The Storm

Josie sat in the cafeteria, Marcus had run off to breed the clinic doctor and a short while ago she'd felt that he'd succeeded, her man. Suddenly the girl from last night sat down across from her looking nervous.

"You're Marcus' friend right?" said the girl sticking her hand out, "I'm Kelsi."

Josie raised an eyebrow but shook the girl's hand, "Josie."

"Have you seen him? I really, really need to talk to him."

"Not since this morning," said Josie, "what's the problem?"

Kelsi looked around nervously, "can we talk in private?"

"If it's about last night I know you two fucked," said Josie, "he was very complimentary."

"Really?" said Kelsi with a smile before shaking her head and refocusing, "it's not about that, he's in danger."

Josie raised an eyebrow, "danger?"

Kelsi nodded emphatically.

"Ok, come on," said Josie leaving with the girl.

They got to Josie's room and Kelsi finally relaxed a bit, "it's about DK, and the cheerleaders."

"You're a cheerleader," said Josie.

"That's why I know about it," said Kelsi, "that night, after the first game, Jillian sent me to lure him back to our room. I didn't know what the plan was but the guys were gonna jump him."

"So what happened?" said Josie getting angry, "you expect me to believe you didn't know?"

"He didn't come," said Kelsi, "he ended up with Mia that night and the DK guys...took it out on me and some of the other girls and Madi."

"They hurt you?"

"Used us," said Kelsi hugging herself, "roughly."

"So they're still after him?" said Josie.

"Yeah," said Kelsi, "and they're not playing around, after the day he busted into their house, they want revenge, and then humiliating a bunch of them at the game."

"We need to find him," said Josie, "what exactly is the plan?"

"I don't know," said Kelsi, "Jillian was going to try to lure him upstairs last night, when I found out, that's why I approached him."

"You decided to help him?" said Josie, "why, the goodness of your heart?"

Kelsi's lip quivered, "Mia doesn't like anyone but when she and Marcus spent time together, I've never seen her so happy, I figured he couldn't be all bad. Then last night,"

"What," snapped Josie trying Marcus again, "he was that good?"

"It wasn't the sex," said Kelsi, "after, we talked, he's so genuine, such a good guy."

Kelsi broke down sobbing as Josie tried again, where the hell was he?

"Uh, dumbass," said Daemon.

What? Thought Josie.

"You need me to find him, talk to him?"

That would be helpful.

"Not even a please?" said Daemon, "and I'm the demon."

Kelsi was in a ball on the ground crying, "I never wanted any of this, I just wanted to go to college, be a cheerleader, become a nurse."

Josie awkwardly reached down and patted her back, "there there."

"I had a friend like Marcus," said Kelsi, "back in high school, my dumbass boyfriend, after prom, he humiliated him in front of his crush. He never spoke to me again. I keep letting good people get hurt."

"Got him," said Daemon, "he's walking back to campus, I let him know what's up."

"Kelsi," said Josie, "Marcus is ok but we need to find him, can you pull it together."

Kelsi nodded, "yeah, ok."

Josie swallowed her pride, they needed the witch most likely and that meant she had to find Anastasia.

***

Anastasia sat in the library staring at her homework. Sure, she needed to do it, but she missed Mark. Cold turkey, the love, the sex, just gone. She felt hollow.

"Hey," said Josie sliding into a seat across from her with that bubbly cheerleader.

"What?" groaned Anastasia.

"Marcus is in trouble," said Josie, "there's only one person on this campus I know cares about him as much as I do and it's you, we may not get along but right now we need to work together."

"Ok," said Anastasia straightening up, "ok, what can I do."

"Find Tabitha," said Josie, "and we need your car."

"Ok," said Anastasia, "it's not far," she looked at Kelsi, "and her?"

"She's a turncoat," said Josie, "she kinda fell hard for Marcus."

"Ok," said Anastasia, "ok let's go."

"Just like that?" said Josie.

"We're both in love with him," said Anastasia, "her falling for him after one night isn't the craziest thing."

"He really is great," said Kelsi.

They walked out of the library...it was dark out, were they inside? Tabitha sat in her room, the room she'd taken Anastasia to.

"Looking for me blondie? said Tabitha not looking up from the candles she had spread out, "and the thrall...and you are?"

"I'm Kelsi," she said giving her best smile in spite of the situation.

"Super," said Tabitha.

"How'd we get here?" asked Anastasia.

"Am I answering questions or helping?" asked Tabitha.

"Right," said Anastasia, "plan."

"Thrall, bimbo, that door," said Tabitha.

"Was that always there?" asked Anastasia, Tabitha just raised an eyebrow, "right, no questions."

Josie took Kelsi's hand and they left as Tabitha lit the candles, her eyes glazed over.

"Hand," echoed Tabitha's voice loudly.

Anastasia took her hand and suddenly she was hovering, watching, it must have been the party last night. Marcus was talking to a blonde, they were close, she did something, something with his phone while he was distracted.

"They're tracking him," said Anastasia, "and Kelsi."

"So why did you send her back out there?"

"Split them up," said Tabitha, "divide and conquer."

"He's even stronger now," said Anastasia, "this morning-"

"You felt it too," said Tabitha, "good job blondie, go, get your car, find him, ditch the phone."

"Then?"

"I'll find you," said Tabitha, "go."

***

Marcus walked back towards campus, the sky was dark, wind was swirling, he could smell rain. Daemon had warned him, something about DK coming for him. He scanned his surroundings, nothing he could see. He saw a jeep coming down the road, it turned towards him, crossing lanes, it was accelerating. He waited, when it was close he dodged and the jeep braked hard, four guys got out, Joe and three others.

"Want me to tap in?" asked Daemon.

No, thought Marcus smirking, I'm gonna enjoy this.

***

Anastasia tore towards town as fast as her car would take her, she saw Marcus standing near a Jeep up on someone's lawn, there were four guys on the ground.

"Mark!" she yelled, "get in!"

He ran over and got in as she drove back towards campus, he phone rang and she put it on speaker.

"Rec center," said Tabitha before hanging up.

***

Josie and Kelsi had found themselves in the rec center, there were people yelling down the hallways, they ducked, room to room, it sounded like the voices were closing in. Josie peered around the corner, it looked clear as they rounded she ran into Liam, Kelsi screamed, they tried to run but he grabbed Josie and a few more guys grabbed Kelsi dragging them towards the basketball court.

"Lock the door," said Liam.

Josie struggled, Daemon, her mind screamed.

"Sorry," he said, "I could try but you're outnumbered by a lot, and you're only human."

Please, her mind screamed.

"I really am sorry little one," said Daemon, "I can't save you."

"Fucking pigs," screamed Josie only to be backhanded by Liam.

"You've been a very bad girl Kelsi," said Liam grabbing the girl by the throat, "you and your friend here, are going to help us send Marcus a message. After we remind you of your place."

Jillian approached and squeezed Kelsi's face, "stupid slut, you trying to play hero?"

Kelsi spit in her face and Jillian slapped her. The guy holding Josie started to grope her, her eyes narrowed, either she or Marcus was gonna make him bleed.

"Building is locked," said one of the guys, "we're all alone."

"Well," said Liam tearing at Kelsi's top, "this is where the fun begins pancake tits."

There was a loud crash, the windows of the basketball court shook. Josie cackled.

"What's so funny?" snapped Liam.

Another crash, louder, closer.

"Liam man," said one of the guys, "what the fuck is that?"

"Why don't you fucking find out," snapped Liam.

"I have a message for you from Marcus," growled Josie her eyes glowing blood red, "run."

The doors of the basketball court flew off their hinges in a crumpled mess and Marcus walked in eyes glowing orange, smoke pouring from his mouth.

"Pay attention," he growled, "I'm only going to teach you this lesson once."

The guys rushed him, there were thirty of them, they had him easily, or so they thought. Jillian moved to slip out a back door as the guys holding Josie and Kelsi released them and rushed Marcus.

The door Jillian was struggling with opened and Anastasia walked in and clocked the head cheerleader.

"Come on," she said to Josie and Kelsi.

"What about Marcus?" asked Kelsi looking back at the melee unfolding.

Josie and Anastasia shared a glance and both chuckled, "he'll be fine."

Marcus moved quickly, he wasn't worried about hurting them, they were past that simple kindness. A hand grabbed him, a wrist broke. A kick to the ribs, a knee snapped. What they were about to do merited this and worse and he was happy to dole it out. Concussions, broken ribs, black eyes. Guys dropped, he was getting winded but he only fought harder.

He finally stopped, no one standing, he breathed out and in a flash a knife was in his side. He looked down, it should have hurt more his brain told him.

"Don't take it out," said Daemon.

Marcus looked down at the hand attached to the knife, it belonged to Liam.

"I've owed you this for a long time," he growled.

He punched his ribs refracturing them, he twisted his wrist until it snapped and he dropped the blade. He punched his pretty boy face, again, and again.

"Marcus," came a voice.

He looked up and saw Anastasia standing with Josie and Kelsi, he looked back at Liam, he was unconscious. He relaxed. His side felt wet, he felt cold, he hadn't felt cold since before his transformation. His vision blurred.

"Marcus!"