Chapter 6 - The Female Vampire

Lyall wouldn’t let Remus leave without a proper plan. This was his purpose. To be the voice of reason when Remus loses his.

“Give me thirty-minutes.” He told Remus. It took both Zeeb and him to restrain their frenzied Alpha. Only when he said, “If you go there unarmed, do you think it’ll save Eden’s life?” did he calm down. 

Given that the Alpha possesses all the powers of the previous Alphas, the Hybrid is still an unknown enemy. And from when they were but younglings, the one thing drilled into them is that the unknown is dangerous. So what more is this being they have no experience in ever fighting before? 

Lyall was able to call on Fridolf and Amarok within minutes. They will be flying on their own choppers with the Best of their Deltas as back-ups. Helicent was also contacted and she managed to round up the most Elite Soldiers from The Order of the Sabbath to once again fill their guns and grenades with ultraviolet ammunition. Each one has been trained for this moment. Each one ready to die in battle.

So when Remus howled the call to war, the island of Casiafell, rained Werewolves.

But it wasn’t just Remus who had a war cry. For when Saxe screeched, the Undead that slept in the Hotel Setedesange woke, with the darkest eyes and insatiable thirst for blood. There was a reason why the legends say that once you check in the Setedesange Hotel, you never check out. Why the people around the town have vanished overtime leaving only the ghost of their existence. And why after years of trying, no one ever attempted to step foot on that cursed land for anyone who dared, was never seen again. 

Remus followed Saxe on the second floor where the vines only grew thicker and bloodier the deeper he was in. There were Wolfsbane everywhere but this does not affect him anymore once he’s in his final form. He feared that he didn’t leave Eden with enough protection against the Cold Ones. But it wasn’t a second later that he felt the presence of Lyall and knew that Eden would be safe. Now with no more worries in mind, he lets his primal instinct take over. He plans to never have the Hybrid leave this land alive.

“What do you want mongrel?” Saxe hissed. His voice seemed to be coming from everywhere and Remus tried to locate where he was but the darkness hides him well. “Get out!” and the voice bounced around making it difficult for Remus to distinguish what is real from the echo.

Remus growled. He didn’t like this. “Show yourself Cold One.” But he was met with only a sinister laugh. 

“Why should I? I fight better in the dark.” And then there was a swoosh, like when an eagle dives down to catch its prey. Remus was able to dodge on time and he saw a glimpse of a wing with a sharp single claw at the end. He was sure that Saxe wasn’t a Vampire just yet. He didn’t smell like one. But how is it that he seemed to have taken the form of one? 

Remus lowered his breath and slowed down his heart. This way, his temperature will go colder, almost as cold as this dark, damp room. He knew that it was through his high temperature that Saxe could see him. With that being gone, Saxe is as good as a bat in daylight.

“Hiding yourself now, mongrel?” As Saxe said that, Remus hears squelching underneath. The red vines are moving to the tone of the human-bat. He figures that Saxe has been hiding in a thicket of the vines. It will explain how he cannot detect him even with his Wolf eyes. 

The vines started attacking Remus. It came for his ankles and wrist. Wrapping it in a tight clasp, preventing him from moving. But this is exactly what he wanted. He has Saxe falling in his trap. He heard the whiz of the wings opening. In a second, Saxe will swoop in. Remus counted in his mind— three… two… one— in one big pounce, he was able to slash the vines that wrapped his right hand, and at the same time caught the neck of Saxe who in his bewilderment, was unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Remus teared himself out of the vines and wasted not even a second in mutilating Saxe’s bat wings. The man could only screech as he tried to twist and squirm out of the colossal, clawed hand of the Werewolf in front of him. When Remus spoke again, it seemed like the entire place trembled, “Tell me where the Hybrid is.”

Saxe hissed and clawed. A last attempt to fight. But his nails were no match to the skin of an Alpha. But his loyalty wouldn’t waiver, even as he was being choked out of his life. “Why would I tell you dog!” He squealed as Remus' grip tightened on his neck.

Remus slashes Saxe’s arms. The force was too quick he didn’t even know he lost his limbs until he realised he wasn’t holding on wolf’s arms anymore. It was only then did he scream in agony.

“I will not ask you again. Tell me where the Hybrid is.” The Alpha commanded. His voice carried fear that the vines pulled back, hiding in their corners.

“I do not know—” Saxe coughs, blood pooling his eyes. 

Remus tightened his grip.

As life leaves the old hotel owner, as his eyes roll back behind his head, his mouth mutters, “Leonila— my l-love…”

His neck breaks and there was only the cold darkness that welcomed him. 

Remus threw Saxe’s body on the ground, and as if on cue, another menacing aura surrounded the room. He braces himself as a female Vampire appears before him, with eyes a glowing red, seething with rage that will equal a wild Vargulf.

Outside, Lyall and the other Betas dropped from the choppers that carried them, making it look like the sky is birthing out Werewolves. The moon had risen and the Vampires had woken. They were many, but they were weak. The lesser kinds– nothing but Newborns and Fledglings. Vampires who were made not more than fifty years ago. They were easy kills and not much of a challenge for the Betas of the Volkov Pack. They were able to infiltrate the Hotel within minutes. 

Helicent was the first inside, shooting Vampire after Vampire with a shotgun loaded with ultraviolet. Lyall followed just behind her. They might not adore each other, but they are mated. And Lyall couldn’t help but protect Helicent with his life, she is despite everything, his Wolf Tamer.

Eden lays just a few stems from the entrance. A few Cold Ones surround her but are unable to come near because of the protection provided by Remus. The Vampires were salivating, their eyes seeing nothing but the pulsing blood of the sleeping girl in front of them. It was easy for Lyall and Helicent to finish them off.

“Who the hell is this?” Helicent asked when she got to Eden. She checked the young girl’s condition– no cuts, no bite marks– she’s safe.

In their Werewolf form, the pack are unable to speak with their mouths. Instead they use telepathy. And only the children of the Moon and their mates are able to hear them. He spoke to Helicent, “Remus’s assistant. The one I chose.”

Helicent nodded. She felt a pang of jealousy. She wanted to be the one closest to Remus, but instead she got stuck with the Right-Hand Man. Lyall isn’t all bad. They have the best of sex. But Helicent is used to always getting what she wants. And she wanted nothing more than to be the Alpha’s Mate. But when Remus rejected her, by default, his second in command shall be her mate.

She carried Eden easily on her shoulders. She won’t be the top chief for nothing. She has been trained for this position since she was young. Almost as long as Lyall was trained in his. Lyall on the other hand followed the trail of Remus. He knew the fight wasn't over. The Hybrid can show up anytime.

The Female Vampire was fast as she was cruel. She was strong as she was merciless. Based on Remus’s evaluation, she could be an Ascendant, a Vampire around two-hundred years. But she isn’t the Hybrid. She smells purely of Vampire blood. And she was very very angry.

“You killed him! You killed him! You will pay with your life!” the Vampire hissed. She bares her fangs fully. Long nails sharper than hawks' talons. Her sclera was the purest of black making her red eyes the most frightening of sight. But she had the whitest of skin, smooth as a marble and her long red hair is a stark contrast. In her resting form, one would understand why humans would always be drawn to their kind. The Cold Ones are like candles in the dark and the humans the moths. Despite the warning signs, they just can’t help but get themselves burned. 

Remus had forgotten how beautiful these creatures of the night could be. Beautiful in a terrifying way. He spoke to her, “Where is the Hybrid?” Though his voice of command never works with their kind, he still uses it to impose authority.

She laughs. A screeching, piercing sound. “And why should I tell you?” She leaps from where she stood right in front of Remus who quickly dodges her attack. He counters with his own claws but the Vampire moves like water, slipping right of his grasp.

“I will kill you before you can even meet the Hybrid! I’ll kill you right here!” The Vampire seemed to have vanished into thin air, before finally reappearing on top of Remus. She bit him on the neck and Remus roared in pain. But he was able to take a hold of the Vampires locks and with a swift and strong pull, he got her off. Remus slammed her on the floor which made it crack. But she was up in second. Her face seemed to have cracked as well. But it healed fairly quickly.

So this one seems to know about the Hybrid. He can’t kill her just yet. But he needs to disable her enough for them to be able to bring her back to the Mansion. She attacks again, Remus picks up the body of Saxe and throws it at her. The Vampire lessened her speed so she can delicately catch Saxe’s corpse. And just as gently she puts him down. Remus figured she might be Leonila. What he can’t comprehend is why she seemed to care so much for the broken body of the man she used as her food source.

Before Leonila could look up from laying Saxe’s body down, Remus moved fast and caught her by the neck. She hissed in surprise and tried to claw her way out. But Remus has made his skin into diamonds. One of his grandfather’s powers, back when he was an Alpha. And Leonila’s claws broke with pressure.

Without second thought, he bites down on her neck and releases enough venom to poison her into unconsciousness.

When Lyall came, Remus had turned back into his human form, carrying the red-headed Vampire on his arms. 

“The Hybrid is not here.” He told Lyall, “But this female Vampire seems to know about it. Round everyone. We have some interrogation to do.”

And with that, Lyall howls– signalling to the pack that the fight is over.

The Order of the Sabbath’s cleaning team has arrived. They are the ones to make sure that there will be a media blackout and that any bodies either from a Wolf or a Vampire is cleaned before any kind of news breaks out. They are also the ones in charge of releasing fake information to the people. Ensuring the secrets of the underworld, remains a secret. For this specific incident, they will blame a cult for the disappearance of an entire town.

Back in the car, an unconscious Eden still lays. Remus was quick to check on her once everything had been settled. There was a sense of relief that washed through him when he saw that she remained unscathed. She looks peaceful and so completely unaware of what had transpired around her.

“Has she seen?” It was Fridolf who asked. And Remus nodded gently. 

They both are thinking of the same thing– will Eden be able to handle it, or would she be terrified enough that they will need to wipe her memory and let her go. This second option saddened Remus more than he cared to admit. She might be a pain in the ass, but he really grew fond of her.

“Do you think she will be able to handle it?” Fridolf asked again.

Remus softly strokes Eden’s face. He was just glad she was safe. Whatever comes next, he doesn’t care. “It doesn’t matter.” He finally answered, pulling his hand back suddenly. “It will be better if she leaves. We can’t have a weakling in our midst.”

It was the truth but it was also not the truth. For although Eden is a human– and a very weak one for that matter, the reality was, Remus just can’t handle putting her in this kind of danger ever again. So while it may be difficult, he believes that ending this now will be best for everyone.

After all, now with the threat of the Hybrid becoming more real, he cannot have a weakness that can be used against him.