Unraveling (1)

Footfall echoed behind her and Benjamin caught her hand. "You know he doesn't mean it." He said gently. The ocean churning and their specks hitting them in the cool breeze.

Ari wanted to believe that and maybe deep down she did, but the things he said had gone too far. Alaric wanted each and every word to find home right in her heart and prey on the fears that terrorized her sleep. She turned, kissing Benjamin's cheek before gently prying her hand from his grasp.

"It doesn't matter at this point, Benji. Regardless of what he meant, his intention was for me to leave. If it makes it easier for him to push me away thinking I'll hate him for it then fine." Her gaze trailed off for a moment, feeling the familiar sting of tears she refused to let out. "Anyway, make sure you take care of him and yourself."

She didn't let the old man get another word in because it took everything within her to turn away. Ari forced one foot in front of the other one step at a time.

Again, Benjamin caught her hand. "Give me an hour to make it right. You can stay in your room until then. If I can't get him to see his wings then you have my word I won't stop you from leaving again."

"Okay. But I'm doing it for you." She sighed, letting Rooster down. "Please don't get in trouble on my behalf though. You're too good for that, Benji."

Benjamin nodded his head and went inside to speak with Alaric. The wind whirled, and in the absence of his presence, another flickered there within a blink of an eye. Zadkiel stood there in all his golden glory. "Well, hello there Ari. Now that I've got you alone, let's go for a walk, shall we?" He took her hand in his, an iron grip that left her stumbling to follow behind him.

Ari nearly had a heart attack when the man appeared from thin air. Before she would have shouted for help but Alaric rejected her, sent her away with harsh words. She had to jog a bit to keep him from dragging her. "I can walk fine on my own." Her words came out a little higher than she meant to after the last emotional encounter. She couldn't tell if he was angry.

"It looked like you were just standing there with a dumb expression on your face to me. Did I not tell you, you'd get thrown away sooner or later. Alaric Draconis." He laughed a little at the name which slipped out his mouth.

She shrugged, contemplating jerking away from him but she knew she'd just hurt herself in the process. "So what? I don't need you rubbing it in. What do you want, huh? I'm not precious to him now so you have no reason to be here. I'm sure there are better people who would love to suffer in your company, asshole."

Her eyes rolled at him. Pretty childish for a grown man to come all that way just to say 'I told you so'. The woman's body trembled despite doing her best to try and face him boldly. It was too soon. Fear still lingered in her heart.

"Regardless if he wants you or not, my offer still stands. You don't get it," He said tauntingly, though still he spoke in a matter of fact tone as he stepped in front of her so she couldn't continue walking even if she wanted to.

"You aren't under his wing anymore. You don't get exposed to this world and think you can go back without any consequences. He's a liar, and you know me and him aren't normal. All eyes will be on you especially if they know what you are." Zadkiel said, glimpsing down at her. A bit of amusement shone in his gaze because of how short she was compared to him.

Ari stopped when he wouldn't let them go any further. They weren't normal, she knew that. She'd never been one to believe in urban legends or myths but clearly they were more than human. The truth of his words did little to ease her nerves. There was already someone out there on the hunt for her: the old man that attacked her in the bathroom.

Beyond her concussion she knew that he'd been some gruesome creature in disguise whether Alaric believed her or not. She sighed, feeling all of the fight leave her body. Did she really have a better option? Going back and begging wouldn't be an option and Benjamin's pleas probably weren't enough to move him.

"Fine," she said finally after a long pause. "I'll accept your offer."

"What do you want to know?" Zadkiel said, extending his hand to grab hers once more. The world distorted as though they were inside a raindrop moving through time. Further and further away they went from Alaric's manner.

From inside it seemed they didn't move fast at all, but outside, everything went by in a swift breeze until they were standing outside another home. Bright colors that ranged from beige to a deep sunset pink.

The way they moved through things was enough to make her head spin. The impossibility of her situation was already hard to grasp and every feat that defied what she knew of the world only made things worse. "Start with the simple things. What you are, what that place was, and why me?" From an artistic standpoint the house was atrocious. But who was she to judge? She couldn't even afford to own her own home. Much less paint it. "We're not going back to the place before, are we?"

"What was that place? We're creatures of the night that thirsts for blood. We move faster than you and have abilities beyond your comprehension. But atlas, it blossomed from a curse of our first ancestors. When a mortal finds out about us, they either have to become a slave or die. Those are the rules." Said Zadkiel as the doors were pulled open by servants.

If Ari hadn't seen the things that they could do first hand then she would think this was all a bad joke. "Vampires." She said aloud. That was the only word that came to mind when she thought of it; the ridiculous strength and speed, the fangs, multiple people craving her blood. It was too late to regret her decision. "So, I'm a slave now then?"

Zadkiel looked at her and then rolled his eyes. "I'd rather not be called that. But somewhat. More of a paranormal fiction you humans whipped out when the first person discovered us. There's a human council and our council. Some called us the cursed ones, or the children of the moon. Better than a vampire or that damn sparkling Edward from whatever the hell that movie was called. For the record, we don't fucking sparkle. That's a quick way to get your throat slit if you ask."

When they reached the base of a marble staircase veined with black, he placed one hand on the banister and sighed. "You're claimed, but I won't treat you like a slave since you came willingly. Sometimes it's a choice, other times it isn't. Like the people you saw caged."

"You mean like how I was caged. Though I very much appreciate the change this time." Still the idea of being claimed didn't sit well with her though there was nothing to be done. She'd agreed and came willingly just as he said. At this point she wasn't sure where they were going or why or for what, simply following along because she was lost otherwise. Alaric had given her money and her shop but what was she supposed to do now?

"Where do I fit into all of this then? You don't want me as a slave really and Alaric, regardless of what you think, probably isn't coming back for me now, so what comes next? What's your plan?" Brown eyes wide in the dark narrowed up at him.

"I didn't say I'd answer questions about my own plans. Information about you and what we are, are the exceptions. You have little faith in that weak man. He'd come for you if he knew I had you, but that is why you died in a fire an hour ago. Inside your small little shop. The only way he'll give up on you is if you're dead." He turned back around and led her up the stairs.