Enemies of Comfort

“I’m leaving to search the area.”

“Alright.”

“Do not leave. You’re on house arrest.”

“What!? Brother, you’re going a little overboard.”

“Am I Savannah? I let you out the other night and you came back a bloody mess, reeking of angel and Vipond.”

“But Adrian! It’s been three days already.”

The wolf held up his hand, silencing me. “Just bare with me for at least one more day Van. I want to make sure you are safe to go outside again.”

“Alright, fine. I shall stay here. Be safe brother.”

“I will.”

As soon as Adrian’s aura dispersed, another appeared.

Quickly I ran to my bedroom window, opening it slightly.

“You can’t come in!”

“What? Why not?”

“Adrian will be able to smell you Jareth.”

“Oh. Right.” Shyly he scratched the back of his neck. “When do you get to leave?”

“If all goes well, I can leave the house in a few more days.“ I smiled brightly as the angel handed me a book. “Jareth, you are a life saver. Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” A true gentleman as always. “Have you heard anything of your wolf?”

The intensity in my gaze hardened. “He is alpha of the Vipond pack.”

Jareth’s face turned the color of ash. “You must stay away from him, he is dangerous.”

“I can’t stay away from him, it will seem too suspicious.”

“Savannah, your life depends on it.”

“My life does not depend on this, I’ll be fine. If I can fend off Daniel, I can fend off this wolf.”

“Listen to me,” He lowered himself so his eyes were directly in front of my own. “this man is much more than a mere werewolf. He is the strongest of your kind.”

“What?”

“He is a merciless killer.”

The strongest of my kind?

“Your brother is coming. Heed my warning Savannah, I do not wish to see you dead.”

Closing the window I walked into the living room, meeting an upset Adrian.

“How did your walk go brother?”

“All is well.”

“Very good.”

“Yes indeed.” He glanced around the room in a façade of nonchalance. “Did you know there is a rumor going round town? Of a wolf and an angel as mates?”

My joints locked. “Is that so?”

“Why do I feel this rumor is of you and your play thing?”

“Adrian, we are not the only wolves in this town.”

“No, but you are the only woman among us. Tell me it isn’t true.”

The anger building behind his eyes sent a shiver down my spine.

“You said so yourself brother, it is nothing more than a rumor.

He is but a friend. Even I wouldn’t be defiant enough to have relations with a bird.”

I could see the tension release in his shoulders.

“I was afraid I would have a feathered human to kill.”

“You are so quick to conclusions brother.”

He smiled, patting my head. “You are my little sister, it’s what I do.”

“May I roam the streets?”

“Not tonight Van, just sit with me and we shall watch a movie.”

I smiled brightly. “Very well, as long as I get to pick it out.”

“So be it.” He chuckled, messing my hair.

Never did I think house arrest would be so much fun.

~~~~

“Go play Savannah.”

“I can leave?”

“Yes, just be careful. And stop creating rumors, before I really do have to kill your angel.”

“Yes of course. Thank you brother.”

“Be safe Savannah!” I barely heard his yell as I ran through the streets.

I was finally free!

“I thought you said a few more days.”

“Brother had a change of heart, I am free to roam.” The smile on my face spread to his own.

“Perfect!”

Quickly I stepped back as he went to hug me.

“Jareth, do not do such things. Adrian will kill you if he ever found out.”

“But-”

“There is already a rumor, let’s not make it any worse.”

“Fine.” I tried desperately not to snicker at his disappointment. “Do you find it funny?”

“I find it amusing. You angels really are a touchy feely bunch aren’t you?”

“What? You wolves aren’t?”

“Not like you.”

“I can’t help who I am, it’s how I was raised. Most werecats are the same.”

I shuddered at the thought. “Remind me not to befriend a feline.”

“Don’t think you’ll have a problem with that.”

My smile vanished as I sensed an unwelcome presence.

“Quick! Hide! Daniel is coming!”

With a swift tug we made our way into the small alley.

My breath hitched as Jareth pressed his body into mine, concealing us from the wolf’s view.

His arm was above my head, keeping himself steady as he waited.

“Jareth.” My voice came out as a small squeak.

Again my insides squirmed as his eyes met mine.

He was so close.

He was so, mesmerizing.

“I think he’s gone.”

I nodded, squeezing myself free.

“It seems he’s avoiding you.”

“Mm hm.”

“Is everything alright?”

My heart surged to my throat at how close his face was.

“I’m fine, can you uh, take a step back? You’re really close.”

What the hell is wrong with me?

This is an angel.

Nervously I cleared my through. “I believe you’re right about Daniel. Though I’m not surprised.”

“Why are you not surprised? Is he not your mate?”

“No, he is not.” Jareth’s mood seemed to perk. “I plan to steer clear of mates for the time being.”

I hope the hint wasn’t harsh.

“You’ll know when the time is right, and when it’s the right person.”

Has his voice always been this, husky?

“So, should we, go to the library?” My hands rung together behind my back.

“Why don’t we just go for a walk? Get to know each other a little better?”

Oh god.

“Yeah, sure.”

“Great.” His smile made my knees weak. “So Savannah, what pack are you from?”

“Fiore.”

“I can’t seem to recall who the alpha is for that pack.”

“That would be my father, Micah.”

“Your, father?”

My eyebrow arched at his hesitance. “Yes my father. I am Savannah Elise Fiore.”

“You’re THAT Savannah!? How did I not put two and two together?”

“I fear you lost me.”

“You’re the one that got into that huge fight in the last town. They said you were hurt real bad.” His eyes scanned me, searching for any evidence.

“I healed, you won’t find anything.”

“But he broke your back!”

“It seems you don’t know much about werewolves.” He shook his head. “We heal rather quickly. Don’t get me wrong, it still hurt. However, I’m fine now. And I don’t plan on having any incidents any time soon.”

“Good.”

“Now you. What’s your last name?”

“I don’t have one.”

“Funny. Seriously, what’s your last name?”

“I really don’t have one. It’s something I lost.”

Now was my turn to be confused again. “You lost your last name?”

“In a manner of speaking. When I was killed, I forgot about most of my life, including my last name.”

“How did you die?”

“I died in battle. I believe you call it, the Mad War.”

“Who were you fighting for?”

“That’s all I can remember really.”

“Do you remember your family?”

“Not at all. I only remember being a soldier and dying in battle. Then I was an angel.”

“That’s terrible.”

“It’s not all bad. I don’t have to remember whether they suffered or not.”

“I suppose that’s a good way to look at it.”

“So, who is next in line for your pack?”

“My brother.”

“I see.” Jareth’s hands were shoved in his pockets, his head down, pondering. “Are women ever heads of the pack?”

“It’s not very common, but it has happened. My sister would have been our next leader. She was so strong, I really looked up to her. Not that I don’t look up to Adrian, but, he’s a man.

When you’re a little girl, you want nothing more than to be like your older sister.”

I smiled at the memory of the beautiful woman. “What happened to her?”

“She was killed by two angels.”

Jareth winced at my words. “I’m so sorry.”

“It wasn’t you who did it.”

“How are you so sure?”

Looking him square in the eyes I answered. “Because I killed them.”

The silence that soon engulfed us felt like a sweet embrace.

Though not everyone in the party felt the same.

“You killed two angels? By yourself?”

“I was in a rage from watching my big sister being killed. I didn’t care whether I lived or died, as long as I had my vengeance.”

“But, two angels, do you realize?” He shook his head, disregarding his realization. “What was her name?”

“Luna.” I laughed at this. “My father thought it would be funny.”

“It is rather amusing.”

“Your turn. What made you decide to stop killing?”

“They wanted me to murder a family of goblins because they had defied the rules of stowaways. All they tried to do was hide a vampire from the leader in command.

He had a personal hatred towards them, killed everyone he could find.

What was so different about this, what was so merciless and juvenile, was the fact that they were all children.”

My breath stuck in my throat at the information. “Children?”

“All of them. Their parents had been slaughtered in the streets not even five minutes earlier. They were so helpless, so scared! None of them were over the age of eight, and I was ordered to kill them.

I fled. I had turned into the one in command, hating my own kind with such a passion, that I cut off my own wings.” An involuntary yelp escaped my lips, making him smile sadly. “For years I killed, anything and everything.”

This is not the man I know.

This has to be a story.

This can’t be the life of the sweet Jareth that’s standing next to me.

“I fell into a self loathing rut. I wondered why I was even still alive, when I realized. There was a reason that I hadn’t been killed while in this angelic form. I have a purpose.

A purpose that transformed me into what I am today.”

“What is your purpose?”

I was utterly entranced by his story, by his passion, by his entire being.

“To end this stupid war. To continue what those children never got to finish.”