Moonlit Shadows

So Close, Yet So Far

"Aydan will take you home. For your safety, we will travel separately."

Zephyr's warnings had taken root in Jaci's mind. She felt more on edge now than she had before she walked into the pub.

Aydan appeared from behind the booth and held his hand out to help Jaci up.

"Make sure she gets home safely, Aydan," smiled Zephyr. "I'll meet you back at the house." He turned to walk the opposite direction of Aydan and Jaci, only to find himself nose to nose with a seedy looking man.

"'Oy. What's with the 'uman?" he said in a heavy accent.

"Friend, you seem quite inebriated. Perhaps, your friends would help you to find a seat," said Zephyr, his voice staying friendly, but his smile was ice cold.

Jaci felt Aydan grip her arm and slowly tug her behind him.

"Stay behind me," he whispered.

Jaci peeked around his arm. The tension in the room was growing thicker.

"You know the rules," said the drunken man, thumping his finger into Zephyr's chest.

"Look, Reid, don't make no trouble in 'ere," said the bartender, a willowy man who looked to Jaci to be in his mid forties.

"Yes, listen to Jake, Reid," warned Zephyr.

"If you're gonna bring a 'uman in 'ere, you gotta let us all know," grumbled Reid, his finger still pressing into Zephyr's crisp white dress shirt.

Zephyr looked down slowly at the filthy finger. "You've smudged my shirt. Aydan, he smudged my shirt."

He looked over his shoulder and Jaci saw his angry frown.

"Ah, that's too bad," snickered Aydan.

"I don't give a care about your shirt," said Reid, getting louder. He pressed his finger even harder into Zephyr's chest and rubbed his finger on the shirt, creating a darker spot.

Zephyr's neck cranked back around and stared down at the much shorter man. "Who I bring into this pub is my business. It is none of your concern," he said, his voice lowering and ending in a growl.

With lightning fast moves, he grabbed Reid by the neck and hoisted him up off the floor. His fingers had become clawed, and the claws dug into Reid's neck without mercy. The man grasped at Zephyr's hand, croaking and gagging. His own eyes had turned orange, his teeth becoming the fangs of a wolf.

"I will never tolerate such disrespect from a low rank such as yourself," snarled Zephyr.

"He just wanted to voice his opinion!" shouted one of Reid's friends, bravely trying to stand up for his friend.

Aydan shot past Zephyr, his own claws grabbing the man and throwing him against a far wall. "Anyone else want to speak up? I'm not even warmed up yet."

Reid was gasping and begging his friends to shut up. Zephyr dropped him to the concrete floor, brushing his hands together with a disgusted expression.

"But why is this woman so important to you?"

Zephyr and Aydan turned to see the woman who had yelled at Aydan earlier. Her arm was around Jaci's neck, pulling her head to the side so her racing pulse was clearly visible. Fangs protruded from the woman's mouth, her eyes a deep red.

"I mean, I get why some pathetic human would catch your worthless assistant's eye. But you, Zephyr? I thought you had better taste," she said, bringing her fangs precariously close to Jaci's skin.

"Oh, Clara, darling. I do have better taste," said Zephyr, a dark smile resting on his lips.

"Clearly not!" she shouted back.