Between Rubies and Opals
Chapter Eleven

Vikki and Sam stopped abruptly on the edge of the sidewalk and looked around them. They were in the heart of Delkata, close to Specter Hill, the place where Sam took Erin for their first unofficial date. He smiled at the thought as he looked out at Specter Hill in the distance.

“Move those hind legs, Sammy.” Vikki’s voice was hushed, but he could sense some amusement from them. “The place should be right around here.” Vikki looked around her at the little shops that lined up on the opposite side of the street and checked the address on the card in her hand.

“There.” Sam pointed to a little shop with dark windows and a red door.

“Red door. Very discreet,” Vikki muttered as the two crossed the street and headed to the shop called Trinketless.

Sam opened the door and held it open for Vikki. “Ladies first.”

“Such a pup,” Vikki snorted and went inside, with Sam followed closely behind her.

A shiver ran down Sam’s spine as he looked around him at the abundance of trinkets and statues that filled the shelves of the shop. There were all kinds of charms and little brightly colored glass bottles. Sam frowned as he realized Vikki was nowhere to be seen, and he walked briskly through the small aisles. Eventually he spotted her by the counter, repeatedly ringing the little hand bell by the register.

A scruffy looking guy came from the back of the counter and glanced up at Vikki through his long matted mop of hair.

“Welcome to Trinketless,” he said, with exaggerated arm movements

He was definitely not from around here. He had a strange accent that reminded Sam a lot of Madame Pelt, and Sam continued staring at him with narrowed eyes and a defensive stance.

“I’m looking for the owner,” Vikki answered, looking down at the card. “His name is Thatch.”

“That would be me,” he answered slowly and placed his hands on the counter. “What can I help you with?”

“We’re looking for some suppressants.”

“Wolf or vamp?”

Sam noticed the way he said the last word with disdain and pursed his lips together.

“Wolf,” Vikki answered.

“Which one would you like?”

“What are our options?”

“Well, there’s the liquid, that tastes like shit water, doesn’t really mask the smell, only the transformation. Then I’ve got the powder, that’s a little stronger, hides everything but has a lot more side effects than the liquid,” Thatch said and placed a large wooden box on the counter in front of him. “Then I’ve got the newest trend. The best thing since sliced vamp, they call it.”

“What is it?”

“Can you afford it?”

“Money’s no object,” Vikki said and slammed her hand on the counter.

“Good answer, because these are expensive. Totally worth it, of course.”

“What are they?”

Thatch removed a smaller box from the large one and opened it, showing it to Sam and Vikki. “They’re called blinders.”

Sam’s eyes widened slightly as he stared at two small contact lenses, in the brightest blue he had ever seen. The color swirled around like the waves of the ocean, and a small smile ran across his face.

“They’re something, aren’t they?” Thatch nodded proudly.

“How long do these last?”

“For the whole transformation.”

“The whole twelve hours?”

“Yep.”

“Impressive,” Vikki nodded nonchalantly. “Side effects?”

“Some wolves show side effects, some wolves don’t. Depends on how tough their stomachs are.”

“Okay, let’s say for argument’s sake, he doesn’t have the strongest stomach?”

“His libido will increase, a lot.”

“I’m sure Erin won’t mind that, hey cousin,” Vikki whispered, nudging him in the ribs.

“It can also cause some emotional instability, impulsive behavior, aggression, agitation, but those symptoms usually occurs when it starts wearing off.”

“Okay, I’ll remember that.”

“Anything else we should know, Thatch?”

“Just be careful when you use them. No matter what you do, you can’t change what you are.”

Vikki and Sam exchanged quick glances and Sam nodded slightly. “I know.”

“Okay, so how much?” Vikki asked.

“Two eight.”

Vikki nodded and nonchalantly handed him a wad of notes and held out her hand.

Thatch placed a box in her palm and she closed her hand, moving it away in a quick and swift motion.

“Pleasure doing business with you two wolves. If you need anything else, you just let me know.”

“Thanks,” Sam said with a nod and the two wolves turned and headed to the door.

Once they were outside, Sam took the box from Vikki and shoved it into his pocket.

“That guy is weird.”

“He sells suppressants, Vik, of course he’s weird.”

“Are you happy now?”

“Yes,” Sam nodded. “Not a word to Erin about this. I want to tell her tomorrow night.”

“Okay, I’ll try to be discreet.”

“Thank you, Vik.”

“Oh, it was nothing. Besides, I liked being badass for a couple of minutes.”

“You’re the most badass wolf that I know.”

“You were pretty badass yourself, my little sidekick,” Vikki winked at him and they crossed the street to Sam’s black car.

Erin barged in through the doors of the living area of her parents’ manor and marched over to Lukas, who was sitting opposite her mother and Nikolai. She clutched the stems of the tulips tightly and his gaze met hers.

He looked surprised, and terrified, as he sat upright. “Erina…”

Erin pursed her lips, and stopped in front of him. “I want you to stay away from me,” she said after a few seconds.

“What do you mean?” he asked her.

“I mean, I don’t want you to come into my house without my permission, and leave things like this around,” Erin answered as she threw the tulips at Lukas.

“But they are your favorites. You love Algharakhian tulips.”

“Not when they come from you!”

“Erina, you are being rude.”

“Mother, I think we should leave them be-”

“You two are not going anywhere. This will be quick,” Erin snapped at them and turned back to Lukas.

“Erina, I was merely-”

“I don’t want you anywhere near me, or my house, or my friends! Do you understand that?”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

“Erina, how dare you speak to Lukas like this, and to throw a gift-”

“Mother, not now!”

“You are being disrespectful, Erina!”

“Mother! He cheated on me, with my best friend, and now he has the nerve to show his face here, and try to weasel his way back into our lives!”

“Erina-”

“Not a word, Lukas!” Erin growled.

“Clearly he is making amends. Can you not see that he has changed?”

“He’s not changed! He will never change! He is still the same lying, cheating, manipulative bastard of an asshole that he was eight decades ago!”

“Erina-”

Erin turned to Lukas but quickly hushed him. “I don’t ever want to see you again, Lukas. I don’t want you anywhere near me, my family, or my house! And I definitely don’t want your lame gifts! That part of my life is over!” Erin exclaimed, whirled around and stomped out of the living room.

“I should-” Lukas frowned and as he was about to stand up, Nikolai pushed him back into his seat and vanished down the hallway towards Erin.

Nikolai swooped in front of Erin and blocked the front doors of the manor.

“Get out of my way, Niko.”

“You should really learn how to control that new temper of yours, sister.”

“I’m not kidding around, get out of my way.”

“Make me.”

Her eyes flashed as Erin let out a soft growl and grabbed his shoulder. As she wanted to throw him into the wall behind her, he grabbed her arm and both of them flew through the air, and plummeted into the wall. Once on the ground, he pinned her down with both arms and frowned.

“Get off me!” Erin’s fangs shot out from her top jaw and she hissed angrily at Nikolai.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Erina? Why are you hissing at me? I did nothing to you!”

“I said, get off me!”

“What are you going to do, huh, little vamp?”

“Stop taunting me, Niko!” Erin hissed and threw him off her, and he struck the corner end of the staircase. In an instant, Erin was standing over him, her boot pressed against his chest.

“Why in Hell’s name are you so aggressive?”

“You were at the apartment last night.” Erin’s green eyes flashed violently.

“Yes, and?”

“What were you doing there?”

“Am I not allowed to visit my sister?”

“You knew I wasn’t going to be there! Why?”

“Alex told me.”

Erin’s body froze for a second and she grabbed hold of Nikolai’s shoulders. “Alex told you what?”

“That your rubies make you go crazy.”

“You had no right!” she growled and shoved Nikolai into the opposite wall with ease.

Erin watched as Nikolai stood up slowly from the ground and glared at her with amber eyes. “Seems that it’s not only your own rubies that make you act like this.”

“What are you talking about?” Erin hissed again, and Nikolai darted towards her, causing them both to plummet onto the marble staircase, bits of marble flying. Nikolai had Erin pinned down in an awkward position and as she turned her head to look at him, she spotted the rubies on his watch. “Get those things away from me.”

“Why do they make you so aggressive?”

“I don’t know! Let go of me!”

“Could the two of you please stop trying to break apart the manor?” Arjen said suddenly.

The two siblings loosened their grip on one another and Nikolai stood upright in one fluid motion. Erin was still on her back against the crumbling staircase, glaring at Nikolai.

“This is what happens when Erin is around the rubies, and not only her own, but mine as well.”

Erin glared at Nikolai again and snarled slightly, baring her fangs.

“Erin?” Arjen walked over to her, slowly, and carefully.

“Daddy,” Erin whispered and scurried backwards until her back was against the railing of the staircase.

“Nikolai, step away from Erin and remove those rubies at once.”

“But-”

“Now, Nikolai!” Arjen bellowed and Nikolai nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

“Erin-love?” Arjen knelt next to Erin and looked at her. She had a terrified look on her face, and caught sight of her mother and Lukas in the hallway.

“Good gracious! What is going on in here?” Cassandra gasped.

Lukas stared at her, a worried expression on his face and she turned her face away, looking at her father.

“Erin, how do you feel?”

“Better, now that Nikolai’s not here.”

“You look bewildered.”

“That’s an understatement,” Erin panted. “Daddy, what the hell is wrong with me?”

Arjen ran his fingers through her messy hair and gently touched her chin. “We need to have a little chat.”

“I don’t know why we are here again, Gowan.” Sam looked around him at the masses of wolves with a frown.

They were at the Meathouse again, but the crowd was much more rowdy than last time.

“Do you see him?” Gowan asked, looking around him for Lee.

“No, I don’t. Are you sure he’s here?”

“He sent me a text to come and join the festivities.”

“Festivities,” Sam muttered. “Seems more like a political statement.”

“My fellow wolves!” Lee suddenly appeared on the podium and had a large bat in his hand.

“There he is,” Sam nudged Gowan’s elbow.

“The little shit-head.”

“The time has come for us to take back what is ours! No longer will we stay oppressed and beaten. No longer will we be classed as the inferior race! No longer will we bow down to those dead, bloodsucking vamps!”

The crowd cheered and Gowan and Sam exchanged worried glances.

“I need to get over to him.” Gowan started pushing his way towards Lee, trying to move through the crowd. “Lee!”

“Gowan! Sam!” Lee exclaimed, and when they finally reached him, Lee hugged them. “You made it!”

“What are you doing, Lee?”

“I’m leading a revolution,” Lee answered triumphantly, pumping his fist in the air.

“It looks like you’re getting ready to get yourself killed, Lee.”

“You worry too much, Gowan.”

“Listen to Gowan, Lee. You’re putting yourself in the front line, and the vamps won’t hesitate to kill you. Not one bit.”

“So come with me.”

“What?”

“Come with us; then you can kill as many vamps as you want.”

Sam and Gowan looked at one another, but Sam shook his head. “I can’t do that, Lee, and neither can you.”

“Of course I can.”

“Lee, don’t be stupid.”

“I’m not being stupid! Things need to change around here. All we need to do is get off our asses, stop complaining and do something about it!” Lee growled and walked away from Gowan and Sam.

“Lee, wait!”

“Either you’re with me, Gowan, or you’re not.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Don’t ever talk to me about fair,” Lee frowned and continued walking.

“I can’t leave him, Sam.”

“Let’s go then,” Sam agreed and followed the mass of wolves through the trees, heading in the direction of the governor’s house in Almedor Heights.

The wolves were starting to get rowdy and out of control, storming through the streets. Garbage cans were being kicked around, littering the streets. Their angry chants could be heard from miles away, and Sam and Gowan looked a little worried.

“This was a bad idea,” Gowan frowned.

“You think?” Sam grimaced. “They’re almost at the governor’s house.”

“Do you hear that?”

“Sirens.”

“Oh boy. They’re busted.”

“We need to get them out of here.”

“Sam, it’s you and me against this throng. We can’t do much.”

“We need to get Lee; he’s on the front line.”

Suddenly, shots fired into the sky and chaos broke loose on the streets of Algharakh. Sam looked around him at the crowd scattering, but moving in slow motion.

The Algharakhian guards were trying to gain control of the mob, shooting rubber bullets, guarding themselves with heavy shields, while the remaining wolves that had not fled like cowards, were standing their ground, and throwing rocks at the guards.

Sam looked over at Gowan, but he was nowhere to be seen. Another round of shots fired and Sam looked over his shoulder. In the midst of the chaos, Gowan was fighting a vamp guard. Sam’s eyes widened as he saw Lee, lying on the ground, by his feet, covered in blood.

“Lee!”

“Sam!” Gowan yelled as he grabbed the guard around the neck. “Grab his gun and shoot him.”

Sam froze and looked at Gowan. “No, Gowan…”

“Shoot the fucking vamp! He killed Lee!”

Sam took a step back and shook his head. “No…”

“Sam!”

“I can’t! It’s not right!” What would Erin think if she had to hear that he killed a vamp?

“She’s tainted your mind, Sam! They are all the same!”

Sam was grabbed from behind and let out an angry growl. “Get off me!”

He felt the cold hands of the vamp and grabbed hold of its wrists, throwing it over his shoulder. The vamp flew through the air and went straight through a nearby concrete wall.

Many wolves were retreating, and quite a few bodies lay motionless in the street.

“Wolves of Algharakh! Stand down!” A voice boomed over a loudspeaker and Sam looked over his shoulder at Gowan. The guard he had been fighting was dead on the ground, and Gowan was crouched next to Lee. Sam ran over to him, grabbing him at the back of his shirt.

“Gowan, we have to go!”

“I can’t leave him, Sam!”

“We have to go, Gowan! Now!”

“Wolves of Algharakh! Return to your houses!” The same voice boomed over the speakers.

Gowan wiped his face and stood up, looking at six heavy artillery vehicles approaching.

“We have to go.”

Gowan nodded wordlessly and the two of them made their way towards Morton manor.

Arjen glanced over at Erin, sitting opposite from him, nervously twiddling her thumbs. After placing his hands on his lap, he spoke softly, “Erin.”

Her head snapped up and she looked at him with wide eyes. “Daddy.”

“There is something that you need to know. I should have told you a long time ago, but I kept waiting for the right moment.”

“Oh no,” Erin sighed miserably. “Am I dying?”

“You’re not dying.”

“Do I have a rare and incurable disease or something?”

“No, dear Erin. It is much more enslaving than an illness.”

“The only thing worse than an illness, is a curse,” Erin whispered.

“Exactly.”

“So I’m cursed?” Erin exclaimed. “It’s those damn rubies, isn’t it?”

“It’s not the rubies, Erin.” Arjen pursed his lips and motioned to Erin’s neck. “That necklace, it was a gift from your grandmother.”

Erin nodded and lightly fingered the stones in her necklace. “Yes, it’s the only thing that makes me feel close to her.”

“Did you know I also have something similar?”

“No, actually I didn’t.”

The Count stretched out his arm and pointed to his watch. Erin leaned closer but frowned at her father.

“But Daddy, that’s a watch.”

“Look closer, my dear.”

Erin looked closer, concentrating hard on the face of her father’s watch. Then she realized exactly what he meant. The face had an opal finish, with twelve emeralds set inside the opal. The opal looked almost exactly like the moon last night. She remembered it well, as Sam had pointed it out to her.

“Does Nikolai have one as well?”

“No, only you and I have one.”

There was a moment of silence in the office and Erin looked at Arjen. “Daddy, why am I cursed?”

“It is not the way you think.”

“Then stop being so damn cryptic and tell me!”

“What I am going to tell you does not leave this room.”

“Of course.”

“Your grandfather was not a vamp.”

“What? No, he had fangs-”

“Grandfather Seamus was not your real grandfather.”

“So who was?”

“I don’t know. My mother never told me.”

“Okay.”

“What she did tell me was that he was the love of her life, and a wolf.”

“What?” Erin gasped and stared at her father with wide eyes. “That means, you’re a-”

“A hybrid, yes.”

“And that means that I…” Erin’s eyes widened and she stared at him.

“You’re a hybrid as well.”

“Is Nikolai also a hybrid?”

“No, he is not.”

“Why not?”

“Erina, you are aware that we adopted Nikolai, right?”

“What? Oh my god,” Erin gasped and looked at her father. “Well, now I’m aware.”

“It was a long time ago. Your mother and I never knew if we were to have bite-lets of our own.”

“Because of you being a hybrid, and mother being a true vamp?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, so let me understand this. If I am half vamp and half wolf, why don’t I transform?”

“Your necklace.” Arjen pointed to her neck. “My watch is the reason why I don’t transform.”

“Is that why I go crazy when there are rubies close to me?”

“Yes, it’s the wolf side of you that fights against it.”

“How does that work?”

“Later,” Arjen fobbed her off slightly. “As I was saying, your mother was growing impatient, as we were married for nearly nine decades, without having our own bite-let. A month later a terrible war between the wolves and the vamps broke out in Polawar. The Originalus royal family, the Zamoyski’s, was completely wiped out, except a small infant vamp, left alone.”

“Nikolai.”

“Yes.”

“So you rescued him, and raised him as your own?”

“Yes.”

“Does he know about not being your son, and that he’s an Originalus offspring?”

“He does.”

“And he never wanted to leave?”

“His entire family was slaughtered. He had nowhere else to go. Also, his loyalty holds him here.”

“Because he feels he owes you his life.”

“You are a clever hybrid, Erin.”

“I must take after my father,” she shrugged with a smile.

“That you do indeed.”

She stared at her hands, resting on her lap and looked at her Arjen. “I have to tell Sam.”

“You cannot tell anyone about this, Erin.”

“Daddy, you don’t understand-”

“Erin, trust me on this, vamps do not receive news of blood contamination very elegantly.”

“But Dad-”

“No, Erin!”

“Sam’s not a vamp.”

“What?”

“Sam’s not a vamp. He’s a wolf.” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“You’re dating a wolf?”

“I am.”

Arjen hesitated, for a split second, trying to hide a small smile. Then, as if reason set in, he shook his head in disapproval. “You still cannot tell him.”

“But I tell him everything, daddy.”

“My daughter fell in love with a wolf. Who could have ever predicted this?”

“Daddy, please don’t say anything. Especially not to mother, or Nikolai.” Erin desperately clutched the armrests of the chair, her fingernails digging into the soft leather.

“Understood. As long as you don’t tell anyone, except Sam, about what I just told you.”

“Deal,” Erin smiled brightly and placed her hands on her lap. “Thank you, daddy, for being so calm about Sam.”

“What is to happen the weekend?”

“Oh drowned rat,” Erin pouted.

“A dilemma that still needs a resolution, I see.”

“Yes, quite the dilemma, but I want him here, daddy.”

“I know.”

“Plus, it’s Fool moon, which, I must say, was very poor planning on your part, dad.”

“There’s always a reason for everything, Erin.”

“Apparently.”

“Tell the boy-”

“Sam.”

“Tell Sam to meet me somewhere.”

“Why?”

“So I can eat him. Erin, why do you think? He needs to know exactly what he is getting himself into.”

“He knows.”

“I see, and what does he think about this?”

“It doesn’t bother him, just as the fact that he is a wolf doesn’t bother me.”

“Who is his father?”

“Frank Morton.”

“Senator Frank Morton?”

“Yes.”

“Goodness, Erin. You sure know how to pick them.”

“He makes me happy, daddy. Isn’t that all that counts?”

“I wish it were that simple, my dear.”

“The Morton’s are all very nice. I’ve been there once and they are decent people. I wouldn’t be with Sam if he wasn’t good to me, you know that. He’s a good person, he’s funny and makes me laugh, he treats me right, and he doesn’t care that I drink vials of blood from the microwave. He doesn’t care about the car I drive, or where I live, he loves me for who I am, and not what I am.”

“He sounds wonderful, Erin. I can’t wait to meet him tomorrow. I doubt the rest of the family will be as excited with his arrival, but as long as he puts a smile on your face and makes you the best version of yourself, then that is fine with me.”

“Thank you daddy,” Erin said with a smile, hearing her father’s silent words of warning. “I know, okay, just stop lecturing me in my mind. It’s my only place of solace in a world gone mad.”

“Always so dramatic.”

“It’s true, though.”

“Then you are my solace in a world gone mad.”

Erin smiled at her father. “Daddy?”

“Yes, Erin?”

She fingered her necklace and frowned. “Does that mean…”

“That there is more to your necklace than you think?”

“Yes,” Erin said with a nod.

“Just as you take after your clever father, I take after my clever mother.” Arjen winked at her.

“How do I see it?”

He stood up with a soft smile and looked at his daughter. “Look closer and she might just show you herself.”

Erin sat up slowly and watched as her father slowly walked to the bookcase to his left. He removed a dark brown book and held it out to Erin.

“This will help you understand better.”

Erin took the book from him and examined the front cover. It was an old leather bound book, with yellowing pages and a silver buckle that kept the contents a secret.

“Don’t let Nikolai see it though.”

“Why?”

“Eternal damnation might sound pleasant compared to the wrath he will ensue if he learns that the enemy has been under his nose all along.”

“Who’s dramatic now?” Erin chuckled lightly and looked at her father. “The contents, are they going to shock me?”

“Not as much as they shocked me,” Arjen said and shook his head. “I think you were aware of everything all along, Erin.”

“Thank you.” She smiled and stood up.

Her father pulled her close and held her for a few seconds. “I love you very much.”

“I love you too. Would you like to escort me to the ballroom? Mother asked me to check if the decorations are according to my specifications, which it probably won’t be, knowing mother.”

“Your mother follows her own mind most of the time, my dear Erin.”

“Truer words have never been spoken,” Erin sighed and slipped the book into her bag.

“I have some work to do. I will be along in a bit.”

“Okay.”

She left the office and headed down the hallway towards the ballroom.

Normally the ballroom was dark, the velvet drapes closed tightly, not allowing the light to make its way inside, but today, the drapes were completely open, lighting up the whole room.

There were tables lining the two opposite walls, and the roof was draped in pristine white. The table cloths were also a crisp white, with mint green organza, flowing from the tables onto the ground like a waterfall. In the corner furthest away from her, stood a few large candelabras, that was about a foot taller than she was. The marble floor was polished to such an extent that she could easily see her reflection in it. There was a sweet smell in the air, which originated from the other corner, and Erin smiled happily as she looked at the corner. There were about fifty bunches of white flowers, covering the corner of the ballroom. Erin was in absolute awe and stood on the spot, mesmerized, and astounded that her mother actually decorated the room exactly how Erin wanted it to be decorated. Usually she rarely got exactly what she wanted, with the exception of moving out, which was largely thanks to her father.

Her euphoric moment, however, was brutally ripped apart as she spotted Lukas, moving the large pillars up against the wall closest to her. She didn’t even see him, not that she wanted to anyway. She raised her eyebrows in disbelief. After what she said to him this morning, she was sure that he would never show his face here again. What a thick-skinned moron he was!

She frowned to herself and walked over to the table where six boxes filled with glasses. She felt Lukas’s gaze on her and she shivered slightly. She opened the flaps of the box and took two glasses out. The sunlight caught the glass and reflected directly onto Lukas.

“Trying to blind me?” he asked her, but she rolled her eyes and placed the glasses on the table.

Lukas’ footsteps drummed in her ears and she felt his closeness as a shiver ran down her spine.

“Erina?”

“What?”

“Are you okay?”

“Why would you ask me that?” She continued taking glasses out the box and placed them neatly next to one another on the table.

“Well, after what happened this morning-”

She glared at him, her eyes flashing, and he took a step back.

“Don’t look so scared, I’m not going to attack you, yet.”

“That’s a comforting thought.”

“Why are you still here?”

“I’m helping your mother with the decorations,” Lukas said nonchalantly. “So are you okay?”

“Why do you care anyway?”

“Erina, don’t be stubborn. That wasn’t normal.”

“I’ve never been normal, Lukas. You of all people should know that.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being different, but when a vamp reacts like that because of rubies, there’s definitely something wrong.”

“Sure, but my dad sorted everything out.”

“How did he do that?”

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

“Come on, Erina.”

“What do you want me to say, Lukas? Do you want me to confide in you?”

“That would be nice.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Just as long as you know that if you ever need to talk about something, I am here for you.”

“What’s going on with you?” Erin asked, narrowing his eyes. “Are you dying or something?”

“No, of course not. Why would you ask me something like that?”

“Because you’re acting like a decent person for once and you’re actually being nice to me,” Erin answered with a frown. “What do you want?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Okay, maybe I do want something.”

“I knew it. With you there’s always something.”

“Hush,” Lukas put his finger against her lips, but withdrew it quickly, before she had the chance to bite it off. “All I want is your friendship.”

“My friendship? Really?”

“Must you be so cynical?” Lukas placed his hands on his hips, looking at her in slight disbelief. “What happened to the Erin that believed there is good in every person? Where’s that girl?”

“You unfairly use my traits against me, I see.”

“They are admirable traits.”

“I hope that was not a flirtation attempt.”

“Would I ever do such a thing?” Lukas smirked, but shook his head, clasping his hands together. “As I mentioned before, I want only your friendship.”

“Okay, I believe you.”

“The look on your face says otherwise.”

“Whatever.”

“How are things going with the guy that you are seeing?”

Erin looked at him and narrowed her eyes, defensively closing up her mind. Lukas had a gift for figuring her out, but she wasn’t going to allow it this time.

“Whoa, those walls went up pretty fast,” Lukas said with a frown.

“You should really stop doing that, you know. It’s creepy.”

“That’s hurtful.”

“Stop pretending to be offended.”

“You seem tense about him, though.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Tell me.”

“It’s nothing, really Lukas.”

“Are you afraid your family won’t like him?”

She could feel her left eye started to twitch from irritation and she rubbed her eyes quickly. “Something like that. Sam isn’t the type of guy that I would normally go for.”

“Is he younger?”

“No, I’m not Scarlet. She goes for the younger ones.”

“I remember, and Alex goes-”

“For everyone, even the taken ones,” Erin shrugged, breaking eye contact with him.

“You’re still angry with her-”

“Can we change the subject, please? I don’t want to talk about this right now, or ever for that matter.”

“Of course,” Lukas nodded and looked out of the window. “What makes this Sam so different?”

“Well, he’s…”

“He’s big and brawny, isn’t he, like those Podolski vamps?”

“No, well sort of, but he’s definitely not a Podolski.”

“Which coven?”

“Does it matter?”

“As long as he treats you right, I guess it doesn’t,” Lukas shrugged.

Erin frowned swiftly and looked down at her watch. “I have to go meet Sam. He’s making us dinner at his place.”

“Alright,” Lukas said, slightly disappointed. “It was nice chatting with you, Erina.”

“Yeah.” Erin slipped her jacket onto her shoulders and buttoned it up.

“I’ll see you tomorrow night, then.”

“You’re coming?”

“Your mother insisted on it.”

“Right. As it is her party after all.” Erin rolled her eyes. “What is it with her and this obsession over you?”

“She probably wants us to get back together.”

“Sorry to disappoint you both, but that’s not going to happen.”

“I truly am sorry that I hurt you. Actually, no words can express how sorry I am.”

“I have to go.”

“Good luck, Erina.”

“With what?”

“With whatever it is that you are dealing with right now.”

“Thanks.” Erin nodded, her eyebrows pushed together.

Suddenly the ballroom’s double doors burst open and Nikolai, Anthony and Lionel rushed into the room. Their stances were malevolent, so Erin could feel something was wrong. “What’s going on?”

“It’s Matthias,” Lionel panted. “He’s been killed.”

Erin’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth with both her hands.

“How did this happen?” Lukas asked.

“Those insolent wolves staged a mass protest in front of the governor’s house,” Anthony growled.

Erin’s hands dropped from her mouth and she took a few steps towards Nikolai and Anthony. “What? Oh hell…”

“Yes, he had his head snapped off by some raging wolf,” Nikolai muttered casually.

“In all fairness, Matthias did have a tendency to act rashly at the best of times,” Anthony shrugged and Nikolai nodded in agreement.

Erin cringed and narrowed her eyes at her brother.

“Was anyone else killed?” Lukas asked.

“Only a couple of hundred wolves. Serves them right, those filthy mutts,” Nikolai growled.

The words were out of Erin’s mouth before she could stop them. “Could the two of you be any more heartless? Your friend was killed, others were killed and you’re justifying it by blaming the wolves, or your dead friend’s incapability of acting rationally?”

Nikolai, Anthony, Lionel and Lukas looked at her in disbelief and Nikolai shook his head.

“Not this again,” Nikolai muttered and walked towards Erin. “When are you going to realize that those mutts are nothing but reckless, immoral animals that disrupt our perfect lives and cause death to our kind? What kind of vamp are you to feel any kind of remorse towards them?”

“Don’t you dare doubt my loyalty to my own kind!”

“What loyalty? You have none!” Nikolai exclaimed and shook his head. “You cannot be a wall-sitter on this matter, Erina! You’re either with us, or you’re against us. And you know what the governor thinks of traitors.”

“No one can force me to pick a side! Not you, or your governor,” Erin spat.

The two siblings glared at one another and there was an air of tension that surrounded them.

“Guys, settle yourselves,” Lukas whispered.

Erin straightened up and as her phone started vibrating in her pocket, she pulled it out. It was Sam.

“Excuse me, I have to take this,” she said and walked to the veranda, on the other side of the ballroom. “Hey Sam, I can’t really talk right now-”

“Erin, I need you to come to me.” His voice shook from panic.

“Oh my hell, are you okay?” Erin’s eyes widened and she turned her back on the others, who was watching her closely.

“He’s dead, Erin.”

“What? Who’s dead?”

“Lee.”

“Oh my hell. Were you at the protest?”

“How do you know about that?”

“I just heard about it a few minutes ago. One of Nikolai’s friends was there, and was also killed. Apparently it was messy. Are you okay?”

“I’m alive, so is Gowan. Lee wasn’t so lucky…”

“Oh shit.”

“Where are you?” Sam’s voice cracked and Erin felt her heart do the same.

“I’m at the manor, where are you?”

“I’m at my dad’s place.”

“Okay, I’ll be right there,” Erin said and closed her phone. She re-entered the ballroom, and looked at the guys by the door, looking at her with suspicious expressions.

“What is it, Erin?” Anthony asked.

Erin hesitated for a few seconds and looked at each of them. “Sam just called me.”

“Something happened,” Lukas stated.

“He was at the protest, with two friends,” she answered slowly. “One of them was also killed.”

“Those filthy mutts,” Lionel spat angrily.

“Is he alright?” Nikolai asked.

“He sounds a bit distraught,” Erin answered truthfully. She wondered what Nikolai would do if he knew Sam was in fact one of those filthy mutts that he hated so much. “I am going over to him, he needs me.”

“You should go, Erina. Even though this kind of thing happens often, it is still a sad occurrence,” Nikolai nodded. “My condolences.”

“I’ll tell him.” Erin raised a subtle eyebrow at Nikolai and nodded in acknowledgment, before making her way towards the foyer. Lukas was short on her heels, but she didn’t bother stopping. She did not have time to waste, especially not on Lukas. Sam needed her and she needed to get to him.

“Erina, wait.”

Erin spun around and looked at Lukas, impatiently tapping her foot. “What?”

“Are you okay?” Lukas asked.

“I’m fine. I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

“Do you need a ride?” he asked, his hazel eyes sincere and honest. “I don’t mind.”

“No, my car’s outside.” Erin shook her head and dangled her keys at him. “Thanks though.”

“Be safe, Erina.”

“Yeah, okay.” She turned and pushed through the front doors of the manor.

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