Chapter 4: Marcus

Marcus

"How's the plan, Syrie? Did it work?" Trina and Vernon's questions were bombarding me when I got home.

I went straight to the sofa and looked at them seriously. "It looks like the plan is working," she said, giving them confirmation.  "But I don’t know how far this plan will go," I added.

"How come? How did you say that?"  Vernon asked.

I took a deep breath before I answered his question.  "We all know that he's not just a werewolf and he's not that idiot that we can fool."

"Then you should act normal," Trina suggests.

Vernon nodded and agreed with Trina.  "Besides, the way that wolf looks at you, it seems like he wants you, right?" She added with a hint of teasing.

Both siblings looked at each other and didn’t hide their smiles.

"What do you mean? He's doing all that, so I can join them, which will never happen."  I rolled my eyes and folded my arms.  "By the way, where is Persuz?" I asked, trying to avoid the topic. The siblings got it, so they didn’t continue to tease me.

"Persuz? He said that he was going to hunt near our place," Trina answered.

 I just nodded and stopped talking.

For some reason that I didn't even know, I suddenly felt scared. I don’t know what the outcome of this plan will be. What if we fail? I knew in myself that there was something strange about that man that made my heartbeats fast. If that happens, I don't know what to do and I might give up. That will ruin our plan.

--

After a while, I was left alone at home when Trina and Vernon went to the forest to hunt. And we didn’t have an idea of where Persuz would go.

I faced the window while folding my arms. I was greeted by the breeze of the wind. I don't know why, but there is a part of me that wants to see Marcus or maybe it's just because of my curiosity to know who I am. The fact that he knows me means I know he’s the only one who can answer my questions. But I don’t know how to start. I’m scared of the things that I might find out.

After a minute of thinking, I sighed and moved away from the window. I wanted to rest. I think I’m mentally exhausted. But when I was about to take a step, I felt something that made me stop. I quickly activated my hearing and smelling senses and closed my eyes to feel the surroundings. I moved quickly and went to the hidden part of the house to see where those weird feelings came from.

From my vantage point, I saw the five werewolves that were slowly approaching our house. It looks like they are trying to sense something. When I saw they were getting closer to the house, I braced myself for whatever might happen.

I felt a gradual change in the shape of my whole body. In an instant, I became a huge werewolf, much bigger than they were. I jumped out of the window, so I grabbed their attention. I saw how they were startled when they looked at me.

"Grrr!" the grunts of the werewolves and howl as they surround me.

I moved slowly to prepare to fight these five. I followed their movements as they surrounded me. It took a while before they started attacking. At the same time, they jumped towards me, and because there were many of them, they were able to pin me down on the ground.

I could feel every scratch of their nails and how heavy these five werewolves were on top of me. I was having a hard time getting up because of them pinning me down. I decided to concentrate and gave them a hard kick that knocked one of them back. I gave them another kick that hit another one. I repeat the process, and I manage to push them all back.

I was able to get up, but because of the wounds that they inflicted on me, I growled as I felt the pain.

I saw them get up and get ready to fight again. I’m having a dilemma about whether I should escape or fight them head-on. They are five, while I am alone, which has a disadvantage in this fight. But, I was shocked when suddenly a big werewolf arrived in front of me. I was amazed by his appearance. He is a little bigger than me, and his purr is silver gray. He looked back at me and nodded, as if we had a tacit understanding.

He attacked the five werewolves. I followed and helped him dispose of this cannon fodder. I jumped on one of them and rudely buried my fangs in their neck. I felt another one-run behind me. I moved my body enough for him to knock back.

I saw the wolf come at me, and I knew he was Marcus. He attacked the two wolves, and they both hit the big tree, as he bit the other one. I couldn’t help but be amazed at watching him. He just defeated those three so easily. 

I was surprised when he jumped towards me. I thought he would fall on me, but behind me. When I turned around, I just saw the lifeless werewolf that was about to attack me.

Marcus looked at me. Our eyes met, and for some unknown reason, my body seemed to heat up suddenly. Marcus approached me slowly, without breaking our gaze.

I dodged as he approached and quickly ran towards the inside of our house. I immediately transformed and tended to the wounds I had sustained. I also got dressed right away. I felt my face heat up just because the way Marcus looked at me made me feel that his stare could penetrate my whole being.

I slowly peeked out the window. I was surprised to see Marcus was still there, watching my behavior. Isn't he leaving yet? Or is he planning to change his form here? I recoiled when he jumped out of the large window and approached me. I knew what he was thinking because he let me freely enter his mind. But I couldn't move immediately because his head was too close to me while staring at my face. Because of his behavior, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

"W-wait a minute, I'll just get you something to wear," I stuttered, and quickly ran towards Vernon's room. They don't differ in size and posture, so I'm sure Vernon's clothes will fit on him.

I handed him the clothes. He hurried out the window again and headed somewhere else. His form is enormous to the point that he wouldn't be able to fit in my room or even in the bathroom.

A minute had passed when Marcus returned from the lush grass. He jumped from the ground and walked in through the window.

I felt the weird feeling again when I felt his presence. And his smile at me seems seductive, as if he wants me to jump at him. I just now felt like a woman.

"Thanks for this, it fits on me," he said, referring to the shirt.

I don't know, but I ran out of things to say. How can I execute my plan, if I am like this every time I face him? I would be surprised if this Alpha knew how to charm; witches can do that.

"T-thanks," I stuttered without looking at his eyes. "What I mean is, thank you for the help," I clarified while playing with the hem of my shirt.

"It's my responsibility to help those in need, especially you," He smiled, displaying his white and shiny teeth.

I looked away from him. Why does it sound like he was flirting with me?  "Wow! You're a hero, literally a superhero," I sarcastically replied, rolling my eyes.

"Then, you're considering me as your hero or your knight in shining armor?" He asked while leaning on me.

"Sort of," I said briefly while smiling. I sat on the sofa, and he followed.

Marcus can’t help but look around the house. "How long have you been living here?" he asked.

"I've been living here for almost five years since my parents died," I replied. The sadness clearly showed on my face as I said this and immediately changed back to my common expression so that Marcus couldn’t see it.

"Your parents? Are they a vampire or a werewolf? "

I did not answer him immediately, but I looked at him seriously.

He alarmly said, "I'm sorry, you don't have to answer," then brushed his hands.

"My parents are vampires," I said, bowing. "Yes, they are vampires," I said a second time.

Silence next prevailed between the two of us. It seems as if awkwardness enveloped the two of us.

 "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," I replied, and smiled. "By the way, why did you kill those werewolves? Aren't there also your kind?"

"They had been.They decided to choose to get away and betray their race."

I was shocked and curious at the same time.  "What do you mean?"

"It's Volter," he said, startling me.

"Volter?"

"Yes, he's taking werewolves one by one to join him, and if they don't join him, Volter will kill them."

I don’t know why I felt something that I shouldn't have. Why?  Shouldn't I be glad of that news?  They are enemies because they killed my parents. But why do I feel pity?  Why do they have my sympathy?

"You mean to say that maybe Volter sent those werewolves?"  I have my suspicions, but I need to confirm them.

He nodded.  "I don't know his motive, but I know he sent them to kill you."

I was shocked by what he said.  "It's not true what you're saying, Marcus. He is my brother Volter, and he won't do that just to kill me," I angrily replied.

Yes, there have been many times when Volter's staff tried to attack me, but Volter didn't order them. It was a deliberate attack by his staff, who didn't like me and wanted to kill me.

"He's not your brother, Syrie."

 I was stunned.  "How can you tell?" 

"Because he's a vampire and you're a werewolf. You didn't know Volter well, Syrie. He's a devil! "

I quickly got close to Marcus and tried to choke him. "How dare you! He's not a devil, and you're wrong, Marcus. He won't kill me, " I grunted. I really can't accept the fact that Volter would do that to me.

 Volter and I never got along, but I knew he wasn’t that kind of man. When our parents were still alive, I also felt like he was my brother.

"If you don't want to believe me, try to investigate it yourself," he stated without even being shaken.

I tightened the grip on his collar.  "I'll prove you wrong, Marcus."  I angrily let go of his collar. 

"Leave!"

"I'm leaving, Syrie, but I'll be back."

I didn't look at him anymore; I just heard him jump out the window. I was left confused. Why do I have doubts? Volter is on my side, and I have to believe in him more than anyone else because we both lost a parent.

This is wrong! I know it’s wrong, but why is there a part of me that wants to know the truth? If everything Marcus says is true, I want to confront Volter. I don't know what to do.

 -

I quickly rode my horse, I needed to talk to Volter so I could prove to Marcus that he was wrong.

I got off the horse when I reached the large yard of Volter's house. I entered the gate and walked straight away, not caring about the vampires there. The main door opened. I went in there and ignored the guard. I went straight to the room where Volter was and rudely entered.

But I stepped back when the strange presence immediately greeted me. This strange creature shouldn’t be there. I saw how Volter was surprised when he saw me arrive.

"Oh! Syrie, what are you doing here? It's sudden, huh?"  Volter was shocked.

"What are they doing here, Volter?" I asked and turned to the men there, werewolves.

"They?" Volter smiled. "New disciples."

I was immediately nervous about what I had heard. Marcus may have been right in what he said.

"New disciple?"

He nodded.  "Go out first," he said to the werewolves, who immediately obeyed. He stood up and approached me. "Don't you want it? Little by little, the werewolves are turning their backs on their race to join us, and we will use it to fight them, Syrie."

"Then, how will you explain those werewolves who tried to kill me to join you?"

His forehead furrowed. "What do you mean?"

I can't help but grin for these reasons.Don't you know? Those werewolves who joined you tried to kill me," I insisted.

"Wait, Syrie, are you accusing me of sending those wolves to kill you?"  he said, seemingly disappointed with my question.

"I don't know, Volter, but your disciple rushed to kill me. What should I think? "  I'm confused.

"Oh, c'mon, you're Syrie, I’m your brother, and I'm not that bad and shallow to kill you for no reason." He replied, shaking his head because of disappointment.

I took a deep breath.  "I'm so sorry, Volter, I accused you," I apologized when I realized I had accused my allies, who had also assisted me in my fight. I wrongly accused him.

"I'm your only ally more than anyone, Syrie. I'm the only one you should believe."

"I'm sorry, Volter... I was wrong!"

Volter was right. There was no one more than him I should trust because we both lost our parents.

Marcus is trying to trick me and mess up my relationship with Volter so we can fight ourselves. Just you wait. I will make sure he will not succeed in his plan because I will not let him ruin our plan of revenge against his race.