Stepping from the Shadows....

Author Note: A cow is a species. It is therefore a reference to both male and female cows, though often used to describe the female more commonly. The Heifer (or virgin cow), obviously cannot remain a virgin ideally, as many of them are used for breeding... As to the male of the species? It can be referred to as a bull or a steer. A steer is a bull who has... had his mind changed. (He’s missing something, and tends to think ‘Grass’ instead of more... arduous activity.) Due to some confusion, however, I have changed the references of a ‘cow’ to ‘bull’. Thank you, by the way, to my sweet Beta.


AFF A/N- The above might seem unnecessary, however, my chapter was rejected on PDS because someone wasn't smart enough to realize that. Thus... the ranty note.




Caleb slowly stopped running, fisting his hands into his hair, as he bent at the waist, breathing harshly. He has no idea how far he’d come from their home, or even were he was... he just knew he was alone.

The night was silent around him and Caleb found himself standing in front of a bull pasture, with one lonely-looking old bull staring at him from behind the fence while Caleb himself stood on the packed dirt road before him.
The bull seemed to glare at him, snorting softly into the night before lowering his head and continuing to chew on a cud of grass.

“Yeah. That’s right, Porky... eat some more, live it up. Ignore me. That’s all anyone does anyway.” Caleb growled, kicking a fence post before cursing and beginning to pace in front of the pasture.

The bull looked up, seemingly affronted at being called ‘Porky.’

“Fine... Jerky. Or Hamburger. You pick. Hell, Steak would work, or Dinner...”

Again, the bull seemed to roll his eyes before turning his attention back to the rather unappetizing shrubs before him.

“Fine... eat it up, but just tell me this... why?” Caleb leaned against the fence post, the very same that had sent his toes throbbing. The action made the bull shift, but the beast still otherwise appeared to ignore him.

“And I don’t mean why eat, or anything stupid like that- I mean, why the hell does *she* have to be so damned... PERFECT? Do you know how annoying that is? And Asher... for fuck’s sake, he places her on a pedestal and then gets pissed when I don’t fall to my knees and worship her.” The were heaved a sigh, shoving his chocolate colored curls back.

“I love Asher. That’s fucked up enough already, I mean, me? In love? HA! It’s a laugh. Can you just imagine the look on Anita’s face? It’s bad enough that Captain Fang felt the need to call from St. Louis and give his blessing... now...” Caleb shook his head, looking at the bull. “You even listening?”

The bull snorted, and Caleb nodded. “Good enough. I just don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to do anymore. Where do I belong in this? Megan is Asher’s... his little Angel.” He sneered at the endearment. “Angel my ass. She probably begs for it in the sack, anywhere she can get it...”

Seeing the look the bull was giving him, Caleb glared. “Oh, don’t even. I am not jealous!”

The bull simply stared.

“I am not! So what if she smells pretty, and looks hot and has the best ass since- NO! Not jealous, so don’t even try it.”

“Moo....?”

“Exactly. Not jealous. Horny as hell, yes, jealous, no.”
“Moo.”

“Fuck off.”

“Moo.”

“Fine, maybe a little, but it’s not like I love her.”

Crickets chirped a loud melody around them as the bull stared at the were, thoughtfully chewing on a long weed which poked comically, and yet somehow wisely, from the corner of his mouth.

“Fuck. You’re right... I do love her!”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Megan quietly stepped into the kitchen wearing her favorite pair of jeans and an old t-shirt, with a hole at the hem. Asher was... brooding... or something in the office, and that left her alone. And nervous. Something wasn’t right, and it scared her, especially with Caleb being out.

Biting her lip, Megan turned on the small, counter top TV to the local news station before pulling out her last, and only cigarette. She’d stopped smoking right after meeting Asher, but by God, she was having one now.

“...The body is male, approximately mid-twenties, mid-length, brown, curly hair, several body piercings. Fit. The body was found about twenty minutes ago outside of.... please contact the authorities with....”

Megan’s gaze jerked to the screen, and the cigarette fell from her fingers to the table, unlit as the newscaster went on to describe Caleb to a ‘T’.

“A... Asher!” Her eyes widened and she stilled, unable to believe what she was hearing.

“No positive identification at this time...”

“ASHER!”

Hearing Megan’s anguished tone, the blonde vampire hurried into the kitchen. “Oui, Mon Petite Ange, what is it?” He knelt next to her only to hear the repeat of the announcement on the TV.

Horrified, he stared at the screen. “NON!”