Predator | 40

Charles wasn't amused by the situation. He kept his face blank, but April was sure he didn't appreciate her tone. He had - for whatever reason - the ridiculous thought that Nikolaj is the one who turns all those innocent humans.

April didn't need any proof to believe Nik's words. Charles words meant nothing to her.

"Defending him isn't helping us either," was Charles reply. His eyes were fierce - and cold - as he silently watched April rudely glaring at him. His eyes were so harsh that April would have flinched away, if she wasn't so angry herself.

"April is right," spoke Eric after remaining silent for long minutes. "I also don't think it's him," he said without a proper reason and scratched his head. He didn't really know what to say in this kind of situation.

Charles sighed tiredly and briefly shut his eyes close. "Your wound," Charles began, his eyes flickering back to Nikolaj. "The Lycan that did this to you escaped, aren't I right? You were distracted and let him escape. That's why you were out the last couple of days, why you insisted to help us, despite being wounded. You wanted to catch the Lycan before we do. Before we get him and make him sing. Isn't that right?"

"No, it's not true," Nikolaj forced out between gritted teeth. "For someone as old as you, you certainly are foolish!"

"Let's pretend I am foolish and it indeed isn't you who caused us all this mess. Why didn't you tell your girlfriend how you spent your time? Why was she the last to know?" Charles questioned and nodded his head towards April.

She bit her lower lip. That was something she wondered about as well. He did indeed lie to her at least one time. A few days ago, when his wound was still fresh, that he had been sleeping the whole day until she arrived at his cottage.

Nikolaj's eyes flickered to April. His eyes narrowed into slits as he eyed her. April wondered whether her expression gave him the impression that she's doubting him. But she wasn't doubting his words, she trusted him

Nikolaj's calm breathing changed into short, harsh pants as he avoided Aprils eyes. His grip on the material of the couch tightened to the point where he almost teared the armrest apart.

"I'm leaving," he spoke in a deep, almost unfamiliar voice. A voice, April rarely got to hear. It sounded too dark, too low and sent violent shivers running down her spine. The exact opposite to his usual, soft and kind voice he used whenever he talked to her.

He shot up from the couch and hurried towards the door, in fast and angry steps without acknowledging any of them any longer.

April watched him retreating Shawn's living room. He slammed the door shut, the noise echoing through the silence. April flinched.

He was pissed.

No, he probably was furious.

"You shouldn't have said that," spoke Shawn. He sank further into the couch. He shut his eyes close, looking very tired with the whole situation. "I have to agree with Eric on this. I don't think it's him either. Nikolaj is capable of all kind of things, but this? He would never do something as dumb as this. I know that you want to find that bastárd, we all do, but we're not going to find him on this way."

Charles snorted through his nose, but remained silent. He traced his lips with his thumbs. Brows furrowed and eyes narrowed into slits, he stared to nowhere in particular and was lost in his thoughts.

After a quiet minute, April stood up to her feet and gathered her jacket and her bag. She turned to her brother as she slipped into her jacket. "I will see after him," she told her brother.

Eric nodded at her, a worried look on his face. She didn't look at Charles as she passed by and followed after Nikolaj. To some extend, she could understand that everyone was worried about the situation.

It was understandable that everyone just wanted to find the culprit, but accusing each other without as much as a simple proof was leading to nowhere. It only caused more problems.

April sighed heavily. Charles was kind of an asshole.

She was glad that it was only Charles who was accusing him. At least Shawn and her brother were on his side and weren't so quick to accuse him of something he didn't do.

Outside, she saw Nikolaj back walking down the parking space and passing her car. His posture was tense and rigid. She ran after him to catch up with him.

"Wait," she called. When he slowed down his pace to throw her a glance over his shoulders, she stopped next to her car. "I will take you back," she offered and gestured towards the car.

He didn't argue and went over to the car, slipping inside next to her. April started the engine and drove off.

During the drive to his place, the car was filled with silence. But it wasn't the pleasant kind of silence, where she just enjoyed his presence . This was the awkward kind of silence.

April thought carefully about her words. Nikolaj didn't seem to be in talking mood, but she wanted him to know that everything Charles had said to him and accused him of, was nothing but bullshit.

Soon enough, they reached the cottage.

"Look," she began as she pulled over. "Don't take Charles words too serious. He was talking nonsense and we all know that. Shawn didn't agree with him and my brother didn't either."

For long, painful moments, Nikolaj remained silent.

His eyes were focused to nowhere in particular. He avoided his gaze as he continued to stare ahead, avoiding her gaze.

In these moments, April wished to know what he was thinking. She was unable to read his expression, it was impossible.

She wondered if he was continuing to remain silent on his seat, without as much as turning his head to at leas look at her with his green orbs.

"Is that so?" He then suddenly asked, but his eyes remained avoiding her. "You clearly didn't look like you were believing me," he spoke dryly.

April frowned. "What do you mean? I didn't believe him, that much you should know or did you not hear what I said to you right now?"

"It's not about what you said, April," was his reply. If she wasn't confused before, then she sure as hell was now. "It's about how you looked at me. Your face is an open book. For a second, you were doubting me. You might believe my now, but I am sure that for a seconds, you asked yourself if I was telling the damn truth." He then turned his head to her. He stared down at her, green orbs flaring with anger.. and disappointment. "You were judging me with your eyes."

April froze in her spot, shocked to hear him voicing his thoughts. She was momentarily too stunned to speak. She gulped the heavy lump in her throat away. "N-no, that's not true. I was confused- yes, but I didn't doubt you. I never did doubt you."

"Confused enough to believe Charles, it seemed," he said harshly and opened the door of the car. "I want you to leave," he spoke and left her alone in the car.

She watched him leaving her and hurrying to his cottage until he was out of her view.

Even after long moments, April didn't drive off. She was still staring at his cottage, mouth slightly apart.

How the hell did her day turn upside down in less than a minute?

She sighed heavily as her head fell on the steering wheel.

At times, Nikolaj was nothing but an easy man. Easy to get along with and easy to understand. But at other times, he was the exact opposite.

April wasn't prepared for her day to end with a big fight with Nikolaj. He was so collected whenever he was with her that she never even thought that he could lose his calm demeanor. At least no with her. With others, she had seen him like this.

His words hurt, but nothing hurt as much as the way he had looked down at her with those angry eyes. Anger, that was directed at her.

It was a look she wished to never see again.

An ill feeling washed through her. Her day had officially turned into the worst.

Maybe he had felt the same way when she looked at him. But, she didn't look at him with judging eyes. She never did, but he seemed to disagree.

___

Hope you enjoyed the update. Thanks for reading!