Seven
'Hi, this is Belle Ashford. I need to talk to...to my uncle.'
'Your uncle?' The woman on the phone questioned, sounding harassed. I don't know why I disliked this woman, but I did. It was like I was going out of my way to annoy her.
I couldn't wait to meet her in person.
My exasperated sigh was enough to tell her I was in a hurry too. I had ten minutes before I had to get back to training. If I didn't, Jordan would put me on my arse for a second time that week. Having her and Hamid training me was getting very old. I understood they were trying to tire me out so I wouldn't even consider leaving the compound.
All of their hard work was going to be all for nothing.
'His name is Mathew Randall-something, look I told you this countless times before. Get him on the fucking phone.' I growled not caring that I'd forgotten his last name. This woman better get him or I was going to reach down the phone-
'One moment,' she replied in a clipped tone.
Thirty seconds later, I heard voices and the phone was handed over.
'Belle?' Mathew asked sounding pleasantly surprised.
'Yeah, it's me. Get a new secretary, that one's a total bitch.' I growled into the phone.
I heard the sound of a door closing and the background noise disappeared. 'You're wanting news about Drew, aren't you? I'm afraid I know about as much as you do.' He said ignoring my irritation.
'Yeah, um, did he actually make it to Seattle? No one is telling me anything and that bitch told me to stop calling two weeks ago.'
'Yes, Drew arrived in Seattle but left six hours later. He had been looking over mission reports and something in them made him leave, I'm certain of it. I've gone over the reports but I haven't found anything. Drew isn't answering his phone either. I'll talk to Anita; she can be a bit prickly.'
'Can you email the reports to me? I'm sick of being treated like a child.'
Matt stayed silent for a few seconds. 'I'd bet that's Ashford's doing. I'd also bet Frey is also doing his duty in keeping you safe.'
'They all left the day after Drew did and no one has heard from them since. Of course, I was too busy sulking to put two and two together. Some warrior I am, and dad doesn't know anything either, nor does Tristan.'
'You will be a great warrior, honey. Keep your chin up, now tell me what did the Frey's tell you they were going?'
'They're supposed to be in New Jersey setting up another control center. Sebastian was finally going to have his own command. He seemed pretty excited about it.'
'There is one being set up; I'll see if they're there. They just might be busy but my bet is that Drew may have contacted them.'
'I figured that out for myself when they stopped answering my calls and messages. They're hunting for the master, I know it. I think something in those reports set Drew off.'
I heard him opening his laptop. 'I'll scan all of the reports and send them to you in an email. Seeing as we're both being kept out of this, we may as well band together, don't you think?'
'Sounds good to me.' I sighed as I rattled off my email address.
'I'll keep on digging; you keep your head down for now and I'll talk to you soon.' From the corner of my eye, I saw Jordan appear at my door.
'Have to go, I've got more training to do.'
'Call me later if you have questions.'
'Sure.' I replied hanging up.
'Who was that?'
'Ya mum,' I answered sarcastically, snatching my water bottle up. Without looking at Jordy, I knew I was in a world of trouble.
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'We're breaking down the wall...' Abby was singing in the kitchen as usual rocking out not noticing the others looking at her in disdain as she rocked out to a band that she had liked years ago. I couldn't remember the name but the song was pretty damn catching but she stopped mid-sentence as soon as she saw the backpack slung over my shoulder. It wasn't even dawn yet but you wouldn't know it. Abby was always so vibrant no matter what time it was. It was like she was trying not to be sad as the anniversary of her sister's death approached.
'You're going then?' She asked with a grin. Her eyes widened as she looked at the werecat who popped her head out of the pocket in my hoodie. 'Good.'
'Mew.' Gemma said sniffing appreciatively. Unfortunately for her, the Head chef saw her peeking out of my pocket and sending a dark glare at me.
'Out!' The head chef Bridgette cried in disdain.
'Sorry!' I turned and strutted out. I got three steps out of the door when I heard the music being cut off and seconds later, and Abby strode out of the kitchen, discarding her apron onto the carpet, not caring for the looks she got from the early risers. Catching up with me, Abby slung her arm through mine.
'Don't even think about going anywhere without me.'
'Abby...' I didn't have to remind her that this mission was going to reopen her wounds. Heck she hadn't hunted vampires since she'd hunted down the monster that had taken her little sister away from her.
'Look, I lost my sister once, and you're as close to family I've got, so I'm not going to let you run around the country, and don't complain or I'll knock you out and take you straight to Desmond.'
'Mew.' Gemma agreed while I nodded meekly in agreement. Going off on my own didn't appeal to me but I was going no matter what. I had money and my credit card. Dax would use it to track me, or he'd use my phone. I'd probably spend my days dodging seasoned warriors and that in itself could be fun.
'We're taking Gem?' Abby asked poking me sharply so I exited my fantasy world with a bump.
'Of course, Gem's already pining for Dom, how do you think she'd react if I abandoned her?' I asked looking down at the kitten who had snuggled back down in the pocket, pretending to sleep.
'Right.' Abby replied as Allie walked down the hallway, two backpacks in her hand yawning hugely. Like me, she was not an early riser and refused to get up before eight most mornings.
'Leaving me behind huh? Bitches please; without me you two will be lost.' She said tapping her head, tossing Abby's backpack at her with a wicked grin.
'Oh, come off it, we were coming to drag your lazy ass out of bed.' Abby teased.
Allie slowly winked at her. 'You'd have liked the view. Anyway, I already stocked the car so we better go before anyone goes running to Desmond,' Allie said grabbing my hand, 'although anyone who wakes him up probably won't live to tell the tale.'
I looked at my friend smiling in agreement. Dad was going to lose it when he saw me gone. I had written a long letter but I was going to be grounded for the rest of my life.
'Am I doing the right thing?'
Abby narrowed her eyes. 'We all do the wrong things for those we love.'
Allie smiled. 'We knew you'd go after Dom. After all, you do love him right?' She asked grinning at me.
Abby rolled her eyes. 'That's not all she wants, Allie.' Abby replied loftily as she pulled us outside into the icy darkness. Glancing at the horizon, the sky was a deep purple, but I barely glanced at it as Allie walked to the SUV and claimed the backseat. I thought back to what Abby's snide comment and realised she was already remembering the hunt for her own vampire. I felt like a shit friend for making her live through this, but then I wasn't forcing her along, she was risking her own discomfort for me and I was just about to suggest she and Allie go back to bed when she turned to me a wicked grin plastered on her face. It was fake but I decided to run with it.
'I'm surprised Jordan and What's-his-name didn't figure out you'd run.' Abby said as we got into the SUV. 'Imagine, getting one up on him. You're going to be famous. Outwitted by a seventeen-year-old.'
'They were trying to exhaust me every day so I wouldn't even think of running. Looks like they exhausted themselves.' I replied with a wink.
Seconds later we were driving away, Abby handled the security so easily, her smooth lying unnerved me but once we were away from the compound I settled down. Gemma shifted in the pocket, poked her head out, wriggled out of the pocket and gingerly stepped onto the arm rest trying to keep her balance. Before I could snatch her back, Allie plucked up the kitten, tucked her under her chin, and curled up in the backseat using her backpack as a pillow. Spreading a thin green blanket over her, she and the kitten fell asleep in seconds.
'So where are we going?' Abby asked as she looked at the fancy GPS system. Neither of us wanted to turn it on in case Dax was already awake. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I checked that the location was off, and then turned it off for good measure. Abby tossed her phone at me and I did the same.
'Allie?'
'Mmm?'
'Phone?'
'Switched it off,' came the mumbled reply.
'Belle, where are going?' Abby asked quietly and I shrugged. I had to admit I hadn't thought that too far ahead.
'Drew said he was going to Seattle, and he did, but he didn't stay long. I think following his breadcrumbs would be the best thing. Besides I have a contact there.'
'How do you know all of this?'
'I asked Dax to give me the number to the command center in Seattle the day he left.'
'Wait a second, your uncle Matthew is your contact?'
'Yup. He's been frozen out just as much as I have and we've been working together. Well, he's been doing most of the work.' I shrugged, reaching to fiddle with the heater. I wasn't keen on asking my mori to warm me up.
'I didn't know you were talking to him.'
'Yeah, he sounds like a cool dude. I guess I was wrong about him.'
'Did you talk about why he didn't adopt you?'
'Strangely enough, that never came up. I think it's all water under the bridge now.'
Abby glanced at me. 'You're growing up.'
'Yup. So, hoof it. It's a million miles to Seattle and if Desmond thinks we're going there he'll get there before we do, we'll be screwed.'
'And not in a good way.' Allie muttered from the backseat.
'Does Matthew know you're coming?'
'He's the one that said he might have some information but didn't want to talk over the phone. He sounded a little paranoid to be honest.'
'Can we trust him? I mean there has to be a reason why you two are being frozen out.'
I sighed. I really didn't know. 'I get why they didn't wanna tell me what they're doing cause I'm still a kid, or at least they think I am, but Matt? Something weird is going on and I will find out what's going on.'
Abby nodded grimly. 'And we will. Patience, my young Padawan.' She replied in her famous Yoda impersonation. Grinning, I reached down, found the lever and shifted my seat back to a more comfortable position.
'So, what should we listen to?' Abby asked innocently.
'Your mum.' Allie mumbled.
Abby looked at me. 'She's been spending too much time with you.'
'Eh, could be worse. She could take after my dad.' Dissolving into giggles, I almost peed myself once Abby started doing a Desmond impersonation.
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I'd never given much thought to what my uncle would look like. I didn't think he'd resemble my biological dad much, but he did. He had arched dark brown eyebrows and dark blue-green eyes with flecks of gold around the pupil. The only difference was the shape of his eyes, they were round. His skin was tanned like my dad's had been and he was about the same height. Put him and Drew next together and they would look like brothers.
He smiled and nodded at me, taking in my fading blue hair that looked navy now and my dark lips which were painted an outrageous shade called DelishBerry lip gloss.
I stood awkwardly at the door, glaring at the warrior woman Anita who was scowling at me, wanting nothing more than to punch her, my mori egged me on, before Abby, who was taller now that she was wearing her knee-high gothic combat boots, her purple hair piled on the top of her hair in two buns with her ends sticking up, broke the connection by stepping into my eyeline. She let out a sudden growl and the woman backed off, disappearing around the corner.
I turned back around to notice Matt sitting at his desk, looking amused, while Abby and Allie hovered behind me. I was grateful these two girls had my back no matter what. Squaring my shoulders, I walked into the room.
Scanning the medium sized room with its floor to roof height bookcases that ran the length of the walls, it looked very homely. A coffee cup was on the desk sitting on a coaster, its aroma wafting around the room. He took the cup and took a sip.
'Hello Belle, it's good to finally meet you.'
'Hi.' I said looking around the bright and airy room. Matt, however, was looking at Abby. I knew that Abby had been a very good warrior and pretty well known all over the world before her sister died.
'You must be Abigail Waters.'
'Yeah, the one and only. Have they sent out alerts?' Abby asked sounding very irritated. Her eyes were dark and I could tell she was close to losing it. Allie sent me a worried look and I touched her hand. Abby looked down at me and her eyes softened and they changed back to their usual hazel eyes.
'One of your kitchen staff alerted Tristan five minutes after you left.'
'And no one stopped us...' I trailed off. My mori hummed a bit but I ignored it.
'Of course not, although you could have at least waited for me to pack an overnight bag.' Dad retorted.
Letting out a squeak of surprise, I whirled around to see my dad slipping into the room. Gathering me to his chest, he held me for a long time. Allie paled as she glanced at Abby who remained composed.
'You came for me.' I murmured.
'Of course, I did, sweet one. I got here yesterday. Where you taking the scenic route?'
'Mew.' Came a grumble from my pocket. Stepping back, I realised I'd squished my little kitten.
'Whoops.' I said peering into the pocket where she gave me a cold look. Turning around, she showed me her back and went back to sleep.
'What have you got in your pocket?' Matt asked curiously.
'Gemma, my werekitten.'
Matt smiled as I showed him the grey tabby werekitten. She was so disgruntled she spiked my thumb with one of her fangs.
'You little brat,' I scolded. 'No salmon for you any time soon.'
'So, are we going home or what?' Allie demanded impatiently. Abby sent her a scathing look which she returned.
'No, of course not.' Desmond replied loftily. 'Someone is trying to hide something from us and not even the council knows what has transpired.'
'Yet they sent Mr McBroody Pants and Jordan to keep an eye on me.' I pointed out. 'What about Danshov and Chris?'
Desmond frowned. 'Honey they left a week after the Frey's. Didn't you realise?'
'Uh no, unlike some people, I don't spend my days wondering what Danshov and his sidekick are up to.' I replied shooting Allie a look. She shrugged while Abby resisted and failed to not roll her eyes. In fact, after I'd found out that they'd lied to me about Drew I had limited my contact with them to about a zero. They seemed to respect that, or maybe they didn't care about lying to me at all.
Assholes.
My calm mood was suddenly gone. 'Can we get back to the part where everyone ditched me in some lame attempt to kill a master?' I asked crossly.
Matt leant back into his seat twiddling his thumbs. 'It could be a master, or it could be something else.'
'Maybe another demon is trying to get through the barrier or something.' Abby said. 'There are many reasons why they left, and they may not be because of you at all. They might need seasoned warriors on a sensitive case.'
'Yet, you came with me on this wild goose chase.' I retorted.
Abby's eyes flashed. 'Of course, I did! You're my family.'
'Abby, Alison, please leave us for a while.' Dad said as he ushered the women out, shutting the door in their astonished faces. Letting out a snarl, I walked to the door and yanked it open.
'Abby and Allie are on my team. They alone have my backs and I have no secrets from them. They're staying and that is final.' I spat dangerously as Abby shot him a smug look as she passed, sinking down onto one of the chairs, snagging me around the waist. I ungracefully fell into her lap.
Matt gave me a grin while dad seemed to be counting to ten in his head.
'Fine, let's get back to the point. The Frey's were supposed to be in New Jersey, that part is true. Yet there has been zero contact with any of them. I'm friends with Sebastian and Anna's sons, so their sudden disappearance is worrying.' Matt said, taking another sip of coffee as his gaze swept past us. Desmond finally sat in the chair leaving Allie standing as she went to the bookcase and started looking at the books out of pure boredom.
'I may not care for the council but someone decided that we weren't to know anything and it is beyond frustrating. Why would Drew freeze you out as well? You two seem pretty close.'
'I think that in itself is a clue. Did you look at the reports?' He asked scrubbing his eyes as if he was feeling tired.
I nodded mutely. The only thing that seemed to stick out was the Mohiri male and human wife that had been killed here in Seattle, Washington. I'd read the report but nothing indicated a vampire attack, in fact no one knew how both of them had died. The woman been pregnant when she died, again, there was nothing to prove or disprove a vampire attack or some other demon. Whatever it was had been careful, leaving no traces of their DNA or forensic evidence.
Desmond nodded. 'The couple stood out for me. Blade and Alaina Dexter.'
'The husband was at a wrakk doing his weekly rounds. A Mox demon called Marla, said she saw him leave.' I said remembering the report effortlessly. I don't know why but it was imprinted in my mind. It was the reason why I'd been having sleepless nights lately, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure it out. I felt a little stupid now and I folded my arms looking at my feet wishing I had something to contribute.
'Yet Blade was killed and dumped behind a bin in the wrakk.' Desmond scowled as he looked at the ceiling.
'The wife was killed first at their house.' Abby said, in a faraway voice as she peered at the autopsy report. Matt gave me a look. I chose to ignore it. Of course, I'd given her the reports, she was my teammate and had more experience than I did. Abby poured over the reports and this one had stuck with her like mine, although we couldn't figure out why.
'Easier target.' I muttered looking down at my feet. I felt sick to my stomach as I remembered the photos of the human woman lying on their bedroom floor, her neck sliced so deeply I could see bone. The warriors that had found her, had done tests on the blood left in her body and on the floor. Some of it had been taken, which indicated the work of a vampire but a vampire didn't need a sword or a knife to kill. Matt interrupted my inner monologue by standing up.
'Someone targeted this couple specifically. And they're not the only ones. I've done a lot of research lately in the archives, trying to make connections to the reports Drew had been reading. I didn't find anything until I searched for older reports.' He muttered sounding off as he stood walking to a safe and pulling out a thick manila folder. I snatched the reports before dad could. Ten couples, all Mohiri males with human wives or lovers, all over the world were dead within a span of twenty years. With the murders two to three years apart all happening on different months, it was easy to figure out why the connections hadn't been formed. Scanning the papers, I suddenly found something else that made me sick to my stomach. Flipping through the papers, bile fought its way to the back of my throat while Abby growled low and deep as she read over my shoulder. Allie appeared, snatched at the papers and let out a string of curse words that had dad scolding her, not that she listened much, her eyes were trained on me. I was half aware that I was gripping the table. I didn't remember grabbing it.
I was only half listening to dad continuing his lecture-still absorbing the information that was pissing me off to the point my mori woke up and decided to come out and play. My demon buddy was fighting for control now and the table was starting to creak in protest.
'Shhh Bellyboo, you're not going to let your demon buddy break your uncle's pretty desk, are you?' Abby soothed running her hands through my hair, like she used to when I was a child.
Flashes of the women who had died while pregnant erupted into my mind and I found myself committing their faces to memory. As I regained my control, I vowed I was going to end the motherfucker who had killed these women. And when I found the serial killer...it was not going to be a quick death.
When I looked up smiling so evilly, Matt was taken aback. Eyeing Dad, he finally noticed and placed a calming hand on my shoulder.
'So, we have a serial killer on our hands. That doesn't explain why we are being frozen out.' Abby stated.
'Maybe we're not being frozen out. Maybe no one knows about it.'
'Somehow I doubt it. Drew saw something. Maybe this was it.' Desmond responded curtly.
'How?' I bit out.
Desmond frowned but it was my uncle who answered. 'Your mother was two months pregnant when she died. It was in the autopsy report. It was later redacted but I remember it clearly; we both do.'
'Wow...okay.' I whispered trying to recall events before the attack. I couldn't remember anything but us at a countryside park. It was so clear in my head, I stayed there remembering daddy pushing me on a swing while mummy snapped pictures, her auburn hair was moving with the gentle breeze. I remembered talking to the blonde girl next to us being pushed by her older sister. Kids were everywhere screaming happily, playing in the sun. It was so nice this memory and I don't know how I didn't remember it until now. I had this urge just to stay here forever.
'Belle.' Someone whispered in my head, only it wasn't a part of my memory and I was reminded of where I was. Annoyance made the memory in my head start to fade and I battled until it was clear again and I was watching a boy in the sandpit fighting with his older brother over a red truck.
'Leave her.' A voice muttered from behind me.
'She'll dissociate.'
'Let her, she's remembering something.' Allie mumbled from somewhere to my right. Finally, a loud bang woke me up and I blinked rapidly, halfway out of my chair. Abby was growling at Matt but he ignored it, his eyes trained on mine, holding my gaze to his.
'Did you know?' Matt pressed me but I shook my head narrowing my eyes at him until he looked away.
'My mum had trouble with me in the first few months of her pregnancy. They were worried about losing me. I only know about this because I had Dax find me everything, he could about her, so I'm not surprised mum didn't tell me so soon. Heck being so close into her pregnancy maybe she didn't even know about it. I was too young to understand anyway.' I confessed. Dad put an arm around me but I shook it off. I didn't want to be coddled. I wanted to go back to that memory. I wanted to find the memories I had forgotten.
Matt and Desmond seemed to be having a conversation with their eyes and suddenly I clued in, making my stomach drop. 'You think someone was targeting my parents before the master got to them.' I said swallowing bile. If they hit me with more bad news, I was going to need a toilet.
'I believe Drew believes that.' Matt corrected.
'Why would some monster be obsessed with killing pregnant women?' Desmond asked clenching his fists.
'Maybe the killer is female. Maybe she lost a baby, and is demented enough to think that she's sparing them what she went through.' Abby suggested.
This was not turning out how I had wanted. I thought I was on track to finding the master not some psycho killer. Could it be both? Gulping down some air, I began to shake and Abby's arms tightened around me.
'Or she's a complete psycho who wants to destroy Mohiri and human relationships out of spite.' Matt replied in a far-away voice as he mulled his suggestion over.
'A spurned lover.' Desmond said as he sat up straighter.
'Or someone who really doesn't like half-breed Mohiri.' Allie said. Instantly I was offended, growling at the mere thought that someone would call me a half-breed.
'And Drew figured all of this out in like what, an hour?' I muttered.
Matt sighed. 'I don't know. Maybe I've found something completely different. I honestly don't have any answers and the council are giving me the run around.'
'So, the goal is to find Drew and beat the truth out of him.' I hissed standing up effectively breaking out of Abby's grip.
'No, we ask politely.' Dad reprimanded me.
'Screw that, who knows how many human women are in danger because their Mohiri males decided to get them up the duff. We need to start figuring out who is dating who and use them as bait. Oh, I can't wait to get my hands on this mother-'
'BELLE!'
'Fine we'll discreetly tell the Mohiri males some psycho killer is hunting their human women who are up the duff.' I retorted.
'And start a panic?' Matt asked calmly.
'It's better than letting our people die!' I exploded.
'Belle, please, these murders are years apart, we have time.'
I shook my head. 'You don't get it, Matt. If the master hadn't gotten to us, I bet this freak would have. So, I will find and gut the bitch if it is a bitch, and you can sit here and go to hell.' I seethed.
I was out of the door before Abby could stop me.
