A Shadowed Love

Friends And Favors

"And there were these... Tools. Bloody tools, everywhere. I couldn't get in to see much because nearly every door was locked. And I got caught," Courtney sighed into her hands as she explained to the others what she had seen. 

"Who caught you?" Duncan asked, his eyes had been a non-stop scan of her since she came back. He kept checking to make sure she was alright. It made Courtney smile. 

"Uh, Able's sister. Heather? I think was her name," she said. "Tall, Asian, really long black hair." 

Sebastian straightened slowly, and cleared his throat "Did she have on a leather choker? With a ruby on it?" he questioned. Courtney rubbed her chin, and nodded

"Yes, she did," she said. Sebastian sucked in a breath

"You're lucky you got away with all of your fingers attached. She's maniacal," he said. His purple eyes had gone dark, and he looked away.

"Well, thank goodness you're okay. And have all your fingers," Bridgette said. Hugging Courtney tight. Courtney blew out a breath, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. 

"Yeah," she mumbled. "But guys... Something is definitely wrong. That blood on those tools... It smelled human," she said. Duncan creased a brow together

"What would High Council members want with humans? The last time I checked, they couldn't stand humans. They think they're nothing but a waste of space on this Earth," Duncan said. Sebastian slowly shrugged

"Well, the most we can do right now is figure out a way to get back into those chambers. It's the only way we can get to the bottom of things," Bridgette said, and slowly scratched her neck "But how?" 

"We could always fake an emergency. The Council has to deal with all emergencies that happen under their rule." DJ piped in. Noah shook his head

"It wont work. What are we going to do anyways? Kill another vampire? We all know how that will end," he grumbled. His voice dripping with sarcasm. Courtney smirked, she liked Noah. He was a lot like her. 

"No... Not kill a vampire. Just make them think one of us has gone missing. They'll be forced to send a search party. They'll invite the witnesses to their Chambers. Where we can search a little deeper and see what's going on behind closed doors," Duncan said. Everyone looked at him. 

"But who would be willing to do this for us?" DJ asked. Duncan slowly smirked

"I know just the person," he said. And Courtney watched him grab his phone out of his pocket.

Gwen stared intently down at her pencil as it drew elegant lines across her sketchbook. She loved to draw, it made her mind relax. She felt free, loving the fact that she could draw anything she wanted to. Without any boundaries, besides the edges of the paper of course. She had the ability to block out every thing that was happening around her. Every noise, every smell. Her eyes only focused on her piece of led. Something about thinking of an idea, and seeing it come together so perfectly in front of her was satisfying. 

Except when ever she tried drawing Trent. She had tried and tried to draw him so many times before. But she could never get all the details right. Like the small scar on his shoulder that reminded her of a pig. Or the way his black hair curled in all sorts of directions. Or the way one of his green eyes would close slightly more than the other when ever he would smile. 

It made her angry. She couldn't understand, why she would always finish her drawing, and look at it, only to throw it away. Unsatisfied. She had lost count of how pieces of paper she had crumbled up in her hands, and tossed in the trash. 

She was currently drawing the last scene she ever remembered of her life in the sun. It was a picture of the bright orange star hanging highly in the sky, casting it's yellowish light across the grass. Trees bloomed in the background, just waking up from the nap they had taken in the Winter. 

Gwen slowly set her pencil down, and looked down at the drawing. She smiled faintly to herself. Sometimes she missed her life in the sun, but she would never think to go back to it. That was centuries ago. A whole lifetime ago. She was currently the happiest she had been in a long time. 

Her phone started going off from the back pocket in her black jeans. Gwen wiped her hands and slowly grabbed it. It was Duncan. Gwen pushed the green button and put her phone to her ear

"Hello?" she asked

"Gwen! Long time no talk!" Duncan's voice cheered into her ear, Gwen rolled her eyes

"Duncan, we literally just talked like 2 days ago. Moron," she said blandly. 

"How are you and Elvis?" he continued, Gwen smiled a little and leaned back against her chair

"We're great, actually. How are you and Court?"

"We're great!" Duncan said happily. "Hey, listen Gwen. I need a huge favor," he said. His voice had taken a serious tone. Gwen sat up a little straighter

"Is everything alright? Are you okay?" she asked, her protectiveness of him coming to the surface quickly. Gwen squeezed her eyes shut, and mentally slapped herself. Of course Duncan was fine! He always was fine. 

"What? Oh yeah, I'm fine. We just need you do to something for us," he said. Gwen raised a brow

"We?" she questioned. "Who is we? Are you talking about your friends that you're staying with?" Gwen heard him suck in a breath slowly. 

"Yeah... Friends," he said. She heard him clear his throat "Gwen, do you remember your way to the Compound?" Duncan asked. Gwen looked towards the door

"Well, not really. Trent should, though. He's the one who drove me last time. Why? Duncan seriously... Has something happened?" she asked. Duncan sighed

"No... Not yet," he whispered to himself. "Can you make it here within the hour? It's important," 

Gwen slowly bit her lip, she looked back and forth between the table and the door

"Yes," she finally said "I'll be there soon," 

"Thanks Pasty," Duncan said. And he hung up. Gwen stared down at her screen. The words 'call ended' flashed on her screen. She sighed and slowly dialed Trent's number.

She hated the fact that Duncan somehow always managed to pull her into his misadventures. 

But who was she kidding? She secretly loved it too.