Chasing Wolves (completed)

Chapter 21 Isadora

Chapter 21

Isadora

It's so weird not having anyone walking the hallways around me; I've gotten so used to this place being full of people, and now everyone's gone. Technically everyone's over at Janca's (a nickname that everyone's agreed to never use in front of them), even Winna and Phillipe. Usually they stay here, they don't like socializing outside much, but they went to see everyone train.

Now it's only Paul and myself in this huge building. Opening the door to the lab, I realize that he's not in here. "Paul, where are you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm filing sighting reports. Go ahead and get started. I'll be there in a moment."

Err... okay. "Will do. Who're the sighting reports on?"

"Oh, they're all on one person. A man by the name of Royce. He shows up every... decade or so, kidnapping a few Shifters before disappearing again. Some say he's a vampire, some say he's human, but no one knows for sure. There's been reports he's back in town and people are starting to worry."

Holy crap, a guy that kidnaps Shifters. As I mull the news over, I walk over and take my seat at the table and get ready to take blood. For the last week I've been coming in twice a day and giving a ... I can't remember how much. One of those medical blood bags full.

The process has gotten so familiar I don't even have to think of it as I go through the steps. Disinfect the area, wrap one of those rubber bands right above my left elbow, find and stick vein, and then let my heart do the work as it pumps it into the bag.

Then, once it's all done and the bag is put in the fridge, my favorite part. Paul's graciously supplied a water bottle of his own blood (he offered to let me have some human, but I'd rather not know what it tasted like, much preferring vampire anyway), and I take a few sips before putting it back. I can already feel my body compensating for my blood loss, using his blood to regenerate my blood cell count.

"Okay Paul, I'm done. See you later. You know where I'll be." I make my way towards the elevator and press the open button as I wait for his response.

It takes a minute, but then again I guess he's still busy with the reports on that Royce guy. "Of course. Did you get enough to drink?"

"I'm fine. Stop worrying. You know it only takes a little bit and I don't want you to keep having to take blood just for me, I know the gold's painful."

"You know full well I'm more than happy to..." His voice fades away and I sigh in relief as the doors open into the warehouse. We've had this argument innumerable times, each time ending in a stalemate. He doesn't mind giving blood even though that involves sticking himself with a gold needle, and I don't want him having to go through that just for me.

It's a beautiful sunny day and I decide to walk to Janca's instead of running (not my super-speed, mind you, it's daylight and I'm not stupid). One of Hank's team members is manning the door and he nods to me as he holds it open. After a quick exchange of pleasantries and a thank you, I enter the building to the sound of someone hitting the practice mats hard.

It turns out to be Lin and I watch, completely unconcerned for his safety, as Eli takes advantage of his momentary superiority and tries to body slam him into a mat pancake. Lin rolls out of the way just in time and elbows Eli in the ribs as he's already mid-flight.

Turning away from them, I walk over to where everyone else is sitting against the wall on some folded mats. Scanning the faces of all of my friends, there's one person I don't recognize. Kate sees me eyeing up the new guy (a pretty cute black guy, about our age if I'd have to guess, with a shaved head) and pulls him over to me, a sweet smile on her face.

"Iz, I'd like to introduce to you Ra, my... boyfriend." She's a little timid to say this last part but when they smile at each other I can tell they really like each other.

I wonder how long this has been going on.