches and looks, it was nothing compared to what he shared with his twin.


“I don't even know if you can do it, yet. You've only been a vampire now, for what, a year? Maybe two? Less?” Tweedledee pursed her lips.


Lumière smiled in a motherly manner. “I think you'll find my skills quite adequate. If you say it's in your mind I shall find it. But I'll need your cooperation on this. If you continue to keep me blocked neither of us will know the reason why I did this.”


“You said that we were trying to change fate in our past lives. What kind of fate?” Éclair piped in.


Tweedledee hesitated. She turned to her brother. They shared an unspoken moment. From the other side of the room he heard Lumière murmur to her partner that he didn't know the answer to this question. She continued reading his mind. It was only fair considering that his sister was still reading the redhead's mind. Having made up her mind with very little input from him, Tweedledee looked back to the couple.


“You once shared, in confidence, that you and your partner found the demon who placed this curse upon us vampires. And,” Tweedledee pointed to the air as she spoke that word, “you planned on forcing the demon to withdraw the curse so that werewolves and vampires, alike, could exist in peace.”


Tweedledum felt the room go deadeningly silent. His head hurt from the excessive ringing between his ears. Had he heard his sister correctly? These two women, in their previous lives, had planned to force a demon to re-nig on a ten thousand year old curse. The idea was ludicrous. Suicidal at best. Then he thought back to when they told him and his sister about how they would be reborn should they die. He thought that was ludicrous as well. Yet, here they were.


The ringing in his ears seemed to get louder and louder until he realized that the ringing actually belonged to the phone. Éclair was already to her feet and moving towards the noisy device when he finally noticed.


“Muse residence, Éclair speaking.” He watched the redhead as she turned her back to the three vampires. If she was trying to get privacy she definitely wasn't that quick. Tweedledee would read her mind when she was done. “What do you mean?!” Éclair turned back towards the large open window in the living room. Her eyes focused on something in the distance, though Tweedledum couldn't tell.


He watched her nostrils flare and could almost feel her senses focus to a needlepoint. “I'll be there,” she responded in a low, growling tone. She turned the phone off and moved to put her shoes on. “Caprice needs help. We need to go to town, now.” She must have been talking to Lumière when she said this since the twins had no idea who this Caprice was—well, Tweedledee probably knew.


Lumière followed her towards the door. “What's happening?”


“She's being attacked.” Éclair finished putting on her shoes and grabbed the door handle. “You can come, right? The clouds are covering the sun.”


Her partner smiled. “Of course I'll come.” She turned to the brother and sister. “Will you come help us? If you are my friends you will understand that what is important to Éclair is important to me and so you will come help.”


Tweedledee visibly hesitated. “How many?”


“There are two,” she announced quickly, “Werewolves. They've changed. They're hunting Caprice. They're somewhere in town, but I'm sure I can track them. I know Caprice's scent and I bet I'll be able to hear them the closer we get.”


Tweedledee rose to her feet in an unceremonious fashion. “Werewolves, how great.” She held a hand out to her brother who stared at her wide eyed.


“We're not going to fight two werewolves! Three vampires—one of them weak—and a wolf who can't change, we'll die!” He hadn't been expecting that hand to hit him. He rubbed the side of his head and glared at the three women.


His sister tapped her foot. “Are you certain we'll die? Or do you not want to get injured?”


She had him there. His eyes gave him away and before he could stop her she had him by the sleeve of his coat, dragging him to the door.


Lumière moved closer to Éclair while she watched the brother and sister. Éclair gave her a questioning glance. The blue haired girl shook her head and said she'd tell her later. The four headed outside. In the distance, towards town, the storm was at it's beginnings.


“We're lucky. If we didn't have cloud cover it'd just be you going out, Éclair.”


“Let's just hurry,” Éclair mumbled. She knelt down and gestured to Lumière. The smaller woman hesitated and then climbed onto her partner's back. Éclair slipped her arms under the vampire's knees and held her tightly. “Let's go.”


Tweedledee and Tweedledum watched Éclair sprint down the road towards town.


“Aren't they cozy?” Tweedledum nudged his sister with a smile.


“Let's hope they get even more cozy. Otherwise they'll be no good to follow through with that plan.” She took off after the two with her brother in tow wondering, not for the first time that night, if they would be serious about what they once planned to do. Messing with a demon... that was like messing with a god.


Part Nine


“You know what this is about, don't you Caprice?”


Caprice smirked as she stripped her shirt off. “I think I have an idea. I thought I was doing the pack a favor, to be honest. Weren't you all saying how much you hated him? Wished he would just get the fuck out?”


The blue haired man sighed. “That still does not give you the right. We do not kill our members no matter how annoying they might be. Your punishment was dictated the moment you attacked him.”


“And we will kill that woman when we're done. She knows too much,” the red haired man added.


Caprice frowned and kicked off her shoes. “The only people dying here tonight are you two. That is, you know, unless you wanna run now. I wouldn't blame you. Go back and tell them you killed me. I won't tell anyone you found me. I'll disappear. Drop off the radar completely.”


“You know we can't allow that.”


Above them the clouds bumped and rumbled the ground. Droplets of rain plopped down to the Earth below but were far and few between. Several cracks of lightning joined the thunder that was losing time between each crash. The wind rustled loudly through the leafy trees and literally howled at certain spots. Caprice finished stripping her clothes. She pushed them into a pile and tossed them at the base of a tree.


They were in a nearby forest. It was certainly not thick enough to keep people from seeing—if they looked hard enough. Once the fight began, however, their blurs wouldn't even cause a second glance from anyone passing by. The brunette stretched from side to side and the sounds of bones crackling against bones could be heard from her back and shoulders. She had the taut and muscular young body of an 18 year old gymnast, considering that's what she was before she became a werewolf.


The two men stood far enough away that Caprice felt confident she could outrun them when they began attack. Much to her confusion, though, they had yet to begin stripping. Were they planning on attacking her in human form?


“I'll tell you what,” she said, “I'm clearly outnumbered here. It wouldn't be fair of me to take you on both at once. You'll be at a disadvantage. I wouldn't want that. I'll give you a head start. Count to ten before I attack. Even turn my back so you guys can strip.” Caprice grinned and covered her eyes but peaked out from between her fingers. “I didn't take you for the shy types, ya know?”


She turned on her heel and proceeded to count out loud. She didn't make it to three when she heard their clothes drop and their bones break and snap loudly. Without bothering to finish Caprice followed suit, except, she also started running. She wasn't an idiot. She knew she didn't have a chance against two elder werewolves. Mocking them was her way of bluffing. They no doubt saw right through it. Caprice figured if she was going to go down she'd go down her way.


By the time the brunette made it to the edge of the forest she was in her full beast form. A glance back told her she had gained a greater distance between her and her would-be captors but they were also closing that gap. The blue and red beasts moved at a much faster pace. Her only hope lay in the unskilled hands of Éclair.


She didn't want to admit it back there but Liquide was right.


Damn that woman. Caprice was more irritated by that blonde at the moment than she was by two werewolves intent on killing her. In fact, she couldn't remember a person who vexed her so much.


She hit the pavement with a sickening thud. The asphalt broke where her front paws hit. Somewhere behind her she heard a scream. None of that mattered. She tore down the street. Her adrenaline pumped twice as hard as she heard the other wolves footfalls gaining on her. She didn't want to involve humans in this and tried to hurry her way out of town.


But she wasn't fast enough to make it even that far. A paw swung out and knocked into her back leg. She tumbled forward but landed on her feet at the end. She looked up just in time to see the red wolf in the air. The force from his attack threw her over a car and into a church yard. Something hard broke her fall. As she struggled to her feet she noticed a broken statue of some woman with holding a baby. A loud roar moved her attention towards the road. Both the wolves followed into the courtyard.


She was quicker and leaped high towards the pointed church. She used the siding and pushed herself back out into the street. The blue wolf's reaction was only half a second behind her. She hit the cement running and could hear him hot on her heels. Caprice turned quickly to catch him off guard. He ran past her and skidded along the asphalt in order to keep following. She inwardly smiled as she put distance between her and the wolf.


She glanced back making sure he was still there. When she looked back in front of her, however, the red wolf was running straight for her. Caprice came to a skidding halt. She was caught off guard and stuck between the two wolves. In a sudden flash a white Beetle struck the red wolf in front of her. For a moment she wasn't sure if the sound was thunder or the crashing of such two powerful forces.


The brunette turned back to the blue wolf who had changed his route towards the car. Caprice followed his target. Liquide was inside the Beetle. The airbag had deployed but there was no movement coming otherwise. She had to make a decision fast. Caprice sprinted towards the car. She barely made it in time to crash shoulders with the blue wolf. He snarled at her and tumbled away.


Caprice looked around for the red wolf. He somehow disappeared in the crash. She turned to check on Liquide. The blonde was now moving. She heard the teacher moan and watched as she brought a hand up to her head. Somewhere inside, Caprice felt a tinge of relief. She took a step forward with the intention of tearing off the car door.


In mid-step she felt like a semi connected with her side and plowed her into sidewalk. She tasted blood in her mouth and she couldn't breathe. The red wolf pinned her down to the ground and snapped and snarled at her. She struggled under his weight but it was to no avail. He had to be at least twice her size.


He howled loudly. Caprice continued trying to get out from under him. She stopped moving altogether when she saw the blue wolf tearing off the car door. Her body shook and blood rushed to her ears in a pounding fashion. He wouldn't dare, she thought. But he was. He had the door nearly pried off. Liquide was still struggling to regain consciousness.


The brunette growled and threw all of her weight against the red wolf. He lost his balance and she used it to her advantage. She got out from under him and ran towards the car. The other wolf had just gotten the door off when Caprice attacked him. She had him by his throat. Her jaws held him tightly. It wasn't just her blood in her mouth now.


The blue wolf cried out and whipped his body wildly in a futile attempt to get Caprice to let go. She wouldn't. She'd sooner kill him and then the other than let anything happen to Liquide. The coppery taste of the wolf drained down her throat. She became so lost in blood lust that she failed to notice the red wolf attack her.


He snapped his jaws around her back leg. The bones gave way to his powerful bite. She didn't feel the pain at first but when she tried to use it as leverage against the wolf in her jaws she definitely felt it. White hot pain shot up her back leg and through her stomach. It caused her to release the throat in her jaws. In the moment she did the red wolf pinned her down again. He went straight for her throat. Caprice couldn't defend.


But the jaws never met her throat. The paws left her body quickly. Before she could even comprehend what was happening the red wolf was flying through the air into the abandoned gas station nearby. She tried to get to her feet. Rain came heavier now. It clouded her vision. She heard voices.


“I've got her! The other one is injured, he won't come!”


Caprice couldn't believe her ears; it was Éclair. She blinked and took in the scene around her. Éclair and Lumière helped Liquide out of the car. Two other dark haired people were holding off the werewolves. She whimpered as she tried to get to her feet. He didn't just snap her back leg, he tore a chunk out of it. The redhead gave Liquide to her partner and ran over.


“Caprice. It's okay. We can hold them off.”


She looked back to the other two people. A man and woman. They looked so much alike. The man was fighting off the red wolf and the woman was standing back watching. No, not watching. Suddenly the white Beetle lifted up and flew through the air of it's own accord. It smashed into both wolves. Caprice couldn't believe her eyes. But she felt tired. The wound hurt.


Rain was now falling against her bare skin. Éclair slid her arms under her. She smiled at Caprice. “My turn to repay the favor, okay?” The brunette couldn't think of anything to say and simply smiled in a feeble manner.


Éclair turned the both of them towards Lumière, who was holding up Liquide, and the two strangers—vampires. Lumière studied Caprice's eyes and then turned towards the dark haired vampires. “Please do not harm either of these women.”


The male shrugged. He diverted his attention back towards the wolves. They had gotten up but were running away now.


“Let's get back,” Éclair commanded everyone. Much to Caprice's surprise they all listened. The male vampire took Liquide up in his arms. He ignored the seething jealous look she gave him and sprinted off into the night.


The redhead smiled as she followed. “Don't worry. I think we can trust them.”


“If not, I'm holding you responsible.”


“After that fight, I shudder about the thought of making you mad.”


Caprice couldn't help but smile.

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