All Is Fair

Five years ago

Finally Rebecca felt free. She knew she could stay at the youth home until she graduated from high school, but that was months away. Turning eighteen had given her the right to control her own path. She didn't need any more school. Her gifts were strong enough that she would live the easy life now.

She pulled out her bag and started stuffing her necessities inside. A light in the room came on startling her.

"Where are you going?" Helena asked.

Rebecca was happy to get rid of her too. She was such a brat. Even at sixteen Rebecca's sister refused to grow up. The girl was so naïve she couldn't even tell when she was being manipulated.

Once Rebecca had convinced her of the stories about their parent's abuse, Helena was like putty in her hands. Sure, Rebecca got in trouble once and a while and her parents did punish her, but nothing like Helena now pictured. It was almost too easy. Rebecca wondered if Helena had any accurate details left in her head from her childhood. The little twerp would be better off without her and didn't even realize it.

"I'm leaving," Rebecca said. "I'm eighteen now."

"You said they wouldn't separate us," Helena said.

"Well," Rebecca said. "I don't have a choice. They're forcing me out."

Another lie. Rebecca hoped it made Helena question the people at the youth home over their decision. Rebecca knew she was too weak to bother asking them if it were true. She liked the idea that it might make Helena's last two years here that much more unbearable.

"That's not right," Helena said.

"Well it's life," Rebecca said. "It's not always fair."

Rebecca wished her sister would just go back to sleep. If Helena were anyone else that wouldn't have been an issue. Yet another reason why Rebecca wanted to put distance between the two of them.

"I'm coming with you," Helena said.

She got up from her bed and walked over to the closet, pulling out her backpack. Rebecca remembered her sister did hold on tight to one teaching from their parents.

"It's nighttime," Rebecca said.

"I know," Helena said. "But I won't let them separate us. I can be strong."

Rebecca looked at the pitiful look on her sister's face. She didn't feel like dealing with this right now. It would be easier to ditch her at the first stop.

"Pack light," Rebecca said. "And quick."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rebecca kept her eyes open, then spotted exactly what she was looking for. She pulled into the parking lot, a few towns over and shut off her crappy car. No more of that for her.

"Wait here," Rebecca said. "I will be right back."

Rebecca debated on leaving her sister in the car never to return, but then looked at Helena's face. She was trying her hardest to keep her eyes shut and forget the fact it was nighttime out. This might be the last time they saw each other. Rebecca shook her head. Helena was so in the dark it was ironic. Rebecca decided at least one good deed was in order. She walked into the motel office. An average looking man came out from behind the curtain. It probably led to some apartment that was even more deplorable than the motel's rooms.

"Can I help you?"

"I would look a room please," Rebecca said.

"Just for the night?"

"Yes," Rebecca said.

"That will be twenty bucks," he said.

Rebecca looked in her purse. She pulled out nothing, but handed it to the man as if it were actual cash. He grabbed the air and it in the register.

"I think you owe me some change," Rebecca said. "That was a one hundred."

"Right," the man said.

He started hitting buttons trying to get the drawer open again without ringing up an actual sale. Rebecca groaned.

"You know what," Rebecca said. "Keep the change. I'll take it for the week."

He nodded then handed her a key. Rebecca couldn't believe how easy it was to fool people. Now that Rebecca was eighteen everything about her had matured, including her talents. Her mother never taught her this little trick. Rebecca smiled, thinking about what a self-teacher she had been all these years. Her smile faded when she thought about her parents. They could have raised her in a mansion in Beverly Hills, but insisted in living in the middle of nowhere all because of the little brat in the car.

Rebecca made it to the car and knocked on the window. Helena jumped and opened her eyes. Rebecca waved for her to follow. She unlocked the door to their room. Two beds and a heater that made an awful noise. This place was a bigger pit than Rebecca realized.

"This is nice," Helena said.

She took a seat on one of the beds and dropped her pack. Rebecca opened her mouth to speak, but instead just formed a smile.

"I'm going to get us some food," Rebecca said. "Sit tight?"

"Where are you going?" Helena asked.

"Just next door," Rebecca said. "I saw a bar. I am sure I can get us some burgers. I'll be back in thirty minutes, hour tops?"

Helena looked around uncomfortably. The last thing Rebecca wanted was her freaking out and deciding to contact the youth home or worse, the cops. Rebecca dropped the car keys on the counter.

"See?" Rebecca asked. "So close I won't need my car keys. Try to close your eyes. If you get some sleep you'll feel better."

That seemed to calm Helena down. Rebecca debated on saying some final words to her sister, but couldn't think of anything. There would be no more watching out for Helena, no more making sure she had the most normal life possible. Now it was Rebecca's turn to live for herself. Nothing was standing in her way. She waved goodbye and closed the door. The March air was a little cooler than Rebecca would have liked, she decided to head somewhere warmer first thing.

Rebecca strutted across the parking lot, passing the reason she stopped here. A cherry red convertible was parked outside. It was only a BMW and probably an older model, but it looked pretty. Rebecca could always upgrade later. She thought about taking it right now, but decided it would be easier to go inside and get the keys.

She walked into the bar, the cliental was typical for a Sunday night, mainly men and none who were partying too hard. Rebecca made her way to the bartender. A guy who was sitting at the bar stood up when she approached. He looked about her age with darker skin and hair. He looked her up and down. She was used to guys checking her out, but his face looked more like it was deciding on disgust rather than lust.

"Excuse me," she said.

Part of her wanted to send him away, but he was making that decision by himself. The bartender walked over and she shook the memory of the creepy guy away.

"I need to see your ID," he said.

Rebecca played the same trick on him as she had the man from the motel. It was always fun to watch someone examine nothing. It was such an easy spell too, she could live nicely if it was the only one she had to use. He smiled and handed her nothing back to her. Then Rebecca remembered the reason she was here.

"Could you tell me who owns that little red sports car outside?"

The bartender pointed out a random guy to her and Rebecca started making her way over. Maybe she would stay a little while before getting the man to hand over his keys and all the cash in his wallet. No sense in using a spell if she didn't have to.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hilton Head was beautiful. Rebecca stretched out by the pool, deciding she would never leave this place. She took a sip from her daiquiri and looked at the giant house behind her she now called home. To her surprise she spotted Charlie, the newest lover she had enchanted. It was much easier to control rich men than try to steal her own fortune.

"What are you doing home from work so early?" Rebecca asked.

Charlie looked angry. Once he made it towards her lounger she flashed him her smile. His grimace did not fade.

"I want you out of here," Charlie said.

Rebecca rolled her eyes. She concentrated on her powers and tried to influence him. To her surprise it had no effect. Rebecca realized she had to use her womanly charms. She stood up and stuck her chest out a little, hoping that would be enough.

"What are you talking about?" Rebecca asked. She tried to touch his arm but he jerked away.

"I had an epiphany," Charlie said. "I don't like you very much. I want you gone."

Her latest spell had faded. She'd already cast at lest three on him, each time the time span was less and less. Rebecca assumed once she turned eighteen her power would have grown infinite. She had a felt a change in herself on her birthday, but for now she needed to find a stronger spell. She started towards the house, ready to head inside and cast another.

"Where are you going?"

"Inside," Rebecca said. "If you're throwing me out I need to get my things."

"No," Charlie said. "I'm not stupid. Every time I let you in the house you never end up leaving. I am having the things I did not buy for you brought out to your car, the one you showed up with, not one I purchased."

"I don't understand where all this is coming from," Rebecca said. "At least let me get dressed."

"You can get dressed in the driveway," Charlie said.

He reached out and grabbed a hold of her arm, then started pulling her towards the lawn.

"Get your hands off me," Rebecca said.

"I have daughters older than you," Charlie said. "I need you gone."

"I mean it," Rebecca said. She struggled against him.

"You're getting out of here right now," Charlie said.

Rebecca's anger was flaring. She wanted his hand off of her. He kept a firm grip on her arm. She couldn't wiggle free. Unable to take it she summoned all her power and blasted him back. His body flung backwards. Why couldn't she summon that strength when she cast her love spell?

Rebecca rubbed her arm and turned to look at him. He was lying on the cement next to the pool. She started walking over towards him.

"You should never grab a woman," Rebecca said. "Now let me go inside and then we will sort all of this out."

When she got closer towards him she noticed he was unconscious. A pool of red liquid was forming by his head. She moved next to him and started slapping his cheek, trying to force him to wake up.

"Don't do this to me," Rebecca said.

The last thing she wanted was to deal with calling 911. It had been an easy six weeks. Rebecca didn't want to start over again, not so soon. She stood back up and looked at the house. At least Charlie was nice enough to have brought her things outside already. She doubted he managed to find everything, especially not the bag that contained all her supplies.

"You screwed up a good thing here Charlie," Rebecca said. "We could have been happy."

She gave his body a kick and he fell into the pool with a small splash. The water started turning red with his blood. Rebecca groaned and walked into the house, upset that she would have to leave right away and waste even more of her powers casting a spell so nobody discovered the body until morning.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rebecca hated leaving the coast, but she stopped at the nicest hotel she could find and made sure they gave her the biggest suite available. She pulled out her computer and started looking at maps. This time she would go to California. That had always been her dream destination anyway. She thought about purchasing an airplane ticket, but enjoyed driving too much to give it up. Satisfied with her decision Rebecca yawned. It was time for bed.

She flipped off the light and crawled under the covers. Using so much of her power up exhausted her. Rebecca was on the verge of sleep when she felt an arm cross her waist. She shot up in bed. Her heart was racing. She reached for the light.

"I wouldn't do that," a voice said.

"Whose there?" Rebecca asked.

"What a generic question," he said.

She felt a hand touch her leg and Rebecca tried to jump from the bed. She was pulled back down. Whoever was in the bed wrapped his arms around her, holding her back against his chest. Vampire. That was Rebecca's first guess. Her mom always warned her about keeping them away from Helena, but never talked about protecting herself.

"Not a vampire," he said. "I like how much knowledge you have though. I suppose you're not wise enough though, or else you wouldn't be in this situation."

"You can read my mind?" Rebecca asked.

"No," he said. "But I know a lot about you Rebecca, the way you think. Remember if I were a vampire you would have to invite me in. I must say, they don't normally come to me this young either."

She felt his breath run along her neck.

"Who are you?" Rebecca asked.

"I am who gave your bloodline its power," he said. "I love they way you've chosen to use it. Greed, envy, and sloth are some of my favorite sins. The way you worked in lust was just beautiful. Poor Charlie never stood a chance."

"How do you know about Charlie?"

Rebecca tried to pull away, but his grip was like iron.

"He was your third," he said. "That means you're mine now."

"What?" Rebecca asked.

"Kill three people and your soul belongs to me," he said.

How could he know that? Rebecca didn't understand what was happening.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Rebecca said.

"I've enjoyed watching you too much," he said. "It's almost no fun to take you now. I can feel your fear. It's not as strong as I normally enjoy. Why aren't you more terrified?"

Rebecca didn't know what was going on. She felt a tongue lick her back. The hands on her waist started burning. She let out a gasp.

"Yes," he said. "Those are the sounds I want. I think I am feeling generous. I will give you some more time, just a little though. I want that fear to build."

The heat started radiating from Rebecca's midsection. She was certain she was burning from the inside out. She didn't want to scream, that was what this thing wanted. She held out as long as possible. When the scream erupted from her lungs she shot up in bed.

He breath was caught in her throat. The sunlight was pouring into her hotel room. It was just a dream. She started to calm down. Maybe she deserved that after leaving Charlie to die. She got out of the bed and walked towards the bathroom, needing to throw some water on her face. She flipped on the light and let out another scream when she saw the burns covering her abdomen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

There was always a way out of something. Rebecca didn't know what that thing in her bed was last night, but he would regret giving her time to avoid whatever it was he wanted from her. She took her bag and pulled out a crystal. Concentrating on her problem she summoned a solution. The light started to grow. Rebecca looked at the floor. A map of the state was projected.

An image popped up. It was of an okay look guy, slightly older than her. She watched as he transformed into a wolf. Then she watched herself appear, he looked smitten with her. The whole story played out. It was a full moon tonight. He could turn her into what he was and she would be saved. The image changed again. It was when he first saw her, he paid no attention. Rebecca understood what the magic was saying. She needed to cast the most powerful love spell possible. That meant sacrificing every bit of power she had. She touched the burn marks on her stomach. Whatever that thing last night had in store for her was worse than loosing what made her special.

Rebecca ended the spell. She needed to get out of here fast. The thing's words ran through her head. Charlie was her third. Rebecca knew all too well what that meant. Her mother never mentioned threes, or deals with beings that gave their bloodline powers. Rebecca didn't know why she was surprised. Everything her mother had taught her was worthless. It wasn't until the old bag was gone that Rebecca started experimenting with fun spells.

Grabbing her things Rebecca left the hotel room. She shook her head. She was raised knowing about witches and vampires. She didn't know why werewolves existing should be a surprise.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Are you doing alright?" Brooks asked.

"I'm fine, " Helena said.

Brooks laughed. Helena was gripping on to his hand so tightly if he were human he was sure she would have broken his fingers. He imagined running through the woods were her after her first turn. She would love the feeling of moonlight on her fur. He needed to remember she was still human though, and that meant paying closer attention to her fears.

"Nothing can get you," Brooks said. "We're on private land."

They hadn't even gotten very far from the house. Brooks decided exploring the property was a bad idea at this point. He remembered her taking off through the woods the other night and started to squeeze her hand back. They were nearing the pool. Brooks though that was a safe place to get her acquainted with the night.

"You have a big fancy swimming pool that looks like it belongs at a resort," Helena said.

"Thank you," Brooks said. "You sound surprised."

"I assumed if you went swimming it would be in a lake," Helena said.

"We may be rustic," Brooks said. "But we still like to have fun."

"Uh-huh," Helena said.

"It is a salt water pool too," Brooks said. "Beat taking trips to the beach."

"I've never seen an ocean," Helena said.

"I've never been one for leaving home," Brooks said.

He led her over towards one of the canopy beds. They took a seat. Brooks wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she leaned her head in.

"What are you thinking?" Brooks asked.

"Too much to focus on one thought," Helena said.

Brooks unwrapped his arm from her and went to the side of the bed. He loosened the tie and closed the drape, then went and did the same until three of the sides were closed. When he walked back towards the front of the bed he signaled for Helena to scoot back and then undid the front cover. The two of them lied down with only the top of the bed open showing the stars shining down on them.

"Now I bet you really feel like you're at a resort," Brooks said.

"Thank you," Helena said.

She turned onto her side and snuggled up to Brooks. He was proud his idea had paid off and the enclosed space was making her feel more comfortable.

"Now can you focus on one thought?" Brooks asked.

"Will it hurt?" Helena asked.

"The change?"

Helena nodded.

"I was born this way," Brooks said. "But from what I've heard it is intense but pleasant."

"Will you tell me about it?"

Brooks shook his head. He knew how it was done, but explaining it ahead of time would only intensify her fears. He wanted her to keep a positive outlook.

"Ask me any other question and I will answer it," Brooks said.

"What's the meaning of life?" Helena asked.

Brooks laughed.

"Any other question I am capable of offering an answer to," Brooks said.

"Your mom told me about your siblings today," Helena said. "Did you go away to college?"

"I did," Brooks said. "But I didn't last very long. I would have rather been here."

"Is that because you're an Alpha?" Helena asked.

"I think so," Brooks said. "I like to be needed."

Brooks wanted her to realize how badly she needed him, because his need for her was almost unbearable. It was a sensation he was no accustom to.

"So there are vampires and werewolves," Helena said. "What else?"

"What do you mean?" Brooks asked.

"Are there goblins? Trolls? Fairies? Witches? Unicorns?"

Brooks laughed again. He rubbed his hand up and down her back. She nuzzled closer to him.

"No," Brooks said. "Well, not that I know of. There's not a supernatural convention every year or anything. I've never met or heard of any, but I doubt they would have much use for us."

"The world is so big," Helena said.

Brooks turned his head to look at her. He could see her beauty in the starlight. Her big blue eyes looked up at him and he never felt more secure.