Kierra

His eyebrows shoot up at mine and my sisters snort and scoff. My eyes go yellow in aggravation over these damn prophecies that have caused nothing but trouble for anyone 'involved'.

"...a pair of prophecies, one belonging to the Werewolves and the other to the Vampires. I was able to finally get a hold of each one. Or, at least, a rough translation. Both are ages old. Centuries. It's possible that it's the real reason the previous Silver Wolf had been killed."

My face hardens. Great. So my whole life is going to be spent looking over my shoulder. Same with her if she's the one the undead are after. Think a long trip is in order here.

"That won't work."

Startled, I look over to Asher who'd projected out, proving he'd been in my head. My glare at him has him shaking his head as he keeps going.

"Running from this won't make it go away, for you are definitely the one for the wolves' side of things. They will hunt you down. If your sister is the Vampire side of this, then your danger just doubles."

"I'm aware of this Asher, hence the thought of taking a long trip. For that matter, it was just a thought, not an actual intended action. Even double the danger, we'll work through it. I'm getting really tired of having to skulk in the shadows when it seems everyone knows about me anyway. Can't even go to the store anymore without getting approached."

Can feel his instant attention and anger for not mentioning something sooner. Ignoring him, I look back to Orion.

"So, please share. Tell my sister and I just what we're being hunted for."

His expression is one of apology, but he pulls out a folded page from his pocket and reads from it.

"Alright, the Werewolf one reads:"

- Pale, or, silver, one who will bring change

Good or bad

Finding those who are lost, or, hidden

Born of a long line of magics

Hand in hand with one born from Darkness -

"The Vampire one is:"

- Lost dark child will spark

Life into being

Bringing vampire and animal together

While calming inner beast

Back to back with one of Light -

We all just sit there and look at him as he looks from the paper in his hand to us. My voice sounds kind of hollow when I speak up.

"Well, it was said that I was wanted because of changes I would cause, but it sounds like the same reason Faline is wanted dead; to prevent change. Swear you all are living in the stone ages."

Benji slides off the counter and walks closer, his voice rising.

"That's just it Kie, the races are caught in old habits, old ways. Many things keep getting lost in the cracks. Some of the older ones try to bring their flocks forward, but many want to stay in the dark. It's not about coming out into the open as much as modernizing us. Vampires like me are actually pretty rare. Most stay hidden away in the dark, doing business in shady areas. I'm not explaining this right, but I hope you understand."

Faline nods, looking over to me.

"He's right. Some of the Vamps at the bordello, I don't think they've been outside that building's walls in many years. If they do go out it's to prowl the grounds but not much further than that. Even Lady seems frozen in time, bored of the same things over and over."

Getting antsy, I stand abruptly and start moving. Not much room to move with all these males around, and I can't even open the door since the sun is still up and too cold for the boy. Hands sweep into my hair as I scratch at my scalp, sending the strands into a tousled mess.

Moving behind the couch to look out the window next to Tigger's cat tree, I try to think as the words flow over and over in my head. The short predictions are pretty straight forward, least they got that going for them.

Pretty damn near names both my sister and I as well, so anyone really paying attention to what it says will know us right away. 'Long line of magics' was answered just recently in fact. Shaking my head, I move to the desk and pull out paper and pen to write down my thoughts.

Muttering to myself before holding my hand out to the lion for the paper he has, my eyes haven't changed back to my normal shade, so it's obvious I'm in a mood, yet the lion takes his time handing the scrap to me. My fingers snap before I turn to face him in annoyance.

"You'll get it back, just need it for a second."

When he finally hands it over, it's rewritten, then handed back. Spacing mine out so I can jot down thoughts around it, I start mumbling to myself.

'Pale or silver one' is a no-brainer. 'Bringing change, good or bad' is pretty obvious as well. Aside from the 'or' part. Why would I bring bad change? Is that what they're so afraid of?

'Finding those who are lost or hidden', like above with the pale and silver, it looks like the words were interchangeable with lost and hidden. That one I'm not too sure about, but it sounds important. Born of magic's had been answered yesterday when my wolf had that chat with my sister about our blood.

The 'hand in hand with one born from darkness', when combined with the last line of the Vampire script of 'back to back with one of light', sounds too much like the painting I did. Could be meaning Faline's conversion into this world. Wouldn't consider myself the light side of anything, let alone something like this. I've enjoyed killing too much to be considered 'light'.

'Lost dark child sparking life' is probably the change the Vamps are afraid of her doing, as well as bringing them and animal together. Wouldn't that also be the case from her and I being siblings yet opposite races? The 'calming of inner beast' is pretty clear cut to everyone as well.

Her 'ability' to calm those around her when she's just being herself. From what I gather it doesn't work on those who have ill intent on their minds, especially towards her, but that could change over time when it develops, just like any other ability anyone has with practice.

"Alright, so pretty straight forward and self-explanatory, but I still don't see how this can be taken as a threat to anyone."

Apparently, my muttering of everything I wrote down has everyone caught up on what I'm talking about. The collection of looks from everyone has me feeling like I missed something though.

"What?"

Benjamin smiles warmly at me, can feel his desire to touch but knowing it to be a bad idea in this crowd of overprotective animals. He settles for explaining instead while I contemplate his want to touch me. More than likely caused by the same thing that happened at the store and before that, out front.

"That's one of the endearing things I find about you. You try so hard yet you can't understand what motivates some people to do some of the things they do. Even with as tough as you are, you're still soft. Don't take this the wrong way, but I hope you always have that, as it keeps you from becoming too hard."

I just blink at him, still a bit confused but starting to catch on. Just because I don't see us as a threat, doesn't mean others won't. Like it was said earlier, many don't want the change that I threaten to bring, even if I have no idea what that change is.

Scowling, I look at my sister who nods with a smile, as does Asher and Xavier. Clenching my lips closed, I keep my thoughts to myself. Personally, I think I understand just as much as anyone else on what others do or don't do. To a point.

I mean, who understands a grown man's want to hurt someone? I understand there are reasons that could lead up to that, but as to why he wants to? Don't know anyone who could explain that. Not saying there isn't anyone, just that I don't know anyone who can.

"Alright then, Benjamin, what is your leader or Master's view on all of this?"

His face goes blank. That's what I thought.

Before I can ask anything else, Faline has a little information to share.

"Actually, from what I was told by someone who's part of a small group at the brothel, who have figured out who and what I am, they think he's for it. She'd mentioned about getting word to him. From the sounds of it, he tries to be fair, but can't always be so because of the way things are now."

Benjamin nods, looking relieved. So am I actually. Going head to head with a head Vamp doesn't sound like a good way to stay alive. Startling everyone by clapping, Maii jumps up with a yip.

"Err, sorry Maii. Was just going to say, now that we know all this, what exactly can we do about it? 'Cause I don't know about all of you, but I'm really tired of hiding. Doing so only shows fear which they will hold over us till we're too scared to leave the house where we will be easy pickings."

"Going about our lives as normally as possible while keeping each other safe, looking out for one another, and helping others when possible sounds good to me. If I'm to 'spark life into being', I'm going to start with that brothel. I know it has to stay as it is where those involved are 'safer' and not on the street. That's precisely why I need to be there, to help make everything there just all around 'better'. I know it won't be immediate or fast, but it's a start."

She nods to herself for a second before speaking up again.

"Lady can be difficult to work with, but I've gotten her to sort of bend before. I can tell she wants change, she just can't affect it as it threatens her position there and among other Vampires. If the ones who don't want change know that she does, her life could be put in just as much danger as ours, and in turn all the submissives there. I have friends there, I don't want to see them hurt."

My heart hurts to hear her say it, but when she explains it like that, I know I have to let her go back. My flickering eyes go to Orion, pleading with him silently to watch out for her. He smiles and inclines his head, so I return his smile with one of my own, filled with my gratitude.

Xavier had said Orion had given her his protection, and that lions take that seriously. I hope he was right because I'm basically putting her life in his hands. From things I've seen in her memories, I know she's more than capable of handling herself, but having someone you can trust at your back is always a plus.

"Oh, before I forget, when I got back to your jeep to come here, there was a package inside. Was it something you left, or?"

Xavier, Asher, and I all look at the lion as if he's crazy. Why would I leave a package in my jeep when going to rescue my sister? Excusing himself, he goes out to retrieve it.

Moving up behind the couch where Bastion is sitting, I begin playing with his short, thick hair. Since he had to move so the door could open, Xavier comes over and plops down where I'd been sitting, long legs stretching out in front of him. Benji has gone back into the kitchen since the front door let in light rays.

The book my Imp had been reading was put on the table when I introduced him to my mother, so the black wolf has his head tucked into the boy's lap. His hands play in the midnight fur much like mine are doing in his hair. Little sister moves up into the elbow corner of the couch, at ease enough to be near the other males who are to either side of her.

Maii hops up on her right, where Bastion and Asher are, small coyote nose touching at the much larger wolf's. Don't think the midnight Were thinks too much of the smaller canine since his ears swivel. So the youngster turns and goes over Faline's lap to sniff at Xavier.

He lifts a hand and pats the kid's head, which seems to be enough for him since he curls up right there. Grumpy old man indeed, which is funny when you consider the maned wolf has at least forty years on the cursed wolf. Knowing he's in my head, I ask him if he's been counting by dog years.

Ocean eyes swing up as he glares at me, I just smile sweetly. Just then is when Orion comes back in, the sunbeam going over the floor in front of the door reveals the stain of my blood still held within the wood. Seeing it draws a small shiver down my spine.

"I warn you now, it doesn't smell right. No bomb, but I don't think it's good either."

He sets the box on the table, it looks much like a gift box you'd put clothes in. This one, however, is a lot deeper. I frown as I go to it, the sides are taped and it does indeed have a musk to it.

My spine goes rigid as I recognize this scent. Staring at it, I ask Orion if he got any scents from around the vehicle before he got in or even on the inside. From the corner of my eye, I see him shake his head. Breathing starts to quicken as my heart pounds, all the while the lion gives me a weird look.

"Asher..."

He comes to me instantly with my sister right behind him. Once he gets a whiff, he confirms my thoughts. The scent is faint with touches of blood.

Shaking my head, I gather my courage and reach for it. Slipping fingers across the tape to break its seal, the top comes off and set aside. The smell strengthens, anyone with a supernatural nose can get it now.

A smell reminiscent of leather mixes with faded and old blood. The tissue paper gets pulled aside as I look in. The sight inside has me falling back with my hand over my mouth.

Taking several steps back before bending over, Faline asking what it is has me laughing. From relief or what I'm not sure, but they're full-on belly laughs.

Glancing up to see Orion pulling out the box's contents, everyone surrounds the table and watches as the skin unfolds and trails down. They all look from it to me in a mixture of distaste or confusion, working up to outright distrust.

Recognition starts to dawn on my sister's face, her hand going over her mouth as she steps back as well. Orion fully holds up the over eight-foot-tall tan wolf skin. All the standing males are now looking at me in anger.

"What the hell is this?"

Xavier sounds livid, so I look him dead in the eye and stop laughing.

"That, gentlemen, is the skin of the Werewolf who raped me on the second night of the full moon."