50. Vericus

The curse was broken? I had always thought it was strange that there was such a huge gap inbetween my last life. It was strange though if the curse was broken why then didn't the druids know? Surely they would have passed on if there was no need for them any more. There was something strange going on. First the broken curse then this god. Not to mention Raine herself.

Why would the moon goddess create Raine for the soul purpose of killing Driak? If she wanted him dead then why not do it herself? She was a goddess after all. Could it be that she just couldn't bring herself to kill her own son or was there another reason she couldn't do it?

"That's a serious look."

I was out on the balcony the moonlight lighting the dark once more. Tonight however I didn't even notice her approach to deep in my thoughts. She was back in her normal clothes that annoying mask on her head.

"Can you blame me?"

She shrugged sitting on the side of the stone wall.

"I suppose not."

I sat with my back to the wall my arms resting on my knees. I looked up at her perched on the wall in front of me. The feelings I had earlier that started to surface as I stared at her. Growling quietly I turned my eyes away.

"You shouldn't be alone with me. If you want to talk then do it when Malix is around."

She chuckled but it had a taint of bitterness to it.

"If that's your form of an apology it kind of sucks."

I scowled at her.

"I won't apologise for wanting to be with my mate but I will apologise for what happened. Whatever Driak did to you makes it nearly impossible to keep my hands off you. Don't deny that you didn't felt it too."

She remained silent her lips forming i tight line with a troubled look on her face.

"I don't understand why this is happening. When the curse broke it should have been over. How could the moon goddess let this happen?"

I buried my head in my hands not wanting her of all people to see me like this.

"Maybe she had no choice."

I slowly lifted my head but she wasn't looking at me. She had turned around and sat staring up at the moon.

"Maybe something happened to her that's why she hasn't been around."

She looked over her shoulder her now silver eyes shining from the moonlight.

"It just seems strange that no ones seen her for so long. She was able to interfere in the lives of her creations when this all started so why can't she now? Why do things in such a round about way?.....unless she had no choice."

"Are you trying to say that you think Driak has done something to prevent her from returning to earth?"

She shrugged swinging her legs back over jumping to the ground to lean against the railing crossing her arms across her chest and crossing her legs at the ankle.

"It makes sense. Why else would she need to create me?"

Standing up I stepped closer smiling down at her.

"You know I think your onto something."

She waved a hand like it was nothing.

"Doesn't change the fact that I still have to go after Driak."

My new found elation deflated.

"Raine-"

"You know it's true Vericus so why bother fighting it?"

"I'm not saying don't go after him I'm just saying don't do it alone. He has a whole pack backing him Raine it would be suicide."

She laughed bitterly.

"Even if I wanted help who the hells going to put their hand up? Roake won't even let me near his pack because of what I've done. Why do you think I gave you your power back if I fail the world has you to fall back on."

I closed the distance between us not even thinking I grabbed her shoulders.

"For fucks sakes Raine listen to what your saying. He's a god, you hold the only thing powerful enough to kill him and you don't even know how to use you power or what it does!"

She ripped my arms from her pushing me back in anger.

"DONT YOU THINK I KNOW THAT?!"

She stared daggers at me her fists clenched.

"I don't need you to tell me how useless I am at being the hero. I'm not a hero, all I'm good at all I've ever been good at is killing. If I can at least take Driak out then that will be enough."

I growled at her.

"What if he kills you before you kill him? What then?"

"That won't happen I gave you my word you will get Rix back."

I shook my head swiping her words away in anger.

"I wasn't talking about Rix! I was talking about you Raine. Don't get me wrong I want Rix back more then anything in the world but she wouldn't want this. I've been fooling myself into thinking she would be happy about you sacrificing yourself for her. Forget about what you've done in the past, forget about the killer controlled by a god. Your not that person any more Raine, you never were that person."

I approached her once more my hands cupping her face. She didn't move her eyes staring into mine were so full of loneliness that I hadn't noticed before now.

"Don't be so quick to throw your life away. You have a mate who loves you, an uncle who wants to keep you safe. As for the others just give them time to see that the person they hated all this time is not the person standing here now."

Her eyes began to glisten with tears, her voice was barely a whisper.

"When did you become so insightful?"

I chuckled stepping back putting distance between us once more.

"Probably the same time you started listening to what I had to say."

She laughed swiping at her eyes before her tears could fall.

"In any case dont think this means we're friends or anything."

I held my hands up smiling.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

For the first time I saw a genuine no haunted look kind of smile. This was the real Raine. Still dangerous for sure but caring of others. the bad arse attitude she put on was just an act. People saw her as evil so she gave them what they wanted, because the alternative was that they would feel guilty for liking a person that had killed their loved ones.

"I'm beginning to think this balcony is magic."

"What makes you say that?"

She chuckled.

"It has to be if it makes you less of a dick."

I grabbed a pebble from the ground and threw it at her which of course she caught while laughing.

"I should be saying the same about you."

She climbed back on the wall peering over her shoulder.

"In any case it's definitely easier to talk to you up here."

She was about to jump when she paused her eyes trained on the moon.

"I'll wait.. to go after Driak. At least until I figure out my powers. Will you help me?"

I knew how hard it was for her to admit she needed help. I didn't know how I would even begin to help her but for everyone's sake I had to try.

"Yes. Though I don't know how much help I'll be."

She inclined her head.

"Thanks."

She jumped off the balcony and headed for the woods. Clearly she still felt uncomfortable staying inside the house. It would take time for her to get used to being around everyone just as they would get used to her. Although in Slos case that might take longer.

Speaking off my little brother I should probably go have a talk with him. If Raine was planning on sticking around he needed to start trusting her. Of course I couldn't make him but I could at least stop him from attacking her whenever she was near him. It was still early so I knew he'd still be awake. Instead of trying to find him I figured mindlinking him would be the easier.

'Slo can we talk?'

His answer was slow in coming.

'I'm busy Ver.'

'With Cora?'

'What?! No! I'm.... look Ver I can't talk now.'

I could tell by his tone he was hiding something. If he wasn't with Cora where would he be that he didn't want to tell me?

'It's important where are you?'

I closed my eyes to concentrate so I could find out myself, but no matter how hard I tried he wasn't anywhere in the house. Using my power I tapped into his red eye brand til finally I found him. I sighed. The lycans camp of course he was and I knew exactly what he was doing. Going to the edge of the balcony I stepped over the side landing on the ground below.

When the Lycan camp came into view in between the trees I stayed in the shadows. Normally the lycans kept careful watch on their camp but tonight something had drawn all their attention. It didn't take long before I found out what.

Slo was in the middle of a ring surrounded by Lycan wolves. He was fighting a Lycan, well more like getting his arse kicked. He already looked particularly beaten up. I felt my anger rise at his stupidity. I was about to go break it up when a small pebble hit my back. Looking up I saw Raine hiding in shadows up a tree.

"I wouldn't do that if I was you."

I scowled at her.

"why not?"

She inclined her head towards the fight.

"He has something to prove. You go in their now and you'll only make it worse."

I flinched as Slo received another hard blow to the face. Watching only made my anger worse so I stared up at her instead.

"Your looking out for him?"

She shrugged.

"He's a good kid. He may be weak now but with his determination he could become a strong fighter given the right training."

With every conversation I had with her she surprised me even more. She was extremely good at reading people. She watched from the shadows both physically and metaphorically.

She may think she's not a hero but she's more suited for it then anyone I had ever known.

I returned my focus back to the fight. Slo was beat to hell but he just kept getting back up no matter what his opponent did to him. Finally the call rang out to end the fight. Lycan fights were always timed as they were a stubborn bunch if the fight went on too long they'd probably beat each other to death in no time.

"Vericus come to join the fun have we?"

Roake sauntered up to me from the side reeking of alcohol. My eyes went to the tree but Raine was already gone. Roake followed my gaze narrowing his eyes.

"Something wrong?"

I shook my head smiling.

"No nothing."

Roake draped his arm around me his eyes going to Slo who was making his way through the crowd of Lycans.

"Tough boy that brother of yours."

"Yes he is."

"So can we expect to see the king have a round?"

"Perhaps some other time. take care of Slo and don't let him know I was here."

Roake nodded as I turned and headed back to the house. I had heard from Owen what had happened between Malix and Slo but I didn't realise how much it had effected him. I know He had trained with the other males of the pack since I was never in the position to train him. With how I used to be it was too dangerous for me to train with anyone except Owen considering I was more likely to kill them if I lost control. Now however I could train him without that being an issue. That's if he wanted me too. Even it's not me I think the lycans did have the right idea. We needed to prepare if we were going to fight the lunar eclipse pack. Starting tomorrow we would start getting ready for a war.