Chapter 31 – Werewolves in Lisa’s house – part 1

In the morning, her parents were already at the dining table having lunch when Aniya arrived, yawning. She sat at the table and mumbled ‘good morning‘ while grabbing a piece of toast.

Dan Rossi frowned and asked, “You didn’t sleep? You went to your room rather early.”

“Yeah, but I was thinking about what happened yesterday, about my friend that is in that group, about what I have to do today… Too many things to worry about.”

Before anyone could say anything, Aniya jolted. The phone that Lisa robbed from the guy that was following Nick vibrated in her pocket. She grabbed it with trembling hands and stared at the screen, thinking if she should answer with her parents nearby or not. She was more worried about Nick than about her, so she quickly pressed the icon on the screen. “Hello! Are you alright? What’s the matter?”

Nick’s voice whispered, “Adrian told one guy that is in the other apartment to give me a message. He already has an abandoned place in mind, and he will come to pick me up in the afternoon to check it. I will try to send you the coordinates or address of the place. Adrian is aiming to set the trap tomorrow afternoon, so you better warn your guys. Tell them to come in force, because I have the feeling they are too many. The guy that gave me the message didn’t answer when I asked how many Adrian contacted. He avoided answering me, but his smile was weird.”

Aniya looked around to check where the servants were, and lowered her voice, making sure her parents could still hear her. “Tomorrow? It’s a bit soon, but maybe the Hunters can get ready for that. What? They eat Human flesh as Humans and that is how they change? And they need to be angry? That is unbelievable!”

Nick frowned. What was she saying? He told her that already. Then he realised Aniya might not be alone, and he confirmed, “Yes, that’s it. Cannibals, mere cannibals that found a weird way to change at will. Not sure if more Werewolves found that, but they can’t teach others or there will be a lot of people becoming food. I am going to stay in this apartment so that I don’t raise any suspicions. Your friend will probably meet me at that same restaurant for lunch. Yesterday we had an interesting conversation and I want to talk with him some more. If you need something, call me, okay? Be careful!”

Aniya forced a slight smile and tried to sound casual. “You are the one that needs to be careful, considering the company. Goodbye for now.”

She hung up and stared at her father, who was exchanging looks with his wife, and she asked, “You heard? Do you mind telling your friends to gather the troops for tomorrow afternoon?”

“I did… And that last part, about the Humans. Was that your friend?”

“Yes, he found out how they change whenever they want. He also suspects that group is bigger because he questioned one guy and didn’t like the way he smiled and avoided answering. It’s probably better if your friends came in force and ready for everything. Maybe two Squads to check the house, and as many as you can get outside. My friend is going this afternoon to check the place with that Adrian guy, and he will try to send me more information later.”

Dan Rossi nodded and asked, “How much can we trust in that friend of yours? And from where you know him?”

“I trust him more than any of your Hunters. Can you blame me after what happened yesterday? And I have known him for a very long time. He is the one that I resort to when I want to find something that no one knows. He is quite resourceful.”

Dan Rossi was frowning at Aniya’s words, and he then pointed at the phone she had over the table. “That is not your phone. Why are you not using yours?”

“Why do you think it is, father? How many times do I need to tell you I don’t trust them? I don’t need a shady group to know where I am at all times and hear my conversations! Maybe that Internal Affairs section is more serious, but the Squads and that High Council? Nice pieces of work, those guys.”

“Well, that… I suppose it could all be because of that strange group that you faced. Everyone was probably so surprised and so worried about the possible implications that a few decisions were rushed. Except for Lucas Dalton and Lucian Davis. Those two knew perfectly well what they were doing.”

Aniya gulped the last bit of her tea and got up. She grabbed the phone and her purse while her father had a raised eyebrow. “You are leaving already? You don’t wait for me to give you a ride?”

“No, I called a taxi as soon as I left my room. He is probably outside already. Don’t forget to warn your friends about tomorrow afternoon. I don’t know if I will be home for dinner or if Lisa and the girls have anything planned. Enjoy your golf.”

Aniya left, leaving behind two worried parents looking at each other. Violet Rossi whispered, after checking that no servant was near. “What do you think? Are you going to trust someone you don’t know or even hear about? All that conversation sounded too suspicious.”

“I am more worried about not believing her friend and letting those Werewolves escape. I will make a call to Headquarters before we leave so that they can take care of all the arrangements. I don’t know if we should join the attacking team or not. It will depend on how many Hunters the High Council can gather at such short notice.”

Violet Rossi bit her lower lip. Despite how Aniya tried to disguise it, she could see perfectly that she was more nervous than she looked. Violet didn’t understand what could worry Aniya so much but dismissed her suspicions because, for sure, it had to be with that strange group of Werewolves that could change when they wanted.

Outside, the taxi driver with a big moustache waited for Aniya, and he smiled as he opened the door for her. “Glad to see that you are alright, Miss.”

Aniya frowned, and when he was already seated at his place and started the engine, she asked, “Why do you look so happy? Was I supposed to be sick or what?”

“No, I gave a ride to that friend of yours yesterday. He told me you were going to meet some suspicious people, and he wanted to be there in case you got into trouble.

“I see. Yes, I had a strange encounter yesterday, but everything went more or less well. I hope you didn’t babble about this subject to anyone.”

The taxi driver looked in the rearview mirror, and Aniya saw him moving two fingers along his lips as if he was closing a zipper. “Nothing, Miss. I am a tomb. So, where shall I take you today?”

Aniya grabbed her phone and showed him the address. “To this place, I need to talk to my friend Lisa. I may need your services today if you are free. I will pay for the ride with an extra for the trouble, of course.”

“I am at your disposal, Miss. I don’t mind being your personal driver anytime you need.”

“Thanks, but today it will not be for me. I am going to give your number to my bodyguard because he is following that friend of mine you met yesterday. He is spying for me on a suspicious group of people, and my bodyguard is near him, for backup.”

The taxi driver lost his big smile and nodded. “Of course, Miss, you can count on me. I hope it won’t turn out to be dangerous for me, because I would like to arrive home in one piece.”

“Don’t worry, my bodyguard will definitely tell you to leave if things look fishy. I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone about what you are going to do.”

“Of course, Miss. By the way, I don’t know if you are aware, but someone from your company called my daughter yesterday, offering her a job. She has been a barista for quite some time, but she tends to change jobs frequently, mostly because of her bad temper. I guess she turned out a bit like her mother. My wife also has a temper.”

Aniya gave a slight smile. “Yes, it was probably my assistant, Anna Kent, that phoned her. If I am not mistaken, Meredith Sellas is her name. I saw her name and photo on a list.”

“Yes, it’s my daughter. She is not a bad girl, she just gets angry easily. I don’t want to sound abusive, but I would appreciate it if you could put in a good word for her.”

“She is my type of girl, then. I also lose my temper very easily, but I think she will be alright. I will see to it, don’t worry. It will only depend on her if she wants to work in my company or not.”

The taxi driver gave a big smile and nodded, leaving Aniya free to concentrate on her messages. A quick one to Davis with the driver’s number, and a look over the comments on her I.nstagra.m account, ‘aniya_rossi_official’, to check the repercussions of her agreements with Calvin Klein and Dior. Aniya grinned. As usual, her account was flooded with comments, mostly questions about the new campaigns and her involvement in them.

When Aniya put the phone inside her purse again after answering some of her followers, the taxi stopped in front of her friend’s house. She paid the driver and whispered, “Take care in the afternoon, okay?”

“Of course, Miss! Have a nice day!”

Aniya left with one last smile and walked to the main door of Lisa’s mansion. She glanced to her right and saw a lot of cars already parked there, meaning that the people she wanted to meet were already inside. Aniya took one slow, deep breath and rang the bell.

A servant opened the door and smiled at her. Good morning, Miss Aniya. Miss Lisa and her guests are in the office. Care to follow me, please."

Aniya walked in silence, wondering if she could fulfil her part of the plan. Then she remembered what Nick had told her. His mother never once doubted what she and her light could do, making Aniya frown and nod in silence. Yes, she was Aniya Rossi. She never doubted herself. Why was she second-guessing now?
When the servant opened the door for her, she entered and saw a small crowd staring at her, all of them with a puzzled look, wondering who she was. Aniya counted fifteen unknown people, men and women. Some were older than her, some looked younger.

Lisa came from the middle of that group with a big smile. “Hello, Aniya. What do you say? Are you ready for this?”

The noise of whispering reached them, and Aniya made a slight smile at her friend. “Might as well try, right? I know I can do it with three people at the same time, so I guess it won’t matter how many are here.”

Lisa turned to face the group that was looking at them and introduced the young woman that made all of them curious. “Everyone, this is my friend, Aniya Rossi. She is the one that will help you out.”

One man with a dark beard, short hair, and dressed in a dark grey suit raised one eyebrow and asked, “And how exactly are you supposed to help us, young lady?”

“By making sure you don’t lose your mind every time you are near a certain blue flower, for instance? I believe Mr. Frank already told you about the list with your name on it, the one the Hunters have?”