We enter Lucas' motel room. He's furious, and so am I. This situation is hard on both of us. Lucas throws a few things around the room before he calls Kane. I'm standing in the corner of the room to avoid being collateral damage to Lucas' rage. He's breathing heavily as the phone rings. One, two, three. On the fourth ring, Kane picks up. But he doesn't say anything. He waits to hear who it is. It's protocol in the event that he's been compromised.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmXdTor4zl
"Kane, you've got Lucas and Riley. Password: awakening the fourth wall," Lucas says robotically. He's trying to distance his emotions. It's best when dealing with Kane.
"Well well well, my two favorite vamps. Riley, how have you been? How's your little trip treating you? I haven't heard from you in a while," his voice rings through the room.
"I've been busy," is all I say. Lucas stares at me for a moment before he gets to business.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVipVBX94e4
"Kane, what can you tell us about that group of humans experimenting on vampires?"
"Well, my sources tell me that they call themselves 'The Truth'. Pretty bizarre name if you ask me," he chuckles to himself.
"What aren't you telling us, Kane," I interject.
"Little Riley, watch your attitude. You don't want trouble now, do you?" his voice has a tone of threat to it. But before I could say anything, Lucas continues.
"Kane, we've got an issue. Our pack has been compromised. So when we ask, it's more out of courtesy for our leader so much as a demand. So you better start talking."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF9hJrr1UM
"And what makes you think the pack has been compromised?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotmqsvHQf3
"Stella," I say the one word that I know will trigger Kane. His younger sister.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCQFtmfWYs
"What about Stella?" he demands.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RJSmHx8PJ
"We - ," I start as I look to Lucas for guidance. He nods at me before I continue, "we saw her tonight in a bar. She - she didn't smell like the pack anymore. She smelled human, Kane."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5RjWpZv2k
"Don't start this bullshit with me, Riley. There's no way. I would have known if Stella was gone."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJ704GawhY
"Kane, she wears their mark on her neck where our emblem should be," this time it was Lucas to give Kane the bad news. 167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWG44Sh49S
"Impossible," is all he could say.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1KRK2OInM
"Kane, we both saw it as clear as day," I whisper, "she has a wired cross tattooed on her neck. I'm sorry."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdvKsCmmiZ
"And we all know what her being with the humans means," Lucas finishes.
"She has all the information they need," Kane sighs.
"It could be how Riley got captured by them without even realizing it at first," Lucas adds.
"I'm sorry," Kane starts, "it's impossible for me to help you. You're on your own."
"What the hell does that mean?!" Lucas yells.
"It means that this isn't my fight to fight. The protocol set in place once something like this happens is to dismantle the pack."
"Bullshit," Lucas spits out.
"You knew this, Lucas. It's for the best of all of my vampires. It's the only solution we could come up with at the time."
"So every vampire for themselves. Is that what you're saying, Kane?" Lucas is getting heated by this whole conversation. It's only going to end badly.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYgh5McSk9
"Unfortunately, it has to be this way, Lucas. You know that..... brother," Kane says before he hangs up.
Lucas grunts in frustration and punches the wall before he turns to me, "this is such bullshit!"
"Lucas, you have to calm down," I whisper.
"Calm down? Calm down! Riley, my own brother has basically disowned me. Us. How can I calm down at a time like this?"
"We need a plan, Luc. Go take a shower then we can come up with something. This isn't a plan to only save Kora anymore. It's a plan to save everyone," I say before I walk out the door. I need to think and walking helps me think.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXvvpg78uV
By the time I get back to the motel, I see that all the lights are off. It's too dark and too quiet. What the hell is happening. I walk towards our room. I'm about to touch the doorknob but I feel a presence on the other side of the door. And it doesn't feel like Lucas. There are two of them inside. I could fight them but I'm still unsure of what and who I'm up against. I make a quick decision and stand to the side of the door and get myself ready to flee in case I'm walking into a trap. I turn the doorknob, but as I'm about to push open the door I hear a gun discharge, and in that moment I make a quick motion to jump to the roof of the one story motel. I lay low to see who is in the room. But it's two unfamiliar men. They're talking to each other, "where did that bitch go?" one of them says. They look around for a bit before they get into their car and drive away.
I wait it out until I can't see the car anymore. I quickly enter the motel room to find it trashed almost like they were looking for something. What the hell were they looking for? And where the hell is Lucas?
I quickly make my way back to Alpha Nate's building. It's the only place I can think of that will be safe enough for me to make a new plan. I need to find Lucas fast. My original plan isn't going according to plan and I have to admit defeat and call in reinforcements because things just got a whole lot more complicated.
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