Oliver stalked through the forest his yellow eyes scanning for any animal life. He had awakened that morning with a nervous energy that demanded he turn to his wolf form and go hunt. It had hit him like a deep dark need and as much as he did not want to leave Felicity this morning he could not ignore it. She had been sleeping soundly and he remembered how peaceful she had seemed when he left.
Oliver spotted a small doe and even though she was bigger than most of the prey he hunted something was urging him to stalk her. He crept closer slowly his eyes locked on her as she languidly munched on the grass. His body was primed ready to pounce and he was about to race forward when suddenly he felt anxiety sweep through his body. He stilled immediately his muzzle lifting to the air as the feeling swept over him. Felicity.
He turned and raced back toward the house and his fangs bared. His mate was scared, and he needed to get to her right now. Oliver shifted back to his vampire form when he reached the back door and he quickly entered and hurried up the stairs so quick that his form was a blur and he found Felicity sitting up in bed and Tommy holding her.
His wolf side had not completely shifted back, and he growled when he saw Tommy with his arms around his mate.
***
Tommy held Felicity in his arms comforting his friend. He had heard her calling out for Oliver with panic in her voice and he had hurried to her room. He realized that Oliver must have gone out and Felicity had been so upset. It seemed that she was having dreams or premonitions and they were not sure which just yet.
He had pulled her into his arms when she started crying. It was a natural response for him and she was his friend.
He turned when he heard someone come in the door and knowing it was Oliver he was about to tell him that Felicity needed him when he heard Oliver growl. He looked to see Oliver standing in the doorway, his body that of a vampire but his eyes and aggressive demeanor were pure wolf. He released her slowly and put a small bit of distance between them.
"Felicity move away from me slowly." Tommy did not take his eyes off Oliver whose eyes were glowing a deep gold and he had his fangs bared.
"Why? Oliver this is Tommy. He is your friend." She tried to reason with him, but Oliver's eyes were focused directly on Tommy.
"Something is wrong. His wolf side is still dominant right now and he would love nothing more than to rip my throat out." Tommy kept his hands away from Felicity because he knew that if he touched his friend, he was dead.
Oliver growled and moved a step closer and Felicity stood quickly and stepped between them. "Oliver please."
It was like he didn't even hear her, his focus solely on the man who had been touching his mate, and there was a killer look in his eyes. He was not listening to her so how the hell were they going to bring him back from the brink?
Tommy moved to his feet keeping his distance from Felicity.
"Oliver, I was comforting Felicity. She woke up and when you were not there she got worried." Tommy started to talk to him hoping that he would snap out of his hybrid state.
"Oliver, I have been having some dreams about you and about Slade and when I woke up and you were gone I grew worried. That is all. Tommy was just comforting me." She took a step closer and Oliver growled again.
"Felicity please be careful. He is not the Oliver you know right now." Tommy was worried. They still were not 100% sure how Oliver would act as his wolf side tried to take over. He could become deadly, even to Felicity.
"He is always the Oliver I know. It doesn't matter if he is a vampire or a wolf. He is the man I love." She took a closer step and for the first time since he had entered the room his eyes shifted to her.
"Oliver. Please. Tommy is not a threat." She held out her hands to him and moved a step closer and Oliver's growl turned to a soft purr. They watched as his eyes shifted slowly from gold to blue and when they were fully turned he looked at them concerned.
Felicity rushed into his arms and held him tight as he looked over her shoulder at Tommy with an apologetic look. "Tommy....I"
"You don't have to say anything man. But we need to find Slade soon. It is getting harder for you to switch back to your vampire form and if we don't act quick your wolf side will completely take over."
Oliver closed his eyes as he held Felicity close to him. She was trembling slightly, and Tommy gave them both a kind look before he walked to the door. "I will give you guys a few minutes and then we need to meet downstairs and go over our plan."
Tommy closed the door behind him and Oliver and Felicity just held each other.
"I'm sorry I was not here when you woke up Felicity. I just had this urge to go hunt and it would not go away."
"It scared me when I woke up and you were gone." She held him tighter.
"What does Tommy mean that you are having dreams or premonitions?" He pulled back, so he could look down at her face and she wiped her eyes before she moved to sit on the bed.
"Since I met you I have been having these dreams or visions. They usually occur when I am sleeping which is why I am leaning toward it being dreams."
Oliver frowned as he sat next to her. "Do you think they are premonitions?"
Felicity looked at him with a concerned expression, "I don't know. But Oliver, I had a dream this morning that woke me up. In it Slade killed you."
Oliver sighed and pulled her close to him. "That is why when you woke up you were so upset that I was not here."
Felicity snuggled closer. "Don't worry. We will figure out these visions. In the meantime, let's go meet with Tommy and figure out our next plan."
Oliver stood and took her hand and they walked downstairs. Felicity was worried about Oliver in so many ways. The dreams she was having were disturbing and the fact that his wolf side was getting more dominant was troublesome.
They found Tommy sitting in the living room sipping on some orange juice. "It's not much but I went to town this morning and got some pastries." There was a spread of bagels and croissant's and a few other items on the coffee table, but Felicity made a beeline for the cup of coffee that was sitting in a cup carrier next to them.
Oliver found he did not have an appetite, so he settled on the couch and waited for Felicity to grab her coffee and a croissant before he spoke.
"I tracked Slade to a bar on the outskirts of London on the southside. It is known to be a feeding spot for us and from what I understand he had been going there several times a week."
Tommy frowned, "That is odd. Do you think he has stopped killing and is now only using volunteers?"
Oliver shook his head, "I doubt it. Slade is a killer, pure and simple. There has to be another reason he is going there so often."
"Well I say there is no time like the present. I say we go check it out today." Felicity tensed at Tommy's words. Soon they would be leaving, and hunting Slade and it terrified her because of her dreams.
"Maybe we need to take a little more time..." She spoke with a hint of fear in her voice.
Oliver turned to her and said softly, "We both know we cannot wait Felicity. My wolf side is slowly getting stronger and the fact that I was ready to kill Tommy for touching you is a sign that this needs to happen sooner rather than later."
Tommy gave her a soft smile, "Trying to get rid of me Smoak?" He teased trying to ease her fears. It didn't work.
"Of course not Tommy but I am scared." She looked between them and stood walking around trying to calm down. "I have had two dreams where Slade gets the upper hand with Oliver."
Oliver stood and approached her, "Yes but those were just dreams. I can handle Slade. I have done it before."
"And Felicity, I will be there to back him up."
She nodded, "I know Tommy. But I love you both so much. I just don't want anything to happen to either of you."
Oliver gently cupped her face with his hands. "We will be ok. I promise."
He kissed her softly, the purr that she loved rumbling in his chest. He pulled away and gave her a lingering look before he turned to Tommy. "I am ready to leave when you are ready."
"Ok. I will run upstairs and change, and we will be on our way." Tommy headed to his room as Oliver turned back to Felicity. There was a tear sitting on her cheek and he wiped it with his thumb.
"Non piangere amore mio. Tornerò da te. (Don't cry my love. I will come back to you.)"
She took his face in her hands and pulled him down for a kiss and their lips lingered as their hearts and minds joined each other.
"I love you Oliver." Oliver heard her thoughts and he kissed her one more time as they heard Tommy come down the stairs. He walked over to Felicity and she gave him a tight hug.
"Be careful." She whispered to him and he nodded his head before turning to Oliver and they walked to the front door. Oliver looked back at her one last time and then they were gone out the door.
Once they were gone the house seemed quiet, empty. She wandered back to the bedroom and pulled out her lap top. She was going to do some work on an article she was writing, and she felt it would get her mind off Oliver and Tommy.
Felicity worked for several hours fighting a yawn as she wound down her work. She set her laptop aside and decided to lay down for just a while. She was just going to take a nap. Maybe when she woke up Oliver and Tommy would be home.
***
Oliver and Tommy arrived at the local feeder bar. It was dark and dank and everything a seedy feeder bar would look like and it was exactly the type of place that Slade would frequent. Oliver walked in first, his eyes scanning the room. The room was filled with vampires and Oliver let them know with a mind link that Tommy was off limits. He is mine.
The other vampires were able to smell that Tommy was not one of their own, but they assumed that he was Oliver's feeder so they all set back to what they were doing and paid Oliver and Tommy no mind.
Oliver walked over to a waitress who was serving mugs of blood donated by the volunteers and he whispered, "Slade Wilson."
She gave him an appreciative glance and he could see the bite marks on her neck. She was a volunteer feeder and when she offered herself to Oliver he declined and said again, "Slade Wilson." She gave him one last look and then tilted her head to a hallway.
"Last door on the left." Her eyes lingered on him as he and Tommy made their way down the hall.
Oliver neared the door and when he scented, he could not help a growl coming from this throat.
Oliver smelled him. It was a smell that was imbedded in his very bones. It was a smell of death and dust and everything that you would associate with a vampire. It was Slade's smell. It had taken him over a week to find him, every lead becoming a dead end and Oliver had grown frustrated. But now they were here, and he was on the other side of that door.
He pushed the door open and there he was, seated casually on the sofa in the middle of the room, his legs crossed and his eyes dancing. He looked human and Oliver could see how people could be drawn in by him, but his eyes held the key to his soul and his eyes were blood red. A smirk curved his lips and light from the nearby lamp glistened on the tips of his fangs that barely showed through his lips. Oliver motioned for Tommy to stay behind him and Slade's eyes flickered to Tommy before they pierced his own.
"Oliver Queen, I have been waiting for you."
"Slade Wilson, it has been a long time."
"Too long kid. What brings you to my territory?" He glanced behind Oliver, but Tommy held no interest for him.
"I need something from you."
"What would that be?"
Oliver's eyes flashed, "Some of your blood."
Slade laughed. "Wow that is bold of you. Why do you need my blood?"
"That is none of your concern. Tommy here has a syringe and we can take what we need quickly. It will only take a moment."
Slade settled back with a cocky look, "Now why would I give you my blood?"
"Because you owe me."
"Owe you? I don't owe you anything."
Slade smirked as Oliver growled and the next words he spoke sent a chill straight through Oliver's bones.
"You stand here and dare to demand that I allow you to drink some of my blood. Is the woman not enough for you?"
Oliver's eyes flared, and he moved quickly grabbing Slade by the throat. Slade knew he had hit his mark and he growled, "So, this human means something to you."
Tommy felt fear course through him as Slade smiled a cold smile.
"She is beautiful." He scented Oliver. "I can smell her on you."
Oliver pushed him back and up against the wall and Slade continued to smirk.
"If you go anywhere near her, I swear by the demons of hell I will remove your heart with my bare hands." Oliver's threat was growled with such restrained rage that even Slade flinched, but he did not back down. His eyes flared red as he shoved Oliver and sent him flying across the room crashing into the wall.
Oliver made his way to his feet and growled low in his chest and before Tommy could stop them Slade and Oliver met in a clash of bodies and gnashing of teeth and all hell broke loose.
Tommy watched as the two vampires fought like animals. Their teeth were bared and if they were not using their fists they were trying to get in a bite or a hand to the chest. Tommy had a bad feeling that if one of them penetrated the others chest, their hand would come out with a heart.
Tommy was impressed that Oliver was holding his own. He has surprised Slade with his strength and as they continued their battle Oliver finally got the upper hand.
He growled loudly in his chest and shoved Slade to the ground, his hand circling his throat. "I will get your blood Slade dead or alive."
Slade growled back at him and as Tommy watched he saw Slade grab Oliver's hand from his neck and start to twist. Oliver howled out in pain and before Tommy knew what was happening Oliver went flying into the ceiling. His head hit the light fixture and then he fell.
He hit the floor with an ugly thud and did not move.
Tommy cursed under his breath. Shit!
"Oliver man get the fuck up." Tommy's words washed through the room and he took a step back as Slade looked at him and said.
"Now it is time for me to take care of you."