In The Beginning, Chapter 14 - Break My Fall
Daniel POV
I could feel Charlie's anxiety all the way to her apartment, it’s not like I’m the one who booked the appointments. She could tell my mother we weren’t rushing to plan the wedding; goddess knows I’d tried. We pulled up outside and I jogged around to her door, I don’t think she had noticed we had stopped, lost in a fog of nerves and what ifs. I opened the door and unbuckled her belt, startling her.
“You back?” I asked her softly, her face broke into a big beautiful smile, the one she keeps just for me.
“Yes, I’m sorry.” She whispered, I hated how much she apologised.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for, you’re allowed to be lost in your thoughts now and again. Just talk to me before you go dark?” I asked, knowing there were some things couldn’t be fixed overnight. Kasa’s admission of Astrid's issues and Maria’s struggles were fresh in my mind as I tried to understand my mate better.
“Not dark, just a little intimidating?” She offered meekly, as she hopped out of the car. I followed her around when a twitch of a curtain caught my eye. I took note of the apartment, the building only had six, two per floor. Mrs Shapiro had been on the top floor with Charlie, but she hadn’t said much about the people below her. She opened the door, and I held it ajar for her to unlock the next set, the security wasn’t bad. Unless someone takes pity on you and lets you in behind them, and she had a decent lock. But I still didn’t like the idea of her staying in the apartment without me. She noticed me checking things out, I could feel her curiosity eating at her as we climbed the stairs, and I continued to look around. I should’ve done this last time but I wasn’t in my right mind, I chided myself. She opened her front door, and I moved her behind me, sniffing around for any strange scents. She watched me, a puzzled look on her face, as she closed the door behind her and ignoring me, went into the bedroom. I followed behind, feeling like I was missing something when it hit me.
“Charlie, why don’t you go down to the car and grab your suitcase?” I asked, scanning the room, something was wrong, I couldn’t smell anything, not even Charlie, it was like someone has scrubbed the apartment of any and all scent, only faint traces of the fabrics and materials actually in here were present. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Charlie was looking at me confused, but she hadn’t moved or said anything. “Charlie something’s wrong, you need to get out of here, I’m not sure we’re alone.” I said through the link, still scanning everything for inconsistencies, Charlie nodded and squeezed my hand as she walked past me. “Say something out loud so they know you’re leaving.” I prompted her through the link. He footsteps halted; her hand extended behind her to me.
“Yeah, I’ll go grab my case.” She said brightly, even without the link I’d know it was false, it didn’t have her usual warmth. She winced slightly, realising her mistake, and released my hand, my head shot around to her instinctively. But still no attack, I started searching the room, quietly, but didn’t find anything missing, and no signs of an intruder. Charlie opened the door, and a man I hadn’t heard approach was stood there. She jumped back, startled. “Warren, what are you doing here?” She asked, a little breathless, a polite smile on her face, but something was off, she didn’t trust the guy.
“You haven’t been home in a few days; I was hoping to catch up with you after the funeral.” He smiled. “And, we still haven’t had that drink.” He flashed his teeth and I growled my disapproval. Charlie backed up into my chest, I moved her behind me. “I should’ve known you were working with them when you moved in here.” He snarled stepping over the threshold and closing the door behind him. “But you need more than just one of those beasts to take me down. You should’ve done your homework before you came after me.” He smiled manically, and I felt panicked, he was blocking Charlie’s only exit. I was about to link her to run when I tackled him, when his entire body transformed into red flames.
“A fire nymph?” I asked in wonder and fear, my reaction made him falter for a moment, before he laughed.
“Didn’t know there were any of us left did you, Alpha?” He sneered.
“I’d heard stories, but I thought you were a myth.” I heard myself say, almost to myself.
“What’s a fire nymph?” Charlie asked, and his flames flickered.
“You sent a witch to spy on me, but didn’t warn her first?” He accused me, his face a mixture of incredulous and appalled.
“Who the fuck said she is here to spy on you?” I snapped, outraged that he would accuse me of putting Charlie in danger, and pissed at myself for what could have happened to her. Realisation hit me like a ton of bricks. “Did you fucking touch her?” I roared, ready to rip him apart, my claws slipped over my nails instinctively. He took a step back, his flames receded, leaving his body and clothes untouched.
“You didn’t know about me, did you?” He asked, a confused and scared look on his face.
“You think I would let my mate stay in the same building as a fucking fire nymph!?” I screamed, losing my temper, Charlie started rubbing my back softly, sensing my distress.
“You’re mate?” His face scrunched up, as he started putting pieces together. “Oh, I don’t use my powers on those unwilling... anymore.” He replied, waving his hands like he would never do that to Charlie after observing our body language.
“Did he touch your skin? Ever?” I asked her quietly, desperately trying not to scare her. Her forehead wrinkled adorably as she thought.
“No, if anything he was always careful not to touch me, but I felt like he was watching me sometimes.” She whispered the last part.
“Well of course I was, I thought you were after me.” The nymph laughed, making me growl my displeasure, and the smile slipped from his lips.
“You’re sure? Never?” I asked, but I didn’t know if she would even remember, the legends were vague as fuck.
“No, never, I’m sure. Why?” She said looking up at me, her face concerned for me and how stressed I was.
“Because with one touch of my skin, I can make you burn with desire, hatred, need, pretty much whatever I want.” The nymph said with a shrug and a smirk, enraging me, a low, continuous guttural noise of warning vibrated through my chest at the creature.
“Is that why people are after you? You used your power on someone, against their will?” Charlie asked, her tiny fist shaking by her side.
“No, they are looking for me because I wouldn’t use my powers on the unwilling.” He replied, but I didn’t know if I believed him. “My King ordered me to use my gift on many people, but when he demanded I use it on his mate, to create himself an heir, I left. The King was enraged, and has sent many hunters after me.” He admitted, his eyes downcast.
“I don’t trust you, and I’m not sure I believe you, but if you stay away from my pack lands and my mate... I will forget you exist.” I told the nymph, my stance protecting Charlie unwavering.
“I just want to live in peace.” He replied with a heavy sigh, Charlie gave me a look, with big soft puppy eyes, and I relented, a little.
“The city, while technically pack lands, is considered one of our neutral territories, so you could stay here.” I allowed, begrudgingly, mostly because it made Charlie beam. “But I hear one word of you even possibly using your powers, and I will return with every pack warrior I possess, and the warriors from the packs I am aligned with, and the Queen of the Witches, to neutralise your powers.” I threatened menacingly, he needed to keep his nose clean, or I would become his worst nightmare.
“I swear, you will never see or hear about me again.” He still had his hands up, trying to show he was no threat, and shaking his head, a shocked look on his face.
“You should know, the vampires have declared war on all other races, that’s how we know the Queen of the Witches, Hyacinth.” Charlie, once again stopped the nymph from leaving as his hand moved to the door.
“What?” He asked, abandoning the door and stepping towards us both, earning himself a warning growl from me that stopped him in his tracks. “Sorry.” He directed at me before turning back to Charlie. “Repeat that please?” He said with a smirk.
“Umm, vampires have declared war... they attacked Hyacinth’s, the Queen of the Witches, umm, they call it the sanctuary? Anyway, it’s a village, or town, I’m not quite sure, and we’ve made a pact with her to fight the vampires, and nymphs are in trouble too, so you should know...” She ran out of steam under his fiery gaze.
“The vampires attacked, the Witch Queen? And she survived?” He asked, his face a picture as several emotions ran through it at once.
“With the help of myself and another Alpha she had invited to her home, after she had a vision concerning the vampires.” I interjected, moving Charlie back and beside me, out of the reach of the nymph.
“You have to contact the Nymph King; he will need to warn our people!” The nymph screamed, holding his head.
“I’m sure Hyacinth has that covered; we have to convince the other Alpha’s to join the war.” I stated losing my patience with the creature.
“He won’t listen to her, and he won’t permit her to enter his lands, it’s the only Nymph community left, and he would only leave for one reason. To retrieve me, you have to tell him you’ve found me, and will hand me over in return for his word he will fight the vampires.” The nymph explained, sinking into Charlie’s couch, resigned to his fate.
*Hi everyone, I apologise, things have been difficult since getting a new device, as I'm sure you're aware, Anystories has had some isssues which has made things a little difficult. Add to that my utter lack of skills with technology and I found myself unable to copywrite my new chapters, I hope you all understand I could not post anything that wasn't copywritten for my own protection. I'm still having issues but I will strive to add content as often as possible, and update you all on my progress.
Much love
Constance xoxo*
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