The Bite of Revenge

Chapter 3

"Where do you girls think you're going?" a female voice asked as Taylor and I were heading out the door. We both turned and saw Catherine, our head manager, walking towards us.

"Our shift ended at 5pm," I answered, crossing my arms, "so we're leaving."

"I didn't say you could leave," Catherine said, trying to look all business like and failing miserably, "besides, I need both of you to stay and do inventory."

"But we already clocked out for the day," Taylor argued, also crossing her arms, "and last I checked, you can't spring something like this on us last minut." I noticed that she hadn't turned on her phone to record, but Taylor was more confident than I gave her credit for, so I didn't worry.

"Oh don't bother clocking back in," Catherine said, getting right up in Taylor's personal space, "all you have to do is the inventory, and then you can leave."

"But that'll take four hours," I said incredulously, "do you expect us to do that without getting paid?"

"We can't afford to pay our employees overtime," Catherine answered with a shrug, "so what's the point of clocking back in when you're already here?"

"Why can't you do it?" Taylor asked just as a black SUV pulled up to the curb, "you're the manager, and it's your job to pick up extra shifts if your employees are unable to do so."

"That's what staff is for," Catherine said with a wave of her hand, "managers don't do hard labor, it's your job as employees to do what's expected of you and that includes doing inventory."

"I'm sorry, but we won't be able to stay," Taylor said as we headed for the SUV, "Anna and I have an appointment with my dad at 6pm and he's very anal about punctuality." And before Catherine could say anymore, Taylor and I had slipped into the back seat of the SUV and were heading for the middle of downtown.

"Why didn't you record that conversation on your phon?" I asked as the SUV merged into traffic.

"Because I didn't need to," Taylor answered. She then lifted up her shirt to show me that she was wearing a wire.

"What was the point of the phone then?"

"In case it was discovered that I was wearing a wire, I figured my phone was a good backup plan," Taylor answered with a shrug, "but luckily Bloomingdale's security only consists of security cameras on the main floor."

"What did you mean when you said you've been collecting information since you were hired at Bloomingdale's?" I asked. By now, we had reached the main part of downtown and we're heading to Harrisons Attorney at Law, which was a massive building in the heart of downtown L.A.

"Unfortunately, I can't tell you that," Taylor answered sadly, "but don't worry, my dad'll explain everything once we're in his office, in the meantime, we should start putting together our letters of resignation." She then handed me a pad of paper and pen, "just come up with a rough draft and then my dad'll read it over, make changes if needed and then send it directly to Bloomingdale's."

"But I need this job to pay my rent," I argued, "how am I supposed to do that when I don't have a job?" By now we had arrived at Harrisons Attorney at Law and were now exiting the SUV to enter the air conditioned lobby.

"Don't worry, my dad has already arranged a position for you at his law firm, " Taylor answered as we headed for the elevator, "and he's willing to pay handsomely, believe me, it's way more than what you've been earning at Bloomingdale's."

"And what exactly is this position?" I asked, by now we had reached Mr. Harrison's office and his secretary told us to head on in.

"I take it Taylor has already told you that I've hired you?" Mr. Harrison asked once we've taken our seats.

"Yes sir," I answered, "and I was wondering what that position might be?"

"It involves some training on your end, but I was hopping to hire you on as a bounty hunter." I almost fell out of my chair at this, me? a bounty hunter? he had to be joking.

"With all due respect Mr. Harrison, but I don't think I'm qualified," I said, still a little shocked, "the only job experience I have is five years in retail."

"Which is why I think you'd be perfect for the position," Mr. Harrison said with a smile, "not only that, but your parents were legendary bounty hunters."

"You knew my parents?" this totally caught me off guard. When I was in fifth grade, my parents, Amelia and Andrew, were killed, supposedly, in a burglary gone wrong, at least, that's what my grandparents, who took me in, told me at the time and even to this day, I always got the feeling that they were lying to me.

"Of course I knew them," Mr. Harrison answered sadly, "I was the one who found their bodies."

"How did they die and did the police ever find out who did it?"

"They were murdered, but in a burglary gone wrong," Mr. Harrison answered, "someone broke into your house while you were still at school and murdered them in cold blood and I don't think you want to know who did it."

"Damn right I do," I said angrily, "I also want to know why."

"Are you sure you want to know?" Taylor asked hesitantly, "maybe we should wait until you've calmed down a little bit." She then pointed to my hands and I saw that my nails had elongated into claws.

"What the hell?" I asked as I stared at my hand in surprise, "how is this possible."

"That, my dear, is the reason why your parents were murdered," Mr. Harrison answered, "your mother was a deamon and your father was a werewolf and when they had you, they had to go into hiding."

"But why?" I asked as my claws retracted, "they didn't do anything wrong."

"To the Argent family, they did," Mr. Harrison said with a sigh, "because in their eyes, interbreeding amongst supernatural creatures is considered blasphemy and any child born by mixed supernatural parents are considered abominations. So when you were born, your parents did everything they could to protect you. Your mother went as far as changing both hers and your names."

"So my name isn't really Anna?" I asked incredulously.

"Technically it is," Mr. Harrison answered, "but your full name is Anastasia, your mother, whose real name is Azazel, shortened it to Anna to protect you."

"What about my dad, did he change his name too?"

"No, his name was Andrew, but your mother did take his last name when they got married."

"You said the Argent family were responsible for my parents death," I said, just now realizing it, "you don't mean_____"

"Yes, Viktor Argent killed your parents," Mr. Harrison said sadly, "and Connor Argent, his uncle, authorized it."