Sea of Dead [Tillie]

[*James Silvius]

James yawned. He'd completely lost track of time. He'd been out here for god knows how long. Leaning against a headstone, he removed his lighter and flicked it in the dark. His choice weapon sought a target that James could not provide.

No vamps were biting tonight. A pity, really. He'd been looking forward to torching a few. But he wasn't about to give up yet. The night was still young - for those bloodsuckers anyway. One scent dominated the entire sea of the dead. A female vampire, young. This was undoubtedly her territory.

But such a female had yet to turn up. If she staked this graveyard as her own, then why would she let a wolf in here? James stuffed the lighter back in his pocket. He would just have to have himself a stakeout.

[tillie]

As Tillie walked, her shoes dug into the loose gravel and made soft crunching noises. Thankfully, she wasn't trying to sneak up on anyone, at least not tonight. She would have failed. Her Ipod was clutched in her hand and she jigged just a bit as she walked.

She had lost track of how late it had become. Tillie rarely slept at night though, and spent most nights awake doing one small random thing or another. There was a soft light coming from the graveyard. She noticed it momentarily before it just disappeared. Then it was here again. Excited, she frolicked into the graveyard. It could have been dangerous. She could have been walking into a trap. There were a thousand things that were so terribly wrong with her going in unprepared.

But, that also meant that there could be a thousand different reasons on why she should go in. the glass could be half empty or half full, she didn't care as long as she had something to drink. She paused momentarily to think of Ella. She had warned her to be careful. She loved Ella and didn't want to disappoint her. She looked back to they road, chewing on her lip.

Finally, with a shrug and a grin she took off toward the coming and going glow. There was something that she didn't like in the air, but then again there was a very familiar presence as well. She clung to that feeling as she hurried on. Then, the light faded out and didn't come back. Tillie, being too caught up in her excitement, lost track of where she was going and accidentally stumbled over a broken head stone. She tumbled and rolled until she impacted with someone.

She looked up from her lop sided angle against Jame's legs. "Hi James." She situated herself back to her upright position. She laughed lightly as she brushed the twigs and dirt from her body. her green eyes sparkled at him. Maybe he never slept at night either."James. What are you doing out here?" She smiled and situated herself beside him. She liked James, she liked all of her new pack.

[*James Silvius]

Apparently the glow from his lighter had attracted someone. No need for alarm, it was just Tillie, a wolf from the pack. James sighed and shook his head. They constantly followed him. Well that's what family did anyway, right? He loved everyone in the pack like a sister, brother, mother, father, aunt, uncle, anything.

Tillie made quite the entrance. One second James was staring at the endless darkness before him and the next he was on the ground, tangled with the wolf. "Hey Tillie. Just watching out for some bloodsuckers. And what brings you crashing into me?" he asked dryly.

James laughed and carefully removed himself from the fray. He resumed his position before Tillie tackled him. She was quite the energetic wolf. James found it difficult to keep up with the bubbly types, but Tillie was entertaining... oh yes.

[tillie]

Tillie giggled down at him. She shuffled her feet slightly as she stood there looking at him. James was too serious. He needed to lighten up every now and then. But James probably thought she was too peppy and that she needed to take some things more seriously. she shrugged mentally at the thought. She took one thing seriously, and that was vampires. Seeing as how for the moment none was around she flashed him a toothy grin.

"I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk. I noticed a coming and fading glow so I followed it into here. It disappeared though, then I fell and I landed on you. Lucky you, eh?" She raised her brows at him and laughed. "I don't just fall all over myself for anyone." She giggled again and nudged him, prancing around the headstone.

She would leave out that she never slept because of the nightmares that she had. Vampires haunted her and ripped through her subconscious every time she tried to sleep. She would leave out how she would crawl in bed with Ella and Patrick when she did try to sleep. Yes. That could all be left out. It was no fun being sad or angry all the time.

Everyone in the pack had a certain usefulness. She was optimistic and happy. She could keep everyone else's spirits up. Yes. That was much better than dwelling on unpleasantries and her own hatred. She smiled at him, like she had never skipped one happy beat. "I'm not following you either. So don't flatter yourself."

She said it in a very matter-of-fact tone, but her humor glinted through her green orbs. She plopped back down beside him. She probably would have followed him though if she had seen him leave. "Want company?" She blinked up at him, giving him her best goo-goo eyes.

[*James Silvius]

James glanced down at Tillie and snorted. If she really wanted to, she could keep anyone up with her. He settled down and sat cross legged and turned his head to watch Tillie prancing around him like a show dog. She was a pretty wolf, like all of the other girls in this pack. She was also the same. Every wolf here had a dual personality. Katra, Ayden, Patrick, Ella, Caleb... all of them. Especially himself.

"Tillie, I just take the luck wherever I happen to be," he said sarcastically. But seriously. Him? Lucky? Psh! He just couldn't put luck and his name in a sentence together unless he meant it in a sarcastic manner.

So Tillie didn't follow him. James snickered at her puppy-eyes. "Sure I can use the company. Though I don't think we'll be seeing any action tonight. Maybe I'll go for a run later in which case you are welcome to join me,"[/i] he invited.

[tillie]

Tillie wiggled with delight and flung her arms around James, embracing him in a tight hug."Running is one of my favorite things to do." She released him and settled back against the headstone. She watched the sky. It was unusually right tonight. Scattered with twinkling stars. She liked bright nights.

She pointed upward and leaned to nudge James. "See that? That is the Constellation Gemini." She grinned at him, her pearly whites sparkling in the light. "And those two groups of stars mark the twins Castor and Pollux's heads. Castor is bright the white binary stars, while Pollux is the orange ones." She sighed excitedly while bringing her knees up to her chest.

"The Gemini is a zodiacal constellation representing the two brothers. Both were mothered by Leda, and were therefore brothers of Helen, but they had different fathers." Her eyes sparkled as she went on to explain. "In one night, Leda was made pregnant both by Jupiter, in the form of a swan, and by her husband, King Tyndarus of Sparta. Pollux, as the son of a god, was immortal and was renowned for his strength, while his mortal brother Castor was famous for his skill with horses."

Tillie loved Roman mythology and history, and she was excited about sharing her knowledge with James, even though she was sure that he could care less.

"Both brothers traveled together in search of the Golden Fleece as Argonauts, and then fought in the Trojan War to bring their sister home to her husband Menelaus." Tillie looked back at him. "Their sister was originally Helen of Sparta. But she followed Paris, the young prince back to Troy and became Helen of Troy."

Tille sighed softly."The most common explanation for their presence in the heavens is that Pollux was overcome with sorrow when his mortal brother died, and begged Jupiter to allow him to share his immortality. Jupiter, acknowledging the heroism of both brothers, and reunited the pair in the heavens. And now there they are."

She sighed dreamily as she looked up to the sky. "I want to become a star when I die. I want to be the biggest and brightest star ever, and I can lead lost souls back to their loved ones." She smiled, and then blushed. She kept forgetting that not everyone shared in her over-enthusiasm for almost everything.

[*James Silvius]

When Tillie hugged him, James' body stiffened. Girls and hugs. Litte hugged him all the time. Though when he wasn't expecting it he couldn't help but be surprised. James sighed and shook his head. Tillie was just a bundle of joy. He sometimes worried about her. Eventually she would have to start taking things a little more seriously. When that time would come James sure hoped she'd be ready.

His eyes trailed along her arm and to her finger. He looked to the sky at the stars she pointed out. Yes, James could see them. Bright and clear. Back in New York, he never got to savor the beauty of the stars. In Paris, everything was different.

Tillie gave James a little lesson on astronomy and mythology along with a little history. In this world, he wondered if all of this actually did happen. It could have. Mortals had strange ways of creating stories from things they couldn't explain. James witnessed that all the time.

James listened courteously but couldn't help but not follow. History was never his forte. "It's quite lovely, Tillie. That's an interesting story. Thank you for sharing this with me," he said half-heartedly. James propped an elbow on his knee, rested his chin in his hand and sighed.

His mind was on other things besides stars. Even with Tillie's presence here he couldn't help but just think. Everything was wrong with him. This was a confusing night. His center focus was his vamp girlfriend, Litte. He loved her more than anything in this world, but he was going to have to wake up from this fairy tale soon. When that day comes, he would have to break her heart.

[tillie]

Tillie, still lost in her happy oblivious stargazing looked over to James. She sighed and slowly came back down to earth. She took one more longing look at the sky before focusing all of her energy on James.

She studied his face. He seemed so heart broken. She smiled softly and touched his arm. She didn't know why he was so sad, but she knew she wanted to help. For some reason an old story popped into her head. Tillie didn't understand why she suddenly thought of it, but she was a believer in faith and thought that maybe James would need to hear it.

"My nana used to tell me stories when I would wake up and miss my parents. They went out of town often, and she would always come stay with us. She told me this one story, and I think that it's my absolute favorite. She started trailing small pictures in the dirt with her fingers.

A long time ago, back when the world was new and hadn't been corrupted with humans, there was his pond. It stretched for miles and miles across continents. And it had the most beautiful creatures living in it. One day, a Grayble bird came to drink from the pond." She looked up at him, realizing that he had probably never heard any of the old folklore that her nana told her of.

"A Grayble was a great bird, but he had the face and torso of a man. His wings burned like fire, but his body was cool, like ice." She went back to her scibblings.

"When he dipped down a mermaid surfaced. She was the most beautiful thing that he had ever seen. He was in love with her instantly. He spent days and nights at the pond with her, but he could never touch her or get too close to the water because of his wings. She could never touch him because, if she did she would freeze and die instantly.

A sad sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes, still drawing. "The Grayble flew to the sun gods and asked for them to give his love a pair of wings. They said they could, but it would require for him to lose the fire and wonder of his own, so he agreed. But without his fire wings he could not stand before the sun gods and he fell back down to earth, ruining his wings.

Meanwhile the mermaid begged the sea god to allow her to breath air and to give her legs. He granted her request, but she was forced to swim to the very top of the water without assistance. She wasn't used to regular legs, and couldn't swim as fast.

She was reaching the surface just as he collapsed into the pond. They held each other for a second before she ran out of breath and he froze. The great pond began to freeze. So the gods separated the body of water and entrapped the lovers in a small crevace, in the smallest pond. But it was too late. Everything that had once lived in the pond died and every creature that had drank from the pond died.

The lovers died, their hands clasped around one another. Frozen for all of eternity. My nana told me that they died because they were never meant to be with one another, and because they tried to be together and break nature they killed everyone else."

Tillie opened her eyes and looked down at her drawing. It was of the two mythological lovers embraced, but frozen and trapped by fire. She linked rapidly and cleared her throat. "I don't know why I told you that story." She removed her hand from his arm and brushed the picture away with her hand. She sighed.

"I don't agree with it though." She looked up at him as her smile folded back to her features. Her green eyes danced with wonder. She really didn't know why she told him that story, but she believed that sometimes people needed to hear certain things. No matter how random. "I think that if you love someone you should always try to be with them. The elders and people you look up too should help you to be happy, and so should the people you are surrounded by."

She laughed softly. "I think that love should always win. No matter what."

[*James Silvius]

James kept his gaze lowered on the dirt before him. Tillie pounced into a story. She was trying her best to cheer him up. James didn't know if he wanted her to understand his dilemma. Already the wolves of the pack have expressed their... discomfort with smelling vampire on James whenever he walked in a room. They all hated vampires. That's why they were there. Sometimes he did feel like an outcast.

But Tillie's story... it just seemed like she knew everything about his forbidden relationship. The grayble was him and the mermaid was her. That was exactly right. Two creatures of different species that have too many differences to stay happy together, even though they love each other dearly. Tragic.

Would he give up his werewolf powers to be with Litte? In a heartbeat. He didn't ask to become a werewolf. It just happened after a sickening turn of events. Would Litte become mortal if she had the choice? James didn't know. He never asked her this. She loved him, oh yes, would she really sacrifice everything for him?

But they would die for each other. That much was for certain. They would die holding each other just like the mermaid and the grayble. It was not a happy ending, but he bet that the two lovers in the story would rather die together than be separated forever.

It felt like this story was foreshadowing future events. A werewolf and a vampire are two entirly different species. They are certainly not meant to be together. But they killed everyone else for their relationship to happen. Was James dooming the pack? If he had to choose between Litte and the pack, he would pick himself. He'd rather die than betray his lover and his family. How could he live without even one?

James eyed the drawing in the dirt before Tillie brushed it away. Gone forever. James looked at Tillie now, wonder shining in his eyes. She honestly didn't know why she told him that specific story? Freaky coincidence.

"Tillie..." James shook his head and looked at the ground again, masking himself, trying his best not to reveal anything. "Two species are just not meant to be together. Eventually everyone dies. The only thing you can do is live in the moment. But is it worth it?"

[tillie]

Tillie's mouth fell open in an 'O'. His first start and then silence had said it all. But that, that put the cherry on the sundae. Flabbergasted she jumped up and pointed at him. "You...You are in love with...." She stopped and leaned in close to him whispering the rest of the sentence. "You are in love with a vampire."

She was confused. Wasn't that the whole reason that they were all about to have a war anyway? What if they found out? She had overheard Ella and Patrick talking about the punishment coming to the woman werewolf, would they do the same to James? She wiggled her hands up and down. Oh God. Who knew? "Who knows, James?"

Tillie was still whispering. There was too much of a chance that someone might over hear them. She didn't feel anyone around, but they were in a graveyard and the dead told secrets when they could. She covered her face in her hands. She was freaking out. This was unexpected.

She drug them down slowly and looked at James. She immediately felt bad for her reaction. She sighed and plunkered down by him again. She wrapped her arms around him and snuggled against him. She nodded her head. "It's worth it. If you love each other."

She felt stupid. Good going with the story Tills...next time keep your flap shut. Another sigh, this one longer and more drawn out. "Love is always worth anything. No matter what, James." She dug her toe into the soft earth. She smiled and released him, but scooted closer and nudged him.

"So tell me all about her. What is she like? How old is she, like really? What does she do for fun?" If James could be in love with her, she must have been special. Tillie could give her a chance. "Does Caleb know?" Her green eyes sparkled with excitement. She hugged him again. "Jame's you're in love!" She squealed.

"If Caleb knew than we could double date!" She blushed. "Well, I mean...not like a date...date, but we could all hang out together at the same time." She rushed the hair from her face and fiddled with her Ipod, trying to ignore her blunder.

[*James Silvius]

James gawked. Tillie was talking too fast about things James didn't want her to know. Had he really been that obvious? His head spun. He would have to tell her everything now. She wouldn't hurt Litte, but she wouldn't be too fond of he either. James moaned. He was not expecting this tonight. Tillie was, indeed, freaking out. James knew how serious this was. Deathly serious. Patrick and Ella didn't know, but it was just a matter of time...

He didn't know what to do. Should he lie through his teeth? Should he just tell her everything? He was also putting Litte's life on the line. How could he do this to her? Tillie wasn't a big mouth though... he hoped. He didn't even realize it when she had her arms around him. She was just overwhelmed with shock.

James buried his face in his knees. He didn't want to look at her when he said this. "Her name is Litte Snow. Tillie, we met in Central Park. I wanted to kill her and ask questions later. I tackled her and pinned her to the floor. I blindfolded her, tied her hands together, and brought her to a shack. I could smell she was a young vampire, so I didn't kill her. I offered her a choice. She could die, or she could live and I could teach her how to hunt animals. She chose the animals," James sighed. This was a long story.

"So I took her to the forest many miles away. I showed her how to hunt for rabbits. Before I knew it, the sun was rising. I could only think of one thing she can't die. See, I thought if I could succeed in training a vamp to hunt animals, then maybe I could spare a few. It would be more... humane. Us werewolves, we can be just as bad as vampires. So anyway, the sun was rising. A wolf can run faster than a vamp. I turned wolf, got her on my back, and ran like hell back to the shack. I saved her life," James paused and glanced at Tillie.

"In that shack... together... I couldn't get over the fact that I saved a creature that I swore I would murder. I betrayed myself. I hated myself. Litte didn't understand this. She began showing affection. I don't know why, but I started looking at her and I didn't see a dead animated corpse anymore. She smelled wonderful to me. She looked beautiful with her blushes. How could she be so living? How? I was so confused. I decided in the end, I have been living in darkness all my life. I could use a little light. I gave in. I kissed her. I loved her. I still hated myself. She made me so happy, though. I've never been that happy in my entire life. How could I deny that? I asked her to be my girlfriend," he finished. This was the whole story.

"I told a few, some, like you, others asked why I had a vamp scent all over me. I didn't want them going after her, so I had to tell them. Caleb, Ayden, Katra, you, a vamp named Sevanni, a vamp named Gage, they all know. Sevanni hates me for it. He's tried killing me. I narrowly escaped with my life from a tussle with Gage, a vamp Litte made. He's a monster. It's really hard, Tillie. I don't know if I can keep doing this," he confessed.

He remembered one thing Tillie had mentioned that perplexed him. "Wait... you're going out with Caleb?"

[tillie]

Tillie was fascinated with his story. Litte must be absolutely wonderful. She flushed though, at the end. Why did he have to ask that? She could feel the heat rising from her face. "Um...er...No. We are not 'going out or dating." No, Tillie was just absolutely smitten by him and when ever he was around she had to basically ignore him to keep from stammering and looking like a moron. She couldn't even look him in the eye for more than a second without turning pink.

She shook her head. "We're not talking about that. Don't change the subject." No. She would do that on her own. James couldn't find out that she had a crush on Caleb, even if she had already given herself away. But it kinda would be fair...she knew his secret. She rushed the thought away.

"Oh but James you can't stop now!" She moved to sit on her knees, clasping her hands together. "This is positively the most romantic thing that I have ever heard. You were going to kill her, but instead you fell in love with her." She bounced up and down. "That's why you keep sneaking off! Ahhh!" She fell, delicately mind you, to the ground.

She kicked her feet in her excitement. "It's a forbidden romance! You are Romeo and she is Juliette. Oh, how could you even be bogged down by other people on this?" She sat up and looked at him. "So what if the guy is a monster. That doesn't make her one. people choose their own path James."

She sighed and looked back up to the stars. She smiled. "We can have the Gods make you two into stars. That way when you are both dead you can be together for eternity. And years from now, someone will sit in this very spot and tell someone else your story. And maybe they will fall in love."

Tillie peeked back up toward him. "I won't tell a soul. You're secret is safe with me." She giggled and blushed slightly. Just as long as he dropped the Caleb thing she could be in the clear.

[*James Silvius]

James raised a brow at her stammering. Dead giveaway. He would ask her about this later. She owed him. It was quite interesting, actually. He and Caleb were very good friends, tight brothers even. They would do anything for each other. He had to admit, a double date sounded fun. He could get at least some of the pack warmed up to Litte.

James listened to Tillie's blabbering. When he finished, he gripped her shoulders and stared her in the eyes, his face was completely serious. "Tillie, this is very dangerous, especially for Litte. I know you won't tell anyone but with these recent events... Patrick and Ella will know very soon. The vamps will be the one's to squeal. They want me dead in a bad way. They will kill me, Tillie. They will kill me or I will run and then you will never see me again. I know you won't tell anyone," James let go of her and slid to the ground, his hands covering his face, he moaned.

"I dragged her into this. She could die too. I have to break up with her but I can't. I love her so much!"

[tillie]

Tillie sighed. Why did everyone have to be so doom and gloom all of the time? Obviously this was bad. But it could have been worse. Does no else ever try to see the happy side of anything anymore. God, did this pack need her.

Tillie put her hands on her hips and lightly kicked his leg. "James do you even know what you are saying? You are in love! That is a happy thing, not a bad thing." She huffed, crossing her arms against her chest. Did no one else understand? "Patrick and Ella will keep you safe, hell...they might even try and keep her safe if you asked."

She began pacing. "You can't run. They'll find you. You should stay and let the pack help you. And, you should tell Patrick. Or at least tell Ella and she can tell Patrick. They would understand. This is obviously very important to you. That is why we are all in a pack. We all need each other. There should be no secrets, that makes our pack weak."

Secrets were bad. Their greatest strength right now was their faith in one another, keeping a secret like this would only hurt them. He had to tell their leaders. "I will go with you to tell them if you want."

Tillie smiled lightly down at him. "All secrets are bad, James. If it makes you this worried, you need their help. Besides. She can sleep in my room. We could have slumber parties." She laughed and plopped back down beside him. "Keeping secrets is no fun anyway."

[*James Silvius]

He was shocked. Utterly shocked. What Tillie was doing... it just amazed him. She was so understanding, just like Ayden was. Better yet, she wanted to help him. What more could he possibly ask for? What more could he want? He made his decision. He'd take her offer. This was so dangerous though, how could he rope her into this too?

"Fine Tillie. I won't run. I'm not crazy about telling Patrick and Ella, though. I don't know what they will do! And Tillie, we're more than in love. Much, much more," was he really going to go through with this? Well it was now or never.

James squeezed his eyes shut and mumbled under his breath, "We're engaged." There. he said it. They were engaged. James was the happiest wolf on the planet. He waited for her squeals, her shrieks, her hugs, her pouncing. He cringed, bracing himself for her reaction.

"I don't want to tell them. You tell them," he gave in. Maybe the words would be better coming out of her mouth. He couldn't believe this was happening.