FEMME FATALE

Wilburn wished nothing but the best for her. He understood this knack with revenge she hauled around, that same wrath he spent years taking out of werewolf packs who up until recently the hunter realized did not deserve being cast as target practice. Raquel’s situation held its complicated circumstances, only dealing with a single vampire. “I expected nothing short of resilience.” The same resilience prevented Wil from convincing Ray of any other alternative to staking Luther and killing herself in the process. It was the hunter’s code dying young and at the hands of a supernatural, a code he initially planned to perish by a lifetime ago. “It’s Charlotte. Camryn and I reached an agreement that she’s surpassed her time as a caravan leader after using others as a weapon against a werewolf pack that weren’t as vicious as she claimed. She’s lied to everyone. To me.” Wil smoothed his tongue along his lower lip and sighed, “I’m staying far from it, but I want you helping Cam.”

Ray’s brows rose in surprise as Wil went on to explain what they were planning, a coup of his prior caravan. She fell silent as he told her what she needed, thinking of everything and anything that could go wrong before shaking her head slightly. “Do you think this is truly wise, Wil? That this is the right time? We are in the middle of a war on all fronts, living in a town where we are surrounded and outnumbered. I may not be officially in your caravan or fond of Charlotte, and don’t mistake me as this advocating to keep her in power, but there has to be a better time to do this. This could cause the caravan to be even more unstable and fall apart,” Ray replied, her voice growing serious, “I do not agree with hunting supernatural just for the sake of hunting, but I really want you to make sure this is what the caravan really needs and that you’re not clouded by your new loyalties.”

I know how to argue for a living and win, honey.

In actual seriousness, I’m getting this vibe this next one’s going to be big.

No wonder you flourish as a lawyer, Charles.

Oh, good thing I spent my entire life getting shipped around from place to place, I’ll feel right at home.

First lesson you should learn about me, I do an awful lot of talking sometimes and don’t know what I’m talking about. Regardless, you don’t have to sit here and explain in simplest terms the price you pay as a hunter. I don’t want to kill anyone, but if the world has practically turned and left me here to my own devices, I’ll hold that gun and pull the trigger when my life depends on it. To ensure what happened to my siblings doesn’t happen to me. So, to answer your question, I need this.

What I once thought was just horror stories, are actually all real. To say it’s depressing and terrifying doesn’t really cut it.

Do you happen by chance to know much about wendigos?

I wish I could say that it gets better, but it really doesn’t. I was in your shoes once-- finding out about the supernatural the hard way. You either become too terrified to do anything, or you fight back. 

“As opposed to when you would rather have this conversation? When it’s too late, when your soul leaves this plane?” Dimitri took one small step forward, refusing to allow them both to obfuscate the topic as was the habit both parties were guilty of. He chose not to advance any further, though, as fear she might retaliate if her buttons were pressed beyond repair. “I knew the peril engaging in a friendship with a huntress so heavily tied to a dear friend of my master’s, but my imprisonment means nothing knowing how far I am willing to go for you. I would kill Luther myself and lay him at your feet without blinking, Ray, I would slaughter Edgar if it appeased you.” The witch stopped cold in the middle of the ranting, realization coming over his features in waves. Never had he threatened his master’s life so openly. “You deal with pessimist realism, sweet pea. Then tell me you don’t feel the same way I do and I will walk away after playing my part in your death sentence. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t love me,” Dimitri paused, “And I will drop this. Forget it happened, forget what I feel the way you want.”

Raquel knew that Dimitri was right, if there was any time that she would prefer to have this conversation, it’d be never. She’d be long gone and six feet under if she had anything to do with it. She didn’t budge when Dimitri came closer, knowing that he wouldn’t willingly do anything that she was uncomfortable with, which was what made this all so much more difficult. “What?” Raquel looked at the witch in shock, never having ever heard the man so willing to end his master’s life before. That was always what she never understood between Edgar and Dimitri-- Dimitri had all of his power and he did nothing with it, even though Edgar treated him so poorly. “That’s not what I want, at all,” she said eventually with a furious shake of her head before she leveled her hazel eyes onto him, “I don’t want you killing anyone for me. If anything, you should be killing Edgar for yourself. If you kill him for me at my command, I’m no better than him and I don’t want that.” She felt like a cornered animal, desperate for an escape. She could lie to him just so they could be done and she wouldn’t be hassled anymore-- but she’s not one to do that. Raquel knew she couldn’t look him in the eyes and lie, but this isn’t what she deserved either. “I’ll do what you ask, give you your answer, if you answer my question first,” she said after a time of considering her next steps. Their next steps, “why do I get to be happy and live when my own father and brother can no longer? You know why they died. So, why do I get to have the things they no longer can experience when they died because of me?”

His gaze followed Raquel’s movements with fierce protectiveness over his child, feeling the warm spread further as Griffin was returned to his twin sister’s side. “I didn’t think it’s something I’d have or want. Hunting was my world, it’s painful to picture there’s a point in my life where I thought I’ll die before I ever settled down with a family.” Wilburn turned, leaning against the railing of the crib and casting Ray a cocked brow, “Preachy, fuck, that’s what happens when I’m the family man. You could have that too if you ever change your mind about living life beyond your set goal.” The wolf lowered his head and chewed on his next ultimatum carefully. He knew Raquel likely didn’t care to live another day after taking out Luther, but she needed to know what was coming. “Listen, Ray, you got your own thing happening at the moment, but there’s only a select few hunters I trust. And I could use your help protecting my family if you’re up for the task. You see, um,” Wil sighed, “Shit’s about to shake with the caravan.”

Would it be so hard? Settling down and starting a family, letting go of all of this rage and sadness she’s been holding onto? Raquel knows she could have it if she were to try, but the thing was... hunters really shouldn’t try. Charles was a prime example-- call it karmic justice for the deeds they’ve done during their tenure. Perhaps being a wolf was the best thing that happened to Wil. She gave him a sad smile, “I’m glad you found this, but my endgame is still set.” Ray watched the man closely, knew he was going to tell her something else; as if he didn’t know how to broach the subject. When he finally did tell her, she wasn’t too surprised. “I’ll do what I can for your family, you know this. Your family is my family now,” she said quietly before turning fully towards him, “what’s happening? What are you planning?”

Between the former and the latter, it’s better having the right preparations nine times out of ten. Obviously. We don’t exactly live in an ideal world, now do we? You only land in deep shit if you don’t get your ass caught.

I’m already paying the heavy price, or the rest of my family is. What if, despite the lack of gratitude and an extreme risk of losing your life by the time you’re forty, that someone would…want to do what you do? If that’s what it means making the hard decision when the person has no other alternative?

You get caught when you stay in the same place for too long, that’s why most of the time hunters move constantly. This place is one of a kind, though.

Leave me and my moon calendar alone so I can have this one moment.

Okay, okay, almighty Charles. I’ll give you this one thing, I guess.

It’s carnal nature searching for the next power grab and anyone stupid enough to commit treason. Not in my house, honey.

All displeasure with how you plan to achieve your endgame aside and with who, that ride or die dedication is awe-inspiring. You are one hell of a hunter, Raquel, but it’s a loss to our cause if this really kills you in the end.

Sometimes I envy your resolve.

It’s a recipe for disaster and more trouble than we were already in. I don’t want her sticking her nose where it shouldn’t belong, that’s my job.

You don’t become one without a price. I know that much. What’s it like?

You can be in a disaster and not know anything, or you can be in a disaster and at least know enough to not get killed. Ideally, none of you should be sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.

The only thing I can respect, my dear, is my judgements to trust someone I know wouldn’t betray me in the end.

Perhaps, this witch of yours is waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Or maybe he hasn’t outgrown schoolboy crushes.

There are humans out there that would also betray you, everyone has that capacity. Even other hunters.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg, lady. Mia’s basically obsessing about digging up everything she can, I could barely get a word in to tell her slowing down might be a great idea. You talk from experience, either you know what’s what or you’re one of those folks I hear along the grapevine. A hunter.

Everyone is a little obsessed about the supernatural if something happens to their family, you know.

Wilburn reached out a hand and allowed his fingers to glide smoothly along Griffin’s forehead, watching his little boy turn and give him a look he swore resembled an expression he would adopt sometimes. The love a father holds for his son was undeniable and indestructible, especially when he knew deep down, both his children would inherit the best and the worst of their parents. That’s what scared Wil the most. “They’re everything I have to protect, Ray. Bringing kids into this world terrifies the shit out of me and Cass. And despite that,” He placed his hands along the railing of the crib, looking upon a sleeping Calliope with the same compassion and adoration, “I find new ways to love them every single day. My children, their mother, are my life now. I have to protect that, you know?”

She gave a small smile to the man as he spoke, looking at the baby boy in her arms before gently returning him to his crib beside his sister when she noticed his eyes drooping. “I’m glad you found that, Wil. This little family of yours,” she said quietly, voice twinging with sadness, “you better protect it at all costs, or else I’ll come back and kick your ass into next century.” When she watched the babies sleeping, there was a part of her that knew she would never have this and would never yearn for a family; not in the way that Wil found. “In order to cut the sentiment and awkwardness, you sound a little preachy, bub. Never thought I would have seen you advocate for a family,” she said as she fixed her gaze on him again.

“Of course I don’t like the outcome, that was never in question.” Dimitri forced out the statement tensely, an attempt to contain his emotional compromise in that moment. He had his feelings under control at the very least where magic was concerned, but the height in which Ray traveled left the witch unsteady at times.. “And what of the people you leave behind, Raquel? Do you understand how you are the single greatest light in my life?” He scoffed sadly, “You stand here, telling me how I should feel, what I should accept and need, when I am ruled by a life of commands from another. So, no, I won’t come to terms with watching you die.” His heart was beginning to beat fast, it never stopped beating for her. “And I will not give those reasons, or the reason, when you should know already by now.”

“We are not doing this right now, Pierce,” Raquel ground out, stepping away from the man as if to give herself some space from the conversation. She knew exactly what he was alluding to, and she wouldn’t let herself cave. Not when she was so close to rest. “I need to be able to get the job done by any means necessary. I have to be able to give myself up at the end of the line if it means he’s dead, and don’t pretend there is space in your life for me when you’re shackled like a dog,” Ray shook her head sadly. It wasn’t like she didn’t feel emotions, that she didn’t feel happy in his presence. It just wasn’t realistic, the two of them. “My reason is the fact that this isn’t in the cards. Not with the hands we’ve been dealt.”

I’m not a godsent prophet, but this temperamental weather’s definitely a sign some shit’s brewing.

Full moon is coming.

I’m never one to say I told you so.

Depending on who you ask like my step-brother for example, it’s what we’re not doing. He’s on the total verge of a nervous breakdown as should he be, my other brother’s shacking up with a pack and trying not to turn full Hannibal Lecter, my sister’s researching the supernatural, while my step-sister can’t keep herself out of trouble and my poor mother is losing her shit. And then there’s me, floating in limbo.

That witch of his is the reason he’s a werewolf, her and his unrelenting stubbornness. No, I’m not the biggest fan befriending the supernatural for any purpose, but are you certain he can be trusted?

I am certain that he can be trusted, Charlotte. I respect your stances on supernatural, so please respect mine.