BITE {Discontinued}

Luna Marisol lightly smacked her arm, but said nothing.

Now, they all stood in front of gilded doors, waiting for permission to enter. Guadalupe shivered from the cold, and three bodies closed in on her. A small smile made its way on her face. She didn’t need to glance around her to know that it was Nox, Hades, and Jamie.

“She’s not made of glass, you know.” Luna Marisol whispered in the silence of the waiting hall, and the males grunted. “We’re well aware, Luna. But still.” Jamie said, and they fell silent again.

One of the doors creaked open, and a heavily armed guard stepped out. “Moonrise clan. The Counsel will have an audience with you now.” His gravelly voice grated on her nerves, but she schooled her features and followed Nox as he stepped through the door after the guard.

It looked like a typical court room. Except that there were ten podiums that were about twenty feet off the ground. Their shoes clicked and squeaked against the tiles as they walked, until they came to a stop in front of the tallest podium.

Empty silver eyes leered down at them. “What brings you here, Moonrise clan?” the thunderous voice paused. “And Crown Vampire Prince.”

“We come to seek an explanation, Counselor Davids.” Nox said, his voice devoid of any emotion. Slowly, the silver eyes became attached to a face, so strikingly similar to Nox’s.

“If this is how Nox is going to age, I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever.” Aiko said, and Guadalupe could almost see hearts in her eyes.

“No visit to your old man?” Counselor Davids said, and she could almost feel Violetta roll her eyes from behind her. “My old man could have chosen to visit his pack every once in a while, but after seven years, he’s made his choice crystal clear.”

Guadalupe had to force herself not to wince. Aiko sucked air through her teeth. “Damn, the tea is hawt.” Hades coughed to cover up his laugh. She could have sworn she heard the eyes that turned to him.

Hades coughed again, clasping his hands in front of him respectfully. “Allergies.” He simply said, and Counselor Davids’ eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

“I thought I told you to get out of my head, mister?” Guadalupe thought, and she squeezed her hands into fists when Hades responded inside her head. “It is truly beautiful in here, draga mea.”

“Hey, Hades, Daddy. I would absolutely let you fuck me up any day of the week.” Aiko purred, and Guadalupe closed her eyes as she took calming breaths, ignoring Hades’ smirk at Aiko’s words.

“I’ll keep that in mind, iubito.” Hades said, and Aiko cackled.

“What explanation do you seek, Alpha Nox?” A voice like wind chimes asked, and a petite woman appeared before them. She looked almost child-like, with her porcelain skin and rosy cheeks, but there was a certain wisdom in her eyes that told you she was much older than she appeared to be.

Nox bowed his head respectfully. “Counselor Lee.” The woman smiled and curtsied. “What do you seek, Alpha?” Counselor Lee asked again as her eyes swept over the group. Guadalupe felt that she already knew.

“I-” Nox glanced behind him, taking Guadalupe’s hand and drawing her to his side. “I found my mate last week, Counselor. But it seems that the Vampire Prince has found his Beloved as well.” Hades claimed her other side, sliding his hand against hers and interlocking their fingers.

Counselor Lee’s eyes widened and her head whipped back and forth between Nox and Hades; her mouth formed an ‘o’. The room filled with murmurs, and Guadalupe licked her lips as her nerves began to grow. Her hands were given comforting squeezes, and she squeezed back.

Another woman appeared at Counselor Lee’s side, much taller and mature looking. Nox bowed respectfully again. “Counselor Belgrave.” The woman smiled, her eyes almost as rich a chocolate as her skin. “Hello little Alpha.”

Her eyes turned to Guadalupe, who resisted the urge to shrink into herself. “Could it be?” Counselor Belgrave closed the distance between them, taking Guadalupe’s face in her hands and brushing her thumbs against her cheeks, sending pin-pricks across her face.

“Yvana’s girl.” She whispered, and Guadalupe’s heart leapt into her throat. “Y-you knew my great-grandmother?” Counselor Belgrave nodded, a sad smile on her face. “She was my best friend.”

Guadalupe felt tears leak out of the corner of her eyes. Her great-grandma Yvana will forever be the only person she would truly consider family.

When she was still alive, she lived almost an hour away, in a cute little house surrounded by trees. Guadalupe would visit her as much as possible, helping her clean up and learning how to cook and sew. Great-grandma Yvana would seat her down between her legs as she combed her hair, and tell her folk-stories from the Caribbean that would make her scared to sleep some nights.

Despite her wrinkly physical form, great-grandma Yvana was still young at heart, joking and gossiping with Guadalupe over a cup of rosemary tea and store-bought cookies whenever she came to visit her.

When she suddenly passed, Guadalupe wept bitterly and had refused to eat for weeks. Her aunt Lisa thought that it would be a good idea for Guadalupe to stay at her house for a few weeks.

And it did help in some way. It was where her dreams began, and Guadalupe spent almost three months in the cute little house. Until her father called her ridiculous and dragged her out of the house one night, kicking and screaming.

Guadalupe never saw the cute little house again; apart from in her dreams.

Counselor Belgrave brushed the tears away, a comforting smile on her face. “You look just like her.” Guadalupe managed to smile.

“Now,” Counselor Belgrave’s face fell blank, “on to the question at hand.” Guadalupe’s cheeks began to grow uncomfortably warm, and she felt like pins and needles were being driven into her face. The feeling soon spread throughout her body. She could feel Nox and Hades shifting uncomfortably at her sides, clenching their hands around hers.

Counselor Belgrave released her, taking a staggering step backwards. “I-” she swallowed, looking at her colleagues, hidden in the shadows, “it’s true. Alpha Nox and Crown Prince Hades are mated to the human.”

The Counselors erupted in outrage. They all exposed themselves to the light, their features smeared in anger. “Impossible! A human, werewolf, and a vampire?” A red-head man yelled, his vivid green eyes flashing gold.

“The Gods would never!” Another man yelled as he shook his fist. His hand had an iridescent glow in the light that fascinated Guadalupe.

“My magic never lies!” Counselor Belgrave yelled, glaring at her colleagues. The room slowly grew silent. “It seems that the words Lady Hexa spoke are true.” Counselor Lee said, further silencing the room.

Guadalupe was the only one left confused. “Who is Lady Hexa?” she thought, and Hades responded after a moment. “She was a very powerful witch; some would say she was sent by the Gods themselves to keep an eye on their creations.” Hades squeezed her hand.

“She was known to curse those who disrespected her; that’s how she got her name.” His head tilted towards her. “About two hundred years ago, she declared that there will come a time when three races will tie, and one will be produced. Specifically werewolves, vampires, and humans. The hatred between werewolves and vampires grew, and we simply disappeared from the human eye. That was the only thing we agreed on.”

Hades tightened his grip on her hand. “Then she just... vanished. No one has seen or heard from her since. Imagine how upset my father was when he had to suddenly assume the throne.”

Guadalupe’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?” she asked out loud, and Hades nodded. “Yes.” Guadalupe’s excitement shot up, and she bounced on her toes. “Dude, that is so cool.”

The judgmental eyes bearing down on her didn’t phase her for the first time. “What? I believe in aliens. This is twice as cool.” Jamie and Hades began to chuckle, and Nox was struggling not to.

Counselor Belgrave smiled fondly. “Definitely Yvana’s girl.” Guadalupe smiled back at her, until a thought came to her. “So does this mean that all those Caribbean folk stories are true?”

Counselor Belgrave nodded, and Guadalupe shivered. “I do not want to encounter any of them...” She nodded in understanding. “You won’t, unless you end up in the Caribbean.”

“Oh Praise.” Guadalupe whispered, earning a few chuckles around the room.

“Very well then Moonrise clan. You have received an explanation.” Counselor Davids said, then he zoned in on Guadalupe. “And we have received our bridge to peace among our races.”

Guadalupe shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, but stood her ground. “Stop trying to intimidate her.” Luna Marisol snapped, coming to stand in front of her. Counselor Davids leaned back, a fond look flashing across his face before disappearing.

“You are free to leave Moonrise clan. Spend as much time as you like.” And with that, the Counselors vanished into thin air, leaving them alone in the court room.

iubito (Romanian) - babe

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(づ￣ 3￣)づ

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