There Will Be Blood by Brieanna Boyce (bookstand for reading txt) 📕

and approached our destination. It was a full moon, the blue light streamed down so that the building basked in it.
We went inside and found whole pillars knocked over, cracked, crumbling or having already come down. Windows were broken and the very foundation seemed to wobble.

"First lesson, is defense. This is more important your own safety is your upmost concern. Now by no means, and I mean no means do you change into your human form. This is when you're at your weakest especially during your transformation. Don't let yourself be backed into a corner and no matter what leave yourself space to run."

I fought each and every one to demonstrate, each failed and needed a few practices. All of them were out of breath and I looked on dissapointed. "Come now, we have only gone over the defensive that's the easiest part."

They all groaned which I responded to with a growl. They all shot their heads up already tired and worn. "I thought you guys wanted to fight wanted your homes back. It's fight now or keep running, I want to fight. What about you?"

I continued with the lesson.

"Now the offense is the hard part, we want them to change, this usually happens when one feels vulnerable. They know they can't transform or they're dead. You have to override their thoughts and make them lose it to fear. You have to be ruthless and quick. You want to corner them without being cornered yourself."

Each tried sparring, Derek and Jason got so into it that they were actually throwing hits. Jason seemed much better at manuvering Derek than Derek was Jason. However Jason would also let his guard down or become too arrogant or underestimate Derek at which point he would use force to overwhelm Jason. Gerard and Meg sparred both meeting each other move for move. The problem was that both of them seemed to think of it as almost a game, of course niether was smiling. However their kicks and punches gave off an air of being light, rehearsed, and more like dancing. I rotated fighting each easily cornering them. I than made them all transform and really practice. I made them switch partners so as to seperate Meg and Gerard.

Meg and Derek seemed a much better match, they already had a rocky relationship and had no problem fighting each other. Both of their strong points were their emotions so being mad at each other certainly helped them both concentrate.

Gerard and Jason were also much better suited since both were reactive fighters, fighters that analyze their opponent and wait. Both had a hard time figuring out the other and both seemed well matched in skill.

I made them all stop. They all fell to their knees or to the ground covered by bites, scratches, and scrapes gasping for air. Parts of the building were more damaged than when we'd entered but all in all I suppose it went alright. I walked out to the car and the others followed silently trying to keep their composure.

The pack followed me to the car and we made the silent drive home. I looked back to see Meg was sleeping her head resting on Gerard. I than looked forward.

"Do you like her?"

I looked back at Gerard, "What?"

"Do you like Meg?"

I shrugged, "well yeah I guess... Why?"

Gerard grumbled something than sighed, "no reason."

After a short while we pulled up to our place. I got out of the car as did Jason and Derek. Gerard scooped up a sleeping Meg and carried her inside. They all fell asleep shortly after, but I couldn't.Instead I went into my room, reached in one of the secret pockets of my luggage, and pulled out a worn envelope. I looked it over grazing my fingertips gently against it as I sat down on my bed.

I gently pulled the note out and saw the words that I had memorized in my head. It was the note from O'Leary, Shawna, and Cedric before they dissapeared from my life forever. I wondered how they'd feel about me now, I wondered if they ever thought about me, if they really ever even cared.

I than pulled out another envelope from my luggage the short letter Skylar wrote me before she had first dissapeared with that leach she so admired. Somehow I imagined myself wondering the same things about her.

I tried not to think of her, just like I tried not to think about O'Leary, just like I tried not to think of my mother. Sometimes, just sometimes though on nights like this I couldn't help but think of them, couldn't help but miss them and couldn't help but realize that even with the pack that I'd never been so alone.

Skylar

Somehow I managed to navigate myself to London and furthermore I managed to find the place where the cruise ship was docked. I looked around carefully at the people about to board. Most were with families, friends, or lovers. After a few minutes of aimlessly walking around I found a well to do girl. She didn't look a day over 20, she had black hair and blue eyes. She was perfect. I smiled to her and pulled her aside to have her help me look for something than I knocked slapped her in the back of the head easily knocking her out. I quickly stole her clothes and her hat and changed her into my frumpy clothes. I went into my backpack and pulled out concealer which I'd stolen from a walmart. I caked enough on so that my freckles went completly unnoticed. I than put on my contacts which made my eyes a violet color. I looked back to the woman and rummaged her purse until I found her passport. There was money there too and for awhile I debated than shrugged, she'd probably need the money to get back home or something. I looked in the mirror. I may not look exactly like the woman I was trying to pretend to be but I certainly didn't look like Skylar Dubrinsky. If the guy checking passports wasn't paying too much attention than this would all go relativley smooth. I stepped out and had the girl leaned against the side wall. I than quickly got into a long line of people and waited to enter the cruise ship.

The man checking passports smiled to me. "Hello Miss Tull always a pleasure to have you," he said as he looked at the passport and absently handed it back to me.

I nodded and entered the ship looking down and walking by quickly.

"Miss?"

I stopped midstep clutching my fists and frozen in place. I than plastered a smile on my face and turned around, "Yes sir?" I felt my hands sweat, my mind raced, and I bit my lip in anticipation.

"Your Passport?" He waved it gently in the air.

I sighed relieved and smiled taking it, "Yes sorry I seem to be out of it. Thank you."

I took the passport relieved and walked out onto the deck to the side of the ship looking out to the sea. I still had to figure out how I'd find Eldrich, I had a feeling he wouldn't exactly live somewhere easy to spot. It seemed like all I could manage was to make things up as I go along. Plans didn't work out and I had to rely on circumstance and luck.

"Hello."

I turned around to see a boy, he had a thick accent his skin hair and eyes were dark.

"Hi...," I smiled, "I'm sorry but have we met before?"

He grinned, "We have not. My name Miss Tull is Calisto."

"Pleasure to meet you," I smiled politely and took the hand he had offered me for a handshake.

"So how do you know who I am?"

"Your father and I are buisness associates."

"I see." I smiled, "Well it's very nice meeting you."

"So for what reason are you heading to Brazil?"

"It's a beautiful country, I've had the urge to go for awhile."

"Well I best be off, he took my hand and kissed it than looked up at me flashing his white teeth. "I hope to see you again."

I nodded and took my hand away, "farewell."

I looked around confused realizing I had no idea which room I had. I looked down the hallway of the regular wing when I heard someone laughing.

"Miss Tull visiting someone?"

I froze in place than turned carefully.

The person walked over looking straight at my face and lead me to a suite. "Did you forget your room?" she laughed lightly, "that's so typical you, always lost in your own thoughts."

She stopped in front of the door than took a card from her pocket, "it's a good thing you asked me to hold your key card for you."

She inserted the key card than gave it to me. The light flashed green and I turned the door opened, "Thank you."

"Anytime," the girl grabbed my hand smiling affectionatly. "Now please come to dinner tonight and try not too get too lost to go visit me."

"What room number are you?" I asked.

She facepalmed than sighed, "Of course you'd forget, a112 on the second floor on the left."

I nodded, "alright maybe I'll stop by," I than went into the room and closed the door. I dropped my bag gaping, the room was a dream. It was huge. Perfect. I jumped on the bed and immediatly took out the files and books from my backpack.

I reread everything and still felt no closer to knowing anymore clues to Eldrich Friedman. I also read over what the queen said about werewolves. I don't think she was worried about werewolves, not really. She was just trying to lure me out of the woodwork. This is part of why it's so important to find Eldrich... as long as he was alive they were in danger of finding and killing werewolves.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. I looked up and heard the girls voice from earlier, "Miss Tull, come on you are being waited for at the dinner."

My eyes widened and I shoved the files in my backpack and than proceeded to shove them under my bed. "Coming!"

I went over to the door and smiled, the girl from before was there her brown hair fell in soft tendrils and her blue eyes seemed to pop with her makeup. Her dress was a soft pink which seemed to go well with her skin tone.

"Oh Miss you haven't changed? Well... you've always been pretty... you seem even prettier lately though it looks like you cut your hair."

I scratched my head, I didn't know what to say people weren't usually made jealous by my appearance at least not as far as I was aware.

I stood up, and cleared my throat awkwardly, "Well... ready for dinner?"

The girl sighed and lead me down into a large luxurious dining hall. It seemed to be right out of the movie titanic... well I mean before it sank. The would shone a bright red, the rugs were detailed and lovely, the silver plates glittered and the whole dining room was filled with chatter.

We walked to a nearby table and I saw one familiar face, Calisto the man I had met on