Era of Greed [✔ COMPLETE] (Chrim Chronicles #1)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Loreen Fortier

The streets reminded me of death, now more than ever. Brown and yellow leaves flew around in circles underneath the clouded sky. It was my first Autumn as a vampire. At the sound of the slamming door I moved away from the window. With my arms folded I stared at the door. Cyril appeared and dropped his black coat on the table and strolled to the kitchen without acknowledging me. I decided to follow him, and dropped on one of the stools near the counter, my chin leaning on my palm as I stared at him. He turned around from the fridge, slurping on the straw of a blood bag. On noticing me staring at him his eyes widened and a frown appeared on his forehead. Slowly, he removed the straw from his lips and swallowed.

"How was your trip?" I asked with a smile.

Cyril took a small sip and shrugged. "Busy. How was your week?"

"Not so busy." I straightened my back and sighed. "I checked at the Reverie a few times to see if you were back yet. You know, because I feel more comfortable when you're there with all that tasty blood lingering around, and you weren't. So, I was all alone, and I decided to check out one of those dating sites, and you can't believe how many pervs I met. This one guy said he wanted me to put my foot in his ass."

His mouth parted and he stared at me with a raised eyebrow. After a long silence he sighed and nodded. "Well... Maybe next time you can use that free time to clean up a little bit." Cyril moved to the sink and pointed at the dirty dishes. "What is this? You don't even eat."

"I had company," I lied, shrugging. In truth, I had ordered food from three different restaurants to pretend I was having breakfast, lunch and dinner, while playing a game called 'I'm still human'. "So, where were you and what did you do?"

Cyril threw an empty blood bag in the bin and cleared his throat. "Away and busy."

A smile appeared on my face, though I was burning with anger. "Busy with Torill?" I nodded and folded my arms as I moved closer to him. "Her smell is all over you, Cyril. I'm not stupid."

I had expected a stuttering explanation, or more lies, but instead he stared at me in silence, his head slanting to the side. Frowning, I looked back at him with folded arms. Apart from the ticking of the clock, it was dead silent. I couldn't care less about their little love secret, but I hated being lied to, by my own friends no less. After I had put two and two together, I had also figured out all the little signs that had always been there, and how the two of them must have been sneaking around for years.

Cyril removed his eyes from mine and glanced around the room with a small smile. "And you bring this up, why?"

My jaw dropped. "What?"

"What do you want, Loreen?" Cyril moved his face close to mine. "Why do you feel the need to bring this up, to throw it in my face? Is this a threat – is that it? Is there something you need?"

"What?" I dropped my arms. "It's not..."

"Because if there is something you need," he interrupted me with a raised voice, "you can just ask, Loreen. When have I refused anything you have asked?"

I raised my hands. "Cyril, I wasn't threatening you."

"Then how dare you speak to me with that attitude?" His loud voice caused a beep in my ears. "If this is no threat, I suggest you learn a little courtesy and stay away from my business, Loreen."

Shaking my head, I placed my hand on his arm. "Cyril, I was just angry that..."

He jerked his arm away and stepped back. "We're done talking."