“Thank you for an amazing night
We should do this again
Call me
XOXO,
Helena”
She snuck out of his room, and then out of his hotel. Thankfully, it was well after 4 a.m., when she found herself on the main road. It was dark and quiet; perfect for what she had in mind. After getting out of range of the hotel cameras, she teleported back to Roman’s sanctuary.
The night she had spent with Cliff had wearied her. Indeed, Helena could feel the strain in the muscles of her arms and legs. She felt as if she had walked ten miles non-stop. However, despite all her fatigue, she couldn’t even consider sleeping. The taste of his kisses still lingered in her mouth. The moisture between her legs served as a reminder of the passionate encounter that had taken her breath away. Still, she had experienced steamy nights before. Cliff had worshipped her body in almost every way imaginable, but the sex with him was not what dominated her thoughts. What lingered in her mind was the kindness in Cliff’s eyes. The song they had danced to, and, more importantly, his will to assist her in finding a job. What kind of man says those words to a woman on their first date? The answer was simple: an extraordinary man; someone with no malice in their heart; an actual, noble soul, interested in more than just getting her into bed.
The co-protector of Paxton kept pacing up and down the hall, recalling the delight his suggestion had sent into her heart. Her eyes had just started to become heavy when a deep rumble from outside snapped her out of her thoughts. Helena lengthened her strides as the roar of a powerful, diesel engine rang in her ears. It had to be one of the Bradford brothers; but, the sun had yet to rise. They never visited so early. Whatever they had to say had to be of vital importance. The wooden floor began vibrating beneath her feet, as she snapped her fingers. Helena recognized Raul’s large, black boots, as the gate slid open upwards. The Alpha had a piece of paper in his hand, and, for some reason she couldn’t understand, a huge smile on his face.
“Raul, what are you doing here?” She squinted up at him, curiosity written all over her face. “It’s six o’clock in the morning. Couldn’t this wait?”
“Sorry about the hour, but I have good news, good news and great news,” he announced as he entering the hall. “Where would you like me to start?”
“Follow me to the library,” she urged, intrigued by his words. The gate hid them from the outside world, as she snapped her fingers once more. “I’m listening,” she added, as he walked alongside her.
“First of all, the recruitment is going really well,” Raul claimed, flashing a bright, sideways look. “We’ve got twelve new members, all of them young, strong, and agile. They need some training, but they’re prepared to fight for their town.”
“That’s fantastic,” Helena commented, her voice deep, with a hint of change behind it. “We still need more, though.”
“I doubt it,” he disagreed with a laugh. “You see, Martin and Jimmy have done a lot of recon these days. You were right about vampires. A couple of days ago, our guys found out that Redfield’s lieutenants possess a few, impressive skills. Mindreading, mind control, power over water… Redfield himself has some kind of super defense, which doesn’t allow his opponent to strike first. If we ever fight against each other, I’ll have to get real close to attack him.” He continued, as they turned right and into the library. “But, when Martin and Jimmy went back to the woods last night, they discovered that the clan was gone. At first, they thought they were hiding from them, but they weren’t. Their scents were starting to fade. We’re not going to war, Helena. Not this time.”
“Naïve pup!” the witch scoffed at his foolishness, her eyes blazing with anger, as she slammed the door shut behind her. “They’re still here! Maybe not where you left them, but make no mistake. They’re still around.”
“No, they’re not!” Raul’s stentorian voice roared like thunder, as he narrowed his eyes down at her. “Haven’t you been listening? Their scents are…”
“Nonsense!” interrupted Helena, raising her voice even higher. Still, as the echoes lingered in the air, it occurred to her that this was not the way to deal with the problem. Had she kept screaming at him, the two of them would have an argument, and that availed neither of them, or anyone else in the family. “Look…” she heaved a long, heavy sigh, taking two, hesitant steps towards him. “Do you remember our stroll in the forest the other night?”
“Yeah,” he said with a firm nod, as he folded his arms across his chest. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I told you they were unpredictable,” she declared, her voice stiff. “They are your kind’s natural enemies. Don’t expect them to negotiate terms, Raul. They will strike. It’s just a matter of ‘when’ and ‘where.’ Tell me, did your scouts do anything to mask their scents?”
“They said the smell of death was so strong that they couldn’t smell one another from fifty feet away,” Raul informed her, his voice deepening, as he dropped his gaze from her.
“Major mistake,” Helena reprimanded, fighting the urge to yell at him once again. “By nature, vampires cannot smell one another. They focus on the living. It makes sense, really. They feed off the living, not the dead. You should have consulted with me, before you sent out your scouts, Raul. Redfield’s clan vanished because they discovered they were being watched.”
“That’s a pretty good explanation, but…” he faltered, pressing his lips together. “Those two came back without a scratch. Why would they let them live?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” she shrugged her shoulders. “Most likely, they wanted them to think they had slipped by undetected. Or, they just didn’t want to engage two, very strong wolves. Martin and Jimmy are among your finest warriors.”
“I’d put my money on the ‘undetected’ theory,” Raul stated, as his face hardened with disappointment. “What do you think should be our next step?”
“Double the guards at the town limits,” Helena advised, assuming a calm tone. “Send out your scouts again. Tell them to rub themselves with this,” she urged, slipping her hand into the right pocket of her cloak. The witch pulled out two, small bottles, and threw them over to him. “It’s Cedar. Redfield will want to take you out first. It’s the only way for him to break the pack’s spirit. Don’t leave the estate, unless you absolutely have to do so. Don’t fret, though. My agents are on the prowl. We’ll find them.”
“Thanks a lot for the advice. I appreciate it, I really do, but the boys would like to see you,” he maintained, unfurling his arms. “They miss you. Monica also told me to invite you over tonight. She wants to have a word with you.”
“Well…” she let out a snort of amusement, as she realized what the Alpha’s mate would like to know. “Tell Monica I’ll be there tonight at eight. As for ‘the boys’, I’m sorry, but I can’t show myself at ‘Joe’s’ diner, while those FBI agents are still here. I’m sure Monica has told you about me and Cliff. He might get curious.”
“Right,” Raul gave a quick chuckle. “I have to run. Take care.”
A smug smile burst upon her lips, as the Alpha made his way out of the library. She and her friends would have a conversation about men, and, for the first time ever, she would be the center of attention. Finally, she had something to talk about with them, other than their mates and any issues they might be facing with them. Cliff had not just given her a night to remember. He had reminded her how it felt to be a woman.
Chapter Fourteen
Helena was in a fantastic mood that night. Oozing with confidence, and understanding that her long days of solitude had at last come to an end, she didn’t use magic to get to the Bradford’s estate. In spite of the cold, she opted for a nighttime stroll down the mountainside. Still, her choice had a disadvantage. She couldn’t just walk down the slope. It was much too steep and slippery for her; and, even if she could make it to Lockhart forest without any incident, the muddy soil would ruin her boots and her cloak alike. Therefore, Helena pre
ferred to use the road. It was much safer and drier, because there hadn’t been any rain in Paxton for two days.
The half-moon was high in the sky, casting its pale light on her birthplace. Thousands upon thousands of flickering stars were joining it, showing Helena the way to the town border. There was moisture in the air, but also, the wonderful scents of cedar, elm and balsam fir. As Helena strolled down the road, however, two identical sounds filled her ears and froze the blood in her veins. She heard massive, diesel engines, like the one she had heard in the sibling’s yard, on the night she and Cliff had exchanged their first kiss. Only seconds afterwards, the first SUV turned left and onto the uphill road. Its high beams were still a little too far, but it was only a matter of time before she was noticed. The driver seemed to be in quite a rush, as the vehicle roared towards her. Helena had to disappear – fast. Nevertheless, the fear that stormed into her senses didn’t allow her to concentrate. She couldn’t find the fortitude to focus on an image of anything. Glancing right, she saw the jagged edging of the side of the road. There was a sizeable bush at the bottom of the hill that began where the road ended. The hill’s surface was so wet that it glistened under the moonlight. Unfortunately, she didn’t have much choice in the matter. With a swift jump, Helena abandoned the road. A short cry of agony left her lips, as her body landed hard and in a supine position on the surface. She began rolling down the hill, feeling a considerable amount of pain in her right shoulder, as her cloak picked up more and more mud by the second. Just before the bush broke her fall, the two SUV’s sped past her spot.
“Oh, my God,” she thought to herself, breathing in gasps, as she spotted a few leaves on her chest. “Cliff, what were you doing here? Who were you talking to? Why did you leave in such a hurry?”
Rising from the ground, she gazed out into the town. She could barely make out the lights in the siblings’ cabins. The trees in the way were blocking her view. Her initial thought was to teleport there. However, she still had the same problem: anxiety; fear. Not wasting any time at all, she started down the hillside, locking her gaze on the trees up ahead. She gripped her staff tightly in her left hand, as she curled her fingers in her right one into a fist. Spurred on by the love for her family, she exploded towards their residence, unable to shake the feeling that something had gone horribly wrong. Had one of the brothers made the mistake of glaring at Cliff or one of his coworkers? Had the truth about her slipped anybody’s tongue? She couldn’t know. All she did know was she had to get there, as quickly as possible. It was no easy task. In a matter of seconds, she found herself trying hard to pull her boots out of the mud. Still, the struggle wouldn’t deter her. Hurtling past trees, she averted her gaze from the Bradford estate, to look down at the ground. She was dying to get to them, but she wouldn’t be able to do so, if she tripped over one of the dozens of rocks that littered the forest. Luckily for her, the moonlight was a great ally in that endeavor. It was showing through a few dim patches between the trees, as she closed in on her destination. Helena’s heart fluttered with joy, as she climbed the short hill, outside the siblings’ yard. Pressing on with all her might, she sprinted across it, as her ears picked up Kate and Dean’s – loud – voices. Instinctively, she headed towards their cabin. Grabbing the handle, she yanked it open, only to find them in their living room, in the middle of an argument. Her fellow witch snapped her head to the right to face her, as she stormed into the kitchen.
“Helena?” Kate exclaimed, her jaw dropping in disbelief. “Eww…” she cringed. “What happened to you? You look like you just took a mud bath.”
“I did, sort of,” Helena gasped, panting for breath. “I…” she exhaled hard. “I just saw…”
“Yeah, the feds,” Kate finished her sentence, as she trotted towards her. “Dean and I were just talking about it. Your guy was asking me questions, when his phone rang. I don’t know what they told him, but, whatever it was, it messed him up pretty badly. He just jumped from his seat, ordered his men out, and then took off. I asked him what was wrong, but, he ignored me. Dean was at the workshop. He says I should have insisted.”
“Damn it!” Helena cried, jerking her head in a spasm of frustration, as she tore her gaze away from Kate’s. A disaster had been avoided, but all of them were still in the dark; and they would continue to be, unless she found out more about that phone call. “Dean…” she croaked, before sucking in a deep breath. “Kate could have insisted all she wanted. They still wouldn’t have told her. They can’t discuss an ongoing investigation. Cliff disclosed my niece’s cause of death to me, because of my relationship with her.”
“Thank you,” Kate gave a satisfied nod, and then cast a fierce glare up at her mate, over her shoulder. “Anyway…” she muttered, bringing her attention back to Helena. “What happened to you?”
“I decided to use the road to get here. Stupid idea…” Sarcasm was dripping off her tongue. “I heard them coming. I panicked; I couldn’t focus; I jumped off the edge of the road.”
At that moment, she heard quick, heavy footsteps on the concrete. It was none other than Raul. The Alpha strode through the open door, his face as hard as stone.
“I just received word from Ray.” He spoke in a deep voice, as he pursed his lips. “He and Julia were going out for a drink in Shandaken, when they saw the FBI cars, just outside of town. He followed them; they drove all the way to I-87 South.”
“They’re going back to New York,” Helena concluded, concern and fear creeping into her voice, stealing its nerve. “The question is ‘why.’”
“Let me get my car keys,” Kate suggested, shuffling off towards the kitchen counter.
“Your car keys?” snorted Helena, her brows popping up. “No, no, no; this is wrong, Kate. This is wrong, and you know it!”
“Yes, it is!” Kate affirmed, her face twisting into an expression of panic, as she grabbed her keys from the counter. “I’m sorry, Helena, but, you’re the one closest to him. You need to find out what they know. It’s got to be done tonight. Tomorrow may be too late.”
“Ok, first of all, we don’t have his address,” Helena’s anger strengthened her voice, as she took a big step closer to her friend. “Second, he’s not going to tell me why he took off like that, for the same reason he didn’t tell you. Third, do you remember how badly I felt, when you drove me up to his hotel? Fourth, what’s he going to think, if he finds me at his apartment? I’ll come off needy; desperate. Last, but not least, what am I supposed to say to him? ‘Hey, I got lonely.’?”
“You’re not going to ask him,” Kate responded in a firm tone, as she intensified her stare. “You can’t do that; he’ll get suspicious. You’ll have to use…” she faltered, “…unconventional methods. You had a date with him last night. How did it go? I don’t need to hear any details. Just give me the basics.”
“It was wonderful,” Helena replied, the memory of her night with him making her voice sweet. “We danced, we drank wine… he was fantastic to me. We spent the night in his hotel room. I told him to call me today.”
“And has he?” Kate squinted down at her.
“No,” Helena retorted with a sigh. “Not yet at least.”
“There’s your reason, then,” Kate continued, as a wily smile spread across her face. “You guys slept together, and he didn’t call you back.”
“I drove all the way from Paxton to New York to complain to him for not calling me back?” Disapproval and surprise sent her voice one octave up, as Helena furrowed her brow. “That’s got ‘desperate’ written all over it. Besides, we still don’t know his address.”
“We already have his address,” Kate replied emphatically, as she clenched her jaw. “I had Julia do a little research on him, when you said you liked him. Don’t yell at me. You’ve done the same when it came to us, over and over again. And since when do you care what he thinks?”
“Since last night,” Helena’s rebuttal was sharp, as her voice returned to normal.
“Look, I don’t like to repeat mys
elf,” Kate said in a more mellow tone of voice. “I’m pretty sure you remember our little talk the other night. Now, I’m asking you…” she paused. “Please, find out what they know. You’re our only hope.”
At that, Helena let out a huff of exasperation, wishing she was not in this dilemma. Once again, she had to choose between lying to Cliff and the safety of her family. Seeing him again made it as difficult, as it made it appealing. They had not seen one another in almost twenty-four hours; she was starting to miss him, and she would love to pick up where they had left off. Still, her choice was easier than she initially believed. She had lied to Cliff before. Although it would hurt her deep inside, she could do it again.
“Let’s go,” her voice came out flat, in a monotone, as she unfurled her arms.
“Thank you,” Kate breathed a sigh of relief, as she reached her own arms towards her friend, to pull her in a tight embrace. “Thank you, Helena. You’re amazing.”
“I’m a fake,” she thought to herself. “I’m everything Roman accused humans of being: treacherous; false; manipulative. If only I could be honest with you, Cliff. If only you didn’t wear that badge.”
Chapter Fifteen
Unlike their two, recent drives, Helena and Kate hardly opened their mouths, during the long trip to New York. It seemed that the gravity of the situation had stolen the fledgling witch’s will to be her usual, sarcastic self. Kate kept her eyes on the road, stealing a few glances down at Helena, as if she had been trying to get her to speak. Even so, the seasoned witch was too preoccupied with her own issues to start a conversation. In a way, this reminded her of the night that Cliff had been intoxicated. Her motives might have been the same, but, this time, she felt even worse. Why? Because: he was no longer a stranger to her. She didn’t know him well yet; after all, they had only been out on just one date, but it was enough for him to show her some aspects of his character. Those aspects appealed to her, proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that he deserved much more than the lies she had been feeding him. Cliff Daniels’ aspiring girlfriends had to treat him with honesty. There were a lot of things Helena could give him. Honesty was not one of them.
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