Page 11 of The Wentworth Vampire

“And that is more than enough.” Pascal finished his coffee just as his phone rang. He took the call there at the table because he had nothing to hide from his beloved. It was short and to the point, and when he closed the call, he turned to Mateo.

“Master Hadden is coming here to speak with you.” He told him, and Mateo pushed back from the table, stretched, and then stood up.

"Okay." He said, gathered his dishes, and took them to the kitchen. His calm reserve was impressive. Pascal wasn't sure how he would handle everything that Mateo had gone through,and then on top of it, have to face down one of the most powerful Masters in the paranormal world. His beloved was remarkable, and there was no doubt in his mind that he was the perfect Master for the Baltimore Coven.

Mateo walked to the living room and stood by the large window that looked out onto the city below. It was a marvelous view, and from this distance, it gave the false impression of being peaceful and quiet.

Pittsburgh was like Baltimore, always humming with activity and issues, always more issues. Through it all, Master Hadden has maintained his life, his prosperity, and the safety of his people throughout every complication that came his way.

He could use to have such a man in his corner. According to Teo, Hadden was instrumental in freeing them from the magics that had threatened the total destruction of the Wentworth Coven. He then proceeded to oversee the day-to-day operation of said Coven without actually taking possession of leadership. He could have taken the Coven; he had every right to do so, but instead, he held it convinced that Mateo would return. It would take him several lifetimes to repay such a debt.

He heard the outer door open and Pascal’s voice welcoming Master Hadden into his home. He stood by the window and waited, but the moment Master Hadden entered the room, it was obvious the air thickened with his power and influence. He walked up to Mateo and offered his hand.

Mateo stepped forward and took his hand in a firm grip. "Pleased to meet you." He said, and Master Hadden said the same.

“I’m so glad you’re well and so glad . . ." He glanced over his left shoulder at Pascal, "That you found each other." Mateo looked at Pascal and smiled.

“The universe has been very kind to me.”

“You deserve it. Both of you." Master Hadden responded, and then he got down to the business that brought him there.

He asked him about the day it happened when his father used a spell to make him disappear, and then it progressed to what he could recall from his time at the mansion, the place where he was found and rescued. His questions were all carefully worded to pull out every nuance and every detail, and Mateo answered each and every one to the best of his recollection.

“There was a cougar shifter that appeared to be running the slave operation, and he, along with the two wolf shifters, were using the magics that destroyed the humans' free will. They weren't highly skilled by any measure and seemed to be working off an instruction sheet." Mateo had been drugged, but he never completely lost consciousness while with the shifters.

"The night they took me from there, a man came. He was average in every way except for his scent. He smelled like a shifter, but I could not discern the species, and there was something else there as well. He had an aura of tension and fear, a sickening feeling of dread that clung to him, but it wasn't his; he was not feeling these things; he was exuding them. It was as if he’d soaked it up from others and was carrying it around like a prize.” Master Hadden caught his gaze and held it.

Mateo could feel him analyzing, not crossing boundaries, but studying Mateo on a near cellular level. "At the mansion, I woke to that white room. I was dressed in cotton scrubs, and my head was shaved. It felt like an attempt to erase me, who I was,who I thought I was, or whatever.” Mateo turned his head and glanced out the window at the blue sky and then back at Master Hadden, who continued to study him.

“He said I would break, or I would die, but he looked forward to the entertainment either way. He also gave me the name of Rex 2 and said that all his subjects were named some form of Rex, and for me to get used to it." Mateo looked over at Pascal, who stood off to his right, not getting in the way but there if he needed him. He was so lucky to have that man. His presence was all it took for Mateo to remain solid and clear even as he felt the pain resurface over and over as he relived his time away.

“I know this is hard, and what happened to you was despicable and cold.” Master Hadden said with a warmth and concern that was admirable. “Thank you for sharing this with me.” He looked over at Pascal, who had systematically inched closer to Mateo a little at a time throughout the questioning and was now only a few feet away. The Master smiled.

“I won’t take up too much more of your time, but I want to warn you both that the creator or originator of this horrid mess is still out there. The locations that he touched left few clues, and his intentions are not clear. Be careful and stay aware because whoever he is, he's probably feeling rather untouchable." The Master's warning hit a nerve, and Mateo began envisioning his time in captivity.

"He's part dragon shifter, he's dark, something low and grim resides in his heart. His eyes were black, completely black, like tar pits. His wake was wretched, and he spewed hopelessness. He uses it to destroy the humans." The memory had come to Mateo suddenly, a door opening showing him what he hadn’t remembered. “It’s a persona he can put on and take offlike a coat. He's a chameleon." It was quite clear now, and he had the full attention of both Master Hadden and Pascal.

"A chameleon," Pascal repeated thoughtfully. “They’re formed in a lab. It’s illegal.” He was shocked that was clear, but since when did illegal stop someone intent on power? Suddenly, everyone had the same thought.

“Is he making more chameleons?” The three of them voiced in unison.

“Be careful.” Master Hadden said as he rushed from the apartment.

“They’re not easy to create, and their development takes years. He’s alone apart from his slaves." Pascal was thinking and talking, figuring things out as he walked to the window and stood next to Mateo.

“He’s modifying the recipe," Mateo said and slipped his arm around Pascal’s waist. They both stood looking out the window at the city, both of them deep in thought. Pascal had his arm around Mateo’s shoulders, and he pulled him close, dropping a kiss to his cheek.

"We can handle ourselves," Pascal stated.

“Absolutely.” Mateo agreed.

“Fucking chameleon.” Pascal hissed.

“Fucking chameleon.” Mateo agreed.

Chameleons were aberrations, soulless degenerates made by combining cells of jackals, weasels, and rats along with bastardized magics. These shifters were known for their lack of control and their lack of conscience. It was first discovered centuries ago by an alchemist in France during the DarkAges. They were building an army that they believed would be undefeatable. The outcome was unspeakable violence and death.

It took years and the dedicated effort of one man, the Duke of Burgundy, also known as Master Louis DuCane, to eradicate the monsters from Europe. The Paranormal Council then set into place the universal law that prohibited such creatures from being made. The punishment for creating a chameleon was years of torture followed by a slow and painful death. They wanted to make sure no one tried this despicable action again, and until now, this very day, no one had tried.

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