6|Good Neighbours-Part 2

In the crumbling manor across the creek, Luca busied himself by starting the fire in the fireplace, and did his best to ignore April as she sat listlessly in one of the armchairs in the room. She hated storms, and the mournful sounds coming from the basement weren't doing much to lift her spirits.

"How can we just sit here? They can sense something is different this time. You have to get the witch onboard ASAP!" she screeched as she grabbed Luca's half-full goblet from the coffee table and sent it soaring. The glass hit the opposite wall, shattering into smithereens on the floor as the rich dark red liquid splashed everywhere.

"Great job April. There's plenty more where that came from, so waste what we have, why don't you?" Luca's voice dripped with sarcasm as he glared at her.

"I can't take this, Luca! Doesn't it bother you that he's in there? He probably won't last lo—" April didn't finish her rant. Luca had her throat in his hand in a flash, his icy fingers wrapped tightly around her larynx. He held her up on the wall and watched the small red veins in her eyes pop out. He could snap her neck with a single twist and end her existence. But Julian loved her. His brother would never forgive him if he harmed her.

"Don't you dare say it!" Luca warned her as he loosened his grip on her throat and let her go. April collapsed on the floor in a clumsy heap, and he stepped right over her to the worn highback couch in front of the massive French windows.

"He's alive and holding on. They are all doing okay." He continued softly, more to himself. Grime and dust rose to greet him as he sat down on the soft cushions. "And for fuck's sake, he's my brother. How can you even ask me that? But then again, you're probably wishing and praying he dies, so he never finds out what you've been up to. You couldn't wait to sell yourself to the one person he hates the most. Could you?"

"It wasn't like that!" April shook her head.

"Really? Then what was it like?" Luca rubbed his chin sardonically, anger and disgust darkening his face.

April opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, she threw her face in her hands and wept. Luca watched her cry, willing himself not to cave and fall for her tears. Hard as he tried, though, her mournful sobs couldn't be ignored. They brought to life memories he didn't want or need. Snapshots he'd struggled to ignore over the years.

It had pained him to see April break down and fall apart when they returned from their hunting trip and found Julian locked in the cellar.

She'd stayed outside the door for hours, talking to his brother through the wall, refusing to leave him there. At Julian's insistence, Luca had to use force to pry her from the room and take her to safety, away from Shadowbrooke, until the dust with the witches had settled and a plan to rescue the clan was devised. 

It had seemed so easy then, so straightforward. Neither had imagined it would take twenty odd years to bring their plan to fruition.

"How many times?" April wailed, interrupting his vivid trip down memory lane. "How many times do I have to apologise for me to earn your forgiveness? Tell me, how many times?"

She looked up at Luca, but instantly hung her head in shame at the contempt in his eyes.

"You don't owe me a fucking apology, April. Save it for Julian!" He spat at her.

A knock on the front door eased some of the anger swirling in the room. Luca sprung to his feet to get it, relieved Andrew was back. Now they could get their plan in motion. And if all went well, Julian and the others would be out in a month, and they'd all get the hell out of Dodge soon after.

"You are fucking la—" Luca was about to rebuke his cousin for his tardiness, but the rest of his words remained lodged in his throat.

It wasn't Andrew, but Cadence Youngblood. Up close, her uncanny resemblance to Sonja and Luanne was frightening. She had the same high cheekbones—their family's trademark, it would seem—the same grey eyes and rich brown hair. And how could he ignore the long, aristocratic nose?

"Hello, I'm Cadence. I live across the creek." She stuck out her arm for a handshake.

Luca didn't take her hand. Cadence flushed at his rudeness and dropped her hand limply at her side as her gaze shot past his broad shoulders, only to meet the same drab furniture and cobwebs her mother had encountered just days ago.

Luca draped his imposing frame casually on the door jamb and stared at her. He had no intention of letting her inside. But he did turn on the porch light before shutting the door behind him. The flame-coloured glow from the light flickered on Cadence's face, and not for the first time since he first laid eyes on her, Luca marvelled at her beauty.

He toyed with the amulet on his neck as he studied her from beneath his long dark lashes, thinking about Sonja's necklace. It wasn't a Youngblood talisman, he knew that much, at least since all the older members in Sonja's coven had it, and its magic source was unusual for witches. 

If he had to guess, he'd say it was of elven origin. Its power, in the few minutes he'd held the necklace in his hands, had disturbed him more than he'd let on, and it had confirmed what he'd hoped were unfounded suspicions. The Youngbloods had an alliance.

Apart from the wolves, Emme, the only remaining elf in town and the only person who never took sides in the past, was now in the witches' corner. And that didn't sit well with Luca—

"I brought you guys muffins to welcome you to the bayou," Cadence broke through his broody thoughts with her timid tone.

She held out the basket to him, and Luca had a sudden urge to laugh. She had no clue what they were. Sonja hadn't filled her in. Otherwise, her daughter wouldn't be standing on his porch playing Stepford wives.

"Thank you," he smiled, but he was careful not to show his fangs as he accepted the muffins. Their hands brushed, and Cadence pulled back with a startled look in her eyes.

"You are so cold," she blurted out.

"I know," Luca replied, "I'm cold-blooded."

Cadence laughed as if she was trying to convince herself he was joking. It sounded hollow, forced. He joined her, but before long, they had nothing else to laugh about. She stared at her feet, kicking at the weeds in front of her with the toe of her cowboy boot.

"It was nice meeting you, Cadence. Thanks for the muffins. I'll be sure to drop this off in the morning," Luca waved the basket at her and shooed her off. Any minute now, Andrew would show up, and his hatred for the Youngbloods and their little coven of witches would be enough to drive away all thought and reason. Changing his mind would be impossible once he committed to a particular course of action. Luca knew there would be war if his cousin found Cadence on their front porch. And he couldn't have that. He couldn't have Andrew mess up his plans.

Cadence nodded and jammed her hands in her hoodie as she backed away slowly.

"You never told me your name." She turned back.

"Luca. Luca Delacroix." He watched her face closely for any hint of recognition. There was none. Her face remained an intriguingly blank canvas, begging to be explored.

"See you around, Luca." She gave him a small wave before dashing down the steps.