Death Metal Luna

Down in a Hole

  TJ's POV

I bawled into my pillow for what felt like forever after my parents left my room. I couldn't believe that they just told me I was no longer allowed to see my best friend. Stupid Gideon ordered it. I couldn't understand why that asshole cared who I hung out with. And on top of that, I was no longer allowed to be in my band. The band I had worked my ass off in with my friends. I sat up on my bed, still sniffling, and picked up my phone. I tried messaging Jeff, but he had already blocked me. With a roar of frustration and grief, I threw my phone across the room and watched it shatter.

I buried my face in my pillow and screamed my grief into it. I then fell into a heap of tears again and cried myself to sleep. The following day I woke up to heartache and a searing headache. I debated whether or not I still wanted to go to training. Sighing, I rolled out of bed and threw on my workout clothes, and headed out of my room. Downstairs I walked into the kitchen, and my father was sipping some coffee at the breakfast bar.

"Good morning, Tempe," He greeted me in his usual chipper tone. I didn't even bother looking at him as I walked out of the kitchen. I was almost at the front door when he spoke again. "I'm sorry, Tempe."

I just stared at the wall as he spoke. I shook my head and then opened the front door and rushed out without replying or looking at my father. Everyone in my family was against me. I jogged to the training grounds and began my stretches. I sensed someone walking up to me from behind, and I turned to look at Ted.

He had his usual cocky smile, which fell when he saw me. "Whoa, what happened to you?" He asked with genuine concern in his voice.

I shrugged and sighed. "Let's just train," I spoke out quietly.

"Are you sure?" He stood in front of me with his brows furrowed.

"I need to hit something," I replied in a monotone and got into my fighting stance.

Ted sighed heavily and copied me. I lunged at him with every ounce of anger I felt towards my parents and Gideon. Ted dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes and looked up at me. "Talk about rage."

I growled and swiped at him with my leg, which he caught and flipped me over. I was instantly back on my feet as we exchanged harder and harder blows. I managed to clock him in the jaw a few times which he did the same to me. The pain was driving me harder and harder. But it also distracted me, and Ted managed to get the drop on me a few times.

The third time I landed on my back, a whistle sounded. I looked up at the trainer, George, who shook his head. "What is in your head today Abbott?" He asked while picking me up off the ground.

"Pain," I replied and put my fighting stance back up. "Come on, Ted."

Ted shook his head. "I think we have done enough today, Tempe."

With a snarl, I stormed away and found a tree to torment. I began slamming my fists into it, barely chipping the bark. Blood flowed out of my hands, and the pain drove me to punch harder. The last punch I tried to throw, someone grabbed my fist.

I swung and tried to punch the person holding me with my free arm. I looked into the eyes of the aging trainer. "Let me go, George," I pulled my hand away from him.

"What is going on with you?" He asked with mild sympathy.

Ted was standing behind the trainer while a few warriors were watching. "None of your damn business." I nearly roared and stormed away.

"Temperance!" The trainer called after me, but I just kept walking. I eventually broke into a run until I made it to my house. I ran up the stairs and into the bathroom. I jumped into the shower and leaned my head against the tile while the hot water flowed over my bruised body. The blood on my hands washed away as the wounds had already closed.

'Everything is going to be alright, Temperance,' Tarja spoke in my head.

I ignored her and finished my shower. I looked in my closet and chose to wear jeans and a tatter black hoodie today. I pulled my red hair into a loose ponytail and grabbed my bag. I heard my family conversing at the breakfast table, but I wasn't interested in being near them. I walked towards the front door.

"Temperance," My mother's voice made me pause, but I didn't look at her. "Aren't you going to eat with your family?"

"I have no family," I replied without looking at her and walked out of the house.

"Temperance!" I heard my mother call for me again.

"Leave her, Madison," My father told my mother. As I walked away from the house, I heard my parents start to fight.

I pulled my headphones and MP3 player out of my bag. I put in my headphones and turned on the latest Cannibal Corpse album, and used it to block out the world. I walked slowly towards school, kicking pebbles and wishing Jeff was with me.

I jumped when someone tapped my shoulder. I looked up to see Lenny and Gilbert standing in front of me. I pulled out my headphones. "Hey," I said to them quietly.

"What is going on?" Gilbert's eyebrows were furrowed. "Jeff called us and said he isn't allowed to talk to you anymore."

I rubbed my nose. "That is correct. King Dumbass decreed it last night."

"What about the band?" Lenny asked.

I shook my head. "I don't know what to do. We worked so hard at it, and now just like that-" I trailed off.

"Well, I am not going to let the asshole ruin this. We will figure it out," Gilbert tried reassuring me.

I sighed and just kept walking. The three of us walked in silence. When we made it to school, I saw Jeff standing by himself against a tree. He was smoking a cigarette, not caring that it was forbidden. He saw us, and I waved. Forgetting I wasn't allowed, I tried walking towards him only to be stopped by three warriors.

"We are sorry, Ms. Abbott. Alpha's orders. You are not allowed near Mr. Starsky." One of the warriors said to me. I looked past them to see more warriors blocking Jeff from me.

I scowled at him and walked in the opposite direction. "This f*****g sucks." Lenny snarled.

"I think it's alright for you two to talk to Jeff," I mumbled sadly as I reached my locker.

"Oh, right." Lenny patted my shoulder.

"Tell him I said hi, and I am sorry," I smiled at Lenny before he and Gilbert walked away. Suddenly feeling alone, I had to endure Bridget and her minions as they walked over to me.

"Oh, look, girls. Poor Temperance doesn't have her loser squad with her." She cackled, and the rest joined in.

Ursula stepped towards me and touched my hoodie. "As if she couldn't get any sadder in her wardrobe choices, she upped the game."

They all snickered and laughed as I ignored them. I slammed my locker shut and walked to my first class. School went by like any other day except that the school had completely changed Jeff's schedule, so we had no classes together, and at lunch, I had to sit alone because warriors surrounded me. Lenny and Gilbert kept giving me sad looks while sitting with Jeff, who sat with his back to me.

After school, I walked towards home and just wanted to cry. Gilbert and Lenny chose to go with Jeff, and I was alone again. I barely noticed when a sports car pulled up alongside me. I knew it was Gideon without even looking.

"Get in the car, Temperance." He ordered me.

I ignored him and kept walking. He finally stopped the car and got out. He stood in front of me, blocking the path. I just stared at the ground.

"I'm sorry I had to order Starsky to stay away from you. But I couldn't see you two together anymore." He explained.

I kept my eyes on the ground while my wolf panted happily in my head. She liked being near Gideon.

"Are you not even going to look at me?" He growled and grabbed my chin. I tried to pull away, but he just tightened his grip. "Look at me, Temperance." He ordered and yanked my face up, so I had to look in his handsome devil face.

Tarja whimpered and paced as he tried smiling at me. I just glared at him. The closeness was confusing my body. It's like I craved his touch, but I had to do everything I could to resist him.

"Why are you fighting me so much? Why can't you see I do these things for your own good? "

I clenched my jaw and just kept glaring. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of answering him. I was not going to give in even though my heart was racing.

"Just submit Temperance. Submit, and you'll be happy. Don't you feel anything at all?" He stared at me. I just remained silent. "Answer me, Temperance." I was still quiet and sensed his anger rising. "ANSWER ME!" He commanded in his alpha tone.

My body stiffened as I had to obey. "I feel nothing for you," I replied in monotone.

"Lies!" He yelled. "I sense your body responding to me," He lowered his lips to my ear. I felt his hot breath on my face, and Tarja paced and whined happily. I closed my eyes as his lips brushed over mine, sending sparks all through my body which sent me into a panic. He pressed his lips to mine, and I began to struggle. He wrapped his arms around me, and I started fighting to get away from him. "Quit fighting me," he growled and bit my lower lip, causing me to yelp.

"Let go. Please," I pleaded with him.

"I am never letting you go," He bit my lip again, and I tasted blood.

I squirmed and fought. I eventually managed to get an arm free from his hold and balled up my fist, and with everything I had, I clocked him in the jaw. With a roar, he released me. I dropped my bag and took off running, not looking back. I needed to get away from the angry alpha. Tarja growled in my head and wouldn't let me shift, so I had to remain in human form.

'Why did you hurt him?'

'Are you shitting me right now?' I replied to her. I kept running until I reached the furthest reaches of the territory. I then realized that Gideon wasn't chasing me. I stood quietly for a moment, making sure he wasn't following. I leaned against a tree and panted. Looking around, I realized I was in a spot I often came to with Jeff.

There was a small stream weaving its way through the trees. I walked towards the creek and sat down. Tears ran down my face as I looked at my reflection. I touched my bleeding lip and growled. "That asshole. Why does he not get that I hate him?"

'He doesn't hate you,' Tarja chimed in.

'Why are you so interested in pushing us together? I want nothing to do with him, Tarja,' I argued back with her, and she whined.

'You will find out soon,' Was all she had to say before retreating into my mind.

I froze when I sensed someone approaching me. I then relaxed when I recognized the scent. I turned around as he walked out of the tree line. He was wearing his black velvet warlock cloak. His blonde hair flowed out of his hood as his brown eyes sparkled at me. I stood up and threw myself into his arms. "I am so sorry," I sobbed into his chest as he held me tight.

"Don't be sorry, TJ. It's not your fault," His voice soothed me.

I pulled back to look him in the eyes, and for a moment, everything disappeared as he leaned into me. The next thing I knew, our lips met, and I melted into him as he held me tighter. His hand traced down my cheek as the kiss deepened, and he pushed me against a tree. I ran my hands through his long hair and moaned when I allowed his tongue into my mouth.

Tarja growled viciously in my head as Jeff's hands began to explore my body. "I love you, Temperance Abbott." He whispered against my lips.

I looked him in the eyes. "I love you, Jeffery Starsky," I replied, and Tarja became unbearable. I had to force her to the back of my mind. "I love you so much," I said to him as I leaned my head against his chest.

"No asshole alpha is going to keep us apart," He whispered to me. "We will figure this out."

"We better. Because I don't think I can survive without you, Jeff."

He laughed. "Gilbert is coming up with a plan so we can still go to our audition too."

I chuckled. "Leave it to Gilbert to be determined to get to that audition." We looked into each other's eyes and were about to kiss again when I sensed we weren't alone. I have expected to see Gideon's wolf, but it was my father's. I sighed as the large red wolf stepped towards us.

'We have been looking everywhere for you, young lady.' He told me through mind link. 'Go home now, and I won't tell Gideon about you two.' He glanced at Jeff.

I sighed and looked at Jeff. "I have to go home."

Jeff nodded. "I understand." He leaned in to kiss me again, but my father growled at him. "Bye, TJ." He waved and then disappeared into the trees.

I then looked at the red wolf. "I am going to shift into Tarja and run home, alright," I said to him.

'I'll meet you there.' He replied and then took off running.

I quickly took off my clothes and shifted into my wolf. Tarja had similar coloring to my father's wolf. She was large and had a rust-colored coat with streaks of white and black with three white socks. Her ears and muzzle were black. I picked up my clothes and then took off for home. When I reached home, my father was standing on the porch smoking. My father rarely ever smoked.

I stepped behind a tree, shifted, and put my clothes back on. I looked at the ground as I approached the house. My father flicked his cigarette away and beckoned me into the house.

I walked past the living room and tried going upstairs without saying anything to anyone. "Temperance," My father's voice said to me. "We need to talk."

With a sigh, I turned towards my father. My mother was standing next to him with her arms folded. He pointed to the couch. "Sit," He ordered.

I sat with a huff and refused to look at my parents.

"Look at us," My mother ordered, and I looked up at her. "I know you are mad at us. I am sorry it had to come to this. But everything we are doing is for your own good."

I rolled my eyes. "How is cutting me off from my best friend for my own good?"

"We know how close you and Jeff have gotten," My mother said as my father gave me a knowing look. "He is not your mate Temperance. We need you to understand we are helping you save yourself for your mate."

"So what does that all have to do with Gideon?"

My parents exchanged a look, and my father started to say something only to be cut off by my mother. "He is just concerned, Temperance. He doesn't want a member of his pack to be hurt by one of them."

"One of them?" I asked.

"A witch or warlock or whatever the hell they call themselves," My father interjected. "They are not trustworthy. We don't want you to give yourself to one of them and get hurt."

"But you trust Granny Witch to put up a magical barrier to keep out rogues. Alpha Clifton allows her to live in the territory."

My father clapped his hands together. "She and Jeff live on the furthers fringes of the territory. She maintains the barrier because she owes Clif a favor. But we do not fully trust her."

I shook my head. "I don't understand any of this." I stood up and tried walking out of the room.

"I know it's hard, honey," My mother approached and tried touching my arm, but I pulled away from her. "It will all make sense at your party."

"I'm not going." I declared.

My mother growled, "Yes, you are."

"I only agreed to go because you said I could go to the audition in Buffalo, And since I am not in the band any longer, I am not going to Buffalo," I explained to her. "So I see no point in going to a party I am going to hate," I emphasized the word hate, and my mother shrank back from me with a sad look. "So, just let me go wallow in my own pity."

"Temperance!" My father barked. "Do not speak to your mother like that."

I turned and looked at him with my arms folded.

"You are going to the party on Saturday, and that is final!" He ordered me. "Do I make myself clear?"

I nodded. "Crystal," I responded and stomped my way up the stairs. My brother was waiting for me with my messenger bag by my door.

"Gideon said you dropped this." Hayden handed me my bag.

"Thanks," I mumbled to my brother as I walked into my room.

"You know Gideon likes you." He sat on my bed.

I glared at him. "He has a hell of a way of showing it."

Hayden sighed. "He has a hard time showing it because he has to maintain a reputation. He is going to be alpha next week."

"And I will be gone." I smiled at the thought.

My brother shook his head. "You should give Gideon a chance, Tempe."

"Get out of my room, Hayden." I snarled at him and threw my bag down on my bed.

"I'm just trying to help," He reached for my arm, but I backed away. He held up his hands and walked out.

I pulled out my headphones and MP3 player, put them on, and listened to Cannibal Corpse until I fell asleep.