14. Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Ethan

I immediately recognize the phone caller. The number is too familiar not to notice. It is Demetrius Daire calling me. Where did he get my number from?

When I pick up, I can't hear anything on the other end. The voice is faint, and I can only hear heavy breathing like someone is suffocating. Why is he calling me? Did Perry plot this?

"Who is this?" I say again. I wait a few seconds before repeating it, but he is nowhere to be found.

"Hello, is anyone there?" I ask again, determined it is the very last time before I hang up for good.

I can't help but get irritated. I know who is calling me, but I can't figure out why he is doing it. I need to find Nick and call Perry. More importantly, I need to leave Lily out of this.

I suppose Nick is enjoying his new office more than he should. His office has always had the right furniture and red roses make it look better.

It's almost like a portrait of a gothic room: a dimly lit office with dark wooden furniture. Nick sits across from me, his eyes sharp and attentive.

"Have you called Perry?"

"Of course, I have. He is on his way. He should be here any moment now."

"Where did this freak get your number from?"

"That is what I am trying to figure out. My information is so very discreet to the point that I don't even have a home address in the city," I explain, my voice gradually getting louder as I slam my fist on the window.

"You need to calm down, or else you'll blow it," Nick says, patting me on the shoulder. I am still worried, and he can obviously sense it.

"I am calm. I just have lots on my mind," I say. My mind slowly allows Lily in.

"You think this creature is stupid enough to not call you back if you didn't answer the first time?"

"Of course not," I answer.

"Well then, calm the hell down," Nick says, smiling.

I can see how Nick is trying to get the best out of me. He wants me to be confident about what is about to go down. He wants me to confront any potential enemy with all I have.

"I am not sure I can stay calm. You see, Lily and I-" I say, but quickly get cut off.

"Oh yes, the florist again," Nick says, slightly smirking at me. I know what he is thinking of.

"I am afraid there is something going on between us."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. She is just so easy to be around. Her personality is quite the opposite of mine, yet we get along so well," I say, and Nick's eyes start to roll.

"Cut to the chase, Ethan. That's not what's really going around."

"Well, it turns out that she is very smart and that I am starting to fall in love with her, all over again."

"That is a pretty bold move from you, Ethan."

"What do you mean?"

"I never thought you were the one who would be the first to fall in love."

"I was not ready for love when I was a child, but now I feel I am more than ready," I explain.

"How do you think this is not going to affect your work?"

"I have no idea, but I know that it is something I am willing to sacrifice. She means so much to me," I explain.

"Well, it's been a long time since you had anyone special in your life. But isn't it so soon, Ethan?"

"It is, but I can't stop thinking about her. Every single time I am around her, she makes me feel alive, and it's amazing."

"I have no problem with her, and she is welcome in our clan, but it has been a while since you two last saw each other."

"It is. And I would like to change that."

"If you want her, then, have her. Just be careful, Ethan, and remember, there are many people who watch your every step so dating a human would not be the best decision," Nick says.

"I can handle that."

"But, if you truly care for her, and you want her to be safe, hide your secret away from her."

"I am afraid it is too late for that now," I faintly say, then head to the vase of red roses that Lily had placed here earlier today.

Good gracious, the roses are gorgeous. Perfect! They match the wooden furniture so well that it almost feels like I am back in time. The vase even has her scent. Her perfume is intoxicating.

"What do you mean by that?" Nick asks, but for some reason, the words are stuck in my mouth. I am unable to answer.

"Well."

"It is not what I think it is, is it, Ethan? You're so screwed if it is."

"Well, it is too bad you can't read minds, Nick. But I can. And yes, it is exactly what you have in mind."

"Ethan, you got to be kidding me."

"It just happened, Nick. I can't outsmart her. She is clever."

"I can't believe you! How could you be so reckless, Ethan? If she knows what you are, then your existence is threatened. The whole company's existence is."

"Don't worry. Lily will never tell."

"Says who?"

"Trust me. She won't."

"She's human, Ethan. We can't trust her."

"Yes, we can. Trust me, Nick. Please," I say, and Nick's face begins to soften. He is not only fearing for his life, but for the company's reputation too.

Without Rothschild Pharmaceuticals, we are nothing. We can't simply go back to living the way our ancestors did. We need protection from sunlight, and we need substances to keep us strong in the human world.

"If anything goes wrong, we'll be doomed," Nick says.

"I will not let that happen."

"Are you sure you want this, Ethan?"

"Yes. I have never wanted anything else so much," I explain, and Nick sighs. He looks away.

"Then you should have her, Ethan. I don't have anything against that, and if that is your choice, then go ahead. Just keep the company out of this. Make sure you really do trust this person or else, Ethan, I-"

"That is enough, Nick. I get it. I really do."

"You better. If she can't be trusted, then you'll have to get rid of her for good."

"Not that you have the right to talk this way about Lily, but yes, Nick. I understand that you are worried, and I assure you, I have it all under control."

"You are not going to let her be turned into a vampire, are you, Ethan?"

"Absolutely not. She will stay human for the rest of her life. I would never do that to her."

"Well, thank God, at least. You'll have a lot of work to do."

"Don't I always?"

"Just be careful, Ethan. We have enemies everywhere. It will be a matter of time before someone finds out about this," Nick says and gestures at my phone. Perry is calling. He must be here.

"Perry, is everything okay?" I say, as I quickly hurry to my phone on the desk.

"I am on my way, Mr. Rothschild. I think both you and your brother need to be there."

"Nick is already here, Perry. Just hurry up," I say and hang up the phone.

"Has Perry found anything else?"

"He is on his way. He sounds concerned. We should head down to meet him."

"Let's go."

I rush down to the meeting room where I see Perry smoking and organizing a stack of papers.

"Paperwork keeps increasing day by day, doesn't it, Perry?"

"The perks of being one of New York's most successful companies, Mr. Rothschild."

"You sounded like you had something to say."

"Lots of it."

"Demetrius has been calling me and the calls have become incessant, Perry. We need to deal with this threatening client."

"That is why we need him to call again so I can track him. It's only a matter of time before we locate him."

"Good. What do we know so far?"

"He's been spotted at the entrance of the company this morning. But I noticed he's been trying to stay off the grid. We do have a problem, though."

"Which is?"

"His natural habitat. The powers he has."

"What exactly do you mean?"

"I suspect he's not a mere vampire. I am afraid that he might have some abilities and connections with other clans. We might not have a lot of enemies in the city, but the fact that our enemies are hiding means that they are not going to play fair."

"Could you elaborate more, please?" Nick says, finally voicing his opinion on the matter.

"I am afraid he has a goal behind his troubling behavior."

"How do you know this?"

"It's a gut feeling, Mr. Rothschild. I know you can't just trust me, but I can promise you, I do have a strong feeling about this."

"What can we do?"

"We can start by setting traps. We can place security all around the building, and we should track him down any minute he calls now."

"I agree. It is better than letting him run loose."

My phone suddenly rings on the desk. The three of us exchange glances. I instantly pick up the call, putting it on speaker while Perry grabs his laptop.

"Hello again," I slowly speak into the call.

"Hello, Ethan," the voice finally responds back. I can barely hear him through the city's cacophony.

"The name is Mr. Rothschild."

"And I will soon witness your downfall."

"You're making a terrible mistake. You have no idea who you're dealing with."

"Oh, I know exactly who I'm dealing with. And I'm not afraid."

I glance at Perry who gestures to me to keep going.

"Keep him talking. I'm tracing the call," he quietly whispers, his eyes wide.

"You're playing a dangerous game. What do you want?"

"Can't tell you yet. You might need to work on Sanguisderm's formula. Awful taste for blood. Nothing like the real thing," he says.

"Are you working with another clan?" I ask, not interested in knowing the answer. I just wanted to keep him talking.

"That doesn't matter. What matters now is the delicate human that I am about to feed on."

Perry nudges me, pointing at the screen. I can see Demetrius's location. But something is off. As I scan the screen, I notice something familiar. I know the place he is headed to. It is the same street. This can't happen, no.