Nightfall

“Stop growling. Your eyes are doing the light thingie the Houl’s eyes do when hungry,” Donny said shaking. I glanced at him curious about my eyes.

“Now?” I asked more calmly.

“They’ve stopped glowing,” he muttered, rubbing his arms from the goosebumps he had. I guess looking at my eyes reminded him of the chase where the Houls played hide and seek with us. Only showcasing their hungry glowing eyes at us. Donny didn’t know of their appearance as beautiful women. If he did would he have run as fast? Or as hard? I doubt it. The houls had seemed less imposing as beautiful women.

“Not less dangerous though,” I muttered, holding my neck. I figured the delicious liquid I drank was a Houl’s blood, but how was that different than what I’d recently done and what did it mean were my main concerns. I knew I was different after that bloodletting, and it was far too close to what vampires did for my tastes. I had already drunk blood before, but now it was a bit more than that. I felt that the changes were still happening. I was still changing within and I hoped I didn’t change into a complete monster.

I walked toward where the rest of the men were being crowded against. It was only a few brave souls as Andromeda’s glare was as deadly as her aim. I smirked and waved. She did a double take probably seeing me finally in some light again. I smirked at her pretty blush and winked. She sputtered and I chuckled. She was so cute. A few males glared my way. I glared back before remembering what my eyes do and dropping my gaze. This made them and the queen happy. Over my dead carcass were any of them getting Andromeda!

There were ten of us lined up and willing. Ten including me to vie for Andromeda. I glanced at her as she glared at every one of the males. Her arms were crossed in that come closer and I’ll kick your ass vibe. Donny had gone to sit with her and was chatting her ear off. Every time his mouth opened she glared at him and he shut it. I could smell his fear from here. The queen stood and the ten of us bowed. Yes, I played the good little caveling and bowed too.

“You are going to prove yourself in a feat of games. First the catch and throw! From where you shall catch and throw this good lady.”

“Excuse me?” Andromeda said.

“Don’t drop her now!” warned the queen as she left to get things ready.

I chuckled at Andromeda’s put-out face. She rubbed it and glared at everyone even me. “Do not drop me,” she said a growl escaping as she intimidated the men. Most stepped back I just chuckled and shrugged.

“Don’t weigh so much,” someone whispered and both Andromeda and I turned to the group. My eyes were no doubt lit up like Christmas trees so I couldn’t direct them but Andromeda was doing a nice job of intimidation on her own.

“Excuse me! Who said that?” she asked getting no answer.

She glanced at hidden smiles. I saw them too. It was disrespectful and childish.

“Very well. I want all but the last two to go. You are all too childish to even think about doing this with me. Byeee.” She waved at them to leave.

I smirked and kept my eyes directed to the ground. Hearing the whines of the others and the hissy fits had me near tears with laughter. The other guy she asked to stay for the game’s sake at least that was what I hoped! I lifted my eyes and caught Andromeda smiling at the guy. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Andromeda wouldn’t play me around, would she? I opened my eyes and gazed at Andromeda who seemed to be gazing at me with a playful smile. She turned back to the other guy and flicked her hair behind her ears like a filly. I smirked. So that was her game!

I nearly laughed when the queen returned and was beside herself that only two males remained already.

“You move fast, Andromeda. Well, I guess the only game that matters is the last one. Each of you is to go out and hunt the biggest and worst thing out there. Extra points if it’s a damn Houl,” said the queen.

I blinked as Andromeda whitened. “Here we go again,” I muttered clenching my fists and closing my eyes. It was the male beside me who asked the question I was burning to ask.

“What happens if we refuse to go?” he asked, trembling like a leaf beside me. His fear was the rank smell of sewage, and I crinkled my nose.

“Then the other male gets Andromeda and you become the land shark’s snack,” said the queen smiling.

The male nodded before turning to me. “It was a good game. May the best man win!” He ran off towards a low-hanging cave, and the queen smiled and gestured for me to follow her. I did warily. I wasn’t so stupid as to think that the leader of this anthill didn’t recognize her prisoner. I’d fight her for my freedom if I had to. Instead, she led me to another low-slung cave and turned to me.

She clicked her nails on the long staff she had drawn from the wall of the cave. It was a pale white bone fashioned into a staff. It gleamed in the torchlight of the room.

She turned to me. “It surprised me greatly when you didn’t attack us all. It seems I was wrong about you. Here,” she said handing him a rucksack of provisions. “Happy hunting. You are to meet at the third cave this night. You are free til then.”

She led me back toward the room I was in earlier and I found only Donny there.

“What happened to Andromeda?” I asked hefting the rucksack onto my shoulders by the tiny string on the side.

“A few women came and collected her to get ready for tonight. She was crying, Matt,” said Donny eyes narrowed.

I sighed and thought of how I could capitalize on this. I glanced at the rucksack. It had enough provisions for one, but I bet it had goods like a tent and a sleeping bag. Donny still had his pack. We could make do with two sleeping bags and two tents. I’ve roughed it before, and I could hunt for food, not needing sustenance, but blood now.

“Donny, you are coming with me to this hunt, and together we are gonna bust Andromeda free so we can escape. Between us two we have enough provisions,” I whispered as Donny’s eyes widened showing the whites.

“WHAT!” he screamed shuddering.

I squeezed his shoulders. “We are getting out of here. You need to find a way to let yourself be down in those caves tonight.”

Donny nodded his body shaking from the fear he had of the outside…and of me I guessed. Which was he more afraid of I wondered? Because if it was me, he’d yet to see me in fight mode. I was dangerous then. Especially now that I had a bloodlust. I wouldn’t eat him or Andromeda but anyone outside of them was game. Not that I’d go and attack indiscriminately. I wasn’t a Houl.