Disgraced: Twins of the Zodiac

A Possible Find

    He watched her as she sat there from afar. She had a book in her hand, her thick legs crossed and a cigar entwined between two fingers; and no one said a word to her. Though more than a fair share had their eyes on her in all of her boldness-clueless, and most of all non-caring of who found her mannerisms interesting in the first place.

    Part of him felt that she wasn’t reading the book; that it was a ploy to cover up the deep thinking that might have been going on. There was a slight wrinkle in her brow though not one that would be immediately noticeable to the untrained eye.

    One couldn’t tell by the looks of it, but Azul had a distinct feeling that there was something weighing heavily on this young woman. And his curiosity warranted him to find out what it was. He found it amusing that this girl that he didn't know from a can of paint plagued him with so much interest. Then again, if his suspicions were right about her, he had his reasons for his intrigue-outside of her insane attractive allure, of course. 

    His head tipped without thinking as he admired the way her mini dress rose slightly, revealing her soft light brown thighs as she uncrossed and re-crossed her legs the other way.

    “Are we going to continue to stand here and admire or approach the girl?” Hazazel said in frustration through Azul’s thoughts. He admired the girl greatly but he wanted more than just to look from afar.

    “Right.” Azul found himself in agreement with his beast while he continuously watched her.

    He threw the food that he’d been munching on in the trash and turned to go and finally approach this nameless girl when he noticed that she was gone.

    “What the-” He looked around incredulously, wondering where she was going. He started to close his eyes and tap into his senses to heighten them.

    “So, you were just going to stand there and watch me? Not saying a word?” That silk accent said from behind. 

    Azul turned around to see the girl standing there, her face still in her book, cigar still in her mouth as she leaned against the nearby wall, next to where Azul had stationed himself in a booth. He was surprised at how fast she moved-how quickly, she had gotten to him, that he was lost for words but only for a moment...maybe two.

    “Kind of perverted, don’t you think?” She asked, her gaze finally meeting his in nonchalance before she scoffed and moved on.

    Surprised at her boldness, Azul could only watch her before his common sense, Hazazel, kicked in to insist that he follow her.

    “Hey! Wait! Wait up!” Azul called after her but she kept walking, not slowing her pace for him, despite his pleas for her to do so. Nevertheless, he caught up to her. It didn't take much effort as Azul's legs were significantly longer than hers to begin with, so his stride was two of hers.

    “Tell me, Azul.” She finally spoke when she heard that he had caught up with her, despite her not slowing down. This, she would admit to herself, that she found quite amusing. “Are you following me?” She asked.

    “Well, yes, yeah. I had to explain myself-”

    “Oh, no.” She cut him off. “I mean...before I caught you.” She clarified. When he didn’t answer, she sneered. “You know, as attractive as you may be, I do not find stalking, in any form, impressive at all.” She commented as she kept to her pace.

    Azul sighed, annoyed at the constant nagging of his wolf in the back of his mind, scolding him for watching her so long instead of making a move. “It’s not like that-” He struggled to say.

    “How long?” Aurora asked. “Have you been following me, exactly?” When he didn’t answer, she chanced a glance at him. “Not going to answer, huh?”

    Azul, embarrassed, sighed and shook his head. He could not believe how badly he botched this up. Moreover, he could not believe that this young girl had the ability to make him feel like a scorned young man too anxious to confront a crush.

    As they entered a part of the mall that was secluded and partially out of use for reconstruction, she prepared herself to make a move.

    “You know, I was trying to spare you.” She muttered. “Regardless, of how badly, I wanted to taste such an essence.”

    As Azul heard her say this, he noticed her voice begin to change. “Wh-I’m sorry?”

    “Oh, don’t worry sweetie, it’ll be clear soon enough.” She replied. 

    Before Azul could say another word-before he could fully guard himself for whatever was about to happen, an enormous strength surprised him; and yanked him into a closed-off cut, where an old bathroom used to be.

    When he finally gathered himself, he saw the dilated eyes of the girl, her fangs elongated and a grin on her face. She was a vampire!

    “I’m sorry, it had to be this way.” She said. “But you’re a stalker...and, well...I’m hungry.” She smiled before dipping her head to take a bite out of him.

    Before she could, however, Azul overpowered her and shoved the girl against the wall behind her. Now it was his turn to surprise her.

    “Not today, love.” He said with a small grin.

    The surprised look on her face, slowly turned into one of curiosity as she took in the difference between his inhuman features and her own.

    His eyes were dilated a near frosty dark blue and his canines were just as sharp and just as long, but different, still. And most oddly of all, his ears were pointed. Like hers.

    “Who are you?” She asked.

    “I am Azul.”

    “Your name, I know.” She tipped her head. “But who are you?” She reiterated. 

    Catching the hidden meaning between what she was asking him, a small smile appeared across Azul’s face. “I’ll tell you who I am...if you tell me ...your name.”

    She looked at him curiously a moment, wondering whether she should. However, the fact that he was similar to her made her feel an overwhelming feeling to cooperate. How could she pass up the chance to learn more about a fellow inhuman, after all?

    “Aurora. My name is Aurora Valentine.” 

    As she said her name, it leaving her lips like silk, Azul admired and watched her as she stood there under the control of his physical strength; her gaze staring up at him as he towered over her. It was arousing.

    “You going to let me go now? Or are we just going to stand here, while you admire what you see?” Aurora raised her eyebrow in amusement.

    When she said that, Azul realized that this is exactly what he was doing. He smirked, a wry expression upon his features as he slowly pulled away from her. “Let’s talk Aurora Valentine.

    They left the mall and headed over to the park, it being more secluded in some areas than other places. They passed the bench where Aurora had taken the life of a man not too long ago. She looked at the bench, noticing a small stain of blood as they passed by. Such a bittersweet evening, she thought to herself.

    When they finally found a place secluded enough to sit, Azul didn’t say much at first, watching her as she watched him for a prolonged time.

    “Aurora Valentine.” He said. “Nice name.”

    “I know.” Aurora simply countered. “Now who are you?” She asked in reiteration of before.

    “I am...Azul Arkane, Alpha of the Arctic Pack.

    “Arctic?” Aurora repeated in befuddlement. “I thought...I thought the Arctic Wolf Pack was a myth.”

    Azul smirked in amusement. “We don’t very well announce our existence to the world, I guess you could say.”

    “But...why, though? You’re a legend.” Aurora said. “Literally, legend.”

    Azul smirked. “You a fan or something?” 

    Catching hint to his arrogance, Aurora scoffed in amusement. “Maybe, you’ve forgotten-I’m a vampire.” She reminded. “We do not find much favor with wolves.” She said.

    “Then why do you know so much about us?”

    Aurora thought this an obvious question to answer. “Because I read.” She said shortly. “Or have you not noticed that either?” She sardonically replied.

    Azul chuckled lightly before looking away. “I noticed that you always have a book in your face. Didn’t think you actually read it.” He said.

    “And what makes you think that?” Aurora asked, leaning in closer with amused curiosity.

    “Just seem like a girl with too much on her mind to bother with the imagination that reading a book requires.” He said.

    He was right...to an extent, but she wouldn’t admit that. He didn’t have to know that she had already read a lot of the books that she’d carry with her and that sometimes she would just use it as a way to direct her gaze in a way where no one would bother her.

    “Ever heard of multi-tasking? Thinking and reading. Despite the experience you apparently have with no-brain having little girls, it is possible.”

    Azul chuckled at her very sarcastic and smart counters. “Fair, I guess.” 

    When Aurora finished admiring his smile she spoke again. “You’re a long way from home, wolf.” She commented. “Why are you really here, Azul Arkane?” She asked.

    Azul’s smile faded a little. “I’m looking for someone.” He finally said after a moment of seeming to wonder whether he could confess this.

    “Of importance, I take it. If you’ve come all the way from the Arctic.”

    “Well, we are no longer in the Arctic.” He said. “So, fortunately, it is not such a long distance to travel now.”

    “Is that why you asked...who my father was?” Aurora asked. “Are you looking for this Rorick? Who is he really?” She asked.

    Azul shook his head. “Rorick was the Alpha of Arctic Pack and my best friend.”

    “But, I thought you were the Alpha,” Aurora said. 

    “I am...now,” Azul answered shortly.

    “So, where is he?” Aurora asked.

    “He’s dead.” He replied. “Just like your father.”

    Aurora found his comparison to her father’s death sort of a bleak way to answer someone’s question. However, before she could comment on this, he spoke again.

    “Tell me, Aurora. What do you know about your father?” He asked.

    Her eyes shifted in response, wondering what she really did know about the man. In truth, she didn’t know much. She shrugged.

    “I don’t know anything.” She said. “We weren’t really allowed that topic of conversation around my mother or anyone else for that matter.”

    “Why?” Azul asked.

    Aurora scoffed. She never thought about it until that moment. “Guess he just wasn’t worth the topic to discuss. Then again, where I was raised...neither wolves...” Her voice trailed off as she thought about what she'd say next. "or vampires, for that matter, was a safe subject to dwell on,"

    "And what does that mean?" Azul asked.

    Of course, he'd want to know more, she thought before replying. "Let's just say...I am the black sheep of my family," She resigned.

    Azul found that disheartening to hear and while he wanted to continue with the subject he knew that she was done going in-depth with her life's story. “Did your mother love you?” He asked. “Assuming she is not around anymore.”

    Aurora sighed, her gaze wandering for a moment. “I did not see her die but I assume...with the way that things were left, that she is." She begrudgingly replied, frustrated that she actually felt obligated to answer his question. With a sigh, she continued. "One thing that I am sure of, if nothing else, is that she loved me with all of her being.”

    Azul smiled. “Then I find it hard to believe that she’d find him worthy of having his name carried by someone that she found so precious.” He said.

    Aurora never thought of it that way. And to tell the truth, it was very refreshing to have that thought in her mind versus the former.

    “Maybe.” She said with a small smile. “Maybe you’re right.” There were a few comfortable moments of silence before Aurora finally decided that it was time to go home; maybe see if she could smooth things over with her brother. Maybe. “Well, I gotta go.” She said standing. “Maybe I’ll see you around. If...you’re still around.” She said, walking away. 

    “Aurora!” Azul called after her. She turned around to allow him space for attention. “How old are you?” He asked.

    To this Aurora's lip turned up in a half-smirk.”Well over ten decades older than what you probably assume," 

    “Legal then.” Azul grinned in a teasing manner.

    Aurora found this slightly funny. “I’m not sure. If you’re old enough to be my dad’s best friend then maybe not legal enough.” She turned and started off again.

    “Aurora! One more question.” He said after a small amused chuckle at what she said. This question would be far more telling and very much more useful than the other.

    “Yes, Azul of the Arctic.” She answered.

    “I know that this is a weird question to ask but...what was your mother’s name?”

    Why did he want to know? Did he think that he could help figure out whether she was alive or not? She wasn’t sure, but a part of her was too curious not to see where giving him that bit of information could go. Besides, he couldn’t harm Abigail Valentine by just knowing her name. Not him. 

    “Abigail.” She finally answered. “Abigail Valentine.” She then walked away and headed home. “See you around, Arctic Wolf.” She bayed before she disappeared into the evening.

    Azul stood there, slightly shell-shocked. This was just too much to be a coincidence. It just couldn’t be. This circumstance was bordering on fate.

    “I think we found her Haze. I think we found his daughter.”