by Kasi Blake
“We know that,” Sean said in a deadly calm voice.
Trick and Matt glanced at each other. Was Sean being sarcastic? What sort of game were their parents playing? Maybe they thought he’d lost his mind and were humoring him until they could call Baxter. Or perhaps they would take him to the hospital themselves, straight to the psych ward.
Matt was staring at his parents as if they’d grown extra heads.
“Are you hunters?” Trick asked, dreading the answer. He’d been shocked to learn the Fosters next door were hunters. If he found out he’d been living with two this whole time and hadn’t realized it... he wasn’t sure he could handle the shock.
Laura continued to shake her head. There didn’t appear to be a drop of blood left in her face. Pale and trembling, she moved her hand around as if searching for a place to sit.
“We support the cause,” Sean said. “We are benefactors.”
Trick went over everything his biological father had told him about the people who paid them to hunt. Wealthy idealists. Some rich people had banned together decades ago to rid the world of monsters. They couldn’t or wouldn’t fight the monsters themselves. Instead, they supplied money for weapons, travel expenses, medical bills, and whatever else hunters needed to get the job done.
Most millionaires did it anonymously. They put money into offshore accounts that hunting groups had access to, but not the hunters like Ian Carver. The ones who insisted on working alone did it on their own dime.
“You know about vampires?” Matt asked in a shaky voice. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Sean’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “Why didn’t we... why didn’t we tell you?”
Laura finally stopped shaking her head and took a step forward. She placed a hand on her husband’s arm. Trick wasn’t sure if she was trying to reassure him or restrain his anger. “Your father and I agonized over the decision,” Laura said. “In the end, we decided it would be best to keep you in the dark. We thought you were safe. There were... safeguards in place.”
Trick and Matt blinked at each other.
They both said, “Safeguards?”
“John Foster,” Sean said. “He told me about monsters when he moved into our neighborhood. He wanted me to be prepared. After he told me... scratch that. After he introduced me to a vampire I told Laura everything.” Eyes unblinking, Sean stared at Matt. “John Foster convinced me you were safe because he’d watch over our house.”
Laura took up where Sean left off. “John told us what to look for. Vampires can’t come inside unless invited, they can be killed with a stake through the heart, and they can’t go out in sunlight. He taught us how to test people. That’s why I spilled holy water on Summer when she came for dinner and why I put the real silver out when your uncle came inside.”
Sean turned his angry glare on Trick. “How have you been walking around during the day if you’re one of them? Or did you just get turned tonight?”
Trick’s breath caught in his throat. He was having trouble wrapping his mind around the reality that Sean and Laura had known the whole time. Trick had worked hard to keep them in the dark. What a waste of time.
“Answer your mother,” Sean said. “How long have you been... a vampire?”
Trick did not want to explain that part of the story. Bringing Dani’s name into it wouldn’t help anyone. So he shrugged and kept his mouth shut, which infuriated Sean.
His adoptive father turned his angry stare in Matt’s direction. “How long have you known about him being a vampire?”
Matt visibly swallowed. “Uh... since it happened.”
“And when was that?” Sean asked.
“When Scarlet was in the hospital,” Trick said because he knew Matt would blurt out the whole truth if he wasn’t stopped.
Sean paced the kitchen floor with violent movements. He seemed to be doing the math in his head so he would know how long his sons had been lying to him.
Trick and Matt exchanged concerned looks.
Sean stood directly in front of him and stared into his eyes as if searching for the truth. “Have you killed anyone?” Sean asked. “I need to know. Have you fed?”
“I drink from blood bags,” Trick admitted. He heard Laura sob in the background. His heart sank. They were afraid of him, probably hated him for what he’d become. He rushed to explain, “I haven’t hurt anyone.”
“Not yet,” Sean said beneath his breath.
“He hasn’t lost control, Dad,” Matt said. “I was worried at first too, but he’s been doing good. I swear.”
Sean sent an angry glare Matt’s way. “I can’t believe you kept this from me. Your brother gets in trouble, he gets turned into a vampire, and you don’t say a word? I thought we had a closer relationship than that.”
Head hung low, Matt refused to look at his father.
“Don’t blame him,” Trick said.
“Don’t tell me how to feel about this,” Sean said. His fists tightened, but he didn’t raise them. “John Foster swore he’d keep an eye on you, said I had nothing to worry about.”
“My father was a hunter,” Trick said. “And that’s what I’ve been doing almost every night since moving in.”
Sean folded his arms. “How did you go from hunting them to joining them?”
Trick compressed his lips into a tight line and silently swore if Matt opened his big mouth, he’d punch him. They had to leave Dani out of it. The last thing she needed was for Sean to blame her for something that wasn’t her fault. He hadn’t totally changed to save her.
“I didn’t have a choice,” Trick said.
Sean’s jaw dropped. “Didn’t have a choice? What the hell does that mean?”
“I was dying,” Trick admitted.
Sean snapped at him. “Explain.”
He decided to stick to half-truths. “When I found out my father was dead, I also learned my grandfather was a wizard. Somehow I was born with a power that was killing me.”
“That is ridiculous,” Sean said. “If you had magical powers, we would have noticed.”
“You didn’t notice he was a vampire,” Matt pointed out.
That reckless statement drew an angry scowl from Sean.
Trick took a step forward so Sean’s wary gaze would return to him. “Because of the power I was born with I’m not like other vampires.”
Hands on hips, Sean asked, “How have you been walking around during the day? John Foster made it clear vampires can’t do that.”
Trick gave Sean a brief run-down of his situation and how magic allowed him to enjoy sunlight and gave him all the perks without any of the problems. He kept quite a bit to himself though. Telling Sean about his vampire friends seemed stupid and unnecessary.
Once he was done Sean asked Trick to wait in the kitchen while he pulled Laura into the hallway for a private discussion. Obviously, no one had bothered to tell Sean that vampires had supernatural hearing. He eavesdropped without a shred of guilt. How else could he find out how they really felt about him?
“What do we do?” Laura asked. Anguish filled her voice. “All those times we tested people to make sure they weren’t a threat... I never dreamed we should be testing our own sons.”
Sean sighed. “After John Foster told me, I still thought the boys would be safe. John claimed the vampire population wasn’t that bad. He told me he was keeping an eye on Trick. Where was he when this happened?”
“You know John was gone more often than he was home,” Laura said. “He probably didn’t bother to have someone else watching while he was on the road.”
There was a pause followed by, “I want Trick to leave.”
“John, no.”
“That boy in there is not our son,” Sean said. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but John Foster was clear on how this works. Trick is dead. When someone becomes a vampire, their soul leaves their body and is replaced by a demon.”
Inside the kitchen, Trick’s internal organs turned to hot liquid. Even though he’d been afraid Sean would turn on h
im when he learned the truth, he never really thought it would happen. He wondered if Sean would have kicked Matt out for being a vampire.
“What are they saying?” Matt asked.
“Don’t sweat it,” Trick said with a shrug. “I was planning to leave anyway.”
“Leave?” Matt leaned back against the breakfast bar, both hands resting on the edge. He got that furrowed brow look on his face that told Trick his brother was deep in thought. In fact, Matt wore that same expression every time he worked on math or a difficult jigsaw puzzle.
“Don’t look so surprised,” Trick said. “Of course, Sean wants me gone. I’m a vampire. I’m a monster.”
“No, you’re not. Let me talk to him.”
“Why?” Trick took a step in the door’s direction. He wanted to leave before Sean told him to go. “This is what I wanted, to be cut loose. Now I won’t have to worry about any of you.”
If he was getting what he wanted, why did it feel like someone had ripped his heart from his chest?
Matt got a strange look on his face. “Hold on. What if this is exactly what Oberon wants you to do?”
Trick frowned.
Matt explained. “Haven’t you heard of divide and conquer? You’re going around blowing up relationships so you’ll be alone in this. What if that’s what Oberon wants? He can get to you easier if you don’t have anyone in your corner.”
Trick’s head hurt as he tried to keep up with Matt’s new theory. Maybe it would make sense to him later. For now, he just wanted to be alone. “Tell your father he doesn’t have to worry about me bothering him or his family again.”
“Don’t be like that,” Matt said. “Dad just doesn’t get it. I can make him understand.”
Sean was like Trick’s real father, Ian Carver, in that he believed vampires were monsters. Soon the man would start reciting Ian’s mantra: Vampires can be charming, but they are evil. Remember that. The second you trust one, you’re already dead.
Trick took a last look at the kitchen. Part of him wanted to drift through the house and take an inventory of his memories. Sean wouldn’t like that. He needed to leave now. An abrupt departure was the best thing for all of them.
“See ya,” he said to Matt.
Then he teleported to his new home rather than use the door. It didn’t matter if they saw him use the power. The proverbial cat was out of the bag. All Trick wanted to do was climb under the covers and sleep.
♫
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
What If?
Shaken by the disappointing encounter with his adoptive father, Trick teleported to an unused bedroom in the mansion. He dropped down on the floor next to the bed. Everything he’d overheard Sean say took a second trip through his mind. Hot tears filled his eyes. He blinked them back in anger.
Trick looked around at the bedroom through blurred vision. The interior had been decorated for a little boy. There were toy trains on the bedspread, the lampshade, and the wallpaper border near the ceiling. He’d done some research on the mansion after asking Cowboy to buy the place. After the former owner died, someone had taken over as guardian to the children. Sometimes he wondered about that. Were the kids lucky enough to wind up with people who cared about them the way the Donovans cared about him?
That’s what he’d wondered until now.
Hopefully, the kids that used to live in the mansion were luckier than him.
He silently cursed himself for going against his instinct. For years he had built an invisible wall between him and his adoptive parents. His gut had warned him not to open up to people. For years he’d kept his emotional distance from the Donovans, and now he knew he shouldn’t have stopped.
Hours passed.
The sun went down outside the second floor window. Evening light placed a hazy glow on the room’s interior. Anger faded. Grief filled his heart. Within a twenty-four hour time frame he had lost everyone who truly mattered to him. All he had left were vampires.
A short burst of laughter parted his lips. At least no one else would be hurt by his war with Oberon. The guy had yet to show his face, but he’d already demolished Trick’s life. Even if Trick survived the big fight, he doubted anyone would be left in his corner. Well, maybe Matt.
An odd clicking sound hit his ears. His head snapped around in time to see a child’s train-themed lamp levitating. The thing flew across the room and smashed against the exterior wall. At least it had missed the window.
Trick launched to his feet. Ghosts didn’t exist. Hunters and vampires alike agreed on that. He spread his legs apart. Fists ready, he waited for something invisible to attack.
Invisible?
“Cowboy?” he called out. “Is that you?”
His entire body stiffened as he waited for a response. Nothing happened. Maybe it was Oberon playing tricks on him again.
The cell phone in his pocket began to buzz. He frowned, sure that he’d turned it off hours ago to keep from getting calls from his concerned brother. Reluctantly, he dug it out of his pocket. Instead of a number there were weird symbols. A text popped up on the screen.
It’s me.
“Cowboy?”
YES!
To underline the fact it was his invisible vampire friend sending him a message, the toy box in the corner tipped over. Toys spilled on the floor including a box of chalk. A blue piece of chalk floated up, up, up. It wrote on the wall, the same words over and over again.
Do something!
Do something!
Do something!
Do something!
Do something!
“Like what?” Trick asked the empty room.
Another text came through.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself and help me.
Trick sat on the edge of the bed. He was at a loss for words and ideas. Plus, the thought of Cowboy spying on him while he was having a private moment bothered him more than he cared to admit. Expressing his emotions in front of people didn’t come easy. The only time he felt okay about breaking down was when he was alone. Cowboy had spoiled that. From this point forward Trick would always wonder if he was being watched.
Cowboy had lost contact with his phone, but somehow he’d managed to send the texts. Trick had heard that ghosts could contact people through electronics. Maybe invisible vampires could as well.
The mirror over the dresser broke, showing Cowboy’s frustration.
A shrill scream from somewhere downstairs interrupted Trick’s thoughts. Summer. Usually, she emitted at least two screams a day for various stupid reasons including she saw a mouse, broke a nail, was losing an argument, or caught sight of her own reflection. He made a habit of ignoring her, but somehow this had been different.
He ran through the enormous house, down the stairs, and stopped in the empty foyer. Where was she? Usually he found her right here after a scream, demanding attention.
Another scream came from the living room followed by, “Get out! Get out! Get out!”
Sounded like another mouse sighting to him.
Trick hurried to the living room.
He found two girls toe to toe, one blonde and one brunette. Although, Summer’s hair was hidden beneath the heavy black netting attached to the big hat. She stood near the fireplace, clenched fists and ready for a brawl.
Directly in front of her was Isobel. The dark-haired werewolf wore a mischievous grin and carried what appeared to be an ancient scroll. The rolled parchment had a red string tied around it. Even across the room it looked like an important artifact.
Curious, he asked, “What have you got there?”
“A gift,” Isobel said.
“We don’t want anything from you,” Summer insisted.
“You’ll want this.” Isobel waved the scroll in the air. “It’s the cure for Oberon’s curse.”
“Liar!” Summer shouted.
Isobel waltzed to the terrace door, throwing a coy smile over her shoulder. “Hey, if you don’t want it...”
A vase flew across the room an
d smashed against the wall, alerting them to Cowboy’s presence. He was desperate for the cure and wanted them to be aware. While the girls stood there stunned, Trick crossed the room to Isobel and reached for the scroll.
She hid it behind her back. “Not so fast, slugger. Summer needs to ask me for it.”
Summer turned away while shaking her head vehemently.
“Ask her,” Trick said.
“No,” Summer said.
A silver frame missed her head by inches as Cowboy let her know his feelings on the subject.
“Do you want to be old and ugly forever?” Trick asked.
Summer made a rude noise. “She’s lying, you idiot.”
“What if she isn’t?” Trick asked.
He fought the urge to stake Summer on the spot. Although, if he wanted to drive a wedge between Matt and himself, killing her would do it. His brother would never forgive him. But at the moment getting cured was Trick’s top priority. If Isobel had the cure to his blood lust problem, he needed to get his hands on the thing.
Cowboy threw a pewter figurine.
Summer turned back to face Cowboy’s ex girlfriend. “Fine. I want the cure. Give it to me.”
Isobel’s jaw clenched. “That’s not asking. That’s demanding. I know you’re used to batting your eyelashes to get what you want, but it won’t work with me. Neither will threats. Ask me for the cure.”
“May I have the cure... please?” Summer said from beneath the veil.
“Beg me,” Isobel said.
Summer spoke through clenched teeth. “Please give it to us.”
Isobel handed it to Summer.
Summer turned her back for a second, long enough to unroll the scroll. She screamed her frustration, dropped the scroll, and flew at Isobel with her hands curved into claws.
Trick’s gaze went to the floor. The scroll was blank. Summer had been right about the werewolf girl, but that didn’t mean Isobel was clueless. Since she was in the mansion, he planned to get some answers.
He teleported between the girls before they had a chance to collide. Arms stretched out, he flashed a palm at each girl. If they tried to fight, he’d stop them. They continued to shout, but they drowned each other out.