4

When Death comes Knocking

I notice that the car is driving us towards the docks and I wonder if my parents are coming in early and would like to surprise me. My parents usually do this so I’m am actually not surprised, how many times have they sent the beta – which was always so serious – to fetch me just so they could throw the word ‘surprise!’ in my face.

I should not really be surprised but as we near the docks, I can’t help the sudden feeling of fear and unease that grips me.

I glance at the beta who is sitting stiffly beside me. I note the beads of perspiration on his face and as his fingers rub against each other nervously. “Beta Wayne.” I call out and he answer with a strangulated sound.

His attention is elsewhere, his eyes are glossed over and his thoughts almost spill out of his head. I have heard of werewolves with the power to read into people’s minds and right now, I would have been thankful for that gift.

I bite my bottoms lip and then try again. “Beta Wayne.” I call out, this time louder and with more authority.

He is startled by my voice and shakes out of his thoughts. “What is it, Crystal?” he asks in a condescending tone.

I sigh and brush my pajamas. He had not even given me the chance to change into something decent. “Where are you taking me?” I wince as soon as the words leave my mouth. That was not what I meant to ask.

I could see where he was taking me. Even a werewolf who has just arrived into town would know where this road leads. The beta eyed me redundantly and I almost fold into my non-existent shell.

“As you can see, Crystal. We are going to the docks.” He answers.

I smile, if only to ease the tension that is taking over my body. “I know. What I meant to ask was, why are we going to the rock? You said you would talk to me about it in that car.”

He skims his eyes over my face and his lips curl into a smirk. “When have I ever said I’d do something and then actually do it?” he wipes the smirk off his face and his expression becomes serious. “When we get to the docks, we will see why you’re needed there. For now, just keep quiet and let me think.”

On account of the way I’m feeling, I let it slide. We are getting closer and closer to the sea and my heart rate is spiking. Fear consumes me but I note that it is not just the water I’m scared of, there’s an underlying fear and I cannot what it is.

As far as I know, my parents are the only two people who are aware of my fear of water and I intend to keep it that way. Which meant, I could not let the beta sense my discomfort. I concentrate on controlling my heartbeat so it beats at the normal rate.

If the beta senses that my heartbeat is above normal, he would be suspicious and I don’t want that. I’ve had many years of practice thanks to my father’s excellent hearing so I can safely say I am a pro when it comes to keeping my heartbeat and emotions in check.

We finally arrive at the docks and I notice that something might indeed be going on. They are more people around the docks than they usually are and there is a certain kind of tension in the air.

My eyes darts to the berth where my father usually docks his ship and I sigh when I notice it is still empty. I take a deep breath and released it slowly then glanced at the beta. His eyes are rested on the crowd in front of us and he seems quite eager to get out of the car.

Once our driver finds a good place to park, the beta jumps out of the car and then gestures for me to come out too. This is nothing but water. I tell myself. I am not dying today.

But I don’t even believe that. I try to remember my dreams or visions. Whatever they are. Since they are all the same, then I must have been wearing the same clothes in all of them. But now that I actually put my thoughts to it, I realize that in all of my dreams I had been wearing different clothes.

Strangely, I have never really given it a thought and before I can think much on it, the beta knocks on the window and glared at me. I scowl and push the door open.

The noise hits me at once and I take an involuntary step back. The clashing of the sea draws up the dreams and an image of me struggling with the water flashes in my vision. I place my hand on the car for support and try to steady my vision.

When I look up, I see that the beta is already moving, approaching the crowd and I follow after him. I try to drown out the sound of the sea and almost smile at the irony because in my dreams, I am drowning in the see. As if in tune with my thoughts, another image of my giving into the darkness and closing my eyes, allowing the ever-raging waters push me down, flashes again in my head and my feet falters.

I stumbled against a stone which I did not notice and almost collide with the ground but someone catches me before I fall and brings me back up. I look up to find the face of a boy who is almost the same age as me. His sharp eyes bore into me and his lips widen into a taut smile.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“Of course!” I reply.

He squints at me as recognition flash in his eyes. “Ahhh… I know you.” He laughs. “You are Alpha Aaron Flynn’s daughter.”

I force a smile. “I guess my reputation exceeds me.” I don’t recognize the boy and I believe I have never met him before. My father’s pack is quite huge, more like a small city and we always have steady streams of werewolves coming and going.