Chapter 31

Tessa’s POV

“You want me to live with you?!” I asked, staring up at Joseph with dismay. “We can’t live together. You are my professor.”

“It is the best option,” Joseph said, looking between everyone before his eyes landed on me. “That way I can ensure you are safe and not putting anyone else in danger. If you continue to live with a Ruby, there’s a good chance they will break in again. You need to be protected, and also keep her protected.”

“But the perfume can help keep my scent away. So, maybe they won’t know that I’m still there…”

“The perfume masks the top layer of your scent. The longer you stay there, the more your scent will begin to linger and attract them.”

I looked over at everyone else who only shrugged. They agreed with him. Obviously, they didn’t see how this could pose a problem.

“Obviously nobody at school can find out about this so we will have to keep this on the down low,” Joseph continued. “I have plenty of rooms in my Villa, so you can take your pick at whichever one that you want.”

“I can’t just make a decision like this that quickly,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s a huge step and—”

“It’s not like I’m asking you to move in with me as my girlfriend. There’s a boundary I will not cross. This is for your protection, Tessa. If you won’t do it for yourself, then at least do it for your friend. You told me yourself that you are worried being around her could lead to her death. I’m telling you that it can and most likely will if you aren’t careful. Being around her for an extended period of time and living in her home, around her things… the new vampires will pick up your scent regardless of that perfume.”

I knew he was right. I couldn’t put Ruby in danger like this. She was already in danger and that vampire breaking in proved that.

Now that we knew for certain that it was my blood that was attracting these vampires, I needed to be careful.

“Okay…” I finally said after a short pause, much to everyone’s relief. “I’ll live with you. But it’s only until these vampires are captured.”

“Of course,” Joseph said, cocking his head to the side as he looked at me. “Having you stay with me any longer than that would be inappropriate.”

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I refrained from doing so. Something was telling me that giving a vampire attitude was probably a bad idea.

“Keep us updated as always, Joseph,” Chief Mulligan said to him.

Joseph nodded and thanked them before turning away and walking towards the front door of the headquarters. I took that as my cue to follow him.

Like before, as soon as we walked a bit into the field, the headquarters disappeared behind us.

I was never going to get used to that.

“I’ll take you to Ruby’s place and you can pack your things,” Joseph said as we continued walking.

“What am I going to tell her?”

“Tell her that you are living with another friend,” he said with a shrug.

“Ruby knows all my friends. That’s an easy lie to find out,” I told him. “She also knows me well enough to know when I lie. She’s never going to believe me.”

“Well, you have to tell her anything but the actual truth,” Joseph said firmly.

“She’s my best friend,” I tried to protest.

“That doesn’t matter.”

We finally got to Joseph's car, and I was relieved we didn’t have to walk anymore. I did more walking this evening than I did in my entire life.

As we drove towards Ruby’s apartment, I thought about how frightened and angry she probably was right now. Seeing Morgan die traumatized her, and I promised I wouldn’t leave her alone for long. But that was exactly what I did. A guilty knot formed in my stomach at the very thought.

“She’s going to be so upset. I promised I would be home way sooner. She didn’t want to be alone tonight, and I ended up leaving her alone for hours…” I breathed, staring down at my hands, and tugging at my fingers.

“That’s the funny thing about time,” Joseph, began. “It stands still at the headquarters. Feels like we were there for hours, but to everyone outside the headquarters, it’s only been a few minutes. So, for that, she won’t be upset.”

That was good to know, and upon looking at the clock, I saw that he was telling the truth.

Ruby’s apartment building came into view and that knot only tightened. She was going to be so upset with me for leaving and I still had no idea what I was going to tell her.

Joseph soon parked his car and turned to me.

“Be quick.”

My frown deepened as I stared at him.

“I’ll be as fast or slow as I want. This is going to be a huge deal for her, and I don’t want to hurt or frighten her,” I said in return.

He looked like there was some more he was going to say, but he kept his mouth shut. I almost dared him to go against me and argue about this.

I turned away and left his car, slamming the door shut in the process.

…

“What do you mean you are leaving?!” Ruby cried as she watched me put my things back in my suitcase.

The look on her face was something I would never be able to get out of my mind. She looked so hurt and terrified, and her eyes instantly filled with tears.

“I don’t feel comfortable here when there was a vampire attack so close to the building. Not to mention somebody broke in recently.” I told her, shaking my head and keeping my face away from hers so she couldn’t see the pain in my eyes.

“So, you are leaving me alone?!”

“It’s your apartment. I wouldn’t ask you to give it up to appease me,” I told her. I then met her eyes, hoping that my weakness wasn’t shining through. “You’ll always be my best friend and you know I love you, Ruby. But I can’t stay here. I’m so sorry.”

“Where are you going to go?”

“I’ll figure it out,” I told her quickly, zipping my suitcase.

“Figure it out?” She gasped. “You mean you don’t even know where you are going?”

“Not yet,” I lied.

I hated lying to her and I knew she’d be able to see through me, so I kept it very short.

“Tessa, just slow down for a second and talk to me… did I do something wrong?”

This time I couldn’t hide the pain on my face.

“Of course not, Ruby. I promise this has nothing to do with you. I just can’t stay here. I hope you can respect that.”

She was quiet as she watched me finish packing.

Once I finished, I turned back to her.

“Please get some security cameras and clean everything in this apartment.”

“You’re scaring me…”

I felt my phone in my pocket buzzing and I knew it was most likely Joseph asking me what was taking so long.

“We will see each other at school,” I assured her. “Please, don’t be upset with me.”

Tears spilled out of her eyes, and she bit onto her bottom lip to keep from sobbing.

“I’m not upset. I’m just confused I guess,” she admitted. “But please be safe.”

“I will,” I promised, hugging tightly. “You too.”

I released her and gave her sorrowful face one last look before leaving the apartment, beginning a new journey as Joseph Evergreen’s housemate.

…

Third Person POV

Get some security came and clean everything?

The security camera made sense. Ruby was already planning on doing that. But clean everything? What did that mean?

Ruby had known Tessa for a long time, and she knew that Tessa was keeping something from her. This was way too sudden, and Tessa was way too sure of herself to leave Ruby’s apartment without an alternate plan.

But why would Tessa keep a secret from her best friend?

The pure thought broke Ruby’s heart.

She went to the window and watched as Tessa made her way outside and walked across the street to the parking lot.

Ruby furrowed her brows together when she saw Tessa putting her things inside the trunk of a black Bentley.

That wasn’t Tessa’s car. Tessa didn’t even have a car, Ruby thought to herself.

Soon, Tessa slid into the passenger seat and the car drove off.