AU Fic: Moonlight Garden, Cinquième - V
OH YEAH, THIS FIC ISN'T DEAD.
Title: Moonlight Garden, Quatrième - IV
Author: clover71
Pairing: David Cook/ David Archuleta
Rating: PG-13 (for this part)
Description: AU. A myth/ legend/ fantasy fic that I challenged myself to write.
Summary: David Archuleta harbors a deep dark secret that prevents him from socializing with normal human beings. But then he meets David Cook, an amateur novelist and painter who is obsessed with the idea that the legend about humans possessing the power to shape-shift into a beautiful creature is real, unknowing that the young man he falls in love with is one of them.
Disclaimer:
1) Please note that this is purely fiction and none of the contents are real except for some of the characters used in this story.
2) Most characters used are based on real people but the details within do not purposely imply occurrences in real life; thus, anything here that concurs with real events may be completely coincidental.
3) This fic is created based solely on the imagination of the author and for non-profitable purpose.
Previous parts: MASTER POST
Author's notes:
- You can check out my notes from the Prologue to give you an insight on how I came up with this fic idea.
- I am sincerely sorry that this took eons and a thousand decades to update. I lost the inspiration somewhere along the way but I am determined to finish this now, hoping I can still make sense of the plot I had in mind. Feel free to ask if there are parts that don't make sense. I left this half written for more than a year, so I probably lost the flow of this chapter.
- This part had not been beta'ed. I apologize for any mistakes or errors.
- I locked previous part because I thought I would never be able to finish this fic but now I've continued writing it, I unlocked them all so if you notice any chapters unlocked or even broken links, please let me know.
v - cinquième
The scrumptious smell of freshly baked breads and pastries wafted around the bakeshop. A few regular customers were just leaving with their usual cups of coffee and bags of baked goods, when David came out of the kitchen.
It was still early. The shop was nearly empty save for Kara who was seated on the table near the counter with her head buried in several ledgers, Chikezie the baker and a couple of other employees.
Kara lifted her eyes when David started wiping the counter and asked, “Where have you been?” She didn’t seem mad or upset, but there were worry lines on her pretty face.
“I was at Danny’s, remember?” It was the response David had rehearsed over and over in his head. He hoped he managed to keep a straight face even though he was wincing deep inside. He hated lying. Especially to Aunt Kara. Though he was confidently positive that he wouldn't get in trouble if he'd told the truth, knowing he would hear a lengthy lecture that would remind him how Simon felt about interacting with humans made twisting facts an option he couldn't resist.
Kara’s lips were pressed into a thin line and she cast David a guarded look that clearly suggested she didn't buy it. There was no doubt she could read past his imprudent lies. “I know you were with Cook,” she said, the air of certainty that wrapped around her words was so evident that made denial seemed futile.
David's hand stilled, fingers curling tightly on the rug he was holding. Dang. It was a struggle to keep the guilt gnawing at his conscience from taking shape on his face. Another lie balanced on the tip of his tongue, ready to contest his aunt’s words but David didn't have the nerve to say it. He swallowed the lump he didn't realize was lounging in his throat and said, “What made you say that?” with feigned nonchalance
The wordless seconds that thrummed between them was painfully awkward. David wished Loup Garoux had the ability to become invisible so he wouldn't have to endure the uncomfortable burn of his aunt's gaze. He watched with heavy apprehension as Kara rose quietly from her seat and was soon rounding the counter to join him.
“Hey.” Kara's arm curved over David's shoulders then she tugged him close, saying, “I practically raised you so I know you well enough to tell when you’re not being entirely truthful.”
Point taken, David braved to lock eyes with her. He knew it was pointless to rebut now since Kara was too close that she could probably smell Cook on him. Despite bathing longer than necessary that morning, David was sure there were traces of Cook's scent still lingering on his skin. Still unwilling to readily admit he'd been busted, he asked, "How did you know I was with Cook?" pulling off an innocent look with his head tilted and eyebrows pulled together.
“You’re glowing," Kara said, the smile that graced her lips appeased David somehow. She reached out to tuck a lock of his hair behind his ear then placed her hand over his, squeezing him gently. "Do you know that your aura's visibly radiant whenever you are, would be or had been with Cook?” Her eyes were soft, gleaming with the love and care that David had grown accustomed to. “You should know better than to hide it from me.”
“I’m sorry I lied.” David's insides clenched with guilt, his gaze falling on the granite surface of the counter.
Kara patted his arm, said, “It’s okay. I understand why you had to,” then grabbed the yellow apron with red flower prints from the hook on the wall and slipped it on. “I’ve got nothing against it, sweetie. I happen to like Cook and I know he’s good for you. But you need to be careful. You know how Simon doesn’t like us associating with humans. Even half-breeds. And he’s still our pack leader-“
“I know all that, Aunt Kara,” David snapped with a defensive attitude and immediately felt bad for interrupting. He muttered a quick but sincere apology. “It’s just… that wasn't how I was raised. And I can't bring myself to believe everything that Simon says.”
Kara nodded - a simple but clear gesture that she understood him. “Does he make you happy?” The blunt question caught David off guard but the answer came quickly.
“Very much,” was David's smack dab response. “I love him.” The words rolled out of his mouth before he could stop them.
There wasn't any hint of alarm reflected on his aunt’s eyes but her expression turned profoundly serious when she said, “Then be prepared to fight for him, to stand up for what you feel.”
David could feel the skin between his eyebrows wrinkling again. “What do you mean?”
“You’ll find out,” was all Kara offered before changing the subject. “Why don’t you go see if the new batch of croissants are ready so we could arrange it before more customers arrive.”
Chikezie was already holding out a tray of the freshly baked bread and a tray of blueberry muffins when David went into the kitchen. “I’ve got apple strudels cooling on a rack so come back in here after ten minutes,” he said before David turned to leave.
Danny, Ramiele and Syesha were slipping in a corner booth when David returned to the main shop. He waved at them just as Syesha was saying, “You owe us details, D,” making Danny giggle and Ramiele squeal. David just shook his head in sheer embarrassment, took the pad out of his back pocket while ambling over to their booth and started jotting down their orders.
His friends had their breakfast served by the time Kara was done arranging the breads and pastries meticulously in the glass counter, leaving David with nothing more to do but stare out the window and watch passers by with fascinated curiosity.
The silver-gray Jaguar XJ that rolled into the space in front of the shop brought a sudden change in the atmosphere. A thick fog trailed after it - an ominous shadow that carried a forewarning or something that made the hairs on the back of David's neck stand.
When the driver’s door opened, something authoritative and commandeering thrummed in the air. Simon stepped out of the vehicle with a breeze of confidence wrapped around him, sunlight glinting against the dark surface of his sunglasses, his Armani suit a perfect rig to make him look like some god's gift to everyone that revered him.
Simon walked with apathy that drew unswerving attention and every known Loup Garou he passed seemed to melt in his presence, dropping on one knee, head bowed and right hand limply resting on their left shoulder. It was the pack members' way of showing respect to the pack leader.
The tiny bells that hung on the glass door of the bakeshop jingled with a less welcoming timbre when Simon breezed inside. Kara, who was standing outside the counter, fell on her knee. The rest of the staff and David’s friends did the same, paying mandatory respect to the man.
But David remained on his feet, not used to encountering Simon outside their house. At home, such gesture was never required so David wasn't used to it. At home, Simon was merely a step-uncle who liked to meddle with his life more often than necessary.
"David." He heard Kara hiss. She was half-kneeling on the floor, head bent but her eyes flicked momentarily up at him. He never understood this, never knew why the wife of the pack leader had to bow before him in public. This was totally ridiculous.
Simon stopped in front of the counter, glared at David, but before Simon could speak, Kara hissed David's name once more.
David couldn't stop his eyes from rolling. Crap, he thought then dropped on one knee, keeping his head down for a while to hide the full-scale sneer that most likely veiled his face.
"And I thought I needed to remind you of your manners, boy," Simon said in a voice cold as ice that it sent chills up David's spine. The feeling crept all the way to the back of his neck. "On your feet."
Once he was up, David couldn't dare look Simon in the eye. If Aunt Kara could read him easily, he didn't doubt Simon would be able to as well. David kept himself busy, arranging pastries on the trays inside the glass counter while he spoke. "Anything I could get for you, Simon?"
"Don't bother," Simon snapped with a snarl. "I already had breakfast at home. Which reminds me…" David made the mistake of looking up. Simon had taken off his sunglasses and was watching David skeptically, making David feel like he was an open book and Simon was flipping through the pages, trying to read between the lines. "I didn't see you this morning. As a matter of fact, I didn't see you last night either. Where were you?"
David bit the inside of his cheek, hoping that no signs of fear or guilt would show on his face and he did his best to push away any thoughts of Cook out of his reeling mind. His lack of reaction though made Simon's eyes narrow.
"I was out running," was David's laconic explanation then he turned his attention back to what he had been doing, coaxing his heart to calm the heck down. It would be easy for Simon to perceive that David was hiding something once he heard David's racing heartbeat.
When Simon didn't say anything but diverted his attention to Kara instead, David did was so tempted to release a breath in relief. He noticed that his friends had slipped back inside their booth through the corner of his eyes and heard Simon tell Kara that they would have dinner guests that night.
"You better be home tonight," Simon said, his eyes back on David. "I want you to meet Mr. Iraheta's daughter. About time you start dating a nice girl. You're of age so you should consider finding a mate."
David was dumbfounded. He wordlessly watched Simon leave and only blinked when Simon's car finally pulled out of the curb. Simon's words still rang in his head. His eyes found Kara's and only then he reacted, saying, "I should find a what?" incredulously. "I can't be at that dinner, I…"
"Just do what he says and he'll leave you alone," Kara said, a small smile settling on her lips.
"But… but…" But I'm supposed to meet Cook tonight, was what David wanted to say though he decided to swallow the words back lest he wanted to get Cook in trouble.
~ 0 ~
It had turned into the most awkward dinner, in David's opinion, from the time the second course was served, when Mrs. Iraheta ("Please call me Jacki," she had told David twice already) had asked if David was single.
"Allison isn't dating anyone either," Jacki added rather animatedly even if David hadn't really responded, her voice biting deeply into David's now growing discomfort. "I hear you love to run. Allie loves running. You should both run together some time. Right, sweetie?"
Allison cringed the moment her mother's gaze skipped over to her, not even trying to hide her irritation. When Jacki shot her a reprimanding look though, the corner of her lips curled up into what was obviously a forced smile and then she nodded as if her head was filled with metal. Like David, she hadn't been able to utter more than a 'hi' since they arrived that night. And David could sense that she likewise wanted to melt in her seat every time her mother opened her mouth.
It was a good thing Red wasn't around. Otherwise, he would've thrown in remarks that would incredibly increase David's distress.
The blatant matchmaking shenanigan that Jacki had initiated would've ruined the entire evening had Mr. Iraheta not butted in at the most perfect time to bring up business. When Simon started with "glad you decided to extend your restaurant business here, Carlos," everyone else around the table sank into an edgy silence, the weight of it made breathing quite a task. No one dared speak when Simon spoke, except for Mr. Iraheta.
It was during dessert when the topic spiraled into the ritual and Mr. Iraheta reminded Simon that the moon was at its fullest the next night. The mere mention of the event made something in David's gut shift.
"You and your family are welcome to join us, of course," Simon told Mr. Iraheta although his eyes darted over to David with an unspoken message - or more like a command that clearly meant Simon wanted David to be there, too, and no excuse would work this time.
Simon's gaze burned right through his forehead so David tore his eyes away from him and, in his desperate search for something else to focus on, met Allison's. Surprisingly, she didn't avert her gaze. She continued to stare at David in a scrutinizing way, small creases forming between her eyebrows.
His head snapped towards Jacki when he heard her call his name. He was so lost in his own thoughts he had no idea what she had said.
Before he could utter a word, Kara cleared her throat, said, "Um," her eyes flicked over to Simon and their guests for a moment before resting on David's. "David doesn't usually attend the full moon ritual."
"He doesn't?" was Jacki's reaction, sounding patently astonished.
"They um…" Kara settled her spoon on her plate, propped her elbows on the table and clasped her hands together. "They celebrate the full moon festival differently in Murray. He's not used to the way we celebrate it here."
"But there's always a first time for everything." Simon flashed David a 'don't-you-dare-protest' look that had David's stomach sinking down to his feet. "I'm pretty sure David would love to hunt by Allison's side. Right, David?"
David opened his mouth, wanted to say 'no way' but what came out instead was, "Uh… Sure."
When dinner was finally over, David thought he could slip out of the house, rush over to the garden and meet Cook just in case Danny was able to deliver David's message. But he'd barely lifted his butt off the chair when Simon suggested, "Why don't you take Allison for a walk, show her that garden you frequent to?"
Dang.
~ 0 ~
"It looks so beautiful even from here," Allison said, gazing up the hill that stood at the end of the two-mile stretch from the manor. She was obviously using her heightened vision to be able to see the garden, but David had to agree that it did look brighter than it ever did from afar.
The garden meant more than a sanctuary to David so hearing someone appreciate it ignited his enthusiasm. Without much thought, he said, "Wait 'til you see it up close," then swallowed the last word a second too late when he remembered why he didn't want to bring Allison there in the first place.
David could feel Allison's gaze growing warmer against his face. "Must be a very special place," she said with some sort of connotation and David wondered how easy he was to read.
"It is," was his perfunctory response and was quick to add, "and you know, I believe it's closed already. We should've gone earlier."
Allison was the first to stop in her tracks. The knowing look she threw David was unnerving and David braced himself when her lips upturned and she tilted her head sideways. "Really? Or are you afraid your girlfriend might see us there?"
Her presumption almost made David burst into laughter but he bit the inside of his lower lip instead, stuttered out, "I-uh…" and shook his head as a preamble. When the urge to laugh settled down a bit, he spoke, said, "Nah. I don't have a girlfriend."
"Right." Allison enunciated the word longer and David knew then she would be hard to convince. They resumed the trek toward the hill in a slower pace.
The panic boiled like acid deep within the pit of David's stomach and surged through his blood vessels like something akin to liquid fire. Now he wished Danny wasn't able to tell Cook to meet David at the garden. Or maybe, if Cook would see him with someone not familiar, then Cook would be wise enough to hide. Maybe. Hopefully.
They traversed wordlessly until they reached halfway of the slope where they could clearly see that the main gate of the garden was closed. But before David could state the obvious, Allison blurted, "God! You're agitation is strong enough to start a mild earthquake, you know."
It sort of hit him like a blow - a punch in the gut since he didn't know that his emotions were sending off signals like a beacon while he had been trying to repress them. It wasn't surprising that Allison was able to sense him. The moon being almost at its full form often heightened their senses. What he didn't expect was for her to be blunt.
"I'm not sure really sure I know what you're talking about," was David's desperate way of masking his uneasiness.
The breath that left Allison in a whiz was clouded with obvious exasperation. "Look, David. If you're here to meet your-" Her next words seemed to brim on her lips and a contemplative look shimmered on her face. Before David could jump into his defense and tell Allison that he wasn't meeting anyone, he picked up a distinguishably familiar scent. He meant to steer Allison away but then she cleared her throat and continued to say, "-your boyfriend, I'm totally cool about it."
It was clear enough for David to hear but his mind was too busy screaming, Oh no! He's here! He's here! He's here! so it took a while for her words to register. He was quick to exclaim, "What?" when he finally realized what she had said.
Allison's lips twisted into a devious smile and her eyes held a mischievous glow that seemed almost sinister. "Your boyfriend," she said again, this time with more emphasis and clarity. "Unless I presumed wrong, but he had been hiding behind that tree for a while, probably trying to look inconspicuous." She jerked her head in gesture, aiming at something behind David, which prompted him to whip his head around.
The tree trunk was wide enough and a thick curtain of darkness draped around it but the slight shift of a faint shadow was perceptible. David could barely see Cook. His boyfriend was well concealed, in fact. Allison couldn't have known he was there unless-
"You share a similar scent, so I figured…." She ended with a timid shrug and her lips arched into a smile that could either mean she had something sinister brewing in her mind to get David in trouble or she found the situation amusing.
If Allison hadn't pointed it out, David wouldn't have noticed the change in the aroma Cook exuded. The same musky fragrance of citrus and spice that seemed to naturally cling to Cook's skin now mingled with the smell of spring water and summer air that was distinctively his own.
Then it hit him like lightning and the memory of the first intimate moment he had with Cook came crashing down on him. Oh crap! The mark!
"It's getting late," David said, only because he thought it would be rude to tell her 'you need to leave.' She had been nice and hadn't done anything to get under David's skin.
"Hey." She nudged him playfully on his arm with her fist. "Don't worry about it. I'm not going to tell anyone. Not after what happened to my friend, Adam." A sad smile warped on her lips and David could feel the gust of melancholy that rose off of her for a split second. "Now go get your man. I'll hang around at some other parts of the garden for a while. I promise I won't listen. We have to go back together so your uncle won't get suspicious."
~ 0 ~
"Is she um…" Cook eyed Allison scrupulously.
David looked over his shoulder and saw see Allison standing a few feet away. "Yeah," he uttered then turned to face Cook. "She's one of us, if that's what you meant to ask."
"Wouldn't she…?" The inability to complete any sentence clearly showed Cook's trepidation and David took his hand, rubbed his thumb against Cook's wrist, hoping it was enough to soothe Cook.
"She won't tell, I guarantee it. We can trust her."
"I was hoping we could spend some time alone tomorrow, get some dinner then maybe hang out in my cabin." The blush spreading on Cook's cheeks made him even more adorable that David found the invitation hard to resist.
But then Simon's face flashed in the forefront of David's mind. "Um… I can't. My uncle insists that I attend the ritual tomorrow night. I don't wanna cause any more trouble and risk him finding out about you. You um… you don't know how he is."
The look of disappointment that unfolded on Cook's face caused a sharp twinge in David's heart. "Can you stay for a while at least?"
David wished he could but…. "Not too long. Simon might get suspicious if we don't go back soon."
Cook shifted his weight from one leg to another and his eyes kept darting around the garden. David could sense his agitation but he didn't pry, just waited for Cook to speak. "Do you um… do you know a woman named Carly?" Cook asked.
"Carly?"
"She lives next door to my cabin. Dark hair, very pretty, a little weird around the edges?" Cook's brows were furrowed like he was recounting the list of features by memory.
There was only one person David knew who fitted the description. "Yeah. I don't really know her but I've seen her around." David refrained from telling him that he had heard she was a psychic, but he was curious why Cook brought her up. "Why do you ask?"
Cook looked wistful for a moment. His gaze seemed to drift somewhere far. Then he shook his head, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Nothing. I just ran into her this morning and she seemed perturbed after we shook hands."
"Perturbed?"
"Yeah. She sort of made a beeline into her house, mumbling something like I've been marked? I don't know. Didn't really catch everything."
Kara had warned David to stay away from that woman, although he always thought Carly was harmless. "I've heard she's some kind of psychic or something, but I haven't really met her. I guess if she is, she knows about our existence."
Cook reached out and pulled David close. "Well, if that's the case then I guess it's best if we both keep a good distance away from her."
"I don't think she capable of hurting us, Cook. Almost everyone in town think she's just some crazy woman living alone." David coiled his arms around Cook's shoulders and pushed on his toes to give Cook a light kiss on the lips. "I wish I could stay longer but Allie and I have to go back now." He backed away reluctantly, hands still resting on the slopes of Cook's chest. "I'll see if I can drop by your place the day after tomorrow. That is if I can slip away from my uncle and Red."
"Be careful, David. Please." The worry that crossed Cook's face sent a dull ache in David's heart.
"I will. Promise me you'll be careful, too."
Cook cupped David's cheek and leaned in, his lips warm and soft against David's. "I promise."
Allison nudged David with her shoulder, said, "He's cute," as soon as they left the garden and she kept making kissing noises while they trudged down the road leading back to Simon's manor.
Heat spread throughout David's face and he couldn't meet Allison's eyes. "Oh shut up."
~ 0 ~
"What was it about your friend, Adam?" David asked Allison. He had meant to ask the night before but it didn't seem like the right time.
They were having lunch at the local deli - arranged by Simon and Jacki, of course - but David didn't mind. Now that Allison knew his secret, he thought it wouldn't be wise at all to be on her bad side. Besides, she was a lot of fun to spend time with.
"He was um… he was one of us," Allison said in a voice so low that no one within earshot could have heard. "He fell in love with a human - a man - and his friend Matt found out. Matt thought it would be fun to unveil Adam's secret and…" Her gaze dropped on the plate of spaghetti, the fork she was holding kept swirling around the pasta. "The pack killed the human he fell in love with, used as a prey during the hunting ritual and Adam was banished right after. I don't know what became of him. I haven't seen him for four years now."
For a lack of more comforting words, David said, "I'm sorry."
The rest of their lunch had been shrouded with an unnerving silence that clung to David even as he got back home. He was glad Danny and Ramiele came over to distract him later that day and to keep Red away. Danny's occasional foul mouth and talent to throw snide remarks at any given chance made Red allergic to his presence.
"So you really, really will be at the ritual tonight?" Ramiele said, not bothering to hide the skepticism in her tone.
David pushed out a frustrated sigh. "I have to." Dang. If he could only find a way to get out of this he'd grab it without question, but chances of that happening were slim. "Simon would probably drag me over there if I don't."
"Maybe you wouldn't find it so bad. It could be fun." The forced smile that stretched across Danny's lips was probably meant to make David feel better but it wasn't working.
"I guess we'll have to wait and see," David said, feeling absolutely defeated. He wished the afternoon would stretch longer but his heart sank when he saw the time. It was only two hours away from sundown.
~ 0 ~
The warm shower seemed to do the trick to calm David's nerves. He took his time getting dressed, slipping into a light blue dress shirt and dark pants, still unable to find any logic on why he should - they all should dress lavishly when they would most likely take them off once the ritual started. He wasn't certain if that was what the pack did exactly since he hadn't been on one of these things, but he could only guess that the pack members wouldn't be so stupid to let their nicest clothes rip once they transform.
David could smell the expensive cologne Red usually wore from across the hall. He slipped his jacket on and drew in a long, deep breath then left the confines of his room before Red could get inside and possibly haul him out.
"I see you're ready." A devious smile crept on Red's lips. "I thought you needed help getting dressed," he said, his tone carrying an unnerving timbre that made David's skin crawl. Red leaned closer, breathing against David's ear. "Dad asked me to drive you and Kara to the ritual ground. He doesn't really trust you to be there."
David chose to say nothing. He was in no mood to jump into a pointless conversation or, in this case, argument with Red. He stomped down the stairs to find his aunt waiting at the foyer. "You look nice," she said and David returned the compliment, telling her she looked lovely in the silver blue dress she was wearing.
The ride to the forest was relatively quiet that the sound of David's breathing was magnified tenfold and the occasional tapping of Red's fingers against the steering wheel echoed inside the vehicle.
Once they reached the ritual ground, David had the sudden urge to jump out of the car and run back where they came from. Red must've sensed his thoughts because he was quick to slide out of the driver's seat and round the car to escort David out, his hand tight around David's arm. Torches lined the pathway toward the clearing where several Loup Garoux were already waiting. Most of them eyed David with interest; some seemed surprised to see him there.
Simon climbed up the platform at the edge of the wide circle and silence soon blanketed over the entire pack. The power Simon held over them was so disconcerting that it sent a repulsive tremor through David's body.
"Good evening," Simon started and launched into a monotonous speech that David hardly understood because he was busy scanning the grounds in search of his cousin and friends. His eyes met Allison's who raised her hand in a small wave. She stood at the opposite side of the clearing, fidgeting beside her parents as if she couldn't wait to get away from them.
When David heard Simon say, "Bring in the prey," his head snapped up, heart pounding mercilessly against his ribcage. Two men David recognized as workers at the vineyard came out dragging a blindfolded man then dumped him at the foot of the raised platform.
Simon's assistant, Kristy Lee, sashayed over to the unidentified man then crouched to remove the blindfold. The man looked menacing, eyes burning with what seemed to be a mixture of anger and fear. His arms and neck were covered in tattoos but despite all that, he didn't seem like someone who deserved to die tonight.
"Don't look at him with pity, dear cousin," Red said, literally breathing on the back of David's neck. "He's a criminal, killed seven people. We are simply helping him end his agony of spending his whole life behind bars."
"How is this helping him?" David spoke through gritted teeth, his hands curling into fists at his sides. He wanted to remind Red that they weren't cousins but he didn't bother, knowing it would be a worthless effort.
Laughter rumbled out of Red - low and sinister. "You have a lot to learn, David. Now stick with me if you want to get out of this in one piece."
"No thank you." David was glad for Danny and Ramiele's infinite ability to show up at a perfect time. They were both at his sides before Red could retaliate.
Danny curled his arm around David's, said, "So we're going as a group as planned, okay?" and cast Red a look that was enough to have Red crawling away.
Ramiele's hand slipped into David's, her grip grew tighter when she asked, "Are you sure you're up to this?"
No. But David wasn't able to utter a word. He watched in horror as Simon hopped down from the platform, knife in hand, and without warning, drove the edge of the blade across the surface of the unidentified man's arm. The man cried out, face twisted in pain.
Simon gripped a handful of the man's hair, yanked the man's head back and leaned closer, his lips inches from the man's ear. "We will give you a head start," Simon said. "If you make it across the river, we will let you go, unscathed."
Fear palpably flashed in the man's eyes. "I-if I d-don't?"
The sound that rumbled out of Simon was close to menacing and it made David's entrails twist with dread. "Then you'll have to find out for yourself." Simon released the man's head, brought the knife between the man's wrists and sliced through the ropes that kept the man's arms bound behind him.
Red had already started unbuttoning his shirt even before the man could to his feet and take off further into the woods. David just stood stock still, watching everyone around him peel their clothes off, hissing and growling, eyes glowing like reflections of the full moon's glow.
The thudding of the man's feet against the ground echoed in David's ears. The man's scent growing faint - an indication that the man had managed to run a considerable distance from the ritual ground. It was the cue that the pack might have been waiting for because they all dashed off into the shadows with Red and his friends taking the lead.
Simon paid David no heed. He disappeared behind a cluster of trees along with some of the pack members. David lost track of Danny and Ramiele and all that was left in the clearing with him was Kara.
"David," Kara said, her dress slipping down to the ground. "You don't have to come. But you must leave while the others are distracted." Without another word, she rushed after the pack, her whole body glowing. She leaped in the air when she reached the downward slope and David did nothing but stare when she transformed into a dull gray wolf.
A hundred hooves thundered from the depth of the forest matching the rhythm of David's heartbeat. I must leave, he told himself then whirled around and sprinted toward the opposite direction. He could hear the distant cry of agony from the distance and knew then that the pack had caught up with the man.
The sound tore through his soul, clawing at his heart like poisoned talons.
David kept running and running, desperate to get away from the harsh reality in which his life was now encased. The burn in his lungs was so sharp it felt like a dozen hot knives were hacking through his ribcage. The moon bathed him with energy, feeding him with the painful urge to transform. But David fought hard not to succumb, ignoring the excruciating surge of hot blood through his veins.
The miles and minutes stretched on and not once did David stop. He could feel all his reserved strength diminishing. His feet - his human feet - eventually led him to Cook's dwelling. It was way past midnight and he wondered if Cook was still awake. A faint light flickered inside the cabin, which was enough for David to know that Cook was around. He couldn't pick up anything audible, couldn't catch a whiff of Cook. Or maybe it was because he was too dang exhausted for his senses to work.
Driven by his desperation for a safe shelter, David rapped on the door, calling out Cook's name and it didn't take long before he heard footsteps followed by locks being undone. Then the door swung open, Cook's face was masked with a mixture of concern and surprise.
"David? What are you-"
David threw his arms around Cook's neck, buried his face on Cook's shoulder and heaved a lungful of air. "I can't-couldn't… Oh gosh, Cook." David felt the last threads of his verve leaving him with only Cook's tight hold around his middle keeping him upright.
"I've got you," were the last words David heard from Cook before a black curtain fell around him, swallowing him up in a paralyzing darkness.
~ tbc ~
=========================================================
Comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.
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Title: Moonlight Garden, Quatrième - IV
Author: clover71
Pairing: David Cook/ David Archuleta
Rating: PG-13 (for this part)
Description: AU. A myth/ legend/ fantasy fic that I challenged myself to write.
Summary: David Archuleta harbors a deep dark secret that prevents him from socializing with normal human beings. But then he meets David Cook, an amateur novelist and painter who is obsessed with the idea that the legend about humans possessing the power to shape-shift into a beautiful creature is real, unknowing that the young man he falls in love with is one of them.
Disclaimer:
1) Please note that this is purely fiction and none of the contents are real except for some of the characters used in this story.
2) Most characters used are based on real people but the details within do not purposely imply occurrences in real life; thus, anything here that concurs with real events may be completely coincidental.
3) This fic is created based solely on the imagination of the author and for non-profitable purpose.
Previous parts: MASTER POST
Author's notes:
- You can check out my notes from the Prologue to give you an insight on how I came up with this fic idea.
- I am sincerely sorry that this took eons and a thousand decades to update. I lost the inspiration somewhere along the way but I am determined to finish this now, hoping I can still make sense of the plot I had in mind. Feel free to ask if there are parts that don't make sense. I left this half written for more than a year, so I probably lost the flow of this chapter.
- This part had not been beta'ed. I apologize for any mistakes or errors.
- I locked previous part because I thought I would never be able to finish this fic but now I've continued writing it, I unlocked them all so if you notice any chapters unlocked or even broken links, please let me know.
v - cinquième
The scrumptious smell of freshly baked breads and pastries wafted around the bakeshop. A few regular customers were just leaving with their usual cups of coffee and bags of baked goods, when David came out of the kitchen.
It was still early. The shop was nearly empty save for Kara who was seated on the table near the counter with her head buried in several ledgers, Chikezie the baker and a couple of other employees.
Kara lifted her eyes when David started wiping the counter and asked, “Where have you been?” She didn’t seem mad or upset, but there were worry lines on her pretty face.
“I was at Danny’s, remember?” It was the response David had rehearsed over and over in his head. He hoped he managed to keep a straight face even though he was wincing deep inside. He hated lying. Especially to Aunt Kara. Though he was confidently positive that he wouldn't get in trouble if he'd told the truth, knowing he would hear a lengthy lecture that would remind him how Simon felt about interacting with humans made twisting facts an option he couldn't resist.
Kara’s lips were pressed into a thin line and she cast David a guarded look that clearly suggested she didn't buy it. There was no doubt she could read past his imprudent lies. “I know you were with Cook,” she said, the air of certainty that wrapped around her words was so evident that made denial seemed futile.
David's hand stilled, fingers curling tightly on the rug he was holding. Dang. It was a struggle to keep the guilt gnawing at his conscience from taking shape on his face. Another lie balanced on the tip of his tongue, ready to contest his aunt’s words but David didn't have the nerve to say it. He swallowed the lump he didn't realize was lounging in his throat and said, “What made you say that?” with feigned nonchalance
The wordless seconds that thrummed between them was painfully awkward. David wished Loup Garoux had the ability to become invisible so he wouldn't have to endure the uncomfortable burn of his aunt's gaze. He watched with heavy apprehension as Kara rose quietly from her seat and was soon rounding the counter to join him.
“Hey.” Kara's arm curved over David's shoulders then she tugged him close, saying, “I practically raised you so I know you well enough to tell when you’re not being entirely truthful.”
Point taken, David braved to lock eyes with her. He knew it was pointless to rebut now since Kara was too close that she could probably smell Cook on him. Despite bathing longer than necessary that morning, David was sure there were traces of Cook's scent still lingering on his skin. Still unwilling to readily admit he'd been busted, he asked, "How did you know I was with Cook?" pulling off an innocent look with his head tilted and eyebrows pulled together.
“You’re glowing," Kara said, the smile that graced her lips appeased David somehow. She reached out to tuck a lock of his hair behind his ear then placed her hand over his, squeezing him gently. "Do you know that your aura's visibly radiant whenever you are, would be or had been with Cook?” Her eyes were soft, gleaming with the love and care that David had grown accustomed to. “You should know better than to hide it from me.”
“I’m sorry I lied.” David's insides clenched with guilt, his gaze falling on the granite surface of the counter.
Kara patted his arm, said, “It’s okay. I understand why you had to,” then grabbed the yellow apron with red flower prints from the hook on the wall and slipped it on. “I’ve got nothing against it, sweetie. I happen to like Cook and I know he’s good for you. But you need to be careful. You know how Simon doesn’t like us associating with humans. Even half-breeds. And he’s still our pack leader-“
“I know all that, Aunt Kara,” David snapped with a defensive attitude and immediately felt bad for interrupting. He muttered a quick but sincere apology. “It’s just… that wasn't how I was raised. And I can't bring myself to believe everything that Simon says.”
Kara nodded - a simple but clear gesture that she understood him. “Does he make you happy?” The blunt question caught David off guard but the answer came quickly.
“Very much,” was David's smack dab response. “I love him.” The words rolled out of his mouth before he could stop them.
There wasn't any hint of alarm reflected on his aunt’s eyes but her expression turned profoundly serious when she said, “Then be prepared to fight for him, to stand up for what you feel.”
David could feel the skin between his eyebrows wrinkling again. “What do you mean?”
“You’ll find out,” was all Kara offered before changing the subject. “Why don’t you go see if the new batch of croissants are ready so we could arrange it before more customers arrive.”
Chikezie was already holding out a tray of the freshly baked bread and a tray of blueberry muffins when David went into the kitchen. “I’ve got apple strudels cooling on a rack so come back in here after ten minutes,” he said before David turned to leave.
Danny, Ramiele and Syesha were slipping in a corner booth when David returned to the main shop. He waved at them just as Syesha was saying, “You owe us details, D,” making Danny giggle and Ramiele squeal. David just shook his head in sheer embarrassment, took the pad out of his back pocket while ambling over to their booth and started jotting down their orders.
His friends had their breakfast served by the time Kara was done arranging the breads and pastries meticulously in the glass counter, leaving David with nothing more to do but stare out the window and watch passers by with fascinated curiosity.
The silver-gray Jaguar XJ that rolled into the space in front of the shop brought a sudden change in the atmosphere. A thick fog trailed after it - an ominous shadow that carried a forewarning or something that made the hairs on the back of David's neck stand.
When the driver’s door opened, something authoritative and commandeering thrummed in the air. Simon stepped out of the vehicle with a breeze of confidence wrapped around him, sunlight glinting against the dark surface of his sunglasses, his Armani suit a perfect rig to make him look like some god's gift to everyone that revered him.
Simon walked with apathy that drew unswerving attention and every known Loup Garou he passed seemed to melt in his presence, dropping on one knee, head bowed and right hand limply resting on their left shoulder. It was the pack members' way of showing respect to the pack leader.
The tiny bells that hung on the glass door of the bakeshop jingled with a less welcoming timbre when Simon breezed inside. Kara, who was standing outside the counter, fell on her knee. The rest of the staff and David’s friends did the same, paying mandatory respect to the man.
But David remained on his feet, not used to encountering Simon outside their house. At home, such gesture was never required so David wasn't used to it. At home, Simon was merely a step-uncle who liked to meddle with his life more often than necessary.
"David." He heard Kara hiss. She was half-kneeling on the floor, head bent but her eyes flicked momentarily up at him. He never understood this, never knew why the wife of the pack leader had to bow before him in public. This was totally ridiculous.
Simon stopped in front of the counter, glared at David, but before Simon could speak, Kara hissed David's name once more.
David couldn't stop his eyes from rolling. Crap, he thought then dropped on one knee, keeping his head down for a while to hide the full-scale sneer that most likely veiled his face.
"And I thought I needed to remind you of your manners, boy," Simon said in a voice cold as ice that it sent chills up David's spine. The feeling crept all the way to the back of his neck. "On your feet."
Once he was up, David couldn't dare look Simon in the eye. If Aunt Kara could read him easily, he didn't doubt Simon would be able to as well. David kept himself busy, arranging pastries on the trays inside the glass counter while he spoke. "Anything I could get for you, Simon?"
"Don't bother," Simon snapped with a snarl. "I already had breakfast at home. Which reminds me…" David made the mistake of looking up. Simon had taken off his sunglasses and was watching David skeptically, making David feel like he was an open book and Simon was flipping through the pages, trying to read between the lines. "I didn't see you this morning. As a matter of fact, I didn't see you last night either. Where were you?"
David bit the inside of his cheek, hoping that no signs of fear or guilt would show on his face and he did his best to push away any thoughts of Cook out of his reeling mind. His lack of reaction though made Simon's eyes narrow.
"I was out running," was David's laconic explanation then he turned his attention back to what he had been doing, coaxing his heart to calm the heck down. It would be easy for Simon to perceive that David was hiding something once he heard David's racing heartbeat.
When Simon didn't say anything but diverted his attention to Kara instead, David did was so tempted to release a breath in relief. He noticed that his friends had slipped back inside their booth through the corner of his eyes and heard Simon tell Kara that they would have dinner guests that night.
"You better be home tonight," Simon said, his eyes back on David. "I want you to meet Mr. Iraheta's daughter. About time you start dating a nice girl. You're of age so you should consider finding a mate."
David was dumbfounded. He wordlessly watched Simon leave and only blinked when Simon's car finally pulled out of the curb. Simon's words still rang in his head. His eyes found Kara's and only then he reacted, saying, "I should find a what?" incredulously. "I can't be at that dinner, I…"
"Just do what he says and he'll leave you alone," Kara said, a small smile settling on her lips.
"But… but…" But I'm supposed to meet Cook tonight, was what David wanted to say though he decided to swallow the words back lest he wanted to get Cook in trouble.
~ 0 ~
It had turned into the most awkward dinner, in David's opinion, from the time the second course was served, when Mrs. Iraheta ("Please call me Jacki," she had told David twice already) had asked if David was single.
"Allison isn't dating anyone either," Jacki added rather animatedly even if David hadn't really responded, her voice biting deeply into David's now growing discomfort. "I hear you love to run. Allie loves running. You should both run together some time. Right, sweetie?"
Allison cringed the moment her mother's gaze skipped over to her, not even trying to hide her irritation. When Jacki shot her a reprimanding look though, the corner of her lips curled up into what was obviously a forced smile and then she nodded as if her head was filled with metal. Like David, she hadn't been able to utter more than a 'hi' since they arrived that night. And David could sense that she likewise wanted to melt in her seat every time her mother opened her mouth.
It was a good thing Red wasn't around. Otherwise, he would've thrown in remarks that would incredibly increase David's distress.
The blatant matchmaking shenanigan that Jacki had initiated would've ruined the entire evening had Mr. Iraheta not butted in at the most perfect time to bring up business. When Simon started with "glad you decided to extend your restaurant business here, Carlos," everyone else around the table sank into an edgy silence, the weight of it made breathing quite a task. No one dared speak when Simon spoke, except for Mr. Iraheta.
It was during dessert when the topic spiraled into the ritual and Mr. Iraheta reminded Simon that the moon was at its fullest the next night. The mere mention of the event made something in David's gut shift.
"You and your family are welcome to join us, of course," Simon told Mr. Iraheta although his eyes darted over to David with an unspoken message - or more like a command that clearly meant Simon wanted David to be there, too, and no excuse would work this time.
Simon's gaze burned right through his forehead so David tore his eyes away from him and, in his desperate search for something else to focus on, met Allison's. Surprisingly, she didn't avert her gaze. She continued to stare at David in a scrutinizing way, small creases forming between her eyebrows.
His head snapped towards Jacki when he heard her call his name. He was so lost in his own thoughts he had no idea what she had said.
Before he could utter a word, Kara cleared her throat, said, "Um," her eyes flicked over to Simon and their guests for a moment before resting on David's. "David doesn't usually attend the full moon ritual."
"He doesn't?" was Jacki's reaction, sounding patently astonished.
"They um…" Kara settled her spoon on her plate, propped her elbows on the table and clasped her hands together. "They celebrate the full moon festival differently in Murray. He's not used to the way we celebrate it here."
"But there's always a first time for everything." Simon flashed David a 'don't-you-dare-protest' look that had David's stomach sinking down to his feet. "I'm pretty sure David would love to hunt by Allison's side. Right, David?"
David opened his mouth, wanted to say 'no way' but what came out instead was, "Uh… Sure."
When dinner was finally over, David thought he could slip out of the house, rush over to the garden and meet Cook just in case Danny was able to deliver David's message. But he'd barely lifted his butt off the chair when Simon suggested, "Why don't you take Allison for a walk, show her that garden you frequent to?"
Dang.
~ 0 ~
"It looks so beautiful even from here," Allison said, gazing up the hill that stood at the end of the two-mile stretch from the manor. She was obviously using her heightened vision to be able to see the garden, but David had to agree that it did look brighter than it ever did from afar.
The garden meant more than a sanctuary to David so hearing someone appreciate it ignited his enthusiasm. Without much thought, he said, "Wait 'til you see it up close," then swallowed the last word a second too late when he remembered why he didn't want to bring Allison there in the first place.
David could feel Allison's gaze growing warmer against his face. "Must be a very special place," she said with some sort of connotation and David wondered how easy he was to read.
"It is," was his perfunctory response and was quick to add, "and you know, I believe it's closed already. We should've gone earlier."
Allison was the first to stop in her tracks. The knowing look she threw David was unnerving and David braced himself when her lips upturned and she tilted her head sideways. "Really? Or are you afraid your girlfriend might see us there?"
Her presumption almost made David burst into laughter but he bit the inside of his lower lip instead, stuttered out, "I-uh…" and shook his head as a preamble. When the urge to laugh settled down a bit, he spoke, said, "Nah. I don't have a girlfriend."
"Right." Allison enunciated the word longer and David knew then she would be hard to convince. They resumed the trek toward the hill in a slower pace.
The panic boiled like acid deep within the pit of David's stomach and surged through his blood vessels like something akin to liquid fire. Now he wished Danny wasn't able to tell Cook to meet David at the garden. Or maybe, if Cook would see him with someone not familiar, then Cook would be wise enough to hide. Maybe. Hopefully.
They traversed wordlessly until they reached halfway of the slope where they could clearly see that the main gate of the garden was closed. But before David could state the obvious, Allison blurted, "God! You're agitation is strong enough to start a mild earthquake, you know."
It sort of hit him like a blow - a punch in the gut since he didn't know that his emotions were sending off signals like a beacon while he had been trying to repress them. It wasn't surprising that Allison was able to sense him. The moon being almost at its full form often heightened their senses. What he didn't expect was for her to be blunt.
"I'm not sure really sure I know what you're talking about," was David's desperate way of masking his uneasiness.
The breath that left Allison in a whiz was clouded with obvious exasperation. "Look, David. If you're here to meet your-" Her next words seemed to brim on her lips and a contemplative look shimmered on her face. Before David could jump into his defense and tell Allison that he wasn't meeting anyone, he picked up a distinguishably familiar scent. He meant to steer Allison away but then she cleared her throat and continued to say, "-your boyfriend, I'm totally cool about it."
It was clear enough for David to hear but his mind was too busy screaming, Oh no! He's here! He's here! He's here! so it took a while for her words to register. He was quick to exclaim, "What?" when he finally realized what she had said.
Allison's lips twisted into a devious smile and her eyes held a mischievous glow that seemed almost sinister. "Your boyfriend," she said again, this time with more emphasis and clarity. "Unless I presumed wrong, but he had been hiding behind that tree for a while, probably trying to look inconspicuous." She jerked her head in gesture, aiming at something behind David, which prompted him to whip his head around.
The tree trunk was wide enough and a thick curtain of darkness draped around it but the slight shift of a faint shadow was perceptible. David could barely see Cook. His boyfriend was well concealed, in fact. Allison couldn't have known he was there unless-
"You share a similar scent, so I figured…." She ended with a timid shrug and her lips arched into a smile that could either mean she had something sinister brewing in her mind to get David in trouble or she found the situation amusing.
If Allison hadn't pointed it out, David wouldn't have noticed the change in the aroma Cook exuded. The same musky fragrance of citrus and spice that seemed to naturally cling to Cook's skin now mingled with the smell of spring water and summer air that was distinctively his own.
Then it hit him like lightning and the memory of the first intimate moment he had with Cook came crashing down on him. Oh crap! The mark!
"It's getting late," David said, only because he thought it would be rude to tell her 'you need to leave.' She had been nice and hadn't done anything to get under David's skin.
"Hey." She nudged him playfully on his arm with her fist. "Don't worry about it. I'm not going to tell anyone. Not after what happened to my friend, Adam." A sad smile warped on her lips and David could feel the gust of melancholy that rose off of her for a split second. "Now go get your man. I'll hang around at some other parts of the garden for a while. I promise I won't listen. We have to go back together so your uncle won't get suspicious."
~ 0 ~
"Is she um…" Cook eyed Allison scrupulously.
David looked over his shoulder and saw see Allison standing a few feet away. "Yeah," he uttered then turned to face Cook. "She's one of us, if that's what you meant to ask."
"Wouldn't she…?" The inability to complete any sentence clearly showed Cook's trepidation and David took his hand, rubbed his thumb against Cook's wrist, hoping it was enough to soothe Cook.
"She won't tell, I guarantee it. We can trust her."
"I was hoping we could spend some time alone tomorrow, get some dinner then maybe hang out in my cabin." The blush spreading on Cook's cheeks made him even more adorable that David found the invitation hard to resist.
But then Simon's face flashed in the forefront of David's mind. "Um… I can't. My uncle insists that I attend the ritual tomorrow night. I don't wanna cause any more trouble and risk him finding out about you. You um… you don't know how he is."
The look of disappointment that unfolded on Cook's face caused a sharp twinge in David's heart. "Can you stay for a while at least?"
David wished he could but…. "Not too long. Simon might get suspicious if we don't go back soon."
Cook shifted his weight from one leg to another and his eyes kept darting around the garden. David could sense his agitation but he didn't pry, just waited for Cook to speak. "Do you um… do you know a woman named Carly?" Cook asked.
"Carly?"
"She lives next door to my cabin. Dark hair, very pretty, a little weird around the edges?" Cook's brows were furrowed like he was recounting the list of features by memory.
There was only one person David knew who fitted the description. "Yeah. I don't really know her but I've seen her around." David refrained from telling him that he had heard she was a psychic, but he was curious why Cook brought her up. "Why do you ask?"
Cook looked wistful for a moment. His gaze seemed to drift somewhere far. Then he shook his head, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Nothing. I just ran into her this morning and she seemed perturbed after we shook hands."
"Perturbed?"
"Yeah. She sort of made a beeline into her house, mumbling something like I've been marked? I don't know. Didn't really catch everything."
Kara had warned David to stay away from that woman, although he always thought Carly was harmless. "I've heard she's some kind of psychic or something, but I haven't really met her. I guess if she is, she knows about our existence."
Cook reached out and pulled David close. "Well, if that's the case then I guess it's best if we both keep a good distance away from her."
"I don't think she capable of hurting us, Cook. Almost everyone in town think she's just some crazy woman living alone." David coiled his arms around Cook's shoulders and pushed on his toes to give Cook a light kiss on the lips. "I wish I could stay longer but Allie and I have to go back now." He backed away reluctantly, hands still resting on the slopes of Cook's chest. "I'll see if I can drop by your place the day after tomorrow. That is if I can slip away from my uncle and Red."
"Be careful, David. Please." The worry that crossed Cook's face sent a dull ache in David's heart.
"I will. Promise me you'll be careful, too."
Cook cupped David's cheek and leaned in, his lips warm and soft against David's. "I promise."
Allison nudged David with her shoulder, said, "He's cute," as soon as they left the garden and she kept making kissing noises while they trudged down the road leading back to Simon's manor.
Heat spread throughout David's face and he couldn't meet Allison's eyes. "Oh shut up."
~ 0 ~
"What was it about your friend, Adam?" David asked Allison. He had meant to ask the night before but it didn't seem like the right time.
They were having lunch at the local deli - arranged by Simon and Jacki, of course - but David didn't mind. Now that Allison knew his secret, he thought it wouldn't be wise at all to be on her bad side. Besides, she was a lot of fun to spend time with.
"He was um… he was one of us," Allison said in a voice so low that no one within earshot could have heard. "He fell in love with a human - a man - and his friend Matt found out. Matt thought it would be fun to unveil Adam's secret and…" Her gaze dropped on the plate of spaghetti, the fork she was holding kept swirling around the pasta. "The pack killed the human he fell in love with, used as a prey during the hunting ritual and Adam was banished right after. I don't know what became of him. I haven't seen him for four years now."
For a lack of more comforting words, David said, "I'm sorry."
The rest of their lunch had been shrouded with an unnerving silence that clung to David even as he got back home. He was glad Danny and Ramiele came over to distract him later that day and to keep Red away. Danny's occasional foul mouth and talent to throw snide remarks at any given chance made Red allergic to his presence.
"So you really, really will be at the ritual tonight?" Ramiele said, not bothering to hide the skepticism in her tone.
David pushed out a frustrated sigh. "I have to." Dang. If he could only find a way to get out of this he'd grab it without question, but chances of that happening were slim. "Simon would probably drag me over there if I don't."
"Maybe you wouldn't find it so bad. It could be fun." The forced smile that stretched across Danny's lips was probably meant to make David feel better but it wasn't working.
"I guess we'll have to wait and see," David said, feeling absolutely defeated. He wished the afternoon would stretch longer but his heart sank when he saw the time. It was only two hours away from sundown.
~ 0 ~
The warm shower seemed to do the trick to calm David's nerves. He took his time getting dressed, slipping into a light blue dress shirt and dark pants, still unable to find any logic on why he should - they all should dress lavishly when they would most likely take them off once the ritual started. He wasn't certain if that was what the pack did exactly since he hadn't been on one of these things, but he could only guess that the pack members wouldn't be so stupid to let their nicest clothes rip once they transform.
David could smell the expensive cologne Red usually wore from across the hall. He slipped his jacket on and drew in a long, deep breath then left the confines of his room before Red could get inside and possibly haul him out.
"I see you're ready." A devious smile crept on Red's lips. "I thought you needed help getting dressed," he said, his tone carrying an unnerving timbre that made David's skin crawl. Red leaned closer, breathing against David's ear. "Dad asked me to drive you and Kara to the ritual ground. He doesn't really trust you to be there."
David chose to say nothing. He was in no mood to jump into a pointless conversation or, in this case, argument with Red. He stomped down the stairs to find his aunt waiting at the foyer. "You look nice," she said and David returned the compliment, telling her she looked lovely in the silver blue dress she was wearing.
The ride to the forest was relatively quiet that the sound of David's breathing was magnified tenfold and the occasional tapping of Red's fingers against the steering wheel echoed inside the vehicle.
Once they reached the ritual ground, David had the sudden urge to jump out of the car and run back where they came from. Red must've sensed his thoughts because he was quick to slide out of the driver's seat and round the car to escort David out, his hand tight around David's arm. Torches lined the pathway toward the clearing where several Loup Garoux were already waiting. Most of them eyed David with interest; some seemed surprised to see him there.
Simon climbed up the platform at the edge of the wide circle and silence soon blanketed over the entire pack. The power Simon held over them was so disconcerting that it sent a repulsive tremor through David's body.
"Good evening," Simon started and launched into a monotonous speech that David hardly understood because he was busy scanning the grounds in search of his cousin and friends. His eyes met Allison's who raised her hand in a small wave. She stood at the opposite side of the clearing, fidgeting beside her parents as if she couldn't wait to get away from them.
When David heard Simon say, "Bring in the prey," his head snapped up, heart pounding mercilessly against his ribcage. Two men David recognized as workers at the vineyard came out dragging a blindfolded man then dumped him at the foot of the raised platform.
Simon's assistant, Kristy Lee, sashayed over to the unidentified man then crouched to remove the blindfold. The man looked menacing, eyes burning with what seemed to be a mixture of anger and fear. His arms and neck were covered in tattoos but despite all that, he didn't seem like someone who deserved to die tonight.
"Don't look at him with pity, dear cousin," Red said, literally breathing on the back of David's neck. "He's a criminal, killed seven people. We are simply helping him end his agony of spending his whole life behind bars."
"How is this helping him?" David spoke through gritted teeth, his hands curling into fists at his sides. He wanted to remind Red that they weren't cousins but he didn't bother, knowing it would be a worthless effort.
Laughter rumbled out of Red - low and sinister. "You have a lot to learn, David. Now stick with me if you want to get out of this in one piece."
"No thank you." David was glad for Danny and Ramiele's infinite ability to show up at a perfect time. They were both at his sides before Red could retaliate.
Danny curled his arm around David's, said, "So we're going as a group as planned, okay?" and cast Red a look that was enough to have Red crawling away.
Ramiele's hand slipped into David's, her grip grew tighter when she asked, "Are you sure you're up to this?"
No. But David wasn't able to utter a word. He watched in horror as Simon hopped down from the platform, knife in hand, and without warning, drove the edge of the blade across the surface of the unidentified man's arm. The man cried out, face twisted in pain.
Simon gripped a handful of the man's hair, yanked the man's head back and leaned closer, his lips inches from the man's ear. "We will give you a head start," Simon said. "If you make it across the river, we will let you go, unscathed."
Fear palpably flashed in the man's eyes. "I-if I d-don't?"
The sound that rumbled out of Simon was close to menacing and it made David's entrails twist with dread. "Then you'll have to find out for yourself." Simon released the man's head, brought the knife between the man's wrists and sliced through the ropes that kept the man's arms bound behind him.
Red had already started unbuttoning his shirt even before the man could to his feet and take off further into the woods. David just stood stock still, watching everyone around him peel their clothes off, hissing and growling, eyes glowing like reflections of the full moon's glow.
The thudding of the man's feet against the ground echoed in David's ears. The man's scent growing faint - an indication that the man had managed to run a considerable distance from the ritual ground. It was the cue that the pack might have been waiting for because they all dashed off into the shadows with Red and his friends taking the lead.
Simon paid David no heed. He disappeared behind a cluster of trees along with some of the pack members. David lost track of Danny and Ramiele and all that was left in the clearing with him was Kara.
"David," Kara said, her dress slipping down to the ground. "You don't have to come. But you must leave while the others are distracted." Without another word, she rushed after the pack, her whole body glowing. She leaped in the air when she reached the downward slope and David did nothing but stare when she transformed into a dull gray wolf.
A hundred hooves thundered from the depth of the forest matching the rhythm of David's heartbeat. I must leave, he told himself then whirled around and sprinted toward the opposite direction. He could hear the distant cry of agony from the distance and knew then that the pack had caught up with the man.
The sound tore through his soul, clawing at his heart like poisoned talons.
David kept running and running, desperate to get away from the harsh reality in which his life was now encased. The burn in his lungs was so sharp it felt like a dozen hot knives were hacking through his ribcage. The moon bathed him with energy, feeding him with the painful urge to transform. But David fought hard not to succumb, ignoring the excruciating surge of hot blood through his veins.
The miles and minutes stretched on and not once did David stop. He could feel all his reserved strength diminishing. His feet - his human feet - eventually led him to Cook's dwelling. It was way past midnight and he wondered if Cook was still awake. A faint light flickered inside the cabin, which was enough for David to know that Cook was around. He couldn't pick up anything audible, couldn't catch a whiff of Cook. Or maybe it was because he was too dang exhausted for his senses to work.
Driven by his desperation for a safe shelter, David rapped on the door, calling out Cook's name and it didn't take long before he heard footsteps followed by locks being undone. Then the door swung open, Cook's face was masked with a mixture of concern and surprise.
"David? What are you-"
David threw his arms around Cook's neck, buried his face on Cook's shoulder and heaved a lungful of air. "I can't-couldn't… Oh gosh, Cook." David felt the last threads of his verve leaving him with only Cook's tight hold around his middle keeping him upright.
"I've got you," were the last words David heard from Cook before a black curtain fell around him, swallowing him up in a paralyzing darkness.
~ tbc ~
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