"Leo didn't tell you what was going on…. did he?" Brielle sat straight and felt the breeze blowing past her, and she relaxed her head on his back. "You have gotten a lot bigger than the last time that I saw you."
Slowing down in town, Luke weaves in and out of traffic. "Not much. Just that you needed to be hidden away. I thought that it might have to do with that asshat, but now that I have seen you, I think that it has something to do with a supernatural. I am still growing too."
"You are correct that it has to do with both of those. The asshat is hunting for me again, and I got involved with a supernatural, or at least I think that I did? Nice name for asshat. I like that." Brielle giggles and smiles in the helmet.
"Yeah, that is the best name for someone like that also, do not think that I am hitting on you. I can already tell that you belong to this other person, and my mate is out there somewhere. You have become strong and beautiful. So, I do feel bad for you." Once they get out of sight of the town, Luke picks up speed, ripping through the wooded area.
"Thank you. I do not take what you said as a bad thing. It is already a fact that I am not your mate, or else you would not want to separate me. Is that the attraction that I feel? Could this vampire be my partner for life?" Brielle has her eyes closed, not paying attention to the speed or the way that they are travelling. Trusting Lao's adopted son. "I also have two wards, but that is just another reason that I must hide."
"Oh? It is not that it is for me to say, but two wards are tough. Are you really sure that you what that much responsibility?" Luke turned the corner and kept the bike in the grooves where a tire on a car would drive on the road.
"At first, I was excited about it. I have two trainees. One is my ward, and the other, I saved his parents, but his bother didn't make it. The second ward is actually a young girl that I saved from being sacrificed in a ceremony, but no one came to claim her as their daughter. Today I found out that she might be connected to a vampire and potentially be used as a spy. That is the main reason Leo wanted me to go." Brielle sighs and shakes her head.
"That is a lot to take in. No wonder you are coming over. I am sorry that this has happened to you. Is there anything that you would like to eat? I am sure that Carlos will be happy to cook for you since you will be a guest at the house for the week." Luke smiles and turns down the road leading up to the house. He parked the bike and let Brielle climb down, then he climbed off and supported her body as she started to shake. Luke took off her helmet and then his. "Come on, let's get you into the house."
Brielle weakly walked to the entrance, and then two entered. Brielle walked to the couch and dropped down. "I will be okay here. Go ahead, park the bike and grab my belongings." She glances and watches him leave the room and lets the tears fall down her cheeks.
Carlos comes to the living room. "Someone as beautiful as you shouldn't be crying alone. What's happening that you have to be in hiding, Brielle?"
"Carlos…." Brielle wipes her eyes and hides her face in the throw pillow. "I-I…" She buries her face, not replying.
Luke comes in and sighs. "Carlos, please don't bother Brielle too much. She has a lot on her plate, and she doesn't need you hitting on her at this time." He walks up to him, glaring.
"Is it that person?" Carlos looks between the two, unsure. "I wasn't hitting on her.... at least not this time."
"As far as I have been told, no, but you never know." Luke sat next to Brielle, pulled her into a hug and started to comfort her. "I wish I could ease your mind more than this, but being what I am, sorry, the most I can do is allow you to touch my ears and tail."
Calming down, Brielle pats Luke's head and touches his ears. "Honestly, you two, I do not know who is targeting, but with my memory being fucked up from a supernatural and this new mysterious target on my back, I'm afraid. The red eyes in my dream scare me, but at the same time comfort me."
"Your mate is a vampire. Damn, looks like my days of hitting on you are over with. I would rather not die at his hands so young." Carlos tries to lift the heavy air.
Sputtering, Brielle laughs for the first time since the weekend. "Thank you for that, Carlos and Luke. You both have lifted my mood. Will I be staying in the usual room?"
"Yes, I will bring your stuff up there after you eat something. Carlos whipped up a feast, knowing that you were on your way like he always does. We are here to make you smile." Luke smiled, picked up her hands and led her to the dining room.
"OH! That is why you told me to go all out for lunch. I made chicken parmesan, cheesy garlic bread, caesar salad, fresh fruit punch made from real fruit, and I even pulled all the stops whipping up a chocolate mousse for dessert. All because I remember that you loved it, Bree." Carlos follows behind, then scampers into the kitchen, bringing an extra plate set and food to the table.
Luke pulls out Brielle's chair and pushes her in. "Yes, Leo has taught me well. I knew that you might not be hungry, but please try to eat a little and talk about what has happened. It will make your stomach feel at least a little better being full rather than empty."
Nodding her head, Brielle takes a smaller portion of everything on the table and slowly takes a bite of the chicken parmesan. "Oh, wow, this is seriously heavenly, Carlos."
"I am glad that you liked it. If you have a request for anything, let me know, and I will whip it up just for you. Now, what happened?" Carlos fills his plate, looking at Brielle and Luke sitting next to each other.
Over the meal, Brielle goes over the whole situation in more detail, and Luke frowns. "You said this girl is three years old? Could it be that she was turned too young?"
"She's completely human. So, she was linked too young but not turned. A witch that was with me told me who the supernaturals were. So there is no way that she can be anything but human. I am worried that this is a ploy to get through me, and potentially asshat is involved... I'm scared." Brielle starts shaking and looks at the two.
"Hmmmmmm, from what I know about asshat, this is not his MO, but you never know. I assume that Will and Leo will set off the device they find at midnight tonight. So we should have answers in the morning. If you can't sleep, Brielle, you are welcome to ask me to stay awake with you. I really do not mind. I was thinking about painting this week as I have some projects that are due."
"Thank you, Luke. I know that I could count on you to keep me company…" Brielle smiled and took a bite of the cheesy garlic bread.
"That is a lot to go through in such a short time. While you are here, I will feed you. I can't stay up like Luke, but if you need my company, I will offer it to you! I am your friend." Carlos took more of the food and handed the bowl to Luke.
"For now, I will take Luke up on the nightly company. I would rather not have burnt food due to the fact that you fell asleep while cooking." Brielle giggles at Carlos' expression. "I know that you value food and would never ruin it, but I do not want you to lose sleep because of me."
Luke looked between the two. "Carlos, we can take turns during the day when you have a break. I still have some shit to attend to with the human school."
Brielle ate the small portions on her plate, watched the two finish off what was left on the table and giggled. "You two eat so much. I wish I had your metabolism rates. Can I get dessert?"
Carlos jumps up, goes to the kitchen, and comes out carrying three martini glasses full of mousse and whip cream. "Here you go, fierce one." He runs away, gives one to Luke, and sits down across from them.
Hearing his nickname for her, Brielle waits until he is sitting and kicks him in the shin. "That will teach you to call me strange nicknames. Just remember that I know all about you, and I will ruin your life." She picked up the dessert spoon and started to eat the dessert but let out a satisfied moan. "Sooooooo good. With a dessert like this, I might be willing to forgive you."
Luke laughs and eats the mousse fast before Carlos can swipe his dessert. "Looks like you got put in your place again…. For what is the fiftieth time?"