Chapter 4

His dark eyes rolled into the back of his head, but turned suddenly to look at the man standing at his feet. He smiled down and chuckled slowly, but maniacally.

"Smart choice getting the boy this time, Charles." He sipped the scarlet blood from the glistening cup as Charles looked up at him and smirked.

"Thank you, sir."

The king-like man turned back down and smacked his lips together, tasting the blood like it was something sweet.

"Next time, I would like the girl." He eyed Charles darkly. "Do you think you could get that done?"

Charles blinked and smirked, glaring up at his leader. "Of course, Gane. I've already figured out who's keeping her. A Blutbad."

Gane's head shot up, laughing hard and evilly. "A Blutbad and a Match?" His eyes glazed over Charles eagerly. "You can take them out easily, right Charles?"

"Of course, sir. I'll have it done soon."

Darkness fell upon the tiny house at even in the morning as the storm rolled in hard. Rain trickled down the side walk as Nick pushed through the puddles up to the front steps of the Monroe home. He pounded on the front door and stood back, waiting.

A groggy Eddie opened up the door, coffee in his hand, and a glare in his eyes. He motioned for Nick to come in as he put a finger to his lips, signaling for him to be quiet.

Nick walked in quietly, looking towards the couch where Elisa slept. Nick smiled, relived that she was safe.

"What are you doing here at seven in the morning? I thought we had this discussion last time." Eddie grumbled as the two walked towards the kitchen.

Nick placed a drawing of a Gatan on the table, then placed a drawing of a Hombriden down next to it.

"What can you tell me about Gatans?" Nick whispered, making sure that Elisa didn't hear.

Monroe peaked over his shoulder as he poured another cup of coffee for Nick.

"Well, they're very quiet. Once a year, they have these things called Konferenz. They get together and like… trade? I don't know. It's a very hush-hush sort of thing. Only a few non-Gatans are allowed in." Nick sat down as Eddie did, handing Nick a cup of coffee.

Eddie shook his head and looked down. "A few years ago, they were endangered. A Reaper… figured out that their blood can cure any disease or heal any wound."

Nick blinked, thinking of is Aunt Marie. Eddie looked on and shook his head.

"The Reapers turned into Gatan hunters, killing them, collecting their blood. You need a lot of blood to even make a dent in any cure. It got really bad." Eddie looked into his coffee, thinking where he would be if Elisa was not with him right now.

Nick sighed, looking at the Hombriden. "Tell me about these."

Eddie cleared his throat and pressed his lips together. "I don't know a lot about them. They chose to stay in the dark. The last time I came in contact with one... it didn't end well."

Eddie pushed the chair out and stood up. "I'll wake up Elisa."

Nick grabbed Ed's arm. "Just one more question before I go."

Eddie nodded and sat back down slowly. Nick breathed in slightly.

"Matches… tell me about them."

Eddie smirked a bit. "First, it's Matchiens. Second, most mixes in general are bad. Blutbadien and Grimms… if they mate…" Eddie turned his head and closed his eyes. "There have been so many stories of those kinds of Matchiens going crazy, killing their family, themselves. When they turn, their minds become confused, wanting to fight their creature, but they can't."

Nick nodded as Eddie continued. "Elisa, she's lucky. She's only a Gatan and a Grimm. Gatans aren't fighters, so when they turn, their minds become somewhat… stronger, more reliable."

Eddie looked over into the living room, seeing Elisa sleeping soundly. Eddie smirked back at Nick.

"Wanna hear something cool?" Nick eyed Eddie, a bit confused.

"Uh… sure?"

Eddie motioned for Nick to follow him over to the couch. Nick heard his own footsteps creek as they walked. Eddie bent down a bit, listening to Elisa sleep.

"Go on." Eddie pointed his hand down towards Elisa.

Nick bent down, curious. He looked up at Eddie as Elisa purred.

"It's a warning to any other creatures nearby." Eddie said. "They purr. It's actually really funny. No other creature does that when they sleep."

Nick put a hand on Eddie's shoulder and laughed quietly. "Eddie, you are interested in the weirdest stuff." Nick looked back at Elisa, then back to Ed. "Tell her I said I love her, will you?"

That night, it was darker than usual. The shutters became unlatched and they began to pound against the window with the wind. The rain acted angry, unforgiving raindrops falling onto the home of Eddie Malone.

Elisa sat on the sill, as though she were a guard for the tiny home.

Around 2 am, the lighting came, thunder pounding down on the street like a drum. Elisa's nails soon became long with angst as she clawed at the small, brown throw pillow.

She stood up, walking slow and silently to the bedroom down the small, ominous hallway. She stopped in his doorway, standing on the tips of her toes to look on as he breathed silently.

"Monroe." She stuttered coldly.

The figure of Eddie turned, looking over his shoulder.

"What is it, Match?" He ran a hand over his face and sat up on the edge of his mattress.

She cleared her throat a bit and leaned into the doorway, looking for support.

"It's… still raining." She held onto the sleeves of the warm sweater and bit the inside of her lip a little too hard.

Monroe groaned and ran a straggly hand over his neck. "Well it tends to do that in Portland."

He looked over his shoulder as she stood darkly in the doorway.

Then, Eddie remembered the thing about Gatans that made them crumble to pieces. He could get rid of her and Nick. If he pushed her into the rain right now…

Instead, Eddie stood up with a smirk. He put a comforting arm around her and led her to the kitchen. Less than an hour later, the two were asleep in the living room as the fire crackled and the storm raged on, Eddie on a chair and Elias on the couch.