Changes (IN EDITING)

Chapter 5

Lyric took me back to the bar we met in nearly four months earlier, leading me into the darkened area from before. "There's not food here." I protested.
"No, but there is alcohol. I don't know about you but that seems much better."
As soon as I sat down, my phone rang. I answered it quickly, recognizing the number. "Rose."
"We're on our way, don't go anyplace. It isn't safe."
She hung up on me and Lyric started at me grimly. "So it isn't just a false alarm. It was really him."
"Certainly appears so." I flagged down a waitress and she smiled at me. "The usual?"
"Yup. Along with six shots, please." I said quickly. She looked taken back and I stared up at her, my eyebrow raised. She mumbled an apology and took off.
I leaned back, my heart racing. I was terrified.
"Calm down, we'll figure it out. We've avoided him for almost six months, we can hide from him longer if we need to."
The waitress brought me my drink and I chugged it down, handing the empty glass back to her to be refilled. "I don't want to hide anymore."
"She wants to fight." Rose said as she sat down. Amanda sat next to her, her demon form showing through. We were all scared.
Lyric pursed his lips, concerned. "She's not ready to fight him."
I growled and took my drink back from the waitress. She scurried away, no doubt scared.
"I may not be ready to fight him, but I'm not going to run."
Rose nodded, her expression grim. "He'd hunt her down as soon he realized she left. And that would put everyone in danger."
I took a sip of my drink, the caffeine rush starting to hit me. "So what do I do? What did you see?"
She hesitated then nodded. "It was you broken and bleeding, fighting to free yourself while he sat back and taunted you."
Memories crashed through my head and I took another long drink. "So I was right back where I was before. Lovely."
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Lyric interrupted. "There has to be something."
Amanda laughed. "What would you suggest? We run? There is no other option. We have to fight."
Rose and I nodded in agreement. Lyric sighed, defeated. So we were all ready to fight. I held up a shot in a toast. "To war."
Everyone lifted their shots in agreement. "To war."
After a few moments of silence, Amanda straightened her shoulders. "How long do we have?"
Rose shook her head. "As of right now, three months max. But that could change to more or less time at any moment. It's not an exact science."
"Is there someplace we can go to prepare? Maybe someplace out of town so it gives us more time?" Lyric asked.
Rose and I exchanged looks and I nodded. "There's a house I own three towns over, in Serona. It's a small town so if he finds out I've gone there nobody will be in danger."
Rose sighed. "We'll have to leave within the next few days. That will give us a bit more time."
Amanda nodded to herself. "I'll make preparations." She walked off, already on her phone.
"We can do this, Reyna." Rose said softly. "You can do this."
My heart was racing. He'd found me. He was after me. His voice echoed in my head.
I will find you Reyna, you will be mine again.
I drained my glass, sighing when it was empty. "Well, I knew I couldn't hide forever." I glanced at Lyric. "You aren't ready for this war."
His eyes were wide in panic. Drake was well known in the underworld for being sadistic. It was part of the reason nobody had taken him out yet.
"I don't have much of a choice do I?"
Rose shook her head. "No, word has already spread about you two. No doubt it got back to him. You're not safe anymore. Nobody is."
A cold silence washed over the bar and everyone glanced around, nervous. Everyone knew what Drake coming to town meant.
I stood up, my voice resonating through the silent bar. "Drake has arrived back in town after three long years. We are going to get out of town to prepare and then come back to confront him. I will not let anyone get hurt by him again. However, I will need everyone's help. I won't ask you to fight, but I will ask you to listen. I need to know where he is at all times. This is as much for your safety as mine." I scanned the bar, losing my human form. "I will not go down without a fight. His reign of terror over everyone is over. I will protect each and every one of you."
The atmosphere and from dread to hope. Rose nodded from her spot on the couch, a small smile on her lips. "Ever the savior."
Lyric nodded in agreement and smiled up at me. "Better than the alternative."