“Thank you for your help Misty. Grandfather and I will come up with a solution to get you out of here, without getting caught. Isn’t that right Dalton?”
“Yes, if that’s what you wish, then we’ll do our best to get you safely out. It won’t be easy at night time. So if you don’t care, we’ll go over the details tonight and follow through with the plan tomorrow. How does that sound?”
“Sounds good to me, after all I could use a nice hot shower and a good night’s sleep. I couldn’t possibly remember the last time, I enjoyed running water.”
Dalton chuckled, “Well if your leaving tomorrow then you better savor the moment, because where your going, the only running water your going to get is from nature its self.”
“Yeah, you do have a point there.”
“Well, we’ll leave you to it then, and in the meantime, if you change your mind just let us know.”
“I doubt that will happen, but I’ll keep it in mind. And thank you both for helping me. I don’t know how much longer I would’ve lasted on my own.”
“Don’t mention it. I just wish that it never had happened, at least not in my home. Get some sleep; we have a long day ahead of us.”
“Yes we do.”
8
The day’s events are beginning to run right into the nights events. Grandfather had walked me down to his underground laboratory so we could strategize, without being overheard. He told me that even though he wasn’t allowed to ward the house with protection, he was granted permission to protect his laboratory and anything that was within it. The mistress was all too worried that he would hide any valuable information and things in the house if she gave him permission to protect it against anything and everything within the town’s limit.
But, I guess she didn’t think about him taking anything down here, and possibly if he did, she would find out about it. Once we walked down the concrete steps into the bright underground basement, that he now calls his laboratory he showed me around. There are huge overhead lamps, used to brighten the room, and five tables evenly spread about, that holds his equipment of flasks and chemicals. He has a wall sized shelf that holds probably a hundred or more books for his research. There’s a bathroom and a small kitchen. He told me he only uses those, when he’s pulling an all-nighter. Which, he rarely does these days, giving his age.
The Laboratory looked I guess like any other laboratory would, except it didn’t have the extremely white walls to go with it. He told me that was really only used for sanitary precautions. And since the things he researched doesn’t require sanitary needs, then he didn’t bother to go through the extra trouble of such. Grandfather walked me over to a drawing board that he had set up, and was showing me multiple plans that had been drawn, showing the town’s roads and landmarks. We spent hours and hours going over the plans and marked the one’s we thought to be more effective to get Misty out of the town safely.
“How come you have these blue prints of the town and Patty doesn’t?”
“Oh, Patty has a set of blue prints, but what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
“No, maybe not, but it could come back eventually to bite you in the butt, grandfather.”
“Well, I’ll just have to worry about that bridge, when it comes time to cross it, want I?”
“I guess so. You have quite a setup here. How long have you been in this house?”
“I’ve only been in this house for a couple of years Jess, but I’ve had this laboratory for about twenty years. Patty just doesn’t know that.”
“How could she not know that?”
“Well, I was given the opportunity to pick where I wanted my house to be built. So, I put a spell on the construction workers that of course was to benefit me. They were supposed to report anything that they found entrusting, once the houses were being built. But, I didn’t really give them that opportunity. She knows I have a laboratory, but she doesn’t really know where. I’ve always refused to bring her to my laboratory. I told her that she already knows too much about me and my family. That my laboratory is my life’s work, and she was not to get anywhere near that.”
“What did she think about that?”
“Well, she didn’t quite like it, but I really didn’t give her the choice otherwise.”
“I hate that we’ve missed so many years getting to know one another. I already like you, and have learned so much from you.”
“Jess, dear boy, we’ve not even gotten started. I’ve taught Damon many things, and have wanted to teach him a lot more. Once I learned that he was dabbling in black magic, I kind of leered away from him. I forewarned him about it, he doesn’t want to listen to me, so as most young people do, he’ll just have to learn it the hard way.”
“What do you mean black magic? I thought there were good in both kinds?”
“There are, but once you start using your magic to serve the bad, it always comes back on you three fold.”
“Who is he serving grandfather? I thought he was working for you?”
“He used to work with me, but now he’s helping Patty, and hasn’t been completely honest with me.”
“Don’t you think by sending him away that Patty will get a little suspicious?”
“No, because Damon has usually came and gone as he well pleased. So, she’ll just think that he’s gone off on another one of his escapades. She won’t think anything else of it.”
“You sound so sure of it.”
“I am, he may think I don’t know what he’s been doing, but I have my reasons to doubt him, and if you ever feel doubt about something, then you should trust it. Your gut, never fails you. So far, mine hasn’t.”
“Speaking of gut grandfather, I’m a little hungry. Where do the other vampires usually hunt?”
“Jess, you won’t like the answer to that question.”
“I probably won’t, but you can tell me anyway.”
“Well, most of the vampires hunt and feed off of the humans here in town. That’s why there’s a college set up here, so that the vampires will always have a supply of food. Some of the students donate blood; they’re aware of our nature and give their blood to them freely. Others refuse to, and for punishment the vampires either torture them for pleasure or feed from them to quench their hunger.”
“So, if I don’t want to feed off of the humans, the only other choice I have is to risk my life to go and get it from the hospital?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Man this place is really messed up. Misty wasn’t joking when she said this town is nothing like it was before.”
Dalton ran his hands through his thick white hair and released a long sigh “I’ll have to agree there. And the sad thing is it just keeps getting worse.”
“What are we going to do grandfather?”
“Jess, don’t go to thinking that you can play the hero here. This town has lost its ways, years ago. If you try to stop her, she’ll kill you so fast, you won’t know what hit you. Patty and Nick and some of the others are at least three hundred years old. They’re the eldest amongst this town, and they’ll destroy anyone and anything that tries to get in their way. So, listen to me carefully. Only do what you came here to do, and even that is dangerous enough. Even if you do get Ava out of that cabin and this town, you’ll always be on the run, Patty has some plans up her sleeve, I can just feel it. And if you stop her from completing those plans, she’ll want your head delivered to her on a silver platter. Don’t underestimate her; she’s a very dangerous woman.”
“Why do you think she doesn’t want me around Ava?”
“That Jess, I do not know. Once, I was told that she was brought back and you weren’t, it puzzled me. I was trying to figure out why you didn’t come with her, but I also thought that maybe you just didn’t want too, but I can see now, that isn’t the case. All I can say is she has some plans for Ava’s future, and I’m afraid to say that they don’t involve you.”
“Do you think Ava’s in danger?”
�
�Right now, no. I don’t think Ava knows what her parents have in mind for her future. Because, if she did know what was going on, she wouldn’t want anything to do with it, I know she loves you Jess. We’ve only seen her in town a couple of times, and each time she just seems lost.”
“What do you mean, she seems lost. I’d think that she’d be very happy to have her parents back.”
“Maybe the parents she once knew. Ava just seems confused. She always looks around the town with this sense of wonder and pain. I can tell she senses something off about the town, but I get this vibe from her, that she’s hurting, almost grieving for you.”
“I’d think she’d know that I’d come after her, that I’d protect her no matter what.”
“Yes, she would if she knew that she needed protecting, but her parents have pulled a shield over her eyes, and filling her head with a bunch of lies about this town, and about you. And don’t think that she can’t protect herself Jess. She’s a very powerful half breed. She could probably do as much damage alone, compared to everyone else in this town. That’s another reason why Patty and Nick have chosen now to bring her back. They want her to do their bidding, but they’ll realize soon enough that she’ll have nothing to do with their nasty plans.”
“What is it, that you’re not telling me grandfather?”
“Nothing that we need to worry about now Jess, when the time comes I will tell you everything that I know. So, in the meantime we need to worry about what lies ahead tomorrow. We have all the details worked out, and we’ll put all of our hard work into good use tomorrow. So, tonight you can use the bunker down here, there’s a kitchen fully stocked with supplies and a full bathroom for you to use. I know the kitchen don’t have the nutrition that you crave, but maybe you can find something that will tie you over. Just get yourself a good night’s sleep, and we’ll worry about everything else when we get to it.”
“Alright grandfather. Thank you for your hospitality. I know your family and everything, but that doesn’t mean that I expect you to stick your neck out for me. What you’ve done alone tonight has meant more to me than you’ll ever know.”
“Jess, I’ll always be here for you, if I can. And I’m glad to finally have you back in my life. I truly wish that it wasn’t in these circumstances, but I guess you can’t have everything you wish for.”
“No, I guess you can’t.
“Goodnight Jess, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Goodnight grandfather.”
9
Spending the night in the underground laboratory wasn’t so bad. In fact, it was very peaceful and calm. This is something that I haven’t got to enjoy in a very long time. I spent most of the night wondering how Ava was doing, and what it was that Patty and Nick had in mind for her. No matter how much I tried to keep my mind off of the subject, I just kept coming back to it over and over. I maybe got four hours of sleep, when I heard Dalton’s footsteps coming down the stairs. I woke up fast and waited for the door to open to reveal who it was behind the other side of the door.
“Jess, it’s time to get up. We’ve got ten minutes to get ready and get to the gate before the guards changes their shifts.”
“I’ll be right there.”
There wasn’t much for me to do to get ready. I went into the small bathroom and splashed my face with water, to wash away the sleepiness that’s still there. I run my fingers through my hair and smooth out my clothes the best I can. I’ll admit I’m a little nervous about today’s event. I don’t think getting Misty out of the town is going to be the hardest task at all. I think getting Dalton and myself back here safely, is going to be another thing, all in its self.
After I decided that I wasted enough time already, I headed up the steps to find everyone waiting for me. My mother looked at me and smiled, she gave me a big hug and handed me a bag.
“What’s this mom?”
“Well I know that some things have changed that couldn’t be helped, but giving that, there’s nothing that can be done about it, I was thinking that you may be a little hungry. Once Dalton told me about your plans for today I thought you may need some food that’s more natural to you, and will give some extra strength.”
I slowly opened the brown paper bag that my mother handed me and peeked inside to reveal a bag of O positive blood. I looked at her and smiled.
“Thanks mom, I know this can’t be easy for you. And the trouble that you probably had to go through to get it couldn’t have been easy.”
“You’re right Jess, it’s not easy, but I will manage to adapt. And anything for my son big or small is not any trouble.”
“Mom I love you, and I’ve missed you so much. After our mission we’ll have to get together and catch up.”
“Yes son, we will.”
My mom hurried out of the room, wiping at her eyes. I could tell from her senses that she was emotional. I know it can’t be easy at all for her to look at me, and see a monster. Just like the other vampires here in town that has destroyed her life. I don’t know why she hasn’t got her over-due revenge, yet. I guess that’s why we are so different.
“Grandfather, if you’ll please excuse me for a moment. I’m going to go drink my food; I’ll be back up in just a minute.”
“Alright Jess, make it quick.”
“No problem.”
I’ve never drunk blood out of a bag before. And before I came here, I didn’t even know that blood could come in a bag. Thinking about it and smelling the essence in the bag made my jaws ache with hunger, and my fangs slipped out of my gums to expose the monster inside. I arched my mouth and jaw so that I could pierce the bag more easily and sank my fangs into the bag with carefulness, but yet eagerness. I was hungry, and human blood was the best of all. You get more strength and taste out of it compared to animals. But, this life is not the life that I want to get use to. I don’t want to hurt others, and any other way you look at it, that’s exactly what this town is doing. Maybe not now, but eventually I will destroy it.
After biting into the bag I could taste the richness and life that once served the blood. The blood itself calmed my nerves and quenched my appetite. Once I finished the bag of blood I placed the empty contents into the garbage can and then made my way back upstairs to my grandfather.
“That was quick. Did you get enough to eat?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“No problem.”
“Have you seen Misty?”
“Yes, she’ll be out in a minute. She’s preparing herself for the long journey ahead of her.”
“I don’t blame her, it was a long trip. And I couldn’t possibly thank her enough for helping me get here.”
“I talked to her last night Jess. She knows that you appreciate her help. But, she doesn’t ask you or me for anything, just to help her out of the town, so that she can go and join her family.”
“I didn’t know that she had family.”
“There’s a lot about her that you don’t know. Bringing her here could have put both of your lives in danger. But, she did it anyway, to help a friend in need.”
“Do you know where she’s going to go when she leaves here?”
“She didn’t tell me where, but she wants me to give you something when we get back. I promised her that I would see to it that you got it.”
“Well I’m going to go and check on her, make sure she’s alright.”
“She’s fine Jess. Don’t worry about her; she’ll be out here in a minute.”
“Okay then.”
“Why are you so anxious anyway?”
“I just want to get her out of the town and us back here safely as possible. And I thought the sooner we made it to the gate the better?”
“Well yes the sooner the better. Jess, we have all three of our powers on our side. If we do run into any problems, it won’t be hard to fix.”
“Okay if you say so, then I believe you.”
“Well I say so, so go and relax for a few minutes.”
“Okay.”
/>
I went and set down on the large couch to wait on a woman. Why do women insist on taking so long for everything? And it’s not like we’re going anywhere special. She’ll be out in the woods by herself for days. I’d think the nastier you looked and smelled would come in handy. Considering what’s out there lurking around in the shadow. But, I guess out there isn’t the issue. It’s what’s in here that is. Sometimes I wish I could just go back to when I was a kid. When everything was innocent and sweet, instead of now when everything is just so horrible including myself. I guess Ava was right. I should have thought about changing into a vampire. She was afraid that I’d regret it. And I’m starting to, with every passing day. I love Ava and would do anything for her, if it meant that she would be safe.
I guess instead of thinking about all the horrible things, I could think about all of the nice things that you could enjoy in life. But when everything that was once good in your life has become this complete nightmare, I just find it a little hard to do that.
Misty walked into the room and cleared her throat, “I’m ready. Shall we get this party started?”
I took one glance at her and thought my eyes were going to bug out of my head. She was dressed in all black. She had her strawberry blood hair down, in long loose curls that hang just barely past her shoulders, she was also wearing a little makeup that brought out her eyes and lips. Well compared to what she normally looks like, she looks stunning.
“I’m ready, but may I ask one thing? Where exactly are you going to go looking like that? I thought we wanted to be inconspicuous, not draw every male in our direction.”
“Well thank you for saying, I look pretty. I guess. Jess you know the plan we lurk around in the shadow. But if someone was to sense us there and come over, I can step out and address them with my female alluring looks.”
“Okay, I see. Well if it doesn’t work, then something is most defiantly wrong with that person. Are you sure you don’t want to stay here a little longer?”
The Night Life: Exodus of Evil Page 13