Chapter 54: Chapter 54
And with that, he left the kitchen in a flash. She tensed and got up so fast the chair almost tipped over. Nausea overcame her, forcing her to hold on to the table. Kelsey was next to her in a blink and held out his arm to support her.
“Careful,” he reminded her. “You can’t follow him where he is going.”
“So you know,” she concluded. Kelsey’s long silence spoke louder than words. His stony façade crumbled when he gave her a reluctant smile.
“I do, but I can’t tell you. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to tell me. I know what he’s planning. It’s not hard to guess—his expression gave it away.”
Kelsey remained silent, biting his lip and watching her sit down. She stared at her hands lying flat on the table, furrowing her brows. “He is looking for Steph because he wants revenge.”
“Does it bother you?”
Elena sighed. Part of her wanted to stick to her morals, while another part wanted Steph to pay for what he had done to Ryder. She couldn’t erase the picture of her soulmate’s injured and bloody self locked in that tiny, cold room. It was burned into her memories. As long as Steph remained alive, he would continue to torment them, not only targeting her but also Ryder. And the latter was something she couldn’t live with.
“Ryder shouldn’t have left alone. It’s too dangerous,” she said, worry growing within her. Who knew what Steph was planning now… If Ryder walked straight into another trap…
“Don’t worry, Elena. Edgar and Chump are with him. They’re strong enough to deal with any problems Steph might cause,” Kelsey explained in a calm tone, offering her reassurance.
“I see. That’s good.”
But it wasn’t hard to see that it still bothered her. She was fidgety and restless, playing with a lock of her black hair while she stared at the clock on the counter. Kelsey had promised Ryder to take care of her, and he took his promise very seriously. It hadn’t been Ryder’s intention to unsettle or worry her, but now that she had found out about his plan, all Kelsey could do was distract her for a while.
“Elena, why don’t we go outside? I recently planted new flowers you haven’t seen yet,” he said softly, tilting his head. “Or would you prefer to rest?”
“I’d love to see them,” she replied with a smile that mirrored his. The nausea had subsided, but Kelsey lingered close to her, cautious and ready to step in should she stumble. When they left the kitchen and crossed the foyer, Elena spotted Snake. The second youngest vampire stood in the doorway of the living room.
“Oh, what are you up to?” Snake asked, eyebrows rising in curiosity. “Gardening again?” He let out a laugh that was as contagious as it was endearing.
“You got a problem with that?” Kelsey grumbled, which only amused Snake more.
“Nah. I want to join,” he grinned. “Hurry up, the sun will set soon.”
---
Ryder put on his shoes and slipped his arms into the sleeves of his black leather jacket. He didn’t need more than five seconds, but when he returned to the foyer, Chump and Edgar were already waiting. They were dressed in dark colors, Chump’s scarlet hair shimmering in the same hue as his eyes.
“Let’s go,” was all Ryder said.
They didn’t bother taking the car and shot off as fast as lightning, intending to reach their destination within minutes. While Ryder had spent the first half of the day with Elena, the other clan members had not rested for a second since they all agreed on one thing. It was not acceptable for someone to cross their clan and get away with it. Steph had dug his own grave when he had endangered not only Elena but also Ryder. As the leader of their clan, Edgar couldn’t turn a blind eye to this. And neither could any of the others.
The vampires had spent the majority of the day combing the city, following every single clue they had. They revisited the area where Ryder had been held, and they returned to Elena’s shop and Steph’s flat. The latter, they searched thoroughly for something they might have missed last time—and they were rewarded. An inconspicuous business card had been left behind in a trash can. It belonged to two hunters going by the names of Felix and Sophie. And it specified a location where they could be found at a certain time. It was a nondescript bar that none of the vampires had ever heard of, and the place they sought out now.
The bar was on the ground floor of a dilapidated building in a shady area of town. Reddish light fell through the windows. The sounds of generic pop music reached their ears. They sensed an abundance of humans inside. Chump was the first to enter. His eyes swept over the guests, nose wrinkling at the stench of cheap alcohol, perfume, and cigarette smoke. Biting back a curse, he strode through the room, straight towards the bartender.
Ryder quickly determined that none of the humans in this room were hunters. Not the ones playing poker, not the couple making out, and not the group of drunk men in the back. His lips curled in disgust. He wanted to get this done fast so he could return home. Someone was waiting for him.
Chump’s fist hit the counter, making the old wood creak under the force he used. The human bartender’s eyes widened, darting from one vampire to the next, his thundering heartbeat giving away that he was aware of what creatures he was facing.
With an elegant motion, Edgar took the business card out of his pocket and showed it to the human. He didn’t speak a single word, and neither did his two companions. They flanked him and glared daggers at the bartender, who began to sweat profusely. His hands curled and uncurled.
To scare him into submission, Ryder bared his fangs at him. The brilliant red of his eyes left no doubt about his fury. He was livid and ready to tear this human to shreds if he didn’t show them where the hunters were.
The bartender caved in. His shoulders sank in defeat. He gestured to a door in the back of the bar and led them towards it, unlocking it for them. “They are in the basement,” he stuttered pathetically and withdrew from the door as if he had burned himself.