Chapter 51

Chapter 51

"You're a fucking idiot," Ashton hissed beside Ren's ear.

They were currently crouched before a large bush that blocked them from the view of the Hunter Society building. Ren tried to ignore Ashton who was almost completely pressed against his side, but it was proving to be very hard. The irritating vampire had been whispering his dislike of the current plan the entire time they'd been sitting here.

Darrien was scouting the area while Ren was watching him to make sure he wasn't going to alert anyone. The fact that he had to worry about that should have let him know that he was completely out of his mind and he didn't know what he was doing. But he did. He knew that while this had a high potential of backfiring it also had a high potential of securing them some security.

He thought it was well worth it in the end.

Ren turned his head. His and Ashton's noses almost bumped into one another. Ashton pulled back, his eyes falling down onto the small space between them. Ren's breath hitched, but he swallowed down the burst of excitement. He ignored the way Ashton's eyes almost glinted as he looked back at Ren.

"At least I'm doing something," Ren said back. He gave Ashton a dull stare which Ashton wrinkled his nose at.

"Yes, trusting the Hunter is really doing something for us."

Ren let out a sigh. Ashton was right on some points, but the matter of the fact was that they had nothing else they could do. They were backed into a corner. Their lives were tied together by a contract to keep each other accountable, but they also had to deal with the Hunter Society trying to kill them before they found the true answers.

He didn't think about it this way before, but whether they found the dead girl or not, they were going to end up in this situation. Except, maybe if they hadn't met each other and they hadn't found her body, then they would know less than they knew now. They would have been oblivious to everything that was happening until it was too late to do anything about it.

"If I didn't have no choice then I wouldn't be doing it," Ren muttered. He turned away and focused back on watching Darrien.

He didn't want to tell Ashton this, but he felt like he could trust Darrien for a strange reason. It might have to do with the fact that he was able to feel his emotions. He could feel that there was some sincerity inside of him. Perhaps it wasn't too late for Darrien to change his views.

Though, Ren wasn't going to get his hopes up. Besides, it wasn't his job to look out for the Hunter.

His chest ached. The feeling felt like a knife piercing through his heart. He thought back to the small almost insignificant moments when Darrien had talked to him like he was a normal person. Darrien had treated him like he wasn't a vampire or hybrid. For that small moment, Ren was just Ren.

He hadn't known that he longed for a friend until then.

Ashton slapped Ren's arm with the back of his hand. "He's in."

Ren jolted from his thoughts and caught sight of Darrien waving them over. He was still hesitant, his hand holding the gun. Ashton was holding Darrien's in a first grip as well. As Ren looked over Ashton, he felt his gut twist. There was something really menacing about letting the Mantel have a gun. He was strong and terrifying without it. A silver gun with the ability to kill a vampire heightened that fear to a level Ren wasn't equipped to deal with.

Ashton caught his gaze. He cocked his head. "What?"

Ren shook his head. "Nothing."

He quickly looked away, his face burning. He walked as fast as he could manage without tripping and made sure to keep a good distance between him and Ashton. The whole thing with swapping blood had warped his attraction even more. He was trying to separate himself from that, his emotions as well because when he had Ashton's emotions flooding with his own, it was hard to differentiate.

He couldn't tell if he actually liked Ashton in that way—if he liked him for his personality or if he was being tricked by his own abilities.

They were at the back of the building again. Ren saw the entrance that he and Ashton had gone through. He was surprised that again there was no one guarding this place. Were they cocky enough that they didn't believe anyone would tempt to step on their property or were they just that dumb? And why did it feel like there weren't that many people here in the first place?

He got a real bad feeling when Darrien neared them. He glanced around them like he was expecting someone to jump out at them. Ren didn't like that look. Not at all.

"I've got some bad news," Darrien rushed out. He rubbed his hands together as he shifted on his feet.

Ashton made a noise of annoyance. "What is it now?"

Darrien sent a glare Ashton's way. "I'm doing this for Ren, so shut it."

Ashton stepped up to Darrien, crowding his space. "Bullshit. You're doing this so we don't put a bullet in your head."

"Knock it off." Ren shoved Ashton back.

Ashton backed away, still glaring at Darrien. His eyes were red. Ren rolled his eyes.

"What's the problem?" He turned his attention back to Darrien.

"Your guys' break-in has caused everyone to go into lock-down."

"What does that exactly mean?"

"People that are usually out patrolling are here. They've upped security."

Ashton snorted. "Upping implies they had security in the first place. We were able to sneak in with no problem."

Darrien snarled. "This entire area is warded! You two getting past that barrier is a miracle. Right now, you should be nothing but ashes right now."

After he said it, he clamped his mouth shut like he said something that he shouldn't have.

Ren furrowed his brows. "What do you—"

He cut his question off as he saw someone moving just behind Darrien. Ashton had seen it too and was already pulling him out of sight. Darrien whipped around and stood straight as a needle.

Ashton and Ren scrabbled to hide on the other side of the concrete stairs that lead into the back of the building. Ren pressed his back against the side of the stairs. He thought about chancing it and looking over, but Ashton shook his head knowing exactly what he was thinking.

The trod of the footsteps gave away that it was just one person, nothing else. It wasn't until he heard then speak that he instantly knew who it was.

"Why am I not surprised you're out here fucking off?"

It was the asshole Kenny.

"I was looking around," Darrien answered. He didn't sound at all nervous which was impressive. If it was Ren in his shoes his voice would have been shaking. If he was able to speak at all.

Kenny scoffed.

"Looking around?" He laughed. "What are you going to be able to do?"

Ren wished he had the guts to go and knock Kenny on his ass right then. He didn't care who it was that he was talking to, the guy pissed Ren off and for good reason too.

Darrien didn't answer for a moment. Ren thought that maybe he wasn't going to answer, but then he heard his voice.

"Did you want something? Or are you just here to waste my time?"

"You little shit!"

There were hurried footsteps and then Darrien let out a grunt.

"What the actual fuck is going on out here?"

Ren had to force himself to stay down when he heard the third voice. He turned his head and caught Ashton's eyes who was just as invested in the ongoing conversation as he was.

"Paul," Kenny said. Ren couldn't help but smirk at how timid Kenny sounded right then. Ren would have done almost anything to see the look on his face.

This was the Paul that Ren had heard them talking about the night he had gone to search for the ring. He had to be some hot shot to have the Hunters—especially one like Kenny—scared to act out of line. Whoever he was, he commanded a lot of power.

Ren instantly despised him. He worked under Cipher and was working alongside people like Kenny. The dude definitely was evil incarnated.

"I saw him jerking off out here. I wanted to make sure he understood that we're in the middle of a serious situation."

Ren peered over the cement steps. Ashton grabbed his arm and tried to pull him down, but Ren pushed him off. He waved his hand to tell Ashton to piss off. Ashton threw his hands up in frustration.

His heart was racing as he looked at what was going on. The first person that he saw was Darrien standing behind Kenny. He wasn't staring straight ahead, not moving, even when Kenny grabbed him by the back of his shirt and hauled him forward. Kenny shoved Darrien into front of him as if to offer him up to the Paul guy.

Paul was the same height as Kenny. He was shorter than Darrien who towered over mostly everyone. His hair was buzzed short, his ears were pierced with silver studs, and he was wearing all black. There was a tattoo at the base of his neck that Ren could only see a glimpse of. He tried to get a better look at it, but Paul turned, shielding Ren's view.

Ren felt the stirring of the thing. His eyes widened in panic. It was bubbling up. And fast.

He ducked back down, lowering down into a crouch behind the stairs.

"What are you doing?" Ashton hissed. He looked over the stairs for a quick second and then looked back down at Ren.

Ren curled into a ball. He wrapped his arms around his knees and began to rock back and forth.

Kill them. Kill them all.

He shook his head. He squeezed his eyes shut, wishing all the dark thoughts to go away. The voice wasn't his, but it wasn't really a voice at all. It really was like his thoughts were talking directly at him, trying to convince him what to do.

That part of him—the vampire part—really wanted to listen. He didn't understand how he couldn't have any self-control. His fangs poked through his gums. They throbbed at the thought of piercing skin. Three humans were just on the other side of these stairs. He could at least overpower one of them. It would be bliss for a few seconds. That's all that he needed.

His body was shaking. A shiver went down his spine. He bit his tongue. Blood pooled in his mouth and he was sick enough to even enjoy that.

Ashton put his hand on his shoulder.

Ren growled. He grabbed Ashton's wrist and pulled him down. Ashton was fast enough to fight against Ren. He shoved his hand onto Ren's face and shoved him away.

Ren stuck his tongue out and licked Ashton's palm.

"Ugh." Ashton pulled away in revulsion. "Did you seriously just do that?"

Ren snapped his teeth. When he realized what he did, he slapped his hand over his mouth.

Ashton gave him a weird look. "What the fuck is going on with you right now?"

Ren shook his head. He couldn't explain it.

"Is it some kind of witch thing?"

Ren gave Ashton a dirty look. "It's not some kind of witch thing."

He let out a growl of frustration when his fangs got in the way. They hurt more than they usually did. They were aching in a way that reminded him of a new tooth growing in. His entire jaw was throbbing, his ears, and his head aching along with it. And then, of course, there was the thing that was getting riled up.

"Get back to work," the Paul guy said.

His voice was deep and commanding. It irritated Ren.

He wanted to get another look at what was going on, but he didn't trust himself to be strong enough to fight the thing. It was fighting against him too much. He just didn't understand why it was doing this to him. He knew that it wanted to kill something—it had told him right out, but why was the answer he wasn't getting.

"Yeah, runt. Get back to work."

"I was talking to you."

If Ren wasn't going through shit, he would have laughed.

Kenny sputtered. "What?"

"You heard me. We have things to do. I don't need you wasting time babysitting a kid."

Kenny muttered something that Ren couldn't hear.

"Do you hear me?"

Kenny marched off, kicking something as he did in frustration.

"Want to tell me what you're really doing out here?"

Ren swallowed the groan that came up in the back of his throat. He stared at the ground, panting as he struggled to keep his thoughts in an otherwise straight line. They were filled with senseless anger. The thing was almost at the point of begging to be released so that it could wreak havoc.

His lips parted. He focused on his breathing, hoping that he could calm himself down.

"I was looking around," Darrien said. His voice was calm and steady. He didn't sound at all like he was about to get the shit beaten out of him by Kenny.

"I'm not an idiot like him," Paul said. His voice lowered to a tember that even made Ren's stomach sink. "Tell me what you're doing out here."

There was a beat of silence. Ashton shifted to press his back against the stairs. He turned his head as if he would be able to see over the barrier.

Ren wiped his face and struggled to get up. His hands pressed firmly to the concrete. He dug his nails into it to keep his balance. He felt like any second the wind could blow and it would knock him down like a bowling pin.

"Fine," Darrien said. There was some rustling. "I stole this from my Dad. I came out here to smoke it."

That grabbed Ren's attention.

He and Ashton looked over the stairs.

Darrien had slapped a small container into Paul's outstretched hands. Ren didn't think they were cigarettes. They didn't look like any carton he'd ever seen. It had to be something he'd never heard of.

Paul snorted as he flipped the container over. It was metal and had a white label on the front. "Well. I can't say that I was expecting this."

He pointed the container at Darrien. "I won't tell your Dad if you don't tell him that I'm keeping them for myself."

Darrien stared coldly back at Paul as Paul pocketed the container.

"Go join the others. We're meeting in the conference room."

Paul slapped Darrien's back. Darrien clenched his jaw, but he followed the orders. He walked toward the stairs that Ren and Ashton were hiding behind. He sent the two of them a dirty look for them to stay the fuck down before he disappeared inside.

Ashton had to pull Ren down out of sight.

Paul wasn't leaving though.

Ren furrowed his brows in confusion and looked over at Ashton looking for an answer. Ashton shook his head, not knowing what the guy was up to either.

There was a clink of metal. The container opening. Then the snap of a lighter.

"Dumb ass kid."

Paul stomped up the steps.

Ren and Ashton stiffly wedged themselves out of sight. Paul didn't notice at all. When the door slammed close, Ren relaxed.

"What the fuck do we do now?" Ashton shoved Ren roughly on the shoulder.

Ren slammed into the side of the building. He rubbed both throbbing shoulders as he narrowed his eyes at Ashton.

"Give me a second to think." He rubbed his shoulders as he took a moment to just breathe. He was feeling lightheaded.

"I'd also like to know if there's a chance of you going rabid."

"I'm not going to go rabid. It's just..." There was no way of explaining it. Ashton would just think it was a "witch" thing which it wasn't. It was some crazy force that was seriously fucking up his life.

He didn't know what the fuck it was.

"It's just what?" Ashton was giving him that snotty look and Ren had never wanted to punch someone so badly since Regan.

There was no one in the world that could make him as angry as Regan did, but Ashton was coming really close to it.

"I can't explain it! Fuck!" Ren had wanted to scream his lungs out, but he couldn't. He'd raised his voice louder than he should have. He looked around as if someone was going to attack them from the around the corner.

They stood, waiting once more for someone to find them, but when nothing happened, Ren sagged against the wall.

"We're gonna go in," he said.

Ashton balked.

Ren raised a weak hand. "Listen to me. We're already here. We've got Darrien on the inside. We've snuck in before."

"And last time we almost got our brains blown out."

Ren let out a sigh. "I know. But we don't have anything. We're as much as dead if we walk away from here."

"I don't want to die. I'd rather take my chances when they come to arrest me."

Ren gave him a dull stare. "Really? You don't care if they come and arrest your family too? Do you not care that the Society is going to use us as an excuse to go on a hunting spree?"

Ashton's face was stoic. His eyes were like granite, so cold that Ren questioned once more why he was falling for him. There was nothing there. It was like looking at a hollow corpse. Ashton didn't give a shit about anything. Not even his family.

And maybe Ren should have understood by all that he'd seen of the Mantels. They were cold parents—cold beings in general—and they'd raised someone in their image.

Ashton looked away, shaking his head. He mumbled something under his breath that Ren didn't catch. Then, he stepped in front of Ren, caging him in against the wall.

Ren's eyes went wide as Ashton poked him threatening in the center of his chest.

"Don't do anything stupid. Got it?"

Ren looked at his finger. He pushed it away.

"Yeah. I got it," he said. He glared, but Ashton turned away like nothing had happened.

The thing was riled enough, but for some reason it didn't want to hurt Ashton. Ren couldn't decide if he wanted it to go ballistic on him or not. He also couldn't decide which part of him wanted to protect Ashton. It was a strange feeling where two different halves of his mind was melding together.

He shook his head.

Whatever was happening to him, it had to wait until all of this was settled.

His eyes met Ashton's as Ashton climbed the stairs.

Also, his confusing feelings for Ashton had to wait as well.

He straightened up.

You've got this. You can do this.

He climbed the stairs and hoped the thing inside of him didn't end up turning him into a real killer.