Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE: DISTANT FEELINGS, LIKE THE SKYLINE ACROSS THE CITY

            After Dominic left, I cried. As the red-tinged tears ran down my face, I choked out Cedar’s name, as if he was dead or I was dying. I whispered it repeatedly, begging that he would hear me and come even though we’d fought such a short time ago. Losing myself to the apologies I had kept inside for so long, I rocked on the forest floor amongst the tear-soaked leaves, waiting for someone to come and save me.

            Cedar came to me a few moments later. “Hazel!” He whispered shakily. He sounded afraid, but I couldn’t check – I was too overwhelmed in misery. “I’m sorry,” I moaned. “Sorry for not talking to you, sorry that I’m so moody, sorry for being such a b***h. I’m so sorry,” I blubbered, my words not making any sense. Cedar stroked my hair. “Don’t worry, I forgive you for it all.” I started to pull away, thinking against all reason that this was absurd, he agreed with me then, but I stopped and let him comfort me. “Sorry,” I cried. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “You’re okay.” But I wasn’t.

            Eventually, the tears subsided and Cedar pulled away. “Okay?” He asked, and when I nodded, he sighed. “Did he make you cry?” Cedar asked, a tremor of anger in his question. “Dominic? No,” I lied. “Yes,” Cedar said, and I began to cry again – this time for his total ignorance. “Don’t – accuse – me – of – lying!” I said when I was done. Ignorant fool, I thought bitterly. “Okay, calm down,” Cedar said quietly as I fought to get control of myself. Finally, the tears subsided and I stopped shaking. “Now for justice…Dominic!” Cedar yelled, anger flooding his voice. “Yes, Cedar?” The low, amused voice replied from somewhere in the darkness. “Damn it, Dominic, get over here!” Cedar’s voice was hard and angry. “What? I have to go home, remember?” The vampire complained. “No, you don’t – that excuse isn’t ever going to work again,” Cedar replied harshly. “Why would you come here to talk to her when all she wanted was to be alone?” Dominic questioned. “Cedar, really. I didn’t make her cry. She was already depressed when I got here!” I glared up at him from my crouch and Cedar hissed through his teeth. “I merely told her that she’s not as strong and high-and-mighty as she think she is! She made herself cry. Kid ought to clear out the apologies more often. She was merely overwrought! You can’t blame me for that.” Dominic shouted, responding to Cedar’s anger. “Cedar,” I said softly. “Cedar,” Dominic said, subtly challenging me for his attention. Cedar turned his back, got up, and walked away, letting me continue with the fight so he wouldn’t have to. “What the hell is wrong with you, you b*****d?” I screamed at Dominic, who glared at me malevolently. “With me? You’re the one who –” “Don’t!” I screeched, and I leapt over his head, tearing up the ground as I ran.

            Cedar had never been one for arguments. I was the one who started the fights – and the one who finished them as well. But now, I ran from the fight, in the opposite direction of Cedar’s footsteps. Dominic yelled after me, screaming “liar!” in my wake. Even though I knew Cedar could hear him – I registered his distant shock and outrage at the insult – he didn’t pursue either of us.

            No, Cedar was never one for fights. And I hated to see him – and feel him – upset. So I raced as fast as I could to the town – Gatesburg – and into the bookstore where we had found Dominic. A pale man was talking to a ghost-white lady. Vampire, their emotions said. They’d never seen another one. “Hello, is hunting well?” The man asked nervously, his eyes flickering between me and the door beyond, possibly judging the distance against his likelihood to get away. “Very. I need to know how to kill a vampire.”

            So soon after I had murdered the old wolf pack leader, I was going to kill Dominic. But this was also to protect myself – eventually, his mind games would threaten our lives. “Huh. Okay…Belle, do you want to take care of that?” The young woman quickly rattled off, “fire, excessive sun exposure, drowning, blood loss, wolf bite –” Seeing my expression, she quickly hid behind the man. “Thank you,” I said faintly as I whirled on my heel and walked out the door.

            I’d ask Jack to help me; he would surely long to kill a vampire like Dominic. But why was I killing Dominic? True, he was endangering us. He’ll drive us to suicide, murder, wrongful feedings – we would be his minions, I thought. But was this a motive for murder – killing someone for your own weaknesses? Yes! I thought.

            But…was it? Unlikely…but I’d felt Dominic’s feelings towards the end and I felt the faint sinister aura that surrounded him. “Lying, cheating, theiving work w***e…,” I muttered to myself. “I don’t want to be a slave to his evil ways – it’s practically trafficking.”

            I couldn’t lie to myself. Killing Dominic would be like killing former alpha Leonard – a murder mo matter why the kill. Dominic wouldn’t get the best of me. I was too strong for him to use me, and Cedar…well, I could protect him too. There’s more than one way to solve a problem.

            When I returned, Dominic was arguing with Cedar. “Don’t you know how totally and completely fragile she is?” Cedar asked loudly, and Dominic bristled. “I want the same thing you do – for her to be safe and for the vampires like Nathaniel to be dead. I’d also like for the wolf pack and council to cease and for the supernatural races to be in peace and live separately, not as one like we are now. But that’s besides the point, Tristifico. Oh, yes, I recognize the name. Your…sister was captured, no? I totally and completely know the story…and how it ends.” The hatred and rage in Dominic threatened to overwhelm. Where had this come from? “The Tristifico family killed my brother! You disagree? My brother loved your sister. You all despised him; you all told him to stay away from her. He killed himself that night. Two days later, your sister – Anna, was it? – was taken to be a part of the old Saroph’s plans. Maybe she’s dead, too. But I’ll tell you this – you’d better pray she’s dead. Because when I go to Saroph’s coven, I’ll kill her so she can join my brother.” Dominic’s hatred for the Tristifico family shone in his eyes as he backed away. Cedar screamed after him, “Well, I hope she’s alive. Because she won’t die at the hands of Dominic Regan – no, not at the ‘mercy’ of Antonio’s brother.” I had never seen Cedar so angry. “I’m going to Saroph’s coven,” he growled. “Of course,” I replied. “Me, too.”