CHAPTER TWO
~SOLITARY~
A run around the woods was the usual start to Malcom’s day. He spent hours in human form bounding through the tree lines in order to allow his mind a moment of peace. There was no other time that he could truly accomplish that. Pouring sweat, he returned to his home to find an unexpected visitor. A familiar face, one of a person he had once called friend. He waited in the shadows while he watched her as she circled the perimeter of the house. Long legs as he remembered, but something had changed about her. She wasn’t a girl anymore she was a woman. Her movements were that of a warrior, someone trained in stealth. The last time he’d seen her she had just begun her training and was the clumsiest of the students. Things sure had changed since he’d left. She was peering through the small opening that made for his window when he finally called for her attention.
“What are you doing here?” Malcom stepped into the clearing that surrounded his home. His stance told her not to approach him. If he thought for a moment that she was there to try and kill him, she wouldn’t get the chance to state otherwise.
“Malcom!” The woman turned and ran for him out of pure instinct and ignored the warning in his stature. He grabbed her outstretched arm and flipped her on her ass. “Damn, I was only going to give you a hug!”
“How was I supposed to know that?” He helped her up from the ground. “I haven’t had many visitors around here… at least not ones that I don’t have to kill.”
“Yeah right.” She dusted the dirt from her jeans and punched him in the shoulder playfully. He chuckled in response.
“So how are you Steph?” He pulled her into a hug, but quickly released her knowing that she could be a part of a trap. He just couldn’t resist it. The moment to feel normal, he had forgotten how much he missed it.
“I’ve been better. We all have.” Stephanie started pacing the ground in a slow movement. She wasn’t sure how to continue without upsetting him. She wasn’t there to start a war, far from it.
“I’m sure. So did your brother send you here to take me out? Ran out of his little errand boys I assume?” Malcom cut to the chase because he was confused by her presence but he didn’t sense any immediate danger.
“No, I am here of my own will. I needed to see you, to talk to you.” She stepped back from him to show her intent at peace. There was no reason for him to be alarmed.
“And how exactly did you manage to find me?” He questioned her.
“I have known your location for a while, I did my own investigating.” She smiled proud of her own ingenuity. Her brother was back home going nuts over their inability to find him, but just by knowing him, she knew exactly where he would be. While Vincent was busy scouring the streets of the city, she knew Malcom would be in a place of total solace after what happened to the people at the inn. He wouldn’t be able to face another slaughter. He hated senseless violence, even more so when innocent people were harmed because of it.
“And what about Vincent? Did you tell him where I am?” Malcom growled and grabbed her arm.
“If I did, I am sure you would have known about it by now.” She scoffed and shook her arm free of his grasp. “And he would have made damn sure that I didn’t come here.”
“Okay, so what is it that you want? I know you aren’t here just for a friendly visit. It’s too damn risky to be caught with an outcast. What gives?” He pushed past her to head to the door of his home.
“I need your help Malcom.” She said in a small voice that stopped him dead in his tracks. He knew that tone. She always used this one when she was gearing up to request that he do something he wouldn’t like. Most times, he gave in.
