Intertwine (Book 3)

Chapter Twenty-One

As Carl looked over a few needed documents to confirm with his organization, he could not help but dwell on the conversation he shared with Aniyah earlier in the day.

His curiosity had peeked, which left him spilling out a secret only a few others knew about him. He was a hunter. A good one at that.

Watching him pause in the moment, his mother, who sat across from him, spoke up.

"Do you find her trusting enough to tell her about you? About us?" She questioned him.

"I have no doubts."

"Why not?" She asked. His mother was never used to trusting many.

"She is innocent. She means no harm." Carl confirmed to her.

"Even though she is human, she belongs to a werewolf family."

"A family who constructed this town." Carl was never fond of the Hall family; however, he could never spew hatred on a name that didn't deserve it. Even if one of them broke his hand.

"So." His mother waited for something.

"What?"

"What did she tell you? What had your suspicions so high?"

"Her mother." Carl sighed out as his assumptions about her mother was confirmed. "She was missing."

"Taken?"

"Yes."

"Rival family? Deal gone bad? Pay back?"

"Reasons are unclear. They just know she was taken...by vampires."

"Vampires?" She moved in closer to the table. Her interest peaked. "Why?"

"Again, they have nothing. No ransom. No bargain. According to Aniyah, no beef or enemies she knows of."

"But you know about vampires." She added.

"I know." Carl knew what she was saying was true. Information was limited.

"They don't just take without reason." His mother added. "It's a deal gone bad or-"

"Feedings."

"Yes." She nodded; her face was stern however eyes screamed sorrow, as if she believed that to be the only reason.

"they will figure it out." Carl added.

"Are you sure you want to get involved in a case you were not asked to be a part of?" She questioned; concern revealed through her eyes.

"Have we ever asked to get in involved when it came to strange things?"

She stood; the palms of her hands planted flat on the table top.

"You know that was different. Those were human cases, cases involving the mixture of the worlds."

"Is this not any different? A human is missing, and a vampire took her."

"You know what I mean. This case is being run by werewolves. A large werewolf clan at that." She expressed. "How would they even feel knowing a Hunter had become involved in this?"

"They would just have to deal with it." He commented.

"You risk that for a girl?" With eyes narrow, she crossed her arms.

"No. I risk that for another human life. I risk that for a friend."

Sighing, she stood from the table and began to pack up her little things.

"What you are feeding into is stupid." She expressed. "But you already know whatever you are going to do, I will always have your back and I'm only one phone call away."

He nodded.

"Thank you."

"Of course." After tossing everything into her bag, she slipped it onto her shoulder before she began to leave.

"I'm traveling into the next town over for a few hours. I will be back later in the evening."

"No problem." He confirmed to her.

She gave him a look; one of her looks that warned him not to do anything until someone informed her.

After assuring her, she left out of the conference center...

Bombarded with a mixture of concerns, ideas, and stories, it became difficult for him to remain focused on one task.

He would oversee paperwork; bills, receipts and documents that pertained to the gym however thoughts about Aniyah's mother's whereabouts would surface.

He felt as though something was wrong. Some things just did not make much sense. He believed either Aniyah did not offer him all the information, or she was just as lost as he was.

He had thoughts about visiting the Hall's family; however he knew he would jeopardize his own safety by doing so. He knew they would not desire the help; however a part of him did not care what they wanted.

He had a job to do. Protect.

"You seem to be all work and no play." Carl looked up; a grimace look on his face when he saw the woman who had entered not only unknowingly, but uninvited.

"That happens when you own a business." Carl voiced.

"Don't forget." She sucked at her teeth. "I owned one as well."

"Owned. Past tense." Carl argued.

"Well let us not bring up the past little brother. How have you been-"

"Did mom see you?" Carl refused her questioned and asked his own.

The last thing he wanted was for his mother to see his step daughter in town. She knew her stepchildren. Dangerous, heartless kids however she loved us all without a doubt.

However Carl knew what came with this extended family. Trouble.

"Is your brother here with you?" Carl questioned.

"Why so jumpy?" She made herself comfortable in a chair without an invitation.

"I need to know what I'm dealing with." Carl included.

Her eyes rolled as she knew where this was going. Carl, her paranoid brother, was worried they were here to cause chaos.

"Dad?" Carl asked as he swallowed the lump that settled in the back of his throat. He knew his step sister and brother were mischievous but his step father was the biggest monster of them all.

"Don't worry Carl; I'm the only one here to visit."

"Why?"

Carl knew the only time she came to visit was to request something to aid her in her adventure, or request his hand, which he was not willing to give.

"The others were busy." She shrugged.

"No." Carl did not care. "Why the f**k are you here?"

"Well." Carl watched her face glow. "I'm here to offer a proposition."

"No thanks."

"You didn't hear it." She frowned.

"I don't care." Carl gathered up his things before he shoved them into their proper folders.

"Carl, we want our family business back." He watched her pout; he knew deep down her childish look hid something with a different intention.

"I like things the way they are." Carl added.

"You don't mean that-"

"You don't seem to understand!" Carl found the anger in her voice. "Our family is on two different paths. You seek destruction, chaos, and pain. I- I seek something more. I seek-"

"You seek a stupid resolution to humans and the supernatural world living in harmony." Air quotes surrounded her last word. "It’s impossible."

"we would do it if we didn't have people like you guys ruining it."

"They are monsters!" She stood up; her hands slamming on the surface of his desk.

Carl found it again. That insane and also monstrous soul that hid behind her eyes. He could not help but wonder; were they monsters? Or was she the real monster?

"When are you going to get over your grudge against the supernatural world?" He questioned in wonder.

"When those sons of a b***h know their place!"

Carl knew it. He knew she would never get over her past, her hatred for the supernatural beings that struggled to live their life.

To her, they were all monsters. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Carl, done with the conversation he wanted nothing more than to put to rest, stood to his feet.

"And that is why we will never being an unified family. That is why I would never respect the work you do. That is why we would never work together."

"You would deny our family..." She looked appalled. "Because of some monsters?"

Carl chuckled; his hands now rubbing vigorously through his hair as he made his way to his office door before he opened it.

He was tired of the conversation. Tired of giving her the satisfaction. Tired of even explaining himself to her.

"I deny this family because I'm nothing like this family. I hunt for a reason. Not for sport, or money, or personal reasons. I hunt to protect. I hunt to make sure all sides had a fair share of living their lives as they wish. No, I don't go around slaughtering people because some supernatural character hurt my feelings."

Carl watched her eyes narrow when he spoke.

"Honestly, you, father, and Joseph should be lucky that you are my family." Carl stood tall; anger written across his face. "Or else I would hunt you all too."

Carl did not care how she took his comment. A threat? Act of carelessness? A confirmation that his heart swayed from this family some time ago.

"Fine." She took the open door as a gesture to leave. A sign she was no longer welcomed. As she stepped toward the door, she turned to him. "When you find yourself stuck, when you find your back up against the wall because you put your faith in some f*****g mutts and vamps, you better not fix your lips to say our names."

"Goodbye." Carl spoke with a fixed stare.

"You will need me when they decide to burn this son of a b***h to the ground."

She spoke; fanning her radiating red hair over her shoulder as she stepped into the halls.

"Goodbye Carl." She waved.

"Good Farrah." Carl slammed the door behind her before he proceeded to his desk for his work...