The Gate

Chapter Eleven: Nobilities Clash

I pace up and down the basement hallway, phone beeping in my ear. "Pick up, pick up... Lucien, I swear to God..." Suddenly the beeping stops as the phone is answered. "Finally! My lord Lucy, you'd think over the last few centuries you'd have learned a little punctuality."

"Aw, missed me, did you? That's cute." He taunts. I roll my eyes.

"Not funny. Klaus the hybrid dick is here, they're trying to figure out how to approach the situation. But it sounds like they're gonna leave soon—"

   "Don't let them leave! I'm not ready."

   "The hell you mean you're not ready?" I seethe. "The deal was you hold onto Bonnie till he gets here. Now he's here, so give her up!"

   "Just give me a little more time, I'll explain later, I promise." Lucien says with an agitated tone.

   "No, you better explain something now if you want me to listen." I can hear him huff over the phone.

   "Why so stubborn? Honestly, it's nothing to worry about, I'm just trying to get a few answers." I freeze in the middle of the hallway, realizing what that might mean.

   "Lucien, if you hurt her, I swear," I say darkly, not even needing to finish my sentence.

   "Oh please, I haven't even touched the girl." I let out a sigh of relief. "Aren't you the least bit curious why Klaus needs her?" He asks, causing me to shake my head.

   "He just needs her for some spell, something about her 'family's specialty,'"

   "And what is her family's specialty?" He guides, obviously getting at something. My brow furrows, trying to think back to any information on Bonnie's ancestry I could possibly know.

   "I dunno, the Bennett's are responsible for a ton of shit. What's your point?"

   "My point is that—" before he can finish, Damon's voice calls from upstairs.

   "Cassie! Get your ass up here!" I roll my eyes and whisper back into the phone.

   "I have to go, Lucien. We are about to leave, I suggest you get yourself ready." I say hurriedly.

   "Castiel, wait—" I cut him off, ending the call. I move down the hallway as quickly as possible, but am stopped at the door by the sudden appearance of a man. He's decently tall, dressed in a fancy monochrome suit with his dark brown hair combed neatly to the side. He tilts his head at me before stepping closer. I take a step back, but he manages to maneuver his way to my side, forcing me against the wall like a shepherd dog with its sheep. He engages eye contact and speaks in a clear voice, utilizing his compulsion.

   "Who were you on the phone with just now?"

   "Matt Donavan." I lie. He squints his eyes at me as I try to keep my face slack and heartbeat steady.

   "Since when does Matt Donavan have an English accent?" Crap. Think, Brekker.

   "Enzo was with him, at the grill. He heard about Bonnie and wanted to help." He looks at me, searching for any sort of tell.

   "Enzo?"

   "An old friend of Damon's." I reply. He continues to squint at me before deciding I'm telling the truth. Which I'm not. But he doesn't need to know that.

   "I see," he says firmly before taking a small step back. "My apologies, Miss...?" He trails, holding out his hand for me to shake. I take it rather quickly and shake it once before letting go.