- Present Time -
(17 years after the escape of Captain Randall with the children of Alpha Berrick)
~~~ Selene's POV~~~
I am in a tavern for the Supernatural. This type of tavern is common for supernatural beings;
A place where they can be themselves away from the eyes of humans, and they can drown themselves with beer and other alcoholic beverages without having to fear going out of control.
The difference between this kind of tavern and a human's is that we do not have to worry about harming any humans. Since a Supernatural has killed a human before, Hunters will definitely trace and hunt any accountable Supernatural – which is not good news. Being here allows me to look for a new mission as a mercenary.
Taverns are places where employers recruit mercenaries for their dirty work and reward them for its completion.
So, right now, I am looking for either a mission where I can take out vampires or a recon mission for infiltration in a coven of vampires. I look for this type of mission so I can get intel on my older brother, who left me 8 years ago on my own with our old pack.
His last words were,
'I have to look for those responsible for our parents' death, baby sis'
I am Selene, a former member of the Midnight Pack. I had to leave and break my ties from my old pack, in order for me to look for my older brother and ask him about the truth about our origins.
My older brother, Lucas, never told me where we previously belonged nor why our parents died. The only thing he's told me ever since we were young was that vampires killed our parents, and I must be careful with any vampires.
Lucas never told me anything else. He was clearly upset when I brought it up, so I never tried again. He was my only blood relative, and the only one left for me.
There are a lot of questions running through my mind. Questions that I wanna ask him, especially after finding out from Laquisha that we were really not originally from Midnight Pack.
Laquisha was the resident witch in our old pack. She was always there for me and healed me every time I was being bullied, hurt or in trouble for being an outsider.
No wonder I was never treated nicely or accepted by everyone in our old pack – it was because I was never originally from their pack.
Laquisha told me everything right after she found out I was rejected by my mate. She told me to leave because she felt responsible for the pain and suffering that I went through. For it was she who dragged us in Midnight pack's territory.
My foster mother, Laquisha, vouched for our stay in the pack since she held influence in the pack for being the resident witch of the pack. She told me how she saved us from vampires who were chasing me and my brother. She was kind and caring like a mother to me.
Laquisha was the only reason why I was able to endure all the bullying and cold treatment. She was my only ray of light, aside from my older brother.
I could not muster the strength to leave her on her own in the old pack after my older brother left. Since she does not have her own family, she treated us like her own.
When Laquisha found out I was rejected by the Alpha's son as his mate, she cried and blamed herself for the pain I went through. Her outburst caused conflict in my old pack since she was the resident witch and had a strong influence.
I did not expect that she would go to such lengths in showing her wrath to my old Alpha and to the others who caused me pain. How I wish I could have stopped her at that time.
Her death, in the hands of my former mate, triggered Sylvia, my wolf, to appear and protect me.
Laquisha's last words were for me to leave the Midnight Pack and look for my older brother - he knows our origin and what I really am.
I did not understand what she meant by 'what I really am'.
All I could feel at the time was despair, anger, and complete loss. It made me declare the acceptance of the rejection of the Alpha's son and cut ties with my former pack, the pack that I never really belonged in.
Oh, Laquisha!! Why did you have to leave me on my own now, just like how Lucas left me?
Not even this large mug of beer can cure the pain of your loss or fill the void you left inside my heart.
This day commemorates the day I lost my mother figure, the only person that was holding my sanity together and was my only ray of light. I drink more and more, pushing it down my throat, more and more.
Fluffy, the feral wolf beside me, is nudging my hips - hinting for me to stop already.
Laquisha placed an enchanted bracelet right above his paws so no one can sense him, and so he can cover his scent. A powerful cloaking spell, hiding one's presence and scent from any Supernatural. It even grants him the ability to hide in shadows. Laquisha had to do this so no one from my old pack could found out that there is a feral wolf tailing me and Lucas.
There were many times Fluffy saved me from bullies while he was in the shadows. In reality, he made everything worse because children my age were scared to even play with me due to his outbursts to protect me.
"Fluffy! Stop it, just give me this moment today, Okay! ... You should know today is Laquisha's Day." Then I hear his whimper because he knows how sad I am today.
Well, if no employer is around then I have to keep drowning myself until an employer comes to recruit.
I sit in the corner edge of the Tavern where I can see the overview of the crowd inside. This is the perfect spot to have a complete view inside the Tavern. I can easily see the employers trying to recruit any Supernatural mercenary. While I keep drowning myself, Sylvia suddenly took my attention.
'Selene! 2 O'clock. Employer spotted!'
'What?! Let me finish this first!'
'Stop it already! And let us get down to the real business girl!'
'To be honest, sometimes you really do not know how to give me some ME-TIME'
I kept thinking how much Sylvia, my wolf, took control over mature decision-making in my life and guiding me on what I should do and prioritize. Like, come on! I am only seventeen years old, don't expect me to be the most responsible and wise of all. That is why I am grateful I have blessed with such spirit wolf Sylvia.
'Selene! hurry before someone takes it first'
'Okay! Okay! hold your paws, Sylvia, I will go now and approach him.'
I started moving while Fluffy is hiding in my shadows. I cannot scare anyone while I make my move.
As I try to approach the employer, he noticed.
Anyone could distinguish an employer through the translucent red opaque ring they wear. I was told by my rogue wolf friends that this kind of ring was worn by any employers who wish to hire or recruit mercenary.
Employers specifically wear this kind of ring in the Tavern, to make it known to mercenaries that they are recruiting or hiring.
"Excuse me, sir, do you have company? May I join you?" I asked him,
It is also known to all mercenaries that if the employer has already hired someone, an employer would reject, but if that employer still opens for hiring then they would let you join their table.
"Sure! You can."
I immediately sat down in front of him.
"Though I see you are alone, I will be needing 2 or more for this mission. This is a retrieval mission. You need to steal something for me that was originally mine. Your wolf abilities alone will not be enough, but I can sense some magic essence from you as well. Even if you are a hybrid, you will need help on this one."
Although I was surprised that he was able to identify me as a hybrid, I still kept my cool and replied to his query.
"You do not have to worry sir - I have some friends that can help me, as long I know what I am dealing with."
"Well, this is a Class A mission because you have to infiltrate a coven of vampires and steal a specific scroll that is very important to me. When you return the scroll to me, we will meet once again in this exact Tavern after a month. The Primus, or Master of this Coven, is a retired Captain and former member of the Henchmen of King Lionel."
"As in King Lionel?! The King of Vampires? Wow! Seems like a tough one, especially if this one is a former member of the henchmen of King Lionel, which would mean he has a magical gift aside from being a powerful vampire already. This one would need a large sum compared to the usual reward for Class A missions."
"Do not worry about the compensation! I know how difficult it is to infiltrate in a Coven of Vampires, particularly if their master is a former henchman of King Lionel. That is why I told you that you will be needing 2 or more mercenaries for this mission. I will reward you with a very large sum that will be enough for you and your friends to be at ease for even a decade."
His generous offer makes me wonder more curious, "Why former henchmen? If I may ask? and how do you know this stuff by the way? What is so special about this specific scroll that was stolen from you and you are willing to pay us with such a stupendous amount, if I would rely on your word?"
"You have too many questions dear, do you accept the mission or not?"
I can tell he is definitely a warlock, specifically because of the necklace of enchanted gems around his neck. No wonder this one has been open for hiring all this time.
I bet many mercenaries had refused his offer, and this mission itself. This mission was a suicide mission when you put a henchman in the picture. Anyone would think twice before accepting this mission.
He will never know how capable I can be. Laquisha always reminded me not to reveal all my abilities to anyone, or else I will be branded as a curiosity among Supernaturals and it will risk my own safety and those I care about.
The good thing is, those I care about have left me already. And only Fluffy remains by my side. I wonder if how long can this one stay by my side.
I came back to my senses and finally decided, "I accept the mission! And do not worry, I can complete the mission within the given length of time."
'Looks like we will be setting another fire to some unfortunate souls!'
I can hear Sylvia's proud voice and I cannot blame her because we really did have a lot of dangerous missions and life-threatening situations.
'Do not be too confident, girl!' Trying to remind her that we are not indestructible and immortal because we can still get hurt and feel pain.
'Have you forgotten, we can die too.'
'Oh, come on! You have me and Fluffy. Both of us have your back. Plus, you having Elemental Powers, bending all elements on your will, makes us THE BOMB to any Supernatural. Not to mention, my wisdom and guidance will bring us to safety.'
'I am telling you, this one will be the most dangerous mission we've ever had so far. Though, this can be our best shot in finding clues to where my older brother is, since he is hunting the vampires responsible for our parents' death, in addition to the largest reward we will get.'
Sylvia agreed to what I have to say. She knows how much I miss and desperately need to find my older brother. This is the best opportunity we have gotten from all the missions we've had.
I took all the necessary materials like the sketch of the scroll and the blueprint of the hideout of the coven of the former henchman of King Lionel. Afterward, I stood up and started walking away, exiting the tavern.
As I make my way out, I can see in my peripheral vision that the warlock is still looking at me as I try to go out.
I bet he is surprised I accepted the mission which proves my hypothesis that many have turned down this mission after hearing it includes a former henchman of the King of Vampires.
What a reputation they have made around the Supernatural world that no one wants to cross with them. No wonder the Legion of Vampires is still rampant all over the world even if the Council of Supernaturals has openly allied each other against them.
Once I reached outside the Tavern, I made my way to my truck which I stole from a human drunkard weeks ago.
I started the engine and thought to myself how insanely powerful the Legion of Vampires is if a group of species has banded together against them.
It is crazy to know that such power and influence can spread fear amongst the Supernaturals.
'Time to bust some badass vampires!'
'Let us hope for another mission accomplished! And make me finally have substantial clue in finding Lucas!'
'Do not worry, my baby girl! We will find him, and if we are lucky maybe our mate will find us too along the way'
'Please do not jinx this mission, Sylv! You know how I feel about finding our mate. It is ONLY A DISTRACTION to our objective and goals. So please, focus on our real mission'
'Okay! But I am telling you, fate may bring you both close soon, especially since you are 17 now. It is only a matter of time you bump into each other. And when that happens, my pretty baby girl, you know we will be the happiest wolf in the entire world'
'Not me! Do not put so much hope in it - you will only be disappointed and hurt just like I was with Gerald, my former mate'
'Oh please, baby girl! Be positive! Stop this non-sense negative mindset of yours. We will be complete and happy if we find our new mate'
'Do not call me baby girl! I told you, I am not a baby anymore. And how many times should I remind you that our real goal here is:
(1st) Find my older brother
(2nd) finally know our origin
(3rd) discover why my parents were killed
(lastly) Make the vampires responsible for killing my parents and make them pay for it.'
'Okay! But please, right after we accomplish those can we finally settle down and be at peace? I do not want you to live in so much anger and pain. You know, whatever happens, you have me! and Fluffy! You are not alone my Ba-- , I mean Selene'
'I know Sylvia! Thank you for being there for me. Now, we have a mission to clear and some goals to accomplish'
I drive my way to the next town where I will meet up with my fellow mercenaries that are rogue wolves. I have worked with them since last year. Right after I started taking Class A missions, I needed some back-up and some decoys to derail pursuits.
This journey of mine. . . I really do hope I can finally find my older brother who is so difficult to track. One thing for sure, once I find Lucas, I will make him tell me everything, and will not part from him again. I am starting to get tired of being on my own. Fluffy and Sylvia are never enough to fill the void left by Laquisha and wipe the scar away left by Gerald, my damn mate.
Lucas, where are you? Why did you not come back for me?