NationStates Jolt Archive

“Order 40! Order 40!”

“Here!”

A man in his late teens went up to the counter and grabbed the brown paper bag, showing the woman his receipt with the number on it. A quick nod and the teen headed out of the Five Guys restaurant and with a quick jog through the just off campus mall went outside. He gently opened the bag and smelled the hot French fries and bacon cheeseburger. He stood 6’1 with a mop of brown hair that curled and formed the appearance of a heavily un-kept afro. Adjusting his glasses, he headed up a short grassy hill to several of his friends.

Amara Waggner relaxed on the hillside, her aquamarine eyes staring across the campus of Warrenton University situated at the edge of the city of Karnotz. Amara was nineteen, a freshman near the end of the first semester of college and was majoring in dramatic arts and trying to get a minor in psychology or fashion design. Her shoulder length raven black hair was hung loosely while her slim figure was hidden under a pair of denim jeans and a green t-shirt that read Don’t Worry What People Think They Don’t Do It Often written across it.

She picked up a Starbucks mocha sitting on the ground and took a sip. Amara smiled as the other teenager reached the top. “Good of you to make it Alan.”

Alan Chapman sat down and reached into the bag and began to dig through the mountain of spare French fries in order to find his burger wrapped in tin foil. “Isn’t my fault that Five Guys just opened on campus and everyone is going. Rumor has it they are replacing McDonalds with a Joe and Vinnie’s next semester.”

“Heathens!” Amara and Alan both turned to a dirty blonde, 6’1, brown eyed young man eating a Big Mac on the grass. Troy ‘Twitch’ Achenbach was Amara’s best friend, the pair had known each other since before they could remember but they had never dated, not wishing to possibly ruin their strong relationship. Troy’s right eye lid started to twitch, when he was ten he had received a nasty electrical shock when he started to mess with the circuit breaker in his house in an attempt to get his Xbox working when power had gone out temporarily. After a few days in the hospital in case anything serious developed he came out like he was before, but his right eye lid had twitched since that day at random. Currently, Troy was majoring in chemistry and hoped one day to become a professor at the university. “I mean…McDonalds…they can’t close it. It’s…its…better than that crap you got Alan.”

“Tis all a gigantic right wing plot against your Big Macs Twitch.” Samantha Knutson commented as she gently sketched the Glothlin Mountain Range to the west. Samantha kept her long blonde hair in a pony tail while a pair of delicate gold rimmed glasses kept her blue eyes focused. She did not notice Amara restrain Troy from throwing a fry in her hair.

“What would you know about good eating Sam? What would you consider fine fast food?” Troy asked.

“Defiantly not what you are having…I’d go with Five Guys any day.”

“Here here Sam.” Alan commented with a large grin on his face. Before a possibly argument between the men over whose burgers were better, Samantha turned to Amara.

“Amara, you seem a bit...distant. Worried over getting a part in next semesters play? Heard they are doing Streetcar Named Desire.”

Amara blinked and shook her head. She had been keeping a secret from her friends for too long. “I won’t be here next semester…well…most of it anyway. I’m going overseas for study.”

Her friends blinked and looked at her for a few seconds. Troy shifted his weight and studied her. “Where…exactly are you going?”

“Emerald City in Assington.”

“Jesus Twitch…your girl is kamikaze.” Alan said before Troy threw his empty McDonalds bag at him. Amara sighed, she knew that it would be a hot spot, she had done her research and found that that single city had seen a human-vampire war of epic proportions decades ago. She also knew that shortly after that a Simatarian vampire had been discovered before dropping off the map and there was even a short Simatarian battle with vampires a few years after that.

“Troy, Alan, Samantha…I know what I am doing. No need to fret…besides I got this.” She moved from the inside of her t-shirt a silver necklace with a ruby eyed silver falcon hanging on it. “One press on the face and a vamp will go skittering. Besides…Roger promised to get me a can of silver nitrate spray from the Academy when he comes home in a few days.”

The city of Karnotz sat at the base of the Glothlin Mountain Range on the western edge of the Golden Simatar. The mountains extended from almost to the coast nearly all the way to the northern border of the country. Warrenton University sat on the edge of the city of Karnotz; just over an hour drive away was the Karnotz Military Academy. Amara’s older brother Roger was in his third year there and routinely visited their home in the suburbs of the city.

Troy sighed, it would be no use. He knew once Amara had made up her mind about something, she would go through with it. “When do you leave?”

“Four days.”

“Well everyone…looks like we got two days to have a bash to send her off and let her family dry her up on the third before shipping her off.”

“Troy…now you have done it.” Samantha said. She pointed behind Amara to Alan, his face slowly moving into a large grin. Samantha was the first to catch on. “Alan…keep your cool…easy…easy…”

Alan began to mutter softly to himself. “Toga…toga…toga…”

Amara cut in and placed her hand over his mouth. “No toga party…none what so ever Alan.”

Alan paused and looked at her, feigning a look of great hurt. “Awww…come on, lets just get it over with guys. I’ll be sure to write on the signs ‘Please wear underwear…we do not want an orgy’…that sound good?”

“That boy has watched way too much Animal House.” Samantha whispered to Troy.

“No kidding.” He whispered back before talking in a normal tone. “Alan…like you and I planned after being made roommates, before we graduate, we will have a toga party. But…not this time dude, catch a few flicks…hit a few clubs and just party till we drop.”

Amara laughed nodded with Troy’s idea. “Just as long as I am not completely wasted.”

The four sat and began to set up plans for Amara’s going away party.

Her head was throbbing and Amara moaned softly and she twisted underneath the covers of her bed. The last two days were a blur, what she could remember she and her friends had seen a few movies, partied, and somewhere in there she thought she might have ripped off her shirt and bra in public somewhere along the line. Amara moaned again and shifting herself on her soft mattress, pulled several sheets and blankets over her body.

There was a scratching at her door before it opened. The light from the hallway splashed into her room, her robin egg blue walls were covered with posters of actors, rock stars, play and movie posters, and a violin sat propped up against the wall in the corner. Amara moaned and buried herself completely under several layers of covers. Something else climbed in her bed and it was only a minute before a snout began to move the cloth and appear within Amara’s lair.

“Get out Adolph…I am not in the mood.”

The Doberman Pincher’s head appeared next and it delivered a lick to her face. Amara was too tired to try and push the dog out so she decided to wait it out. A whistle from down the hall drew more moans, something far worse than Adolph was coming towards her room. Her older brother.

“Good morning!” Keith Waggner cried out as he entered his sister’s room. Keith was three years older than his sister, he stood at six two with bright brown eyes and due to being in the military, and his sandy hair was cut fairly short.

“Get out of here and take your dog with you if you desire to live!” The muffled voice of Amara yelled from underneath the blankets.

“Adolph, get Amara up.”

The Doberman sat up on the bed. In the light Keith fully saw his three legged animal. Six years ago he had found Adolph shivering in the back of a pen in the local animal shelter; the animal had been hit by a car a few nights earlier and though the vets tried to save its front right leg they had to amputate it in the end. After whining to his parents and money he could save, Keith was able to purchase the dog, much to the annoyance of Amara who had a cat.

Adolph turned back to the pile of blankets and squirmed inside. It was barely a minute later when they exploded and Amara was holding a hand covering her eyes from the hallway light and using the other to fend off the Doberman as it tried to a good angle at which to smother the human with licks.

“Adolph, here boy.” The Doberman moved off the bed and made a strange hobble as it moved back to Keith before sitting on its haunches. Keith walked to the bed and offered Amara a glass of cold water and two pills. “Take these morning after pills…you’re gonna need them. We need to get you packed, sober, and sent away tomorrow.”

Amara reached out and grasped the glass before placing the pills in her mouth and washing them down. The cold water woke her up a little. “How did mom and dad react?”

Keith grabbed a chair from Amara’s desk and slid it over. She moaned as he purposefully made more noise than he needed. “Just as you would have expected, mom was horrified and dad was too but said it should teach you a lesson. I was laughing.”

Amara grumbled and tossed the rest of the water in Keith’s face. She looked around blearily and called out softly. “Snow…Snow where are you?”

There was a soft purr from the white cat as it came from a small pillow in the corner. It looked over at Adolph and gave a sharp hiss, causing the dog to growl in return. Keith watched quietly as the feline climbed up on the bed and Amara gently petted it. “Best hurry up, breakfast is ready and dad wants to go over a few points of your trip.”

Amara gave a nod and watched as her older brother turned to leave. Once it began to get peaceful, Keith started to sing We are the Champions at the top of his lungs until he felt the glass he had left in Amara’s room greet the back of his head.


Ten minutes later, Amara was downstairs wearing a loose black t-shirt and shorts; she went to the kitchen where the table was already set. Fresh orange juice, eggs, bacon, sausage, fluffy pancakes, and hash browns were all set out and ready. Her brother, mother, and father were already at the table as she slid into her seat. Keith glared at her as he poured some orange juice for himself, obviously mad about her throwing the glass at him.

Peter Waggner stared at his two children, wondering what Amara could have done this time. Though she was in college and Keith was a few months away from being a commissioned officer in the army, it still seemed like the siblings had never grown up. Peter Waggner was tall at six five and at forty-nine, his beard and hair were just beginning to bleed their color. He owned several used car dealerships throughout the city, which made enough money alone for his wife not to work but she chose to anyway.

Naomi Waggner was the same age as her husband; her black hair was also beginning to bleed color. She was much shorter at five ten and was fairly lean. She worked at the Karnotz Zoo taking care of the tigers, lions, and other big cats. She had always loved working with animals and even though Peter could provide for them without her working, she loved working with the cats.

Amara was quiet as she ate her breakfast, every so often she would look over at her mother and wonder what she was thinking about her daughter’s behavior. Though her father was reading the newspaper she knew that he was watching her. “Okay…I’m sorry for getting drunk and having a party with my friends.”

Peter looked over and set down the newspaper. “Though I am angry that you did that Amara…what I want to talk about is you going to Assington. Though it is late I believe with a fee we can cancel it and possible send you someplace else...”

“Safer dad?”

“We just want you to be safe honey.” Her mom said.

“That reminds me.” Keith reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver cylinder and put it in front of Amara. “A silver sprayer containing silver nitrate works like mace…like I promised. Aren’t I a good brother?”

Amara shrugged her shoulders and mumbled something as she pocketed the cylinder. She then turned to her father. “Dad, I made up my mind. I did research and there is a VP station next to the campus…there is nothing to worry about. If I don’t go, I would have gotten a bit smashed for no reason and will…well…do it all over again if I am sent somewhere else.”

Her mother coughed and Amara knew she had it sealed. After breakfast, she went back upstairs and barred her room, turned the room into a complete black hole, put earplugs in and curled up for some more sleep.

Frost on the ground delayed Amara’s early departure for Assington. The teenager looked at her watch in a small café in Conrad International Airport. She bought a mocha and a chocolate muffin and sat down to wait. She had already explored the bookstores and bought several magazines, small paperbacks and CDs. She sipped the mocha and looked up to see Troy moving through the rivers of bodies towards her.

“Twitch!” She cried and jumped up. Troy flinched at his nick-name, but it was well timed as his eye was already twitching. He grunted as she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“I would prefer you not call me that in public Amara.”

She giggled and the pair sat down in the café. Troy looked at her before turning and looking outside to the dozens of aircraft from dozens of airlines warming their engines and many waiting for clearance to go. “Yours is delayed?”

“Yeah, apparently the strip or whatever it uses to get to the take off strip…”

“It is called a tarmac.”

“Whatever…well that is iced and apparently some other stuff is too. They are just playing it safe. Dunno how many others are delayed.”

Troy looked across the table, he was very nervous about her going to a city that had seen a massive vampire war that resulted in thousands dead only a few decades ago. In his opinion Emerald City was a powder keg that could burst at any moment. He knew telling Amara that she shouldn’t go would not sway her. Troy would have happily give her his Smith and Wesson Model 337 .38 caliber for protection, but he knew she would reject it. There were probably also rules about having a firearm on campus.

“Amara…be safe will you? I don’t want you coming back in a coffin or with two fangs in your mouth.”

Amara laughed and dusted off her muffin and drank some more mocha. “You have nothing to fret. From what I read there is a VP station a few blocks away and resident cops. I’ll be more than safe. You wouldn’t want me coming back as a vamp? I mean…we can enjoy romantic evenings…you relaxing while I suck a few pints from you.”

Troy chuckled slightly. Before he could say another word, a voice came over the intercom. “Flight Three-Nine-Seven bound for Emerald City Assington is now boarding at Gate sixteen. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Amara stood and gave Troy a peck on the cheek. “See ya Twitch.”

He bid her goodbye as Amara turned and headed for her gate.

Amara moved through the terminal of Emerald City International Airport, her eyes darting over every detail. She made a stop to have her Simatarian currency exchanged to Assingtonian and went through customs. She stepped outside into the early evening and looked around. Her new roommate who she had been having internet conversations with for three years said she was going to pick her up at the airport. Amara hoped she had not left.

“Amara?”

The teenager turned to face another girl standing a few feet away from her. It took Amara a few seconds for the name to come. “Susan. Well…finally meet.”

Susan Somers stood 5’11 with long blonde hair tied back into a pony tail. Her dark brown eyes sparkled and nodded. The pair gave a brief hug, excited that they were finally able to meet. “Come on, my car isn’t too far away. I saw your plane was held up.”

Amara nodded as she let Susan carry one of her bag and the pair headed across the parking lot. “Yeah, a bit of frost…enough to delay some flights but not enough to delays public school.”

They reached Susan’s KIA and climbed in. The Assingtonian looked at Amara as she started the engine. “Worried about vampires?”

Amara shrugged. “Yeah, in a way. But my brother got me a canister that shoots silver nitrate like mace.”

Susan smiled and drove towards the university. “Emerald University is an in city school as you recall. Don’t have to worry about a thing, we got on campus cops and there is a small VP station like a block or two away.”

Amara relaxed in the seat, coach class wasn’t exactly first and she had sat next to a whining kid the whole flight. She looked out the window at the city of Emerald, it was impossible for her to imagine this city engulfed in battle. Several minutes into the drive, she spotted a large shopping mall.

“Oh wow, bigger than some of the ones back home.”

“Well, that is the second. First was leveled in the third vampire war centuries ago. I’m not sure if they ever figured out what caused it. Sad part is it was just a few weeks from opening.”

Amara nodded and continued to look around the city. Twenty-five minutes later Susan announced they had entered the university’s campus. She parked in a student parking garage and helped Amara remove her baggage.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to the two other roommates.”

With Susan leading the way, they headed across a small lawn towards the dorms. Amara remembered from the sites that this one was co-ed and the shape resembled an L. She followed Susan up to the top floor at the end of the top of the L to their room. The door opened to reveal a small living room equipped with a couch, TV, DVD player, and tucked away in the corner was the tiny kitchen which consisted of a small pantry, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and oven. On the right was the short hallway that led to the four rooms and single bathroom.

“Wow, bigger than I expected. I thought this stuff would only be for seniors.”

Susan laughed. “I learned never to question a good thing…like this. Meagan! Ya here?”

Her response was a flush and a running faucet, there was a few minutes pause before another teenager appeared in the hallway. Her ebony skin blended cleanly with the dark red shirt she had on. Meagan’s long black hair hung loosely and she brushed some aside and shook Amara’s hand.

“I’m Megan Cartwright.”

“Amara Waggner.”

Meagan turned to Susan. “Jessie is not well…she just got the letter.”

Susan grimaced and looked over at a confused Amara. “Her parents have been having off and on fights since she was in her senior year of high school. She would hate for me to say this…but you need to know…she attempted suicide once because of the arguing. She then flicked back and forth between stable and unstable. She is okay…though it looks like her folks divorced.”

“Oh.” Amara said quietly. It was a different reception than she thought and she strained to hear crying coming from the bedroom near the end of the hall. She could never imagine what it would be like to have a perfectly normal life torn apart and turning to death to escape. “I take it you have known her for a while.”

“Yeah…we grew up together in Topaz city. God…I’m sorry about this Amara. We were going to…”

“Susan, let the poor girl unload and let’s order some pizza. Jessie should be better later. Your room is at the far end of the hall, I’ll place the orders.” Meagan said.

Amara and Susan agreed and Amara’s room was at the direct end of the hall, the door was facing straight down to Susan’s room and the hall entrance.

Amara unloaded her things and headed back into the living room.

Amara put a slice of pepperoni pizza on her plate and opened her Diet Coke. It began to feel a bit more like home, some food, music, and gossip. She listened intently as Meagan and Susan told her about the various teachers, dateable jocks, and complete nerds.

“The drama teacher Mrs. Englehart is a nice lady…but she is slightly freaky in the sense that she takes everything a bit too seriously. I mean…on little joke about Shakespeare she goes into a twenty minute lecture on how great the guy was.” Meagan said.

Amara laughed. “Sounds like Mrs. Brittle back home. She teaches drama and film courses…nearly impossible to get her moving from one thing to the other. I know someone taking her film analysis class and Brittle pauses the movie every six seconds to talk for at least tweleve minutes about something. Took them two weeks to get through one movie!”

There was laughter and Susan raised her glass. “To boring teachers…may they retire and get some fresh blood in the mix!”

“Agreed!” Meagan and Amara chimed and raised their glasses. After the toast they had some more soda and pizza. Meagan looked at Amara. “Mind if I ask how it is living in ‘oblivious land’ Amara?”

The Simatarian arched an eyebrow. “Pardon?”

Susan explained. “Since your country has been in the dark about vamps and such and finally came out stumbling…a lot of folks call your nation ‘oblivious land’ for obvious reasons. Just…how did your nation learn of vampires?”

Amara shrugged and dipped her crust into a small cup of garlic sauce. She chewed the bread slowly, gathering her thoughts. “Best I could gather was that a scientist was vacationing somewhere about two to three hundred years ago and ran into vampires. He proposed the idea when he got home and was rebuffed. Some years later…an IBI agent...IBI is our form of the American FBI…this agent found some people in our country who seemed a bit...uhhhh…under the weather.

“After a while he stumbled upon this scientist papers and after a while more connected it to a vampire and later caught him.”

“How did someone with no knowledge of vampires catch one?” Meagan asked.

“Fuck if I know. Thing is he caught it…until he escaped apparently. Since then we have had several hard line Presidents vowing to catch this vampire at all cost. Our current President Arthur Stahler hasn’t said a word about it but won the election in a landslide because of his economic plans.”

“Mind…” Susan was interrupted when the girls heard a door open from the hall and a red headed girl appeared.

Jessie Longstreet smiled, her bright brown eyes sparkled. She stood at 5’10, her body curved gently and there was a slight bit of fragileness to her. “Hey…I’m Jessie”

Amara stood and shook her hand. “Amara, nice to meet you.”

Jessie grabbed a soda from the fridge, sat down and took a slice of cheese. Susan looked at her life long friend. “Everything okay Jessie?”

The girl turned and nodded. “Yeah, I’m perfectly okay…starting a new semester, got my friends, and met our new roommate…dog had kittens…parents….”

Her voice trailed off as her eyes welled up with tears and she broke down. Susan wrapped her arms around her friend and began to gently rock her. Meagan took Amara by the arm and the pair quickly left the room. She closed the door and made sure it was locked.

“Shit…I’m sorry about this Amara. Jessie…well…she is a bit fragile in terms of emotion. Come on…lets see if there is anything going on in the recreation room downstairs.”

Amara followed Meagan down to the first floor and into a large room with at least a dozen couches and chairs, two TVs, three pool tables, a pinball machine, and a few vending machines. She counted around thirty students hanging around. As she made her way over to one of the pool tables, she bumped into another teen.

“Oh…I’m terribly sorry.” She said to him. The boy stood at just over six foot, short, dark brown hair covered his head while a pair of grey eyes ran over Amara several times. He adjusted his black jacket and smiled.

“No worries. You’re the exchange student right?”

“Yeah…how did you know?”

“Just haven’t seen you…plus you look a bit tired.”

“Yeah…I’m from ‘oblivious land’ and some of you call it.”

“I try to resist calling your country that…and fail.”

Amara held out her hand. “Amara Waggner.”

The other teen shook it. “Marcus Dante.”

Amara felt her heart skip a few beats as she looked at Marcus. His grey eyes met her aquamarine and she gulped. He was cute, no...that wasn’t the right word, he was down right handsome.

“Nice to meet you Marcus. What classes are you taking?”

“Politics, I hope to go into government one day as an ambassador. What about yourself?”

“Drama mostly. I don’t wanna sound a bit stuck up when I say I really hope to be a professional stage and movie actress one day.”

Marcus smiled. “You certainly have the looks. There is a kid in another dorm I know who is trying to organize a cast and crew for a movie.”

“Oh?” Amara said with interest. “What genre?”

“Comedy I think…or drama…I dunno. I could get a script from him and get to you tomorrow.”

“That would be lovely.”

Marcus looked at his watch. “I am sorry, I have to run. Class is very early tomorrow morning and I have a big test. Catch you at lunch? There are some nice places here on campus.”

Amara blushed. “Sure, I would like that. Catch you later.”

Marcus gave her a smile and took off towards the door and with a parting glance, let into the night. Amara felt tingly all over as she walked over to one of the pinball machines and inserted a coin. Meagan had stayed back and moved on one side of the machine. She watched as the ball bounced off the walls and bumpers, explosions of different colors showed when Amara was striking it right.

“You have been here only less than two hours and you are already in love.” She said.

Amara continued to concentrate as the points climbed. “I’m not in love…I was just checking him out. He is handsome you know.”

“But that doesn’t make a good guy. Marcus is a bit of a mystery to everyone. Guy is a bit of a loner. Does well in classes but not much of a social life. Kinda…well…clumsy around people you might say. Otherwise, seems like a nice guy.”

“Ever thought of dating…dammit.” The conversation broke Amara’s concentration and the ball rolled down the left bumper and into the pit to be reloaded as her second ball. She pulled back the plunger as the ball returned to the slot and released, sending the ball back into the maze. “Just cause a guy is attractive doesn’t mean I love him. I find Orlando Bloom attractive but I don’t love him…I never even met him.”

“You find him attractive? My God, you have no taste in men. Brad Pitt is a fine specimen of the opposite sex.”

Amara rolled her eyes as she continued to press the buttons for the bumpers. Meagan watched as Amara’s score continued to climb. Smiling, she gave the table a slight bump, it was enough to distract Amara and the ball rolled past the bumpers. Amara shot the ball back in and this time Meagan gave the table another bump, Amara was ready and managed to just save the ball.

“Why do you keep doing that?” She demanded.

“You’ll see. Oh…Marcus is back.”

Amara turned and did not see him, she spun and smashed the bumper buttons a nano-second to late. The ball just squeezed past the bumpers and it was only a few seconds before the display exploded in color and at the end of the machine, the high scores appeared. Amara ended with 2,254,859, only a few thousand away from getting number one. Putting her initials down she saw MEC sitting in the initials column for number one.

“Protecting your title I see Meagan.”

Meagan smiled and shrugged. “I hafta defend my title by any means necessary. You okay? You look a bit tired now.”

“Jet lag catching up to me. Class is at…nine I think. Shit, I think I should turn in.”

Meagan and Amara headed back to their room, talking about the differences of their colleges and cities. When they arrived, they found Susan reviewing some work on the coffee table.

“Jessie has gone back to bed. I think she will be okay in a day or two.” She said.

“Okay, I’m gonna turn in…been a long and interesting night.” Amara said.

“Oh you bet, our friend here has taken a shine to Marcus Dante.” Meagan interjected.

Susan arched an eyebrow and said rather sarcastically. “So it wasn’t about expanding your knowledge and experiencing other cultures…it was to date the college students here.”

Amara only gave a roll of her eyes and bid her roommates goodnight. Heading down the short hall to her room, she closed the door and undressed. She set her alarm clock and curled underneath the covers. Amara was asleep within a few minutes.

The sun was high in the sky when Amara was let out of class. She cracked her neck as she walked to the cafeteria, wondering if Marcus was there. She walked across several small lawns where dozens of students were studying, talking, playing football, or some attempting to sneak a few drinks or cigarettes. She was not paying well enough attention as a football spun in the air and struck her on the side of her head. Amara let out a cry of surprise and dropped her things, rubbing where the ball had hit just above and in front of her left ear.

“Hey ya dumb bitch! Watch where yer walking! Throw the damn ball over here.” A burly jock yelled at her. Everyone on the lawn paused and watched and wondered if she would do so or not.

Amara stared at the jock for several seconds before collecting her things and giving him the finger. The jock’s face turned a noticeable shade of red as he moved towards her. Amara didn’t seem that concerned and once he was within a few meters pulled out the canister that held the silver nitrate from her purse and aimed it at him. The jock froze, unsure if it was mace or something else inside the canister; playing it safe, he picked up the ball with a string of curses and went back to throwing it with his friend.

Amara smiled and pocketed the canister and continued on. She turned when she heard hurried footsteps behind her and smiled at Susan. “How was class?”

“Fine…you stood up to that guy. Man, thought u would have thrown the ball and left it at that.”

“Not my style, asshole threw it too low so it could have hit anyone. He wouldn’t have actually hit me…would he?”

Susan bit her lip. “I don’t know about him…his name is David Wimmer…got here on a scholarship. Bit of a brute if you ask me.”

“Agreed.”

They walked through a green tinted glass door and into the cafeteria, which was far more like a larger food court from a mall. From walk up and pick up to several small sit down and order restaurants, the university had a selection from McDonalds to IHOP. Amara went to a Pizza Hut booth and got herself a personal pepperoni pizza along with some breadsticks and a soda.

Sitting down at a table she started to eat as Susan came up with some Chinese. “How was your first day here Amara? As good as back home?”

“Well, I do not wish to sound insulting to you guys…you want my blunt opinion?”

“Be as blunt as you like.”

“Some of you are assholes who don’t know their left from their right.”

Susan chuckled and nodded as she ate some orange chicken. “Well, every place has its bad kids. Oh…don’t look now but your boy friend is here.”

Amara turned as she bit into a slice of pizza to see Marcus getting some ribs from a BBQ booth. She turned back around before he could see her and continued eating as normal as possible. Susan arched an eyebrow. “Playing hard to get?”

Amara blinked. “Hard to get? You must be kidding.”

“Is this seat taken?” Marcus was standing near their table, a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT camera around his neck and his tray in one hand while a glass in the other. Amara shook her head. “No, please sit.”

“Thanks.” Marcus sat down and put his camera on the table and put a napkin on his lap. “I heard you nearly pepper sprayed David Wimmer.”

“How…how do you know?” Amara asked anxiously, nearly choking on a breadstick.

“Word spreads fast, if I were you I would head back to your dorm another way. Uh…Susan isn’t it? I think you might wanna lead Amara through Braxton Hall and the gym to loop around to get back to your dorm.”

Susan nodded, surprised that Marcus knew her name. “I was thinking on that. Is David waiting for her?”

Marcus nodded as he tore into the meat; dark sauce covered the area around his lips as he nodded. He put down the rib and wiped his face and fingers with one of nearly a dozen napkins he had. “Course he is. Hiding behind a tree waiting for Amara to trek back. Guy is like most jocks, act and look tough but not willing to bring on a fight. Amara, he is not afraid to beat up a girl I can tell you that. I had to pull one away from him a few weeks into first semester.”

“That was you?!” Susan asked shocked.

Marcus nodded. “Yup…funny ain’t it? Never judge a book by its cover as my mom always said…but then my dad added in unless it was a nudist magazine. I was snapping some shots for the newspaper when he tried to hit a girl nearby who had gotten in his way and not moved fast enough.”

“Whoa…and the dean doesn’t do a damn thing?” Amara asked, now very perplexed.

“Star quarterback…naw…the dean ain’t gonna go for him. He has more important things to do. But, if it does get a bit out of hand, he will step in. In your case, he certainly doesn’t want an international incident on account of you throwing the bird.”

Amara couldn’t help but laugh. She wondered if she would be on the front page of every Karnotz newspaper with headlines like Innocent Girl Beaten or Brawns Goes After Brains Yet Again. She chuckled at the latter one. Marcus looked at her for a few seconds. “Amara, anything interesting happening in your nation this time of year? Elections…festivals…parties or something?”

“Well, snow is coming in, I heard most areas from Karnotz to Clarence are getting hit with a few inches. Of course winter festivals and such will go on, weather permitting. In most cities and towns local bands get together every week or so to put on a show. Pretty good stuff actually. Anything going on here?”

“Well, we in the Neufeld Hall are having a party tomorrow night…”

“Please, tell me it is not a toga party.” Amara said, preparing herself if it was.

“No…regular clothes. The fun starts at eight. You guys should come.”

“Sounds nice to me. Susan, maybe we can take Jessie along…might give her something else to think about.”

Susan nodded eagerly at Marcus’s and Amara’s suggestions. “Great idea. Partying is always good for the soul.”

Amara felt better now that she knew was going to a party the next night. Things were getting brighter every day.

After lunch, the rest of Amara’s day was free. Marcus and Susan went off to their second class of the day and so Amara headed back to her room. Amara put her laptop on her bed and booted it up. While it loaded she shut off the light and closed the blinds. Sitting cross legged on the bed, she put her notebook in her lap and waited for it to finish loading. She moved her finger across the mouse-pad, causing the white arrow to move over the internet shortcut and she doubled clicked. Nothing happened. After a few minutes of quiet curses, she remembered she had to connect it into the phone line. Amara had a wireless adaptor, but was unsure if it would work in Assington. The cable connection she had she knew would work.

Several more minutes passed before she was online and logged onto IM. She browsed the list of names and smiled as she saw who she wanted. She opened a conversation window and started to type.

crzybtch: hey twitch

lzybum: hey…wazup?

crzybtch: n2m…u?

lzybum: missen u. It b snowing quite a bit…sadly it don’t help us college brats cause we r on campus. how goes it

crzybtch: had lunch…nearly got hit by a jock…met a few nice kids…going 2 a parte tomorrow night

lzybum: nearly got hit by a jock! HOLY FUCK! brb

crzybtch: k

Amara waited less than a minute before the icon flashed.

lzybum: togas 4 party?

crzybtch: thank god no

lzybum: i c…we r planning a toga party when u get back…gonna come?

crzybtch: course…as long as Alan wears underwear

There was a several minute pause after she sent it. She browsed an movie website before the icon flashed again.

lzybum: sry…Alan hijacked my comp. btw, he probably won’t wear undies so come prepared.

crzybtch: lol…I should b back when the term ends.

lzybum: gut, can’t wait 2 c u...doing anything else today?

crzybtch: going 2 go check out ze mall here. Heard it got blown up in the third vamp war

lzybum: fun fun…I g2g…class in a half hour

crzybtch: okay…ttfn

lzybum: ttyl

Amara closed the window and continued to browse. She located a map of Emerald City and found several bus stops near her. Grabbing her coat and purse, she headed out of the dorm and towards the nearest bus stop. Her mother had told her to save her money and not spend it on new clothes.

Mom isn’t here now is she? Amara thought to herself.

Def Leppard’s Animal pounded through several large speakers in the bottom floor common area of Marcus’s dorm. At least fifty people were inside, dancing, talking and one person was attempting to flip through a massive forty five inch TV against the far wall. Susan, Meagan, Amara, and a reluctant Jessie entered. The girls looked around at the mass of bodies and Jessie tried to back up before Amara and Susan stopped her.

“Come on Jessie, time for some fun.” Susan said.

“This will get your mind off of things and some time to relax.” Amara added.

Jessie shook her head, she felt very vulnerable here. “I just want to go.”

“Listen, how about you sit on one of the couches, I fetch you a glass of punch and at least you won’t be lying on your bed reading that letter over and over again.” Susan said calmly. Jessie looked at her and nodded. Amara led to a couch and let her sit. Amara stood and headed off into the crowd to find Susan. She found her friend at a small table where punch, soda, and some beer in Root Beer bottles sat.

“I hope this is the right thing to do Susan.”

“Trust me Amara, while you were out shopping yesterday. I covered everything.”

Amara looked behind her and through the occasional holes in the crowds, saw a red headed teenage boy standing near Jessie, talking with her. A few minutes later, he sat down next to her and the pair continued to talk, Jessie apparently became a bit thawed out as her movements seemed more animated.

“His parents divorced a few years ago. I know him from class…thought he might be able to thaw out the iceberg.” Susan commented with a smile.

Meagan appeared and poured herself some of beer. “Who is the red-head with Jessie?”

“Susan set her up the cleaver devil.” Amara said with a laugh. Susan shrugged and weaved through the crowd to hand Jessie a cup of punch before moving into the pulsing crowd. Meagan and Amara chatted for a few minutes before Meagan was carted off by a football player and she disappeared. Amara stood alone; the music had now switched from Def Leppard to Iron Maiden and some more people came in.

“For a party you sure seem like you are having a bad time.” A familiar voice said near Amara. She turned and smiled when she saw Marcus. He extended his hand brought her into the swirling mass. She wasn’t sure how long she was dancing with him, but her whole world seemed to stop when they got near the TV. The volume was just loud enough for her to hear over Iron Maiden.

“Tragedy has struck the Republic of the Golden Simatar…”

Amara swung away from Marcus and knocked the teenager from the TV before he could change the channel. Her cries for stopping the music were muted from the noise but Marcus tore through the waves of bodies and it was a few seconds before Maiden was replaced with flurries of questions. Amara found the volume and began to crank it up, her heart pounding, sweat forming on her brow as she tried to figure out the time zones. Troy had made no mention of an attack the previous day in the afternoon, so it had to have been that night. Amara did not have a class this morning so she had slept in and had not kept up with the news. Trying to do the math, she guessed it was a few hours before nightfall back home.

People began to mill around the TV, wondering what was so important to the exchange student that could have stopped the party dead. Amara tensed as the commercials ended and a woman in her mid-forties appeared on screen. Test of Simatarian Steel was emblazoned in fiery red behind her as the title the Emerald City news was giving to the story.

“Last night across the Golden Simatar’s capital of Clarence, nearly every police station and national guard station was attacked. Dozens of policemen and soldiers were listed as casualties and we do not have the exact number as of yet. We will be showing you what the Simatarian news is reporting on this in a second. What we do know is that a large force of vampires is responsible behind the attacks. A note found attached to a soldier’s body stated the vampires are from our city of Emerald. If you can recall barely thirty years ago a massacre of a war occurred here and thankfully since then a sort of peace has come over the city. Shortly after that the Golden Simatar entered the rest of the world by learning that vampires do exist, removing a long standing veil of obliviousness that has left them vulnerable. This reporter is wonder how in the hell they have survived for so long…but that is for another time. We now will be broadcasting Channel Eleven News from Clarence.”

Amara was shuddering as the screen switched to a white haired man in his early sixties. Her eyes began to tear up. All eyes in the room were focused on the TV screen, many began to whisper to each other but it was just noise to Amara.

“Last night dozens of police officers and soldiers lost their lives when an untold number of vampires attacked nearly every police station and national guard armory in and around Clarence. Causality figures have not been released, but what we can say is that army units have moved into the city throughout the day. The backbone of the force is the controversial 132nd Armored Division otherwise known as ‘The Tigers’, they were the first unit to be moved into the city and have been reinforced by several more infantry divisions and armored battalions.

“The President today announced that any military aircraft and civilian aircraft that could be used to evacuated civilians are being used. Hospitals, retirement homes, shelters, and poorer sections of the city are to be evacuated first. The President states that he wishes to reduce civilian casualties as much as possible, though he knows many will stay in the city, those who stay will be allowed to go to areas guarded by soldiers, police from other towns, IBI, and VIB agents.

“Reasons behind the attack is unknown, as many can recall it was only a few years ago when the small town of Auburn was attacked by a small rogue gang of vampires from Assington. People are now calling for the Assingtonian government to pay up for the damages caused by the attack on Auburn and now on Clarence. The President said in a speech earlier today he does not blame the Assington government for what is happening and says that the Simatarians will fight through this battle without asking for help as long as possible.

“Questions are now being raised about what is behind the attacks. The last administration under President Joseph Horsey released information about the Golden Simatar’s first and apparently only vampire shortly after taking over from President Kimble who led the country through the transition period.”

A color photograph of a man standing 6'1 with firm muscles wearing military fatigues, a helmet held in his left hand while a M16A2 is clutched in his right, a webbed vest with magazine and grenade pouches covered his front. Cobalt blue eyes stared at the camera as the man smiled at the photographer.

“This is Sergeant Stephen Malone, formerly of the Fist Battalion, First Ranger Regiment. Nearly thirteen hundred years ago, Malone was part of the much mangled Operation Cherry Blossom. Though a success in capturing drug and war lord Pablo Mendez, it left Malone physically and mentally scarred. Three weeks before he was going to be dismissed because of psychiatric reasons, he retired from the army. He and his wife divorced several years later and Malone was never seen again. That was till almost thirty years ago when an unnamed IBI agent who apparently knew about vampires captured him.

“What happened next became a turning point for this nation, we’ll cover more that at eleven. Malone escaped after nearly two months of capture and several years later at the attack on Auburn, many people who heard of a vampire in the Golden Simatar believed it was this one coming back for revenge. President Kimble stated several times that Malone’s character did not warrant such behavior. Now, in her late sixties, she is still standing behind him, saying that she believes he is not the one behind the attacks. To this reporter, if that Malone has any brains in him he would keep the hell away from this country…and the only good vampire is a dead vampire.”

The reporter drank some water on the desk. “We will keep you informed as the story progresses. Many people are praying that the conflict to come will not be the epic slaughter of Emerald City, Assington a few decades ago.”

Amara shut off the TV and fell to her knees. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Marcus looking down at her. His smile did not reassure her.

Amara started to cry.

Nearly a half hour had passed since Amara had seen the news broadcast, but she was shaking as she sat on one of the couches. The party had now taken a more sullen aspect to it, the music volume was turned down and most people were milling around and talking to each other. Several people walked up to offer reassurance, but it did little for her. If Clarence was under attack, what was to stop the vampires from attacking Karnotz? She continued to shake as Jessie placed a mug in her hands.

“Hot chocolate…made it fresh in the room. It helps.”

Amara’s fingers wrapped around the mug and took a gentle sip. The warmth steadied her slightly. She drained half of the mug before saying anything. “Phone…I...I need to call my folks.”

“Behind you.” Susan said.

Amara turned to see a pay phone on the wall behind her. She put the mug down, put some coins in the slot, and dialed the Golden Simatar’s phone code before dialing her home phone number. She gripped the cord, biting her lip constantly as the rings continued to come through the phone. Finally, there was a click as someone picked it up.

“Hello?”

“KEITH!”

“Ow…Jesus…Amara is that you? What is it?”

“Is everyone alright? I mean…I just saw the news on the TV and I just got so panicked, I just had to call home.”

“Don’t worry Amara, not pointy tooth people have shown up. Though, Dad has locked all the doors, secured the windows and broke out the Winchester. Amara, don’t worry about a thing…I’ll give you a call if I’ve been turned into a vampire.”

Amara gave a slight chuckle. “Okay, give my love to mom and dad. Keith, if I come home to find Snow is eaten by Adolph…you best be begging for an overseas assignment if you value your life.”

Keith laughed. “Okay, see you later Amara.”

Amara hung up and rested her head on the wall. She looked at everyone in the room; nearly every eye was turned to her. After an uncomfortable silence, she left the building. Marcus moved after her.

“Amara, what is it?”

“Nothing, I just need a walk and some fresh air that is all.”

“I’ll come with you, just in case.”

Amara nodded, glad to at least have someone else with her, it would hopefully deter a vampire from trying to prey on her. The lights of the city scalded the night sky, but she could still see some of the blanket of black dotted with millions of stars and a full moon sitting in the middle.

“If it wasn’t for the lights, it would look so much better.” She said as the pair strolled down the street.

“Aye, it is a little bit better in the suburbs or in the park…but not much.”

“Isn’t there a forest on the edge of the city?”

“Oh yes, but to my knowledge no one really goes there.”

“Haunted?” Amara said with an arched eyebrow.

“I dunno…maybe. Some people go there and find it fine…some don’t. City folk don’t care for forest; most only see it as a roadblock into making the whole world a gigantic city.”

“I hate those thinkers.” Amara growled. “We have miles and miles of forests back home, in the spring and winter I think are the best seasons to go wandering in the forest.”

“Why winter? Isn’t it a bit cold…and what about wolves?”

“It is a bit cold, but there is this beauty….untainted…as though it was untouched. Wolves, yeah there are some. My mom works in the city’s zoo working with the big cats…but one of her friends works with the wolves. He has shown me a thing or two to warn me of them or at least discourage them from attacking. Besides, they don’t seem that bad. Though I prefer cats, dogs are not too bad.”

The pair continued to walk; Amara’s tense muscles were relaxing as she talked. Every time they got in the vicinity of a club, Marcus would grasp her arm and direct her to have her silver nitrate canister ready. It was after the first two occasions where Marcus explained that it wasn’t uncommon for vampires to grab people coming in and out of clubs. She was thankful that he came along.

Shortly after they entered one of the Emerald’s Central park Amara froze as a man dropped from the trees in front of them. There was another rustle as a man and a woman appeared behind them. Amara began to shake, but when she looked at Marcus, he stood like a rock.

“If you value your worthless lives I you should leave here now.” He said coldly.

“Ooo…I am shivering ya wretch. I think you should be saved for a bit later. Hey Aaron…what do you think of the girl? Rather nice isn’t she, make a nice pet to keep around.”

“Agreed Zach, as long as Emily doesn’t mind.” The other man said as he slowly moved forward and around.

The female vampire hissed at Amara, causing her to clutch more firmly to Marcus. “You two boys can have her. A pet never did anyone harm. What is in your hand little girl?”

Amara felt the canister slip from her fingers and rush towards the vampire called Zach. The vampire howled in pain as he gripped it, the silver canister left a scorching mark on his hand. “You will learn who is your master my new pet.”

Amara felt her throat tighten as the vampire mentally grabbed her and began to drag her towards him. Marcus grabbed her jacket and held her, he still stood there, hard and unmoving, completely unaffected. Amara felt the pressure lighten and looked around as the three vampires looked at one another.

“Sire…” The one named Aaron said tentatively to the woman. It was obvious he was not comfortable with a person who had enough strength to beat out a vampire.

The female vampire stared at Marcus, a subtle change in the wind caused her eyes to harden and hiss again. Amara did not notice as she saw the canister roll back down the path and to her feet. She picked it up and that is when the attack began. All three vampires moved in faster than a blink and Amara simply pressed down on the button, spraying the clear liquid everywhere. The only thing that was clear was a single bit of the silver nitrate striking Marcus on the cheek. He knocked her back into the bushes and the only thing Amara could clearly see was his skin burning.

As she got up, she heard an animal howl followed quickly by the cries of the vampires and the sound of flesh being ripped apart. Amara didn’t think about her next move, she ran through the trees and bushes of the park. She didn’t care where she was going, as long as it would be away from the vampires and whatever had killed at least one of the bloodsuckers.

She tripped and tumbled down a small hill. Amara grunted as she hit her head on rock, there would be a bump later, but she was fine. Lying on her back, she tried to get up when she heard the rustling of the bushes. Something massive appeared from the bushes and trees, whatever it was it blocked out much of the moonlight, what Amara could see was it had large teeth and they were coated in crimson.

The thing stared at her for what seemed like hours, like it was thinking about killing her or not. Amara continued to pray it would leave, but it didn’t. The thing got closer to the ground.

Amara screamed as its teeth sunk into her left shoulder before she blacked out.

Amara screamed and rocketed upward. Cloth and hair flung wildly in the air, her head was swirling with images and noises, nothing she could make out clearly. What she did seem to know was that she was drenched in sweat and her mouth was dry. She moved some damp strands of hair from her eyes and looked around. She was back in her dorm living room, lying on the couch. A loose white t-shirt clung to her body from the sweat and her leg felt hot under the blanket and blue jeans she had on. Susan, Meagan, Jessie, and Marcus looked over, the line between shock and joy were heavily blurred on their faces.

Susan moved next to Amara and handed her a cup of water. Amara grasped it and began to gulp it down, but Susan stopped her and grabbed a plastic bag and put it under Amara’s mouth just before she vomited a bit. “No so much, little sips.”

“Wha…what happened?” Amara asked wearily as she lay back down.

“Vampires attacked of course.” Marcus said as he walked slowly across the room. Amara noted his eyes were filled with concern, but she shivered slightly as he moved closer. “I’m sorry if I was rough; I pushed you into the brush to hopefully give you a chance to escape. You hit your head on a rock as you ran.”

“How did you escape then?” Amara shot back.

Marcus seemed taken aback by the slight hostility in her tone. “Our VP does not just sit on their asses all night. A small team who had been tracking the group came just before I was made dinner.”

“You got any bruises?”

Marcus rolled back his sleeve to show a bandage and tilted his head so Amara could see his neck. Two little dots, vampire bites. Amara screamed and tried to grab a pen off the table. Susan worked quickly to restrain her.

“Amara! Amara…calm down. If a human is bitten by a vampire, that doesn’t mean they turn. They have to be drained of a large quantity of blood and then drink vampire blood to turn. That whole virus stuff is bullshit by this alone…plenty of humans have been bitten but lived as humans without becoming vamps.”

Amara looked at her; her eyes were wide and wild. She continued to shake and she dropped the pen before collapsing back on the couch. “Something attacked me. Something large and pissed off.”

“There was nothing.” Marcus said. “When I found you…you were out of it. Some EMPs looked at you and just said you had a knock on the head, nothing serious but you would be sleeping for a while. So, I was allowed to bring you back. At any rate…what did it look like?”

“Big…I don’t know…it bit me on my shoulder.”

Jessie drank some soda and shook her head. “There is no mark on your shoulder Amara.”

Amara moved her shirt and looked her shoulder. Nothing was there except pale skin glistening from sweat. “No…no…no something….something bit me!”

Jessie walked over and sat next to Amara. “Amara, I am no expert on psychology, but what I do know is that after events like this people sometimes imagine things. What were you and Marcus talking about?”

“I…I can’t…”

“Wolves, big cats, clubbing…chit chat.” Marcus said, Amara nodded.

“Don’t you see?” Jessie said. “The attack was traumatic, and when you knocked your head everything from your conversation got mixed up with the vampires. You imagined getting attacked by something. It isn’t that uncommon. You only imagined getting attacked by a monster. Does that make sense?”

“Yes…how long has it been?”

“Only a few hours honey.” Meagan commented. “It is just after dawn. Haven’t seen the news so I don’t know how your nation is doing. Speaking of which…when do you go back?”

“Huh? Oh…I have next month and the first day or so in the month after. It is so confusing.” Amara froze, something solid came from the soup of memories. She looked at Marcus. The other teen stared back and gave a slight head jerk, urging her to speak. “You got aggressive when I hit you with silver. Very aggressive…what are you hiding?”

Marcus sighed and didn’t notice every eye in the room turn to him. “I must admit, my testosterone was running and I was swinging left and right, the blast on the cheek surprised the heck out of me. I’m really sorry Amara…I’m sorry I hit you.”

Amara looked back, she was psychically and mentally drained. It sounded good enough to her. She collapsed back on the couch. Her body was shaking as she fell into a troubled sleep.

Amara’s final full month in Assington seemed to have dragged on for years to the teenager. She could barely sit still for five minutes and no matter what she did she could not relieve the tension building up inside of her. Whenever class finished, she would head back to her room to sleep, but no matter how hard she tried she could not get to sleep. The night one month ago was still burning in her mind along with her head actually giving her a heavy migraine.

Amara walked into the small bathroom and splashed some water on her face. It was just past nightfall and she did not feel any better. She walked back to her room and tried to rest. The phone rang less than ten minutes later. Grumbling, she left her room and headed for the living room.

“Hello?”

“Oh…hi Amara.” It was Marcus. “I thought that we could talk about a few things before you head back tomorrow.”

“Huh? Oh yeah, sounds good. I have one or two questions. Where are you?”

“Well, outskirts of town near the forest. Been taking photos of birds for most of the day.”

“I’ll get a cab, you best reimburse me.”

“Yeah of course.”

Amara grabbed her coat and purse. She wrote a quick note explaining that she had received a call from the airport about mix up with her flight and had to go over and clear it up. She didn’t think her roommates would check, they had already had a party the previous night and so there was no rush. She was very eager to talk to Marcus, she had done some investigating of her own and wanted to get the full truth from him. Amara headed outside and hailed a taxi.

It was well over an hour drive to where Marcus said he would take over. Amara felt sicker by the minute and smiled slightly when Marcus waved down the taxi. He paid the fee and Amara climbed out. Small, gentle rolling hills stretched outward and in the darkness, the looming Emerald Forest did look a bit scary.

Marcus led Amara to his Jeep parked a few meters away and swung it off the road and into the grass. He drove in silence for nearly another hour before parking. Amara at this point climbed out and waited as he climbed out of the Jeep.

“What happened that night?” She snarled.

“I told you. Now what I…”

“Liar! I checked with the VP…called them from a public phone. They have no record of a reported vampire attack in the park for that night. What really happened Marcus?”

Marcus sighed and leaned against his Jeep. Instead of answering he looked up into sky. “Ah, looks like we get some natural lighting.”

Amara looked up to see the silvery full moon at last break through the clouds.


Eric Canter yawned and looked at his watch again, only five minutes had passed since he had last looked. The thirty one year old worked in a computer company during the day and week, but in his off hours he was described as a bit of an oddball. Believing that there was some kind of creature or something of undetermined origin in Emerald Forest, he regularly made trips there. He looked over at his friend Trevor Sykes who also seemed a bit tired.

“Feel like calling it a night man?”

“Sure, I’d rather explore this place in the daytime anyway. We can at least find our way out.”

Eric nodded in agreement, work was becoming more demanding and some bugs in a new program had him working nearly eighteen hours a day. Eric turned his flashlight on his pockets and pulled out a small bag of beef jerky. The pair turned around and ate on their way back through the forest. There was a rustling in the woods and Eric turned his light bouncing off the trees and bushes. Trevor turned around and shone his light, nothing.

A few seconds passed before a bush started to twitch. Eric jumped and un-slung a Mauser 98k he had with him and aimed at the bush. The pair slowly backed up and the bush began to shake more violently, a screech seemed to issue from it and it stopped shaking. Eric flexed his finger and wrapped it around the trigger, taking aim; he began to gently apply pressure. The fraction of an inch before the firing pin would be released; a fox appeared from the bush, a dead rabbit in its jaws. The animal stared at the lights for a few seconds before darting back in the woods with its meal.

Eric released the trigger and started to laugh. He turned to Trevor but instead of finding a smiling friend, he found Trevor staring up at a small rise in the forest a good fifty feet away. Eric followed Trevor’s beam of light and eyes, his gulped. The pair could make out a large creature hiding in the darkness behind some tree branches. The creature was obviously breathing heavily as its whole upper body was masked in a cloud of smoke.

“What…the hell is that thing?” Trevor whispered.

“I dunno, it looks bipedal. Maybe the Americans lost their Bigfoot.” Eric whispered back.

“Not funny!” Trevor hissed. “Lets just try to walk away, maybe it is just looking.”

The pair turned and started to make their way back to where they parked their car on the edge of the woods. Eric turned his head to see the thing still standing there and he smiled. The creature or person was obliviously just observing them. They might have ventured near its den and it was out in case they came to close. The fact whatever it was was a biped made Eric think it might be whatever was scaring people. He turned back and tapped Trevor and pointed behind them. Trevor turned and froze.

“Uhhhh…Eric.” Eric turned and shined his light and his smile disappeared. The thing was gone. The sound of heavy breathing drawing closer made the pair spin and see a flash of black move less than ten meters from them. The continued to spin and saw the creature now ahead of them, still clouded in a dense veil of smoke. Trevor was the first to realize what was happening. “Oh Jesus…the damn thing…we are being hunted.”

Eric felt a cold sweat come on and his throat tighten. He shook his head and without thought, lifted his rifle and fired at the thing. The 7.92mm slug smashed into a tree next to the animal. The creature gave a howl and quickly moved back the way it had come, but this time giving the humans a much wider berth. Eric relaxed but he and Trevor didn’t have to say anything as they both picked up their pace. A quick jog for more than an hour brought them within sight of the wood line; that is when the breathing began.

Both men spun to see the creature moving slowly behind them. Eric handed his light to Trevor so his hands could be free to work the bolt-action of the Mauser. Working the bolt, he ejected the old spent shell and fired a fresh one at the thing. The bullet missed but the creature fell back to nearly a hundred meters.

“Can’t beat firearms you ass wipe!” He shouted after it. Eric turned to look at Trevor, his eyes bulged as he screamed. “LOOK OUT!”

Trevor turned to see another, larger thing burst from the forest. He did not have time to scream as large fangs buried into his exposed neck. Blood began to rocket and flow from open arteries and his mouth. Trevor’s eyes tilted to Eric, asking for help. Eric was cemented to the ground, it was until he heard the other creature coming did he make a run for it, leaving his friend to die.

Aiming blindly behind him, he fired off another bullet, this one did not seem to stop the creature. Eric’s lungs burned from the cold air as he panted, sweat streaming from his forehead. He didn’t bother to work the bolt again, it would just waste time. Instead, he cast aside the Mauser and picked up his pace, his legs began to feel like Jell-O. He knew he couldn’t stop now or he would die.

He burst through the forest and into the free air, his car was just over the next rise. Eric’s shoelace caught on a branch on the ground, untying it. Stepping on the shoelace, he fell to the ground. Eric spun on the ground and screamed as the thing burst through the woods and its fangs were buried in his throat.

He thrashed as the animal’s claws dug into his sides and he found himself lifted a little in the air. He opened his mouth, letting blood flow out in an attempt to get air into his hungry lungs. The creature shook its head, burying the fangs deeper and Eric felt its tongue lapping at his blood as it flowed. He attempted to punch its muscular hide and he reached for the little bit of hair he could grasp in an effort to free himself. As the minutes dragged on, he began to feel weaker and he knew he was dying. The creature dropped him to the ground, as he hit he gave a gurgle, sending more crimson pumping from his arteries. With his last bit of energy, he tilted his head up.

The last thing he ever saw was the creature tear into his stomach and begin to feed.

Amara twisted in her bed and softly moaned. She curled up under her covers and slipped back into sleep. A scream broke her peaceful rest as she jumped from the bed and onto the floor. Her eyes darted around her dark room; every detail was in perfect focus as she scanned her bedroom. It was then she smelled food coming from the kitchen. Amara’s brief burst of energy died as she stumbled and grasped on the dresser for support. Taking a few breaths, she headed out of her room and into the living room.

“Look who is up. You came in awful late, like one in the morning if not later.” Meagan said as she continued to scrabble some eggs. “Care for any?”

“Huh? No, I am fine.” Amara said as she slid into a chair at the tiny table. She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

“What did you do after you got your flight done?” Susan asked as she bit into some sausage and washed it down with some orange juice.

“Inter…one minute.” Amara yawned again. “Sorry, once they had my name...some VP officers re-interviewed me. Why, I don’t know…it has been over a month. To make it even worse, they changed the flights on me again. So I will still be heading out at the normal time. So damn annoying.”

Susan just shrugged and as the four girls sat down for breakfast, Amara ate in silence. It was her last day in Assington and she was happy and sad she was leaving. As she ate, she heard something tapping the glass on the window. She leaned back in her chair. Jessie looked up. “What is it?”

“There is something.”

“I don’t hear anything.”

Amara leaned back more and observed a bird ramming itself again and again into the window. She watched as the little creature kept torpedoing the glass, each time it bounced off and tried again. There is something you don’t see everyday. She leaned back and continued on with breakfast.

“You know…though this has been a crazy time, it has also been a fun time. You all are welcome over to my place if you are ever in the Golden Simatar.” Amara said.

“Great to hear. I would love to meet your folks…and your boyfriend.” Susan said.

Amara shook her head and put her fork down. “Twitch and I are not dating, I have said this dozens of times. We are just very close friends. We don’t want to date and possibly ruin that relationship. Is that concept so hard to imagine?”

The other three girls looked at each other and nodded. The conversation continued even after breakfast was finished and Amara excused herself to go do some last minute packing. She whistled softly to herself as she put on fresh clothes and packed clothes, books, and toiletries into her bags. Looking around, she made sure she got everything. It was then she spied her silver necklace lying on her dresser. Amara walked over and picked it up.

She suppressed a scream as she dropped it on the floor, clutching her hand. Amara whimpered as she looked at her hand. Her skin had been burnt into a grayish color, much like burned charcoal. What the hell is going on? She looked at her hand, the far fringes of the burn area began to change back to normal. Amara stood there and watched for five minutes as the burn healed. What…the hell?

Amara looked down at the floor and bit her hand, stumbling back into her bed. Lying on the ground was the bloodied and half torn remains of what appeared to be a human. The teenager blinked, the body was gone and only her necklace was on the floor. Getting a tissue, she gently picked up her necklace and put in her briefcase.

Amara wiped the tears from her eyes and made herself presentable as she pulled her luggage out of her room.

“Bye Amara, have a safe trip.” Susan said as she helped her friend remove her bags in front of the terminal gates at the airport.

“Bye. Come see me when you can.” Amara said. The pair embraced for several seconds before Amara collected her things and walked into the terminal. She gave Susan one last wave before she was lost in the sea of bodies. Amara continued through the terminal, in reality she had an hour before her plane was due to board, so she had time to relax.

But, the first thing she did was run to the bathroom and vomit. Amara gagged and vomited a bit more. Damn, breakfast did not agree with me this morning. Renting a locker for a while, she put her things inside. It was then she smelled a familiar scent, she closed the door and nearly shrieked when she saw Marcus standing right next to her. The pair looked at each other for several minutes before Marcus spoke.

“I never thought that you would do so well last night.”

Amara arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“You ate far more than I thought, then again…”

Amara grabbed his arm. “Ate…what?”

Marcus looked at her, the coldness replacing the warmth in his grey eyes and the tone of his voice made her back up. “Why, the human you ate after the hunt.”

Amara backed up a little from Marcus, a bead of sweat formed on her head as she stared at him. “What in the hell are you talking about?”

Marcus looked at her and slowly moved off the locker. “Surely you must be having one or two little flashbacks.”

Amara shook her head and continued to back up, brief frames of memory flashed before her eyes. Someone was running from her in the woods and screaming, the next she could see nothing but blood and gore. She shook her head harder.

“Ah, so you do remember.”

Amara rushed forward and grabbed him, slamming Marcus against the lockers. Her eyes were ablaze as she snarled at him. “What is going on!?”

“Easy there pup, all will be explained. Strange you are not wearing your silver necklace…was it burning?”

Amara stood there frozen, her eyes twitched. She nodded and Marcus just smiled back. She slammed him into the lockers, breaking the grin on his face. “What have you done to me?”

“Given you immortality. Have you ever heard of lycanthropes?”

Amara blinked, her brain was liquid and things were not processing as fast as usual. “Come…again?”

Marcus sighed and easily removed Amara’s hands from his shirt. “That night, that thing that moved in on you…that was me. I am a lycan or more commonly called…a werewolf.”

Amara backed up against another row of lockers and shook her head. “No…no…impossible, werewolves are not real.”

Marcus laughed. “Neither are vampires I guess. That thinking has left your nation vulnerable for centuries. It is a mystery to all of how your country survived for so long without being taken over and made into a massive blood farm for bloodsuckers. Meanwhile, we lycans could have been eating at the humans.”

“And…I ate…”

“A human. Humans are fairly easy to catch and the ones we had last night…excellent. Not to fatty and not too lean. Hunting humans is easier than most animals, humans are committed too much to firearms and once those fail they run. That is when you strike and you just have to hold on for a few minutes before they are exhausted and accept their fate . Just like you did, a wonderful performance…I was afraid you would back off after the first few bullets flew…but I was happily proved wrong. You seem…a tad lost.”

Amara was now shaking, she was trying to fathom this. The silver burning, the memories, it was slowly falling into place and she grew more terrified by the minute. “How…how…”

“I was a college student attending Emerald University and living with my folks in the city shortly before our third vampire war. I was walking to a book signing one night and was attacked by a lycan. I was saved you might say when the werewolf turned from biting me to gunfire a few blocks away. I can only guess that VP and vamps and lycans were clashing. I was too exhausted to move and spent the night in the alley. The next day, wound mostly healed, I went home and informed my parents of what happened. They knew as I what I was becoming. My father left the room for a few minutes and returned with a rifle. I just barely escaped with my life and fled Emerald City and have spent much of my time hoping around. ”

“And you came back. But…how did your bite on me heal?”

Marcus laughed. “There was still a lot of vampire blood around, even after eating most of them. Vampire blood holds great healing powers so I decided to use that instead of my own. Though lycans do heal faster than humans.”

“The bite on your…”

“The bite mark, the bandage…remarkable what you can buy at the corner costume store for a few bucks. Now…you are a lycan. Last night you killed for your first time, I must say that you did rather well. It won’t be till you are older will you be able to control your change and act with a human mind during wolf form. I am here to…”

Amara punched Marcus in the face, sending him back against the metal. “Why did you bite me!?”

Marcus looked at her, sadness was in his eyes. “I was…”

“You are gonna spew that ‘I was alone and looking for a companion’ bullshit on me! I don’t give a damn! I would have still liked you if you told me what you were. If what you say about having a human mind in wolf form I would have still trusted you. Now look what you have done! Ruined my life! I am stuck as an eighteen year old and will never become an actress like I wanted.”

Amara was to the point of crying now. Marcus in front of her was not the Marcus she had met in the common room on month ago, this was a completely different person. Marcus walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her. He received a kick in the groin and an uppercut from Amara. Marcus crumpled and Amara wasted no time in quickly getting her things from her locker. She kicked him nearly a dozen times while he was on the floor, Amara looked around and seeing no one was paying attention, delivered a final kick before running to her plane.

Ten nervous minutes of standing in line and another fifteen of in the plane, she stared out the window at the terminal. She stiffened as she saw a slightly bruised Marcus come to the large windows and stare at her.

Amara slammed the window cover shut and finally relaxed as the captain announced they were leaving. It was then she realized that she was in the middle of a personal battle to tell her parents she was a lycan or not. She did not know how they would react.

Amara decided to play it by ear as the plane taxied for the runway.

It was dusk as Amara entered the terminal and looked around. Amid the hundreds of people, she saw her mother, father and brother. She gasped as she felt her mother’s arms wrap around her and nearly break her in half.

“My baby is safe! Oh, I am so happy to have you home Amara.” She said. Amara’s mother had nearly suffered a heart attack after Amara called them about the vampire attack.

“Oxygen…good stuff…need now.” Amara gasped. She could have easily broken through her mom’s arms, but decided against it. Her mom let her go and the teen took in a deep breath. Her father gave her a powerful hug, but not enough to break her. Keith simply smiled and gave a nod.

“Good to have you back sis.” He said.

“Good to be home, you seem…different.” Amara commented.

Keith looked at her before smelling his armpit. “Graduating tomorrow and as a treat today a sergeant-major came over and ran us ragged. I don’t think I fully bathed.”

“Do you ever?” Amara said under her breath. She took in a whiff of air and smelled three distinctive people coming her way. She turned to see Troy, Alan, and Samantha heading her way. All had smiles on their face but as soon as the waves of people parted and they saw Amara’s parents, Troy was the first to turn around.

“Hold it right there Achenbach! You too Chapman!”

Troy and Alan looked at each other, expressions of terror was painted on their faces. Both boys turned back around to face Amara’s father.

“How are you doing Mr. Waggner?” Troy said.

“Just what are you two hooligans doing here?”

“Ummm…we heard Amara was coming back today and we…”

“Going to throw a party? Last party you threw my daughter was drunk.”

“It wasn’t our fault. We were just…partying and you know…”

“Sam gave her the first drink.” Alan quickly blurted. He got a punch in the arm from Samantha. Peter Waggner arched an eyebrow at her and then glared at the three teenagers. His face was hard as steel but it soon softened.

“All right, if it is a party you have planned, so be it. But, may God have mercy on your souls if Amara comes back home wasted. Keith graduates tomorrow and I would like my daughter there when everyone else is there too.”

The three teens nodded and Amara rammed her bag into her father’s hands. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before moving off with her friends. “Jesus, you guys looked like you saw Satan when you saw my folks.”

“We were going to get here earlier, but Miss ‘drive ten miles below the speed limit’ delayed us.” Alan said. He moved to avoid another punch from Samantha, but her other fist came around and hit him in the back. “You have serious problems Sam.”

“Like you don’t?” She said. “Party is at the dorm’s common room; tell us of your travels Amara.”


It felt good to be back in her own room, though not as large as the one she stayed at in Assington. Rooms those size were for seniors first and then if there was any room left they were open. Amara looked at herself in a large mirror. She wore a clean, white toga and a pair of white sandals. Samantha appeared next to her, dressed likewise.

“I thought you said ‘toga over my dead body’ Amara.”

Amara shrugged as she adjusted it so her bra would not be visible. “What the hell, school year is almost over and why not go wild? Hey, you said you were going on a cruise right after school ends right?”

“Yup, five weeks on the open sea. My folks have built up enough travel points and saved enough money. They figured this was probably the only time to do it, so we did it.”

Both girls studied themselves in the mirror before heading downstairs. As they came down the stairs, they heard Queen’s Under Pressure thumping through the walls. Amara opened the door and gasped. A large banner that stretched the length of the room read Welcome Home Amara. Several dozen people clad in togas danced and when she appeared all turned and gave cheers and applause. She blushed and her nose was in overload from the smells of the people and the long table with food.

Amara shook some hands and gave some hugs before finding a chair to sit in. As she looked in the crowd, she studied each person independently. Sizing up their strength, possible ability to run for a long time or struggle free of her grasp. She shook herself as she realized she was studying them for who would be the best to eat, just like a predator. Her breathing quickened as she stood and headed over to food table. It was then she remembered she was a lycan, a hunter and humans were prey.

Amara got some punch and drained the glass in seconds. A hand grabbed her and suddenly yanked her into the mass. She turned to see Troy, his breath smelling slightly of booze as someone probably snuck in a bottle, smiling at her and his eye twitching. He stopped smiling as he saw the look in her face.

“Amara, what is wrong?” His voice was very concerned.

“Twitch, I have to tell you something.”

“Sure, what…oh man.”

Amara turned to see Alan pick up a microphone and get up on the small stage where the DJ was. Alan turned to the DJ and gave thumbs up. Music stared and Alan was soon singing Shout and was quickly joined by everyone the room. Amara decided to be alive for this one night and panic later. Her back was turned at the end of the song and when a cheer erupted she turned and started laughing along with Troy.

Not much to her surprise, Alan had ripped off his toga to reveal he was completely naked.

It was mid-afternoon, the school year was over, Keith was a commissioned second Lieutenant, and the snow had melted away. Amara sat in a diner with Troy. She still had not informed him or her family of what she was. She knew that it was only a short time before the next full moon. At least Marcus is not here. Troy looked up from his plate, Amara had barely touched her ribs. He set down his knife and fork and drank some soda. Something was bugging his long time friend and she had yet to let on what it was.

“Amara, something is bugging you. What is it?”

Amara looked at Troy. Out of everyone she trusted him the most, more than her own parents. She knew he was open minded and would care for her no matter what. She bit her lip.

“We have to talk.”


Warrenton University boasted a sprawling three story science center, complete with chemistry labs, several large water tanks for marine creatures, and numerous other labs and stations rented on occasion during the summer by corporations or businesses. Amara and Troy were inside one of the main chemistry labs. Troy had a card that let him access the building as he spent a lot of his time while he was not working there in hopes of graduating early.

Amara had just split everything, from meeting Marcus to just before leaving Emerald City. Troy sat quietly, his eyes distant. He shifted and looked at her.

“You don’t believe me.” She said. Troy readjusted himself in his seat. Amara knew that it would take something extreme for him to believe him. She spotted a silver pen on the table. She knew what she had to do. Amara grabbed it and held it for a few seconds before screaming and dropping it to the floor and falling back into a chair.

Troy rushed forward and held her. Amara was whimpering and she showed him her hand. The skin was burnt and Troy watched as the skin began to heal. She was telling the truth. “Help me Twitch. Don’t you know anything that could help?”

Troy sat quietly before going back to his chair and booting up a computer in front of him. “I don’t, but I regularly chat to an American who is a huge horror fanatic. This kid is seriously messed up in terms of tastes of films…I feel sorry for his folks. Start him on a horror film, he can go on for hours. He might know something.”

Amara rolled her chair over and watched as Troy logged in. She stared and decided to let Troy handle the talk.

lzybum: hey dude, wazup?

deminva: n2m…still have school. if u rub in 1 mer time u have no school, I swear I will come over there and kill u

lzybum: na man, not that…at least not yet. A friend of mine is in our creative writing program and is trying to write a werewolf story…any helpers?

deminva: lycans eh? I prefer zombies…God Bless George A. Romero…but lycans are pretty cool. How is he/she going…anti-genre or reg?

lzybum: reg

deminva: okay troy, what do ya wanna know?

lzybum: looks, feeding habits…general stuff and hopefully in-depth shit

deminva: well, proper term is lycanthrope not werewolf. Let me see, lets go with the looks first.

lzybum: k

deminva: well, if you do an image search online you will probably see dozens if not hundreds of designs. Most are probably german shepards and huskies standing on their hind paws eating someone. Course there are also other were creatures, but we won’t get into that.

deminva: in 1981 Joe Dante released THE HOWLING…probably the best lycan film ever made. The lycans were done by Rob Bottin…who also did effects for JOHN CARPENTERS THE THING and PIRANHA. The lycans are what many people consider the template for lycans

lzybum: I thought the wolf man was a lycan

deminva: no he is a puppy compared to a lycan. Basically a lycan looks nothing like a human. Standing about 6-8 foot tall, lots of hair, muscles, a long snout brimming with teeth, very fast and deadly. You see a full one for only a few minutes in HOWLING…but I believe it is the first time this design was used. I’ll shoot you some pics in a few

deminva: another look came about the same time from John Landis…director of ANIMAL HOUSE…strange ain’t it? AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON had a werewolf that was four legged and looked far more wolf. Personally, it is okay for me…but I still go with the HOWLING lycans. There are many other designs, since you are probably not in the mood for movie trivia…I’ll skip the rest.

deminva: feeding, while most films have them eating humans…why not? Humans are stupid and with the current trend we will be as big as the suburban assault vehicles we drive. But, lycans while in wolf and human form can eat any kind of meat and I think drink anything

lzybum: what about eating chocolate, eggs…everything else?

deminva: unless there is something I missed…you will have one sick lycan on your hands…vomit galore. But, human…elk, deer…any kind of meat.

deminva: in terms of intelligence…I am not too sure on figures, but possibly a few years before a lycan can have a more human mind while in wolf form and tell between friend and dinner.

lzybum: okay, how does one become a lycan and can you change the process?

deminva: bitten by a lycan either in wolf or if they are able to transform with just some fangs, in human form too. Sorry mate, once bitten, no way to stop the change. Maybe injecting oneself with silver nitrate right after the bite…but I am not too sure. Spare for putting a silver slug through the head, that is the only real way to kill one cause the damn things self-heal damn fast like vampires

lzybum: the full moon stuff?

deminva: yup

lzybum: do you think lycans exist?

deminva: course not, really the only folks who probably do are the people who they are one…like vampires. Then again, there are corporate vampires…republicans are vampires too…Castro…hmmm…you may have nailed me. Castro could be a lycan…or something…at any rate the dude is fucking immortal.

lzybum: lol

deminva: g2g2b…ttyl

lzybum: thanks Rick…night man

Troy signed off and turned to Amara. She slumped in her chair, knowing that there was no way to transform herself back into human form. She looked at Troy. “Who was that kid?”

“Name is Rick…last name…tip of my tongue…it is Welsh, but can’t say it right off. A liberal democrat…he says probably the most bloodthirsty liberal you will ever meet. Seems like I have known him for years though it has only been a few months of chat.”

Amara scratched her head. “I have that same feeling, he seems...it seems like I know him. Well, maybe in another dimension.”

“Agreed…putting that aside, what should we do now?”

Amara leaned back in her chair. “Tell Alan, Sam is out on her cruise right now. Then, then we tell my folks.”

She relaxed as Troy wrapped her arms around her, she smelled him and gently stuck her tongue out and touched his skin. She looked up and Troy had not noticed. She kissed his arm and licked his skin and then her lips, this time he did. He immediately reeled back and it was then Amara lost her thoughts of how tasty Troy was to what had just happened.

She started to shake. “Oh Jesus Twitch…”

Troy knew she did not mean to do it and he quickly held her just as she started to cry.

The next day Troy and Amara went to see Alan at the supermarket where he worked. Alan looked from Troy to Amara to the silver pen lying on floor. He slowly put a loaf of bread on the rack and picked up the pen and gave it to Troy. For the next few minutes, he worked like a robot before turning to them. Alan looked behind him and then refocused on his friends.

“Okay, what is the game plan?”

Amara sighed; Alan had not gone into hysterics. They were indeed her friends, not matter what. They were sticking by her and she could use all the support she could get. “Well, figure out a way to keep me from eating people…last thing I want is the VIB coming down on top of us.”

“Agreed.” Troy said. That was the whole problem, how to contain Amara during the full moon without getting themselves hurt or killed and without her eating any people. He nibbled on his thumb as he thought.

Alan kept stacking bread as he thought, he paused. “Guys, I have an idea. Now, I get off in mid-afternoon so that gives me plenty of time. Troy, is there usually anyone else at the science labs at night?”

“Uh, not usually, cameras are on twenty-four seven but there might be a security guard. Why?” Troy said confused at what Alan was driving at.

“Leave the backdoor near where you are in the chemistry lab and I will meet you two there just after nightfall tonight. Now, I gotta go back to work, I don’t want my ass fired.”

Troy and Amara both looked at each other and said their goodbyes to Alan and left the store, wondering what Alan had in mind.


That night, Amara was nervously bouncing her foot on the floor. She had told her parents that she and Troy were going out to a movie and she would spend the night at Troy’s house. Troy meanwhile told his parents that he was also going to the movies with Amara and spend some time at the lab. They could only imagine what Alan cooked up. Amara lifted her head as she heard Alan coming down the hall before Troy did. Alan came through the door and dropped a sports bag on the floor.

“What in God’s name is this stuff Alan?” Troy asked.

“Listen Twitch, as I recall you constantly said the guy heading up the chemistry department constantly over ordered and never sent any back and usually didn’t record surplus cause he is a lazy bastard.” Alan said.

“Your point being?”

Troy’s question was answered as Alan pulled out a pair of water guns and laid them on a table. He next removed a pair of small water pistols and small plastic bottles.

“Way I see it, we fill these puppies with silver nitrate and use them to contain Amara if she wolfs out. Blast her into a room and seal her up, wounds will heal but the silver will cause her to retreat.” Alan said.

Amara looked at them and shrugged. “Sounds good, better than a silver bullet.”

Troy nodded; it appeared he was going along with Alan’s crazy scheme. “Sounds nice Alan…shit, you should have brought our airsofts. The professor ordered silver BBs for some experiments he is doing.”

“Air…what?” Amara asked.

“Basically realistic looking firearms that shook BBs basically. Kinda like paintball, but a bit more dangerous and real. Troy and I got into it while you were gone, surprised he didn’t tell you.” Alan said as he began to grab several bottles marked AgNO3. He started to fill the guns and bottles with silver nitrate. “By the way, when is the next full moon?”

Troy shrugged and brought up the internet on the computer. He checked the calendar and scanned through the weeks. His body went ridged, checking the date on his watch; he looked back at the computer. He spun and looked at Amara.

“Get away from the windows!”

Amara turned and looked at him, but as Troy moved to move the blinds into place, she began to feel a tingling sensation over her body. She looked up and through the clouds; the moon was full and blasted her with light. Her breathing became ragged and she felt her insides begin to twist.

Troy ran next to Alan and both watched as Amara looked at them, her eyes were now black orbs, her hair began to grow, and her clothes began to tear as her bones began their transformation. Alan had just screwed the top onto the tank on his water gun and handed a pistol and gun to Troy. The pair slowly backed up as they watched the half-naked, mid-transformation Amara disappear behind a lab table. They heard her cries for help slowly becoming wolf howls and intermingling with the cracking of bone.

Alan looked at Troy. “What are we going to do?”

“Run like hell.”

Troy looked through the window on the door into the chemistry lab he and Alan had just vacated. He looked around for any sign of the lycan form of Amara. She might be on the floor unconscious, but whatever the case, Alan was able to get him to move from the door and the pair made their way deeper into the science building. The hallways were dark spare for only by a few lights. They paused and turned when they heard a growl reverberate through the halls.

“Oh shit Twitch.” Alan whispered. Troy’s only response was grabbing Alan and dragging him into a room. He closed the metal door and locked it. He looked through the window and saw down the hall. It was then he saw Amara.

The lycan form of Amara (http://www.upcominghorrormovies.com/images/underworld36.jpg) moved slowly down the hallway, sniffing the air and ground. Troy guessed she now stood around six and a half to seven feet tall and she looked ferocious. He slid down the wall and looked at Alan, who was crouched on the other side of the door. Troy simply nodded and Alan closed his eyes and muttered a prayer.

Troy slid back up and his blood went to ice as he looked through the window. Standing next to Amara was another lycan, this one a little larger than she was. It didn’t take Troy two seconds to know that the lycan standing next to Amara was Marcus; the bastard had come all this way to be with his pup. Troy looked down as he felt Alan tug at his pant leg.

“Marcus.” Troy whispered. Alan cursed. Troy looked back through the window and met eyes with Marcus; the teenager quickly slid back down and looked at Alan, his heart rate climbing every nano-second. “I think he knows we’re here.”

“What makes you say that?” Alan whispered.

The window exploded in a shower of glass as an arm reached through. The claw like fingernails dug at the pair as the creature on the other side of the door snarled. Both teens started yelling, jumping up from where they were they started to spray silver nitrate at the door. There was a howl; the smell of cooked flesh was in the air as the arm bid a hasty retreat. Troy and Alan had no time to savor their victory as one of the lycans began to pound into the door, the top hinge flew off and it would only be a few seconds before the animal came through.

The teens ran to the other side of the room, knocking over tables, beakers, microscopes, anything they thought would slow down their hunters. The door exploded inwards and rocketed across the room. The teens did not turn as they heard the howl and scramble as a lycan ran after them. Alan slammed the next door shut seconds before several hundred pounds of wolf slammed into it, sending the teen tumbling back into a glass wall.

He shook his head and the glass behind him shook violently. Alan scrambled back from the glass and turned to see another lycan, snarling angrily at him. The animal began to break through and the teen was rescued as Troy grabbed him by the arm and hauled him out of the room. Troy closed the next door just as both lycans broke through. Taking a chair from Alan, he propped it up against the handle in a vain attempt to keep it shut and the terror on the other side.

“The lycan that nearly got through the glass…that is Amara.” He heaved. His shirt stuck to his body as sweat came in waves through his pores.

“Jesus, what do we do now?” Alan gasped.

“I…I don’t know.”

“This is really crazy Troy. Man, this would make one fucked up scene in a horror flick, two guys running from lycans slamming doors behind them armed with water guns.”

Before Troy could respond, the door was ripped open and both Marcus and Amara stepped through. Both teens began to slowly back up, pumping their guns like mad as the lycans moved slowly forward, licking their lips in anticipation of the kill. Troy’s mind was working like mad, soon they would be up against the wall and devoured. They had to put some meat between them and the lycans. Some meat…

Troy handed his gun to Alan and while the other teen tried to keep his eyes on both lycans, Troy moved to the other door in the back and opened it. Both lycans roared and Alan squeezed the triggers, spraying the clear liquid everywhere as he back pedaled as fast as he could. Amara snarled and was sent back while Marcus pressed the attack until a single droplet his right eye. He howled in pain and anger, Alan took the few seconds leave and in panic, dropped one of the guns and ran through the door where Troy was.

“What…”

“Don’t ask, just follow.” Troy interrupted him as he slammed the door shut and grabbing Alan, dragged him back into the hallway and ran with him until they reached another door. Troy opened it and shoved Alan in, but didn’t close it. Screeches filled the air and Alan spun and through the few lights in the room, he could see dozens of cages holding everything from parrots to a few tiger cubs.

“What is this place?”

“Room is rented to a wild animal shelter, these babies will give their lives so we can live. Most are hurt in some way shape or form so they won’t get far and will keep the lycans in here.”

Troy looked back at the door as he heard the snarling of the two lycans. Grabbing Alan, he took his friend to the far back of the room. A metal door with a window in the middle sat before them. Troy pulled a keycard from his wallet and slid it into the scanner and the door clicked open. The pair moved inside and Troy shut the door, there was a heavy thud as it locked.

“Thick metal, we should be safe.”

Troy and Alan sat down on the floor and took a look around them. Boxes of animal food and medicine were piled high. Alan saw a gym bag and hauled it over. Opening it, he found a pair of black boots, leather pants, a skin tight red latex t-shirt, leather jacket, and a cosmetic set.

“Looks like one of the female workers here enjoys the nightlife.” He commented as he shoved the back bag in place where he found it. He was going to say something else, until Troy covered his mouth.

The animal sounds grew louder, there were the howls of the lycans before the sound of metal being torn apart and the sound of dying animals. The snarls and screeches continued unabated for over a half an hour as the lycans fed. Troy slid up the wall and took a few seconds look in the window before coming back down. All he saw was the floor was coated in blood, many cages torn apart, and Amara and Marcus ripping open cages and feasting upon the helpless creatures inside. The sounds gradually died off until silence came over the building.

Locked in the storage room, Troy and Alan looked at each other before hearing the howling of the lycans again. Both froze as the howls continued, but in a different tempo and pitch than it was before. Troy once again slid up but slid back down just as his eyes looked through. His face bore the look of disgust.

“What is it?” Alan whispered.

“You don’t want to know.” Troy whispered back as he slid closer to Alan.

“Tell me.”

Troy just looked at Alan, it began to dawn on him what the lycans were doing.

“She isn’t…”

“She is.”

“Oh that shit is messed up man. We gotta listen to those two humping away until morning?”

“Looks like it, we take two hour shifts okay?” Troy said, taking the water gun from Alan. “I’ll take first, you get some sleep. Hopefully they will tire and rest here. If they do, we can drench Marcus in silver in the morning.”

Alan just gave a nod as he curled up and tried to go to sleep.

Troy turned back to the door, ready if the lycans were in the mood for human.

Troy grumbled as he felt someone shaking him. He opened his eyes slowly and yawned. His whole body was stiff and sore. Alan was looking at him, his eyes red with exhaustion and through the window in the door he saw daylight. With help from Alan, he was able to stand and pulled the water pistol from his belt. Both walked to the door and saw the holocaust. No cage had been left un-open, blood and hair covered the floors, walls and the metal heaps. Both teens looked at each other, not knowing if Amara had changed back or if Marcus was still around.

The door opened slowly and the pair made their way out. The floor was slick with blood and the pair moved slowly into the room, not wishing to land face first in the pools of crimson. They heard someone breathing and Troy grabbed Alan’s pistol and held both weapons out in front of him. The breathing came from behind some broken tables. Troy and Alan looked at each other and were ready to put every drop of silver nitrate onto Marcus’s head.

With a deep breath of air, both teens jumped around the side of the tables to only discover the naked form of Amara sleeping contently. Both teens whirled around, looking for Marcus, but Troy was the first to spot a set of wolf footprints moving from Amara and out the door. Marcus had left sometime during the night. Both teens lowered their weapons, glad to find the most dangerous lycan was gone.

“Alan, remember that shit you found last night? Get it on Amara; I need to go check out something.” Troy said.

“Hold up…if I try that…she might try to eat me, even in human form.”

“Then be careful.”

Troy turned and left the room. The lycan footprints continued on to one of the backdoors, but this wasn’t what Troy was interested in. He headed to the main entrance and into the small security office. Marcus had been thorough, he had destroyed the camera recorder, broke the guard’s neck and anything that might get him caught. Troy turned around and raised the pistols as he heard someone running down the hallway.

Alan appeared in the doorway. “Open fire she is pissed!”

A naked, slightly blood covered Amara appeared in the doorway, looking like she was willing to tear into Alan that second. “Pervert! You sick little bastard! I knew you had problems Alan! Trying to handle me…pervert!”

Alan ducked behind Troy and Troy had to use all of his strength to at least get Amara to her senses. “Amara! Calm down. Last night you turned and Alan and I sought refuge in a storage closet while you killed the animals.”

Amara paused at looked at him. Tears began to well up in her eyes. “Oh my…I’m so sorry. Please…I…”

“Its okay, listen…your regular clothes are destroyed. Someone is gonna be coming over soon so I need you to throw on some clothes Alan found last night and you two get out of here. Wash up under one of the chemical splash showers and get out. I’ll try to get some heat off you. We will explain everything over breakfast. Okay?”

Amara, tears now flowing down her face nodded and gave Troy a hug. Amara headed back down the hallway while Troy handed Alan his water pistols and began to try and figure out how to make the police think it was only one lycan and not two.


Amara now dressed in the leather and latex Alan had found the previous night looked down at her plate of hash browns, scrabbled eggs, sausage, and bacon. She felt uncomfortable in the new clothes, but it was better than being naked. Across the booth from her, Alan was tearing into his pancakes. She stood as she smelled Troy enter the diner and gave him a hug as he sat down. They had already ordered Troy’s breakfast of cream-chip beef. He took a few bites before talking.

“Okay, here is the situation. I reported that a large creature that resembled a wolf walking on its hind legs charged into the facility last night. I sought refuge in the back room of the animal holding area. The creature had been chasing me and forgot about me to go after the animals. Of course, the VIB are going to be called in and try to keep it hush-hush.”

“Sounds good Troy…just as long as they don’t pin anything on Amara.” Alan said through a mouthful of eggs. “Mind if I swipe some hash browns Amara?”

“Go for it…I can only eat meat.” She said. “What…what happened last night? Things are coming back but I want to hear it now.”

Her two friends looked at each other. She sensed there was a change in their attitudes. Something was up. Troy looked at her. “You changed and tried to eat Alan and me…and….”

“Marcus is here.” Amara said for him. Both humans looked at her in a state of shock. She bit into some bacon. “I smelled his stench on me before I showered. Though, I still smell his stink on me.”

“Yeah well…we can’t go to the VIB and say we know who it is. One is because they will automatically question us and nail Amara as another lycan. Two…guy has no record here.” Troy said. “And uhhhh….you should know this. After your little feast…you kinda…well…you had sex.”

Amara shuddered and nodded, everything was coming back from that night. She had lost her virginity to a wolf, but she had enjoyed it. Though now she was disgusted. As she ate the meat on her plate, she let Troy and Alan take the other stuff. She looked at a link of sausage on the end of her fork and bit into it. Not only were the visions of what had happened during her last two changes come back, but also the tastes, smells, and sounds. She bit into the sausage again and felt her stomach twist as she looked at Troy and Alan.

“Guys, I have to say this.” She lowered her head and was quiet for nearly a minute before she spoke again. “I…I…”

“Come on Amara, we are all friends.” Alan said.

Amara felt her gut tighten before speaking. “I…I am developing a taste for human flesh.”

The reaction was what she expected. Both Troy and Alan dropped their utensils and Alan made an audible swallow. Alan asked quietly. “You are…joking right?”

Amara shook her head, she was completely serious. “I wish I was…but, human is much tastier than anything I had last night. I mean everything from blood to liver tastes better. Humans are easier to catch and it is…entertaining to hear their screams and witness desperate attempts to escape. Though I have only had it once, I prefer it over any other meat…other stuff is passable, but not as good as…”

It was then she realized what she was saying. Covering her face with her hands she started to cry. She knew what she had said was the truth, thought it had horrified her friends. Amara felt more like an animal than a person. She smelled Troy next to her and felt his arms wrap around her.

“Its okay. Though it is creepy hearing you say it, we understand that you are…well…not a human anymore. Its okay Amara, you are not a monster. Though your body has changed and…uhhhh…tastes in foods changed, you are still the Amara we know. Though, we have to find a way to keep you penned up for next full moon so you won’t go and eat a few people. I think…”

“We can’t.” Amara said through her tears. She held onto Troy tight and felt Alan’s hand touch her shoulder reassuringly.

“We have to tell your parents, they can help far more than we can.”

Amara knew this was the truth and it took another ten minutes of coaxing before she agreed. “Just don’t tell them I’d rather eat a human over a pig.”

“Promise.” Troy and Alan said simultaneously.

Amara smiled, after they paid, the trio left for Amara’s house, a cloud of uncertainty hanging over them.

Amara’s house was dead quiet for nearly ten minutes as her hand healed from holding silver.

She, Troy, and Alan sat on a couch opposite of Amara’s parents and brother. Her parents sat quietly as Amara told her story while Keith simply gawked. Adolph hobbled over to her and started to sniff Amara, something was different about his family member but the dog could not figure it out. Amara’s cat meanwhile had stayed away from her and hissed when she had gotten near.

When Amara had finished her tale, her parents did not make any sound afterward. Keith was the first to speak. “Shit.”

Her father looked at her. “So, you can only change during the full moon?”

“Yeah…during that time I become just like an animal, first living thing I see I want to eat. It isn’t till the next day till I remember.” Amara said, butterflies were in her chest as she did not know how her parents would react overall to her transformation. So far they seemed to have been taking it rather well.

“So far you have yet to kill any human here…so…I guess we could go to the VIB…” Her mother started.

“No!” Amara, Troy, Alan, and even Keith said at the same time. Amara looked at her older brother, confused on why he got in. “Keith, why do you say no? Wouldn’t it be grand? Getting rid of your younger sister who is now a freak?”

“No…I said no because since you did kill someone in Assington, I imagine their VP is not a bunch of good-old-boys and I imagine once they find the body of your…uhhhh…once they find the body I am sure they can link it to a werewolf. If the VIB comes along and says they have one, chances are slim that they will send someone over for a hair sample to test against some they got off the body. Still, that is a chance. Also, after what happened in Clarence with the vampires…VIB lose their heads for a second and go American on you and torture you. I don’t want that to happen.”

Amara smiled, Keith actually did care about her health. “I would hug you…but there are other people around.”

There were some chuckles in the room after that, breaking the tension slightly. Amara’s father was sitting deep in thought before looking at his daughter. “You did say you could eat any kind of meat right?”

“Yeah dad, why?”

“Well, as you know we have a cabin up in the mountains, a few hours drive…but it is removed from anyone. We could take you up there the day of the full moon and come back the next morning to pick you up. I’m sure you can find your way back after your hunt. There are a lot of deer, fox, birds, and other stuff you can go for.”

Amara nodded eagerly. Her parents were not being brutes like Marcus’s parents had been. She was feeling more relaxed by the minute as her father left the room for a few minutes. Her heart sank, she and her friends froze when her father returned with a Winchester model 94 Ranger and placed a silver 30-30 Win bullet into it.

Amara freaked and jumped back over the couch, her leg caught on it and knocked it backwards, sending Alan and Troy tumbling over her. “Daddy!”

Peter Waggner realized his mistake and leaned the rifle against the wall. He moved to his daughter, who backed up slightly. “Amara, listen…I would never use it on you. Never. If this Marcus character really wants to be with you, we have to be ready. If he comes knocking we can kill or at least disable him. Please…I do not want you to fear me.”

Amara’s eyes watered and she ran into her father’s arms, weeping. She was happy to have such caring parents and brother.


As the days wore on, life was seemly back to as normal as a life could be with a lycan daughter. Marcus had not been spotted, but Amara had smelled him once, but the scent was a few hours old and on the other side of town. Samantha had fainted after Amara had told her what she had become and she had fainted again when Amara refreshed her memory. Troy, Alan, and Samantha all kept a close eye on their friend, making sure if a craving for human came up they were there to kill it.

The day of the full moon, Alan, Troy, Keith, Samantha, and Amara’s father brought her to the cabin located in the mountains. It was deep in the woods and was only accessible on a dirt road obscured by trees. Going up in two cars, they would leave the second with Amara, in case she changed back and wanted immediately head home.

“Okay, no TV sadly…but you have radio, magazines, books, extra clothes, a fridge with some venison in it and drinks.” Amara’s father said looking around the small four room cabin. “Let me see. No one should be…wait…Boy Scouts are coming through, but that is tomorrow. So, they and you will be fine.”

“Thanks Dad.” Amara said. She said goodbye to everyone, but Troy stayed behind for a bit. He sat down next to her.

“Be thankful your father didn’t catch that gleam in your eye when he mentioned the Boy Scouts.” He said. “What is it? Why are you craving human? I mean, I don’t want you being hauled in front of a court and killed for murder.”

“I know, but I read that predators start to hunt prey that they like. I mean, I read a lioness in Africa got in the habit of hiding out near a roadside bar and preying upon drunks. Humans are just easier to catch and kill than anything else. It only seems natural. And, humans frankly taste better. I know that sounds horrid Twitch, but that is how I feel.”

“I understand. Well, if we are ever able to get rid of Marcus…maybe we can go to the VIB and well…I am sure there is more than one criminal on death row that no one cares about.” Troy said slowly, not believing what was leaving his mouth.

“If he ever surfaces again. You best get going. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

“See ya Amara.” Troy gave her a hug before heading outside and into the waiting car.

Amara watched them go, picking up a book, she lay down on the couch and turned on her music; waiting for the moon to rise.

Troy was back in the science labs. The VIB had combed the building before announcing it safe. Security was vamped up slightly and the guard was now armed. Troy booted up his computer and poured some hot chocolate from a thermos he had. Troy looked through a window, it was late at night and the moon was full. Amara was probably hunting and thankfully not for human. Looking down his list of IM buddies, he found Rick.

lzybum: yo

deminva: hey dawg

lzybum: sup?

deminva: n2m…just watched CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST…awesome movie man

lzybum: I do not wish to know what that is about, sounds rather nasty.

deminva: it is…hehehe

lzybum: I have a few more questions on lycans

deminva: wait, if you are outta school, how come the lycan questions?

lzybum: she is trying to get her degree early

deminva: I c

deminva: fire away

lzybum: can a lycan get pregnant?

deminva: eh?

deminva: mind repeating that for me?

lzybum: can a lycan get pregnant? My friend is putting that into her story, but wants to know if it possible, she is a bit anal.

deminva: I suppose so, unlike vampires they are living creatures unlike vampires, so I have to say it is within the realm of possibility

deminva: but, being immortal the aging process is negated or slowed down to like a few days of aging per year. So in that regard, having a kid is far out. Though, it is possible that a baby could develop at a normal rate.

lzybum: interesting

deminva: yeah, be interesting what pops out. In the remake of THE FLY...well...that would be a spoiler.

lzybum: another thing, do lycans naturally crave human flesh?

deminva: well, they are predators and we prey. So if a lycan finds that hunting and killing a human if more fun and easier, they will naturally hunt humans.

lzybum: what about in human form?

deminva: I figure, yeah the same applies. They might try to tear in to someone with their bare teeth.

lzybum: thanks man

deminva: np, I have to run. My dog needs to potty

lzybum: okay, ttyl

Troy shut down IM and went back to surfing. He turned opened the music file he had saved and started to play Green Day. He turned to get his thermos and refill his mug; he froze as he saw a human shadow over it. Troy’s eyes gently drifted upward and he jumped in the seat, rolling back a few feet before crashing into a table. There was a person crouched on the table, it didn’t take Troy a long time to know this was Marcus.

“Marcus I take it.”

“Yes…and you are?”

“Troy.”

“Ah yes, Amara spoke a lot about you in Assington.”

“She spoke a lot about you when she returned…none of it flattering.”

Marcus sighed and shrugged. “I was a bit rough with her, I have to admit. Now, where is she?”

“Rough? You call transforming a girl against her will a bit rough? Like hell I am telling you where she is.” Troy said his hand slowly moving behind him, his silver nitrate loaded pistol was a few inches away.

Marcus picked up on this. His voice was calm and cool. “Don’t try that…cost your friend Alan his head and Samantha her throat.”

A lump appeared in Troy’s throat, sweat began to form and his mouth became dry. “What?”

Marcus smiled and laughed. “Oh, I found them necking in the park. I tried to talk to them. Your buddy Alan tried to hit me with silver…a twist and his head was on the ground. Samantha, little girl didn’t know how to fight. A grab and rip…that was that. Police won’t find their bodies for a while…or what remains after I had a snack.”

“How did you get in?”

“Even in human form, a lycan moves fast…now where is my little girl?”

“Safe, safe from a monster like you. You have let immortality and your strength go to your head. Why did you bite her?”

Marcus laughed again. “Well I did it…well; whatever I say will sound a bit cliché since movies have sucked that dry.”

“Yeah probably. But, you aren’t dry.”

The steaming hot chocolate in the thermos rocketed out of the open top as Troy thrust it at Marcus. The lycan caught much of it in his face and snarled as some entered his eyes. Troy stood and began to fire silver nitrate, cutting burnt streaks on Marcus’s hands and neck. The lycan tumbled out of sight and Troy ran from the room. There was no turning back, the bastard had to die. He had killed Alan and Samantha and would keep killing till he had Amara.

A howl behind announced Marcus’s change. Troy ran towards a door leading him into the biology wing. The door was open and Troy charged through. He slammed the door shut and kept moving. The sounds of breathing caused him to dive under a table and curl up into a ball. He watched as the lycan slowly entered the room. The nostrils sucked in every scent and the ears took in every sound.

The lycan moved towards a group of cabinets and like a human, began to open them. Jesus, the bastard thinks like a human. Troy’s body was tense and he dare not to breathe as the lycanthrope continued to look for him. He nearly screamed as he heard the squeaks of some rats in a cage above him. Troy backed up into the wall, hoping that it would absorb him. Marcus turned and apparently without seeing him moved over to the table. Troy held his break as the lycan stood in front of the table. There was a growl, the tear of metal, and squeaks as the rats were torn apart and devoured.

Troy reached slowly into his pocket and retrieved a small coin. What he was about to do he knew was insane, but it was his only chance. Troy tossed the coin past the legs and into the hallway he had come from. Marcus spun and growled and Troy held back a stream of bile as the tiny head of rat fell before him. The lycan growled and ran towards the source of the noise.

The teen waited a few minutes before getting out of his spot. Troy turned and kept running down the hall into several rooms, looking for anything that could be used as a weapon. Distracted with his search, he did not see the shape coming at him from the shadows till it was too late. Troy turned and screamed as he felt the lycan’s claws rip into his side, blood spilled and the teen took off, not looking behind him to see if Marcus was following. Troy looked down and saw to his horror part of his small intestines was trying to slide out. He pushed it back in and held a hand to his side as he began to stumble as pain racked his body. He did not see the trail of blood he was leaving.

For nearly five minutes, Troy maneuvered in the dark, Marcus’s howls urging him on. He opened another door, dumping him into the main hallway, and after closing, he hammered in the code for lock with his crimson coated fingers. Troy smiled, only a bit further to a phone. A low growl took his attention.

Troy slowly turned and looked down the hallway a hundred feet. Marcus was there in full lycan form and began to slowly march towards him. Troy looked left and looked right, there was no where to run.

Troy knew he was going to die.

Amara drove the car that her parents had left for her at the cabin back home. After waking up next to the corpse of a dead bear cub in the early morning hours, Amara had headed back to the cabin to wait. After several phone calls, she decided to head off in mid-afternoon. It was growing dark as she entered suburbia. Amara was sore as she climbed out of the car in her driveway. It was then she smelled blood.

Amara ran up to the front door of her house and paused. Taking a breath, she tested the handle, the door was locked. Moving some leaves on the potted plant next to the door and fetched the spare key. Slowly unlocking the door, she went into the house, the only source of illumination was from the outside, giving her house and eerie look. She looked around the foyer and screamed.

Her mother was in a heap at the base of the stairs, blood had pooled around her, her face was ripped apart, her entire lower jaw was missing. Amara was shaking and she grabbed an umbrella next to the door and held it like a sword. The young lycan did not bother checking to see if there was life in her mother, she had been dead for a while now.

In the family room, she found her father and brother. Her father’s head was missing and his insides covered the floor. Keith was half hidden by the couch and Amara moved around it. His skull had been smashed in from both left and right, brains, bones and blood made his head into a mushy pulp. Amara noted he had been half eaten. Snow and Adolph were also dead, her cat was stuck to the wall with a kitchen knife while Adolph had been broken in half. As she looked around, she knew Marcus had caused all of this, how and when were the questions.

“Pity.”

Amara froze and slowly turned around. Sitting on the stairs, was Marcus looking straight at her. She watched in horror as the old lycan reached into her mother’s mouth and pulled out her tongue. She felt like whimpering as Marcus ate the piece of meat, completely lacking any emotion.

“Hmmm…tasty. Don’t worry, I don’t think the neighbors heard anything last night. You should update your security system, it didn't pick me up after I picked the backdoor's lock. After dealing with your mortal friends I paid a visit here. Troy, wasn’t the tastiest fellow you know.”

Her body became lead as the news of her friend’s demise hit her. She began to shake her head, tears began to well up as she tried not to believe what Marcus had said. It wasn’t until he had produced Alan’s, Samantha’s, and Troy’s high school rings coated in blood did she believe him. Amara began to back up, stepping in her father’s entrails, she turned to moved off him and spotted the Winchester near his hand. Amara grabbed it and leveled it at Marcus, who was now standing and moving towards her. The weapon was cocked, but Amara failed to smell the slightest hint of a discharge; silver was still in the barrel.

“Amara…”

“Stay back! Get back you creep! You immortal, homicidal monster!”

“Monster? You fail to see that life doesn’t die when one becomes immortal. A whole new life opens up. Rules…rules don’t apply to you. You have freedom.”

Amara pressed the rifle into her shoulder, trying to remember what her father had taught her years ago. She lined up Marcus’s head in the sites. Tears flowed from her eyes. “I don’t want this…this curse. Everyone is gone. Now…stay back.”

Marcus held out his hand. “Give me the gun.”

“Get away from me…please.” She was now crying, but kept the sites firmly fixed.

“Give me the gun.” Marcus said coolly as he moved forward before stopping a few feet from her.

“Another step and I shoot.”

Marcus moved forward.

Amara was inside the pantry weeping. Her eyes cleared enough for her to look through the crack in the door. Marcus’s shoes stuck out just past the corner of the wall, the Winchester lay a foot away from the corpse of her creator, a thin trail of smoke coming from the barrel. Amara knew someone had to hear that, police would come and she would be arrested. Everything was now officially over for her. Her friend’s families would be less compassionate than her own had been and they would demand her blood.

She stopped crying as she heard the backdoor slowly open and someone enter the house. Amara began to wipe the tears away and she listened carefully. The footsteps were slow, evenly measured, there was no rush for the intruder. The footsteps got louder and she held her breath. The noise halted, but what she heard was a low mumble of a voice. The footsteps started again and looking through the narrow crack, she saw a figure in the family room.

The man was dressed entirely in black from his boots to leather trenchcoat. She guessed he stood around 6’1 and as she looked at him, she saw a pistol in his hand. He knelt next to rifle and picked it up, smelling the barrel. From streetlight beams coming through the windows, she got a glimpse of the man’s skin, very pale. Vampire. Amara choked down another scream and wrapped her arms around her legs, pulling herself closer together. Tears fell silently as she heard the vampire approach the pantry. A loner, remains of the destroyed group who had invaded her nation several months ago. She closed her eyes as she heard the vampire stop in front of the pantry door and opened it.

“Are you okay?”


Amara sniffled as the sound of the soft voice. She turned her head to see a pair of bright cobalt blue eyes looking at her, a look of concern and care in them. The vampire was crouched before her, two pistol butts were visible in arm pit holsters under his trenchcoat. His skin was pale, not a complete whit, but noticeably whiter than most. The vampire had short brown hair neatly combed, the tips of his fangs were visible below his upper lip. Amara stared at him and gasped. She spoke quietly.

“I know who you are.”

The vampire chuckled. “Stephen Malone ( http://groups.msn.com/WeatheredImagination/nationstates.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=250).”

Amara nodded slowly. Crouching before her was a man nearly thirteen hundred years old. It was then she remembered he was a vampire. “How…”

“I know this may seem strange Ms. Waggner.” Stephen said calmly and quietly.

“Why are you here? You should be dead from our army.” She said, taking the offensive, though her voice was still weak.

“That…rather interesting. Outside we are of the same species, I have no relation to the vampires who attacked Clarence. Rather, I was fighting them in the back round.”

“You’re a killer, you kill…”

Stephen held up his hand for her to quiet. “I am not the killer the media portrays me. I am in fact a married man who cares a lot about people and this country as a whole. I have never killed for food here and have not done so in centuries. Now…”

“Married?”

Stephen showed her his hand, a gold wedding ring was clasped around one of his fingers. “Even vampires can wed. Now, I am here to help. I’ll be blunt, I work for the VIB deep in the dark you might say. I try to find rouge vampires, elves, lycans etc. and such. Only the president, the head of the IBI and VIB…along with a few select people know I am here. I heard about a possible werewolf attack from my controller…the person who basically sends me info…and I came over here to do some investigating in hopes of finding the lycans.”

Amara looked at him, unsure what to say or do. His eyes told that the words he was saying were true. But, he was a vampire and could not be trusted. He could be like Marcus was, nice on the outside but a demon inside.

“How did you find me?”

“I found the bodies of your friends just after night fell. I found a picture of the four of you in the wallet of the one named Alan and a note about your lycanism. I headed straight here. Amara, listen to me. I have a good friend in the IBI and he is delaying the police as long as possible so I could get you out.”

“Why should I trust you?”

Stephen sighed. “I am letting you know that I am here to take you away to safety. If you do not wish to come you do not have to. If you do, I’ll be at the back. Grab some clothes and whatever you need. I make no promises on what will happen if you stay here. Amara…I am serious in saying I care of what will happen to you. You are new to the other side and need help. I will not make you come, the choice is entirely yours.”

Amara watched as Stephen got up and headed out of the kitchen. It was another ten minutes of fierce mental debate before she made up her mind. Grabbing a gym bag, she packed some clothes, her music, and a few magazines. Amara walked to the backdoor and found Stephen staring up at the stars.

“Okay Mr. Malone. Can you fly or something?”

Stephen laughed. “I wish, but I my powers are not strong enough yet. We will be heading to Clarence.”

“Gonna pull a jet from your pocket?” She said sarcastically.

His cobalt eyes flashed with mischief. Stephen led her into her backyard and he stared at the small grove of trees. “Cassandra…here girl.”

Amara nearly ran back inside as she saw what emerged. Slightly larger than a fully mature horse, covered in pearl white scales that flashed an ice blue in the light, horns adorning her head, a tail gently swaying behind her, and two white leather wings kept at her side, Stephen’s ice dragon Cassandra made her entrance. Amara gulped as the animal slowly moved towards her. The head moved closer as the neck stretched and the dragon smelled her.

Cassandra sniffed her for a full minute before licking her and looking at Stephen. The pair exchanged briefly in a bizarre series of what Amara guessed to be words. It sounded like an alien talk from a sci-fi film mixed underwater and animal sounds tossed in. Stephen mounted the beast and held his hand out for her.

“Don’t worry, Cassandra is just like a big dog. She won’t attack unless provoked or if she meets a new vampire.”

Amara stood there, before her was uncertainty and as she picked up the sound of sirens, behind her was almost certain death or life imprisonment. She decided to take her chances with the vampire, she had lost nearly everything, and so why not be a bit adventurous?

Amara took Stephen’s hand and climbed aboard the dragon. Wrapping her arms around Stephen’s waist, the vampire gave the signal, Cassandra spread her wings and took off into the sky.

Amara looked behind her at her house before looking ahead into the sky, wondering what lay before her.

Amara was jarred awake by Cassandra landing. The young lycanthrope’s butt was numb from sitting on the scales for several hours. She looked around. It was still night, but as she scanned the surrounding area she saw three large, dilapidated looking barns nearby and turning her head, she saw another group of slightly smaller barns and stables, along with a small house. She squinted as she saw a young man ride up on a horse. Amara cried out as Cassandra suddenly turned and she tumbled off the creature’s back.

“Whoa, easy Cassandra…not food.” Stephen said, calming his beast. He turned and jumped off the dragon and helped Amara to her feet. The young man dismounted the horse, gave Cassandra a pat on the head and walked over to Stephen.

“Mr. Malone, good to see you are back. I…” the man spotted Amara and blinked. He looked back at Stephen. Stephen gave nod, answering the obvious question brewing in the man’s head.

The young man turned to Amara and gave a smile and slight bow. “Jonathan Hancock of the VIB at your service.”

“Uhhhh…okay. Amara Waggner….young lycanthrope.” Amara said uneasily.

“Nice to meet you. Mr. Malone, my boss called asking what ya found.”

“Okay, I’ll be in there in a second. Amara, don’t let the looks deceive you of those barns. That one is where I live…rather nice inside. Door should be unlocked; I’ll be there in a few.” Stephen said.

Amara nodded and picking up her bag, walked towards the barn that Stephen had pointed out. She paused at the door and watched as Cassandra moved past her to one of the other barns, pushing open the two large doors and then closing them with her tail. Amara took a breath and opened the door.

She walked onto a polished hardwood floor and gapped. Instead of a horrid place, Stephen’s residence reminded of almost a mansion but with an old feel to it. Wood paneling, flooring, and large stone fireplace, the fire burning brightly gave made her old house seem like a cardboard box. Amara took a single step before something hit her from the side and knocked her to the ground.

Amara shook her head and grunted as she felt something land on her stomach. Tilting her head up, she gasped as she saw a miniature pincher sized, ice blue colored dragon. She gulped as the tiny animal flapped its wings and marched over her to her face. The lycan tensed as the tiny dragon sniffed her before heading back down the length of her body to her legs. Sitting up, Amara screeched as the dragon began to hump her leg.

“Tolkien!”

Amara looked up at a woman dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a loose fitting white sweater. She was also a vampire, with light brown hair, green eyes, Amara guessed that she stood around 5’11 and was Stephen’s wife. The little dragon looked up at her and like a dog knowing it did something bad, slid off Amara’s leg and slithered over to its master’s feet, trying to look pitiful.

“I’m terribly sorry. No vet in this country has ever spayed a dragon, so we never bothered.”

“It’s okay.” Amara said.

The vampire helped Amara stand up. “I’m Nicole Malone ( http://jamesbond.ugo.com/girls/rp/pike.jpg)”

“Amara…Amara Waggner.”

“Come on in and sit down. Care for some hot chocolate, soda, coffee?”

Nicole led Amara to a couch and let the teen sit. Amara was still looking around her at the pictures and paintings on the walls. She looked back at Nicole. “I thought vampires could only have blood.”

“Aye, but we do have friends who are not vampires who drop by every once in a while.”

“Ah okay….hot chocolate will be fine.”

Nicole came back a few minutes later and handed Amara a mug. The lycan looked at the liquid and sniffed it. She suddenly looked up at Nicole who was sitting on another couch across from her.

“Its okay, I didn’t put anything in it.” Nicole said.

“I know…but…I don’t mean to sound like an ass, but I want to trust you…but it’s hard to do that after what has happened.”

Nicole smiled and petted Tolkien, who had flown up to the couch. “It’s alright. I met Stephen under very different circumstances than you probably met the person who made you a lycan.”

“How did you meet him?” Amara asked, now taking a sip of hot chocolate.

“Well, after he was captured I was supposed to interview him. Over the course of a few weeks you might say we found an attraction to one another and fell in love. We’ve been in Tarlachia after we had to leave the Golden Simatar…for fear of some rednecks coming looking for him.”

“But, he was a wanted man. How did you…”

Nicole smiled. “One of Stephen’s oldest and best friends is the king of Tarlachia.”

Amara coughed, not expecting this answer. She blinked and sipped some more coco. The vampire defiantly had the connections. Amara looked at Nicole. “Thank you for taking me in. I don’t want to be a burden.”

“Oh don’t worry, you won’t be. The other barn, not the one Cassandra moved into is a gym with some workout stations, a small lap pool, and a target range. All three are connected by underground tunnels…so those of us who are sunlight challenged can move freely. The windows have built in shudders that seal all sunlight during daylight hours.”

“Ah okay.”

“Something wrong?”

Amara set her mug down on the coffee table between them. “I…I don’t know what to do. I’m a monster. Unlike you, when you bite someone you just drink their blood. A bite can’t change someone…unless I was misinformed. With me, I actually eat them and my bite can turn them if I don’t kill them.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say a bite can’t change someone.” Nicole said. “But, you must understand that you have no control in your wolf form, not right now at least.”

“Yeah, but…I have a thing for human flesh.” Amara looked at Nicole, expecting her to go insane. But the vampire sat there and waited. “When I change, I don’t want to kill innocent people just so I can enjoy my meal.”

“Well, in Assington for vampires they have an ‘eat a criminal’ program. I know there is more than one man on death row that no one cares about. Multiple rapists, murders, and so on. I’ll talk to Stephen…I’m sure we can set up something where a criminal ‘escapes’ in to the woods for you to hunt.”

Amara looked up at her. “Serious?”

Nicole nodded. “Though Stephen and I feed on packaged blood, we do hunt humans every once in a while. But, we don’t kill them. Your case calls for something different. Besides, you will be doing a service to the nation.”

Amara smiled and yawned. Nicole stood. “I can show you to your room if you like.”

“Thank you Ms. Malone.” Amara said getting her things.

Nicole led Amara up a flight of stairs to the second floor, down a hallway and too Amara’s room. “I don’t know…”

“No need to thank Amara. Stay as long as you like.”

Amara smiled and entered the room, saying goodnight to Nicole, she shut the door and undressed. Things were looking up for her. Nicole seemed like her mother in many regards, kind and caring, and looking out for her. Maybe it won’t be so bad after all. Amara climbed into bed, sinking under the warm blankets. The deaths of her friends and family came to mind and she cried for a few minutes.

Amara stopped crying, knowing it was time to start fresh. She curled up under the blankets and fell in the first peaceful sleep she had had in months.