Lethal Beauty

XLIX - The Haste

Immediately getting out of the car, Judy turned to stare at the Elder she hadn't seen for years since they saved her life. There was no introduction needed, Jessen just had to glance at her and he knew right away who was this young lady.

"So, it's you," his tone was unusually cold and he went stiff when he saw Delbert coming down the vehicle as well, following Judy.

"Okay, I'm confused. Who's this?"

"This," Judy began but her gaze didn't leave Jessen's face. "...this is an Elder. Delbert, meet our famous vampire author, Jessen Milen Laiho."

"Jessen Milen-Kirkorov? The one on the book?"

"I have many names, but that's not important," Jessen did his best to straighten his clothes and his disheveled hair. "We've finally met, Delbert Anthony Northwood."

He wasn't happy to hear his name uttered by a pureblood immortal with fangs. "I can't say the same."

"That's all right. I always knew how much you loathed our kind. However, this is not the time to be arguing whether our kind was born despicable or your kind was just too phony to admit that you can't have everything under your control---"

Delbert opens his mouth to argue but Judy beats him to it. "What are you doing in the middle of nowhere?"

"Good question! You see, the Madonna and her child tried to bury me alive. I had to dig my way up to the ground for hours and ran a hundred miles only drinking from whatever I could find inside that frigging woodland!"

"Eve?!" Though she expected it, the realization that she was indeed alive and existing somewhere sent a shiver down her spine. "She got her son..."

"She must've done it on purpose," Jessen answered. "Let the son play his part while she reconstructs her decapitated body."

Delbert scowled at the mention of the case thirteen years ago. "It seems that you know a lot more than what she told me," he said, glancing quickly at Judy.

Jessen turned to him briefly. "I know a lot about you too. But then again, this is not the right place and time to discuss it. Now, care to assist me? I'm looking for a place since I've been given a key. A rather small one."

"What key?"

The Elder vampire showed them a tiny key that resembled a pin that Gavril and Raviel found from the pocket watch Doctor Bernadette's sister left for them. "Care to use your influence to get information about Doctor Berna's secret lab?"

"Carlisle," Delbert muttered but his brows knitted as he thought of his superior's risking his position to break into confidential files that were highly likely protected by the World Government.

"I believe she found out what Abel's blood can do and how to destroy Eve," Jessen spoke. "If we want to stop this bitch, we have to work together. Now, are you with us?"

Judy looked at him pleadingly and Delbert's gaze flickered from one person to another before he realized that his frustration was slowly growing into desperation. "Fuck this!"

⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧

Mika had Dike tied to a post, hands above his head, and surrounded by Elder Vanguards. Both Gavril and Raviel stood at a standstill. Unable to make their move without risking Dike's well-being. Meanwhile, Lixue was glaring menacingly at the woman sitting on the throne. A mane of dark hair framed her beautiful features, her full lips glistened red. In spite of the darkness surrounding her, she managed to look immaculate like the statue of Venus.

"Don't do something foolish," Stein whispered beside her and when her face went to him, he explained, "She took an army of vampires by herself. You're nothing but a piece of stick to her."