Anna was going to enjoy the rest of her evening with Ryan, so she put all of her problems behind her and let herself revel in the moment. Ryan, her coursemate back at Stanford University, had miraculously shown up at her door two hours after Argent had excused himself out of her apartment looking obviously better than he had been when they were still in college. Alma had gasped audibly when she saw him. The change was evident. He now worked at a law firm and had already been promoted to the position of a district attorney. Life was good to him and Anna wasn't envious, she was happy for him. So right now, smiling at him at a four-star restaurant downtown, close to the Golden gate, Anna's heart filled up with joy. She was living, wasn't she? He looked broader than he had been back at the SU days. His blond hair, shorter than it had been now, had a nice sheen to it. His expensive wristwatch that she had noticed immediately he sat on the nearly worn-out couch back at her
Well, I don't think there's any way you can get home without me driving you." Lucian pointed out. "It's not safe for you to be near my home, Lucian. The Argents—" Lucian scoffed and twisted the key on the ignition. His car roared to life and he looked at her. "Anna, don't worry about that. It's not your battle but ours. Stay out of this," Anna gave him a bewildered look. " What the heck are you saying?! The pod is in my house. My house, remember? No matter how you try to keep me out of this, I and my friend are very much involved." Lucian paid no attention to whatever she said. He gave her a straight answer. "I said what I said." "Just take me home, please. Whatever you do, I don't want it to affect me and my friend." " You were given a quit notice, right? You'd be out of there, soon. Don't worry, you'd not be affected," Lucian replied as he drove out of the lot. He focused on the road while he drove but he could see how Anna paled and he felt sorry for her. Th
Lucian glanced at his side mirror from time to time. The Argents were still following him. How stupid were they to think that anything would come out of this silent chase? He shook his head and hit the gas. He tuned in the radio to a station playing rock metal music and it seemed to fit the atmosphere. He turned it to the highest volume and cackled. He was living in an action movie and he was going to act the part of the protagonist. Lucian cut the car to the left at the intersection and watched the Argents do the same. He shook his head and laughed. If only they knew where he was taking them. He picked his cellphone idling in the cup holder and turned it on before tapping on the contacts icon and dialling Felix's phone. Felix picked up at the third ring. "Lucian! Where the fuck have you been? You left everyone hanging. Did you forget it's a full moon?" Oh yes, he did. The incident with the Shewolf back with Anna had reminded him. But still, he had juicy news. He gla
Felix arranged the wires connecting the pliers on the table and plugged them into the socket installed on the wall of the empty room. Their victim was in the middle of the room, bound hands and feet to an iron chair. He'd been screaming so much and Casey had to gag him to keep his yells muffled. The only light in the room was a yellow bulb covered in cobwebs. It dangled freely and illuminated the room sparsely. This room was located underground and nobody apart from them all knew that an Argent had been captured. It'd have caused an uproar, something really uncontrollable. Lucian wished that Casey would keep a silent mouth. The guy had been suspiciously helpful. The Casey Lucian I knew was really stubborn and stupid at times. But, seeing him in this large room working to bring out something from the Argent, Caro couldn't help but feel uneasy. Felix tossed a pair of black rubber gloves at Lucian who caught it with a flourish. You'd think he was a professional sportsman. Lucia
"Aren't you going to pick that call, girl?" Anna and Alma lay sideways on the bed in Anna's room listening to music. Alma had turned down the music so it was playing softly. Ryan was the one calling and she wasn't in the mood to speak with him. This was the third time he was calling in ten minutes and it was getting really annoying. She even pushed her phone away from her after tapping on the 'do not disturb' icon but her screen still lit each time he called. "I don't want to speak with him. Not in the mood." Alma gave her an amused stare. "Wow. That's new. He has the money, have you forgotten?" Suddenly, Anna sat up, an annoyed expression evident on her face. Why was Alma this shallow? Why did she always talk about money all the time? It wasn't funny anymore. It was getting really annoying. "Can you stop, please?" " What?" Alma enquired. She was riling her friend up on purpose. "Why should I stop?" Anna decided to switch topics. "Don't worry. Aren't
The chilly wind coming from the Pacific had Anna wrapping her coat around her. The chauffeur had dropped her and had driven away while she entered the same restaurant she'd gone with Ryan days ago. But right now, she stood outside the restaurant waiting for a cab she'd just ordered to drive towards her. When she'd entered the restaurant, the table Ryan had reserved for her was empty. He hadn't arrived. Anna wasn't offended. Maybe he was busy and had to quickly do something before driving there. She'd busied herself by watching patrons eat and chatter over expensive food. Businessmen and women, Couples, people who sat alone and enjoyed their lunch and a few people at the bar having drinks. The waiter had served her cider while she waited and she'd sipped at it and requested for more. Anna was getting tipsy as she drank and silently, she hoped he'd arrive soon so he didn't meet her drunk and slurring her words. Forty-five minutes later and he hadn't arrived. Anna was s
The air smelled stale: of blood and sweat. Whimpers filled the empty large room and a fist connected with cartilage as a yelp escaped the throat of the victim. Elias's nose was definitely cracked and a tear coated with clotted blood could be spotted on his nasal bridge. Throughout the night, after trying to get information out of him with torturing methods, he was left to rest and regain strength for the next morning for a couple of hours. As early as four, Felix had left the meeting Lucian was conducting with his cabinet member and had climbed down the steps leading to the basement to begin the job he was good at doing. Torture. The previous evening, Elias had let them know that every information he gave them was false. It had been annoying but, The Garoeux inhabitants were never the type to give up. Truly, he had been sporting a chip at the nape of his neck. Felix cringed as they watched Augustus pull out tiny thread-like material. A permanent dent was already on Elias
"Walter will find you and kill you!" Elias screamed with all his might but it wasn't enough. Strength was leaving him in spurts. Felix was tearing his flesh right from the top of his finger to the end so that a portion of his hand was bleeding. The scent of blood seemed to stir something in Felix and suddenly, an amber glow started to spread around his irises like thick smoke engulfing a hot desert. Elias watched this happen with wide eyes and contempt. Felix was transforming. Slowly, slowly, thick long hair sprouted out, covering the side of his face. A sharp widow's peak formed at his forehead and the tip of his ears grew out, becoming elf-like. Suddenly, Felix was grabbing Elias's hands and yanking them so the rope that had been used to bind his hand to the arm of the metal chair came away. The nearly thinned rope sliced through his wrist, causing him to give a painful jerk. He had seen Werewolves transform but this was different. Felix was a mixture of beast and