Alpha's Blind Luna

 novelbin

Everything had already been cleared from our table save the two drinks we were nursing and so she spread out a map onto the table as well as a pile of documentation. All over the map there were X's and little numbers next to them.

It ranged from one to fifty-six. Sitting up, I leaned over the world map, looking over the red X's that were scattered throughout the map.

"Each stop..." she placed her finger on the markings "...is a known sighting of The Huntress within the past few years."

Pulling from the top of the stack, she placed a paper over the map. "This is the first, the China incident where over 200 vampires died in an explosion at a lab. All the info we could gather on the incident as well as the lab information is on the sheet. Each incident or sighting has been marked with a number, corresponding with a page of documentation."

My eyes widened. "Wait, fifty-six places have been attacked?"

Camilla shook her head. "Fifty-two actually ended with a lab explosion. Four of which were just sightings in a particular place if it was during a down time."

Peter whistled, shaking his head slightly. "I thought it was nearing thirty."

"A few of these facilities aren't just off the grid but also top secret to their respected governments. So when those get blasted, no one hears about them." She smiled. "Rather, the news doesn't hear about them."

Looking closer, there was even an X on Mark's pack, it being number forty-one. I tapped the last sighting on the map, number fifty-six.

"What's this one?"

Camilla pulled out the paper and placed it on the table. It had a blurry photo paperclipped to it. Even in the photo, my moms white hair stood out but I noticed it was short, not nearly the length she had when I last saw her. I knew she took pride in her hair and struggled with getting it cut sometimes but this was definitely shorter than anything I'd ever seen her have.

"This was the last sighting we have had of her. It was five weeks ago in Amsterdam. Before that, there was a four month period of quiet. A couple of the guild boys caught her mulling about Amsterdam. But in regards to blowing up things, it seems she's stopped completely."

I grimaced. Pipsqueak was known to be in Amsterdam at times but no one knew where. It made sense that my mom would know and go visit. But the fact that there hasn't been anything else since then was disheartening.

"From what it looks like, she's stopped attacking labs. Either she found what she was looking for or she's tired of doing what she's been doing. It has been two years since this all started." Camilla tapped the very first X in China. "She's not getting any younger and I'm sure the imprisonment didn't do much to help that."

My eyes widened. "You know she was imprisoned?"

Camilla smirked. "My dear Alpha King, I am the last of what the humans call The Illuminati. Though the name and the background regarding the group has been twisted and changed so much over the years it's silly to even call it that anymore. We were protectors of information and in doing so, we know everything. Our gifts are specific to procuring information. The one you call Grandpa, Morgan Russo, is also one of us. Being head of the guild allows him to not be so much in the shadows to get information, but rather have a multitude of eyes. Verses mywork, which is far more quiet."

Sighing, I rubbed my forehead and closed my eyes. "So this information comes from everywhere and yet no one has laid eyes on her since five weeks ago? She's not that hard to spot."

Chuckling, she shook her head. "Do you really not know your mother at all?"

I growled. "I know enough. But what I'm looking for is relevant information. Not old news."

Shrugging, Camilla leaned back in her chair. "I mean, I don't know what you think you're going to find, Alpha King, but it isn't a murderer. The Huntress has done many things over her career. Some of them having been less than savory. I would know, I commissioned some of them."

Peter and I both shifted in our seats but stayed quiet.

"But ever since she came back from being captured by the Blood Hunter Coven." She smirked. "The first time, mind you. She's been solely focused on making the world a safer place for us supernaturals. Every decision, every battle, every explosion, brings us closer to a safer world that can live in harmony with each other. So again, I ask, what do you think you will find? Because I promise you, it's not what you think."

Camilla got up and gave a small smile, looking at the group of musicians up on stage. They were laughing while playing some ridiculous pop song and the woman was imitating the original artist making the others laugh. Looking back at us, she shook her head.

"It would be best to focus more on your territory, your race, and the peace that's crumbing beneath us. Focusing on that will eventually lead you down a path that will coincide with The Huntress. Even if she goes dark, if there is a need to rebalance, to keep the peace, she will help. Because that's who she is and has come to be but if you continue to pursue her, you will only end up frustrated and asking all the wrong questions."

"How do you know it's crumbing? What have you heard? What can we do to stop it?"

Smiling, she shook her head. "I don't provide the path, or a way forward in the darkness. I provide the map that shows you where you are and where you can go. You need to be asking the right questions, Alpha King."

I was quiet for a moment, before I narrowed my eyes. "Can you get a message to The Huntress?"

She looked at me, her eyes narrowing. "Not directly, no. But there are codes in which can be sent throughout thework that may or may not get to her. We don't know if she's even in contract with anyone. But I can certainly try."

My eyes stared at the map, at all the X's in red and I pursed my lips. "Come home. Just come home, huntress. That should be enough."

Nodding, Camilla put the chair back at the table that she had grabbed it from.

"I can do that, Alpha King. No promises, but I'll put it out there."

I nodded and grabbed my glass, downing it in one gulp. Peter was staring at the stage again, his finger tapping on the outer rim glass. Finally he took a deep breath.

"If I asked the singer out, would she say yes?"

Camilla barked out a laugh. "Honestly, I'd like to see you try for the hell of it, but no. It would not end well for you."

"Are you sure? I can be pretty charming."

"Oh my dear boy, there are so many reasons. One..." She turned and pointed to her. "Those tattoos on her back, those aren't just any tattoos. Those are seals. They help seal away the fey power. Normally, a fey wouldn't even need those and your more power fey might have something akin to a tramp stamp. Her tattoo goes from her neck down below her pant line. That is nearly unheard of unless you are royalty. On top of that, she's a lot older than she looks. Which might be good for you considering she looks in her early twenties. Smart as hell, speaks multiple languages, knows her way around guns. She's not just a pretty face and a beautiful voice. She will fuck you up."

Peter chuckled. "You're just making a case for me to talk to her."

Camilla shook her head. "She has a mate." Her voice grew quiet and slightly angry as she looked at the musicians. "Not that he's around." "Fuck. All the good ones have mates."

I snorted and Camilla gave him a wink. "Not all but most."

Peter smirked. "What's her name? So I can dream of her voice."

Camilla looked at him for a moment, her eyes narrowing. "Estel...Estel Storm."

Peter hummed and looked at the singer. I was surprised to find a mix of not just longing but also a bit of loneliness as well. Slapping his arm, I gave him a nod. He seemed to get my meaning and flashed me a smile.

"Is there anything else I can get you guys this evening?"

"Nothing I can think of at the moment. I appreciate you, Camilla. This is way more than we had before even if it isn't as current as we would like it to be. Plus, the nuggets of wisdom as well." Peter held out a roll of 200 euro notes.

Camilla held it, tossing it a couple times before pulling out a few of the notes and handing them back to Peter. "The information wasn't as up to date as I usually provide and the wise words were free. Have a good night boys."

She turned and walked to the stage where she leaned in to speak with Estel. Estel laughed and nodded, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Camilla disappeared behind the stage as the musicians chatted in-between the next song.

Peter smoothly got out of the booth and straightened out his shirt. Running his fingers through his hair, he took a deep breath. He gave me a wink before heading up to the stage. I huffed and scooted out of the booth. Looking at the documents on the table, I pocketed the blurry photo and left the rest. Walking after him, I watched as he took Estel's hand and kissed the top of it. Rolling my eyes, I just shook my head. The other musicians seemed to be amused but didn't say anything.

“As much as I appreciate the compliments and the ego boost, I'm going to have to decline your invitation. I appreciate your forwardness.”

I chuckled and smiled. Clapping my hand on his shoulder, Peter's face showed the sadness of rejection. “Camilla warned you. Sorry for interruption." Looking up at Estel, I made eye contact with her and I felt like I was glued to the floor. Her eyes stared into mine, deep and knowing. A sense of nostalgia and homesickness ran through me as she pinned me where I stood. A soft smile graced her lips and she tucked a strand of blue hair behind her ear.

"It's not problem. It's flattering. I just happen to be taken."

Gulping, my heart sped up as she spoke and I couldn't even make sense of the thoughts going through my head.

'Vale, get out of there. She's dangerous.' Naresh seemed almost in a panic.

'I can't. I can't even move. Naresh, I can't move.'

'Fear, Vale. That's true fear. You need to get out. Now.' He growled.

Her eyes moved to Peter and I felt myself sway a bit, as though every muscle in my body was holding tension, the muscles releasing all at one. Turning, she sat back on her stool and the band started up another song. My hand gripped Peters shoulder hard and I basically forced him forward towards the door.

As soon as we made it out the door, I leaned against the wall and sunk down. Squatting, I ran my hands through my hair. My heart finally started to slow down and I took deep breaths, trying to rid myself of the feeling of tightness in my chest.

"Vale? Is everything okay?"

I shook my head. "I don't...I don't think I've ever met someone with so much power. Peter, I nearly melted as she looked at me. Being Alpha King, I can pretty much size up just about anyone but her...goddess...she's way more dangerous than Camilla was saying. Shit, my whole body feels like I just barely survived that interaction."

"Nothing happened though. She didn't even threaten us."

"I know! That's the worst part! She wasn't trying to be threatening or attacking. That was just her normal disposition. Shit. I need a minute."

Peter nodded and leaned against the building next to me. "Man, I'd love to have her sing for me though. That mate of her's is one lucky bastard."

I let out a breathy laugh but it ended in me taking a deep breath. After a couple more, and a few minutes of silence, Peter sighed. Looking up at him, he had crossed his arms over his chest.

"What are we going to do about the Huntress? About Auri?"

I leaned my head back against the wall, looking up at the night sky. It was too bright from the city to see the complete night sky but some of the brighter stars sparkled in the night sky.

"I think it's time we refocus. As Camilla said, if we try to work down a path that we deal with this knifes-edge peace, we may just cross paths anyways.

If we get a concrete lead come in, I think maybe one of us should go check it out, but I'm done running across the continents trying to follow a ghost. She's right. My mom has a lot more resources I think than we do. Even with an army it would be trying to find one needle in a haystack when the needle's been painted to look like hay. We just need to start moving forward without her."

"What about the bounty?"

"It gives people motivation to continue to give information. She still killed a High Council member."

Peter nodded and then let out a snort. "To be fair, she's killed a lot of High Council members. This is just the first time in awhile."

Shrugging, I got up and brushed off my pants. "You're not wrong."

"Homeward bound then?"

I nodded. "I need to get back to my mate. I think it's high time I mend the strain that these trips have cost us."

"Good luck, Vale. Call me when you need me."