Aeress

"Wake up, wake up, this is a dream," she whispered to herself as she was escorted out of the SUV. She was confronted by an afternoon sky, filled with a falling sun, floating clouds, and an endless, deepening blue. Why was it then that she admired the sky?

"How far are we from the city?" Aeress questioned Nina as she was helped out of the passenger seat. She was dressed in a neat, tan coat, which gave her an elevated air of sophistication, something she just carried naturally.

"A little ways, actually. We have a variety of properties across the nation. If you decide to leave after the celebration, we will happily escort you back to wherever you wish." Aeress was tired of being escorted.

"I would say that I don't want you to know where I live, but I think we both know that by this time, the information you have on me is definitely not to my liking. So, be honest," she noted the immaculate mansion they were marching toward, "are you escorting me to my death?" She sure as hell hoped not. She wasn't exactly a great runner.

Nina laughed. "Of course not. Maybe after you are informed, you will understand that we want just the opposite."

The plush grass was luxurious, with vibrant green slashing through the yard. The place itself was humongous, held up by great brown columns. The rest of the house was constructed from lovely hues of red and brown brick. The windows were reflective, making it impossible to see the inside.

They made it onto the pavement leading to the entrance when Aeress felt her limbs becoming heavy. One of the guards took hold of her arm and her steps became sluggish. "Don't make me go in."

Nina looked behind her with a puzzled expression. "Are you okay?"

Aeress shook her head as it filled with white noise. "Don't make me go in there, please."

"Calm down, will you?" the guard who was practically carrying her at that point muttered, "you're shaking like a leaf. We aren't going to hurt you. Don't you understand?"

"I've been kidnapped!" Aeress shouted. "None of this is okay! I don't care what you people are. Whatever the hell is going on-what the fuck man. This isn't right. I've tried to stay calm, but this just isn't right!" She felt a prick in her side.

"You have been through much," Nina soothed, removing the needle. "This whole situation must have your mind in chaos. But do not worry. Everything will be sorted out, I promise."

Her eyes drifted closed as they approached the door.

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Aeress was convinced that she was losing her mind. Or everybody else was insane.

People don't just casually pluck people out of their everyday lives. Things like that can't happen.

She finished washing her body down, thankful that the dry blood was finally coming off. But it was tough to have soap soak into her fresh wounds, though she managed to endure through it. She had always prided herself on having a high pain tolerance. Except for period cramps, those could take down even the strongest.

Aeress stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a fluffy, white robe. She combed through her mess of strands. They were tangled and a difficult task to accomplish.

Five minutes passed, and her curls were already forming and tangling her stands once more. A lost cause indeed.

Her back was aching as she exited the bathroom. The expansive bed was absolutely inviting, although she didn't dare sleep a wink more. There was no telling where she would wake up next.

She looked around searching for bugs or cameras. After looking at every lavish inch, she felt that she was not being watched.

The fact that she no longer felt alarmed like she did when approaching the mansion did not go over her.

On her search, she found a few clothing items. She could tell they were brand new, never worn. There was a fresh linen scent to them, which served to be quite relaxing.

The black boxers were a little tight. The grey bra was also a little tight. The long-sleeved blue top was loose and the christmas themed pants were a bit over-the-top.

Running her hands over her hair, she eyed the door. Did she feel lucky?

Well, her surviving thus far must have meant something!

She huffed out a breath and approached the door, dubious as she twisted the knob. Her brows rose a couple inches off her face when the door inched open.

She took a peek, confronted by sleek wood floor and smooth, white walls with gold trimmings. Above hung bright chandeliers, crafted by gorgeous crystals and rubies. At this rate, she wouldn't put it past her that she was living in a royal's house.

Aeress decided that she would give the place a spin. She turned around and shut the door.

"Oh, great! You're ready!"

Aeress jumped at the german accent. She whipped around at the always level-headed Nina. She was dressed in a blue pantsuit with a silk blouse underneath. She seemed to have changed her outfit a thousand times. "You scared me."

Nina chuckled. "My apologies. We were waiting for you to get settled in. We wanted to speak with you before the celebration, but excuse my manners, you must be starving! Follow me, we will eat before you surely pass out." She strutted off in her black, one-inch heels. Her stride possessed the elegance of a cat.

She rubbed her growling stomach and trailed after.

The place was quite literally magnificent, bleeding with riches. The taste of the interior designer were on point, pulling off an air of opulence without arrogance. Her feet were comforted by a carpet which fell down the center of the hard, wood floors. In her mind, the quantity of rooms was endless. Never had she been in a house so large and full of treasure.

It took every ounce of her temperance to not touch all things which she fancied.

"Who lives here?"

"Our Premier. Though he lives on countless other properties, some community and others not. This is private. It was I who suggested this event, as a way to, how do they say-kill two birds with one stone? Yes, he will be here for the celebration." Nina manuvered through the halls with ease. Had she lived there before? Maybe she was a professional at convincing others that she knew exactly what she was doing at all times.

They finally entered the kitchen. Who the hell needed three frigerators? Aeress was caught up in the grey, marble counters. The steel sinks. The dark brown cabinets. This was a cook's wet dream. There were also cooks, they looked calm and collected.

"Is that a BLT?" Aeress demanded. The bacon was practically melted on her tongue. "That's my favorite." She took a seat at the counter.

Nina sat on the stool with grace. Her long legs were endless. She offered water which Aeress gulped down. "It's Premier's favored as well. You can have that one. He can catch the next one. You are a guest. Though he hates to wait, I think this special instance warrants first-dib privlege!" A plate was soon presented before her. She examined the sandwich with suspicion, but her cramping stomach left little time for debate.

"Special instance?" Nina failed to respond as her eyes were glued to her phone which appeared out of nowhere.

Aeress was blown away by the crispy bacon, fresh tomato and fresh lettuce. The bread was toasted to perfection with a light coating of butter spread upon it. Delicious! As soon as she finished one, the chef presented her another without question. Aeress sent a grateful glance.

Minutes passed in silence of Aeress inhaling the sandwich and chugging her water. It finished with the grand finale of one obnoxious burp.

Aeress wiped her mouth and smiled guiltily at a patiently waiting Nina. "Sorry. I guess I was starved. So it is time for the whole informing part you mentioned before?" Nina nodded. "I think by now I would be stupid to try and convince you to just let me go, because you and whoever your people claim to be are deadset om having me informed. So, go ahead. I'm all ears."

"When you walked into the nightclub, what did you notice about the people?"

"They were very attractive."

She turned toward Aeress. "What else?"

"They were young and unusually healthy. It was strange to me and Shaya how everyone was their own form of perfection. Honestly, it was like walking down the red carpet."

Nina nodded, her eyes darting to the chefs. "Those people you saw, they are my people. We... are different than normal people... Normal humans."

Aeress wished she could act surprised. "God, I was hoping you were some cult or gang, hell, I would have taken the mafia. Now this may be me going out on a limb here, but you guys aren't human, are you?"

Nina nodded with caution, spreading dread in her heart. "Smart, smart girl. You are not blind like the majority of human men and women. You are correct, we are not human, at least not entirely."

Aeress felt herself tensing. "Just say it before I lose my mind, Nina."

"My people are werewolves. I am a werewolf."

Aeress struggled to keep her meal in. "Werewolves. Got it. What do you eat?"

Nina laughed. "We don't eat human flesh, if that is what you are wondering." Her pretty face twisted with disgust. "It would be too weird."

"Yes!" Aeress drawled, feeling like someone should throw her in the looney bin, "that is the weird part! I am sitting in a room full of werewolves and your daily diet is just so mundane. God, losing my mind is quite annoying!" She exclaimed to herself.

"How are you so calm? From my experience, most humans either faint or run away when I reveal this?" Nina was preparing for her bolt, Aeress could sense it.

Aeress chuckled. "I haven't walked around my entire life trying to promote the idea of the supernatural, but you ask any avid fiction reader what they believe, and I'll tell you what: impossible is a strong word." She took a couple more sips of water. What the hell was going on?

"Then you know what an alpha is?"

Aeress thought long and hard. "The leader? When I think of wolves, they have packs, with a sort of hierarchy, right?"

"Precisely!" Nina clapped her hands together. "We have packs across the world. It isn't like some big pack ruled by an alpha. That would be impractical. Packs are found in different regions with a diverse selection of alphas. We are not evil, Aeress. We simply wish to live our lives to the best of our ability."

Aeress snorted. "Without human acknowledgement. Why not? I have a feeling the human society is of no obstacle to you."

Nina shrugged. "That depends. We are not an arrogent people. We do not desire war. It is best if our true identities remain unknown. We are not ashamed of our beasts. We simply feel this way of life has more efficacy."

"By beasts, you mean..."

Nina straightened her posture. "We are human and wolf. Though the wolves are a little different that what you would find in the forests. They are larger, stronger, faster. Our appearences can come off as beastly, but in the end, they are a part of who we are."

"Can you transform whenever you like? Or does the moon force you?" These were questions she had before this whole situation took place.

"Our beasts come out when endangered, if we allow it. This is strange to explain every time, but we are the same people. My wolf, for instance, is my more wild, untamed side. One which does not think as humans do. As we do. We can transform on self-command, though it is a chore. We prefer not to. It is quite exhausting. Only the strongest can do so without effort." How calm she was, that was beyond Aeress.

Aeress rubbed her forehead with a soft touch. "Wow, this is insane. Wake up, wake up."

Nina put her had on the counter, though did not touch her in respect. "I can assure you that this is not a dream. I want you to understand that we did not steal you from your life. You stepped into our world, and yes I understand unknowlingly, but never believe that we would intentionally upset the schedule of anyone's life. We are doing this for you, not for us. Do you understand? You are not in danger. If anything, you are the safest you have ever been in your life. I can promise you that."

Aeress snapped. "I don't know you!" she came to a stand. "You are a werewolf. That is insane, this," she gestured all around, "is insane-"

Nina came to a proud stand. "Insane? Do you know what is insane? Your people are starving in one place, obese in others. Pointless wars are fought. Millions have died because of mankind, my people included. We have watched your species since the beginning of time and the cruelty is quite frankly horrifying. I understand you are scared, I do. This is scary. But your definition of insane is quite disfigured. This is reality-I am sorry, I must go. Make yourself comfortable." She left before Aeress could digest her speech.

Aeress took a seat aand blew out a breath.

"Ma'am?"

Aeress made eye contact with the blonde cook. "Yes?"

Her expression was tender. "I know right now you must being feel quite out of place. I know I was."

"You're human like me?"

She nodded. "It's been six years since then. I was in a car crash, and a man saved my life. He was one of them." There was a secretive smile on her pale lips. "And it turned out we were mates. He knew that because I was a Scented."

Aeress knew her eyes were wide. "Mates as in soulmates, right? Those exist as well?" The woman nodded. "What is a Scented?"

The woman frowned. "In a nutshell: human mates. It is very rare for a werewolf to have a human mate. That human is usually talented in some way. My talent is my cooking, obviously. When I met my Davis, I was on my way to the airport. The Queen herself had invited me to prepare a dish in her honor. Look at me now. The BLT was delicious, yes?" She finished with a laugh.

Aeress nodded. "Someone referred to me as a Scented. They must have been mistaken. I love myself and all that good stuff, but I do not have talent. That is just a fact."

The woman laughed. "When I say talent, it is not limited to aptitudes. Sometimes you have to find your mate first, and your talent will be revealed. I wouldn't stress over it. Things will come naturally."

"Things don't feel so natural right now. And I am pretty sure I just pissed off the queen of werewolves. Maybe my talent is making a mess of things!"

"Nina? Hardly! She can be passionate, but she doesn't have a mean bone in her body. She was promoted to warrior by Premier himself. She has been under a lot stress lately. I have a feeling it wasn't you that caused her stress."

Aeress believed her. "Good, because pissing off the queen of werewolves was not on my to-do list."







Black Lives Matter.