A common Enemy

"Who the fuck are you?" I said as I slammed my fist into his cheek, his blood splattering across the wall like a gruesome signature.

"I-I don’t mean any harm" he stuttered as he stumbled back, his eyes wide with fear. But I wasn’t listening. With a swift strike, I knocked him out cold and turned on my heel, leaving him crumpled on the floor. I strode back home, my heart still racing with adrenaline.

I slumped onto my bed, elbows on my knees, and buried my face in my hands. My mind reeled with questions, fears, and doubts. I needed to break free from the shackles that bound me and the Rogan leader held the key.

As I lay down still lost in my thoughts, exhaustion finally claimed me, and I succumbed to the temptation of sleep.

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The week ran down quickly and it was finally the long-awaited weekend. But the excitement was a bit tempered by an unsettling feeling- I was being watched. Everywhere I went or whatever I was doing, I sensed unseen eyes lurking in the shadows. The sensation made my skin crawl.

I pushed my unease aside and focused on the task ahead. I dressed as simply as I could, hid my weapons, and walked out to meet Ethan. With a deep breath, I stepped out into the evening.

As I walked towards the bar, the neon sign cast a gaudy glow over the sidewalk. And then I saw him -Ethan, leaning against the bar’s entrance just as I expected.

His eyes were fixed intently on me. I felt an uncomfortable itch with the way his eyes devoured my body.

Ethan’s gaze swept over me, his eyes lingering from my waist and then to my face. "You look good," he said. I raised an eyebrow, a smirk twisting my lips. He, on the other hand, looked like he had been through war dark circles under his eyes, stubble shading his jaw, and exhaustion etched on my face.

"Lead the way," I said, my tone crisp, "and stop staring at me like that. It’s making me uncomfortable." I shot him a warning glance. His gaze still held that hungry, predatory glint, and I felt chills all over me.

We walked to his car in silence, the only sound was the sound of the gravel beneath our feet. As we drove, the hours ticking by like grains of sand in an hourglass, the silence between us grew thicker and heavier.

I could feel Ethan’s tension and his eyes flickering from the windscreen to my face at any opportunity. I, on the other side, felt a certain unease set in, he had betrayed me before, what if this was all just a ruse?

Ethan’s voice cut through the silence. "We’ll be there shortly." His eyes flicked towards me as if sensing the unease simmering beneath my surface.

Before I knew it, the car turned off the main road, winding its way down a picturesque driveway. The scenery shifted from dense woods to a breathtaking garden, vibrant flowers blooming in every color of the rainbow. A stunning house rose from the midst of the gardens, its architecture a blend of modern and classic styles.

As he pulled up in front of the house, he turned off the engine and reached for the door handle. "Let me get that for you," he said, his eyes locking on mine. I could feel his breath on my face, a mixture of buzz and rum.

My hand quickly reached out, pushing open the door. "Don’t bother," I responded curtly. I stepped out into the crisp air, my eyes scanning the surroundings, taking in every detail.

He led the way to the building, which was a bit old dash but well-furnished and shiny too. We walked from one room to another, with different people greeting us and bowing. By the time we reached the last room, I was already tired of all the greetings.

"Come in," the voice inside the room said as if he sensed our presence.

As Ethan opened the door, the man seated and I locked eyes. I felt drawn to the handsome young man sitting in the chair. He was young and exuded a powerful aura; I didn’t need to be told that he was the leader of the Rogan.

"Hi, Blair," he said as he stood up and walked towards me. I looked around; Ethan was gone, leaving only the two of us.

"Hi, stranger," I replied.

"You look better than Ethan described you to be," the Rogan leader said.

"I’m Eric," he said as he stretched out his hand, but I pretended not to see it.

"Eric, I am sure we are not here to exchange pleasantries. You can help me and I can help you since we have a common enemy" I blurted out angrily.

He smiled in a cheesy way that sent a shiver down my spine. "Be calm, Blair. You're not exactly being ladylike, especially with all the weapons hidden in every corner of your body, including your boob." He paused and stared at me from head to toe in a flirtatious way. "Ethan left out the part about how feisty you are."

Could he see through my clothes? I wondered.

I had enough, I thought. I stood up and headed for the door. "Wait up! Blair!" I heard before a hand grabbed me. I quickly shoved the hand away from my wrist.

"Eric, I don’t like being touched, and don’t call me Blair. We are not besties. It’s either you go straight to business or I will let myself out" I blurted out, my eyes glaring at him.

He raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, I was just trying to be friendly. Have your seat; let’s talk business then."

I hesitated for a moment before returning to my seat. As I sat down, he began discussing his plans. They seemed reasonable—at least it was better than my idea of charging into the council leader's territory.

"Are you saying, I am the only one that can kill him because I am hybrid?" I asked again to be sure. He nodded in response.

Although the conversation seemed to be going well, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. I could sense his hatred dripping from his words; it was clear that he despised the council leader even more than I did.

"I've heard your plan, but now I have some questions. What’s your relationship with the council leader, and why do you speak about him with so much hatred?" I asked.

His expression changed abruptly as if he had just swallowed a bitter pill.