The Blood Legion (#4 to 'Motionless in Wonderland')

Chapter 30: Graith

CHAPTER 30: GRAITH

"Craig."

"Ronnie."

Craig kept his gaze ahead of himself, not looking away from the people he was currently observing as Ronnie leant against the wall next to him, Craig trying not to let it faze him. He kept his arms crossed, seeing Jacoby over the other side of the room, eyes on what was happening throughout the ballroom.

He could see Ash and Chris up on the balcony on the floor above and he knew that Andy, Alex and Zacky were on the balcony on the other side to Chris and Ash.

"Not surprised to see you here," Ronnie said, following Craig's gaze and seeing him watching Jacoby now. Ronnie indicated across the room to him. "Didn't think he'd get out of the City but I mean, I guess I was wrong."

"I assume there's a reason you came over to me," Craig said, finally breaking his gaze and looking to Ronnie who returned his look. "Also, I hope you know that I'm going to make sure that you don't leave this castle unescorted."

Ronnie smiled in amusement, summing Craig up as Craig just watched him with no amusement on his face, arms still crossed.

"I truly thought you weren't down here anymore," he ended up saying, pretty well ignoring Craig's comment. "I thought you would've packed it up and gone back home by now."

"I assume that you're not here alone," Craig said, choosing to ignore his remark. "Because that'd be damn stupid of you to come to something like this unaided."

"It would be, wouldn't it? Guess you'll have to stick around and wait to find out for yourself."

With one last smile, Ronnie pushed off the wall, leaving the room. Craig shook his head, looking across the room and seeing Jacoby watching him. Not needing to be told anything, Craig headed out of the room, planning on finding where Ronnie was headed off to.

Back up on the balcony, Chris and Ash had seen what had happened down below on the ground floor, the two of them watching as Craig disappeared out of the room.

"That's not good," Ash sighed. "If he's here then we're in the right place. Maria won't stray too far from her champion."

"She is; she's lurking somewhere," they both heard, making them look around to see who'd spoken.

Remington joined them, leaning against the balcony's railing as well, on Ash's right now as he observed the lower level of the castle, eyes down on the floor the entire time.

"Didn't think you were meant to be talking to any of us," Ash commented, looking him over as he ignored her gaze and continued to look down at the ground level, thought on his face.

"I'm not talking to you; I'm looking for my next unsuspecting victim," was his response, scanning the ground for someone. "I've been here for a few hours and I'm getting hungry. Better to get on top of it before it gets too bad because that's when bad things happen and people die."

"Really? You're seriously preying on people while you're here?" Ash was a bit appalled.

Remington tore his gaze away from everyone on the floor and to her; she could see the look in his eyes and wanted to retract her previous statement.

"Yes, because I don't have much choice," he said back, his voice down a bit. He leant in slightly, Ash feeling a bit uncomfortable with it. "You'd also better keep it down a bit because there're some people on the ground floor that won't take too kindly to hearing you speak, especially about this kinda thing."

He moved back, giving her a bit more space; he could be scary when he needed to be. He went back to looking down at the masses of people on the floor, trying to decide on who he was going to go after.