158. Stranger on the Road

Cora

I drove making sure I was paying attention to the road, and I saw someone walking along the road. I was out past the barrier I had placed on our property. I had made sure I actually closed it off to Tanner and his family. I had done that the first thing this morning before I did anything else. I couldn’t risk him coming back to our house with Max there he was a threat now with his need to see me dead, that could move to Max at any moment.

Why did everything have to be so tense. But seeing a man walking with his hood up in the direction of our home was concerning. Not that I worried about him finding us. I knew my shield would disorient him and make him forget where he was and he would be prompted to go anywhere but where he was, but still something about this man was concerning. I pulled my truck over to talk to him.

I never worried about being hurt, especially by a vagrant if that is what he was. He would be confused just like everyone else. I just felt like I needed to see what this man was up to. I pulled up next to him. I still could not see his face just quite yet. He had his hood up. But the second he looked up I recognized him. This was not a normal man; this was the witch I met at the exotic pet show. “You” I said with realization and a little malice. “Cora” he said as if he was just as surprised. “What the hell are you doing? You need to leave.” I knew Kronos wanted me to talk to him and learn some things from him. But I didn’t know if I should listen to the titan.

He was creepy if nothing else and I knew this man drank blood. That is what Kronos told me, though apparently, he didn’t kill his victims. “I mean you know harm.” He spoke. “You are a witch with red hair, history tells me you are not friendly.” He frowned. “Cora I am not like the others of the Circle. I know you killed them, but I don’t want revenge or anything like that.” I stared him down from my truck. “What do you want then? Why have you been looking for me?” I asked. He gave me a little smile. “I just want to talk.” I frowned. “Cora, come on you know I am no threat to you. I know you can channel; I know you are the most powerful witch on the planet currently. You know I am no threat if you wanted to kill me at any time you could. You have nothing to lose talking with me. I am the one taking a risk having a conversation with you.”

I looked at him, examining him. He was right of course. I could kill him if I needed to. Though I hated the idea of having to take any life. I had done that already and I felt it scar my soul to do that. But if things got out of hand, I could detain him and protect myself without killing. He obviously knew that he was no match for me. If anything, he could teach me that weird glamor thing he did. I had not come across that kind of magic in any of the archives I had, despite them going back centuries. “Fine get in” I told him. I found him a curiosity. I also wanted to assess his character the best I could, find out if he had ill intent.

Whomever he was he clearly was not going to stop searching for me. He got into the truck buckling up. “So, where we headed?” Why the heck was he acting so chummy with me, like we were friends. I didn’t trust him; I didn’t know him. All I knew was he drank blood, broke into Tanner's house, drank his blood and was searching for my family, not to mention a titan had spoken of him. “Ashville. You wanted to talk so talk.” I said. “Direct I like it, Okay so I know of you, I wanted to talk to you about starting something new.”

What did he mean starting something. “Before I go into detail, you must know I didn’t mean for any of that unpleasantness with the werewolves. I sometimes get mad, and I have been searching for you for a while and I thought getting your bonded there would help me find you. I took it to far and I am sorry for everything, and the inconvenience I caused.” I rolled my eyes. He was not sorry; how could he be? I knew his type or at least what he had been raised to be. He had that shitty red hair and no doubt a brand on the back of his neck. I bet the blood he drank from Tanner made him loose it.

It could do that make a person vicious. I knew that firsthand, it made you high and when some people got high, they lost their tempers. I ignored his apology. “So, what new thing do you want to start?” He took a breath. “I want to build a coven that is good with the werewolves. I know you are bonded to one, and when I saw you at the convention, I found out you had a son with your bonded. I know this could work. I know we can have peace between both our species.” I looked at him. “Werewolves will not be okay with you sucking their blood like a dam insect. That is not a foundation to build on.” I told him.

“You have an in with them though, you could convince them to let us drink from them, not to kill them or even deplete them so much that they even go unconscious. Just a little, we both could get what we want and there would be no more killing.” I didn’t look at him, and just kept my eyes on the road. “What is your name?” I asked. “Drake” I looked at him. “So, are you what you name suggest? A snake” I knew he was looking at me. “You think I am a snake?” He asked. “Well, are you?” He didn’t respond. “Cora, I have proof that you can drink blood and still not kill the werewolf you are drinking from.” I didn’t look at him as I kept driving.

“Drake if you want to pretend like that is something worth doing then by all means do it, but don’t drag me into this lie you tell yourself. You should just be thankful I don’t kill you for being part of a coven so vile and cruel.” I hissed at him. “Cora I never thought what they did was right, why do you think I was not there when they went to war with your pack? I was off in Africa finding out if it could work. I wanted to show The Circle it is possible to not kill who they drink from. I wanted to know that death didn’t have to pay for immortal life, that we could do it peacefully.” He wanted to say more but I cut him off.

“You think cutting people to get to their blood is peaceful? You think it is okay to do that to people because you want to live forever, what right do you have to live forever, it is demented and wrong. Everyone should die that is part of life. Tell me how old are you?” I snapped he went to on and not answer my question, so I shouted. “Drake how fucking old are you, tell me.” He paused and said “111 years old.” I snapped before he could defend himself. “You have been alive for over a century, and you look like you are still in your twenties, tell me how many werewolves have you killed?”

Drake said, “Cora I have not killed anyone in the last 9 years.” I yelled again “Ok okay so you only murdered for 101 years great glad to know that I have a sadistic murder in my truck.” He sighed, “Cora, I never thought it was right, please just let me show you the evidence that this can be successful.” I pulled off to the side of the road. “I will not be listening to you, blood is addictive, and I don’t want anything to do with anyone drinking werewolf blood, nor do I want to associate with someone who was part of The Circle.” Drake didn’t move. “Cora, you have the opportunity to build something brand new, something the world has never known. I can teach you help you please, just listen to me.” I looked at him. “I am starting something new; it just will not include you, now get out.”