ENLIL AND ENKI-E

`ASTRID, ASTRID', she heard someone shouting her name. She slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the light of the room, to see Ace, Hadwin and Abigail looking at her with concern.

Ace's POV

Ace who was winning Monopoly with much fanfare glanced occasionally at the sleeping Astrid, but when her brows furrowed, and her mouth opened gulping air as if running he stopped playing. His action prompted his siblings to turn to his line of sight and land on Astrid.

He dashed to her side and gently shook her shoulder. He touched her back which was soaked wet with sweat, which was weird because the air conditioning was on full. Hadwin was worried about her state. Suddenly her hands snapped to her mouth, shivering with fear.

`Astrid, this is not funny. Wake up!', Hadwin tried to pry her hands away from her but she held her mouth tight, afraid if she made a sound the thing would kill her.

`Ace, did she tell you of her problems, bullying or nightmares or stuff like that?', Abigail enquired. Abigail had a feeling she was having a bad flashback.

Ace shook his head and whispered her name into her ears. Astrid shook her head violently. Ace got his cue and held her shoulders, shaking her forcefully. She is far gone into her dream.

`Astrid, if you are there, get up! Wake up, goddammit', Ace was shouting by now, worried at her state.

When he shouted her name again, she woke up, and relief washed over him.

Astrid felt a warm liquid trickling down her nose. The opened her palms to see blood. It had a disgusting smell of salt and sea. Ace barked at Hadwin to get some ice and used his shirt to wipe her blood away. She was silent, her dreams as vivid as she can remember.

Hadwin pressed an ice pack over her nose to stop the bleeding but it did not. Instead, the steady stream of blood reduced to droplets, thick, falling every now and then. To Astrid, it still smelled of the beach, and she was terrorized by it.

`Astrid, are you okay? We need to get you to a doctor', Abigail spoke and held her hands.

Astrid shook her head and said a name `Enlil. I need to go home. Now', she did not wait for a reply but got up and ran to the first floor, collecting her stuff. Ace and Hadwin ran behind her.

`Hey, you just injured yourself. I mean how did it happen? You had a nightmare and then poof, next thing we know your nose starts bleeding', Hadwin was curious.

`Don't know', she shook her head and zipped her bag.

Ace knew she was lying. Whatever she dreamed shook her to the core, for her to bleed like that and the look of pure horror was unmistakable. What did she see? Or rather who did she see? And who the fuck is Enlil?

`Can you send me back please?', she eyed them both and Ace nodded.

`Thank you for making my short stay here memorable, Hadwin', Astrid hugged him.

`We will send you okay but keep the ice pack with you. I mean its never late to get checked by a doctor', Hadwin rubbed her back.

Astrid hugged Ace as well, but he seems silent, lost in thought.

Ace drove his Maserati. Astrid called pop from her phone as soon as she sat in the car. She needed to get a mobile for Enlil. Passing messages between pop and Enlil was cumbersome.

`Enlil', she called his name when the phone was answered, praying he answered it.

`Where are you, kiddo?', he sounded anxious.

`On my way back home', she replied.

`I got your back. You don't worry. I'm coming for you', his background had loud whooshing sounds. As if he was running at a high speed. He knew of her dream. He could sense her fear. Enlil was about to call her but she was quicker. The tiny bell on her chain had tinkled. 

`Enlil', she was on verge of crying. `Is it for real?', her nose started to bleed again.

`We will talk when we meet up. Don't worry kiddo.', he hung up after that, not wanting to stress her further.

Hadwin turned to face her. His heart broke seeing her sad and lost expression. She looked vulnerable. He quickly put wiped her nose with a towel and placed a new ice pack on her nose.

`Do you want to walk about it?', Ace was curious as to why she was more open to Enlil, but not him. He wanted to be that shoulder for her to lean on difficult times, but he did not know she was not an ordinary girl.

Astrid kept mum a while but gave a vague answer `It was a bad dream'.

They rode in silence. Hadwin put on some soft music, a piano classical but it couldn't calm her mind from going into overdrive.

Ace came to a half few metres away from the bus stop. He saw a tall figure in grey eyes with dreadlocks, pacing the curb. He stopped when he saw their car. Ace sat straight, tensed by now. Enlil was a good-looking man, an inch taller than Ace, if he didn't know better, he had the old-world charm, attracting the opposite gender easily. Ace noticed a few people stealing glances at him, but he was oblivious to it.

Astrid did not wait for Hadwin to open the car door, she flung it open as soon as the car stopped and ran towards Enlil who had open his arms for her, anticipating her presence. Astrid felt safe in Enlil's arm. Ace and Hadwin were right behind Astrid, eyeing Enlil with suspicion. Just who the hell is this guy? He did not seem to be in the picture earlier.

`Did you hurt yourself?' Enlil asked and kneel in front of her. He saw her bloodied nose and cursed under his breath. He took the towel and gently wiped her nose, concentrating on her nose, murmuring some chants and her bleeding stopped.

`The blood smells of sea and sand', Astrid spoke, eyes at the towel. Enlil nodded. `I know'.

`He was holding a scythe. He looked a lot like you', she looked into his eyes, searching for an answer.

`Enki. That bastard', his nose flared.

`Who is Enki?', Ace asked moving closer to Astrid's side. `What scythe? Your dream?'

`What else are you hiding from me?', Astrid felt her anger rising.

`He was not a cause for concern. Until now', Enlil sighed heavily. He held Astrid's wrists and turned them around, looking for any markings or signs. When his hands moved to lift the seam of her tank top, a hand gripped his wrists. Enlil looked up to see Ace glaring at him.

`I wouldn't do that if I were you', his voice was clipped.

`Where is your chain?', Astrid asked, lips thinned.

Enlil, still kneeling took his out from his pocket and showed it to her.

`It's fucking burned, Enlil! Why the fuck is yours burnt?', she quickly lifted her tank and pulled her chain tout. It was glittering in the night light, the crescent and the star shining, as if alive.

`What are you guys talking about?', Hadwin joined them, looking at her gleaming chain.

`I want an answer now!' Astrid's voice raised higher.

`You just barge into my life with all this hocus pocus and I believed you BOTH! And now from the way I see it, either one of us is in danger. I think I am just a fucking pawn in your FUCKING games of lies', Astrid was pissed with Enlil, holding back facts from her when she was open to him. She felt resentful. Why was I never told about this Enki guy if he was dangerous?

`Astrid, what is going on?', Ace put his arms protectively around her.

`I never lied to you, Astrid. You know I would never do that to you or Jones', Enlil held her wrists, softly.

`Then I need some answers. Solid answers with fucking proofs. Starting with your chain' Astrid quieted down and pointed at his chain.

Enlil looked at the vampires standing defensively beside Astrid. He took a deep breath, his grey eyes staring into hers, spoke his mind, careful with his words, `He is opposite of us. Son of the devil. We don't cross paths, no matter what. But he has this time and you know why'.

`How did he find out?'

`I don't know but, when Jones called me, it was a general one, so anyone could have picked up the signal.'

`Wrong answer, Enlil. How did he figure me out? Who am I to him? How is it even possible to invade my dream like that?', her brows furrowed.

`Astrid, whatever you are saying is not making sense', Hadwin was baffled with their conversations.

`Your chain is an extension of mine. I passed it to Jones when you were born, only to be used if necessary. Enki being...…..can we talk this at home, please?', he pleaded with his eyes, not wanting to share everything with the Wagner brothers. The less information they knew. the better.

Astrid's eyes grew larger. Shit, she forgot about them, seeing them flanking by her sides.

`Errr. Okay, it is getting late. We need to get going.' She pulled both the Wagner brothers' hands and pulled them to their car.

`Why are you hiding things from us? Who is he and what does the chain signify?', Ace wasn't happy being left out. He was as annoyed as fuck.

`He is my cousin, Enlil. I'm sorry I did not introduce you earlier. I panicked', she told them.

`Well, you left more questions unanswered for us', Hadwin leaned on the car and crossed his legs. Enlil walked towards them, hands in his pockets.

`Is your life in danger? You can stay with us, no one can harm you', Ace offered.

`No, it's nothing like that Ace. I….I wish I can explain, but I am just as confused here, and Enlil here has a lot of explaining to do-'', she looked at Enlil who had folded his palms and apologize to her silently.

`Hell, I didn't even introduce you properly. Enlil, this is Ace. And Hadwin. And this is Enlil', she introduced them and could not help but giggle when they shook hands stiffly, distrust apparent in their demeanour.

`I really need to get going, Ace, Hadwin. Again, thank you both'. Hadwin smiled at her and gave her a side hug before Ace passed him the car key. When he was out of sight, Ace stood directly in front of Astrid and pulled her in for a hug. His huge frame providing her much needed comfort. Enlil smirked.

Ace thumbed her lips with his fingers and whispered in her ears `All of this is mine. I don't like anyone touching what's mine'.

Astrid replied seductively into his ears` And I don't like anyone seeing my man topless, his body is solely for these eyes', she bit his ears lightly.

Ace smirked at her lips and whispered `You dare bite me?'

`I can do more than bite, Ace', she whispered hoarsely into his lips, enticing him to kiss her. Enlil coughed loudly and both glared at him.

Ace released her reluctantly and bode her farewell. Astrid waved and stood beside Enlil until their car disappeared from sight.

`Hadwin, did you get his picture?', Ace glanced at Hadwin.

`Yeah, but its dark, need to ask Gordon to lighten the picture and increase the contrast'. He sends it to Gordon, Ace's secretary and told him to do a background check.

`She is keeping something from us, Ace. And whatever it is, it's not good', Hadwin recalled their short encounter and tried to decipher her words and body language.

`This guy, Enlil. He knows her since birth. Exactly how old is he?', Ace spoke loudly.

`Could he be a vampire?',

`No, she mentioned `us'. Meaning they are humans', Ace shot that possibility down.

Hadwin decided to change the subject entirely when they realized all they could do was wait for Gordon to come back to them.

`I was wondering if I can you know, join in your office?', Hadwin decided to try his luck.

`She suggested?', Ace smirked.

`How did you know?', Hadwin feigned a surprise.

`She told me, maybe overheard my conversation about a mole in our office. She thinks your nonchalant attitude can be used as an advantage', Ace ran his hand over his hair, wondering why Gordon was taking longer. Usually, he could get a person's data within minutes. 15 minutes passed with no calls from him.

`Call Gordon now,' Ace instructed.

Hadwin called and turned the loudspeaker on. `Who is it?', Ace spoke calmly, but his mind was racing a mile a minute.

`Sir, I've checked with Anubia's records and asked our US team to check on the criminal database, but we've found no records on him'.

`Did you ask them to cross-check with other countries?', Ace's anxiety level was building up.

`The result is negative sir. We don't know his country of origin!'. Gordon was shivering by now, knowing Ace will blow his top soon.

`Did you check with the criminal databases of OTHER COUNTRIES, FBI, or CIA?', Ace was shouting by now.

`Yes, sir. We did. But he does not exist at all', Gordon did not know how to pacify Ace. `I will ask our team to double-check again. They probably missed the smaller countries',

`YOU BETTER GET IT RIGHT! Backtrack the databases for a century! And I expect a better answer tomorrow', Ace barked on the phone and Hadwin ended the call. She is with someone dangerous, both the Wagner brother presumed.

Hadwin did not need to be told. He called Astrid. She answered almost immediately. This time he connected the call to the car Bluetooth.

Astrid: Hello?

Hadwin: Astrid have you reached home?

Astrid: I am on my way. How about you? Ace?

Ace: Astrid, we will be reaching soon. Listen, can we meet up again sometime this week?

Astrid: I am busy this week, can we meet after 2 weeks as promised?

Hadwin: Awwww, you remembered?

Astrid: I wouldn't want to miss a chance to meet my friends. And good-looking ones at that. (She laughed, carefree and smooth)

Ace: Alright, but text me once you reach home, okay. I will be waiting. Goodbye.

Astrid: Goodbye and good night to you both. I enjoyed my time. I truly did. Thank you.

Hadwin: We love you doll. You are more than welcome.