The Redemption of the Dragomir Family

The Redemption of the Dragomir
Throughout history there have been leaders who tainted their family named by leaving a trail violence and darkness to the point there isn’t any honor left in that name. Such people can be found in the land of Panthera and have to be taken care of the hard way. For the Vampire race the entire population has become a festering pit of corruption ruled over by Radu Dragomir.
Now within his harem a young girl shivers in fear as the abomination within her womb grows, reminding her of the treason of her people. With only a sheer fabric bound about her hips as her only clothing she feels the cold metal of her chains nip at her ankles, wrists, and neck as well as the cold wall at her back. Out of the corner of her eye she notices the she is not the only one awake. Her friend Celina had weakly turned her head to look at her.
“Edanna, are you carrying?” she asked in her still pure voice.
Edanna could only nod weakly and to her astonishment Celina smiled.
“Then there is hope.” Celina sighed.
“What hope can there be for us?” Edanna moaned.
“Maybe not for us, but for our children.” Celina answered.
“I could care less about this bastard!” Edanna screamed. “I hope it dies before it has a chance to breathe.”
“Then call the Shadow Guardian. Only she can help you.” Celina informed.
“The Guardians of Panthera are only nursery stories.” Edanna chuckled.
“Then what do you have to lose from calling her?” Celina asked.
Edanna took a breath and summoned up her strength. “I call for the aid of the Shadow Guardian. She who guards over all whom reside in her territory.”
The slightest breeze flickered over Edanna skin and she heard a voice say, “Only with the birth of your child shall I send the Shadow Guardian.”
Celina barred her teeth in a snarl. “Typical Fates. At least she proved the legend is history.”
Edanna merely let her head fall back to succumb to a numb sleep; unlike her other nights she saw complete blackness and a bright purple light coming from what seemed to coming from a huge block of purple crystal. As she got closer she could see that the light revealed a twisting shape in the crystal; no sooner had she touched the glowing stone a woman burst through and clamped her hand on Edanna’s neck. Her eyes blazed violet, pointed matching horns peeked out of her shoulder length brown hair, and sharp fangs knashed in her mouth. The hand that clutched Edanna released her gently as the woman stepped out of her prison and seemed to pull a blue kimono stile robe, out of nowhere, across her chubby form.
“Who… who are you?” Edanna gulped.
“Isn’t obvious?” The woman answered, her violet eyes fading to brown.
“Why is this happening?”
“Because I don’t like the short messages the Fates send and I love making them mad.” The Guardian informed, shaking goo out of her hair.
“So, you still won’t rise until my child is born.” Edanna comented.
“The child needs to live and only he can break me out to help him.” The Guardian explained.
“The bastard of a dictator is the only hope to bring you back.” Edanna snarled.
“Stop right there princess.” The guardian growled. “Whatever else your son is and will be doesn’t change the fact that he’s still your son.”
The dream began to fade.
“No wonder the Fate’s imprisoned you!” Edanna howled.
The Guardian only stood there unfazed as she watched Edanna go.












































Chapter 1
Collum
Nine months passed until Edanna was spread on a bed while one of Radu’s healers led her through the birth.
“Keep pushing and breathing,” he grunted,” It’s almost out.”
With one last push Edanna felt the pain of birth slowly ebb and heard the faint cry of her son echo through the room.
Meanwhile, beneath Midnight Castle Beck twisted within her crystal prison. Cries for help had echoed through the shell, but her strength remained dormant until she heard a summons of women mocking her. Fury twisted in her and she opened her eyes. She struck the shell once and kept pounding until she heard it brake. Her body fell forward land hard on the stone floor.
“Ow!” Beck groaned, as she tried to stand.
When she finally braced her back against the cold stone wall she looked at what her freedom had cost her; several shards of the purple crystal were embedded into her abdomen and legs while several cuts and gashes marred the rest of her.
“Thank god for regeneration.” Beck said, as she watched the cuts heal.
As she began yanking out the bits of crystal she became aware she was not alone.
“So what do you bitches have to say?” Beck growled.
“How did you know we were here?” A familiar voice demanded.
“I can sense a bitch a mile away, now what do you want?” Beck snarled.
“As Fates we have awakened you from your slumber to restore balance.” The voice said.
“I thought you three said you could handle it: hence why you put me and the other guardians in the imprisonment; not slumber, imprisonment.” Beck snarled again. “Now get the hell out of here!”
“I think you’re being a little ungrateful.” The voice reprimanded.
“What do I have to be grateful to you for? The kid released me, not you. Now get out!”
Thunder crackled in the sky announcing the Fates departure.
“You shall pay for this.” They hissed into the shadows.
“Not yet bitches!” Beck hissed back, as she clasped her arms above her head to give her back a good stretch. “Now let’s get started with fixing their mess.”
Beck’s hands formed claws and slammed down to sink into the rich earth, her eyes glowed violet and brilliant violet streaks raced through her hair as she sent her will into the very earth her ruined castle stood on. Fallen walls gathered their broken shards and sealed themselves back into place. Beck let out a roar as she forged glass into the empty frames. When at last the castle stood firmly, Beck allowed her body to fall again onto the ancient floor. The persistent cries of the new born son pushed her to her feet and gave her the strength to summon up a pair of jeans and a loose, black t-shirt to clothe herself.
“Didn’t shield me from the world enough.” Beck spat at her unseen pains in the neck, as she formed a pair of black and blue sneakers.
That would be my doing. Whispered a familiar voice.
Dreamwalker. Beck communicated mentally. One of the few Fates I can stand.
Well as the guy who took your part in every argument you had with my kind, I should hope so. Dreamwalker laughed.
Any chance you’re the one that let me see the world growing up? Beck asked.
Clever little monkey, now you better get to saving the little boy and his mother, too many have already suffered the same abuse. Dreamwalker reminded.
Beck took a breath and sprinted up the stairs until she made it to the front door. When she slammed the heavy wood panels forward and felt her first brush of fresh air in five centuries, Beck took a deep breath and savored the soft caress of its cool fingers flicking across her skin.
“Time for this wolf to get prowlin’.” Beck said finally, and broke off into another sprint for the woods.
Inch by inch her chubby, human form disappeared to be replaced by the wolf within. A loud snarl rumbled in her throat as her muscles took their new shape and her thick grey coat spread across her skin. When she found that her form was done to the tip of her tail, she took off bounding over rocks, earth, and even the sea that divided her from the land that held her new charge. As the tress of its forest began to thin out, the smell of tainted vampires burned her nose with the strength of rotted blood. A growl ground through her teeth when she finally could see the bright lights of Collum, the city of vampires.
Perhaps a better disguise would come in handy. Beck thought to herself. The thick pelt and long tail withdrew from Beck’s body, but even when she was human again she didn’t stop. Layers of fat dissolved away from Beck’s stomach and face as her bones burst and regained a new shape. Unable to block the pain, Beck froze and cried as she formed the one disguise that no one could see past.
After what seemed an eternity, a flawless woman rose from where a girl had lain. Her chestnut brown hair fell in wild curls to her slim, seductive waist, her almond shaped eyes sparkled with their amber tones, and every part of her body from the top of her head to her dainty feet promised erotic seduction. This new woman summoned a pair of skinny hip huggers to encase her slender legs, a pair of elegant brown leather boots stretching to below her knees, and a red silk blouse that let little of her now dreamlike breasts to the imagination. A dark brown trench coat encased her body for warmth, as she marched across the snow sprinkled ground for the place of her destiny.
As she finally came to a section of paved road, she heard the loud honking of horns and screaming of frustrated drivers. Sighing, she stepped onto the nearest sidewalk and darted looks at the occasional passerby. Not many vampires were on the street, which surprised Beck. Vampires hardly ever traveled in any motor transport when they were cities, especially tainted ones. A weak attempt of a lure from a worm of a male reminded Beck of old hunts in the city. Hunts of rogues that actually bought the trapped in the snake stare look.
A grin spread across her full lips at the memory of turning the tables on them and ripping their black hearts out.
Hey, remember you’re here for a rescue mission, not a search and destroy mission. Dreamwalker’s voice reprimanded.
Beck shrugged him away and leaned against one of the corner shops. Her left hand pressed against the rough brick exterior as she concentrated her magic to find a path to her charge. Come on, find me that baby. Beck’s command sent her magic in an lavender thread, seen only by her, through the air. With a smile on her face, Beck followed the thread faster and faster until the world around her became a faint blur until she found herself in the center of the city and at the door to a castle that screamed ‘I house vampires’. Black walls stretched to touch the sky with howling gargoyles perched on its old world towers. Beck growled at the sight of the mural welded on the pewter door; countless beings fighting in the arms of demonic vampires with grey blood dripping from their fangs.
“Yep, definably the home of an evil dictator.” Beck concluded, as she took a deep sniff of the air to see if she could track the baby.
Sure enough, she detected the slightest hint of innocence in the house of evil. There were others in there, prisoners no doubt, and the thought of them being alone in that dark place of decay made her blood boil. Knowing the front door would just be plain stupid, Beck circled the perimeter until she found a balcony with glass doors as the only barrier. A slight breeze carried a familiar scent down to her that sent her heart thundering in her chest.
“No!” Beck denied in a whisper, and jumped up to the three story ledge.
Radu Dragomir leaned back lazily in his leather office chair with a tumbler in his hand. The whiskey made the blood mixed in it bubble and give off an intoxicating aroma to his nose, but before he could take a sip he felt a powerful presence on his balcony. As he got up a flash of lightning illuminated the shadow of a figure behind his parchment colored curtains. No matter, one assassin could hardly be any trouble. Another few flashes showed the person was changing, and as he pulled open his glass paneled door he came face to face with the woman he hadn’t expected to see ever again.
Beck gazed at the man the infant she once held in her arms had become. Tall and heavily muscled, he was as flawless and beautiful as any other vampire. His raven black hair groomed well enough to make Brad Pitt look sloppy; his pale skin tattooed with wolf tracks around his left wrist, and his black eyes cold and full of sadness. She watched his gaze flicker over her and saw disgust tug at his mouth. Beck felt her heart break at that look and glared at him.
“Is that any way to look at the woman who used to sing to you when you were a child?” Beck snarled.
Radu stood aside, indicating he wanted her to come inside. Beck stepped across the now soaked cement balcony and into the warm study. It was not a large study, but it was big enough to look like it could pass for a guess bedroom with the right furniture. A small library paneled the right wall, while the rest of the room was covered with most of the modern conveniences. A big flat screen tv hung on the north wall while a mahogany desk adorned the south in front of the glass doors. To her left was another wooden door that she assumed was the way out. Slowly Beck turned to face the one she had hoped would never fall so low.
“Isn’t it all you dreamed Beck?” Radu finally snarled, placing his drink on the desk. “My family elevated to where they belong, my species finally under one command?”
“No Radu.” Beck said with a shake of her head. “This is not what I dreamt for you.”
“Your little code of honor would not do any good for my campaign. Not that you were there to help anyway.” Radu snarled. “My species was almost extinct with the help of those half breeds you allowed to run free.”
Beck shook her head. “They were doing what had to be done. Most of your species was evil Radu, not just your father and now it seems you’ve allowed what he’s done to go on.”
Radu marched up to Beck and smacked her hard across the mouth till blood was running down her chin. The look of fury and disappointment in her eyes was enough to make him raise his hand to strike her again, but Beck caught his arm in its path.
“Look at yourself Radu.” She commanded. “I cradled you, sheltered your mother, and sang you lullabies yet here you are striking me. Where is your mother?”
Radu wrenched himself from Beck as if she burned him.
“His troops found us a month after you disappeared; she died bearing his third still born child.”
“And now you’re forcing women to bear your children like he did.” Beck summed up.
“And unlike him I’ve been successful. Six sons and two daughters, though most of them have proven to be weak and useless.” Radu snarled.
Without warning, Beck pounced on Radu and drove her claws into his skull.
“Never ever call a child useless in front of me Radu Dragomir!” She hissed. “Now normally I would ask you if these children were alive still, but since you really got me mad I’m going to do this the easier way.”
Through her claws Beck probed deep into Radu’s mind until she found the information she was looking for. The children were alive, but after so many centuries they no doubt wished they weren’t. The one that was closest to her position was a newborn name Paul and the first son Demetri. When Beck pulled herself out of Radu’s mind, she simply left him of the floor as she left the room to find the children.
The halls were a maze of grey stonework and obscene paintings and sculptures, making, Beck’s stomach clench in disgust. When she put her hand to the stone wall she found more than just the location of the children, she found the very past. So many maidens had been dragged down this hall with only a sheer cloth around their hips to cover themselves. All had met Radu’s cruel touch and some even turned to stay in his bed for eternity. Beck glared when she finally found the children, or should I say child and man. Demetri was bound in the dungeons while Paul was being kept in a nursery upstairs.
Beck concluded that the babe should come first and the man second. No one saw the girl pass through the wall in front of her and drift to the upper levels of the fortress. No one except the frightened mothers in the nursery. As Beck came through the wall, she heard two females scream and smiled. The room was like any other in the castle, dark and cold with two rocking chairs, beds, cradles, and changing stations for the children. Beck hovered over one of the cradles and scooped up the small infant within.
“Put him down.” One mother begged.
Beck looked at the floor to see a weak, but fiery woman crawling on the floor towards her. After a brief pause Beck put the infant back into his cradle and turned her attention to the mother.
“Who are you?” Beck asked.
“I’m Celina, the mom who’ll kick your ass if you touch my friend’s baby again.” She answered in a growl.
Beck then looked at the other woman crouched against the door and frowned.
“How is it that she doesn’t defend the child herself Celina?” Beck asked. “She seems in no worse state than you.”
“None of your business!” Celina snarled.
“Peace, kind wolf.” Beck ordered, her hand raised in front of her. “I only come to help who called me.”
Realization came slowly to the half starved mother and it brightened her eyes with hope.
“You’re…”
Beck nodded and the mother rose weakly to her feet to wrap her arms about Beck. Beck held her close and rubbed her back as the mother sobbed.
“We must hurry dear mother.” Beck informed. “There are others who need me here.”
Celina nodded and scooped up the child in the cradle next to the boy.
“Come Edanna.” Beck ordered softly. “It is your son’s cries that brought you this offer of freedom, will you accept it?”
The weak woman raised her head and then nodded. Beck then scooped up the sleeping infant in one of her arms and held up Edanna with the other. Celina’s trembling hand clutched Beck’s shoulder weakly as a sign of fear for this mission.
“How will we leave?” Celina asked.
“Hold on tight.” Beck instructed, and the group vanished without a trace.
When they appeared again, it was in Beck’s castle, far from the reaches of Radu. Beck had chosen a room for the pair of mothers that would best suit them and their little babies. Beck had settled the two in their own beds and the babies in the nearby cradles before returning to Radu’s prison. The entire chamber was a cliché of old world torture; filth covered every surface in all manner of shape and form, no lights allowed her to see but she could smell, and the faint squeaking announced the presence of rats.
“Now this won’t do.” Beck whispered to herself, and clapped her hands.
A bright sphere of light blossomed between her closed hands and glided in front of her, illuminating the decay within the grey stone walls. One by one she glanced into the cells with her hand braced against the oak doors, only to see emptiness if there wasn’t a corpse. Several times she entered those cells when she saw some poor soul laying on the floor, but whenever she listened for breath or felt for a pulse she would find disappointment.
“Is someone out there?” A rough voice wheezed.
“Yes,” Beck called. “I’m here. Where are you?”
“Hell.” The voice answered.
Beck quickened her pace and darted looks into the cells until she found one with a man hanging on the far wall. Beck ripped the door off its hinges and out of her way before she raced to him. His strong body was coated with angry scars, some that still bled, and filth. His head was down with a wave of unkempt midnight hair tumbling down.
“Keep the light away.” His weary voice begged. “It hurts.”
Beck whistled and the light dimmed, but not so that she couldn’t see. Huge chains of silver wrapped around the man’s ankles and wrists, while a thick collar was fastened around his neck. Seeing that there were a couple of dead rodents at her feet, Beck assumed he was vampire, but his scent held a hint of the unmistakable smell of Shadow Spirit.
“What’s your name?” Beck asked, as she fingered one of the bindings.
“Demetri.” He coughed. “I wouldn’t do that. I haven’t fed in so long.”
“I have no fear in you feeding off of me.” Beck pushed aside, as she made the first lock on his ankle pass through his skin like mist.
The dull clang of the metal hitting the wall sent excitement through its prisoner. Next came the collar, then the other ankle. When it came time for the wrists, Beck concentrated on her levitation and the locks before catching the frazzled vampire as he fell.
“I would.” He whispered, his lips scarcely a centimeter from her neck. “You smell so delicious.”
Quickly Beck concentrated on the place she wanted before Demetri could act upon his instinct. They had landed in the chamber she wanted for him when she felt his fangs sank in deep. Instead of fighting him, she settled herself on the bed with him to keep them from falling, when she felt hands rip her away. Pressing her hand to the new trenches in her throat, she saw it was her brother Joe the Guardian of Shifters. He was an inch or two taller than her, round faced, slightly chubby body, chocolate brown hair, and hazel eyes set behind a pair of black rimmed glasses. He was dressed in black trip pants, matching shirt with a dragon circling it, a black hoodie, and black fingerless gloves with skeleton hands traced on them.
“You should have told me you had risen.” He growled, and wheeled a small machine into view.
“What’s that?” Beck asked.
“A blood pump.” Joe answered. “It helps us feed our vampire charges without killing ourselves first.”
Beck could tell how the device worked by the look of it. A clear green tank kept the blood at body temperature and had a series of pumps to push the blood up a length of clear hose to a bit that would allow it to pass into the vampire’s mouth. Beck took it from her brother and wheeled it to the passed out Demetri. When she passed the bit through his teeth and turned the machine on, Demetri clamped his hands on the hose and suckled like a new born.
“Poor man.” Beck cooed as she watched him feed.
“Who is he?” Joe asked.
“One of the son’s of Radu.” Beck answered.
Beck heard her brother growl in answer to her statement, and knew that he probably had just cause for feeling uncomfortable with a Drogomir in the room.
“Well, you’ve already rescued five people. Making up for lost time?” Joe guessed.
“Didn’t you when you got free?” Beck countered.
Joe nodded and looked back at Demetri. “It won’t be easy for him, you know.”
Beck nodded in admittance. “But he still deserves to live his life as he decides.”
For the briefest moment, Joe smiled and said, “Always fighting for fairness.”
“Isn’t that our job?” Beck reminded. “Save who can be saved so they can live as they were made to live?”
Joe only answered by fading away, leaving Beck alone with her new roommates. Knowing that touching a starving vampire while they fed was never a good thing, Beck left Demetri feeding to go to the newly built bathroom and draw a bath for him. Empty glass bottles lined the ledge to her right on the tub, and with a thought from her they filled with shampoo and body soap. A glass jar at her elbow contained salt, which she added in handfuls to aid in a thorough cleansing along with a few squirts of bubble bath. The water changed to a clear blue color as a result. When at last the tub was filled with steaming, fragrant water Beck checked on Demetri and saw that he had stopped his feeding and struggling to stay awake. Smiling, Beck crept closer.
“I assume the reason you’re still conscious is because you have questions for me?” Beck began.
Demetri nodded. “Who are you?”
“I’m the Guardian of Shadows, but you can call me Beck.” She said.
“Did I hear water a minute ago?” He continued.
“Yeah I drew a bath for you.”
“I still can’t move much.”
“That’s okay.” Beck dismissed, looking at the shredded rag around his hips that served for clothing. “I’ve been in these situations before. Just relax and it will be over in a minute.”
Before he could open his mouth to speak, he found himself naked in the tub with Beck scrubbing at the untamed mass of hair on his head. The feel of her fingers massaging the soap deep into his scalp, removing parasites that had always been a nuisance to him, was enough to make him forget the awkwardness of his situation and enjoy it. He felt her take a plastic cup of water from the drain and begin rinsing his head with it, giving him a blissful feeling. The she began to scrub his body, all the while saying nothing as she removed dirt, caked on blood, and chemicals, unknown to her, that prevented his wounds from healing. When this was done, he heard her drag something across the floor and begin fingering his hair before an audible snip clicked in his ear.
“What are you doing?” He asked lazily.
“Getting rid of some of this hair.” She replied.
“But…”
“Don’t worry; I’m going to shave you bald.” Beck chuckled. “I’m just getting rid of the bulk so that you’ll be more comfortable.”
Demetri clenched his jaw as he listened to the clicking of the scissors and the opening and closing of the waste basket she threw the hair into. After a while she ran a comb through it and heaved him out of the tub to wrap a towel around him.
“How much can you move?” Beck asked.
Demetri answered by lifting his arms.
“Great.” Beck proclaimed as she handed him a toothbrush and toothpaste.
With a bit of her instruction, he brushed his teeth and looked in the mirror. It had been centuries since he had seen his reflection and it was a sight. His square cut face had a small scare on his upper lip, his quick silver eyes looked far too old for his body, and his now lean form showed its need for food and exercise. He fingered a strand of the ragged black locks that touched his shoulders and sighed.
“Well, I can always take you to get your hair done later.” Beck shrugged. “Now I think you might want to sleep in a bed again more than anything else.”
Demetri nodded groggily, before he turned to face her again. Beck kept very little space between the two of them as she walked him back to the bed and made him blush as she helped him into the men’s fleece pajamas. After she lowered him back into bed, she offered him a chance to feed again. At first Demetri liked the idea, but the painful fullness of his stomach made him want sleep more than anything. As he drifted off, Beck smiled and went to check on her other guests.
Padding down the hardwood floors of her palace again gave Beck a feeling of excitement and joy. She had been in this portion of the castle for births, deaths, discovered love, and marriages; each experience priceless to her. As she creaked open the mothers’ door she saw that they were sleeping noisily, and could hear the babies becoming restless in their cribs. Very silently, Beck crept to the cribs and looked down at what had always tugged on her heartstrings; children. Both were wide awake and making little gurgling noises as she came closer. Smiling gently, Beck took the tiny hand of Edanna’s son in hers and rubbed her thumb over his tender, soft skin.
“You are a blessing little one.” She cooed. “Both of you are.”
Quickly, Beck looked over her shoulder to check on the sleeping mothers before taking Celeste’s child’s hand in hers and began to utter a small charm under breath. Her nails turned purple as the charm wove its way into the children to form a mark that would alert her if they came into any danger. When the magic was done, she vanished from the now quiet children to her bedchamber.
Like the other rooms, Beck’s bedchamber was big enough to fit a small apartment into. Bathed in soft lavender coloring on the walls, tapestries of noble predators, rich green carpet, a king sized bed with red and gold dressing against the west wall, a large desk and bookcase sitting against the east, a door that lead to her bathroom just to the left of the desk, and a balcony that made up the north wall. Beck sat down heavily onto the oak trunk at the foot of her bed and heaved a great sigh. So much to repair and accomplish with Ghea breathing down her neck about her methods. Beck clutched her head and growled in frustration until she remembered someone she had to look for in her woods.
Springing to her feet, she darted to the balcony window, threw it open, and leapt to the ground. A hard thump sounded her fall into the thick grass, but unhindered her from standing up and sprinting into the trees. A loud howl flew from her throat in calling for her companions.
“I’m here!” Was the call. “Where are you?”
Another howl sounded to her right, but as Beck followed the sound it was interrupted by a series of growls and yelps. Knowing trouble, Beck changed into her wolf and picked up the pace. Sure enough, Beck found herself on a rocky cliff edge looking down on a brawl between two male werewolves. Snarling and bearing her teeth, Beck lunged down into the midst of the fight and let out a loud bark. One of the males was huge enough to be considered one of the first breeds of moonfolk, with midnight black fur and piercing blue eyes. He paused in his fight, his jaws still locked on his opponent’s scruff of the neck, and looked at Beck in bloodlust. The smaller of the two, couldn’t have been old enough to reach immortality yet. His beautiful silvery gray coat streaked with red blood on his left shoulder from his neck wound and hid light blue eyes tired with the endless struggle of his battle. In the silence, Beck her a small whimper and when she dared to look from her main targets, she saw a small, wounded female curled up underneath a tree. A snarl slid from Beck’s jaws in warning to the pair.
“Release him.” Beck ordered.
The larger male snarled and bit down harder, making his opponent whimper weakly. Beck’s eyes glowed violet with rage as she sank her claws into the ground and repeated her command. At the sight of her eyes, the male released the young one and snarled at Beck.
“What happened here?” Beck pursued.
“The reclaiming of my mate Bitch!” The Black one cursed.
“Not my sister.” The Gray One whispered.
“The law is the law you Son of a Bitch!” The Black One yelled. “She’s mine to do with as I please.”
“Not when you hit me.” The Female’s voice wept.
Beck tried to bite down the urge to rip the Black One to shreds for daring to hurt his mate on her land. No one had done so in centuries and she wasn’t about to let it happen now.
“Leave this land now.” Beck ordered.
“This is a matter for my pack woman, and you would do well to know you’re not our Alpha.” The Black One laughed.
“No,” Beck admitted, and charged to bite down on his leg shattering the bone.
The Black One roared in pain and began to panic when he saw that the wound would not heal.
Beck smiled sickly. “I’m better. This is my land you’re on and the price for mate abuse is abjuration from the mate bound. Now go back to your pack, or it won’t be your leg that I’ll bite.”
The Black One attempted a lunge, but stopped short when his paw screamed out in pain. Beck watched him shift quickly to what could be easily translated as your typical beautiful, but nuts hunk. His hair was the same shade as his fur, his herculean body clothed in a pair of jeans and biker boots, and his now bleeding hand cradled to his chest.
“You’ll regret this.” His now hypnotic voice threatened.
Beck shifted to her human form and crossed her arms across her chest stubbornly.
“I’m not scared of bullies.” She snickered. “I couldn’t be the Guardian of Shadows otherwise.”
Disbelief read loud and clear on the male’s face, but did not hinder his retreat from his powerful advisory. Beck turned attention first to the male at her feet, keeping her movements slow and gentle as she crouched to his side murmuring reassuring sentiments of aid. As a wolf, the wound on his neck was hard to judge and his whimpering nearly tore her heart out as she parted his fur for a better look. The bites were as she feared; deep and dangerous with the amount blood seeping out of him. For lack of a better bandage, Beck pulled her t-shirt off over her head, tore it along the seam, and did her best to wrap it around the angry wound.
“God help me!” Beck whispered as she moved on to the female hidden by brush.
“Come out now little one, I know you’re their.” Beck crooned from her squatting position.
A low growl answered her, making her gnash her teeth in irritation.
“Fine I’ll leave you here, but I’m coming back when I have your brother stable.” Beck bargained. “A wonder that he would die for you when you cower and I hide from his savior.”
A series of growls and rustled movements in the plants made Beck back up for the female, but when she came out she had a surprise for the irritated guardian.











































Chapter 2

Beck’s eyes widened at the marvel that had come to her, nearly forgetting to breathe. A glorious female gray wolf crawled to her, with eyes of hyacinth blue, and ivory white wings perched on her back. Her face was slashed on her right eye, her left ear, and the left side of her mouth.
“Can you come any further?” Beck asked gently.
The Female whimpered as she crawled on her belly into the open. Beck darted back to the unconscious male and dragged him to his sister before wrapping an arm around her neck, with a word of warning, and transporting them to one of the large bedrooms in her domain. Releasing her hold on the female, Beck heaved the hulking weight of the male onto the four post bed on her right and concentrated hard on his wounds. With her release, Beck had come back as a powerhouse of unused magic. With her power she able to scan his body, repair the damage done to his neck, and exterminate all forms of infection from his brawl. Presently his breathing became regular and his pulse began to beat normally.
“Now little one, I must ask you become human.” Beck sighed, as she turned her attention to the small female.
The weak little thing only sighed and within moments their was sleeping on the thick beige carpet. It hardly took anything to lift the starved girl to the other bed a few feet away from the male. To her human form, the broken wing was the equivalent of a broken shoulder which required almost as little as the cuts on her face. The broken bones in her legs came together and sealed tight as her skin stitched itself together. When all was finished, Beck pulled out of the sleeping girl’s mind and admired her. Her face must have been beautiful at one time, before it was reduced to an angular plane it had become. Her hair was an endless mass of tangled sunshine and her petite form gave her a pixie like look. Beck touched a thick scar that encircle the poor girl’s bony wrist only to find a twin mark around the other and the runes scorched further that were the writings of the Arcangelites.
A low sigh warned her of the transformation of the male, making her dart to his side. HE was a handsome fellow with chestnut brown hair that curled around his strong chiseled face, his artistic hands clutched at the blanket anxiously before he bolted up and showed Beck his electric blue eyes. His breathing was harsh as he demanded to know who she was and where he was in his deep commanding voice.
“I’m Beck, and you’re in the castle of the Shadow Guardian.” Beck answered honestly. “Now calm down or you’ll wake your sister.”
The Man’s attention swiftly turned to the sleeping figure to his left, and after a moment he leapt from his bed to her side and clutched her hand in his. Beck remained where she was, staring at the scene. Here was a pair that was a prime example of sibling alliance; a brother trying desperately to save his sister from danger.
“Who are you?” Beck asked.
The male popped his head up and looked over his shoulder at her.
“I’m Marcus Gray, this is my sister Alexandra.” He answered.
“And the other male?” Beck continued.
“His name is Dorian Masters, believes himself to be Lexi’s mate but, as you can see, he’s not worthy of her.” Marcus growled.
“Well, she’s about to wake up soon so I’ll be down in the kitchen making something for you. There’s a bathroom on the right wall, clothes in the drawers and wardrobe, but I have to ask you to stay in the room.” Beck instructed.
“Why?” Marcus asked.
“My other guests are also recovering from abuse and I don’t want any unexpected hysterics for either of you.” Beck informed.
As Beck began to leave, she heard Marcus mumble something to his sister and sighed. What she would give to have that relationship with her own brother. As she passed through the halls she heard a muffled scream coming from Demetri’s room. Thinking the weakened half breed was under attack, Beck charged in full force only to see him thrashing in the grip of a nightmare.
Unsure of whether it was wrong or right, Beck walked quickly to Demetri’s side and gently told him to wake up while she slowly reached out to touch his cheek. It took about a second for her to register his movements when he was shocked awake. As soon as he felt Beck’s cold fingers on his skin, Demetri pounced on her pinning her to his mattress on her back. If Beck had been herself during