that the complex designs of his tattoos had begun to glow red.
“Listen to me! Your father died protecting you and everything—everyone!—he cares about! And he entrusted me with the task of getting your spoiled ass back in the clan’s walls! You will take your place where you’ve always belonged or you’ll let down a shit-load of fellow clan members who are depending on you!”
Serena froze as the thought that she might have even been important to the clan slapped her in the face. Looking up at the Zane, she realized how close he must have been to her father. She frowned, seeing the glowing designs on his neck begin to fade as he began to rub at them; remembering how the tattoos had reacted when Devon had taken over. She tilted her head and studied him for a moment.
“Your tattoos…?” Though she was trying to steer the conversation away from something that was clearly upsetting him, her curiosity about him was too great to shift entirely. And, even if it was only somewhat, she was still concerned by the pained look on his face. Though it was only somewhat. She sighed and shook her head. She didn’t need all this new chaos.
“DON’T!”—He frowned, averting his enraged gaze from her worried one—“Just… don’t worry about them. They’re nothing important to the situation. Right now we have a lot more to talk about.” As his tone and breathing calmed, the tattoos began to fade back to their normal hue.
Serena watched the phenomenon, scrutinizing both the tattoos and their owner. Finally she nodded, letting out a heavy sigh, “I’ll come. It’s been a while since I’ve been around other people. I guess it might be nice.” She smirked, strolling by him, “ Might be.” After a moment she looked back over to his now-startled expression and realized that her words had appeared to calm him a great deal.
Somehow, knowing this made her feel at peace.
They reached the clan’s headquarters faster than Serena was ready for and she found herself frozen at the entrance, staring at the once-familiar surroundings with a growing sense of nostalgia and dread. Though the entrance still seemed like nothing more than a normal parking garage entrance and to any human walking by it would appear to be just another office building standing amongst many others like it. That, however, was exactly how the Clan of Vail and its members wanted it.
Though she could’ve easily stood and stared at the immense parking garage for several hours more without beginning to fathom what lay beyond, Zane’s patience wasn’t committed to such indulgences and a firm grip pulled her forward. Stumbling to keep up with the warrior’s well-trained pace, they entered the service elevator at the other end of the corridor.
As the doors slid shut behind them, a wave of claustrophobia knocked the air from Serena’s chest and she gasped in a panic.
“Stop it! You’re fine!” Zane said, sounding more annoyed than assuring as he flipped open a panel near the row of buttons. His fingers moved rhythmically over the hidden dial, and as he entered a final keystroke a mechanical chime sounded and the buttons shifted from yellow to red.
Still trying to get control of her nerves, Serena stared as her escort stabbed his calloused thumb onto one of the now-scarlet levels and there was a jolt as they began to descend.
“Th-that’s… that’s new.” She inhaled deeply and tried to let it out slow to ease any future stutters.
“Yes,” Zane nodded, standing ramrod straight and staring blankly at the doors, “Your father felt the need to boost security due to some recent incidents.”
Serena bit her lip, “Does this have something to do with the Odi—”
“It has something to do with many things that your father felt deserved his attention.” His gaze shifted towards her and he shook his head slightly.
“I see…” Serena looked down and wondered to herself what else she had missed.
As the elevator slowed and stopped, the two
“Listen to me! Your father died protecting you and everything—everyone!—he cares about! And he entrusted me with the task of getting your spoiled ass back in the clan’s walls! You will take your place where you’ve always belonged or you’ll let down a shit-load of fellow clan members who are depending on you!”
Serena froze as the thought that she might have even been important to the clan slapped her in the face. Looking up at the Zane, she realized how close he must have been to her father. She frowned, seeing the glowing designs on his neck begin to fade as he began to rub at them; remembering how the tattoos had reacted when Devon had taken over. She tilted her head and studied him for a moment.
“Your tattoos…?” Though she was trying to steer the conversation away from something that was clearly upsetting him, her curiosity about him was too great to shift entirely. And, even if it was only somewhat, she was still concerned by the pained look on his face. Though it was only somewhat. She sighed and shook her head. She didn’t need all this new chaos.
“DON’T!”—He frowned, averting his enraged gaze from her worried one—“Just… don’t worry about them. They’re nothing important to the situation. Right now we have a lot more to talk about.” As his tone and breathing calmed, the tattoos began to fade back to their normal hue.
Serena watched the phenomenon, scrutinizing both the tattoos and their owner. Finally she nodded, letting out a heavy sigh, “I’ll come. It’s been a while since I’ve been around other people. I guess it might be nice.” She smirked, strolling by him, “ Might be.” After a moment she looked back over to his now-startled expression and realized that her words had appeared to calm him a great deal.
Somehow, knowing this made her feel at peace.
They reached the clan’s headquarters faster than Serena was ready for and she found herself frozen at the entrance, staring at the once-familiar surroundings with a growing sense of nostalgia and dread. Though the entrance still seemed like nothing more than a normal parking garage entrance and to any human walking by it would appear to be just another office building standing amongst many others like it. That, however, was exactly how the Clan of Vail and its members wanted it.
Though she could’ve easily stood and stared at the immense parking garage for several hours more without beginning to fathom what lay beyond, Zane’s patience wasn’t committed to such indulgences and a firm grip pulled her forward. Stumbling to keep up with the warrior’s well-trained pace, they entered the service elevator at the other end of the corridor.
As the doors slid shut behind them, a wave of claustrophobia knocked the air from Serena’s chest and she gasped in a panic.
“Stop it! You’re fine!” Zane said, sounding more annoyed than assuring as he flipped open a panel near the row of buttons. His fingers moved rhythmically over the hidden dial, and as he entered a final keystroke a mechanical chime sounded and the buttons shifted from yellow to red.
Still trying to get control of her nerves, Serena stared as her escort stabbed his calloused thumb onto one of the now-scarlet levels and there was a jolt as they began to descend.
“Th-that’s… that’s new.” She inhaled deeply and tried to let it out slow to ease any future stutters.
“Yes,” Zane nodded, standing ramrod straight and staring blankly at the doors, “Your father felt the need to boost security due to some recent incidents.”
Serena bit her lip, “Does this have something to do with the Odi—”
“It has something to do with many things that your father felt deserved his attention.” His gaze shifted towards her and he shook his head slightly.
“I see…” Serena looked down and wondered to herself what else she had missed.
As the elevator slowed and stopped, the two
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