Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Fallon POV

Bruce and I slowly walk back to our hotel, holding hands and listening to the music. I am at peace in some ways. I know everything that is to come about my family will not come easily, but there is something peaceful about knowing that I have Bruce with me. Hell, I have an entirely new family with me. This family loves me.

I know my mother, brother and dad loved me, but the extended family there never cared for me. I understand why now, but it still hurts. Just because I was adopted did not make me any less their family, but I guess to them, I never was family.

"You keep going off somewhere else. I know all of this is a lot, but you need to know," Bruce says. I feel like there is much more he wants to tell me, but he is holding back. I wonder why.

In a dramatic, silly move, I smile at him and throw my hair over my shoulder. "I am fine, I promise," I say.

A tall man is waiting for us as we approach the hotel. He reminds me of Ryan. Is this man a wolf? I pull myself closer to Bruce, shrinking into him. Some reaper I am. I am terrified of everything.

"It is okay. That is Chaos, and he is okay. He will not hurt you. Chaos is on our side," Bruce says.

Bruce lets go of me long enough to shake hands with Chaos. Chaos pulls Bruce into an embrace. The two begin speaking in the same language I heard Bruce and Ryan speaking earlier.

Ryan turns to me and begins speaking in the other language. "I am sorry, I do not understand," I say.

Chaos leans down to me. His eyes are dark, almost black. His hair is long and braided. As he gets closer to me, I see his beard is decorated with jewels. He is wearing denim, all denim, except for the stripes on his jacket, which is leather. I wonder if he is hot under all those clothes and all that hair.

"I am Chaos. I am a friend. May I have a few words with you, Fallon?" Chaos asks me.

I look at Bruce, and he is giddy to see his friend. "You weren't expecting him, were you?" I ask Bruce.

"No, he has been on a mission for a while, but now he is back with us. It is so good to have you back," Bruce says. The two men are so happy to see each other. It reminds me of two high school girls.

"Sure, we can talk. There is a hotel restaurant and bar, or we can go up to the room," I say.

"Bar, let's go to the bar," Chaos says. It seems like my day has been an endless parade of bars, drinks, and new people. I need a good night's sleep and time to think. Maybe after Chaos speaks with me, I can slip off to the room and relax, leaving Bruce to catch up with his friend. If I can get him to agree to let me out of his sight.

The two friends are talking behind me in that other language. I make my way to the hotel bar and find a corner booth for the three of us to sit. I wait for Bruce and Chaos to catch up to me.

"I will be right back," I say, leaving them at the booth. I want Bruce and Chaos to sit first. I do not want to get trapped in the middle, since I am planning a get away later.

I walk around to the bathroom and go inside. I wash my hands and kill a few moments then exit back into the hotel bar. I watch my surroundings. I am always looking for the ancestors. I do not see them, but I see someone who looks like Ryan. I blink and he is gone. I must be paranoid.

I get back to the table and push Bruce over, forcing him to let me sit on the edge. "I can get up and let you in the middle," Bruce says.

I shake my head and pick up a drink menu. I decide right then, not to tell him about seeing a man or wolf that reminded me of Ryan. I want to be alone for at least an hour to relax and maybe look through my family history book alone. I will never get away from him if he thinks I am being followed by Ryan or someone that looks like him.

The waitress comes over. "Soda with lots of ice," I say, speaking before the two men, who only order beers. They continue to talk in the other language, but when the waitress returns with my soda and their beers, that is when things change.

"I guess you know who and what you are by now, Fallon?" Chaos questions me.

I shake my head and sip my drink. "I have not pieced it all together yet, but I am getting there," I answer.

Chaos leans over the corner table. "It is important that you help us. Without you, we are all as good as dead. Not just us, people, the nonsupernatural people will die," Chaos says.

I shake my head. "I know, and I want to help, but I have not pieced everything together yet, but I will," I say.

"We are running out of time, Fallon. We need a reaper soon. That is why I am here. The council sent me to help you prepare. Well, to help Bruce help you prepare. There is a war coming, and you, my sweet girl, you are in a lot of danger," Chaos says.

I look over at Bruce, who looks worried. Chaos doesn't really seem worried, but he seems more determined. It is like I am a job he needs to handle and then off to his next job.

"I know that I am a witch. I know that my mother was a witch and my father a hunter. I only came to New Orleans today. I need time to sort all of this out," I raise my voice.

Chaos takes my hand. "Calm down, no need to get upset. I am asking you to dig in and figure out who you are and do the job you are destined to do," Chaos says.

Chaos calms down, but something about him pisses me off. I watch him for a moment and then realize that I don't think I can trust him. I hope he cannot read my mind. I do not want him to know that I think he is an asshole. Bruce takes my hand. I know Bruce can read my mind, and he knows Chaos is making me angry.

"I plan to stay here until I figure everything out," I say. I get up from the table.

"Where are you going?" Bruce asks me.

I lean down so that I am eye to eye with Bruce. "I am going to bed," I say.

I have no plans of sleeping. Now, I want privacy to read the family history book, and I need Bruce to keep Chaos busy. I do not want him coming up to the room. Bruce reads my mind and knows what I am thinking. He leans in and kisses me on the cheek.

"Good night, Fallon," Bruce says.

Chaos gets up to say nice to meet me or maybe good night, but I walk past him and leave him standing by the table. I don't want his help. Chaos walks up behind me and grabs my arm.

"Wait, I think we got off on the wrong foot," Chaos says.

"Maybe, but right now I am exhausted. Can you imagine everything I have been through lately? Please just let me be for the night," I say.

Chaos shakes his head, lets go of me. "Okay. I am sorry, Fallon," Chaos says.

I walk out of the bar and to the elevator. I reach into my purse and pull out my key card. I swipe it, and the elevator opens. I get on the elevator, swipe the key card, and select number 3. As the elevator door closes, a hand reaches into the elevator.

"Ryan," I whisper.