Snow Blood: Episode 3 ~ Selene

The Excerpt:

EPISODE THREE
Selene

 The night air brought an aroma of the dark surrounding forest. Owls beckoned to me: "Catch me if you can." A squirrel scurried up a tree to dine on a tasty nut it had found on the earthen floor. A snake curled around a branch ready to devour a tree mouse. My sole amusement as I sat guard for what seemed eternity outside the wine tasting. The moon peaked high in the sky. I desperately wanted to howl at it as a diversion from the craving to feast upon the people who came and went. Laughter filled the tasting room, jammed packed with wine lovers in evening dress strolling from one tasting station to the next, stopping to "cleanse their pallets" with cheese and bread in-between. Brogio had advised me that this was "part of the business."

I once again looked to the full moon that appeared to shine more brightly than days past. My mind wandered. I imagined that Brogio must be circling some delicious female, ready to entice her into the wine cellar and quench his thirst for his preferred food: Human blood. I longed to taste it with him. I held on to my blood lust, remembering Brogio's constant coaching about control, so I wouldn't randomly attack a lone wine taster exiting the building. Every day seemed to make it easier to control my urges. Later, I planned to satisfy my hunger with the creatures in the forest. I shook my heavy coat and sat back to scratch each ear, but a shadow from the trees gave me pause.

She walked out of the forest, taking me by surprise. How had I not heard her footsteps, sensed her presence? She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. Dogs don't get hung up on human appearance, but even my dead veins pulsed a bit at the sight of her. She glowed like the moon. Was this . . . could it be the one the goddess told me to find?

Her slender body glided toward me. Her footsteps made no sound. She wore a steel-blue dress that matched her eyes. Her long blonde hair hung to her waist in a straight line around her. It shimmered like silver in the moonlight against her alabaster skin. I backed away as she drew near. 

She stopped just in front of me. "Beautiful boy, why're you sitting here alone?"

I felt the caress of her hand. A sharp, electric thrill coursed through me. I gave her a quick “ruff.”

Her laughter tinkled like wind chimes in a breeze. She mesmerized me, and I followed her into the tasting room, not considering any consequences.

                                                                        *****

The room buzzed with people laughing, talking, tasting wine, and nibbling on bite-sized cheese and other assortments. In my dog days, I would have snuck a few tasty treats from the tables positioned in the center of the room, but I no longer had the desire for them. The wine stations were beautifully built mahogany bars completely against the walls surrounding the room. Each was backed with a display of the featured wine. The room's low lighting allowed each wine bar to be spotlighted and encouraged guests to move from station-to-station.

I spotted Brogio among a group of women. None of them able to keep their hands off him. One touching his arm; another rubbing his shoulder and yet another trying to feed him cheese. I followed my mystery woman as she glided toward him, a glow appearing to surround her. I deftly avoided the slightly intoxicated guests and snuggled into a corner near the edge of a couch where I could see them both at once.

Brogio looked up and immediately spotted her. He stopped in mid-sip, dropping his wine glass and shattering it along the floor. The women next to him jumped back but he was already moving forward as wait staff rushed in to clean up the spill. The look on his face reflected how I felt after gorging on human blood: Ecstasy, wonder, disbelief, but most of all ... complete and utter love, like the love I felt for my human family. As she slowly moved toward him, he stopped abruptly, closed his eyes and brushed his fingers across them as if he were hallucinating and needed to clear his head.

When she reached him, she held out her hand. He stared at it, dumbfounded.

"Hello, are you Brogio? I was sent here to find you. I'm Selene."

He slowly took her hand, held it up and kissed it, as if it would break. "I am ... Brogio. At your service." Violet eyes with hundreds of unasked questions pierced into steel blue ones. This had to be his Selene. The one that Kane had spoken about. I could feel his intensity. Every fiber of his being appeared to shake.

People were staring. The light that surrounded her appeared to envelop them both. A more breath-taking couple didn't exist. His neatly combed platinum hair fell forward on his brow. Her moon-colored hair shimmered at her waist. The top of her head just touched under his chin. Selene was tall, but Brogio still towered over her.

I became afraid that this grand entrance drew too much attention from the party guests. I looked up at Brogio, making steady eye contact and tried to convey a message. Everyone is staring at the two of you. Take her aside somewhere.

He nodded his agreement and acted immediately. "Please come have a glass of wine." He took her hand and folded it into the crook of his arm, steering her over to an empty wine station. The women Brogio had deserted stared at Selene with open hostility.

I walked across to the other side of the room and found another quiet corner a bit closer to them to observe. They only seemed capable of staring at each other. Brogio's eyes only left her to reach for a pair of crystal glasses and pour them each some sparkling white wine.

At that moment, my hackles rose. I smelled danger in every corner of the room. Time for me to patrol again. I walked the perimeter of the room, looking for new arrivals. Perhaps someone I hadn't noticed had arrived before Selene appeared. A suspicious-looking man entered but then turned to help his companion down the stairs. Searching through the crowd, I noticed a man walking toward Brogio and Selene, but he stepped to his left in front of them to greet another guest. Turning, I spotted a large, dark man standing by the wine station next to the entrance. His steady gaze followed Brogio and Selene's every move. He looked like a man who spent his time outdoors, his skin darkened by the sun. He had black hair and eyes, dark eyebrows and a very large black moustache. His broad, tall body was hard to miss. He dressed less formally than others. He wore a canvas hunting vest with multiple pockets. His khaki pants were held up by a large belt with a silver buckle in the shape of a deer. For his size, though, I sensed litheness about him; one who might move through the forest quickly. Everything about him resembled that of a hunter, just like the ones I had seen in the woods during deer season with my human Alpha. I pushed down the growl that seeped up through my throat and backed away to bide my time. If he made a move on Brogio, I would make quick work of him with my poisonous venom.

Unless ... had this man followed Selene here? Was he her protector? Had Artemis sent them to see Brogio? I would have to wait and see.

Brogio and Selene continued to stand frozen in a corner together. I continued to watch the dark man, while my suspect stood watching my Alpha and the object of his affection. Some of the guests began to leave. Brogio excused himself from Selene in their solitary corner and stepped in the direction of the front door to thank each one. I quickly scampered to her side to protect her if needed while watching my Alpha intently.

 Snow Blood

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