Bound by the Moon

Elena~9

“Good afternoon, Senator Markus. I’m Elena and this is Erik.”

“Young bloods,” I heard Markus mutter and hiss.

I had no plans whatsoever to sit in his office, or to feign chumminess in order to have this conversation, but neither did Markus offer and it rubbed me off the wrong way.

He appeared even more annoying to me.

Markus sat condescendingly behind his desk, a dental floss in hand as he pretended to pay attention to all I was saying. His demeanor infuriated me.

I wanted to yell at him, force him to listen but I knew better than to come off at a politician that way. I was going to be used as a scapegoat in an unnecessary way.

“Senator Markus, your policies are harming innocent people and killing an entire race. There is nothing they have done to deserve that. I’m here to appeal to you for a change of heart. Unless, you are personally aware of some harm the lycans have caused, then I would retreat and drop this fight. Sir, these decisions are too rash and prejudiced. You’re killing them for barely existing. Isn’t that the very thing—inclusivity—you built your career on?”

All the while, Erik stood there, mute. I could understand why. For fear of saying the wrong thing. For fear of being found out in the office of this dictator. For fear of being provoked.

His countenance worked for me but I believed it appeared a little suspicious.

I raised my voice and paced around, allowing Markus’ gaze to follow me all the way instead.

I continued to address the sufferings of the lycans ever since his proposed regulations have turned into laws. I referenced the pregnant woman of days before and how I could paint the narrative that he was a politician who hated women and children. I asked him to put himself in the shoes of the others and explain to me why he believed he was in the right.

I drew up all the cards humanly possible and spread my decks out in front of him.

It all fell on deaf ears. Stubborn-headed and rigid Markus did not budge.

I turned to Erik, who had the ‘I told you so’ glance across his face, and I snorted.

How could he be so unbelieving? I tried to maintain my composure. Erik wasn’t the one to be on the receiving end of my anger.

I knew better than to misplace that.

All the anger ought to be nurtured for Markus Gravely.

I was prepared to do anything to watch him crumble.

"Alright, I heard everything you had to say. Now if you're done, you can get out."

I stormed out of the man’s office, more furious than ever before, with Erik following closely behind me.

I needed air, I needed to calm my raging nerves.

I rushed out of the building, my palms clenched into the tightest balls, the purplish veins on my forehead threatening to pop out, and paced before it for a couple minutes before I believed I was back in touch with my thoughts.

Erik joined me shortly after, hands remaining in his pocket since we stepped into Markus’ office.

“Are you okay?” I asked, admonishing myself that I couldn’t be mad at him.

He nodded, but I got my true response. He wasn’t.

The last five minutes in the office had gotten heated. Markus said not one word to me after condescendingly ordering me to get out, but continued to stare at me through half-lidded eyes while he nonchalantly picked his teeth.

I stormed out when I'd had about enough of his arrogant silence. I stormed out, but not before he shifted his gaze from me to the silent man beside me with harrowing interest.

I could tell then. If Markus had opened his mouth to utter anything else, it would've been to ask about my accomplice and nothing more.

Maybe it was a bad idea for Erik to tag along with me.

“Let’s go. The fight here isn’t done.”

The part where I ascertained that it was just going to be me henceforth was silent, but I knew Erik was thinking the same thing. I resisted the urge to turn around and tear his facial expressions or engage him in a conversation.

I was even far too livid.

I just needed to be out of there and clear my head for re-strategizing.

~

Back in Markus’ high rise building, he had beckoned his secretary as soon as Elena and Erik scurried out.

“Fetch me Constantine, immediately!” He barked and paced around his office till the law enforcement officer he summoned arrived.

“Two people just left my office, I need you to follow them. Call your men, they should storm out now. They couldn’t have gotten too far. The security feed can be live streamed to your devices so they can trace their paths as soon as possible.”

“Sure, sir! Is there a reason for this, though?”

“Stupid question. What else were you assigned to do rather than fetch down werewolves?” Markus hissed. “The man, instead of leading the fight, stood like a figurine all through the woman's speech. He acted too suspicious. Track them down! Unless you still want me to do all of your jobs for you,” his venomous tongue slithered.

While Marcus cursed, Sergeant Constantine reached in for his device and pinged his special task force team.

As soon as he was dismissed, he filled them in on their new mission, and provided them with the details and photos of the two people they were tasked to track, stressing the importance and urgency of the assignment.

In a matter of seconds, two agents were on the field, searching as they waited to receive CCTV camera footage of their targets.

While they waited, they called back to ask the tech member of their force to scan all the cameras within a five mile radius so they could have a clearer direction.

On a successful feedback, one of the men imperceptibly followed the duo through every stop until they ended at Erik’s cabin on the outskirts of town.

“Sir, they’ve finally come to a stop and entered a house I presume to be owned by the man,” the agent reported to Constantine, and he crouched in an inconspicuous spot opposite the building.

“Okay, good work! I’ll add Senator Markus to the call so he can follow our progress and give us live instructions. Can you get any closer to the targets?” Constantine asked as he fiddled with his device to bring his boss on.

“Yes sir. I’ll be doing that now.”

“What is this? Any positive result?” Markus attacked on his first response.

“I’m at the house now sir. No suspicious movements or anything out of the ordinary yet. They both appear downcast and haven’t uttered a word since they stepped in. I would be remaining here to monitor…”

“Enough! Don’t bore me with what I employed you to do. Call me when you have better news.”

The agent lurked in the shadows for hours after awaiting the aha moment the senator so desperately desired.