DARK ALLIANCE (Scarlett of the wolves #3)

Chapter 6

Fortunately for me, I never had to relive such an experience with Rucker again. A little more than five weeks after that hellish day, he felt that my temper tantrums were widely spaced and that my education was paying off. I managed my fits of rage much better and we didn’t have to go back to that abandoned factory to calm my nerves and teach me to control my reactions. Added to this victory was the fact that I was still not lacking in energy.

I was fine. At least… on the surface.

This morning again, like all the others since I had decided to eat regularly, I went down to the kitchen to have breakfast, the only meal I would have during the day. It was enough for me to keep in shape. I went there grudgingly because I always fed myself with just as much aversion, but I preferred this a thousand times more than catching a small helpless animal to empty it of its blood.

“Hi, Scarlett!” Corwin called out as I entered the kitchen.

He had already devoured five chocolate bars. Empty papers littered the table.

 I leaned over him.

“Hi, man.”

Every morning I had gotten into the habit of kissing them on the forehead; him and his brother. At first, they thought it was funny and unusual, but now, if I omitted the kiss, they would give me hell.

Mechanically, without any enthusiasm, I grabbed a pan from a cupboard that Rucker had bought especially for me. I put it on the fire and waited for it to heat up. I broke three eggs into a bowl and beat them gently. I poured the oil into the pan, along with the omelette to fry it. Cooking made no difference, I might as well have eaten them raw, but I cooked them out of habit.

I readily admit this ritual was as absurd as it was unnecessary. I could have been content with the junk food Rucker and his brothers ate, except that swallowing something traditionally healthier made me feel better.

I poured the eggs onto a plate, grabbed a fork, and sat down across from Corwin.

After ten minutes, I was still picking over that damn breakfast. It took concentration and extreme courage to lift the fork to my mouth. Once it even took an hour. Rucker got angry all the time. He didn’t leave the table until my plate was finished. So, in the morning, I preferred to avoid him.

“Where’s your brother?” I asked Corwin.

“With Perceval,” he replied with his mouth full, “they left overnight to hunt.”

I looked at the time on the clock, it was almost six o’clock.

“Hunt? But, didn’t the three of you do that last week?”

“Yes, yes…, but Morel wasn’t well.”

“What do you mean, not well?”

Corwin swallowed a huge piece of barely chewed nougat with difficulty. He wiped his mouth and shrugged.

“He’s not like me, he’s a little weaker. He needs to drink two or three times more to be in good shape. Sometimes he must drink every day for a week and then it gets better.”

“I didn’t know…”

At no time had I noticed Morel’s discomfort. But now that Corwin was talking about it, I noticed that it was always he who mistreated his brother while playing. He was stronger. Besides, it was Morel who had come through my bedroom window a few weeks earlier.

“And you know when they’ll be home?”

“I don’t know, but they didn’t go very far,” he said, adding a lift of his chin towards the sea.

“I don’t understand… they went fishing?”

“We say hunt. Because tuna is difficult to catch,” he said, finishing his nougat.

Tuna… it is, of course!

With a last stroke of the fork, I finished the bite of omelette that I had left.

The morning passed very quickly. It was almost noon and Rucker and Morel still hadn’t come home. I knew I had no reason to worry about them, but I couldn’t help myself. The last time they went hunting it hadn’t lasted more than four hours. Now, it was getting suspicious. Why were they taking so long?

I tried to occupy my mind by opening the walk-in closet in my bedroom for storing my things. My gaze fell on my old satchel. I hadn’t touched it since the time Rucker had taken my car keys—keys he hadn’t returned to me when the Mini was now parked in the yard. You never know if I’d decide to go on a fast-food spree by attacking a nice granny! Pff… The few rare contacts that I had had with humans, these last weeks, had very little effect on me, Rucker’s lessons were helping.

I rummaged inside my bag to get out my few things. First I grabbed an old, half-full water bottle and threw it in the wastebasket, just behind my back. Then I pulled out my diary and looked through the whole series of empty pages.

Today’s date hit me like a stab. It was July sixteenth.

In nine days, I’ll be nineteen.

I thought of my parents. For over a month and a half, I hadn’t heard their voices, and they, mine. I had avoided this moment with finesse, preferring to write them emails, claiming that my job occupied me more hours than expected.

Thus, I avoided broaching any subject other than this so-called work which took up all my time.

The situation was difficult because the more time passed, the more I realized that I was grieving for my family. But I didn’t see how I could ever see my parents again. How do I get them to understand my obvious physical change? Even if they didn’t believe in vampires, they weren’t dumb, they would quickly figure out that something was wrong with me. And what was I going to say?

I sighed and rummaged through the small inside pocket of my bag to check what was inside. I had trouble getting my fingers through, the zipper was stuck. Forgetting my strength, I tugged hard and tore the fabric completely. The contents slipped into my hand and my heart stopped.

Why was the woman/wolf pendant I gave Elgin in my bag? The cord was broken as if torn. Had he given it back to me without my knowledge so as not to have any memory of me? I squeezed it between my fingers and held back what I thought was a sob. Instead, a shrill sound came from my throat. I was crying without really succeeding. I was crying without tears.

I untied the leather tie that was around my neck and threaded it through Elgin’s pendant. The bronze of mine and the silver of his clashed with a discreet ringing.

Refusing to waste my time rehashing my pain, I got up hastily to ask Corwin if he would come and swim with me.

I grabbed my swimsuit, a towel, and ran to join him in his room.

I found him standing in front of the window, motionless as a statue, scanning the sea horizon.

“Is something wrong?”

“They haven’t come home yet,” he said without turning around.

“And that worries you?”

I walked over to him and put my hands on his shoulders.

“I don’t think Morel wants to come home anymore,” he concluded sadly.

“But… why do you say that? They just went hunting and they are taking a little longer than expected. They’ll come back.”

I tried to reassure him, but I knew that Corwin never said anything indiscriminately. His concern was well-founded, it accentuated mine. I decided to question him.

“You weren’t so worried this morning, what has happened since?”

He chose silence and remained stubbornly riveted to the sea. Leaning over him, I saw that his beautiful blue eyes had taken on the appearance of water.

“Talk to me,” I said in a voice I wanted to be the sweetest and most encouraging possible.

Suddenly, he threw himself on me and hugged me with force. I heard him sob against my chest. When he looked up at me, his face was flooded with tears.

I was stunned, shocked. He was crying. He knew how to cry and I didn’t!

Momentarily, I ignored my feelings to focus on Corwin.

I gently stroked his hair and bent my knees to bring myself down to his height, pulling him to the floor with me. We sat down, Corwin still in my arms. His sobs died down and finally, he lifted his head to look at me.

“I don’t know if I can tell you.”

“Tell me what?  You don’t want to or you’re not allowed?”

He picked up a last tear on his cheek and probed me with his beautiful blue eyes.

“Perceval wouldn’t be happy…”

“Oh… so don’t say anything. I’ll ask him directly what’s wrong if you don’t mind. You agree?”

“No, I don’t want him to know that I cried.”

So… and why is that? A crying child, there isn’t anything more normal!

“If I tell you a secret, will you keep it to yourself?”

I think for a moment before answering. Now wasn’t the time to make an empty promise.

“I don’t know, Corwin. If it’s too serious, I might not be able to. You understand?”

He nodded and repositioned his head on my chest.

“Too bad, I still want to talk to you, even if I’m scolded by Perceval. If you don’t tell him that I cried...”

Damn it! But why was it so important that he didn’t know his little brother was crying? I was angry with Rucker.

“I promise I won’t tell him.”

Corwin seemed reassured.

“I think Morel doesn’t want to come home because of you.”

“Me?” I asked, stunned. “Why?”

“Because you smell good.”

“Because I smell good? The smell of my blood?”

He nodded a little shamefully.

I thought everyone here had gotten used to the human scent I had kept. Like me with that smell of wet dog that I noticed constantly as soon as I went outside the house.

“Morel always said you smelled good. From the first time he saw you.”

What could I say to that? I was sorry it was a struggle for him. Because the problem was there. Even though a few weeks earlier Rucker was sure his brothers didn’t desire human blood, it seemed like I was a problem for Morel. The idea was unbearable to me.

“Why don’t you want Perceval to know that you told me about it?”

He looked at me with eyes of incredible sadness.

“Because he thinks you might want to leave us so as not to tempt Morel. And I don’t want you to leave us!” he said, throwing himself on me again.

I put my arms around him.

“I’ll not leave you,” I reassured him. “I’m sure we’ll find a solution.”

Here is a line that must have sounded very wrong in my mouth. What solution to the natural smell of my blood? Inject me with liquid garlic to cover up the scent? Eat arsenic in a bar of chocolate?

“I think you smell good too. But that doesn’t bother me and besides, I know you’re a vampire. Vampires don’t feed on other vampires. It’s bad.”

“Don’t worry, Corwin. I’m sure Morel will be back with Ruc… Perceval. Where do you think he’d go anyway? He needs you and your hits in the stomach too much!” I tried to joke.

He smirked and looked at me pleadingly.

“Can I have a kiss on the forehead?”

I smiled at him and complied. He was so touching, this little boy.

“I like it when you kiss me on the forehead. My mom, I remember she did the same. Morel and I were always fighting over which of the two she preferred to kiss. Since you did that, we’ve been fighting again.”

“That’s not good,” I tried to reprimand him, but without any authority.

“But it’s funny, it’s always me who wins!”

I shook my head, ruffling his hair.

“Do you want to go swimming?”

He got up in a split second and ran to retrieve his swimsuit from the closet. I took that for a yes.

A few minutes later, we were descending to the rocky cove. We had barely changed when we heard splashing in the water. Rucker and Morel swam quickly towards us. Morel grinned when he saw me. I was relieved to see that he was comfortable, but I wanted to talk to Rucker, it was important.

Before Morel even got out of the water, Corwin threw himself on him, pretending to want to drown him. They rose to the surface and laughed loudly, before swimming out to sea.

Rucker gracefully jumped over the rocks and sat silently beside me. He gave a tight smile that made me think he mustn’t have been having a great time with his brother.

“Why didn’t you tell me that Morel was going through difficult times?”

A flash passed through his eyes before he glanced in Corwin’s direction.

“He doesn’t need you to scold him,” I warn him. “He’s more anxious than you think.”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“So? What’s going on with me? What can I do to help him? Should I stay away from him and no longer approach him?”

“No. You would hurt him a lot if you did that. He loves you very much.”

“Me too, Rucker. And that’s why I want to find a solution.”

Another smile, but shy, puckered his lips.

“I’m afraid there aren’t any, Scarlett. There isn’t a thing you can do about the smell of your blood. Morel will have to learn to control himself. Again…”

This “again” expressed such weariness...

“Corwin thinks I might leave you. That’s what you believe too, isn’t it?”

“It’s a possibility I thought about,” he confessed. “It would be something you’d do... You like to protect those around you. But I tell you plainly, I’m against it!”

I smiled when I saw his determined expression.

“I have no intention of leaving unless you ask me to.”

“That will never happen, you are at home here.”

This damn sincerity got me every time. I was like that, with Rucker, convinced that I was loved. This is exactly why I found our relationship so special, so strong and unique. He was loyal to me.

“What precautions should I take to make his life easier? Would avoiding physical contact be enough?”

“No. You perfume the whole house. Morel has never lived with a human scent this close to him and for so long. I’m sure it’ll eventually get better for him.”

“As you were sure he would be able to sleep in the same bed as a human without wanting his blood…”

He shook his head as he remembered our conversation.

“Morel has always been weaker than Corwin. For everything. More fragile, more sensitive. All this only half surprises me.”

“What would happen if he… cracked?”

“You could push him away...”

“Yes, of course, but… do you think my blood really tastes like human blood?”

He flinched as his cheek twitched nervously.

“Are you struggling too?”

“Sometimes,” he confessed. “You’re a dark angel, but yes, I think your blood tastes like human blood.”

“Oh…”

“Don’t count on me to go check it out!” he tried to joke.

“I’m sorry…”

“We only apologize for the things we caused. It isn’t your fault.”

After that, silence fell. We couldn’t even hear the boys playing anymore. I broke it after a few minutes.

“You love each other so much, all three of you...”

He smiles at me.

“We have been linked twice. Once by the flesh and blood of our mother, another by the gift of immortality. I could never live without them and they without me.”

“I admire you for that. You’re so… amazing with them.”

He started laughing.

“You’re one of the few people to tell me! Usually, those of our species think of me as crazy.”

“Crazy? But why?”

“Because I had the audacity, the madness, the disrespect, to transform two young children who’ll never grow up… You see, Scarlett, usually, when children are transformed, their bodies no longer grow, but their minds continue to evolve. They gain the experience and the thoughts of the passing years, but they never change physically. Imagine how difficult it must be...”

“This isn’t the case with Morel and Corwin, however. They have a child’s heart; they are carefree and have the joy of living.”

“I can’t explain it. They’re still the same: the ones I knew before their transformation. Nothing has changed. They always think like children.”

“And that’s pretty good, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“They never rebel against your decisions?”

“Rarely. They trust my judgment. The more the years go by, the less they question my authority. But I respect their choices, their desires. This is essential because we are a whole. Family is important.”

I looked up at the horizon, thoughtful.

Family is important...

Rucker must have felt the veil of sadness that covered me. He gently touched my fingers.

“Do you miss your family, Scarlett?”

I nodded silently.

“You have made a lot of progress in recent weeks; would you like to visit them?”

I couldn’t hide my joy or my astonishment. I’d never have believed that Rucker would offer this to me, or even that it was possible.

“It’ll take some precautions, but why not, after all.”

“But I’ve changed so much. How do I explain to them without scaring them?”

“You’re still the same here,” he said, pressing his finger to his heart. “And there are ways to change the colour of your eyes.”

“Are you going to make me wear contact lenses?”

“It’s in tune with the times. On the other hand, for your hair...”

“What about my hair?”

“The colourings don’t hold.”

I widened my eyes.

“Really?”

“No… you stay as you were before your transformation.”

“If I cut my hair, will it grow back right away?”

He winked at me.

“Could I behave properly with them? This is my biggest fear. What if I lose control? What if I attacked them?”

This idea terrified me.

“If you want to see them, Scarlett, I won’t leave your side. I’ll stay with you night and day. I promise you.”

“They won’t understand, they don’t know you… You can’t sleep with me. What pretext will I find to explain your presence?”

“We’ll manage. There are ways to...”

“No!”

“What?” he said, surprised.

“I don’t want you to resort to Transfiguration. I don’t want you to become Elgin again.”

His surprise turned to anger.

“I promised you I wouldn’t do that again!”

His eyes twinkled, then he calmed down.

“Anyway, I don’t think this is the most important point now. We’ll find a suitable solution. When would you like to visit your family?”

I pondered his question for a moment. I wasn’t sure there was a good time for a girl vampire to meet her human parents. However, …

“I’ll be nineteen next week. They would appreciate seeing me. Do you think it’s too early?”

Rucker’s eyes widened in amazement. At the time, I thought he was going to tell me that it was impossible.

I held my breath.

“I don’t even know the date of your birthday… When were you born?”

“July twenty-fifth.”

He gave me a pleasant smile.

“Alright then. We’ll work towards this and prepare you to see them again. We’ll be leaving next week.”

“Oooooh!” I cried, throwing myself in his arms like a kid.

He hugged me, laughing.

“What do we do about Corwin and Morel?” I worried. “They won’t be able to come with us, I guess.”

I could hardly see how to explain Rucker’s presence at my parents’ house, so with the boys as a bonus… ouch.

“Don’t worry… I’ll ask a friend to stay with them for a few days.”

As he spoke to me, his gaze fell on the two pendants I was wearing.

“I found it in the hallway...”

“What?”

“One of the pendants you wear. I assumed it belonged to Sutherland and that he had lost it while transforming before he went hunting for you. I put it in your bag and...”

I felt like I had hit a wall and didn’t hear the end of his sentence. He hadn’t parted with it voluntarily!

“He hunted for me?”

“Yes.”

I was amazed. I was so sure he had never done this before. For no one, not even for himself.

“Anything can happen,” Rucker said as if he had guessed my thoughts.

He stood up and gave a shrill whistle in the direction of the sea. Two darlings rose to their feet, immediately preceded by a large splash of water.

“You haven’t bathed yet?” he said, examining my dry skin.

“No…”

Morel and Corwin came out of the water, beautiful as gods with their golden skin streaming with silver droplets. They had never looked more inhuman.

Rucker bent down to pick up his things.

“See you later.”

Could it be that I misheard? Misunderstood?

“I can stay alone?”

Since I was here, it hadn’t happened to me once.

“Yes. Have fun, and take the opportunity to catch a fish! A fish isn’t as cute as a rabbit, is it?” he scoffed, laughing, before climbing up the cliff to join the boys.

And why not an octopus while we were here…!

In one leap, I plunged into the water.