Chapter 5

Assassin's team up

After our brief hug, Cassian suggested that I pack a bag with some clothes since we would be traveling a lot. 

"Grab your passport and identification as well," he shouted after me.

"Will do, my sweet little bluebell," I answered back sarcastically. I chuckled internally hearing him groan in annoyance. When I finished I stood before him as he messed with his cell. He looked down at me and smiled.

"Want to join me for a job," he asked casually. I chewed my lip.

"Will there be children and will I get to also sink my talons," I asked him back. He grinned and nodded.

"Yes to both but I will listen to you and not harm the children," he said softly and brushed my chin. I smiled and nodded my thanks. Flora was beaming at the two of us and I shook my head at her saying NO. She waved me off, ignoring my scowl.

"Have fun miss and you too mister," she said sweetly and I waved goodbye to her and hugged my fur baby. Cassian said we needed to head to his place first before we headed for the hit. I shrugged and jogged beside him.

"Where do you live," I asked him curiously. I figured it was close since the government kept all us blood suckers in a certain designated area, well tried too.

"Seattle, in an apartment complex," he tells me and I cocked my brow at him.

"That's not regulation, aren't you worried about getting caught," I mumbled and he shrugged it off. I lifted my duffel up further and picked up my pace. I was scowling after running for eighty miles. I glanced at Cassian and he didn't have an ounce of fatigue showing. Was I really this much out of shape? I growled angrily at myself and picked up my pace. I refused to let mister blue eyes outdo me. I glanced over to my right and saw the Pacific Ocean, we were sticking to the coastline. 

"There's a small town up ahead we can stop at, act like a human or we'll be spending the night in a government facility as they check our backgrounds," he said sternly. I salute him and readjust my duffel. I cocked my head to a sound of light breathing I'd heard recently.

"Hey Cassian, did Everett die," I asked him curiously. He glanced at me and shrugged.

"Not sure but you fucked him up pretty good," he said with a grin. Did I hallucinate kicking his head clean off? 

"Did I behead him by chance," I mumbled curiously. Cassian stopped and grabbed my arm. 

"What's this about Hera? Are you missing Everett or something," he asked roughly. I chuckled and pulled my arm from his grip.

"No dipshit, I can hear his breathing following us," I snapped and told him to listen. Cassian paused and closed his eyes, soon he cursed vehemently and rubbed his chin. 

"Well I can't lead him to the town," he mumbled and looked up at the trees.

"Start climbing and we'll travel along the top branches and I'll be able to pinpoint where we're going," he growled bitterly and jumped upward. I watched him closely and followed behind. It seemed easier traveling this way. I could jump easily from tree to tree and race across the branches. I couldn't hear Everett anymore so I assumed that we lost him by moving up. We traveled several hundred miles and I could see skyscrapers on the horizon.

"We can head down now, we are almost there," Cassian stated and dropped out of the tree. I shook my head and jumped down after him. 

It was late afternoon by the time we reached Cassian's apartment complex. He opened the door and I headed towards the elevator as he headed towards the stairs. I growled angrily and stomped after him asking which floor. When he said the 25th I glared at him.

"What the actual fuck, why not take the elevator," I mumbled angrily. He laughed heartily and said that it was exercise.

"You can't be serious, we just ran over three hundred miles and you believe twenty five flights of stairs is going to help more," I snapped and ran up past him. I reached the door with the big twenty five on it and leaned back against the cool concrete wall. My cell phone started ringing and I looked at Flora's number. I frowned as I answered hello?

"If you want to see your familiar and furbaby still alive I suggest you ditch the attractive vampire and meet me in an hour at the greyhound station on fifth and Garret," Everett stated firmly. I looked up at Cassian frantically and asked Everett to please release them both and I would come willingly.

"Come alone, Pandora or I'll slit both their necks." I wondered if he'd killed them already. My eyes water over the thought.

"Let me speak with Flora first," I demanded and he growled bitterly and said that it was impossible.

"You, you killed them already you're so fucking dead," I yelled and ended the call. My anger evaporated and I slid down the wall as my tears fell freely from my eyes. Cassian lifted me into his arms and carried me through the hall and to his front door. I was nestled against his side as he unlocked his door and brought us inside. I was an inconsolable mess. Cassian sat on his couch and just held me tightly as I wept over the loss of my dear familiar and furbaby. 

"Jaxon, please make some coffee," Cassian yelled out loudly. I peeked through my tears to look at his immaculately decorated apartment. He handed me a tissue and I wiped my eyes and blew my nose. 

"I'm sorry about your familiar but you will get another and as for your pet, there will be others as well," he stated as caring as I imagined he could be. 

"Yeah, I suppose you're correct," I mumbled sadly and looked up at him.

"God, you're beautiful even when you cry," he mumbled and frowned slightly, his eyes roaming over my face. I rolled my eyes and tried to scramble off his lap but he held me tightly.

"Please, let me up, I've got a muscle cramp," I replied and he nodded and released me. I stood and hobbled around, looking at his belongings to work out the cramp. I noticed the pictures and headed towards them. I saw Ezra and gasped as I lifted the picture. I touched his face with my finger and chewed on my lip.

"Why did I not meet you during my stay," I asked Cassian as I looked over at him. He grinned slightly and answered.

"I was sent off for my assassin training during that time, four hundred and some years ago, correct," he stated and I think back and nod. 

"Yes, it was that long ago, my memory is somewhat fuzzy but I remember his eyes, they are identical to yours," I mumbled softly and looked up to see his eyes glowing softly at me. I grinned slightly and sat the picture down.

"You loved him very much, I'm somewhat jealous if I'm to be honest," he growled softly and I chuckled. 

"That was many years ago, hearts change, mine is cold and black now. Like yours I believe," I replied and smiled at him.

"You realize that my father was over three thousand when you met him, I'm eight hundred myself. I didn't realize that you liked, nay, loved senior vampires," he teased. I ran my finger across a bookshelf and smirked.

"I've come to realize that the senior fang welder knows how to please a woman the correct way," I snapped. His brow rose in curiosity.

"And how is that, may I enquire," he asked. 

"Of course, they put the woman's needs before their own, making sure that she's well satisfied before they release themselves," I stated firmly and saw him lick his bottom lip and grin.

"Surely all men of any age should be aware of that common knowledge, dearest," he quipped and I nodded and added,"one would think that, wouldn't they." I tapped the side of my cheek as I thought and frowned.

"Trust me, they don't," I mumbled sourly and laughed at him nodding his head. 

"Thanks for cheering me up," I told him and he smiled back at me.

"Didn't even need to undress you to do it either," he winked and I burst into hearty laughter, enjoying our banter immensely. I settled myself and watched as a small mousey man entered the room and announced that coffee was ready.

"Hera, this is my familiar Jaxon, and Jaxon, this is Hera, a work associate, Cassian said and I nodded at the older man. He smiled brightly at me and there was a twinkle in his eye. We entered a modern kitchen and I looked around wanting everything in it. 

"I really need to update my kitchen," I mumbled softly and sat at the chrome kitchen table. 

"Cream or sugar, miss," Jaxon asked me and I said both please. He smiled and nodded before bringing me a cup of delicious coffee. I closed my eyes as I savored the amazing taste and Cassian laughed at me. 

"With age comes great coffee my dear, not just sex," Jaxon stated firmly and exited the kitchen, leaving us alone. I snorted unladylike from his response and Cassian laughed.

"He's a thousand and makes the best coffee," Cassian said. I nodded in agreement. I sipped my coffee as I thought once again about Flora and Pudge. Tears fell down my cheeks and I buried my face in my hands. I felt Cassian rubbing my back. 

"I know that this will sound insensitive but crying won't honor them or bring them back. You need to go get that bastard Everett. I also want to know who hired him to trail you, it can't be the Emery's, words got out that they're all dead," Cassian stated and I gasped.

"Well Everett mentioned that he was an Acheron and he said my father sent him," I mumbled angrily and cursed my father's involvement. Cassian frowned and looked perplexed.

"Perhaps your father is wanting a marriage between you and Everett to unite the northern and southern clans, it makes strategic sense," he said softly and I growled angrily.

"Shit, what time period does he think this is the middle ages? I believe that you are correct, my father wouldn't care about me getting upset. He only cares about loyalty and fuck, his email about bringing someone," I scrambled with my cell phone and opened the email.

"Get me a piece of paper and pen, please," I groaned. He handed me the items and I set to work writing down the bold letters.

Bring everett attend this or feel my wrath.

I scowled at the words and did something I never did, I dialed my father's cell number. The call went directly to voicemail and I exhaled harshly and only muttered fucker. I hung up and my cell phone rang, it was from an unknown number. I answered it and heard Flora's angry voice.

"Some asshole stole my iPhone and Pudge almost bit his hand off but the asshole got away, anyway I wanted you to know this is my new number and I used the house debit card to buy it," she mumbled simply. I jumped up and down and started smacking Cassian in his arm.

"Flora please take Pudge and head to your sister's in Arizona. Use the debit card, all expenses paid. Think of it as a well deserved vacation," I told her as she squealed excitedly. She asked if I was certain and I said yes. I hung up to her happily yelling into the phone. I smiled at Cassian rubbing his arm.

"Sorry I was overly happy," I mumbled and he nodded at me.

"So he didn't kill them but wanted you to think he did, odd move," he stated and I agreed with him.