Chapter 18

Chapter

Eighteen

TALULLA

T he next couple of days are quiet and filled with classes and work. No Flynn. And as much as I appreciate him keeping his distance, I do miss knowing he is around. Can I really blame him for his decision? Who am I to ask someone who has lived as much as he has to just call it quits? I could make him change his mind. I could give him a reason to stay. But would that be enough? Am I really that selfish to ask for me to be the one who goes first? Because that's what would happen if we stayed together, wouldn't it? I would die, and he would keep living. I would age, and he would stay exactly as he is now. Yet, I can't find a way to truly believe this is how it has to end. I'm so angry he kept this from me. I'm so angry I found out the way I did. But more importantly, I'm angry at myself because I didn't give him the chance to explain himself. I just picked up my things and left. I staked him, and then I left. And when I saw him outside Kaden's house, despite my anger, I still wanted to jump into his arms, and I didn't. I built a shield, and then he still let me have time. The one thing I've requested.

It's typical of me, really. It's the first time in forever I've started to feel something for someone, and I run far, far away. Because, let's be real for a second, how can I trust someone else when even my own father abandoned me? Isn't that my excuse? That's what I've been telling myself every single day. How can I let someone in when I was brought up to fight my battles completely alone? Brought up to follow orders, no questions asked. Orders that end up with me or my prey dead. Is it too late? Evanora said the potion would be ready in a few days. Did he already take it? Is he already gone? No, he wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, wouldn't he? Not when so much has happened.

Asmodeus and Set have been trying to find a way to break into the police precinct since that night five days ago, and they keep failing. The full report is nowhere to be found. And I have a feeling a witch is behind this as well.

"Talulla, you seem oddly distracted these days. Is everything okay?" Mr. Wagner asks me.

It's Friday afternoon. Tonight, I'm fighting, and I have to leave soon to get ready. "I'm good. Just haven't slept much lately."

"Trouble in paradise?"

"What?"

Eric gets up and pours himself a cup of tea then pours a second one. As he walks back toward the table, he says, "The vampire, I meant."

"Oh," I say. "He's not around right now, professor."

"Is that why you're so distracted?" He hands me the cup.

"Thank you." I take a sip. "And… not really. It's more about those werewolves, actually."

"The guys from the house on Kirby Street?"

"Yeah."

"Didn't the police say they died from the flu?" Eric asks, sitting right beside me. It's weird being this close to him, but it's also comforting somehow. Knowing that I can now freely talk about my second life is nice.

"The Drusus coven has been working on the case. They're like our version of detectives but with magic at their disposal."

Eric's eyes widen. "Wow, okay, that's a lot.'

"I'm sorry, Professor Wagner. You didn't ask to get involved in this."

"Eric." He clears his throat and sips his tea. "You know you can call me Eric here, and don't apologize. You can tell me about anything."

"Eric, yes. Well, let's just say we thought vampires were behind it, but—"

He doesn't even let me finish my sentence. "Is this why Flynn Lancaster isn't around? Did you… stake him?"

I chuckle. "Well, I did, but not to kill him, but that's beside the point… Vampires are not behind those deaths. A witch is."

"A witch?"

"Yeah, which is very odd because a witch wouldn't just risk going against our rules."

"You have rules?"

"Yeah… Basically, only certain kinds of supernatural beings are allowed to kill without consequences."

"I don't think I'm following."

"I'm a vampire hunter. I was trained to kill vampires because vampires typically don't follow our rules. We are the only supernatural creatures free to kill with no consequences because it's our job." I rub my palm on my nose, feeling it itching. "I know it seems odd, and it definitely doesn't prevent crimes, but a witch? Now, that is very odd."

"Is it?"

"A witch doesn't just decide one day to kill a bunch of werewolves… Unless…"

"Unless?"

Eric's wife's research comes back to my mind. She knew about werewolves, vampires, the Drususes, and even my family. I wonder if… "Eric," I start, biting my bottom lip, knowing that the following question might be a little too much. "Did your wife ever mention a witch named Monica Lazar in her research?"

His posture completely changes, and I know for a fact that I fucked up. Bringing up his dead wife was definitely not a good idea. "I'm so sorry, forget about—"

"Would it help the case?"

"I mean, maybe. I'm honestly just theorizing. I met her the other day, and she isn't super pleasant."

"Let me see if I can find it here." Eric gets up and paces to the bookshelf behind his desk. It's filled with history books and papers. Lots and lots of papers. He crouches and digs out a small folder from the bottom left shelf. "I haven't heard the name before, but if she mentioned it, it has to be here."

We start going through every single page, and I chuckle at some notions and almost gasp in shock at how many things this woman found out. "This is actually impressive," I say as I continue to browse the pages. "That's a picture of my dad." I turn to face Eric. "It's a little creepy to see my family like this."

"Alina was very meticulous about her work. She put her heart and soul into everything she did." The corners of Eric's mouth lift up, his eyes lost, probably playing a memory of her in his mind. "Sometimes, we actually fought about that. Believe it or not, she worked more than me."

"You're the most hardworking person I've ever met. There's no way."

"I guess that's what happens when you lose the one thing that made you go home at night."

"You're going to find that again." My own words pierce me right through my chest because I do have a reason to go home now, and despite the clock ticking over us, I'd be an idiot to just let it go.

We get to the last page, and there is no mention of Monica. "Well, it was worth a try, I guess." I quickly check the time and realize it's late, and I have to go get ready for my fight. "Shoot, it's late. I have… work to go to."

"Talulla?"

"Yes?"

"If this witch is really behind it, be careful, okay?"

"Nothing will happen to me, professor. I'm a tough cookie."

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that I'd like Cassandra and you to talk at the fundraiser next Thursday. It will be good for you to see how these things work for the future."

"Sure, sounds good." It sounds like an absolutely terrible idea. I feel my stomach doing backflips already. "Good night, professor."

"Eric."

"Right, Eric."

"Good night, Talulla."

And just like that, I'm out the door, stumbling toward my building. My heart is beating so fast that it makes my chest hurt. The past sleepless nights are finally catching up with me, and at the worst possible time. I almost feel as if a train had hit me right in the face.

Opening the door to my dorm, I basically launch myself on my bed, groaning at how tired I feel. My chest is getting heavy, and I suddenly cough to try and fill it out with air again.

"Are you okay?" Cassandra asks as I twist my face off the mattress to face her. She's sitting at my desk, probably just waiting for me.

"No, I'm not. I'm tired."

"You're not fighting tonight." Her tone is final and quite bossy. I don't like to be bossed around unless it's a six-three god of a vampire doing the bossing.

"Yes, I am."

"You look like you haven't slept in a week. You got here basically running, and you almost missed the bed as you wobbled over it."

"Well, I indeed haven't slept in days, and I got carried away with Eric's wife's research."

Cassandra's eyes widen as her jaw drops to the floor. "What?"

"Yeah. We were drinking tea, and we got to talking about Flynn and then about the case. We ended up reading her work to see if she had any idea who Monica Lazar was."

"You really don't like this witch."

"Well, she didn't really make a good case for herself."

"Did you see anything useful to the case in there? Did she even get anything right about us?"

"She did, actually. It was very detailed, and aside from a couple of funny theories she had, it really was a well-done research. Nothing for the case though."

"I don't know how I feel about a human knowing about us."

"I mean, Eric is harmless. He already knew before I started working for him."

"I guess you're right."

I rub my palms over my eyes, feeling my vision getting blurrier and blurrier. "Do you think you could give me something to help out? I won't ask again, but I think I need a little help tonight."

"I can brew something up quickly." And then she's off to the kitchenette, making something, and I just lie in my bed, thinking about how fucked up my life has become.

Twenty minutes later, Cass comes toward me with a vial. "Here. This should help with the nerves and the few sleepless nights you had. A nice boost of energy."

I take it and down it like a shot. Immediate relief travels from my mouth down to the tip of my toes. "Ah, thank you. I already feel better."

"Good. Get your shit, and let's go."

Asmodeus is waiting for us when we walk to the parking lot. "Ready?" he asks me with his usual smirk.

"Always ready to kick some man's ass."

"You scare me, you know that, right?"

"Aw, thank you."

We get to the venue, and after I drop my stuff in the changing room, I take my time to stretch and warm up.

"Kid, are you ready?" Paolo asks, peeking through the door.

"Yeah, give me a minute," I say, taking deep breaths.

The middle-aged man walks in and hands me a bottle of water. "You sure, kid?"

I accept the offering and take a big sip, the liquid traveling down my chest feeling like burning lava. I look down at the bottle and realize it's cold from the fridge, the condensation confirming it. Odd. "I'm all good. Ready to go," I say, cracking my neck and getting up.

My head feels a bit heavy, but this fight is the best distraction I need.

We make our way toward the ring. Paolo continues walking toward his station, and I get ready to step into action. The lights seem brighter than usual, and the audience is louder too. I turn to the left and see my friends sitting in the front row. Right beside them, my blonde vampire sits as well. My heart skips a beat as his eyes find mine. Flynn's stare is blank but attentive to me. He looks even more beautiful than usual, his pale skin almost looking like porcelain in the fluorescent lighting. I step into the ring, and as I look up at my opponent, I realize something really, really unfortunate.

The world starts spinning, and a ringing starts crushing my ears. The one opponent now almost looks like… two.

I'm not okay at all.