Howl - Brieanna Boyce (free novel 24 TXT) 📗

to… I do but my life… right now is really too dangerous… I care about you too much to let you get involved.”
Kale growled, “You don’t make that Tristan boy leave.”

I leaned over and grabbed his jaw forcing him to face me, I could see it in his frown and in his eyes, he was suffering and I was causing it.

“Kale, Tristan doesn’t have anyone depending on him. You do. Besides, Tristan won’t listen to me…”

Kale’s eyes turned bright and fiery, his face looking grim, “And what makes you think I’ll listen to you.”

I cupped the side of his face, “Because you know that others lives are depending on you, because you are brave and selfless, because you understand me, and because you respect me.” I smiled sadly, Kale was an extraordinary individual, he was nobler than any other person I’d ever met and it seemed that he had no weaknesses.

Kale looked heartbroken he pulled himself away from me and stood, “I’m not the person you think I am, I’m not as strong as you think I am… Skylar, I will respect your wishes for now but should you ever need me you will know how to contact me.”

I stood up quickly, I wanted to beg him to stay, I wanted to tell him that I didn’t mean anything that I’d said and that I was going to be selfish and have him stay with me. But I couldn’t, I knew it was the right thing to do even if it ended up hurting the both of us.

I wanted to scream, “I change my mind I want you to stay,” or “You can come with me anywhere!” I ended up saying neither and instead under my breathe I muttered:

“Kale I will come back to you soon, I promise.”

Kale smiled sadly and hugged me locking his arms around me and pulling me close so that I could feel his heartbeat against mine. So that my small soft frame was covered by his taller more muscular one and his arms wrapped firmly around my waist; and then in an instant he was gone, leaving only a slight scent of the earth behind.

I crumpled to the ground and cried, I wasn’t sure what for anymore and I didn’t care. I could better than most people, see much farther distances, I had a keen sense of smell, and was stronger than most people could ever hope to be and yet I’d never been so alone. I had decided that I would no longer be close to anyone; I would no longer endanger anyone.

I heard little footsteps coming towards me and the smell of mud and sweat; I felt a slight tug on my shirt and looked up confused. In front of me there stood a little boy, he couldn’t have been more than seven years old. He had short brown hair that was sticking up in random patches and lying down in others, his clothes were caked in dirt and grass stains, his wide blue eyes expressed deep concern.

“Are you okay miss?” The boy was missing a front tooth which gave him a quirky lisp when he talked.

I wiped my eyes and got up smiling, half because of my stupidity, and half because of the rather adorable child’s concern for me.

“Yes I am fine there’s no need to worry about me,” I gave him a soft pat on the head.

He smiled, “Daddy says we all gots to help each other because in the end it’s all we have.”

I grinned, “Yes well you’re daddy sounds like a very smart man and so do you.”

The boy grinned widely obviously pleased with himself and very proud. “Alright good day to you miss,” he said and then turned and began running away towards the slide.

“Wait!” I called out and the boy stopped and turned, looking at me curiously.

I smiled, “No more talking to strangers, to take care of others you first have to make sure you’re okay!”

The boy grinned mischievously and nodded scampering off to play. Life was a funny thing, just when you thought you’d lost everything something happens that gives you just a little bit more strength to carry on.

I walked through town breathing in the fresh, salt filled air that I’d grown so accustomed to over these passing months. I loved the way the town itself carried the very essence of the sea. Worn down and yet so strong, old and yet youthful at the same time. It was as if the ocean was life itself, it held so many contradictions, so much meaning, and yet it held nothing at all. I walked by the arcade, and several restaurants, trying to relive every memory I had experienced here. I went into a grocery store which had an ATM and withdrew all the money (left over rent, food, etc.) putting half of it in one pocket and half in another.

I walked out to the beach and watched the sunset as the tide rolled in, usually when the sets it is an array of different colors but this time the sky was full of red. When the sun finally set and sank underneath the horizon I got up and felt myself growing weak. I nearly fell over until Tristan caught me.

“Are you okay?” Tristan asked one hand at my wrist and one hand at my waist.

“Are you still following me?!” I snapped irritably.

“A simple thank you would suffice,” Tristan retorted.

“I’m fine,” I stood up straight and shook off his grip.

“You know,” Tristan said reflectively, “even when I was 100 years old I still needed blood every hour and yet you seem like you can go over a day or two with only a little faintness.”

It had totally slipped my mind; I did need blood it had been at least three days. I started home without another word to Tristan who was more and more aggravating by the moment. I didn’t have time for him. When I got back to the hotel I knocked on the door, (and of course, as expected) Ashley refused to answer the door.

I sighed and slipped one pocket full of money under the door and left, I then waited at a bus stop nearby and then black overcame me.

When I woke up I was in a cushioned seat, feeling an occasional bump underneath me, and I heard a rumbling sound from underneath me as well. I sat up and rubbed my head groaning. I saw Tristan in the seat across from me watching me with a measured look his arms crossed.

“You’re finally up, you know you really should be more careful, you blacked out. Why didn’t you get any blood?”

I sighed and rubbed my head, “because when I went back to the hotel Ashley had locked the door.”

Tristan looked at me incredulously, “You’ve got to be kidding me I’ve seen you take out my whole clan of vampires, you scared one of them into only drinking blood he paid for through the blood bank. Yet you can’t manage to get into a locked hotel room?”

I sighed, “That isn’t the point Tristan, I had to go and I didn’t want to say goodbye. Besides she obviously didn’t want to talk to me and I respect her privacy enough-“

Tristan interrupted me, “But why, it would’ve been best for her and you if you got inside regardless of her feelings?”

I sighed and looked outside the window seeing the scenery pass in front of me, I knew right away that I was in a train even though the only train I’d seen the inside of was when I watched movie. Even still, I knew I was on a train I could hear the sound of the wheels going over the track.

“Tristan,” I sighed, “It’s not my decision what’s good for her or not it’s her choice.”

Tristan shook his head obviously not understanding. Then again how could I expect him to?

“Are you hungry?” Tristan asked.

I didn’t bother answering, the question seemed silly now. “Where are we headed?”

“We are going to New York State.”

I gaped at him, “Why?!”

Tristan sighed and looked out the window his blue eyes growing dark his skin seeming more pale than usual, “Bad things are happening in New York City, I wish to be close enough to receive news but far enough that me and you will be safe.”

“Me and you,” I asked raising an eyebrow.

“Well yeah,” Tristan said.

“No, you’re supposed to be watching my brother and father.”

Tristan rolled his eyes, “they’re fine, and I can’t watch them forever.”

“As a matter of fact,” I retorted, “you can and you should I don’t need your help.”

“Wow,” Tristan said glaring, “You should be thankful that I’m taking you at all.”

“Thank you,” I said, “but I need you to watch my family Tristan if they find me out they’re going to end up getting hurt.”

Tristan bit his lip, “but so will you.”

“I know,” I sighed, “but I’m responsible for myself, and I can take care of myself, but my family can’t.”

Tristan frowned quietly, he knew that I had a point; he thought it through for a moment.

“Fine but I will visit you once a week and I will still help you get adjusted at my place.”

“Your place,” I asked confused.

“Well yeah you didn’t think I’d rent a hotel did you?” Tristan asked almost appalled.

I rolled my eyes and lied down pulling the blanket over my head.

“What are you doing?” Tristan said confused.

“I’m sleeping; I can’t handle much more of you right now.” I yawned tiredly.

Before I fell asleep I heard Tristan huff irritably, I suppose he expected me to thank him and I suppose he was right to expect as much but I hadn’t completely forgiven him yet, I would thank him for respecting my wishes when I’d woken up. Admitting a fault was somewhat difficult for me, I knew I could be extremely stubborn and headstrong and I suppose that is a fault that I should work on.

I enjoyed a Tristan-less sleep which I’d found rather surprising, then again perhaps it wasn’t so surprising considering how I’d hit him. I dreamt I was in my wolf body running, although I’d never gotten a good look at myself while I was a wolf, I knew my fur was black. Pitch black as a matter of fact and I figured I was tiny compared to the rest of the werewolves.

I woke up and I was in a large canopy bed that was a light powdery blue, it was embroidered by a gold intricate design. The room was quite large and spacious it held the same color scheme, and the floors were made of white marble. There was art all over the room everything was stiff and beautiful, almost regal. A large chandelier hung overhead, beaming light around the room. The only thing in the room that was not pristine and was not something that looked as though it belonged to a king, was a large tapestry that hung on the opposite wall of me. It held an ugly beauty, something that was barbaric and morbidly fascinating; the tapestry was a bunch of naked bodies being impaled by spears. I got up and walked over to it both horrified and appealed to it. I reached over to touch it when suddenly