After wrapping up my work, I had to make arrangements for the day ahead in advance. It took hardly ten minutes for me to reach the cafe, thanks to Google Maps.
It was a small place called 'The lower deck seafood restaurant', with dark wooden flooring and yellow-painted walls along with maps hanging on every corner, giving the complete feel of a shipping compartment.
It was pure luck that I got a seat in the far corner from where you could enjoy a spectacular view of water and sunset because they didn't take reservations. I ordered myself a drink to kill the time, waiting.
The bells jingled to announce the arrival. I glanced in that direction, my lips curled up in a smile and my eyes sparkled. I got up to greet the famous warlock, Aramis, in the flesh.
The person was nothing less than a miracle in himself; I swear. With his presence, the cozy space of the cafe filled with powerful energy, and the atmosphere grew unbearably hot. As the pole of attraction shifted to the door, every eye veered on him, especially females, as if he was a new candy in the market everyone wanted to put their mouths on.
I couldn't blame them for it. The man was insanely charming. Anyone would be blind to not be intimidated by his charm.
My gaze swiftly descended on his appearance. It changed over time and I would say it got better. He was wearing a black biker's jacket over a white woolen tee, and black denim, along with brownish biker shoes.
His dirty-blond hair was unkempt, falling over his sexy violet eyes, which were twinkling brighter than the stars in the universe. His sharp jawline and facial cuts were to die for. He looked exactly where I was sitting at the corner table and smiled my way.
Moving his long legs he shortens the distance, confidentially.
"Look at you. You grew up pretty well, Little Tiger." I stood on my feet to greet him.
I snorted at his endearment, boldly expressing my dislike over the name he had given me in childhood.
"Oh hush, don't give me that face. I know you secretly like it. Now come here fast, sneaky tiger! It's been so long." A knowing warmth wrapped around me as I threw myself into my best friend's brawny arms.
"Oh, I missed it, Dummy. I missed you so much…" I mumbled sweetly.
He patted my head affectionately and admitted, "I missed you too, little one." That made me happy.
***
Time flies. Soon the sky picked a darker shade and with it came the time to say goodbye.
I hugged Aramis tightly. He came here all the way to meet me when I knew how busy he was. I thanked him.
"Mention not, Little Tiger. Just ring me if you need anything." I wasn't a crybaby, but the warmth of his words made my eyes moist.
"Aw. Don't cry, baby. I promised we would meet again. Very soon. And till then….. Keep it with you, it will keep you safe." He produced a beautiful violet color crystal attached to a metal chain from his jeans pocket.
It was stunning.
He fastened it around my neck before we said goodbye, and parted ways.
The night was dark, and the atmosphere was unbelievably calm. My guts were sinking at the lack of people around. However, I swallowed it up and forced my legs to fasten the pace. Whilst passing the dark alleyway. I hurried to reach my hotel room.
Until a smell hiked up to my nostrils and made my wolf growl in frustration. I halted in my tracks and looked around to find the source.
"Vampires"
***
In the middle of the day, (which regards sleeping time for vampires) a soft knock clinked at my private chamber's door. It was unexpected for someone to pay me a visit considering the time, though I went to answer it.
I opened the door to get face to face with a tall and lean man with shoulder-length blonde hair tied neatly in a ponytail at the back of his head, not looking like the man who just walked out of his bed. With his well-ironed white shirt and black pants. He even takes time to polish his black leather shoes.
So, neat and well organized.
Well, I got used to it since having this person by my side since childhood, my childhood best friend and personal bodyguard, Darius.
Knowing very well that if not something important, he could never bother me during this period of the night, though it didn't annoy me any less.
"Ah, Darius, what do I owe this pleasure for having you at my door at this hour?"
"Forgive me for disturbing your sleep, my lord, but it's urgent. I got a message from trackers." he walked into the room after me.
"Uhuh…" Letting him know that I'm listening while I moved to close the windows, which I left open earlier. The climate was windy outside.
My gaze lingers on the sight of water furiously rushing to the stone beds and then backing off to repeat the action again and again.
"They found her." He announced.
"Are they sure they got the right person?" I asked in a bored tone.
That was not the first time they were mistaken. It had been while we were looking for that woman. The one Oracle claimed was born to break the curse.
I know it sounds ridiculous, to believe the words of long-lost souls. I never was one to blindly walk in the path shown by others; however, I had hope for this one which came from that light I had seen in my father's eyes when he revealed that to me.
Knowing my father, he was a smart man who couldn't go for the nonsense shit talked by the others until he saw it with his own eyes. My father had a dream to free us, his people, from this curse, and during his last breath, he made me promise him to make it happen.
Ever since, I have increased my force and sent troops to every corner of the world, to keep their eyes and ears open and inform me if they pick something unusual.
Yeah, it sounds like shooting arrows in the dark. It has been years since my father's death and till now, this quest has taken me nowhere.
"Yes, my lord. Oracle confirmed it was her. The one we were looking for." The excitement in my best friend's tone could be heard, like every one of us he hung by the thread of hope for so long. However, I didn't miss the hint of uneasiness.
I exhaled softly, watching the smoke coming out of my mouth. "Very well then." I turned towards him and nodded while continuing, ".... when are they delivering her?"
At that, his confident dark orbs shifted downward for a split before he picked it up and answered my question. "Tonight. They are on their way here, but there is one problem…"
"Huh…" I hummed, waiting to hear it. Knowing Darius all this year, I could count the topics on my fingers that could unsettle him. Though I let him say it out loud.
His eyes snapped up to meet mine while he said. "The one Oracle said and confirmed… is no human….. She is a werewolf. An Alpha, one of those pureblood ones."
Here it comes. I think I didn't need to enlighten you on vampires and werewolves' love-hate relationships.
Letting a werewolf walk among the hundreds of vampires and at the place, which was a sanctuary for my people for so long.
"Sounds like fun…"