บท 13: Rest in pieces

"I will not touch her again, Gerrard. If that is what you are thinking, then forget about it." Veron stated sternly, killing Gerrard's high spirit.

"Why? You can't tell me you didn't feel what I felt." Gerrard queried.

"I felt it and I'm regretting it. I won't let you push me into doing something like that again." Veron admitted, but his last statement shocked Gerrard.

"Push you? Are you going to accuse me of this too?" Gerrard questioned with incredulity.

"Yes. Everything I do and have done concerning that girl is your fault." Veron accused

"She has a name." Gerrard reminded.

"And I don't care. Stop making me do things I'll end up regretting. My life was going quite well without her in it, and I want it to continue that way." Veron complained, voicing his frustrations.

When Gerrard said nothing after some time, Veron narrowed his eyes and was about to ask why the former was silent. Just when the question was about to spill out, Gerrard spoke.

"Stop lying to yourself, Veron."

"What do you mean by that?" Veron's brows pulled together in confusion.

"You are in denial, and looking for who to blame for actions clearly carried out by you," Gerrard explained further.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"And there you go proving what I just said. Own up to your actions. Everything you did in that club was not influenced by anyone but yourself." Gerrard pointed out, then continued when Veron's frown deepened.

"You flared up simply because you saw her taking the hand of a man and going with him, even though I was unbothered about it."

"You were okay with seeing her with another man?" Veron butted in with a question.

"I never said that. I just didn't act on it because knowing you, I believed you wouldn't care. But guess what? You surprised me too." Gerrard elucidated.

"Also, you tensed up the moment Skye mind linked you, sensing it had something to do with her. As soon as he said she was abducted, you sprang to your feet and went looking for her even before I could react.

That again was another surprise. The second one in such a short time. Which leaves me questioning if I really know you."

"Liar. You were alarmed as well when Skye said she had been abducted." Veron said in an accusing tone.

"I never said I wasn't. What I said was that you reacted before I did." Gerrard explained calmly.

"No matter what you say, this is still all your fault." Veron insisted, refusing to accept that he had anything to do with what happened.

"Instead of blaming me, you should be asking yourself why you are acting so out of character. I know why, and I can tell you if you want even though I know you will still end up denying it." Gerrard's voice was relaxed, almost as if he was enjoying a nice downtown ride.

Veron, however, was conflicted. He knew deep down within him that Gerrard wasn't all that incorrect, and he really wanted to know why he did what he just did.

But he didn't want to ask Gerrard, knowing the wolf will just say something ridiculous.

"Why?" He finally decided to ask, at least to confirm the nonsense his wolf will say.

"Because you have come to like her just as much if not more than I do." Gerrard gave him the answer and Veron's expression died.

"Yeah right. What was I expecting? You never disappoint."

"Deny it all you want, but that is the truth. The sudden rush of jealousy, the intense need to protect her, the—"

"Shut up. All these things were influenced by you." Veron cut Gerrard off, wanting to hear no more of the nonsense he was saying or thinking.

"Tsk... Suit yourself, prince Veron." Gerrard clicked his tongue in resignation.

"Don't call me that."

"I'm not Skye, Veron. You can't intimidate me into calling you what you like. I will call you what you are and there is nothing you can do about it." Gerrard stated and Veron just let him be. There was no use arguing about this because he would never win against Gerrard.

The vibrating sound of his phone pulled him out of his thoughts. He grabbed the phone and seeing it was Skye calling, he picked it up.

"It's time Veron. We need to leave now." Skye's voice rang out.

"I'll be there in a few," Veron responded, then ended the call. He started the car again and drove away from there.

***

Meanwhile, Skye stood beside Mark's corpse. There was a complicated expression on his face as he studied the dried-up corpse lying at his feet. Veron's trademark. A sign that he was extremely angry.

Mark was unrecognizable. He looked so shrunken and dry that if Skye placed a foot on his head, it will collapse and disintegrate like a pile of dust.

It's been a long time since Veron killed someone this way. And Skye was grateful for that. Over the years, Veron had learned to control his bloodlust and thirst. He could now do with animal blood, something he would never settle for in the past.

Another good thing was that if he craves human blood, he could take blood without killing his victim. That again was something that never happened in the past. His thirst was insatiable, so anyone he drinks from ends up dead, but never dried up like what he was looking at now.

This was the extreme case where Veron drinks until there isn't a single drop of blood remaining. How he does it, Skye couldn't fathom. But Veron would not let go until the individual looked like what Mark looks like now — dried and unrecognizable. And this only happens when Veron is angry.

A chill ran up Skye's spine at the realization. This was not good for anyone. He hoped Veron would not return to what he used to be.

Releasing a sigh, he stepped on Mark's head, crushing it into dust. He did the same thing to other parts of his body until what was left was a pile of dust in the distorted shape of a human body.

"Rest in pieces, Mark," Skye muttered, then turned around and walked out of the room.

As soon as he reached the garage, he saw Veron's car approaching. He let out another sigh, knowing a few more hours of trouble awaits them.