BLOOD LEGACIES
Chapter 453: The Last Juneau

Chapter 453: The Last Juneau

OWEN

~

"Just a few checks here and there and I found this," Henry said, dropping a stack of papers on my desk adding to the ones I was already working on.

"Henry" I began already frustrated by the mountain of work I had to go through.

"I found it"

"Found what?" I blinked.

"The Last Juneau"

I paused and I looked at him like he had two heads. "I gave this assignment a few days ago"

"Yeah, I know and I came up with something. Turns out there was a distant relative we didn’t know about, she never lived in Juneau due to some ranking in the family, she didn’t possess their powers so she was left out"

My dad always told me about how harsh and strict the Juneau family was, if a member of their family wasn’t born with the necessary powers they were cast aside. They were considered outcasts and meant to leave.

"And?" I urged.

"Well it happened centuries ago but nothing a little internet can’t find, trace the family and the next-gen to another, and bingo" he slammed another piece of paper on my desk and pointed at a name. "The recent family is Ax"

"Ax?"

"Yeah, the last of it, and I think in that family there will be a single Juneau and possibly have the powers of a Banshee. And it turns out the daughter is. Heard of Hayden Ax?"

"Hayden Ax? Who is she?"

"Probably forgotten I guess... It’s been five years since her fame. One of the rising teen rock stars but I don’t know what happened, she quit and the whole world hasn’t heard of our talented rock star. Vivian worked as her assistant years ago before retiring back to Juneau"

Vivian. Vanessa’s twin sister. I heard of her work away from Juneau but I never knew she worked for the rock star. "So where is this Hayden Ax now? Out of the spotlight, she gotta be halfway across the world to avoid any eyes"

Henry grins ear to ear and I knew the fucker had figured something out. There’s a reason I rely on him most, he may still be goofy in his twenties and makes sick jokes but he was always one who turned up when he needed his expertise.

Speaking of expertise...

"I did some hacking and turns out our last Juneau is in this very town"

"So close? All this time?" I said in shock. How come I have missed this?

"That’s the most shocking of all. She works in a quirky bar just across"

I leaned back against my seat, rubbing my jaw with the stubble beards scratching against my thumb.

"So what’s the plan?" Henry asked eagerly. I wasn’t sure if he was that excited to meet this Juneau or just for the idea of getting some drinks.

"We pay her a visit. She’s connected to Vanessa’s dreams and it’s the first step to figuring out what it means, what the ancestors are trying to tell us" I said with hope that we would at least figure out what it means.

Maybe this was it... the ancestors trying to tell us about the last Banshee and it was high time we brought her in.

~

I drove through the street and packed across from the entrance of the quirky bar. The subtle music coming from the building, and a few bike riders outside.

"Drinks on me," Henry said, getting out of the car.

"We’re not here for drinks, Henry!" I snapped slamming the door shut and fixing my basketball cap properly. I don’t want anyone to recognize me at first glance. I was here unannounced and gaining eyes on me isn’t what I want right now. If Hayden is here then it means we won’t get what we want if she’s suddenly the peak of attention.

"Oh come on loosen up dude" Henry muses as we both cross the street to the building.

The door opened with the jerk of the bell above and we were greeted by the loud music and the little crowd. I adjusted my cap as my eyes scanned through the place, it’s popping alright so I shouldn’t worry about the attention. Everyone was either focused on drinking, talking, or just hailing the singer on the stage.

"Is that her?" I asked observing the girl singing on stage, rocking her music with her guitar.

"Nope. That is her"

I followed where he pointed to where the island was with drinks and then I saw her. Mixing a shot, giggling at something her customer said. She had brown hair kept in two braids, the obvious curly nature of it evident so it stopped just over her shoulders. From this angle, her ears are filled with many piercings either at the helix of her ear or down to the lobe.

She murmured something nonexistent as turned a shot into a smaller cup, saying something to the man. Tilting her head to the side as she listened. I watched the movement of her hands as she fixed the next drink for another customer. They were decorated with several tiny rings, her nails painted black.

"Owen!"

I jumped and faced Henry.

"Where did your head go? I have said your time for 6 times" he mused with a cocky grin.

"Sorry," I rubbed the back of my neck on impulse.

"So that is our last Juneau, what now?"

"Take your beer and I will talk with her"

He didn’t object because that is the main reason he even followed me, just to goof around more. With my hands in my pockets, I walked to the island and took my seat awaiting the other guy to leave so that I could talk to her. On the other note trying not to stare too hard and get lost but all that crumbles when she faces me and I instantly drown in her beautiful aqua eyes, she smiles at me and then faces the other guy back.

"Can I get your number?"

I flinched at the man’s request.

"That’s sweet of you John but I will have to decline," she said sweetly at him her voice sounded amazing too but I shook my head knowing that was the case for Banshees. Their voice held so much power that even simple suggestions could be made without trouble. But if you’re aware of the powers it holds it won’t affect you.

"If you say so darling," the man said coolly. But I knew it was because of her voice at work or else the man would have still pushed and probably gotten himself thrown out of the bar. Is she aware of her powers?

"What can I get you?" She asked about working on another drink but I knew she was talking to me.

"What is a girl like you doing in a bar like this?"

She huffed. "What others find here... work" she looked at me. "Now do you want a drink or not?"

"I will take a shot"

She nodded.

"Something that will cool me off, had a very busy day"

"Alright coming up, just hope it won’t knock you out"

"Nah don’t worry I came with a friend" I looked behind me with Henry hailing the band now on stage as he was drowned in his third bottle of beer already. Maybe I should have brought Miles instead.

"Your friend?"

I faced her back. "Reconsidering it"

She laughed and it sounded like music to my ears.

"How come I haven’t seen you around?"

"Well because there are tons of people here?"

"Someone like you should have been spotted long ago with those eyes"

"Only just moved to Juneau"

"I would have still known especially if it’s recently, which means you have been in Juneau for a long time"

She stopped her action feeling tense. But thought nothing of it as she filled up the glass and slid the drink to me. "here you go, something to take your mind off things"

"Thank you," I said, taking my shot but still kept my eyes on her.

She gave me a suspicious look, leaning her elbows on the island. "Why do I get the feeling you ain’t here for a drink"

"Very smart" I coaxed.

"What do you want? Or do I have to throw you out? I have met several stalkers and I know how to deal with them"

"I guess your history with stalkers has to do with being a teen rock star all those years ago"

She gasped and took a step back like I just slapped her across the face. We held each other’s gaze like a staring contest.

"Look I don’t mean to-"

"I’m clocking out Jennifer, take over" she quickly said to her colleague taking her apron off and giving me an intense side eye before leaving out through the back.

"Fuck!" I cursed, dropped some cash, and rushed out after her.

"Wait!" I called as I watched her adjust her bag, picking up at her pace until it almost seemed like she was running.

"Hayden!"

"How the fuck do you know my name!"

"Look I-"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" she screamed and that was all it took for me to get blasted across the road and to the trash bins at the corner. I groaned, holding my ears, most likely bleeding now.

I sluggishly forced my body up as I looked around for her with a blurry gaze. She stands before me panting.

"I-I-I’m sorry"

"It’s alright," I said, groaning. I feel like I have been hit by a hurricane.

"I’m sorry" she breathed once again before dashing away.

"Hayden!"