Page 5 of Missing

Griffin Talesmen

Ilounged back on the bed, the springs creaking beneath my weight. The walls of my single room were plastered with band posters and neon signs – a chaotic testament to my tastes. It wasn't much, but it was the unofficial hub for us; Dante's so-called "headquarters" where plans were forged and secrets spilled.

The door burst open as Dante swaggered in, his grin as infectious as the latest virus. "Griff, you blind or what?" he chortled, tossing his jacket onto my desk chair. Orlando followed, his stance rigid, eyes scanning the room like he could spot trouble on a dust speck.

"Blind to what? Your lack of fashion sense?" I shot back, an eyebrow raised.

"Ha! Funny guy." Dante threw his head back, his laugh bouncing off the walls. "Nah, man, I'm talking about the new blood that rolled in today. The campus is buzzing like a hornet's nest, all because of one chick they're saying is top-shelf material, like us. Four powers, they whisper."

"Four?" My interest, piqued, had me sitting up straighter. That was rare, almost unheard of. The trifecta of abilities we each possessed already set us apart and made us targets for envy and desire. But four? That was a game-changer.

"Sounds like bullshit to me," I muttered, scepticism lacing my tone. "You know how these rumours inflate like Dante's ego after a smile from any girl with a pulse."

"Oi, watch it," Dante snickered, not at all offended, as he dropped himself onto the bean bag in the corner, the beads inside shifting with a soft rustle. "But seriously, if there's truth to it, she'd be... interesting."

"Interesting" didn't even begin to cover it. If this new girl really held such power, she'd be more than just a blip on our radar. She could be a force, a partner, or even a threat. My mind raced with possibilities, strategies forming and falling apart as I considered what her arrival meant for us.

I perched on the edge of my bed, the tension in the room growing tighter than the strings on Orlando's guitar. "Do you think?" I asked, eyes narrowing as Dante's words sunk in like claws into flesh. "Do you think she is what we're looking for?" We need a girl to be our fourth. Someone to share, as our central, but she has to be top-level with three powers at least.

Dante leaned back against my desk, his brown eyes gleaming with mischief and something darker, something hungry. "If she's got four, she might just outclass us all," he said with a half-grin that didn't quite meet his eyes.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," I countered, trying to shove down the flicker of excitement that threatened to blaze out of control. "We've had our share of disappointments."

I remember the day Dante swaggered over to Melody, all confidence and self-assured smiles. We'd been at Oakland Harbour for a mere couple of weeks, but our reputations as top-tier talents with three powers each preceded us. Our families were entwined in the history of powerhouses, born under auspicious stars that destined us for greatness. It was common knowledge we were looking for a fourth to complete our circle, someone who could dance in the flames of our combined inferno and not get burned.

"Hey, Mel," Dante had greeted her, his voice smooth as aged whiskey, eyes glinting with a mixture of mischief and charm. She was sitting on the edge of the fountain in the courtyard, her short blonde hair catching the sunlight, making it look like she had a halo.

Melody glanced up from her book, her blue eyes cool and unimpressed, as if she could see right through him. "Dante," she acknowledged with a nod, her polite tone suggesting she was entertained but not interested.

"Ever think about going out with a guy who can match your level of power? Someone who can handle the heat?" he asked, leaning against the fountain's ledge, the water's spray misting around them like tiny prisms.

"Let me guess, you're applying for the position?" Melody retorted, her lips curving into a wry smile. Dante's grin widened, and I could see the predatory gleam in his eyes from where I stood, observing their little exchange.

"Consider this my formal application," he quipped, offering her his hand as if he expected her to take it and swoon. But Melody just shook her head, her smile never wavering.

"Sorry, Dante. You're not what I'm looking for," she said, her voice steady and sure. "Come back when you find a vagina hidden in those jeans of yours."

The courtyard went silent for a split second, the kind of silence that hangs heavy after a bomb drops. Dante's hand lingered in the air, the warmth draining from his face as the rebuff sank in. He wasn't used to rejection, especially not delivered with such cutting precision.

"Ouch," I muttered under my breath, feeling a mix of respect and sympathy for my brother-in-arms. Melody had just put Dante in his place without breaking a sweat.

"Damn," Orlando whispered next to me, echoing my thoughts. "That's gotta sting."

"Guess she prefers a different kind of power," I added, watching as Melody returned to her book, effectively dismissing Dante with the turn of a page.

Dante finally dropped his hand, chuckling awkwardly as he tried to play it off. "Can't blame a guy for trying, right?" he said, shooting me a look that told me he'd get over it, but his pride was definitely bruised.

"Right," I replied, clapping him on the shoulder as we walked away.

Dante, phone in hand, the light from the screen casting his face in a soft blue hue looked up, grinning. "Yasmin's blowing up my phone. Wants to hook up." A devilish spark lit up his brown eyes as he leaned back against the wall, his tall frame casting a shadow over me. "Think we should let off some steam tonight and call the others?" I could feel the tension build in my body as I considered the proposition.

"Fuck it, why not?" I said with a shrug, pushing back the simmering frustration of the day. The thought of indulging in carnal pleasures was enticing and distracting. "Tell her we'll be down."

"Will do, chief," Dante replied, tapping away at his phone with practised ease. The corners of his mouth twitched upward as he read through Yasmin's messages. "Looks like it's game time."

"Uncomplicated," I echoed, my mind now entrenched with the promise of flesh and heat. "That’s exactly what we need today."

The trio was a bitchy bunch – three women vying for our attention from the moment we arrived. They threw themselves at us, hoping to bask in our power and glory. While they were only lower level and possessed only two powers between them, they still tried to act as if they had a chance with us. But we were a trio of powerhouses – untamed and unmatched. And yet, without the right fourth member, we were incomplete, unbalanced.

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