AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He pushed the door open with his mop and bucket and was in the process of propping it open when he saw two people on the far side of the room near the paper towels, and the scene struck him as strange. The woman being held against the wall looked to be in ecstasy, but the man holding her was simply kissing her throat. Her reaction was out of proportion to the action taking place. The lights were out, and the room was lit only by the light coming in through the open door.
"Excuse me." He said and was about to turn away to give them time to comport themselves when the man turned to face him, and what he saw chilled him to the bone. The man was part of Hadden Center security. He remembered seeing him before, and the woman was one of the waitresses, but he couldn't remember her name.
The man's eyes were bright red and glowed in the subdued light of the bathroom. His face was sharp and angular in an unnatural way, but the worst was his teeth and the blood dripping from his lips. What in the hell was happening exploded across Foster's mind, and he immediately turned and ran.
Panic gripped him, the kind of panic that sharpens your awareness and makes your every move perfect because you know for certain that your life depends upon your ability to escape. He remembered there was an exit off the back and headed in that direction. He could hear the man following, but Foster did not think; he only reacted and rushed out the door.
He found himself in another hallway and just kept running, turning when he noticed another door and slammed it open with the force of his body. The room was dark and large; there were things, chairs, and such piled up, so it registered as storage, but there was someone there. Damn, he needed to get out of there.
"Stop, who are you?" The person rushed him, but Foster dodged and went for the double doors with the light shining beneath. He was pretty sure it would lead to the lobby, where he could disappear into the crowd. The Hadden Center was popular and busy on a Friday evening, and he hoped there would be enough people to cover his escape.
The man was yelling some gibberish at him, and for a moment, he felt a heaviness descend upon him. He steeled himself, brought his focus back to the double doors, and forced his tunnel vision to block out everything except those doors. He'd always been a good runner, and it was paying off for him now as he burst through the doors and out into the lobby.
He paused for a moment and looked around; he realized everyone was fixated on him. Well, not everyone, but everyone who looked like they worked for Center Security. They were trying to surround him, and Foster couldn't let that happen. The minute they were able to surround him, they would then move in on him, and he would have no avenue for escape. Panic was still energizing him, and he managed to maintain a clear head and logical thinking.
The tall one near the door was his best option. With people coming and going, it would give him cover. He moved quickly, and once he was close enough, he put on the speed and slid past one who nearly grabbed him and avoided the others as he darted out the doors surrounded by a crowd of locals. Once outside, he ran, and he didn't stop. Once he'd cleared the plaza and was on the street, he ducked into a shop that was in the process of closing for the night.
"I'm sorry, sir, we're closing. You'll have to come back tomorrow." The clerk told him.
“I think I’m being followed.” He said and then asked. “May I use your back door?”
"Yes, of course." The clerk signaled for her co-worker to lock the front door, and she led Foster to the back. "Do you want me to call the police?" She offered.
"No, I'm not far from home. I'll be okay." He told her. She nodded but still looked unsure about the cops. He exited into a dark alley and headed north. He was born and raised in this town, and he knew it like the back of his hand.
His car was parked several blocks down in a lot that was secure but also cheaper than anything close to the financial district. Once he had his car, he could get out of town for a few days and see how things settled. Maybe he would stop by his apartment first and gather anything important. Nikolas Hadden was a powerful man with a long reach, and there was a possibility that he might have to stay gone for a long time.
It shocked him to think that others were involved in what he'd witnessed, and he wondered what it all meant. The guards and security all came after him when they should have gone after the guy drinking the lady's blood. Whatever was going on in that bathroom, it was clearly not an isolated incident, and that thought scared the hell out of him.
Foster approached the parking lot and could see his car but could also see the two men in dark suits standing nearby. They pretended to be looking at their phones, but they were keeping an eye on their perimeter. They were Center Security. He could tell by their look and their dress and the way they behaved with each other. How in the hell did they find his car so fast?
He slunk back behind a large truck and just took a few deep breaths. He kept an awareness of his surroundings and noted every sound and sensation. He stayed there for several minutes until he had a bad feeling that washed over him. He knew it was time to go. He trusted his gut, for it had never abandoned him, and right now, his gut was telling him to leave and to do it quickly.
CHAPTER TWO
Enzo met Josef McQueen, the Master’s second, and together, they headed up to Master Hadden's office. "Have you noticed any magics influence in Harrisburg?" He asked as they made their way down the long hall and then added. "There were problems of that nature at the capital a few years ago, but Master Hadden was able to put it down."
“I heard about that incident from Dmitry, and I’m pleased to say that I have not encountered any magics during my time there. They seem to prefer Pittsburgh.” Enzo remarked. They reached the doors, and Josef entered with Enzo following. The Master's assistant announced them, and soon, they were all seated.
"I want to congratulate you on your excellent work getting the agreements we needed to turn that plot of land downtown into something positive, something that will ward off the dark interests." Master Hadden told him, and Enzo could feel his pride swelling from the praise.
Master Compere, even before his descent into hell, never gave praise or even acceptance to any who served him. Master Hadden was the most powerful leader he'd ever worked for, and yet he was also the most connected and kindest to his people. Being kind did not detract from his strength but rather enhanced it.
Enzo completed his quarterly report on the issues being dealt with on the state level. He ended by thanking Master Hadden for giving him the opportunity to work for the Coven on the governmental level.
"I would like for you to be present when the Cyprians finish the consecration of the property and the park is opened to the public." Master Hadden requested.
"Thank you, sir. It would be an honor." They talked for a while longer, and then Enzo was dismissed, but Josef was asked to stay. Enzo was glad to have the meeting over and to have the rest of the evening to himself. He was meeting Noori for dinner in an hour. Noori wasn't a coffee drinker, and he was craving a cup, so he headed to the Sienna for an expresso.
The restaurant was busy, but the service was top-notch, as always. He was seated quickly at the bar, and he had an expresso in front of him within minutes. The peace he felt, even being in the middle of so many, was achieved only through the strength and confidence of a fair and supportive Coven. He was just finishing his expresso when something caught his attention. It was sharp and expressive, and then it was gone, simply a flash of familiarity and then nothing. Whatever it was, it seemed to cause a sharpening in his awareness that spoke of possible danger.
Enzo took several deep breaths, attempting to feel or taste it once again, but the air was no longer charged. The implications confused him. If it were a warning, something would be presenting itself even if it were subtle, but it was as if it had not happened. He looked around, and nothing had changed.
"Another?" The bartender asked, and Enzo declined. He wanted to stay a bit longer to see if the strange scent returned, but he had little time. He noticed that he was seated near the kitchen entrance, so he ultimately chalked it up to the smells of an active kitchen. He finished his drink and left.
All through dinner, that fleeting scent would not leave his mind. He couldn't identify it or even describe it, but his gut was telling him it was important. "I scented something odd at the Sienna tonight." He and Noori had finished dinner and were sitting in the living room with drinks and enjoying the end of the evening.
“Something other than the usual restaurant smells?” Noori asked.
