Blood Bandits

20.

I'd lost count of the days. Hell, I'd lost myself. Who was I anymore? What was my purpose? I came from New York to solve a mystery that hasn't been solved in over a hundred years. The New York citizens wanted a story that was real and interesting. Probably more than likely truthful. Not some bullshit story about a vampire case that hasn't been solved and on top of that, not even real. Was August a vampire? Yes. Could I prove that? Maybe, maybe not. They crazy thing is no matter how you cut it, I was in a bind. My boss, Mr Daily had called me earlier and told me to I had 72 hours to submit a story or it was my ass.

Jolie hadn't touched base with me except through text and that's been a while back. She let me know that she was extremely busy trying to write her own story. It was a fight to the death now. That's how the board wanted it. Friends against friends, bosses against employees. Co workers against colleagues. Now that is what this has come to. I played with the rings that cuffed my fingers and twirled the earring that poked straight through my ear as I scrolled on my laptop.

In the bottom corner of my laptop there was message that popped up. My phone was on the other side of the room, so it might as well go ahead and answer. Leaving my current site, I clicked on the message. Surprisingly, it was Damon. It had been a couple of days since I'd heard from him. The message was just simple, letting me know that he was going to call me once he got off from from work. I made note of this and continued doing what I was going to do.

But once again I was interrupted. It was by mom.

"Mina get in here, you ought to see this!" She yelled from somewhere in the living area.

I sighed and scooted away from the desk and walked over to the bed to grab my phone. After stuffing it into my back pocket, I out of my bedroom and headed to the living room but passed the kitchen to see her sitting there. She was wrapped in a pink house coat with matching slippers, sitting on a bar stool. The remote was in her hand pointing to the tv but the channel wasn't changing.

"Ma, what is it?" I asked. My phone vibrated in my back pocket but I ignored it, attempting to give my mom my undivided attention.

"They found this girl in the center of the French quarter. Dead." Mom said.

But once I dragged my eyes from her to the television, I almost peed my pants. This wasn't happening. She was tied to a chair, the side of her neck and body covered in dried blood. Loren.

Even worse, Kenny was at the scene. He was the one giving the report about the murder scene. Speaking about his dead girlfriend as if she were just another person on the street. My hands became clammy once more. My chest became heavy and ears became clogged.

"Uh, I have to make a phone call." I excused myself rather quickly.

"But I'm making breakfast!" Mom yelled after me.

I had no time. My stomach wasn't even prepared for that. But something was making me feel different. Seeing her on the screen didn't make me regret. It made me nervous to face Kenny. That's what scared me the most.

"Not hungry!" I yelled back, running back into my room and pulling my phone out of my back pocket. It was August. The audacity he had. He was the missed call.

I immediately called him back. The bastard made me wait until the last second of the third ring. I paced impatiently around my room, mom probably assumed I was making a business call.

"Mm Amina? I assume you watched the news?" He spoke, his voice smooth.

I could tell he was amused by this.

"Yea I watched it. The French Quarter? Really ? I-

But my words cut off immediately as my brain clicked. The French Quarter...

Vladyy: Are you crazy! No one has ever seen them and lived to tell the story but what I can tell you is that it's always a time gap between the murder. So, if I'm correct, the next one should be tomorrow at the french quarter.

That was it. I finally figured it out. August. How could he? He used me. He used me to kill the girl and he dragged her to The French Quarter. The Vladdy was right. Even though it was more than 'tomorrow' it happened.

"Hello...?" August's voice brought me out of my jumbled thoughts.

"You son of a bitch! You tricked me. You had me to kill her just to cover up your tracks. Once again you win. Is this what you've been doing all along? Having people do your dirty work for you?" I yelled into the phone.

I was angry. Yes. Maybe anger was an understatement but whatever it was, I was it. I felt betrayed. But it was my own fault, to even think that he was even telling the truth a little.

"What the hell are you talking about Amina? I-"

"Just stop, I don't ever want to see you again. You conniving asshole. -"

Just as I was about to speak once more, I heard my name being called from the other end of the phone. I was heated.

"Would you just shut the hell up and let me speak?!" August's voice asked.

But I wasn't having it. "Why do you can lie?"

"If you don't shut the fuck up then we won't know will we?" He growled.

I could tell I was making him angry but I didn't care at this point. He was a liar and I knew it and there as nothing that he was going to be able to say that was going to make me change my mind.

"Fine. Talk." I spat. Not really caring what he was about to say.

He sighed. "I didn't bring this girl to the Quarter. I'm sorry to disappoint you.-"

"Lia-" I started but was soon cut off.

"Shut up! Look. Nobody has ever spoken to me the way you are right now. The last people who did are dead. So you might want to lose that attitude because I'm not above ripping your head off, you understand?" He asked, awaiting for me to speak.

I rolled my eyes and bit my lip. I was to scared to say no but my proud wouldn't let me say I understand so I just remained silent.

"Now, I didn't bring Loren to the French Quarter. But unfortunately, you have much bigger problems to worry about." He said as if he wasn't concerned at all.

Why should he? I've been a bitch to him.

I ran my hand across my forehead and close my eyes. This was starting to get annoying.

"I'm watching the new right now. And your bestie Kenny? He's found some evidence and by the look on his face... he's not to happy."

Click.

Did he just-

Oh damn...

Sorry so short...
Excuse Mistakes.
-Ashley