SOL - Generation Five - Chapter Nine
Another chapter so soon??
Last Time..
Elyssia couldn’t stop the scene playing out in her head over and over again every night after finding out who Cam’s father was. Knowing he was related to the man who had made her papa’s life hell, knowing he was in the pack that had sold him to the council... She couldn’t believe it.
In a way, she felt betrayed. She felt like she should have known, or guessed. She felt like Cam should have said something, but neither of them had ever talked about their families. They’d just played games and laughed with each other, and became best friends without realising.
She couldn’t be friends with him anymore. Even if her papa never found out - and she would hate to think what he would do if he did - Cam was running for a Seat. His father would try to stop her from getting one, and he’d dig until he found something to use against her. If he found out that she and Cam were friends... She shuddered. Besides, what if he convinced Cameron to exploit their friendship? She couldn’t trust him. Not now that she knew.
Elyssia sighed, swallowing back tears. She missed him. He was her only friend outside the family, and she missed him so much. She didn’t realise how much it could hurt.
She reached over to look at her phone. It had been her birthday present, so she didn’t have Cam’s number - which was probably a good thing, because she wanted to text him and demand an explanation so badly. Instead, she texted Willow back and hoped her older cousins would include her in their group now that she had no one else. Willow and Arabella, Risa’s twins, were Netalia’s age but the closest to Elyssia. Jude was too young, and Hayley - Fury’s second child - was even younger than Jude.
What would she even say to Cam if she had the chance? Why didn’t you tell me? How could you be his son? How could you even think of him as your father?
She wiped away a tear in frustration. She’d not get the Seat if she went to see him. She’d be betraying her father. She could not try to seek him out.
She would not do that to her Alpha.
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“Kit’s mum was a secretary for the Council, that might be something?” Dova offered, sitting at the counter while Ven chopped vegetables on another. The wolf shook his head.
“Town Council. Before that, she was a shelf stacker for a supermarket. Before that, a receptionist for the most mundane company you could imagine. None of her jobs would make her brush shoulders with more supernaturals than her day to day life would naturally.”
“Okay,” Dova hummed. “Netty says Kit barely texts or emails. Do you think that’s his mum telling him not to?”
Again, Ven shook his head. “Bad reception and internet. It’s a really rural area, so it’s possible.” He stopped for a moment and sighed. “Her closest friend is also incredibly human, and has also not heard from her that much. Of all her other close acquaintances, very few were supernatural, and none are what I’d call threatening or evil.”
Dova looked thoughtful as Ven chopped again, with more ferocity than last time. “Maybe we’re going about this the wrong way,” he said eventually. Ven glanced over, one eyebrow raised. “What if it’s a normal problem?”
“What are the chances of that, Do?”
Dova spread his hands. “Normal people have normal problems, and she’s as normal as they get. What about Kit’s father? She never mentioned him much. Why did she leave him? Maybe he’s the one we should be looking into.”
Ven nodded slowly. “Kit’s never talked about him, but he’s fiercely protective of his mum. There might be something in that.”
“You can thank me later,” Dova grinned, blowing him a kiss and jumping down from the counter. “I’m going over for a drink with Fury and Korra.”
“Is she leaving for America soon?”
“Next week. They postponed it so that they could see Arcadia’s baby.” Dova smiled. “You know it’s going to be a boy?”
“Yeah,” Ven said, smiling sadly. “She wants to call him Finn, and of course Andrew agreed. It’s sweet.”
Dova pecked him on the cheek. “Chin up, buttercup. I’ll see you later,” he said, grabbing his jacket and heading out the door.
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“Hey Netty!
Mum’s trying to phone up the internet guys and demand they make it better, so if that gets somewhere then we might be able to email more. It’s driving me crazy, there’s nothing to do. It’s pretty though. If you ever visit, I’ll have to show you around. There’s a nice forest, and a beach not too far away. There’s a walk along a river, too.
Mum’s teaching me how to drive at the weekends, which is going about as badly as you could imagine. I’m excited to be able to have some independence though, and be able to get into town. There are mostly old people living around us, and younger kids. Not many people my age - the school is tiny as well. I’m missing home so much..
I know I haven’t been good at keeping in contact, but I’ll try harder. Don’t give up on me!
Hope everything is alright with you and your family :)
Kit.”
Netalia stared at the email for a while, feeling worse than before. Kit had been gone for three months now, and they’d barely exchanged ten emails and fewer texts. She knew they were losing touch, and that their friendship was crumbling, but she couldn’t do anything about it. At least she had her cousins to hang out with - Willow, Arabella and Bryn were a lot of fun, and they helped to take her mind off how much she missed Kit, and how much she missed feeling close to him.
She knew Elyssia was feeling down, too, though she had yet to explain why. They were close - all three of them were - but they had never gone to each other with personal things. They had their best friends, and they went to them instead.
She sighed. Ares was definitely the luckiest. Jason was a good friend, and so was Marie. She wished she had people like that.
Netalia glared at her mirror - at her reflection. She’d taken pity on herself for the last three months, and she was getting sick of this.
She grabbed her phone and told Arabella to gather the girls. She was going to have fun, and meet new people, and she was going to stop this stupid pity party she had going on.
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“So, wait - what’s this reoccurring dream you’ve been having?” Marie asked, sitting down on the bench. She gave Jason a disgusted look. “Or is this a discussion for the boys?”
Jason snorted. “If it was, you’d enjoy it too.”
“Hmm. True,” Marie agreed, flashing a wide grin. “What’s up?”
“Jason keeps having a dream about this girl - what’s her name?”
“Aurora,” he supplied. “It’s driving me crazy. It’s the same, and I get most nights.”
“What happens?”
Jason leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I Turn her. We talk first, and she asks me to Turn her, and I do. That’s it.”
“What do you talk about?”
Jason rubbed his forehead. “The same thing. I tell her that I know her, and she says she doesn’t know me. Then she tells me that I’m going to Turn her, so I do. Nothing interesting happens, which is the worst thing. She’s so hot.”
Marie reached over and flicked his nose. “Mind out of the gutter.”
“He’s a teenage boy,” Ares said. “It’s always in the gutter.”
“You can talk!” Jason retorted. “Whatever. It’s just bugging me. Have you guys ever had reoccurring dreams?”
“Yup,” Marie said, flashing a smile. “But you’re never gonna hear them.”
“I have one about walking into a room that has a big buffet on the table,” Ares said helpfully. “But I never get to eat any of it.”
“Thanks for your contribution to the conversation, Ares,” Marie snorted. “So deep.”
“Hey, he asked!”
Marie rolled her eyes. “Have you told your old man about it?”
“Nah, he’s busy. Setting up some Council thing. Training programme. I don’t know. Nothing much happens in the dream, so I figured there was no point.”
Marie shrugged. “Might be a good idea to mention it. Who knows, it could be some supernatural stuff,” she said, wiggling her fingers. Both Jason and Ares laughed, and the tension over the group lifted.
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“This dream is really bugging Jason, huh? He even passed up working on homework with us,” Marie said, dramatically. She let Ares into her house as the wolf snorted.
“This is a good thing. It means we’ll get it done.”
“True,” she laughed. “I’ll go get snacks. Make yourself at home.”
Ares did just that, walking into the living room and slumping down onto the sofa, pulling his homework out of the bag. Marie’s sister - who was sixteen, just one year younger than Marie - came through and waved. “Hey Eve.”
“Hey,” she said, taking a seat opposite. “How’s things?”
“Same old,” he shrugged. “You?”
“Alright. Some people at school being irritating, you know how it is.”
“How irritating is irritating?”
“Nothing that a few choice words and a well timed punch won’t fix,” she said sweetly, and grinned when Ares laughed. “Marie taught me to punch, so she’s condoning my actions.”
“I won’t condone violence!” Marie shouted from the kitchen. “Not if our parents are around or are asking why you punched those bitches!”
Ares laughed. “Just don’t go too far.”
“Never,” Eve said, putting a hand over her heart. “Honestly, I’m offended. What must you think of me?”
“That you’re hot headed and distracting us from homework?” Marie suggested, giving her sister a teasing grin. Eve stuck her tongue out.
“I’m bored, and my homework is too difficult. Hey, snacks! Don’t mind if I do...” she grabbed a handful of crisps and flashed them a grin. Both her cheeks were dimpled, and Ares thought it would look sweet if Eve was sweet. He liked her fire, though - she was very similar to Marie.
“We can help, if you want.”
“Oh, sure. I’ll go get it.”
As soon as Eve was out the room, Marie leaned over to Ares and gave him a pleasant smile. “Don’t encourage her.”
“With the violence?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh come on. She has the biggest crush on you. You must have - seriously?” Marie broke off. “You didn’t even have a clue?” She smacked her forehead with her palm. “Boys,” she muttered.
“Sorry,” Ares murmured. “When did this happen?”
“About the time you came in my house for our first homework exercise together and made Eve laugh so much she cried.” Marie pulled Ares in for a one armed hug. “Just so you know,” she told him, “if you even think about going for her, I will personally skin you alive and feed you to the dog.”
Ares looked at her, wide eyed. “I wouldn’t!”
“Good,” she smiled, pulling away just as Eve came back into the room.
“Have at it,” she said, tossing it over.
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“Netty, this is Scott. He’s my science buddy and cute as a button,” she said, giving him a grin when he sighed.
“Cute? Thanks. That’s my manliness down the drain,” he rolled his eyes. She grinned wider.
“Think of this as a surprise blind date, despite the fact that me and Belle are doing homework over there.” She jerked her thumb to the other chairs, ignoring Netty’s wide eyed look. “So we’re not far if you two look like you’re drowning in embarrassment. Have fun kids!” she gave them a little wave, pushed Scott until he fell into the chair, and turned on her heel to join her twin. Netty stared after her, dumbfounded.
“I’d ask if she’s always like this, but...”
“She’s always like this,” Netalia finished, face already hot. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realise -“
“It’s fine,” Scott grinned. “I did complain to her about being ridiculously single, so I brought this on myself. We’re in English together.”
“Oh yeah! Hey, if nothing else, we get a study partner out of this?” she tried hopefully, and Scott grinned.
“It’s my lucky day,” he said, and Netalia laughed.
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“Hey, there’s my favourite distant relative,” Quinn said. “I need to chat with you, Mr future Alpha.”
“Why do I have the feeling this isn’t going to go well?”
“I thought I’d start the flattery early so you’re more likely to agree,” Quinn grinned, sitting down next to him.
“Agree to what?” Ares said warily.
“I have a problem,” he began. “The ghost world is being stirred up and I was wondering if you could help me.”
“The ghost world? Really?”
“Easiest thing to call it. A bunch of idiot teenagers are messing around with things they don’t understand, like ouiji boards and haunted houses. This close to the beginning of May? Not good.”
“Beltane, right? The veil between the two worlds is thin, like at Halloween.”
“You’re such an irritatingly good student,” Quinn sighed. “But yes. These three are going to get hurt. Something is eventually going to turn on them and I need you to either convince them to stop, or to save them when things get a bit hairy. Or ghosty, as it were.”
“Why me?”
“Well, you’re an Alpha-to-be. It’s good for you. You’re strong and you’re a good fighter, and it’s not so out of hand that I need to send in someone from the Council. If I can do it this way, and keep them in the dark about the supernatural world if they still are, then I will. It’s your choice. It shouldn’t be difficult, most ghosts aren’t powerful enough to do more than scratch you.”
“How do I stop a ghost?” he said doubtfully. “It’s not a salt circle and burning their bodies sort of thing, is it?”
Quinn gave him a deadpan look. “You’ve been watching too much TV. You’re a supernatural, so you can see and fight them. Or talk to them. Whichever works. So long as you get the idiots to safety, it doesn’t matter. The ghosts won’t be able to do much harm and they’ll disappear soon enough.”
“Alright. I don’t see why I can’t try. Does my Alpha know about this?”
“Okay, I’m reckless and crazy, but I’m not stupid. I cleared it with him first, I don’t want to be his breakfast.” When Ares snorted, Quinn folded his arms petulantly. “Have you ever messed with an Alpha’s pups? Mother’s rage doesn’t come close to it.”
“Well, if he’s fine with it, I see no reason not to.”
Quinn slapped him on the back and stood up. “Good. I’ll get back to you when I find out how you can accidentally run into them.”
“Don’t air quote accidentally, Quinn,” Ares said, rolling his eyes.
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Elyssia sat on the bench in the back garden, staring out at the garden over the wall that she and Cam had played in so much. She was so lonely without him.
But she wasn’t going to betray her Alpha. She was not going to go into the garden in case he was there. She was definitely not sitting out here in case he was trying to look for her.
Elyssia rubbed her forehead. No. She was going to stay here. Better yet, she was going to go back inside.
She sighed and stood up.
She walked to the wall and hopped over.
She muttered to herself all the while, telling herself off for doing this, but that didn’t stop her.
Elyssia wandered into their part of the garden, the part where they always met. She stopped and sniffed the air.
He wasn’t here.
But he had been here. And recently, too.
She closed her eyes. She missed him so much...
When she opened them, she began to follow his scent and found a piece of paper stuck to a tree with a pin. It just had eleven numbers, but she’d know his handwriting any day.
Elyssia slipped her phone out of her pocket and stared at it. She was not going to do this. She couldn’t trust him. She didn’t need an explanation from him.
She added the number to her phonebook.
“Elly,” he said softly, and she jumped, head snapping up. “Hey.”
“Cam,” she breathed. She put her phone away and stared at him. “I should -“ she gestured to the house but didn’t take a step.
“If that’s what you want,” he whispered.
“Not really,” she replied. “We need to talk.”
“Hence the number,” he said, with a wry smile. He rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re... You’re Elyssia Williams.”
“Cameron Roy,” she retorted, folding her arms.
Cam wetted his lips. “Wow. Kind of feels like we’re Romeo and Juliet right now, huh?”
“That’s implying we’re stupidly in love and are going to commit ritual suicide,” she said pointedly.
Cam tried to formulate a reply to that, and couldn’t. Eventually, he just inclined his head to show she was right.
“How could you -“ she began, the anger and betrayal showing through in her tone. “How... His son.”
“I didn’t realise it was a crime to be born into a family I didn’t choose,” he said, though it wasn’t hostile.
“I’m sorry. I just... I’m sorry. That you have to live with him.”
“Who? My dad?” His eyebrows rose. “Why would you be sorry?”
Elyssia stared at him.
“What?
“Your dad is monster,” she said flatly.
Cameron straightened up. “Do you believe everything your Alpha says?”
“I believe him when he tells me why he hates Mal so much.”
Cam frowned and tilted his head to the side. “Yeah. Why does he?”
“You don’t know?”
“Wouldn’t be asking if I did.”
Elyssia turned away for a moment and brushed her hair out of her face. “Mal and my papa grew up together. They were both in the Reaves pack.”
“I know that. Ven’s mum turned her back on my grandfather, the Alpha.”
“She didn’t turn her back on him! She loved someone - a human. Is that so wrong?”
Cameron’s frown deepened. “That’s why you can’t Change fully.”
Elyssia stared at him. “Your grandfather was horrible to my dad. He sold him to the council after years of treating him like an Omega because he was half wolf. He’s the whole reason my father spent years trying to help my papa. He’s the reason I’ll never know my papa’s twin.”
“My father is not my grandfather.”
“Your father picked on my papa before he went to the council. Your father tried to have mine killed by a vampire!”
“Where’s your proof?” he said. “I can’t believe my father would do that.”
“Are you trying to tell me that you think he’s a good man?”
“Maybe some of his views are outdated,” Cam allowed. “But he’s never let that get in the way of how he raised me and treats the pack. He’d never try to kill someone.”
Elyssia shook her head. “You’re so wrong. I can’t believe you don’t see what an evil bastard he is!”
“This is my father you’re talking about.”
“And he’s a monster!”
“Oh come on!” Cam scoffed. “Whatever vendetta you have against him because your papa doesn’t like him, is stupid. My father is a good Alpha. He cries at sad Disney films, for the Moon’s sake. He wouldn’t try to have someone killed.”
“I will prove it to you,” Elyssia said, blinking away angry tears. “I will get you to see how much of an evil, scheming bastard he is!”
“Maybe you shouldn’t believe everything your papa says on blind faith.”
“My dad was recovering for days after an ex-seat attacked him, all because Mal ignored his shout for back-up.”
“Maybe he just didn’t hear it,” Cam pointed out.
Elyssia shook her head. “I’ll prove it,” she said again, quietly.
Cam sighed. “Can we just... forget who our packs are? I miss you. I want to go back to the way it was, Elly, please.”
Her eyes softened. “Me too. Okay.” She took a deep breath. She wanted to trust him so badly, but either he was blindly following Mal and believing he was good, or Mal was hiding it from his son. Either way, it made her so mad to think that he didn’t see what a snake his father was. She would prove it, but for now... “Let’s not talk about them,” she nodded.
Cam looked relieved. “Thank you.” He slid down to sit at the base of the tree and she followed suit. “So, it’s been a while,” he said, laughing slightly. “What’s the latest?”
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Jason cut through the short cut on his way home from Marie’s, music blasting into his ears and mind on the lyrics. He didn’t notice when he took the wrong turn until the place he came out in struck him as far too familiar. He took the earbuds out and glanced around, becoming more and more alarmed.
“What the...” he murmured, twisting around as he heard footsteps. The girl came out of the shadows and smiled at him. He took a step back, just like in his dreams. And, just like in his dreams, he couldn’t help but blurt out; “it’s you.”
Aurora looked surprised. She rocked back on her heels slightly and tilted her head. “It’s me,” she said softly. “What’s your name, vampire?”
“Jason,” he told her warily. “And you’re Aurora.”
“Rory,” she corrected him, as she did every time. He shook his head. He had to be dreaming again, right? He must have fallen asleep on Marie’s sofa.
“Rory,” he said. “Do you know me?”
“No. Not personally.” She shrugged, and it was ridiculously graceful. “But I called for a vampire, and here you are.”
“Here I am,” he murmured, looking around again. This was far too freaky. He was sure he was awake - there was one way to find out. He looked her in the eye and consciously said something very different to what he would have said in the dream. “Why do you want me to Turn you?”
Aurora looked taken aback, again. “How do you know that?”
“Because I’ve been dreaming about you. For weeks. Every night.”
“How?” she asked.
“So you haven’t been doing it?”
“No. I didn’t know it was possible.” She stepped forward and he noticed she was barefoot.
“Who are you?”
“A girl who wants her life back. Please Turn me, Jason. It’s my only hope.”
His breath caught in his throat. The moonlight hit her, and she was even more beautiful in person. Her words were said so sadly, too. He looked away. “I’m not supposed to. Why do you need it so badly?”
“Because I was my life back!” she cried.
“And you think this will help you?”
“It will.” She hugged herself. “I know it will. Please. I will not cause trouble. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want to be free.”
“Free from what?” he asked. “My dad deals with this all the time. He can help you.”
“It has to be now. Please don’t turn your back on me.” Her eyes filled with tears, and Jason cursed himself.
His dream always ended the same. He couldn’t walk away. He rubbed his hands over his face in frustration. “Okay. Okay.” He looked at her. “Don’t make me regret this.”
Her tears spilled over her cheeks. “Thank you!” she cried. “Thank you so much.” She stepped forward as he did, and then he reached out slowly and put his hands on her bare forearms. Her skin was so cold, but so real underneath his hands. He took a deep breath.
“It’s going to hurt.”
“I’ve been through worse,” she whispered back.
He nodded slowly. “I’m an idiot,” he muttered. She gave him a hopeful smile. “I’m a fucking idiot.” He closed the distance between them and wondered, for a brief moment, what his father was going to say about this. He felt his fangs extend.
“Thank you,” she murmured again, and closed her eyes. She bared her neck, and he bit down.
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Aaaaand we'll find out more about why Jason bit her next chapter ~