Passion for Blood

Chapter 17:

"How old is he?" Grace asks Xavier as I enter the infirmary. "19, he was bitten 24 hours ago," Xavier says to Grace who writes down everything he says. Soon two men from our allies carry the boy out of the infirmary. "We need to talk," I hear Xavier whisper to Grace. She then nods and he turns to leave not before greeting me. "Well that's another lost," she says dusting her hands. "I heard poor soul," I say feeling sorry for his family. The doors suddenly burst open and in walks cole. "What the hell happened yesterday?" he asks once he has reached me, his nostrils flaring. I pull him out of the infirmary away from eyes and ears. "What do you mean?" I ask. "Fitz came back but Thea said she sensed there was trouble, he was angry," sighing he then continues. "What did he do?" "That is what I am asking you, seventeen people lost their lives yesterday although they were not human suspicions have risen." Why would he be angry about yesterday, he killed those people. "There were undead that surrounded us, they wanted me but he killed them all," I say recalling yesterday. "You know this is going to get out of control if you don't do anything," he says looking me in the eye. "What am I to do it's not like you can tame him," I say half-jokingly, my smile soon vanishes when I see his serious look. "Wait, you don't mean what you and Valerie did," "Yes that is exactly what I mean." This is madness and most probably worse than a planned marriage. "You do realise what you asking of me," I say raising a brow. "Trust me when I say that this is in your best interest." I cross my arms waiting for him to explain further. "You need his protection for whatever is to come and he needs an anker," "What?" I ask confused. "Oh goddess give me strength, mates serve as anker to hold onto the human parts of us. Ok, you are Fitz's anker and he I suppose is your shield very beneficial if you ask me," he reasons. I roll my eyes and turn to get back to work only for him to grab my hand. "Please you need to consider this, at some point, you will both need one another." "why because we are mates? It's funny I don't remember praying for such a fate," I say sarcastically. "I'm going to pretend my ears did not just hear that you pray to a false god," he shakes off his uncomfortable feeling. "Goodbye Cole," I turn and re-enter the infirmary.

I walk into the study where I find Alexander writing. "Are you ready brother?" I ask walking up to his desk. The Huxleys are holding a celebration for the new allies we have made, yet appearing there feels rather unsettling since they may or may not want me dead. "Yes, I am just finishing a report on the last attack," he says in deep focus. "What business do you share with our allies?" He asks catching me off guard. "I was told that you were having a rather serious conversation with one of them earlier today," he continued. "Nothing serious, he was just asking about the boy we lost," I lie and to seal it I give him a smile. Who could have possibly told on me to my brother, I always thought the nurses kept each other safe. "In future, I would like for you to keep your distance, they are not... normal like us," "So you call our underground operations normal," I joke. "I'm serious sister, please keep away they are there to help us and nothing else," he sighs. "How could they possibly help us, it's not like they know how the creatures walk in the sun," "And you do?" he asks raising a brow. "No, I do not," I say looking down. "You say that they are different from us, in what way?" I ask. I know the answer but I have yet to find out if he knows too and if he has kept it a secret from me. "We must get going yes," he says rising to his feet and walking out. I need to know before I can make my choice about Fitz if my family knows I may need his protection but if they do not have any play in this I may need to protect them myself, by avoiding Fitz. His demons are causing me so much doubt in my own blood, it is heartbreaking. What did Fitz ever do to the Huxley family and why would they use the council to get to him?

We pull up to the Huxley house, a rather beautiful home. A fountain sits in the middle of the entrance water droplets splashing on my gown. We make our way through the quarters to the opposite side where the celebration takes place in their gardens. Lucian walks up to greet us, with a friendly smile. "So glad you could make it," he says as shakes hands with the boys. "Miss Collins do me the honour of having the first dance?" he asks. No no not today. "Of course," I respond with a smile. We make our way to the centre of the floor, and start to move to the rhythm of the music. "Have you finally erased the rumours?" he asks. "I have yet to do so, there has been much going on," "Yes indeed, how sad it was to lose our youngest, but I only ask you this because I fear I am losing trust within the council," he sighs. "There are stories spreading that my family has had a vendetta against the deceased Baker family," he says. "Had as in the past I presume," "In the early times the son of the Baker family had done something unforgivable, they had killed the youngest daughter of my family, they were hunted for their crimes and sought the help of our enemies," he looks down at my now shocked face. "You were only told that they sided with the undead but they turned to them to escape their crimes and so lost their lives in the end." "Why are you telling me this?" "I am hoping that by telling you this, you will understand that this was centuries ago and that my family cannot hold a grudge against the dead." This story is not adding up at all. Yes, the Bakers had a son whom I am now acquainted with, his parents died at his hands. But this was centuries ago, the Huxley family never once had a daughter. This is all too confusing I would need more information on this, why would the Huxleys hold a grudge on a crime that was done many years ago? The dance soon comes to an end, "Thank you Miss Collins, I do hope you still trust me enough to help in this," he says before disappearing into the crowd. I need to find out the whole story and to do that I would need access to the records. "So, how was it?" I hear Grace's voice from behind me. "How was what?" I ask. "The dance, I would presume you still feel uncomfortable around Lucian," she says smiling. "This evening so far is rather boring, there is absolutely nothing entertaining," she sighs. An idea then pops into my head. "Grace how would you like to abandon the party for a hunt?" I ask. "What exactly are we hunting for?" she asks raising a brow. "The truth," I say softly.