by Bria Lexor
“Yes,” my mother said interrupting Mrs. Zabinski. “And I’ve also gotten permission from both Abel Lapis’ and Drake Maverick’s parents to pull them from the school as well.”
“Why are you pulling Abel and Drake out?” Mrs. Zabinski asked arching an eyebrow. “Because,” My mother started as she handed her a paper to review. “The boy’s lives are in danger and Miss. Franchot might come to the school and...” her voice trailed off and Mrs. Zabinski understood the severity of the situation and nodded curtly at us.
“Again, my condolences are with you and your family Mrs. Fox and I will start the process of un-enrollment.”
The next thing we knew we heard kids yelling out in the hallway and everyone raced out of the office to see what all the commotion was. It turns out Wren was hounding Natalie, forcing her against a wall cowering in fear for her life. I kind of wanted to laugh but that would not have been right of me. Even though Natalie deserved it, she would have gotten her ass handed to her by a chick that was not even born yet! Luckily for Wren, Abel walked over to her and yanked her by the arm and scolded her for starting a fight with a girl she did not even know.
“What’s wrong with you?” Abel demanded. “You could have gotten in big trouble you know!”
Wren rolled her eyes at him. “That girl was talking shit about Shinka,” she said glaring angrily at Natalie as she tried to act totally afraid of Wren. Which I do not think was a total act but an act, nonetheless. “I was just trying to—”
“You just got suspended for fighting,” Abel said bringing up a particularly good point. “And now you want to fight again?”
Wren tried to justify her actions, but it did her no good. “Well...”
“I don’t want to hear it!” Abel growled at her pushing Wren towards the main entrance. “You’re going outside before you cause any more trouble!”
“That girl won’t be attending Fusion Academy, will she?” Mrs. Zabinski asked.
“No, of course she won’t.” My mother said giving me the look. I just looked at the floor and made up an excuse to go outside and check on Wren. Hopefully, Abel had not strangled the poor girl due to his own lack of self-control. I sighed in relief as I found Wren sitting on a bench and Abel leaning against a wall totally far away from each other. I walked over to Wren and she looked up at me.
“Wren,” I said stifling a yawn. “You can’t act like that.”
“I know!” Wren said, standing up angrily kicking a rock at Abel who scowled at her by the wall. “But that girl was talking shit and—”
“That doesn’t matter Wren,” I said with a small smile. “Not everyone’s going to like me and I’m okay with that.”
“No, you’re not.” Wren said folding her arms in front of her chest. “You want people to like you for who you are and that girl in there was jealous of your fame, so she feels she needs to be a bitch to make herself look good.” I just blinked. Did Wren just say something wise beyond her years? Well, she was from the future so maybe...
“Shinka!” I spun around and saw Harlow and Trunks rushing toward us and I knew they had something to tell us about Kaitlin. “Kaitlin’s been spotted trying to leave the city,” Trunks said breathlessly. “We got to catch her before she leaves the country and goes into hiding.”
We piled back into the limo and Trunks told the driver to get us to the airport as fast as he could. My heart was pounding in my chest as I realized Kaitlin could finally be caught and this nightmare would finally be over. Boy I did not know how wrong I was...
Chapter Eleven
I did not know what to expect as we took the fastest way to LA International Airport. My anxiety was so bad it felt like I was about to perform onstage in front of a thousand plus people, that is how nervous I was! I had no clue what the Hunters would do when they saw us. Everyone’s energy was high, and you could cut the tension with a knife.
I looked at Brooke and, for the first time since her brother’s death, she looked fierce. She was on a personal mission to kill Kaitlin. I just took a wild guess, but I knew that is what she wanted to do instead of seeing Kaitlin brought to justice. I bit my lower lip nervously as the airport loomed ahead.
Trunks had the driver pull up to the entrance and we piled out and waited for instructions on what we were to do to stay out of harm’s way. Man, I hated feeling like I needed protection all the time. I envied Wren, and Brooke. At least they could kick some ass when they needed to. Unlike me, I could only stand there and watch or get in the way. I was good at getting in the way though. I wish I could have switched places with Tuffara; she was able to handle herself well, too.
“Are you okay?” Abel asked me with deep concern in his beautiful bluish-green eyes.
I forced a smile and nodded. “I’m fine,” I lied, moving a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I just don’t know what’s going to happen...” I trailed off.
“None of us do, Shinka,” Abel said, squeezing my hand. “But I promise I won’t let anything happen to you, okay, baby?” I gave him a small smile and Abel looked through the crowd for any sign of the Hunters. So far, they were out of our sight and I had no idea if they had already boarded a plane to Europe or wherever they would go.
The next thing I knew, Abel shoved me roughly to the ground as bullets sprayed overhead. I screamed as I covered my head with my hands. I could not believe the Hunters had shot at me in a busy area full of people. Security ushered us inside and they locked us in. “Are you okay?” Abel asked me and I nodded while my body shook violently.
“Why would the Hunter’s chance be coming after us with all these innocent people around?” I asked as Abel sat me down and knelt in front of me just as confused as I was.
“I don’t know,” Abel said, glancing around as people stood confused and scared all around us. “All I know is the Hunters were sending us a message, and we need to stay aware of our—”
Just then a mob of paparazzi rushed us yet again, snapping pictures so fast it was like being under strobe lights. This time we were stuck and had no way of escaping their crummy timing.
“Hey!” Trunks said, shoving his way in front of me to stop them from taking any more pictures. “I’m Detective Bradshaw,” Trunks said flashing his badge to them. “And I’m protecting Mrs. Fox and her family. They’ve been through enough this morning so go home, all of you before I arrest you all for harassment!” The paparazzi grumbled to themselves, but Trunks had a point. I sighed in relief as I watched them leave and looked at Abel. He looked totally pissed they had taken his picture and surprised him again.
“Now I’m starting to see why celebrities keep to themselves!” Abel grumbled under his breath. I bit my lower lip and looked down at my shoes.
“I’m sorry Abel,” I said, and he looked at me and said nothing. “You don’t have to-”
Abel leaned toward me and just stared at me, making my breath catch in my throat and my heart start to race. “Shut up, Shinka,” Abel whispered seriously. “I’m sticking by your side for life...” he frowned before continuing. “Even if that means getting stalked by the damn paparazzi, I’m not leaving you until...” He could not bring himself to say it. But I knew what he was thinking. Brooke was thinking it, too. I felt a pain in my heart as the realization of it all was never going to go away. And no matter how hard I tried to ignore it; I was dying. I just wish I could do something more you know? Something that was more than the life I was living now. I mean sure, most people would say that being a pop star was the ultimate marking in life. That you were now somebody of importance, instead of the average Jane. I wanted to be more like Tuffara and—”
I felt it again. That same feeling that kept happening whenever Trunks was around. I looked at him and he just nodded at me as if to say that he felt it, too. “Go on...” Trunks mouthed to me and I just blinked at him. Was Trunks seriously letting me go off on my own? I looked at the others and they were all doing their own thing, so I took a step backward. Then another, and another, until I was far enough from them, I
blended into the crowd.
I moved my hair in front of my face to hide my identity. Sheesh. Like I could do that right? I had no idea what I was doing or who or what I was looking for, just that I had to find something. And then I found it as I walked by a tall potted plant. Someone pushed a gun barrel against my back, and I froze mid stride.
“Move and I’ll kill you where you stand, understand me? ...” A cold female voice whispered in my ear. It was Kaitlin and she had me right where she wanted me. There was not a darn thing I could do or say to stop the Hunters now and it was my fault for walking into their trap. I was screwed. I just did not know how screwed I was...
Chapter Twelve
So here I was being kidnapped and forced into a waiting limo by the Franchot family. Not only was Kaitlin’s father, Zander Franchot, a multi-millionaire, he had the power to send me to some remote island somewhere and no one would ever know! I was shoved roughly into a seat and the door slammed shut behind me. I saw Zander Franchot smiling evilly at me from across the row; I ignored him and stared angrily out the window as the limo pulled away from the airport.
“Why. Miss. Fox,” Zander said as if he was surprised to see me. “I had no idea you would be joining us for the evening.”
I scoffed and folded my arms in front of my chest and glared angrily at him. “Don’t play stupid with me,” I hissed. “You know damn well I can’t stand you or your family!”
Zander looked hurt by my comment. “Now Miss. Fox,” he said waving his finger back and forth at me as if I were a child. “Is that any way to treat your hosts who were gracious enough to invite you into our—”
“Oh please, spare me the theatrics, will you? I said, rolling my eyes at him. “You kidnapped me trying to lure Abel and the other gargoyles into a trap.”
“You shouldn’t judge what you don’t understand Miss. Fox,” Zander said coldly. “If you weren’t so deep with those vile creatures—”
“The only vile creature here is you!” I yelled, feeling the anger rising in me. “You’re the ones who are hunting innocent gargoyles who are only trying to protect us!”
“Protect us?” Zander laughed in my face. “Miss. Fox, you have no idea how wrong you are my dear.” He glared at me and I looked away disgusted that I was in his presence. “These creatures should not exist, and as Hunters it’s our job to destroy them for—”
“For what?” I said, clearly interrupting him. I am sure not many people got to do that to him, but I did not care, Zander was an ass and he needed to be treated like one. “For protecting the innocent from evil bastards like yourself?” I challenged.
“Who was that bitch that hit me in the eye with that damn drink?” Kaitlin asked leaning towards me.
“Who? Wren?” I asked arching an eyebrow in confusion. “She’s my daughter.” “You had a child with that half-breed?” Zander asked in total shock.
“She’s from the future,” I said, frowning at him. “Why do you care who I sleep with anyways?” I asked nudging my head toward his daughter. “It’s not like I’m your daughter or anything—”
I gasped as Zander hit me hard across the face. My left cheek burned from the hit and I glared angrily at him from my seat.
“Don’t you ever badmouth my daughter; do you hear me you vile little—”
“Daddy,” Kaitlin said acting like everything was fine. “I don’t think her slut of a mother told her about her father...” She said putting on some eyeliner.
“My mother’s not a slut!” I snapped at her. “You don’t know anything about her!”
“You don’t think we know about you and your family Shinka?” Zander asked me with an evil smirk across his face. “What has your mother told you about your biological father, Shinka?” I was silent as I turned away and looked out the window. I did not want to tell them my mother only told me my real father died protecting the demi-gods. Was my father a Slayer, too? I could not say for sure, but my silence made Zander clear his throat and I looked at him. “You see, Shinka,” Zander said, spinning his gargoyle cane in his hand. “Your father was in fact a Slayer, and a very good one at that.” He pointed out.
“But he died because he got in my way trying to protect you, my dear.”
“Why was he trying to protect me from you?” I asked not understanding Zander and his strange questions.
Zander smiled and tilted his head to the side and looked at me. “Because your father stole Tuffara’s blood from me and he injected your pregnant mother with it, thus causing you to have a mix of gargoyle blood and demigod blood.” My eyes grew large as I realized what Zander was telling me.
“M-my father... was a demigod?” I asked the obvious question and Zander nodded curtly at me.
“We haven’t been injecting you with demi-god blood, Shinka,” Zander said as we pulled up to an abandoned warehouse out in the middle of nowhere. “We’ve been injecting you with the rest of Tuffara’s plasma, and that my dear is what’s killing you!”
Chapter Thirteen
We walked inside the warehouse and it was poorly lit. Most of the walls were in shadows and the air was chilly. I wrapped my arms around myself to keep warm as I followed Kaitlin and Zander through the creepy corridors until we came to a closed door. Zander pulled out a key and unlocked it, then ushered us inside before closing it behind him.
“I know this isn’t what you’re accustomed to Miss. Fox,” Zander said pleasantly. “But you’ll get used to it.”
I frowned at his remark. “I highly doubt that.” I said and Zander shrugged. “You’ve never liked me, have you, Miss. Fox?” He asked.
“Nope,” I said bluntly. “And why would I start too now?” I asked and Zander laughed.
“You have a charming sense of humor Miss. Fox,” Zander said walking to a chair he sat down and stared at me. “I don’t like it.”
“Well,” I said, crossing my arms in front of my chest, not caring what he thought of me. “I’m not here to please you or your daughter.” I smiled at him which totally made him angry.
“Well,” Zander said, standing up. He fixed his suit jacket. “Clearly, our hospitality isn’t good enough for you and that, Miss. Fox, infuriates me.”
I scoffed. “Well, you’re face infuriates me, but you don’t see me talking about it!” Kaitlin gasped and Zander’s eyes grew wide as my sentence sunk in. I did not care who they thought they were, if you made me angry, I was gonna let you know it. “The Hunters have been going after the gargoyles for centuries,” I said looking at them. “And your tactics haven’t gotten you anywhere,” I said, and Zander frowned.
“What’s your point Miss. Fox?” Zander asked stifling a yawn.
I flashed him my rock star smile. “Killing me isn’t going to do anything but piss them off and put your head on a silver platter is all I’m saying.”
Zander stood and yanked the gargoyle handle from his cane. It was a sword and he walked slowly toward me as I stood my ground. I was not going to be intimidated by this cruel, why should I? He was not anybody of importance to me. The next thing I know, Zander thrust the sword hard into my abdomen and I gasped in surprised as I looked into his eyes. His eyes gleamed with a sick thrill in them, and he yanked the sword and wiped my blood with a scarlet handkerchief. I touched my wound and when I looked at my hands they were covered in dark red blood, my blood. My hands were trembling, and I fell to my knees as I felt my life slipping from this world. Zander and Kaitlin smiled evilly at me as I fell forward hitting my head against the concrete and died.
ABEL
My world ended when I found out Shinka had been murdered. She had been kidnapped from the airport and we spent hours searching for her... only to find her lifeless body later that night in an abandoned warehouse only a few short hours away from where we were. How could this have happened? Why did it happen? I lost the love of my life twice in one lifetime.
First Tuffara Meta, my girlfriend from another gargoyle clan, had been killed by a group of humans. Tuffara reincarnated into Shinka’s body. I sw
ore on my life I would protect Shinka... and I failed.
Trunks had given me back my Alarica jewel, so the Crime Scene Investigators did not lose it or damage it. I was still in shock, I was angry, and most importantly, I wanted revenge. I wanted the Hunters to feel the kind of pain I was feeling. A pain that was so deep, it hurt your soul to the very core.
In one day, I lost a good friend, Cadman, who Kaitlin had shot and killed on my balcony, and now my girlfriend. This was way too much to handle! The death of my girlfriend was starting to spread worldwide and was being broadcast all over the news stations as well as radio, Facebook, and Twitter. I felt like my entire world had stopped and it was my fault. Shinka’s mother was making a plea to the murderers to turn themselves in, which, of course, I knew was not going to happen because Zander was making a statement.
“Abel?” Brooke’s quiet voice broke me from my thoughts, and I blinked as I looked at her. Brooke knew exactly how I felt because we would both lost someone we cared deeply for and it was not something that would make you feel better about. “I just wanted to—”
“No, Brooke,” I said clearing my throat as a lump started to form. My eyes were red, and they stung like hell from crying all day. I had to act tough, and I could not take my anger out on Brooke anymore. “I totally understand how you’re feeling right now...” I said and Brooke nodded as she lightly touched my arm.
“Abel,” she said, trying not to cry. “I didn’t get the chance to tell Shinka the truth about her father.”
