Lurking in the Shadows (Completed)

Chapter 14

Edward

Great, now I’m in the bat-house… how am I going to fix this? Nyx is the greatest thing to happen to me and I may have just ruined it in one sentence. I’m still getting used to controlling my emotions, but I didn’t mean to make her upset.

“Why don’t we set up this meeting with your friends in my study and then you can go back to my daughter.” Her father can tell that I need to do damage control as well. He gives me a sympathetic smile and we leave the hospital room of his other daughter, Willow.

“We’ll be back another time sweetie, get some rest.” He kisses her forehead and we all leave to let her rest. “Follow me.” We all left the room, and I tried to remember where we were going. This place is so huge I could get lost in these halls. Once we got to the study Dyrk sat behind his desk seriously along with Leila and Jasper.

“So how do we set this up? You just call one of them to meet us here?”

“Yeah, I can. Anyone from Grave Shadows would get the job done, but you also want security so I’d need a good group. Small enough for stealth but not too small that we can’t get the job done.”

“I think that four or five would work.” Jasper nods in agreement. “With your detail and our security, there should be eyes everywhere.” I hope he’s right.

“That seems fair to me as well. I know just the four others besides myself I’d ask for.” I get out my phone and call my right-hand man, Azrael Therron.

“Hey hey, got us another job?” He likes to think he’s cocky but when he’s on the job, he’s serious.

“I did. Only this time we’re helping them, not hunting them.” It was silent for a few seconds but he came back.

“Yeah, I figured since you became one of them recently.” He took a deep breath as we continued the call.

“It’d be weird to hunt them now that I am one, but here’s the problem. Someone is actually hurting people. It’s a serial biter.” He squealed in excitement with our assignment. Personally ever since I had witnessed it with the first attack at the winter ball, I wanted to get my hands on this.

“Interesting… we’ve had our share of them over the years.” That feels like a lifetime ago now, and not merely months ago.

“Not like this one. Some male that has a ripped cloak and smells like whiskey, pine, rosewood, and a hint of snow.”

“That’s not much to go on.” He lets out a deep sigh. “Why don’t we meet face to face? I like to see my client before signing on the dotted line?” I look up at Dyrk and Jasper and they mumble their conversation with each other.

“Standby, but most likely.” Jasper nods his head in agreement. “Yes, they're willing to meet.”

“Great, how about neutral territory? Maybe their town or something.” They both nod again and this is going smoothly.

“That seems good with them,” I said with a smile on my face. This was going better than I expected.

“Time?”

“Uuh how about 9pm tonight…” He didn’t respond. So I let out a groan and reminded him. “Remember daylight is their nighttime.” He lets out an annoyed groan.

“Right, I forgot. Yeah, 9pm works. I’ll let the others know.”

“Thanks, I’ll see you then.” We hang up and smile for the first time in a while.

“Well, I suppose we should rest up and have anything we may need all set to go. Also, go make up with my daughter.” Dyrk smirked at me and I let out a nervous laugh. “Look, I was young once too, and I’ve also put my foot in my mouth plenty of times. Go kiss and makeup.” We all let out a small laugh and I did as he told me. I try to remember which room is hers, but luckily her scent leads the way for me. I gently knock on her door, but no response.

“Nyx? Nyx?” Still silent… not good. I gently open the door and see that she’s asleep. Well, at least she hopefully isn’t still mad at me. I gently get into bed with her and snuggle with her.

“I’m still mad at you…” She says in a groggy voice. “But I appreciate the company.” I relax some as she wraps her arms around my waist.

“At least you’re still willing to cuddle with me.” I tried to sound hopeful, but I was getting tired. “Just for the record I don’t regret becoming a vampire, sure I didn’t like how I became one but it did and I just wish it was because of you turning me instead of some a-hole who thought a tipsy hunter as an easy target.”

“Same as Mina and Willow. They were alone and easily unnoticeable. So whoever attacked the three of you is looking for easy targets that no one would miss for that long.” I can see her trying to think of how to take down this jerk.

“We will get this guy, whoever he is.” I kissed her cheek trying to calm her, but she turned her head and I kissed her.

“Smooth.” She smirks at me, but I won’t deny when an opportunity comes to me." We both laugh and I lean in to kiss her again. She luckily kisses me back and I savor it.

“So we’re good?” I asked her hopefully. I don’t like it when she’s mad at me.

“Yeah… we’re good.” She smiles back at me and I breathe a sigh of relief. “When do we meet up with your hunter buddies?”

“9pm tonight, had to remind him you’re nocturnal.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that throws people off.” We laugh again and she cuddles close to me. “Well, since we got about…” She looks at her phone to check the time. “Six hours before we have to meet your friend I’d like to get some sleep. I’ll set an alarm for around seven so we can get something to eat and get decent.”

“Sounds good…” We both yawn and get some sleep.

Mina

I hide around the corner from Dad’s office listening in on this meeting. I wanted to go in, but everyone would’ve asked me to leave. They still think of me as some innocent, shy young lady. While that may be true, I want to do my part and take this biter down. I want to help! I hear the door open and I hide so no one sees me. As soon as the door opens and Edward leaves, I wait a few seconds for him to go find Nyx before making my move.

“I want to go tonight,” I tell Dad and Jasper.

“Absolutely not! It’s not a place for a lady like yourself!” Dad protested and I’m not surprised.

“Is Nyx going tonight?” They were both silent, and that answered my question. “Uh huh, figures. So you’d let her go, but not me? I’m one of the victims here! I need to do something! I don’t want to be some damsel who needs rescuing anymore!”

“Have you talked to Victor about this?” Jasper asks me worriedly.

“Why do I need his permission?” I ask them as I cross my arms.

“I’m not saying you need his permission. Maybe just to talk this over with him and maybe clear your head so you’re not so angry and bitter?”

“Oh, so now I’m bitter? First, I’m too dainty, now I’m too bitter?? Yeah, I used to be ‘the sweet one’ out of the three of us, but not anymore! I need to learn to stand up for myself. Who better than a bunch of hunters who do it every day.”

“Maybe ask when you’re not angry.” Dad tried to calm me but if anything it made me angrier.

“Would you be this calm if it was you?!” I shouted at him, which isn’t like me at all.

“I was there! Remember? I did it alone! You’re lucky to have a family who loves you and wants to help you!” I could see the anger in his eyes.

“Well, keeping me locked up in a tower will not help!” I got up in his face with a low growl. He slumps in his chair trying to calm down. I walk away too. This isn’t getting us anywhere. “I want to actually help. I can barely sleep since this guy keeps haunting me! I don’t want to keep looking over my shoulder every time I want to leave the house! I haven’t left since the winter ball!” I could feel the angry tears that I’ve been dying to shed for months. I wipe them off quickly before they notice. “I’m tired of feeling scared! I want to do something with my damn life! Yes, I have Victor and he helps but there’s only so much he can do!” Jasper gives me a sympathetic look and wants to hug me. “See that’s what I’m trying to stop! People are pitying me and I don’t like it anymore! Tired of being a victim! I need to do something about it! I can sit here and mope about it or I can become stronger.” Dad comes up to me from his desk and hugs me.

“Where do we start?” I smile at him and hug him a little longer.