Intertwine (Book 3)

Chapter Thirteen

"So what is this meeting about?" Zeiden pushed and shoved through the thick tree areas.

"I'm hoping to find out." I didn’t have much of an answer to give him.

I was just as lost as he was. I was uncertain as to why he wanted to meet me however I found this meeting well overdue.

"I remember this place." Zeiden slowed at the bottom of the mount. He glanced up at the peak of the hill, the sight bringing back memories.

"Cabin." I exhaled.

"I came here to speak to you when Aniyah was taken by Kane." I nodded in agreement. The same cabin they took her from.

It was a haven and also a place I found fit to meet at. Secluded and isolated from the rest.

We walked up the hillside. Our voices, our moves, quiet enough to go unheard. They planned this meeting however we knew to never let our guards down. Zeiden followed behind as we made it up to the cabin porch.

I opened the door, finding myself face to face with complete and utter darkness. It was the stench that made me aware of who and what was waiting for us inside.

They never spoke. Instead, they waited as if expecting something in return.

“Are we here to do business? Or are we here play hide and seek?” I had to ask in wonder.

There was a whisper, a low yet catching whisper that spoke to me and only me from the darkness.

“Zeiden.”

“What?” Zeiden stood guard at the door. I could tell by his response that his ears could not hear the low whisper.

“Can you wait for me outside?”

"The hell? Hell no." Zeiden refused.

I didn't have much time or energy to argue with him. I just needed him for once to listen to a command without an argument in response.

"Zeiden!" I kept my eyes forward. "Can you please wait outside?"

I know Zeiden wanted to refuse again. I know he wanted to go against my wishes. I assume noticing that I needed to speak with the covenant leader alone, he listened. Almost skeptical about leaving me alone, Zeiden began to comply.

“I will be right outside this door.” He noted.

"Okay."

"I mean right outside." He gestured the door, confirming his whereabouts just in case this meeting take a turn.

"Okay. I got it."

With doubt circulating in his eyes, he stepped outside of the cabin before he closed the door behind him.

"Will the lights be turned on?" I asked. I prefer to see the person whom I would conduct the meeting with.

"I prefer to keep this conversation strictly verbal. My appearance does not matter."

"Hideous?" I questioned with a smirk.

"If you say so." I could hear the amusement in his voice.

"It surprised me to know that we will not be communicating through your assistants any longer."

"I thought you would like to hear it from the source."

I stared at the silhouette that sat in front of me, watching me. I could admit I was not comfortable conversing with someone I could not see however I needed some answers and if this was the only way to get it, I had to deal with it.

"So why are we here?" It was time to get to the point.

"Lucifer." My jaw clenched at the sound of his name.

"Have you gotten any word on his whereabouts?"

The man they called Lucifer made sure he went undetected. All of his movements, every trace of him, almost impossible to get. He only allowed us to see, to find whatever he wanted us to find.

"We are narrowing it down." He confirmed.

"I told you, my help would be better." I grunted.

The room grew quiet.

"I'm not sure how that would benefit us. With your...stench following behind you, I'm sure our actions would go noticed."

"Hmm." I snorted without a word to follow, even though the insult was distasteful. "Again, why am I here? Are you going to tell me who this dead man walking is?"

I heard him sigh out.

"He calls himself Lucifer." I was familiar with his senseless nickname. "His real name is Lance Reed."

"How do you know of him?"

"I knew him before he took on the name Lucifer." He confirmed. "When he was a part of a covenant. My covenant to be exact."

"So he was a monster that you created?" I questioned him, wondering what drove this man so mad.

"The monster dwelled within him. He just needed a reason for it to be brought to light."

"What blew the fuse?"

"Power. Control. Need. Hunger."

"Which one?"

"All." He confirmed.

"What does he want though? What does he need?"

"He wants the power. In the beginning he wanted the control over the followers of the covenants. Control not only the vampires but the covenant leaders as well but I'm afraid that power prolonged, soaring to an all-time high. He not only wants to control the vampire covenant-"

"He wants the wolf packs."

"The strongest packs." He confirmed what I thought.

"He is starting with the strongest packs."

"Once he has you and me under his control, his reign would become fruitful."

"That is why he made sure he took something from the both of us. Your captive and someone from me." It became clear. With such leverage over us, it would force our hands to play his game.

"Once he has our covenant in his deck, he will triumph."

"I won't let that happen." I confirmed.

"Will we have a choice?" I heard him whisper.

I thought for a moment, struggling to put all the pieces together to help form some plan. For the first time, I felt almost helpless, like silly putty in the hands of a mad man.

"So what's your plan?"

"I cannot sit here and tell you that I put together some grand scheme to bring him to his knees. But I can tell you that we only have once choice. Find him. Kill him.”

“No questions?” The thought to kill first and ask questions later was my first option.

“No questions.” He confirmed. I grinned, enthusiastic that the once peace filled vampire covenant had agreed to put aside their need for reasoning’s and doubts long enough to help rid us of this monster.

"Sounds like enough of a plan to me." I confirmed.

"Then it's set." We completed our mutual agreement. “Kill that son of a bitch.”…

Pressure was growing. It was safe to say now I was ready for the hunt. My teeth tingled. The thought, the hopes of sinking my teeth in this man was a dream. The only disagreement I shared with the covenant leader was which one of us would have the opportunity to kill him.

I exited the cabin before I stepped off of the porch. Waiting too eagerly was Zeiden alongside Star. As usual Star kept her words minimum and her appearance concealed from the world.

I began to walk away. Zeiden, curious, followed behind as I made my way down the hillside.

"So?" He skipped behind. "What now?"

"We have to kill him and fast." I preferred to get straight to the point. "I and the covenant leader will meet again soon. For now, I have to bring this up without the others knowing-"

"Without them knowing that you met with not only a vampire but a vampire leader. No, wait. Not only did you meet with this leader but you agreed to work with them."

"I can it admit, it will be difficult to explain."

"It will be impossible." Zeiden concluded.

"They will understand." I was sure they would understand, or at least I hoped they would.

"Oh will they?"

"You do." He understood what needed to be done.

"Well I'm a f*****g i***t so I don't count."

"No, you are a friend who I expect to keep this all a secret.”

"I have done that for days and I don't expect to go back on that now." He stopped in his tracks. With his voice stern and almost commanding, I turned to him. "No offense Alpha but I expect you to include me in. No more sending me out of the rooms or forcing me to 'shut my ears' when s**t is happening. If you are going to include me then include me."

I looked into his straining eyes. As desperately as I wanted to go against him, he was right. If I wanted his support, I had to accept it no matter how difficult it was for me to do so.

"Fine."

"Fine?" He looked almost stunned with my agreement.

"Fine. Now, come on. We need to get back to the house.”…