Date: 2-19-17

Chapter 20: The Search For a Stranger

Lucas sits in his room listening to music when everyone leaves. Lena said she had to go check up on Ivie, but she promised to come back soon so they can discuss what to do about Ivie tonight when she's vine girl.

Lucas sits for hours trying to figure out a plan, but his mind keeps wandering to the mysterious werewolf, Adrian. He seems more experienced then Lucas and Mason, so they need to find him.

If Lucas can find Adrian, he can ask for help. Maybe they'll get a few questions answered about what they can do as werewolves.

Lucas finally gets a clue when John texts him at 4:23 pm.

"Someone just moved into the house for sale down the street from me." John's text reads.

Lucas replies immediately. "Do you know who it is?"

John answers, "Nope. Do you? Have you met anyone new?"

Lucas feels bad about lying to his friend, but he doesn't want to tell John how he met someone new just the other night. "No."

When Lucas rushes into the living room to explain his discovery, he sees that Lena did come back like she promised. Jerica and Lena are sitting on the couch and Mason lounging in the armchair.

"There you are." Lena says with a smile.

"We thought you'd leave us out of the plan since you never came back." Jerica adds as Lena frowns at her.

"I think I know where to find Adrian." Lucas announces presently.

Jerica jumps up and exclaims, "Really? We have a lead!" She sounds very excited. "Where is he?" Jerica demands to know.

Lucas explains quickly. "I said I think, not I know. But John said someone moved into that house that's been for sale for months. The house down the street from him."

~*~

Ivie shows up unexpected at Vanessa and Selynn's house. The front door has a cute homemade sign hanging on it with Vanessa and Selynn's last name, written in fancy script. "Delaney." The sign says.

"Oh hey Ivie. What's up?" Vanessa says as she opens the door.

"I want to go somewhere fun. Let's go to the river and swim." Ivie grins before adding, "Maybe even go on the rope swing this time."

Vanessa stands frozen for a moment, wondering what's gotten into Ivie. Then she opens the door wider to let Ivie inside. "Last time I checked you wouldn't go anywhere near the rope swing." Vanessa says, making her tone teasing.

Ivie shrugs and flops happily onto the couch. It's much nicer than the couch at her house. Everything in the Delaney's home is nicer than at the Sterling's home.

"I want to try it now. It sounds exciting!" Ivie explains to Vanessa.

"Well my parents aren't home, so I don't know if we can go out." Vanessa says apologetically. She usually follows her parents' rules, since they're not that strict.

"So? If they're not here then let's go." Ivie says defiantly. Vanessa gives Ivie a confused look.

"You want to risk us getting in trouble?" Vanessa questions.

"Why not live a little?" Ivie answers. Vanessa is wondering why Ivie is being so strange and thinks it might have something to do with Ivie walking around the woods at night.

But who is Vanessa to judge her best friend? If Ivie wants to go, then they'll go. "Okay, I'll go tell Selynn and we'll get ready." Vanessa says with a smile. She's excited because it's be awhile since she's gone swimming. And Vanessa's favorite thing to do is swim.

Ivie is wearing her swimsuit under her clothes, so she just has to wait for her friends to be ready. When everyone's ready, they head off and have a blast, swinging into the river from a rope until it's dark out.

~*~

Back at Lucas, Mason, and Jerica's house, everyone is arguing.

"If we know where Adrian is then we can find and question him!" Jerica tells Lucas while she stands with her arms crossed in front of him.

"We can't just show up and demand answers when he hasn't done anything wrong." Lucas tries to reason with Jerica.

"So why? We need answers about this werewolf thing!" Jerica's eyes are practically slits as she glares at Lucas.

"I think it's a good idea." Mason jumps into the conversation.

"Shut up Mason!" Lucas gives him a hard look. He doesn't need anyone helping out Jerica with this.

Mason puts his hands up and gives them an innocent look. "I meant let's nicely talk to him without yelling."

"Shut up Mason!" Jerica repeats what Lucas said a moment ago.

"Can we just stop fighting?" Lena asks everyone reasonably. Of course no one listens.

Jerica, realizing she's not getting anywhere arguing, turns and runs out of the house. Lena runs after Jerica. They're running down the sidewalk outside the house. Since it's not even 5 pm yet, it's still light outside.

"Jerica!" Lena calls out to her.

Jerica turns sharply to glare at Lena. "What? He probably has answers that we can get from him. And we definitely need them!"

"Yes, but is this really the way to do that?" Lena pleads with Jerica.

Lucas and Mason suddenly run out of the house and join Jerica and Lena on the sidewalk.

"This isn't the way." Lucas answers Lena's question for Jerica.

"Guys?" Mason says.

"Not now Mason." Lucas responds without even sparing Mason a glance. "Maybe he'll come to us." Lucas says to Jerica.

"Oh yeah? And how long will we have to wait for that to happen? How long until Ivie hurts someone who doesn't heal quickly?" Jerica asks fiercely with her hands on her hips.

Lena snaps then at the mention of her older sister's name. "You know it's not Ivie doing this! It's vine girl!"

"They're the same person Lena!" Jerica yells at her.

"No they're not." Lena denies, trying to reign back her anger. She doesn't want to say something to Jerica that she can't take back.

"Guys? I think I can help with the problem!" Mason interjects.

"What?" Jerica snaps at Mason.

"Isn't that Adrian?" Mason asks, pointing down the street to someone jogging around the corner. Lucas looks just in time with his perfect vision and sees it is Adrian.

Lucas takes off after Adrian with Mason following behind Lucas. Jerica chases after, but she's not as fast as them. Lena runs after Jerica, catching up immediately.

Lena and Jerica are in good shape because they've been in track together at school for years. They're able to follow Lucas and Mason, just barely seeing as they disappeared around corners.

They run for a few miles until they lose sight of Lucas and Mason. Lena and Jerica pause before running in the direction they hope the guys ran.

~*~

Lucas slows down when they reach the park, and he calls out to Adrian. "Hey!"

Adrian slows to a stop and removes his ear buds. "Hi." Adrian says neutrally. Mason runs up and stands next to Lucas. He wasn't quite as fast as Lucas.

"Do I know you?" Adrian asks, sounding clueless.

Lucas stands up straight and crosses his arms. "Yeah, we met last night."

"We did...?" Adrian questions.

Lucas narrows his eyes suspiciously. Adrian had to remember them! "We were in the woods. You helped us stop the girl with murderous vines."

"Oh yeah!" Adrian says as his face lights up in recognition.

"How could you forget that?" Mason has to ask.

Adrian shrugs and with a lazy smile says, "I save a lot of people."

Just then, Lena and Jerica run up to them. Adrian turns to them with a huge smile. "There you girls are! We were getting worried."

Lucas raises an eyebrow at that, but he doesn't comment.

"Oh we're fine." Jerica says with a flirty grin. "We just don't have supernatural running skills."

Adrian laughs at that, not at all concerned that he doesn't know Jerica and they're talking about supernatural abilities. "Of course not! But you're doing good for active human levels."

Jerica's smile widens at the compliment. "Well, me and Lena are in track."

"I can see, since you ran almost three miles to get here." Adrian replies, still smiling at Jerica.

"So you knew that you were being followed?" Lena asks from beside Jerica.

"Maybe." Adrian shrugs.

"Oh I almost forgot to introduce myself. I don't believe we've met. I'm Adrian." Adrian says this to Jerica and holds out his hand. They shake hands, then he and Lena shake hands. And Adrian smiles the whole time.

"I'm Jerica. This is Lena." Jerica tells Adrian. "My brothers Lucas and Mason told us about you." Jerica says as if her brothers aren't standing right there.

"We're here to ask you questions." Jerica announces proudly.

Adrian lets out a short laugh and says, "Ask away!"

"Why are you here in Cain?" Jerica simply asks, instead of asking something about werewolves. Lucas scowls at Jerica.

"My job brought me here. I travel a lot." Adrian says, serious sounding for once today.

"What's your job?" Jerica asks excitedly.

One side of Adrian's mouth goes up in a half smile. "I hunt the hunters."