Chapter 25

The tennis ball bounced off the wall and I raised a hand to catch it, then threw it again without pause. Over and over again I did this, working my arms as a way to ease the boredom. Off to the side of the courtyard, Kaio stood watching me, his eyes following the motion of the ball in deep concentration.

I’d been at it for over half an hour, and already I was wondering what I could do next. The days here in the coven dragged by slowly, and the more time I spent here, the more restless I became.

I’d come from Christophe’s place only four hours before, after trying to convince him to make the trip to my home town with me, and now I wished I’d stayed there. Despite his cockiness, his company was still more agreeable than sitting around Rien’s place doing nothing.

“This game looks to be positively tedious.”

I caught the ball and looked toward to sound of Rien’s voice, then shook my head when I spotted him sitting on the windowsill up above.

“That’s because it’s not a game, it’s just a way to pass the time.” I told him, then added. “You guys should get a gym, or a TV. I don’t know how you survive in this place.” I said with a shake of my head, and he smiled.

“If you were a blood drinker, I would suggest that you visit the arcade, however in your present condition such a thing would be unwise.” He said.

My eyes narrowed. “Present condition?”

He gestured to my body with an outstretched hand. “You are human.” He said simply, and I shook my head and threw the ball again.

This time instead of catching it, it breezed past the tips of my fingers and went flying into the nearby bushes. I glanced around with a sigh, then back at Rien.

“What do you do at the arcade?’ I questioned.

“Testing of skills mainly. Knife throwing, hand to hand combat and the like.” he said, and I perked up instantly.

“That’s sounds great, you think because I’m human I can’t beat any one of you bloodsuckers?”

He shook his head. “If a human so much as sets a foot in that place, he will not likely walk out with his head.” He explained, and once again my mood soured.

“I’m losing my mind here Rien, I need something to do.” I told him in earnest, and for a moment he seemed to think about it.

“Join me in my bedchamber. I am certain we can find a way to pass the time.” He teased, and I glared at him.

Kaio cleared his throat loudly, and in that moment I wished I had the ball in hand.

“I serious.” I said, and he smiled.

“As am I.”

“What did your father say about me leaving the coven for a few days?” I questioned.

The smile immediately fell from his face.

“I have decided my father’s command means nothing to me now. I too have business beyond the coven walls, therefore while I am gone you will be permitted to visit your friend…providing you have an escort of course.” He finished.

I raised a brow. “You spent the last two weeks worrying about what your father would do to me and now you don’t care? What happened between this morning and now?” I questioned.

He merely shrugged.

“I have discovered that he may very well be unhinged, and I cannot follow the orders of one whose mind is not with us.”

I shrugged. “Alright, when do I get to leave?”

“I depart in two days. I would prefer if you too vacated the coven at such time.”

I grinned, then thought of Christophe and pursed my lips. “Talk to Christophe for me.” I asked him and after only a brief pause he nodded.

“Very well.” And I looked up at him in surprise. Just this morning he’d almost bitten off my head at the mention of Christophe’s name, and now he was agreeing to convince him to come with me. Something was up.

“What’s going on?”

He fixed me with the most innocent expression. “Whatever do you mean?”

My eyes narrowed. “Why are you so amenable all of a sudden? What changed?”

He straightened himself on the windowsill. “I have recently come into some information .” He began. “I shall provide you with the details tonight.”

“Why can’t you tell me now, it’s not like we have anything better to do.”

“On the contrary.” He said. “I’m talking you to dinner outside the coven walls, I cannot think of a better way to ease your boredom than to take you amongst your own kind. Am I right?”

I shrugged.

“Count me in.” I told him, and he turned his attention to Kaio.

“Relay the message to Malik. We shall set out at once.” He said and my smile evaporated.

“You’re taking Malik?”

“Of course. It would be unforgiving to leave him here when he too is plagued by boredom.” He explained, then before I could get a word in, he disappeared from the window and I cursed under my breath.

An instant later he was back, but this time, instead of taking a seat he jumped through the window and landed directly in front of me, where he handed me my leather jacket. I took it with a grumbled ‘thank you’ and slipped it over my shoulders, then waited impatiently as he ran a hand throw my hair to tame my unruly spikes.

“What would you like to eat?” he asked, and I shrugged.

“Doesn’t matter, I’m fine with a burger and some fries.”

“We shall have sea food then.” He announced, and I rolled my eyes and stuffed my hands into my pockets as we waited for Kaio and the cocky bastard to arrive.

While we waited I kicked the pebbles at my feet while thinking of the days I’d been forced to stand still in the sun for hours on end and I wondered where all my patience had gone.

“There are a lot of things you’re keeping from me aren’t there?” I questioned seemingly out of the blue, but it had been on my mind for quite some time now. His distraction was evidenced by the number of times he’d left our bed late at night, only to return just before the break of dawn, and how he’d lower his voice whenever one of his brothers were over and he knew I was nearby.

“I do have secrets, but I do not intend to keep them from you indefinitely.” He said. “When the time comes you will be privy to all I know. I promise you.”

“And Malik?” I questioned, “You finally gonna tell me what’s going on with the two of you?”

He looked at me regretfully. “If he wishes you to know, he will tell you himself.” Was all he said, and when we heard the scraping of gravel on the concrete we looked toward the sound.

An expensive looking black car pulled up to the building. Fancy transportation for an impromptu evening out. When the driver came around to open the passenger door, Rien gestured to it and when I got in. He climbed in behind me and then we watched as Kaio and Malik exited the building.

He wasn’t hobbling like he had been before. He had clearly healed considerably in the last two weeks since I’d had words with him, but it was clear he was still feeling slight pain. Kaio fell into step with him and they talked as they made their way over to the car.

“What does Kaio see in him?” I asked because it was something I was actually curious about, and beside me Rien smiled.

“You cannot imagine the number of times someone has asked me that question about you.” He said in amusement.

I shrugged. “I just get this bad feeling about him.” I trailed off, and when the two finally entered the vehicle I turned my attention to the passing scenery out the window.

We drove for half an hour before the car pulled up before a restaurant called Chadvacks. The place was fancier than the car, and the staff took our jackets before escorting us to a table way in the back of the room, that afforded us the most privacy.

I found myself seated in the corner with Rien beside me and Malik across from me, who offered me a warm smile when he realized I was watching him. I scowled.

“Seafood’s my favorite. I remember the first time we visited America and my father took me to an American/Japanese restaurant. I fell in love with the food to the point where I didn’t want to leave” he chuckled. “So he promised me he would take me back for my birthday, and without fail, every time my birthday came around he flew the whole family out just so I could eat there.” Malik told us and while Kaio smiled, I shook my head.

“When I was younger my foster parents promised me a happy meal if I’d stop crying so I did, and I still haven’t gotten it.” I offered sarcastically, staring straight at the guy who had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

“So you were relegated to the foster care system when you were…” he trailed off.

“Five.” I answered, and he nodded as if I’d just confirmed something he already knew.

“You were adopted at the age of three am I right?”

 I looked suspiciously at Kaio and he continued. “So what happened? Why’d you end up in a foster home?”

“My folks died…anymore questions your highness?” I continued sarcastically, but he only shook his head.

“Wow, they bought you, then died after just two years with you…whoever said karma was a bitch didn’t lie.” He commented, and I froze.

“What did you just say?” I asked, my voice dangerously low as I glared at him.

Malik shrugged, and as I watched him my anger boiled.

“Nothing. Just that sometimes bad things happen to bad people.” He finished, and I saw red as I lunged at him from across the table, only to be pulled back before I could do any damage.

I cursed at him as Rien held me, and dragged me out of the place while those around us watched.

“You need to calm you temper.” Rien told me. “Words mean nothing.”

I shook my head, feeling raw and angry as I stared back at the restaurant doors. “What gives that asshole the right to talk about my parents like that?” I went off. “They were good people, they-”

“Tony, relax. He didn’t think before he spoke. I’m certain he did not mean to anger you.” He said and I stared at him in surprise.

“You’re defending him?”

“I am simply painting a picture.” He replied, and I shook my head.

I took a few breaths before lowering myself to the curb.

“I may not have remembered them, but do you have any idea how much I used to wish they would somehow come back and take me from that damn foster home? You have any idea how much I wished for a normal family with people who actually gave a shit about me?” I asked.

Rien lowered himself to the ground beside me.

“I have some idea, yes.” He said.

“They were good people.” I told him, but he said nothing, only ran a hand over the back of my neck and squeezed gently.

“We came for dinner. Forget everything that happened and try to enjoy what’s left of the evening.” He said, and for a while I just sat there, saying nothing.

I had a good reason not to trust the asshole. He was a snake just waiting for the perfect moment to strike and I’d put myself directly in his path.

I pursed my lips. The bastard wasn’t going to get another chance.

…………………………………

I ignored his apology when I reentered the restaurant, and when our order came I dug in without a word. I’d decided on the spicy curried fish with pita bread, while Rien chose sushi. For a moment I watched as he dipped it into the sauce they had provided, and plopped it into his mouth and I wondered why Christophe couldn’t appreciate normal food like Rien and Kaio so obviously did.

When he caught me staring, I turned back to my plate, satisfied with my own delicious choice.

“Where will you stay when you visit your friend?” Kaio asked after a few minutes of silence, and I glanced at him briefly, then shrugged.

“I’ll figure something out.”

“No need. I’ll arrange to have you stay at a guesthouse nearby.” Rien announced.

“You’re allowing him to go off again? You’re the one who was complaining about your crazy father just a days ago.” Malik spoke up, and I gritted my teeth.

“He’s not allowing me to do anything. I’m a grown man.”

“I’ll deal with my father.”

“I can’t see how this is a good idea.”

“Why is this your problem? It’s my ass on the line.” I addressed him, but he ignored me, glaring at Rien instead.

“It cannot be helped. I have urgent business to attend to in the south, and I would prefer if he were far from the coven until I return.” He continued.

I took another bit of my fish.

“So you’re letting him go alone? Jesus Rien what are you thinking?” he blew up, and my eyes narrowed.

“He will have an escort.” Rien replied calmly.

 Malik threw down his napkin and shook his head.

“I’ve lost my fucking appetite.” He grumbled, and I shook my head before dipping the bread into the spicy curry and biting off a large chunk.

 ……………………………………………………

It was late when we got back to the coven. After having desert and walking around the town for a bit with Malik still in a bad mood, I’d decided to grab a pair of shoes in a store nearby.  When I entered Rien’s room, I dropped the box onto the floor by his desk and pulled off my clothes for a much needed shower.

“You said you’d tell me what’s going on. Now’s a good a time as any.” I shouted to him over the noise of the shower when I heard him enter the bathroom.

“It seems my father has lost his mind.” He began and I chuckled.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“He means to hunt a wolf pack to extinction.” He said as I kneaded my scalp.

“Wolves? Why? What did they do to him?

“The fact that they exist seems to be his main reason.” He said with a sigh.

My brows creased as I thought about it. “When you say wolves….” I trailed off, poking my soapy head through the crack in the curtains.

“I mean the children of the moon…werewolves.”

I gaped at him. “Werewolves? You’re shittin’ me. You’re telling me werewolves; humans that change into actual wolves exist?”

He nodded, crossing his arms before him, while he leaned against the door frame.

I released an expletive. I didn’t know why anything surprised me anymore. “Why haven’t I ever seen one before?” I continued my line of questioning, dipping my head under the stream.

“Unlike blood drinkers, they have structure and rules. Exposing themselves to humans is prohibited.”

“Everyday you learn something new.” I mumbled to myself.

“My brother and I are plotting to assassinate him.”

“Assassinate who?”

“My father.” He said it as though he were talking about the weather, and I stuck my head through the crack to take in his expression.

He was as serious as a heart attack.

I stared at him for a second or two, then I shrugged. “I have no objections.” I told him, and smiled when I heard his soft chuckle.

“What I don’t get though, is why it’s such a big deal. Supernatural freak hunting down other supernatural freaks…isn’t that supposed to be the ‘natural’ order of things?”

“It’s a big deal because no matter what strategies we have in place, or the fact that we may very well have the element of surprise on our side, we cannot win this war. The wolves are too great in number.”

“Does this have anything to do with the reason you’re going out of town?”

I pulled apart the shower curtains and stepped out, dripping all over the tiles.

“Yes.” Rien said, handing me a towel. “I will journey to the south and I shall warn the wolves.”

“I thought you guys were sworn enemies. You can’t just walk into their pack and warn them.” I told him, but he only smiled.

“We are not enemies, my father simply intends to make it so. I will be fine. I shall warn them and if needs be I will gather all blood drinkers in the coven who are loyal to me, and we shall fight with the wolves against my father. The ensuing chaos will provide the best cover for an assassination.” He explained.

“Why don’t you just forget about the fighting and kill him now?”

I brushed past him to step into the bedroom and he followed.

“It is not as easy as one would like to think. This is the best way.”

I didn’t like the sound of this. “So it’ll be a war then. Lives will be lost, people will get hurt. It’s serious.”

He nodded. “It is.”

“I’ll fight with you.” I decided, and my eyes narrowed when he only laughed.

“In your condition? I would be surprised if you made it past a single opponent.” He continued laughing and with an annoyed roll of my eyes I hopped up into bed and covered my nakedness with the sheets.

                                                AUTHOR'S NOTES

SORRY FOR THE POOR QUALITY OF THIS CHAPTER GUYS...I'LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. THANKS FOR READING!

-DoUbLe.A

-unedited.