The Werewolf and I

"Get 'em!!!" A male voice hollered into the dense subway.

The sound of a gunshot reverberated through the subway. It was a deafening sound. I whimpered in my sleep. No! This all was dream...just a dream. It was all just a dream that would end. Please end!

"Katrina, run!" Someone roughly shook my shoulder and sprinted away from my side.

My clear, midnight-blue eyes snapped open with a start. I steadied myself as I reluctantly stood up. It's all a nightmare. Oh, how I wished it were just a nightmare! I didn't even have to look to know what was happening; another human raid. Those terrible, warm-blooded mortals were attacking again. They've already slaughtered so many of our kind; from driving fence stakes into our hearts to shoving garlic into our faces. Those bloody torturers won't stop until every one of us was put to death. Not needing another second to react, I ran. I ran for my life. Another bullet was fired through the utter darkness. It scratched along my pale cheek, just barely missing my head. I felt warm blood dripping down my face. Damn those humans!

I was terrified and completely alone. My swift legs carried me toward the underground tunnel. Thank god I ran faster than them. I knew those mortals were still close behind me. I could feel the fire burning my skin from their torches. I could smell their anger and fear. I'd bet they could smell my fear too.

Darkness wrapped itself around me. I was nearing the tunnel. My legs felt sore; I felt nauseated. Sweat dripped down my forehead. Out of nowhere, two pale hands grabbed my wrist and covered my mouth. I wanted to scream; but I couldn't.

"Hush! Stay down."

My fear melted away. It was only Marcus. I crouched down; eyes wide open with terror and awareness. There were so many humans and so less of us; you never knew when one was going to sneak upon you. I heard the sound of scampering feet slowly grow faint. They hadn't found us. I let out a sigh of relief.

"Quick, Katrina. This way," Marcus whispered ever so softly I could barely hear it.

We strode hastily, yet we had to watch our backs. I've mentioned this earlier; humans were everywhere. Marcus slipped a rather large revolver into my hand. I flinched as I felt the cold metal. I have never used a gun before, and never intended to. But a vampire's got to learn sooner or later.

"For safety." His voice was surprisingly calm and smooth. Will it always been like that, even when we are being hunted down and killed?

The smelly corridor that we were walking across finally came to an end. A rigid hole rested about five feet above us. In a flash of speed, Marcus jumped out of that insignificant hole. I couldn't jump as well as him, but I could jump, nevertheless.

Marcus reached out his hand through the hole. "Grab my hand," he said.

I glared at the boy. He treated me like a child even though he well knew we both died at the same age; 16 and currently are 102 years old.

"No need, Marcus." I leaped out of that hole, although not at the speed that my friend had done. I almost slipped back into that dreadful tunnel, but managed to regain my balance. I flashed a showy smile at that friend of mine.

"See? I can do it just as well."

Marcus rolled his eyeballs slightly. This was his way of saying "ri-ight". I looked away and stared at the velvety-black sky. A sliver of moon shone among clutters of stars. I looked up at the boy I had known since I was a youngster. His face looked paler than usual in the moonlight. His high cheek bones and stormy, silver eyes in the dark seemed to make his face slightly thinner than it already was. His curly, black hair had grown a bit longer; touching his shoulder and spreading slightly over his eyes. He was built muscular and a half a foot taller than me, even though I was 5' 6''. I couldn't help but stare like I was in a trance. He caught my eyes for a second and looked away.

"Where are we meeting?" I questioned without hesitation.

"I thought you already knew that."

I shrugged. "Learning about evacuation plans aren't the most exciting things." I didn't want to admit that instead of listening to an elder lecture about emergency plans, I had fallen asleep.

The raven-haired boy shook his head. He muttered under his breath, "You'd fallen asleep, did you not?" Then, to my astonishment, he grinned smugly. "I had too."

"Oh! Brilliant, Marcus! We have no bloody idea where to go!" I remarked sarcastically.

"No worries. We'll find our way; we are vampires," he replied calmly. How does he remain so composed?

Yes, we were vampires. Marcus always made such a big deal out of it. His was very arrogant when it came to being a vampire. I, on the other hand, did not. I thought back to those days where more and more of our clan have been killed. Has another of our kind been left behind, dead, back at the subway? Please, no. Don't let that happen. The last time I had counted all the vampires (which was right before I went to sleep) was fourteen, including me. We've managed to gather them, find them all around the world. There were just so less left; we were on the edge of extinction. Maybe that was why Marcus had been so conceited. He was one of the last survivors.

"Katrina!" The boy hissed warningly. "Hurry up! I can sense the Master calling to us."

I followed Marcus and once again began to sprint. I hated fleeing. When could we ever find a home and settle down? We never will, my inner conscious whispered. Shut up.

We arrived in a tiny, run-down cottage. It was crowded inside, even though there were less than twenty people. Everyone of my kind I knew was there; from the youngest to the eldest. The Master, now around 3,000 years old, stood in the middle. He wasn't old at all. Kolen had died when he was eighteen; he barely aged. Marcus, I, and other youngsters were under 100 years. We didn't look a day older from our 16 year-old forms.

Everyone looked so solemn. Their expressions were neutral, all except the Master's. He had tears in his eyes; this was the first time I'd seen him cry.

"Yet again, disaster has managed to find and pour itself upon us. This world we live in...we can not do so in harmony with the humans. We can not fight back, for there are too less of us. We are, as you already know, coming to extinction. If this goes on any longer, the whole vampire clan will be wiped out!" Kolen's voice was soft, intellectual, and harsh at the same time. He looked desolately at each and every vampire. His eyes lingered on me for a while. Why did I have a feeling that something bad was going to happen? The Master took a shuddering breath and whispered out the last sentence. "Angelina has parted from us." Tears were streaming down his smooth, pale face.

Gasps and hisses arose from the fellow vampires. I couldn't believe my ear. This wasn't happening. I let out a short, exasperated gasp. Tears formed quickly in my blue eyes. I allowed them to flow freely. Marcus came to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder comfortingly. I looked up at his solemn face and noticed he had cried too. Angelina...She was the beloved of Kolen. They had looked after me like I was their own sibling. Angelina had made me laugh during those dull lectures. She was the last person I would've wanted to lose. Now, she was gone...forever.

A girl a little older than me walked through the undersized crowd and hugged my shaking form. What was her name again? Oh, right; Sheana.

"I'm sorry, Katrina," she managed to choke out the words between sobs.

In that cottage, the only energy I could sense through everyone was sorrow. Our whitish faces were tear-stained. Kolen had retreated to a corner, no longer crying, but staring unconsciously ahead of him. I felt limp and drained from crying. My stomach rumbled slightly; I had not fed in days. I slumped down against the wall and didn't notice the Master approaching me.

"Katrina, my dear, you must not look so down-hearted. Keep your senses awake. All this sorrow has only weakened us, we must stay alert!" Kolen's voice was deeper and surer of itself now.

I understood what he meant; we mustn't let our guards down. I tried to wipe away my tears and smile; it didn't work.

"All of you! What are you doing, acting like complete fools, weeping your hearts out? That'll do no good for anyone. We must stay alert! Do not let the death or a beloved affect you!" His voice had returned to its normality; his pale-blue eyes shining.

Kolen did something very strange after making his announcement. He stared at me continuously, as if searching for something on my face. I knew it wasn't polite to look back, so I just stared at the long scar running down his left arm. Where had he gotten that scar from? Oh, right; werewolf attacks. The Master continued to examine me. Was he looking at my face for some reason? I hesitantly touched my wavy, jet-black hair. Did I have something on my face? Was this some type of a test? If yes, then did I pass? Was I supposed to look at him or keep on staring at his scar?

"Katrina," he finally spoke, "I've decided it is time."

"What, Master?" There was so much anxiety in my voice, it didn't sound like me.

Kolen closed his eyes and sighed heavily. "I'm going to assign you on a mission..." He stopped to see my reaction. My face, fortunately, remained expressionless. "This mission is dangerous and life-risking and -''

"Master, Katrina can't go on this. We can't afford losing her!" Marcus cut in. I flinched slightly. Kolen didn't like it when people interrupted him.

"Shush!" The Master vampire hissed at the dark-haired boy. "Katrina, I am going to assign you to be the one to re-create our clan." He continued before anyone could object. "You will stay at Hogwarts, where you'll be safe, and unnoticeably create more of our kind using those students." He hesitated before adding the last part. "Will you accept?"

I noticed Marcus's eyebrow furrowing in what looked like shock and anger. Before he uttered a sound, I spoke.

"I accept," I announced with certainty.

"It is agreed, then. You will be leaving tomorrow morning with supplies," he said, no trace of emotion in his voice.

"But...isn't Hogwarts the magical school for witches and wizards?" I had to laugh after saying this. "I have no magic."

"My dear, you are a vampire! You have magical abilities, different from those students, but you have certain abilities they don't. For one thing, vampires tend to learn things so quick; you have no need to worry."

I was confused. No need to worry about fitting in a school where everyone has sticks that they use for spell incantations?

"Why did you choose me though? There are other vampires in this clan you can choose from. For one fact, there's Sheana. She's smart, brave, and not half as arrogant as I am."

Maybe I'd asked too much. To hell with my anxiety! Kolen stared at me, as if he was predicting for this to happen.

"It's very simple. Well, first, because you are female. People will be less likely to become suspicious of a young, pretty girl. (I blushed right here. Thank God no one saw!) How can you say that you are not just as clever as Sheana? You are a gifted vampire, Katrina. Now, I have already spoken with Dumbledore, the Headmaster, about enrolling you as a sixth year. That old fool trusted me that you already knew magic. And last, I trust you to complete this assignment without any flaws. I trust you, Katrina."

I was completely speechless. I knew that Kolen trusted me before, but to be put on such a mission was completely...plain honor. I bowed to the Master.

"Thank you, Sir," I murmured.

"Wait! Master Kolen, may I go with Katrina?" Marcus asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Marcus!" I hissed warningly, revealing my fangs. That arrogant friend ignored me!

"I can watch over her; make sure she is doing what she was assigned and protect her from danger," he added.

My lips bent into a scowl. I didn't need Marcus, of all people to be my bodyguard! I was enraged! How dare he?

"Yes, wise idea, Marcus. You shall leave with Katrina tomorrow morning. I will contact the Headmaster about you." The Master looked quite surprised. Kolen left us there. I was free to start shouting at Marcus.

"You...you...brat!" I managed to spit out in my frenzy. My delicate hands clenched into a small fist. I tried to hit him on the chest, but he caught my wrist in midair. "Let go!" He watched me, amusement dancing in his beautiful, silver eyes.

"I think your eyes are turning a different color..." He observed. Then, he gave me a devilish grin. "They're glowing red."

In spite of myself, I laughed. My head collapsed on his chest. I didn't know if I was laughing then or sobbing. I was happy to go on the mission, even if I had to go with Marcus. But the thought of my best friend, Angelina's death managed to squeeze through the barriers in my mind and haunt me. I felt so weak...I felt so unlike myself. And I felt hungry. I lied there on Marcus, sobbing and laughing at the same time.

He stroked my raven-black hair softly. "Hush, Katrina. Everything will be alright. I'll always be here for you..."