Whitestripe

Chapter 7

Rayne Whitestripe

I have never really formed a bond with Sota, like I did with Beth or Elaina, just to get some of my assignments and an occasional hi in the hall when I was in H.Q. in Washington. Though the last couple months of my Hunter training he was more involved with. We ate lunch together daily for a while as he helped pick up the slack when my trainer was killed. He was tall and fit and for an old guy, rather handsome. He had a goatee, not like a bad guy goatee, just a really handsome guy with a goatee. He was also graying, a good graying. His hair was salt and pepper colored and his goatee was completely gray. Gryatt grinned at me as he handed the phone over to me expectantly. I think he thought that I was going to be beaten into submission and apologize finally. He was dead wrong again, seriously! This guy had to have a clue by now. If threatening to deport me didn't work, what would someone 1000 + miles away do?

"Rayne?" Sota asked. "Present," I said, flopping back into the chair. "So, I hear you’re being disrespectful to Gryatt?" I snorted. "Rayne, you're one of our best hunters. We can't afford to lose you. We won’t deport you for this, and you already know that no matter what he says. I know you have your issues with him, but for our sanity, can you please try at least to pretend to listen to him?" I think Pryarasota was my new best friend! Keep in mind that vampires have exceptional hearing, and Gryatt heard every bit of this. "Sorry sir, however, I find it hard to even tolerate someone who has me running around somewhere for over a week without more than eight hours of sleep. I was informed that if I didn't catch who was killing the humans, then I would be stripped of my Hunter rank and sent to the clean-up crew again. I was to understand that I was not even allowed to return to my hotel without the killers head in my hands, and on the few occasions I tried to catch a few hours of sleep I was reprimanded, cornered and threatened in a supply room" It was actually the truth not in so many words, but I added the part about having the head in my hands. I was just actually informed that if I returned empty-handed, then all hell would break loose. It was more of a threat that I better not return without catching the vampire, and I didn't technically. It just took me longer than expected to actually catch one of the fledglings who was killing the humans, and the times I did return to my hotel, I caught hell.

There was silence on the other line for a moment. “I will check to see if another elder is available to be assigned to your case. Typically, we don't meddle in issues like this between elders and hunters. We just move the hunter, but we need this taken care of asap. That’s why we called you, we knew that you would be able to solve this faster and probably better than any of our other hunters on the field. Just please don't let that get to your head!" Pryarasota sighed into the receiver. I glanced over at Gryatt, and he was staring at me astonished. Shock was written all over his face. Not only was I getting away with disrespecting him. He was being moved to a different case! Hah, 2 points! I win! It wasn't a game, mind you, but it sure felt like I had won something big with just the look on his face.

Sota was typing more and clicking. I don’t know what he was doing, but after a minute, he said, "I am going to be sending another, a senior elder by the name of Alexander Firewing. I hope you two will at least get along. Please don't be troublesome!" I heard more clicking in the background. Sota was typing on his computer, probably putting the change orders in as we spoke. The ding that came from Gryatt's computer was my confirmation.

I couldn't believe that one elder was going against another, especially when it came to me. I guess that some people actually believed that he tampered with the case that killed my mentor. I still held him accountable for Kira's death, I know that someday, hopefully, very soon, he will get what was coming to him. If it be by my hands or the hands of an elder.

Pryarasota was head over which elder went where, so I knew he probably had to do some extra work for this change, but hey if it meant that Gryatt would get his fat ass out of New York and out of my face then I would do anything for him. "Next time, Pry that I see you. Remind me to give you a big hug and buy you a drink!" I said happily. "I will, take care Rayne, and please, resolve this as soon as possible. I know how much you want to go home." "Yes, sir." With that, the line was released.

Gryatt was fuming, I placed the receiver on the desk as I stood up. "Where do you think you’re going?" Gryatt spat as I turned to walk away. "Outta here," I said over my shoulder as I walked out of the office.

I made it probably three feet out of the door before the door was slammed open, and I was shoved into the receptionist desk in the lobby. Yes, shoved. I hadn’t expected that he could move that fast. I know vampires are fast, being one and all, but damn. He caught me off guard, which was unusual.

My arms were pinned against my chest, and I was being crushed into the desk in front of me. I tried to grab the desk to lessen the blow when he shoved me. Attacking me from behind, how insulting. The poor receptionist was babbling incoherently, obviously confused about what was going on.

“Listen, you little b***h!” He yelled inches from my head. “You think that you’re this big deal, don’t you! You think that you can do no wrong! Well, you get this straight little girl, you’re not immortal. You can die. If you keep this up you WILL die.”

The last part was whispered, but I swear anyone within earshot could have heard it. He was crushing me against the desk. I was pissed, I couldn’t retaliate because he was still an elder. I wasn’t able to strike him no matter how much my tiger wanted to. I knew I could take him, and I know I’m stronger than he is, but again; even though he provoked me I would be in a world of hurt if I raised a hand to him. Shadow’s rules, to prevent an uprising, it’s procedure to either deport or kill anyone who tried to raise a hand against one of them. If they did and got away, death was imminent.