I clench my fist at the thought. “He thinks it’s a waste of time. It’s one thing to disagree with it but it’s another thing entirely to try and thwart me. Which isn’t like him, you know? He’s hiding something from me, I just know it. I just don’t know what it is.”
She lays a hand on mine. With that simple touch, the dam is broken. “Did I ever tell you about the day we met?”
“No, you haven’t.”
“I was running from the cops. I used to break into blood banks a lot and the one near my foster home was my favorite. Lax security, easy access to blood. It was a quick get in, get out situation, every single time. Until it wasn’t. I knew they were tightening up security, but I was too cocky to give a damn. Or too weak to venture further. Either way, the cops were on quicker than a sneeze. There’s no way I should have gotten away from them.”
“You’re a vampire Mariella. No matter how quick they were, you’re quicker.” She says it with confusion, not quite understanding my point.
“I was too weak to win,” I say. “Too weak to run, too weak to fight. When the fatigue took over, I tried to hide in an alleyway, and that’s when I saw Reece.”
Hellen nods and I continue. “He appeared out of nowhere, out of breath just like I was. He had blood on him too. I thought he was running from someone. But then he spoke to me like he knew me, said he had been waiting for me.”
“An odd thing to say to a stranger.”
“Not that odd at the time, actually. I used to turn humans for extra money. I thought maybe someone had recommended me to him. Instead, he hid me from the cops and then without me realizing it, became somewhat of a mentor. He taught me things that seemed far out of his reach. He made me stronger, smarter, tougher. Not just physically, but mentally too. He made me feel like I had a purpose.”
“The Academy.”
“The Academy,” I agree. “No matter how many times I had flipped everything around in my mind, I couldn’t convince myself that there were any ill intentions involved in its creation. He helped in its establishment, worked his ass off to make sure it succeeded, fought for the vampires – born and turned – just as hard as I did. But –“
“Something’s making you not trust him?” Hellen concluded.
“Now, I’m questioning everything,” I say and it’s not an admission that doesn’t come without guilt. “How did he find me that night? Why was he covered in blood? What’s his obsession with vampires? Why was he so invested in building an Academy to save the ones who couldn’t save themselves? And why the hell is he so opposed to me finding my parents?”
“It’s not too late to ask now.”
I shake my head. “I won’t believe a word he says. He’s been lying to me for the past few days now. Can you believe he wants to go to fucking war with the Tigerhearts? This isn’t the Reece I know.”
“You said it yourself – he’ll go to the end of the world protecting the vamps in the Academy. The Tigerhearts took out one of your students and they did it on your grounds.”
“And I killed the other,” I say, feeling enough guilt to suffocate me.
“Jessica was rabid. You didn’t have a choice.” I know that, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
“And Sarah?”
“You’re conflicted.”
She’s not wrong. But is she right? Am I conflicted or am I making the right move. Calling war could very well mean putting more students at risk. Turning a blind eye to all of this could mean blinding the students enough that they haven’t a chance to prepare themselves if the Tigerhearts really are gearing up to attack.
“You need to find your parents,” Hellen says. “Because as long as you’re battling that beast, you won’t be able to spot the other beasts that are trying to battle you.”
“That’s the equivalent of turning my back on the Academy.”
“Or knowing when standing back will be to their benefit.” My throat tightens at her words and I don’t try to force an answer. “Tell me about the search for your parents.”
“It’s hard, but I’m trying. Reece knows a lot. He’ll be able to make things much easier for me, but...” I sigh deeply. “I found a lead tonight. I’m not sure how to go about it though.”
“You’ll figure it out. You always do,” she says.
I nod. Her words hit home. I only hope she’s right. “I needed … something to clear my head, something to help me think straight.”
“I hope my company has helped you somewhat.”
“More than you know.” I get to my feet, leaning over to plant a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks for listening, Hellen.”
“You know I’m not only here to be your source of food. I love you, Mariella. We both do. Don’t forget that.”
“Impossible.” I give her another kiss, just so she knows that I love her just as much. And then I turn to leave.
Talking to Hellen helped more than I expected it to. As soon as I leave her room, I know what to do. It’s simple, and there’s a chance I might be grasping at straws, but it’s really all I have.
I come to a slow walk on my way to my bedroom and as soon as I do, Reece rounds the corner. I watch his eyes widen at the sight of me and I come to a full stop when he begins to jog over.
“Hey,” he greets a bit breathlessly. “Where have you been all night? I’ve been looking for you.”
“Just went for a walk,” I answer.
He frowns at the vagueness of my answer, and inwardly, so do I.
“I had some … ideas on how to progress with the Tigerhearts gang.”
“You were there, Reece. You heard our conversation. There’s no more ‘progressing’ to do.”
He’s shaking his head before I’m even finished. “Just listen to what I have to say and you’ll change your mind. Let’s go somewhere we can talk. Your office, maybe?”
He reaches for my hand, but I step around him before he has the chance to touch me. “We can talk right here.”
I push open the emergency exit to my right. A small sitting area is on the other side, free from wandering eyes and ears.
Reece looks around, frowning lightly. “Don’t you think somewhere more private would be better?”
“Just say what you have to say, Reece.”
This time, he seems too eager to get into it to even question why I’m being so standoffish with him. He hurriedly sits beside me, more excited than I’ve seen him in a while. There’s something off about it though, almost … forced. “I’ll get right to the point,” he says, “I know you think the Tigerhearts are gonna back down. You’re wrong. We need to make a move. Show them that despite being able to enter our grounds the way they did –“
“We sent the intruder’s head back to them on a literal silver platter, Reece. What more do you want than that?”
“That’s just a retaliatory move. A life for a life. That was mandatory. If we really want to make a statement, we need to take it a step further.”
I can’t believe my fucking ears. “What do you have in mind?”
“I thought storming the place would be best, but it’s too obvious and too messy. I think we should do to them what they did to us. Sneak into their lair and take them out when they least expect it.”
“That’s … interesting. We built this school converting those who were lost. Here I was thinking you’d come to me with something just a little more…humane.”
He nods, absorbing the reluctant compliment. “They’re not like the others.”
“They’re just like the others. And do you really think the Council will just sit back and play dead while we eradicate an entire MC?”
“You care that much about what they think now?” he asks in disbelief. He stares at me as though he can’t recognize the person I’m becoming when it should be the other fucking way around.
I breathe slowly through my nose, trying to tamper the anger that’s already building. “Let it go, Reece. I’m not going to war with them. End of story.”
He straightens. The excitement
on his face slides off like a mask. “This is about your parents, isn’t it? You’re still planning on trying to find them?”
“I never gave up,” I say calmly.
“Mariella, that’s a really bad idea.”
“Why? Why is it such a bad idea?”
“What are you going to do when the vampire council gets wind of the fact that you’re searching for exiles? And with you being their daughter… They’ll have your head before you can so much as introduce yourself.”
“Unless they have proof that I’m conspiring with them then they won’t do crap.”
“Still a bad idea,” he mutters.
“Yeah well, it’s my decision to make. If you don’t want to be a part of it then be a man and say it instead of trying to distract me with war with the fucking Tigerhearts.”
“Don’t you dare,” he whispers to me. His tone has grown cold, and when his gaze finds mine, it’s as though his eyes are the very thing that chip the dam wide open.
Everything I’ve been harboring inside, everything that I’ve been wanting to say out loud, comes out now and in the worst way possible. I shoot to my feet, unable to contain it anymore. “Finding a couple people who were exiled from the city is your biggest concern? Really? It seems the past five years have gone completely over your head, Reece. Because back then, there wasn’t a goddamn thing you feared.”
“You have no fucking idea who I was back then.” He’s also on his feet, not shouting like I am but lacking none of the angry undertone. “Just like you have no fucking idea what you’re getting yourself into right now.”
“Yeah? Why don’t you enlighten me then? What’s so wrong with trying to find my parents?”
He steps away from me. “You wouldn’t understand. It’s complicated, it’s —”
“Fuck you, Reece!” Because I’m pissed, I shove him. Because I hate the fact that he’s hiding things from me, I shove him again. My voice goes raw, cracks a little bit at the way I shout but he does nothing to stop me when I shove him one more time. “Fuck you and your stupid secrets. You don’t want to tell me? Fine! I’ll figure it out myself.”
He grabs my arm before I can stalk away from him, pulling me back in front of him. “Mariella, calm down —”
“Don’t tell me to calm down.” Outraged, I push him — without holding back this time. And he goes flying. A human is no match for a vampire. So why the hell is it that even though he’s the one flying through the air, I feel like it’s me who’s going to land on my ass.
I close my eyes, hearing as his body hits the ground, but not witnessing it. He groans a little, but then his footsteps approach.
“Why the hell can’t you just tell me the truth, Reece?”
He doesn’t say anything. He just stares at me, conflict deep in his eyes and his jaw set tight. I wait a moment, hoping my confession will make him cave, hoping that he’ll see that I rely on him more than I ever cared to admit. But he takes too long. So, I turn away from him, not wanting to wait forever.
Chapter Sixteen
Alone. Without Reece. I’d tackled the world like that before, but I never thought the day would come where I’d need to do it again.
“Fancy seeing you here again, pretty eyes.” I force a smile onto my face despite the bartender’s rancid breath. Somehow, it’s worse than the last time.
“Yeah, well. Here I am,” I say moving into the closest available bar stool.
I slide a picture of Buillard across the nasty counter. “You remember this guy?”
I cock my head to the side and give him a small smile. He picks up the photo. Squints at it. “Comes in every Friday,” he says flatly.
Just my luck. Today is Friday.
I urge him to continue by raising my brows. “Usually stands over there” — he points to the side of the bar where the low light of the club has a difficult time of finding its way. “He’s also the one who approached you the last time you were here. But you already know that.”
“I do. But that’s not exactly what I’m looking for.”
He crooks a brow at me. “I don’t have the answers to your questions.”
“You know that he comes in every Friday. What exactly does he come for?”
“Listen…”
“Mariella.”
“Mariella,” he says, repeating my name, “the guy’s a creep. He stands in that corner for most of the night. Disappears every once in a while. What he does when he’s gone, I haven’t a clue.”
I nod and step away, not feeling any more or less clued in. I choose the perfect spot, hidden mostly by the crowd but with a perfect view of the entrance. I watch it intently, not caring if I look like a creep.
Five minutes go by. Then ten. In fact, it feels like an entire millennium goes by before I check my watch again, only to see that only a half an hour has gone by.
Then he walks in.
It’s surreal seeing him. For the past few days, this face attached to the name Buillard has haunted me in so many different ways. Now, I feel like the answers to all my questions just walked into the room, my only connection to my parents. He doesn’t even look around. He strolls in as if he’s right at home and heads straight to the bar. For a second, I’m afraid the bartender will rat me out and let him know that I’m looking for him, but when I look back, I’m relieved to see that the previous bartender is gone and a woman stands in his place. She nods at Buillard, popping the cork off a bottle of chilled beer and then hands it to him. Just as the other bartender said he would, he heads over to his corner.
I wait until he’s settled in, until he’s a bit more relaxed before I make my move. I weave my way through the crowd, bridging the distance, keeping my eyes on the prize.
I’m so zeroed in on him, that when someone steps in front of me, I shove him aside hastily. The body blocks me again. “What the hell is your problem, buddy—”
Reece stares down at me, looking grim. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Get out of my way, Reece.”
I try to push him aside again, but he holds his ground a bit better this time. “Mariella, listen to me. I’ll tell you everything it is you want to know. Everything, okay? Every little detail. But do not go over to him. You’re heading in the wrong direction.”
I frown, looking over his shoulder at Buillard. He has no idea we’re here, still standing in his corner sipping his beer. A little further and I would have been in plain sight, but Reece’s body is blocking me. “You’re saying you’re able to answer my questions better than he will be?” There’s scorn in my voice. Anger too. I don’t need much more to know that Reece has been hiding things from me.
“I’m saying, he’s the last person you want to talk to right now. He won’t have your best interest at heart, just like he didn’t with your parents.” That last comment has my head swimming. He grasps my arms. “We have to go.”
I let him lead me, let his words sink in. Confusion deepens the further we get out of the club and when we’re finally out, I pull out of his grasp, facing him. But I don’t know what to say.
“It’s okay,” he says before I stumble over my words. “I’ll tell you everything. But we have to get to somewhere safe.”
It’s the look of desperation in Reece’s eyes that stops me from barging right back in and walking up to Buillard. That very look that forces me into his car.
I sit inside wordlessly and we make the trip in complete silence. That silence follows us all the way to the Academy and doesn’t stop until my office door shuts behind us.
“I know why your parents were exiled.”
“You know why my parents were exiled.” I repeat the words and even as they slip past my lips, I find it impossible to believe them because how could he? How could he keep this secret from me for so many years? Every last ounce of trust I might have had for him feels like its shattering at my feet.
I swallow back the tears that want to force their way through. Swallow what I’m pretty sure would be the loudest sob I’ve ever letting go of.
I’ve never loved until I loved Reece. And to have the only person you were sure loved you back ruin you the way I know he’s about to ruin me – the way he’s already ruining me – it hurts more than I’m sure death does.
Reece nods. “I know more than I ever wanted to admit to you,” he says. “And I can see in your eyes that you hate me right now. But you have to know, Mariella, I’ve never done anything but love you. I’ve never hidden anything from you just to hurt you. And despite the fact that you might feel like hell right now, I wouldn’t change a damn thing when it comes to keeping this secret.”
I’m shaking my head at him, feeling dizzier and dizzier the more he speaks. “I trusted you,” I say.
“You had every reason to,” he replies, so sure of himself that it makes me sick to my stomach. “I think you should sit, Mariella.”
Sheer pride keeps me standing, though a tremor of unease courses through me.
“Okay,” Reece concedes. “Fine. I’ll start at the top.” There’s a pause that feels like it consumes two eternities before he starts speaking again. “Your parents, Kowan and Victor Lanster, were at the head of a very reputable coven. Along with two other vampires who ran their own covens, they were the ones you pictured when you thought about the vampire world. They were powerful, loved, respected.”
“The other two vampires…?” I ask, and see the torment stiffen across Reece’s face.
“Francine Wileman.” He takes a deep breath as though just saying her name stole all the breath from his lungs. “And Boering Milliyard,” he continues. It doesn’t take a millisecond for me to realize just where the emphasis should lie.
“You mean the new future Grand Master, Boering Milliyard?” I ask, uncertain as to whether or not I should believe my own ears.
“The one and only. Francine and Boering became lovers and as is custom, their covens were integrated once they married. A week after the wedding, Francine was dead.”
“You’re fucking kidding me,” I whisper.
Reece’s face is grim like it pains him to tell me all this. “I think you know where I’m going with this. Boering played it off well, made everyone think he was mourning for months. That he was devastated. That the last thing he wanted was to bring Francine’s coven under his own because he wanted her to be remembered. But the law is the law and so the covens were kept integrated. Boering played the narrative of the grieving lover for a while after. Eventually, the moaning over her death settled down and then he embraced his role as leader of the biggest coven known to the vampire kingdom, letting go of everything that even merely resembled Francine.”
Rogue Academy: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Academy Romance (Rogue Vampire Academy Book 1) Page 10