"Meaning?" Skylar asked curiously.
"Some were getting worse than before, while some were the same, changing for the better, and their fallen sides were kept at bay through a lifetime of medication and mates beside them. I'm sharing this because you might encounter them since you're on the hunt." Cleo answered, finishing the briefing, which caught Irina's interest.
"Hunting of what?" Irina started wondering.
"Irina, Skylar died more times than you can count, but here she is beside you, a kicking CEO but deadly dangerous when it comes to revenge." Cleo simplified amusingly, making Irina frown.
"Revenge? Why? Did anyone do something against you? Want me to help? I'll kill them." She asked quickly, expressing her concern, amused Skylar, and smiled.
"I know you would, but it's my vengeance they need to face, not yours, Medina, Joey or anyone following me should do it for me. They need to die in my hands under Rose Slayer's identity." Skylar assured her, but there was a glint of danger as she spoke, making Irina shiver.
"You sounded like us when it comes to taking lives for someone dear to us," Irina mumbled in the familiar vibe swirling around Skylar, who had no idea she emitted it. "Are you sure you're human and nothing like us, a vampire?"
"I'm purely human, but being born on the battlefield and becoming a killer makes me question that too." Skylar chuckled but quickly turned grim as she added, "War is my game. The night is my domain. Blood is my power, and nobody can stop it until I get what's needed to be done. "
The ladies flinched at how dark Skylar could be. They felt threatened until Joey appeared, cutting the tension around the three ladies.
"Sky, let's check your new toy," Joey smirked excitedly as he called Skylar.
"Excuse me then, ladies. Time for my game preparation." Skylar excused herself politely and followed Joey to his lair, but she was not far when she heard them.
"Cleo, she's something…like her husband."
"I'll tell you about him later."
"Like Vincencio? What are they talking about?" Skylar thought while following Joey to his lair. "Hope, it's good."
***
Joey's invention lair was vast, immaculate, and filled with organized materials and chemicals. The miracle occurred on the right side of the aisle, but all finished products were neatly organized at the end of the room. Joey led Skylar to this location and demonstrated his newly completed creation, which Skylar might enjoy for her night hunt.
"Here's the updated version of the first revolver that I gave you for your first hunt, and since you fancy revolvers more than any handguns, I came up with this." Joey showed Skylar the newly made gun for her. It was a black revolver, which she immediately checked while Joey added, "It has a lightweight of three kilos without special bullets."
"Special bullets?" Skylar wondered while checking the gun's weight in her hand.
"Cleo already briefed you about their kind and those fallen ones. It's for them. These bullets contained silver nitrate with wolfsbane, which is useful against werewolves, but against a fallen werewolf, it was like a stun gun or sleeping gas. The other effect on fallen rogues' bodies is skin rashes, while the sodium nitrate with vervain was useful against vampires. But against fallen vampires, it has the same stunning effect, but another effect was making them look like decaying bodies. With multiple shots, they'll die." Joey explained the special bullets one by one, showing the bullets to Skylar. The silver nitrate bullet looked like thick melted silver with glitters, while the sodium nitrate bullet looked like a yellow glowing liquid substance.
"And if I shot a human, is there any effect I needed to know?" she wondered, making Joey hum.
"With multiple hits with these bullets, it could be lethal, like an overdosed drug and later death." He answered while putting them back on the silver-matted table.
"Why do I feel like using blades instead of guns against their kind?" Skylar wondered with a complication about using the newly made gun, making Joey chuckle.
"Well, you might match up with them. Want to try some?" Joey smirked while handing Skylar the revolver.
Skylar took the gun, and without hesitation, she pulled the trigger twice, and on the target dummy, there were two bullet holes with silver. Seeing that effect, she tried the sodium nitrate with the same trigger, but the dummy's bullet holes burned with acid. It was nice and clean, but to someone like Skylar, a huntress, she knew what guns or blades were rightfully hers.
"I like it, but it was too complicated to use. This model isn't for me, Joey." Skylar returned the revolver with disappointment, making Joey chuckle and lead her into another set of guns.
"I knew you would say that; that's why I prepared a twin gun for you, and since you're a sharpshooter, I designed this revolver for vampires; most of them don't need many bullets. The design is based on your old Desert Eagle, but I made it more lethal with strong pressure, which could hit concrete three to five inches deep. That's why it's a bit long, thick, and heavy for a woman to carry, and this one is for werewolves since it could release three bullets in one long press on its trigger." Joey briefed his creation, at which Skylar's eyes sparkled, and she quickly grabbed the guns with both hands. She pulled the guns' triggers together, and on the same dummy, it showed the same description that Joey briefed her on.
"They were the right weight, and the pressure on both triggers was precise to my liking," Skylar commented, putting the guns back on the table before asking for her blades. "So anything for the blades?"
"Since you love action and brutality, here are the blades you're looking for." He showed another section that was filled with blades. The set was twin assassin blades, a short sword rapier, and the sharpest medium-length katana, making Skylar's eyes spark bright.
"Damn, I love this set." Skylar grinned, making Joey smirk smugly—proud of his creation.
"Then everything you love is all yours, but these blades also contain the same formula I used on the bullets. The only difference between them was that they had switched. As for the twin assassin blades, press the end's handle; the edge will turn blue for werewolves and red for vampires. For the rapier, press the gem at the center, and it will glow with the same color, and for the katana, while holding it, give it a small, sudden twist or a flick before swinging. These blades could only be useful against night creatures once they were pressed or twisted while holding them before using them. If you start swinging them before doing anything, they will be just any other blades you already had at home." Joey explained how to use the blades in case Skylar decided to use them.
"I see. Remarkable, Joey. Keep exploring," Skylar said astonishingly to Joey's creation, and she was proud to have his trust in her team.
Skylar swung each blade to see how she could use them later on. She enjoyed and was satisfied with the newly made gears when her phone began vibrating. She sighed and put the blades back on the section before checking her phone. She thought it was Vincencio, but it wasn't. It was a notification—a reminder about her client's scheduled visitation.
"Vince?" Joey guessed while tucking all the newly made gears that Skylar loves on their cases.
"I hope, but no. It's Gregory's notification." Skylar sighed heavily.
"What for? I thought you two were okay already," he wondered curiously.
"We are, but we're about to check his family beach resort that he was trying to rebuild and needed my input there." She released another sigh, which concerned Joey.
"If that was the case, why was your sigh filled with worry?" he asked carefully since he didn't want to touch any sensitive issue from her past.
"I'm unsure if I'm ready to deal with his wife." She admitted what bothered her, making him chuckle.
"You're ready, Sky. Just don't get overwhelmed and let your past mirror on your face. And besides, Vincencio is with you, right?" he assured her before patting her shoulder and walking toward the door.
"Of course. Without him, Gregory might not be able to meet me halfway." She answered while following him out of his lair.
"Then keep sticking with him." He chuckled when he recalled the food that Medina made. "And I saw Medina prepare a grilled steak in the kitchen earlier."
"That's heavy for a late-night snack," she commented coldly as they went to the kitchen where the ladies were.
"It's chopped in bite-size pieces, and we could still discuss serious matters while eating," he said while wiggling his brows, making Skylar roll her eyes and shake her head.
***
When another day began in the Saison-Monsour home, the house was remarkably quiet. There was no humorous banter between the couple this morning. It was complete silence since Vincencio was slouching and dead on the couch, not sick but tired. Skylar, on the other hand, had arrived downstairs with messy bed hair and yawned till she lost her balance two feet from the ground. She slid gracefully, but a loud thump drew Vincencio's attention.
"Wifey, are you okay there?" Vincencio asked lazily before yawning. Both were tired from their last night's secret commitments.
"Yeah, I missed a few steps," Skylar answered, followed by a huge yawn, while walking toward Vincencio's spot and flopping beside him, snuggling. "I miss you in bed."
"I'm sorry, I didn't make it. I'm so tired, and this couch is near." He apologized sincerely and held his wife closer, inhaling her scent before adding, "After meeting my friend, Fredric happened. We talked randomly, but he became like you when it was about work and details. My head feels like it's exploding."
"Oh, what did you two talk about?" She wondered before yawning again.
"At first it was about his surprise for Syria, but later, it went differently, which I don't want to talk about. I don't want to remember how he acted like you when it's about business. I'd rather deal with yours than his." He replied lazily and pulled her with him as they lay completely on the couch, making Skylar lie on top of him.
"I want to see that one day." She teased, making him frown.
"No, don't wish it. It will be a doomsday for Syria and me when it happens, so don't, wifey. Stay as my wife," he quickly defended.
"Alright, I won't." Skylar chuckled, followed by a yawn, before glancing at Vincencio's sleepy face and wondering. "Do you still have the energy to cook, or should we eat outside before going to JohnSling Beach Resort?"
"Let's get ready and eat on the way." Vincencio decided without hesitation, obviously tired, and pulled Skylar closer to his chest.
"Better. I want to stay like this a bit more." She agreed and closed her eyes while snuggling in his arms.
"Me too." He chuckled amusingly before yawning, forcing them to sleep for a little bit more.
***
They took a few hours of rest, but something startled them. Skylar quickly got up and grabbed her pistol hidden on the center table, unlocked and loaded, as she pointed the gun toward their uninvited guests, Joey and Medina, who were pointing guns at them as well.
"WHAT THE FUCK, SKY?!" Medina groaned furiously as they saw them fine—no harm done—making Skylar stare at them blankly but still yawn while Vincencio looked confused but tired.
"We've been calling you and Vincencio for two hours, and still none of you picked up," Joey informed them briefly with a relieved sigh.
"So, what's the problem?" Skylar asked coldly before putting her gun in its hidden storage. Medina's temper was increasing, and she was glaring at Skylar.
"ARGH! Talk to your wife, Vince. Remind her of the commitment she had for the day." With control, Medina groaned and passed the baton to Vincencio instead.
"Oh, right, Wifey, we have to prepare. We're going to meet Gregory at their family beach resort." Vincencio recalled the meeting they had today and reminded Skylar about it.
"We can go later." Skylar rolled her eyes before yawning.
"No. I already gave Mr. Sterling the adjusted time you two might arrive if there's no traffic." Medina rebutted firmly, making the men feel out of place. Medina was outraged, and Skylar ignored it.
"What's with the gun?" Vincencio asked Joey, who just tucked his gun behind him.
"It's our job and safety purposes." Joey grinned as he replied.
"Don't tell me, aside from being her driver and secretary, you're her bodyguard too?" Vincencio innocently asked, making Medina sigh since he was looking at them.
"You can say that," Skylar answered coldly as she got up and stretched.
"Wifey, can I hire my own bodyguard?" he suddenly requested, making Skylar frown. "What? Have a sugar wife, the CEO."