~YULIA
“He did not have to die, Issa,” I told him adamantly. “You could have let him go,” I added.
Issa scoffed and said nothing. I was still reeling from the shock of seeing the man’s heart ripped out violently from his chest.
I was fighting back the urge to throw up as I closed my eyes and clamped my mouth shut. Earlier I had tried to be strong for Lana’s presence, but now that she was gone, my defenses were crumbling down.
All the while, Issa was focused on the road and I knew that he was worried. I evened by breathing and opened my eyes as the bile in my throat went down.
“Does killing come very easy to you?” His facial expression changed. I knew immediately that he was annoyed by my question.
“I saved your friend, and this is what I get in return,” He replied curtly.
He was right. He owed me nothing and yet he had willingly left the party… his announcement party to help me rescue Lana from the clutches of the now dead man.
“Thank you,” I muttered, a bit embarrassed. “I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that he had to die in such a horrible way.”
“He had to die, Yulia and the only thing that I would change would be that you were not present when I did it.” He threw me a quick glance before focusing on the road again.
“But why?” I glared at him.
“Because I have a reputation for being bloodthirsty, Yulia, or because I am a Lycan and if word got out that a mere human got the best of me, it would only open doors to others challenging my authority. It’s a cold world, Yulia and I have to be colder. I have to be the monster.”.
I nodded thoughtfully but it did not mean that I agreed with what he said.
“You heard what he said about your blood, Yulia,” He reminded me. “They want to cut you open and the only way that will happen is over my dead body!” He growled and I saw that he was gripping the steering wheel hard. His knuckles were turning white from the force.
I did not know how to feel about what he said. He just angrily told me that he would give his life for me. I did not want anyone else to die because of me. No matter how noble it sounded.
“Why is all these happening? Why now?” I asked myself as the car sped along.
“We are about to find out,” He said and the car slowed down to a stop.
We were parked by the side of the street. There was some sort of festival going on because people were on and about with drinks- plastic bottles also littered the floor.
“What’s the occasion?” I reached for the handle of the door.
but Issa was faster. He reached for my arm and gently pulled me back. “Stay in the car, Yulia, it could get ugly and I may repeat what I did with the other guy.”
“I am not staying in the car, Issa.” I looked him square in the eyes.
“I could lock you in,” He threatened.
“You do that and I will break the glass,” I stood my ground.
“It is not something you want to see, Yulia,” He insisted.
“It’s too late for all that, Issa,” I said and I pushed open the door. I heard him sigh before getting down from the car.
I waited for him to take the lead. He grabbed my hand and pulled me gently as he led the way. I felt so protected by the way he held my hand and shielded me with his powerful body.
A couple of drunk guys blocked our way and I could see the mischief in their eyes as they approached us. They were human. Drunk stupid humans who had no idea what they were up against.
“Hey, want to have some fun?” One of them asked.
“Not interested,” Issa said and kept on moving.
“Come on, it’s a festival, we insist,” One with a mohawk hairstyle said as he stepped before Issa.
Still holding on to my hand, Issa grabbed him by the throat with his free hand and threw him aside without effort. The man went abnormally high in the air before he landed on the roof of a car.
The rest of the group watched with fear as the mischief in their eyes turned to terror and disbelief.
“Still want to have fun?” Issa asked coldly. They ran off leaving the guy unconscious on the top of the car.
“Do you think anyone saw that?” I asked, looking around.
“I don’t give a shit,” He muttered. “Fucking humans…” He said under his breath.
We got to the front of a coffee shop.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Issa growled as Jamal opened the door. He looked at Miles who blinked twice.
“He wanted to tag along, I could not say no,” Miles shrugged. “Besides, thanks to him, we were able to subdue three of them.”
“We are wasting time,” Jamal said and closed the door before he turned the sign to ‘closed.’
“I agree,” Issa replied curtly.
Jamal turned to me. “Ms Yulia, this is not a sight for you.”
“I can handle myself, Detective Khan, you do not have to worry about me,” I said even if I was already nervous.
“Where are they?” Issa asked.
“They are in the back,” Miles said and led the way.
I looked around the coffee shop and saw that it was in shambles with some tables overturned. I saw two old couples. They were human and their throats were slit.
“Those were the owners,” Jamal said. “They were killed by the witches to take over the shop.”
The killing was senseless and it made me angry.
A door that led to a storage room opened and I saw three men with bloodied and swollen faces all tied to wooden chairs. They were in pain and knives that I knew belonged to Jamal had been driven into various parts of their body.
I wanted to throw up.