"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
Throughout the night, Anna tossed about in her bed. She was having a nightmare. Fire. Acrid smoke rising into the atmosphere. A sharp piercing cry filled with terror. Pounding feet. The clatter of burnt and blackened woods against burning wooden floors. The sound of sirens blaring from ambulances and firefighters. People escaping and choking due to intense inhalation of smoke. A dead body being wheeled out of the burning building. More cries. This was what haunted her dreams almost every night. And now, after awakening with a jump start, Anna climbed out of her bed and hurried towards her dress stand. A pair of black joggers and sports bra dangled from the hanger where Anna frequently hung her running clothes after she was done with laundry. Rubbing every atom of sleep from her eyes, Anna took out the outfit from her hanger and put it on before proceeding to the bathroom in the corridor and washing her face. Anna returned to her room and picked up her cellphone, plug
"Thanks, but I think I'm okay. I don't need to be taken to the clinic. I'll go home from here. Help me up?" Both of the ladies immediately pulled her up and Anna steadied herself on the ground with her feet planted on the floor of the road. Her joints felt weak and she was finding it hard to regain stamina. "Do you live close? We could drive you home. You don't seem agile enough to walk on your own." "Dirdie! We're going to be late for our shift. You don't want McGill yelling your head off, do you?" Dirdie gave Anna an apologetic look and rushed to the sleek car parked at the side of the road, her impatient friend following behind. As they drove past Anna who moved to stand at the side of trees road, Dirdie slowed down and stuck her head out of the window. "Name's Deride and my annoying friend is Kenna. What's your name?" Anna couldn't hold back the bout of laughter brewing on her insides. "Anna. Nice to meet you. Thank you so much for helping me. Bye
He snapped his head towards the window and his eyes narrowed when a silver SUV swerved into the lot with speed. Anna and Alma followed his gaze and with speed, Anna shot out of her seat towards Lucian who stood, transfixed on the spot. "Lucian, you should leave! They're definitely coming after you," Anna said, her voice coming out in a panic, she grabbed his arms. "I will not. I'm here causing no trouble. Why should they be after me?" He asked. Anna stilled and stared at him. Her hands slipped off his arms. Saddened by everything and how it reminded her of how the blacks were treated by the white who saw them as a minority, she stood beside him, mustering every strength from her core. "Anna," It was Alma, her friend. She looked frightened and quickly moved out of the booth to stand beside her friend. "We should leave, these people are dangerous. The Argents will kill anyone associated with him." But Anna stood, unmoving. She nodded at her friend. "You can l
"I might start working as a waitress at a diner, you know?" Anna said as she walked out of the department building with her best friend. "Ha! You might meet the man of your dreams while serving a cup of iced Frappuccino. You know, the rich billionaire gracing the diner and making every woman in sight swoon." Anna rolled her eyes. "You need to stop living in fantasies and try to get realistic, girl." "Sometimes, all we need is to get away from the world, damned reality." Alma shrugged and looked at the bright Californian sky, a smile lifting her full lip. Anna stared at her friend. She'd known Alma to be wild but this idealistic persona was new and kind of inviting. Alma was beautiful, no doubt and she'd pass for a hot model gracing the runways of one of the fashion houses in Los Angeles. Her long dark hair accentuated her light skin. She was a beautiful black woman with a wild spirit and Anna was grateful that they were friends. Anna was moved to tears when she'
Lucian pulled off the white duvet that had been stained in blood and carried it off to the bathroom. The smell of blood filled his senses and he would have killed her right there I'd his father had not taught him the art of controlling his desire and need for blood. He could still hear her son's from the room and honestly, he wanted to laugh so hard at how petty she was being right now. By the time he returned to the room, Anna had already put on her panties and was standing before her wardrobe, searching for a dress to wear. He walked towards her and put his arms around her, pulling her back so she could lean back against his chest. "I honestly don't know why you're crying like this happened before a whole lot of people. It's just me and you and there's nothing you should be embarrassed over." "Okay." Was all she gave in reply. She pulled away from him and returned to searching for what to wear. "Oh, come on. Is that all you have to say in reply? I know y
"What are you doing here this late, Kevin?" A sleepy lady in an ivory night dress asked, rubbing her eyes. "Didn't you hear the explosion, Maya." Kevin asked weakly. "I felt the vibration. Wasn't that from the presidio of San Francisco?" Kevin shook his head. "It was from my condo." Maya gasped and immediately let him in, hurrying towards her bar to get him a drink. Kevin was so tired from the events of today. He flopped down on the sofa close to the bar so it was easy for Maya to get him a drink and pass it to him. He took the bourbon from her hands and gulped its content, squeezing his face as it burned his throat. "Thank you." Maya sat down on the sofa facing him. She pulled her night dress down her knees and when Kevin noticed what she just did, he raised a brow. "What happened? Tell me everything." Maya inquired. Kevin leaned back on the seat and raised his head to watch the ceiling. "A lot has happened. It's a really long story."
A Tesla model car cruised into a large condo gate that opened automatically. When the car came to a halt, Kevin stepped out, aware of the fact that the house was eerily quiet. He didn't hear the noise from his kids coming from inside the house. He sighed and took out his phone, stepping into the porch and using a voice key to open his door. It beeped but didn't open. Kevin frowned. He used his card instead. It still beeps, showing that it had accepted his card, but still didn't open. That was when he got a notification on his phone. Kevin stepped backwards and turned swiftly. The door to his Tesla opened, sensing his body heat and adrenaline rush. It cruised out of the gate and it had gone no further than the next two buildings before a blasting explosion was heard. He didn't feel the impact bodily, but in his heart, he felt it. He lowered his head and gave thanks to whoever was up there. He needed to get a very large and expensive gift for Maya for going agai
Anna was sick and worried now. She couldn't stop pacing about the living room. Casey and Augustus were worried too, but they were very good at composing themselves. Anna had woken up as early as six and had taken a trip downstairs when she didn't find Lucian in bed or anywhere in the room. Augustus and Casey were fast asleep on the couch, but she hadn't hesitated to wake them both up. They reassured her that he would soon return. Six was a bit early if they decided to book a morning flight. She wasn't satisfied with their answers, but then. Wendy came in an hour later, asking if both of the men had returned. Replies were negative, but she still had hope that they would return before afternoon. Anna had refused to eat breakfast. Any time she got really worried about something, her appetite always flew away into the thin air. Now, it was nearing evening and the whole estate was already aware of the absence of the Alpha and his Beta. Nobody was to leave the estat
"Hello, this is Georgina from Element 14 speaking. Mr Kevin has scheduled a date with you this evening by six pm. He expects you to wear a red velvet dress coupled with silver pumps." Maya was abashed. "Thank you very much, Gina. Relay this message back to him. Tell him that I will be absent. I have important things to do." Georgina, who was staring directly at her boss, bit her lip nervously, but nodded nonetheless."Alright, ma'am. I will return this message to him." Georgina dropped the receiver and cleared her throat. "She says she will be absent. She has important things to do. " Kevin sighed and rubbed his temple. He nodded and walked back to his office. When he got to his office, he kicked a glass vase standing beside the entrance to his office. His boot took the impact and cushioned whatever pain he was to have later. He was really frustrated. Maya was not picking his calls. He had called her several times today (though, it was just five times, it coul
There was a loud bang. Lucian jerked awake. The room was dark and the only light seeping through was from a 2x2 window situated above his head. He was disoriented for just a few seconds before he took note of his surroundings. Immediately, he whipped his head around in search of his friend. Felix was at the other end of the room snoring like he was a human who had drunk a barrel of rum. He was tied to a chair with a really thick jute rope and was unable to move. Even his feet were bound to the iron feet of the chair. Lucian bent forward. "Hey! Felix!" He whispered a scream. Felix didn't budge. He was still unconscious. Lucian decided to wake him using telepathy. He closed his eyes and tried to connect with Felix's mind. It turned out that he couldn't even connect with Felix's mind train. It felt like there was a barrier stopping him from connecting with his friend and when he looked around to find the source of the problem, there was none. Suddenly
Walter could walk on his own without the aid of a wheelchair or crutches. Though there was a limp in his movements, he could do just fine and the regular exercises he participated in helped a great deal. Walter was plotting. As he took power walks down the aisle that had been mounted in his node, his mind worked mach 5. He had never been this determined to bring something down his whole life. Nora would regret leaving him for another man; an enemy that he had sworn to kill. His doctor had left after taking record of his vitals and here he was, exercising his body and getting ready for whatever was to come. "I can see that you're in good shape, Walter. " Walter slowed down to a halt and turned his body towards the entrance of the node where Kevin stood. "Yes, I am." Walter replied, breathing heavily. "Can we talk for a few minutes?" Walter nodded and went over to the railing where his towel hung. He removed it from the hanger, wiped his face and pick
“Yes! I felt it. Look at your skin, olive. Not something Hollywood uses to artificially tan their skin. It's so natural. Your hair tells another story. Not American at all. You're mixed?" Lucian nodded and just as she was about to ask another question, Felix was standing behind her chair, one hand on her head rest and the other, on the arm rest of the seat. He gave the stunned lady a beautiful smile, took her hands and placed a soft kiss on it. "Name's Chase. What's yours, beautiful?" The lady swallowed. Her heart was beating real fast and she was having issues with breathing. "Nao— Naomi Sparks!" She stuck out her hand awkwardly. Felix, still with the seductive expression, smiled at her. "Nice to meet you, Naomi. You're really beautiful, I must say." The lady blushed beetroot red. "Thank you. You're not bad looking either." Felix placed a hand on his chest and closed his eyes in heartfelt gratitude. "Can we switch seats?" Naomi nodded i
Anna woke up feeling energized. Lucian was not on the bed beside her and she guessed that he had already left the estate for whatever meeting he had with the council. The curtains were drawn to let light in and when Anna checked the digital clock sitting on the wooden bedside table beside her, it read twelve twelve. She sat up and threw back the covers, gasping in surprise at how long she had slept. Wendy would have knocked on the door with breakfast in hand and that would have been two or three hours ago. Anna rubbed her forehead and sighed. Self conscious about her appearance, she walked to the mirror standing before Lucian's dress stand. Noticing that she was close to being naked in her bikini from last night, she squealed in horror and threw open his wardrobe in search of something to cover up her body. She did not want Wendy to find her looking like she had been savored last night. Lucian's wardrobe was filled with clothes and she pushed really hard before