Into the Spirit

---POV Terra--- “Baby,” My mother whimpered as her soft blue eyes stared into my rounded chocolate ones. “Breathe sweetie. I need you to breathe.” She said again and the bombs ricocheted off the concrete above us. I nodded, not trusting my voice, and clutched hold of my teddy. She smiled at my acknowledgment, kissed both of my cheeks, and my forehead before shifting her gaze to one of stern authority. “No matter what you hear, you are to stay here.” She added. “Yes momma.” I whimpered back and another bomb landed. I screamed and started crying hysterically. I don’t know what is going on. I don’t know what to do. I can’t do anything. Why am I so useless? “No, my Little Cub. No tears. Only smiles. You will be alright, everything will be alright.” She buried me in a hug, and I clung onto her armored body before she kissed my cheek again. I cleared my throat and forced down my tears as I smiled at my mom softly and waved to her retreating body, disappearing into the darkness behind the basement door. I huddled in the corner and the other kids walked over to me. The kids of the warriors. Like me. “It’ll…it’ll be fine! Our parents are strong!” One of the older kids called and smiled down at me as I held onto my teddy even tighter. The only thing I was allowed to bring along when the sirens started. “Come on…don’t cry, Terra. Your momma and daddy are the best warrior family there is! They are going to crush those intruders.” Another kid called. I think I remember him from our finger painting earlier this morning. I shook my head and cuddled my knees to my chest as the raddling, thudding, and shouting continued outside. I hate fighting…the smell of blood…. Death. I hate it all. “Oh, she’s no fun. She always ends up like this. Let’s go play somewhere else.” The older kid called, giving up on me and my silent treatment towards them. The rest of the children hesitated before they left along with him. It had been hours and I’m not too sure if I fell asleep or what had happened, but a soft voice came from inside my mind, and I shot up from my spot curled up on the floor. “Terra…” I looked around and saw that everyone was asleep, and the fighting was still raging on. “Who…Who’s there?” I asked, shaking at the suspense held behind the impending response. “Someone who will make sure you become useful. Someone who will grant you the power to become extraordinary.” The voice hummed. I whimpered and tucked myself back into the blanket. “Mommy said –” “Yes, and I agree with her. Stay here. Stay hidden. Those above the ceiling are mean people. Stay hidden. Stay safe.” I nodded to no one but the voice in my head, then I heard another bomb go off and a blood-curdling scream followed after. I felt my face pale. It was my mother’s. ---------- I shot out of my nightmare once again. Every night has been a sleepless one, or pretty close to it, for the last twenty years. I don't even know what it's like to sleep longer than a few hours at a time, if that. That mantra constantly raddling in my head: Stay hidden. Stay Safe. Every time I ignored it, something horrid happened. When I followed it, something...you guessed it…horrid happened. After all these years of disappointment and loneliness, I have decided on a different tactic: stay hidden. Stay...Alone. I rubbed my eyes, let my hand fall back on my comforter and turned my head to the yellow-stained window facing the back of my apartment complex. The sun was setting, and it was time for me to get moving. Get started on another day. I rose up from the bed slowly and winced at the disorientation that comes along with insomnia. However, I feel like there is a positive to this story. Because of my restless sleep, the night life has dragged me in. Accepted me with open arms and I did not hesitate to follow along. It gives me an excuse to stay awake and the DJ gigs at the clubs around town allow me to keep to myself, earn some money, and mix tracks for the people. Odd combination, I know, but they are three of my favorite things. I rested a palm on my now extremely clammy forehead. I closed my eyes and sighed deeply. “Terra, I’m –” I flinched hearing my wolf and she stopped short of her rather redundant apology and whimpered. I hear it every morning after we experience our nightmares. The scenes may change, but the terror never leaves my mind. I sighed, knowing it wasn't fair to be angry with her. It's been...two years since we’ve come back to our human form permanently, and I know it has been a challenge for both myself and my wolf to adjust, but every day I wake up, I just have to hope I'll find my peace. Someday. I patted my legs and stretched again. “Please don’t start with me.” I said, routinely mumbling coldly toward my wolf. It was time for my shift at the club and I really wasn’t in the mood today…but I had to force myself to see it as just like every other day. ---------- I bobbed my head as the strobe lights danced around the now heated bodies, enjoying the steady beat. I felt something was off today, but I did my best to ignore it and smoothly shifted the tracks from one to the next. My music thumped through the speakers as the howls and chants sprang to life at each new bass drop. I took a deep breath. This scent...it was something familiar, but I didn’t quite know what. I shook my head at the environment I used to ignore, but apparently not today. Apparently, there was something here that I was missing. Something that had me on edge. I ground my teeth as my wolf paced in my head. Back and forth, back…and forth. Apparently, agitation was the least of my problems. She was pacing a hole through my brain. “Terra, I smell him.” That was the only thing she’d said since we got here… four hours ago. “Ignore it.” I added firmly to my inner self and to my wolf. There is no way. I have been working here for two years and the view rarely changes. That’s one of the things I like most about this place. Not having to look over my shoulder. Maybe that's why I became a regular DJ at The Raven. A small but intricately detailed night club off the tourist strip. Usually full of locals and always full of party animals. A perfect atmosphere for me. Aside from the staff, sometimes there are others of my kind here, but they never smell as strong as this. I was almost weak at the knees. What is the deal? I quickly looked up from my table and did a quick scan around the room. The smell got stronger when I looked at the velvet curtain cutting off the small dance floor packed full of drunk wannabe choreographers from the elite of the club scene that enjoyed wine and small idle chat. I snapped back to my turntables and skidded the record before shifting the tempo. My wolf continued to whimper. “Ignore!” I shouted again and it was honestly starting to agitate her further. I winced and took a breath. “Stay hidden...stay alone.” I cooed at her, instigating another whimper from my disgruntled wolf. I shook it off and growled deeply at my furry friend to remind her... remind her about the nightmare of when she first introduced herself to me. The night in the basement where I was once an innocent child. The night that she chose me. So, she will have to deal with it. She whimpered, backing down. “Fine, but what if –” I growled a bit louder, but I wasn’t drawing any attention over the vibrations being released from the surround sound in here. “Don’t.” I glanced over at my screen running through the pre-mixed tracks and held my hand over the main sound. I turned up the volume just in time as the bass dropped once again. Everyone on the dance floor was rocking their hips and enjoying life. As if I was a recovering addict, I took yet another deep breath of the intoxicating scent, and it consumed me, until I noticed another. Mya. She bounced her usual bubbly self up to my turntables from the VIP room and smiled at me. It only took one guess to know her, and her mate, were the ones who are occupying the velvet tonight. It was a bit of a shock to see her tonight, but I wasn't one to butt into, or even attend, the event planning committees held here. Maybe it was another party for this crazy wedding. I wish I could be a better maid of honor for her and join all the festivities, but I kind of cut it at the seventh beach bash. Either way, like the event committee here, I just made sure I had the tracks and adjusted accordingly if it was required. For the wedding and my job. I allowed the other bridesmaids and my coworkers to take center stage instead. Mya refused to allow another girl to be her maid of honor, so I guess we came up with a compromise of sorts. One that is currently working to both our benefits. She gets to plan her wedding and I get to be in her wedding. Nothing more. Nothing less. I glanced around the bar and over to the men, in all black, darting their eyes at all known exit and entry points around the room. I guess their party is why there is more security tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it this locked down before. I’m sure there are more…guests than just them to cause this much of a fuss. I tilted my head thinking for only a moment before I turned to my friend and her giddy personality. “Hey, Mya. How are you? Love to chat, but I’m kind of working here.” She scoffed and I could hear her clearly through the noise. It is nice we have heightened senses. Even with my headphones – which are supposed to be noise canceling ­– I can hear her clear as a bell. Even with the thumping speakers, she could hear me. That means no screaming required. Keeps our throats happy after a good night of fun and decreases irritation during a good night of fun. But tonight, I need to focus. Tips are welcome and needed. Hence, the need to stay focused. That, and when I’m on the job, distractions need to be limited. “Oh, don’t be like that. You can always put it on auto play or whatever and actually enjoy the club for once. I mean…come on girl…your outfit is fire. No need to hide it behind this bulky set up.” She patted my bum, and I shot daggers her way. I looked down at my outfit that I threw together at the last minute while the manager begged me to fill in for their flake of a backup. He was supposed to cover me today so I could get some sleep, but that was out the window before I was even able to hit the pillow. I do gigs outside the club to make ends meet on my modest apartment and I let them know that, so they tend to be more flexible with me. I don't really have much room to complain. I shifted the tight black dress that was slim, but practical. It showed off the girls with the left side as a spaghetti strap sleeve and the right as a sleek black long sleeve. Right below the belt, with a slightly bedazzled buckle, was a small cut out on the left-hand side that opened to reveal a bit of my torso. The A-line pencil skirt flowed just above my knees, allowing for breathing room and style. I relished in the colors more than anything: solid black and it matched my bouncing medium-length natural brown and gold curls effortlessly. I paired the outfit with some crisp white high-top sneakers so I could dance and be comfortable for the whole night. In my defense, I do have to be up here the whole night. However, I still enjoyed the compliment. “It’s about function, not cuteness.” I responded and smirked her way. She rolled her eyes and hooked her arm around mine. As if this happens a lot, and it does, I continue shifting the beat and adding transitions when needed, even with her arm annoyingly around mine. She’s my best friend…what can I do? “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Momma is here….Well…both mommas are here. It’s my last party to have fun. Try to see me for at least an hour. You’re always working.” There she goes again, trying to pout her way to my submission. I glanced over and noted her hair and outfit. Bubbly and animated, just like her. Her long blond locks were curled into simple waves and volumized a bit in the front. She had on a smokey eyeshadow accentuating her bright green eyes and soft pale skin. She was wearing a form fitted white crop top with a sweetheart neckline and small straps around her toned biceps. Her fitted torso polka dotted skirt flared out to simple pleats that rested right over her bum. She added a rather…eccentric necklace to add a bit of bling before finishing it off with five-inch heels that looked like weapons as they covered the front of her foot and added a bit of a peek-a-boo toe to accentuate her freshly painted pedicure. She noticed I glanced at her ensemble and smiled. “So…what do you think?” I turned my attention to her and put on my OMG face to make it believable. It was a fire outfit so I couldn’t ignore that. “Yasss homie!! Hold up.” I dropped the music a bit and pulled the mic up to my lips, subtly glossed over with a flush pink lip gloss to match my sunset eyeshadow and simple swipe of mascara. “Hey, my party people!” Everyone, drunk and sober, looked up at me and the whole club, ‘whooooooooed’ in unison. “I just have to say, we have a bride to be in the club tonight!” Unanimous cheers rang clearly throughout the bar, and I could even see the security faltering to a snicker. Good. Everyone was drunk enough for a random shout out and I wasn’t getting glares from my manager or any of my other coworkers. I covered the mic and whispered to her, already knowing the answer. “Is your Mason here?” She was blushing and pouting a bit before nodding. It was actually quite funny that she wasn’t already used to the lights and attention after confirming her mate bond with Mason. I mean it was freaking Mason Rogue. There is only one other socialite that tops him and I’m sure there were many hearts broken when the announcement went public. Humans and werewolves alike. “Alright then.” I turned back to the audience and pulled the mic back up to my lips. “And her husband-to-be is right here with her…being all protective and all.” I laid it on thick at the end and I noticed the chorus of ‘awwwwhhsss’ in the audience. “They are going to have a fun last night as party people with me, yours truly–” I tipped the mic towards the club audience, now completely struck by the interest bug. They wanted to know everything that was coming out of my mouth. I held my hand to my ear because everyone knew my name. “Terra Tables!!!” Everyone shouted. Well, my stage name. I laughed and brought the mic back to my mouth. “Alright then! Let’s crank it up and drop it!” I spun my records, cranked up the music, and the bass dropped, filling the room with music, dancing, and cheers. I turned to see my friend doubled over laughing and it brought a smile to my face. I clicked a couple of keys to start the tracks for the next few sets without me. I hate doing it, but it’s a good skill when I have to multi-task. I pulled off my Bluetooth headphones and rested them on my shoulders. “Alright…alright. I’m coming.”