Chapter Eight

"What are you doing here?" I asked crossing my arms. There was a touch of anger building inside me again.

"I came to apologize." Danny said. I looked at my dad and motioned for him to leave. While he might know something about the supernaturals, I didn't want to risk it if he didn't. Dad left without a word. I didn't know if this was like the books I had read where people go missing after they find out about the inhuman beings. And it was not something I was going to risk, not with dad.

"For what?" I asked when dad was out of earshot.

"What we did last night. It wasn't right, but I want you to understand why we did it." Danny took a deep breath, calming himself. "Something that you will become more aware of the longer you've been here. There are three sides to the town. The supernaturals that don't want to hide from the humans. The ones who want to keep that secret safe. And the humans who have no idea. Obviously, the humans don't have much part in it, but there is a war, for lack of better terms, between the supernaturals."

"What's so bad about people knowing about you?" I asked.

"There are people, humans, who hunt us supernaturals, Avery. When you don't know where a person's feeling stand, it is hard to be open and honest. That's not the point." Danny ran his hand through his hair. Something else was bothering him. "Even though both sides don't get along, we have a common enemy. One that is powerful enough for us to set our differences aside and work together."

"That scythian" I said.

"Yes, so do you understand why we did what we did?" He asked. I could see that he wanted me to believe that. He wanted me to just forgive them for risking my life.

"I understand, but I don't agree." I lowered my hands to my hips. "You're here preaching to me that the supernaturals need to work together. Only I see two problems with that." I ticked them off on my fingers." First, I'm not a supernatural. I am not special in any way. Second, you guys didn't try to work together. You used me as bait! Casey was so sure you guys would be fast enough, but guess what? You weren't! If he wanted me dead I would be."

"It was wrong and I know that. But Avery you need to understand that when a scythian shows up we have to take every risk we can to stop them. They hurt innocent people." Danny was getting up set now and all his anger was focused on me. It made my own anger grow.

"From where I'm standing, I would rather side with the scythian right now." I opened the door and waved him out.

"Those are strong words" Danny said in a low voice as he passed. "For a scythians mark. Watch your back Avery."

"Are you threatening me?" I asked in disbelief.

"Not a threat, a warning. Nathan may have a soft spot for you but we obey our alpha." Danny headed for his truck parked by the curb. I noticed Nathan waiting beside it. I slammed the front door shut, letting out a frustrated grunt. I couldn't believe the nerve of him.

A few moments later there was a knock. I assumed it was Nathan coming to apologize for his brother. I yanked the door open with more force than necessary.

"What do you-" I stop mid yell, slapping a hand over my mouth. There on my doorstep, was a very confused and shocked Derek. "Sorry I thought you were someone else." I let out an embarrassed giggle. But what would I have said if it was Nathan? Would I have been able to release all that fury I held toward his brothers?

"You don't always answer the front door like that do you?" He asked with a playful smile.

"No" I laughed, feeling like an idiot. "I, uh, thought it was someone else."

"Well I feel sorry for whoever that was. Shall we go?" He held out his arm, grinning like a gentleman.

"Yea" I smiled, tucking my hair behind my ear. "Dad I'm leaving" I called back as I shut the door, not waiting for a response. Taking Derek's arm, we headed for his truck.

"You look stunning" He said pulling open the passenger door. I thanked him and climbed in. It was a half hour drive South to the next town over, Aydin. There is supposed to be a -ville on the end of it but I haven't heard anyone say it that way. Derek fiddled with the radio as we turned onto the main highway. We were almost to the town border when I saw an officer ahead. Derek slowed the truck as the officer waved us down.

"How you doing Shawn?" Derek asked rolling down the window and flashing a friendly smile.

"I'm doing alright, Mr. Blair. Where are you headed?" Shawn glanced past Derek to me, smile fading. "Who's your friend?"

"Avery Scott" Derek said. There was a moment of hesitation from the officer. Derek continued without missing a beat. "Avery this is Deputy Sheriff Shawn Clark." I waved silently not sure what was going on, but it didn't give me a good feeling.

"Mr. Blair I am sure that you are well aware of what is going on." Shawn continued. "Sheriff Mills has already enforced curfew. Therefore I can not allow you and Miss Scott to leave the town limits."

"No need to worry Shawn. Nothing will happen. Everything will be fine." I couldn't see either of their faces but the deputy's body language changed, he became submissive almost.

"You're right." Shawn half smiled. "You two be careful now." He waved us on. Derek started driving again.

"What was that all about?" I asked.

"It's nothing" Derek said gripping the wheel tighter, then relaxing his grip. He seemed frustrated, but tried not to let it show. "Don't worry about it"

"What did he mean by curfew? I haven't heard anything about that." I glanced down at an incoming message on my phone. DO NOT LEAVE TOWN. It was from the same mystery number. I deleted it, ignoring it.

"The town sets a curfew when there is a… predator in the area. It's a precaution to keep people safe." Derek said

"Predators?" I asked. "Like what?"

"Normally it's a bear, occasionally we get a mountain lion. It's really nothing to worry about." He glanced over and smiled. It was as fake as ever. I half-smiled hoping he wouldn't notice. We were both silent for a while until he broke the silence. "So tell me more about yourself."

"What do you want to know?" I asked.

"How about school? What year are you?" Derek asked.

"It's my senior year." I said checking my phone. The same number had texted me again. DO NOT TRUST THE VAMPIRE. I was shocked at the message. Whoever this person was, knew about vampires. Did that mean they knew what I was? I texted back asking who it was. A FRIEND, they replied.

"Everything okay?" Derek was watching me.

"Uh, yeah, just my dad." I don't know why I lied, but it felt right. This whole situation was confusing me. "He's just checking in."

"Tell him there is nothing to worry about. Aydin is one of the safest places on earth, aside from River Falls of course." He smiled then turned back to the road. My stomach twisted in knots. I had this awful feeling that something bad was going to happen. My arm was burning and itchy again. I scratched at it, not sure why it hurt. Something had happened but I couldn't remember what.

Aydin was a lot bigger than River Falls. It took nearly twenty-five minutes to reach the restaurant we were headed to. Derek parked the truck a few blocks down the street. "Looks like we'll have to walk." Derek said helping me down from the truck. "There must be something going on over there."

The police had a few intersections taped off ahead. We got out and walked towards the crowds that had started to gather. As I got closer I could see that there was a dead person in the road. I caught a glimpse of the dead girls face as an officer laid a sheet over her and quickly turned away. Derek, who was right behind me, put his arm around me. I still had a bad feeling and it wasn't about this. There was something else going on.

"We should head home." Derek said quietly. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought you here." I could feel the regret pouring out of him. He couldn't have known this would happen.

"Yeah okay" I said numbly. From across the crowd I saw a familiar face, Corey Hale. I was hoping that he wouldn't see me. I did not want to deal with him today. A moment later he looked straight at me. His glance shifted to Derek then back to me. Corey started to make his way through the crowd towards us. I turned to say something to Derek but a commotion was starting.

Someone in the crowd start yelling and shoving people. I got separated from Derek and couldn't see Corey anymore. Bright lights sprung to life around me, only they weren't lights. They were weird colors that came from the people. I rubbed my eyes hoping they would go away but they didn't.

The crowd was growing violent. Flashes of red and orange danced around people. I thought I heard someone shout my name, but I was getting shoved around. I fell back against a wall, trying to stay out of the way.

A pair of hands grabbed my shoulders from behind and yanked me backwards into an alley. There was a sharp pain in my arm as I looked down and saw the guy stabbing me with a needle. Seconds later everything went dark.