Free Web NovelChapter 30: Only For A Moment
{ FIVE DAYS AFTER}
’’I am saying it again,werewolves are much stronger than vampires.’’
Lin gasped, staring at his co-worker as she moved up the stairs beside him.
’’What do you mean a shape shifter is much stronger than a vampire?’’
Berry scoffed, reaching the top of the stairs before turning with her hand placed on her hip. A chilled cup of iced Americano in her right hand.
’’You mean, a mere bloodsucker that is allergic to garlic and the sun?’’ Berry shuddered, feeling disgusted. ’’I prefer werewolves to pale parasites.’’ Berry said dreamily, staring at the wall. She has read dozens of Alpha stories when she was younger and hated how mysterious, cold and creepy those pale leeches were.
Lin grew offended.
’’Really?’’
Berry nodded her head.
’’I will rather be a chosen mate to a strong and dominant Alpha than be a fucking blood bag mate to a vampire prince!’’
Lin scoffed, rolling his eyes while shaking his head.
’’Vampires don’t eat their mates. They only mark and bond with them,’’ he corrected.
’’Yeah, then he suddenly loses control of his blood lust and drains you down to the bone.’’
’’But then you awaken as a vampire and get to live forever with your one true love?’’
Berry couldn’t believe Lin’s logic and reasoning. She glared down at him in utter disbelief.
’’And where do you get your happily ever after? Probably nailed to the coffin or staked forever in the chest by the locals because they are creeped out by you. Or you live isolated somewhere in some mist-covered mountains in a castle covered with red candles!’’
’’Isn’t that romantic?’’ Lin teased, holding himself from laughing.
Berry didn’t find it funny. What does he know about romance? Hell, he probably reads books about climate change and therapy.
’’Haha.’’
’’But let’s face it. Vampires are much hotter than Werewolves,’’ Lin argued back.
’’Says the guy that has read nothing about both.’’
Lin shrugged his shoulders. Fair enough.
’’What about demons?’’
Berry shuddered again, the repulsion now evident on her face as she tried to imagine a demon being the main character of any of her romance novels and felt like throwing up a bit.
’’I don’t know, it’s weird even thinking about it. I’ll rather just get stuck with the fine elves than be loved by a demon. Is it even possible to be genuinely loved by one?’’
’’Aren’t they those insubordinate beings from Hell or something?’’ Berry asked and Lin rolled his eyes, not being able to tell.
’’Lin, did you see what happened to Marcus Ivan Laundry?’’
Lin nodded his head quickly, rushing up the stairs, looking more interested to talk about that.
Berry was horrified as they moved down the hallway, heading towards their office as they discussed how graphic his murder was and that the police were still unable to find a single clue that could lead them to the murderer.
’’Did you ask Grim what he saw or what might have happened to him? He should be able to tell us something. Did our plan backfire and he was murdered in that way by his wife or something? Maybe that was why Grim looked so disturbed and bothered by the time we got to him.’’
Berry shrugged, while shaking her head. ’’The last time I spoke with him was yesterday and when I asked what happened while he was in there and if he has any idea what might have happened to that short devil, he told me not to worry about it.’’
Lin’s gaze widened in suspicion.
’’He said that? That was it?’’
Berry threw him a sharp side glare. ’’Yes, that was it. What else were you expecting him to say?’’
Lin shook his head, turning his eyes away as he remembered the little blood stains he noticed behind his friend but said nothing. Although, his rigid expression gave his thoughts away and Berry paused right at the door of their office.
’’Don’t tell me you are welcoming some ridiculous thoughts of our Grim being the murderer, are you?!’’
’’What? Me?’’ Lin tried to wave it off but failed. This caused Berry to become a little bit defensive. She hit Lin lightly on the abdomen with her bag, eyes widening in horror and disbelief that he would think of such a thing to a guy that was so generous to let them visit him and feel at home in his place and gave them all three diamonds without asking anything in return.
’’If you are only going to believe he did it without confirming first, don’t ever mention this case before him or anywhere around him, alright?!’’
Lin, crouched lightly as he held his abdomen in mock discomfort nodded his head.
’’I can’t hear you.’’
’’Alright! Alright! Alright! I won’t say a thing. Happy?’’
Berry didn’t say anything for a while. She would hate for him to get into trouble by mentioning what he shouldn’t when it was very clear whatever happened to Marcus Laundry that day wasn’t human.
’’Nothing is sure until the police confirm anything or that the real murderer is caught. It’s not nice to assume things you know nothing about. Especially towards someone that just risked his life for our sake. We were the ones who went to him for help, remember? And he helped us without even hesitating or asking for anything in return. And, does he really look like someone who is capable of doing something that brutal to another human being?’’
Berry asked while staring at Lin. Lin looked conflicted and almost unsure. Of course, he believes Grim isn’t the monster his mind was convincing him to believe. But lately, ever since he saw that painting...
Yes, it was the painting that’s messing with him.
Making him believe what is not.
Demons, Vampires or even werewolves were fictional characters.
At least, that’s what he wanted to believe.
He probably imagined those strange stains of blood on him and is currently overthinking it all.
Lin’s hold around his laptop bag tightened as he managed a smile to Berry and nodded.
’’Good. I will murder you if you ever make him feel uncomfortable around us,’’ She threatened while pulling out the key to the lock.
Lin rolled his eyes and noticed how quickly Berry had become so close to Grim among the four of them that worked here.
Berry froze as she inserted the key into the lock and blinked.
’’Wh–what? What is it Berry?’’
Berry removed her hands from the key and fell back before raising a trembling finger at the door. Lin stepped quickly and protectively beside his co-worker, not seeing what had her frozen in place.
And then he noticed the change.
☆☆☆
That same morning, Grim was seen still sprawled out on the couch in a deep sleep. Resting and healing. His wounds had been properly dressed by one of the demons sent to attend to him and the pain had reduced since the healing process resumed only slower this time.
He promised he will be back in three days for her answer and here, look at him, feeling useless and unable to rise from the chair. It was only Berry that cared enough to reach out and her calls and texts these few days had contributed greatly to his recovery even if she had no idea of his injury. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
A quick jolt of his phone stirred the sleeping prince awake. His golden gaze moved about looking dull and pale as he reached for his phone.
Two text messages from Berry.
This time, Grim made an effort to sit. His long, beautiful hair fell like silk waves around him as he weakly swiped to read what she had to say to him this time.
There was a picture and he had to click to download to view.
He paused, eyes flickering about briefly as he wondered just what he was about to view.
Grim clicked on it anyway and waited as the arrow began to roll for a few seconds and the image became clearer to see.
He recognized this place and this particular door he had walked in a few times and he wondered why she sent him a picture of Winfield’s Entertainment door when he...
The color in his eyes returned and softened as he read the words displayed under the name of the company.
Five hearts.
One story.
One mind.
Grim then read the words attached to the image below by Berry.
’See you at work tomorrow!’ Followed by a stream of dancing GIFs and emojis.
Grim looked up from his phone and...blinked.
☆☆☆
’’Yeahhhhhhhh!!!’’
Two loud voices disturbed the peace of the once reserved hallway as two employees were seen holding each other, jumping on their two feet and celebrating what seemed to be an achievement.
Corrine heard their loud voices two floors below and wondered what was so good about the morning. She turned around and found Stylie equally shaken by their loudness.
’’W–wa—wasn’t it just four hearts, one story and one mind just yesterday?!’’ Lin said as they jumped about like kids being promised tickets to an existing fairytale world. Their excitement was loud, contagious and ground breaking.
Corrine paused to see they haven’t even opened the door and begun their morning duties yet.
’’Yes!’’ Berry replied breathlessly. ’’And that only means we are finally having our new intern! Yay!!!’’
Stylie looked confused, turning to their Boss and wondering when that announcement was made.
Corrine only sighed before breaking their excitement with, ’’For how long do I have to stand here and watch you both behave like this?’’
Berry and Lin froze mid jump and turned in horror at the sight of their Boss with a firm look. Stylie blinked at them in confusion, feeling left out in whatever was happening between them.
’’Boss!’’ Lin and Berry pulled from each other, almost breaking their backs as they bowed before their Boss.
Corrine’s dark green gaze flickered from them to the words on her door. She said nothing as she moved between them, pulling out her key as she turned the locks sighing.
’’It’s only for a moment,’’ She said, eyes turning to them in an attempt to ruin their excitement. She was only hoping that he will return and miss her subtle reply to him and then she will have it changed immediately.
She thought the people she worked with weren’t that observant. But she was wrong.
Regardless, Lin and Berry blushed crazily as she stepped in.
’’Guyssss! What am I missing here?!’’ Stylie cried out when she was still locked out of the excitement. Berry faced her and grinned, pulling her closer to the writing on the door and explained what it meant in a reverend whisper.
One that only made her grow pale as she listened to the good news.
