Dr. Luna
Demon War: Rise of the Alpha Chapter 33

Freya hopped off of Ciana. She turned to look at the white dragon. "This is where I leave you. I'll meet "Pffft. I'm a dragon. I'm not exactly weak." Ciana scoffed at her in her dragon form (dragons were one

ck here when I am done. Under no circumstances should you follow after me." ew feral animals that could speak in either form).

Freya smiled at her. "I know you aren't weak. But there are more evils that lurk here than who I am going to see. One of the reasons I didn't want Jin to come. The Shriek dwells in these parts. This is why not many ever travel here. Only those who do not fear death can pass by the Shriek." "Do you not fear death?" Ciana tilted her head and stared into the green emeralds of Freya's eyes.

"I used to welcome it. Now, I don't want to die. However, I still do not fear it." Freya turned to start wal "What is the Shriek? What happens if you fear death? And what sort of name is that ha ha." Ciana aske "The Shriek is a creature that was created by all the tormented souls who died before their time. It is like you in a catatonic state. But you would be down for days. It gets its name for the scream you hear side to look back at Ciana. "It is best to stay out of these woods."

to the foggy woods.

a half smile and watched Freya freeze in place.

han a vengeful spirit. It's only purpose is to make others suffer like they have. If you fear death, that is exactly what you will get. That or it will put someone it is close. It lets out high pitch screams and yells as it hunts you down. Trying to scare you and make you think about death." Freya tilted her head to the

"Good luck Freya." Ciana shifted into her human form and watched the huntress disappear into the fo The fog was thick in the woods. The mixture from the cold ground and heat from the sun created a repulsive humid air in the thick brush. Freya crept through the woods as silently as she could. She didn't fear death right? She never did before. Not wanting to die wasn't the same as fearing death, right? She couldn't afford to doubt herself. She had encountered the Shriek before but it never bothered her.

She had made this trip several times in the past. The truth is Jester was the one person that she did ta

the bitter sting of isolation was unbearable. Jester was a different breed of vampire. He was several hu time and time again.

To look at Jester you would never know how old he was. He looked like he was only in his early twenti him attractive. But it was never anything more for Freya.

in her lonely life. Was he a friend? She didn't really consider him a friend. And he wanted more than a friendship. He was someone she could talk to when years old. And because of that he had the strength and cleverness of his age. He chose to live a life in isolation after witnessing the brutality of the world

had pale skin and blonde hair with amber eyes. He had a muscular physique and was fairly tall. About the same height as Wyatt. Most women would find

Freya listened to a stream trickling nearby. Had the mist not been so thick she would probably be able to see it. The shrubbery was thick also. Though most of the brush was dead. Leafless trees grew here along with wicked thorn bushes. Briars and weeds overtook most of the overgrowth. It was a hard trek. The air around her started to grow colder. This was a clear sign that the Shriek was close. The icy feel of vengeful souls couldn't be missed. "AHHHHHHHHH"

The sound of screaming hissed in the wind with a hollow sound. At first it was only faint. Then the sound started to grow closer. The Shriek had picked up on Freya's trail. The huntress was being hunted. Freya felt a chill go through her spine. A month ago if she would have traveled through these woods she would have been fine. Today? Today she was second guessing her resolve. She could tell by the shrill sounds the Shriek was making that it thought of her as prey. After the first time she met the Shriek, it never chased her down. It knew she had no fear. This time though it was coming after her. This was causing Freya to second guess herself. Was it chasing her trying to make her contemplate death? Or did her scent give off something vulnerable about her now? Freya looked behind her as a white orb came into view. It hissed towards her angrily wailing. Closer. Closer. The screams were getting louder. "AHHHHHHHH!"

The sound of wind hissing in the trees and the flash of steps was heard. Freya was pulled into a chest. She tensed and looked up to see Jester holding her tightly as he faced the Shriek. When it saw his face, it stopped and continued wailing in another direction. Satisfied that what they were chasing was not someone who feared death. Luckily for them the Shriek was a mindless killing void and not intelligent. It was easily fooled.

The sound of wind hissing in the trees and the flash of steps was heard. Freya was pulled into a chest. She tensed and looked up to see Jester holding her tightly as he faced the Shriek. When it saw his face, it stopped and continued wailing in another direction. Satisfied that what they were chasing was not someone who feared death. Luckily for them the Shriek was a mindless killing void and not intelligent. It was easily fooled.

Freya let out a breath. Did she fear death after all now? Or was she just afraid of leaving Wyatt alone?

Strong hands clasped onto her shoulders and pulled her back. Freya looked up into the concerned amber eyes looking back at her.

"What the hell was that Freya? You were being hunted..." Jester's voice trailed off and his eyes darkened. "You smell different." His nose scrunched up as his eyes flickered over her. His gaze landed on the mark on her neck. "You-You have a mate?" Freya reached her hand up to her mark. "Uhm, yes I do." A sad smile spread across his face and he nodded.

"That's why the Shriek was chasing you down. You smell differently now. Unless you really do fear death?" Jester c****d his eyebrow up and studied the green eyes in front of him.

"I don't think I fear death. There is a difference between having something to live for and fearing dying." Freya paused and looked at her arms. "I smell differently? I haven't noticed."

"Yeah, you smell different. You smell like a weird mixture with an overwhelming mutt smell dominating it. Which tells me one thing. Your mate is a werewolf." Jester said folding his arms over his chest. He gave her a sideways frown not happy about her having a

mate.

"Is that really what that means? What if it just means that I am part werewolf?" Freya smiled as she watched his eyes widen.

"That's not possible. Is it?" Jester couldn't fathom how this was possible. He had been alive for hundreds of years and never heard of something like this.

Freya shrugged. "I'm not really here for small talk."

"Of course, you aren't. You rarely are one to talk. Well. At least that was before. But I can sense you Freya. You have changed more than you think. The aura around you isn't as deadly. Be careful. Your enemies will notice this change as well." Jester frowned thinking about this vulnerability.

"Hmph. I'm just as deadly. In fact, I can argue that I am more deadly now. There are things that make me even more blood thirsty. If anyone wants to put this to the test, they are welcome to it. I'll be sure to water the plants with their blood." Freya narrowed her eyes at Jester. Was he testing her resolve? She might have more people that she cared for. But this also made her more dangerous. Anyone who dares to harm her new friends and family will receive her full wrath. Fixing Wyatt was her first priority. However, afterwards she would be heading to the Briar coven. Their kind will cry for generations for what she will do to them.

"You know... I would have treated you well Freya." His amber eyes fell upon hers with a very serious expression. "Deep down I always thought you would end up coming to me."

"I made myself clear to you more than once, Jester. Besides. I am not right for you. I appreciate your..."

"Friendship." Jester smiled. "I know you always ignored this but we are indeed friends. I wouldn't allow just anyone to come into my territory. You were different. And regardless of you having a mate I want us to remain friends."

"Even if I end up fighting in the upcoming war against the demons?" Freya watched his eyes flicker a bit.

"You are going to involve yourself with the war to come?"

"I am. I have already made a blood vow to the dark priestess. Which is another reason I am here. She asked me to bring her back something. A black pearl. Do you have it and could I have it?" Freya looked hopefully at Jester and she bit her inner lip.

"Wow. Getting involved with Kali. I never expected that from you. I am also a follower of yin. Yes, I have the black pearl. I will give it to you on one condition." Jester smiled as he looked at Freya. "That one you acknowledge our friendship and two you invite me to meet your mate sometime soon. I want to make sure he is someone I can trust with you."

Freya smiled and nodded. "I can do that... well the first part for sure. I'm hoping I can with the second part though." She watched his face tilt looking at her in confusion. "The witches, the ones who cursed me, they injected him with a blood potion. He now looks at me like I am the enemy." Freya sighed and shrugged. "That's why I made the deal with Kali. She is the only one who has the answers I need."

Freya smiled and nodded. "I can do that... well the first part for sure. I'm hoping I can with the second part though." She watched his face tilt looking at her in confusion. "The witches, the ones who cursed me, they injected him with a blood potion. He now looks at me like I am the enemy." Freya sighed and shrugged. "That's why I made the deal with Kali. She is the only one who has the answers I need."

Jester shook his head. "I understand. If anyone knows it is Kali, but I wouldn't hold my breath. A blood potion permanently changes the blood. I don't know if that can ever be reversed. I'm sorry to hear you are going through this. Truly I am. But what you just said reminded me. What happened to your curse? It's gone."

Freya smiled. "The fairy princess cured me."

"Well look at you making friends in high places." Jester chuckled lightly.

"You have no idea." Freya rubbed her arm and winced half of her face up.

"Well... as your friend why don't you enlighten me?" Jester grinned and shrugged. He started walking back to his place as she followed at his side.

"It's actually a long story. But I will give you some of the basic details. Like my mate is part fairy and part werewolf. His mother is the Queen of the fairies. And he is also the werewolf king. Which I'm guessing is how he was able to turn me into a werewolf." Freya looked over at Jester from the corner of her eyes. Why was she telling him all of this? She was never this talkative with him before. I guess it shows just how much she has changed. She was actually taking in his friendship. The one she refused to admit to having before. It was something she was now able to recognize.

"Wow, the king of the werewolves has finally made his appearance. It is said that the werewolf king will lead the werewolves into prosperity." Jester watched as Freya looked up at him with interest. "Didn't think I knew much about werewolves, did you?" He chuckled. "When you have been alive as long as me you make it your business to learn about as much as possible. Just like the impending demon war. There is more to this war than what meets the eye. This war is all an effect of something bigger." That was as far as he planned to say about that.

"You aren't going to elaborate?" Freya gave him a crooked smile.

"No. I don't think I will." Jester winked at her and she shook her head and sighed.

They reached an area in the woods where the ground was covered in colorful mushrooms. There was a small pool in the middle of all the mushrooms that was completely still. Jester walked up to it and reached his hand deep into the water, pulling out something in his hand. He walked over and placed the item into Freya's fingers.

Freya looked down at the small black round object. She was surprised that it was warm to the touch. She looked up at Jester in confusion.

"That water was to keep the pearl cool. The pearl let's off a lot of heat. You best get it to the priestess quickly."

"Lucky for me I have a dragon waiting to take me to her." Freya chuckled and shrugged.

"You certainly have made some interesting friends." Jester was happy for Freya. While he was disappointed he wasn't the one for her. He was happy that she was finally starting to live her life. "Come on. I'll walk you out in case the Shriek comes back again. You might not fear death, but I am not willing to take that chance. Chances are you would live through it but you don't have the time to be frozen in time for a few days, right?" Jester winked at Freya. "No, I don't. I need to get this to Kali. Get everything sorted out and then go witch hunting." Freya stared angrily in front of her as she thought about the witches.

"Now there is a familiar look." Jester smiled and the two of them chuckled together.

Freya was very closed off and cold before. But maybe if she would have looked harder, she would have realized something important. That she was not completely alone. That she did have a friend out there. She couldn't appreciate Jester's friendship then. He was just annoying to her. But now... now she could. And looking back she finally was able to realize how much of a friend he had been to her. Maybe it wasn't so much how she had changed. But how being with Wyatt had changed her. For the better.