Fire

Chapter 4

*Dean’s POV*

“They’ve all congregated in the main hall” Tracy states simply walking into my office. I nod slightly in her direction. Her eyes are still glued to me, silently urging me to get on with it. I sigh and stand, following her down the hall.

Walking to the head of the room full of representatives, I brace myself for the inevitable fight that will ensue.

“I’ve called this meeting as we have had a breach of the accords.” I make eye contact with each person present. “As you have read in my email addressed to each of you, there was an attack outside of Blue Moon. One of the workers was bitten by a vampire, as I will show you in exhibit A.” I click to bring the photo onto the shared monitor behind me.

“It has been confirmed the security cameras were tampered with. Although this incident did occur in the alley by the bar, the fact she is an employee, and was clearly in uniform the night of the incident, she would have been covered under the accords.” Eric states to my right.

“Bloody vamps” spits Merida to my left. She is the ambassador of the Seelie Court in the tristate area.

“We’ve conducted a thorough investigation of my people since your correspondence Dean, it was not any of those in my coven.” Victoria states. She runs a tight ship. Ever since the Swift Explosion in 1949. Any Vampire in the area who did not pledge to her coven were immediately executed.

“How are we to take the word of you?” Merida eyes disdainfully.

“Enough.” I state simply gripping the bridge of my nose. “There haven’t been any reports of a rogue vampire from Victoria’s territories, and no other incidents reported such as this.”

“She’s hiding something” Merida states simply.

“Merida shut the f**k up. You are being a b***h just because not everyone is a prim and proper as you pretend to be” Shane quips from across the table. Merida’s skin flickers purple as her temper rises.

“You dare speak to me in that manner?”

“You act as though your position is higher than mine, when in fact, I’m about the only one that can say they are your equal.” Shane, of the Unseelie Court, and Merida are literally the opposite sides of the same coin. Being in a room with them both is a headache, and the fact that they can’t figure out their feelings for one another makes it worse.

“ENOUGH” Eric hits his hands on the table. Merida huffs and turns back to the screen. “This happened in the only neutral territory, where we all have guaranteed safety. A place where all could mingle and have fun, and not have the pissing contest we all have everywhere else.”

“Eric, you are here as a witness, not as leader.” I remind as he takes his seat. “To reiterate what was just stated, there are no eye witnesses of the attack. We have this picture, a doctor’s examination, which points to a Vampire’s bite and tampering as well, and no leads.

Sighing, Eric visibly cools down. “Flynn, a man I’ve never seen before carried her in. She was unconscious, he says she was passed out against the wall. I didn’t pick up on any flavor, but then again, I was a little overwhelmed. This is too close to home.”

“Flynn you say?” Victoria asks, eyes widening.

“Yes. He didn’t provide a last name.” I lean forward listening closely to the exchange.

“Whispers of him still being in the area have been heard over the years. I’ve never found a trace of him, and we keep a perimeter around the monument. He’s gone by many names since his rebirth, but he’s always alluded my people. If he were here, he’s the rightful heir of area. We have a big problem if that is who we are against.”

Moments of silence pass. The wall on the clock is ticking the seconds away.

“What exactly are you saying Victoria?” I ask quietly.

“Flynn… Flannigan… Florian… Floyd, Charles Floyd. He isn’t the first vampire, but he is the only vampire with homage here. He died and rose where the monument stands. No one has heard from him since the Fae had to take care of his bride.” She states simply. I couldn’t get a read on her.

“Fairies. The fairies took care of the bride. There is a difference Tori. With that being said, he had made an agreement that he would not create another. The details of the agreement are fuzzy after this time, but I’m sure I can speak with the elders for the specifics.” Laurel spoke up with her childish voice. She wears her green hair high on her head.

“Thank you Laurel.” I nod. Her youthfulness belies her age. She is a tree sprite, one of the oldest fairy, and the only one to show themselves. “We will reconvene once the intel is gathered. Until then, we will double our perimeter checks and double security at the bar. We urge you all to step up and help secure our home. This isn’t a sole species issue. It is a threat to our civility we have built through the years.”

Dismissing the meeting, I mind-link Logan. Any further details?

Still inconclusive. As far as drugs and everything, she is clean as expected. Slightly anemic, as expected after a Vampire attack. Marks were gone by the time she made it to my office, so it was a clean in and out, not a savage blood lust. Blood work does not indicate supernatural genes, but with that quick of healing, we can’t rule anything out.

Is the blood work normally wrong when it comes to genealogy?

No Alpha. It’s rare we receive incorrect data, but with what I am seeing, she has no traces what-so-ever of supernatural genes. Even a ‘human’ will have traces of supernatural genes from some distant relative way up high in their family tree. The fact she has none is what is concerning.

Is that all to report?

She wasn’t r***d Dean. She cried. She’s terrified, and rightly so. Emma has been around different kinds of us working at the bar, and it’s not right for her to be kept in the dark. Also, speaking of in the dark, are you going to admit….

You are overstepping your rank Logan. I interrupt.

I don’t think you know how Omega’s run Alpha. I agreed to become pack, but I fall outside of rank. You will hear me out. If she is your mate, only your claim can keep her as safe as she can be. While she is unmarked, no matter which species, she is technically available to whomever sees fit to chase her.

She’s human as far as we know. You know the lifespan and the fact she can reject me at any time. She’s actually safer if I stay away and don’t introduce her to this life. Once the threat is neutralized, Victoria can work her hypnosis and none will be the wiser. Emma deserves to live a happy and full life.

Emma deserves to know the truth, and she deserves to know she has a destiny.

I will not speak of this further. After breaking the mind-link I sit back in my chair and let my mind wander. Meeting her at the bar was an accident, but since, I can’t get her out of mind. 5’4 and curves in all the right places. Curly red-hair, deep blue eyes, and a dusting of freckles along her nose. I remember every detail perfectly. Her milky smooth skin under my tongue. She smelled of jasmine and rain.

I will find who dare touch her and make him pay.