Chapter 12: Lycans Like You Deserve To Die

**Bianca**

We stood in place as her dress tore at the sides. Raven black fur sprouted from her skin. Her mouth and nose stretched outward. Those eyes of hers developed a vibrant, glowing ocean blue. She grew a foot taller than her original height, effectively towering over us.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked her. “If we fight, you’re not going to win this.”

“And I sure as hell don’t plan on dying today,” Avery added.

Riley didn’t seem to care. She only snarled at us, her fangs and claws on clear display.

Then she attacked.

_______

“That’s how she died,” Avery recalled. “It was a pity we couldn’t do more. She held her own against the assassin, and that says a lot about her strength.”

The ceremony had ended abruptly. A special unit designated for shifter related cases was sent there to respond to a call. Three palace cars occupied the side of the street across from the gala hall. Two ambulances came by, one to retrieve Riley’s body from the rooftop and another for Riley’s father who fainted at the news.

The policeman, Officer Jerred, thanked Avery for his statement and fixed his gaze on me. “And you’re the one who called the police, correct?”

I sniffled. My fingers wiped off the tears from my eyes. “Yes, officer.”

“Can I have your name, Miss?”

“Bianca Pilgrim,” I squeezed out.

“I understand that this is very depressing, but I’m going to ask you a few questions, okay?”

I nodded and sniffled once more.

“Can you back up this young man’s statement? Is there anything you would like to add?”

“No, no.” I shook my head. “Everything he said is exactly as it happened. It’s just… She had so much potential and now she’s not here anymore despite her still being so young. And her body… Oh goddess…” I trailed off, my eyes once again becoming moist.

“I see. Well, can you add anything to his description of the perpetrator? Did their gestures seem family to you? Did he wear any piece of clothing that you recognized? Is there anyone you can think of that might want to hurt her?”

I shook my head. “I was too shocked to approach him directly, but I did see that he was a caucasian man based on the skin around his eyes and that he was taller than me. I don’t know who they are. Although, I heard him say something like, ‘this is payback for Mason’s sins’. His tone was so spiteful that it caught me off guard. If we didn’t leave her alone with him to call for help, then maybe…”

Tears rolled down my cheeks. Officer Jeffred nodded and noted something down on his notepad.

“Alright, that will be all. Thank you for your time, Miss, Sir. I have your contacts so I will be informing you if we have any more questions. Now you folks need to go home and get some rest. Especially you, Miss Pilgrim. Come down to the station later if either of you remember anything else that would help with this case. Have a good night.

“Thank you,” Avery said.

“Thank you, Officer Jeffred.”

Officer Jeffred nodded and left to go talk to other possible witnesses. That left us to ourselves. Avery smiled. He wiped my tears away with the sleeves of his own shirt. “You should know I have an acting agency. If you wanted to play a role, I would have given you one.”

I patted his hands away. “We’re in public. Do you think it’s a good idea to be joking around with the cops so close by? I don’t know about you, but I prefer to keep my criminal record nonexistent.”

He coughed, putting on a somber expression.

“See? I can put on an act too.” Avery winked. I couldn’t hold it in anymore and ended up rolling my eyes.

We strode side by side as Avery relayed to me how he had been asked to play a role in a movie many times. He claimed he didn’t accept any of the roles because he didn’t want to be made fun of on TV.

On the way, I picked up on the whispers from the guests. They were buying the story we weaved together. That’s good enough for me.

I ended up walking by the ambulance with Riley’s father in it. A yellow blanket covered his shoulder. Mr. Blake sat with his head in his palms, sobbing softly. Mason stood some distance away talking to another cop.

Mr. Blake raised his head and glared at us.

“You Lycans. You only care about your bloody selves!” He yelled. He was being urged to calm down since he had only recently reawaken. Mr. Blake ignored them. “You could have done something! You could have prevented her from dying but you didn’t! Calling the police wasn’t enough! My baby girl…”

Mr. Blakes started hyperventilating. He was pulled into the back of the ambulance and made to lay down. Mason noticed his father outburst and rushed to join him, leaving the officer behind without so much of a farewell. Before the doors closed Mason’s gaze landed on us. We witnessed an indescribable expression on his face that disappeared after they slammed shut.

“Bianca.”

I swung my head towards him. He gave me a tender smile. “No one could have predicted what happened. Life Jeffred said, we should hurry up and leave.”

I agreed. Besides, the search was still on and I couldn't let any emotions block me from my goal.

“Yeah. Let’s go. And Avery?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

_______

**Cinderella**

This is so odd.

As Misty stood by, taking photos of our surroundings, I placed a finger to my lips.

Everyone else seemed to believe this little story about an assassin killing Riley but I didn’t buy it. Why would Riley go up to that rooftop anyone? That girl never left her father’s side, much less long enough for some random to attack her and stab her heart.

And what was Bianca doing here with Conroy’s friend? Did she come and try to find her ex-husband to beg him to take her back?

Before I knew it, I started biting down on my acrylic nails. Dammit, why didn’t she just die?

_______

**Two days later**

**Bianca**

The doorbell wouldn’t ringing. I walked down the stairs, wrapping my robe around me. No one else was at home, not even the housekeepers. My relatives are out having brunch somewhere. I’ve been in bed most of the day and enjoyed my peace and quiet. That was until I realized we had an unexpected guest.

I walked up to the door. “Who is it?”

There was no answer. I groaned and marched up to the door. I unlocked it and swung it open. That’s how I realized a huge mistake I made.

Conroy stood on the other side of the door with his hand raised to press the doorbell. The morning sun reflected off his light brown jacket. Conroy's hair was tussled, and his eyes showed no emotions.

Conroy lowered his arm. I stared at him in shock.

“You’ve had time to settle in, correct?” Conroy said. “It’s about time you come and apologize to my parents’ graves.”