Chapter13: Dark Realities

Chapter 13: Dark Realities XENOIS The sudden ringing of my phone cut through the silence quickly startling me as I jerked awake, instinctively reaching for the device on the nightstand while trying not to disturb Celeste, who was still sleeping peacefully against my chest.  I glanced at the caller ID and felt my jaw tighten in anger as I saw who it was. Victor Romano. Of course. I muttered underneath my breath rolling my eyes. "Romano," I answered in a low voice, carefully pulling myself away from Celeste's embrace so not to wake her up and then moving toward the window. "Xenois, my friend!" Victor's voice was as smooth and loud, carrying that cherry tone that spoke of violence that was surely coming afterwards.  "I trust you're feeling better? Word travels fast in our circles, you know." "I'm fine," I replied, watching Celeste stir slightly in her sleep but not yet woken up.  "What do you want, Victor?" "So direct, so straight to the point. And here I was, simply calling because I was