14 CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"How's she?". Evan asked as he sat down on the bed beside Emerald touching her forehead to check her temperature.

"She's fine". Chloe said.

"For now". Sophia added.

Evan looked at the two ladies wondering what they meant. "Can you shed more light 'cos I'm lost here?". Then he looked around. "And where the hell is Adam, shouldn't be be here with her?". He looked around and there was no sight of Jim. "Where's Jim?".

"it's kind of a long story". Chloe said putting on a sad face.

"A tragic long story". Sophia added.

Evan folded his arms and gestured them to explain whatsoever they meant.

Sophia and Chloe explained the story to him. "he was so angry, jealous, sad". Chloe said.

"A mixed feeling of someone who's hurting ". Sophia concluded.

"I better go check up on him". Evan said as he stood up to leave when the door flashed open revealing Jim and Adam. "Are you OK?". Evan asked Adam as Adam nodded but his facial expression showed he wasn't. Evan pulled him in a hug just to make him feel a lot better.

Emerald finally woke up when everyone except Adam rushed to meet her. "Are you OK?".

"Does anywhere hurt?"

"How do you feel?".

They all questioned her but she was too tired to answer any question and besides the person she needed to see was far away from her and he wasn't even looking towards her direction.

She tried to get up and was assisted by Evan. She sat up as she stared at Adam who was still in great pain. The moment Adam's eyes met hers, they stared at each other for a long period of time. When Evan saw it, he decided the two of them needed to talk.

"Guys, let's leave them both to talk". Evan said as they all nodded and left.

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Ashley bade her family goodbye as she set out for school. Laura came downstairs to have breakfast. Unknown to her that her parents knew about the breakfast, she tried her best to hid it.

"Surprisingly, you came for breakfast". Her dad said as they bursted into laughter.

"I feel like I haven't eaten for ages". Laura said as she grabbed some slices of bread and added jam to it.

"I'm off to the shop". Martina said.

Laura stopped eating as she walked to meet her mom. "Why don't I go today?". She asked as her mom looked at her.

"But you're not fully recovered yet". Her mom said.

"I'll call Evan to stay with me if that would make you less worried".

"but... ".

" come on mom, please". Laura said as she held her mom's hand.

Her mom stared at her daughter thinking of what to do.

"just let her go sweetheart". Jones said as Laura gave her dad a smile.

"you see, even dad agrees to it". She said turning back to her mom. "please mom". She pleaded.

"OK but on one condition". Her mom said.

Laura nodded as she listened to her mom's condition. "You have to call me in case anything happens, deal?".

"I will". Laura said as she quickly prepared herself for work.

"She'll be fine". Jones said hugging his wife.

"I'm scared Jones".she said as she hugged her husband tight.

"I understand but she's strong besides, she has Evan". Jones told her as she nodded.

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Emerald walked up to Adam while Adam just stood there looking at her, his eyes not leaving hers. "Adam".

Adam looked at Emerald when the scene of Reed touching her flashed before his eyes. He quickly shook the thought away as he gave her a bittersweet smile. "How do you feel?". He asked.

"I don't know. It's hard to explain". Emerald said.

"Do you.....".he paused. "...Do you remember anything?". He continued.

Emerald remembered everything that happened so she nodded. "And I'm sorry". She apologized. "I don't know what came over me. It was like he was the only one in control of me. I don't know if it's because he claimed me but Adam, you're the one I am in love with". She said as tears rolled down her cheek. She tried to touch his face but he moved his face away.

"That's going to change Emerald. Very soon, you're going to start aching for him and if you don't see him, you're going to start throwing a tantrum and also, you won't be able to live without him".Adam said as he tried so hard to hold back his tears. "I don't see myself in the picture Emerald". And with that Adam moved away from her towards the door.

"I want to try".She said as Adam halted. Emerald moved closer to him as she hugged him from behind. " but the thing is..." she said as Adam turned to face her. She looked him eyeball to eyeball as her eyes searched his eyes for something and when she found it she continued. "i need you. I can't get over him on my own but with you, I know... I know I can". And with that said, Adam kissed her. He broke the kiss as he looked at her, touching her cheeks.

"I'll help you".

"You do know it's not going to be easy, right?". She asked then Adam nodded. Of course he didn't think it would be easy but if she willing, they can together overcome it.

This time it was Emerald that kissed him and Adam returned the kiss with the same passion.

Chloe opened the door and when she saw them, she smiled then left them to tell the others. Everyone was happy especially Evan. Now that Emerald is with Adam, he can focus more on Laura. Just as he was thinking about Laura his phone rang and surprisingly it was Laura.

He excused himself and went somewhere private to receive the call.

"Laura, what a pleasant surprise!". He said.

"Hi Evan. I called because I need your help".

"Is everything alright?".

"Yes... Um.... I'm working at the shop today but with own thing going about my health my mom is kind of worried,so she asked me to have you around just in case I get sick. So I um...want to ask if you can come around but if you can't I'll understand". Laura said.

Evan smiled. "I'll be there in the next five minutes". He said as he hung up. He told his friends he was leaving.

"Just don't claim her". Chloe yelled as they all bursted into laughter.

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It was eight in the evening and Ashley wasn't back home from school. Martina was so worried, Jones tried her best to calm her down. "This is after eight Jones and she isn't back home. This is unlike her". Martina said as she paced the room.

"Calm down. Let's call her teacher. Who knows, they might be having extra lessons". Jones said as he called the teacher but he was told the students had all gone home since seven in the evening. "Well, what did she say?". His wife asked.

"She said all the students were dismissed from school since around seven". Jones told her as Martina felt her feet failing her, she quickly grabbed the handle of the chair for support as her husband came to support her. He sat her down of the chair.

"let's call Laura. She might have gone to the shop". Jones said as he called Laura.

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"How do you feel?". Evan asked as he sat down next to her.

"I feel a lot better, thanks for asking". She said as they talked for a while. Evan was telling her funny jokes which made her laugh to the point that her stomach ached.

"You look good when you smile ". They heard a voice say as they turned to the direction where the voice was heard.

"Reed". She called. "what are you doing here?".

"I came to see you". He said completely ignoring Evan's presence. He pulled Laura towards his side as Evan stood up and looked at him. "oh I'm sorry. I didn't know you were with someone". Reed said sarcastically making Evan chuckle.

"well, now you know". Evan said folding his arms.

Laura could feel the atmosphere was getting heated so she decided to distance herself from the both of them. "listen guys, I have no idea what this is all about but it's childish for you guys to be doing this. I mean it's not like I'm in a relationship with either of you". Laura said and Evan was sort of surprised.

Reed laughed when he saw the look on Evan's face. "looks like I've got a chance with her". Reed thought loud enough for Evan to hear his thought. Evan glared at him, he was about to launch at him when Laura came in between them.

"Don't even think about it". She told them as her phone rang. She made a hand gesture telling the two guys not to even think about pouncing on each other while she's there." Hi dad". Laura replied on the phone.

"Laura, is Ashley there with you?". Her dad asked.

"Ashley?". She asked as Reed and Evan looked at her. "Isn't she back from school yet?". She asked.

"No".

"Have you called the school maybe....".

"we just called the school and the teacher said all students had been dismissed since seven".

"Oh my God! This is bad". Laura said.

"We'll contact the police. Be safe OK?".

"I will dad". She hung up as she paced around.

"what's going on? What happened to Ashley?". Evan asked but Laura was too paranoid to speak. "calm down, what happened to her?".

Laura looked into his eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Ashley is missing".she said as the sobbing began. Evan pulled her close and hugged her." I have to go home to check up on mom. Dad said he'll contact the police". Laura said as Evan helped wipe her tears.

"Ashley will be fine. We'll help her".

"we?". Reed said as he scoffed. Evan let go of Laura as he walked up to Reed.

"Maybe now would be a good time to put the past behind us and walk together". Evan said referring to Reed's team and His team working together. He whispered into his ears. "just in case she was taken by Vampires". He said as Reed looked at him. "What do you say?". Evan asked.

Reed thought about it for a while. "Fine". He said as Evan walked up to Laura. "Reed will get you home and you are not allowed to go anywhere out of the house".

"But this is my sister we're talking about here. I can't just sit back and do nothing". Laura said.

"we promise to bring her back, right Reed?". He asked as Reed nodded. "Meet me back here with your team". Evan used his mind connection to speak to Reed. Reed got the message so he nodded.

Reed walked Laura home just in case there was any danger.

Evan quickly contact his team and told them to meet him at the flower shop.

However Reed was having a hard time convincing his team but after much debate, they agreed to help. Reed and his team came to the flower shop as the two teams met each other. They introduced themselves to each other as everyone got to name each person's name.

"I guess we know why we're here?". Evan asked.

"Of course. We're risking our lives and identity to save an eleven year old". Bianca said sarcastically.

"Bianca". Reed's team cautioned her.

"She's not just an eleven year old. Her father is a vampire and as good wine, we have a rule which says, "we save those that needs to be saved and destroy those that needs to be destroyed" and right now, this girl needs to be saved". Evan explained.

"Do you think she was taken by a vampire?". Phoebe asked.

"yes". Sophia said as she showed them a video of Vampires lurking around their house at midnight.

"but why?". Phoebe asked.

"we don't know but we think it has something to do with the father". Chloe explained.

"Is the father peradventure sun screened?" Sam a member of Reed's team asked.

"Yes".

"Could it be they kidnap the daughter to get to the father?". Sam asked as they all stopped to think of the possibility.

"That should be the reason". Sophia said.

"Then we need people to go to the house and Make sure the dad doesn't go anywhere while the rest of us, look for those bloodsucking demons and kill them". Evan said.

"sounds exciting but the question is where are they?". Reed asked.

"I can try to work out which way they went by going to the last place we saw them but I need help".Sophia said.

"Sam you help her". Sam nodded.

"we need people who will stay to stand guard over the family". Reed said.

"Emerald". Evan said as Emerald nodded.

"Jack". Reed said as Jack nodded.

"I think there should be people to wait behind just in case she comes here". Alex said as they all nodded. "I'll wait". Alex volunteered.

"I'll wait too". Flora said

"Fine then". Evan said. "Jack and Emerald will be in charge of the family". He said as the two of them went to their destination. "Flora and Alex will wait behind just in case she comes".Flora and Alex shifted back. " Sophia and Sam will give us leads". Sophia and Sam nodded as they went to the forest. "While the rest of us will go on the rescue mission". Evan said as he went with the rest of the team which are Reed, Phoebe, Tyler, Bianca, Chloe and Jim.

These are the names of Reed's team; Phoebe, Jack, Flora, Sam, Tyler and Bianca while Evan's team are; Adam, Chloe, Emerald, Jim, Alex and Sophia.

Sophia and Sam are in charge of directing the group. Emerald and Jack are to stay at Laura's house guiding the rest of the family, Alex and Flora are to wait behind at the Flower shop while Evan, Reed, Phoebe, Tyler, Bianca, Adam, Chloe and Jim would be going on the rescue mission.

"Good luck". Alex told them as they nodded and left.