008: The first symbol

×Griffin×

I'm sitting in my dad's office. Saturday morning just rolled in, and I'm already in trouble. I've killed, let's say six people in the span of four or three days. Three of those people were staring at Anastasia. It isn't my fault I tracked them down late at night while they were drunk.

Their parents filed complaints, and now here I am.

You see the issue isn't that the parents have solid confirmation or proof that I did anything. It's the horrid fact that when ever something goes wrong, my father blames me for it first. When the Gastillos were first announced dead, I got a call from my father.

He wanted to sit down and talk. That bloody bastard.

Talk about what? I'd wondered. Only for him and his right hand to stand there giving a bad look to me, like I was undoubtedly responsible. He still thinks I had something to do with it.

I don't.

You think I like Anastasia being all sad, and almost walking herself into traffic because of their deaths.

'I would think so, seeing as it's your fault she was in that position in the FIRST FUCKING PLACE.'

I wince, the loud reverb from Dell's voice leaves me with a small migraine. He's pissed at me.

This time I can't blame him. I promised I would be civil, then I had to go and say shit without thinking. And Anastasia almost died. That had scared me, if I had to be honest. Seeing her cry, was supposed to be satisfactory, but instead it made me feel like a dick.

Ugh, I'm still going to get her back for what she did but not now. Not when she's so fragile and easy to break, there's no fun in that.

The door from behind my chairs, slides open with a small creeking sound. Here we go.

"Griffin, can I ask you something?" Dad starts, and I just know I'm going to be here for a very long time. The speech will no doubt kill me. If I could die.

"Please don't."

His growl tells me today is not a day to get on his nerves.

"Every time you step out of the house, it's one fucking problem after the other."

Wow, thank you dad. I make it my business to bring havoc wherever I go. My eyeballs roll to show how much I'm enjoying his routine complaint.

"Your mother was a wonderful woman. All she did was love, and she gave up her life to have you."

'Your father is full of shit.' Dell comments. We always bond over my father's hatred for me.

Agreed, he will never stop.

'After high school, he won't be seeing you again.'

Amen.

"You're ruining her hard work by committing these heinous crimes. You're staining the Masterson name. I can't defend you forever."

My body shifts forward, laughter breaking through my lips.

"What is so funny?" I feel the burn of my father's glare against my scalp.

"You said you can't defend me." I wheeze, it's so ridiculous. My stomach ruffles as my laugh grows hysterical.

"That is it. Tell me right now you Fucking killed those boys, Griffin, or else."

My laugh dies down, and wipe the tears away. "Or else what? What the fuck will you do? You haven't defended me in your life. You have no prove that hurt those boys, yet you parade around apologizing and giving the members of your pack the idea that this was my fault. Like somehow I'm involved. You know who disappointed mom and it isn't me. Stop projecting." I rise off the chair, pulling my bag up my shoulders. "If I kill someone, Dell said to tell you, that it would be you."

His knuckles turn white, gripping the edge of his table, almost to the point of breaking it. Dell is laughing in my head, amused at my father's rage.

He just can't handle the truth. And I don't consider him a father anyways. Just an adult who likes to blame me for everything. Oh wait, that's everyone grown up in this pack.

"Tell that demon to shut the fuck up!"

"Why don't I bring him out so you can tell him yourself?" This shuts my dad up. It always does. Heavens knows he fears Dell more than anything in his life.

"Griffin, you can't act out forever. One day, you're going to fuck up, and I'm going to be there to make an example out of you."

My jaw tenses, a tick forming in my veins.

'Just leave him. The heightest he can do is cry like a bitch.'

Thanks Dell.

'Any time, Griffin. I have your back.'

Dell's reassurance relaxes me, but it can never throw the hurt away. That sting that rest in my heart, being the black sheep of the entire town.

The pariah.

If mom were here, she wouldn't let him act like this. She would have put him in his place. I miss her.

So much, it hurts whenever I see him this way. It wasn't always like this, that's the depressing part. I was once a happy kid, a happy helpful kid. But everything I did, my father found a fault in it.

And when something went wrong, he would immediately point blames at me. Eventually I stopped trying for his approval.

I know the first time I got in actual trouble, I can never erase his words.

"I knew you were a bad omen, a disgrace and a failure. It was just a matter of time until you showed your true colors."

I was ten, and I had accidentally broken my grandmother's vase, playing with a watergun. She was angry, but after hearing his words. She went sour.

I'm glad my grandmother had my back. I'm glad she ribbed my father for his insensitive words.

It didn't change anything. He had no love for me, and that was the eye opener.

Blinking under the sun's boiling hot gaze, I'd somehow walked myself out of the pack house and all the way to Anastasia's house.

'Did you see her at the party? Dressed beautifully. You should have spent more time with her.'

Of course you would say that. You're obsessed with her. Like to the point of not having a brain, or even common sense.

'That's funny coming from you. Tell me, where was your common sense when you sat outside her house, allowing her to sleep on your shoulder some more? Hmmm? Where was it then?'

Shut the fuck up. I was doing that for you.

'Yes, and your house is made of gold. Quit trying to bullshit me.'

The gate swung to the left, and the woman we were about to go into an argument for, steps out.

I want to swear death upon the deity who created her, Anastasia's body is pure perfection. The glow on her skin is mesmeric, and stunning under the heat of the sun. Does she not sweat?

She's got clean make up on, that are waterproof so her mascara doesn't get wet. I'd say something else, but my eyes are drawn to her white shorts.

"Griffin?"

Her tone sneaks through my fantasy, snapping me back to reality before it even began to get good. If there's one thing I'm too much of a fool to deny, is how attractive Anastasia is.

She was born a goddess, there's no doubt about it in my mind.

Only, her attitude. That Gastillo turn off. Gorgeous beings but the second they open their mouth, they lose all sense of allure.

'Oh really, then why are your eyes now on her breast?'

Dell, can you shut up for five fucking seconds?!

He laughs at me instead.

"Hi."

She smiles a little, confusion is a clear shade in her captivating eyes.

"What are you doing here? Alexis is not around if that's what you're thinking. She went out to do something."

"I'm here for you. I promised Dell I'd help you with the- you know."

"Oh." She hums, glancing from one side to the other. Then she waves for me to come into her home. I've never been past the gates, from the outside, it tells you everything.

They're a bunch of snobs.

She leads me around the house, and into a much smaller place. A cabin of some sort, I didn't know they had this.

I'm not complaining, it's better than their over the top Victorian mansion.

My eyes follow her everywhere, unable to have some dignity to look away. Dell is clearly enjoying himself. Her scent is keeping the demon happy as a puppy.

"Here sit, I'll get you something to drink." She says in a rush. Leaving the sitting room, only to return minutes later with two cans of grape juice.

It is so cute, how weak she is to liquor. And very dangerous.

We take out seats on different sides of the couch.

"Um, I remembered something."

The drink got stuck in my throat, and I forced it down. Coughing into my elbow.

"You what?"

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Go on."

'You sound dead, dude. Stop worrying our mate.'

Dell, if you don't shut th-

"I saw a symbol on the truck, and it reminded me of something I saw on the ring of somebody. But the image isn't clear on who, or what their gender might be.

That's disappointing. And relieving. For a second there, I thought she remembered something about me. I'd like to avoid another confrontation with bitchy Anastasia.

Her fingers, thin and flawless, rub up and down her thigh. She nervous.

"Can you describe the symbol?"

"Yes, it was an octopus with a dagger stabbed into the top of its head, and pushing out of its mouth."

'Cult!'

What are you talking about?

'It sounds like a cult, what else am I supposed to say?'

You're a dumbass.

'Yes, but I'm your dumbass.'

I stifle my laugh, the mock female tone he had used was more disturbing than funny. But it still made want to laugh.

"I haven't seen that before, but it shouldn't be on a truck."

She perked up on that. "That's what I was thinking. So I tried to find the truck and see." Anastasia leans forward, curving her ass out. My mouth struggles to stay closed, and she fishes out her phone from her back pocket.

She flips through some things, before pushing her the device towards me. I grab it and exam the image.

It's Anastasia, and the trio of bimbos, standing in front of a large tree. To the corner of the picture, you can see the left tail light of a white truck, speeding by. It's license plate is blurry.

But this, this is marvelous.

The Anastasia in the picture is her old self. The image is dated two years ago. Junior at high school, and a pain in everyone's ass.

'Despite having a sweet ass.'

I am- I can't even begin to-

Handing her back the phone, I tried to think of our first move.

We'll need to find that truck, and get the files on her case from the sheriff's department.

"Okay," taking a long gulp from the can, I explained what I think we should do. I'm not qualified to solve murders, and I doubt anyone in this town is. Grimsborrow is dangerous little town on its own. From its origins, till date. Our town has never been normal. "We find the truck. And stalk the owner. Dell will be in charge of asking questions, he can erase their minds after."

Her head gives a cautious nod.

"But, before that, you and I have to break into the sheriff's department to make a copy of your case files."

"Hello? Break in? To a real person's place? We have to do that. We could get in trouble." Yeah this Anastasia is so different. "What if we get caught? Your father can have us exiled from the pack?"

"Relax, keep your panties dry." My lips slide into a grin, seeing the light tints of a blush on her cheeks. "I've done this several times."

She doesn't look convinced, but I'm her only option and she doesn't have a better plan. Or any plan for that matter.

"Okay! Let's break into the sheriff's department." She yells this in a whisper.