Bloodlines

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Maddie reluctantly walked into the Black Chapel Funeral Home, and walked into a bunch of commotion that Maddie wished to have seen earlier. Earlier, Maddie was still asleep and didn't want to come out of guilt. Then, Maddie decided to go after all to support Alex, and he needed it because he had lost control and sucker-punched Jax in the face. The warlock deserved it after all.

Maddie had also come because of what The Hunter's Council and The Black Chapel Coven said about the cause of her death—fatal fury attack. Maddie knew that it was bull because there were only three furies, and Maddie killed all of them. It didn't make sense why a fury would attack a witch, so the only thing that made sense to Maddie was Cole.

Cat's body was covered in scratch marks and bite marks that matched exactly like the teeth a werewolf. Maddie knew that because last night she snuck into the morgue at Headquarters and looked at the body itself, and it wasn't a pretty sight. Seeing that body, that was also a partial reason why Maddie didn't want to go to the funeral. What confused Maddie the most was why her father and Fiona Royale would cover up the murder. To appease the wolves?

What did Maddie do to make Cole attack Cat? She did everything he asked her to do; she went outside and waited for him. The whole point of listening to Cole was to save others from getting harmed by him, and Cole broke his promise. Maddie should've made him swear by blood not to hurt people. Now, Cat was dead because of her and there was nothing Maddie could do about it.

Maddie stared and tried not to burst into laughter as Alex was pulled out of the funeral home by his family. Watching Alex, Maddie noticed Jenna Carter standing by Jax with a large smirk on her face. Right away, Maddie wanted to kill her. Jenna walked away, and Maddie decided to follow her. She grabbed Hope, and the both of them trailed Jenna into the bathroom.

"What's the plan?" Hope asked her quietly.

"Just watch the door when we get in," Maddie ordered.

"What are you going to do?" Hope asked.

Maddie ignored her as they opened the door, startling Jenna on the inside of the bathroom. Maddie mindlessly checked the bottom of each stall, saw nobody there, and then shoved Jenna against the wall with her arm. Jenna yelped a little bit as Maddie glared at her and pushed her arm against her neck, pinning Jenna completely against the wall. God, Maddie wanted to kill her for everything she did. Maddie's blood boiled as Jenna tried to squirm her way free, but failed.

"Nosy Jenna, you have some information I want," Maddie said, increasing the strength in her arm against Jenna's throat. "We know you're working with Cole, and you better tell me where he is or else Hope will tell The Council everything you did!"

"I know nothing!" Jenna squealed with angst.

Maddie scoffed. "Nosy Jenna, all I have to do is show Fiona Royale the photo of you and Circe, and then you'd be thrown in Fort Mortus."

"You're bluffing," Jenna said, grinning. "You wouldn't throw yourself under the bus with me."

The truth was that Maddie was bluffing, but she couldn't show Jenna that. Maddie glanced back at Hope. "Hope, go get Fiona for me." Maddie gave her a look that said: Open the door and pretend you're about to leave.

Hope right away got the message. She opened the door and stuck one leg out. The moment Jenna saw Hope leaving, she started to break down in tears.

"Fine!" Jenna sobbed with sorrow. "He's staying at Pandemonium Hotel off the I-95!"

Maddie released her grip on Jenna, and Jenna started to rub her throat. Still feeling pissed, Maddie glared at Jenna, raised her hand, and slapped her across the face. Jenna yelped and collapsed to the ground, rubbing her face in agony. Maddie's hand burned from her slap, but she didn't care. She was feeling too victorious to care. That was for Cat, Maddie thought to herself.

"Let's go." Maddie walked towards the door, but was stopped by Hope. Maddie gave her a look. "What?"

"She knows something else." Hope walked over to Jenna and crossed her arms. Maddie followed her friend, and saw Jenna's face. Jenna's blue eyes looked down at the ground, and Maddie immediately knew she was hiding something. Maddie stood next to Hope and crossed her arms.

"What else do you know?" Maddie knelt down to the ground and glared at her.

Jenna finally looked up and inched away from Maddie just like when they were both freshmen in high school. "Fiona Royale was ruled off the board as head, so they are replacing her with Nina Clemens."

Maddie raised her eyebrows. That was why Cat's real death was covered up; to keep conflict out of the new president. Maddie stood up. "If you say anything about this to anyone, I'll kill you." Maddie stormed out of the bathroom and was followed by Hope.

"Would you really kill her?" Hope whispered to her.

"It's blackmail." Maddie walked back into the main hall and tried to find her boyfriend.

Maddie couldn't get out of her mind Luke's reaction last night before she snuck out. It was the first time she had seen him cry since they started dating. She felt terrible, but she had to be strong for him for once. For once, the roles were reversed. He needed her last night, and so Maddie stayed with him until he fell asleep. Maddie had no idea he was that close with Cat to cry the way he did. Maddie knew that when he found out about her lead for Cole, he would feel better.

Luke was sitting in a bench with Nick, and Maddie approached him. She put her hand on his shoulder, and he looked up at her. He didn't look like he was crying, but he looked like he wanted to. He stood up and looked at her. He pulled her into a bear hug and held onto her tightly. Maddie hugged him back, and right away she knew that he needed it for sure. Normally, she didn't care for bear hugs, but she let it happen because he was grieving.

Maddie detangled herself from his arms. "I need to talk to you, privately."

Luke nodded his head and they both walked outside in the cool August air. The both of them sat on a bench, and Maddie faced him. "What's up?" Luke asked her.

"Don't get mad at me, but when you were asleep I snuck over to Headquarters and I went into the morgue to look at Cat's body." The moment she said that was the moment Maddie knew Luke was not happy with what she said. Maddie watched as Luke tried not to say something, so she put her hand on his forearm to calm him down. "Before you get...uptight—"

"I'm not uptight!" Luke defended himself. "Why does everyone say that?"

Because you are, Maddie felt like saying, but stopped herself. Wrong time. "Anyway, The Council is covering up what happened to Cat. Cole killed her for whatever reason because there are werewolf marks all over her, and what werewolf would attack someone close to us?"

Luke swore. "I knew it."

"I even got his location of where he's staying," Maddie mentioned. Luke gave her a look, and Maddie simply shrugged. "I got it out of Jenna. We should go to Pandemonium Hotel, kill Cole, steal the stone, and give it to Marcus to destroy."

"Is that a good idea to go after Jenna after what you did?"

"What?"

"I know you, Mad." Luke chuckled a little bit. "Your version of getting information out is violence and blackmail."

"I did both, so I know we should be fine," Maddie assured him confidently. He didn't see Jenna's face after Maddie was done with her. She looked like she wanted to pee herself from fear. Maddie stood up and looked out. "We should probably go before Cole moves. You have your keys?"

"Yep." Luke stood up and they both walked to his car.