197Hello everyone! This is my first story! Ahhh, so exciting! I'm not gonna say, much because I can't wait for the first review and see what you guys think, so I'll just cut it off from here and save my thoughts for later. :) Enjoy!
Chapter One: Mask Of The Fake
Running. That lone word described all her life.
Sunlight flooded into the spacious room of the blank apartment. She stood on the tall wooden ladder, painting over the dull white walls with a soothing yellow. The sun beams hit the fresh paint, making the room come alive with light. She sighed to herself, relieved that a little bit of sun could still pass through the dusty old windows.
Estelle looked around her, amazed at the sheer size of her new apartment. It was large, but old. It had been uninhabited for more than seven years, and it was the only apartment at the top level of the nineteen story high building. Though is was dusty and old, with th most amazing view of Manhattan, Estelle couldn't wait until she could view the city at night on the large balcony and was attached to her bedroom. The bedroom was her favorite, with the Victorian carving designs on the frames of her wall. Though Estelle had guess before she came here that her stay would be three months tops, just seeing the comfortable living condition she hadn't had for almost two years now made Estelle almost reluctant to leave.
A gentle breeze from the top open windows made her sigh in relaxation.
She finished with the painting of the living room walls and climbed down the ladder, careful not to fall. When she first walked into the apartment, everything had seemed so somber and dark. The room seemed to outshine itself now it was clean and glowing. The next thing Estelle defiantly wanted to do was clean those filthy windows.
She was distracting her self again. Estelle let out an aggrivated sigh.
I know what I need to do.
She needed to go to the court and change her name. Estelle had dreaded this moment in time, but knew this was going to happen if she truly wanted to be safe, but this was all too fast. Change had taken time for Estelle to get use to, but have her name expelled from her birth was a far more worse change than any she had made. As a little girl, her mother always talked about her father with malice in her voice, telling Estelle that her father had picked her name since Estelle took the resemblance of her father.
Having light hair and green eyes, she was an outcast to her family with dark hair and dark eyes. The only family she had ever known was her Mother's side. With only glimpses of her Father's face from when she was a baby, other than that, he could have been just another stranger. Estelle's Grandma, the one person in her family that looked past her Father's looks, taught her the 'glamour' effect that the witches had used for centuries.
"It will only work if you wear this necklace." Estelle's Grandma had told her. She held up a necklace with a gold band, at the end was a mineral stone hooked there with an unusual purple and green swirl. "It will make you take on the appearance of a normal human, but if you wear this, you cannot change into your spirit form." Even though Estelle's kind of animal Spiritshift didn't stand out much, some had skin that was brighter than humans and seemed to dimply glow, or sharp canines. Her Grandma stated she had both. It was also said that all species of Specials had a certain beauty that humans did not have.
Wearing the necklace was no problem for Estelle. Ever since she was a child, she hated what she was.
Arms shaking, Estelle tried to calm herself by taking deep breaths. That normally help subdue the pain from early memories. Her back itched, but she fought the urge to scratch it. After all these years, still touching it brought some burning back to life.
She had never taken the necklace off after her Grandma had given it to her, and she was afraid that after all these years, if she took off the necklace, she would look into a mirror and see a complete stranger.
She walked out of the living room and into the hallway that led to the door. From the hook on the wall, she snatched up her coat and pulled her arms into the thin sleeves. New York had just hit October, and it was getting colder. Living in Paris, their summers were extremely hot and the winters were mild. She had gotten use to living in freezing cold, after escaping into the highlands of Scotland, but that didn't mean she liked it.
Estelle took the elevator to the lobby. She stepped onto the sidewalk and signaled for a taxi. At least this name changing had some benefits to her life period in Manhattan. For one, finally starting school.
December 5, Ohio
In a old rundown warehouse close to a frozen river, deep in the heart of a thick forest, everything had suddenly turned quiet. The bashing of bodies and loud contact of smashing and bone cracking, even gun fires were now silenced.
Four lifeless bodies laying in pools of blood now take up space on the cold floor of the warehouse, all of them creatures called Beneaths, or to humans, demons. Decapitation is the only way to kill most species of Specials, but some die more easily. Gage wished he could get the more easier assignments rather than hard ones his headquarters always assigned him. But then again, with more then 300 years in this job, they would have already guessed the skills that he had.
Gage Summers held tight to the old stand pole that one of the Beneath's had thrown into his leg, and pulled mercilessly. A loud grunt escaped him and nothing more.
He looked at the wound. Straight through. It would take at least a day or less for the wound to heal.
Other than a few little cuts and scratches that were already in progress of healing, Gage came out of it better than he had hoped for.
He reached for the railing bars to support his balance as he stood up. Wincing at the sharp pain, he walked over to the opening of the top floor in the warehouse. His eyes focused on the headless bodies. Dragging them into his truck and hauling them back to Manhattan was going to be a hassle, due to their large frames that had morphed during the fight.
He dragged himself out of the warehouse and over to his truck that was camouflaged behind some frost covered trees and bushes. He pulled out a new shirt and pulled it over his head. After that, he found one of the Demon's pack of cigarettes and pulled one out, lighting it as he inhaled deeply. Flexing his sore muscles, he looked into the cloudy night sky. It was hazy, but still there. Full.
Gage dropped the cigarette on the ground and crushed it with a bare foot. No question why he felt shitty lately. It had been almost a month since he turned. For Gage, that was a long waiting period.
Looking back at the warehouse, he frowned. Hauling the bodies in his truck would have to wait. This couldn't anymore. Besides, he still had fourteen more hours to get back to New York. No problem.
With one large hand, he impatiently tore off the shirt he had just put on, and, slamming the truck door, walked to the end of the icy river. It was curved into a small waterfall, he estimated about the drop was probably twenty feet high. Stepping a couple steps back, he ran with inhuman speed toward the edge of the drop and, extending his arms. . .
splash
December 22, Manhattan
"I am so sorry, Lucy!" Alyssa cried as she knelt down to help pick up scattered notebooks and textbooks and papers.
Estelle covered her goofy smile and got on her knees by Alyssa. "You don't have to apologize. It was an accident." She started for all the text books.
The halls of Marymount Manhattan College, or MMC, were unusually crowded today. Estelle had been here for a month now and had already gotten enough attention she didn't need. At first sight, Estelle had taken a liking to Alyssa, mostly because of her bubbly personality that was completely scarce in her life. Sadly enough, Estelle had never really had someone as a friend figure, and Alyssa was a person that could pass the title of 'friend' for her.
Alyssa gave one of her dazzling smiles and pulled some of the loose blond locks out of her face. "Hey, listen. I was wondering if you would want to go to the 9th street dance club for Christmas eve with me and some friends. I know that you don't like to do that kind of stuff, but I think you would really enjoy it while sharing it with others."
Estelle sighed and shook her head. "I think I should just stay home instead of going, you know." Alyssa gave her one of her famous pouts, making Estelle frown and hesitate. "Besides, I don't even think I know how to dance."
"Oh come on Lucy! You have to think of better excuses than that!" Alyssa gave her a cheeky grin. "I would personally qualify myself as a good dancer," she said with pride, "I bet I could teach you some of my moves." Alyssa wiggled her hips and stuck her tongue out making Estelle cover half her face and smile ridiculously.
After Alyssa stopped, Estelle looked at her with pleading eyes, but Alyssa didn't relent. After a few moments, Estelle just shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I mean, it would be a new experience. I guess I could go for a little bit."
Alyssa squealed in joy, the happiness showing in her eyes. "Good! Well I know who's day you've just made!"
Estelle looked at her with a questioning stare.
Alyssa quietly said the name, "Justin."
Estelle's eyes widened. She wanted to say something, but her mouth just gaped open. Before she could have said anything, Alyssa quickly scurried to her next class, giggling on the way.
She put a hand to her temple, struggling not to lose herself. Having other male attentions was foreign to Estelle. Even though she didn't understand her world of non-humans, she did know that the SN did not allow human and Special relationships. Not that Estelle had anything to worry about, since male affection was far from her planned future.
Justin Cooper introduced himself to her in her first class, telling her that he'd be her personal guide. He had made her laugh during the whole class which Estelle had really liked, telling stories about his crazy dorm roommates and their ridiculous 'experiments'. The thing she liked a lot was his warm brown eyes. Every time he smiled, they would turn into warm liquid pools.
Estelle expelled him from her head and went on to her computer class. She would have to find a way to avoid going to the club on Christmas eve.
December 24, Manhattan
"That's what you're wearing?" Alyssa asked as she came into Estelle's apartment without permission, Cheyenne on her heels.
Estelle put one hand to her temple. "Alyssa, I already said I wasn't going. After you told me the boys were coming, I'm afraid I won't survive the night."
Alyssa smiled as she set the bag she carried in on the kitchen table, but Cheyenne was the one who couldn't hold the laughter in. "I promise you Lucy," She said through gasps, "we won't let those boys bother you too much. Besides, we're leaving earlier than they are."
Estelle's eyebrows drew together. "How earlier are we talking about?"
Alyssa turned around to look at her, laughter gleaming in her brown eyes. "Oh, probably after midnight." At Estelle's gaping mouth, she chuckled. "Or, you could just stay with the boys until three if you wanted to."
"No thank you." Estelle said with no humor. "I said I wouldn't go anyways."
"Ahhhhhh," Alyssa mocked, "but that was your answer after I told you Justin and the gang was coming with us. I won't let you laze around here on Christmas eve, Lucy. Christmas eve! If you respect our friendship, then you'll go with us to that club."
Estelle gave Alyssa a pleading look, and just like always, she never wavered. Estelle just let her shoulders drop, and thought of a excuse. "Well, I never brought along anything dressy that could surpass going out to a club."
"Didn't you even notice this suspicious bag I brought." Alyssa unzipped the bag and held up two dresses. The first was a black dress that went down to the knees. It had no straps and had sparkles everywhere on it. The next one could be qualified as a dress. It was made of a light blue silk. The neckline was a low V, and the bottom would come only to her mid thighs. Estelle decided that this wear was the style for Americans, having seen all the other college girls wearing low cut everything. It had a sowed in be-jeweled belt that made the upper part more baggy and comfortable, and for the low neckline, be-jeweled clasps to hook so it wouldn't expose anything.
"Now, Cheyenne and I have picked out this one for you to wear." She held the blue one higher. "We thought it would look good with your eyes, you know. And plus we've never seen you in anything other than jeans. Now go change."
Alyssa held it out, and Estelle took it, giving them both a grave look as she went into the bathroom.
Estelle changed and finished with the clasps. The neckline was lower than she thought. It reached to the bottom of her breasts. The clasps were the only things in the way of revealing her breasts. As she stepped out from the bathroom, she first noticed Alyssa and Cheyenne right in front of the door, waiting impatiently.
At the first sight of Estelle, Cheyenne gaped in awe. "Well, I knew you had long legs, but how could you cover them up for so long. And your entire body-" Cheyenne cut short and looked over to Alyssa. "do you think we should go with the boys now? I know for sure that Justin will be all over her for the whole night once he takes a good look."
Alyssa saw Estelle's frowning face, and said with amusement. "Don't worry, Lucy. We won't let that dirty hound dog hog up all your attention."
Estelle's eyes widened. "Okay, now I know I'm not going."
Before she could go back in the bathroom and change, Alyssa and Cheyenne took both her wrists and pulled her to the door. "No time!" They both said. It almost reminded Estelle of a movie, or a well layed out scene in both her friend's heads.
"Wait! I'm still not going!" Before she could finished, they were already out the door.
For Estelle's benefit, Alyssa told her to sit in the passengers seat of her four door Chevy truck. In the back seat was Cheyenne, Melinda, and Haylee. Estelle knew Haylee from her job working at the campus library and had visited every time she went to find a book. And Melinda had sat with her on the bleachers in her 30 minute class gap. They complimented her dress when she got in.
Alyssa told her that they were going to pick up the boys at Justin's condo. They had all jumped in the back, but not before Justin had seen Estelle sitting in the passengers seat and came up to greet her. As he looked down at her, his eyes widened at the generous sight of her breasts as she was trying to cover herself. He had gaped, and Alyssa had come behind him and smacked the back of his head.
"Go on lover boy. Get in the back of the truck like all your animal friends." At this, the girls in the backseat chuckled, even Estelle felt more relaxed with Alyssa watching over her.
As they drove to the club, Estelle noticed that it wasn't too far away from where she lived, only a couple of blocks actually. How Estelle had never noticed all the lights and crowd, she never knew.
The truck stopped in the loaded parking lot, and before Estelle could even touch the door handle, Justin was there, pulling the outside handle and giving her his hand to get out of the tall truck.
"Thank you." She murmured quietly as she stepped out of the truck. He just stared at her, never letting go of her hand as she tried to gently pull away.
"You look beautiful." He breathed into her ear, making her blush at his soft voice. He had the biggest smile she had ever seen on him.
"Trust me when I say it wasn't my choice to look like this." She glared at the smiling Cheyenne and Alyssa who was giving Justin half-warning glares.
Justin was not immune to them, and laughed before coming to Estelle's side. "Well, if it's the work of those two wild women, then I beg you to let them move in with you."
Alyssa came up to Justin and pulled him by his ear over to some of the other gaping boys. "Don't be making Lucy uncomfortable through out the whole night, Justin." And then scanned the boys. "All of you."
At that, Alyssa grabbed Estelle's hand and walked with her to the front of the building. Estelle guessed the reason she was getting the attention was because she was the newest, and Justin had said her accent was sexy.
There wasn't an overwhelming line, but it was still there. Estelle thanked God that more than a handful of people were just exiting.
As they pushed and shoved their way inside, Justin had made himself useful to Estelle, blocking all the other bodies that would have bumped into her. Estelle thanked him when they were inside.
"Me and the boys will go find a big enough booth for everybody up on the second floor." Justin yelled to Alyssa and Estelle from a large crowd.
Alyssa grabbed Estelle's hand "Come on!" She yelled through the talking and loud music. "We'll go over to the bar."
All the other's had decided to go on the dance floor while Alyssa and Estelle went to the bar. "Do you drink?"
"No, I'm nineteen." At least that's what her new birth certificate said.
Alyssa chuckled. "Well, I'm not twenty one for another two months, but that doesn't stop me."
At Estelle's strained look, Alyssa just sighed and told the bartender. "Give me a jack on the rocks and for my friend, a Pepsi."
Estelle seated herself on the stool next to Alyssa. "I've not been one to be wild like you are, Alyssa." She teased softly.
Alyssa laughed at that. "I think I would know that by now, Lulu."
The bartender gave them their drinks, and Alyssa took a large gulp. "I haven't drank for over a week. This is refreshing!"
Estelle took a sip, looking into the dancing crowd. Estelle had never danced like how people danc ein a club. The music was really fast, most of the people were jumping up and down on the dance floor, everyone smiling.
One of the boys, Kevin, finally found them at the bar and told them that they found a long booth just overlooking the dance floor. Alyssa lead Estelle to the booth, and they sat down. Justin sat by Estelle on the left while Alyssa glared at him from the other side of the booth.
"Geez, Alyssa, it's not like I'm going to eat her!" Justin said with a smile on his face as he looked down at Estelle's dark brown head.
Alyssa looked at Estelle, saying cheerfully, "I think it's time to show you how to dance."
She took Estelle's hand and led her down the metal stairs, and onto the dance floor with the other girls.
"What the fuck!" Dimitri said a loud as the other men laughed. He glared daggers at Marcus who had knocked the bottle of beer on purpose into his lap.
Marcus chuckled as he took a sip of his own beer. "Doesn't feel so nice, does it?" He was rubbing his own wet jeans.
Dimitri's harsh face turned into a smirk as he joined the other men in laughter.
Gage sat quietly, reclining himself in his chair as he took sips from his whiskey. He stared at the flashing colored lights on the ceiling while the music changed in the club.
He had been here for a month, and he was bored. He needed an assignment and fast before he took it upon himself to do a worthless job. Lately the only good length of time he had been in one place was about three weeks, and he was gone. He felt himself in torture.
"Why are you in a bad mood, Gage?" Salim asked him as he leaned forward, watching some of the girls dancing on the stage.
"I think you already know that answer." He told him through a sip.
Salim finally looked over at him, mischief in his eyes. "Why don't you have one of these human girls over for some fun. God knows you need it."
Gage gave him a grave look. "I haven't had sex for one hundred years, Salim. What makes you think I need it now?"
"All men need it, Gage. It's a fact."
He relaxed his head on the back of the booth. "Well I'm not a man, now am I?"
Salim chuckled. "Well, if a night walker like me can't go two days without it, then a lycan like yourself needs it too."
Gage just closed his eyes, feeling suddenly tired. He needed to get out of this filthy city. What he needed to do was hunt and release the frustration. Even if he felt like it never left him no matter what he did.
"I'm going." He grunted, and got up, heading for the stairs.
"Where's the bastard off to?" Dimitri laughed to all the others.
"He's just bored out of his mind. He's probably had been in this business so long it's all went to his head." Salim said as he headed down with him.
"Following me?" Gage cocked a brow at him.
Salim chuckled. "If I followed you around, my friend. I'd probably already be six feet under by now. My intentions are that pretty little Mayan princess on stage."
Gage glanced over and saw what he was talking about. A long haired Latino woman danced in a circle with other women.
As they went separate ways, Gage fought the urge to look back. His body and mind felt frenzied since he had come here to the club, and now it was telling him to look back. He submitted and turned his head to the crowd.
And his eyes found something too appealing for him to admit.
A beatiful glowing face with a body to match had, unusually, caught his attention. She was dancing with four other girls around her, all of them smiling and laughing. None of them could compare to her, though. She was laughing along, carefree of everything around her. She had her hands up in the air as she twisted her hips into a sensual circle. It reminded him of the belly dancers in his home country. Her long dark hair fanned out, encircling her body like a wanton goddess. No other woman had ever caught his attention like this in over one thousand years, and it felt strange to feel his body straining for her.
A blond that was dancing with her whispered something in her ear, and finally she opened her eyes to reveal glossy light blue. She had nodded to her friend as they went in separate directions, the blonde up the stairs, and the beauty heading towards the bar. His lust built up at a more fuller sight of the girl's body. Her curves were and sleek, and her legs were long and curvaceous. His body reminded him that before he stopped playing around with women he had most liked the tall ones.
He couldn't leave now, not yet, not until she came with him for the night. Salim could have been right about his words, but why tonight? And why a human?
His legs unconsciously lead the way to her. She was standing next to the bar, her back turned to him. He stood just a few feet away from her. He could smell her better now, and he shut his eyes in pleasure. She smelled so intoxicating, so deliciously sweet. He wanted to touch her, his hands were itching to, but he could controlled himself.
"I need two jack on the rocks." She yelled to the bartender. The bartender kept his eyes on him suspiciously while he poured the drinks, slipped them to her, and went to the other side of the bar for other customers.
As Estelle turned around, she gasped as she looked up at the man standing next to her.
Her eyes widened as she recognized him for what he was. He smelled of lycan, and her eyes grew cold just looking at him. Of course he was a lycan. He had the big and strong build that made others intimidated. His eyes were a dark shade, almost black. They were black. He smelled of beer, and oddly, a strong smell of blood. She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Gage had saw the coldness in her eyes and the wrinkle in her nose. She was displeased with him. Had he lost his ability to make women fall to his feet?
He forced a smile and reached out a hand to stroke her arm. At the contact, he went into bliss. Her skin was soft, like an angels. He could only have that contact for seconds, for at his touch she cringed back, her eyes speaking her hate.
"Don't touch me, lycan." Estelle's voice was a hiss, a deadly one.
Gage stilled. Lycan? From a human? Who had given her this information? Surely not another Special.
Before he could question her, she had already shoved him to make an entry. She headed up the stairs with the drinks in her hands, careful to not spill them.
"Wait!" He yelled to her. She probably had not heard him, the music blasted out of the around sound speakers.
Estelle approached the booth and set the drinks on the table.
"I'm going now. I don't feel to good." She told Alyssa and Haylee, the only girls at the table.
Justin looked at her, disappointment in his eyes. "Well, you live close to here, right? I'll walk you home. It's not safe at night." He started to stand up, but Estelle halted him. "No, I'll walk by myself. I really just need the fresh air and alone time, you know?" She tried to sound gentle. Even though she wanted to scream.
Haylee looked past Estelle, and smirked as she nudged Alyssa. "I don't think you want to leave just because you're feeling sick."
Estelle peered around and saw the lycan striding in her direction. She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.
Alyssa and Haylee both looked at him in fascination. "Now, what would a man that size and age want with you, I should wonder." Alyssa chortled, her eyes on the rippling muscles that corded the lycan's arms.
As Estelle saw Justin getting ready to stand up, Estelle made a quick excuse, wanting him to stay out of the lycan's way. "Justin sit down! Please! He's somebody I know from my home town and recognized me. I just don't want to confront him in here, that's all, so I'm going to go outside." She gave him a pleading look. "He won't hurt me," what a lie, "he just wants to talk, that all."
Before Justin could speak, Estelle grabbed her coat and headed for the stairs.
"Hold on a damn minute!" Gage yelled as he steered in her new direction, and followed her down the stairs.
Gage didn't notice it, but glowing eyes had been snared by his actions towards the human. Marcus was stunned, both his eyebrows lifted in amazement. The others were just as stunned as Marcus was to have seen Gage trying to get the attention of the human girl, but Dimitri just sneered, his nose wrinkled in distaste.
"Have you ever seen something more sad? Those lycan bastards are trouble I tell you." His eyes glowed red as he watched the girls long dark hair swing back and forth with her descent down the stairs.
"What do you think he's after?" Caspar managed in English, his Portuguese accent not going unnoticed.
"Beats me. It's the first time I've seen him trying to get the attention of a human." Another said quietly.
"Are you going to slow down for me?" Gage yelled as she swung the door in his face.
"No." Estelle simply said, not turning back to look at him.
Gage grunted in frustration. As she was about to cross the street, Gage moved swiftly into her path, using his supernatural speed to stop her.
"You are a human. How would you know anything about lycans?" He growled. He didn't miss her flinch as she stepped back, and headed in a new direction, into an alley.
"You know I'm following you, and you still choose to lead into an alley, girl? Are you stupid?"
When they were far into the alley, Gage tried to grab her arm. As his fingers brushed her coat, she did something he hadn't expected. At the contact, Estelle swung back, and, with her heeled foot, swung her leg with blinding speed at his head, knocking him down into the snow.
She ran after that, and only turned around once to see the shock on his face as he felt the blood trickling down his temple with his hand. Such a high kick for a small girl! Well, at least compared to his size. He got up, not caring about the snow that now lined his side, and ran after her. Her running couldn't compare to his, as he swiftly grabbed her by the waist at the end of the alley. She tried to slap him in the face, but he snatched her wrist with his hand.
Gage just smirked down at her in no way amused and in every way dark, showing her his victory. "Now, on with our convers-" he stopped his sentence, entrapped by the look she gave him. Her eyes had turned into pools of blue liquid as her mouth parted ever so slightly. Her hair covered one of her eyes, making her look even more beautiful, desirable, and Gage couldn't take it. His lips crushed hers in a meaningful manner that surprised him as he scooped her off the floor. Before Gage could distinguish the sour pucker of her lips, she had already done the damage.
Swinging her leg back, Estelle rammed it into his crotch, hard. She heard him howl in pain as she sprang back from him. He fell to his knees in front of her. Estelle decided that this was the time to run, and bolted down the street and around the corner with her coat flailing behind her, having shrugged out of it to be free of his grasp.
Gage didn't follow her, but instead held himself and scowled, a hand braced on the cold ground to keep him from falling completely. Vixen! He cursed from gritted teeth.
He looked up at the direction where she had ran, and upon seeing her coat lying on top of a frozen puddle, smiled.
Estelle slammed her door as she slipped to the floor, her knees failing to hold her up.
What am I to do now? He can't follow me here, can he? What if he's one of them?
She gasped in sudden realization.
A hired tracker. If he signaled for the rest to come because he had found her. . . .
Estelle buried her face in her hands, unable to think at this point in time.
I'll be a goner. . . . .