-Athena-

''Hi There. My name is Athena. I'm here to meet Leo,'' I tell the secretary, who is the only other person on this floor apart from me.

Leo's office is big!! And I'm guessing this is his private floor. ''Sure ma'am. You have an appointment?''

''Just tell him it's Athena Robinson who's asking to see him.''

''Sure ma'am just hold on, please have a seat.'' she then goes through her computer looking for my appointment I guess. I hope Leo told her.

I take a seat on one of the couches and look around. Not that there is much to see. It's all plain with shades of grey and white with a few showpieces here and there.

''Sir, your 10 o'clock is here,'' I hear her say. ''Sure sir, thank you sir,'' and she puts the receiver down.

''Ma'am? Mr. Grey will see you now,'' she says. I walk past her and smile at her in thanks.

I place a soft knock on the door and here a muffled come in. I walk in and feel like I've entered a movie hall. The office has LED lights that are dimly lit and true to his word there are no glass windows or doors and the color is, wait for it.... Grey.

''Athena!! Hii!'' I hear Leo say excitedly from his chair. ''Come on in, have a seat.''

''Hi, you good?'' I ask and take a seat on the opposite side of the desk.

''I'm good now,'' he chuckles making light blush appears on my cheeks.

''Ahemmm...so.... that thing I wanted to talk to you about....

''That Amunet is a vampire. I know,'' he replies and I stare at him shocked.

''And yet you're okay in doing business with her! Doesn't the stench bother you! ugghh,'' I felt bile rise up my throat just from remembering it.

''I don't have a choice Athena. She is my number one client. Also, Scott and her had good relations. Honestly, I was also skeptical when I first met her. I was very close to breaking the contract too. But we had a sit down with her, as hard it was, and she assured me that our personal enmity has nothing to do with our business.''

''And you sure about that?'' I ask.

''Positive. But...that does not mean that I will turn a blind eye to the interaction between the two of you at the party. I saw the anger in her eyes. It was not just business rivalry.''

''I know Leo. I saw it too. We both challenged to bring each other down and she has played her first move. Now it's my turn.''

''And you want advise from me, or?''

''No...no...no. I have that figured out. I just wanted to talk to someone who understood the risk.''

''Ohh...yeah I get it. But Athena listen. Amunet is old. Like very old and incredibly strong.''

''Well so am i...not the old part but I'm strong, '' I say haughtily.

Leo chuckles at this, ''Ohhh don't I know. You are strong Athena; you have the strength of an alpha. But Amunet is a 600 year old vampire who seems to have a grudge against you. Sooner or later she will attack. You need to be prepared.''

''You're right. But where in the city can I train, you know...in wolf form,'' I whisper the last part.

''You can speak freely in here Athena. No one's going to hear you,'' Leo says.

''Yeah well I can't risk,'' I shrug.

''Training in wolf form will be a problem but I do know a place where they train you to fight. Human form of course. Hand to hand combat and by the use of weapons too.''

''Seriously? Weapons? I have claws I don't need arrows and swords,'' I roll my eyes at the absurdity.

''Yes, you're right you don't need them but it's an advantage isn't it. Just think of it as another skill added to your kitty. Think about it Athena. I go there every evening at 7. Let me know if you want to join and we can go together.''

''I'll think about it. Meanwhile just send me the name of the place. I should be going now, I have work to do and i guess so do you. Bye,'' I say and get up to leave.

He also stands up and offers to walk me out. ''Uhhh listen Athena, I know the timing is bad but I've been meaning to ask you. Would you...umm...like to go for dinner with me? say, Friday night?

''Dinner? Friday? This Friday?'' I ask and bite my lip nervously.

I hear a low growl emitting from him, ''that is very distracting Athena, I'd advise you to stop doing that right now,'' he says lowly and takes a step closer to me.

''Uhhh...sorry,'' I reply and purse my lips shut.

''So...how about that dinner?'' he whispers. Well damn we must be very close to each other if I can feel his breath on me.

''Dinner sounds nice,'' I blurt out. He smiles wide at my acceptance and I couldn't help but return one of my own. ''I can't believe you agreed. I had a few back up proposals in case you refused,'' he confesses.

I laugh at his revelation and he joins me. ''Well I need to go right now if we are to meet again on Friday,'' I tell him and walk out.

''She agreed!'' I hear him shout. Thank the goddess for enhanced hearing. I bite my lip to keep myself from smiling like an idiot and look at the secretary who is completely oblivious to everything. ''Good day,'' I tell her and leave the building.

After wrapping up my work at the office, I leave for the day and decide to get some take out for dinner.

It's dark now and I'm walking from the Chinese take-out place to my home when I sense an uneasiness. The hair on my neck rises and my senses go on high alert. Damn it, I'm being followed.

A sly smirk forms on my face. I spot an alley and corner into it waiting for my stalker. I place my dinner bag on the side. Whatever the case, nothing should happen to my food, that's for sure.

''Didn't peg you to be stupid. Walking in an alley like that, you just made my work easier,'' a voice drawls from behind me. The stench hits me and I gag. Of course it's a vampire.

''Didn't peg your boss to be a coward. Sending her minions to kill me instead of facing me head on!'' I yell at him as another vampire jumps down from a building and joins her accomplice.

''We don't know what you are talking about. All we know is that we have a bitch to put in place,'' she snarls.

''I really hope for your sake, you didn't mean that literally, '' I snarl back and flash my eyes at them. They freeze in fear for a second,which makes me smirk at them. ''Guess she forgot to mention who you are going up against.''

I charge towards them and they come at me too. The guy reaches to me first and attempts to punch me but I dodge him and go for the girl. I grab her by the waist and before she could react I throw her out of the alley like a bag of trash.

The man has recovered from the stumble and now has a knife in his hand. I turn to hit him but he wields it with skill and slashes my lower arm. The blood starts gushing and taints the ground as I hear a sharp intake of breath. Uhh ohhh.

I look up and see the fangs protruding from his teeth as his eyes darken in hunger. Shit, that ain't good.

I clutch my right arm and take a few steps back only to bump into the second vampire. Great. She's up too.

''Your kind makes me sick,'' she hisses low and grabs me by the shoulders, signaling her friend to come forward.

''Oh well.... the feelings mutual honey,'' I reply and head-butt her hard.

Her grip on me loosens and she stumbles backwards. I kick the male vampire in the groin before he could get anymore closer. He bends over in pain and I take that as my chance to wrap my legs around his neck.

He grunts as I tighten my grip but manages to stand up. So I'm now sitted on his shoulders.

''Bad idea bitch,'' he says as he grabs my legs and throws me over his shoulder. I hit the pavement and feel a stabbing pain on my left shoulder.

Both the vampires come into vision as they hover over me. ''And here we thought you were strong. Pathetic,'' she spits.

I growl at her insult and extend my claws. The male vampire grabs me by my left shoulder and pushes me against the brick wall. ''We are going to kill you now,'' he says in disgust.

''Are you though?'' I tilt my head to the side and drive my claws through his chest, successfully ripping his heart out. The female vampire stares in horror as I grip his still thumping heart in my hand, his limp body falling to the ground.

I throw it to her and she catches it midair, ''bitch you thought,'' I say while wiping my bloody hands on her. I pick up my dinner bag and walk past her leaving her there.

As soon as I get out of the elevator I'm met with tons of boxes lying in the hallway. ''What the actual f***!''

''Oh hiii there,'' I see someone coming out from the apartment opposite mine. I push away some of the boxes to get to the person. I'm met with hazel eyes, boring into mine, mischief clear in them.

I get a sense of familiarity and squint my eyes trying to remember this person when his scent hits me. Werewolf.

''I'm your new neighbor,'' he says and extends his hand.

''Ohh, I'm sorry but have we met before?'' I ask and extend my left hand for him to shake while bending my right hand oddly.

''We might have, who knows, maybe you don't remember?'' he says.I catch a hint of sass in his voice as realization hits me.

''Ohhh...it's you,'' I scoff which makes his eyes light up in happiness.

''So you do remember!'' okay dude, calm down. What's with the excitement?

''What can I say, that hero hair is hard to forget,'' I point out and he chuckles.

''Thanks, I grew it myself,'' he replies which makes me burst into laughter. ''You're funny.''

''Glad you find me amusing, I'm Charles. Charles Morgan.''

''Nice to meet you Charles. Again, and on better terms this time. I'm Athena,''

''I know,'' he replies and I notice a smirk playing on his lips which is immediately replaced by a worried frown.

''You're hurt,'' he says in a serious tone.

''What...pfft...no. who said? I'm fine,'' I reply with a wave of my good hand.

''Don't take me for a fool Athena. I can smell the blood off you and some of it is not even yours. So whose is it?

''That does not concern you, '' I reply and walk towards my apartment.

''I'm trying to help you here. If you are in a mess, we.... i mean...I can help you,'' he presses and I turn to look at him in disdain.

''It's not your mess to clean up. Stay out of it Charles,'' I tell him and slam the door shut.

***

Leo's office as above.

So....Charles is here? do you think  he will be able to make a difference or should Theo have come first?

Let me know in the comments.

-Jessica.S