Chapter 26

Joseph’s POV

The same familiar officer that typically stands guard near the entrance of the building and takes his job way too seriously was getting on my last nerve. I already couldn’t stand this man, now it seems he’s about to pose a threat to Tessa.

His hand was still wrapped around his gun, long after I explained that Tessa wasn’t an issue, and that she was going to remain by my side during our time here.

He was very persistent in getting her out of there, despite me telling him that wasn’t going to happen.

I could feel Tessa’s fear boiling inside of her as she hid behind me. She also noticed the gun and she worried that he might use it on her. I wouldn’t put it past him to do something stupid like that.

Jordan was a fairly new Nightwalker officer and he played everything by the book. This wasn’t a bad thing exactly, but in this situation, it was very annoying.

“Step back, Officer Jordan,” I warned for the hundredth time.

He was still glaring at Tessa like he was worried she would make the first move.

“She’s a human. She poses no threat to you,” I told him. The annoyance was clear in my tone this time and he finally pulled his eyes away from her long enough to look at me.

“How could you bring an outsider here? You know this place is supposed to be kept a secret,” he said through his teeth.

“I won’t say anything,” Tessa quickly said from behind me. “I promise…”

“We can’t trust your word alone,” Jordan said.

“You aren’t about to shoot an innocent human,” I warned him. “You’d get reprimanded by your superiors.”

The guns of the Nightwalker police organization have been filled with silver bullets. It could kill any creature, and definitely any human, instantly.

But regardless of who enters their organization without permission, they aren’t to shoot anyone unless they pose an actual threat.

Tessa does not pose any kind of threat.

In fact, she was terrified.

I did warn her about coming here though, but she was incredibly stubborn. Yet, somehow, it made me like her a little bit more.

“What’s going on out here?” I heard the familiar voice of Chief Mulligan at the doorway.

He was a much older gentleman who’s worked for this organization for many years. He started off as a normal police officer in the city but soon went on to become one of the best Nightwalker agents after he was recruited at a young age by the last chief.

Mulligan was always the young normal officer that ran into the eye of danger regardless of how terrified he was or how dangerous the situation was. That was something that caught the former Nightwalker police chief’s attention.

Once he made it to the Nightwalker police force, he went on to be one of the best officers. Which is how I met him.

I’ve worked closely with the Nightwalker police for decades because I was always the one with information. I saw everything and I knew everything. However, I’ve lived in solitude for a long while and only came out of hiding when they needed me to.

After years of working as an Officer, the old chief retired and made Mulligan the new chief.

“Chief Mulligan,” Jordan said, finally releasing his hand from his gun and standing up straight. “I was just telling Mr. Evergreen that we don’t allow outsiders to enter our headquarters.”

Mulligan glanced at me questionably before his eyes wandered behind me to look at Tessa. He narrowed his eyes at her. His face was hard to read and I’m sure that frightened Tessa even more.

“Chief Mulligan, allow me to explain,” I said to him, stepping aside so he could get a full view of Tessa. “She’s not normal. There’s something about her that makes her special. It’s her blood.”

Mulligan raised his brows as he looked back at me.

“Her blood?”

“It’s attractive for vampires. It’s hard to explain but with these new vampires out and about, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone.”

“I see,” Chief Mulligan said, processing what I had just said. He looked back at Tessa, who stood frozen. “Officer Jordan, take Tessa into the examination quarters and call Lisa.”

“Yes, sir,” Jordan said.

He looked at Tessa and held out his hand for her to take. She remained still, staring at his hand like it was infected with the plague.

I turned to face her, stepping between her and Jordan to block his view of her.

“They won’t let you in until you get examined,” I said in a low tone for Tessa’s ears alone. “Simple tests and Lisa is kind, you’ll like her.”

“Aren’t you coming with me?” She asked.

These tests can get quite invasive and despite our one-night stand, I don’t think she would like it if I was in the room with her. But I didn’t want to scare her by saying such a thing, so I only shook my head.

“You have to do it alone,” I explained. “I’ll be here when you’re done.”

"Can’t someone else take me there?” She asked, furrowing her brows together.

She already disliked Jordan.

“He’s not going to hurt you,” I assured her. “He’ll have me and the chief to answer if he does.”

She looked at me for a moment longer before sighing. She glanced at Jordan, who was standing behind me impatiently.

Without another word, she walked towards Jordan, who outstretched his hand for her to take. She reluctantly took it, and he pulled her along with him by her wrist.

Soon, it was only the Chief and I standing on the front patio.

He raised his right brow and folded his arms across his chest.

“A human?” He asked. “Thought you didn’t befriend humans since the last time.”

“I don’t,” I said in return.

I didn’t want to talk about what happened last time. I never did. He also knew better than to bring that up, but I guess it was odd that I was bringing yet another human to the headquarters.

“I just hope you know what you are doing,” Mulligan said, shaking his head with dismay written all over his face. “It’d be a shame if anything were to happen to that young girl.”

“That’s why I’m keeping an eye on her and bringing her here,” I explained. “If she’s left alone, she’d be an easy and probable target for these vampires. I can’t let that happen.”

“You have feelings for her?”

“She’s my student,” I said that a little too harshly, but Chief Mulligan didn’t flinch. He was used to my small outbursts. Maybe that’s why we got along so well.

The Nightwalker police were human, but they were nearly indestructible. The only thing that seems to be able to kill them is old age.

“Should we go into my office and discuss the latest vampire attacks?” Mulligan asked.

I wasn’t surprised that he already knew about the attack on my student, Morgan.

“I promised Tessa I would be here when she’s done with the examination. We both know Lisa won’t be long with this.”

Mulligan nodded in understanding.

“Well, hopefully, she passes the exams and can enter the headquarters,” Mulligan said in return.

“She will.”

…

Tessa’s POV

Officer Jordan led me down a long hallway that only had a few lights on the walls, so the hall itself was fairly dark, but light enough for us to see where we were going. It was outside the main building and in its own building, which I found to be odd.

However, I didn’t trust Jordan enough to ask him any questions. Once we were inside this small building, he released his hold on my wrist and allowed me to follow him without being coerced to do so.

There were many doors in this hallway, but he didn’t stop walking until we reached the very end.

The last door on the right was the one he was looking for.

When we got inside, I paused when I realized it was a doctor’s office.

“Take a seat. Lisa will be here soon.,” Jordan said, leaning against the wall on the far side of the room.

I sat down, tugging at my fingers nervously. We remained silent for a long while and for a moment, I thought the silence was going to drive me crazy.

Soon, there was a small knock on the door and Jordan opened it.

A pleasant, and youngish, looking woman, stood at the doorway holding a clipboard in her hands. She wore a pink, collared shirt, with a white doctor's coat. Her curly locks of blond hair were pulled back into a low ponytail. She didn’t wear much makeup, but she really didn’t need it.

She was beautiful.

I already felt intimidated.

“You must be Tessa,” she said with a kind smile. “I’m Lisa, the researcher, and doctor at the special police headquarters.”

“Hi…” I said, my voice coming out small and shy.

She was about to say something else, but then she glanced at Officer Jordan and frowned.

“Jordan, you know the rules. Leave,” she ordered him.

He only rolled his eyes and, to my surprise, left the room, leaving us alone.

She looked back at me and glanced me over briefly before saying, “Okay, Let’s get this over with. Get undressed.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked, feeling my face growing incredibly hot.

What was she asking me to do?

She laughed lightly, probably at the look on my face.

“We are about to start the examination. I need you to be naked.”