Their Prophecy

Criminal

The last time Cronan had seen Cliff Blackwell, he'd been discussing his reason for betraying him. Huffing cigarettes, looking haunted, describing a dark past that had led to even darker circumstances--the future had looked bleak then and Cronan had nearly gone mad with bloodthirst in Violet's absence.

With a tensed stance and sharpened gaze, Cronan watched a much lighter looking man hopped down from the helicopter, offering his hand out to Analise who landed lithely on her bare feet before taking it. As they walked over to the group of Purebloods, Cliff tapped his pockets, his tell that he wanted a smoke, but then his gaze moved to the child holding his hand and he didn't pull them out.

Purebloods are immune to human diseases. Analise wouldn't be harmed by smoke.

Still, Cronan figured the man would never light up in front of a child. Cliff was odd in that way--violent and malicious as he'd proven he could be, the guy had his own moral code of sorts. Certain rules he wouldn't break. "You're late," was Xavier's two-cents, lips pursing pointedly.

"Where did you get the helicopter from?" was Violet's immediate question.

Cronan quirked a brow, awaiting the answer. Cliff gave a tight smile, "Borrowed it from a friend." There was no doubt that he was lying through his teeth. Borrowed? Doubtful. The guy was a criminal at his core. This was a felony, the guy was a thief and a murderer, and as Violet was swept into his warm embrace, crying with joy at reuniting with him, Cronan heaved a tired sigh when Cliff gave him a dirty look over her shoulder. The sheer audacity of a mere human to level a Pureblood with an accusatory glare, then pull back and smile sweetly down at his bond as if he were father of the year was astounding to Cronan.

He felt appalled.

Peeved.

Perhaps, slightly impressed.

"Why are you so upset?" was all Cliff asked, gazing down at his daughter with concern.

Violet was crying again and clung to him.

The one to recieve the next death glare was Xavier who openly glared back. "A lot has happened in your absence."

"You'll give me the rundown," was Cliff's gruff reply.

"Inside," was Xavier's tight response.

The human pursed his lips, wearing something akin to a snarl on his face as he followed Xavier inside. Cronan followed behind him, unsurprised when the man's dark eyes cut to him, hand tapping his cigarettes pointedly as they climbed the stairs to the second level of the villa. "Ana was left unattended. She crawled into the helicopter before anyone even noticed me. We could be miles away right now."

"Ana wouldn't hesitate to kill a threat," was Cronan's brisk reply.

"She's a child," Cliff argued.

"Not like any one you've ever encountered," Xavier said, gesturing to the open doorway of his study. Cliff's sharp gaze sliced from Cronan to Xavier. "Much has happened in your absence," the Pureblood repeated, dark eyes narrowing at the human's obvious impertinence.

"Much has happened under your watch." The accusation was loud, brazen, and Cliff didn't even blink at the flash of silver in Xavier's eyes. With a tight jaw, Cliff turned his back to two pissed Purebloods, marching into the study like he owned the place.

Xavier gave Cronan an irritated look, clearly shocked by the human's lack of fear considering his situation, and Cronan just sighed, giving a slight shrug.

After all, he'd underestimated Cliff Blackwell once before and learned a hard lesson.

He figured it was Xavier's turn.

. . .

"Essence consumption," Cliff stated vaguely, looking incredibly unimpressed by the verbiage. "Sounds like something out of a bad sci-fi series. Some Star Trek-ish mumbo jumbo."

Xavier quirked a brow in amusement.

Cronan frowned. "It's the truth."

"So she, uh, eats your kind?" Cliff asked, tapping his cigarettes on his palm. It was clear he wanted a smoke but they were inside and his daughter and grandbaby were downstairs so he wouldn't dare. The moral criminal strikes again.

"In a manner of speaking," Xavier admitted.

Cliff grinned. "What a good little girl."

Of course that would be his reaction, Cronan thought with an annoyed scowl.

"She eats their essence," Xavier explained. "Reduces them to a human."

Still tapping, he gave an impressed grunt. "Give 'em a taste of their own medicine. I like it."

Yeah, he would, wouldn't he? Xavier blinked at Cronan with stark aggravation toward the human he probably deemed a simpleton and Cronan just rested his cheek on his fist, aware that the man hated his kind. He had every reason to hate Purebloods, of course. After what happened to the love of his life, it only made sense that he'd hold a grudge. "The Circle will deem her a threat," Cronan said darkly, further explaining the severity of the situation.

"Northern Tribe territory would be safest for her," Cliff stated. "Newfound autonomy and all that."

"They tried to exile her," Cronan grumbled.

"Then they tried to kill her," Xavier finished.

Cliff hummed. "Well, their kind was never particularly accepting toward outsiders, were they?"

"They've deemed her a threat," Cronan sighed.

"She is one," Cliff stated with a shrug. "Any species that isn't human will deem her such."

"And the humans?" Cronan wondered. "What would they deem her?"

"A savior."

"The second coming," Xavier grumbled.

"My daughter isn't Jesus," Cronan huffed.

Cliff tapped at the gun holstered at his thigh. "An equalizer."

"Hope," Xavier agreed.

"Can you protect her?" Cronan hated it. Every word tasted like acid as he spoke it, reaching out to this man, the one who had betrayed him, spun him around in circles, attempting to ruin any chance he had to find his beloved--and yet, there was no doubt the man was loyal to Violet, following her express wishes to a T, ignoring the obvious danger that had put him in. He would do anything for her. For his grandbaby. "If I send Analise with you--"

"With me?" Cliff stated, quirking a brow.

"You're the only one Violet trusts," Cronan stated.

"The only one who can pull it off," Xavier added.

Cliff tapped.

And tapped.

The moment was long, drawn out. "Are you insane?" he asked finally, brows scrunched.

Xavier shrugged and Cronan sighed, his voice exasperated as he muttered, "Probably."