Chapter 3: Selene

The last thing I remember before knocking out was seeing the warlock guy kneel down beside Lux, Dante's teeth still in his neck.  Green sparks flew from the warlock's fingers and Lux was out.  I could almost feel Lux's pain.  The agony he must've been in then.  But, he made no sound.  He just lay there on the pavement silently, his eyes the only sign that he felt any pain.  Then, Dante...I couldn't understand why he did it.  One minute he was Changing, the next minute he was watching Lux, and then...he bit him.

I wake gasping and cold, staring at a plain white ceiling.  I know the room is not mine.  Light is coming in across the bed.  There is a clean, fresh smell on the air and the comforter has a pattern of autumn leaves across it.  It screams the message: Not my room!!  I close my eyes and try to breathe.

"No, this isn't your room warlock.  It's one of my guest rooms."

My eyes fly open.  I know that voice.  My head turns in the direction of the voice.

He stood calmly in the doorway in black jeans and a white tank top.  His short, sandy hair was slightly damp and spiky.  He took a step forward, his arms unfolding.

I sat up quickly. "Don't take another step."

"Or what?" he smiled. "What will you do?"

I didn't answer.

"You have powers, but you don't use them for anything except glamours.  You didn't even try to use them to save your friend last night.  He was going to die because you're so afraid of what you are." he went on. "You can't fight me because I'm a lot stronger than you and more powerful than you and you're afraid of me.  So, tell me, pitiful warlock girl, what will you do?"

Damn, he likes to cover his bases, I thought. 

"Nothing.  Exactly.  Don't make threats you can't or won't follow up on.  That's an unspoken rule of our world." he continued, coming forward.

"Don't come closer." I said.

"Or - "

"It's not a threat." I added. "I just don't want you near me."

He stayed where he was.

I took a deep breath. "Who are you?"

"Arias Cipriano.  Warlock." he replied. "How about you?"

"Selene." I replied. "Selene Chase."

"And the werewolf?"

"Dante Simmons."

"The faerie girl?"

"Rayonna West."

"And your friend?"

"Lux Cassells." I replied. "Why am I telling you this?  Why don't you ask them?"

"They haven't woken yet.  You're the one who intrigues me." Arias explained. "A warlock who wishes to be human."

The warlock came closer until he stood right by the bed. "You're so young, but you hardly even touch your powers.  Normally, a warlock of your age would be using their powers for all sorts of petty things.  For example: beauty, revenge on a girl stealing a boy she likes, hurting a boy who broke her heart."  He sat on the bed. "You've only used them for glamours.  Why?"

"I feel safer leaving my powers out of my life.  Humans go their whole lives powerless.  Why can't I?" I replied. "Besides, I haven't liked or dated anyone yet in my life and I'm not concerned with making myself pretty."

"Humans live up to one hundred years.  You will live several times that many.  Our kind use our powers to make a living; to survive.  We have more concerns than they do.  Demons, rogue creatures, humans even.  How do you expect to survive under the humans' radar when you're on every other beings' radar?" Arias asked.

I narrowed my eyes at him.  "How old are you?"

His mouth twitched up at the corner.  "Exactly?  I'm two hundred-and-seventy-four years old.  I'll be two hundred-and-seventy-five in December."

My eyes widened.  

He's almost three hundred years old?!  I'm only sixteen!  What the Hell?!

"I can teach you everything you need to know and more.  I'm not the oldest or the wisest or the best warlock you can get as a teacher, but I am one of the kinder, more patient, more willing ones.  I won't even ask for payment." he continued.

I simply stared, still recovering from the shock of his true age.  He didn't look a day over eighteen.  How could he be almost three hundred?

"How old is the oldest warlock you know?" I asked.

Arias looked toward the ceiling in thought. "Almost...one...thousand? I believe that is it.  He'd have to be about one thousand by now.  The second would have to be about eight hundred and ninety-some."

My eyes nearly popped out of my head as he looked at me and laughed.

"You have beautiful eyes." he said. "In both forms."

"You've seen my other form?"

"Of course.  Your glamour was easy to pull down."

I scowled at him.

He laughed again. "I can teach you how to do better.  How'd you learn before?"

"Ray taught me." 

"The faerie girl?" he chuckled. "Faeries think they know everything."

"It's worked for years." I said defensively.

"I doubt it.  Creatures probably saw the real you and decided to leave you alone."

I rolled my eyes.

"Your friends are waking.  Think about my offer.  I'll leave it open.  It's all your choice how you want to survive in this world.  I can't choose for you."  He said, getting up.

"Is there a shower and a change of clothes I can use?"  I asked as he strode for the door.

Arias smiled. "Of course.  But, I have to say, you look sexy in those."

He gestured to my outfit with a wave of his hand.

Something about those words made my face hot and I looked away from him.

"No need to be shy. Here."

I looked back at him in time to see wisps of green sparks and flames turn into a pile of clothes in the palm of his hand.  I got out of the bed and took the clothes from him.

I realized how close we were then.  I was looking up at him and he was looking down at me.  Arias always had a smile on his face. Even a small one - like he had now - just curving up the corners of his mouth.  I looked him over quickly, searching for a warlock mark, hoping he wouldn't notice.

Arias was definitely six feet tall, no less.  He was covered in muscle.  His shirt was walking the fine line between comfortable and nearly ripping as it covered his pecs.  A tattoo of a moon and star was peaking out just above the collar.  His abs were obviously hard, rippling his tank as he moved.  His arms were corded with veins and muscle.  His biceps bulged so big it would take both of my hands to grab one.  On his right bicep was another tattoo.  It was all black lines curling and swirling to make what could only be described as a gryphon spirit.  The bird-like face was pointed downward, the beak open in a fierce caw, the eyes angular with anger.  The claws on the front paws were extended and sharp.  The other half of the tattoo was all smoke, curling across his bicep.

Arias continued to watch me, his blue eyes piercing and cold.  His jaw was relaxed yet still sharp and angular.  His eyebrows had an almost questioning arch.

"Looking for my warlock marks?" he asked quietly.

I jumped, clearing my throat. "Yeah."

He chuckled.  "I glamoured them so none of you would be afraid." 

"What are they?" I asked.

"Learn to take down glamours and you won't have to ask?" he replied.

I scowled at him.

"I'll show you one." he chuckled. "Focus here." Arias pointed to his eyes.

I locked my eyes on his.

"Watch."

I watched and waited.  His eyes flashed, but nothing happened.

Something tapped my leg.  I looked down and saw a dark blue tail like the stereotypical Devil's tail; rope-like with an arrowhead tip.

"There's my mark." Arias said.

"That's your only mark?"

"No.  That's the only one I'm letting you see."

"What's the other?"

Arias smiled. "You'll see when I teach you how to take down glamours.  That is...if you allow me to teach you the warlock arts."

"I don't know yet." I said.

His tail disappeared.  "Suit yourself.  Shower's down the hall, on your right." Arias stepped out of my way.

I walked by him, glancing at him briefly.

The hallway was painted burnt orange.  The walls were bare, save for a couple of framed pictures of Arias getting his tattoos with a grin plastered across his face.  There were no family pictures or special moments on vacations or photos with friends.  Those two pictures of Arias getting his tattoos were all alone.

I took a long, hot shower.  For some reason, my bones were cold and my body felt nearly numb.  The fiery water and the steam curling around me chased the cold and numbness from my body.  I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, letting the water roll through my long hair.  The picture of Lux's limp body and terrified face flashed before my eyes.  The agony of prying at Dante's jaws shot through my fingers again and I winced.  Looking down at them, I saw no signs of scratches or anything.  Arias must've healed me last night.  Does that mean Lux is okay too?  Could a warlock even save someone who had been bitten so horribly by a werewolf?

_ _ _ _ _ 

The clothes Arias gave me were simple; a blue tank top and a black pair of ripped jeans.  I scrubbed a towel through my hair and let it fall around my shoulders in a damp mess.  

Arias waited for me outside the bathroom. "Do you like the clothes?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Clothes aren't important to me right now."

Arias nodded.  "Who would you like to see first?"

"Who is awake?"

"The werewolf and the faerie girl.  I allowed the victim to sleep a little more."

"I told you their names.  Use them." I snapped.  "I don't like the word victim being used for my best friend."

Arias smiled slightly. "Well, Lux, I believe, isn't awake yet.  Rayonna and the werewolf boy, Dante, are awake."

"I'll see Dante first."

I don't really know what makes me choose Dante instead of Ray.  Maybe I want to get my frustrations out first?  Maybe there are questions building up in the back of my mind that are dying to be answered?  I don't know.  His name just rolled off my tongue so quickly, I didn't even know it was there.

Arias stepped back and turned the knob of the door behind him, opening the door just a crack.  With a sweep of his strong arm, he waved me inside.  His eyes never left my face.  I crossed the hall and stepped through the door.

White vertical blinds were drawn shut across the window directly in front of me, making the room almost as dark as night.  The bed lay in the center of the left side of the room, white sheets tangled and bunched up at the foot of the bed.  One pillow had been tossed on the floor, the other had been thrown across the room.  Dante was nowhere in sight, but I could hear his shaking breaths.  I moved toward the side of the bed closest to the windows.  My foot landed on something soft.  I looked down and saw the soft, brown leather jacket Dante had worn last night at the club.  Beside it, in a pile of shredded red cloth, was what had been his T-shirt.  I looked behind me to see if Arias had followed me into the room, knowing that Dante wouldn't want him here.  

The warlock stood a few feet behind me, his smile replaced with a concerned frown.    I shook my head, mouthing, Get out.  

Arias smirked a little.  "I'll be outside."

The whispered words brushed my mind.  My eyes widened and he winked, stepping out and closing the door behind him.  

I rolled my eyes, turning to Dante.

He sat in the corner by the windows, his knees drawn up, his head down, and his fingers laced together behind his neck.  I knelt in front of him and rested my hand on his knee.  My heart ached to see him like this again.  

The first time I had seen him like this was the night of his first Change.  It happened three years ago on a full-moon night.  He'd come to Ray's and my room early in the morning, climbing onto our fire escape.  He'd landed with a heavy thump, waking me.  Dante peered in the window and knocked quickly and lightly.  I woke Ray before opening the window.  He tumbled in and sat on the floor, frantically retelling his horrible night.  It had begun with the agonizing Change he'd said was: "Like having your limbs torn off and your skull split open."  He had a sketchy memory of the night.  He'd only remembered glimpses of animals and people, cars, blood in his mouth.  He'd said he had been shot at.  He remembered the speed of his heart, the scents and sounds rushing him, more powerful than ever.  "Ten times the amount of sensory detail you experience as a human." he'd said.  He told us that Changing back had been easier when the moon had set.  By the end of the story, he'd been sitting on the floor as he was now, crying quietly.  He'd felt like such a monster.  He was afraid of even being with Ray and I.  He thought he might Change and accidentally kill us.  

While Ray tried to reassure him, I used my powers to locate a werewolf pack that might help him cope with his new self.  

"Dante," I whispered.

Dante looked up, his dark eyes fringed with long lashes meeting mine.

"Selene," he rasped.

I offered a kind smile. "You okay?"  A stupid question, I know.

"I don't know what happened.  Th-the moon wasn't even full yet.  I checked before I agreed to go to the club.  I even smoked when I felt the Change.  Lux can tell you.  I shouldn't have Changed for him.  I was fine at first.  After that...I-I don't know.  I must've smelled something that set me off."  His voice shook.  He put his head back down.  "I can still taste his blood in my mouth."

I sighed, moving closer.  I took his face in my hands gently.  Dante looked at me and one of his eyes caught a shaft of light coming through the blinds.  It illuminated his beautiful hazel eyes and made the gold ring at the center shimmer slightly.  I'd always loved Dante's eyes.  Hazel is the perfect eye color for him.  

I wiped away the tear tracks on his cheeks and pulled him closer to me by his wrists.  He moved onto his side and rested his head in my lap, crying quietly.  "I told you, I'm a monster." he whispered.  "I told you one of you would get hurt."

I rested my chin on his head.  "You're still not a monster.  You're still Dante.  It's an accident, that's all. "

He looked up at me, his eyes red with tears as I looked down at him, stroking his soft hair.  "I could've said no to him. I didn't have to let the Change take over.  But, I gave in, Selene.  I let it happen." he said. "It's not an accident if you let it happen."

"You let it happen because he asked you to.  He wanted to see you Change." I whispered, running my index finger along the line of his left eyebrow, pushing his hair out of his face with my other hand.  "Stop tearing yourself up.  You're a good person.  Sure, a bad thing happened to you and it makes you seem like you're not, but you are."

Dante studied me silently for a moment.

I watched him, wondering what was going on in his mind, hoping my reassurance was working. 

In truth, I didn't care if what I told him was a lie.  I really didn't.  All I cared was that I didn't lose Dante.  Dante had met me about three days after I had arrived on Ray's doorstep at about one year old.  We've been friends so long that I don't even remember what had happened that made us friends.  Dante and I just...clicked in a way that Ray could never relate to.  Lux couldn't even touch Dante's relationship with me.  Dante never annoyed me in such a way that I actually got a little angry or said things without realizing how it might hurt me.  Dante did what he could to make me happy, to truly understand me.  Lux could never be that comfortable with me.  Sure, he was gentlemanly with me at times.  He could never be there for me like Dante could be.  

I could never live happily without Dante, honestly.  If all I had was Ray and Lux, I might never genuinely smile or laugh again.  If I could save Dante for as much of my infinite life as possible, I would, no questions asked.  Well, except for: "How do I do it?" and "Dante, do you want this?"

"What're you doing, Selene?" Dante asked.

As I'd been lost in thought, my hand had traveled down his chest.  It rested on his heart.  I could feel the slightly unsteady beat of it beneath my fingers. "What?"

"Half of what you just said was bullshit." he replied.

"No, it's not." I said. "I need you, Dante.  I don't want you to be lost in all this mess.  I need you."

He stared at me, his brow furrowed.

"The real Dante is confident and funny and sweet and understanding.  That's the one I need.  I can't live with this Dante.  The Dante who's angry and sad and full of self-hate and worry.  If that's all I'm going to be left with...tell me now so my heart can break and work to heal sooner rather than later.  I don't want to have only Ray and Lux.  You're my real best friend, Dante.  You get me.  You care about me.  Lux doesn't.  Lux just likes to talk to me about being a warlock.  And Ray is more of a sister than anything.  So please...tell me you'll still be Dante, my Dante."  

I looked at him in the darkness, waiting for a reply.

For a long time, there was silence.  As time ticked by, my hopes for Dante to say the right answer dwindled.

I was about to speak again when, he kissed me.  I was completely startled.  It started off with just lips on lips, but then he parted his lips over mine.  I decided to go with it and closed my eyes.  He pulled away and I looked at him, a little breathless.  He was smiling a little.  Smiling like my Dante with his lips curved at the corners and his dimples just barely visible in the dark.

"Follow my lead." he said.

"I've never - "

"I know.  Just follow me." he whispered.

He sat down beside me, his back against the side of the bed, he waved me over. "Come here."

"What?" 

He laughed. "Sit on my lap.  Face me."

I did as he instructed, straddling him.

"Follow me." he said again.

Dante kissed me again.  His lips parted and I did the same, following the flow of the kiss, like the ebb and flow of a tide.  His hand came up to cup the back of my neck, his hand cool against my hot skin.  Shivers of pleasure crept down my spine.  He ran his free hand along my thigh, kissing me harder.  My heart thundered in my chest and I knew I'd been wanting this a long time.  I'd been wanting Dante. It wasn't just a general need of a good friend.  It was the wanting of such a beautiful person, I realized.  Dante...Dante is my first crush...my only crush.  Now...he's my first kiss.  

I leaned into him, raising myself up on my knees slightly and lay my hands on his shoulders, making him lean his head back against the bed a little.  His hands dropped down to my sides, his thumbs brushing my hipbones.  I ran my hands down his  bare chest, feeling risen and jagged scars.  I felt him shiver, his lips parting mid-kiss, pulling away ever so slightly, releasing a shuddering breath.  I ran my fingers along the lines of his abs gently, working my way down to his V-line.  He kissed me harder, leaning into me.  He gripped my thigh tightly as I began to fall back, like it was a lifeline to save me from the plush carpet.  My hands moved to his back as he eased me down onto the carpet.  My nails dug into his skin.  A low growl resounded from within his throat and he nipped my neck.  I could feel his breaths coming faster.  I kissed along the curve of his throat.  Dante moaned softly, almost panting.  "Selene,"

I looked up at him.  

His eyes were still closed.  He dropped his head onto my chest.  For a moment, Dante lay there trying to calm his breathing.  Then, he picked his head up again.

I ran my finger down his spine.  His eyes closed and he shuddered.

"Selene,...stop." Dante whispered.  His eyes opened and I saw that the gold rings had expanded to cover almost half of the hazel irises.

"Oh, wow." I commented.

"We - we can't do this."

"Can't do what?" I asked.

"Sex at the first kiss."

"You know it won't matter.  I'm a warlock.  I'm unable to - "

"I know that, Selene.  But, what I meant was that we can't do this right now.  We shouldn't even be.  I could hurt you."

I rolled my eyes. 

"You may be immortal, Selene, but you can be killed.  I'd kill myself if I was responsible for even hurting you like I almost did just now."

"Dante," 

"Selene, I can't do this with you.  I can't love you right.  D****t, I can't love you at all.  I'm that dangerous, Selene."

"You were doing fine just now."

"Stop it.  Stop lying like that.  Stop lying to me.  Stop lying to yourself."

"No." I snapped. "You stop."

"Selene - " he sighed, closing his eyes.

"Stop saying my name like that." I snapped.  "Let it go."

I kissed him then and he shivered, his tongue sliding into my mouth.  I ran my hands down his back, my nails touching lightly to his skin.  His hands slid up my sides, under my shirt.  I shivered, my nails raking a long line across his back.  He moaned.  I bit his lip.  He brought my leg up alongside him.  I scratched him harder and he bit my neck.  A flare of pain shot through me and I bit back a yelp.

Dante was off me in an instant.  I touched my neck and my fingers came away with a little blood.  Dante sat a few feet away, in the opposite corner of the room, hidden by the shadow of the dresser.  I could just barely make out the slightly darker shadow of his messy hair and the glimpses of his skin.  He was crouched with his head down on the carpet, it looked like.

"Dante," I said.

"Get out, Selene." he whispered.

"Dante," 

"Get - out." His voice was deathly quiet. "I told you, I couldn't love you right."

I stood adjusting my shirt.  I knew I couldn't say anything more.  If I did, he'd get angry.

When I reached the door, he spoke again. "I care about you, Selene.  I really do.  That's the only reason I'm doing this."

"So, you don't love me?" was all I said in reply before walking out.

 

Reviews

[Ace St. Jean]

Great chapter. There was quite a bit of dialogue, but I felt that it makes the story flow.

[Tessa Melendez]

Thanks. I'm glad I finally got it up.

[Ace St. Jean]

You're welcome