Bab 11: Chapter 8
Meisner's fists collided with Menace's jaw. Her brain rattled as she collapsed on the cold cemented floor. Groaning, she wipes the blood on the side of her lips, pushing herself up with the help of the bed in the corner of the dark room. Ringing filled her ears and her surroundings circled her.
It's been a week since she started training under Meisner. Some of the bruises from the first day, already healed, but not with new ones added every day. She's sure she'll have another purplish one on her cheekbone after the current training session.
"You're getting faster, but you're still predictable," Meisner stated, his fists balled up in front of him, not letting his guard down. He knows that Menace being predictable is true, but from time to time, she will throw something he can never see coming. He learned that lesson that day he got his jaw dislocated after Menace tripped him, before kneeing him in the head.
"You've been saying that for the last hour. I'm starting to think that you're teasing me." Menace replied, grinning while tilting her head to both sides, bones cracking. Raising her fists once again.
She heard Meisner take a step, so she ready herself for the incoming attack, only to be interrupted by the knocking at the door.
"We'll continue this tomorrow. For now, go home and do whatever you do with Nick." Menace rolled her eyes at the evident annoyance in his tone.
Light flooded the dark room when Meisner opened the doors. Menace even has to squint her eyes for a moment because of its brightness. They'd been inside the room for hours and her eyes already adjusted to it. Now, her eyes need to adjust to the light.
"That's a sporting new bruise." Trubel started, standing at the side of the door, watching as Menace and Meisner stepped out. The man leading ahead. "Do you have another excuse for Nick about that?" she continued.
"None in mind. But I'll be fine." the latter answered, her eyes already adjusted to the light.
"You know you'll have to tell him, right?" Trubel stated, handing Menace her jacket, along with her car keys and phone, which the other quickly checked—cursing under her breath when she saw all the missed calls from Nick.
"I will in one of these days. For now, I have to go. I'll see you all tomorrow." Menace muttered, rushing past Meisner, who suddenly grabbed her elbow, earning a confused look from both women.
"Put ice on this to reduce the swelling if ever." he started, softly brushing his thumb across the forming bruise in Menace's cheekbone.
"Awwee. Someone's worried. Don't worry, baby, I know how to take care of myself." Menace playfully answered, earning a scowl from the latter when she softly tapped his jaw, before running from them.
A wide grin plastered on her face.
✓
"I'm in front of it," Menace said through the phone, looking up at the old industrial building. The words 'Imperial Paints Paint Factory' are painted on top with bold peeling red letters.
"Go in." she heard Nick answer from the other line as the mechanical door slid open, revealing a smiling Nick wearing long blue-green sleeves.
Menace was driving her car inside when Nick stepped aside, parking along with three other vehicles. Nick closes the gate with a passcode etched into the wall beside it, rushing after Menace the moment he finishes doing so. Then smiling upon seeing the large boxes of pizzas in her hands.
"Isn't that too many?" he asked, smiling wider when he saw the panicked look on the latter's face.
"Is it too much?" she blurted, glancing at the pizza boxes in her hand, then back to her car, debating whether to put it back again or not.
"I'm kidding. You're all good. Give that here." Menace let out a relieved sigh, handing all the pizza boxes to Nick, following after him as he led her to the elevator resembling an industrial elevator lift.
Once they were inside, Nick pressed a button on his right, turning to look at Menace. His smile immediately dropped upon noticing the purplish bruise on her cheekbone, which was evident she tried to cover with some concealer, but it was no use to him.
"You have another one. Lemme guess, another fight in the bar?" Menace froze, her hand quickly shooting up to touch her cheek, glancing at Nick who was looking at her with a raised eyebrow.
"We both know you already figured it all out since the beginning," she replied, sighing as she put her hand down.
"Yes. I was just waiting for you to at least tell me." Nick retorted, a soft tone coating his voice.
"I didn't cause I already noticed the thin ice between you and Meisner. I still don't understand everything, but I do know that you and him fighting won't do us any good in our current situation." Nick let out a sigh, silently agreeing with what Menace said.
"I trust you know what you're doing?" he questioned, to which the latter responded with an assuring smile.
The elevator then stops at the loft, and they both step out onto the cemented floor. Both were greeted by the sight of the others eating around a long table in the middle of the room.
Rosalee, Monroe, Hank, and Wu are there. All drinking wine with a beautiful blonde woman holding a baby that Menace hasn't met before.
"Menace. There you are." Rosalee beamed, standing from her seat and hugging the latter.
Menace smiles at the woman following after Nick who starts placing down the pizza boxes on the side of the table.
"This is Adalind, and this is my son, Kelly." Nick introduced to the woman, ushering her towards where she stood.
"So, you're Nick's cousin. He always mentions you." Menace smiled at the woman, shaking her hand, then glancing at Nick, who only shrugged at her.
"Hope it's only about the good things." she playfully replied, her smile widening at the sight of the smiling baby. "Hi!" she beams, softly brushing her thumb on the baby's cheek. "He's beautiful." she continued.
"Thank you. Feel free to join us." Adalind stated, leading her to the vacant seat beside Rosalee.
"Here you go." Hank started, handing a glass of wine in her direction. "Looks like you needed it more." he playfully continued, obviously noticing the bruise on her cheek. The thought of a concealer being useless crossed Menace's thoughts as she accepted the wine. Muttering a small thank you under her breath.
Menace glances at Nick conversing with Adalind. She smiles as she notices the looks that both are giving each other. Her smile faltered for a moment when she remembered how she used to watch her adoptive parents give each other the same looks.
"You okay?" she turned to the owner of the voice, smiling at Wu, followed by a nod.
✓
Menace walks into the central control with a towel in her hands. Wiping the sweat that builds up after training alone in one of the dark rooms at the headquarters, for hours. Just in time to see Meisner, Trubel, and Eve, standing in front of the big screen hanging on the wall.
A picture of a dead woman on the staircase is showing on the screen. Her throat ripped out. Black claw marks were painted on the wall on top of the stairs.
"If Black Claw marks their killing of an antique dealer..." Menace heard Meisner trailing off as she stepped into the room.
"They were looking for something and didn't get it. It's a warning to whoever has it." Trubel finished for him, stepping a bit closer.
"It says she was found in the house of Joseph Nebojsa, who died several months ago."
"Do we know who Joseph Nebojsa is?" Eve asked, still staring at the screen.
"No. But we're going to find out." Meisner replied, turning from sitting on the table to facing the computer, sitting down on the chair across it.
Menace then heard her phone vibrate on the table just beside the one Meisner was using. All heads turn to it. Meisner grabbed it, a recognition crossing his face when he looked at the screen. He looks at Menace, before giving her the phone.
"Take it," he said, focusing back on the computer.
"Nick?" Menace started, pressing the phone into her ears.
"I'm on my way to Monroe's house. His uncle's a book dealer, and he got some books that may be Grimm. I'm not sure if I trust this guy." Nick answered through the phone, seriousness coating his tone.
"Need some backup?" she asked, already wearing her jacket. Her phone pressed between her shoulder and her ears to prevent it from falling.
"Yeah," Nick answered, the sound of a car door slamming close can be heard from the other line.
"Do you want me to bring Trubel?" Menace questioned, looking at Trubel who was ready to move.
Both of them glance at Meisner who shakes his head, already decided not to let Trubel go.
"Do you think Meisner will let her out?" Menace rolled her eyes at Meisner, turning her back on them before he could say anything.
"I'm on my way," she replied, not answering Nick's question.
"Menace." Menace turns to look at the owner of the voice, ending the call and facing Meisner.
"Take this." her forehead creases upon seeing the key that the taller man handed her. "Leave your car and take the bike beside Trubel's. It's yours," he muttered, staring right into Menace's eyes.
A wide grin crosses her lips, remembering how beautiful Trubel's bike was. Without saying anything, she runs out of central control, and into the elevator.
Her smile widens upon seeing the big bike, parked just right beside Trubel's. It looked the same as the latter, but hers had a red snake sticker, coiled around the sides.
With a big grin on her face, she mounted the bike. Laughing to herself she feels giddy upon hearing the roaring sound of it as she twists the key in the ignition. She waited for the metal gate to rise before driving out back into the woods.
She glances at the side view mirror, a smirk rising on her lips upon seeing Meisner standing right at the gate, his arms crossed over his chest and watching her leave.
✓
Monroe greeted Nick and Menace at the door, opening it wider as he let them inside. Menace's eyes caught the old man staring at her. A confused look etched on his face.
"Wait a minute. Who is she?" He cautiously asked, using his glasses to point at Menace.
Menace glanced at Nick, who in turn glanced at Monroe.
"Uncle Felix, these are my friends, Nick and Menace." Monroe introduced the two. Menace saw Rosalee in the corner of her eyes. She glanced at her and smiled. The latter did the same thing.
"Why is she here?" Monroe's Uncle asked, his guard rising. Menace noticed this and frowned.
If he is Monroe's Uncle, then he might be another Blutbad. The thought made Menace bite her lower lip. Younger Wesens are already a pain to handle when it comes to their way of interacting with meeting a Grimm. Older ones, the ones that are bound to tradition, are more of a pain in the ass.
"She's like me." Menace stare at Nick, thinking how that was not a good answer, but it was too late.
"Both of you?" Felix blurted, gritting his teeth before tilting his head.
Menace knew what was coming next. She watches as the man shifted. Resembling Monroe the first she saw him shifted. Red eyes, sharp fangs, and pointed ears. A few facial hairs thickening.
"Two Grimms!" he continued, snarling at Menace, who in return raised both of her hands.
"Whoah, whoah, whoah! I'm not here for a fight," she stated, letting Nick step in front of her.
"No, stop!" Rosalee shouted, stepping between Felix and Nick. Her hands held back the two men.
Monroe did the same thing, turning to his Uncle to calm him down.
"Everybody, calm down. Don't do this. They are my friends, okay?" Monroe started, stopping his Uncle from stepping closer to the other two.
"We're all friends here," Rosalee remarked, looking at Menace who nodded at her.
Felix glances between Nick and Menace, before calming down. Shifting and stepping back. Hostility, void from his face.
"I apologize," he muttered, putting back on the glasses that he took off before shifting.
"It's all good," Nick replied, nodding at Monroe who remained looking at them.
"For now, let's go check the book." Menace chimed in, smiling at everyone as if nothing just happened.
✓
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone