Kayden listened but did not speak, and eventually they all left. She knew she was confined to the room, no one would dare let her out now. Not that she could move.
Her stomach continued to complain but Kayden ignored it, if only because there was no readied meal available. Eventually she fell asleep, dozing in and out for two days as her body healed. Nix rarely left her side, assigning herself as guard. The only moments she did leave was to return with food, water, and to check her wounds. The food smelt like cardboard and the water couldn't quench her thirst so Kayden ignored it all, not moving from her spot on the bed.
On the third day she woke and the hunger was there, growling at her. Most of her body was healed except where Jay had broken her arm and hip, the bone still mending itself. Rolling over, Kay ignored the voice whispering in her head, telling her to feed. Instead she curled up further, refusing to move from her bedside. It was the safest for everyone.
The rest of the group thought the demon was meerly buying its time, none of them believing it was still Kayden behind those dark smoky eyes.
Because they think I'm weak. Because they think I can't control this so it controls me.
A soft growl left her lips. They were all assuming she'd go through the phases Luna had.
Because, of course, I have to be just like Luna. Walking in her damn footsteps. Always a shadow.
Her thoughts swirled and made her angrier, but there was little she could do about it. Phoenix was sleeping in the corner of the room, although Kay's growl might have woken her. And without feeding, Kayden had been growing weaker, a plan she was almost positive Nix whipped up. So she was stuck with her cruel thoughts, most of them making her angry, but a few saddening her. Like Graham. Kayden had woken the morning after and cried, cried silently for her fallen friend who she had killed because of the hunger. Then the demon reared its head once more and the heartache subsided.
"Your awake," Phoenix's voice cut through her thoughts, the older wolf effortlessly standing and moving to the bed, "I thought I heard a growl."
She sat at the end of the bed, and Kayden pulled herself into a sitting position, staring back and her blankly. She was still trying to gauge Nix's motives here. Graham was dead, warranting Nix's hate, of which there was none. They were in a household with two other wolves, neither that Phoenix was particularly fond of but yet she remained. And no one quite liked her here, nor trusted her, and yet she refused to budge from Kayden's side.
"I am," Kay's voice was soft but confident, "May I ask you something?"
Nix nodded, watching her.
"Why do you stay? Why have you not killed me and moved on?"
It wasn't an unfair question; Nix was a demon hunter. For decades now she'd been contracted to do exorcisms, banish, kill, and on the rare occasion reign in demons. Aiding them wasn't on that list.
"Well for one, your still you," Nix smiled, reaching forward and taking her hand, "Two, there is this mighty pretty girl next door I'd like to get to know..."
The day after everyone had come over so that as a whole they could all be on the same page. Phoenix had introduced herself to everyone then, and she'd obviously met Kyli. Not that anyone knew at this point that Nix was gay aside from Kayden. It was against their biology as wolves, but somehow the older wolf just couldn't find an interest in men, and she embraced it instead of hiding it.
"...And thirdly you need me. Someone has to keep your addiction in check."
She was talking about Graham. The other night she had feasted on his heart, and it had tasted amazing. Phoenix had yet to tell everyone about Kayden's addiction, but it would come up sooner or later. The serial killer who plagued wolves and left their bodies to rot outside villages, the only thing missing being their hearts? Kayden.
"You don't hate me?"
Nix shook her head, "I wasn't there when this happened to Luna, but word traveled. We expected death, and we knew what we signed up for. Graham was being reckless when he got that close to you, and he should have known better. And the look in your eyes tell me your feeling regret and remorse. I can't hate you for that kid."
Kayden dashed a tear away before it could fall down her cheek, pulling her knees up under her chin.
"You're really you right now, aren't you?" Nix asked, surprising Kayden, "I've been watching you for three days waiting for this demon to show itself again and wreck havoc. But its you."
Someone finally got it. Sort of.
"Yeah," Kay sighed, "In a way."
"Want to elaborate?"
She didn't want to go into a speech, but Nix deserved that much, after killing her closest friend.
"The demon doesn't flare up or die down. It
is me. I am it. We are one being."
Nix looked confused, "Its a parasite though Kayden. Luna had to learn to suppress it and keep it contained. It will not share control."
Kayden shook her head. She wasn't listening. None of them would.
"I'm not Luna," she snapped, picking her head up, "When will everyone get that?!"
Nix head pulled back, surprised at the sudden venom, "No your Kayden. We know that. But everyone has nothing to go by except Luna's experience..."
"So your forcing it upon me?" Kayden retorted, "Assuming I'm going to try an wreck havoc on the group, slaughtering everyone. All I want is a damn raw meal and some peace of mind! And maybe if you all got your heads out of your asses you could see that I am my fucking self, and that I can share control over this body!"
Her voice had grown louder with her words till she was yelling, her back bristling in anger, "I am not my sister! I do not want to be her! How is it even when I do something it always goes back to her! I'm fucking tired of it! You know whats different between us. Luna never asked or wanted the damn demon..."
She jumped up, her hip sore but withstanding as she yelled.
"...and I did! I beckoned it to me! I called it in. I was willing, and that made all the fucking difference!"
She bounded to the door, breaking the lock with a snap of her wrist and freeing herself. Nix was on her heels, but she expected her to go for Luna's room where the mama wolf lay bedridden. Kayden instead moved for the stairs, jumping over the railing and landing on her two feet on the main floor. Jay was there, as well as Ashlin and Xael, and Eli, Reyn and Nya. All of them stared at her, having heard her rant and surprised to see her. She didn't pause though, racing for the back door before Phoenix could catch up. It was unlocked and ajar, making her escape far more easy. Her bare feet touched the grass and she bolted towards the trees, wanting that freedom.
"Any help?" Nix yelled behind her, calling at the rest.
But Kayden was gone. They'd have to track her to find her, the girl zipping through the trees, just wanting to get away. To be away.
