5
By late evening I had received word from Eric that they had investigated the break-in at the manor but were unable to find answers of who or what it was. This worried me slightly since there had never been a break-in before and if there ever was an attempt, the threat was always eliminated before they had a chance to even get close enough.
More frustration and anger were fuelling my blood, but I had to keep my mind on the mission at hand, find out more information about the alpha Angelique and to see if Louis was indeed back and raising an army. If he was, it would mean the treaty between vampires and hunters was compromised.
Tired of how my life was becoming a constant routine of wake up - gym - hunt - sleep, I was beginning to resent the life my parents had left me more and more each day. Desperate for change or some form of distraction before sunset I headed back to the same graveyard from last night to look for clues as to who this Darius was as Jackson had yet to report back any findings to me.
Luckily, there was no hopping off any fences today as the entrance gate was still open, the graveyard not due to close for another hour, giving me plenty of time to see if I could find anything of use. I couldn’t quite get his image out of my mind, his blue eyes popping up every chance I let my mind wander. He was, annoyingly, distracting me and keeping my head from being in the game. This wouldn’t do, and I needed to get a grip on myself.
Finding the same grave, I had found yesterday, still undisturbed and at peace I followed my tracks to the tree line where Darius had appeared and then to the area where I had staked the vamp. Nothing.
Coming up empty handed, not even the broken glass had been left, but then again, the groundskeeper could have cleaned that up when he found it this morning. Sighing, I sat down on one of the visitor benches and rubbed my temples, a headache already forming.
The autumn air was cool and inviting, the tree’s already changing their leaves from green to oranges and yellows. A graveyard was always a beautiful place to be when the changing of seasons began, a morbid thought but I had always found it a peaceful place to be. Perhaps more so after my parents’ death and we sadly had no remains to bury, they had a plaque and that's all, despite their sacrifice.
“We need to stop meeting like this.”
A body sat down next to me suddenly, disturbing my peace and my blade was out quicker than I even thought possible and across my companion’s neck.
“You know, if you could stop threatening me anytime soon, that would be great.”
Darius looked at me with a smug look on his face, as if he knew something I didn’t and I lowered my dagger slowly as we were still out in broad daylight where there were still humans wandering the grounds, visiting their loved ones.
“I thought I’d find you here. Once you put your weapon away, we can talk.”
“You can talk with my weapon still out.”
“Nope, that won’t do sorry. I don’t take kindly to threats.”
“And I don’t take kindly to strangers giving demands.”
“Hayley, I am not here to hurt you believe it or not, I’m here to help you. So, put the dagger away and let's talk.”
I narrowed my eyes as the wheel in my brain was turning. I didn’t like how he had the upper hand as I wasn’t about to spill some guy’s blood out in the open, but perhaps I could get some answers about who he was without telling him anything about myself.
Putting my blade back into the inside of my jacket, he smiled a coy smile and then lit himself a cigarette. I hated the smell of cigarettes and shifted a little to move away, the smell was overpowering and just not enjoyable at all.
“That’s better. Now, I hear you’ve been asking about Angelique. She’s not in the city if you didn’t know, she’s gone underground to prepare.”
“Prepare? For what?”
“Well, the fight of course. But I think she’s getting help somewhere, someone on the other side is helping her keep her cover and protect her from all eyes.”
“And how do you know any of this? Who the hell are you?” I paused for a second, “Or should I ask what are you? You’re clearly not a vampire as we all know they only come out at night, not a werewolf as you don’t smell of wet dogs. A witch perhaps?”
“I will explain all that in due course, once I know I can trust you.”
He took a drag of his cigarette, blowing the smoke out into little circles and then shifted his body more towards me. Finishing his cigarette quickly and then flicking it away, annoying me even more as it was disrespectful to the dead.
Watching him closely and examining every movement he took, my breath held tight in my chest as he fished something out from his pocket, a long box and then placed it on the bench in between us.
“You will need this if you expect to find out anything else about Angelique or who is helping her. It can even help you find out who broke into your headquarters as that wasn’t an outside job.”
“How do you know that? I am now beginning to suspect you, as most suspects will put themselves into the investigation hoping to gain more information and learn how well their enemy is doing.”
“I am not your enemy,” he then opened the box to reveal a gold necklace with a strange symbol on the pendant. “You can call me a friend.”
“Friend or foe, I don’t trust anyone.”