Chapter 6

Chapter 6

   Shaking my head at him, I released his neck and pushed his head back with force. It banged against the wall and this time he winced.

   "Why is he doing this? What does he want?"

   He clenched and unclenched his fingers, as though deciding if to go on. "He knows what you are. He hates all of you, and he's coming for you. They are coming for each and every one of you."

   "What am I? And they…who's they?" l doubted there was anything untrue about what he was saying. "And when are they coming?"

   His fingers tightened into a fist and he growled at me. "you fucking moron! What makes you think I'll give you that information," he bellowed.

   I had enough. Getting bored of the back and forth, I aimed the gun at his forehead again. Time for him to meet his maker. "Any last wishes?" I asked, the corner of my lips slightly lifting upward into a smirk.

   Robertson struggled and tried to lurch forward, but his chains stopped him. "Fuck y—"

   I pulled the trigger cutting him off and a loud pop was heard. There was a gasp of breath and then silence. Utter and complete silence.

   I stared at Robertson, his pitch black eyes open, but glazed over and lifeless. Empty. Hollow. Opened wide in his final death throes.

   He was limp against the wall. And in the middle of his forehead was a tiny hole where my bullet had gone. Thick blood ran down his face and my smile widened at the sight.

   Finally.

   "Clean this up." I instructed the huge man standing watch beside the door before walking out with a blank face.

*

Lydia Martinez

*... that's all for today. Please, I need you all to come with your projects in our next class, dismissed!*

   Professor Myer dismissed the class. Students hurriedly packed up their books and rushed out…I'm not left out. I flung my bag on my shoulder and head for the door, but before I can make it out, professor Myer called out to me.

   "Miss Martinez, wait."

   I turned and walked towards him feeling uncomfortable. "Father Patrick."

   He simply hummed in reply, packed up his books and shoved them in his bag. "Recently you've been slacking off in your grades. You got a D in our last test. What's going on?" He demanded.

   "I don't know sir."

   Professor Myer, on the other hand, looked fit to be tied, his dark eyes flashing with what could have been irritation, judgement or both.

   "I see," professor Myer said. "I wish I knew what is going on with you. You've changed so much."

   Everyone thought that I'd changed, but I'm still the same person. No one just tries to understand me. "I wish I knew as well father."

  

   Professor Myer eyed me for a moment, his gaze hard. I thought he'd say something sarcastic. Instead, his expression changed, the irritation on his eyes fading away.

   "Do you want to talk about it. I could call—'

   "Don't say it!" I barked.

   "—father Reed." He said. "He's really worried about you, Lydia. Everyone is. Sort yourself out, and for the test, you're going to take it again. Good day."

   "Yes." I hurried out the door and across the hallway. I'd closed the door the moment I'd stepped outside it. Unless I missed my guess, I was already outside. An SUV pulled up beside me, and Colin opened the front door. No one needed to tell me he was here on father Reed's orders. I slid into place beside him, turning my face away because I didn't want him to know I'd been crying. He'd seen too much sorrow in my life. I didn't want to bring anymore into it. I didn't want to add to his burdens and create more trouble for him.

   To my surprise, he reached for my hand, his fingers warm as he patted my knuckles. He didn't speak, and I couldn't speak. I tried to stop sniffling, wiping at my wet cheeks and hoping Colin didn't notice. But the voice beside me was deep and sincere, not nasal and mean.

   "Lydia, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

   Turning to him, I found myself staring into Colin's sincere eyes instead of Mr. Myers irritated ones. And before I realized what I was doing, I leaned into his arms, my cheek pressed against the soft fabric of his shirt. The tears fell again, although I tried to fight them. But Colin ran his hand over my back and let me sob until the tears ran dry.

   As my crying slowed, my face started to burn. I'd thrown myself into Colin's arms mere hours after resolving to keep my problems away from him. Pulling back, I took a few deep breaths to bring myself under control. But my heart thumped hard when he reached out and raised my chin with two fingers, eyes searching my face.

   "Now can you tell me what happened? Is it that stranger again?"

   Pulling back to put a little distance between us, I shook my head. "No, I haven't seen that man as far as I know. Father Myer stopped me to talk about my grades, this time with the look of disappointment. It's only a matter of time before father Reed finds out about this."

   Colin shifted closer to me. "I'm sorry, Lydia. But I just think they're only looking out for you."

   I tried to move back again but bumped into the car door. "Not you too. I'm tired of everyone looking out for me, for crying out loud I'm a full grown woman and I can fully take care of myself as well as make certain decisions for myself without anyone interfering. I…I, I'm tired of people seeing me as this weak, little girl who can't face the world on her own."

   "Why don't you talk to father Reed about this, I'm sure he'll very well understand."

   "No… no one understands me. I'm sure he'll just take whatever I say the wrong way and make me feel bad all over again. No, will do for now."

   "Then what do you want to do?"

   

   "I don't get why everyone keeps asking me that. Well, I don't know what to do."

   "I guess we'll have to pray that you find your own way, then."

   I couldn't help a tiny smile at that. But it was soon followed by a churning in my stomach. It wasn't often that my first reaction was to preay, rather than to worry. That was one more thing I couldn't do well. "I guess you're right. Now, I doubt you stopped by to let me cry all over you. Is there something you need?"

   Colin's expression tightened and tension settled heavily on my chest. I almost regretted asking. But at least the strain kept my emotions from taking over my actions again.

   "Actually, I came to talk to you. About the other night at the alley."

   Of course, it had to be about that. I forced myself to meet his gaze. "What about it?"

   "Well, that man you came across last night…the one with the amber eyes. What did he say to you?"

   What could be his reasons for asking again? I had no idea why I felt like withholding this information was very important.

   "Nothing…he just mistook me for someone else. That's all it was."

   Colin didn't look convinced, in fact he looked doubtful. 

   "So, where are we going?"

   He rubbed the back of his neck. "Uhmm…Tracy wants me to pick her up at the orphanage, and then I can drop you two off at the church."

   Nodding, I watched intense emotions race across his face and wondered what deep thoughts were behind his words. "Okay then, let's go?"

   A small smile stretched across his lips. "Yeah."

   Several long moments passed beyi turned to the window. The silence was stiffing, much like the weight that settled on my heart.

*

Damien Raeken

   I pulled the door of my room shut behind me and trudged down the empty hall of the house, feeling like the heavy emotions twisting my heart were also weighing down my steps. It had been a week since I'd seen her, but her image had been carved into my memories so deeply that it seemed like yesterday. I'd seen dozen of women, brought plenty of them home. I hadn't forgotten any of them, but Lydia had been different. I hadn't just remembered her; I hadn't been able to get her out of my mind. Or maybe could've been the fact that she looked a lot like Elaine, except for the hair.

   A sudden voice behind me pulled me out of my anxious thoughts.

   "Well, I have something to report, Alpha."

   I turned recognizing Carlyle's voice before I even saw him. "It can wait until later. I'm making a quick trip to take a look at some of the mundane females at the club tonight."

   Meeting my eyes, Carlyle shook his head. "No, Alpha. It's about Robertson."

   I paused, my resolve was already hardened before responding. "Don't tell me he's still alive."

   "That's not the case, Alpha. I found out who he's working with."

   I agreed. Robertson did confirm to that before his death. "Yes, I already know that. Why don't you tell me something I don't already know."

   "He's working for a priest."

   Taken aback, I didn't respond for a moment. How could a priest get involved in such shady line of work. "You mean, one of God's earthly sons?"

   Carlyle nodded and I let out a bark of laughter. "And they say I'm the bad guy. Now this is way more interesting than fucking mundane females."

   I opened the door, and Carlyle hurried after me, a coat in his arms. "Alpha, where are you going?"

   "I'm going to church, I need to seek God's blessings."

   "What for? I should probably go with you."

   "Sure Carlyle, sure." I put a hand on Carlyle's shoulder and snorted, but I didn't shove away the coat Carlyle slung around my shoulders. "Let's go have a talk with the priest."