MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Chapter 287: Avoiding all triggers

The ramshackle diner squatted at a lonely crossroads like a weary traveler, its weathered clapboard siding and neon-framed windows exuding a road-worn ambiance. Even at this late hour, a battered pickup truck and a sleek sports car idled in the gravel parking lot, twin plumes of exhaust catching the amber glow spilling from the diner's entrance.

Inside, the air hung thick with the mingled aromas of stale coffee, grease, and disinfectant. A handful of customers nursed mugs and picked disinterestedly at wilted pieces of pie beneath the harsh fluorescent glare. In the far corner, two figures huddled in a vinyl booth.

Reggie drummed his fingers restlessly against the tabletop, scanning the deserted diner with an inscrutable look. His usually dapper appearance was somewhat muted - dark slacks and a crisp dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, accentuating the corded muscle in his forearms. Only the slight elongation to his canines hinted at his supernatural lineage.

Across the table, Randal shifted in the opposite manner - slouched and ill at ease in his rumpled suit. His tie hung askew, top buttons undone to expose the slightest glimpse of toned chest. He kept stealing uneasy glances toward the diner's entrance, as if mentally calculating a swift exit vector should the need arise.

As if sensing his compatriot's restlessness, Reggie cleared his throat. "Well? What news from Ancroft?"

Randal's gaze swiveled back to him, tightening infinitesimally before he launched into a clipped report, voice low. "I realized that only a few of the household staff and some of Damien's men were around. They told me Damien himself doesn't live there anymore and refused to disclose his new location."

Reggie's expression remained impassive, giving nothing away. After a moment of weighted silence, he simply inclined his head.

Randal seemed to read some inscrutable message in that simple motion. "You already know where he's holed up, don't you?"

When Reggie didn't respond, Randal snorted a mirthless laugh and sat back, raking a hand through his tousled blond locks. "Of course you do. Should've known you'd be three steps ahead as usual."

Rather than take the bait of Randal's jaded tone, Reggie simply took a deep, bracing breath and forged on to the crux of the matter.

"There's no problem," he said, tone level and decisive. "We should head back to the safe house. There's something I need to discuss with you and Gunther."

Randal cocked one eyebrow in a querying look but didn't protest further. With a shrug of resignation, he simply slid from the booth and led the way out of the diner, Reggie falling into step beside him.

The drive back to the safe house passed in tense, concentrated silence. Randal seemed content to stew in his own thoughts, brazenly exceeding the speed limits as he hurled his sports car along dark stretches of rural blacktop. Reggie kept his own counsel, impassive gaze cast outward as they ate up the miles.

By the time the nondescript property slid into view - the safehouse nestled against a copse of pines - the first glimmers of false dawn were streaking the horizon in muted shades of indigo and steel grey. Randal hit the kill switch and killed the headlights, coasting the final yards up the private drive in watchful silence.

Nana met them at the door, worry lines etched deep into her brow as she ushered them inside with terse whispers.

"Thanks the heavens you both are back. We were starting to wonder..."

Her words trailed off into silence as Gunther and Blake appeared from one of the hallways, alerted by the commotion. Blake's eyes found Reggie's in an ardent, questioning look, but Reggie avoided his gaze, instead giving a tight shake of his head.

"Perhaps we should all head inside?" he suggested in an undertone. "I need some rest."

While they were all heading inside, Nana and Blake were ahead while Gunther and Randal were a step behind Reggie.

Reggie whispered to his brothers, "Let's adjourn at the study room. We have urgent matters to discuss".

Randal and Gunther both shared an anxious look as they followed their brother behind.

The cavernous study featured an imposing stone fireplace, heavy leather sofas and an array of outdoorsman trophies and weaponry mounted along the walls. More importantly, it was one of the few rooms without windows to the outside world - a secure place for sensitive discussions.

Once they were arrayed in the study's comfortable confines and the door was locked against eavesdrops, Gunther turned an expectant look toward Reggie.

"So what's this all about?" he prompted, dipping his hands into his pockets. "We were starting to get worried about you and Randal. You both took longer than expected to return."

Reggie held up a placating hand. "Yes, Gunther. It wasn't an easy search and neither was it pleasant." His gaze settled Randal.

After a brief moment of relative silence, Randal arched one sardonic brow at Reggie. "So what's this all about, brother? You've been acting bloody strange even before we came back."

Reggie shot him a quelling look before turning his attention to the matter at hand.

"We can speak more freely here," he began, keeping his voice low and tone neutral. "I wanted to apprise you both of some...developments before we make any decisions on next steps."

A muscle ticked in Gunther's jaw as Reggie's ambiguity grated on his nerves, but he opted to remain silent for the time being, simply waving an upraised hand in a go-on gesture.

"As you know, our original purpose was to find Blake and return him to Rose," Reggie continued. "A relatively simple task, or so I thought. But over the course of these past few weeks, some new..." he paused, considering his words carefully, plications arose."

Randal snorted at that. "You don't say?"

Reggie ignored the sarcastic quip and pressed on. "The events that led to this...unique situation also provided a degree of clarity about the nature of this task, and the potential ramifications thereof."

Gunther frowned slightly at that. "Could you please cut to the chase already? You're making us more anxious than we already are."

Reggie grimaced and gave a curt nod of affirmation. For the next few heartbeats, all three men observed a weighty silence, seemingly lost in unpleasant ruminations.

"So what did you find out?" Randal spoke up at last. "I assume your search is favorable compared to mine?"

Again, Reggie nodded slowly before replying. "From what I was able to ascertain, the complete picture might be a bit plex. Disturbing, even."

He paused, making sure to hold the stares of both Randal and Gunther. "I was able to find out Damien's new location, yes. But they were also some unfortunate events that befell the vampire city in our absence which might have led Rose to leave with Damien".

"And where is this new location?" Randal asked.

"The Brimstone Ridge". Reggie responded almost immediately.

Randal and Gunther both shared an amused look at the mention of the place as if it was forbidden for one to dwell there.

"With that in mind, We should keep this information away from Blake and probably Nana too...at least for the mean time".

"Why keep such information from Blake?" asked Gunther.

"We can't be so certain we'll find Rose there and we wouldn't want to raise Blake's hopes up and shatter it again. We should avoid things that'll annoy him or trigger his emotions...for now".

Randall and Gunther both nodded in silent agreement.

"We should depart tomorrow morning, as early as possible" Reggie concluded.

A heavy pause stretched between the three immortals as Reggie's words lingered in the study's heavy air.