LIAM
I let out a groan as I opened my eyes, my head throbbing dully. My gaze fell on both Shea and the fairy. Realizing that I had indeed not been dreaming, my eyes widened.
"You're awake, that's great. Sitting here waiting for you was getting annoying" the fairy said, his eyes glowing.
"If he's a fairy, what are you?" I asked Shea, watching him carefully.
He sighed, running his fingers through his hair.
"It's a long story-" he began but was interrupted by the fairy who was looking very smug. It was annoying.
"I can help with that. Theo is the king of the underworld. He died after getting stabbed in the chest. Somehow, he's back again to fulfill his destiny. End of story, you're welcome"
Shea sighed, glaring at the fairy who still had a smirk on his face.
"That still doesn't explain why Devon has anything to do with you" I said.
"She's my soulmate, Liam. I can't stay away from her even if I tried. She can't stay away from me, either" he said and I felt anger simmering to the surface.
Why him?
Why not me?
"Look, I know you're upset, but this is just something that we can't change" I sighed, rubbing my left eye.
"Fine, I get it. That doesn't mean that I'm happy with all this" I said.
Thefairy tilted his head, watching me intently. Goose bumps appeared on my skin. That's how creepy he was.
"So, does that mean that you're no longer planning to screw him up?" He asked."What the-"
"I read your mind when we walked in"
"That's rude" I said, glaring at him.
"I know, I never said anything about me being nice. So, deal with it"
"Luke, cut it out" Shea hissed.
Luke rolled his eyes.
"Shea-" I said
"It's Theo, now" he said, giving me an apologetic look.
"Well, I don't care. You're fired and I don't want to ever see you again, got it?" I said.
"That's fine with me. Luke, come on let's go"
Luke walked up to me and clasped my shoulder firmly. There were unspoken words in his eyes but I didn't understand any of them. Without a word, he turned away and left with Theo. I grabbed a mug and smashed it against the wall. Yanking my hair hard, I let out a yell of frustration. I loved Devon. I really loved her. I felt so empty because I'd lost her. I'd lost her for good.
************
THEO
"You've been too quiet for too long" I said to Luke as we both walked into my apartment. He still didn't say anything, which was so unlike him. "Okay, Luke spit it out" I said. He sat down on the couch, tapping his fingers on the couch. "Did you notice anything when Liam hit you?" He asked. I frowned, pressing an ice pack to the side of my face which was throbbing really bad. I guess Liam has a hell of a right hook.
"Uh-I don't know? All I do know is that he was really fast and he got me good" I said.
"Exactly. He didn't even miss once. He literally growled at you" I stared at Luke, raising a brow. "Well, anyone can growl" I shrugged.
"I know....but this was purely animalistic. I'm surprised you didn't hear it"
"Maybe it's because he was punching the sides of my face and my ears were probably ringing" I shrugged. Luke gave me the 'are-you-kidding-me' look.
"Okay, what's your point?" I asked, taking a seat on the sofa.
"There was something about him that I couldn't quite place. But, there's something really off about him" Luke said. I frowned, pressing the ice pack to my sore ribs."Do you think that he's a part of the silver beast?" I asked.
"We can't be too sure yet. We have to find out the truth" Luke said. There was a knock on the door.
"Come in" I said and Devon walked in. She gasped when she saw the bruises on my face.
"He hit you" she said, her fingers lightly tracing the bruise beneath my left eye.
"I'm fine, it was worth it anyway" I said and she smiled, placing a featherlight kiss on my bruises.
"I love you" she whispered, brushing my hair out of my eyes. "I love you too" I replied, giving her a smile.
"I watched the news last night. Two males and five females has been declared missing" she said. Luke sighed, rubbing his eyes.
"The silver beast is ahead of us.... Things are more complicated than they appear to be. We have to find out what Liam is, exactly" Luke said and Devon frowned.
"What are you talking about? Liam is just human" she said. Luke shook his head.
"He's not. Infact, I think his aura is strange"
"We can't just jump into a conclusion yet. We have to figure it out"
"Of course, we will. We just have to be very careful. One slip up and we're in for a ride in inferno" Luke said, leaning back on the couch.
***********
I was lying in bed later that night with Devon cuddled up close to me, our limbs entangled beneath the duvet. She was asleep, her features serene. I stared at her, a smile tugging on my lips. She was beautiful even in her sleep. The wild bed head, her soft pink lips, the beauty spot on her right cheek, I found it all alluring. My beautiful soulmate.
I'd been asleep for a while and had suddenly awoken for no reason. I heaved a sigh and closed my eyes, willing myself to go back to sleep but it was no use anyway. I slowly got out of bed, careful not to awaken Devon. I sluggishly dragged my limbs into the bathroom and turned on the faucet, briskly splashing cold water onto my face. I gripped the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The bruise beneath my left eye looked like it had worsened. I carefully touched it, hissing in pain when my fingers made the slightest contact with it.
I walked out of the bathroom, running my fingers through my hair. I froze when I heard the knock on the door. My gaze immediately rested on the digital clock. 01:23AM. I frowned. Who would be knocking on my door at such ungodly hour? I opened the door and started to head towards the front door the same time Luke stepped out of the spare room. The drowsiness in his eyes vanished.
"Careful" he said, watching me as I twisted the door knob and pulled the door backwards. A man was standing in front of the door, his head hanging low. I couldn't quite make out his features but something about him was familiar. I stiffened, my eyes widening when my visitor finally raised his head. "Liam? What the hell are you doing here?" I asked.
Heburied his trembling hands in the pockets of his pants, biting his lower lip, nervously.
"Let me in, please" he said. Narrowing my eyes, I glared at him. "Let him in" Luke said from behind me, his hand resting on my shoulder.
Isighed and opened the door wider. Liam walked in, his eyes darting here and there. He was avoiding my eyes."Why are you here?" I asked, noticing the stains and rips on his shirt and pants.
"I-I need your help" Luke and I exchanged confused glances.
"What do you want?" Luke asked. Liam sighed.
"I've been having strange dreams since I was a kid. It's always about me transforming into some sort of beast. Today it changed.... I.. in my dream I was attacked. When I woke up, I heard footsteps in my house and when I checked, all I could see was some sort of purple fog everywhere. I was horrified. I stepped out of my house. After that, I don't remember what happened. When I came back to my senses, I found myself in an alley. My clothes were torn and stained and I-I had claws"
He was hyperventilating by the time he finished."First of all, you have to calm down. Liam, take deep breaths" Luke said. Liam shakily took deep breaths.
"Sit down, Liam" I said.
"Do you have any strange birthmark?" Liam gave me a questioning look.
"You have to tell us if you need our help" I said. He let out a sigh and took off his torn shirt. He rose to his feet and turned his back to us. Luke's eyes widened. His birthmark covered the whole expanse of his back. It was like a tattoo, but I knew better. It was a rare birthmark. It was in the shape of a wolf howling at the moon. "Wait, is that the birthmark of the Red Wolf?" I said, not believing what I was seeing.
"Yes, that's it" Luke breathed rising to his feet."I'll be right back" he said and went into the spare room. He was holding a really ancient book when he stepped out. "What's that?" Liam asked, looking even more confused.
"It's an ancient codex. There's just something we need to confirm" Luke said, unlocking the book with magic. The pages were glowing brightly.
"There, do you see that?" Luke asked, pointing at a similar birthmark drawn in the book. "What does this mean?" Liam asked, a worried look on his face.
"You have to sit down for this, Liam" I said. He hesitated before sitting down on the couch.
"Centuries ago, a prophecy was made by one of the oldest seer in the underworld. He predicted the birth of three powerful creatures. The first one is the Silver beast which is made up of two people. The second one is the Chimaera which is very powerful and dangerous. Theo, here is the Chimaera. Even though he's a human now, it's been predicted that his powers would return to him soon. Then, there's the third creature. The Red Wolf. It's a very powerful creature too, a wolf with magical abilities that takes the form of a human. That's where you come in, Liam. You are the Red Wolf"
Liam stared, eyes wide.When he still didn't move for two more minutes, I started to get worried.
"He's in shock" Luke said.
"I'm a Red Wolf, a mystical creature. Wow, things can't get any better than this"
Luke gave him a sympathetic look.
"What do I do with myself now?" Liam mumbled.
"The silver beast has been unleashed and it's only you and Theo that can stop it"
"Okay, this is too much to take in" Liam said, closing his eyes.
"Take your time, Liam. We'll take it slow" Luke said.
"Mate, mind if I crash over in your house for now?" Liam asked.
"It's fine. Just stay away from my room" I said and he nodded.
I walked back into my room and laid down on the bed, burying my face in the crook of Devon's neck.
"Where were you?" She asked.
"I'll tell you everything tomorrow morning, right now I think my brain has been fried" I rasped and she smiled, stroking my hair gently.
"Okay, tomorrow morning then"
I couldn't believe Liam was the Red Wolf. I was probably in shock too. My exhausted mind slowly shut down and soon, I was giving in to my exhaustion.