CHAPTER 38: GOOD THING TYLER WAS A REAL GENTLEMAN...

Brianne loves me.

Brianne is a Monster Reaper.

Which of the two should shock me more?

Well, maybe now I understand why she wasn’t thrilled about falling for me.

And in a way, I feel relieved that I’m not in love with her.

Or at least, I think so... I mean, there’s no way a gazelle could fall in love with the lion that hunts her.

The fact that I’m the gazelle here, even though I’m the vampire and she’s the human, is depressing, but it’s the truth.

At this point, all my intense training with John Hawkley should have lost its meaning, since Brianne doesn’t want to kill me.

And yet... it’s from John’s villa that I’m returning now, still an hour before the first light of dawn.

Just because she doesn’t want to kill me, doesn’t mean others won’t try in the future. It’s always better to be prepared for anything.

I’m lost in my thoughts, when...

«You shouldn’t hang around with that bad crowd,» a voice hisses behind me.

Brianne’s voice.

I spin around, and there she is, leaning against a wall in a real badass pose—only a cigarette is missing from her lips.

How long has she been tailing me?!

I didn’t even notice her following, but judging by her words, she knows exactly where I came from.

«What I do isn’t your business, as long as I don’t hunt humans.»

«It’s been weeks since I last saw you hunt humans. Is that why you’re so attached to John Hawkley lately? Does he provide you blood? Or is it because of your sudden boost in strength that you’re always with him? Between our first fight and the second, your power, though still far below mine, grew unnaturally.»

«I don’t see how a crime boss could help me increase my vampire powers.»

Brianne sighs.

«Oh, Ren... when will you stop taking me for a fool? Yesterday afternoon I told you I didn’t move to New York for you, but to hunt a certain demon known as Velshekar, who has been hiding in human form for a couple of years now. Other HESPARC agents had already traced him back to John Hawkley, and your little comings and goings are just confirmation.»

«I don’t know anything, and I didn’t say anything...»

Which is basically the same as admitting she’s right without saying it.

When it comes to the underworld, the less said, the better.

«Where are you heading?» she asks.

«Where do you think? I’m going home.»

...and I’m already late, since in less than an hour Mrs. Fenwick will stop by for her usual breakfast of coffee, cake, and cock.

«Mind if I walk with you?»

«Afraid I’ll grab a snack on the way? If escorting me home makes you feel safer, go ahead.»

«That’s not it—I imagine you already stuffed yourself at John’s place. Simply put, for a defenseless girl like me, it’s dangerous to walk alone at this hour,» she replies with a playful smile.

Yeah, right. What has she been doing until now?

As if some thug could really be a problem for someone who can kick a vampire’s ass without breaking a sweat.

What happened to the shy, awkward Brianne I first met?

Now she’s cocky, arrogant, and full of herself.

Clearly, that was all just a cover to avoid suspicion.

We cross a couple of blocks, when I notice what looks like a couple making out passionately on a bench hidden by trees, in a playground deserted at this hour.

Their hands are wandering all over each other, in ways impossible to misinterpret.

Normally, no human eye would have spotted them, nor recognized their faces—but my eyes aren’t human.

And that... is Tyler—Elaine’s boyfriend!

But the girl with him... is not Elaine!

And yet, this morning at school Elaine didn’t seem any different.

I even overheard her talking to him on the phone during break.

(Yeah, I know, eavesdropping is wrong—but it happened purely by accident. Sure, let’s go with that.)

From what I caught, they were planning to go out for dinner, so they definitely haven’t broken up.

That bastard.

That cheating piece of shit!

It’s because of him that I broke up with Elaine... and now here he is, happily making out in a park with some girl who looks even younger than Elaine.

Sixteen at best, no more.

Thirty years thrown down the drain—what a pathetic loser...

«Ren, what’s going on?» Brianne asks, noticing me frozen with my eyes locked on the shadows between the trees.

«Brianne, wait here. I’ll be back in a minute.»

With that said, I head straight toward them—needless to say, Brianne sticks to me like glue.

Not that I care—I have no intention of hurting him anyway.

Moving with the silent steps of someone used to approaching without being noticed, I get within a couple of meters, hiding behind the trunk of a tree, and then...

—FLASH!

The two of them jolt as the flash from my phone’s camera blinds them.

Caught red-handed, tongues tangled and his hands between her thighs under that miniskirt.

«And who the hell are you? What do you want?!» Tyler snaps, clearly annoyed.

He doesn’t look worried at all—probably Elaine never showed him my picture, or maybe he just doesn’t remember.

«Maybe my face doesn’t ring a bell, but I’m sure my name does. Ren Lazar.»

Now I see the worry spreading in him—his wide eyes fixed on me.

«Ren Lazar... you’re Elaine’s friend?!» he blurts, trembling.

«Elaine? And who the hell is that?!» the girl snaps, pulling away from him at once.

But he ignores her completely.

«Ren, delete that photo right now and get lost if you don’t want trouble!» Tyler growls.

As he threatens me, I hear Brianne murmuring something behind me.

«Ren, be careful...»

And about what? I haven’t done anything!

«I’ll say it one last time. Give me that phone,» Tyler insists, more and more nervous.

«I don’t think I will. But don’t worry, I’ll keep it just as a memory—I’ve got no intention of showing it to Elaine. You’ll be the one to break up with her today. You’ll tell her you don’t love her, that you never did, you’ll apologize for fooling her and then vanish from her life forever. And don’t you dare mention me. In a few hours I’ll see her at school—if I find out you haven’t left her... well, I’m sure the police would love a picture of a thirty-year-old fooling around with a girl who’s clearly under the age of consent.» I grin with open sadism.

«Will you tell me who the hell this Elaine is?! Is she your girlfriend?! Answer me!» the girl yells, now pissed for other reasons.

Once again, Tyler ignores her—but I don’t.

«Yeah, she’s his girlfriend. But not for much longer.»

Then I turn to Tyler.

«So? Will you break up with Elaine?»

In response, he suddenly jumps to his feet—reaching for me, trying to snatch my phone out of my hand.

I step back quickly, but he lunges at me again—this time with less peaceful intentions.

I glance at Brianne, looking for a signal, some kind of permission to at least defend myself.

But I don’t need it—she’s already handled everything.

With a move worthy of a karate champion, she slams Tyler down, pinning him face-first to the ground with her knee pressed into his back.

And she’s the one who said she was afraid of walking home alone? I’d be more worried for anyone foolish enough to attack her.

Meanwhile, the girl takes off running—not out of fear, but out of anger. Clearly, she didn’t know about Elaine and thought she was Tyler’s only girlfriend. Who knows how many other girls in New York think the same... At least I have the decency not to tie myself down with anyone.

«Alright, alright! I’ll dump her, just let me go, you’re hurting me!» Tyler whines.

Brianne lets him go, and right away he bolts after the girl, begging me not to show that photo to anyone.

There are still four hours before classes start, but my body is already buzzing with adrenaline at the thought of meeting Elaine at school.

I may be an asshole, but I can’t wait to see her beg me in tears to go back to being "friends" like before.