Game for him, War for another...

I sat near Helena, who was still under her covers, narrating the whole incident about Cole. Somehow, I managed to exempt the nightmare part. She's only going to get more worried than now. And I really don't want her to do that.

After listening to everything patiently, Helena removed her blanket and pulled me into a warm embrace.

"I am so happy for you and Cole."

"Me too..."

There was a comforting silence between us, but not for too long.

"She chose Cole over Ryan?"

We both jolted around to see the unwanted presence. And there he was, with an amused smile.

"What are you doing here, James?"

I asked, irritated.

"Last time I checked, it was my house"

His stupid smirk.

"So your cocky nature is back."

I said, thinking how serious he was before they all left.

"What to say....it's in my blood?"

I did not respond to his smugness. Why should I? It's just a waste of time, anyway.

After half an hour, we all gathered in the living room.

There was a serious tension between Sid and Helena, but luckily no one addressed it, not even James.

"Well, we came to know about some of Ignacia's whereabouts and luckily she's in the forest, but difficult to reach."

"Tell us something we don't know."

Cole yawned and looked bored, making Adrian unable to complete what he was about to say.

Cole has a point there, though he expressed it in a little rude manner.

We all know that Ignacia's in this forest, according to certain informants of Ryan, and that's exactly why we are here. And we also know that Ignacia is difficult to find. Well, who doesn't?

"Do you know that Ignacia is being chased by Asmodeus and she's hiding here?"

We all looked with wide eyes at Ryan. He was casually sitting, as if he just did not say that.

"She's being chased?"

It was Sid this time. Oh, I forgot he went for a walk instead of going with them.

"And that too, by Asmodeus?" Helena completed our thoughts.

Adrian sighed.

"Well, I was coming to the point before being rudely interrupted by a particular someone."

He sent daggers at Cole, who was clearly enjoying this.

Werewolves' and vampire's ego problems. I mentally face palmed myself.

"Just continue already, Adrian."

An impatient Sid said.

"Oh, about that, Asmodeus knows that Ignacia is the only one who can give us information that we require and somehow he wants to block it."

"Which means he doesn't want us to know what happened on that night."

James stated, as if reading my mind.

"This only makes the thing more important. And we also have to find Ignacia before Asmodeus does."

Adrian pointed at the obvious.

"What happens if Asmodeus gets her first?"

I had an answer to that question myself; still I wanted to confirm my doubts.

"She dies."

Ryan only spoke a little bit, but that's enough to make one's heart beat faster, whether out of excitement or fear.

I thought Asmodeus would torture her, but killing was on another level.

'For heaven's sake, she's a freaking Fire Goddess.'

"That doesn't make any difference, Atarah, when Asmodeus is evil himself."

"You are a mind reader?"

James looked at me sympathetically and then chuckled.

"You said that out loud, dear." He patted my shoulder as if I was his pet dog.

"Okay. The point is, we are leaving tonight to search for Ignacia."

Ryan said, getting up.

"But we can't. Not today anyway."

This was the first time Cole had talked after his interruption with Adrian.

"Why not today? Is the little boy scared?"

Ryan asked, clenching his fist.

"It's not that I am scared and you know it. But without a clear plan, we cannot take Atty into this."

"You think I don't care about my mate? That I won't do anything to protect her?"

Ohhh, this is not going to be good. I threw a worried look at Helena, who returned me the same.

"I know that you'll protect her even after you are dead."

This took Ryan by surprise. Not only Ryan, but everyone was now staring at Cole as if he had grown two heads, including me.

"Then what's your problem?"

Ryan was still sharp, but much better than before. Now that's a change.

"It's not my problem, Ryan, it's Atty's."

I looked at him, wondering what my problem was.

Ryan also looked at me questioningly, then back at him.

"What's with her?"

"Asmodeus... he tried to communicate through her dreams."

There was a loud noise of glass breaking. Everything happened so fast that no one comprehended anything. Stupid vampire speed. Because the next thing I saw was James standing in front of shattered glass.

He broke the glass table!!

And he's a vampire. (Only for confirmation.)

We all looked at him horrified, as his face was that of a.... serial killer perhaps. I don't know, anyway; it was that dangerous.

Ryan and Cole looked unfazed. How do they manage to remain so calm?

"He's doing it again. I am going to kill that son of a bitch."

James hissed through clenched teeth. He once again punched at the already dilapidated table before storming out.

I kept on staring at the door, and Helena followed him. Sid and Adrian volunteered to clean the mess while I sat on the couch. Ryan took the seat next to me and turned to him.

"What happened to him?"

"That's a long story for another time. Now, from when do you have these dreams? And you didn't think it was important to tell me?"

I sighed. I knew it would hurt Ryan's pride, especially when that came from Cole.

The thing is, I was about to tell him after this gathering. Too bad Cole interfered, though I am happy he did it. Because now it will be less of a strain for me to even start this awkward conversation.

"I am sorry Ryan; you have to hear it from someone else. But I was going to tell you sooner. And the dream just happened after you left, while I was taking a nap. Cole found me screaming, and I told him everything."

He sighed. "It's just... I got a little pissed off."

"I know."

He looked straight into my eyes.

"Did he hurt you?"

"Cole?" I asked, glancing at Cole, who was eagerly watching us.

"No, not him, Asmodeus." He gritted.

Memorizing that terrible dream is really hard for me. How can I not?

"No..." I trailed off.

"Are you hiding something from me?"

"No... No, it's not that. I just cannot even think of him. His evil laugh is still dancing around my ears."

He let out a deep breath.

"I am not going to let anything happen to you."

He said, taking my hands in his.

"I know that. Cole told me the same. He was actually..."

I stopped mid-sentence when I felt his grip tighten.

Oh, how can I forget? Fool... He doesn't know that Cole considers me like a sister.

"Ryan....."

"Atty?"

I was interrupted again by a smirking Cole. He got up from his seat and walked towards me. Now what!!

"What do you want?"

Ryan asked, trying his maximum to keep his posture.

"I just want to tell her that she could rely more on me in the future, the same as today."

My jaw dropped after hearing him. I know he is trying to play with Ryan, but I guess it's not the perfect time now.

And my assumption was right. Ryan threw a punch at Cole all of a sudden. Though blood was oozing out of his swollen lips, Cole still had a smirk plastered. I looked frantically for others, but they were missing. God, great time for ditching me.

"What? Don't you believe your mate?"

Cole is making matters worse. Why is he doing this? Why to me after everything?

"I believe her with all my heart. But it's you who I don't trust."

With that, Ryan lunged towards him. Before anything serious could happen, both of them were torn apart by James.

"Are you guys trying to play cat and mouse at this moment? I thought you were better than that."

For the first time, I like James. He may be a jerk, but a sensible one.

Cole and Ryan still looked as if they were going to rip each other's heads apart. And it might have happened if James hadn't come. I shuddered at the thought.

"As I can see that both of you are not in a good mental condition, I am taking the decision here."

He looked at the three of us before continuing.

"We will leave at midnight. I have made the necessary arrangements for her protection. Any questions?"

But his looks said the opposite. So we all kept silent. The rest of the members emerged from their rooms after hearing James' booming voice.

"It's decided then. Helena and Atarah, come with me."

He turned to leave, and we soon followed, but before exiting, I looked at both of them coldly.

"Cole... never, ever try to do that again. Ever."

He hung his head low, but his small smile didn't go unnoticed.

"And Ryan, for your information, Cole is my brother."

It was Ryan's turn to be shocked, though he masked it for a millisecond.

"Or to be precise, my uncle."

With that, I banged the door shut.

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