© Claimed By Him ~ Elektra Orfanos

Under drenched trees holding up a misty night sky, my eyes snapped open abruptly. I took a deep intake of breath and felt the sticky earth under my fingertips. I lifted myself up into a sitting position and found my chemise in tatters and an uncomfortable little rock in my fingernail. The fog is too thick to see through but I sense someone is out there watching me. I can sense them close and feel them circling the area as if they were on patrol and despite the harsh wind I can hear the heavy breathing, angry breathing.

'Where are you Luna?'

"Alpha?" I whispered confused. How did I get out here? Did he drag me out from grandmother's? Is that why my chemise is shredded? I suddenly realised the hands I have aren't even my own and my breathing hitched.

'Why haven't you come?'

"I'm here now." I said aloud.

'My Luna never came. Why didn't you come to me Luna?'

"I'm here!" I heard a wolfy whimper then saw the large vile figure with golden orbs through the fog. "I'm sorry." He growled at me pushing his body up so he stood on his hind legs. "Alpha?" I repeated frightened and found myself pushing up to a stand.

'She lied to me.' He snarled at me.

"It's me!" I cried out. He snarled at me again and leaped to attack.

~*~*~

I woke gasping for air and I found myself in my own bed back home, the little rock not under my nail and my dress all in one piece. For awhile I just stared at the ceiling to recover from such a realistic nightmare and eased my breathing.

Just a dream.

Just a dream.

I rolled over, slightly whimpering when the heavy sunlight hit my eyes through the crack of the curtain. "Just a dream..." I whispered. But too real. Too true. Usually when I have a nightmare I know it's just something I can wake up from but I felt so trapped and his breath felt and smelt all too real.

Loud snoring startled me and I rolled over looking at Marilyn lying on her stomach right next to me in a big emerald gown. The same thing she wore last night when they all bombarded me! Satine is dressed in black pants and blouse, all curled up around my feet at the end of my bed. Then there's Valerie, dressed the same as Satine however nowhere near me. She's sleeping on the window pane in a sitting position one would imagine to be completely uncomfortable.

"Lu are you alright?" Marilyn whispered. I lay back down and faced her with my hands under my head. "What was the nightmare about?" She asked recognising my fear.

Drowsily I replied. "He killed someone. I thought it was me but he was calling out as if I wasn't there."

"Were you watching him murder someone?"

"No it was more like I was seeing through the eyes of his victim." I pictured his teeth. That set of sharpened daggers that enclosed around my neck. I winced. "You should have let me go."

"I wanted to but Valerie wouldn't have it."

"What kind of sentence is that? You sound like a child. And since when is she in charge of us?" I spat raising y voice and she hushed me.

She eyed at the other two as they lightly snored before looking back at me. "It's difficult to explain Luna. You wouldn't understand."

"That's an I satisfying answer."

"What do you want me to say?

"Does it have something to do with the ears?" She didn't reply. "Fine then." I kicked off the covers on top of Satine and she stirred but lazily stayed put not caring. She even began to roll into the covers and form her own chrysalis.

"Mmm." Valerie moaned her eyes slowly opening. Watching me stand. "What's for breakfast?" She smiled.

"You forced me unconscious." I stated.

She yawned stretching her arms above her head. "For your own..."

I interrupted. "Get out. Whatever you are I don't want anything to do with you get out!" Satire peeked her head out from under the covers looking at me offended. Mari stared up at me from the bed as well and looked pained.

"Luna..." Satine started but I'm too outraged to listen to whatever petty excuse they have.

"No." Satine was the first to get up and walk past me to the door.

"I'm sorry." She whispered before opening it. She waited for Marilyn to walk out with her which left Valerie who doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

"I don't regret anything I did." She stated holding her head high.

"Well then I can't be friends with you."

"If that's how you're going to be, fine, but I'm always going to be there to help you." She shifted one knee up close to her chest and wrapped her arms around it.

"You're not helping." I made clear.

"That's what you think?" She questioned.

"It's not what I think it's what I know."

"You don't know anything." She dismissed.

"I may not know everything but I know a lot more than you think."

"Please Luna I don't want to fight with you. Especially when you make silly comments like that." The way she's speaking to me, it's as if she really believes she's my superior and this only angered me more.

"Too bad Valerie, I take serious offence when someone suffocates me till I pass out."

"You lied to me."

"So forcing me to breathe in a dangerous poison is your..."

She leaned forward her blue eyes glowing bright. "He's going to kill you, it doesn't matter how pretty you are, how witty you are and how clever you are in the end none of that will matter."

"I believe I told you to leave."

"And I remember telling you to stay out of this."

"You're not in charge of me as much as you'd like to think you are, you are not my gaurdian angel. So stop getting involved in my life like you run it." I turned to the door. "And I know you two are out there listening."

Valerie swung her legs and planted her feet on the floor. "I can not believe how you're behaving! You're my best friend. I love you and you want to go out throw your life away for something you could never defeat whether it be sword or kindness."

"I'm not throwing my life away! I am trying to explain to you that he finds me agreeable and..."

"You're so stupid!" She yelled waving her hands up then smashing them down under the window pain.

"You are despicable!" I shouted back at her.

She gasped at me outraged. "I'm despicable! Me?" She bolted up bouncing on in her feet as she did and slowly stalked towards. "The one who is trying to help you!" Before she got to go off on a rampage a deadly masculine voice bellowed from the other end of house. "What the devil is going on?" The kraken awakes.

"Merde." Val and I whispered at the same time glaring at the door then glaring back at each other.

"Val," I started talking calmly though it doesn't make much difference. "You cannot protect everyone all the time. Especially me. There's more danger in this city that the wolf is no match against."

She asked suspiciously. "What have you been doing without us?"

I said truthfully finding no reason to hide it. "I was almost eaten alive by demons, I was harassed by men in giant musketeer-looking hats and spent some time in a brothel chasing after a toothless lady of the night." I took a deep breath. "All this happened without you or your protection and I am still alive and breathing."

"What are you girls doing in my house?" My father shouted.

"Time to go Val!" Mari snapped and I heard the two of them descend the stairs.

She scowled rushing to the door but gave me one last point of her finger and a serious glare. "This is not over."

"You're in charge of me."

"I was not joking when I said I would lock you in my basement." She replied in a threatening tone. I stuck my tongue out at her. She stomped her foot and bolted away with the other girls. I quickly slammed the door shut and locked it so father slammed his fists against it in a wicked fury.

"I'm only going to ask this once..." He roared in a whisper.