Chapter 4
Once again I feel I owe all of you an apology for lack of updates lately. Same old stuff as always, got busy didn't have time to write like I wanted. Then at one point I did have time but was dealing with writer's block. As always thank you for reading.
"Adam I don't know why you are so upset about this?" Bobby Fish asks as he and Adam Cole sat in a bar. "I am upset because Britt is upset," Adam says. "Yeah but can she be that shocked?" Fish asks. "Look are you sure there is no what he is out there?" Adam asks instead of responding to Fish's question. "I mean he's out there. Just not alive," Fish says. "Will you be quiet," Adam warns. "Look man don't worry its been taken care of. Britt will never know what you did," Fish assures him. "I didn't want to do it. But I had to," Adam claims. "I know pal. Hey I won't shed tears for Riley Morgan. He knew the life he leading. You want my advice?" Fish says. "Sure," Cole says. "Give it some time. The guy I hired has a reputation for keeping everything nice and clean. No one will ever find Riley's body. Help Britt mourn and accept. She will move on," Fish says.
"I keep having this bad feeling. Like the phone is going to ring and it's some cop asking her to come ID his body or worse the door opens and Riley walks through it," Adam says even looking over his shoulder. "Someone finding his body may not be the worst thing. But he won't be walking through a door ever again," Fish says. "I know. I just need get Britt to stop looking for him," Adam says.
Meanwhile
Everyone was tense. The Coven had traveled via private jet to this gathering. The jet was now making the final decent. Malakai and Sonya were just always seemed tense since they were guards/protectors of the group. Mandy seemed tense because she was the leader and seemed to be thinking about everything that could go wrong the next few days. Which was causing the others to be tense knowing the heads of the coven were on edge. Riley meanwhile was tense for two reasons one they were all tense. And two he was learning he suffered from a fear of flying. Actually the flying wasn't so bad the coming in for a landing was the problem. "Everyone just be on guard," Sonya reminds everyone. In his mind Riley thought, "speak for yourself lady once the door opens I'm jumping out to kiss the ground."
A few minutes later they touched down. Someone is here," Malaki says looking at window. "Its him," Mandy says in a tone that makes it clear who ever it was, wasn't someone she was happy to see. "No one do anything rash," Malaki says. "He is clearly waiting for us. And before any of you say anything I am first out the door," Mandy says. The jet finally stopped moving. The small crew gave them the all clear to disembark. Mandy as she said was first off and marched up to the man. Riley gets his first real look at the person. It was a man if Riley had to guess he was a vampire. "I've never seen Mandy like this," Riley says to Liv seeing how ridged she is talking to this person. "With good reason," Liv replied. "We are being watched," Gigi says getting nervous as she points to another hanger with the door open. It was a woman with red hair waiting by a limo.
"I just remind you it's better to be with me than against me," The man says loudly in a threatening tone. "That's it," Sonya says balling up her first. Malakai holds her back. "Let her handle it," he warns. "You are power hungry and view the world as pawns on your chessboard. You want to start a war I won't give you soldiers," Mandy says. "Look at your coven for a second Mandy! They are to young and weak. You will be easy pickings," the man claimed befor storming off. Sur enough he heads to the other hanger with the red head.
"Still time to turn back and fly home," Kip finally says. "Not a chance if Seth Rollins is here more than ever I want to know what all is going on," Mandy says. The group gets in the limo that has been arranged. "What exactly did Seth want?" Jacey asks when they are in and moving. "He wants us to join his coven. He needs help as he is ready to make his move against the other groups," Mandy says. "He's been saying that for years," Sonya says. "You think he's actually going to do it this time don't you?" Riley asks reading the situation. Mandy looks at him. "I do." "What ever side Rollins is on I won't be on it," Kip says. "I agree. With his Coven we are as much watching out own backs," Sonya declares.
The rest of the ride was mostly in silence. Eventually they arrived at a compound. "So the coven own this place too?" Riley asks. He was still learning about the group but one thing was clear they had money and lots of it. "No this is a friend's a trusted alley we can be safe with. I know it looks like a bunch of small buildings. But there are underground tunnels that will let you move safely during the day," Mandy explains. "This where the meeting is held?" Riley asks. They explain it won't be. When they are through a gate tthe limo pulls up to a building. The driver had been paid well to never get out. They unload there bags and the driver leaves.
"Ah you lot finally made it," A man says exiting one of the building. Intoductions are made. The man is named Finn and he is the leader of the coven that controls the compound. Besides Riley, Liv was the newest member and had never meet Finn in the past. "Riley? A fine Irish name," Finn says. "About the only fine thing I was given in life," Riley says. "I'll let you settle in... Toni come show them to there rooms," Finn yells. A young blonde woman comes out of one of the building. "We need talk. Rollins was waiting for us," Mandy says. Finn nods and they walk off together. Riley winds up being the last one shown to his room.
"You weren't turned that long ago were you?" Toni asks once they are alone. "How can you tell?" Riley asks as she leads him down long hall. "You keep looking around expecting something bad to happen. I was the same way first time I traveled with my coven," Toni says. "Actually this reminds me a bad summer camp I went to as a kid," Riley claims. In reality there was something else.
Elsewhere in the compound
"Seth is getting aggressive. Word has it he and his coven went after that group out of Philly. Word has it he whipped them out when they refused to join him," Finn says as he sits behind a desk. Mandy says in old chair by the desk. "Last I recall most of there strongest had left," Mandy says. "That is true. Made those that were left easy pickings. I hear none of them are left," Finn claims. "How large is Seth's group now, from what you can tell?" Mandy asks. Finn gets a worried look on his face. "Its not just the size. Its how powerful some of his group have grown." "Such as Becky," Mandy says knowing it was a sore spot. "I had it to do over I would drive the stake through her heart myself," Finn claims.
"The Philly coven was small clearly Seth had no problem destroying them if they wouldn't join. Has he made any other moves you are aware of?" Mandy asks. "I heard he made an offer to a that coven out of Jacksonville. They also turned him down and he wasn't happy but that group is strong enough they are a risk to fight. Word has it the curled haired one alone was able to beat Seth and one of his strongest fighters. They seem to be strong enough to hold off Seth for now," Finn says. "Think we could trust them?" Mandy asks. "Not sure. I can't get a good read on them. They don't like Seth but siding with others isn't something they seem to do," Finn tells her. "Have you tried to make contact with them?" Mandy asks.
"I tried never heard back. I know Malakai and Sonya can hold there own. Kip could hold his own when we spared in the past. What about the others in your group?" Finn asks. "Liv, Jacy, and Gigi can hold there own to a point," Mandy says. "And this Riley?" Mandy explains about how different Riley is. "He's been with your for a while now. Do you think he can be trusted?" Finn asks.
"This place smells strange," Riley says. "Must you always complain boy?" His father says as he gets out of the car. Riley doesn't respond he knows its pointless to try and argue anymore. His father was in charge and it wasn't like he could leave any time soon. "Come on get the guns," his father popping open the trunk to the car.
One thing Riley had noticed fairly early on was Liv's laugh. In some dinning area he found her talking to some guy he assumed was in Finn's coven. Off to the side he saw Sonya talking Toni. "Is she actually smiling?" Riley thought. Across the room a very skinny but tall guy wearing black jacket enters. He doesn't notice Riley at first but when he does he makes a beeline for him. "You look familiar," The guy says. "I'm a white guy with brown hair. I'm as generic as it gets," Riley claims. "No it's something more," the skinny guy says looking Riley over. "Have you ever been to the United Kingdom?" The guy asks. At that moment Kip and Penelope stand up. "Zack mate, Riley here is a recent turns and no way he could make it overseas. He didn't like a two hour private jet flight," Kip says laughing at Riley.
Before anything else can be said Mandy and Finn enter. They bring everyone around a table and had out goblets of blood. They had warned Riley this was coming and the truth was he was feeling a bit of the hunger. He took a drink it bothered him he was getting used to the taste. The person Kip had called Zack kept looking at Riley across the room. "Do I actually know this guy... to many faces that run together," Riley thinks.
In Another Place
"Why does she matter so much?" "For the last time Becky, Mandy doesn't matter. What matter is is destroying her coven or getting them to join us. And I think this new one is the key," Seth said as he watched a fire in a fire place. "Are you sure he's new?" Becky asks. "I've never seen him before. No way if they had anyone else they wouldn't of been there that day," Seth says. "So what is our plan?" Becky asks. "You know Finn's set up better then anyone. Where would he put Mandy's people? And where is the best place to get in and grab the new kid?" Seth asks.
Back at the compound
"How long have you known this Riley?" Zack had asked Kip and Penelope. When they told him how little they knew it made him worry more. "I don't like this guy," Zack says looking at Riley who was talking to Malaki and Liv. "Zack mate I admit he's strange but he's a good guy," Kip says. "He was some random guy you found on the street and Liv turned. For all you know he was a hunter's trap," Zack says. "Kip remember how he didn't have any ID or a phone?" Penelope asks thinking back. Across the room Riley get up and walked toward the hall. Zack gets up and follows him.
"Hey sunshine we didn't finish our talk from earlier," Zack says. "Sunshine? That is funny calling a vampire sunshine," Riley says trying to sound aloof. "I don't like you," Zack says. "You don't even know me," Riley says starting to get mad. "From what I understand no one knows you in your coven," Zack says pushing Riley into a wall. "Watch it," Riley says getting mad. "Zack Sabre Jr. must you always cause trouble," Toni says coming upon them. "Sabre," Riley says. "My last name mate," Zack says. "I am not cleaning about another mess you make," Toni warns as she drags Zack away. "Sabre," Riley thinks.
"Its the same deal as always. Half now half when the job is over," The man behinds the desk says as he hands Riley a file. "You want me to go England?" Riley asks. "Chance for to pick some culture," The man claims. "I want culture I'll watch PBS . I'm more worried about the risk. You know the laws they got over there," Riley says. "Look I hate Sabre so much I'll make it worth you while," The man says.
The sun would be coming up soon it had given Riley the perfect excuse to head to the bedroom he had been assigned. "So to recap. Vampire war brewing, a guy with ties to my past is also a vampire, and I don't want to be a vampire," Riley thinks again before sitting up in the bed. Being among the last shown to his room he knew which room the others were in. He knocked lightly on the door. A few seconds later Liv opens it. "Hey what is up?" Liv asks. "I need to talk to someone," Riley admits. "Come on in," Liv says.