Chapter Twelve - I didn't belong here

Lucy

Honestly? She was attacking me?
And I had thought this day couldn’t get any weirder than it already was. The first day of my adult life had started with the worst alcohol-induced headache I’d ever had – okay, the only headache I’d ever had from drinking. It seemed; things had only gotten worse from there.
Finally turning eighteen, all the restrictions my over-protective parents had put on me after the incidents at the Overlook were finally gone, resulting in that strange pull, feeling Kali again after two years. Overlook. That name would haunt me forever in my dreams. First the Overlook Hotel, where I had met Kali the first time, then, the Soulless Overlook Gas Station...
Fireballs hitting my living armor shocked me back into reality. Right. I had followed Kali’s distress to the source, finding her rigid with fear, perched on a dragon. Now, that strange woman looking like Kali was attacking me. After cooling down in the pool, I felt distinctly hot again. Hot, and annoyed. The fire dripped harmlessly off my living armor, melting into the dirt beneath my feet. Okay, time to cool off again. Extending my wings this time, I flashed myself into the pool, vanishing in a plume of smoke.

Freya Rose

My fireballs hit the woman’s armor and slid off of it like melted lava, then splashed onto the ground below. The grass shriveled beneath the heat, instantly vanishing into the mud, which in turn became a large scorched patch in front of the unaffected woman. What the hell? I could do with a suit of armor like that, I wonder if it comes in different colors though? I don’t think I could pull off the red, I thought to myself. My thoughts ceased when the woman disappeared again. Looking directly at Kali I asked,
“Where the hell did she go now?”
Before she had a chance to reply, we heard a huge splash and what sounded like a kettle letting off steam. I turned around and saw smoke rising from the pool, like when you put a bonfire out. My brows raised as I watched the woman submerge herself into the water until she was completely out of sight. Fireballs didn’t work against her this time, but maybe if I hurl enough of them at her, they’ll start getting through that armor of hers? I grew two new fireballs and waited for her to emerge from the pool. She flew out of the pool, sending water spraying everywhere, and that’s when I could see what she was. Wings of light lifted her high into the air, and she was pure magnificence.
“Is she an archangel?”
“Freya, stop!” Savanah screamed out to me, distracting me only seconds before she tackled me to the ground.

Lucy

Emerging, shaking myself like a dog to get rid of the water, I hovered in the air, watching in fascination as a blonde woman tackled my aggressor, yelling “Freya!” They crashed into the ground, the fireballs vanishing from Freya’s hands. Knowing she needed a moment to grow new fire in her hands, I exchanged my armor with a skintight, ankle-length, flowing, bright red dress covering most of my body, only leaving my shoulders and arms bare. That way, I didn’t look armored and threatening, but still was. Thanks, grandfather Eligor, I smirked, remembering his lessons about the use of my living armor. Landing a few feet away, I waited for the two women to pick themselves off the ground. The blonde looked familiar... no, she felt familiar, reminding me strongly of Myra.

Freya Rose

“What the hell, Savanah? Telling me to stop would have been enough, you didn’t have to tackle me to the ground,” I said jokingly to her while she rested above me.
Her worried expression didn’t waver as she leaned in close to whisper in my ear,
“She’s an angel, Freya.”
“Like a hunter?” I asked casually and she shook her head in reply. I peered around Savanah at the woman who was now wearing a beautiful red dress, before looking back up at Savanah. “You mean like a real angel?”
She nodded at me while getting up and extending a hand for me to take. She helped me up and I stood there watching the woman approach us. On closer inspection she was younger than I’d first thought, late teens maybe, but if she was an angel, then I guess she could be any age. She didn’t look half as threatening as before, but I was still wary of her. I sensed some evil in her, it may have been buried deep, but it was there non the less.
Not that I could judge, now that I was a quarter vampire, but hey, she was on my property around my pack. That protective side of me wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon. With my fireballs dripping off of the woman like water, my confidence in my abilities had dwindled. I could use someone like that on my side, and I didn’t have the time or patients to make yet another enemy. Azael and Selene where more than enough for me to handle.
I stepped forward and rubbed my hand on my jeans before offering it to the girl. She hesitated for a second, glanced over at Savanah, who smiled back at her softly. She then took my hand in to hers and shook it, squeezing it a little harder than she needed to. I guess she was trying to show off some of the power she had, but I wasn’t interested in a dick sizing contest. I knew I could hold my own, or die trying. I had nothing to prove, and she was of no particular concern to me. I just wanted to know what she was doing in my back yard, and what she planned on doing. Then she could leave, letting me get on with what I needed to do to defeat Azael. I shook her hand back, not bothering to squeeze it back and said,
“Hi, I’m Freya Rose, welcome to my cabin. I’m not sure what you’re doing here, but whatever it may be, I’m happy to help in any way I can.”

Lucy

All right, so, this was Freya. I had seen glimpses of her in Kali’s mind before, and heard her name from the blonde girl’s lips. The girl that Freya had called Savanah, who had first tackled her, then helped her to her feet again. The girl who knew what I was, but herself remained a mystery to me.
Steeling myself for round two, I slowly stepped closer. Freya was sweating, drying her hand on her jeans before offering it to me. Hehe, I chuckled inside. Should I play the misfit, giving her what she expected after failing to kill me? For a second, I considered showing off again. How would she react to bright red eyes?
Savanah’s expression made me reconsider. She looked worried, anxious, her surface thoughts clear in my mind. Don’t fight her, please. She will never give up, but rather die trying to win. It was clear that she didn’t want Freya to get hurt.
I won’t attack her, but I will defend myself, I replied with a small nod in her direction, before accepting Freya’s offered hand, squeezing hard. The closer the contact, the easier for me to read her without her noticing. I winced, almost grimacing at the taste of charcoal in my mouth. Vampire! At least, partly. Yuck! I couldn’t quite place the rest of her, feeling like Angel, and yet, not. At least, she had decided not to attack again, instead wishing me on her side against someone I didn’t know.
No chance, Vamp. I’m just here because of Kali. I won’t get involved in your shenanigans, I thought. Grow your own spine, starting with a decent handshake.
My musings were interrupted when Freya introduced herself, then demanding to know why I was here in the same breath.
“Lucy,” I smiled at her, pulling the energy of my wings back inside to settle invisible beneath my skin. The sight of translucent, steel-grey wings with bright red tips could be rather intimidating to those who didn’t know me. “I’m here, because it felt like Kali was in danger. I sincerely hope it was a misconception. Just let me speak to her for a moment, and I’m gone again.”
Finally dropping Freya’s hand, I turned to Kali, who was standing immobile, watching the exchange with wide, glossy eyes.
“Are you in any danger from her?”
She didn’t answer. Her breath was coming in gasps. She seemed to be on the verge of a panic attack. Her inner turmoil didn’t help me to stay level-headed, part of me wanting to attack Freya to get rid of the feeling of dread Kali was emanating. Instead, I hissed through clenched teeth.
“I’m here to help. Please tell me what’s going on. If she freed you from the Overlook Hotel, why are you stiff with fear in her presence? And ...” I knew, this was not the right moment for this question, but curiosity was winning. “... why do you almost look alike? Is Freya your sister?”

Freya Rose

After calming her breaths Kali finally walked over to us and answered Lucy,
“Freya didn’t free me from the hotel, Selene's sons did,” she said while nervously playing with the hem of her top.
“Traian and Marik?” I asked in a shocked tone with a hint of anger.
“I think that’s what their names were, they didn’t talk much. They just broke in and dragged me out of my cell, then took me to Selene.”
I looked over at Savanah, she mind linked me and told me to calm down around the angel. She said that she wasn’t sure what Lucy was capable of. She didn’t think that a fight with her would be advisable and that she needed to find out more about her. I could hear my pack coming back, calming down was a good idea. The last thing I needed was for them to sense that Lucy was a threat. I concentrated on my breathing like my mom and Mason had taught me. Within a few seconds my anger toward the twins began to ease and just in time to see the pack emerging from the woods. Tana’s auburn wolf was the first out, she came out cautiously, always the first to investigate. She was the scouter in the pack.
“It’s okay, Tana. Tell Nick to come out first, he can get you guys some clothes.”
She headed back into the woods and shortly after Nicks black wolf sprinted out of the trees and headed into the house. I expected the rest of the pack to stay in the woods until their clothes arrived, but boys being boys, they couldn’t resist fresh meat. Odin was the first to emerge, naked as the day God made him, and strutting towards us like some puffed-up playboy. The man had one hell of an ego, but I couldn’t lie, he had the body and manhood to go with it. He approached Lucy like some Neanderthal, going right up to her, sniffing her and purring lightly. I leaned forward and slapped him around the back of the head making him whimper like a puppy. Jax and Cody burst into fits of laughter as Odin scampered off into the cabin. If he'd been in wolf form, I’m sure he would have had his tail between his legs.
Nick came out, dressed to impress and carrying clothes for the others. He gave Lucy a sweet smile before shoving clothes into Cody and Jax's chest. They began to get dressed, not bothering to cover themselves. I spotted Lucy blushing and it made me chuckle. She shot me a glare then looked away, folding her arms across her chest. Nick headed off into the woods and the other guys finally finished dressing themselves. Cody decided to try his chances with Lucy and tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned around, he swept his hand through his luscious blond hair while holding his other hand out for her to shake.
“Hi beautiful, I’m Cody. Am I dead? Because I’m sure you’re an angel.”
She half put her hand out to shake his but then retracted it again. I could see the confusion on her face, she was clearly trying to work out how he knew she was an angel. I decided to put her out of her misery.
“Cody, dude, that is the cheesiest pick up line ever. Who'd you learn that off, Odin?” He turned to face me and blushed. I laughed loudly and shook my head. “Seriously, how many times have you seen him get lucky?” He shrugged. “Exactly. If you want to ever get laid, stop taking dating advice from Odin.”
While laughing with Savanah I noticed Jenna in distress. She was staring at Cody while holding her hands to her chest, tears were welling up in her eyes. I had no idea that she liked Cody like that. She began to sob, then ran off into the cabin. Jax called out her name then hurried after his sister. Tana and Nick sprinted past us and followed the others. The mood had definitely been dampened, and Lucy looked upset for Jenna. When Cody turned back to try and hit on Lucy again, she wasn’t best impressed. She looked like she was about to pull that spear out of her ass and thrust it right through him.

Lucy

This was puzzling. Kali had finally answered who freed her, but those were names I had never heard before. She still didn’t explain why she was in fear of Freya, or why Freya was upset about the tale. She seemed all worked up, then suddenly calmed, taking deep breaths. I opened my mouth to ask another question, but never got beyond the intake of breath as an auburn wolf approached cautiously before turning around, disappearing back into the woods. Next, a black wolf followed, vanishing full sprint into the house. What in The Creator’s name was going on here? Where those … werewolves?
A tingle of foreboding made the hair at the nape of my neck stand up the second time today, a shiver running down my spine, almost making my wings emerge again. Impossible. This couldn’t be! Werewolves didn’t exist where I came from. Neither did vampires. Oh yes, I knew they existed, I had met them all at the Overlook Hotel, but they hadn’t been from my realm. It could only mean one thing, I had …
My train of thought was interrupted by an approaching, completely naked man. I froze in place as he sniffed my scent, emitting a strange sound before Freya roughly told him to back off, knocking him over the head. Two more naked guys were standing there, laughing at the misfortune of their comrade. I was still rooted to the spot, unable to move. The only naked male I had ever seen was my nephew Lion, when we had been eight years old. Yeah, despite me being his aunt, we were almost exactly the same age. Seeing an adult male, I didn’t know if I should be disgusted or … whatever that strange feel in in my gut was.
The appearance of a fully clothed, handsome guy finally lifted my rigidity, making me expel the breath I’d held, my own blood singing in my ears. I felt distinctly hot for the third time today. Freya was chuckling beside me, my reaction seemed to amuse her. With an effort, I suppressed the urge to don my armor again, only crossing my arms to distance myself from all the masculinity around me. I couldn’t afford to get distracted now, while standing among possible enemies. The gesture obviously wasn’t dismissive enough, because one of them had the gall to introduce himself, holding out his hand. Trying to be polite, I extended my hand to shake it, stopping halfway when he called me an Angel. How could he know what I was? I didn’t belong here, in this realm.
I missed Freya’s cheeky reply, my head snapping around to a woman staring at me. Tears were running down her face, a wave of hatred and despair rolled over me, her surface thoughts searing into mind. Back off, he’s mine! With a sob, she sprinted into the house, leaving me puzzled and shaken. What had I done to make her my enemy? I wasn’t interested in her guy at all. I wasn’t interested in any of those guys, even if hers seemed of the stupid sort, now turning to me again. Staring into his eyes, I let some red swirls rise to the surface, until my irises had turned completely red. A malicious grin followed. He turned and ran back towards the forest, almost crashing into mister handsome.
The threatening red vanished from my eyes. My lips parted as I drew a ragged breath, my tongue wetting suddenly dry lips. My body reacted on impulse, taking a step into his direction before the logical part of my brain stopped the movement. What is happening here? My world was spinning. Why was I feeling light-headed? I needed a moment to gather my thoughts.
Turning to face the cabin, I flashed onto the roof, seating myself in a yoga position trying to calm down. Not the roof of my barn, but it would do for now.