Achalon - Rebekah Brewer (i can read book club TXT) 📗

Achalon

The jouyous crowd down below was starting to give me a headache. I rubbed my temples, tired of our pathetic act of a happy family. Outside of this perfect

family, Acailen was rotting in total chaos, though I'm the only one who notices. Who else in our family looks out past our walls? No one, sadly, but me. At one point, my Grandfather, Salinete Jane, had led our city in peace with the Achalonian Queen. Achalons are shapeshifters. Since I've never been allowed outside of this forsaken house, all I knew were that of rumors and possible legends. Grandpa Jane was no longer alive to tell me what is true. He died along with the Queen.

From what I know:

1) Each Achalon had a human form (tempting for anyone) and a predatory animal form (wolf, lion, our carnivores).

2) Each Achalon must claim a human mate (male or female, I don't think it matters if they are gay or not) and a human child (they're new "pup", "chic", "kit", depends on what animal they are), or they die. Die out in extinction, possibly, but any other outcome, who knows.

And 3) Achalons can only look human at night.

Anything else is a total mystery to me. My parents are careful on any leaks of rumors and stories. It n with the falseness of this house, which at this very moment I was attempting to ignore by blasting Old World music. Ever since Achalons appeared, the Old World ended, leaving only the wonders of art, music, and whatever else that survived such as my ultimate favorite past time, books. I adored the Old World just as my beautiful sister, Ali, adored the faery stories of love and adventure.

Ali stayed with me in my room. I refused to go downstairs at this moment since our noisy little cousins have come to visit us here in Saliente. Even though it was my own seventeenth birthday, worth the reminder of the remaining year I still had to put up with, there was no way in the Seven Hells that I would go down there.

Ali glanced up at me from her book, her ghostly pale blue eyes filled with worry though her facial expression stayed composed. That had still been our skill, composure. As usual, she was a sight of beauty, her earth brown hair pinned up in a ponytail, revealing her pale face from the usual frame of thick, curly hair. Since our 'family' was over, I was due to have a headache and possibly pass out. So far, the first of the two have occured and I preferred to avoid the second.

"Amy! Ali!" Jason called, our older brother that I still loved though he had been the cause of our caged state. "Time for cake and presents!"

"Coming!" Ali called, standing up from her position on the ground. She glanced at me but I gave my signal that I'll follow in a moment. I took my time turning off the music player and wrapping up the headphones carefully. I stand up from my favorite spot on the floor, looking up from my one comfort. My eyes widened. A man, hardly looking twenty, stood in the doorway of my room. His skin looked smooth, pale and clear unlike anything I have seen here at home. Jet black hair framed his face in a neat fashion, though I knew he had came from outside of this house. But his eyes. His eyes instantly captivated me once my gaze met his. I couldn't look away, as if sealed into place by his powerful gaze of impossible gray shade tinted oddly with green. Though his pupils were slits, making me instantly suspect what he was, I still could not bring myself to break the connection.

"Hazel," he whispered, his voice smooth and young, a tenor. Not loud but not deep. A shiver raced down my spine, not of fear.... but recognition. My eyelids began to droop to half mast as he grinned, revealing his canines. Sharp

canines. This confirmed my suspicion of him being an Achalon as teeth sank into my arm, though I couldn't see it. My sight left me as well as whatever had kept me standing, letting my body fall into him. I could barely sense him lifting me bridal style, tight but somehow careful, especially with my now wounded arm. Wind tackled my face as I lost all feeling and could only hear. A scream pierced the air, following in a haunting manner. I knew that scream. That scream belonged to Ali and she only screams like that when she sees blood. My blood in particular. Now hearing left me and I drifted in some form of dark sleep as a sickening fire coursed through my system.

X ~ x ~ x ~ x ~ X

Aiven held the girl tightly to his chest as he leaned against a wall, sitting on the floor with her body laid against him so he could keep her from hurting herself with the best efficiency. Her arm he had draped over his side as he restrained her jerking body with his arms and legs. She had reacted to her soul name, as he had expected after years of seeing her from that balcony of hers, trying to see outside of the protection the Jane family had erected. At the least, he could 'corrupt' one of the Jane girls so she may actually attempt to change that damn family. For too long they have holed themselves up in Saliente Jane's old home, ignoring the rising chaos outside. Her spasms lessened, all reaction to his bite. First, her body must accept the Claim before her soul did and if he had any luck, she would be strong, possibly even stronger than she portrayed. He definitely had no patience for weak women, not now. He needed a strong one for a mate and what he wished to do.

Hazel's body finally stopped moving in jerky movements. Her chest rose and fell calmly and naturally. Aiven picked her up once more and moved her to the bed across the room. Though he had been comfortable, he didn't want her waking up to be found in such a intimate

position. That alone could screw up his chances. He took a seat and simultaneous to his sitting, her eyes flickered open. Aiven blinked in surprise. That was a little too quick, especially for a human. Her eyes were hazel, forest green and earth brown fighting equally to be more dominate. She sat up slowly, as if she wanted to avoid a dizzy spell. She surveyed her surroundings carefully before look at him. Her gaze didn't harden in an accusing manner. Rather, it questioned him, certainty asking who

he was. Her emotions, as he now sensed as shadows of the real ones, remained calm and collect, absolutely abnormal for a Claimed human. Aiven found himself intrigued by her, as if she was a mystery for him alone to figure out. As if anyone else can have a chance now that he has Claimed her.

"That was quick," he said, not realizing he had said it. She tilted her head, her brow furrowing as she didn't know what he meant. He watched her long wavy auburn hair fell over her shoulder onto her chest.
"What was?" she asked. Now her voice captivated her. Smooth and clear, no other woman out here in the real world of Acailen could possibly have a voice like that. Though soft, it held an air of confidence. Even though she lived a shelter life, this woman did not fear him.

"Your recovery," Aiven said, deciding she would be capable of accepting this. He straightened up from his slight slouch, studying her face for any alarm. "Normally, it takes at least an hour for a human body to recover after accept the Claim. You, it took moments."

Hazel's eyes trailed to the window. Aiven wondered what part of outside she would take in; the dangerous living or the chaotic dying.

"You called me Hazel before... before you bit me. Biting me was placing a Claim, isn't it?" her gaze moved back to meet his, questioning and still calm. The tranquility Aiven sensed from her soul was beyond peculiar.

"Hazel is your soul name. If it wasn't, you wouldn't have reacted to it as you had and I would be incapable of placing a claim. You're correct on your guess that by biting you I have staked a Claim. I doubt that in your sheltered life, you would have acquired this knowledge." Hazel nodded. "What name were you given? No one, but me should know your soul name.... how should I put it..."

Hazel grinned. "It's like virginity. You can only give it once."

Aiven laughed. "That works almost perfectly. Your soul name allows the one who knows it to have power over you, which is why I would give you mine...."

"Amy."

"Right, Amy. But right now, you need to rest. I'll have some food sent up for you as."

Amy gave her a full smile, a rarity for her usual nonchalant attitude she had in the Jane household. Aiven smiled softly back as he stood up. "Rest, it's best if you get more energy. You have a lot to learn and accustom to."

Amy nodded, her face relaxing and looking tired as he spoke. She curled up under the sheets before he left, appearing as if a child totally content from a day of playing.

Aiven set about the town. If things worked well enough, Amy would stay with him. She had a powerful aura, a strong mentality, as well as an attractive body that would give him an edge as he will

make a change in this Hell hole.

Along the streets, dying humans laid about. Some had been used by Achalons, a factor that made Aiven determined to fight, while others were simply broken, raised living in the streets, too weak to be used or Claimed. The children running about, stealing as well, could not possibly be fit enough to become his

pup. This deterred the weaker Achalons that did not know where to look for stronger children.

A powerful eagle chick caught his eye. She watched him, a smile flickering on her lips. He made a beeline to her, hoping she may know where her mother might be or if she had a way to contact her. Sai Chi was very protective of her flock and one must have permission first to ask a favor of her children or risk the wrath of her beak, claws, and abnormally sharp nails (when she's in her human form.)

"What is it that M'Lord Aiven wants?" the eagle child asked, cocking her head in a questioning manner. Aiven recognized the telltale marks of Sai Chi's first child, Melissa, as he stopped a safe distance from her.

"I was wondering if you know where I might find your mother. I have a favor to ask," he answered. Melissa gave him her wicked smile, one that has made normal men try to please her even if it meant kneeling to Death.

"Does this have to do with your intended mate?" she asked as she pulled out a old, beaten cell phone. Aiven snorted as Sai Chi answered."Oka-san, he has her."

Sai Chi replied at which Melissa answered with 'hai'. After a few minutes of exchanged responses, Melissa held out the phone to Aiven.

"So how is she, Little Lord?" Sai Chi asked with a hint of sarcasm. Always