Chapter Two The Report

Ryker POV

I can’t say I ever remember my head splitting and pounding this extreme before. After all the hell I been through, bullet holes and knife wounds, not even the special combination of silver and iron type of torture can compare.

Keeping my eyes shut while I try to breathe through it, waiting for my advanced healing to ease some of the pain. I hear my brother and best friend ask with some concern in his voice.

“What happened last night, Brother?”

Not even sure how to respond to that myself just yet, I open my eyes and take a look around. Around the open kitchen and living room concept. The bar counter looks out into the average size living room. Nothing special or even pretty about the temporary home we chose to stay in. We had a job to do. This was simply a place to sleep and organize our next phase of operations.

With a deep breath and exhale I admitted slowly,

“It’s unclear the direction of last nights events.”

“What the F-k does that mean?” Syn said, sounding exasperated.

“It means, Syn, I Don’t Know What The F-k Happened.” After I downed the shot, I slammed the empty glass back on the counter. Walking around my brothers into the living room, I explained further.

“The last thing I can recall is surveilling the club with you, Bayne. Then, I woke up in a pitch black room at the club, bare-assed as the day I was born, covered in sweat and Goddess knows what. And that’s after having untold amounts of uninhibited and sinful wet dreams that would put every teenage boy to shame.” My three brothers try to hide their smirks as I turn around to sit in the recliner in the corner facing the only family I have left. It’s very unexpected of Syn. It’s rare he ever finds amusement in any situation, or really any emotion except anger and aggression.

Lynx pours another shot in my abandoned glass and brings it over to me. I accept and rest the glass against my head, wishing it were chilled so maybe I could find some relief.

Naturally, good-natured Bayne has to comment,

“That’s why you look like you were in a lions den. All those kittens and not enough Ryker.” I shot a glare at him as a warning, my predicament is far from funny.

“Except the fact that it was a dream. There were no kittens as you say. I have no recollection of any physical female, or even walking away for that matter. It’s unclear how my clothes ended up torn or why I was sleeping at the club. I didn’t drink that much due to the mission. Which brings us to the subject, what did we find out?” They took the hint to move on to more important matters. Everyone took a seat on the unattractive, worn-looking couch or chairs around the coffee table littered with weapons from being cleaned on preparing to be.

“Well, as you know, the original report we received from the owner, had little information. It mostly stated that there is suspicious activity in the area and Club Bite Mark is directly in the center of it. The suspicious activity involves abductions of any and all species, both male and female, going back almost two years. The missing persons have to frequently be covered up to not draw attention from the human population to the club that is mostly focused on pleasing the supernatural’s in the area in a controlled environment. It appears who or whatever is doing this is not meticulous about their victims. There is really not much to go on.” Bayne took the liberty to inform and remind us what we are working with.

“Which is why they called in The OG.” Lynx added proudly grinning like a cat who got the cheese. “It’s possible it could be a rogue vampire taking the victims.” Suggested Bayne.

Syn sits back on his chair, quietly focused on the discussion. Syn is definitely the quiet bad boy type. He has a lot of demons in his past. Some we know about, others he refuses to share. He has always been the one we would have to keep an eye on the most due to his unethical nature. He kills without remorse or a thought to who it might affect, even for just displeasing him. I suppose after what he’s been through, he feels he has earned the right. Which is a story for another time.

“Was there any suspicious people or activity? The objective of surveilling the club was to find any indication of truth to the claims given. What evidence have we come up with since last night.” I asked.

“From what I could tell, it was the usual type that entered and exited. Just the average people trying to have a good time and let off some steam after a long week. Not even the scent of a succubus for a change.” Lynx responded. He occupied a table near the entrance and exit of the club so he can observe who or what comes and goes. It’s not unusual for a succubus to use a club as her feeding ground. As long as they don’t kill their “doners” it’s not much issue. They have to find ways to survive too. If they start killing then they are considered rogue, and will be dealt with accordingly, or brought before the council.

Each of us look at Syn expectantly, wordlessly asking if he witnessed anything from his advantage point up on the balcony. It allowed him to see the whole dance floor, the bar, and Bayne and I who were acting as bait, along with the emergency exit behind the dance floor and DJ station.

“The only activity to be seen was the girating bodies throughout the club. And of course, the odd moment when Ryker approached a female after receiving his shot from the waitress, and the disappearing act with said female without a word. And never came back.”

“What the F-k! I didn’t disappear with a female. I wouldn’t do that during recon.” Looking toward Bayne for confirmation, disbelieving Syn's words. Bayne just nods, lips in a thin line, not wanting to admit the truth to me. I lean back in my chair appalled at the inconceivable actions I may have displayed. After the initial shock passed, and I could form words again, I felt denial was the best way to go.

“That is absolutely ludicrous. You must have come up with this hoax before I came home. It’s hilarious, now let’s get back to work. Although, how did you get Syn to play along?”

Bayne shook his head as Linx stated,

“We're not playing with you, Brother. You walked off with a blonde female, and never returned.” I looked at Bayne, obvious confusion written all over my face.

“Step-by-step. What occurred exactly?” Asking Bayne, for he was right next to me throughout the night. Maybe through the tale, I can pinpoint a suspect.

After taking a deep breath, Bayne started relaying the event. “We sat in our booth, observing our surroundings inconspicuously for over an hour. We ordered another shot to keep up the façade of being average patrons. Which would make the third shot. The same human female waitress we have had all night brought over our drinks. After only a moment, you slammed it back. Instantly looked up, directly at the blonde female in question. She looked at you. You stood up, strode over to grab her hand and bolted with her in tow like your pants were on fire. The both of you had a purpose when leaving.” Bayne wiggled his eyebrows at the last sentence suggestively.

Mouth agape, not believing what he just said, I shook my head.

“No. No, I wouldn’t do that during recon. She must have been a witch and put a spell on me, or something. We need to find this female. It’s possible she is the cause of the missing victims.”

“You're saying, she’s making these people just walk off with her, never to be seen, or heard from again, without even realizing it? Then how and why did you escape?” Making a valid point, Lynx questioned the likelihood of that possibility.

“We’ve heard worse. And clearly, I did not escape unscathed. I smell blood on me and my back hurts something fierce. Something got their claws in me. I suppose even blacked out, I can still find my way out. Let me shower and after, we can devise a plan on a way to track her down.” I said, heading in the direction of my room and shower.