Lethal Beauty

XXV - Those Three Words

Gavril was seated next to the driver seat of a Hummer EV and gazed out the window. Nowadays, Elders of their status rarely transform into their beastly form to avoid attracting attention, even if it means meeting deep within the darkened forest. They offered Jessen a ride but the archaic vampire disappeared along the shrubbery before they could insist. He made it clear to them that he didn't want to return to the academy, nor did he feel a desire to meet any of his relatives.

And that includes his older brother...

Raviel was driving, a cigar was pinned in between his teeth as he looked up to see the sky now tinged in pink. "Want me to roll the window up?"

He knew that Gavril preferred the natural wind rather than the suffocating smell of the air-conditioner. "Are we in trouble?"

"Not yet. Where do you think that teacher of yours is staying?"

"I don't know. If I did, I'd be in his trail at this precise moment after everything he told us."

Raviel's gaze shifted to him quickly then back on the road. "You believe him?"

"You don't?"

His lips tightened. "Does my opinion matter in this case? What do you plan to do now?"

"We need to get him out of Saint Constantine," Gavril said quietly. "Away from the other Elders, from the Queen Mother, and...Iris."

"What is this? Some kind of Romeo and Juliet stint? That's not possible."

Gavril looked at him. "Rav, they can't be together. Not until we know how his blood could affect the other."

"Hungry?" Raviel gestured through the windshield as they passed by a diner. Contrary to popular belief, vampires can still eat normal human food without being repulsive.

But Gavril knew what he was doing and refused to be sidetracked, "Don't change the subject."

"I am not. But we're both on the edge thanks to your benevolent rabbi. Are you hungry or not? We can talk it over an egg and ham sandwich and a coffee."

Knowing that he wouldn't win this argument, for now, Gavril let go of a tired sigh and confessed, "Yeah, I could eat."

⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧

It was a bar and grill. Inside were pool tables, pinball machines, and assorted kinds of patrons, including bikers and cowboys. There was probably another human celebration outside, judging by the people entering in costumes with heavy make-up and wigs. Raviel hated this kind of place but Gavril wasn't feeling good and he was doing his best to cheer him up. A feat he had never done before in his life. Not even to his own family.

"Here ya go, fellas. Enjoy."

The waitress winked at Raviel much to the displeasure of Gavril. She strutted to the next table, butt cheeks moving sexily with every step. As soon as she was out of earshot, Gavril kicked the man sitting in front of him right on the shin. Raviel jolted and the ketchup almost squirted on his face.

"Very mature for a thousand years old Elder."

Gavril ignored his retort. "I'm serious, Ravi. We need to find a way to get Abel out of the academy."

Raviel was finally able to get the ketchup on his sandwich. "What do you want to do, expel him?" he chuckled, "Good luck explaining to the human government and the whole Vampire Council. You need to relax and act like we don't know anything."

"But..."

"Yeah, I know. But the Queen Mother assigned that cat to keep an eye on the human. Altering the course without a reason will only put that boy in the spotlight. Before we knew it, everyone would be snooping around, trying to get a piece of his past. We'll proceed as normal until we can find a way to get him out of the place."