END ROADS

CHAPTER 62: THE VEGETARIANS

Where are you Grey? Why was I feeling this desperate? Why was I this uneasy? What happened to me?
I had no answer I sat there for a while in confusion and helplessness then I heard the sound of a helicopter.
Right, the rooftop!
I stood up immediately, wiping my face and brazed myself before shooting into air and landing on the rooftop.
A good number of vampires were gathered around and I was at the far back. To the furthest point stood a helicopter and everyone's attention was directed to it.
I pushed through the crowd and I was finally at the front line. Keith was standing on the other side of the helicopter together with other two old men. Jayden, Ethan, Xavier and Harrison were beside Harvey who had a serious face on for the first time.
Grey had his first foot on the step of the helicopter, he was ready to board it .
He waved at the five ready to take off when I suddenly yelled his name at the top of my voice.
He halted as if he had been frozen in place. Everyone else had his attention turned towards me but it wouldn't bother me when I was this furious.
"Keep her away!" Keith commanded and a couple of vampires swarmed around me trying to keep me down.
"No, no... Grey...let me go! I said let me go!" I struggled to break free but they wouldn't barge. Grey didn't move an inch he just watched.
"You will hurt yourself if you keep struggling" Keith warned almost mocking me.
"Let me go ...I don't want to hurt anybody, just let me go!"
I yelled a sudden outburst of energy emitting from within me throwing the men into air. I didn't bother to look back, I just dashed towards Grey blinded with a blanket of emotions. I grabbed his cloak pulling him away from the helicopter.
"You are not leaving" I commanded.
"I must", he answered simply
"Why? What happened? Is that the reason why you looked like the world was falling apart? You didn't tell me about it, you avoided my question? Is it your dad? Is it David? Is it the Gala? Can't you just tell me what is happening? You are going to meet David? Alone? With what he did to you previously? Are you walking to a den of lions like an idiot? You think I will let you go!" I yelled at him breaking down for some minutes clinging onto him.
"Will you answer me?" I yelled.
He looked at me, and a grin eased across his face.
"I told you I won't forgive you if you dare get sick"
"Don't play with me"I hissed. He glared at me then his gaze softened.
"And another thing I won't forgive you for doing, is getting hurt" he cupped my face but I slapped his hand off.
"Where are you going? What happened?"
"He's going to see king Archibald! The Gala sent a threat!" Keith yelled and Grey glared at him daggers.
I stepped back "the Gala you say?" I turned to face Keith "what threat?"
"A letter"
"Let me see it" I took the letter from his hand and read through.
.... dear Grey
Long time no see Mr Adrian, I hope you are still alive. You and your fellow night creatures. I will wipe you out soon, I wasn't sleeping this whole time, I was preparing for war. I am sure you didn't, you are quite predictable, you trust yourselves way too much. But I have a huge surprise for you. You don't have to worry I will spare your lover, but I won't promise it matters with how well behaved she is. You know better, the woman I am talking about. The one you fell in love with head over heels.i will surprise you, I promise. The game is about to start.
Be ready to play little pawns.
Yours sincerely
David Gala hue
I swallowed, once, twice, thrice but my throat was too dry. My knees could no longer work with me, I collapsed to the floor in extreme shock and pain.
It was really my father, it was him. He is the vampire hunter, it is him. I had tried more than a thousand times to deny it, I tried but now.... It was quite clear he is the vampire hunter.
I suddenly looked up.
"Do you know where she is?" I asked Grey
"Who?" He seemed confused.
"Your mate, will he hurt her before you even find her. What will she do? Is she protected?"
Grey shook his head as if in disbelief. He stepped closer and knelt in front of me.
"The third thing I won't forgive you for, is if you try to get hurt for my sake."
He took off his cloak and draped it over me pulling the hood over my head.
His hand fell on the shoulder he do left the two punchers that seemed like they will never heal.
"And for my mate", he grabbed my chin lifting my face so I could look at him "don't worry about her... She is safe, I never let what is mine get hurt." He grinned at me and stole a kiss from my lips. He pat my head and stood up.
"Don't cry because am gone, I will be back just be a good girl and it will be a lot easier to keep my mate safe"
He stepped on the helicopter and finally took a seat beside Roy and Clark. I tried to move but I couldn't, Grey grinned at me.
.... don't forget the one man, is me!
And the helicopter took off!
Everyone went back to the coven, I remained there seated watching the mist hanging thickly above my head. The feeling I had had weeks ago was now manifesting itself, the uneasiness and the feeling deep down my gut that things were about to fall apart was now here and now I seemed to be clueless about what was coming.
"We should go back inside" someone said from behind. I didn't look at whoever it was my gaze was stuck in one place.
"He will be alright, he will come back. The Crowns coven is no that far"
"How far from here?" I asked
"Not far from the Flakes coven" he said
I stood up slowly turning to look at him, Arthur!
"Take me there" I demanded emotionlessly.
He shrugged and sighed heavily.
"I can't, I will not take you there"
"You can't or you don't want to?" I asked darkly
"Both" he declared
My gaze hardened for a second, was he intimidated now? He should take me to him as I had asked
"Will you not take me there?"
"I can't take you there Becky"
"I said take me to him!" I yelled at the top of my voice the cloak falling off my shoulders. Arthur gasped but his gaze flew off my shoulders as soon as it had landed there. He took a step closer and put the cloak back on.
"Keep yourself warm" he said "I understand why you want to go to him, it is always so... Just relax you will finally be able to handle it with time"
"Relaxing is the last thing I want to do right now" I answered and jumped off the roof. I landed safely and went back to the room.
I sat back on the sofa closing my eyes. Grey's scent was all over the place as if he was there. I could not relax, I could not even if I wanted to.
The handwriting was my father's, so it was clear David was my dad, that was clear and also he was a vampire hunter.
Pathetic!
How could he?
So what I had been told wa true? He had planned my kidnapping? He was aware of it?
How hopeless was my life!
Was he declaring war now? And he didn't even care that I will possibly die in the process?
Oh David, you are really something.
So... He probably sent one of his people to deliver the letter, right? If I meet that person then I would get a chance to ask more.
I changed into a pair of black pants a red top and my white sneakers.
I pulled my hair into a ponytail and left the room
I walked into the council where Keith was sitting alone in the dark facing the wall. He was immersed in his own thoughts completely out of the present world.
"Master Keith?"
"What are you doing here?" He demanded coldly
"I need a favour to ask from you" i said walking closer to him
"Doesn't mean if you are in favour of Grey I will do anything for you" he said standing up and walking over "what do you want?"
"I need to see the messanger"
"What for?" He demanded in despite
"There are a few questions that need answers from that messanger!"
"She is a beaten mess, do you want to see her?" What was his deal?"
"I have seen a lot of blood already, I don't mind "
He shrugged "alright, follow me "
He led the way through a small door at the end of the room. We took a flight of stairs down to an open room followed a dimly lit narrow hallway then turned left into a cell room. Cells lined the walls on both sides and they were all empty except one that had a warrior like lady. She was laying on the floor covered in blood, her left wrist she had a Snow ❄️ flake tattoo. The weakest basis among the three, why would he send a weak soldier? What was he up to?
"Stay hidden, but Keep your ears open" I said to Keith
"Do I look like someone who can take orders "
I smirked stepping closer to him in an intimidating manner "don't worry, I know there is only one person who can order you around. Your secret is safe with me " he paled, so it was true...
"Come on, just be nice for a second "
He glared daggers at me but stepped into the shadows.
I walked over to the cell, the girl sat up glaring at me coldly.
"What do you want?"
"Do you know me?" I asked squatting down to level with her height
"Who doesn't?"
"Good, why did David send you?"
"I was asked to deliver a letter to Grey" she answered nonchalantly
"Grey rules over the Vines coven how did you know we are in the Flakes coven?"
"He was once a night creature, there is nothing he doesn't know "
"David Gala hue, you mean?"
"Your dad stupid bitch!" She spat
I swallowed my anger "so he was once a vampire, what do you mean by that?"
"He is no longer a vampire, if he still is then I don't know about that?"
"What makes him hunt vampires if he is one of them?"
"He hates vampires, all of them. He despises the night creatures and will soon wipe them out!"
"Are you a vampire too?"
"I am"
"You are utterly stupid, do you know that? He sent you here to die and oh you will die if you don't use the little percentage of that brain you have "
"He will not let me die" she screamed
"Why won't he let you die? You are also a night creature, you think he will spare you? Besides you have the weakest basis why wouldn't he send the five pillar power soldiers instead "
"It's not five pillars, they are the inverted ones"
"You are all inverted anyway "
He eyes shot red and she pounced on me. I grabbed her neck and gave her a good squeeze.
"Don't play with fire, I am not the puppet he used to play with. I threw her back, she rammed into the wall and shrieked." I smirked and laughed the other dark side of me taking control for a moment. I felt the power in me taking control but I suppressed myself.
"If you manage to get out of here, tell him he's such an asshole. I don't want to see his pathetic face either and you... You are as idiotic as you are nothing more or less. By the way, what is your name?"
"Rian..." She said in a trembling voice.
"I hope I will see you again Rian, it is not a promise that there will be a next time. Just use your head and keep your eyes open. Next time you won't trust out of the blues, you'll think first "
I turned and walked off, Keith joined me and we went back to the council room.
"Do you believe what she said?" He asked eagerly
"Do you?"
"I....
"I know you do" I cut in, he eyed me suspiciously " I can read minds, of anything"
"I thought so, do you believe her?"
"Barely" I responded  "I prefer when you are this way, calm and sensible. I don't like the Keith who is blood thirsty and idiotic. I know that is not always you. Who is forcing you?"
"No one, that is the real me!" He answered aggressively
"Liar!"
"What do you know?" He rumbled
"A lot, sometimes more than I am supposed to know "
"If you are that smart then read it in my mind " he dared
I stared at him for a while then scoffed.
"I don't want to, I want you to say it by yourself but your ego won't let you. I promise I will live long enough to hear you say it"
He trembled in anger, suppressing the urge to tear me apart.
"Don't even dream of using those claws of yours. I know how to turn a vampire into a shameful useless creature. You don't want that, do you?"
I walked out of the council room heading towards the small canteen to the west side of the building. The coven was silent as if there was no one inside, they lived in fear.  The scent was as thick as a blanket in the air. I entered the quiet canteen.
People sat around some chatting while others were drinking from some blue cans. I pulled a bottle of water from the fridge just beside the door but someone else took it from my hand and replaced it with a bottle of milk tea.
"What are you....
"This one is better " he said with a soft grin
"Thanks "
"C'mon, let us sit over there" I followed him to the small rectangular table. We sat down together drinking silently.
"What is in that can?"
"Cocktail... Blood and wine "
"The taste?"
"Divine " he grinned
"By the way my name is Alan"
He smiled, my eyes flew to his dark hair and deep blue eyes. All vampires were just too good looking.
"Becky " I i said
"I know you", he grinned "I am one of the guys who went rebelled years ago. You saved us, am one of your people"
I laughed nervously
"My people" I echoed his words
"Yeah, it might be weird right?"
"Very"
"How is your stay here?"
"Not as fun as in the Vines, Keith is unbearable sometimes but since Arthur got back we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel" he laughed dismissively
"You don't have to be silent and bear with his craziness"
"What can we do?"
"Call me, I will come. This coven is not his it's yours, all of you. Give the guy a beating he will come back to his senses"
He laughed joyously sipping his drink.
"I will try but I will put all the blame on you"
"Dare and I will deny you thrice"
He laughed harder his eyes sparkling.
"Your are funny"
"No am not"
"Your facial expressions are the best part of it all"
"I've been wondering what part of me is funny, I had no Idea everyone has been laughing at my face" I said feeling very embarrassed
"Don't be embarrassed, you are pretty"
My eyes caught his and we held for a moment. I laughed nervously.
"That was awkward, I was warned not to look at a vampire in the eye"
"Whoever told you that didn't explain, some vampires posses the skill of hypnotizing and some can cause pain with their eyes "
"Oh... I didn't know "
"Don't worry, am a vegetarian " he grinned broadly
"Oh... You are? I saw that in a book. I dismissed it thinking it was just a story. So there are vegetarians too?"
"Yes, we feed on animal blood, there is a good number of us in here, the ones with green cans can you see them?"
I looked around in the room and indeed there were vegetarians too.
"We got golden eyes " I glanced at him, he looked dazzling
"Wow, they are pretty"
"We are the ones mostly sent out if we have any mission with the humans or have something to do among the humans. Most of us are less aggressive we can negotiate "
"Oh I see".
"The others are protectors, most of them would never negotiate, they do what they must and discuss afterwards "
"That is more of them " I agreed.
"See, you have never looked closely in the Vines coven, have you?"
"Seems like I am always being confronted the others only"
"Fate" he swallowed his drink"
"How old are you?" I asked curiously
He smirked emptying his can, then he looked up.
"You wouldn't believe me, am a bit older than Grey. Am turning twenty two at the end of the year "
"Wow, two hundred and twenty ha?"
"But I am still single" he grinned showing off his fine fangs "I wish I do find her soon "
"You are eager " I teased
"Who doesn't like being loved?"
"That is true" I concentrated on my drink for a while letting him go get another can for himself.
"Tell me about you!"
"You are quick " he teased narrowing his eyes.
"Oh, no don't get me wrong. I love making friends."
"I see"
"I was born centuries ago, my parents died in a war. My little brother ran off to Spain he loves it there. We left with Dom if you know the story " he laughed lightly"of course you do, then now am here I spend a lot of time practicing fighting. I watch TV and I love the pool too"
"You got a wonderful life" i complimented.
"Not a fine one when you are lonely.... Can you stay....
He was not done speaking when a guy passing by tumbled to the floor knocking a red haired girl off in the process. Alan rushed over snaking his hands around her waist. They twirled around toppling over the table lips slamming into each other.
My hands flew to my eyes immediately,
Wha?!