#bellator lunae

[bellatorlunaefic]

Chapter 5-

[bellatorlunaefic]

Chapter Four -

CHAPTERS 1-3

Chapter Four - Lysander jumped as several dusty books were slammed down in front of him. “Enjoy yourself,” Nik said with a cheeky smile as Lysander looked at him thought the dust cloud. “Any questions, you can ask me.” “I have to read these?” When he had agreed to join the Bellator Lunae, he didn’t think he’d have to do homework. “Nik is our resident history buff when it comes to us,” Kiki said from the kitchen. They were holed up in the Headquarters back at Stow Lake, Lee had left to go and retrieve Blaise and Victor. Lysander was grateful for it, he was trying to get to know each person and their powers, and having them all here at once was simply too overwhelming. “Why?” Lysander said. He didn’t like history, it bored him. “Runs in the family,” Nik said shortly. He sat across from Lysander at the table, his feet propped up next to the books. “Witches and Warlocks on my Mom’s side as far back as can be documented.” “So you’re a Warlock?” Nik nodded. “And that’s...” He refereed to a cheat-sheet Lee had drawn up for him. It listed what she called the Hierarchy, different “races” of powers categorized by strength. “The same as Witches?” “Yup,” Nik said. “But stronger than Man-mades,” Lysander saw Kiki roll her eyes. Lysander was a man-made, same as Victor. “Nik, let him settle in before you go all Alpha-male on him,” Kiki said. She looked at Lysander apologetically. He shrugged. “I’m just saying,” Nik said, twirling a long medal rod between his fingers. “Yeah, and I’m just saying that Shamen are lower than Warlocks on your little list and I could still kick your ass so zip it,” Lysander snorter and Nik huffed, getting up from where he sat and walking over to turn on the TV. Lysander disregarded the books and walked over to the kitchen. Kiki stood on a box next to the stove, hovering over a thick black pot that was steaming purple. “Ignore Nik, he doesn’t do well with change,” Kiki said, not looking up from the purple mist. “He’s worried you’ll one-up him like Victor did. He’s not good at not being the best.” “Why?” Lysander asked. “Nik is privileged,” Kiki said, finally looking up. “His father owns the Harris Hotel franchise - can you hand me the red bottle of liquid there? - and he’s supposed to take it over when he’s done with school - thanks.” She took the bottle and poured thick red liquid into the pot. It immediately turned green and bubbled and they both jumped back as it burst into flames for a second before returning back to its purple steam. “Eyebrows?” Nik called out, not even looking back from the TV. “All good,” Kiki called back, a laugh etching in her features. “You’ll get used to him, to all of us. Nik isn’t really a bad guy.” She hopped back onto her stool and dipped a cautious finger into her brew. Lysander grabbed her wrist and pulled it out. “What are you doing!?” he yelled, but Kiki only laughed. “Its a burn solution,” Kiki explained. “Here, I’ll show you.” She took his hand that was on her wrist. “Trust me,” she said and then quickly put his hand over the open flame. Lysander jumped again, yelling loudly as the flames licked his skin. She pulled it away quickly and Lysander looked down to see dark red marks showing up on his already dark skin. “KIKI!” Lysander needed that hand! He used his hands at work. “Trust me,” she said calmly. Lysander was starting to think she was crazy and insane, but then reminded himself he had to start embracing the crazy, given his new lifestyle, and he slowly placed his burnt hand in her pale palm. She took some of the solution from her pot and poured it over the hand. Instantly, the welts that were forming from the heat healed as the cool liquid ran over his skin. He no longer felt any pain either. “That’s awesome!” Lysander grinned. “So you just keep this on stock?” He asked, curious as to why she even brewed this in the first place. “Have you met Blaise?” “Only for a bit,” Lysander said.. “Well, we keep this on hand because of her,” Kiki laughed. ------------------------------------------------------ “Blaise, chill, it’s like 90 in the car right now,” Victor said as he rolled the windows down in his car. Blaise sat in the backseat, her normally raven black hair was bright red. “I don’t see how this can result in being a good idea,” Blaise said. “He doesn’t even know how he changes, he’s dangerous!” “Since when do you care about dangerous Miss Sets-the-teacher’s-desk-on-fire-to-get-out-of-math-class,” Lee said. Blaise rolled her eyes. “I would have thought you’d like not being the new kid anymore.” “It’s been four years,” Blaise said. She paused for a bit, her hair fading back to . “Werewolves are bad mojo.” “So are Vampires but you keep me around,” Victor pointed out with a charming smile, Blaise snorted. “He’ll be fine, we’ll help him, just like we helped you stop setting random things on fire and like we helped Kiki figure out the difference between healing potions and poisoning...” “Oh god I forgot about that,” Lee laughed. “Lucky you,” Victor stuck out his tongue. They parked the car near the edge of the lake and Blaise walked ahead of them, musing her hair as her heels clicked on the gravel. Lee hung back with Victor as he pulled a black sweatshirt on and his white-blonde hair was covered with the hood. He shoved his hands in his pockets and Lee walked with him to the waterfall entrance. “Blaise is a little right you know,” Lee said thoughtfully. Victor tilted his head to her. “About...” “About the bad mojo,” Lee answered. “Are we all talking like Kiki now?” he laughed but Lee pointed him a look and he sighed. “Look, I get it, I’m a man-made too.” “Just keep an eye out for him?” Lee asked. “He doesn’t trust easily and I don’t need him thinking that he’s more trouble than he’s worth...” “Lee, inviting him to join us was a good idea,” Victor said. “Guess again,” Blaise said from the door way, a look of panic on her face. “C’mon, hurry.” Lee, Victor, and Blaise ran down the long paneled hallway to the great room. Lysander was hunched in attack position, clothes ripped and snarling as he finished morphing into a werewolf. Nik was up against a wall in the corner, his face paler than Victor’s normally was, his eyes flickering  between the wolf growling at him and his wand that had rolled under the sofa. “Lee...” Nik called out. “Stay calm Nik, we’ve got you...” Lee looked over at Victor and sighed before nodding. Victor turned back to look at Lysander and Lee watched the Vampire’s eyes turn crimson and his fangs grew over his lip. With lightning speed, Victor leapt at Lysander and bit into his shoulder. The werewolf roared and turned, trying to fling Victor off of him.  While he was distracted Lee focused on the wand, flicking her wrist and watching it fly across the room to Nik’s outstretched hand. Less afraid now that his wand was in hand, Nik made a sweeping motion with the metal rod and a blue wall was built up across half the room. Lysander finally managed to fling Victor off and he hit the shield Nik just created, sliding to the floor. As Nik reached through to pull Victor behind the shield, Blaise stood in the kitchen with Kiki, her hair fiery red again and ready to attack if Lee needed her. “Lysander,” Lee said sharply. The wolf spun around and snarled at her. She watched his eyes, the same bright green of the Human-Lysander’s. That was a good sign. Lee approached him slowly. Her hands glowed slightly, but she kept them at a defensive stance. “Lysander, it’s me, Lee.” She said calmly, though her hands shook. Lysander snarled at her and then turned his head to look at Nik, ramming into the shield that separated them. “I might have made him angry,” Nik said. “It was an accident, I swear!” “Lysander, leave him alone,” Lee said, standing up taller and shouting. Lysander turned back to her and knelt low to the ground, grumbling. Lee’s hands grew brighter as she approached him, her hand out stretched. She locked eyes with him as her hand touched his forehead. “Calm.” she commanded. A short burst of light emitted from her hand and Lysander-the-Werewolf slipped into unconsciousness. ------------------------------------------------------------ For the second time in a week, Lysander woke up in the white medical room. It was less quiet this time, however. from outside the room, he could distinctively hear Lee yelling. “Nik’s in trouble,” Victor said, slightly amused, from Lysander’s bedside. He got up and closed the door. Lysander’s head throbbed as he sat up. Next to him, curled into the sheets and clutching his leg, was Jenny, fast asleep. “Who..?” “Nik and Kiki went and picked her up, you had mentioned where her daycare was...” Victor went back to his seat and folded his legs underneath him. “She’ll tell you all about the limo ride when she wakes up.” Lysander snorted and shook his head, but he stopped quickly, grimacing in pain. “Ow....” he groaned, reaching his hand back. His fingers traced over two distinct puncture holes. His eyes grew wide and he looked at Victor. “Oh...I bit you...” Victor said with slight amusement. “Don’t worry!” he said quickly as he saw the panic Lysander was about to go into. “It was more defensive, I can’t change you anyway, you’re already one of us...” He grabbed a tube off of the counter beside him and handed it to Lysander. “Kiki made that for you, to heal the bite. She’s got a potion or something for everything except the minor concussion I have...” he made a face but shrugged. Lysander got the feeling that Victor didn’t take too much too seriously. “Sorry about that,” Lysander said, figuring the concussion was his fault. “Not your fault,” Victor said. “It wasn’t really you. Not yet anyway. First rule around here: In a crisis, blame Nik.” Lysander laughed this time. “I don’t even remember what happened,” he admitted. “Nik was being an ass,” Victor said. “You get used to him.” “That’s what Kiki said,” both boys nodded and there were a few moments of awkward silence. “So...vampire?” “Yup,” Victor said. “Doomed since the age of seven.” He grinned. “Though I guess after ten years, I got the hang of it.” “So like, can you go outside?” “My parents think I’m allergic to the sun,” Victor said. “I need a special sunscreen and long sleeves at all times.” “Garlic?” “Also allergic, but I can eat normal food, though I’m a vegetarian.” “Blood,” Lysander shivered. Blood made him squeamish. “Only when I’m feeling week.” Victor gestured to an aluminum water bottle beside him. “Its like taking your vitamins.” “And you age?” “And eventually die,” Victor said. “None of that Twilight crap,” he chuckled. “As long as I stay out of direct sunlight, and stay on Blaise’s good side, I’m solid.” He grinned at Lysander. “And you’re at the bottom of Nik’s hierarchy too?” Victor tilted his head, but sighed. “There’s a lot of Descendants who believe in that,” Victor nodded. “Like Nik and Lee, both who come from families who believe in it.” Lysander sat up more in the bed and crossed his legs. “And then there are those like me and like Kiki, who think its a load of bull, you’re not weaker cause you weren’t BORN with powers.” “What about Blaise?” “Blaise I’ve never been too sure,” Victor said. “Though she does agree that man-mades bring trouble.” “Trouble?” Lysander’s eyes flickered to his sleeping sister. Victor caught the glance. “We promised she’d be safe, ‘Sander, and she will be,” Victor said seriously. “You’re one of us, and we have each other’s backs.” The was a knock on the door and the boys looked up to see Blaise dangling Victor’s car keys in her hand. “You boys ready? Lee is still ripping Nik a new one and I’m bored,” She twirled the keys around her fingers. Victor made a face but nodded. “Great, meet you outside,” and she turned on her heels and left. “Whats with the face?” Lysander asked. “Well, we’ll protect Jenny from werewolves and sorcerers and who knows what not...” Victor chuckled and helped Lysander out of the bed. “But when it comes to Blaise’s driving, we’re all dead men.” “I heard that Fang-Boy!” Blaise’s voice echoed through the halls. Lysander and Victor laughed though as Lysander carried his sister and the three of them left the headquarters.

[bellatorlunaefic]

Chapter 4 is currently being written

you know like...if anyone even REMEMBERS this story...

[bellatorlunaefic]

Lee

[bellatorlunaefic]

Chapter Three-

Chapter Three - Pacifica was an hour long bus ride from Lysander’s apartment and he couldn’t help but doze off as the buss pulled into the Park and Ride. He had been shoved awake by an odd poking feeling. He peeked an eye open to see a wrinkled old woman poking him with her cane. “Help an old woman off the bus now, will you?” the woman said, her voice commanding, even though it came as out old and withered as she looked. Lysander wiped the sleep out of his eyes and stood up. “Um, sure,” Lysander said, offering his hand to help her. She didn’t move toward it though and it was then that he noticed the glassed-over eyes and the fact she wasn’t looking over at him. He wondered silently if she was blind. “I don’t have all day sonny,” she said, sounding more amused than frustrated. Lysander chuckled and took her arm gently, guiding the old woman down the steps on the bus. He didn’t let go until they reached a bus stop bench. But the old woman didn’t sit down. “Now come along Lysander,” she nodded her head toward the beach. Lysander gaped at her. “I never told you my name,” he said. She seemed to ignore him however as she began walking toward the beach. “Ma’m!” he called out. “Will you hurry up boy? It shouldn’t be a good thing I’m walking faster than you...” she waved her cane and Lysander hurried to her side. “How do you know my name?” He asked her a couple times as they crossed the street and began walking on the sand path down the beach. She never answered though. The old woman didn’t even speak once the rest of the walk. Lysander finally gave up and followed her. His life was weird enough already, might as well follow the mysterious old blind lady, right? They walked the beach for a long time. Once Lysander turned around and he was shocked to see that all the people he had walked past on they way down the beach had dissapeared. When he looked ahead, he saw they were heading toward a small beach house up against the cliffs and a safe distance from the water. He hadn’t seen the house before, and the bus had driven right past it on the roadside. He didn’t understand; where were the people, where did the house come from? “All your questions will be answered shortly Lysander,” the woman said with a grin. “Come on now, get inside,” she hit the back of his heels with her cane and Lysander began to second guess his assumption she was blind. “Alerya Jane! Your guest is here!” “I’m upstairs Nana!” Lee’s voice rattled down the stairs. “Go on up, you can’t miss her room,” She pointed her cane up the stairs and then hobbled her way into the kitchen. “Uh...” Lysander stood there for a moment. “Tha...thank you,” he called out before walking up the stairs to Lee’s room. The stairs in the beach house were old and uneven and Lysander tripped a couple times as he climbed to the second story. They were covered in sand, which was expected. What was unexpected were the other knick-naks that littered the steps. Metal rods rolled down the steps, books opened up to blank pages. Vials and tubes that Lysander had only ever seen in a chemistry class took up an entire step in the staircase and Lysander had to jump over them to keep from spilling the bubbling purple mixture inside. “Lee?” Lysander called out as he reached the second story. Different from the staircase, the second floor of the beach house looked plain and uninteresting. it was just a square landing with four doors that Lysander presumed led to bedrooms or bathrooms. “Hey you came!” Lee’s voice came from his left and Lysander turned and promptly screamed. Lee wasn’t standing there where her voice was coming from, it was only just her head floating, tilted as if confused with Lysander’s reaction. “What happened to the rest of you?” Lysander asked, his eyes wide. “Wha...?” Lee’s head looked down. “Oh damn, this is what I get for being lazy. Meet me upstairs okay?” Lee’s head asked and with a laugh, it popped from existence. Lysander stared at the spot for a while, waving his hand in the area her head once was. Then he looked around. “There are no stairs!” he called out. From outside, he was pretty sure the house wasn’t that big. Come to think of it, the beach house didn’t even merrit a second story. But when he looked back around the second story landing, another flight of stairs, a spiral staircase that lead to a ceiling entrance, appeared. “Alrighty then...” Lysander approached the stairs and gingerly stepped on the first one, not sure if they were real or not. Once sure he wasn’t going to fall through, he climbed the staircase and came up to an attic bedroom. “Lee?” “Hey, sorry about that,” she sat on a lounge chair, full bodied and cross legged, a book in her lap. She shut the book and Lysander watched as dust flew into the air. “I was practicing.” “Practicing?” Lysander asked as he finally entered her room. He sat on her desk chair. “Astral projection,” she said with a smile. “Its complicated.” “Clearly, since you’re floating around with only a head,” Lysander laughed. Lee laughed with him. “I have something for you, hold on,” she jumped up from the lounge and went to an elaborate bookshelf built into the sloped wall of her room. “So you met my grandmother?” “Uh...yeah,” Lysander made a face as he turned to look at her desk. “She’s an interesting lady...” There was a couple framed pictures next to her laptop, and Lysander picked up one of the photos. Her and that pale kid with the teeth, Vince?, smiled up at him as they were linked arm and arm in the park. “Boyfriend?” he asked, holding up the photo. “Vic? Oh god no,” Lee laughed. “He’s my best friend. We’ve known each other a long time...here it is!” she came back with a small book. “For you.” It was a small leather bound journal. “It belonged to a friend of my dad’s,” Lee explained. “He and you were both well...” She gestured grandly to him and Lysander laughed. He flipped open pages and saw pictures and sketches of a half man, half dog like thing. Is that what he looked like when he changed? “Is this why you invited me?” He figured not,but he didn’t look up from the journal. Lee sat on the lounge again, but on the edge so she could face him. Lysander closed the book and looked up. “No, it’s not,” Lee admitted. “I want you to join our team.” Lysander snapped the journal shut. “What?” He looked at her. “You dont even know me!” “I don’t have to,” she said, she pulled down her jacket sleeve to show him the same mark that he had seen on the girl in the hideout and the one that appeared on his leg shortly after he was bitten. “You were chosen, I’m just giving you the opportunity.” “Chosen? Who do you think you are, Yoda?” Lysander chuckled. “Chosen for what?” “There are thousands of people out there,” Lee jerked her thumb over her shoulder and pointed out her window. “Just like you and me. Descendants, is what we call them. But I’ll save the history lesson for Nik, he likes that stuff even more than me.” “Why don’t you give me the Cliffnotes version,” Lysander said. “Alright,” Lee grabbed the book she was reading when he walked in and opened it on her lap, making it face him. It wasn’t even in English, but each page had pictures and diagrams to go along. “Basically, those of us with powers are Descendants of The Greek goddess Artemis’s children. All seven of which had magical abilities.” The picture showed a beautiful woman, dark hair flowing behind her, her arms wrapped around five small children. “What’s up with these two?” Lysander pointed to the other page where two other children  stood beneath a glowering man. “Ah, that’s actually your story,” Lee said with a smile. She placed her finger on the picture and Lysander jumped as it sprang to life. He watched as the children struggled to escape the grasp of the man, reaching for their mother as they were dragged away and off the page. “Thanos and Anstice, Artemis’s first two children, were from her marriage to Hades.” “Like, the guy with the blue skin in the Disney movie, Hades?” Lysander interrupted. Le laughed and nodded. “Isn’t he evil?” “He wasn’t always,” Lee explained. “He was banished to the underworld actually, when he released the Titans onto the Mortal world, and when Artemis refused to go with him, he was outraged, and he took his sons with him so that they could succeed him. But Thanos and Anstice didn’t want to, and they put up a fight. Thanos, when he tried to grasp for his mother, only got a fist full of hair. The legend is that Artemis gave him a gift that gave him the power to turn into a beast that attacked Hades and protected Artemis. When Thanos turned back into a man, he told his father he’d only go under the condition that Hades never spoke to or harmed Artemis ever again.” “So this Thanos guy,” the pages in from of him turned on their own to show a drawing of who Lysander was talking about. “Is like, the Head Guy In Charge of all Werewolves?” The word tasted weird on his tongue. Like eating something sour, it was strange to say what he really was out loud. “Yes,” Lee said. “There’s seven species of Descendants: Sorcery, Elements, Shaman, Wizardry, Shifters, Beasts - thats you- and the Resurrected.” “So what makes you so special?” Lysander asked. Lee smiled and flipped the pages herself. “We’re the Bellator Lunae,” she said. “It’s Latin for Moon Warriors. Special Descendants decided on by Merlin himself to protect the world from Eternal Darkness.” “Sounds like something from the Sci-Fy channel,” Lysander said skeptically. Lee laughed out loud. “It does, doesn’t it,” she smiled. After a minute, her face turned serious though. “Lysander, I’m giving you an opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary. We’re practically superheroes to people of our world.” She said. “And, if anything, I want to help you.” “Help me?” “I know what you’re going through must be terrifying...I remember when Victor was bitten...” With a sudden act of kindness, she reached out and took his hand. “We can help you control your morphs, teach you how to STAY you and not let the beast take over. There’s a lot of rogue wolves out in San Francisco alone who haven’t been taught how. It’s probably why you were bitten.” Lysander sighed. “What do your parents think? They must know...” Lysander stood up quickly and walked to the other side of the room, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking at the array of books on her shelves. “Oh...” she said, watching him. “You’re more like me than I thought.” “They died in a car accident, I don’t want to talk about it,” Lysander’s hands shook in his pockets. “I’m sorry,” Lee said. She sat quietly on the lounge, waiting until Lysander turned back to her. “Its just you and Jenny?” “Will she be in danger,” Lysander asked. “If I join up with you guys...” “No more than she would be on any other given day...” Lee said. Lysander thought back to the day the corner store was robbed. “In fact, you’d now have more people looking out for her than just yourself. We take care of our own, not just in the Bellator Lunae, but  as Descendants.” Lysander wasn’t convinced yet. “We’ll make it work with her, Lysander. She’ll be safe, you have my word.” Lysander looked up at her as she offered him her hand. “What do you say?” Lysander looked at her hand for a moment, weighing his options. Finally, he reached out and took Lee’s hand, shaking it and a wide grin spread on her face. “One newbie-werewolf, reporting for duty.”

[bellatorlunaefic]

A little taste of Chapter 3?

“I know what you’re going through must be terrifying...I remember when Victor was bitten...” With a sudden act of kindness, she reached out and took his hand. “We can help you control your morphs, teach you how to STAY you and not let the beast take over. There’s a lot of rogue wolves out in San Francisco alone who haven’t been taught how. It’s probably why you were bitten.” Lysander sighed. “What do your parents think? They must know...” Lysander stood up quickly and walked to the other side of the room, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking at the array of books on her shelves. “Oh...” she said, watching him. “You’re more like me than I thought.”

[bellatorlunaefic]

Chapter Two -

Chapter Two- Lysander blinked a couple of times as he slowly came to. He wasn’t in the corner store anymore, he wasn’t home either. The room he was in was white and smelled like a hospital room. He was lying in a bed with blue sheets and was tucked in tight. “Where am I?” he called out. There was no response. “Jenny? Where are you?” “Good god you’re loud!” A girl was standing by the door, but it wasn’t Jenny. This girl  had short, straight, black hair that framed her face, her bangs cut to the side and covering one of her eyes. She definitely looked younger than Lysander, no older than 15 maybe. She was wearing electric blue jeans and orange hi-tops and a white v-neck shirt with some gothic design on the front. “Don’t worry, she’s fine.” “Where am I? What happened? Who are you?” Lysander began to sit up. “Dude, seriously, calm down, we’re the good guys,” she said. She walked over to the sink on the other side of the room and brought him a small paper cup. “Drink this.” The cup held a dark purple liquid that bubbled and looked like it would be very unpleasant to swallow. “It smells like mud...” Lysander frowned at the cup. “It’s a rejuvenation potion,” the girl said. “Just drink it, you’ll feel better.” She grinned. “I’m Kiki, by the way.” Lysander stared at the drink before making a face and knocking it back, immediately gagging. “AH! Gross!” Kiki handed him a bottle of water, which he chugged as quickly as possible. “That was disgusting!” “Sorry, it doesn’t come in grape flavor,” Kiki rolled her eyes and laughed. “Come on, let’s find the others.” She offered him a hand, smiling brightly. However, when she did so, something on her forearm caught Lysander’s attention and he pulled her arm forward. “Uh ow...” “Sorry,” Lysander apologized. “But how did you get that tattoo?” “It’s not a tattoo,” she said, turning her arm for him. “It’s a mark, the mark.” “Mark for what,” Lysander asked. “Cause I have it too, it just showed up...” “Where?” Kiki asked. Lysander pointer to his leg and she immediately tore the sheets off and rolled his pant leg up. “HEY!” “OMG you’re not kidding,” Kiki touched the intricate lines and curls on Lysander’s calf that made up the shape of a crescent moon. “I must have missed it, it blends in with darker skin...” She looked up at him. “Did you get this when you were bitten?” “Bitten?” Lysander shifted uncomfortably. “Like a mosquito bite, uh, no...” Kiki crossed her arms and gave him a look that told Lysander she already knew the answer. He let out a long sigh. “Yeah, two weeks ago...” “Oh!” Kiki said. “No WONDER you were so tired, that was the first time you morphed!” “...Second...” Lysander was suddenly very uncomfortable and he squirmed in his position under the gaze of the younger girl. “Where’s Jenny?” “Oh, right your sister,” Kiki took his hand and pulled him along, “Come on then.” She led him out of the medic room. The rest of the dwelling, wherever they were, was very different from the bright white, sterile room. Kiki led him down a hall with wooden paneling on the side and a stone floor. There were several doors, all the same dark oak as the paneling, but they were all closed. Finally, he was led into a wide, open common room. Large, plush, leather sofas circled a fireplace that wasn’t lit. Above it was a TV that would be the dream screen for any Superbowl watching fan. The back of the room had been turned into a small kitchenette. On one of the sofas, someone popped up to peek over the back and Lysander noticed the three dark braids swinging around. “LYSANDER!” “JENNY!” Jenny climbed over the sofa and ran to her brother who lifted her up and hugged her close. “Jenny are you okay? You’re not hurt? Let me see you...” “I’m okay ‘Sander...” Jenny squirmed and he put her down. “They gave me ice cream and we watched Disney Channel and then Victor and I played Rock Paper Scissors and he ALWAYS chooses Rock, so I win most of the time...” “How long have I been out?” “About 8 hours,” another boy hopped over the couch and approached them. He was eerily pale, his skin even whiter with his black long sleeve shirt and light blonde hair. His eyes shined electric green, the same as Lysander’s now, as he held out a hand. “Victor Hanning,” he grinned. Lysander shook his hand, but jumped back quickly at the sight of two pointed fangs that slipped over his lips. “Don’t panic, I don’t bite...” “Much,” Kiki added with a laugh. “Lysander they have superpowers,” Jenny whispered to him. Lysander looked a them with a raised eyebrow. He opened his mouth to say something but he was interrupted by someone else walking in. “You’re awake!” this girl had light brown hair and looked familiar. “You were...” “Yeah, I was at the store, we brought you here,” she walked up and smiled. “I’m...” “Lee,” Lysander said, the memory fuzzy, but there. “Where is here, exactly.” “Golden Gate Park,” Lee said. “Stow Lake to be more exact.” “Behind the waterfall to be most exact,” Victor added with a grin. “What’s going on...” Lysander said. “Well, you turned into this great furry beast, and then you scared the shit out of some guys stealing Cheetos.” Kiki said with a laugh. Lee shot her a look and the younger girl quickly shut up. “We’re here to help,” Lee said. “We’re like you.” “Like me?” Lysander was skeptical. “Well...” Lee looked to the others and then back to him. “Similar.” “There’s nothing wrong with me,” Lysander said defensively. “I never said there was,” Lee said. “We all have...powers...” “Skills,” Kiki added with a grin. “Like your sister said, we have super powers.” “And now you do too,” Victor said. Lysander looked between them, skeptical and confused. He glanced again at Victor, his fangs causing an uncomfortable knot in his stomach. He pulled Jenny toward him. “Look, thanks or whatever, but you’ve got it all wrong,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with me.” “Dude...” Victor raised an eyebrow. “You’re a freeking wolf-man!” Lysander glared at him and Lee punched him in the arm. “C’mon Jenny,” Lysander said, narrowing his eyes at Victor. Lee sighed. “We’re getting out of here.” “I’ll show you out,” Lee said. Kiki and Victor looked at her in surprise. “Can’t help if he doesn’t want it.” She jerked her head for Lysander to follow her and they left the room. “I don’t get that girl sometimes,” Kiki said, shaking her head once Lee, Lysander, and Jenny left the common room. “I trust Lee,” Victor said. “She’s always got something up her sleeve.” “He’s one of us Vic, I mean really, he has the mark and his eyes are green just like yours...” Kiki frowned. “Why doesn’t he want our help?” “I dunno Ki,” Victor said, patting her shoulder. “But if anyone will figure him out, its Lee.” -------------------- “I’m sorry we scared you,” Lee said, shoving her hands in her jacket pocket as they passed through a door way that led out onto the lake. People were running past them on the path,couples on paddle boats pushed through the lake,taking pictures of the waterfall that the three of them stood under. Didn’t anyone notice the people who just appeared out of the waterfall? “You didn’t scare me,” Lysander looked down at her, his hands still holding tight to Jenny’s shoulders as she reached out to try and touch the waterfall. “No, but you don’t trust us,” Lee said calmly. “And that’s alright. Blaise tried to report us to the FBI for being aliens,” She laughed. “Are we - you? Are you aliens?” Lysander asked. “No,” Lee shook her head, but she didn’t say any more. Lysander watched the girl for a minute. She smiled sweetly, like she had a secret that she wasn’t about to share. But her eyes were filled with understanding and kindness, and something that just made Lysander want to trust her more than anything. “Well, bye...” Lysander said awkwardly. “Thanks for taking care of Jenny.” “Not a problem, she’s sweet,” Lee smiled. “Lysander, can I give you some advice?” Lysander raised an eyebrow at her. “The wolf in the store...” “I already told you that wasn’t me.” “And I didn’t say it was,” she shot back. “I was just going to say...” she looked at Jenny, still occupied with the underside of the waterfall. “The wolf was very protective of your sister, he made sure nothing hurt her. That kind of control...” she bit her lip, trying to find the right words, “That kind of control has to be practiced, and if it isn’t...” She frowned, but Lysander got the message clearly enough. He was sure, however, that he could handle it on his own. So without another word, he took Jenny’s hand and led her through the park toward the bus. -------------------------- “We could have used a werewolf, Lee,” Victor said as she pulled up her car in front of the apartment building he lived in. “Have you ever seen one fight? They’re all like RAWR and GRR and claws and teeth...” “You’re so descriptive Vic,” Lee laughed. “I do what I can,” he smirked. “You want dinner? Pops is cooking...so we’re going to order pizza...” He grinned. “No thanks, I have to take care of Gran,” she smiled. “He’ll come back.” “Hmm?” “Lysander, he’ll come back,” she said with confidence. “If anything, he’s curious.” “If you say so oh-wise-leader-of-ours,” Vic said. “See you later Lee.” “Bye Vic, say hi to your dads for me,” Victor saluted her and then walked into the building. Lee threw her car into gear and then left the Castro, hitting the highway and heading to her small town outside the city. ---------------------- Lysander sat at the table in the McDonald’s near their apartment, watching Jenny play in the structure. He drummed his fingers rhythmically, his mind racing. This time last night, he was not himself. That was an understatement. He was a monster, a beast. Hair sprouted from every pore of his body, his muscles shook and contorted, his teeth grew into fangs, his hands became paws. He looked at Jenny who was hanging upside down.  “Jenny be careful!” He called out. She ignored him as she tumbled tot he ground, got up and brushed off her knees before running back onto the structure. He couldn’t help thinking of what Lee said to him. About controlling...himself...his beast. His hand touched the mark on his calf, fingers tracing the intricate design he had put to memory. Maybe he should go talk to Lee. He didn’t have to join their freak-club or anything. He could just, learn how to control this wolf thing, not change anymore, and then get on with his life. “C’mon Jenny!” Lysander called out. “Time to go!” His sister followed him and they headed home. They reached the apartment safe and sound and when Lysander put his keys by the phone while Jenny got her homework book out for him to check. Next to the phone though, something caught Lysander’s eye that wasn’t there before. A purple business card sat on the table with a black number written across the middle. “Hey Jenny, what’s this?” “I dunno,” she said, not looking up from her homework. Lysander looked at the card flipping it over and over. There was just a number, no name or anything else. He held it up to the dim light of the apartment and still, just the number. But even with all it’s mystery, Lysander still had a pretty good guess of who the number was for. He dialed quickly, holding the receiver to his ear. “Hello?” the voice on the other end replied. “Lee? It’s Lysander...” “Hey there, I see you got my number,” He could see in his mind the same knowing smile she had out at Stow Lake behind the waterfall. “Yeah...how did you do that?” “Why don’t we meet up next time you’re free and talk?” Lysander let out a sigh. “Yeah, sure, when?” “Friday? Do you think you can make it out to where I live? It’s on the card,” Lysander looked at the card in his hand and nearly dropped it when he saw that along with the number, there was now an address. “Uh...yeah...” he said, still in shock. How did she DO that? “Great, see you Friday.” “See you Friday.”

[bellatorlunaefic]

"Where are we?"

"Golden Gate Park, Stow Lake to be more exact."

"Behind the waterfall to be most exact."