A deep breath left Reyna as she stared down at her phone. Her heart felt like it was thumping in her chest, and her hands were shaking all on their own. She placed the phone down and buried her face in her hands. Thanks to Clarisse drugging her, she had gotten a good night of sleep.
But it didn't do a damn thing.
Reyna knew that the noose was quickly tightening around her neck. The more people that knew meant there was a greater chance for a slip. Hell, Piper or Clarisse probably gave it away that they knew when Circe spoke to Chiron at the bar.
And how the fuck was she going to tell Hylla?
The others didn't understand. They didn't realize how demoralizing it was. Circe could just snap her fingers, and Reyna would do whatever she wanted. Especially because she didn't want her friends to be hurt. And, she knew exactly what Circe could do.
Reyna looked up and stared ahead. She tried to swallow back the bile climbing up her throat. What was she going to do?
"Fuck," Reyna exhaled. She took a deep breath and grabbed her phone. Reyna opened her meager contact list and hovered her finger over Hylla's name. Then, she stopped. She just couldn't bring herself to do it.
A pit of shame bubbled in her stomach. It was so humiliating and embarrassing to have to share this with anyone. For so many people to know made her sick. But to tell Hylla? She didn't think she could do that.
Reyna let herself settle. She let herself think that she could actually have a proper life. It was only a matter of time until it went up in flames. Reyna stood and raised her foot to kick a chair. Then, she stopped and took a deep breath.
Her breathing didn't even out as she paced back and forth. Her narrowed eyes focused on the ground as she kept up the pacing motion. Reyna was so angry at herself. She was so angry at Circe for all the shit that she did to her.
Reyna wanted nothing more than to tear Circe's throat out. As a werewolf or even a human, it didn't matter. She just wanted to do it. Hell, she had a gun pulled on Circe, but could not pull the trigger. The witch's words wrapped around her brain and almost drew her into a trance.
What if Circe made Reyna hurt her sister? Circe already proved that she could wrap Reyna around her fingers or even make her hesitate just enough that someone else could hurt Hylla. Reyna couldn't risk her sister like that, but she was already risking her friends.
"Fuck!" Reyna snapped as she slammed her fist into her upper leg. "Damn it!"
Reyna would have punched the wall if it didn't belong to Clarisse. She ran her hands through her hair and dug her nails in. Reyna closed her eyes tightly. She was tired of living under Circe's thumb. Reyna was tired of just doing whatever that bitch wanted.
But, she was useless when it came to Circe. Her body was paralyzed, and there was nothing she could do. Reyna wracked her brain for an idea and kept pacing. This wasn't going to work. There was nothing she could do.
Reyna was one werewolf with too many people that could be hurt because of her. Circe seemed to have a damn empire. A network that could run drugs or pimp women out. What the fuck was Reyna even supposed to do? Barring Clarisse, the most danger that any of Reyna's friends had gotten in was a rowdy bar patron.
Well, there had been Ma Gasket and Lycaon. And Reyna handled them. She killed Ma Gasket's boys and tried to frame Lycaon for it. That didn't work, which led to the two bastards going after Clarisse. It proved that Reyna couldn't plan for shit.
And her plan had been to just leave Circe and never stop running. But, here she was once again with another plan that went to absolute shit. Any plan she made went to shit. Half the time she was successful by pure luck or by improvising.
Reyna looked back at her phone. She swallowed painfully. Her method of planning wasn't getting her anywhere. So, she needed to try something new. Well, old in her case.
Reyna walked toward the couch and sat down. She closed her eyes and focused.
Who was the problem?
Circe.
What did she want?
For Reyna to be her... toy.
What was Circe?
A beast; a succubus to be exact.
What did she know about those beasts?
They could manipulate any and all manner of beasts or humans by talking to them. The Succubus had to focus their power to gain control, but there was no known substance to counteract the effect. Not all people would just fall under the spell, though. It took time and effort. Though, the Succubus could make the process easier by drugging the target or putting them through physical pain.
Or by making the victim trust them.
Reyna shut down that line of information. Personal experience did not matter here.
A Succubus found it easier to manipulate a target they had manipulated before. The best thing to do around them was to avoid direct eye contact and try to avoid listening to them speak. They were some of the most dangerous beasts in the world.
How to handle a Succubus?
Obtain proof that erases reasonable doubt, but it doesn't matter if it is ironclad. Even if an innocent is killed, better to not take a chance that lets a monster roam free.
What to do once proof is obtained?
If possible, kill the target from far away. A sniper bullet works best. When long range isn't possible, poison.
And what does the poison do?
Take their power away.
Reyna grabbed her phone and stood. She made her way out of the house as she dialed Hylla's number. The phone rang for a minute before going to voicemail. Reyna tried once again, and as it went to voicemail, she swallowed painfully.
"Hey, Hylla," Reyna began. She swallowed painfully. "I, um, just wanted to call you. Check on you. Look, I need to tell you something. Just.. call me when you get this message."
Reyna ended the call. She moved her phone away, only for it to vibrate. Reyna's eyes moved back to her phone. It was an unknown number. It could be Hylla. After a moment, the werewolf answered the call.
"Little wolfy."
The bile instantly clogged Reyna's throat. She tried to breathe but felt like it was suffocating her. Reyna clenched her phone tightly and turned her head.
"I hope I didn't interrupt your call."
Reyna's head shot up, and her eyes darted around the street. There were plenty of cars around her, mostly parked in the driveways of homes. She saw a car not far down the road, but it was empty. A glance up showed no one on the roofs. To the right was a black van that belonged to a cleaning company.
Fuck.
"What do you want?" Reyna muttered as she turned away from Clarisse's place and started to walk opposite of the van. She didn't need enhanced hearing to know they were following.
"Is that a boyfriend?" Circe purred. "Girlfriend? Or, are you offering your services without my permission?'
"A friend," Reyna replied. She stopped walking and looked at the van. It stopped near her. "I'd rather not break a rib trying to fight your goons. Just make this easy."
The phone hung up, and the door at the back of the van opened. Reyna tried to calm her breathing as she looked inside the van. What would have once been storage space was refitted into seats on opposite sides of the walls. Circe sat on one side in the middle of the seats. Her two bodyguards sat opposite of her with space in between.
Reyna silently sat in the middle and kept her gaze downwards. Her shoulders stayed slumped. Circe spoke, "What's wrong with you, dear? Can't sleep?"
"No," Reyna muttered.
"Is a full moon coming?" Circe wondered as her eyes flipped up toward the roof.
"No," Reyna answered. She tried to keep her anger in check because it would very quickly turn to fear. And fuck, she was terrified right now. "W...what do you want?"
"I have a simple request." Circe began as she leaned forward. "You're decent enough at breaking and entering?"
"Haven't practiced in awhile," Reyna muttered. She played with her hands. Circe grabbed her hands, and Reyna tensed. "Not as small anymore. Harder now."
"This is very easy," Circe replied. "Especially for a werewolf."
Reyna's eyes flickered up. Circe continued, "Have you heard of a werewolf in this town called Lycaon?"
Reyna's breath hitched, and a smile came to Circe's face. Reyna felt her fear rolling off of her in waves, and Circe must have been relishing it. It was silent until the werewolf forced herself to nod.
"Well, someone killed Lycaon," Circe commented. "Before that, I bought some property. Very valuable property. But, you know how it is. I love to shop, but I normally can't see the item I'm buying. Just descriptions. I have the name of the brand, but I just don't know exactly what model it is."
"I don't have a fucking bug on me!" Reyna snapped. She looked at Circe. "So, just stop fucking playing with me. Who the hell did you buy and what the hell does it have to do with me?"
The back of a hand slammed harshly into Reyna's mouth, and her head snapped to the side. Reyna instantly cradled her mouth and lowered her head as ragged breaths left her. Mostly from fear of Circe doing anything else.
"I didn't ask to be interrupted," Circe warned coldly. "Or cursed at."
"I...I'm sorry," Reyna whispered. She cradled her face and kept her gaze on the ground.
"I bought a vampire," Circe clarified. Reyna nodded to show she was listening. "I don't know what he looks like. I just have a name. You know the streets better than I, and you know how to work them. In more than one way."
"If I do this?" Reyna muttered. She could feel the bruise forming on her cheek.
"Then you curry favor with me," Circe answered. She ran a hand through Reyna's hair, and the werewolf nearly vomited. "You know just how important that is."
Reyna nodded slightly. She didn't know if she could actually deliver someone to Circe. But if it was to save her own skin...
"What is the name?" Reyna muttered. Circe patted her back.
"Good girl," Circe purred. It sounded like a smile was cracking her face. "You will contact me when you find him, and I will tell you where to bring him. Do not be followed. Do not disappoint."
"I won't," Reyna muttered as she felt anger smoldering in her veins. She went about all of her problems like she used to, but Circe knew her inside and out. Circe knew how to control her. The Succubus was a monster.
But, Reyna had been trained by a monster. To stop Circe, she was going to have to think like a monster.
Like a member of Exterminata.
"I can live with you taking some time to do this, but do not wait too long," Circe warned. "As for your quarry, his name is Nico di Angelo."
