TO LIE WITH MIDNIGHT ROSES

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XAVIER

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Was... She no longer supposed he was her boyfriend, he simply was no longer her boyfriend? Shaking my head I snapped out of my thoughts because I realized the last name she had just spoken. 

Rationalizing my thoughts and straightening myself out I look to her, all the questions beginning to fall into place. Her eyes are wide, rimmed with tears and I notice the sudden shift of her weight onto one side as she tries to hold herself up.

Brightworth — Hunter. Boyfriend. Wolves. Malakai.

"Fuck."

She doesn't say anything, just stares at me in shock.

"They're here then," I state. Shoving aside the fact that I could very well be caught any day and could've for some time now. I wonder, "Why would Wolves be looking for Vampire hunters?"

That part didn't make any sense.

"They were looking for my boyfriend!" She shakes her head, bringing her hands up to her eyes and placing her palms against them hard and her forehead scrunches. She lets out a moan of frustration, "He's a hunter... he has to be, it's so obvious!"

That part was clear. I try to ignore the fact that she just referred to him as her boyfriend again and I also ignore the fact that she was simply not understanding the gravity of this situation; for me or for anyone but I couldn't fault her. Her life once again had just been abruptly fucked.

"And they are looking for me, Renessa." The words are like hot venom on the tip of my tongue, "Your boyfriend and his father — their family. Cousins, uncles, aunts, grandmothers and grandfathers. You name it, all of them, their bloodlines. Looking for me."

"Why?" Her words come out nearly as a cry.

"Why? You want to know why?" I scoff, "I'd practically have to tell you my life's story and we don't have all night."

"I'm not very tired anymore," She crosses her arms, shooting me a glare. "I just found out my boyfriend of six years and childhood best friend is a Vampire hunter and you won't tell me why he and his family are after you, my god—,"

"Sit," I demand. My tone is harsh and unsteady.

Renessa's glare intensifies, I step back, watching a fire blaze behind her eyes as she balls her hand into a fist. I wait a moment, waiting for her to throw the punch she had said she wanted to. 

I quirk a brow at her, waiting for the impact but my mind roamed elsewhere; thinking of the trees earlier. The sound within the branches. I hadn't gone to look and I could've so easily, so quickly but I didn't. I was a coward because in the pits of my stomach I knew that whatever it was, it was looking for me. 

I knew my time was getting cut short, I had felt it. A little part of me knew that I didn't go look because there was a chance that I never would've seen her again; her eyes. I had to see her again but I could only run for so long because although I was faster, quicker and much more lethal, they have dark magic on their side. It wasn't as simple as ripping a heart out, snapping a neck or draining them dry.

Jaxon and Ryker had learned later on after Vincent had died that through generations the Brightworths became smarter. Using dark magic, working with blood Witches not only for their Obsidian blades and protection spells but for access to Blackthorn. A shrub of sorts, native to Europe and parts of Asia. Though poisonous if pricked into the skin they started to use it, weaving it into clothing. With Witches casting protection charms on the under layers of their clothes the Blackthorn became sewn into their thick, leather jackets as a repellent.