Chapter 141

I looked up and almost cried as Candido came staggering down the hall. He looked hazy, clutching his shoulder. His arm hung uselessly at his side and unmoving. He seemed to be wearing a glove on that hand but not the other. It was weird.

“Candido!” I cried, my eyes tearing up. “Finally, I—”

I went quiet as he froze in his tracks, staring at me with narrowed eyes and suspicion. His eyes darted over me, but it didn’t feel like he was looking for injuries. It looked like he was trying to figure out if I was real or not. He leaned against the wall, but he got no closer.

Then, his eyes got darker. “Who are you, and where is Hedy?”

I flinched at his tone and sniffled. “What are you talking about? It’s me—”

“Don’t lie to me!” Candido yelled. “You aren’t Hedy. I know what she smells like. You’re not her. Where is she?”

I stumbled towards him. “But, Candido, it is me.”

He growled at me. I jumped back, frightened by his aggression. His nostrils flared as he bared his teeth.

“Why are you treating me like this?”

“How dare you use her face?” Candido growled, advancing on me. I backpedaled, my heart leaping in my throat. “You think it’s funny? Where is she? Answer me before I get really angry.”

“I am Hedy!” I cried.

“If one hair is harmed on her head, I’ll rip you to shreds!”

My back hit the wall and just before he could grab me, he stopped. His hand fell against a solid wall between us. He glared down at me and sneered.

It was a side of Candido I had never seen before. He looked so furious. His eyes flickered with light.

“Where is Hedy, vampire? How did you get in here?” He snarled. “Answer me before I kill you!”

My heart leaped in my throat. Did I smell like a vampire to him? I frowned, but vampires didn’t smell any different than werewolves. I knew that, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to walk among us so easily. He was just confused. I could see why he would think that I might be a vampire… I mean, I was half of one, but this felt different.

“I am Hedy,” I whispered. “Please, Candido, you have to believe me.”

Candido growled, then he was pushed back and pressed against the opposite wall. I heard running boots coming around the corner and turned to look as Vanessa and a group of Blue Moon operatives came around the corner.

The man hummed thoughtfully. “Not very bright. I can see what Francia means…”

He looked at me. “Honestly, you would think you had something better to say than it is me?”

My face burned. “You’re—”

“Who are you and how did you get in here?” Vanessa asked. Her eyes darted to Candido who seemed to be pushing against the wall that was keeping him against the other wall. He snarled and pushed, but all it seemed to be doing was pushing him to his knees. He looked ill. He cradled his gloved hand and bent at the waist, grimacing in pain.

“Stop!” I cried. “Don’t hurt Candido!”

He rolled his eyes without another word before turning to Vanessa.

“So good to see you, Vanessa,” he said smoothly. “Security is a bit lax, but what is to be expected from you?”

“Operative stand down,” she said stiffly.

He scoffed. “Don’t be tedious, Vanessa.” The visage melted away, revealing his real face. Vanessa went pale. “It’s as if you really are as dumb as your predecessors. I expected better from you.”

“How…” She stopped. “How long have you been sneaking around my compound? How did you get in here?”

The Blue Moon operatives behind her lifted their guns and aimed at us. Candido lurched forward and was slammed to the ground face-first. I heard the crunch of his nose against the tile, and my eyes welled with tears as he let out a groan.

“Stop it!” I lunged at him and was shoved back into another wall and held there for a moment.

Then, I was flung to floor, and a heavy weight settled on my whole body, gluing me there. I turned my head to look at Candido. His eyes were burning with anger and his jaw was clenched.

“You… brought it here?”

“Hedy doesn’t have the power to bring anyone anywhere,” the man said. “Not even herself. Cute that you think her so capable, but I guess no one around her has quite shown you what capable is. And I didn’t remember Candida being so rude to call me an it. I suppose you got that from your father.” He tutted. “Shame. Candida was a rather nice woman.”

“You…” Candido grunt. “Mother?”

“Do try to speak in whole sentences,” he said. “Not very regal of you.”

“You will release them both, or we’ll open fire,” Vanessa said, lifting her hand. “You have until the count of three.”

“How interesting,” the man said softly. “Do go on and show that you can count.”

She bared her teeth. “One.”

I heard the click of the gun, but nothing happened. Her eyes widened and she turned.

“Fire!” She said, but as many times as the guns clicked, nothing happened. “You—”

Then, an explosion went off and one of them screeched in agony as his gun exploded in his hands, turning his hands, chest, and face bloody. Blood splattered on the man next to him and the wall. Vanessa went still as he collapsed to one side. No one said anything and slowly they looked back at the vampire.

I felt sick. We were all so powerless.

If only Candido hadn’t been involved in that fight in Red Moon, he would have been able to overpower the vampire. I know he would.

“Thank you, ever so much for providing easy ammunition,” he said. “And if you drop one of them, I will set them all off, understand?”

Vanessa turned back, clenching her jaw. “Who are you, and what do you want?”

“Both are very complicated answers, but you will have to wait.” He paused. “Hedy, get up.”

The weight lifted. I could see the sense of betrayal in Candido’s eyes even as they grew hazier. I shook my head. I hadn’t done anything. I was probably… just the weakest and most useful one to him at the moment.

“Check the idiot’s shoulder.”

“Don’t call him an idiot!” I yelled. “If you weren’t using underhanded tactics, he’d have killed you already.”

He scoffed. “Such loyalty. Fine. Don’t check the idiot’s shoulder. Perhaps he would be of more use dead.”

My heart lurched and turned back to him. “What do you mean? What have you done to him?”

He chuckled. “Don’t you think you should be asking what Vanessa and the rowdy world of werewolves have done to your daddy?”

My face heated as I turned back to Candido. Then, I noticed something odd about his face. He was pale. His eyes were hazy, but his skin rippled unnaturally like water. There was a darkness peeking out from under his collar and seemingly growing up his neck. I swallowed and approached him slowly. He growled and shifted underneath the wall of magic keeping him to the ground. I reached through it as if it didn’t exist to touch his shoulder. I found it wet, and my hands were stained red. I looked down to his gloved hand and realized that it wasn’t gloved. It was just black.

Then a sharp scent that made my stomach turn filled my nose.

“Silver,” I gasped. “Y-You’re injured.”

“I wonder how long a gold wolf will live with a silver bullet in his shoulder,” the man mused idly.

Vanessa gasped and looked horrified.

“Certainly, longer than the cadet you’re letting bleed out on the floor….” He said and tutted. “You never did have much of a mothering nature, did you, Vanessa? Probably why your forces are so threadbare now.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Who are you, and what do you want?”

“Someone do something!” I cried, pressing at the wind as Candido started to tremble. His skin was cold to the touch. The darkened hand felt hard like stone. The silver had set it so much already. I didn’t even know if that mean that he was going to have to amputate it. I shuddered at the thought. A cold sweat started building on his skin and blood leaked out of his nose as he lay there. “Candido, can you hear me?”

“Don’t give it to him,” he grunted as his eyes started to roll back in his head.

My heart was racing. A silver bullet in any werewolf was dangerous for even a little time. How long had it been in Candido’s shoulder? I pulled at his clothing trying to get a better look, but all I could see was blood and his blackening skin.

I couldn’t breathe. He’d die at this rate. I heard his breathing struggling.

“Candido!”