Chapter 41: Byron?
Vanessa’s POV:
Vanessa woke up early the next day so she could take care of her morning tummy troubles and took a shower. Malik had brought her clothes, so she didn’t have to raid Rylie’s closet anymore. She went to put some jeans on and grunted as she struggled to fasten the button on them. “Dammit, already?” she groaned and switched to leggings. “Looks like we’re going to be best friends for quite a while.” She said, patting her stomach.
She thought about her ultrasound from the night before. How Aaron couldn’t see a baby in there. But there was one. She was sure of it. Her intuition knew that she was indeed carrying Malik Cromwell’s baby. She wracked her brains trying to figure out how she was going to tell him. She would when everything was settled. One day at a time. One thing at a time. For now, her mission was to get Katrina’s gun from Rylie.
Her and Rylie went out to do some boxing. A routine they’d picked up during the day as Vanessa still had to fight and Rylie had taken it upon herself to train her. “Hey, do you still have Katrina’s gun?” Vanessa asked as she threw a punch into the punching back.
“Yes, I do.” Rylie said as she held the bag still while Vanessa delivered a roundhouse kick to it.
“Any news on why it’s not working?”
“Sadly not.” Rylie said as she released the bag and went to grab her water bottle.
“That sucks…” Vanessa said as she took a swig from her water bottle. “I was wondering if I could have it back?”
Rylie looked at her as though Vanessa just called her out on eating the last Twix bar from her nightstand. “Um…I’m doing an experiment on it.”
“What sort of experiment?”
“I think I’m close to figuring it out so just let me keep it a little longer, okay.”
Vanessa tilted her head to the side, “Rylie, let’s not do this. Let’s not be those friends who keep secrets. I just want Katrina’s gun back.”
“What do you need it for if it doesn’t even work?”
“Maybe you’re not the one who needs to figure it out. Katrina is my ancestor. Maybe I have to activate it somehow.”
“Okay, but what makes you think I’m keeping secrets?”
Vanessa blew out a breath and grabbed a towel to wipe some sweat from her forehead, “Because when you think I’m asleep, I know you’re meeting Malik.”
Rylie turned red and it wasn’t because she was flushed from the workout. “V…it’s not what you think.”
Vanessa laughed, “You get around town, but you wouldn’t do that to me. I know you.”
Rylie sighed with relief, “Fine, I admit Malik and I have been doing some experiments out at Lust since it’s closed for the time being.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Rylie looked at her with guilt and sadness in her eyes as she tucked a lock of red hair behind her ear, “We thought it would keep you safe. The less you know the better.”
“Safe from what? The fact Byron’s losing himself. From the fact I have to kill Malik. How much more shit can be piled on?”
“Malik’s just worried, his friend Julius was killed. Alec and Alfred killed him and impersonated him. Malik won’t see it happen to Aaron or you.”
“Rylie, the only way we’re going to win this is if we work together.”
Rylie nodded, “I agree.”
“So, what are you and Malik doing with the gun?”
“Honestly, it’s mostly him. Personally, I think he has his own plan up his sleeve.”
“What sort of plan?”
“Not anything against us if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Vanessa shook her head, “I trust Malik. I don’t think he killed my parents. In fact, I knew it the night Alec impersonated him and tricked me at the restaurant.”
“I think you need to go back to Malik.”
“Am I a burden?”
Rylie laughed, “Well I mean if you really want to know the truth…” she teased. Vanessa punched her arm, “OUCH!” Rylie squealed.
“Sorry, not sorry!” Vanessa taunted.
They both laughed and Rylie folded her arms across her chest, “In all seriousness, he’s just trying to give you space. But he really misses you and I know you miss him.”
“I do miss him…” Vanessa frowned. “I just feel like everything is scattered right now and every day I’m haunted by the fact Byron’s running out of time.”
“We all are, it’s why we’re working tirelessly on a plan all the while keeping Alec and Alfred at bay.”
“I need to be part of the plan.”
“You are, it’s just…you don’t know your part yet.”
“My part is to shoot Malik.”
Rylie closed her eyes, “Can you do something for me?”
Vanessa nodded, “Yes, you know I will.”
“I need you to trust us.”
“I do trust you I just feel like a sitting duck. I also have a confession.”
“Oh?”
“Aaron has a theory why it doesn’t work. And it has to do with Malik.”
“Really?”
Vanessa nodded.
“I know it has to do with Malik. It’s why he has it.”
“Rylie!”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“I get it, you all are just trying to keep me safe. But I’m not the one that needs protection.”
“You’ve been given a command by the vampire that woke you up. But Malik is smart and when he killed Katrina, he didn’t just kill her.”
Vanessa furrowed her brows, “Rylie, you’re going to tell me everything you know right now.”
Rylie closed her eyes and sighed, “I’m not doing that right now Vanessa.” She said sternly.
Vanessa’s brows arched at that, “Excuse me?”
“I asked you to trust us. Can you please just do this for me? Trust me, what we’ve got going, it’s all going to work out I promise.”
Vanessa sucked in a shaky breath, angry at Rylie now. But she understood. Maybe it was best that Vanessa just put some faith into Malik and Rylie. “Okay fine, I trust you.”
“Thank you.”
Vanessa had failed to get the gun from Rylie. All she could do was hope that their plan was smarter than Alec and Alfred. That night around midnight, Rylie went off to go meet Malik at Lust and there was a knock on the door. That’s strange, Aaron usually has a key and just comes in. Maybe he forgot it? Vanessa got up to open the door and her jaw nearly fell to the floor, “Byron?”
He didn’t look like himself. He looked pale, thin, and all around malnourished. He looked at her as though she were his first meal in weeks. Because she was. She screamed as he lunged himself at her. His hand covered her mouth, and everything went black.