BLACK GHOUL

"And where do you think you're going?! This place is for VIPs only" a man on suit said, wearing a black mask.

"VIP, you say" Riley said raising an eyebrow.

"Yes and if you would, please go back down now"

"Riley O'Brien" she said abruptly.

He froze as his eyes widen.

"Tell Linda Sanford that Riley O'Brien wants to see her" she adds sternly.

The man gulps hard.

"The wife of the black ghoul" a voice came in from behind, it was Linda as she steps forward with a smile against her lips.

"Aka, ghoul Queen" she adds bowing slightly.

Okay Riley did not expect that.

"It's an honour, if you told me you were coming surely you're a VVIP" she states in amusement.

Riley gulps hard but then she composed herself.

"I believe a low profile is necessary" Riley said.

"Ah yes the hunt, we all heard" Linda said smirking.

"Come seat with me" she adds.i

"I apologise ma'am" the masked man said bowing slightly, in atonement to his rudeness.

"It's okay" Riley said faintly before walking past him to Linda.

Riley took a seat at the chair set facing the stage, Linda at the other end drinking her champagne.

"Champagne?!" She asked.

"No I'm good" Riley replied.

Linda just made a hmm sound.

"Wonderful singer isn't she" Linda states referring to the opera singer.

"Is there something you wanna say" Riley began in a serious tone.

"Say it" she urged.

Linda huffed, dropping her wine glass on the glass table.

"You came to mine party and you ask such a question... I should be the one asking if you have something to say" she said in amusement.

"My husband killed your son" Riley said.

But she didn't fuzz a bit, strange.

"Surely you must have something to say" she adds.

Her smirk broadens.

"Sweetheart... my son was a fool to even think he could kill Liam and claim the title, I should have taught him better".

"You seem displeased with him, rather than angry that Liam killed him" Riley said skeptical.

"Why should I?!" She shrugs.

"You and your husband merely just defended yourself, when my son acted out on his own" she states.

Riley scoffs at her words... was she really a mother?!

Her lips still pressed in a smirk as she brough her wine glass containing champagne close to her lips.

"A woman who don't have the faintest affection for her son" Riley said.

"I wouldn't be the first" Linda states dropping the glass on the table.

"Now... tell me why you are really here... not alone of course... you graced my party with your husband" she said in amusement.

Riley gulps hard.

"Of course, I know you didn't come here alone" she adds smirking as her eyes want back on the congregation below, Riley followed.

Liam seated watching the performance, his arm rested on the chair arm, his fingers lining his jaw.

"You're lucky Mr's. O'Brien, you caught such a handsome figure" she states as her eyes darken.

They turned to Riley's unreadable ones.

"Wish I was 20 years younger would have done the privilege of seducing your husband... would have been the greatest accomplishment of my youth, don't you think".

Riley made a hmm sound, forcing a smile.

"I would take that as an innocent theory" she states in am unpleasant matter.

Linda giggled.

"Now tell me why you are really here... Mr's. O'Brien, I'm curious to know" she said in amusement.

"You worked with Barbra Jones on dealing drugs, an amazing fact that a ghoul worked for a Jones without getting her heart ripped out" Riley said.

"I see my reputation proceeds me"

"We need someone on the inside, we believe you still have some strings attached to the agency".

"So you need that mole from me" Linda said in amusement.

"Yes" Riley said with a straight face.

***

Liam shifts uncomfortable on his seat, the performance was finally over and the bright lights came back up, the crowd giving a clap.

"Finally" Liam murmured rising to his feet, he was already sick and tired of hearing long prolong voice and series of melodies, it was annoying to him.

He turn, seeing his wife approaching him.

"Riley, what happened? Did you talk to her?" He asked with anticipation.

Riley took a deep breath.

"What?" He demands.

"What's wrong?"

"She will help us but under one condition" Riley states.

"Under what condition?!" Liam said sternly.

Riley stares into his eyes.

"If the higher up ghouls have assess to the homeland for their safety" she states.

Liam scoffs.

"Aren't they already safe under their wealth?"

"It's appears not... Linda doesn't have a connection with the agency anymore, but she is willing to risk her men getting in there, to gain info for us" she said.

Liam sighed.

"Liam she's willing to help us... even though we thought she wouldn't, we need someone on the inside if we want to take the agency down, this is the only way" Riley reasoned.

Liam gave a deep sigh.

"Fine" he growled.

"But we are giving them a separate Hometown, I don't want any divisions in status" Liam said.

"I'm down with that" she shrugs.

"I'm glad we get to work together black ghoul" Linda Sanford voice sounds as she came behind along with two men in suit behind her.

Liam and Riley turned in unison. The hall was empty already as everyone scattered after the show ended.

"The uniting of V-ghouls and ghouls... we are the same but also different" she said in amusement.

"We never said anything of uniting, I'm only granting them sanctuary" Liam said sternly.

"Well of course"

"You eat ghouls... i can't take that risk" he adds.

Linda made a hmm sound.

"Then it appears we will have to turn vegans then" she states.

"Why are you so eager to form an alliance" Riley said puzzled, she knew Linda wanted to join them so badly, she even went as far as stopping their thirst for ghoul flesh... at least that's what she said for now, their actions will tell later.

"Because desperate times calls for desperate measures" she said smirking, but then it faded.

"A hunt have been called for the termination of ghouls by a tyrant who preys on fear to get what he wants, he must be stopped, rather than sit around and await the very extinction of our kind... we get to fight back" she states sternly.

"End the Jones line once and for all"

"Are you saying you will fight with us?" Liam asked sternly.

"Yes ghoul king!".

***

"Liam and Riley should be done by now" Sean said checking his watch.

"Relax Sean, let's enjoy the evening, you're too uptight" Iris said drinking her champagne, she knew Liam and Riley have everything under control, they always do, they were the power couple after all, together they were like a tornados hitting a city, together they were able to eliminate any target, she envied the both of them but in a good way, she longed to have a relationship such as that.

"Uptight huh?" Sean said raising an eyebrow, his eyes traveled to her body, she was stunning as always, the gold dress she wore brough out her light skin colour along with her mask.

She smirks.

"Why did you say I'm too uptight?" He asked curiously.

Iris rolled her eyes.

"Because Sean Carlos you hardly go out, always locked up in your lab, you spent months on that book trying to translate it, you hardly have time for yourself or anyone" she said.

"Well I'm close to translating the other half I just need more time... Iris I'm this close to discovering ghouls history, isn't this more important than anything?" He reasons.

Iris frowned.

"Yes it really is" she states looking away.

Sean was puzzled by her actions.

"Iris" he began.

"It's very important Sean" she said haste as she faced him with a forced smile.

"Riley and Liam should understand their powers better along with their history" she said and then she sighed.

"I need a minute" she said turning to leave but Sean grabs her arm, making her turn to face him, they stared into each other eyes for what seemed like forever.

"There's something I hold in first importance more than anything" he said.

Iris rolled her eyes.

"First importance... then your life's work is second?" She said skeptical.

"You" he said bluntly.

Iris froze at his words as her smile slowly fades.

Sean smiled charmly as his eyes lands on the dance floor that played a slow beat, the couples dancing, it then drifts back to Iris.

"I believe I shall give you at least one dance... to prove to you I'm not so uptight" he said in amusement.

Iris gulps hard.

"How can I say no to that" she said as a small smile found her lips.

She never took her eyes off Sean as he lead her to the dance floor.

His hands straddled on her waist, hers on his shoulder as they both moved to the beat slowly, not taking their eyes off each other for a second.