Rise of the Darkness — CHAPTER 28

Calla was sitting in her office. She again started her job. She knew Sidney would never call her but she also knew Sidney could not handle the whole business on her own. Ashley promised Ethan and Calla that he would help them and will do anything in his power to find out who killed Mara and Xavier and who is Sophie's stalker. Ashley had sent a few of his best vampires in different towns to find out for whom his siblings were working? Though Ethan knew until they found the stalker, Calla wasn't safe. Calla was trying hard to concentrate on her work but it was getting harder day by day. Ethan was sitting on one of the couches in Calla's office, staring at her. She was trying hard to avoid him and keep herself focused on her work but Ethan staring at her wasn't helping. A smile reached his red lips when he remembered their alone time together. Everything had changed between them since that night. They were back to their town. Ashley came with them along with Andrew and a few vampires. They were all helping Calla and Ethan. Ethan was told only to stay with Calla and to keep her safe. Calla sighed and stood up from her chair. "That's it, I can't work like this." Calla said.

"Why? What happened?" Ethan asked in confusion.

"Like you know nothing about what happened." Calla answered him sarcastically.

"Tell me what is it?" Ethan asked her again.

"I can't focus on my work with you staring at me all the time, from head to toe. Like you would jump on me anytime." Calla said it all in one breath. Ethan chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand nervously.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was affecting you like this. You can sit here and work. I promise I won't be staring at you like that. You can work here." Ethan said in a guilty tone.

"You better not. If you do that again, I swear Ethan I will go to Sid's office and send her here to sit with you." She threatened him.

"Alright, alright. I won't, I promise. Jesus! Calla, I never knew you could be that dangerous." Ethan replied. Calla grinned mischievously over her win. She knew he could never win from her in any kind of argument. Calla went back to her seat and sat down. She started doing her work again. A few hours later, Sidney peeked through the door and giggled, seeing Ethan looking everywhere but at Calla. She could smell nervousness that was emitting from his body.

"Are you guys planning to stay here all night? It's been way past work hours." Sidney said.

"Let me just finish this one thing I am working on. Then we will leave. You go, don't worry about me. Ethan is here with me." Calla replied.

"Oh… I didn't realize you guys are waiting for me to leave so you both could have some fun together in the office. That's so hot Calla. I will tell Drew about this office fun. He'll be excited to do it." Sidney said it in a teasing tone.

"Shut up Sid, I'm working and Ethan is here for my protection only, not for Office Fun." Calla replied in an annoyed tone.

"Keep saying that." Sidney said and left them alone. Calla stretched her arms above her head and started working again. After 20 minutes, she was done with her work. She looked at Ethan who was playing with a ball and smiled.

"Your torture is over. We can go now." Calla said and stood up from her seat. Ethan also stood up and stretched his muscles. Calla gulped hard and lowered her gaze. Ethan chuckled seeing her pink cheeks.

"You can't even resist me stretching my muscles, can you?" Ethan said and wrapped one of his arms around her waist. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. He then grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the office building. He took her to a park. They walked together, hand in hand. They didn't speak a single word but kept walking. Enjoying each other's company with the chilly weather of October. She couldn't believe it was October now. She had been living without Sophie for six months. Chilly wind hit Calla's body and she shivered. Ethan wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to himself. She welcomed his warmth and smiled. In these six months her life had changed fully. Never in her dreams she had thought about being with someone like Ethan who would treat her like a precious and expensive diamond. She wrapped her arms around him as well. She was happy with her life and she couldn't wait to get Sophie back home as well.

They stepped into Ethan's home and Andrew came running. "Thank God you both are fine." He said to them. "Master, they are home." He called Ashley. Ashley heard Andrew and came running to the door.

"What's going on?" Ethan asked.

"Nothing, where were you both?" Ashley asked.

"We went for a walk. You all are hiding something, what is it?" Calla asked her grandfather.

"Your friend Sidney called us an hour ago. She said you both were at the office. She went back to get something she forgot in her office. She found the whole building on fire." Ashley explained.

"What? But how is it possible?" Calla asked.

"I guess that happened right after you both left." Andrew replied.

"What about the creature?" Ethan asked.

"She's fine, she was standing outside and called us. She said whoever did it, they thought you both were still in there." Ashley replied.

"No matter how hard you will try, you can't save her. Calla has to die one way or another. They will find her, end her mercilessly, then they will find Sophie to marry her." Brandon spoke from the basement where he and Cammie were locked. Ethan heard him and his anger rose. He was about to run to the basement and beat Brandon till he lost consciousness, Calla grabbed his elbow and stopped him. She pulled him towards Dalton's bedroom and locked the door from the inside. She then turned to Ethan with a grin on her face, like she had won her first battle.

"Why are you smiling like you know something?" Ethan asked.

"Keep your voice down and yes I think I know something." Calla whispered.

"What is it?" Ethan whispered back.

"You remember when Brandon caged you and Andrew into that stupid spell and I told you that I saw your Master and he helped me to get out of that trap." Calla whispered in his ear.

"Yeah, so?" Ethan asked.

"So, because of Brandon, I just remembered what your Master had told me. Your Master told me that whoever is searching for Sophie, is behind the Braxton's murder as well. I don't know how I had forgotten this all. But as Brandon said they will kill me and take Sophie to marry her, with that I remembered what your Master had told me. Ethan, if we want to find out who was stalking Sophie and who murdered Mara and daddy, then we have to go to Braxton's territory." Calla explained.

"What Master had told you exactly?" Ethan asked.

"He said, you want answers, then go to Braxton's territory. Their new Master is someone Braxton never wanted to take his place. He also told me that Brandon and Cammie are working with him. Not working with actually, working under him. Ethan, I think we have to go there. You remember, you told me every time you followed the clues, you ended up at the same highway where Mara and daddy died. What if, that's what we're missing? Because you told me yourself that they were coming back from the funeral of their Master and were murdered." Calla said

"You're right. I didn't think of it this way. It was in front of me all the time but I didn't pay attention to it. Pack your bags Calla, we are going to Pennsylvania, to Braxton's territory." Ethan said.