Stopping in the middle of the ally, I stretch my arms out by my side, close my eyes, and let my head fall back. I feel myself slipping away, and now I’m staring at myself. My powdery white skin glistens in the moonlight, and my short, black hair shines back the silver of the moon. As I return to my body, I have time to see my own eyes opening. Like emeralds, my eyes shine brilliantly. I inhale the cool, night air and smile at the moon. The moon is full tonight, granting much needed light to the women of the dark.
“Hey Ellie,” the customers say as they walk by or honk their horns. “Hey,” I reply without looking, throwing the men dirty gestures. They know I’m off limits and not for sale, but they continue to hope that I go to them of my own free will. “Hey, need a ride honey?” one of the men asks, putting a hand firmly on my elbow. “Hey, need a bath?” I ask, trying to shrug him off. He pushes me against the building, holding my wrists by my side, “Too good for me, eh?” I smirk and saw sweetly, “Oh, you noticed that too?”
His head jerked in surprise, but he soon regained his composure and puts his cheek to mine, “No, love. Let’s see if you’re as good as your little sister.” As he forces me into an alcove, I slap him on his right cheek, leaving a glowing handprint, but not slowing him down. The familiar sound of a cocking gun causes the man to stop suddenly, his eyes meeting mine. I look past the man, into the fierce, almost black, eyes of Reid. “Take hands and eyes off of her,” Reid says softly.
The man’s hand drops from my waist, but his eyes remain locked onto mine. Fear swirls through his eyes. “You should know, sir, that Ellie is the untouchable. You’re not blind to the marking on her neck, are you?” Reid’s voice is colder than ice, and the man shakes his head quickly. Reid uses the gun to tap the man’s shoulder, and he turns slowly to face his demon. Reid’s free hand is held out to me, and although he isn’t looking at me, I know he’s watching me carefully.
I step cautiously around the man and gently place my burning hand into Reid’s icy one. Never taking his eyes from the man, he pulls me to him, forcing me to look at his chest. “You know your punishment,” he says. I hear the man fall to the ground, pleading for mercy. “Would you have shown her mercy? Did you show her sister mercy?” he asked. The man’s sobs became deeper and then ceased to exist with the loud bang of the gun. I didn’t flinch, I didn’t blink, I didn’t move. He glides away from me and starts to clean off the gun. As he works, I study him. My father’s protégée since childhood, Reid had lived with my family for almost my entire life. My father, however, had been in prison most of that time.
His long, brown hair was curly and soft, bouncing along with purpose. Rarely did his black eyes shine with any emotion, but I’d begun to figure out his feelings by watching him and listening to his voice. His lips... oh God, his lips. When he smiled that rare, crooked smile, it sent chills through my otherwise warm body. However, those smiles were rare and seemed to be guarded at times.
“You got a nice smack in,” he says, interrupting my thoughts. “Yeah, thanks,” I said. He looked at me with burning curiosity, “You’re power hasn’t come yet?” I flushed with embarrassment. Everyone else in the pack had their power. Shockingly, I hadn’t. “It’s okay, you know? It’ll happen,” he said. “Reid, I’m the chosen one. My power should be here. Why doesn’t the Goddess go ahead and bestow it upon me?” I ask, almost angrily. He looks away, confusion written in his eyes, “Maybe you’re not ready.”
We walk home in silence, almost touching, but not quite. Not touching him is torture, so I bump our hands together, “on accident”. Entering the house, we come upon a sad sight. My sister is sitting on the couch, bloody lipped and crying. “Crysta,” I say gently as I rush to her side. She shrinks away from me at first, then throws her arms around my neck.
Her skin, usually a golden bronze, is now pasty pale. Those beautiful, navy eyes, are dull and puffy and she sobs hysterically as I stroke her long, honey blonde hair. “He knocked me out, and when I woke up, my clothes were... everywhere,” she choked out. “He’s dead now Crysta. His punishment was dealt,” Reid said, gently picking her up.
He carried her to her room and left me with her, slipping me a couple of sleeping pills. I gave her the pills and lay down with her, singing her to sleep. When she finally slept, I kissed her cheek and left the room. Reid, still in the living room, stopped pacing and strode toward me, “She’s okay?” I lay my head against his chest and sighed, “She will be. She’s stronger than the pack gives her credit for.” We stayed there, holding each other until my mother came home.
Her sterling eyes blinked in astonishment as she saw Reid and I, holding each other, oblivious to the rest of the world. “Hello Reid,” she said as she tossed her long, chocolate brown hair. He kissed the top of my head and let me go, “Hey Bree.” Her china-like skin flushed in anger at his display of affection toward me. “You’re leaving? Oh, please stay the night,” she pleaded with an inviting smile. His eyes, never leaving me, glistened with a new emotion I hadn’t seen before. What it was, I didn’t know.
“Thanks, but no. I have somewhere to be,” he said as he left us there, in silence. Finally, she broke the silence, “I’ve got some X. You want some?” I shook my head, “I’ll pass.” Shrugging her shoulders, she sulked away silently to her room. Going to my room, I get ready for bed and lay down.
Thoughts of Reid burn through my mind as sleep skillfully evades me. Several hours later, I heard the back door being messed with. Our family never uses the back door, as a measure of pack safety. I grabbed the hunting knife from my nightstand and as I swiftly made my way down the hall, I made sure that Crysta and Bree’s doors were closed.
Whoever had gotten the door open was putting the doorknob back on when I grabbed him from behind, pushing the knife to his throat. “Did you know that breaking and entering into a pack’s home has the oh-so-fun punishment of death?” I whispered in his ear. He smelled like dirt and peppermint. “My jewel,” the man said. I pushed away and choked back a sob, “My dad was the only one who called me that.” Then, he turned slowly, and I saw that sad, half-hearted smile I hadn’t seen since I was ten. “You’ve grown up so much. You’re so beautiful Ellie,” he said, tears in his eyes.
“Daddy,” I said as I ran to him, throwing my arms around his neck.
