~Chapter 4~

I took a deep breath and rested my shoulder against the window frame.  The nights were beautiful here, but like all nights they were dangerous for me.  I reached out and pulled the windows closed shutting out the cool night air, and turned back to the four poster bed. I pulled my hair from its binding and let it fall loose over my shoulders and back. That girl...I couldn't get her out of my mind.  Her eyes, her hair, her lips, the way she spoke, her voice had a soft tremble in it, one of fear, I had put that there. I wished she didn't fear me, but it was apparent that she didn't know of my kind, though..some part of her knew. "Don't eat me." she had said. I laughed softly...oh i wanted to eat her alright, but not in the way she feared. I shook my head banishing such thoughts from my mind and turned it to the plan my brother had come up with. He had found a "mate", a mortal born for the specific task of keeping an inhuman inline, one who wasn't awakened to her powers yet.  The plan was to convince her to be my mate temporarily, allowing me to walk the motal plain without fear of going on a massacre during a full moon.  It was getting rather boring here in this astral place, not to mention i was getting very hungry.  I hoped she would agree...if and when my brother finally talked to her, and convinced her of her true nature.  It was painfully obvious he hasn't done so yet, the way she had looked at me was  a dead giveaway. She looked like prey before the predator, a deer in the headlights, a rabbit cornered by hounds...yet, there was still some defiance there, she still looked me in the eye. I smiled and took the pure wolf form and curled up in the bed. My mind was clearer in this animal form, and once again i was glad i was lycan. I hoped she would agree. How nice it would be to walk the streets of the human world, to see, to hear, to taste, to touch, all that is offered, to feel belonging into the world again instead of a stranger outside looking in.  The full moon shone its light into the window, but having all ready converted to the full wolf, i did not change into the beast, but my body was flooded with hunger, and i felt my canines grow longer in length, and the taste of blood filled my mouth. Soon i knew i would be compelled to hunt, the hunger would be too strong, but for now, i fought it off as best as i could, and tried to rest.

I suddenly felt a sharp blow, a pain, radiating from my heart. What is this? I strained my ears to hear, but only picked the rustle of leaves. No scent was in the air, nothing in the room, i occupied, and as i wondered what on earth could hurt so much, the pain hit again.  I closed my eyes, and opened the mental link to my brother. Ah. So that was it. It was about time he paid for his mistake.

~~~~

I shakily stood up. My fingers were trembling as i grasped the back of the chair nearest to me, as i looked around at the wreckage. Club Trix was in a state of chaos. There was broken chairs, overturned tables, and the bar...almost every bottle, and glass was shattered, various drinks dripped from it's rosewood stained surface, off the black barstools, collecting in small puddles on the floor. I glanced over at Tobias, who seemed to be in a state of shock, starring at the door, where his wife had left, destruction in her wake. I glanced over at Juno who was sitting on the stage, smiling her clueless smile. Everything seemed to not have fazed her one bit. I stared at her dumbstruck, before Tobias spoke. "Rayen?"  I jerked my head back to look at him. He was looking at me, saddness etched into his features, his eyes downcast, he could not look at me, and i felt his sense of loss as if it had been my own.  Why were my emotions so strong? why did I feel so sad? It was like my emotions were not my own.  "Rayen, perhaps you should go home. Do not worry about the club, i will handle the mess, but you and the band have the week off." He then turned to Juno, and spoke something to her in almost a whisper, as he did so, i felt an odd presence, and watched as Juno fell into Tobias's arms, fast asleep. He picked her up and then glanced at me. It was then that Kazuko's words came screaming back into my head. "vampire." Tobias nodded to me, and walked towards me, still holding Juno in his arms, weaving his way through the wreckage. "Rayen. There is much to explain to you, and i will have to do it sooner then i wished for. If you please, come back here tomorrow afternoon. I will..." he adjusted Juno, to keep her from slipping. " explain things then. Or rather, start to explain them. But for now, go home, eat...and sleep." He turned, and walked out of the club. The door closed behind him, and i heard the soft click of the lock. I glanced around at the club. It's true he had said not to worry about it, but, perhaps i could help; at least pick up the fallen tables.  As soon as i had thought this, an overwhelming hunger hit me, and all of my energy left me. It seemed as if all i wanted to do was grab something to eat, and.... sleep. I glanced back at the door where Tobias had left, carrying Juno.  Had he put...a spell on me? My mind wandered back to the night of Matthias had been in my house. Perhaps...perhaps he did. Matthias...Tobias....Matth...it was then i realized who Matthias looked like.  I don't know why i didn't notice it before. Matthias looked almost exactly like Tobias. The hair and the eyes set them apart so, but if they were to stand side by side...could they be brothers? Relatives?  My mind was consumed with my thoughts as I worked my way to the back of the club, and behind the stage. Why hadn't i notice it immediately?  What power did these two have?  What were they? Were they both vampires?  I stopped myself short as this thought came, my hand on the doorknob of the backdoor that lead to the outside. Is there such a thing as a vampire? Surely not? But why then...would she have said....hadn't i called tobias a vampire before? yes, as a joke, but Kazuko was not in a joking mood tonight. I opened the door and felt the cool evening air rush towards me. the tempeture had dropped considerably, much cooler then what was forecasted. I turned to the door locking it with my key, and trying desperately  to banish my confused thoughts, and instead just concentrate on getting home. I turned back around again and fell back against the door. There he stood. Matthias. My breath was caught in my throat, a huge lump that wouldn't go away. I couldn't breathe...he took a step toward me. dressed the same as he was when he appeared at my house. He looked at me, his eyes cold, swirled with hunger, like an animal, yet even deadlier then a wild animal, i could see the intelligence in his eyes as well. He stopped keeping out of reach of me, whether for my sake or his i wasn't sure. He took a moment to speak, it seemed difficult for him, and his voice was a near growl. "Is Tobias still here?" I shook my head no, unable to trust my mouth if i was to open, not even sure that if i did anything would come out of it.  He nodded seeming to expect this, and his features changed.  He seemed to sniff at the air, smelling some unknown scent, and he looked at me again, a smirk on his lips. "You're scent is intoxicating Rayen, yet i feel uneasy scaring you so. Please forgive me for startling you. I shall go. " He turned quickly and seemed to vanish into the dusk. I slid down to the ground shaking. I felt as if i had encontered a raging wild animal, like a bear, or a mountain lion, or a hungry wolf.  Wolf...? I shook my head. Sure...Tobias is a vampire and Matthias is a werewolf, and i really was a penguin.

I made it home. How, I'm not really sure. I guess I was too busy trying to black out everything, and the more i tried, the more it seemed as if it wouldn't go away. Yet, there I was standing in front of the apartment door, wondering just how exactly i was going to explain everything to Daemon.  I put my key in the lock only to have the door open in front of me. I half expected to see Matthias standing there again, so it took me a second and a few blink of my eyes to register Jareth. He blinked back at me. "Rayen? What are you doing here?"  He moved, holding the door open for me, and I walked past him, into the living room to find the rest of Haven gathered around. Daemon was sitting on  the floor by the coffee table, Rakas sitting on the couch behind him, Deacon in the chair, and they were all looking at me. "Uh..hi..hi guys." was all i managed to stutter out.
"What's wrong Rayen? Did something happen?" Daemon asked standing up and walking to me, a worried look on his face. They all were putting on their makup..for vamp night, only...
"Uh guys, Tobias told me to tell you have the week off. The club will be closed for the week." I said first glancing at Daemon then the rest. They all looked a little stunned. i couldn't blame them, i was still in shock myself.
"Why?" Deacon asked from his position in my favorite chair.
"Well..."
"Was the club robbed?" Rakas asked. which of course started a round of questioning from Daemon and the others.
"Oh! Are you alright Rayen?" "Did you get hurt?" "what did they take?" "Did Tobias call the cops?" "Was anyone esle hurt?"
"Guys...guys....guys....GUYS!" They all stopped and blinked at me. "Calm down alright, it wasn't a robbery, i'm not hurt, and nothing has been stolen."
"Well what happened then? " Jareth asked putting a hand on my shoulder.
"ah...well...We were setting up for Vamp Night...when uh...Kazuko came in."
"Kazuko? Mrs. duHeaven? She's already back?" Deacon wondered outloud.
"Yah...and well...she saw Juno..."
"And went totally apeshit huh?" Jareth asked beside me. What else could i do but nod? He chuckled. "Well that makes sense then. I bet the club is a mess."
"A total wreck actually. Hence...why we all have the week off." I rubbed my arms with my hands. I had suddenly felt cold...and hungry. "Is there anything to eat...i'm starving."
Daemon looked at me funny before taking my hand and dragging me off to the kitchen. "I'll make you something. Everyone else gets to take off their makeup."
"Aww...and  I look so pretty." Jareth pouted. I chuckled while the others laughed and began discussing what they were going to do on their week off as Daemon and I made way into the kitchen. i sat down on one of the little barstools thankful just to sit, and have a moment of peace with Daemon, who was busying himself with making me a sandwitch. He placed the fruits of his labor in front of me. "Turkey on wheat with light mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickles. Cut in half just the way you like it." He smiled at me.
"You are a redheaded angel did you know that?" I said taking up one of the halves and eagerly taking a bite.
"Yah, shame i still don't have my wings." Daemon said  with a wink before leaning against the counter in front of me. "You really okay Rayen?" His expression changing back to worried. I put down the sandwitch and looked at him.
"Yah...just..it's just been really weird lately Daemon. I don't know how to explain it." I said sighing.
"You could try from the beginning?" Daemon said chuckling. I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Ha."
"Well seriously Rayen, you have to sta.."
"um, Rayen, there is a guy here to see you." Jareth said peeking his head into the kitchen.
"A guy?"