Chapter Four
Curtis stepped into the sleek, high-rise apartment; barely glancing at expensively elegant surroundings that graced it's walls and floors.
"Is that you Curtis?" a deep, slightly musical voice called from inside the apartment. "I'm in my office."
Curtis followed the voice until he came to an oak-paneled door, which he opened. He walked in and sat down on one of the numerous chairs that faced the desk and looked up at the man behind the desk.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself, son. You're not looking too good."
"Yeah? You're not exactly Johnny Depp yourself. The red hair just ruins it."
"Feeling the need to sharpen your wit on me today Curtis? Any particular reason?"
Curtis scowled. "No."
Brilliantly fierce yellow eyes narrowed, unconvinced. "I see."
"I really don't think you do, pops, so don't even try." Curtis' voice was laced with venom, his expression matching it perfectly.
"Right. That's enough," the red haired man snapped. His voice was firm and full of authority. "We need to sort out this business about the fourth Wild Power."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Curtis, try to act your age please. You're making this rather difficult."
Curtis slumped down in his chair and sighed. "Shoot."
The red haired man smiled one small smile, a twisting of his lips, as his eyes gleamed. "It's come to my attention that the Fourth Wild power is a young shapeshifter, the same age as all the others. He's been spotted by some of our men at last. Apparently his adoptive mother was involved in a drive by shooting, she was in hospital, the intensive care ward of course."
"Of course," Curtis cut in sarcastically.
His comment was ignored. "She was expected to die. Nothing short of a miracle could have saved her. Luckily she happened to have an adopted son who could perform such a miracle. The kid saved her, somehow unleashing his power and she lived."
"Happily ever after?" Curtis asked, his curiosity finally awakened.
"Ah, here's the twist of the tale," the man smiled. "The kid's gone AWOL. We can't find him. The hospital was in the poor side of San Francisco. You know where I mean."
Curtis nodded.
"The apartment was one of many in an old crusty block. I've got the address here for you. Anyway, I figure he'll still pop up in the area, to check on his mother. I want you to find him and bring him to me."
"Are you going to throw a description into that order?"
The other man smiled tolerantly. "Tall, about your height. Pale skin and a kind of reddish blonde hair colour. His eyes are violet."
Curtis nodded and reached over the desk to take the file that he was being offered. He flipped through it then closed it again and stood up. When he reached the door a voice stopped him.
"Please succeed in this Curtis. It seems that all my other proteges have abandoned me. People are turning so soft so easily these days." Curtis turned to look around at the man, into his golden eyes that were now staring out the window. "Quinn, Delos, Ash…" his voice trailed off. "But I get the feeling you're made of tougher stuff than they were. You're not the type to start running around with damned Daybreakers and chanting crap about saving the world."
Curtis stopped still. He didn't move, he didn't make a sound.
"Are you Curtis?" the voice was soft.
Curtis shook his head violently, dismissing the unwanted picture of Blake in his head. "Hell no."
Then he opened the door and walked out of the office, leaving a smiling Hunter Redfern behind his desk. "No, I don't think you are either Curtis Redfern," he said softly. "But I'll be checking on you just the same."
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That night Blake found herself, once again at the Black Dahlia. She prayed that Curtis wasn't going to walk through the nightclub's doors and for once the goddess must have been listening. She wished she could have gone to another club but nobody important would ever dream of gracing their presence at any club except the Black Dahlia.
So Black Dahlia it was.
Halfway through the night, she happened to catch the eye of Relic Silverlake, a notorious vampire that was sure to be in league with Hunter. She danced with him, smiled and laughed at his jokes, and stored every word he said in her mind. He stared at her with ill-concealed fascination.
He was captivated.
She was relieved.
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After two weeks of Blake doing her best to gain Relic's trust and confidence, he finally mentioned introducing her to a friend of his. It was after they had been training together at a Night World gym and Relic had been duly impressed at Blake's fighting skills. She had won every fight on the sparring mats and had impressed the crowds there as well.
Her new friend, tall, blond with hazel eyes and a charismatic smile, had come to the conclusion that Blake Starling was a near perfect specimen of a Night World vampire. She was tough, strong, smart and beautiful. And she deserved recognition.
He also knew that the hunt for the fourth Wild Power was taking place and they needed more people of Curtis Redfern's calibre and in his opinion, Blake was definitely in that league.
Blake smiled and nodded at the invitation, all while her heart beat excitedly. Finally, she was going to get to Hunter Redfern.