DUSK.
I wondered if people couldn't hear the noise from outside.
Blood flowed freely from his neck, and Athena moved closer, sucking hungrily.
I could see Lucius trying to fight it, but it was as though he was stuck and couldn't move.
But they said vampires couldn't compel wolves. So how did she manage to compel him? And he wasn't just any wolf; he was the Alpha wolf.
The man continued to scream, and Athena fixed her hand in his mouth. He bit down on it, and blood came down freely, but she didn't seem to care.
Then she jerked her head from his neck. "Before I go too far," She said and took in deep breaths. "Lucius, tear his throat out. Destroy the holes I made.” She said, and Lucius brought out his long claws. The guard watched in terror, and Lucius swiped down hard on his throat, slashing it countless times till his throat was torn out.
And as the guard fell to the floor, his face turned to me, and I could see the same horrified expression on his face.
My hand was tight on my mouth as I watched in horror.
I had wanted to stop it, to say something, to save him, but that would mean killing me too and burying the secret there so no one would find out.
I tried so hard not to let a sound escape me as I watched the guard.
Then Athena stood up.
"Dusk saw the tissues in your room. Even though I compelled you to wipe your hands, did you have to do it in your room? Wash your hands outside the palace, and don't let anyone see you.” She said, and Lucius walked out of the storeroom.
She wiped her mouth.
"That was sweet. Pity I don't get to suck it all up like I did to Old Leo.” She said, while looking at him, and then she began to sniff the air.
"Is it you I smell? Hm, there's another smell here." She said as she started walking across the store room.
I began to shake and contemplated dashing out of the storeroom, but my chances of success looked slim.
I waited, and Athena shrugged and went to stand by the door.
Shortly, Lucius came back with clean hands, and he lifted the guard, and they left the storeroom together.
After I was sure they had gone far, I let myself breathe.
I broke into tears right there, as I hated the fact that I couldn't help him until he died. Even Lucius couldn't do a thing because Athena's compulsion seemed to be strong.
I waited until morning before leaving the storeroom.
I went straight to Lucius men; they weren't training. They all seemed distraught and lost in their thoughts.
Marcus was the only one who trained, and I could see anger in every movement of his body. There was just no one to direct the anger at.
I ran to them and stopped breathing hard.
"I know it all. I know what happened.” I said and broke down, bursting into tears.
Marcus and the men came to me immediately.
"What do you mean by that?” They asked, and I looked at them.
"Athena's the vampire, and she found a way to compel Lucius. She sucks their blood and commands Lucius to tear out their throats. I was there last night. I can show you the place they did it.” I said, Crying, and Marcus bent down, facing me.
"Vampires cannot compel wolves.” He said, and I looked at him.
"That's what you guys made me believe. She's pale and white, and her canines are slightly longer. She has a soothing voice. If you don't believe me, watch her when she's trying to calm Lucius.” I said, and they stared at me.
"For some reason, I believe her. Let's give it a chance.” Eugene said, and I stood up.
"It's always in that abandoned store room, and they never clean it up. Tonight, we follow them. We can't be together, or else the sound of our hearts beating would be too much.” I said, and Marcus put a hand on my shoulder.
"You should stay out of this.” He said that, and I was amazed at how I brushed his hand off aggressively.
"I was there. I watched him die. I could have tried saving him. But I didn't, so I'm going to try to save anyone who could end up being a victim." I said, and he looked at me for a while before nodding slowly.
"Don't you have reports to give him concerning the training?” I asked, and he nodded.
"Give it to him. I'll deliberately ask some questions, and you'll see he doesn't know how it happened.” I said, and Marcus raised a brow.
~
We got to Lucius study, and I pushed it open, only for us to find Athena bending over his neck. She stood up immediately as she heard the sound.
"I can't do this. Please do not let me do this.” She said, and there were tears in her eyes.
Lucius looked back at the papers in front of him and, after some seconds, blinked. He looked up and saw us, and Athena bowed to him and left. She avoided my gaze as she left the study, and I and Marcus went to Lucius.
"Alpha, here are the reports concerning the training.” He said, as he dropped the papers. Lucius stared at them, and Marcus looked at him. I returned his confident look and was about to ask Lucius about what Athena had been doing when he put a hand to his head.
"Can we do this later? I'm really in no condition to do this.” He said and rubbed his neck. The spot Athena had been leaning over.
I and Marcus saw it clearly. Two little holes were very tiny, and a little amount of blood seeped from them.
She had been about to suck his blood.
Marcus turned to me unbelievably, and I returned his shocked gaze.
Athena was in way over her head.
She had dared to suck the blood of the Alpha.