The City of Darkness and Blood

Chapter 29

Reluctantly, I found myself standing outside the imposing doors of the police department, the weight of uncertainty pressing heavily on my chest. The fluorescent lights from within cast a sterile glow, making the hallway seem even colder and more unwelcoming. My mind raced with worry over Jason's whereabouts. I took a deep breath and pushed through the doors. Inside, I spotted Kendall at her desk, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she navigated through an array of reports and case files. The ambient noise of the department buzzed around us—phone calls, murmured conversations, the occasional clack of a keyboard. "Kendall," I said, my voice laced with urgency, "IHave you seen Jason? I've been calling him all day, but no response." Kendall looked up from her screen, her expression neutral but her eyes guarded. "I don't know, Silver. Maybe he's working on a case. I mean, it's Jason."

I didn't believe her for a second. "Cut the crap. You know something. I can tell."

A flicker of irritation crossed Kendall's face before she leaned back in her chair with a smirk, crossing her arms. "Is that so? I guess it's easy to assume I'm hiding something when you've been so busy with your little fling with Jason. Must be nice to be the center of his attention."

Her crude remark hit me like a slap. I bristled but refused to back down. "Oh, please. You're just jealous because Jason's into me, not you. He actually likes my ass more than yours."

Kendall's face flushed with anger, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "You think you can just waltz in here and make demands like you own the place?"

Before Kendall could escalate the confrontation, her mother, Chief Vlad, appeared in the doorway with an authoritative stride. Her presence immediately cut through the tension in the room. "Kendall, enough," Chief Vlad said, her voice firm and commanding, "I need you to go to Warehouse B23." Kendall's expression shifted from anger to focused professionalism in an instant. "What?" she asked. Chief Vlad's gaze was resolute. "There's a report that the Hunter's car was spotted at Warehouse B23 on the outskirts of the city. Go investigate," she ordered. Kendall's shoulders squared with determination. She grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair and slipped it on. "Let's get moving," she said. Without another word, we rushed to the location. We arrived at the warehouse. The building was looming ominously against the night sky. Inside, the air was thick with the metallic tang of blood, and I could sense the presence of vampires lingering in the shadows.

"Jason..." I whispered, my voice barely audible over the deafening silence. I followed Kendall deeper into the warehouse, my senses heightened by fear and urgency.

"There," Kendall said, pointing to a dark stain on the concrete floor. Instinctively, I knelt and touched the blood, tasting it on my tongue. It was his—Jason's blood.

"Why was he here?" I asked, my voice trembling with dread.

Kendall hesitated, then spoke quietly, her words laced with undeniable truth. "Gregor Parlor. He's behind all of this."

I recoiled, shaking my head in disbelief. "No... Gregor wouldn't..."

"He's not who you think he is, Silver," Kendall insisted, her tone urgent. "He's using vampires to achieve his own agenda. He's dangerous."

"You're lying!" I snapped, unable to accept what Kendall was suggesting. "You're just jealous of me, of him!"

Kendall's expression hardened, her gaze steady. "Silver, listen to me. I'm not making this up. There's evidence—phone calls, payments to the prison staff. He's involved in something dark, something that Jason stumbled upon."

I staggered back, overwhelmed by the weight of Kendall's words. Could it be true? Had I been blind to Gregor's true nature all this time? "We need to find Jason and stop Parlor before it's too late," Kendall said, her voice softer now, filled with concern. Torn between loyalty and doubt, I stood frozen in the dimly lit warehouse, the truth finally sinking in. Gregor Parlor, the man who cared for me, was not who he seemed. And Jason, the man I loved, was in grave danger. "But I need more evidence to make the arrest," Kendall continued. I sighed and replied, "Come on, I know where we look." We got in our cars and left the warehouse. Kendall and I arrived at Parlor Enterprises, the imposing skyscraper looming over us like a sentinel against the night sky. We entered through the lobby to the front desk. The receptionist eyed us warily as we approached, her skepticism palpable. "What brings you here this late?" she asked, her tone guarded. Kendall flashed her police badge. "We need to speak with Mayor Parlor urgently," she said firmly. The receptionist hesitated, eyeing us both, before shaking her head. "I'm sorry, without a warrant—"