tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88673228630818561072024-03-18T22:54:39.210-05:00Kenzie HowellA blog showcasing my Sims 3 Sim self, Kenzie Howell, and all her stories, pictures, downloads, etc.Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.comBlogger220125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-38876971047670134172015-08-16T09:41:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:58:53.891-06:00Part 8 - The SurpriseHayden reluctantly let go of Kenzie’s hand as the witches formed a circle around the bed she rested in. They lifted their hands and placed their fingertips together as they began to chant. Austin and Hayden could only watch.<br />
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<br />
Hayden wanted to thank Austin for all he’d done to help, but he was afraid that speaking would break the witches’ concentration. But he felt like a distracting burden just sitting in that lab, hovering and watching the coven’s every move. He thought he saw the incantation go out of sync and he nearly jumped out of the chair and howled in frustrated angst.<br />
<br />
He swore if anything happened to Kenzie, he’d never forgive himself. Despite what she said, he still blamed himself for this happening to her. He prayed to the creator that she’d be all right. He’d asked the witches if there was some sort of potion they could brew up instead of taking blood out of Kenzie’s body, but they knew of nothing that could turn someone into a supernatural creature, though some witches and scientists elsewhere were working on it. But that wouldn’t help them today, and this had to be taken care of now.<br />
<br />
The rhythmic beeping sound of the heart monitor was torturous to Hayden’s eardrums. The monotonous chanting of the witches was putting him on edge. How long was this going to take? As he scrutinized the witches again, he saw blood begin to drain from the IV in Kenzie’s arm and into a blood bag hanging on a pole. It was a good thing no vampires were around, even though Kenzie’s blood tasted putrid to them due to the werewolf blood.<br />
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He clasped and unclasped his hands. He shifted positions in the chair. He toyed with his shoelaces. He fiddled with his bracelet. He tugged at his hair. This was pure agony. Waiting was one of the worst feelings in the world.<br />
<br />
He wanted to get up and leave the room, but he had to be present in case his blood was needed. Thankfully, Austin had already drawn it as a precaution.<br />
<br />
Suddenly, the beeping noise stopped and became a solid, sharp hum.<br />
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“She’s lost too much blood,” Miranda declared hastily. “Austin, we need Hayden’s blood, now!”<br />
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<br />
Hayden nearly threw Austin across the room, he was moving so damn slow. His supernatural speed would have gotten to Kenzie’s side in half the time.<br />
<br />
But Austin did finally make it, and Miranda took the reins by injecting Hayden’s blood into a transparent tube that led to Kenzie’s arm. Hayden couldn’t remember the last time his heart had pounded so rapidly.<br />
<br />
The witches resumed their spell after the monitor began beeping normally once more. In another five minutes, they ceased their chanting and stepped away from Kenzie. When he got the okay, Hayden shuffled over to her side and rested his hands over hers, not even bothering to pull up the chair.<br />
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<br />
“When will she wake up?” he whispered to the others in the room.<br />
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“There’s no guarantee,” Miranda replied. “It takes time for someone to wake up after a blood transfusion, plus we have to wait for the anesthesia to wear off. It could be a few minutes or several hours. There’s really no way to tell. Everyone’s different.”<br />
<br />
Hayden squeezed his mate’s hand. He knew she was stronger than any normal human, even now with only one supernatural blood type pumping through her veins instead of two. He just had to keep believing it when he inwardly convinced himself that she would come out of this unscathed.<br />
<br />
As if she were reading his thoughts, Kenzie stirred. It was a slight stir, one that would have easily been missed had someone not been staring so intently at the figure in the bed. But Hayden saw it, and he sensed it before Kenzie’s eyes slowly opened.<br />
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<br />
“Kenzie?” Hayden asked quietly. “Are you okay?”<br />
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Kenzie looked around the room, momentarily forgetting where she was. But then she saw the blood bag and it dawned on her. She turned her gaze toward Hayden and smiled as Austin wheeled the blood bag away.<br />
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“I think so,” she said, though she felt and sounded weak. She tried to sit up, but her head started spinning.<br />
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“Best not do that yet,” Miranda instructed. “Just rest until you get your strength back up.”<br />
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Kenzie acceded and returned to her supine position. Hayden continued to hold her hand as he finally sat in the far more comfortable chair.<br />
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<br />
As she waited to regain her strength, Kenzie made idle talk with Hayden. She informed him, and everyone else in the room, that while she’d been under during the process, she hadn’t had a dream at all. Miranda concluded that the anesthesia wore off sooner because of the supernatural blood in Kenzie’s body. Austin told her that they’d had to do the emergency blood transfusion during the span of the incantation, which caused Hayden to glare at him with a stink eye.<br />
<br />
As soon as he mentioned this, Kenzie noticed something – she was feeling, sensing, something, but couldn’t determine what it was.<br />
<br />
“What’s that smell?” she asked.<br />
<br />
“What smell?” Paige replied, furrowing her brow and putting her own nasal cavity to use.<br />
<br />
“I don’t smell anything,” Austin added as he also began to sniff out whatever Kenzie was talking about.<br />
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“I do,” Hayden affirmed. “It’s some of the chemicals in here. I’ve been smelling it since we came in, but I didn’t say anything.”<br />
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“I didn’t smell it before…but now I can.”<br />
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<br />
“That means it must have worked,” Sasha determined. “You didn’t have any supernatural abilities before, but now you have the werewolf senses.”<br />
<br />
“Not all of them,” Erika corrected. “She’s still wearing her glasses.”<br />
<br />
“What about your hearing?” Austin asked Kenzie.<br />
<br />
Everyone stopped talking to allow Kenzie to listen. She was going to squeeze her eyes shut and concentrate, but she found that she didn’t need to. She could hear doors opening and closing from other portions of the lab, and someone slyly dropped a pin from the opposite end of the room as she wasn’t looking.<br />
<br />
“Werewolf hearing ability confirmed,” she declared. “But I definitely can’t see without my glasses.”<br />
<br />
“So it seems you only got part of the werewolf abilities,” Hayden surmised. “I wonder if you’ll get the transforming part.”<br />
<br />
“I guess we’ll find out soon enough. When’s the next full moon?”<br />
<br />
Austin checked a nearby calendar. “Next week.”<br />
<br />
“Then that’s when we’ll find out if I get to experience that part of being a werewolf, too.”<br />
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<br />
Paige handed Kenzie a wand like she’d done before, but the wand didn’t emit any signs of magic this time around. Her witch blood was officially gone, drained from her vein and into a plastic bag that would be properly disposed of by the witches.<br />
<br />
Hayden migrated to sit on the bed and grasped Kenzie’s hand. They’d done it. They’d succeeded in saving Kenzie, and she’d come out of it just fine. He had to admit that he’d had his doubts, but seeing his mate’s blue eyes shine back up at him lifted a great weight from his shoulders.<br />
<br />
Now all that was left to do was wait until the next full moon to see what would happen. And after that, the surprise.<br />
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<br />
Kenzie was back home now in Moonlight Falls with Hayden and Sage. The latter didn’t treat Kenzie any differently, just like when she’d discovered she was a “tribrid.” The night of the full moon was imminent, due to show itself that night.<br />
<br />
Kenzie was still learning to adapt to life as a hybrid with limited werewolf abilities. Werewolves were able to shift into their wolf form whenever they chose, except during the full moon, when their bodies couldn’t control themselves. Hayden had shown this to Kenzie a few times, and she’d seen herself as a werewolf in her dreams, but when she tried to do exactly as Hayden had done, it was in vain.<br />
<br />
However, she’d inadvertently sliced her finger open on a knife while preparing dinner one evening, and the cut had healed itself quickly. It seemed that she’d also retained her superior healing ability. And of course, when she and Hayden had seen her finger heal, they were both ecstatic. It was hard for Kenzie to finish cooking anything after that.<br />
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<br />
The nausea hadn’t returned, either, and nothing abnormal happened when Kenzie had an emotion spike. She seemed to be completely cured and she felt refreshed and more relieved than she had in a long time.<br />
<br />
At last, the moon began to climb into the sky. Stars studded the thick blanket that hovered above them, and they both prepared themselves for the inevitable transformation.<br />
<br />
Hayden transformed when the moon was at its peak, just as he always did. Kenzie remembered the last time she’d waited for this – she’d been petrified, having been bitten by a werewolf with no way to stop the impending shift. But she’d waited all night and nothing had happened, apart from the bite mark healing itself on her arm. This time, she was anxious for not knowing what was about to transpire, but she was no longer afraid.<br />
<br />
And she had to admit, when a couple of hours passed and she still hadn’t transformed, just like last time, she felt vastly relieved.<br />
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<br />
“So you get some of the superior senses, but you don’t have to transform,” Hayden avowed. “That’s great news!”<br />
<br />
“Even better news is that now I can definitely keep being a detective, since I’ll have the superior senses people want when they hire one.”<br />
<br />
Hayden smiled and bent down to kiss Kenzie on the forehead, who didn’t mind at all even though he was transformed. It was one of the many reasons he loved her.<br />
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<br />
He only had one more thing to do to make everything perfect.<br />
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<br />
Kenzie was sitting on the couch watching TV one day when Hayden approached, a look of seriousness on his face.<br />
<br />
“What’s up?” she asked him as she turned the TV off.<br />
<br />
“I need to talk to you about something.”<br />
<br />
“Okay…”<br />
<br />
Hayden sat next to her on the couch and pulled her legs across his lap as he cradled her in his arms.<br />
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<br />
“I didn’t tell you how worried I really was,” he began, “when that werewolf bit you. And then you kept getting sick, and then the aftermath of all that…I had never been so scared in my life. Not when I first transformed, not when my parents died, not even when Jillian was turned into a vampire. Kenzie, you are my life. I couldn’t begin to imagine living without you, and I was petrified beyond belief that I was going to lose you during this whole blood transplant thing. I’ve told you before that wolves are monogamous; they have only one mate for life. I believe that applies to werewolves, too, or at least most of them. I genuinely believe that I’ve found my mate, and the one I want to be with forever. And that mate is you.”<br />
<br />
Before Kenzie could say anything, Hayden got down on the floor and held her hand in his. Her heart rate sped up, fully audible to the both of them, like a pounding drum. Was he…?<br />
<br />
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<br />
“I didn’t tell you the full truth when you asked what I was going to say in the doctor’s office,” he went on. “When you thought you were pregnant, and I said it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if you were. What I was actually going to say was, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if we were going to have a baby, because I want to have a family with you. I want to marry you.”<br />
<br />
With that, Hayden reached his hand into his pocket and pulled a box out of it. “I have to say,” he continued, “It’s hard keeping a secret when you’re living in the same house as a detective. But I guess you’ve been a little preoccupied lately. Which is great, because I wanted this to be a surprise. I talked to your father a few months ago, and got his blessing, as well as your mother’s.”<br />
<br />
He presented the box to Kenzie, who was sure her heart stopped beating for the second time in two weeks. Hayden opened the small velvet square to reveal a beautiful ring with a large stone the color of the moon framed with diamonds.<br />
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<br />
He took a deep breath as Kenzie gaped at the ring. “Kenzie Howell, will you marry me?”<br />
<br />
Kenzie was completely taken aback. She wasn’t expecting this. As a child, she’d envisioned how a handsome man would one day propose to her, but those fantasies could never compare to the real thing.<br />
<br />
She felt like she was grinning like an idiot, but she was just that happy. She finally said, “Hayden, yes, of course I’ll marry you!”<br />
<br />
Hayden jumped back up and planted a huge kiss on Kenzie’s lips.<br />
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<br />
Kenzie couldn’t suppress the grin that continued to grow on her face. When Hayden slid the ring onto her finger, she held it out in front of her, allowing the diamonds to catch the light and send tiny rainbows throughout the room.<br />
<br />
“It’s a moonstone,” Hayden explained. “It’s surrounded by diamonds, but the main stone is a moonstone. I thought it was appropriate, considering, you know, werewolves.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie just grinned wider. It was perfect. She wasn’t one of those girls who had to have a huge diamond to be satisfied. Just knowing that Hayden loved her enough to spend the rest of his life with her was enough.<br />
<br />
She pulled him down on top of her and tried to devour his mouth with hers. He laughed and accepted the challenge, and eventually they started their honeymoon a little early.<br />
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<br />
Kenzie felt so blessed and so lucky. She’d survived countless perilous situations, saved friends (some more than once), found the perfect man for her, who just proposed to her, and she’d overcome a werewolf bite and inherited and embraced enough of her werewolf nature to be fitting for the life she wanted to live.<br />
<br />
All that was left to do now was live happily ever after.<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>THE END</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-7-purge.html">Previous Part</a></span></b></span></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-11933269672104899912015-08-12T17:41:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:58:31.247-06:00Part 7 - The PurgeKenzie made a decision. It would be far from fun, being hooked up to a makeshift hospital machine while witches performed an incantation to rid her body of a certain blood type. But it was better than the alternative. She didn’t want to lose herself. And more importantly, she didn’t want to lose those she cared about.<br />
<br />
Paige and her coven were set to arrive the next day, so Kenzie and Hayden stayed another night at the Crowley house.<br />
<br />
Before the coven’s arrival, Kenzie had to make another choice. She and Hayden were discussing it now, in bed in the guest room once again, with Kenzie hoping she wouldn’t have to make another mad dash to the bathroom to vomit, as she’d been doing quite frequently all day.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“It’s entirely up to you,” Hayden assured her. “Don’t make any decisions of this magnitude for anyone but yourself.”<br />
<br />
“I’m just scared either way. I’ll be a hybrid, and supposedly hybrids have the abilities of both species they’re part of, but does that include the bad things, too? For a witch, that would mean random freaky happenings every time I had an emotion spike. For a werewolf, I’d uncontrollably transform during the full moon, and I’m sure I’d look hideous.”<br />
<br />
“You would never look hideous. Ever.”<br />
<br />
“Thanks, I appreciate that.”<br />
<br />
Hayden propped himself up and looked into Kenzie’s eyes as he wiped a tear off her cheek.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“Besides,” he said reassuringly, “there’s no guarantee you’d get all the bad things, too. I’ve heard legends that hybrids only have the good parts, but not the bad. So you may get magical powers but your emotions wouldn’t cause any adverse effects, or you may get superior senses but you won’t transform during a full moon. Let’s try to think positive.”<br />
<br />
“I’m scared, Hayden. I’m going to have blood taken out of me through a <i>spell</i>. It would be bad enough if a doctor did it. But…”<br />
<br />
“Actually, we considered having Isaiah come to supervise, since he has doctoral training. But Austin said that Miranda has medical training as well. So she’ll be here for the spell and the medical equipment portion of this thing.”<br />
<br />
“Hayden, you were so against this at first. Why are you all for it now?”<br />
<br />
“Because I agree that it’s better than the alternative. I don’t like it one bit, but I refuse to lose you. If there’s any way at all to save you, I’ll do it. I don’t care what it takes. Besides, it’s the least I owe you, since it’s my fault this happened.”<br />
<br />
“How the hell is it your fault?”<br />
<br />
“I should have sensed that bastard in Moonlight Falls. I should have known that werewolf was there. And then he bit you, and that’s what triggered all this. I’ve beaten myself up for that every single day, and I’d like to literally kick my ass for not protecting you.”<br />
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<br />
This time, Kenzie sat up as Hayden lowered himself back onto the bed. She looked him square in the eyes as she averred, “Hayden Howland, what happened was <i>not</i> your fault. Maybe it was fate. I learned things about myself I never knew before. As long as I have you, I’ll be okay. I know you’re here with me, and I know you’ll do whatever you can to keep me safe. I love you, Hayden. I love you so much.”<br />
<br />
“And I love you too, Kenzie Howell.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie leaned down and kissed him tenderly.<br />
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<br />
Hayden wrapped his hand around her neck, making her heart melt.<br />
<br />
“Kenzie,” he said when they took a breath, “I have the utmost confidence that you’re strong enough to get through this. And when you do, I’ll be right there with you. And there’s something I have for you when this is all over.”<br />
<br />
“What?”<br />
<br />
“It’s a surprise. You’ll see.”<br />
<br />
“Well, now I have even more of a reason to get through this. But you know I hate needles and the like. I’m still scared.”<br />
<br />
“I am too. I won’t deny it. But I have faith in you, Kenzie. I swear to the creator I won’t let anything happen to you.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie knew that Hayden was trying to be brave for her sake, but what could he do to protect her? Yet somehow, she believed that him being by her side would be enough. And she really wanted to know what the surprise was that he had for her. She had a very important reason to fight now, more so than before.<br />
<br />
Hayden suddenly sat up and nibbled her ear, making her giggle. He was always trying to lighten the mood, and she did appreciate it.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“Hayden,” she whispered, “you know what you were suggesting last night? How about I take you up on that offer now?”<br />
<br />
“In a guest room in our friends’ house?”<br />
<br />
“I’ll do the laundry myself. It’s common courtesy since we’ve stayed in here for the past two nights, anyway. And I want to have something to remember, just in case.”<br />
<br />
“You’re going to be fine, Kenzie. I’ll make sure of it.”<br />
<br />
“Then give me something to remember for when I wake up.”<br />
<br />
“Well, I suppose I shouldn’t disappoint my mate, then.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Hayden teasingly stuck Kenzie’s hand into his mouth and swirled his tongue around her fingers. Kenzie giggled once more before letting gravity take its toll as she collapsed back down onto the bed. Hayden climbed on top of her, and proceeded to give her the night to remember that she’d wanted. She just prayed she’d be able to remember it after the next day’s events.<br />
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*********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
The coven arrived mid-morning. Kenzie had been dreading their arrival, even though she knew this was the only way she could be cured.<br />
<br />
Austin affirmed that he’d tried combining her blood with other elements similar to how he developed vampiric sunscreen, but to no avail. Even the pure fairy blood that had helped develop the cure for vampirism had no effect on Kenzie’s “tribrid” blood. This truly was the last resort.<br />
<br />
Cheyenne stayed home with Mason, but Austin’s presence was required in case a scientific method was needed. They all migrated to Austin’s lab, where there was plenty of equipment available, including a bed, though it was normally used for test subjects.<br />
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<br />
Kenzie was lying across the bed with Hayden clutching her hand tightly. The coven was preparing their chant while Austin assisted Miranda with hooking up all the medical equipment. A science lab had such things in stock as well considering the test subjects they had. Luckily, Wolfson’s doubled as the town’s hospital, so there was a plethora of supplies available for either profession.<br />
<br />
Kenzie hardly slept a wink the night before, despite Hayden successfully tiring her out. Her mind was racing, but it wasn’t just because of what was about to occur. She’d been thinking of which blood type she’d keep in her system and which she’d expunge. After weighing the pros and cons of each in her mind, she’d finally made a decision.<br />
<br />
But she wasn’t prepared for what Miranda told her next.<br />
<br />
“Austin did some calculations,” she said, “and it’s possible that, even with this spell, too much blood could be taken out of your body. If that happens, well, you know what that will mean, so I’ll spare you the specifics. Theoretically, if you had enough of a certain supernatural blood in your system, as in more of one of the two types you have, it could override the other one and you’d be okay. But it’s safer to try to extract some out rather than try to put more in. So, in the event that too much blood gets removed, we’ll need to counteract that. And the only way to do that is to inject more blood into you, just like a regular transfusion. But it has to be supernatural blood, because human blood won’t be strong enough. As for which type of supernatural blood…well, have you made a decision?”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie gripped Hayden’s hand tighter in her own. She <i>had</i> finally made a decision, but she hadn’t even told Hayden yet. It was time he found out what she’d decided.<br />
<br />
“Werewolf,” she said simply. Hayden gaped at her, but she ignored his look of shock. “I thought about it all night. It’s not that being a witch would be bad, but I think the pros of a werewolf outweigh the ones of a witch. And the cons, well, I’d rather transform during a full moon and be part of my boyfriend’s pack than worry about every little emotion causing some sort of uproar. Plus, as a detective, I haven’t been having the best of luck getting cases since everyone wants supernatural creatures. As a werewolf, I’d have superior senses, and maybe even superior strength. It’s like this was meant to happen; I was bitten by a werewolf, and I healed super fast, and I’m dating a werewolf…it’s where I belong. I have my own ‘pack’ of friends and family. It’s who and what I am.”<br />
<br />
“Kenzie,” Hayden stammered, “are you sure? Remember when you asked me what it was like to transform the night you were bitten? And everything else we talked about?”<br />
<br />
“I’ve thought it over, Hayden. I want werewolf blood in my body with my human blood. I’ve felt closer and more drawn to wolves than any other creature. It’s what I want.”<br />
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<br />
Hayden leaned down and planted a kiss on Kenzie’s forehead. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand once again. In a way, she was looking forward to what this change might bring to her life.<br />
<br />
No blood samples were necessary since Kenzie’s blood type was literally all over the place. Austin injected her with an anesthesia. She started to feel woozy almost instantaneously. She held Hayden’s hand the entire time before her eyes fluttered closed and she drifted off to sleep, though she was sure she felt her boyfriend’s lips on her head before she succumbed to unconsciousness.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-6-solution.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-8-surprise.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-63429050235219967292015-08-09T09:52:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:58:03.268-06:00Part 6 - The SolutionCheyenne had been right about Austin working in the garage the next day, which was a Saturday, meaning he was off work. He examined Kenzie’s blood sample thoroughly, applied various concoctions to it to see what would happen, and finally he ended up calling Paige to discuss more supernatural theories.<br />
<br />
Kenzie was on edge all day, and though he tried to hide it, she could tell that Hayden was as well.<br />
<br />
At one point in the early afternoon, Austin finally came back inside, a look of newfound determination on his face.<br />
<br />
“I talked to Paige,” he announced to everyone in the living room, “and she said she’s been working with her coven on theories since Kenzie first mentioned this happening, which was before I even found a cure for Jillian. Kenzie, as you know, your case is very unique. A hybrid hasn’t been in existence for a long time, at least not a reported one, and the fact that you’re a three-way hybrid – or, as I’ve dubbed it, a ‘tribrid’ – is rarer still. In fact, there haven’t been any documentations about such a creature before, unless you count a chimera.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie wrinkled her nose. She’d heard of the mythical creature that had the body of a goat, head of a lion, and tail of a dragon. She hardly considered herself such a thing.<br />
<br />
“Anyway,” Austin continued, “since your condition is so unique, the coven has been very fascinated with it. You know they always want to see what new things they can uncover that are associated with magic in some way. So Paige had a suggestion, but I’m afraid you won’t like it.”<br />
<br />
“What is it?” Hayden asked warily.<br />
<br />
“Well, whatever the case is with Kenzie, she isn’t getting better. If anything, she’s getting worse, what with the dreams she keeps having and then the nausea and simultaneous throwing up. Obviously her body isn’t designed to handle this type of thing. And based on what I’ve seen under the microscope, our conclusions are the same – Kenzie’s blood is literally battling itself, as each blood type is vying for control over the others. The werewolf bite triggered all this, thanks to the saliva getting into her bloodstream.”<br />
<br />
“But that makes no sense,” Kenzie argued. “I was fine when I was bitten; I even healed faster. Why would my blood start doing this now?”<br />
<br />
“Because of the prolonged period of time your previously dormant supernatural blood has been awakened. The longer it’s in your body and fighting for control, the more dangerous it will become. Your sickness is your body’s way of rejecting your own blood. Paige’s coven suspects that eventually you may start vomiting blood too, as a means of getting rid of one type. But in actuality, you’ll be throwing up all three types of blood, so that wouldn’t help. Your body is trying to rid itself of what’s making you sick, just like when you have the flu.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie pulled her legs up to her chest, as though to conceal herself. Hayden clenched his fists next to her and sucked in his breath audibly. Cheyenne just held onto Mason, who was beginning to get fussy. Apparently it was his nap time, so she excused herself to put him to bed.<br />
<br />
“So what does Paige suggest we do about it?” Hayden finally asked.<br />
<br />
Austin looked very nervous. He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair as he finally said, all in a rush, “Since the blood is trying to counteract itself, and it’s making her sick as a result, and more so every day, there’s a good chance it may eventually…kill her.”<br />
<br />
“What?!” Kenzie and Hayden both shouted at once.<br />
<br />
“So,” Austin continued, “the coven thinks the only logical thing to do is extract the blood causing the issue. A body isn’t meant to have human blood <i>and</i> two types of supernatural blood inside it. One of those blood types allegedly came from the twin that Kenzie absorbed while she was in the womb. Had they both been born, the twin would have gotten one supernatural blood type, and Kenzie the other. As it was, Kenzie was born with both, and her body is rejecting them coexisting now that the werewolf saliva awakened them.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie began to heave in anguish as Hayden dropped to his knees in front of her, trying to soothe her. Austin looked genuinely remorseful at having to be the one to share this abysmal news.<br />
<br />
Kenzie couldn’t believe it. She was going to <i>die</i>? Unless she somehow extracted enough supernatural blood out of her body? How was that even possible?<br />
<br />
“Unfortunately,” Austin explained when she asked him this, “it’s not that simple. The three blood types are mixed inside your body, so just draining it won’t work. We have to extract one supernatural blood type, and that’s it. And if we take too much, you’ll die. You can only be one species, Kenzie, or maybe two, but certainly not three. That’s most likely why tribrids have never been heard of before. Therein lies another conundrum – we have to leave one supernatural blood type in your body or we’ll drain too much, and human blood isn’t strong enough to get you through this. You’ll have to decide which blood type you want left in your body – werewolf or witch. Oh, and it will require a spell.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie barely heard the last part. Her head was swimming, her heart pounding, and her ears felt as though they were underwater. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t see. She couldn’t hear. She couldn’t think. She was barely aware of Hayden’s presence right in front of her.<br />
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<br />
Hayden, however, was livid. He stared at Austin, aghast.<br />
<br />
“We are <i>not</i> going to perform some half-assed blood transfusion on my girlfriend!” he bellowed, louder than necessary. “How do you know that will work? And how do you know she won’t be just fine if we leave her as is? She hasn’t been <i>that</i> bad, really. She was worried about it, obviously, and she thought it might be something else causing it, but come on. Couldn’t Paige teach her to control her emotions so they didn’t cause supernatural phenomenons?”<br />
<br />
“I said the exact same thing to Paige. But theoretically, it would be less of a risk to rid her body of a blood type than to leave it and allow Kenzie to feel sick all the time, plus have fevers trying to ward off what her body has identified as an infection. And like I said, she may eventually throw up the blood herself, which would be far worse than us safely draining it like a hospital would. Think of it as a supernatural blood transfusion. And those dreams she’s been having? The coven thinks they’re actually memories or predictions. Remember, we concluded that Kenzie is the reincarnation of a werewolf and she has witches in her family tree, though they existed many years ago. These dreams could be memories from her past life as a werewolf and essentially a history book involving her witch family. But throw in all the friends and family she knows right now, in this life, and the fact that she’s trying to attack them in those dreams, is indicative of an event that has yet to transpire. It’s very possible those dreams are showing Kenzie what will become of her. Like I said, both blood types are battling it out for control, and eventually, one will prevail and consume the other. But when that does happen, Kenzie may not even recognize herself because by then it would be too late.”<br />
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<br />
That did it. Kenzie was overcome with nausea once again, though she couldn’t ascertain if it was due to the blood battle inside her body, or because of her fear of what she’d discovered. She sprinted from the living room and dashed to the nearest bathroom, where she heaved into the toilet. She didn’t want to hear any more. She couldn’t bear to. But she knew she had to make a choice.<br />
<br />
It made sense now. Her dreams were trying to tell her what she would become if she didn’t rectify the situation right now. And her emotions were already acting up due to her nerves. She tried to control herself, but her anguish only made the bathroom lights flicker and put a crack in the mirror above the bathroom sink.<br />
<br />
Her life had suddenly turned into a supernatural science fiction film, but unlike a movie, she didn’t want to see how this ended.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-5-waiting.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-7-purge.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-9953583327067304742015-08-05T17:23:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:57:36.206-06:00Part 5 - The WaitingCheyenne welcomed her friends warmly enough, and didn’t hesitate to invite Hayden inside the house. Kenzie couldn’t believe that the last time she’d seen Mason had been about six months ago, and that was the last time she’d seen the Crowley home as well. Time seemed to go by too quickly.<br />
<br />
Cheyenne offered them both some supper, and they both realized they hadn’t eaten all day.<br />
<br />
“Don’t worry,” Cheyenne insisted when they began to protest, “I’ve got plenty. Besides, I always make too much for just the two of us since Mason can only eat baby food right now.”<br />
<br />
The little charmer was already in his high chair, fingering food into his mouth, not seeming to care that other people were in the house besides his parents.<br />
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<br />
Cheyenne’s dinner turned out to be spaghetti with meatballs with light sauce, just as Kenzie liked it. She and Hayden dug in eagerly, after expressing a large amount of gratitude.<br />
<br />
“Really,” Kenzie kept saying adamantly, “we both appreciate this, and we’re sorry if this puts you out in any way.”<br />
<br />
“Are you kidding?” Cheyenne chortled. “It’s great to have company! I hardly see you guys anymore, since we’re all so busy. Jillian and Isaiah finally got moved into Sunlit Tides, and her career is really booming now that she’s human again. I guess she kind of lost her inspiration when she was a vampire.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, when you love the sun and you can’t go out in it, you’re likely to get depressed.”<br />
<br />
“No kidding. And then Paige and her coven, well, they’re always busy helping people and tending to their own jobs. I have my sisters and my parents, but when Austin’s at work, it can get a little lonely sometimes.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie felt a wave of sympathy for her friend. Though they all talked via texting or instant messenger online, it just wasn’t the same as seeing each other in person.<br />
<br />
After dinner, Hayden and Kenzie insisted on cleaning up while Cheyenne gave Mason a bath. She finally acceded, but only because Mason began to put up a fuss due to getting his cute little face all dirty. After his bath and the dishes were done, they all gathered in the den to wait for Austin to return home. Mason seemed oblivious to his father’s absence, having busied himself with a toy dinosaur.<br />
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<br />
“So, what exactly is up with you?” Cheyenne wanted to know as they watched Mason entertain himself. “Austin gave me kind of a breakdown when he called earlier, but half of it was scientific mumbo jumbo that I didn’t understand.”<br />
<br />
“Basically, it seems like the three blood types in my body are making me sick,” Kenzie explained. “And Austin took a sample tonight, put it under a microscope, and it was moving. Like, my blood was <i>alive</i> outside my body.”<br />
<br />
“It’s true,” Hayden affirmed. “I don’t get creeped out that much, but this was insane.”<br />
<br />
“Scary,” Cheyenne agreed, heaving a nonchalant shudder.<br />
<br />
“We can get a hotel…” Kenzie began upon seeing the shudder.<br />
<br />
“No, you won’t,” Cheyenne stated firmly. “You’re one of my best friends, and the last thing you need right now is to be in a hotel. You should be as close to Austin as you can so he can do tests faster to figure out what’s going on. In fact, he’s got some new chemistry-type table in the garage. I wouldn’t be surprised if he came home tonight and started using that to get out of the lab.”<br />
<br />
“Wow, don’t let him work himself crazy over it,” Kenzie gasped. “I mean, yes, this sucks, and I want to know what’s going on and how to fix it, but still. He needs his sleep, and time with his wife and son.”<br />
<br />
“I guarantee you that he won’t overwork himself. I won’t let him, trust me. Besides, you know Austin. He’s a workaholic.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie nodded her head as she looked down and watched Mason play. She did know that about Austin, maybe more than anyone. She’d known Austin in elementary school and had dated him in high school. He’d always strived to achieve the best at everything, no matter what. It came as no surprise that he would do the same in a career.<br />
<br />
Around 8:30, Cheyenne took Mason upstairs to put him to bed. Kenzie watched her maternal love radiating and felt a pang of envy. She’d always wanted kids, though she admitted she was afraid of the pregnancy and childbirth part. She had a very low pain tolerance, and she’d seen all that Cheyenne had gone through when she’d been pregnant with Mason.<br />
<br />
But then when she’d thought she’d been pregnant, though she’d panicked, she’d also felt a hint of joy. And when she looked at Hayden, she knew he’d be a good father.<br />
<br />
Which reminded her. He’d started to say something in the doctor’s office the day she’d gotten tested, and the doctor had interrupted them. Whatever he’d been about to say had been forgotten due to the confusion.<br />
<br />
Cheyenne placed the sleepy Mason in his crib, and he began sucking his thumb contently as he dozed off into dream land.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Austin returned about an hour later to find his wife and their friends catching up. He reported that his colleagues had some theories, but he didn’t want to say anything more until he knew for sure. He still felt guilty for plunging too far ahead of himself with the vampirism cure and didn’t want to make that same mistake again. Luckily, he’d managed to act fast enough to save Isaiah’s life before he’d ingested the cure that would have killed him due to how long he’d been a vampire.<br />
<br />
Everyone was tired by this point, so at 10:15 they were all in bed. Kenzie and Hayden snuggled up together in the guest room, which Cheyenne had brightly decorated in shades of green, her favorite color. The room also included some of the old furniture from her and Austin’s previous homes, before they’d gotten their own house as a married couple.<br />
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<br />
“Want to fool around?” Hayden whispered in a misguided attempt at a joke. Kenzie rolled her eyes. “I don’t think it would be very classy to have woohoo in someone else’s house, especially in their guest bedroom.”<br />
<br />
“Sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood.”<br />
<br />
“I appreciate it, but I’m afraid at this point, the only thing that will cheer me up is getting whatever is wrong with me fixed.”<br />
<br />
Hayden held his mate tighter, feeling utterly helpless once again. He hoped beyond hope, prayed to the creator, that Austin, or someone, would be able to help Kenzie.<br />
<br />
“By the way,” she cut into his thoughts, “what were you going to say to me at the doctor’s office?”<br />
<br />
“What?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, when I thought I might be pregnant, you said it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, and you started to say something else but the doctor walked in. What was it?”<br />
<br />
Hayden stiffened a bit. He seemed nervous all of a sudden. But then he sat up and took her hand in his, all the while gazing intently into her eyes.<br />
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<br />
“I was going to say that I thought you wanted kids someday anyway,” he finally said. “So that’s why it wouldn’t be the end of the world.”<br />
<br />
“And how did you feel about it?”<br />
<br />
“I think you’d make a great mom.”<br />
<br />
“Hayden, that’s not what I’m asking.”<br />
<br />
Hayden sighed before uttering, “I was scared, and I thought we weren’t really ready, but I had confidence that everything would work out okay.”<br />
<br />
“Do you want kids someday?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, I do. Just not yet.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie chuckled as Hayden rested his head on her chest. Their eyes began to flutter closed simultaneously, and they both whispered, “I love you” to each other before dozing off.<br />
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<br />
The dream invaded her subconscious again that night. Once again, Kenzie was transformed into a seemingly bloodthirsty mongrel determined to betray those she cared about the most. She got closer and closer to them, saliva seeping from her fangs and onto her furry chin, her eyes wild with hunger and excitement of the hunt.<br />
<br />
And then, as was the custom, right as she got to Jillian, she woke up in a cold sweat, hyperventilating.<br />
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<br />
Surprisingly, she didn’t rouse Hayden this time. He continued to sleep next to her, little snoring sounds coming from between his lips.<br />
<br />
As she was about to lay back down and try to sleep some more, hopefully without any dreams, she felt the familiar bout of nausea that had plagued her for some time now. She bolted upright, threw open the door to the bedroom, and dashed across the hall to the bathroom. She barely made it before once again praying to the porcelain god.<br />
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<br />
When she finally finished retching, Kenzie flushed the toilet and stood up to rinse her mouth out. She’d have to go back to the guest room to retrieve her toothbrush. By this point, she should probably buy a new one.<br />
<br />
As she was drying off her face, she heard Mason crying in the adjoining room. Great. She’d not only been startled awake by a nightmare and then overcome with sickness again, but she’d also made so much noise that she’d woken up the seven-month-old baby.<br />
<br />
She opened the bathroom door in time to see Cheyenne heading toward her son’s room. She tried to stifle a yawn, but Kenzie saw it.<br />
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<br />
“Kenzie?” she asked sleepily, as she looked very coy having been caught in her frilly yet seductive nightgown.<br />
<br />
“Sorry,” Kenzie said with remorse. “I, uh, woke up and had to use the bathroom, and I guess I was too loud.”<br />
<br />
“Sometimes he sleeps like a rock, and sometimes he gets woken up by a squeaky floorboard. It’s not your fault.”<br />
<br />
<i>Yes it is</i>, Kenzie thought, but she didn’t say as much. She just let Cheyenne tend to her wailing son as she traipsed back into the guest bedroom. She didn’t want to tell Cheyenne the truth; she had enough to deal with.<br />
<br />
When she got back to the room, Hayden was now awake.<br />
<br />
“What’s going on?” he asked groggily.<br />
<br />
“I had another nightmare, then I had to throw up.”<br />
<br />
“Another nightmare? One of the two you’ve been having?”<br />
<br />
“Yep, and then I puked up green shit again.”<br />
<br />
“What?!”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie sat down on the bed desolately as Hayden sat up and wiped the sleep out of his eyes.<br />
<br />
“Kenzie, are you all right?” he asked her. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”<br />
<br />
“I didn’t want to burden you with it. Besides, as soon as I woke up, I had to throw up, so I just bolted. And I woke up Mason.”<br />
<br />
“Mason is what woke me up. And it’s a good thing it did, because I want to know whenever something’s ailing you so I can comfort you. That’s what mates do.”<br />
<br />
“I know, I’m sorry. I’m just so…embarrassed. I feel so lost right now.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie’s lip quivered against her will, and Hayden held her tightly. She finally surrendered and let the tears come.<br />
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<br />
Would she ever be normal again? And if not, what was she going to do?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-4-tests.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-6-solution.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-18526001241338998032015-08-02T09:41:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:57:04.161-06:00Part 4 - The TestsHayden agreed that Austin was the best person who could help Kenzie. Paige couldn’t do anything more for her, and the situation turned more alarming when Kenzie was hit with another bout of nausea, this time painfully so. In order to cure her, they had to know what she had first.<br />
<br />
She was on the phone with Austin now as Hayden drove toward Appaloosa Plains. He was speeding, but his ears would be able to pick up any police sirens before they reached him.<br />
<br />
“Austin says to meet him at the lab,” Kenzie announced when she hung up her cell phone. “He says the first thing he’ll have to do is draw my blood – just great – and then analyze it.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Hayden gripped the steering wheel. He was feeling worried and helpless. His mate was going through a very confusing time, only getting worse, and he had no idea how to help her. His foot inadvertently pressed further down on the gas pedal. Normally, Kenzie would chastise him for this. But now, she said nothing. She was probably as anxious as he was to get to Appaloosa Plains and hope that Austin could tell them something probative and helpful.<br />
<br />
It was late afternoon by the time they arrived, and many of the lab workers were on their way out the building. Hayden parked the car and they both scurried inside, their hearts beating in unison. Austin greeted them at the entrance and hastily ushered them toward his lab. Coincidentally, this was the same lab Jillian and Isaiah had visited not long ago when approaching him about a cure for vampirism.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“I guess we could make small talk,” Austin suggested, “but that would probably be pointless at this point. You guys are here for answers, not idle chatter.”<br />
<br />
“Austin,” Kenzie began, “I don’t want to inconvenience you. I mean, I know you have a family to get home to, and…”<br />
<br />
“Cheyenne understands. Besides, she doesn’t want anything to happen to you, either. Honestly, it’s okay.”<br />
<br />
“So, is there anything you can do?” Hayden wanted to know.<br />
<br />
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Austin responded. “The first thing I’ll have to do is take a blood sample. Obviously, since Kenzie has three different blood types in her system, that’s a factor.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie squeezed her eyes shut when Austin poked her with a needle. Needles were one thing she hated as bad as heights.<br />
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<br />
After the blood had been extracted from her arm, Austin squeezed it onto a glass slide and slid it under the microscope. Hayden helped Kenzie dab at her arm to stop the blood from flowing, even though it was only a tiny dot, as Austin scrutinized the sample under the microscope.<br />
<br />
“Holy shit,” he said after a few moments. Kenzie looked up, baffled. Austin rarely swore, and when he did, it was always serious. She was even more frightened now.<br />
<br />
“What?” she asked tentatively. Austin looked up from the microscope and motioned her and Hayden forward. One by one, they looked into the microscope to see what had Austin so riled up.<br />
<br />
Hayden looked first, and a frown etched itself across his face. He stepped back without saying a word. Kenzie was afraid of what she’d see, but she finally surrendered and took a look for herself.<br />
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<br />
She wasn’t entirely sure what she was looking at. But she was sure that it wasn’t normal. The blood sample wasn’t stationary; it was <i>moving</i>. Not little particles inside the blood, but the actual blood itself. And it almost looked like it was trying to devour itself. It was unlike anything she’d ever seen, and Kenzie had seen some very weird things in her life.<br />
<br />
“What the hell am I looking at?” she demanded after looking up.<br />
<br />
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Austin replied. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Something supernatural is definitely going on here.”<br />
<br />
“We already ascertained that,” Hayden growled, a little more fierce than necessary. “We want to know what it is and how to fix it. Whatever it is, it’s making Kenzie sick.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie’s stomach rolled as soon as Hayden said that.<br />
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<br />
“I’ll have to conduct some more tests and research,” Austin replied to Hayden’s question. “But it may take some time, and I’m not sure how much.”<br />
<br />
“So what do we do?” Kenzie wanted to know.<br />
<br />
“I honestly can’t tell you. I’ve got some vampire colleagues that may be able to help, and some of them work nights and will be coming in soon, so I’ll ask them. Let me call Cheyenne; I’m sure she won’t mind if you stay at our place tonight.”<br />
<br />
“No, we couldn’t impose,” Kenzie and Hayden both started to object, but Austin cut them off with a wave of his hand.<br />
<br />
“It wouldn’t be an imposition,” he promised. “We have a guest room that hardly gets used, and I know you want to see Mason.”<br />
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<br />
Austin pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called his wife. Kenzie felt terrible to put her friends out like this, and she knew Hayden did as well. She was so grateful they’d remembered to pack extra clothes in case they’d had to stay overnight, though they’d intended it to be in Lucky Palms at a hotel.<br />
<br />
When Austin hung up, he confirmed that Cheyenne had no problem with their friends spending the night, though Hayden would have to be invited inside due to the supernatural spell on the house for Mason’s safety. The spell didn’t affect Kenzie since she wasn’t a full-blooded supernatural.<br />
<br />
So Kenzie and Hayden left the lab and made their way toward the Crowley house, with the promise that Austin would work for a couple more hours before returning home, hopefully with some sort of headway.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/07/part-3-evolution.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-5-waiting.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-12621011976587107472015-07-29T22:27:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:56:38.887-06:00Part 3 - The EvolutionIt came as no surprise that Paige insisted Kenzie and Hayden come visit her and her coven. Her voice was filled with concern when Hayden explained what was going on.<br />
<br />
So the next day, the couple piled into Hayden’s car and made their way to Lucky Palms.<br />
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<br />
“Did Paige say what she thought it could be?” Kenzie inquired.<br />
<br />
“She isn’t sure, but she agrees with my theory that it’s something supernatural.”<br />
<br />
“Maybe we should just move to Lucky Palms, as often as we have to recruit her for help.”<br />
<br />
“Kenzie, she doesn’t mind, honestly. She told me that, and she’s very worried about what’s going on. Besides, this is the last resort we have. A human doctor couldn’t tell us anything, not even your blood type, so this is the next logical step.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie leaned her head back against the seat resolutely. She knew Hayden was right, but she felt so helpless. Not only that, but she was getting very frightened. Before it had just been annoying; now it was worrisome, not knowing what was wrong with her or what – if anything – she could do about it.<br />
<br />
*********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
They arrived in Lucky Palms a couple of hours later. Paige greeted Kenzie and Hayden warmly, though concern flashed through her eyes.<br />
<br />
“How are you feeling?” she questioned as soon as they all sat down in the living room.<br />
<br />
“I feel okay,” Kenzie stated, “and that’s how it always is, until I get hit with this wave of nausea and throw up.”<br />
<br />
“Hayden mentioned that you went to the doctor for a pregnancy test, and it came back negative.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, it did. That was my first thought, but apparently that’s not the case. Unless it was a false negative, and there’s some spell you know of to get an accurate reading.”<br />
<br />
“No, I don’t think such a spell exists. And that wouldn’t explain the weird things that happen when your mood spikes, even if the baby was supernatural.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie leaned forward with a sigh. Hayden looked at Paige and said, “I forgot one thing when I talked to you over the phone. Kenzie had a dream the other night that woke her up. I don’t know if that’s relevant or not, but I’ve never known her to wake up screaming before.”<br />
<br />
“A dream? What kind of dream?”<br />
<br />
Kenzie looked between the two of them. She’d been afraid to tell Hayden what the dream entailed before, as she was afraid doing so would upset him because he was a werewolf, and the dream depicted her as a werewolf with a monstrous appetite, even for those she loved the most.<br />
<br />
Still, if she wanted to find out exactly what was going on with her, and how to fix it, she’d have to tell both Hayden and Paige everything. There was no other way.<br />
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<br />
“Well,” she began, “first I should probably mention that that dream…well, that wasn’t the first time I’ve had it. I first had it a couple of months ago, but now it’s almost been a nightly thing. And it’s not the only one, either. There are two recurring dreams that wake me up like that.”<br />
<br />
“What?” Hayden asked, alarmed. “Kenzie, why didn’t you tell me?”<br />
<br />
“Because of what exactly the dream’s about. I don’t want you to worry, or to blame yourself, or…”<br />
<br />
“Kenzie, please, whatever’s going on here is no one’s fault but the asshole’s that bit you. Now what was the dream about? Actually, what were <i>both</i> dreams about?”<br />
<br />
“It’s…well, the first dream I had showed my ancestors that I discovered when I did that genealogy research. The witches, remember? I keep seeing them, and the older sister is burning to death and the younger one is running away, but I can feel her pain because she had to see her sister die. In the one I had the other night, I’m running through the woods, but I’m transformed. I’m a werewolf like you, Hayden, and I’m just running and suddenly I see Jillian up ahead. And then I keep running toward her, but she starts looking more and more scared. Then I see more of my friends, and my family, and then I start howling, and the closer I get to them, the more scared they look, and right as I’m about to get to them, I wake up. But it feels like I’m trying to…hurt them, or something.”<br />
<br />
As Kenzie told more of her tale, she began to sob, and by the time she was finished, Hayden was holding her closely, caressing the back of her head consolably.<br />
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<br />
As she was crying, Paige’s lights flickered. She stood up and surveyed the room, her brow furrowed.<br />
<br />
“You know,” she said at last, “this looks familiar. It kind of reminds me of how young witches are when they’re first learning how to control their magic.”<br />
<br />
“Control it?” Hayden asked. “Don’t they just learn how to cast spells?”<br />
<br />
“Sure, but magic isn’t like a light switch. There’s no on or off switch. It has to be controlled and channeled. And sometimes, when a new witch is learning how to use their magic, their emotions cause things like that to happen. I guess I should have picked up on it when you called me, but it’s the way the power flickered that made me think of it. I guess it’s one of those things you have to see to understand.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie was holding onto Hayden’s wrist tightly, but she lifted her head upon hearing this.<br />
<br />
“And what would explain why my senses are so messed up?” she questioned as she wrinkled her nose in disgust.<br />
<br />
“What do you mean?” Paige asked.<br />
<br />
“I swear I’ve been picking up smells that half the police K-9 unit would miss. And sometimes I can hear things really far away, like Hayden’s pack when they’re clear out in the woods. Yes, we live in a pretty secluded place, but the pack’s never that close.”<br />
<br />
“What?” Hayden exclaimed for the second time that day. “Kenzie, what the hell else aren’t you telling me?”<br />
<br />
“That was it,” she promised. “I thought the heightened senses were another sign of being pregnant, but…”<br />
<br />
“All your senses are heightened?”<br />
<br />
“No, and it only happens sometimes. One minute I’ll smell rain before it comes, and the next I can’t smell supper cooking when I’m upstairs. It’s random. But I always need my glasses to see far away.”<br />
<br />
“Throwing up green sounds like you ate a bad salad,” Paige replied, “but with all the other factors to take into consideration here, I think it’s worth noting. Hold on, I’m going to try something.”<br />
<br />
Paige vacated the room and came back a few short moments later carrying a wand.<br />
<br />
“Witches don’t always have to use wands,” she explained, “but they’re great for beginners.”<br />
<br />
“Uh…I’m not a witch, though.”<br />
<br />
“No, but you have witch blood in your body, remember? Don’t worry, I’m not going to have you cast any spells. I just want to test something. Take this.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie stood up and Paige handed the wand to her. She incredulously took it in her hand and gazed at it. It was a finely carved wooden stick with an intricate design. She didn’t know what her friend expected to happen, but she received a shock when the wand’s tip began to emit a glow in her hand, and continued to get brighter the longer she held onto it.<br />
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<br />
“Just as I thought,” Paige ascertained as she took the wand away from Kenzie.<br />
<br />
“What the hell?” Kenzie asked quizzically. “I’ve touched wands before, like at the supernatural convention when we first met, and they never did that. Why did that happen now?”<br />
<br />
“Because the witch blood in your body was dormant until you were bitten by that werewolf. Now it’s been awakened, so it’s able to draw power.”<br />
<br />
“So…I can use magic now? And that’s why my emotion spikes have been causing these weird power surges and things? Oh, and sometimes rain and thunder, for that matter.”<br />
<br />
“I’d say so. The problem is that, when we first figured out you had three blood types, you were definitely emotional then and nothing happened. And you didn’t get sick until fairly recently. Plus I’m sure if I gave you a wand then, nothing would have happened, unlike now. And you didn’t have the keen senses like a werewolf, either. But now you do.”<br />
<br />
“So what are you saying? That I’ve <i>evolved</i> over the past few months?”<br />
<br />
“Theoretically. But I’m not a scientist. I can only give you my supernatural theories. We know you have all three blood types in your system, but that’s it. It sounds like you need to literally be examined under a microscope or something.”<br />
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<br />
Hayden interjected with, “I’m not sure ‘evolve’ is the term to use. If Kenzie had just evolved, I don’t think she’d be sick.”<br />
<br />
“Maybe it’s just a side effect,” Paige suggested. “Hybrids have the abilities of both creatures they share blood with, but Kenzie has three blood types in her body, not two. So maybe the sickness is the only way the three blood types can coexist.”<br />
<br />
“I’m not waiting around to find out,” Kenzie declared. “Hayden, let’s go.”<br />
<br />
“Where?”<br />
<br />
“Appaloosa Plains. We’re going to see Austin. He found a cure for vampirism, and he’s the smartest person I know, <i>and</i> he’s a scientist. If anyone can help me, it’s him.”<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/07/part-2-theory.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-4-tests.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-42223568029916050402015-07-26T10:38:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:56:09.517-06:00Part 2 - The TheoryAbout forty minutes later, Kenzie and Hayden were in the examining room at the doctor’s office, awaiting the results. Kenzie’s sickness hadn’t dissipated, and the strange things that coincided with her emotions seemed to keep happening around her, including odd spikes in temperature. It was getting downright spooky.<br />
<br />
But as for her nausea, Kenzie had finally broken down and told Hayden both about the green vomit she’d exuded earlier, as well as her theory.<br />
<br />
“<i>Pregnant?</i>” Hayden was genuinely shocked that this was the conclusion Kenzie had come to. “But we’re safe. We always use protection.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, but when Isaiah first started dating Jillian and I asked if vampires could pro-create, he told me that it was easier for a human female to get pregnant by a vampire creature because, well, everything about supernaturals is stronger, you know? So why would it be any different for a werewolf and a human being together?”<br />
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Hayden ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, I guess it would explain you feeling sick all the time,” he finally responded. “But still, birth control is supposed to be effective against all bodily fluids. Especially these days with so many supernatural creatures getting lucky.”<br />
<br />
“I don’t know that I’m actually pregnant. It’s just a theory, and right now, it’s the only one that makes any sense. And maybe the supernatural aspect is why I was puking up green goo.”<br />
<br />
“Well, if you’re pregnant, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. And…”<br />
<br />
Before Hayden could continue, the doctor returned, cutting him off.<br />
<br />
“Miss Howell,” she said, directing her attention right to Kenzie. “We have your test results.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie felt like her heart was going to fly out of her chest. The anticipation was killing her.<br />
<br />
“The pregnancy results are negative,” the doctor informed her. “However, we can’t pinpoint your blood type. We’ve never seen anything like this before. Based on our records, your blood type seems to have somehow changed from the last time it was drawn.”<br />
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Kenzie bit her lip. Of course her blood type would have changed. It was only a few months ago that she’d been bitten by a werewolf, only to discover that she was born with werewolf and witch blood in her system, one of which was inadvertently absorbed through an unborn twin in the womb. The werewolf bite had activated both blood types, subsequently allowing her body to heal faster, though she hadn’t transformed during a full moon or cast any spells.<br />
<br />
Still, the doctor didn’t need to know all that. She kicked herself inwardly for not thinking of a story to tell the doctor prior to the visit, as she should have known this would come up.<br />
<br />
“I’m not worried about that,” she said at last. “I just want to know why I’ve been sick lately. If I’m not pregnant, what could it be?”<br />
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“It could be any number of things,” the doctor replied. “Something you ate, a virus, allergies, or just nerves. The only thing we can conclude is that your blood type can’t be determined, and unless we can figure that out, we can’t determine what exactly is going on or how to treat it.”<br />
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<br />
Great. Kenzie was at a loss. The doctors couldn’t deduce what her diagnosis was, why she’d been so sick lately? She was prepared to hear that she was pregnant, but not that her blood type had changed and no information could be obtained because of it.<br />
<br />
As she was thinking this, the lights flickered. Which of course made no sense to the doctor, considering it was a pretty day outside with not even a hint of a storm that would knock out the electricity. This just made her more worrisome, considering how often such things had been happening as of late.<br />
<br />
Despite the doctor’s recommendations, she and Hayden left the office and headed back home without further testing. Sage greeted them with a concerned expression, though her tail was wagging.<br />
<br />
“I just don’t get it,” Kenzie told Hayden in agitation. “If I’m not pregnant, why the hell do I keep puking? It’s nothing I ate since I’ve eaten everything a hundred times before, I don’t have allergies, and I’m not nervous. What is going on?”<br />
<br />
As her emotions spiked, the lights in Hayden’s house flickered like the ones at the doctor’s office. And Kenzie almost thought she heard thunder rumble in the distance. The sky began to turn gray out of nowhere.<br />
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Hayden gripped Kenzie’s shoulders reassuringly. “The thought crossed my mind, too,” he confessed. “That you might be pregnant. I mean, we <i>did</i> christen the whole house after you moved in. And you have a point, about the whole supernatural pregnancy thing based on what Isaiah told you. But I think we’re looking at the wrong type of help, here. I think we need to talk to Paige.”<br />
<br />
“Why? I’m getting embarrassed, bugging her every time something’s wrong with me.”<br />
<br />
“Because whatever is going on isn’t human. We’ve both noticed that, for the past few weeks, whenever you’ve had some immense emotional feeling, weird things have happened. Like the lights flashing today, here and at the doctor’s office. Kenzie, I think the reason the doctors can’t tell your blood type is because your own body doesn’t know what it is. And don’t forget those nights of the full moon where your nose picked up things right along with mine, things no human could sniff out.”<br />
<br />
“What are you saying?”<br />
<br />
“I’m saying it’s possible that your body is just trying to adapt to having three different blood types in its system. But it’s making you sick instead, and we need to get it straightened out. Paige and her coven are the only ones that have any clue about this type of thing. If we were bothering her, I’m sure she’d tell us. But her coven is sworn to protect people, and since you’re one of Paige’s best friends, I’m sure you’re a priority. And it was a member of her coven that figured out the mystery behind the werewolf bite, anyway.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie sighed. She knew that Hayden was right. It was getting irritating, not knowing what was going on, but it was also getting annoying having to ask Paige for help all the time. So Hayden agreed that they’d call her first and see what she thought before going to her home in Lucky Palms.<br />
<br />
As Hayden talked to their witch friend on the phone, Kenzie paced back and forth nervously. She had no idea what had befallen her, but she hoped that whatever it was would be easy to rectify and things would get back to normal.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/07/part-1-distress.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/07/part-3-evolution.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-40664382913015699582015-07-22T19:37:00.000-05:002018-10-15T21:54:52.533-05:00Part 1 - The DistressIt was happening again. Kenzie Howell ran through a darkened forest, the moon bright and full overhead. She was Kenzie, yet she wasn’t. Her senses were heightened, so much so that she didn’t require her glasses, her nails and ears elongated, and her hair a tangled mess. She ran on all fours, hyper-alert to her surroundings, her clothes shredded against her hairy body.<br />
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<br />
Up ahead, far ahead, she could just make her out. Jillian Swansen. Her newly human again best friend, completely unguarded and unprotected, waving her closer, a smile on her beatific face.<br />
<br />
But as Kenzie got closer, her friend’s face transformed into one of sheer terror. She let out a choked scream, the shrill sound echoing through the night. More familiar faces appeared behind her, all with the same shocked and horrified expression on their faces.<br />
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An inhuman howl escaped from between her lips, which were covering her extended canines and incisors. As she closed the gap between her and all her loved ones, her eyes flew open and she sat up in bed with a start.<br />
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Hayden, who was sleeping beside her, sprang up like a jack in the box, and Kenzie’s shriek had obviously woken up her dog, Sage, as well, as she padded into the bedroom, her ears perked up and on full alert to locate the turmoil that had befallen her master.<br />
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“What is it?” Hayden asked with concern as he embraced his mate. Sage propped herself up onto the bed with her front paws, mirroring Hayden’s inquiry.<br />
<br />
“Just a bad dream,” she replied. As she lay back down, Kenzie realized that she was sweating. Hayden rubbed his fingers gently across her cheek.<br />
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“Do you still feel sick?” he asked speculatively. “You feel like you have a fever.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie wanted to deny it. She didn’t want to make Hayden worry. He was already at his wits’ end because of her mysterious spats of nausea lately. Not to mention the <i>other</i> things that were happening whenever her emotions were heightened. She knew that Hayden had noticed that as well, even though he hadn’t said as much. Probably for the same reason she wanted to deny how shitty she felt.<br />
<br />
“Some,” she finally admitted. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”<br />
<br />
“Maybe you should see a doctor. In fact, I’m insisting on it. You’ve been feeling like this for months, and if anything, I think it’s getting worse. There’s no point in even trying to argue. First thing tomorrow, you’re going to the doctor.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie rolled onto her side and felt Hayden’s arm encircle her waist. She knew he was right. Something was seriously wrong with her, and she was beyond tired of whatever was ailing her…and she didn’t even know what it was. It was time to find out and fix it.<br />
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<br />
She was hit with another wave of nausea the next morning as soon as she got out of bed. This was through getting old weeks ago. She could almost set her watch to this shit. Kenzie didn’t know why her body seemed to loathe her so much right now.<br />
<br />
But this time was different. As she bent over the toilet, she was shocked and petrified to see lime green liquid spewing from her mouth and into the bowl.<br />
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<br />
Well this was just great. First the constant nausea and puking, then the nightmares (the werewolf one, and then one where she saw the faces of her ancestors from her recent genealogy research being burned at the stake for witchcraft), and finally strange occurrences that bordered on the supernatural. Every time she had a heightened emotion spike, particularly a negative one, the lights would flicker, and sometimes she swore she heard thunder in the distance. Now she was throwing up unnatural green goo.<br />
<br />
Several thoughts were flying through her head as to what could be ailing her, but one was more prominent than the others. But it couldn’t be. No way. There was absolutely no way.<br />
<br />
Kenzie flushed the toilet and got shakily to her feet. She washed her hands and rinsed her mouth out before putting more toothpaste than was perhaps necessary on her toothbrush. She scrubbed her teeth so hard the enamel would probably fall off when she was in her thirties.<br />
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<br />
“Kenzie?” Hayden knocked on the door. “The doctor can see us right away. Get dressed. We’re going.”<br />
<br />
So he’d obviously heard her. Damn werewolf hearing abilities. She couldn’t hide anything from him.<br />
<br />
“Coming,” she grumbled as she rinsed her mouth out and headed back upstairs to get dressed. When she came back down, Hayden must have sensed her tumult, as he walked toward her and kissed her on the forehead.<br />
<br />
“It’s all right,” he consoled. “We’re going to help you. I swear.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie whimpered slightly. She was afraid that she already knew the answer to what was ailing her, but procrastinating wasn’t going to help confirm or deny her theory. If she was right, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it was definitely something she wasn’t ready for. But at this point, she was tired of puking her guts out randomly, and if there was something wrong with her, she wanted it fixed as soon as possible.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-extraction.html">Part List</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/07/part-2-theory.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-60606080988259728402015-07-19T20:10:00.000-05:002015-08-16T10:04:13.702-05:00The ExtractionWARNING: This story has a rating of PG-13. It contains a lot of references to things like woohoo, language, violence, and the like.<br />
<br />
Kenzie's second mini mystery is here! However, this is going to be my last story until further notice. I am planning a wedding in real life, have a full-time job, and lots of other things to do, including other games I'd like to play. This is not the end of Kenzie and her friends; but future stories of her will be featured on my <a href="http://tenderwolfsimblr.tumblr.com/">Simblr</a> with a picture and matching dialog rather than chapter versions. It will save me a lot of time and effort, yet still allow me to keep everyone up to date on what's happening. Thanks for reading and staying in touch through all these years, devoted fans!<br />
<br />
Presenting...<br />
<br />
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<br />
<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
It was revealed not long ago that Kenzie has three blood types in her body, two of them being supernatural. It sounds fine, but lately she's been violently ill with no explanation as to why. Theories are flying through her mind, yet none of them seem to be correct. What is really going on with her, and how can she stop it? And will she be able to stop it before it consumes her?<br />
<br />
<b><u>Parts:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/07/part-1-distress.html">Part 1 - The Distress</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/07/part-2-theory.html">Part 2 - The Theory</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/07/part-3-evolution.html">Part 3 - The Evolution</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-4-tests.html">Part 4 - The Tests</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-5-waiting.html">Part 5 - The Waiting</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-6-solution.html">Part 6 - The Solution</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-7-purge.html">Part 7 - The Purge</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/08/part-8-surprise.html">Part 8 - The Surprise</a>Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-43142986930064951272015-06-21T11:35:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:54:40.299-06:00Part 6 - The Sire“What do you mean, he could die?” Jillian snapped. Isaiah had lowered the bottle, clearly hearing Austin’s distraught voice on the other end of the line.<br />
<br />
“I released the cure too soon. Jillian, you’re fine, but there was one variable we didn’t consider when we were developing this thing.”<br />
<br />
“And what the hell would that be?”<br />
<br />
“A vampire’s age. We experimented on vampires that had been as such for a few years, but no more than twenty-five. Some were born vampires, and some were turned. But the outcome was always the same – until we brought in a few vampires that were older. Some of them are slightly younger than Isaiah, or have been vampires for a slightly shorter time, and the results of the cure were fatal to most of them.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Jillian held the phone away from her ear so she could scream into it.<br />
<br />
“Why the hell didn’t you tell us this before?! Do you realize what you’ve done?! Do you have any idea what this means?!”<br />
<br />
“Jill, calm down,” Isaiah tried to console her as he came toward her with his hands raised, but she slapped them away, furious. It was a good thing she was no longer a vampire, or her brute strength would have shaken the house apart from her wrath alone.<br />
<br />
“You have every right to be mad at me,” Austin replied, irritatingly calm despite Jillian’s tirade, “but I did tell you that a cure for vampirism was never even mentioned before, so the end result was the primary focus.”<br />
<br />
“I thought you were supposed to be a genius! What kind of genius forgets a major factor like <i>that</i> in an experiment?!”<br />
<br />
“The kind who’s doing his best, trying his hardest, to get something for one of his best friends for her birthday that’s a few months away, not giving a damn about anyone else. So yeah, I’m sorry. I’m only human. Sue me.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Jillian put her hand to her face. She was tempted to sue Austin as he’d sarcastically suggested, but he had plenty of money now – he’d easily be able to buy his way out of it. And that would drive an even bigger wedge between her and Cheyenne. But more importantly, she knew Austin was right. If she hadn’t been so damn stubborn and kept pressuring him for results, he wouldn’t have rushed and overlooked any details.<br />
<br />
What had she done?<br />
<br />
Isaiah took the phone from Jillian, who was no longer angry but almost hysterical.<br />
<br />
“Austin,” he said into the phone, “why would this kill me, exactly?”<br />
<br />
Jillian’s ears could no longer pick up on the other side of the conversation, which just made her cry harder. Talk about karma.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAErOKPAd20cwUqV6PItrcJDlpCst5YKwhc1iPJFCG4ssT1R2F0GVoOfGhJxx-sSNAzC3ZnVRlGAsDMQ6t7-x6qv-GXfDCpFB3utLRYH5ia3JiQQx8eIwmMOMyLC3lB6rHfmb2SFF-OU0/s1600/Jillian+sad3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAErOKPAd20cwUqV6PItrcJDlpCst5YKwhc1iPJFCG4ssT1R2F0GVoOfGhJxx-sSNAzC3ZnVRlGAsDMQ6t7-x6qv-GXfDCpFB3utLRYH5ia3JiQQx8eIwmMOMyLC3lB6rHfmb2SFF-OU0/s1600/Jillian+sad3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
“I see,” Isaiah said at last. Something long was being said, and intense based on Isaiah’s facial expression. “I understand. Thank you.”<br />
<br />
He hung up and made his way to Jillian, picking her up with no effort and carrying her into the living room, where he held her consolingly on the couch.<br />
<br />
“It’s not your fault,” he told her.<br />
<br />
“Why?” she whimpered.<br />
<br />
“According to Austin, depending on how long a person has been a vampire, the cure can backfire and kill that person. It doesn’t always happen, but it seems to be the most common result for people who have been vampires for more than eighty or ninety years. Essentially, their bodies have adapted to vampirism, and turning them back into humans sped up their aging process to catch up with all the years their bodies had been frozen in time, and the effects are fatal. He apologized, and said that he got over confident after so many successful results, so he mistakenly assumed that all vampires, regardless of their age, would be fine. It wasn’t until after we left that he got some results back from the older vampires.”<br />
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<br />
Isaiah kissed the top of Jillian’s head. She sniffled, then perked up.<br />
<br />
“Wait,” she said as she sat up, “I have an idea. Just turn me back into a vampire. Then it’ll be okay.”<br />
<br />
Isaiah frowned. “Austin thought you might suggest that. And he told me that they <i>did</i> test for that as well. Jillian, your body has been through a major transition. Actually, it’s been through two – first, becoming a vampire, and then reverting back into a human. Your body can’t take another shot of that. Everyone who turned back into vampires after being cured of vampirism once had the same likelihood of death as older vampires becoming human again. It’s just how our bodies have adjusted and adapted, and how much they’re programmed to take. So no, I won’t turn you into a vampire again.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Jillian felt her eyes brimming with tears once more. Now she’d done it. She was stuck. She would never be able to be a vampire again, and Isaiah would most likely die if he tried to become human. They were right back where they’d started. Back where they’d been before. It hadn’t been that bad, but still, it had been nice to know that they both at least had the same amount of time to live together. What would become of them now?<br />
<br />
“However,” Isaiah added, “Austin said there was only a chance of vampires of a certain age dying from the cure. There’s a chance that it wouldn’t hurt me at all.”<br />
<br />
As hopeful as that sounded, Jillian shook her head fiercely. “No. I won’t let you even try it. I won’t risk losing you.”<br />
<br />
“Jillian,” he stated, “I’d rather turn human again and have a short time with you before dying than live for the rest of eternity as a vampire without you.”<br />
<br />
“I can’t let you do that. I’m not worth it.”<br />
<br />
“Jillian…”<br />
<br />
“I’m not! Please, don’t argue.”<br />
<br />
“Jill, I’m a vampire. You’re a human. It’s what we are, and what we’re fated to be.”<br />
<br />
“I don’t believe in that fate bullshit. Ever since Kenzie was bitten by that werewolf, I don’t believe in it. I believe in coincidences, and I believe in bad luck and karma, but I <i>don’t</i> believe that things are meant to happen in a certain way.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Isaiah pulled Jillian down and held her tightly. “Be that as it may,” he said, “we can’t change what we are now.”<br />
<br />
“Austin also said there was only a chance of me dying if you turned me back into a vampire. We could try that just as easily as trying to turn you back into a human.”<br />
<br />
“No way. After all the turmoil you went through just to get this cure created, and after telling me how much you wanted to be human again, I’m not turning you back into a vampire, especially with such a high risk of death. And you know you don’t want to be a vampire again.”<br />
<br />
“I want to be with you in whatever way I can.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
They were at a stalemate. Neither one of them was willing to let the other even attempt to sacrifice themselves so they could be together. For now, no one would win. But they’d still have each other.<br />
<br />
*********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
Another week passed, and as Jillian busied herself with her work once again, she found that her heart wasn’t in it. She remembered when she and Isaiah had talked about moving to Sunlit Tides, but after being a vampire, she knew how hard that would be. But that had also been before vampiric sunscreen. Things could be different now.<br />
<br />
She’d received an offer not long ago to have an interview done in a magazine based in Sunlit Tides, and she’d be provided with seamstresses, models, and everything she’d need to make her fashion career a bigger success. And that offer was still in her email inbox, with a follow-up inquisition even after all this time.<br />
<br />
She stared at her laptop screen from her makeshift seat on the floor, not even bothering to use a chair or couch. A melancholy expression was etched onto her face. She’d thought that being human again would make her happy. And while it did, something was holding her back.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Was she being selfish? Was she even considering Isaiah’s feelings at all, really? Should she at least consult him before making a decision like this? Now that she was human again, she didn’t have to stay cooped up in the dreary town of Midnight Hollow, where the sun was somehow always behind a thick cover of clouds. But Isaiah was willing to go with her, right? It was something she’d just have to risk, something worth a shot.<br />
<br />
She loved Isaiah, but she was worried about growing old by his side while he stayed impossibly young and handsome. It would be so hard for two vastly different species to be together, especially since one would live until the end of the world. But it was said that nothing worthwhile was easy. Jillian was willing to try.<br />
<br />
She’d thought for a while if her relationship with Isaiah was the best thing. It certainly wasn’t the easiest, but that didn’t make her love him any less. But she felt compelled to stay with him, to be by his side. It felt like that was where she belonged. She’d heard old legends of vampires being sired to their creators, but she was a human again now. If she were sired, would the effect still be present?<br />
<br />
But it didn’t matter. She loved Isaiah and wanted to be with him. They’d been through so much together and he’d saved her countless times. Leaving him would feel more wrong than expecting him to live with her in a sunny environment.<br />
<br />
So finally, with a heavy heart, Jillian replied to the magazine company in Sunlit Tides and accepted their offer. She’d have to move there, but it was what she’d wanted to do before she’d been turned into a vampire. It was time to pick up the pieces of the past several months and get on with her life. She had to go forward, especially now that she could no longer defeat time.<br />
<br />
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<br />
She didn’t realize she’d been sniffling until Isaiah walked into the room.<br />
<br />
“What’s wrong?” he asked gently, caring, just as gentlemanly as always.<br />
<br />
She looked up at him as he took a seat next to her on the floor. She closed the laptop lid and slid the device away.<br />
<br />
“I…I accepted that offer in Sunlit Tides.”<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPKpJudwjkn-T76zwxWcLJcEzsR2MqK6_255LBZxlVJt9NSvmffln0jIoNMAS3SQV_BvE4fcgF7YrLexYC6TbTCsaCKRl3RcCTU2nmpNXLNkL2lXUfyOP75UeRmj5JtWcoKjC6krYMQc/s1600/Jillian+&+Isaiah15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPKpJudwjkn-T76zwxWcLJcEzsR2MqK6_255LBZxlVJt9NSvmffln0jIoNMAS3SQV_BvE4fcgF7YrLexYC6TbTCsaCKRl3RcCTU2nmpNXLNkL2lXUfyOP75UeRmj5JtWcoKjC6krYMQc/s1600/Jillian+&+Isaiah15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Isaiah held Jillian in his arms. “The offer that would require you to move there?”<br />
<br />
Jillian nodded wordlessly.<br />
<br />
“I see. Well, it’s a good opportunity for you.”<br />
<br />
“But not for you. And not for us.”<br />
<br />
“We managed before, when you lived in Sunset Valley.”<br />
<br />
“I know, and I want it to work between us. But I can’t ask you to move there with me.”<br />
<br />
“You’re not asking me. I’m saying I’ll go. I’ll follow you anywhere. Thanks to vampiric sunscreen, it’s possible.”<br />
<br />
“But it’s not as easy as being a human would be where the sun is concerned.”<br />
<br />
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I love you, Jillian, and unless you turn me away, I’m not going anywhere.”<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblrd4BzHfUmDCDYeMZ86sCFl-Wcohb3Xd7jhfD39BqNtEUqfeuWxntMl8egD1dAJ_In5yX36-v6xTqGpkOJRfgAMypdruhe8G4Sm9deRoT8dTiINtN3dCDY1K1IuXWY2YLQd7qgYegYE/s1600/Jillian+&+Isaiah16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblrd4BzHfUmDCDYeMZ86sCFl-Wcohb3Xd7jhfD39BqNtEUqfeuWxntMl8egD1dAJ_In5yX36-v6xTqGpkOJRfgAMypdruhe8G4Sm9deRoT8dTiINtN3dCDY1K1IuXWY2YLQd7qgYegYE/s1600/Jillian+&+Isaiah16.jpg" width="618" /></a></div>
<br />
As their lips touched, Isaiah remembered the promise he’d made to Kenzie. When Jillian had been kidnapped, he’d promised her that he’d leave Jillian to keep her safe. She now had a second chance. She could start over with the life she truly desired. He didn’t even have to be in the picture. She’d be sad for a while, but she’d heal.<br />
<br />
But she wanted him with her. Isaiah valued his friendship with Kenzie, but he valued his love for Jillian more. He would leave the decision up to her. He’d endured a psychotic family that had tried to kill him, and a mother who’d turned him into a vampire (too long ago to reverse). He could endure this.<br />
<br />
*********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
“Wow, you look just like you did before.” Kenzie gaped at Jillian, her eyes wide and her mouth open like she’d seen a ghost. If she didn’t watch it, she was going to run into something since she wasn’t looking where she was going. “I can’t get over it.”<br />
<br />
“Uh…thanks,” Jillian replied. Kenzie laughed. Jillian hadn’t been this giddy in a long time. When she’d gotten the phone call from her friend telling her that she’d moved to Sunlit Tides and had taken a cure for vampirism, which she had asked Austin to concoct, she’d nearly fallen over. Of course, one of the first things Jillian had told her was not to blame herself.<br />
<br />
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<br />
As they exited the bistro where they’d just indulged in fine island dining, Jillian felt elated. For the first time in a long time, she felt alive. Of course, she hadn’t technically been “alive” as a vampire, but that was all behind her now. She still felt bad about Isaiah, but she knew he loved her. And she loved him. For a while, she’d contemplated if their relationship had been the best thing. After so many assholes, she’d finally found a good one, but she’d wondered if that made him the <i>only</i> one.<br />
<br />
Now, she was convinced that he was. A vampire willing to move into a very sunny town just to be with his girlfriend? That was true love if she’d ever seen it.<br />
<br />
“How have you been feeling?” Jillian asked her friend, referring to her random spouts of nausea.<br />
<br />
“About the same,” Kenzie admitted, though she jokingly said, “and I’m the one that should be asking you that question.”<br />
<br />
“Well, there’s not much else to tell, really. I just wish Isaiah and I could be the same species. If only Austin had called sooner, before I drank my cure. Or rather, if only I’d waited just a little longer until he called.”<br />
<br />
“No one could have predicted that. I’m just glad you found out before Isaiah drank that stuff. He may be your boyfriend, but he’s a good friend to all of us. We’d all miss having him around.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, you’re right. I’d rather have him as a different species than not have him in my life at all.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Jillian was already looking for a permanent residence, though for the time being, the magazine company would rent a house to her so she’d be able to work. She was eager to get started on new sketches and designs, and Kenzie had once again offered to be a plus-size model if she was ever needed.<br />
<br />
“At least my chubbiness has two good things going for me,” she chortled, “Hayden likes it since, as part wolf, he loves meat, and I can model your awesome clothes that make me look sexy.”<br />
<br />
Jillian laughed, too, as they circled back around to the house she was currently renting. Isaiah was still in Midnight Hollow, packing up some things and getting the manor appraised. He’d decided that he didn’t want to live in his father’s manor anymore, or even keep it in his possession. Even though his mother had been the one to give him the supernatural life he’d never wanted, it was his father that drove her to do it. He didn’t want his charity or his possessions, apart from whatever money he may get out of the manor to help finance their new life together. Jillian couldn’t say that she blamed him.<br />
<br />
This whole situation had given her a lot of clarity. She realized that she was very fortunate. She’d been fortunate to have not died at the hands of the malicious vampire who’d kidnapped her, even if she’d been turned into a vampire to have that happen. And now, she was fortunate enough to have turned back into a human so she could live in the sun, she had amazing friends (Cheyenne had been ecstatic that Jillian was back to “normal,” and wasn’t nearly as hesitant as before where Mason was concerned), and fortunate enough to have a boyfriend – a vampire, no less – who was willing to move in with her in a very sunny town with no objections. Never again would she take what she had for granted. Plus, there was always the possibility of something else being invented that would work for older vampires like Isaiah. All was not lost.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Jillian and Kenzie spread out some beach towels and savored the moment by kicking off their shoes and sunbathing, welcoming the summer season with full vigor by feeling the sun beat down on their faces by the pool. Jillian’s birthday was two weeks away, and she had the best present she could ever wish for.<br />
<br />
As she gazed up at the sky, Jillian was hit with a big bolt of serenity. For the first time in a very long time, she was happy. Her career was skyrocketing, she was human again, her boyfriend would be able to live with her in the sun thanks to an invention by one of her best friends, and her life was only beginning. It was a wonderful feeling. Though some might say that she was tied down by so many factors, in her heart, she only had one feeling – she was free.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE END</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-5-risks.html">Previous Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-37591802449993605002015-06-17T18:04:00.000-05:002018-10-15T19:55:24.933-05:00Part 5 - The RisksOne month later, Isaiah and Jillian were driving to Appaloosa Plains, the preparations made for them to test the cure to vampirism as outside sources. Isaiah was just as eager as Jillian to get to Appaloosa Plains, but he had to admit that he was also nervous. He’d spent quite some time as a vampire, and it had taken some time to adapt to such a life. What would happen if the procedure worked and he turned human again?<br />
<br />
But more importantly, he had to face the fact that what he’d been fearing had come true – Jillian had grown tired of being a vampire. He’d changed her in order to save her life, and though she was grateful, he knew she was right – she was destined to be a light in the darkness, a goddess of the sun. Someone with her beauty and bubbly personality wasn’t intended to live a life in the shadows.<br />
<br />
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<br />
The silence was awkwardly overwhelming, but it was like neither of them knew what to say. Jillian was feeling guilty having confessed the truth to Isaiah prior to actually testing whatever Austin and his team of scientists had come up with. Suppose it didn’t work. Then Isaiah would forever be burdened with the knowledge that Jillian hated what she was as much as he did, and neither one of them could do a thing about it. Plus, it made her sound like an ungrateful bitch, because if he hadn’t changed her, she would have died.<br />
<br />
It was true that she’d discussed becoming a vampire with Isaiah one day, but she hadn’t thought long and hard about the long-term effects. She thought she’d be willing to give up the sun and a life of sandy beaches and going out with friends with no barriers like sparkling sunscreen, plus a normal social life with her family. But it had only taken her a few months for the regime to grow old. What did that say about her? And what did it say about her relationship with the man she supposedly loved?<br />
<br />
“I’m sorry,” she finally blurted, her tone earnest. “I shouldn’t have told you the way I did.”<br />
<br />
“Told me what?”<br />
<br />
“I don’t want you to think that I’m ungrateful, that I hate my life, that I don’t want to be with you.”<br />
<br />
“Jillian, I was with you when you were human, and it never bothered me. If you can go back to being what you truly desire, why would that bother me?”<br />
<br />
“That’s not the problem. If this doesn’t work, I’ll still be a vampire, and you’ll see me as being something I hate, and you’ll blame yourself for it.”<br />
<br />
“No. I won’t. Because I refuse to lose you. If there’s anything I can do to save you, to protect you, I’ll do it.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Jillian bit her lip. He wasn’t making this any easier on her. But it was still comforting to know that he didn’t hate her, and wasn’t angry at her, either.<br />
<br />
At last, they arrived at the clinic, which doubled as the science lab in Appaloosa Plains. They strolled in, hand in hand, and made their way to the science portion of the building. After the receptionist paged Austin to meet them, he greeted them and led them back toward a brightly lit laboratory.<br />
<br />
“Let the record show,” Austin stated in all seriousness, “that I advised against you two being the first outside testers for this thing.”<br />
<br />
“How did you even do this?” Isaiah asked, curious despite himself.<br />
<br />
“Jillian was right about one thing,” Austin replied. “A lot of vampires were eager to try reverting back to their human forms. We got a lot of alpha and beta testers and tried a number of different factors, and thankfully several scientists besides myself were anxious to try to develop something like this. Normally, such a process would have probably taken years to create. Anyway, regarding those different factors I mentioned, werewolves have said to be lethal to vampires, right? We have werewolves on staff who have given blood, so we tried creating something with that. Not enough to harm a vampire, of course, but enough to maybe spark some kind of reaction. Unfortunately, that didn’t work. Jillian, remember when I told you I had a lead? Well, I contacted Paige’s coven, and it turns out that pure blood may have the effect we wanted. The purest blood known to exist belongs to fairies. So, we hired some fairy interns and experimented with their blood. The purity of it overshadowed the, theoretical, impure vampire blood. It didn’t turn vampires into fairies, but it purified the blood enough that it began to flow like a human’s again, and all vital signs of a human were present. They were all able to walk out in the sun, too, with no adverse side effects. Of course, other ingredients had to be used in addition to the fairy blood, so if a vampire were to drink fairy blood, it wouldn’t turn them into one in the process.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
It all seemed a little too complex for Jillian to wrap her mind around, but truthfully, she didn’t care. The important thing was that there was a cure, and she was about to possess it.<br />
<br />
“Are you two sure you want to do this?” Austin inquired, a note of concern obvious in his voice.<br />
<br />
Jillian looked at Isaiah. He was looking at her, as though asking for permission. But it was he who spoke first.<br />
<br />
“I think we’ll take it home and celebrate privately,” he stated. He glanced at Jillian again and gave her a private, sideways grin. She grinned back and blushed.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“Okay, well, be sure to contact me, or this lab, with any side effects,” Austin instructed as he vacated the room and returned with two sealed boxes. He gave them to his friends, visibly hesitating while explaining the possible side effects (like shortness of breath after getting used to their lungs taking in more oxygen than was needed as vampires), as well as how long the cure would take to kick in. He then wished them luck as they left.<br />
<br />
“We’ll take it at home,” Isaiah said as he drove, “and make a toast to our new lives together.”<br />
<br />
“I love you, Isaiah.”<br />
<br />
“I love you, too.”<br />
<br />
They both felt it. The bond between them was even stronger than before, and now they could live a normal, happy life. Nothing could stand in their way now.<br />
<br />
*********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
They arrived back in Midnight Hollow within a few hours. It was dark by then, so unfortunately they wouldn’t be able to test out the cure’s effects with the sun.<br />
<br />
The cure turned out to be in liquid form, sealed inside a very intricately designed bottle. It wasn’t what either Jillian or Isaiah was expecting, but at least it would make their “toast” more official.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“So, two bottles, and each of us drinks one,” Isaiah said as he read the instructions inside the box.<br />
<br />
“That’s quite a lot for one person,” Jillian observed.<br />
<br />
“Imagine how much it would have taken just to test out the effects. I guess they want to be thorough, and ensure there’s enough to be effective.”<br />
<br />
Isaiah set the box back down and took Jillian’s hands, looking into her eyes.<br />
<br />
“Jill,” he said, “I never apologized to you.”<br />
<br />
“For what?”<br />
<br />
“For giving you this life. I know we discussed it, but you clearly never wanted it. I never gave you a chance. I was selfishly thinking only of myself.”<br />
<br />
“That’s not true. You were thinking of me, too. And Kenzie, and all our friends. Not to sound conceited, but you all would have missed me. And you’d blame yourself for <i>not</i> changing me when you could have as much as you’re blaming yourself now.”<br />
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<br />
Isaiah smiled. “You’re so perceptive. I think you and Kenzie should open your own private practice.”<br />
<br />
“Very funny.”<br />
<br />
Isaiah chortled, then grew serious. “I think you should do the honors first.”<br />
<br />
“Why?”<br />
<br />
“Because this was your idea, and without your persuasion, there probably still wouldn’t be a cure for vampirism. And it <i>is</i> for your birthday present, after all, even if it’s still a month away.”<br />
<br />
“Well, okay…if you insist.”<br />
<br />
“I promise I’ll drink mine as well. I just want you to have your wish come true first, and it’ll be more special if it happens on its own rather than to me at the same time. Don’t worry, we can still have our toast.”<br />
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<br />
Jillian wrapped her arms around Isaiah, her heart hammering inside her chest. She knew this was what she wanted, but she was still nervous. But she had to face it. Austin himself had given her this cure, and it seemed to beckon to her like a bottle of promises that could never be broken.<br />
<br />
Staggering forward, breathing heavy, she grabbed one of the two bottles and unscrewed the top. The noise was like a celebratory bottle of champagne opening, only this would taste much sweeter with her vampire taste buds.<br />
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<br />
There were some things she’d miss. Her fast speed, superior senses, rapid healing, and increased energy benefited her well. But that wasn’t what was most important to her, nor what truly mattered.<br />
<br />
More than anything else, she wanted to be with her family again. And as long as she was a vampire, she couldn’t be. And she couldn’t be best friends with Cheyenne, either, because she feared her so, especially around her son.<br />
<br />
Which was why Jillian felt nothing but confidence and bliss as she finally acceded and lifted the bottle to her lips.<br />
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<br />
It tasted like succulent blood with a faint sour tinge, but at least it was tolerable. And the end result would be worth it, she knew.<br />
<br />
She licked her lips after downing the last gulp, waiting for the result. Austin had said that it usually only took a few minutes for the cure to take effect, and she waited while watching Isaiah eye her curiously.<br />
<br />
“How does it feel?” he asked.<br />
<br />
“Honestly, I don’t feel any different.”<br />
<br />
“Odd, but maybe that’s a good thing.”<br />
<br />
Before they could any anything more, Jillian felt a bubbling feeling rise in her stomach. It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t particularly pleasant, either. Her vision blurred and she heard a loud pop in her ears, and her breathing rapidly increased as a red aura surrounded her, not unlike the one that had enveloped her when she’d turned into a vampire.<br />
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<br />
She realized suddenly that this was the cure’s effects taking hold. Her vision wouldn’t be as acute as when she’d been a vampire, and her eardrums wouldn’t be as strong. And of course the rapid breathing was a side effect explained to both her and Isaiah by Austin.<br />
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<br />
“Jill?” Isaiah asked, alarmed.<br />
<br />
Jillian looked up at him, her eyes focusing at last, just as they had been before she’d transformed. It would take some getting used to, seeing without super vision again, and not hearing something as quiet as a pin drop, but her face broke into a broad smile. It had worked. The cure was a success.<br />
<br />
“It worked!” she exclaimed. Isaiah’s face also broke into a smile as he walked toward Jillian and scooped her up in his arms, carefully as though she were a fragile piece of glassware (though she was much more fragile than before).<br />
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<br />
“How do you feel?” he wanted to know as he felt her lips, jaw, shoulders, and everywhere to make sure that she was still intact.<br />
<br />
“I’m okay,” she laughed, feeling carefree for the first time in a long time. “I feel great. This is amazing!”<br />
<br />
“No kidding. And this time, it’ll be your turn to teach me.”<br />
<br />
“What?”<br />
<br />
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been a human. You’ll have to show me the ropes again, how it’s done without superior senses and the like.”<br />
<br />
“Anything you need.”<br />
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<br />
Isaiah kissed Jillian tenderly. Her skin was already warmer to the touch than his own, and her blood was rushing through her veins at an alarmingly more rapid rate. It made her whole aura seem delectable, knowing how happy she was to be human again, and it was all he could do not to give into his nature, the one he’d had for nearly a century, and engage in their private erotic biting session.<br />
<br />
Instead, he then made his way to the second bottle to take his turn. He was just unscrewing the cap when Jillian’s phone rang.<br />
<br />
“Oh, come on,” she groaned. Isaiah snickered. “Just get it. I’ve waited this long, I can wait a little longer.”<br />
<br />
Jillian rolled her eyes and answered her phone without even looking at the ID.<br />
<br />
“Hello?” she said.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“Jillian,” Austin’s voice sounded in an alarming tone, “did you and Isaiah drink the cure yet?”<br />
<br />
“Uh…I did. Isaiah is about to. Why?”<br />
<br />
“Don’t do it. Swear to me right now you won’t let Isaiah drink it.”<br />
<br />
“Why? What the hell is going on?”<br />
<br />
“Jillian, if he drinks that cure, he could die.”<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-4-ties-that-bind.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-6-sire.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-72230455801503917032015-06-14T14:03:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:53:45.006-06:00Part 4 - The Ties That BindDays turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Jillian was vigilant not to let her apprehension show in front of anyone, especially the highly perceptive Isaiah and Kenzie. She chatted with Austin online when she could, and he was keeping her informed, and the rest of the time she busied herself in her work.<br />
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<br />
Her fashion design studio was, for now, as close to the beach as she could get, she believed. Bright splashes of color were abundant, and there was no shortage of nautical décor in addition to the necessities for her career. The vibrant colors were a stark contrast to the darkness of Midnight Hollow, but at this point, Jillian didn’t give a shit.<br />
<br />
Isaiah seemed to be oblivious to her heightened work ethic. But that was probably because he’d decided to make a career change of his own. Being a vampire, he had a lot of advantages when it came to treating and helping people. So he’d made the decision to earn his doctorate. Unbeknownst to Jillian, and all their other friends, he’d already earned a degree at the university in Dragon Valley not long before he’d turned into a vampire. The degree was still valid since supernatural creatures were no longer in hiding, and Jillian was glad that he’d found something to occupy his time to keep him from figuring out her secret agenda.<br />
<br />
It was as she was stitching up the hem of a new dress that her cell phone rang, and Jillian’s heart skipped a beat when she saw that it was Austin. Cautious not to sound too eager, she put the needle back by her sewing machine and answered the phone with a nonchalant, “Hi, Austin.”<br />
<br />
“Jill, I’ve got some news for you.”<br />
<br />
“Okay.”<br />
<br />
“It’s not one hundred percent yet, but I think we’ve got the cure pretty much figured out.”<br />
<br />
“Really?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah. We’ve tested it out on several of our vampire subjects here, and they all turned back into humans. Now granted, it took some getting used to, considering their bodies are vastly different now, but so far, it’s been pronounced a success. We’re almost ready for outside testing.”<br />
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<br />
Jillian felt like jumping up and down. It sounded too good to be true. At last, she’d be human again! She’d be able to go outside and soak up the sun without having to resemble a glitter factory, and without any discomfort or burning at all! She could hardly wait.<br />
<br />
Austin arranged for Jillian and Isaiah to be outside test subjects, mostly to silence Jillian’s beseeching on the matter. At this point, she was so close, that if something vile were to happen to her, she wouldn’t care.<br />
<br />
Isaiah heard her shrieks of excitement and burst into the room, his expression concerned.<br />
<br />
“What is it?” he inquired.<br />
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<br />
“Isaiah,” she gasped eagerly, “do you still wish you could be human?”<br />
<br />
“What in the name of the creator kind of question is that?”<br />
<br />
“Look, don’t be mad, but when I said I was going to Appaloosa Plains a few months ago to get pictures and inspiration for a new fashion line, it wasn’t the whole truth.”<br />
<br />
“Oh?”<br />
<br />
“I, uh…my birthday’s in two months. And I know what I want as a present.”<br />
<br />
“And you went to Appaloosa Plains to get it?”<br />
<br />
“Not exactly. I mean, yes, kind of. But…what I actually did was go see Austin and ask him to come up with it.”<br />
<br />
“Jillian, you’re not making any sense.”<br />
<br />
“Here, sit down.”<br />
<br />
Jillian led Isaiah to a nearby table and they sat down, Isaiah’s hand on Jillian’s. She was suddenly paranoid of what her boyfriend would have to say about this. But this was what he wanted, right?<br />
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<br />
So finally, taking a deep breath, she plunged ahead. “I love you. You know that. But you also know that I’ve always loved the beach and the sun. I’m grateful that we have a vampiric sunscreen to help us adapt to the sun, but living here in the shadows…it’s just…it’s not for me, Isaiah. And I know you don’t like it, either. We’re only living here as an extra means of protection for me. But I miss so much. I miss going to the beach and spreading out a towel, then laying on it while I listen to the waves crashing. Even with the special sunscreen, if I miss one spot on my skin, that one spot just tortures me if I’m out in the sun for more than a few minutes. And then the whole diet thing. Plasma fruit and juice aren’t that appealing, I worry about losing control around humans, and I miss my human food actually tasting good to me. And I miss my family, since they’ll hardly look at me like this. I can’t live like that anymore. It’s not who I am. So for my birthday…”<br />
<br />
“You want to be human again?”<br />
<br />
“Yes…”<br />
<br />
Isaiah held Jillian’s hand tightly. “Dear, I want to give you anything you want. I have the means and the money and resources to give you almost anything. But what you’re asking is impossible.”<br />
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<br />
Jillian shook her head. “No, I’m not done. I told you I went to see Austin. He’s one of the smartest people I know, if not <i>the</i> smartest. He helped come up with that vampiric sunscreen. So I asked him to go a step further. I asked him to find a cure.”<br />
<br />
“A <i>what</i>?! A cure for vampirism? Jillian, that’s impossible!”<br />
<br />
“That’s what he said. Until he just called me and told me that it’s nearly done, it’s been tested on several subjects, and it works.”<br />
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<br />
Isaiah looked genuinely bewildered. He clearly hadn’t anticipated this news, but at the same time, he did show a sign of relief as he gazed back into Jillian’s eyes.<br />
<br />
“I appreciate you saving my life,” she added before he could say anything, “and I would have been okay with living out the rest of eternity as a vampire with you. But, if there was even a chance of being human again, especially if we both want it, I was going to take it.”<br />
<br />
“I should thank you, actually. I do miss being human. I don’t want to spend eternity watching my friends and those I care about deeply just grow old and die. Even if you were with me, I know it would have been painful for you, too.”<br />
<br />
“So…you’re willing to go to Appaloosa Plains and test it out with me? Austin said it’s almost ready for us to be outside experiments.”<br />
<br />
Isaiah surprised Jillian by scooting closer to her, staring at her with nothing but seriousness and affection in his eyes, and replied, “Hell, yeah.”<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-3-cure.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-5-risks.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-2017154205902113252015-06-10T17:19:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:53:18.001-06:00Part 3 - The CureA week passed, and Austin seemed to be no closer to finding a cure for vampirism. Jillian talked with Isaiah daily, but she hated having to lie to him.<br />
<br />
In truth, she didn’t only want the cure for herself. She also wanted it for her mate. Isaiah had never wanted to be a vampire, but the two wanted to be together for eternity. A cure for vampirism would allow them to do that, but in the normal way they desired. She thought it would be a nice surprise for Isaiah, whether for his birthday or their anniversary.<br />
<br />
She only wished it wasn’t taking so long.<br />
<br />
She’d told herself that she would be patient. She’d convinced herself to believe that all things come to those that wait. But though it had only been a week since Austin had agreed to help her, she found herself growing more anxious every day. She was cooped up in her hotel room, staying out of the scorching sun, chatting online to her friends (though she would eventually have to leave and feign an interview with a model so Isaiah didn’t get suspicious as to why she was on the computer for hours).<br />
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<br />
Finally, succumbing to her case of cabin fever, Jillian moved the laptop aside and got off the bed. She looked outside the hotel’s sliding glass door onto the balcony. The sun seemed to be beckoning to her, inviting her to feel its warmth. She took a deep breath and pushed the glass door aside before stepping out into the beam.<br />
<br />
It wasn’t summer yet, but it was coming. Appaloosa Plains didn’t get the kind of heat and humidity that Riverview got, and not even as bad as Sunset Valley. But at least the sun made an appearance here unlike Midnight Hollow.<br />
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<br />
It wasn’t bad. Vampires could endure short periods of time in the sun without their special sunscreen before the burning began. Unfortunately for Jillian, that feeling was beginning already.<br />
<br />
Barely outside for ten minutes, and already she felt like her skin was on fire. And the only exposed skin was her stomach, hands, neck, and face. Everything else was covered. The scorching sensation and the scent of singeing skin made her wrinkle her nose in disgust. She tried, oh how she tried, to fight against it, to be stronger than the sun that she loved so much. But it wasn’t to be. The pain was too intense. She finally dashed back inside, huddling against the wall and grasping her temples in an attempt to ease the agony.<br />
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<br />
She was about to break down and cry, regardless of how silly she might feel for doing so, when her phone rang. When she saw that it was Austin calling her, she swiped it up with an eager, “Hello?”<br />
<br />
“Jillian,” Austin said slowly, “I know you’re anxious, but this is going to take some time.”<br />
<br />
“I know that.”<br />
<br />
“Well, I’m trying to tell you that it’ll take a lot more time than you think. More time than it would take for your cover story to be believable. I think your best bet is to go on back home. I promise I’ll keep you informed. I did catch a new lead, but nothing is for certain yet.”<br />
<br />
“But…I thought you’d need me to experiment with to make sure it worked.”<br />
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<br />
Austin audibly sighed. Maybe he didn’t think it was so easily heard, but Jillian did have her superior sense of hearing. But she said nothing, not wanting to push her luck.<br />
<br />
When he spoke at last, he sounded patient but also almost afraid of how Jillian might react.<br />
<br />
“I have to create something in order to experiment with it, and I wouldn’t be comfortable using it on one of my best friends,” he said. “We have plenty of vampires at the science facility, many of whom are employed for the sole purpose of testing specific drugs and other concoctions to determine the side effects. Let them do the leg work, and when – and if – it’s ever perfected, I’ll let you know. You have my word. But please understand that what you’re asking is very difficult, and I do have other projects that need my immediate attention.”<br />
<br />
“Okay. I get it. I’ll hold you to your promise, Austin. Thanks.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Jillian hung up the phone and surveyed the hotel room. She knew that Austin was right. She’d been inane to think that such an invention would take a week or less to produce. So with some reluctance, she began packing her suitcase, and after checking out of the hotel, she took some scenic photos for good measure to show to Isaiah, who she then called and informed she was coming home.<br />
<br />
Much as she wanted this, she reminded herself that this cure was as much for Isaiah as it was for herself. Isaiah had never wanted to be a vampire, and he’d often spoken of what it would have been like had he never been turned. Sure, they never would have met, but he would have been happy. And Jillian herself would never have been a vampire, either, she was sure.<br />
<br />
As much time as it took, she knew that Austin wouldn’t disappoint her. He’d said that he had a lead, so that was a good sign. She wouldn’t inform anyone of her deviousness yet, but she knew, she just knew, that someday, somehow, she would be human again.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-2-request.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-4-ties-that-bind.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-91711525459505699762015-06-07T11:22:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:52:48.018-06:00Part 2 - The RequestAustin was speechless. He genuinely didn’t know what to say. This was the last thing he’d expected to hear.<br />
<br />
“Excuse me?” he said.<br />
<br />
“Yeah. I want…no, I <i>need</i> a cure.”<br />
<br />
“But…why?”<br />
<br />
“Because I can’t live like this anymore. I don’t want to be a vampire anymore.”<br />
<br />
“But why come to me?”<br />
<br />
“Because you helped come up with vampiric sunscreen. And you’re the only one I can trust to tell this to.”<br />
<br />
“Jillian, I don’t think you understand. This isn’t something that can be done overnight. It was hard enough coming up with a vampiric sunscreen. That just allows vampires to adapt. A cure? Reversing the entire process? I don’t know how I could begin.”<br />
<br />
“You’re the smartest person I’ve ever known, and if I live another thousand years, I’m sure no one else would ever come close.”<br />
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<br />
“Austin?” came a voice from inside. “Who’s at the door?”<br />
<br />
“It’s Jillian,” Austin replied to his wife. Cheyenne emerged from another room, holding young Mason in her arms. Fear flashed in her eyes. Another reason for Jillian’s decision.<br />
<br />
“Jillian,” she said tentatively, “hey.”<br />
<br />
“I know, I can’t come in. And I don’t want to. I just needed to ask Austin something.”<br />
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<br />
Cheyenne, since giving birth to Mason, had become very overprotective. She still valued Jillian’s friendship, and that of her other supernatural friends, but she feared for her son’s safety. So she’d talked Paige and her coven into sealing the Crowley house, thus preventing any supernatural creature from entry without an invitation. She seemed to fear Jillian the most because she was a newly turned vampire who didn’t have as much practice controlling her bloodlust as Isaiah.<br />
<br />
“Well, it’s nice to see you again,” Cheyenne continued as she held Mason closer to her chest.<br />
<br />
“You too,” Jillian replied as she offered a smile. That was a mistake, as it showed her fangs, causing Cheyenne to take a step back and retreat into the room she’d previously vacated. Jillian, with her improved hearing, heard her feet climbing stairs from somewhere else in the house.<br />
<br />
“I’m sorry,” she told Austin. “I didn’t mean to upset her.”<br />
<br />
“I know. She’s just…a mother. Giving into her maternal instincts.”<br />
<br />
“But you seem to have no problem.”<br />
<br />
“I’ve known you longer. I trust you.”<br />
<br />
“But she doesn’t.”<br />
<br />
“It’s not that. She’s just being cautious.”<br />
<br />
“And this is yet another reason why I need a cure.”<br />
<br />
“Jillian…”<br />
<br />
“Just try. Please. Just promise me you’ll try. I’ll do anything. I’ll give you anything you need. Blood samples, whatever. Please. I’m begging you.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Austin seemed to ponder this. He furrowed his brow, but at last he acceded.<br />
<br />
“I’ll do what I can,” he said. “But I’m not promising anything; not when it will be done, not if it will ever be done, and not if it will work. All I’m saying is that I’ll do my best.”<br />
<br />
“Thank you.”<br />
<br />
Austin nodded and turned around to look back inside the house, undoubtedly searching for his wife. Jillian took this as her sign to go. She was staying in a hotel, as she’d told Isaiah she would, since she planned to stay at least a few days. Austin would tell her what he needed, and she would supply it with no qualms.<br />
<br />
When she arrived at the hotel, she flopped down onto the bed to think. It was true, she and Isaiah had talked about her becoming a vampire. And she’d really wanted that to happen. She wanted to be with Isaiah for eternity, and she knew that he would live forever while she kept getting older and decrepit.<br />
<br />
At first, it wasn’t so bad. Isaiah had taught her well, and she was able to sustain herself with plasma juice and fruit. She’d never bitten or fed from a human or any other creature, and she intended to keep it that way.<br />
<br />
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<br />
But as the months dragged on, Jillian found herself in a state of perpetual melancholy. Try as she might, she just couldn’t shake it. The excitement of being reborn as a creature that lived forever had worn off. Her own parents had basically disowned her, as they never liked the idea of her dating a vampire in the first place, much less becoming one. Kenzie had mentioned that Liza and Oliver had been somewhat cold to her when they’d come to be with Savannah after her miscarriage. Now it made sense – they partially blamed her for introducing Isaiah to Jillian, even though in fact they’d met on their own.<br />
<br />
Plus, Jillian desperately missed the sun. She loved the beach and feeling the sun on her face, but she couldn’t do that anymore. Yes, thanks to Austin, there was now vampiric sunscreen, but it just wasn’t the same. She rarely needed sunscreen at all as a human; now, whenever she wanted to go outside in a sunny environment, even for a casual stroll, she had to lather up on stuff that made her resemble a disco ball.<br />
<br />
And those sunny environments were few and far between. Midnight Hollow was always shrouded in darkness, the sun never shining, which made the entire ambiance very dismal. Everyone who lived there was eccentric, and not in a way she found enticing. She was all for people being who they wanted to be, but this place just didn’t seem to fit her persona.<br />
<br />
But she couldn’t very well tell Isaiah that. He’d be heartbroken. And Kenzie would be devastated. She felt guilty enough already; dropping this bombshell on her would probably destroy her. She already blamed herself for what happened to Jillian, so admitting the truth would only make her feel worse.<br />
<br />
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<br />
But Jillian admitted the truth to herself at long last. She hated being a vampire. It was intriguing at first, and she still wanted to be with Isaiah forever. But the never-ending bloodlust and the impossibility of quenching it, plus not being able to go out into the sun as a normal person anymore…it was too much of a burden. Her dream had been Sunlit Tides. She’d been on the brink of making her home there, when she’d been turned. Her career hadn’t suffered any, but she felt that she lacked inspiration and the same passion that she had before.<br />
<br />
Jillian thought of her upcoming summer birthday. It was official – the only present she wanted was to be able to enjoy the sun. She wanted to be human again.<br />
<br />
But she couldn’t talk to Kenzie about this, nor Isaiah. But she did know of one person she could talk to, the only person who might be able to help. The smartest person she’d ever known, and the one who’d helped develop vampiric sunscreen. And that was Austin. Which was why she’d come to see him.<br />
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<br />
And therein laid another conundrum. Cheyenne’s apprehension at seeing her tonight proved what she feared – she was frightening, even to her friends. She was missing out on seeing two of her best friends and their child because of something that had happened to her out of her control, something she no longer desired. And it was time to change that.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-1-bombshell.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-3-cure.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-57857279902399786122015-06-03T19:52:00.000-05:002018-10-15T19:38:35.219-05:00Part 1 - The BombshellKenzie Howell heaved over the side of the toilet bowl at the house she now shared with Hayden in Moonlight Falls. She was so tired of praying to the porcelain god, but it seemed like that’s all she’d been doing for the past several weeks.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“Are you okay?” Hayden inquired from the other side of the closed door.<br />
<br />
“Uh huh,” Kenzie groaned as she caught her breath, stood up, and flushed the toilet. She quickly made her way to the sink and washed her mouth out.<br />
<br />
“It doesn’t sound okay,” Hayden persisted. Kenzie closed her eyes and tried not to let him hear her groan. That would only make him more worried than he already was. And she was scared enough for the both of them.<br />
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<br />
When she finally emerged, Hayden was looking at her questioningly.<br />
<br />
“I’m okay,” she tried to reassure him.<br />
<br />
“You’ve been getting sick a lot lately,” he observed. “What’s going on?”<br />
<br />
“I honestly don’t know.”<br />
<br />
“My first thought was it was something you ate, but it’s been weeks now, hasn’t it?”<br />
<br />
“Hayden, I’m fine. Maybe it’s just the flu.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Hayden wrapped his arms around Kenzie consolably and she gratefully fell into them. He felt so helpless when his mate, the woman he loved more than life itself, was suffering in any way and there was nothing he could do to help.<br />
<br />
Suddenly, Kenzie’s cell phone rang. Her caller ID indicated that it was her best friend, Jillian. She answered it with a friendly, “Why, hello, there.”<br />
<br />
“Hey, girl!” Jillian’s chipper voice sounded on the other end of the line. “What’s up? How are you adjusting to life in Moonlight Falls?”<br />
<br />
“Pretty good,” Kenzie replied. “I’m still working on trying to sell the house in Riverview. I got an appraiser to give me an estimate on what it’s worth, so hopefully I’ll get enough out of it that we can build onto this place.”<br />
<br />
“Build on? Why?”<br />
<br />
“Hayden thinks I need an office, and it’s not the worst idea for him to have one, too.”<br />
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<br />
“Well,” Jillian replied, “it probably would come in handy to have an extra room just for your work.”<br />
<br />
“Are you speaking from experience?”<br />
<br />
“I suppose. Isaiah’s dad’s manor has a lot of extra rooms we don’t need, considering it was built for him and his brothers. We converted the entire attic into a studio for me, but before that, we turned one of the spare bedrooms into a design studio, and another one into a sewing room.”<br />
<br />
“You can sew?”<br />
<br />
“I can now. It’s pretty necessary to know at least some stitchery if you’re running your own fashion business.”<br />
<br />
“So…you’re still doing okay in Midnight Hollow?”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Jillian blew a raspberry into the phone. “Of course I am! Ken, I really wish you’d quit worrying about that. So I’m a vampire. Big deal. I have eternity to make a name for myself in the fashion industry, and to spend it with the guy I love.”<br />
<br />
“I’m glad. I really am, Jill.”<br />
<br />
“Good. I have to let you go, now, though. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”<br />
<br />
“Thanks. I’ll talk to you later.”<br />
<br />
“Later!”<br />
<br />
*********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
Jillian hung up her cell phone and put it back on the passenger seat of her car. Kenzie didn’t know it, but she wasn’t at home in Midnight Hollow. She was making her way to Appaloosa Plains, completely lathered up in vampiric sunscreen.<br />
<br />
She did feel guilty that she’d fibbed to Isaiah in order to let her go alone. Her story was that she was preparing for a photo shoot with a western theme for some new outfit designs, and it would be better to see the town during the day than at night. She would do that while she was there, but her primary reason for the journey was something else.<br />
<br />
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<br />
She’d called Kenzie essentially to confirm her suspicions. And Kenzie’s masked distraught had done just that. She knew what she wanted and what she had to do. She only hoped it would work.<br />
<br />
But Jillian had something else on her mind. Kenzie was a detective, a trained observer in areas including body language and voice tone. She hoped she’d sounded convincing to her friend, who was still riddled with guilt over something that wasn’t her fault. Just because she was the one who’d been with Isaiah when his mother was killed, Kenzie thought that she should have been the one in Jillian’s position now.<br />
<br />
At last, Jillian arrived at her destination. She hoped her uninvited and unannounced arrival wouldn’t cause any upset.<br />
<br />
Jillian parked her car and made her way to the front porch of the spacious house. Austin was doing very well for himself, having been one of the scientists to develop vampiric sunscreen. There was a major demand for the stuff, and it was considered one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs in history.<br />
<br />
That was the basis for Jillian’s visit. That, and the fact that Austin was the smartest person she’d ever known.<br />
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<br />
After she ascended the steps, Jillian took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. Since it was Saturday, everyone should hopefully be home. In a matter of moments, the door opened and Jillian found herself face-to-face with Austin Crowley.<br />
<br />
“Jillian?” he asked, as though unable to believe his eyes. “Hi.”<br />
<br />
“Hey.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
The situation was growing awkward quickly since they were both standing there in silence. She might as well drop the bombshell now before she lost her nerve.<br />
<br />
“Austin, this isn’t exactly a social call. I need to ask you a favor.”<br />
<br />
“Okay…”<br />
<br />
“I need you to help me. It’s about this whole vampire thing.”<br />
<br />
“You need some vampiric sunscreen? Why come directly to me? I don’t supply it.”<br />
<br />
“No, Austin. I don’t want the sunscreen. I want a cure.”<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-reversion.html">Part List</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-2-request.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-87282392555152155892015-05-31T21:27:00.000-05:002015-06-21T11:39:30.965-05:00The ReversionWARNING: This story has a rating of PG-13. It contains a lot of references to things like woohoo, language, violence, and the like.<br />
<br />
Also, this is NOT meant to be so similar to other stories seen on TV and in movies. I've had this written for months but was waiting to share it, and I noticed several similarities between it and certain TV shows and movies, particularly ones that recently showed their season finales. Totally accidental!<br />
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<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
It's said that one can't turn back the hands of time. Or can they? Kenzie Howell's best friend Jillian Swansen makes a decision to tempt fate and change her life, even more so than when she became a vampire. The question is, will she succeed? And if she does, what will become of her and Isaiah?<br />
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<b><u>Parts:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-1-bombshell.html">Part 1 - The Bombshell</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-2-request.html">Part 2 - The Request</a><br />
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<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-3-cure.html">Part 3 - The Cure</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-4-ties-that-bind.html">Part 4 - The Ties That Bind</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-5-risks.html">Part 5 - The Risks</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/06/part-6-sire.html">Part 6 - The Sire</a>Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-58399956823612512302015-03-11T19:36:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:51:16.813-06:00Part 6 - The Greatest Mystery“What kind of a question is that?” Kenzie’s father asked on the other end of the line.<br />
<br />
“Just…well, I’ve got all these supernatural friends, and they got to talking about how their family had supernatural creatures, and how it’s possible that some supernatural genes can skip generations...”<br />
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<br />
It probably wasn’t the most subtle approach, coming right out and asking her parents bluntly if they knew of any history of witches in the family tree. Plus, she had two sides to climb – her mother’s and her father’s. And neither one of them seemed to know anything.<br />
<br />
“Right,” Russ continued. “There’s nothing you won’t investigate, is there?”<br />
<br />
“Not really, no.”<br />
<br />
Her dad chuckled. “Okay, well, I sure as heck don’t remember anything, and neither does your mom. But we’ve got our old family photo albums, and I did that genealogy thing a few years ago, when that long-lost cousin called. You’re welcome to look through those.”<br />
<br />
“Thanks. It’ll be a start, anyway.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie hung up and made her way to her parents’ house. Sage had greeted her warmly when she’d returned, though she could sense that something was amiss. But her feelings didn’t seem to have altered since her master had been bitten.<br />
<br />
Regardless of what the case may be with her blood and soul, Kenzie’s feelings toward her loyal companion didn’t change, either. She still loved Sage deeply, just as she loved her family and friends.<br />
<br />
She was just confused and determined to know the truth, or at least get as close to it as possible.<br />
<br />
When she arrived at the house just down the street, she was greeted by Flossy, her parents’ dachshund.<br />
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<br />
“Kenzie,” her mother said as her daughter stood up from the giddy yapping pooch, “your dad’s bringing his research up from the basement, but I need to ask you – why the sudden interest in possible supernatural creatures being in the family?”<br />
<br />
“Like I told Dad, I’m just curious since I have all these supernatural friends.”<br />
<br />
“There’s more to it than that. I can tell.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie sighed. “Fine,” she acceded. “Paige mentioned a while back that it was so uncanny how I have a pet dog that’s essentially a genius, and half wolf besides. Wolves were common familiars of witches, next to cats. And then there’s the question of why I’m so interested in wolves. I don’t even remember when I began liking them, so it makes me wonder if there’s something else at work.”<br />
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<br />
Before Constance could reply, Russ came upstairs, dragging a large box.<br />
<br />
“Here you go,” he announced as he set it down. “Here’s everything I dug up during that genealogy project, plus some of my old personal albums and contributions from other family members. Whatever you’re investigating, I’m sure you’ll get to the bottom of it.”<br />
<br />
“Thanks, Dad. You didn’t have to drag it all the way up here, though. I could have just looked at it downstairs.”<br />
<br />
“I figured you may want to take it home with you.”<br />
<br />
“Well, I guess I could. I don’t know how much research I’ll have to do.”<br />
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<br />
Her dad chuckled while Constance seemed dubious. But Kenzie didn’t have time to speculate what could have been behind her mother’s look. She picked up the box and headed back home with it.<br />
<br />
Once there, she wasn’t entirely sure where to begin. Her father wasn’t one to keep things in any particular order, and family photo albums were no exception. They were dated, and some papers were placed into folders labeled Genealogy, but that was about it. Everything seemed to be scattered one way or the other, tossed haphazardly into the box.<br />
<br />
Until she opened a folder buried at the bottom of the box, almost as though it had been the least interesting file, and a yellowed newspaper clipping fluttered out. Furrowing her brow, she picked it up and scanned the contents.<br />
<br />
The article was very old, its paper brittle and nearly crumbling at Kenzie’s soft touch. There was an equally old picture of a family paper-clipped to the article. There was a man and woman, who Kenzie ascertained to be the parents, and two girls, one a teenager and one a child. A sticky note on the back depicted them as being Phinius, Rosagunde, Gwendolyn, and Davina Howell.<br />
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<br />
Kenzie laid the picture aside and scoured the newspaper article. It spoke of the Howell family, the four in the sepia picture, and rumors of the eldest daughter, Gwendolyn, practicing witchcraft. Based on the age of the paper and photo, plus the attire worn by the family members, Kenzie guessed that this article had been written during the infamous witch trials in the 1600s. Hundreds of people, men and women alike, and even some children, had been accused of being witches and tortured and killed for crimes they didn’t commit.<br />
<br />
At least, that was Kenzie’s opinion. She’d studied the trials in school but never outside of the classroom. Now she was beginning to wish she’d looked into them more. Plus, when she’d been at school, supernatural creatures were living in isolation. Everything about witchcraft back then was speculation that innocent mortals had paid the price for something they hadn’t done. Could it be that the accused witches were, in fact, the very creatures they were accused of being?<br />
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<br />
Continuing to read the article, she learned that Gwendolyn had had a child out of wedlock, a very big no-no for that time period. That was reason enough for the town to turn on her. As for where her child went, no one seemed to know. Or they didn’t care; their biggest concern was burning the “witch.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie found it odd that her father never mentioned this to her. Of course, she’d never taken much interest in genealogy before. Plus, this folder was buried at the bottom, so he probably thought it was all ludicrous. Still, had this girl actually been a witch? Had she been killed for being what she truly was, or was she an innocent, misunderstood young woman who’d died at the hands of a judgmental town?<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, it seemed like Kenzie would never know that, for she didn’t find any other mention of this family in her father’s files. So she took to the Internet instead.<br />
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<br />
Sage watched her master questioningly as she searched relentlessly for information. She didn’t know how reliable her online sources were on a subject that happened so long ago, but there were a few more mentions of the family in question on a few different sites.<br />
<br />
One even stated that both Gwendolyn and her younger sister, Davina, were witches, and many villagers had witnessed them performing magic and chanting indecipherable words, all while other worldly things occurred. When Gwendolyn was burned for her crimes, Davina had simply vanished. No one knew where she went, nor did anyone know what became of Gwendolyn’s child. Phinius and Rosagunde, however, were also killed, not so much for being witches but for bringing them into the world.<br />
<br />
Kenzie was so absorbed in this information that the shrill sound of her phone receiving a text message startled her to the point of making her jump, nearly toppling out of her chair. She saw that it was only Hayden, checking up on her. She stood up and sent a reply.<br />
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<br />
WolfKen: Finding out some interesting stuff about my family. Looks like witches did exist on my dad’s side. Crazy.<br />
<br />
LoneWolf: Any news on the wolf part?<br />
<br />
WolfKen: Not yet, but I almost wonder if that was on my mom’s side. In fact, she seemed really concerned about why I was digging into this. Maybe I should go pay them another visit.<br />
<br />
LoneWolf: Or Isaiah could be right.<br />
<br />
WolfKen: Yeah, I guess. I think I better go talk to them again.<br />
<br />
As soon as Kenzie sent that last message, she promptly made her way back over to her parents’ house, throwing off her coat as soon as she stepped in the door. They were surprised to see her return so quickly, but Kenzie wasn’t worried about that. Her visit had a more imperative purpose.<br />
<br />
Everyone sat down in the living room and Kenzie relayed all that she’d discovered in a few short hours.<br />
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<br />
“Dad,” she concluded, “why didn’t you mention the witchcraft portion of our family history before?”<br />
<br />
“Truthfully,” Russ replied, “I forgot about that part. All that research was done before the supernatural creatures revealed themselves, so I thought it was all a crock. I just threw it into that box and didn’t give it a second thought.”<br />
<br />
“Well, the little girl, Davina, and Gwendolyn’s kid just vanished. If they went on to live normal lives and had kids of their own, they could have all been born with the witch gene. After so long, maybe it died out, but now, it could have skipped down to me when I was born. It skipped over you, Dad, and all your brothers, and your own parents, but who knows where it ended before it hit me?”<br />
<br />
“Are you suggesting that you’re a witch?” her mother asked in horror.<br />
<br />
“No. I’m suggesting that I’m half witch, half human, and half…something else. Which brings me to you, Mom. Why were you so worried about me digging into possible supernatural things in our family? Does something run on your side?”<br />
<br />
“Absolutely not!”<br />
<br />
“How do you know? Dad didn’t know, or at least he didn’t think anything of it, until now.”<br />
<br />
“It wasn’t the supernatural portion that I was afraid of you researching. Kenzie, there’s something we’ve never told you, but I guess now we might as well. The way your father organizes things, I figured he threw the doctor’s report in the box, too.”<br />
<br />
“What doctor’s report?”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Constance sighed. “There is a history of something in my family,” she said at least, “but it’s nothing supernatural.”<br />
<br />
“Then what is it?”<br />
<br />
“Twins.”<br />
<br />
“Twins? Okay…you don’t have a twin, none of your siblings have twins, your parents…”<br />
<br />
“It usually skips a couple of generations, too. Like the witch gene you’re talking about. But in this case, when I was pregnant with you, I was supposed to have twins. They kept showing up on sonograms and everything.”<br />
<br />
“Wha…? I was supposed to be a twin?”<br />
<br />
“You would have been, but one day the sonogram just didn’t show the other baby. The doctor said it was very common that sometimes one twin is absorbed into the other. It usually happens earlier in the pregnancy than it did with you, but it was perfectly normal. You were born just fine, healthy as could be, and we thought that was the end of it.”<br />
<br />
“The end of it?” Kenzie hissed, angry now. “I was supposed to be a twin, and in twenty-seven years, you never thought to mention that to me once?!”<br />
<br />
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<br />
“Kenzie, calm down,” Russ said as his daughter stood up. “This is why we didn’t tell you. We knew you’d blame yourself. It’s not your fault.”<br />
<br />
“And,” Constance interjected, “you’re not alone. I was supposed to be a twin, too, but the same thing happened to me. I absorbed my twin before I was born. I don’t know why, but I guess it’s like mother, like daughter.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie was about to blast something back in retaliation, but she realized that her father was right. She’d blamed herself for inadvertently killing her twin sibling in their mother’s womb, even though she didn’t know she did it. For all she knew, she didn’t do it and it just happened naturally. Much like her mother.<br />
<br />
Funny, she’d always wanted a younger sister as a child. She’d had no idea that she was originally meant to be a twin.<br />
<br />
She didn’t press the issue. She had a quick dinner with her parents, the subject was dropped, and she returned home to tell Hayden.<br />
<br />
“Well, now it makes sense,” he declared when she told him what she’d discovered.<br />
<br />
“What?” she inquired. “What makes sense, and how could it possibly make sense?”<br />
<br />
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<br />
“Well,” Hayden explained, “if there were witches in your family like you said, and the gene skipped several generations to you, you would have been born as a half human, half witch. But your twin, on the other hand, could have been the reincarnation of the werewolf Isaiah mentioned. When you absorbed your twin, you absorbed that blood, too. Hence why you were born with all three blood types in your system – the dominant human blood from your parents, the witch blood from your ancestors, and the werewolf blood, which contributes to your love of wolves. I don’t know about the appearance, but you do resemble your dad.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, and Paige said that reincarnations don’t necessarily have to look like their ‘original’ or whatever you want to call it. I look like my dad did when he was my age, except my hair isn’t getting darker like his. There’s no doubt that I’m still their daughter.”<br />
<br />
“Exactly. And it doesn’t matter to me. I love you either way, and I always will. You are you, and no one else.”<br />
<br />
“Thanks, Hayden. I love you, too.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
At last, Kenzie said goodnight to Hayden and hung up. As she showered and later crawled into bed that night, her head was spinning. She’d discovered so much about herself in just a short period of time, and yet, it felt good to at least have part of this mystery solved.<br />
<br />
There was no solid proof that her theory was correct, however. But at least it was a start.<br />
<br />
Plus, there was still the fact that, despite having both werewolf and witch blood in her body, she didn’t possess any advantages of either, like superior senses or magical abilities. But on the plus side, she didn’t have any of the bad parts, either. And really, it wasn’t so bad. She was safe, happy, healthy, and alive. That was the most important thing.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Some questions were left unanswered regarding her family tree, but Kenzie was determined to solve them one day. Maybe she’d eventually discover what became of Gwendolyn’s child and of Davina. Maybe that would further pave her toward the absolute certainty that her theory was correct.<br />
<br />
She’d solved several mysteries in her lifetime, but now she knew of one thing for certain – the greatest mystery, one that might be completely unsolvable, was the one inside yourself.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE END</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-5-new-breed.html">Previous Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-60710930284281246012015-03-08T11:09:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:50:50.986-06:00Part 5 - The New BreedLucky Palms was a few hours away from Moonlight Falls. It was warmer there, but Kenzie wasn’t as thrilled about the preferable weather as she would have been under better circumstances. She was going to Lucky Palms with Hayden to get blood drawn by a witch coven to determine why she didn’t transform into a werewolf after being bitten by one, and why the wound had healed so quickly.<br />
<br />
When did her life become a supernatural science fiction novel?<br />
<br />
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<br />
“So, what exactly is this ritual for?” she asked as they drove. “What is their theory?”<br />
<br />
“Well, it didn’t make a lot of sense to me. It was pretty vague in terms of explanation. I think it’ll be better to let the coven explain it to you.”<br />
<br />
“Hayden, I know you know something. Spill it.”<br />
<br />
Hayden sighed. “Basically, like I said, there’s no way that wound could have healed so fast unless you had some sort of supernatural blood in your system that caused rapid healing. And the only supernatural creatures that can do that are vampires and werewolves. But obviously, you’re not either. So they’re going to test all of our blood to see if yours bonds with any of them.”<br />
<br />
“Uh…okay…”<br />
<br />
“I know, it sounds complex. But we’ll be at Paige’s house soon, so she can explain it to you then.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie leaned back against the seat. She’d solved countless cases and unraveled many mysteries. But now, her greatest one, the one that she may be unable to solve, was about herself.<br />
<br />
They arrived at Paige’s house shortly thereafter, as Hayden had said. Kenzie had only been to her witch friend’s house once, and that had been after helping Jillian’s younger sister recover from a near-fatal drug overdose. Too bad this situation wasn’t much better.<br />
<br />
Isaiah’s car was already there. Hayden pulled his car in behind it and they both sauntered to the door and rang the bell. Paige answered it quickly and gave her friend a reassuring hug. Then, she led them into the living room.<br />
<br />
“We could use my hidden room with all my spell books and things,” she said, “but there’s more room in here.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie saw Jillian, who was at her side in literally an instant thanks to her superior speed. She wrapped her arms around her, and Kenzie almost felt crushed. Her best friend’s strength was still new to her, and Jillian herself was probably still getting used to it. But she appreciated the gesture.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Jillian said as she released Kenzie.<br />
<br />
“I don’t know that I am,” Kenzie replied, forlorn.<br />
<br />
“You will be,” Hayden insisted.<br />
<br />
“Everyone calm down,” Paige instructed as Erika came into the room. “Kenzie, now that you’re here, we can begin. Sasha and Miranda are at work today, at their ‘regular’ jobs, so that’s why they’re not here. But we should be okay without them. First, I’ll let Erika explain what’s going to happen.”<br />
<br />
“It’s simpler than it sounds,” Erika explained. “A long time ago, back in the Renaissance period, my family had something unique happen. They documented it, and it’s been passed down through the generations, but it hasn’t happened again. A witch from my family married a vampire, and they had a baby. That baby had witch and vampire blood, so it was a hybrid. The only one of its kind, but when he had a child of his own with his witch wife, their baby was a witch. The hybrid lineage died out after that. As you know, there’s a fifty percent chance of a baby being born a witch if one of its parents is a witch. The witch gene was more dominant in my family, and that’s why we were all born with our powers.”<br />
<br />
“Okay…I don’t see where you’re going with this.”<br />
<br />
“Are there any werewolves in your family tree?”<br />
<br />
“Uh…I have no idea. My parents are human, my grandparents were human, I don’t remember my great-grandparents, and all my aunts and uncles are human…I highly doubt it.”<br />
<br />
“Well, this ritual is going to find out for sure what’s in your blood. And actually, Paige and I both thought of something else to try while you were on your way here.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie perused the room. She was getting as nervous as she’d been when she was supposed to have transformed.<br />
<br />
“What is it?” she asked tentatively.<br />
<br />
“Well,” Paige explained, “you’re aware of the old history between vampires and werewolves, right? They were arch enemies, and a werewolf bite can kill a vampire. But a werewolf’s blood tastes putrid to vampires. That’s part of the reason werewolves are considered stronger and more capable of taking down vampires.”<br />
<br />
“Hey, now,” Isaiah began.<br />
<br />
“No offense intended, Isaiah. It’s just one of those old legends, and it makes sense to us. But that’s not the point. The point is, Kenzie was bitten by a werewolf, but the wound healed fast and she didn’t transform into one. If she’s willing, we want to have one of her vampire friends taste just a small sample of her blood. If it tastes bad, we’ll definitely know something’s amiss. Vampires love human blood, but not werewolf blood.”<br />
<br />
“Hell, no!” Hayden roared. “You are <i>not</i> going to draw my girlfriend’s blood and feed it to a damn vampire, even if they’re our friends!”<br />
<br />
“Hayden,” Kenzie began.<br />
<br />
“No. Don’t even think about it. No way in hell!”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie sighed inwardly. She knew that Hayden was only trying to protect her. But he also knew her and how stubborn she was, especially when it came to solving enigmas. And this one was about herself and who – or what – she truly was.<br />
<br />
“I want to do it, Hayden,” she proclaimed. “I have to. I have to know what’s going on with me. Please.”<br />
<br />
Hayden clenched his fist, but he finally acceded.<br />
<br />
“On one condition,” he asserted firmly. “I want Isaiah to be the one to do it. He’s had more practice at control, and he’d be able to tell easier since he’s drank his fair share of human blood. No offense.”<br />
<br />
“None taken,” Isaiah replied. He turned to his mate. “Jill?”<br />
<br />
“I think it would be better if you did it,” she affirmed.<br />
<br />
“Oh, one other thing,” Hayden added, “you’re not going to bite her.”<br />
<br />
“No,” Paige interjected, “we’ll draw a little bit with a sterile knife, put it into a clean cup, and he’ll drink it that way.”<br />
<br />
That was how Kenzie found herself squeezing her eyes shut and extending her palm forward. Erika, as gently as possible, sliced a gash down her palm, and Kenzie had to look away as the blood spilled forth. It was quickly poured into two separate cups, one for Isaiah and one for the spell. In that short time, everyone saw that the slice in Kenzie’s hand was beginning to heal itself already. Isaiah took the first cup, keeping it away from Jillian, who was being held back by Hayden just in case the smell got to her, and took a sip.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, but that didn’t last long. Isaiah’s face contorted into a disgusted grimace as he spat the blood back into the cup.<br />
<br />
“Yep, it’s nasty,” he confirmed. “Ugh. No offense, Kenzie, but that is some of the worst blood I’ve ever tasted.”<br />
<br />
Hayden actually chuckled, and Jillian was trying to stifle a chortle of her own. “It doesn’t smell appealing, either,” she said.<br />
<br />
“Okay then,” Erika declared. “Now for the next part of the test. And since we’re all here, we’ll all give blood samples.”<br />
<br />
Everyone’s palms were slashed and their blood was dripped onto a piece of paper set up on the coffee table. Paige put labels next to each puddle indicating which species the blood belonged to. Kenzie’s blood was applied last, right in the middle of the circle of blood samples.<br />
<br />
It looked like a supernatural crime scene when it was complete.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“This is how it’s going to work,” Erika explained. “Kenzie, your blood is in the center. When we perform the ritual, if there is another type of blood in your body, your blood will move toward the type it matches. So if there is werewolf blood in your body, your blood will move toward Hayden’s blood. Does that make sense?”<br />
<br />
Kenzie nodded mutely as she stared at the table. A grimoire was sprawled open next to the paper. Paige and Erika used this to recite the incantation.<br />
<br />
As the foreign, almost other-worldly words were spoken, everyone watched the blood-spattered paper. Kenzie’s blood in the center began to move, and then it began to branch out.<br />
<br />
The blood moved slowly, but it gradually made its way toward Hayden’s. That was confirmation that somehow, Kenzie had werewolf blood in her system.<br />
<br />
But that was only the beginning. Kenzie received another shock when her blood began to branch out in another direction, this time toward Paige’s.<br />
<br />
When the ritual was complete, the only blood that was untouched on the paper was Isaiah’s, the vampire’s.<br />
<br />
“What…?” Kenzie gasped as she turned toward Hayden. He held her tightly.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“Are you sure you did that spell right?” Jillian inquired.<br />
<br />
“Positive,” Paige replied. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”<br />
<br />
“Never mind that,” Hayden interjected. “How did she get werewolf blood in her body? She didn’t bite me, and I didn’t bite her.”<br />
<br />
“She didn’t have to bite anyone,” Erika replied. “It could be as simple as she was born with it in her system.”<br />
<br />
“What about the witch blood?” Isaiah asked.<br />
<br />
“Same story. Truthfully, I don’t know of any way to become a witch except to be born as one.”<br />
<br />
“You know,” Paige said thoughtfully, “I’ve always said that Kenzie’s had certain traits of a witch. Of course, I was just kidding, but think about it. The way she is with animals, and how faithful Sage is to her. Yes, Sage is highly intelligent, but it’s almost like she’s a familiar. And that unicorn Kenzie told us about. Unicorns don’t approach just anyone, and that one in Appaloosa Plains actually helped save her life.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie put her hand over her face. This was too much for her to process. Just when she thought she might finally know what was going on, the plot thickened.<br />
<br />
“I don’t get how I can be born with two supernatural blood types in my system and not even know it,” she said at last. “I’ve never transformed into a werewolf, and I’ve never cast a spell, even accidentally. Don’t hybrid creatures have the abilities of both species they’re a part of?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah,” Paige said, “but not always the bad parts, like transforming during a full moon. Maybe we should have you try to cast a spell.”<br />
<br />
“No, that won’t work,” Erika said. “She doesn’t have the superior werewolf senses, like hearing and seeing, but apparently she has the fast healing ability. This whole thing makes no sense.”<br />
<br />
“And if her family is all human…”<br />
<br />
“I’ve heard of traits and things skipping generations. Maybe she did have werewolves or witches in her family, but it was a really long time ago. And it just skipped several generations until Kenzie was born as one. Well, part of one. Maybe she even had both.”<br />
<br />
“Reincarnation,” Isaiah interposed, startling everyone. They all turned to stare at him.<br />
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<br />
“Excuse me?” Hayden retorted.<br />
<br />
Isaiah sighed. “I was hoping to never have to explain this, but I guess now is the best time to do so.”<br />
<br />
“What are you talking about?” Jillian asked, her eyes wide.<br />
<br />
“Kenzie,” Isaiah said as he turned to her, “do you remember when we first met in Bridgeport?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah…you were putting a note on my car, warning me to leave.”<br />
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<br />
“Well, I was concerned about your safety, but there’s more to the story than that. The truth is, when I first saw you, it was only a glimpse from behind, but I…I thought you were someone else. Someone I knew a long time ago.”<br />
<br />
“Uh…”<br />
<br />
“Kenzie, I never said anything, but the resemblance is striking. You look very much like a werewolf I knew when I was still human. And, well, it’s not an exact duplicate, but at first glance from afar, you looked just like her.”<br />
<br />
“You knew a werewolf that looked like me before you were a vampire?”<br />
<br />
“Similar to you. Her hair was a little darker and her eyes were brown, but before I met Elijah, she was my best friend. And, well, at times I hoped that it would be more.”<br />
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<br />
“Wait,” Jillian cut in, “you were dating a werewolf that looked like Kenzie? You basically dated <i>her</i> in some other life?!”<br />
<br />
“No! Of course not! Kenzie is a completely different person from Bianca, and she has her own soul. I swear, Jillian, it’s not like that.”<br />
<br />
“Except you warned her of danger in Bridgeport…because you thought she was your werewolf crush!”<br />
<br />
“That ended as soon as I was transformed. I couldn’t get close to her without the smell nauseating me, since I hadn’t yet become accustomed to it. But yes, when I saw Kenzie, I thought it was impossible that Bianca would still be alive after all these years, and I didn’t want her to see me like this but I did want her to be safe. So I left her a note…only to discover that it was Kenzie, not Bianca, who I saw, when she caught me in the act.”<br />
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<br />
This was a lot to take in. Was Kenzie truly the reincarnation of a werewolf that may or may not have been romantically involved with Isaiah? Yet, it did make sense, considering how she and Isaiah had met, and considering another factor that was spelled out verbally by Paige as she spelled it out inwardly for herself.<br />
<br />
“That explains her strong love for wolves,” Paige was saying. “She said she can’t remember how she even started liking them, and of course she has a dog that’s half wolf, and a werewolf boyfriend. Yes, that could be coincidence, but a lot of girls would run away if they found out their boyfriend was a werewolf. Kenzie stayed, and she doesn’t care. It’s all a part of her former life, and the werewolf blood inside her.”<br />
<br />
“But doesn’t reincarnation involve the same soul inside a new body?” Hayden wanted to know.<br />
<br />
“Not always,” Paige amended. “In fact, a lot of times, there’s a close resemblance to the original soul carrier, but that’s it. Everything Kenzie feels and believes in are her own thoughts. There isn’t some ancient soul dictating her life or feelings. It was just a blueprint, so to speak, that helped build the person that she is. The most it did was give Kenzie her strong love of wolves.”<br />
<br />
“And her appearance?”<br />
<br />
“She looks just like her dad,” Jillian interjected. “I’ve seen pictures of her when she was little. Her dad had the same hair color as she does now when he was her age. It got darker over the years, but that’s it. She has his eyes, and her mom’s nose. She looks like herself, not someone else.”<br />
<br />
“It’s true,” Isaiah confirmed. “Bianca had darker hair, brown eyes, and she was significantly tanner than Kenzie. No offense intended, of course.”<br />
<br />
“Kenzie,” Erika cut in, “I think you should go up your family tree and see if you can find any evidence of witches in it. That’s my theory – you were born with reincarnated werewolf blood in your body, and a witch ancestor gene skipped several generations until it came to you.”<br />
<br />
“But why don’t I have any magical powers or superior senses?”<br />
<br />
“You’re essentially a three-way hybrid. That’s very rare. In fact, it hasn’t been heard of for centuries. Your parents are both human, and a lot of generations before them probably are, too. Your human blood is more dominant because of that. And of course, blood is thicker than water. Your human blood kept your werewolf and witch blood in check, so that’s why you can’t experience any of the perks or disadvantages of being either species. You were able to live your life as a human. If it weren’t for this rogue werewolf, you may never have known this. Maybe it was fate that you were bit. To find out who you really are.”<br />
<br />
“Who I really am?” Kenzie exploded. “Who and what I really am is a freak of nature! I have two supernatural blood types inside me, and I can’t even use them! I don’t know my own history and my soul came from some werewolf that Isaiah was infatuated with in a past life! I’d rather have turned into a werewolf! Next, I’m going to find out that I’m so pale because I’m part vampire, too!”<br />
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<br />
Hayden embraced his sobbing girlfriend, who was on the verge of hysterics. “Kenzie, you are your own person. I love you just as you are. I don’t give a shit what breed you are. You know that. However,” he glared at Isaiah, “you are mine, and if fang boy over there tries to rewrite history…”<br />
<br />
“Never,” Isaiah retorted. “It’s Jillian that I love.”<br />
<br />
“It’s just…I feel so…lost,” Kenzie wept, ignoring the conflict. “I thought I knew who I was, and even what my future would be. But now I find out all this…”<br />
<br />
“We don’t know for sure that that’s the case,” Jillian said gently. “They’re theories. And as a detective, you have to prove or disprove them.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, you’re right. I guess I’ll start by asking my parents what they know of their family history. I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to figure out the werewolf part. All we have to go on is Isaiah’s story, and I’m sure that werewolf died a long time ago. They aren’t immortal.”<br />
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<br />
With nothing else that could be done, Kenzie and Hayden said their goodbyes to their friends. Kenzie saw on her cell phone that she’d missed a call from her parents. She realized that she’d best return home to Riverview now and begin her new, and most likely biggest, investigation.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/02/part-4-unexplained.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-6-greatest-mystery.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-56138837217318148572015-03-04T17:30:00.000-06:002017-01-27T22:50:16.047-06:00Part 4 - The UnexplainedThe moon began to rise right on schedule. As it climbed higher and higher into the night sky, Kenzie’s heart beat faster. Hayden held her tightly until he himself could no longer control it. He stood up and let the transition claim him, though this time he tried to make it look as painless as possible for Kenzie’s sake.<br />
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<br />
Kenzie had seen him transform several times before. But knowing that this was now her fate made the spectacle more foreboding.<br />
<br />
“Does it hurt?” she asked.<br />
<br />
Hayden shook his head. “No. It’s just a little uncomfortable, since you feel your hair growing out really fast, and of course your nails and teeth. Oh, and your ears and nose, sometimes your jaw…”<br />
<br />
Hayden stopped short. Kenzie was inadvertently making a face tinged with peril.<br />
<br />
“Remember, I’m here,” Hayden consoled. “And I don’t care what you end up looking like. I love you, and I’ll always love you, no matter what.”<br />
<br />
“Thank you.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie had been sure that as soon as Hayden transformed, she would shortly thereafter. But she didn’t.<br />
<br />
“Do all werewolves transform at the same time?” she asked, bewildered.<br />
<br />
“Normally, yes. When the moon’s at its highest peak, all werewolves transform into their wolf state, unless they were already in that state. But maybe it’s different for new werewolves.”<br />
<br />
Still, minutes turned into hours, and Kenzie remained completely normal. She’d planned to stay awake all night, but her eyelids were beginning to droop, and she was actually getting frustrated. She was finally ready for this to happen, and it wasn’t happening.<br />
<br />
“This makes no sense,” she quipped as Hayden paced the room. They were both growing more and more perplexed, and Kenzie was also impatient. By this time, it was nearly sunrise.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“Maybe he didn’t bite you hard enough,” Hayden suggested, though not sounding convinced. “Let me see your arm.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie had forgotten all about the bite, focusing only on the aftermath. She hadn’t even noticed it lately, really. She extended her arm, and both she and Hayden received a shock. There was no evidence of a bite whatsoever. At least, not to Kenzie’s eyes.<br />
<br />
Hayden, however, scrutinized the invisible wound and furrowed his brow.<br />
<br />
“How…?” he began.<br />
<br />
“What? What is it?”<br />
<br />
“The wound. It’s…it’s still there, I can see it, very light. But it’s healed.”<br />
<br />
“Healed? In three days?”<br />
<br />
“Exactly. We both saw that wound. We know it was there, and it was deep.”<br />
<br />
“It drew blood and went right through my coat.”<br />
<br />
“I know. But now it’s…gone. Healed. And the only way that could happen is with superior healing abilities, which only belong to vampires and werewolves.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Hayden sat on the edge of the bed to ponder this. Kenzie was just as befuddled as he was. She was a human. She’d been human her entire life. When she’d gotten scrapes on her knee as a kid, it would take at least a week for them to heal. But now, somehow, a werewolf had bitten her and the wound had healed itself in three days, and she didn’t transform.<br />
<br />
Hayden was punching something into his cell phone, his face molded into one of curiousness, concern, and relief.<br />
<br />
“Ellis,” he barked into the phone, “did you find anything out about that kid that bit Kenzie? I don’t give a shit what time it is. This is serious. Besides, it was a full moon; I know you were out doing the creator knows what. Now spit it out.”<br />
<br />
Ellis said something inaudible to Kenzie’s ears. Another factor that confirmed that she was indeed human. She didn’t have superior hearing, and she had to wear glasses in order to see great distances. She couldn’t be a werewolf or vampire.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“You’re sure there was nothing suspicious about him?” Hayden was going on. Finally, he heaved a resonating sigh and hung up.<br />
<br />
“What did he say?” Kenzie asked.<br />
<br />
“The kid woke up and they questioned him, but there was nothing wrong with him. No reason to explain why you didn’t transform. He was a rogue, just as I’d suspected, who couldn’t handle his transformation.”<br />
<br />
“Well…isn’t this a good thing?”<br />
<br />
“Of course it is. I’m beyond relieved, believe me. But I’m an investigative reporter, so of course I’m curious.”<br />
<br />
“I am, too. I’m a detective, so my curiousness is spinning out of control.”<br />
<br />
“Well, maybe Paige and her coven will know something about this, or even Isaiah. They didn’t know of a cure, but this is something different.”<br />
<br />
“It’s worth a try.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah. But first, let me give you something.”<br />
<br />
Hayden walked over to Kenzie and pulled her off the bed. Then, he wrapped his arm around her and kissed her deeply.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie eagerly returned the gesture as she placed her hands on Hayden’s chest.<br />
<br />
“What’s this for?” she asked after they parted.<br />
<br />
“Nothing in particular. I just love you and wanted to kiss you.”<br />
<br />
“Would you still have wanted to if I’d turned?”<br />
<br />
“Of course I would have. The only reason I was against it was because I was afraid of the transformation hurting you. I know you have a low pain tolerance. I told you last night that it didn’t hurt, but it might have for you.”<br />
<br />
“Hayden, we don’t know that I’m completely safe yet. Maybe you should hold off on telling me this.”<br />
<br />
“Right. Sorry. I’ll call Paige.”<br />
<br />
“I’ll fix us some breakfast. And don’t you have to go back to work?”<br />
<br />
“I called the other day. Told the boss something serious had come up, and it could very well lead to a story, so I’d need some time off. He didn’t even argue.”<br />
<br />
“He didn’t?”<br />
<br />
“Well, not to sound smug, but I am one of the best reporters he’s got. He trusts me.”<br />
<br />
“Well, that’s a good thing, then.”<br />
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<br />
The two embraced once more before Kenzie threw on some fresh clothes and trotted downstairs to fix some breakfast while Hayden called Paige.<br />
<br />
*********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
Kenzie dug through the fridge and extracted some milk, eggs, and fruit. She thought a hearty breakfast of eggs machiavellian would hit the spot for both her and Hayden.<br />
<br />
She was so absorbed in her task that she didn’t detect Hayden come up behind her until he wrapped his arms around her.<br />
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<br />
“Hayden!” she shrieked with a laugh. “You scared me!”<br />
<br />
“Sorry. Something smells good. What’s cooking?”<br />
<br />
“Eggs, maybe some bacon if you behave.”<br />
<br />
“Mmm, bacon. I can already tell you’re going to be a great cook.”<br />
<br />
“You’re not so bad yourself.”<br />
<br />
“Glad you think so. Here, allow me.”<br />
<br />
Hayden reached around Kenzie and began slicing the watermelon. She noticed that he was no longer in his werewolf form, and that he’d also changed out of yesterday’s clothes.<br />
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<br />
“Did you find anything out from Paige?” Kenzie asked.<br />
<br />
“Well, sort of. She agrees that it’s very odd that you didn’t transform last night like I did, but she has a theory she wants to test. Apparently, Erika’s family has some old legends that might explain what happened, so they’re going to look into that. They’ll call me back.”<br />
<br />
“Okay…and what legends are they looking into?”<br />
<br />
“She didn’t say. I think she just doesn’t want to jump to conclusions and wants to know for sure before telling us.”<br />
<br />
“I see.”<br />
<br />
The two carried their plates to the table and sat down to dig in.<br />
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<br />
“This tastes great!” Hayden exclaimed as he took a hearty bite out of his bacon.<br />
<br />
Kenzie giggled. “I’m glad you think so. I’m usually not the best cook in the world.”<br />
<br />
“That’s okay. It tastes great to me, and that’s what matters, right?”<br />
<br />
“Exactly.”<br />
<br />
They’d just finished the meal when Hayden’s cell phone rang. He answered it and began talking to Paige. Kenzie listened to his side of the conversation as she cleaned the dishes in the sink before transporting them to the dishwasher.<br />
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<br />
Her ears perked up when she heard Hayden say, “Are you sure about that?”<br />
<br />
She stopped splashing water around to listen closer.<br />
<br />
“Okay, well, should we go there or do you want to meet us here? Oh, okay. All right, we’ll head out, then. See you later.”<br />
<br />
Hayden hung up and Kenzie spun around.<br />
<br />
“What’s wrong?” she asked, suddenly apprehensive again.<br />
<br />
“There’s a spell they can try to determine what’s up, but they’ll need your blood to do it.”<br />
<br />
“Wonderful. And we’re going to Lucky Palms?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah…they called Isaiah to ask him for his input too, and he’s on his way there right now.”<br />
<br />
“Is Jillian going too?”<br />
<br />
“Of course.”<br />
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<br />
Hayden could sense Kenzie’s turmoil, so he wrapped his arms around her in consolation. “It’s going to be okay,” he soothed. “I promise.”<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-3-inevitable.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-5-new-breed.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-36672489782444519412015-03-01T10:48:00.000-06:002017-01-27T22:49:44.790-06:00Part 3 - The Inevitable“Get off her, you son of a bitch!” Hayden roared as he plowed into Kenzie’s assailant, knocking him to the ground.<br />
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<br />
Kenzie watched the horrific spectacle before her as her boyfriend wrestled with what appeared to be another werewolf. Which made absolutely no sense considering they were of the same breed. And as Kenzie got a closer look, she realized that her attacker appeared younger than she was.<br />
<br />
The fur continued to fly until Hayden had the boy on his back, his hand raised with claws fully elongated. He’d transformed into a werewolf despite the moon not being full, simply due to pure adrenaline and rage.<br />
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<br />
And then Hayden struck his foe until he lay unconscious on the ground.<br />
<br />
“Is…is he…?” Kenzie stammered.<br />
<br />
“No. That’s up to Ellis, as the alpha.”<br />
<br />
Hayden whipped out his phone and literally barked at his older brother, stating the events that had just taken place.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Kenzie stared at her arm, visible through the torn fabric of her coat. Her heart began to pound in her ears. Of course, she and Hayden had discussed her becoming a werewolf in the past. But she’d always assumed that Hayden himself would be the one to turn her into one. Not some random stranger that appeared out of nowhere and bit her for no reason.<br />
<br />
“Who is he?” she managed to inquire when Hayden hung up the phone and reverted back to his human form, probably as a means to calm Kenzie down since she’d just been attacked by one.<br />
<br />
“I have no idea. If he’s a member of Ellis’s pack, he’ll take care of his ass. But he better hurry up before I do the job for him.”<br />
<br />
Then he rushed to Kenzie and held her tightly. “Are you all right?”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie couldn’t stifle a shudder. “I don’t know,” she confessed with a shiver that had nothing to do with the temperature.<br />
<br />
Ellis arrived not long after to assess the situation. Being the alpha of the pack, it was his duty to ensure that one of his underlings wasn’t responsible for this attack.<br />
<br />
“I haven’t seen this kid before,” he declared upon inspecting the still-unconscious teen. “But I have heard reports of things like this happening.”<br />
<br />
“Like what?” Hayden quipped.<br />
<br />
“Something about teenagers being turned into werewolves and other powerful supernatural creatures but lacking the mental capacity to handle such a big change to their body. There’s a reason someone has to be at least eighteen before being turned legally.”<br />
<br />
“Are you telling me there have been teenagers running around, transformed into supernatural creatures, and you didn’t think to tell me that before I brought my girlfriend into town to live with me?!”<br />
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<br />
Ellis rolled his eyes. “Maybe if you were ever around for pack meetings, you would have known this. It’s not my fault. Besides, how was I supposed to know you asked your girlfriend to move in with you? It’s not like you told me, and it’s not like I knew this was going to happen, either. You’re lucky I don’t put you on a leash.”<br />
<br />
“Is that a threat?”<br />
<br />
“Stop it, both of you,” Kenzie snapped. Sibling rivalry was the last thing she needed right now, and didn’t hesitate to inform the squabbling brothers of this.<br />
<br />
Ellis did apologize that this happened to her before dragging the teen, who was beginning to stir, away to deal with him. He would undoubtedly be taken to the authorities and reprimanded there, and an investigation would begin to try to figure out how all the teens were being turned into supernatural creatures at all.<br />
<br />
But for once, Kenzie didn’t care what happened to a criminal. She was more concerned for herself.<br />
<br />
“There has to be something we can do,” Hayden said in his pleading, no-nonsense voice. The gears spinning in his head trying to concoct a plan were almost visible even to human eyes.<br />
<br />
“I don’t know what we can do,” Kenzie cut in sadly. “There’s no cure, and…”<br />
<br />
“No. There has to be something, anything. I won’t let this happen to you. I don’t give a shit that you’ve said you want to be like me. And how much better it would be for your career. I don’t care. I’m not going to let you be turned into a monster because some rogue teenage werewolf couldn’t keep his own hormones in check.”<br />
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<br />
Hayden grabbed Kenzie’s arms as he stared at her in the most serious face she’d ever seen him invoke.<br />
<br />
“Is that what you think happened?” she managed to squeak. “He just couldn’t handle it?”<br />
<br />
“Most people, at a certain age, lack the mental capacity to handle being a supernatural creature, and if your body is still growing, it’s harder to adapt. It’s just easier to give into being the creature you’ve become instead of any part of what you were. Unless you were born as that creature, of course. Then your body is programmed to adapt itself.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie looked down, unsure of what to do. Hayden cupped his hands around her face and looked into her eyes with intense determination.<br />
<br />
“Listen to me,” he asserted, “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. If nothing else, I won’t let you go through this alone. I’ll be here for you.”<br />
<br />
The only response Kenzie could muster was to burst into tears. And when she realized that the next full moon, the night she would transform for the first time, was only three nights away, she cried even harder.<br />
<br />
*********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
It was hard to get to sleep that night. Hayden comforted Kenzie as best he could, and every time she dozed off, he’d get online or call their friends to see if there was anything that could be done.<br />
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<br />
But his efforts seemed to be futile. He couldn’t find any way to reverse a werewolf bite or curse, and even Paige and her witch coven didn’t know of anything that could help. Isaiah said that he couldn’t use his blood to cure or heal her, either, because she wasn’t dying.<br />
<br />
“Well,” Kenzie said in a half-hearted attempt to lighten the mood, “I guess it’s a good thing I cut my hair. It won’t be so shaggy, right?”<br />
<br />
“Do you think that’s funny?” Hayden growled, sounding angry. “I made a promise, I swore, to protect you and keep you safe, and this shit happens! The worst thing that could possibly happen to you has happened!”<br />
<br />
“Do you think I’m not scared?!” Kenzie retorted. “Of course I’m scared! But you’re taking it harder than I am! What I need from you is support and help, not this attitude that I’m doomed!”<br />
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<br />
Hayden scurried over to the couch and wrapped Kenzie in his arms. “Of course. I’m so sorry.”<br />
<br />
“Please, just help me through this, Hayden. I don’t know what to expect, what to do…just help me through it.”<br />
<br />
“Isaiah did the same for Jillian when she became a vampire. Of course I’ll help you. I swear.”<br />
<br />
*********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
Hayden was still asleep, and though it was early in the morning, Kenzie was wide awake. Her three days were up. That night was the full moon.<br />
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<br />
Unable to fall back into dreamland, Kenzie stealthily slid out of bed and threw on her robe, slippers, and glasses in the hopes of not waking up her boyfriend. Then, she traipsed downstairs to the living room, staring dejectedly at the boxes she hadn’t yet unpacked. She grabbed her cell phone and called Jillian. She knew her friend would be awake, even though vampires also had to sleep.<br />
<br />
“What are you doing up at this hour?” Jillian inquired.<br />
<br />
“You have to ask? Didn’t Isaiah tell you?”<br />
<br />
“Well, yeah. I’ve been wanting to call you, but I just don’t know what to say. Except I wish there was something I could do.”<br />
<br />
“Thanks, but there’s really nothing. Well, I mean, unless you don’t mind me asking you some things.”<br />
<br />
“Okay…sure, if that’s what you want.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie took a deep breath and plunged forward.<br />
<br />
“Well, you transformed into a supernatural creature. You weren’t born like that. And Isaiah was the same way. I guess my question is, what was it like? Hayden was born as a werewolf so he can’t really tell me that.”<br />
<br />
“Uh…well, I don’t know if all experiences are the same, so I can’t really speak for Isaiah. But for me, I don’t want to sugar-coat it, Ken. It was horrible. You were there with me in that hotel room. My throat was burning and these sharp pains just shot through me. My eyes were burning, too, because they became super sensitive to the light. It wasn’t pleasant, and I don’t think I’d ever want to go through it again.”<br />
<br />
“Oh, Jill, I am so…”<br />
<br />
“Don’t start. I’m glad it happened so that I can be with Isaiah. And it’s not your fault. Now listen, I have no idea what it’s like to turn into a werewolf, and I’m sure Isaiah doesn’t, either. The only person you could ask is Hayden, even if he was born that way. He’s still usually in his human form except during the full moon, right? So I’m sure your experience will be similar.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie nodded, though of course no one could see her do so. Hundreds of thoughts were flying through her head, some questions and others concerns. For instance, how would her parents react, knowing that their only daughter had just stated she was going to move in with her werewolf boyfriend, only to be turned into a werewolf herself? Would they blame Hayden? Not to mention Sage, who was part wolf herself. Would she take to her “new” master?<br />
<br />
And how would she handle life as a werewolf? Surely it was easier than being a vampire, especially after a lifetime of being in the sun as often as possible, as was the case with Jillian. But still, would it hurt to transform? Kenzie’s pain tolerance was lower than her tolerance for change. She was frightened, both of the unknown and of what would become of her and the life she’d always known.<br />
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<br />
“It’s not the last time,” Hayden assured her in their post-coital bliss. “I promise.”<br />
<br />
“It’s the last time I’ll be human.”<br />
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<br />
Hayden’s only response was to embrace her. They’d made love once more, mostly so that Kenzie would remember what it was like to be with her soul mate while she was “normal.” Though she’d seriously considered turning into a werewolf before, if for no other reason than the sake of her career and job security due to having more keen senses and a better ability to track criminals, she was becoming more and more fearful of what was to come. Hayden had been a comfort to her, but she was still frightened. He’d answered all her questions, so at least she had somewhat of an idea of what would happen in only a matter of hours now. But that didn’t make the situation any less dreadful.<br />
<br />
And when darkness descended at last, her case of the jitters became more prominent.<br />
<br />
“I’m right here,” Hayden reassured her. “And I know you’re scared. I’m sorry I wasn’t much comfort these past few days.”<br />
<br />
“You’ve been fine. I just…I don’t know what to expect. You told me, but I think it’s something I have to experience for myself.”<br />
<br />
“I understand.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie leaned her head against her mate’s shoulder, trying to stifle the tears that threatened to burst forth from behind her eyes. At this point, there was nothing more that could be done. All she could do was sit there on that bed with Hayden and wait for the inevitable.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/02/part-2-attack.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/02/part-4-unexplained.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-40085226857217779142015-02-25T17:26:00.000-06:002017-01-27T22:49:10.610-06:00Part 2 - The AttackHayden made good on his promise of showing Kenzie how much he loved both her and her new haircut upon arriving at the hotel. They engaged in a night of passion that didn’t end until past midnight. Of course, wearing more risqué attire didn’t hurt, either.<br />
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<br />
As she began to doze off to sleep, Kenzie thought of Su and their reunion. Yet another friend was beginning the next chapter of their life – Su and her family had moved to Sunset Valley to run their restaurant. It was amazing how quickly time progressed and things changed. But she’d learned to accept that not all change was bad; a lot of it was good. Like the change she’d made in herself that had allowed her to find her soul mate. That was something she’d never let go of.<br />
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<br />
When morning finally broke, Kenzie felt the sun graze her eyelids. She stretched and turned over to feel Hayden grip her wrist.<br />
<br />
“Good morning, Beauty,” he cooed.<br />
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<br />
Kenzie tittered and replied, “Good morning, Beast.”<br />
<br />
“How did you sleep?”<br />
<br />
“Very good since you got me so tired out. You?”<br />
<br />
“The same. I’d say I slept like a bear, but that’s the wrong species.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie just shook her head teasingly. She sat up and saw that the blanket had fallen off the bed sometime during the night. No wonder she felt a little chilly.<br />
<br />
“Here,” Hayden said as he wrapped the blanket around her. “As gorgeous as you look in that getup, it’s not worth freezing over.”<br />
<br />
“Thanks. I think I’ll just go ahead and get dressed, though.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie grabbed some clothes out of her suitcase and quickly put them on. She’d gotten over her shyness of changing in front of others, or at least Hayden and Jillian. But only the former had seen her completely in the buff, and she hoped to keep it that way.<br />
<br />
“So, are we heading to Moonlight Falls today?” she asked. Hayden threw yesterday’s clothes back on considering he hadn’t packed any, not anticipating staying overnight in Sunset Valley.<br />
<br />
“That’s the plan,” he replied. “Unless there’s something else you had in mind.”<br />
<br />
“Not me.”<br />
<br />
“Well, in that case, how about some breakfast before we head out?”<br />
<br />
“Sounds good to me.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
After a hearty breakfast, the couple climbed into Hayden’s car and went on their way to Moonlight Falls. Kenzie’s heart hammered in her chest, both in excitement and nervous anticipation. Truthfully, despite being twenty-seven, she’d never lived with anyone before except her parents and Jillian in college. She’d been engaged once, until the guy had cheated on her, but she realized that even back then, she hadn’t thought ahead to the point of them actually living together. Her head had been wrapped up in the elation of being engaged. Until it ended, anyway.<br />
<br />
Moonlight Falls wasn’t very far from Sunset Valley, but it was mid-afternoon when they arrived. And because it was still winter, it got dark earlier. The sun was already beginning its descent when they pulled up to Hayden’s house. However, unlike Riverview, there was no snow on the ground despite the season, even though Riverview only had a small amount.<br />
<br />
“Welcome home,” Hayden said as he grabbed some boxes and hustled them inside after unlocking the front door. Kenzie couldn’t help but smile as she took in her new home. It was very masculine; she’d definitely have to add some feminine touches to it. Unless, of course, they managed to find another house, which they’d discussed. Hayden seemed to think that they needed a house with an office for both their lines of work. Kenzie was in no rush to invest in another house, though. She was still paying for the one she had in Riverview, though she would soon have to get it on the market.<br />
<br />
The thought saddened her, despite how happy she was with the idea of being closer to Hayden rather than living a long-distance relationship.<br />
<br />
“So,” Hayden declared as he set down the last of the few boxes that Kenzie had brought with her, “what shall we do first?”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie put her hand on her hip as she surveyed the room. It was already beginning to feel like home.<br />
<br />
“Well,” she said at last, “I suppose we could always do the practical thing and unpack. Or we could do something a little more fun.”<br />
<br />
“Like what?”<br />
<br />
“We could always christen this place, unless you’ve already done that.”<br />
<br />
“Actually, no. And if I had, it wouldn’t matter because it wasn’t with you.”<br />
<br />
“Uh…was I your first?”<br />
<br />
“Would you be mad if I said no?”<br />
<br />
“No, but I <i>would</i> be surprised.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Hayden chuckled slightly. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, you’re only my second.”<br />
<br />
“Oh, come on.”<br />
<br />
“It’s true. Wolves are monogamous, but werewolves still have human genes in them, remember? So I thought I’d found a mate once, but I was wrong.”<br />
<br />
“What happened?”<br />
<br />
“She wound up pregnant by someone else.”<br />
<br />
“Oh. That sucks.”<br />
<br />
“I thought so at the time. But now I’m glad it happened. Otherwise I wouldn’t have met you.”<br />
<br />
“Oh, stop.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Hayden chortled once more as he approached Kenzie and wrapped his arm around her. Kenzie wrapped her arm around her mate’s neck as they gazed into each other’s eyes.<br />
<br />
“I love you, Kenzie Howell,” Hayden said, his voice encompassed with sincerity. “I never knew love until I met you. It’s like we were created for each other.”<br />
<br />
“I think we were.”<br />
<br />
The two smiled at each other before sealing their love with a kiss.<br />
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<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">********************************************************************************</span><br />
<br />
Later that evening, after christening their new home, Kenzie and Hayden went for a romantic stroll under a blanket of stars away from the beaten path. Though it was still winter, the temperature was unseasonably warm that evening, and they were taking full advantage while still bundling up.<br />
<br />
“Besides,” Hayden stated as they walked along, “the last time we were able to be together at night like this, I had to turn into a werewolf.”<br />
<br />
“I don’t remember you complaining that much.”<br />
<br />
“You have one hell of a hold on me, convincing me to woohoo in my wolf state during a full moon. And outside in public, no less!”<br />
<br />
“We weren’t really in public; we were in the deserted woods.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Hayden just shook his head mischievously, prompting Kenzie to stick her tongue out at him teasingly. They walked for a while longer and were just heading back to the house when Hayden stopped short.<br />
<br />
“What’s wrong?” Kenzie asked. Hayden held his finger to his lips, signaling her to be silent. He cocked his head to the side, his ears perked up. He obviously heard something that her human ears were unable to detect.<br />
<br />
But that changed in a matter of moments, for not only did her ears home in on what Hayden already sensed, but her eyes did as well when she saw a dark shadow flying toward her, fangs and claws extended.<br />
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<br />
Her flesh also became aware of this creature when she felt the sharp pierce of canines sink through her jacket and into the flesh on her arm.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/02/part-1-next-chapter.html">Previous Part</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-3-inevitable.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-86557631371861955502015-02-22T15:14:00.000-06:002018-10-14T00:58:39.677-05:00Part 1 - The Next ChapterBoxes littered the floor and other surfaces of Kenzie Howell’s home in Riverview. Packed inside were her belongings, some necessary and some sentimental. It was no easy task, packing up boxes only to move the contents inside to a whole new location. But it was something that had to be done. But more importantly, it was something she wanted to do.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie’s boyfriend, Hayden Howland, had asked her to move in with him months ago. She’d finally accepted his offer after she’d witnessed what happened to her best friend, Jillian. There was no guarantee that the same thing would happen to her, but it did make her realize that life was short and it should be spent with those you love the most.<br />
<br />
Of course, Kenzie’s parents were saddened by this news, and understandably so. She was their only child, and for the past five years, she’d lived right down the street from them in the cozy farm town. But now, she’d be moving to Moonlight Falls to live with her boyfriend.<br />
<br />
Their reactions had been indulgent, but also distraught.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“We’ll miss you living right down the street from us,” Constance had said, her eyes threatening to spill tears. “And if you ever need anything, how will we get to you?”<br />
<br />
“Mom, I’ve been living on my own for how long? I was technically living alone in college, except I had Jillian as a roommate. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”<br />
<br />
“The question is, do you really want to do this?” Russ had interjected, his face stern and serious. “We want to make sure you aren’t being forced into doing something you don’t want to do.”<br />
<br />
“For the love of the creator, Dad, I <i>do</i> want to do this. Hayden and I love each other, and we want to be together. It hurts doing the long-distance thing all the time.”<br />
<br />
“Then why don’t you get married?” Constance had inquired.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie heaved a sigh. This was her typical mother – old-fashioned, fearing that if a couple moved in together prior to tying the knot, they never would do so.<br />
<br />
“Mom, a lot of couples move in together before they get married,” she’d replied. “In fact, some people even encourage it. That way, you know what it’s like to live together before you have some legally binding contract that you’re stuck with.”<br />
<br />
It had taken a lot of conversations like that one to convince Russ and Constance that Kenzie genuinely did want to move in with Hayden. So now she was packing up her belongings in preparation of starting the next chapter of her life.<br />
<br />
And she wasn’t the only one to do so. She was starting her next chapter by moving in with her boyfriend. Jillian was adapting to life as a vampire, and she was also living with her vampire boyfriend. Austin and Cheyenne were now parents, their son being born on the twenty-third day of November.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Suddenly, Kenzie’s cell phone rang. She saw on the caller ID that it was her boyfriend calling. She plopped down on the couch and greeted, “Hello, Beast.”<br />
<br />
“Hello, Beauty,” replied her boyfriend, causing them both to chortle. It was a private joke the two shared, and it never seemed to get old.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“How goes the packing?” Hayden continued.<br />
<br />
“Pretty good. What’s up?”<br />
<br />
“Well, I have to head that way this weekend to do an interview for a new Asian restaurant opening up in Sunset Valley. Since it’s not far from Riverview, if it’s okay with you, I thought maybe I could pick you up on the way back and we could move some of your things to my place so there’s less to move later. Plus, I really want to see you.”<br />
<br />
“Miss me that much, huh?”<br />
<br />
“Even more so now that I know it’s only a matter of time before we can permanently live together.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie couldn’t help grinning. Every time she talked to Hayden, she was reassured that she was making the right decision. She knew that everything was going to be all right.<br />
<br />
“Well,” she replied, “I miss you, too. And actually, I wouldn’t mind going with you to the restaurant. You know I love Asian culture.”<br />
<br />
“That works out even better!”<br />
<br />
“Great! I can’t wait to see you again.”<br />
<br />
“Damn, I wish I could take off the rest of the week and then we wouldn’t have to wait until this weekend.”<br />
<br />
“Remember, good things come to those that wait.”<br />
<br />
“Is that some sort of promise?”<br />
<br />
“I suppose it could be.”<br />
<br />
“You can be a real wild animal, Kenzie Howell.”<br />
<br />
“I learned from the best, Hayden Howland.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie looked down and saw Sage, her loyal dog, eyeing her curiously. Kenzie scratched her behind the ears and said, “Say hi to your new roommate.”<br />
<br />
“What?” Hayden asked.<br />
<br />
“I’m talking to Sage.”<br />
<br />
“Hi, Sage!”<br />
<br />
Sage barked in response, causing the couple to chuckle again.<br />
<br />
The two chatted for a little longer before saying their temporary farewells. After hanging up with Hayden, Kenzie’s phone rang again almost immediately. This time, it was her best friend calling. She pushed the Talk button and said, “Hey, Jill.”<br />
<br />
“Hi, Ken! How are you?”<br />
<br />
“I’m pretty good. Just packing some things.”<br />
<br />
“When do you move?”<br />
<br />
“There really isn’t a definite date set yet; it all depends on when I get everything packed up. Hayden’s already clearing out some places for my things, and what I don’t need to take with me, my parents can take. Or I can sell it.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie lounged on the couch as she chatted with Jillian. It was still so hard to believe that her beach babe best friend was a vampire. Her whole lifestyle had to change, and she was now trapped in Midnight Hollow, where the sun never shined. Thankfully, Isaiah had his father’s manor, and they’d fixed it up very nicely. Though Kenzie had no idea how they could stand living there, considering that was where Jill had been taken and tortured after her kidnapping, thus eventually causing her transformation into a creature of the night.<br />
<br />
“Stop it,” Jillian said now on the other end of the line. “I can tell by your voice that you still feel guilty. And I told you, you shouldn’t.”<br />
<br />
“But this whole thing is my fault…”<br />
<br />
“Bullshit. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s that psycho who kidnapped me. But Isaiah and I had been talking about me turning into a vampire for a while, so it all worked out. Got it?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, I’ve got it.”<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-tYiUQGr-1WL5-GUYVnlnK0hBl4Niw45V9mZI0vzorCcK7eN_pXiNnHIHuyBsIdGlSedOAu67f2rLD0uGvYNkAPym97ewMas7tEsTJX2MiKV_sGZjpfVs7OXousLYWc2tItxJ4Rp1oY/s1600/Kenzie+phone5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-tYiUQGr-1WL5-GUYVnlnK0hBl4Niw45V9mZI0vzorCcK7eN_pXiNnHIHuyBsIdGlSedOAu67f2rLD0uGvYNkAPym97ewMas7tEsTJX2MiKV_sGZjpfVs7OXousLYWc2tItxJ4Rp1oY/s1600/Kenzie+phone5.jpg" width="578" /></a></div>
<br />
As she talked, Kenzie looked around her house. She felt the familiar tug on her heartstrings as she saw the empty counters and surfaces. Sage sensed her despondency and trotted over to her, licking her hand in comfort. This did spawn a smile on her master’s face.<br />
<br />
It was only natural to feel a sense of gloom before moving out of a house one had lived in for several years. Plus, Kenzie wasn’t that keen on change. But she knew this was what she wanted, and everything would be all right once she took the plunge.<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">********************************************************************************</span><br />
<br />
Saturday finally arrived and Hayden picked Kenzie up at her house as promised. Sage would be staying with Kenzie’s parents while she and Hayden embarked on the interview in Sunset Valley and took some of her things to her new home.<br />
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<br />
Along the way, they made small talk, chattered about current events, made up for lost time with romantic gestures, and Hayden told Kenzie about the restaurant.<br />
<br />
“It’s called Cravin’ Asian,” he explained as he drove, “and it’s owned by a couple from Shang Simla. They moved here to open it, apparently. That’s part of what I’ll be finding out.”<br />
<br />
“Sounds great!”<br />
<br />
At last, they arrived in Sunset Valley. Even though it was still winter, the temperatures were moderately comfortable with the beach being nearby. But Kenzie and Hayden still had their winter garb wrapped around them just in case.<br />
<br />
The restaurant was located in the middle of town and fairly easy to navigate to. A GPS made it even better. Once Hayden parked in front of the authentically-decorated establishment, they went inside. Kenzie looked around in awe at the interior. It was even more impressive than the exterior.<br />
<br />
Lanterns hung suspended from the ceiling and cast an illuminating glow throughout. There was no shortage of fans, dragons, or bamboo. Booths were nestled in one corner while straight ahead behind a hostess desk was a seating area donned with tables and chairs. And to the right was a genuine hibachi grill. Cravin’ Asian combined all elements of Asian food into one establishment. One could order egg rolls, sushi, and everything in between at this one place. Kenzie could feel her mouth begin to water already as she took it all in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI9Riyw9kh-1cyJHuG1Xjpn5uWTSmbtTVj70f6uiafhQWwGkcjC_YEIYEfAB7HHX-GM4y_1VdXNYBWgaILP_VAAX0YGP4e2ZGHktiX2YmSVoDto3UXClwz315giQhWULGGBY7GEKqv5o/s1600/restaurant1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI9Riyw9kh-1cyJHuG1Xjpn5uWTSmbtTVj70f6uiafhQWwGkcjC_YEIYEfAB7HHX-GM4y_1VdXNYBWgaILP_VAAX0YGP4e2ZGHktiX2YmSVoDto3UXClwz315giQhWULGGBY7GEKqv5o/s1600/restaurant1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
“Konnichiwa,” a young woman said as she hustled toward Kenzie and Hayden. She was wearing a long silk kimono and her hair was topped off with decorative chopsticks. She smiled warmly, and Kenzie could have sworn she’d seen her somewhere before.<br />
<br />
“Hello to you too,” Hayden replied. “I’m here to do an interview with the owners.”<br />
<br />
“Ah, yes, Ryu mentioned something about that,” the woman said. “I’ll get him in a moment.” Then she seemed to notice Kenzie.<br />
<br />
“Excuse me,” the woman said in her small voice, “but you look familiar. Have I met you somewhere before?”<br />
<br />
Kenzie was befuddled. She wracked through her brain, trying to bring up a file in her memory, and it hit her like lightning.<br />
<br />
“Shang Simla, maybe? Hayden tells me the couple who opened this place are from there.”<br />
<br />
“Yes, it’s where I’m from.”<br />
<br />
“You’re…are you…Su <i>Chong</i>?”<br />
<br />
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<br />
The woman’s face lit up and broke into a smile. “Why, it’s you! I met you at home several years ago! Kenzie, right?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, that’s it. It’s been so long! I had no idea this was your place! Are you here with your brother?”<br />
<br />
Su shook her head. “Oh, no. Shen has stayed behind to continue teaching Sim Fu, among other things. I’m here with my new family. My husband and daughter.”<br />
<br />
“You’re married? And you have a daughter? Wow, congratulations!”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpbYu6a9pIYes3tRmi2IUx7wLXpUOrorB3g9itDhDOT-tiNqXmAtonIG1VGGhyphenhyphenxNDxRQDP2gdohhg6YCGltbkUq3VYpmAQEPttZz44zhbdDDrk3TW1iDoBjM13qLFKPYBu8aBLaqJD4A/s1600/Kenzie+&+Su2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpbYu6a9pIYes3tRmi2IUx7wLXpUOrorB3g9itDhDOT-tiNqXmAtonIG1VGGhyphenhyphenxNDxRQDP2gdohhg6YCGltbkUq3VYpmAQEPttZz44zhbdDDrk3TW1iDoBjM13qLFKPYBu8aBLaqJD4A/s1600/Kenzie+&+Su2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Su smiled again. Kenzie couldn’t believe that it had been nearly four years since she’d last seen her friend that she’d met while on vacation in China. Su had always dreamed of becoming a chef, and now here she was living the dream with her family. Su had taken her on tours of ancient ruins, taught her Sim Fu, and even made her homemade fortune cookies right in her very own home. Yet it seemed like just yesterday.<br />
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<br />
“Please, come with me,” Su said, beckoning Kenzie and Hayden to follow her. She had them sit in one of the roomy booths and placed two menus in front of them after they shed their coats. “I’ll give you an appetizer on the house.”<br />
<br />
“Oh, no, I couldn’t,” Kenzie began, but Su held up her hand. “It’s an honor. And forgive me, but I haven’t properly introduced myself to your companion.”<br />
<br />
“Oh!” Kenzie chuckled as Hayden gave her a mischievous look. “I’m sorry. Su, this is my boyfriend, Hayden. Hayden, this is Su. I met her after college when I went to China.”<br />
<br />
The two shook hands, and Su added a bow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpeYNoA_gcCUJ7VaNODiHahTJLQmQvnlEO341LPYOricsC3-JL-lM0jn2_KFgq9eUsp9hkWg6FO00rq496llTN8LtToaNIuIfN406GRavbtP0kGCTjJ2zF46P2DnXd2l1__0C9DKKZnc/s1600/Kenzie,+Hayden,+&+Su1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpeYNoA_gcCUJ7VaNODiHahTJLQmQvnlEO341LPYOricsC3-JL-lM0jn2_KFgq9eUsp9hkWg6FO00rq496llTN8LtToaNIuIfN406GRavbtP0kGCTjJ2zF46P2DnXd2l1__0C9DKKZnc/s1600/Kenzie,+Hayden,+&+Su1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
“I’ll let Ryu know you’re here,” Su said. “But first, you must try today’s special!”<br />
<br />
Kenzie and Hayden placed an order of free Crab Rangoon appetizers and Su shuffled away, promising a fast return.<br />
<br />
“This is a nice place,” Hayden observed.<br />
<br />
“Yes, it is,” Kenzie agreed. “And wow, I had no idea Su was running it!”<br />
<br />
“According to my notes, the owners are Ryu and Su Tanaka. He’s from Japan and she’s from China, and they met in Shang Simla, got married, had a daughter, and then came here to start a restaurant.”<br />
<br />
“Su always did want to come here. I feel bad that we lost touch after all these years.”<br />
<br />
“It happens sometimes.”<br />
<br />
“True, but I don’t want it to. I’m going to swear right now never to lose touch with another friend.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Hayden reached across the table and held Kenzie’s hands in his. “At least nothing bad happened to her. She’s happy, living a good life, and she even remembers you.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah. And now I’ll be able to see her more often.”<br />
<br />
“Exactly.”<br />
<br />
The appetizers arrived and the two dug in. Once they’d finished their meal, Su introduced them both to her husband, Ryu, and their two-year-old daughter, Mai. The Tanakas invited both Kenzie and Hayden to visit their home after the restaurant closed on account of Su’s close friendship with Kenzie, thus giving a more personal vibe to the story Hayden was writing.<br />
<br />
The house was a cozy little townhouse that looked like a traditional Sunset Valley one on the outside, but the inside was furnished with various knickknacks from the owners’ Asian heritages. Su gave them a full tour, and Kenzie thought she’d melt at the cuteness that was Mai’s nursery. All the panda décor and furnishings were simply precious.<br />
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<br />
She and Su got reacquainted while Hayden interviewed Ryu, and then Su joined her husband while Kenzie watched from the couch as Mai played in her playpen, her face alight with glee, and the family dog, Izumi, even joined in.<br />
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<br />
It was nearly ten o’clock when the interview was finished. They’d had to wait until after the dinner crowd had left and the restaurant closed for the night before the interview could begin. Su promised to show them the hibachi grill next time.<br />
<br />
“Well, that was a great interview,” Hayden stated once they were back in the car. “I wish they could all be that smooth.”<br />
<br />
“I know the feeling, except for me it comes with interviewing suspects.”<br />
<br />
“I’d imagine so.” He glanced at the digital clock on the car’s dashboard. “Man, it’s late. A little late to drive back to Moonlight Falls tonight. I mean, I’m okay with it, but…”<br />
<br />
“No, it’s fine. Let’s just get a hotel. We didn’t plan on it taking this long, since I didn’t know an old friend would be involved.”<br />
<br />
“Not a problem. By the way, did I tell you how much I love your haircut?”<br />
<br />
“I don’t think so. I thought it was time for another change.”<br />
<br />
“Well, when we get to that hotel, I’m going to show you just how much I love that change. And more importantly, I’ll show you just how much I love you.”<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-unsolvable.html">Part List</a> | <a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/02/part-2-attack.html">Next Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-23372696676520650882015-02-18T20:12:00.001-06:002015-03-11T19:36:30.993-05:00The UnsolvableWARNING: This story has a rating of PG-13. It contains a lot of references to things like woohoo, language, violence, and the like.<br />
<br />
Kenzie's next story is here, and a new story type is making its debut! This story isn't a full mystery novel, but it's also longer than a short story and it is still classified as a mystery. So I've dubbed it a mini mystery! More may be on the way, though I may write shorter stories consisting of only pictures with dialog, similar to a comic strip without the boxed formatting, to save on time.<br />
<br />
This is another idea that's been floating in my head for a while, and after battling with it for quite some time and wondering whether or not I should bring it to light, I decided to take the plunge. Presenting...<br />
<br />
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<br />
<b><u>Synopsis:</u></b><br />
Things are looking up for Kenzie Howell. She and all of her friends are beginning the next chapter of their lives. Kenzie is moving in with her boyfriend, Austin and Cheyenne are now proud parents, and Jillian is quickly adapting to life as a vampire. Everything seems to be picture-perfect, until an unforeseen circumstance befalls Kenzie and challenges everything she thought she knew about herself and her life.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Parts:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/02/part-1-next-chapter.html">Part 1 - The Next Chapter</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/02/part-2-attack.html">Part 2 - The Attack</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-3-inevitable.html">Part 3 - The Inevitable</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/02/part-4-unexplained.html">Part 4 - The Unexplained</a><br />
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<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-5-new-breed.html">Part 5 - The New Breed</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-6-greatest-mystery.html">Part 6 - The Greatest Mystery</a>Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-82188404743603928132014-09-17T17:33:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:47:31.970-06:00Part 5 - The TransformationJillian’s eyes were still their striking turquoise color. But they were now illuminated by a pale, ominous glow. Her skin was significantly paler, almost as pale as Kenzie’s, and when she opened her mouth to speak, her canine teeth had extended.<br />
<br />
It was official. Jillian Swansen, Kenzie’s best friend since first grade, had been reborn. She was now a vampire. Her sun-loving, beach-going best friend forever was a creature of the night.<br />
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<br />
“Jillian,” Isaiah said softly. Jillian whirled her head around to stare at her mate. Then, she held her hands out at arm’s length, studying them. Then, she dashed to the mirror.<br />
<br />
She seemed to be as surprised by how fast she’d made it to the mirror as what she actually saw in it.<br />
<br />
“What…I’m…how…”<br />
<br />
“It’s all right,” Isaiah said reassuringly. “You’re okay now.”<br />
<br />
Jillian spun around. “Okay? You call this okay?! I’m a freaking vampire!”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie bit her lip. Great. More guilt was forthcoming.<br />
<br />
“You were dying, love,” Isaiah stated. “It was the only way. I explained it to you. I had to give you some of my blood to heal you. There was no time to take you to a hospital. And human blood wouldn’t have been enough.”<br />
<br />
“But why did that turn me into a vampire? Why didn’t it just heal me?”<br />
<br />
“Because it takes three vampire bites and drinking a vampire’s blood twenty-four hours after the third bite to transform into one. You were held hostage, and fed on…”<br />
<br />
“That psycho bitch that took me! Yeah, she said she was one of my models, and next thing I know, I’m waking up in a shitty old house, and she’s biting my damn neck! And now this! Now I’m a damn vampire! What am I going to do? I can’t live like this! I don’t know how to do anything, I don’t want to drink blood, I don’t even know my own strength…”<br />
<br />
“I’ll teach you. You aren’t alone like I was. You’ll never be alone. And right now, you need to feed.”<br />
<br />
“No! I won’t eat people!”<br />
<br />
“You won’t. You can feed from other vampires as well, and there’s plasma juice...”<br />
<br />
“Feed from me,” Kenzie interjected from the door. Everyone focused their eyes on her and inhaled sharply.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“What?” Jillian inquired.<br />
<br />
“This is all my fault,” Kenzie elaborated. “You were kidnapped because of something I did years ago. That crazy vampire thought it was you. I should be in your place right now.”<br />
<br />
“No,” Hayden growled.<br />
<br />
Isaiah held up his hand. “Kenzie, I already told you, I don’t blame you. Besides, Jillian should be started on plasma juice and plasma fruit. That way she won’t require human blood for sustenance. I brought some with me, since that’s what I eat and drink anyway.”<br />
<br />
Isaiah walked over to the dresser and extracted a bottle that Kenzie hadn’t known was inside. He walked back over to Jillian and handed it to her. “Drink this.”<br />
<br />
“What’s that smell?” Jillian asked instead.<br />
<br />
“You’re smelling human blood. Hayden, get Kenzie out of here. Now.”<br />
<br />
Hayden grabbed Kenzie and hauled her out, and this time she didn’t object. She didn’t have the strength to. All she had the strength to do was, after returning to her and Hayden’s hotel room, sit on the floor and break down into hysterics.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
********************************************************************************</div>
<br />
Their stay in Midnight Hollow was extended and the photo shoot postponed. Jillian was in no condition to travel. Isaiah was keeping her nourished with plasma juice and fruit, which made Kenzie cringe.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Had she truly done the right thing? Yes, Jillian was alive. Sort of. But was she really going to be able to truly <i>live</i>? The life she wanted, the one she’d always dreamed of…would she be able to have it?<br />
<br />
No, not if it involved the sun and the beach. But she’d still be with Isaiah, and she wanted that too, right?<br />
<br />
Though she was a vampire, Jillian still required sleep. And after learning some of the basic skills of vampires from Isaiah, she’d worn herself out.<br />
<br />
While she slept the next day, Kenzie approached Jillian’s mate in a concealed corner in the hopes of keeping Jillian from hearing them.<br />
<br />
“What about the promise you made to me?” she probed. “You promised that you’d do the right thing after we got Jill back.”<br />
<br />
“I did,” Isaiah replied. “But I never clarified what that entailed. And right now, I don’t think the right thing to do would be to leave her. You said it was too dangerous for us to be together if I’m a vampire and she’s a human. That’s no longer the case. Besides, she needs me. I won’t let her go through this alone. Not like I had to.”<br />
<br />
“How’s she taking it?”<br />
<br />
“Very well, surprisingly. She’s over the initial shock, and seems to be quite taken with the idea of us living together for eternity.”<br />
<br />
“And…what about Sunlit Tides? She was going to move there. And what about her career?”<br />
<br />
“She can still have her career. Supernatural creatures are no longer hidden, remember? As for Sunlit Tides, she hasn’t mentioned that, but obviously she can’t go there or back to Sunset Valley in this condition. Besides, I’d rather keep her with me so that I can take proper care of her. I already checked into town records. Flossie was right; that manor truly was my father’s, and as his only heir, it now belongs to me. I’m going to take up residence here, and I’m going to bring Jillian with me.”<br />
<br />
“Are you getting married?”<br />
<br />
“Perhaps someday. But one thing at a time.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie just nodded. At least Jillian would be taken care of, and hopefully safer now that she and Isaiah would be living together. And in Midnight Hollow, where the sun never shined. The perfect place for vampires.<br />
<br />
Still, it would take some getting used to. Kenzie wasn’t a big fan of change, and now her best friend had gone through one of the biggest changes either of them had ever seen.<br />
<br />
But at least there were no grudges held. Jillian didn’t hold Kenzie responsible for being reborn as a different species. In fact, she told her that she’d even talked with Isaiah about becoming a vampire one day. And she did thank her for saving her life, or allowing Isaiah to do so in whatever way he could.<br />
<br />
The photo shoot happened the following day. Kenzie felt like her cheeks were going to split in two because of the fake smile that was plastered on her face. But it was a relief that Jillian herself was happy, and that was good enough for her.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Once the photo shoot was over, everyone departed but the two vampire mates. On the drive back to Riverview, Kenzie suddenly realized something. Jillian and Isaiah were now living together, and Austin and Cheyenne were married with a baby due any time. Hayden had asked her to move in with him and she’d been reluctant to do so due to her low tolerance for change.<br />
<br />
But if Jillian had been living with Isaiah, if they hadn’t had to meet in Midnight Hollow, she would have been safe. Or at least safer than when she’d been alone.<br />
<br />
A mate could only do so much for the one he promised to protect when they lived towns away from each other. And now, it was time to make a big change.<br />
<br />
“Hayden,” she said, “I’ve made a decision.”<br />
<br />
“What’s that?”<br />
<br />
“Yes. I will move in with you.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Hayden looked at her with wide eyes. “Really?”<br />
<br />
“Yes. Seeing this with Jill and Isaiah…it made me realize that I don’t want to be away from you, the person I love more than anyone. I don’t want to have to be alone. I’m usually not big for change, but I think now is the time to make one. So, if the offer still stands, I’d like to take you up on it. Of course, Sage would have to come, too.”<br />
<br />
Hayden reached over and held Kenzie’s hand in his. “Of course the offer’s still there, for both you and Sage. We’ll start making plans. And maybe we’ll get a bigger place for ourselves. A PI needs her own office.”<br />
<br />
“Oh, no…”<br />
<br />
“We’ll worry about that later. Right now, I’m the happiest man, and beast, in the world.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie smiled and squeezed Hayden’s hand. Her heart pounded in nervousness and excitement, but one thing was for sure. Nothing was definite, nothing was permanent, and life was unpredictable. No one lived forever, but the cautious never truly lived at all. And she was through being so cautious all the time.<br />
<br />
The ties that bound Kenzie to Riverview were severed. Much as she loved her parents and enjoyed having them just down the street, she loved Hayden more. And she had to live her own life.<br />
<br />
The ties that bound her and Hayden were stronger, just like those that bound Jillian and Isaiah together. Their blood ties had allowed Jillian to be found before worse harm could come to her. She could have been lost forever had he not had her blood in his system to use for Paige’s ritual. Maybe it was fate.<br />
<br />
But regardless of what it was, it was time for a change. And Kenzie was ready to make that change.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE END</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kenzie-howell-ts3.blogspot.com/2014/09/part-4-awakening.html">Previous Part</a></span></b></div>
Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8867322863081856107.post-62705388300152793702014-09-14T09:47:00.000-05:002017-01-27T22:47:09.166-06:00Part 4 - The AwakeningTime seemed to stand still. It seemed like everyone was staring at Kenzie, willing her to make the most important decision she’d ever had to make thus far.<br />
<br />
What would Jillian truly want? As much as she loved the sun, would she want to live out the rest of her days, the rest of eternity, in the shadows?<br />
<br />
But on the other hand, Isaiah had said there was only a fifty percent chance of her transforming into a vampire. It was possible that his blood would heal her and she’d be fine. If she <i>did</i> transform, she’d be able to be with him easier.<br />
<br />
There really was only one choice.<br />
<br />
“Do it. Save her, Isaiah. If this is the only way, then do it.”<br />
<br />
Isaiah wasted no time. He held his wrist to his lips as his incisors elongated. Allowing his own blood to spill forth, he hastily propped himself up onto the sofa and pulled Jillian into his lap. Then, he allowed his blood to flow from his wrist into Jillian’s mouth.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Hayden held onto Kenzie as she watched the repellent scene before her. She hoped this would work, so badly. Even Ellis knew better than to intervene; with Flossie dead, he was no longer needed, anyway. Elijah and his croons headed back to The Crypt, the favor to Isaiah repaid. They didn’t even wait around to witness Jillian’s fate. Kenzie and Hayden were left alone in the frayed manor with Paige, Isaiah, and a dying Jillian.<br />
<br />
At last, Isaiah’s wound healed and he stopped feeding Jillian the crimson liquid that seemed to never cease flowing.<br />
<br />
Kenzie could have sworn that she heard him murmur, “I’m sorry” to her with genuine culpability in his voice.<br />
<br />
“She’ll need rest,” he said out loud, but still quietly, as if unsure himself if she’d be all right. “I don’t want to risk moving her from the house. Plus, if worse comes to worst, we won’t want to be around…civilization.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie tried to stifle a shudder. Isaiah had a point. If Jillian did transform, it would be best to keep her away from humans. Including herself.<br />
<br />
Isaiah didn’t leave her on the couch, but he did carry her to one of the bedrooms and place her on the bed.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“If only we’d gotten here sooner,” Kenzie was going on frantically. “We could have helped her sooner…”<br />
<br />
“No,” Isaiah stated. “Florence was blocking the blood bond. She was more powerful, being an elder vampire. That’s why I wasn’t able to locate Jillian without Paige’s help. She only knew of me; she didn’t block a witch’s magic because she hadn’t anticipated that.”<br />
<br />
“But why won’t she wake up? And why does she still have that nasty gash in her neck? Your blood should heal her.”<br />
<br />
“It will take time, Kenzie. My blood has to work its way through her bloodstream, and then her tissue has to repair itself from all the…trauma.”<br />
<br />
“The bite marks inflicted by that bitch, you mean.”<br />
<br />
“Yes.”<br />
<br />
“How long?”<br />
<br />
“There’s no way to tell.”<br />
<br />
“Kenzie,” Hayden said as he held her tightly, “it’ll be okay. Jillian’s stronger than you think. She’ll pull through this, one way or the other.”<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMDC2clLmiu52mEHl18L7ajr5Zri0aSU99FZQkmMbIAQx9Q1GLo5v_-r_oYY-mADRKTM8Imsjr_uIAsCCaebkkZlVQ8M6KyJPOIvHKREjnO1vZA0ssaWxB9Tl_G9bvss34pg4CDD_mm0/s1600/Kenzie+&+Hayden4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMDC2clLmiu52mEHl18L7ajr5Zri0aSU99FZQkmMbIAQx9Q1GLo5v_-r_oYY-mADRKTM8Imsjr_uIAsCCaebkkZlVQ8M6KyJPOIvHKREjnO1vZA0ssaWxB9Tl_G9bvss34pg4CDD_mm0/s1600/Kenzie+&+Hayden4.jpg" width="444" /></a></div>
<br />
Kenzie spun around and buried her face into her boyfriend’s chest. It wasn’t just trepidation that was causing her turmoil. It was guilt.<br />
<br />
A small voice in her head kept taunting her, chanting over and over, “It should be me. It should’ve been me.”<br />
<br />
It was like a broken record playing over and over relentlessly with no one to turn off the phonograph. Guilt had been eating away at her ever since Flossie had stated the reason she’d come after Isaiah – because he’d killed his mother, which was to be her revenge. And he’d had a human companion help him do it.<br />
<br />
Jillian was paying the price for something that she’d done.<br />
<br />
Isaiah had pulled up a chair and was sitting next to Jillian, scrutinizing her closely, watching for any signs of change.<br />
<br />
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<br />
The agony was unbearable, the tension too high. Isaiah seemed to sense this with his keen abilities.<br />
<br />
“I think it would be best if you went back to the hotel,” he said at last. “Just to be safe.”<br />
<br />
“No. I’m not leaving her.”<br />
<br />
“Kenzie, please, don’t argue. Not now.”<br />
<br />
“Isaiah, you know why I’m staying.”<br />
<br />
“Because Jillian’s your best friend. But if she changes…”<br />
<br />
“It’s not that. You heard what Flossie said.”<br />
<br />
“About what?”<br />
<br />
“You took away her revenge with the help of a human companion. She thought your mate was that companion. But it wasn’t. It was me. This is my fault. Jillian doesn’t deserve to leave this world permanently because of me. I’m the one that should be laying in that bed.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie hadn’t turned away from Hayden upon saying this. She didn’t have the nerve to look Isaiah in the eye.<br />
<br />
Hayden, however, was the first to respond.<br />
<br />
“Don’t you dare blame yourself for this,” he said intensely. “No one could have known that psycho woman would plan this bullshit. You were just trying to stay alive when that happened back in Bridgeport.”<br />
<br />
“I don’t hold you responsible, Kenzie,” Isaiah affirmed. “That woman manipulated everyone she met, even back before she knew my father.”<br />
<br />
“But still. Jillian should never have been kidnapped. It should have been me. And then even if I was in the same position as she is, Hayden could have healed me, and even if I turned into a werewolf, it would be okay because…”<br />
<br />
“No, it wouldn’t be okay,” Hayden interrupted hotly. “We’ve already talked about this.”<br />
<br />
“But…”<br />
<br />
“No buts. And I think Isaiah’s right. We need to leave. Give them some privacy.”<br />
<br />
“I’ll stay,” Paige added. She’d been so quiet that Kenzie had practically forgotten that she was there. “Maybe there’s something I can do. Some spell or other that will help.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie didn’t want to leave. Even if it meant having to shack up in one of the dreary, filthy old rooms of this manor, she didn’t want to leave. Not wanting to argue anymore, Isaiah finally assented and only asked her and Hayden to stay clear of the bedroom.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
********************************************************************************</div>
<br />
Three hours. That was how long it had been since Jillian had succumbed to darkness. She was breathing fine and her wounds seemed to have healed. But she still hadn’t woken up.<br />
<br />
Kenzie’s imagination was beginning to run away with her. She began pacing, fretting, envisioning horrific things. Hayden tried to console her as best he could, but to no avail. Even taking a private tour through the Cavanaugh manor (though Isaiah hadn’t known that until earlier tonight) couldn’t repress her fears.<br />
<br />
Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. She excused herself to go to the bathroom, but she didn’t actually go that way. She went into the master suite, where Isaiah was hovering over Jillian, his fingers brushing her face, a look of peril upon his face.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDUTVt9Qy7qxhO8oz3Hj2OnVStfgiSmilSnlXBPdXWFrs_YzwPnhegtT4iKJpILQFAtOent-EiwLLxDDOPvQ4O93O4XgBAE4J6ioFCVhk9JdToGT3mxadRyfVQI5fbf4NqBJqtyOfMqs/s1600/Jillian+&+Isaiah5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDUTVt9Qy7qxhO8oz3Hj2OnVStfgiSmilSnlXBPdXWFrs_YzwPnhegtT4iKJpILQFAtOent-EiwLLxDDOPvQ4O93O4XgBAE4J6ioFCVhk9JdToGT3mxadRyfVQI5fbf4NqBJqtyOfMqs/s1600/Jillian+&+Isaiah5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
“Any change?” Kenzie asked. Isaiah shook his head. “She shifted in her sleep slightly, but nothing more.”<br />
<br />
“I’ve been thinking,” Kenzie continued. “She’s your mate. You truly love her. You would have healed her regardless of what I said.”<br />
<br />
“Yes. I love her and refuse to lose her.”<br />
<br />
“Then why ask my permission?”<br />
<br />
“I guess I needed reassurance that, no matter what happened, you’d know that we did everything possible to help Jillian. And I wanted to know that, in the end, it was all right with her best friend. I guess I wanted to have a clear conscience if worse came to worst.”<br />
<br />
“And if she changes?”<br />
<br />
“I would never do that to her. You know that. Not if there were any other way. But, as it turns out, there wasn’t.”<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kenzie looked down at Jillian. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully. It was reassuring to see her chest move up and down, and she didn’t appear to be in any pain.<br />
<br />
Still, what was <i>really</i> going on inside her body?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Suddenly, Jillian stirred. Kenzie got closer and looked down at her. “Jill?”<br />
<br />
Jillian’s eyes fluttered open. She looked fine, normal.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Upon seeing Kenzie, her lovely face broke out into a smile. She reached out her hand and Kenzie grasped it while climbing onto the opposite side of the bed.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“How are you feeling?” Kenzie asked softly.<br />
<br />
“Okay, considering.”<br />
<br />
“Do you remember what happened?”<br />
<br />
“Unfortunately, yes. I remember all too well.”<br />
<br />
Her eyes shifted until they rested on Isaiah’s. “Isaiah,” she whispered.<br />
<br />
Kenzie moved away so that Isaiah could hold Jillian now.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“My love,” Isaiah said as relief washed over his face. “Are you all right?”<br />
<br />
“I hurt. I feel weird.”<br />
<br />
“That’s undoubtedly because of the vampire blood in your system.”<br />
<br />
“Vampire blood? What?!”<br />
<br />
Isaiah leaned down and kissed Jillian, as if touching his lips to hers would make everything just fine again. Although, knowing Jillian, it probably would; she was already wrapping her arm around his neck.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Then, he looked at Kenzie and asked for some privacy. Kenzie frowned, but obliged.<br />
<br />
When she got back downstairs to the parlor where Hayden was, he was waiting for her, waiting to comfort her. She tried to ignore the dried blood on the rug from Jillian’s earlier wounds.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“What’s wrong?” he asked.<br />
<br />
“She’s awake.”<br />
<br />
“Uh…why is that bad?”<br />
<br />
“Because I’m scared. She isn’t quite herself, and she says she’s in pain and she feels weird. I don’t know if she’s…”<br />
<br />
Hayden embraced her, cutting off her words.<br />
<br />
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<br />
“Jillian will be fine, one way or the other,” he consoled. “She’s awake, and she’s healing. Just keep your fingers crossed.”<br />
<br />
Kenzie nodded, but she knew that crossing her fingers wasn’t going to help. She wanted Jillian back the way she was, and safe.<br />
<br />
Fear of the unknown was a powerful thing. She didn’t know how much longer she could endure not knowing the fate of her best friend.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
********************************************************************************</div>
<br />
By the time morning arrived, everyone was still at the manor. Jillian had been slowly showing signs of progression overnight, but she still complained of pain, particularly in her neck area. Isaiah was certain that was because of all the feeding that had been done on it.<br />
<br />
But she’d still insisted that she felt well enough to return to the hotel, so that was where everyone was now. Everyone had their own rooms, grateful to be in a clean hotel instead of the grimy old manor.<br />
<br />
Two nights later, Kenzie was lying in Hayden’s arms, trying to sleep, but she was restless. Nightmares invaded her mind, threatening to strangle her. Hayden comforted her, as always, but she couldn’t shake the foreboding feeling that seemed to make itself prominent in the forefront of her mind.<br />
<br />
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<br />
The next day, Kenzie was once again in Hayden’s arms, finally taking a nap after those restless nights.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Unfortunately, her naps were also restless. Dreams haunted Kenzie. Horrid, nightmarish images flickered through her subconscious depicting all manners of monsters. A demonic child with glowing eyes was the last thing she saw before she shot up in bed, a scream caught in her throat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquilrhLD6wTYxKcjhr3hdVjaMIwJAi2cLtGKdQVkRqTNxfrtpRTZNdj0s4IFGz0IUtendm7ccvIIbM90OzoaeKQZ5SLmzQPZBt50zwLzFR3b5XHVJvNFckSwUJhvM88CUqCCDccVCj5c/s1600/Kenzie+wake+up1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquilrhLD6wTYxKcjhr3hdVjaMIwJAi2cLtGKdQVkRqTNxfrtpRTZNdj0s4IFGz0IUtendm7ccvIIbM90OzoaeKQZ5SLmzQPZBt50zwLzFR3b5XHVJvNFckSwUJhvM88CUqCCDccVCj5c/s1600/Kenzie+wake+up1.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<br />
“What’s wrong?” Hayden asked as he shot up in bed like a toaster pastry.<br />
<br />
“Bad dreams. Horrible.”<br />
<br />
Hayden wrapped her in his arms. He cursed himself inwardly for not asking Paige to give Kenzie something to help her sleep peacefully.<br />
<br />
Because that was all that could really be done at this point. Sleep, eat (when he could convince her to eat anything), and wait. He was also beginning to get restless and worried that his methods of comfort would soon wear off.<br />
<br />
“It’s okay,” he said as they once again sprawled across the bed. “It was just a dream. It wasn’t real. Why don’t you think about something happy before you fall asleep, and that may prompt a better dream?”<br />
<br />
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to sleep at all,” Kenzie quipped. “How do you possibly expect me to sleep? My best friend was dying just a couple of days ago, being kept alive by vampire blood, she still isn’t feeling like herself, and I’m supposed to <i>sleep</i>?”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquoS6pEd6fjKWrrdNN2sOEfURIazOWIjFQPaBExuYD9HTBluOwqbLKk_eaZYoRED3VDN8-_NAw1cmZmM8l8nHhI6nlXkMXAiBMUTwT4n6tqPo-o60JzFViW6e79kcln6SXvAf89sgBZ8/s1600/Kenzie+&+Hayden10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquoS6pEd6fjKWrrdNN2sOEfURIazOWIjFQPaBExuYD9HTBluOwqbLKk_eaZYoRED3VDN8-_NAw1cmZmM8l8nHhI6nlXkMXAiBMUTwT4n6tqPo-o60JzFViW6e79kcln6SXvAf89sgBZ8/s1600/Kenzie+&+Hayden10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Hayden held Kenzie close, her face pressed into his chest. He could feel her suffering, her anguish, in her trembling voice and quivering body. He offered her comfort, all he could give, in the only way he could. But he was just as worried as she was, only for different reasons. If Jillian didn’t come out of this all right, what would become of the woman <i>he</i> loved?<br />
<br />
“Jillian is safe now,” he said softly. “That’s the important thing. She’s alive and well, as good as can be expected. Worrying won’t help her, and I know she wants you to take it easy.”<br />
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<br />
Kenzie seemed to be following this advice when suddenly, an agonizing shriek sounded from the adjoining room.<br />
<br />
“What was that?!” Kenzie and Hayden exclaimed simultaneously. They both bolted from the bed and ran to the next room, Hayden charging right in.<br />
<br />
Jillian was lying supine on the bed, her eyes rolled back into her head. She was clutching her throat tightly, as if gasping for air. Kenzie jumped back in trepidation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EvtThyphenhyphenZA0-LY0lGTx7CnI-HVzH7dzqVCrfmFXg9-_tHXrQTJ_QLfijyaJuP3PkIWUCKiv1uGy0i5ojr0eNzINmiUNSFmTvxoIT080qRviqLP6DxWy-mEkgRQDexlcmF6SM5kPdAICho/s1600/Jillian5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EvtThyphenhyphenZA0-LY0lGTx7CnI-HVzH7dzqVCrfmFXg9-_tHXrQTJ_QLfijyaJuP3PkIWUCKiv1uGy0i5ojr0eNzINmiUNSFmTvxoIT080qRviqLP6DxWy-mEkgRQDexlcmF6SM5kPdAICho/s1600/Jillian5.jpg" width="586" /></a></div>
<br />
“What the hell?!” Hayden boomed as he barged further into the room, Paige right behind him and Kenzie sandwiched between the two.<br />
<br />
“Everyone get out!” Isaiah commanded. To Jillian, his voice ringing with authority, he said, “It’s all right. I’m here.”<br />
<br />
“Isaiah…it burns! My eyes! And my throat! What’s happening to me?!”<br />
<br />
A red mist cloaked Jillian, and Kenzie swore she saw bats flying around inside it.<br />
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<br />
“No!” Kenzie screamed. “Jill!”<br />
<br />
“Get out!” Isaiah roared. Hayden grabbed Kenzie and tried to pull her away, but it was too late. It was over as fast as it had begun.<br />
<br />
The red fog had vanished and Jillian was sitting upright on the bed, her head lowered. When she raised it, she took everything in with new eyes.<br />
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Tender Wolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874882716131293841noreply@blogger.com0