Is it wrong to love a vampire?

Chapter 24 (part two)

Nate sat on the table between them, desperate to keep an eye on both of them and all issues at bay.

'Sam, can you tell us what you know?' Nate asked firmly.

She nodded. 'Ten weeks ago...'

'You said eight.' Jet seethed, his eyes flashing and his fingers gripping the couch.

'Jet.' Nate boomed.

Sam slung a glance across to him. 'As I was saying. Ten weeks ago, after your vision. I found Nate's castle, it was almost exactly where you said it would be. Since then I have been searching for Georgia's room, which didn't take me long to find. I haven't just been sitting with this information like you think.' She shot a look at Jet. 'I've been searching for a way in and out of the castle that won't get us killed. There's a network of tunnels beneath them but I can't figure out how to use them to our advantage.'

'I'm going after her.' Jet strode towards the archway.

'No.' Nate said loudly. 'Not until we come up with a plan.'

'We don't need one.' Jet pleaded. 'Sam's given us all the information.'

'Jet, it's suicide.' Chad whispered standing before him.

'I don't care. I'm going.' Jet pushed him away.

'Then what's the point, mate.' Nate complained, all hope of civility gone. 'What is the fucking point of you loving her, if you're just going to end up dead.'

'She'll be safe.'

'No she won't. If you die, she dies. And then In another hundred years, she will be back but you won't.'

Jet staggered as Nates words stabbed him like a dull blade.

'Chad, get the maps. Jet, sit back down. And Sam, start drawing the floorplan. We're going to need to know everything.'

They bickered, sounding more like the siblings he's known than the animals he glimpsed at. Nate ran a hand through his hair, unsettling its easy style. They had been staring at maps for hours now, searching for a way to reach the castle unnoticed. Sam had held out the floor plan for Jet, a truce offering, he'd quickly snatched it and held it close. Nate needed to move, his joints ached from being still for so long, he had to get his blood moving so he paced. As he paced, he let new ideas flow around him, trying to find the best solution to it all. Questions came racing at him as fast as speeding bullets, trying to imbed themselves into his mind. He paced the same board, his feet mindlessly following one after another. He ran through the ideas, giving each time to form. They could take men with them? No, too risky for Georgia. Would he need to take everyone, or is that too many? Nate's thoughts squished together, trying to offer everything like three puzzles mixed together. He sorted through them, completing each puzzle methodically. The final pieces finally fall into place. Nate clicked his finger, three sets of eyes turned towards him and a grin came over his face. They were a mismatched troupe to say the least, none of this having seen battle and Nate hoped they never would. The moment of curious silence turned to tension.

'I have a plan.' He finally said.

Chad turned around and walked out, Nate knew his mind was focused on Aly. She needed to be part of the conversation. Sam and Jet waited, their bodies screaming with anticipation.

'First, you're both going downstairs to feed. You're gonna need it. Once you're done, meet me in the library, we have some research to do.' Nate said, a sly grin crossing his face.

Sam looked focused as she nodded at him. Jet let out a deep sigh and hung his head, he begrudgingly glanced at Nate and followed after Sam.

He met Chad and Aly in the hallway, Aly striding beside him. Nate had hardly ever seen her in a singlet, with her hair just grazing the side of her neck, he could see those two puncture scars encircled by the tainted mark he shared.

'This way.' He called out, his dominance dripping with each word.

They followed without question, bowing to their alpha.

Nate pushed open the library door, opening onto the walls lined with books that wrapped around the corner and into smaller space. Their entire collections were proudly on display within this panelled haven. Nate sat down in his old leather chair, the maroon colour had started to fade in some spots.

'What has this got to do with us?' Aly asked.

'We're going to get Georgia back.'

Aly froze, her eluded confidence draining for those moments. 'We're finally saving her?' She burst out laughing, her laughs rocking her back and forth on the spot.

Nate burrowed his brows, confused with the scene playing in front of him. Chad reached out for her, concern filling his eyes.

'I'm fine. Aly called, stifling those last few giggles. 'I just think it's ludicrious to think that after ten weeks, you've finally found her. I just didn't think I'd get her back.'

Jet burst into the room and Sam trailed behind.

'Right.' Jet rubbed his hands together. 'We ready to go?'

Nate stood up. 'Sam you know those old tunnels under the house?'

Sam smirked. 'I've played there often enough.'

Nate nodded. 'Jet you're going to go with Sam, there is an exit near the hill you were talking about. It won't get you into the castle but it will keep you undetected for the most part.'

Sam and Jet nodded, their thinking finally in sync.

'When do we leave?' Sam asked.

'Now, you're better off hitting at nightfall.' Nate responded, ushering them out the door.

He turned back towards Aly and Chad before once again admiring their library, knowing that the answers lay in this room, somewhere.

'You guys get the best job.' Nate smiled. 'We get to find some books, focusing on Nick's family, the tunnels, the surrounding lands and any book you can possibly find on Lady Alice Grove. This library have come from year of collecting, some of it is even older than me. So we might want to get to work.'

They turned and gazed at the endless walls of book. Aly groaned, her mind revolting with the amount of words she was forced to endure. Chad turned to her, a smile forming on his face.

'Where do you want to start?' He nudged her and she sighed.

They knew sleep wouldn't be an option for a while.