Their Prophecy

Responsibility

The building was squat, square, and Zechariah gave the pompous man at the steering wheel a long, judgmental look. "A gym?"

Cliff quirked a sarcastic smile. "Welcome to Ana's new home."

"She will not live in a gym," Zech deadpanned.

"She's the only one I welcome to live in my gym," Cliff stated briskly, his glare pointed as he put the vehicle in park, exiting the truck with ease, already opening the back door to retrieve his granddaughter.

Zech was faster, pulling the girl to his chest from the other side, eyes flashing green.

Cliff hesitated, taking in the odd show of color. He'd always thought Zechariah was a vampire so why were his eyes flashing the signature emerald of the elves?

"You should take her home with you," Zech stated tightly.

"She would be discovered immediately," Cliff said, tapping his pocket, visibly peeved with the unwanted visitor. "They have our house under surveillance in case Violet ever decides to come home."

Zech's jaw ticked.

Cliff's ground his teeth.

"A gym?" Zech repeated, eyes changing back to it's normal color. "Seriously?"

Once his granddaughter was safely tucked in bed, he'd have a good long smoke. That was the only thought keeping him from committing homicide at the moment. "Just shut the f**k up and follow me." Shutting the back door, he sauntered into the gym, ignoring the appalled look of the man behind him, looking around with obvious derision, nose scrunched. When they moved through the heavy bags, into a storage closet where Cliff shut the door behind them, Zech released a slight cackle. It was like an appalling sound, one of clear disgust, and the green glow of the man's irises was back. He had a threatening aura but Cliff just ignored the man's tensed figure, opening the electric box and pressing the bottom left button.

The ground shook and Zech cussed, clutching Ana so tightly to his chest that she squirmed a bit, muttering to herself.

Carefully adjusting the girl, Zech grumbled, "An elevator?"

Cliff just rolled his eyes as the elevator dinged, the door clicking open automatically. Swinging the door open, Zech could see that they were in some kind of lobby. It looked high-tech, nothing like your average hotel lobby, with large screens lining the wall behind the main desk, a machine immediately scanning their faces, placing photos of them onto the screens. Facial recognition, Zech thought, stepping out after Cliff, watching as the printers started working, the one guy seated at the desk offering a small, "Hey," even as his fingers worked over an even larger screen resting before him.

"Rizzo," Cliff said lightly, "meet my granddaughter."

The man stood then, leaning closer to Analise to get a good look. "No kidding?" Then, glancing from Cliff to Zech, the guy quirked a brow. "What did you do to piss off the boss?"

Zech pursed his lips. "I thought his face always looked like that."

The guy erupted in laughter, Cliff rolled his eyes. "Oh, I like you," Rizzo chuckled. "Need the usual package?"

"I'm only checking one in," Cliff stated coldly.

Rizzo glanced between the two men, giving a slight shrug. "One check in. Day Zero?"

"Day Two," Cliff corrected.

Zechariah grimaced, aware they were speaking in some kind of code. "I need to see where she is staying."

"Why?" Cliff pressed.

"I don't like you," seemed a solid enough reason to Zech.

Cliff's eyes narrowed. "Visitation of the premesis is strictly forbidden. You're lucky I allowed you to come this far."

Zech grimaced. "When she needs to feed--"

"I will arrange the necessary meetings," Cliff stated, taking the girl from the man's hands. "She is under my care now." Giving the man a hard look, he added, "My rules." Zechariah felt the growl in his chest even before the man before him heard it. Cliff was unbothered by the sound. Glancing at Rizzo, he gave a sharp nod before moving to the side of the lobby, opening a door and exiting without so much as a look backwards.

Anger rushed through the Pureblood, jaw ticking with the effort to remain calm.

That man was her blood.

She was safe here.

All the aggravation was worth it as long as his bond was safe.

"Here," Rizzo said, holding out a phone. "A burner for you." Zechariah took the phone, glaring down at the human who looked completely unabashed by the presence of a vampire. "Oh yeah, you know the way out?" the human asked. "I can walk you out."

With a slow blink, Zech turned, making his way back toward the closet-disguised elevator, shutting the door after himself.

In what world would he need help from a human?

. . .

"A Pureblood?" Eve whispered, glancing toward the toddler that would be rooming with her from today forward.

"You have the most experience with their kind," Cliff explained softly.

The woman looked up at Cliff anxiously. "She's your granddaughter?"

"Yes," he said carefully, "but only you and Riz are allowed to know that. I don't want it circulating. You understand."

Eve gave a slight nod, tucking her hair behind her ear. Of all the people that might come knocking on her door in the middle of the night, she never would have expected Cliff Blackwell. Flustered, she crossed her arms over her chest, aware that she probably should have tossed some kind of jacket on before allowing him inside. Not that he'd offered her so much as a glance.

He would only ever arrive with decent intentions, of course.

Married.

With children.

Glancing toward the sleeping child, she bit her lip. And a grandchild, apparently.

"I trust you Eve."

Peeking up at the man who'd introduced her to this place, the one who had dark bedroom eyes, and his body--averting her eyes, she wringed her fingers together trying to ignore her own stupid thoughts. Handsome. He was so handsome and kind.

He was also happily married.

A friend to her.

"I know you'll keep an eye on her. Keep her out of trouble."

Swallowing, Eve gave a slight nod. "Anything for you, Cliff." She'd said it without realizing the potential innuendo of her words and, clearing her throat nervously, added, "I'll do my best."

When he took her hand in his, it wasn't fear that caused her anxiety as she shifted her weight before him, peeking up at him through her lashes as he smiled down at her. It was a deadly smile, one had probably broken a million hearts. "Thank you, Eve. Really." Giving her hand a tight squeeze, she chewed on the inside of her cheek, trying to ignore how big and rough his hands were, how sweet the words were when they came from his mouth.

If she was being honest, he could threaten to kill her and she'd probably still like the way it sounded coming from him.

Happily married, Eve chanted in her head.

By the Gods, she hated this man was happily married.

"I have to go," he said, "but call me if you need anything. Anything at all."

Eve forced a small smile. Anything at all? She could think of a few things he could offer her. Struggling not to grimace, she immediately hated herself for even thinking it. "Drive safe," she managed, giving a small awkward wave, carefully shutting the door behind him, promptly resting her head against the cold wood.

How nice it must be to have a husband like Cliff Blackwell.

By the Gods, she could hardly contain her jealousy when she thought about how blessed that woman must be.

The sound of rustling sheets put a halt to her sulking. Straightening in the doorway, glancing over her shoulder at the small cherub-like blonde tucked neatly into bed, Eve felt her chest tighten as she realized his grandbaby had been brought here instead of taken back to his home.

Why would a Pureblood toddler have to seek sanctuary?

Dread swept through her as another thought struck her: Where are the childs' parents?