The hunt

Chapter 12

Cole’s pov

She was to quiet. Arianne’s expression was blank and lightly hazy, like she wasn’t fully aware of what was happening around her. We were half way to my place, but I wanted to get of the street and out of the way of curious eyes. I grinded my teeth together in frustration, my blood ran hot as my beast clawed to get out. The chill of the winds were wrapping us up in hands of ice, Arianne grasped tightly onto my hand and shivered. She looked startled and finally seemed to come out of the shock.

“Why is it so cold?” she asked as she stepped closer. Looking around I realised it had gone from a hot blistering warm day, to a dark angry cold storm. “We should get out of the streets.” I whispered softly to her. She nodded in agreement as she cast another worried look at the darkening sky. 

We were almost to my mom’s house when Arianne’s bracelet started flashing red. “What does that mean?” I asked as I picked up the pace. Looking down her face drained of colour.

 “That means that they’ve found Charlotte.”

She looked behind us and around, “Fuck! We should run, when they realise I’m not coming they’ll try come find me, it could be better if they didn’t follow us to your house.” 

 “I have an apartment we can go to after we get to my mom’s.” she looked up at me in surprise. “You have another apartment?” I nodded and turned into our street. “I moved out four years ago, but when my dad died I moved in again to help with my younger brothers and sisters.” She squeezed my hand tightly and whispered a soft sorry and kissed my cheek. By the time we ran into the house we were both breathing heavily.

 Celine looked up in surprise as we came in. “What’s wrong?” she asked looking worried, I hated seeing her so scared. “Celine, I need you to get max and Lena and all go into Max’s room and close the windows and curtains, OK?” she nodded looking dazed an raced back up stairs.

 “Mom, Sean!”

“We’re in the kitchen Cole!” Sean yelled back.

Mom looked up as we came in; she was sitting drinking tea while Sean washed the dishes. “We have a problem.” Arianne snorted from behind me. “Cole that’s a bit of an understatement.” I looked back at her; she had her eyebrows raised and a hard line to her mouth. It was a front, I knew she was trying not to show how freaked she was.

“What happened, does she not believe you that I’m innocent?” Sean asked, his jaw was tensing and his shoulders bound up tight. “No it’s not that, we didn’t get to that…” I looked back at Arianne again and she nodded at me to continue.

“The woman who was going to help us was dead by the time we got there.” They froze, mom went pale and Sean just stood there. “What…” 

“Charlotte was in her office and like the other hunters it was bloody and messy. But this time it was my blood and DNA all over the scene.” Arianne said from behind me. Mom got up and walked to Arianne, she tried to hid how much Charlotte’s death affected her but my mother knew the difference. Going to stand right in front of her, they were about the same height, mom cupped Arianne’s face and kissed her on the temples. “I’m so sorry sweetheart.” 

"What are you two going to do?" mom asked as she sat down again. "Sean is fine, no one's going to be concentrating on him and for safety I'll take him, Celine, Max and Selena to my mother’s old Lake house. She’s an annoying old hag, but she’s family and will protect them. “Relief washed over me.

Arianne looked at me, “We’ll figure it out, and it helps that you and your family will be safe. I have friends all over who can help sneak us around and get us the right information. If you want to do this, it’s going to have to be now; the patrols are going to start.”