This is it.
I looked around again, making sure I wasn’t seen before walking up to the door for a simple order of three knocks and a glide of my palm. As soon as I heard it click, I took the knob to twist open. I could already smell the thick layer of smoke and hear talking as I stepped inside. It was dark but crowded with people packed in the seats and a single man at the front speaking. The place looked more like an underground bunker or basement than an official meet up spot at a restaurant, but after looking around, I could see the circular tables, the drinks and a few picture frames hanging against the wall.
“Aye?”
I looked to my left to see Bellamy Holmes with a toothpick in his mouth and shades on, staying hidden in the darkest corner. Coach Namir sits beside him with a hat, covering most of his face, and his brother Seth, the official alpha male and pack leader of the entire wolf clan in the Underground. His golden yellow eyes flickered with excitement before waving me over. I ducked quietly in the shadows and grabbed a chair to sit down.
“Did I miss anything?” I asked. Bellamy leaned back on the two legs of the chair. His dark suit looked tailored, and his hair was starting to grow out with the natural curls falling out of the tapered cut. His black nails tapped the table like claws and one look at his mouth, and you could see he either just finished feeding on something or someone. The blood in the cracks of his teeth always gave it away.
Somehow, a siren, werewolf, and a vampire got close enough to thinking we could possibly save the fucking Underground from falling to shit.
“You made that door?” I asked as Bellamy childishly rocked back and forth on his chair.
“More or less,” he shrugged. “I use that for my club when I have exclusive nights.”
Just then, the door opened as a few more guys stepped into the bunker as the door closed shut to the outside world.
“Alright, listen up! We don’t have much time! I know y'all gotta get back home to your families!”
Bellamy continued to rock back and forth on the back of his chair while Namir chugged a bottle of beer back with bloatedcheeks before swallowing. Seth leaned back with his arm draped over the chair and watched his surroundings.
“This man and his family need to be stopped!”
A film of light flickered against the wall before showing a transparent image of Dr. Marvin T. Holmes and the First Family of black vampires. I lowered my head as I cut my eyes at Bellamy who continued to rock back and forth on his chair. Black and white shots of a family staring directly at the camera with little to no life in their eyes. Most looked to be posing in their best suits and dresses while others were caught doing repetitive movements such as leaning down into the field or picking up a child. Never before seen shots of the most famous family to ever live now hanging on by a thread.
“They didn’t even choose a good family photo of us,” he muttered as the toothpick tossed between his teeth.
“Is that all you care about?” Namir hissed. “Your family is now the face of the biggest war crime against the Underground.”
“Our family, brother…it’sourfamily,” Bellamy calmly reminded him as Namir let out a low growl.
“Both of y'all, don’t start your shit,” Seth warned as his eyes glowed bright like a fire being lit in the dark. If you weren’t paying close attention, you would already assume he took on the head of a wolf with the long snout and pointed ears instead of a human face. I crossed my arms over my chest and continued to listen.
“The First Family has done enough to maintain the Underground all these years to their benefit! It’s always been to their benefit! Ever since that woman came around, shit has gone left!” Another said as he stood up. “My daughter goes to Drew Collins and she told me, the moment they saw the one with the white hair, that is when the murders began to happen!”
“It’s only a matter of time before the injection Wilhelmina gave out starts to show itself!” Another hollered while the person in the front held up his hand to speak.
“We need solutions,” he said calmly. “We know what the First Family has done and their crimes against black humanity and magic all around–––”
“FUCK THE FIRST FAMILY!” Bellamy shouted with his fist in the air.
“YEAH!”
“HELL YEAH!”
The disruption caused an eruption in the place, causing an explosion into their own talking points and beliefs about what should be done or why. A young woman suddenly stood on top of a chair with a wave of her arms to get everyone’s attention.
“Is that…” I started to ask as she spoke up.
“First of all! Outside of a few incidents with those above ground appearing to experience their shift for the first time, it’s almost always those born of water! The most susceptible to the injection that Wilhelmina Holmes has created. There is no evidence or living proof that other vampires have been created and survived. Other werewolves, and any other mythical creature, there is nothing. If we are going to have a change in guard in terms of leadership, that new leadership needs to focus on health-related issues related to the Underground because it does and will affect those above ground as well!”
I turned to look at Bellamy as he smiled proudly at his woman.
“That’s Birdie?” I whispered. He nodded before leaning in close.
“We got her scent masked, but that’s my bleeding heart right there.”
“If they find out she’s human,” I warned.
