Love Bites

We All Fall Down

Cal pounded through the trees, knowing that he needed to get to Cassie quickly. He could hear Tasha behind him a little way and he could feel her confusion. With no time to stop he reached out to her. 

Cassie's been taken by the council.

What? Why?

I'm guessing because of what she's done for me. We have to get to her.

Where is she?

The old lumber plant. In one of the offices. Come on, hurry!

He pushed on, urging himself to go quicker. He had only just found his true family and he sure as hell wasn't going to let Marcus or the council rip it apart.

As the lumber plant swam into view he focused on Cassie's consciousnesses, finding it in the building to the right he barreled through the front doors not slowing for a second.

                                                                               ***

"I'm getting tired of your little innocent act. I will ask you again for the last time Cassandra. How did you turn Cal Lucien back into a vampire?" He loomed of Cassie and she could feel her mental fortifications beginning to crumble under the weight of his power, just as her courage was under his gaze.

With  a deafening crash, the white washed wooden door separating the office from a larger conference room, splintered off its hinges. Pieces of wood flew threw the air like projectiles aiming to kill. The suited man threw his arms up to protect himself from the missiles raining down, knowing that one misplaced piece of wood would end it all.

Cal stood in the now empty doorway, ruby red eyes flaring, fists balled at his sides, shoulders heaving  from the exertion of his breathing. "Stand back or you'll meet the sharp end of a pointed stick," Cal growled, low and dangerous as he moved forward and began untying Cassie.

"Well, well, Cal Lucien, as I live and breathe."

"Elder Masterson." Cal replied helping Cassie to her feet, and supporting her as she stood on shaky legs. He took in the bruises on her face, her swollen and still bleeding lip. "Your doing?"

"Mr Lucien, I think that you and I need to have a little talk, don't you?" Masterson said,  ignoring Cal's question. He dusted off his suit and straightened his cuff.

"No I don't. Now if you don't mind, we are going to take Cassandra back home."

"We?" Elder Masterson looked over Cal's shoulder and frowned.

Cal spun round and his heart stopped, where was Tasha?

A cold laugh bought his attention back to Masterson and the room. A manic sneer was pasted on his smug face, his eyes glittered black. "My, my, we are losing our favourite toys today, aren't we."

Cal's stomach turned over and ice crept through his veins. "What have you done?" Cal snarled, rushing forwards. Elder Masterson held up his hands, "Me?"

Cal was inches from his face. He could see the faint lines around his eyes, the pores on his greasy nose. "What have you done?" Cal repeated struggling to maintain any semblance of composure.

Masterson chuckled to himself, winked and in a blur Cassie and Cal were alone.

                                                                                   ***

He paced, systematically checking his phone, willing it to ring, for Tasha to say she'd got lost and needed picking up. Even though he knew in his heart that that would not be the case. Cassie watched his vigil with fearful eyes.