25

"So someone is leaking confidential information," I admitted, "that's terrible. Does Kayler know?"

"Everyone suspects so."

At that moment, a thought came to my mind: Gadreel. He had once told me that he had the power to control people's minds. Of course, he's a demon after all. I swallowed hard at the thought. Gadreel can't be doing these things, knowing that I'm also in danger. Maybe not him, but his group or his friends. I don't trust them. Actually, all demons are on Earth; it's just that humans can't see them, let alone believe in them. We are surrounded by evil, and we don't even notice.

"What are you thinking?" Anne snapped me out of my thoughts.

"I'm thinking about Gadreel. He once told me he could control the human mind."

"Do you think it was him?"

"No, I don't think so," I responded confidently. "He wouldn't be capable of that."

"You shouldn't trust so much, Carolina."

We were practically leaving the town. Where are Kayler and Kylie going? I bit my lower lip because the doubt is killing me. Kayler stopped in front of Elias's house. It can't be. I stopped at a considerable distance to avoid being seen.

"What is he doing here?" Anne asked.

"I don't know. Is he coming to see Piper?"

"Maybe. Perhaps he wants to make it clear to him not to mess with you."

"I don't think that's it. Come on," I got out of the car.

"What? Where? You're not thinking of getting closer, Carolina. They'll smell us."

"That's the problem," I said. "What do we do?" I looked around, trying to find some camouflage that could help us go unnoticed.

"There's something that can help us," she said, pointing to a huge mud lake.

I looked at Anne in horror.

"That way they won't sense us. It was just an idea."

I thought about it again. Curiosity was greater than embarrassment.

"Fine, let's do it," I nodded, with a knot in my throat. Anne and I approached the mud, covering our entire bodies, face, arms, and legs. It stinks. "I don't know what I'm thinking," I think I was already regretting it.

"Let's hurry," Anne said. The two of us slowly advanced towards the house, leaving muddy footprints behind us. We went through the back door, typical, they're open. We moved slowly until we entered.

"Things aren't like that," I heard Piper's voice. At that moment, we stopped and fell silent. "I never said anything."

"But it happened, and someone had to do it, someone who wants to harm us. Who could know where we hunt?"

It seems that Kayler came to confront Piper about the hunters. That made me feel a little better because he didn't come for something else.

"Believe me, Kayler, if I wanted to harm Carolina, I would do it with my own hands."

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't doubt that I will. Carolina could have stayed with you, but she won't take Kylie away from me."

"No one is taking your daughter," Kayler snapped.

Your daughter.

I was surprised that he said "your" and not "our."

"And what have I seen? You took her to live with you now, and I can't allow that. She's your daughter too, Kayler Brown."

"That's enough," Elias intervened. "No more arguing. Kylie is here."

"That's all I came for, Piper. You've been warned. Believe me, I will get to the bottom of this."

"I'm a wolf too, and if there are hunters, it affects me. You should investigate with the angels. They have that power," Piper told him.

"We're leaving."

I signaled to Anne that it was time for us to go too. We quickly left the house before being seen. And now, how are we supposed to get into the car with this mud all over us? When we reached the car, we got inside, I started quickly, and I drove away from there with my heart beating fast.

"It seems we're not the only ones thinking about Gadreel," Anne commented. "I think that guy is in trouble."

"I'll have to look for Gadreel, but I don't know where he's staying."

I remembered the mountain where we were that night; he's probably staying there. I drove at full speed before Kayler could catch up and realize.

"We need to go home and change; we can't go see the locals like this," Anne said to me in a very calm tone. I had forgotten that small detail! Anne is very excited about her café, and I don't want to make her feel bad by being in my usual mess.

"Yes, Anne, we'll shower and get dressed. I also like the idea of the café," I said, smiling. "We'll deal with this later."

•

When we arrived home, Anne and I went straight to the lake. The water was a bit cold but very refreshing.

"It's been a long time since I bathed here," she said.

"Sometimes it's necessary."

I submerged myself several times and swam near the dock because I don't feel comfortable going deeper. Swimming isn't really my thing. Anne, on the other hand, swam very well. I need to take some lessons urgently. I remembered Connor and the first time he threw me into the lake.

"And what's that smile for?"

"I miss Connor."

"You should call him then."

"Maybe I will."

When we got out of the lake, we headed inside the house to my room. I would lend Anne some clothes while she spends the day. We got dressed and put on a little makeup. Being with her distracted me from my problems and made me smile. It's good to have a real friend.

"I'm ready," I told her.

We left the house in search of the car; a new destination awaited us.

On the way, I couldn't stop thinking about Kayler and Gadreel, knowing that they could be facing each other right now because Kayler is not one to leave things unresolved. He didn't come home. Once in the town, I parked near the park.

"The first one is nearby," Anne and I got out of the car. "There are two more on the next block."

"Are you sure about doing this?" I wanted to know as we approached the local.

"Absolutely," she replied confidently. "It's here," she pointed to a reasonably large, colorful, beautiful, and spacious local.

It has a good presentation.

It would be a long afternoon searching for locals with Anne.