3 years later...

Mallory

"Chuck, get over here." I fixed my pencil skirt as he came over with his camera. The whole room was filled which built put tension on every one of us, this was one juicy story. I pushed my hair behind my ear once I spotted some security guards coming out. "Keep your camera on the mayor, got it?" I whispered, fixing my jacket as I noticed every other reporter was getting their wings rustled up from the anticipation. When more security guards started to come out, the tension spiked through the roof as the man of the hour stepped into the room. Camera flashed everywhere as the tall man stepped with a calm gait and hand in his pocket while the other waved at us. 

Aiden Damson was his name. 

His body seemed perfectly chiseled into his jet black suit, his dark fire truck red hair slick back. His dark eyes betraying themselves and seemed to give off a warm and inviting welcome vibe, broad jawline and an awe-fainting smile. He stepped up to the pedestal and smiled, "I'd like to thank you all for coming." He licked his lips and looked around the room. "I know majority of us would like to be outside and enjoy this wonderful weather." His smile broadened, gripping the sides of the pedestal. I flicked my eyes on his security guards as he went on, noticing two were having an intent stare down. At one point, one of their lips twitched and snapped his head away. Wonder what that was about. I blinked, slowly returning my eyes on the mayor when he pointed at someone. A man closer upfront lowered his hand. 

"What is your statement on the closings of both Necio's clinics in Hawaii?" 

My eyes flew back on Aiden who swallowed and shifted a little, "I say it's for the better." He leaned a little bit more on the pedestal. "When I found out there was illegal and inhuman testing, I knew something had to be done." He blinked, tilting his head down a little. "Who knows how many lives would've been lost if not." he stood up and tilted his chin up, "Next question." A younger man raised his notepad, pointing at him. "Yes." 

"What do we expect to see in the next couple years?"

"Equality." He smiled. "That is my first key." He looked around the room, "We all know, we can better this place. Our home can be a better one." I raised my hand, staring him down. His eyes flickered on me then, narrowing for a second before nodded. "Yes." 

"What's your plan behind that? What are your resources?" 

He chuckled, sighing softly before ducking to look down at the pedestal. For a solid minute, he stared down at it and began to drum his fingers along the side. Suddenly he tilted his head a little and rose a brow, smiling softly then.  "We all have secrets we can't speak of, my dear." 

Aiden

"Tense questions today." 

"We're walking on a line here." I unbutton my jacket, shooting Alex a calm look. "You knew what we're getting ourselves into." I stopped, Rex and Baxter too behind us stopped. "Someday, this empire will be yours, Alex." I gave his shoulder a squeeze. He glanced down at my hand then back at me, remaining silent. "Trust me--it'll be easier for you, I'm just burning the path for you." I smiled and dropped my hand, starting to walk away. 

"You think anyone will catch onto us?" 

"With that stressful thought stuck on your head--yes." I smiled over at his frown. "You must always be two or three steps ahead of everyone else, Alex." I gave his shoulder and shook it playfully. "Come on, you're going out to lunch with me. Get this stressful slumber off both of our shoulders." We stepped outside, welcomed by more reporters and camera. Offering a smile and raising my hand to everyone, deep down, I wanted to pick up the pace back to the limo.  But no--I was the mayor now. I was the representative of vampires and humans in a small town of hawaii. There was no way I could I pick up the pace, I've done more then dip my toes into this matter. I had to walk with pride, walk with it till it sucked me dry. 

I sat down and sighed heavy, the door shutting. I slouched a little while Rex and Baxter un did their jackets and huffed, "So, where to next?" The driver looked back at us. 

"The Delviene." I announced, pushing my sleeve up to check my watch. We still had time. "To meet a friend." The old man nodded and sent the black wall up, Rex shooting me a dull look. 

"What's our next plan?" 

"Not entirely puzzled together." I huffed, undoing my cufflinks. Out of the corner of my eye, Alex fluttered his eyes. 

"But you just said keep a couple steps ahead of everyone." 

"I have many plans going into effect, Alex." I shot him a stern look. "Some of which you don't know of." I blinked, ignoring his irritated stare while I looked back at the boys. "I have a private dinner with some, would you mind if you made sure Alex went home." I glanced back at him, watching his brows slowly went down. "It's best if politics don't cloud his mind yet." 

"Yes, sir." 

"But Ai-."

"Alex, that's enough." 

"You know Val-." My hand grabbed at Alex's throat in an instant, staring at the carpet floor before slowly closing my eyes. Alex miraculously stirred up a husky growl while I squeezed harder till he couldn't but I still felt him try, holding it there. 

"I told you not to speak...of the past." I slowly opened my eyes, feeling my brows arch down. "It's dead and there for a reason, Alex." I let go, Alex coughing up a storm. "I will not let go till you pass out next time you say that name." I felt the limo slow to a stop, seeing the fancy restaurant's sign. Without another word, I opened the door and stepped out. Shutting it, I patted the top of a few times before heading in. 

    Just stepping into the building, the tension was so thick it was like knife cutting through frozen butter. The host perked up and smiled, pushing her blonde hair behind her ear. "Mr. Damson. Your table and guest are awaiting you." She gestured me to the left, nodding to her and stepping passed her. The tension somehow turned into something I couldn't put my finger on, it just felt like everything slowed down for a couple seconds. 

To be honest, I thought I saw...them.  

That guy with blazing blue hair and eyes, a wide smirk across his face while his arms were crossed on the table and currently gnawing on a toothpick. Of course when I would walk up, he would say something snarky like long time no see, buddy. Yes, of course he would. And beside him...her. The woman I lost 3 years ago to thing she would've become, I went to save her and failed her in the end. I killed the woman I loved. Here she was, arm resting on that goofball's shoulder. Her dark eyes staring right through me and lips tightened from whatever was on her mind, the eyes that studied her prey and picked out their valuable points. Eyes dark and spaceless like a...widow. 

I closed my eyes and took a deep inhale, holding it and let it go, reopening my eyes to completely different people in their spots. A guy with short blonde hair and dark grey eyes, a calm smile while the girl pulled her arm off his shoulder as he stood up and offered his hand. "Sorry, we're early." He smiled, looking down at his hand for a second. "Nice answers by the way." 

I narrowed my eyes a little, shaking his hand. "Thanks."

"Name's Ruliak." He smirked, dropping his hand and taking his seat. "Vampire King from Russia." He nudged the woman who was still staring me down and rubbing her fingers together. "This is Fey. The "successful experiment" we were talking about." My brows twitched together, locking eyes with her. "I think it'd be best if she tagged along." 

"Intriguing." Slipped from my lips, slowly taking a seat. I still stared her down as I felt another presence, come over. Fey's eyes flickered on the waitress, her lips pursing into a smile. I wonder what was so special about her?   I turned back to the waitress and smiled, "Water, please." She smiled as she scribbled it down and went off, peeking over my shoulder before slowly glancing back to the two. 

"I've had a long conversation with Fey on the plane ride here." Ruliak leaned forward, licking his lips then flicked his grey eyes from the table to me. "Each experiment is filed from day to day, even upon release, I don't know how but they do." 

"Like a tracker." I blinked. 

"Sort of." He nodded, "There's a chip placed in their body upon first day they arrive, monitors everything. But not tracking, what  magic fuckery is that, right?"

"So what are you getting at?" I narrowed my eyes a little. 

Ruliak danced his hand around a little bit, "A little bit of digging around and few broken necks, we found out some juicy stuff you might deny at first." He peeked back at Fey when she made a weird noise. 

I looked between the two, getting a little anxious. "What is it?" 

Ruliak exhaled through his nose as he stared at the entrance, blinking his eyes on me. "The two you mentioned when closing down the Necio's here...they were alive just a few days ago."