“You are a mind reader aren’t you, and what are you? Come to think of it I didn’t see you coming here.” He followed them to the car, he was curious now. “I hope you won’t get me into trouble with this. I don’t know who this half breed is, but they want him and if I were you I would stay clear of that.”
They ignored him and drove away. Stephan could see that what Solara saw wasn’t good. He was worried, his face told more than that. He didn’t know whether he wanted to ask, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
“They want you. The prospect of an attack is inevitable. They want you back to guard the Elders. The beasts have been spotted planning an attack. They are building up their warriors. Their numbers have increased. Both sides of royalty have got a problem. It’s a struggle of power.”
“The only thing to do is not to be found. That won’t be hard.” Stephan hoped.
“The thing is the beasts know about you. They are thinking about getting you to their team. Offer you better benefits.” He was laughing but the look on Stephan’s face silenced him.
“Anyway, they are sending bounty hunters after you.” He went on, “They’ve put a price on your head. They are nowhere near to finding you, but you have to be careful from now on.”
They were silent for a while. There was nothing to say, the news that they had was making things a bit more complicated. Solara knew that Stephan’s life had just become difficult, but for now his love life would have to take a back seat. This was more important.
“Bounties, that’s great, more people in my life. I have to figure out what I have to do now.” A loud laugh ripped out of his throat. “You know what’s funny if I did want to join the fight which side would I pick. Disregarding the fact that the vampires made me, I can’t choose which species to choose. I’m both; half and half.”
Solara was on the borderline of hysterical. “I’m glad you find your approach danger amuses you. I suggest you sit this one out.”
“I plan to, but if I have to pick a side you can guess whom I will go with. I can not go back to them not after they betrayed me,” he said the last words through clenched teeth. He would fight with the beasts. He wanted the vampires dead, but if he had a choice he wouldn’t bother with the feud.
They got back to the diner, it was getting late. Stephan decided to drop in at the garage he needed to know if he still had his job, and he wanted to get a change of clothes. He needed space to think, time to himself. He went through the garage, when he didn’t see any need of his presence, he went up to his apartment.
He stood under the shower, the hot water against his back, had a relaxing feel to it. His thoughts took over; he tried to see how the feud and Scarlet would both fit in his life. He thought about being with her, and what risks he would put her in if he did. He had enough experience with that. He was going to talk to her about it, tonight if he could.
He made his way across the lot to the diner. He got in and searched the room for her. He spotted Solara in his usual booth; Kayla was at the other side of the room attending to customers. He couldn’t spot her; her scent was dull in the room. She wasn’t there. He took a seat at Solara’s table. When Kayla glanced his way he raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her, when she mouthed she’s at the back in response, he could feel his muscles relax.
Kayla brought him a beer and leaned her head toward the side. Scarlet appeared from the direction she leaned to. She walked across to their table and sat next o him.
“Hey, I haven’t heard from you all day. I wanted to talk to you about something. Do you think you will be free tonight?” Scarlet hoped she would get a favorable answer. She twisted her thumbs under the table. Her eyes were looking down, she didn’t dare to meet his gaze.
He put his hand over hers. “Sure I’ll wait for you here.” Stephan thought she needed that, reassurance that he was here for her. He was going to open up to her as much as he could. Tonight was a good a time as any.
“We are going out tonight, so you’ll have the house to yourselves. You won’t be interrupted.” Kayla volunteered the information. She looked at Solara to back up her lie.
“Yes, we are going back to my place. Thought I would show her where I live.” His voice droned on, he knew they weren’t paying attention to what he was saying at the time. The girls got back to their work. “So do you think you are ready for this? To let her know about my sister and who you are. She may not take it so well.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing, but I will have to come around to it someday. I have feelings for her and I know she may not take the half breed part very well, but I think she will understand when I tell her about Sotera.” He hoped she would understand. He was scared about his reaction.
“I don’t think you should tell her about you being a half breed as you put it. She is going to think you’re a monster or something. I haven’t told Kayla about being the walking dead, and we have been dating for three and a half months now, and no we aren’t intimate.”
They both knew the danger of that; he could hurt her or worse kill her.
“You have to be careful with that. But I’m sure when the time comes you will be able to handle it.” Stephan was trying to cheer him up. He hoped that he would also tell her the truth about himself; at least if he did it before him, he would be able to judge Scarlet’s reaction from Kayla. Besides her snippy attitude, they were alike in many ways.
The rest of the day flew by, it was closing time, Kayla left with Solara, while Stephan and Scarlet left in the other direction. He was driving again, she passed it off as his male ego, and he had to be in control. They drove the whole way back in silence. He held her hand the whole way.
Once they got to the house, they sat in the living room, across from each other. Stephan thought it was best in case his emotions got the best of him. Scarlet was the first to talk.
“I wanted to ask for some clarification. What are we exactly? Are we together, or are we two people who rarely talk, but kiss a lot? Who are always in each other’s arms and sleep in the same bed.”
They were silent for a couple of seconds when she realized he wasn’t about to talk she added on. “You can understand my confusion, and it hurts me. I don’t want to lose the little I have of you.”