Flesh & Blood

Chapter Three

The Channons weren't called for every death, murder, robbery or beating in North Heldal. It was no secret those were practically everyday occurrences and, more often than not, the reasons behind them were clear or at least resolved once blood had been shed. North Heldal was not a town filled with saints, and the sinners knew how to take care of their own business without getting outside parties involved.

They were only called for particularly gruesome crimes - crimes committed for apparently no reason at all - the only ones that were really worth investigating. Like when someone, or something, murders a ghoul in their morgue - their home. I felt queasy at the sight of them, and pursed my lips while resting my head back against the chair as a powerful wave of dizziness overtook me.

When they'd first arrived, Luca had approached the man who looked to be in charge. I assumed he was filling the Channons in on where my mom's body was. The man stalked away afterward and disappeared into the kitchen, returning a short time later notably paler with eyes wide and downcast. Two others were sent in the direction he'd come from, then one was ordered out of the house, and the last man was made to stand sentry where the front door had once been.

Luca jogged back and sat next to me on my dad's favorite armchair. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest. At first, I thought that he'd done it in an attempt to comfort me until his teardrops had started to fall and soak my hair. We'd been the only real family that Luca had ever had; he had lost someone, something, important to him tonight, too.

It was then that I brought a mental wall up to block out thoughts of the morgue and my mom - it was a technique that she had taught me years before when we'd had to feed on an old neighbor and I'd needed a way to separate myself from what I was doing.

"Names." The order was barked at us and I felt Luca flinch around me. I took a deep, sniffling breath and steeled myself.

"Darcy Avalon," I stated, digging my fingers into the sides of the seat cushion. My dad's favorite.
Where was he? "This is my friend, Luca."

"Luca what?" The man asked, turning his attention from me.

"Luca Banks," Luca responded quietly, his hands in his pockets and his eyes downcast.

"Banks, huh."

There was a string of curses and a small silence that followed the revelation. Luca grimaced at the carpet and pressed his thumb to the spot where his brows pinched together. He hated the connection that his last name gave him to the man who'd never been a father to him. It was a name that everyone knew, and everyone in North Heldal spat it like an insult at him.

"My name is Andreas," He introduced himself. "I have some questions I need to ask you."

My heart stilled in my chest.

Andreas Channon was the Alpha of North Heldal's pack of werewolves. He was known for his brutality and strict adherence to Pack Law, even over the laws of the town. A shudder of fear wracked my body when his gaze locked on me. He signaled for me to follow him and brought me outside to take my statement. Luca tried to follow us when we got outside but Andreas made him wait several feet away from us. I shoved my trembling hands into my jacket pockets.

"When did you last see your parents?" He questioned.

"Just a couple of hours ago. We fed and then Luca and I went out," I answered.

"Where did you and Luca go?"

My fists clenched where they were hidden in my jacket and I pursed my stained lips before answering. "We were at the Cheeking Lounge. Olive can verify that."