Chapter 143: Marcus' Replacement

Esme didn't move from the floor as she stared up at Leo approaching them; she searched his features, the way his body moved, listened to the way his heart was regularly beating, anything to indicate he might have seen what happened. But so far, his calm exterior and usual exuberant charisma greeted her with a dazzling smile. He stopped just beside her and tilted his head to the side. 

"What happened?" Leo asked as he scanned the cracked ground with a furrow in his brow, and he looked as though he could not calculate this unrealistic scene. 

Marcus lowered his hand to her, reminding her of his presence, and she took it, being pulled up to standing. Esme faked leaning on one leg and shook her head. "I didn't see this damn dip on the ground, and my ankle gave way," She lied, hoping it was believable. Marcus glanced at her, but she could see from the corner of her eyes that his tight lips were stopping him from laughing at her ridiculous excuse. 

Leo eyed her ankle, and the crumbled tarmac then glanced back at Niko, who was now returning from the entrance. "Look, Es, if Paul was bullying you, you don't have to cover for him-"

"Bullying?!" Esme exclaimed, and Marcus snorted, then looked away, clearing his throat when Leo looked at him questionably. As much as it amused them both, Esme realised Leo must have seen something or maybe it was because he saw Paul being dragged away. But she continued on, pushing down the waves of nervousness that started to tighten her stomach. "Leo, do you really think I'd let anyone bully me?"

Leo smiled and put his arm over her shoulders. "I honestly don't know why anyone would want to bully you in the first place. Women, I understand because they'd be jealous of your beauty." He winked. "But Paul.. Hmm.. Did you break poor Paul's heart by any chance?" He shook her shoulder, making her whole body shake. Maybe Leo didn't see everything; otherwise, he wouldn't be touching her right now so casually.

"A broken heart!?" Esme made a face. "There was no bloody chance in the first place."

What the hell was he talking about? She looked up at him, wondering what planet the guy was from. "Poor guy. He must have been delusional from the start to think he'd get a chance with you. Probs why he attacked you like that." Leo shrugged and dropped his arm. His words made her pause, and she blinked up at him. His warm hazel eyes revealed that he'd seen everything. "And who's this?" He asked, moving the attention away from him and to Marcus.

"That is exactly what I want to know."

The trio looked in Niko's direction. He looked nonchalant with his hands in his trouser pockets, but his eyes were hard as he looked between them as though they were naughty school children. "Niko, honey.." She strolled forwards, shaking Leo off her and smiled at the vampire.

"Don't Niko honey me!" Niko growled, then muttered under his breath for only the werewolves to hear. "If Gabriel heard you right now, I'd be so dead."

He didn't know they were mates, but with Esme's growing absences with the vampire, it was becoming apparent to not only Niko but other vampires that she was close to him. Niko was part of Gabriel's inner circle, so he would soon find out.

"Who is he?" Niko asked, pointing his head in Marcus' direction.

"A dear friend I lost contact with for a few years," Esme replied honestly, withholding the intricate details, of course.

Niko glanced at Marcus, looking him up and down before returning his gaze to her. "A Hellhound?" He asked, making Marcus beside her stiffen at the name. The Hellhounds were meant to be a secret rogue organisation, so she could understand why he was now tense. 

A vampire knew the name and spoke so casually to her about it. Marcus looked at her expectantly, but she huffed and rolled her eyes, to which she knew he would read as 'I never told him, stupid'. It was times like these; she wished they really could mind-link each other. Although they knew each other well, she still wanted to insult him vocally as well.

"Hellhound?" Leo turned to look at them, his eyes widened, but then he smirked. "Are you in a biker gang? I can see you being in something like that if I'm quite honest, Es."

Of course, Leo would think that. Her knife skills and attitude probably added to this image he had of her. "Something like that. This is Marcus," She muttered, then looked back at Niko, whispering under her breath. "Where is Paul?"

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"He's been taken to the cells," Niko replied in his usual tone of voice, taking her by surprise. She whipped her head to look at Leo, who frowned at his words, but Niko stepped closer to him, holding his gaze. Leo's shoulders relaxed further, and he looked back at the vampire blankly. "You did not see anything right now. You took the trash out and ran into Esme and Marcus and started chatting with them."

Leo nodded his head unnaturally and slowly. Niko was holding his gaze still. "What just happened?" He asked.

"Took.. trash out.. Ran into.. Esme and Marcus.." Leo replied robotically, making a shiver run down Esme's spine. 

Compulsion, it was horrible, but if Leo had seen more than he was showing, it was safer this way. 

"That's so spooky," Marcus whispered, leaning into her, looking wide-eyed at the chilling scene before them.

"I know, right.. I hope they haven't done it too much to Leo. This is the second time since I've been here that compulsion was used on him," Esme replied, watching her bartender friend in pity. Unfortunately, it was something they had to do.

Niko released him from his hold and looked back at Esme. "Gabriel is in the VIP room. I suggest you hurry," He sighed then added. "Be quiet when you enter. He is still busy." The vampire glanced at Marcus again and looked away, looking slightly annoyed. 

"Oh, I can make you a drink while you wait for Es? It was Marcus, right?" Leo suggested as Esme walked by Niko's side ahead of them through the doors. 

"Gabriel insisted on Esme bringing Marcus. We might be hiring him," Niko said over his shoulder as they walked through the corridor and stopped outside of Gabriel's usual VIP room. 

"Oh, what sort of work do you do?" Leo asked happily, unaware of the tense atmosphere growing as Niko knocked and waited at the door. 

"This and that," Marcus replied, scratching the back of his head. Making Esme cover her mouth and look away, so she didn't laugh at him. She couldn't imagine Marcus working behind a bar or doing 'this and that' as he put it. 

"Well, if you do work here, come to the bar; it would be nice to get to know one of Esme's friends from the past. She's rather.. secretive." Leo looked at her and smiled gently. 

"Leo, you've been away from the bar too long. It's getting busy," Niko interrupted, pointedly looking down the corridor where Leo should be heading. 

"Alright, alright. I just missed my Esme," Leo pouted and lightly punched her arm. "It was great meeting you, Marcus!" He turned around and rushed down the corridor after hearing his name being called from the other room. It must have been getting busy; it was pretty strange how normal it was in the human bar compared to everything that had been happening to her recently. 

"His Esme?!" Marcus looked at her with a raised brow. "I see a lot has changed in the time we've been separated. You've replaced me with a beach boy human!"

Beach boy human? How was Leo, Marcus' replacement? She knew Marcus wouldn't like Leo; he was too charismatic and happy for someone with Marcus' personality. Then again, he got on well with Luther?

Esme parted her lips to respond, but Niko opened the door for her, and she gave Marcus a look to stay quiet. Whatever Gabriel was doing, it had to be important because she knew he would have come to her side the moment she was in pain. They slowly walked into the room and stopped just inside the doors, where Niko closed it behind them.. Marcus was staring in awe at the room and the waterfall feature behind them while Esme watched what was going on.

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