Demon in Love (Book 3)

Chapter 6

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”-Maya Angelou.

Chapter 6

-Karen-

“Portal creation?”

“Sometimes.”

“Telekinesis?”

“Obviously.”

“Telepathy?”

“Now and then,” Zayasu rubbed his face.

“Can you stop acting like I’m your doctor, asking you questions for the symptoms of a disease,” I groaned in frustration, “Why didn’t you tell us that you are this powerful?”

“You never asked me,” He shrugged. “I even offered to help you, remember? Victor wanted me to help you learn new techniques and whatnot. You just went ahead and declined my genuine offer.”

“It was the first time we’d met. I was certainly not going to trust you,” Trust wasn’t a department where I was good at. People broke trust all the damn time. “I still don’t.”

“I can see that,” Zayasu mumbled, turning to look at his right and then left side.

He was sitting on the sofa across me. But that wasn’t all. He was sitting between Jon and Nate who were nearly crushing him with their weights. No matter how painful it looked and how many times had Zayasu tried to push them over, he was stuck there. The two boys were either trying to kill him or crush his bones.

Maya was silently sitting beside me, currently watching her boyfriend being childish.

“Dude, you’re killing me,” Zayasu tried pushing Jon away, and then tried shoving Nate. “What are you, a block of ice?”

Jon rolled his eyes. “Can’t take our superpowers, wiz boy?”

“I feel like a hostage who is captured by a sadistic gang of misfits,” Zayasu replied. “Get away and let me breathe. If I were you, I wouldn’t try provoking a wizard. I can be extremely dangerous when I want to be.”

“I’m so scared,” Jon said, feigning terror on his face and a shudder that was painfully close to a breakdance move. He gestured at us. “Are you really threatening us? We’re four people here against one. What makes you think you’d win?”

I only saw Zayasu looking down at his hands. He clenched them into loose fists before opening them again. The green energy shot from his hands towards Nate and Jon at the same time. It happened so fast that I had no time to move. I heard Jon let out a squeak.

With a strong jerk, Jon and Nate moved away from him. Jon’s hand immediately flew to grab his shoulder where the energy had hit him. He rubbed his shoulder with wide eyes.

Nate had his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. For a vampire he sure was slow.

“I’m sorry if it hurt you,” Zayasu grinned. It wasn’t a dangerous grin. It was a playful one.

“That was awesome!” I exclaimed, restraining from clapping. “I’ve made energy balls too while fighting but you seem so…controlled. This trick might come in handy, right? Do something bigger. Go ahead and read someone’s head.”

I needed to know if he could actually do it. Why couldn’t have we met him some months ago? If Victor had introduced me to Zayasu, it would have helped a lot during the exams. Just imagine yourself sitting in a classroom during an exam, able to read everyone’s mind around you. Sure, it would be a struggle to find the right answer but you’d evidently know what answer the topper in your class was up to.

And could he fly? That would be beyond great.

“HE f*****g ELECTROCUTED ME,” Jon screamed throwing his hands up, “and all you care about is his magic tricks?”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” Zayasu said nonchalantly. He turned his attention back to me and smiled. “I can read Jon’s mind—wait no, I don’t think there’s a brain in there at all. Even Charles Xavier would be disappointed.” He touched his temples with his index fingers and closed his eyes. “It feels so hollow.”

“That’s impossible for any human being,” Jon stated.

“Believe me I’ve seen nothing like this,” Zayasu continued to act. In a calm voice, he went on. “No thoughts, no ideas, no memories, just a useless empty skull with a face plastered on it.”

Maya and I giggled. Jon went back to giving him a death glare.

“Try Nate’s,” I offered.

We looked over at Nate who had his fangs out, ready to attack Zayasu. Geez, could Nate be any slower? I mean, I didn’t actually want him to attack and kill Zayasu but this was painfully slow for anyone. What if it wasn’t Zayasu but someone else shocking him with his powers?

“Don’t,” Nate raised his hand in front of him. “I won’t allow that.”

I suddenly realised that he wasn’t going to attack him for using his shockwave power on him. He was rather trying to stop him from reading his mind. He almost looked terrified of the idea of letting someone else inside his head.

“Who said you’d have to allow me?” Zayasu smirked before closing his eyes.

“Hey, you’ll be okay, Nate. We’re all here,” I said assuring. “I’m only testing his powers.”

“This is not right,” Nate hissed. “He is invading my personal space.”

“What are you hiding so important though?” Jon asked. He didn’t get a reply.

I looked at Zayasu.

His eyes were still closed in concentration. His smile dropped as soon as he opened his eyes. He blinked twice and tilted his head. Zayasu’s black eyes stayed on Nate. It was strange that his eyes didn’t change color like mine did when I used my powers. And of course, how could I forget the green strands of hair I was flaunting down the street.

Either Zayasu had never fought anyone or he was using damn good hair dye.

Nate and he stared at each other. I waited for one of them to speak up, preferably Zayasu, but they didn’t even bother to break the eye contact. There was some sort of unspoken message being sent from Nate’s side. As if he was begging the other to not reveal his secrets.

The unbearable silence was killing me.

“What, did you guys just fell in love or something?” Jon asked, sensing the situation.

I would have laughed if this wasn’t serious.

“Too many secrets,” Zayasu whispered. “When are you going to tell her, Nathan?”

“Tell who what?” I asked quickly.

He stared at Nate, without acknowledging my question. “I know you hate him but there are still those pleasant memories you haven’t let go of. You need to tell her before it’s too late. Trust is a very fragile thing, Nathan.”

“You don’t understand,” Nate replied quietly.

What were they talking about?

“Their confession of their undeniable love is sick,” Jon said to me. “This sounds so close to—”

“Jon, please shut up for a moment,” Maya snapped at him.

“What’s going on?” I raised my voice enough for Zayasu to snap his head in my direction.

“I can’t say anything. It’s not my place to tell you,” He said grimly. “I might have seen inside his head but it’ll be better if you two sorted this out yourself.”

I shook my head and looked at Nate. He was looking at anything but me.

“Guys,” Jon spoke up, shaking his phone in his hands. “I just got a message from Crane.”

“When did you give your number to him?” I asked.

“Technically, he gave me his number to contact him whenever we got any info on Victor. I messaged him earlier when the vampire attack in the woods happened,” Jon explained. “Now he has messaged me.”

“What has he messaged?”

“It says ‘Meet me right now. It’s important.’” Jon read the message. “I think we should go to Crane’s shop.”

I got up from the sofa. If Crane wanted us to meet him, it had to be really important. We were the ones who usually went to him without any early notice. What was so important that he couldn’t tell over the phone or message? Had he found where Victor was? Was Victor there with him?

“I’ll make the portal if you want,” Zayasu offered, getting up too.

“Where are we going?” Maya asked.

“You aren’t going anywhere,” Jon said to her. “You’re going straight home. No questions asked.”

“Jon, I think you should take her home,” I said to him. “Zayasu, Nate, and I will go to Crane’s. You don’t have to come with us.”

Jon’s eyes nearly fell out in disbelief. “I’m not gonna leave you alone.”

“Yeah, I can go home by myself,” Maya said. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Jon, listen to me,” I glared at him. “If Victor can murder random strangers in the woods, won’t he try to hurt one of us? You’re going to drop her home safely. We can’t risk innocent lives anymore.”

“I’m not leaving you with the wiz boy and fangface.”

“I’ll be alright,” I sighed. I wasn’t the only one with trust issues.

“But—”

“Do you want Zayasu to drop her home?” I challenged. “What if he kidnaps her instead?”

Zayasu gave me a strange look but didn’t say anything. He probably knew where I was going with this. Jon would never let him take Maya home. He didn’t like him at all.  He would rather hand her over to Victor instead.

“Fine,” He took Maya’s hand in his. “I hate you, Karen.”

 “You know you don’t,” A faint smile appeared on my lips.

“I won’t come looking for you if these two kidnapped you,” Jon said, then tugged at Maya’s hand. “Let’s go. We’re done here.”

I knew he meant none of the things he had said. He was upset for sure, but it was natural. Somewhere deep inside, he still trusted Nate with me. And that was why he had left.

After the dramatic exit of Jon and Maya, Zayasu created the portal to Crane’s shop. Apparently, as it turned out, he knew where the shop was, because Victor and he had been there plenty of times. These three guys were supposedly best buddies for a long time. I didn’t want to get into any details about their friendship, regarding the fact that I wanted to hate Victor, not like him more. Zayasu made him sound so caring and totally opposite of what he was now.

He was an insane murderer now.

As we entered Crane’s shop, we were greeted with a very distressed face of Crane. He didn’t even look up to us when we closed the door behind. He was sitting on the chair behind the counter. The glass display under the counter wasn’t filled with cupcakes. Most of the sections were empty with only some crumbs of cupcakes lying here and there.

“What happened to the glorious display?” Zayasu asked him. “Don’t tell me you got robbed of cupcakes.”

“I didn’t expect you to come here with them,” Crane sighed. “But then, I kind of did actually. I’m glad you’re helping them.”

“What’s the matter, Crane?” I asked.

His eyes found mine and I saw sorrow in them. Something in me told me to hold on tight for very bad news was about to come.

“Is everything alright, Crane?” Nate asked him when he didn’t reply. “You don’t look well.”

“Nothing is alright, Nathan. Three vampires along with two werewolves were killed last night,” Crane said, leaning on the counter. “Day before, two vampires were found dead. Deaths of the supernaturals have made the Vampire Elder Society active again.”

“I thought they were always active,” Zayasu said. “What happened to the supernatural laws? Did The Calling actually happen?”

“I don’t know. The vampires who are dead were the weakest ones. Same with the werewolves. That’s the only pattern I’ve figured out until now,” Crane narrowed his eyes and ran his hand through his hair. “This is not the only bad news. Several vampires and werewolves have gone missing too.”

I bit my lip. “You mean they have been abducted?”

“Yes.”

“What is VES doing right now?” Nate asked. The abbreviation had grown on him.

“They’re calling back the past members for discussions and enforcement of new orders,” There was hesitation in Crane’s voice. “They have called me back too. They want me to be present there.”

“I don’t see any problem in that,” Zayasu said. “You’re able, and I think it’ll be nice if you’ll help them find out what’s going on.”

Crane shook his head vehemently. “They’re going to pass an order to execute Victor Devries.”

There was a sharp pain in my chest all of sudden. I could have easily taken it as a heart attack if I was still not standing there, staring at Crane with my eyes wide open. They couldn’t do that, could they?

“Why would they do that?” I asked. My voice sounded different; angrier than I had thought. “They can’t kill him without any reason.”

“According to some VES sources, Victor is involved. He was spotted at all those places, not far away from where the vampires have either gone missing or have been murdered. VES has been keeping an eye on him since the murder of Lord Valentino. It makes his case worse,” Crane said staring at me. “If the order passes, we won’t be able to do anything to save him. He will be executed at the first sight.”

Spotted at the places? If he wanted to kill those vampires and werewolves, why would he stay there to get spotted? He obviously knew VES was going to find out anyway. This wasn’t the Victor I knew. He was arrogant, egoistic, crazy—anything but stupid.

Being spotted didn’t mean he’d killed them.

“Then go there and stop them,” Zayasu’s hand was clenched into a tight fist. “You can do that, right?”

“You can,” Nate placed his hands on the counter with a thud. His authoritative tone sent a wave of relief through me. “You’re one of the oldest members of the society. You were one of the members who laid the foundation stone for the VES. They can’t say no to you.”

“Rules have changed, Nathan. I’m not saying that I won’t try,” Crane said loudly. “But I’m not gonna lie to you and give you false hope. I can only delay the order if I tried from my position. If I pushed harder, they might find out that I’m biased.”

“You’ve to do something,” My voice cracked.

“I’m sorry, Karen but the involvement of VES is a threat to all of us. They have a lot of hidden sources and supernaturals working under them,” Crane sighed defeated. “I know it’s not Victor. It has to be someone who has been saving the cards for a long time to play them at the right moment. What if Victor is a victim too?”

“It can be his mother,” Nate said silently. “Lady Adeline has been out of the picture.”

How could have we forgotten Lady Adeline this entire time? It wasn’t Victor alone who had planned my entry to the other dimension. The vampire club in Paris was a stage set by him and his mother. He had done nothing alone. They were partners.

We were so intrigued by Victor’s mysterious disappearances and appearances; we had completely ignored the existence of the cruel mother out there.

Nate didn’t even call her mother anymore.

“Lady Adeline is a member of VES too. She will be there,” Crane replied. “She would never want her son to be executed. I think she’ll be a great help in delaying the order.”

“What do we do?” Zayasu asked. “We can’t sit here and wait for the order.”

“You guys can do the most important thing Victor trusted you with,” Crane gestured at us. “You’ve to find the real enemy. The note he left clearly stated that he was trying to find someone. It has to be the person behind whatever is going on. And Victor doesn’t deserve to die in the hands of VES.” Crane looked straight at me. “He would never want that.”

When you find me, kill me.

When you find me, kill me.

When you find me kill me.

I could hear his voice saying this to me. I had read the lines in the note a hundred times. I had turned the note upside down to see if I was missing something…if he had been joking. I wasn’t ready for this. I would never be ready for this.

“I hope you’ll make the best choice for him,” Crane was directly talking to me. Zayasu and Nate weren’t even paying attention. “He has trusted you with his life.”

And death.