章 6: Chapter 6

"Discuss what, Mr. Norton?" Blanca raised her eyebrows. Did he know that she was invading his mind?

"About everything and about something you are not telling me." The words rolled past his lips in a smooth, measured timbre that eased some of her anxiety at once. When she didn't say anything, he went on. "I understand you had some difficulty a couple of months ago, recurring dreams and nightmares. I wanted you to know you are not alone and to make sure you were all right."

She shook her head. "I don't know what you are talking about, Mr. Norton."

"Of course you did. Blanca, I'm a businessman. Do you think I will blindly donate my money to your so-called paranormal research study without properly investigating the one who would lead the field works?"

"What?... You did a background check on me?"

"Yes, actually, I've talked with your psychiatrist and she told me about you, confidential data, but well... Money can persuade anyone, if you know what I mean."

Fuck! How dare he? Blanca was furious. Her fury sprang to life as rage nearly consumed her. She settled down with the cup of coffee and stared at Dimitri. Her blood was boiling with something else, something so primitive, an urge she didn't understand, and looking at him made her want to just pounce on him and... and... "How dare you, Mr. Norton? You can ask me anything. There is no need for you to go behind my back. My dreams are mine alone, and I'm not going to share them with you. Fuck! " She yelled. Clearly, she was upset, which made Dimitri smile, 'that's my girl,' he thought to himself, yet he knew the woman was trying to read his mind again.

Earlier, it was a surprise. He pushed back against her invasion because at first, he didn't know it was her who dared to enter into his deepest thoughts. What bothered him the most was that he was miles and miles away at the far end of the lake, and yet Blanca was able to intrude his mind without a problem. He couldn't even do it fifty feet away. Such power and ability were unheard of, and he was all curious about this woman.

"Blanca, you have to understand, I am not your enemy here," he said as he sat in the empty chair in front of him and motioned to Gabby for his red juice. "... you are not alone on this journey. I have the same issues, the same never-ending nightmare," he continued. Do you think I would donate millions of my hard work to nothing? If what happened to me is paranormal enough and you have the answer, then we are on the same boat. Don't you think so? " He lied.

"Hmmm," She relaxed a little but still was not able to believe his words.

Dimitri added, "By the way, I called your boss. You will be staying here until further notice, maybe until your research is finished. The old woman was happy enough to provide you with a decent allowance and more information. Someone will bring it soon and I did you favor from locale library and police department."

"Thank you. What information are we talking about here?"

"Supernatural, paranormal and unexplainable sightings of werewolf attacks, bigfoot, so-called witches and sorceries, dark magic, etc., etc."

"Do you believe those are real?"

"Blanca, there are many unexplainable things in this world that are baffling. I will be stupid enough not to believe them."

"What about the vampires, Mr. Norton? Do you believe them?"

"Depends on your ideals of vampires, Miss Vergil, either the one who sparkles in the fucking sun or the one who looks exactly like Dracula." He mused, thankful that he had his fill of sheep's blood before coming here, but her scent made him dizzy. He could almost smell her female scent between her legs. She was suddenly aroused. Damn it! Was it a full moon today? She was in heat…

Maybe her wolf was on the edge of marking him as her mate, and knowing Blanca didn't have any idea about it made him uncomfortable as well. He couldn't blame her if she decided to pounce on him any second now and mark him on the neck. After all, werewolves were territorial creatures, but having a vampire as a mate was also unheard of, and being one with powerful ability was more than shocking. Modern werewolves were powerless. They didn't know how to wield magic anymore and had no ability aside from their pack link, superhuman strength, and the ability to be so annoying. A werewolf was nothing but the weakest among the supernatural beings. However, Blanca was unusual. She had ancient blood running through her veins, powers that would make anyone want to own her for their own gain, not to mention that she was his lifemate. Why was everything so complicated anyway? He sighed.

Blanca again raised a brow, evidently, her psychiatrist hadn't completely blown her off after all. Since it had been a couple of days with no word from her, Blanca had not expected to see anyone from the paranormal department either, despite the promise to send someone out to look in on her. Not that she could be certain that Dimitri could persuade her overbearing boss for a better allowance, now those issues were resolved. She wouldn't be worrying about being homeless soon and staying here in the mansion was a better plan anyway, plus the food was amazing and, above all, free. Yet looking at the man with his beautiful smirked and his too-focused gaze on her and with his sleekly styled golden hair and chiseled features made her awkward.

Like he was undressing her with his gaze and she was foolish enough to do so and to make matters worse, she just wanted to pounce on his lips. Savor the scent on his neck and make him hers. It was like there was some kind of unseen pull towards him. The sudden moisture on her underwear shocked her, and damned if she wasn't aroused. She was so focused on her embarrassment that she didn't notice his smile and caressed her left hand, which made her heartbeat go back a notch again. 'Hell, what the fuck is wrong with her? And her libido? The man was clearly teasing her and... 'Fuck! This has to stop.' She thought to herself.

She supposed that he looked grim enough, and apart from his dark, dangerous good looks, he didn't seem intent on causing her any harm. Still, after what she'd been through, Blanca thought it wise to err on the side of caution.

"What are you doing?" She asked but didn't pull out her hand just yet... not yet, after all, it felt rather amazing and perfect.

With deliberate, almost sensual movements, he just smiled and slowly massaged her hands, which almost earned her a moan.

It was nearly dark outside, which was likely why it took a second for Blanca's eyes to focus on the beautiful man, "Doing what exactly, Miss Vergil?"

She swallowed a lump.

She freed her hands from his heated massage, then watched him smirking. Gabby arrived a few seconds later and gave him the weird red juice again. All the while, she wondered how warm and good it would feel if those well-muscled arms enveloped her under the moonlight while he thrust her hard and fast until she screamed from orgasm. "Shit! "

What the hell are you thinking of, Blanca?' She thought how naive she could be to be thinking about him making love to her under the moon. Dammit! She was not a teenager anymore. It's time to stop dreaming about the ideal man who would last more than five minutes in bed. It's not like her former relationship was any better. The asshole lasted two minutes and the sex was done! Presto! Done like it never happened. In-out In-out... DONE! She was left hanging and unsatisfied. The jerk.

Reading her thoughts, Dimitri choked on his supposed red juice, "Are you OK, sir? Do you-um need some w-water?" Gabby asked while raising his brows, knowing that his sire was reading Blanca's mind, and whatever he discovered about the beautiful lady made him choke on his drinks. "I'm perfectly fine, Gabby. Leave us now."

"OK sir,'' Gabby responded, and scampered away, knowing full well his boss wasn't happy with his teasing.

Blanca paused and mentally scolded herself for thinking such a thing. His presence seemed to fill the entire garden, in fact. He was a large man, tall and thickly hewn beneath the drape of his black overcoat. His dark clothes and silky golden hair absorbed the soft light of the pale lamp overhead. He had a confident, almost regal bearing about him, his expression gravely serious as if he would be better suited to commanding a legion of armored knights than schlepping out to his garden to handhold a hallucinatory female.

"Um-thank y-you for the hospitality and thank you for c-calling my boss about my allowance," Blanca said with a shy smile, looking at Gabby's back to avoid Dimitri's gaze. It made her feel safe. It was like he could read her just fine, and she hated that she couldn't read his mind.'

"I didn't think anyone was going to come to give me a helping hand, but more information and data are highly appreciated. How did you manage to persuade my boss?"

"Not too hard, money can talk nowadays," Dimitri replied with a smirk. It seemed like that man couldn't stop smirking, she thought to herself as he continued, "After my visit to the local library earlier, I got down at the police station. I figured Newcastle's finest had written me off as a nutcase."

"Why so?"

He sighed and continued, "Because they thought I was stupid enough to donate such a massive amount to some foolish research. Those humans are clearly out of my league." He didn't acknowledge or deny it; he merely leaned back in the chair in silence and let his gaze roam freely over her. He paused at her empty cup of coffee and the chocolate cake. "Hmmm, sweet tooth, just like me." He added, as he took her spoon from the side of the plate and helped himself. "... hey, that's mine." She grumbled.

"I know, that's why I'm eating it." He raised his eyebrows and savored the sweet, bitter taste of his favorite cake. "Just like the way I like it, sweet and moist."

Wow! Why does it feel like he meant something else? Blanca thought about it as she got red as she followed his lips and watched him and how he ate her cake.

"Sir, there is a man here for you," Gabby grumbled behind Dimitri. "Let him in, tell the guy to bring all the papers here in the garden."

Minutes later, a man with cargo pants and dark-brown hair appears. He reminds Blanca, her ex-boyfriend, someone that was neither good-looking nor ugly. She might say he was ordinary-looking. "Mr. Norton, here are the papers you wanted." The man muttered behind him, giving him two sets of blue folders and three manila envelopes.

"You can go now," Dimitri muttered without looking at the man, took the folder, and gestured for him to go away, all the while Blanca was watching them with obvious wonderment. Apparently, Dimitri was used to being the boss.

Dimitri's dark eyebrow quirked as he perused the papers.

"You should check this all out, Blanca," he said, turning his pale, piercing eyes on her.

"Are they all reports from the local papers?" Blanca replied as she took some of the papers and photographs from the folder. 'Shut up,' she admonished herself. Why was she trying to impress this man? She was supposed to just receive the reports and study them later.

"They're part of a paranormal collection, sightings from all over Europe," Dimitri said with interest in how she chattered to herself.

"Interesting." She mumbled with curiosity. She looked back at the array of images and felt herself frown slightly at his careful, yet indifferent statement.

"Um-it will help you. If you need to go to some pubs and question residents, just let me know. I will accompany you."

"Thanks," she grunted, still considering the photographs in silence. Gabby appeared on her back and moved closer, trying to get a better handle on her reaction while Dimitri observed her. He knew her mind had been racing as she held a picture of blurred werewolf sightings in the forest fifty miles away from his mansion.

"Werewolf... is t-this a…w-werewolf?" She asked, still eyeing the image with curiosity.

Dimitri nodded. He eyed Gabby and told him to go away and leave them.

He continued, "I have men all over Europe, commissioned to work around the city. In fact, they'll probably be taking some pictures and reports of the known and rumored paranormal activities at the mountain and nearby town later this month."

She didn't seem overly impressed. Saying nothing, Dimitri reached out, and with fingers entirely too elegant for his profession, he gently rearranged two of the images on the table. Inexplicably, Blanca found herself imagining those long, deft fingers touching her bare skin, splaying into her hair, cupping the back of her skull... guiding her head back until it rested on his strong arm, and his cool, deep blue eyes drank her in. 'So,' she said, snapping herself back to reality.

Dimitri smirked, knowing what was on her mind.

"I'll bet you'd rather have a look at the pictures my men took outside the pub last week. It was an attack, and some of the locals reported some massive dog-like creatures did it. Of course, the newspaper was happy enough to write about it and exaggerate a little bit to attract attention and tourism, it's good for local business in the little town."

Without waiting for her to reply, Dimitri grabbed his latest iPhone, opened it up, brought up an image, and held the device out to Blanca. "That's the first shot my men took. He was running, his hands were shaking, so it's a little blurry. And the light from the flash washed out a lot of the details. But if you look closely, you'll see two dog massive dark shapes huddled low to the ground. That's them—the so-called werewolves. Their victim is that lump they're tearing at in front of them. They were biting him. Like animals."

Blanca's eyes held fast to the image; her expression remained grim and unchanging. Dimitri clicked the next photograph as he read her mind. She was shocked, trying to rationalize the image, trying not to believe it, yet she couldn't deny how her heartbeat went from mundane to excited. He knew Blanca recognized the image like a second skin. He knew being a werewolf would make her close to her kin, protective even. So he understood if Blanca's mind was amazed by the sudden protectiveness she felt towards her kind.

Dimitri continued, "...they are rogues, just like an ordinary wolf without a pack. Rogues are packless, have no leader, are feral, and have no humanity in them." He tried explaining, then he proceeded with a nod of his head, "Somehow the flash startled them. I don't know – my men think it might have blinded them or something. When he clicked these next few shots, some of them stopped to look at him. He didn't really make out any features, but that's the face of one of them. Those weird slits of light are the reflections of his eyes."

Blanca shuddered, recalling the yellow glow of vicious, inhuman eyes in her dreams, those haunted nightmares.

"The creature was looking right at my men." Analyzing her reaction, Dimitri added.

More silence from Blanca. She took the cell phone from his fingers and clicked through the remaining pictures.

"So Miss Vergil, what do you think?" he asked, hoping for confirmation if the woman truly believed that those creatures really existed. After all, he couldn't risk telling her about him if the woman didn't have the notion about how the possibility of supernatural creatures roamed around with humans for centuries, hidden in plain sight. "You can see it, too, can't you? Those were werewolves…"

Blanca nodded, "I see... something, yes."

"Good. My people tried to make me think I was crazy by suggesting that it was just a mere hoax or that I was some drugged-out loser who didn't know what I was talking about. Not even my friends believed me when I told them what my men saw that night." He lied again.

"Your people?" she said with careful deliberation. "Do you mean someone other than Gabby, Um- your lover?"

"My lover?"

"Yes, Un- Sgt. Elsa Wyatt?"

He laughed at that. "Ow, Elsa is not my lover. She is just my local contact in the police precinct," Dimitri looked up from the cell phone's image display to meet her gaze. "How did you know about her?"

"Well, you are not the only one who made a series of phone calls. Earlier, I called the local newspaper and pointed me to 'your' Elsa... I have talked to her and she said to give her warmest regards to you and if you need someone to warm your sheets, just give her a call." Did she sound so jealous and possessive of Dimitri? She shivered to know how creepy it was, but she wanted nothing but to sever Elsa's neck into pieces. Somehow, something inside her howled, wanting to just hurt someone.

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