9 CHAPTER 8

I made one phone call.

Sitting on the curb outside, Leanna leaned against my shoulder, eyes swollen from crying.

A fiery red vehicle pulled up. It was a Dodge Demon. The car brought back memories.

I got to my feet. Leanna doing the same as she saw Sorin Hunt step out of the vehicle.

A question was written on his face. Are you okay? He seemed to say. I shrugged in response. A half-answer.

He walked up the doorstep. "Does she -"

I shook my head. He nodded. Good that Leanna didn't know the truth. There'll be questions. But that will come later. Sorin tilted his head, his shoulder length hair shifted. I nodded. He trudged in as I guided Leanna to his car.

"Leanns, it's going to be okay."

"She's gone," she said, sniffering.

"I know…" What else is there to say?

I strapped her in the back seat, ensuring her, I'll be back soon. Turning around, I followed Hunt inside.

I saw him crouched by my mother. Her talons gone and her hair intact. No trace of the rampaging creature mere minutes ago. Sorin's sun kissed skin gleamed red as he wiped the blood of the fallen. He sniffed once. Twice. He looked towards me in question.

"She was my cover. And 100% human. I don't know what the hell happened to her. A minute, she was fine. The next thing you know she was attacking us," I told him. When he didn't say anything, I prowled ahead. "There's one more thing." I squatted to pick up the fallen dagger; dropping it immediately.

Sorin uncurled from his position with ease and came to sit beside me. He picked up the dagger. It didn't burn him like it did to me.

"Say something," I urged him.

"I need to take this back to the lab. I'll get back to you," he said and walked out.

"That's it? That's all you have to say?" I called out to his back.

"What the fuck else is there to say? You already refuse to work with us, what more is there?" He said, each syllable spitting venom.

I growled. The only sign of the predator lurking beneath my skin. "When you find someone you care about, only then you'll understand the choices I've made."

Sorin snorted in reply. "What are you going to tell Leanna?"

"Hopefully, she doesn't remember anything," I told him as I pushed past him.

-

Sorin dropped Leanna back home first. But not before attending to her wounded cheek. By some miracle, she didn't remember what the creature looked like when it attacked her. Lying, I told her that my mother overdosed on some medication that made her go berserk. Not the best explanation I know but it seemed to reassure her. Sorin cleared things out with Eric whilst I had dealt with Leanna. Once things were settled, he drove me home.

A few blocks away, my apartment stood in the corner, hidden behind several taller buildings. I have lived here for the past 5 years. It was okay. Homely even. Sorin stopped the car and turned off the engine. We sat in silence.

I broke it first.

"Thanks for coming," I told him.

He shrugged. "Anytime D."

End of conversation.

Realising he wasn't going to continue any further, I nodded and got out of the car. He skirted away before I could even close the doors.

I flipped off the back of his car and walked up the stairs to my apartment.

Flopping onto my bed, I stared at the ceiling. Endless thoughts swam through my mind. I tried to make sense of it all, but it was overwhelming.

My phone beeped, snapping me back to reality. The first was from Eric - letting me know that Leanna was well rested and asleep. The second was from Javier. It said: I heard what happened. Are you okay? I told him I was fine. He knew I wasn't very close to my Mother. He wouldn't push.

I pulled up the message thread from the third person. I read it and ignored it.

Groaning, my entire body was sore from when the creature tackled me. Taking out my shoes, I chucked them into the corner. Thud. Great, I must have knocked down the frame. I got down to my feet to pick up the fallen picture of Leanna and me together. Staring down at it, I realised how much has changed since then.

I rose to take a shower, but something in the corner caught my eye. My heels from the wedding. But that wasn't the oddest thing. Something was jutting out from underneath the straps. Sitting down on the tiled floor, I tugged a loose piece of dyed purple hair behind an ear and took out the paper. I read it. Once. Twice. Thrice.

The floor slid from under me.

No.

Closing my eyes, I took deep breaths and sorted through my thoughts. For long minutes, I did just that. This was much more inviting than facing the reality of the situation.

Exhaling, I decided on another thing that day. I refused to pray to the Gods any longer. They've done enough. I've had enough. I was on my own. I've always been on my own. Even with Javier, Myr, Khione and the others. Leanna too.

Bastard.

I should never think like that. But, it's true. Why deny it? After all, how do you explain to someone what the fuck is wrong when they don't even know the real you? How do you explain that you have the blood of hundreds on your hands and still dream about them every single day? Yes, I killed a monster today. But how long till they realise that they're harboring the biggest monster there is? A wolf in sheep's skin. And when they know the truth? How long before they run away scared or take the opportunity to drive a blade into my back?

No. You can't. Unless you want to lose them.

And that sure as fuck isn't an option.

I dialed the number. He picked up on the first ring.

"I'm in," I told Sorin.

"Why the change of heart?"

"I found your note, you piece of shit. Only for her."

"Good. You do realise that we're going to get our asses kicked."

"No, you're going to get your ass kicked. I can hold my own."

His laughter reverberated off the phone. "I'll see you soon."

I hung up.

Striding towards the metal armoire, I undid the locks. After the fifth lock, I urged it open.

An entire catch of weaponry stared back. Picking up my favourite shotgun, I aimed them at the bar of soap far ahead in the shower. Exhaling, I made a shot. One after the other. The familiarity of it anchored me. Striding ahead, I slung the shotgun across my shoulder and picked up the bar of soap. Four shots. A perfect circle stared back at me.

I grinned. It's good to be back.

The smile lasted for awhile as I remembered the real reason for my change of heart.

The note only said one thing.

One thing that was only capable of changing my mind.

They're coming for her.

Standing in the ashes of who I used to be, I donned the mask. I was Daphne no longer. A demon of hell, it's time for my unleashing. A different monster than I was years ago; I like this look much better.

They're coming for her, Well, I'm coming for them now.

And they can all burn in fucking Hell.