I’m still linked to the station. It’s a bunch of technical bullshit. I only paid attention to the things that were pertinent to me.
As soon as I got my system booted up, my fingers began to type in my information and a glee of satisfaction rumbled through me as it powered up and I was able to infiltrate the security cameras. Just as I was beginning to backtrack to the right date and times I needed to peruse, my office door slams open without the respect of a knock first. My gaze is settled on the angry one of Daphne, an elder who has been mostly in the background since their arrival, but now, she looks ready to spit nails.
Gaia is behind her with an angry stance as she shoots lasers at Daphne—figuratively not literally. I’ve never seen Gaia look at someone with so much disdain as she currently is at Daphne. “I told her I’d announce her, but the woman has no respect whatsoever,” Gaia spits out and a small smirk presents itself on my face. I can’t help it, she’s a spitfire on a good day, but this woman seems to set a fire inside Gaia.
I, too, have felt and experienced a slight bead of uncomfortableness and annoyance for this particular elder. Not from anything she’s said per se, but the fact that she sits to the back and glances at everyone with a watchful eye.
“Thank you, Gaia,” I say to my Fae friend before turning my attention to the probing eyes of Daphne. “How may I help you?” I try to make myself sound friendly, but there’s a growl laced in the words. My bear is standing on his hind quarters, ready to protect and conquer if the need arises.
As soon as she goes to open her mouth, once again there’s an interruption, only this time it’s Caspen, and his eyes are glowing and he looks ready for battle. “You,” he hisses as his finger points accusingly toward Daphne. “Where is your mate?”
“He’s on assignment,” she answers with a haughty tone. A shiver makes its way up my spine. It’s not her words that cause this, it’s the tone that accompanied them.
“I didn’t assign him anything!” Caspen roars out, saliva trailing down his chin. It’s only then that I notice his canines are exposed and I fear he’s about to take a chunk out of her hide.
“Caspen, we’re all here for a job,” she says through a sigh, before smiling up at him. “Alec is following a lead. That’s all I know and all I can tell you.”
“You lie,” Caspen accuses as he walks closer to her. Chest to chest, he leans down and says something that has the hackles rising within me. “Alec is the only shadow walker among us. Guess what? A shadow was spotted time jumping this morning at the sheriff’s house. I’ll ask you once again. Where. Is. Alec?”
His declaration has my bear roaring inside to shift and rip anyone even remotely thinking of harming my family to shreds. This marks the second time this shadow figure has been spotted around our home now.
Daphne bucks back up at Caspen, not once looking away from him. “Like I said, on assignment.”
“Lock her up!” I holler out to Dooly as he rushes into the office when he hears the shouting.
“I am an elder! You cannot,” she vehemently declares, denying my order.
“Consider your status stripped until we get to the bottom of this mystery,” Caspen announces and Gaia gasps as Daphne strikes out at Caspen in response. It’s like a blur of activity. My eyes have a hard time keeping up with the strikes the two of them share. When it’s all said and done, Caspen sits astride Daphne, furniture is knocked over and my office is a damn disaster. And it all happened in the blink of an eye. I’ve never witnessed two paranormals moving at warped speed as they just did.
Not gonna lie, I feel a slight disappointment at not seeing Daphne get what was coming to her. She’s a bad seed. I’ve felt it since the beginning and my suspicions were just confirmed.
Now, there’s an added piece of the puzzle in this mystery. Just what the fuck we needed. “Wait, did you say that you personally spotted this shadow at my house?” I ask, needing confirmation that this is the same shadow as I saw previously.
“Yes, well, not me exactly, but Vaughn,” Caspen admits. “The women and children are safe. I had Glorianna