Chapter 15

Ren's jacket got caught on a low hanging branch. He cursed under his breath as he was pulled back. The tip of the branch stabbed into his arm and he hissed as the needle like pain pierced him like a hot poker. It was an overreaction—it didn't hurt that much, but it was reflex. Just the same as saying "ow" when something actually didn't hurt at all.

Ashton yanked the caught jacket off the branch harder than necessary. He gave Ren a look that said the next time he decided to be a klutz Ashton was going to skin him alive.

He marched off, giving Ren the chance to breathe. Being around Ashton was worse now. He didn't know how it could have gotten this bad, but he had an idea that it had something to do with the fact that his body had taken an interest in Ashton.

It wasn't his personality. It was his blood and the way he looked. Attraction didn't mean Ren had to like Ashton for who he was. It just meant his body didn't know how dangerous it was to want Ashton. 

It also wasn't ever going to happen. Ren wouldn't let himself agree to it and Ashton hated Ren's guts. Them being together would be like Ashton saying yes to sleeping with a member of the Hunter Society.

A shiver of disgust went through him. His mind tried to picture it.

No. Fuck no.

"Are you done having a fit?" Ashton stood at the edge of the forest. Beyond the line of trees was a ditch and then a large street that had once been a busy highway. Today, it saw about three or four cars a day. There were large cracks and holes in the cement as it hadn't been taken care of in some time. 

Beyond it were deteriorating houses and buildings. From far away, they didn't look all that bad, but Ren already knew the closer they got, the more details of the abuse would reveal itself. Broken windows, collapsing walls, and the stench of waste would be everywhere. 

Ren ignored him. He was staring at the houses. "There's an alley way between those rows of houses. The people on that side aren't as violent. They'll leave us alone."

Ashton furrowed his brows. "People? There's actually people living in this dump?"

He wrinkled his nose in obvious disgust. 

Ren shook his head, letting out a soft snort. "Yes. Not everyone lives in mansions as glorious as yours."

He looked both ways as he walked across the wide street. 

"I know that. I'm not fucking sheltered!" Ashton was faster on his two long legs. Ren squashed down the annoyance he had about Ashton being the "perfect" image of a vampire. 

They made it across and went through the short grassy distance from the street to the alley. Ashton was close beside Ren, as if he thought someone was going to come after him.

Ren couldn't help but laugh at that.

Ashton glared down at him. "What are you laughing at?"

He couldn't hold the bubbling laugh down anymore. He turned away, covering his mouth, and tried his best to muffle the giggles that inevitably spilled over. 

Ashton shoved him. 

That only made him laugh harder. 

"Be quiet!"

The laughs slowly died off. He didn't actually want anyone to see them, but he couldn't stop thinking about the scared look on Ashton's face. Ren couldn't believe this was the thing that scared him. Poor people. It shouldn't have been as funny as it was. It was kinda fucked up.

He wiped his eyes. He hadn't noticed he'd been crying. Ashton scowled, pouting like a child and that just made it worse. Ren laughed again, but he managed to choke it down when Ashton threw him the most deadly of looks. He was fucking pissed.

For a second, Ren thought he saw the look soften. Ashton turned his head away before Ren could find out exactly what he was seeing. "Are you done? I'd like to get something done."

The grin was still plastered to Ren's face. No matter how much he tried to get rid of it, it was back in a second when he thought about Ashton's pouty face. He was one of the most annoying and obnoxious people—one of the scariest too—yet, he seemed so young in moments like this.

Ren thought about the way his gut had twisted when Ashton leaned over his bed, had stared down at him as if he was just as hungry as Ren was.

That wiped away the grin. It didn't come back after that.

Ren threw his hoody up. He vaguely gestured. "Lead the way, majesty."

He ground his teeth. He didn't look at Ashton. He didn't want to look at anything to do with the Mantel. He was disgusted at himself and the feelings inside of him. 

"This way, halfy." The way Ashton threw it back at him was like being dowsed in acid. 

He burned and the boiling rage inside of him didn't like the way Ashton strutted down the street. He thought of himself as royalty. He was a Mantel. They all had sticks up their asses when things didn't go their way. They threw fits when people stood up to them. 

They headed down the alley. Ren stared at the ground. He didn't want to be here. He was tired of all this. He wanted to go back home, crawl in his bed, and forget about the whole world.

He became lost in his thoughts. He was mindlessly walking, following Ashton like a lamb, and he didn't care. It was scary how fast his mood had changed, but he wasn't going to think about it. The thing inside him didn't care either. It loved being this out of his mind. It liked when he wasn't thinking and he was just doing as his body wanted.

He was so lost in this thoughts that he didn't notice when Ashton stopped. He would have bumped into him if he hadn't been yanked out of his thoughts by loud laughter.

Ashton grabbed his wrist. "Over here."

He was pulled to an old tiny shed that looked like one big gust of wind could knock it to the ground. 

Ren didn't have a clue as to what was going on. However, he soon realized they'd found the people they were looking for. 

He and Ashton crouched in the shed, safely hidden away from any wandering eyes in the darkness. They were far enough away from the gravel road alley that they wouldn't be seen, but if they made a loud sound, they would surely be found out.

Three people came down the path. There were two older men and a woman who looked around ten years younger than them. 

Their voices traveled. They didn't care if anyone heard them. The woman walked behind the men, looking at everything with a blank expression. The men were the noisy ones. The first man Ren saw was tall and broad shouldered. He had short gray hair with specks of brown. The other man was around the same age as the first man and was balding. 

They wouldn't have stood out so much if it wasn't for the blatant patch on the right of their jackets.

They were in uniform. How Ren hadn't noticed that first was beyond him, but now that he saw it, it was obvious they were on some kind of patrol.

The jackets were more like windbreakers and weren't meant to be protection. The patch sewn on the right side was of a snake curling around, mouth open to eat its own tail.

An ouroboros. 

He knew that only because he'd had the history of the Hunter Society shoved down his throat. Every year when they talked about the downfall of the vampires in the war, he had to hear about all the good things the Hunter Society did for their country.

They were war heroes. And when they'd been shut down—when they weren't supposed to be active—people thought it was theater work to please vampires. 

The three Hunters walked by them. Ren's chest was heavy as he watched them go. They had to have weapons on them. He knew about stakes and witch brews they'd used during the war, but what were they using now? Were they advanced generations of the old ones?

They were almost completely out of sight when Ashton poked his head out from the safety of the shadows. 

He looked back at Ren and gently jerked his head in the Hunter's direction.

This was it. They were going to follow three Hunters.

Ren really hoped he wasn't going to die today.

The thing that really bothered Ren at the moment was the inkling sensation that something was going to go wrong. His heart lodged in his throat, his hands sweated, and his stomach rolled with sickness. 

He tried to be as careful as he could. As much as he could be when he was too busy worrying about getting caught. That only made it harder for him to not trip over something. 

They kept about fifteen feet away from the Hunters at all times. He was quite surprised they hadn't caught them. They were Hunters after all. Weren't they supposed to be highly trained to spot vampires?

He didn't get the time to think about it too much as they kept going forward. His calves burned from how much he was using them. Sneaking around wasn't exactly what he was used to doing. It had only started to become a thing he regular did these last two weeks. 

They followed the Hunters down the alleyway and to the next street. It felt like they'd been doing this forever. The anticipation was building and he just wanted it to be over. He didn't know if they would actually be able to find out where the Hunters were gathering officially or if they would find anything to help them figure out what was going on. 

This was all Ashton's idea. He was starting to doubt whether he could trust his judgement.

But there really wasn't anything he could offer anyway. It wasn't like he had a plan to do anything.

His hands were freezing as he pressed his fingers into the rough bark of the tree he hid behind. Ashton was right behind him. The Hunters had stopped to enter a small house with all its windows busted out. It was spray painted with obscene words and images. 

Ren held his breath as Ashton rested his left hand right where Ren's was. His body heat bled through Ren's thin coat. His warm breath fanned over Ren's neck, sending a colder chill down his spine. The dark thing surged within Ren. He could feel it coming to the surface, begging for a drop of blood.

No. It was demanding. 

Ren forced himself to breathe. It was like forcing himself to slowly step into a frozen lake. His entire body seized and he couldn't move. 

Ashton moved closer. His chest brushed against Ren's back. Though there were many layers between them, it still felt more intimate. Ren couldn't bring himself to say anything. He was no longer focused on what the Hunters might be doing in that old house. His mind was solely on Ashton's breathing patterns and the thing inside that wanted to get closer.

Ashton leaned down, his mouth hovering by Ren's ear. "I'm going to get a closer look. Stay here."

He moved away. Ren was released by the blistering heat he'd been trapped by. He took in a deep breath. 

Ashton stepped from the safety of the tree. 

Ren reached out, his hand missing the sleeve of Ashton's coat. 

"It's not safe," he said. There was hesitance in his words. 

Worry. He was worried.

He frowned at his own realization.

Ashton looked at him. He thought the frown was because of him. The look in his eyes darkened for a reason Ren didn't understand.

"I'm not going to get caught."

He turned in a flurry, his coat tail picking up a slight brush of the wind. 

"That's not—" He was too far away to hear Ren. "—what I meant."

The last of his words were drowned by the ever growing cold wind. His cheeks were frozen, kissed by the freezing lips of oncoming winter. His eyes were wide as they followed Ashton. He crossed the small alley and treaded on the dying grass surrounding the vacant house. His steps were bold, no longer scared of being caught.

Ren hoped Ashton wasn't being careless because of anything Ren had done. He hoped that the misunderstanding—that a mere look—didn't have dire consequences.

He was upon the small house. He crouched by one of the busted windows. He turned his right ear to the open window, listening for the Hunters inside. 

Ren's hands clutched tight to the tree. He watched Ashton with a silent prayer on repeat in his head. Ashton's tall and elegant form was a sore thumb against the deprecated background. As far as the eye could see, there was rot and death. Ashton was a hidden gem. His light skin glowed even in the gloomy overcast. His clothes were just as beautiful and when it was all put together, he was a painting. 

Ren traced from the top of Ashton's hair, down his legs, and to the bottoms of his shoes. 

When he looked back up, he was startled to find Ashton looking right back at him.

Ashton raised a brow.

Ren's cheeks burned, but he could barely feel it due to the cold. His ears were just as cold and the flush helped to warm him up. 

His gut clenched as Ashton crooked a finger for him to come over.

His legs were shaking as he crossed the alley and crouched next to Ashton. They were squashed shoulder to shoulder, backs against the sagging wall of the house, as if the universe was trying to make Ren lose his fucking mind. 

"This is what we're going to do." Ashton leaned across the already small distance so he was an inch away from Ren's face. "I'm going to go in. I'll whistle if they're coming your way. Whistle if you're in trouble."

He jutted up to the window.

"Wait!" Ren grabbed Ashton's arm and yanked him back down.

"What?" Ashton hissed. 

Ren pulled his hand away. "Uh…what if I can't whistle?"

Ashton stared at him. "Seriously?"

Ren glared. "Why would I joke about that?"

Ashton rolled his eyes. "Just—scream my name."

"Uh—"

Ren didn't get the chance to object as Ashton pulled himself up and through the window. He moved quickly through the almost empty room, leaving Ren alone again. 

He tried not to think about the dirty thought that had gone through his head when he was told to scream Ashton's name if he was in danger. Ashton hadn't meant it that way. Ren was just hearing things.

It was his turn to listen closely to what was happening inside the small house. He turned his ear to the open window, doubting he would be able to hear anything. However, he was proved wrong when he could distinctively hear the older mens' voices. 

"Paul's calling again."

"Don't pick up."

"He'll have my ass if I don't."

Those voices. Ren knew them. They were the same Hunters that had been looking for Carla. They had some device—a scanner if he was remembering correctly. And they had been talking about something else. He wracked his brain to remember what exactly they had said, but he'd been so focused on trying not to make a noise back then that it hadn't occurred to him to listen closely.

"Hello?" 

The house was silent except for a slight clinking sound. Ren furrowed his brows as he concentrated on the sound. What was that? It sounded like metal hitting metal. The sound didn't change. It was melodic, a steady rhythm that didn't sound like anything he'd heard before.

"Remy is with us. She's handling the scanner. No, we—"

Ren pressed closer to the side of the house. The man talking had fallen deathly silent. Someone shuffled and the clicking sound kept going. 

"I understand, sir. I'll relay the message. Good day."

The man gave a heavy sigh. "I fucking hate him."

"Me too," the other guy agreed. "Who the fuck does he think he is, coming in and taking everything over?"

Light footsteps crept closer to the room Ren was outside of. He heard a faint whistle. He ducked under for cover just as someone slowly walked in. 

"Cipher hired him." It was the woman. Remy. She was walking around the small room. The clicking sound was coming from her. 

Ren took a quick look over the windowsill. He caught sight of the woman facing the opposite wall. She was holding a black device in her hand. The clicking noise was most definitely coming from that thing. 

He clenched his teeth as his ears burned from how loud the thing was. He did remember they'd said something about a portal last time. Were they looking for another one now? He wondered if that was where the Hell Hounds came from. 

The woman turned and he ducked back down. 

There was another set of footsteps. They were heavier, rougher than the woman's. 

"Yeah, yeah. He's got you on a fucking string. He's got everyone sucking on his tit and no ones honestly thinking about what he's doing." 

Ren recognized this to be the shorter guy by his higher pitched voice. The other guy who'd been on the phone had a deeper voice.

The woman didn't respond. She was quietly walking around. Ren could sense her footsteps—lighter than the other twos—as she outlined the room. They were looking for something. He didn't know if it was the portal they were talking about or if they were tracing something. 

"Leave her alone," the guy from the phone—Malcolm—said. 

"It's the truth! Are you going to turn on me and start spouting Cipher's prophecy?"

The guy marched across the room. Ren startled when the guy jumped onto the windowsill. 

He pressed his lips together and willed his heart to stop acting like it was going to explode. They didn't know he was there. They didn't suspect a thing. 

"Kenny—"

"Don't Kenny me. Answer the question. I want to know what you think."

The room was actually deadly quiet this time. Malcolm had stopped in the doorway. Ren tried to envision the room. 

He imagined Malcolm standing in the small doorway and Remy in front of the wall moving the scanner up and down. He saw Kenny lazily leaning on the window sill with an angry look on his face. His heart raced, but he kept a steady breathing pattern so he didn't panic. They had no idea he was there. He was safe for now.

"He has some good ideas."

Kenny groaned. "I can't fucking believe this. Twenty years we've known each other and you're letting that dickhead fuck you."

"No one is 'fucking' me. He's doing a good job reviving the Society. The last time I checked you weren't doing shit except draining the community funds."

"Melona Town was a mistake! You can't hold that against me. I was trying."

The scanner stopped. "If you two are done, I've got a trace."

Kenny jumped away from the window. "Finally! I'm freezing my balls."

The two men walked over to the woman in the far corner. They huddled together. Ren peeked over. They had their backs turned to him and they were looking down at the scanner. 

Remy pointed at the scanner's screen. "Heat sensors are going up. This might be where the portal was."

Malcolm frowned, squinting his eyes to get a better look. He rubbed his gray stumble. "How long was it here?"

"I'm guessing three hours. That's enough for Hell Hounds to make it through."

Ren was so absorbed in what they were saying that he didn't hear Ashton walk up beside him. He almost jumped out of his skin when Ashton crouched right beside him. Ashton smirked and pressed his pointer finger to his lips. Ren glared at him but turned back to the three Hunters.

They hadn't noticed Ren and Ashton watching them. They were focused on the scanner that looked more like one of those large cell phones from the 80s. 

"I'm going to call Paul," Malcolm said as he fished out his phone again. 

"Yes! We can go home now." Kenny comically breathed on his hands to warm them up. He was bouncing back and forth on both feet.

Remy didn't look at him as she shook her head. "Don't get too excited."

"Why?"

Malcolm was saying something low into the phone that Ren couldn't pick up on. He gave a sharp nod and hung up. 

"Turns out they found one of the Hell Hounds."

Kenny groaned. "Fuck no. They want us to trace the rest down?"

Malcolm gave him a dry look. "Stop whining. This is what you wanted right? Some actual action."

"Killing fangers is what I signed up for not chasing down some dumb mutts."

Ren cringed at the slur. 

Ashton stiffened at his side as well and it didn't go unnoticed. Ren brushed it off though he couldn't quite get the ringing out of his ears. If he needed another reason to hate this Kenny guy, he had it. 

Remy and Malcolm looked unbothered. Remy made a popping sound with her mouth as she continued to stare down at the scanner.

"Well, we've got good news. I just got a hit on the meter. Three of them."

Kenny groaned. "Do we—"

"Shut it, Kenny. If you want to complain to Paul or Cipher, be my guest."

Kenny clamped his mouth shut at the clear threat. He grumbled something under his breath. Malcolm sent him a blistering look and Kenny flipped him off. Remy rolled her eyes as the three of them exited the room. Ren and Ashton ducked back down and listened to the three Hunters exit the house. 

When they were back on the path of the gravel alleyway, Ren let out a rough breath. He pressed his forefinger and thumb to his closed eyes. There was a pounding headache spreading out across his forehead from temple to temple. He pressed his fingers harder into his eyes, taking deep breaths until Ashton's stare became too much to ignore.

He ran his hand through his hair and turned to look at Ashton. 

The Mantel was looking down at him with an almost blank expression. Almost was the keyword. Ren could see the hidden emotion swirling in Ashton's eyes. He wouldn't have been able to see it before. If he hadn't spent so much time glaring or staring at Ashton, he wouldn't be able to recognize the small changes in his facial expressions. 

He could see them now. The slight furrow of his brow that meant he was thinking hard about something. The corners of his mouth were curled just a bit down. He wasn't angry. He was bothered by something. The most capturing thing about him were his eyes. Right now, they were looking at Ren, yet, they weren't at the same time.

He was looking past Ren in a way that made him unsettled. Ren felt like Ashton was peering down into the hollowness of his body. It was as if Ashton could see all the dark secrets Ren hid from everyone else. Everything—his insecurities and his fears—were on grand display. It was all there for Ashton's viewing pleasure. 

Ren licked his lips. Ashton's gaze locked onto Ren's now glossy mouth. His stomach twisted in knots and he was flung back to when he'd been laying in his bed and Ashton had been looking down at him. 

He desperately needed to end this. Whatever this was. It wasn't going to be good for either of them. 

"Are we going to follow them?" He was breathless. His voice sounded like he'd been put through the wringer.

Ashton was still staring at his mouth. Ren bit his tongue so he wasn't tempted to lick his lips again. 

He was supposed to make this stop. His stupid body was trying to fling him to the mercy of the wolf. 

Ashton turned away. He stood and straightened his coat. He cleared his throat and though he didn't meet Ren's eyes, he did lend out his hand. 

Ren looked at it. There was a split second where he thought about not taking it. He thought about shoving the hand away—to show that he didn't need anything from Ashton. That wasn't the truth though. He needed Ashton a lot more than he wanted to admit. 

But if he took Ashton's hand, it would mean more than he wanted it to. He was overthinking it. It really meant nothing.

Except he couldn't fully believe that when Ashton was looking down at him like there was a different reason why he was suddenly being nice to him. 

He decided it could only mean something if he believed that.

He roughly took the offered hand and let Ashton pull him to his feet. Ren avoided Ashton's eyes. He'd seen enough of them for today. Enough for the rest of his life if he was being honest. 

Ashton was walking off before it could become anymore awkward than it already was. Ren hated that he had a mind that wouldn't settle down. His thoughts were always about the worst possible scenarios. 

Right now, his stupid thoughts were telling him that Ashton was thinking about how stupid he was. Which…he couldn't actually know that. He wasn't a mind reader and as much as he could feel a splinter of what Ashton might be feeling, it wasn't concrete. 

He shook his head at how ridiculous he was being.

What did it even matter? He didn't want Ashton to like him. He didn't care if the Mantel hated his guts. They were working together only because they were trying to save their own hides.