A New Beginning | Emma Petrova (TVD & TO) [BOOK 2]

way down we go

Negative.

A few days ago I did the test that Hayley gave to me and it came out negative. I'm relived. Hayley is in denial and still thinks I'm pregnant. She wanted me to do more tests but thank god we didn't have time to stop by any pharmacy and get me a pregnancy test. Also, Nik doesn't leave our side and she knows I would be pissed if she ever bought up the idea in front of him.

"Maybe you could go to the hospital." Hayley insists with a low voice so no one can hear us, making me roll my eyes at her.

"Hayley, drop it!" I hiss at her, walking faster than her so she doesn't nag me about it anymore. I spot Nik sitting at the bar and make my way towards him, my mood dropping even more as soon as I see his expression.

"Hope's down for the count. She fell asleep as soon as Mary started the car. I doubt she'll miss us over the next few days." Hayley says taking a sit on the right side of Nik, not noticing his expression or the small ripped piece of paper on his hand.

"So... which of these Kingmaker offices should we hit up first?" I question him, taking the piece of paper from his hands. "There's ten of them?" He looks up at me worriedly and I narrow my eyes at him. "What happened?"

"Lucien has revealed his true nature. He's taken Freya." Nik says, anxiously.

Hayley's eyes widen in suprise but for some reason I'm not even shocked that Lucien would do something like this. I mean at one point he kidnapped me and Cami for his benefit.

Whatever he's doing now... it's gonna be for his benefit again.

"And now, it seems her rescue depends on Elijah working with my ever-reliable brother Finn." He continues, sighing frustratedly, making me place my hand on his shoulder in a comforting manner.

"And you want to go back to New Orleans to head up the hunt?" Hayley says before exchanging a look with me. 

He hesitates for a moment, clearly torn between our two impossible missions, and though Hayley looks disappointed, she still nods in agreement and I give him an encouraging smile.

"You should go. Me and Hayley will stick with Kingmaker." I tell him, not really wanting to be in a car for hours, specially alone with him. I guess I'm a bit scared I spill on these last events that happend to me and I don't need him to worry about the impossible.

"Lucien's working very hard to cover up these wolf kidnappings, and I want to know why. If you need anything just call us." Hayley reaches for the list and the keys and turns to leave. She's quick with her actions and I am very slow to turn around and leave, which gives time for Nik to grab my wrist and stop me

"I'm not leaving you." He tells me, standing up from his seat and pulling me closer to him, our faces mere inches from each other. "The wolves, Freya's abduction... it can't all be coincidence. We'll let my brothers pursue the obvious path." He smiles weakly at me, and I return the smile. "You and I... and Hayley will pursue this one. No doubt all roads lead to the same treacherous bastard."

###########

The three of us have just gotten out of the car and now we make our way towards the building we have been waiting to see. Well, except that this building looks exactly like the last five buildings that we have visited and found nothing.

"Does he just build these from a kit or something? It's the exact same for the last five offices. Same windows, same plants..." Hayley trails off as I examine the building cautiously, trying to find just a tiny detail that is different but nothing is.

"And inside, same generic abstract art, same compellable receptionist..." Nik concludes looking anxious, which makes me wrap my hand with his and give it a little squeeze of reassurance that we are going to find something.