by R. Sullins
“Excuse me?” God, he sounded so imperious, I almost wanted to laugh.
“Please call me Ivy, not Miss Moore all the time.”
“Are we friends Miss Moore?” All right, now I was getting pissed. Okay, I get that we weren’t friends and we didn’t even know each other at all but he was obviously making a point. I was taught that you always call someone by their title and name to show respect… and to create a distance both emotionally and professionally. I, myself, used it while working at the diner to keep guys from trying to get close to me.
“No,” I gritted out, “we aren’t friends.” I barely knew him. And at this point, no matter how attractive he was, I didn’t think I wanted to get to know him. He was too much, imperious, cocky, too standoffish to want to get closer.
“Then, Miss Moore,” he stressed my name harder than necessary, “let’s continue. As I was saying,” his damn brow lifted as if asking my permission, as if he really wanted or needed it. I scoffed silently in my head. “There are times when a turning doesn’t happen properly and a vampire fails to thrive and instead begins to devolve. Sometimes immediately, sometimes slowly, but always within a few days, rarely as long as a few weeks. First, they begin to lose their hair. Then the whites of their eyes turn blood red. Their fangs grow much longer than a normal vampire would have and turn black. Their nails turn black as well. They essentially become a monster, a bloodthirsty killing machine. We call them revenants or sometimes ghouls because they are walking death. But,” here he sat forward with his attention fully focused on my face, “there is one thing they thirst for more than anything else on this earth. Hunter blood.”
I gasped as my blood ran cold.
“Hunter blood is like heroin to a devolved vampire. Your smell is like a drug they cannot ignore. It calls to them from miles away. It is thought that Hunters were developed by the Divine centuries ago to contain the spread of the ghouls. Vampires and mortals alike were being slaughtered by the killing machines. Therein lay more of your lore and legends. Things that go bump in the night often have truth to them. The bogeyman, the wendigo, Chupacabra, even more vampire legends, they all rose from the existence of the ghouls that were running rampant and difficult to contain and exterminate. So, Hunters were born. Evolved, I suppose, could be said. For an unknown reason, only a woman has held the title and abilities of a Hunter. Always passed from mother to daughter and, apparently in you and your sister’s case, not every daughter. This is why they flocked to you tonight. Your smell would have pulled them to you.”
“Why? Why do they like our, my, smell?” My mind was whirling and I wanted to get off this ride. Too much information, too scary to contemplate.
“Because, Miss Moore, it is your sole purpose in life to eradicate every revenant you find.” He sat back while looking me over from head to toe. The look on his face said he found me lacking. “I don’t know why you weren’t trained. A hunter with three ghouls on them would have dispatched all three in mere moments. Without breaking a sweat. You, my dear Hunter, are worthless as you are. As ruler of this section of the United States, it is my job to maintain the discipline of my vampires. As Hunter in your immediate and surrounding areas you are responsible for keeping the land free of ghouls.”
“Why are ghouls, revenants, even being created? Surely if someone is too weak to create a vampire they wouldn’t continue to try?”
“As I said, sometimes it is unknown as to why a vampire will devolve after being turned. And sometimes we have rogue vampires that do very bad things.”
Like, make ghouls on purpose. It was indicated but left unsaid. I suppose that was in his job title, not mine, as to finding who would be doing such a thing and putting a stop to it.
“How can I stop them if I don’t even know how to protect myself?”
“Ah, therein lies the reason for you being in my humble home.” I snorted out loud. Humble home my ass. This place was opulent. And immense, if this one room I had been in was any indication. “Since you were not trained by your mother the way you should have been once you came of age I will train you.”
He abruptly stood up and stalked towards the door. I jumped up, startled. Once again, I had the feeling of being confused and not knowing which way was up or down. The man was frustrating as hell. When he reached the door and pulled it open he spoke to a person standing just outside the door that I couldn’t see. “Take Miss Moore home.” He turned back to me, once again in his indifferent state. “You will be back here tomorrow night at 9 pm sharp. Rhys will pick you up at your home. Wear comfortable clothes that you can easily move in. We will begin your training.”
“Wh-,”
“Now Miss Moore. You need to get home and get some sleep. It is well past the time you should be trained, and I don’t want to waste any unnecessary time getting you there. I also need to go out and attempt to find the one ghoul my men were unable to locate after you ran away from them instead of killing them. Goodnight.”
And with that he turned away from me and strode out the nearest doorway. I watched his strong back disappear out of sight. I don’t even know his name.
Chapter 5
*****
Crispin stalked after the revenant that had just finished making a meal of the old man that was most likely a vagrant. He listened deeply, all around him, to any sound that would indicate mortals or vampires alike. He had not found any evidence of additional revenants other than the four that had been after the girl. The girl. She was going to be a challenge to be around nightly. It was a curious situation that she was found the way she was, with no mother and no training. He had never heard of a Hunter abandoning her offspring, especially one that was so obviously a Hunter herself. It would have been obvious since birth. They thrive faster than any other child. They were healthier and stronger. No, there would have been a reason her mother would abandon her. And her sister. She has a twin, bed bound, sister that she is the sole provider for. When all this time she could have been getting paid by the Council for her services as a Hunter and living a much easier life.
Everything about the girl intrigued him in a way he hadn’t experienced in his 2000 years.
*****
I woke early the next morning still slightly sore and still wearing the robe from last night. My wrist no longer needed wrapping but would be a bit weaker for at least another few hours. I would have to be careful while carrying trays at work.
Surprisingly, it hadn’t been that late once I finally got home last night. It was a good hour-long drive from the vampire’s mansion back down the mountain and home. He was much closer to the city of Chambers than our little town Rose Glen was. Which, I suppose, makes sense if he oversaw the area of vampires. Most would likely live in the large city. Our talk seemed to take hours, but I was home before midnight. I had to be at the diner by 6 but I’ve had less sleep before.
I quickly jumped in the shower to get ready for another long day at work. By the time I got out after using all the hot water, I could hear Sandy in the kitchen getting breakfast together. That meant I was nearly out of time. Rushing through my morning routine, throwing my hair up in my usual ponytail and dressing in my faded jeans and a t-shirt with the diner’s logo, I finally ran into the kitchen to grab a muffin and a travel mug from Sandy. Iris wouldn’t be awake yet, she always slept until mid-morning.
“Thanks, Sandy, you’re a lifesaver.” I told her with a quick peck on her cheek.
“I know!” she replied cheerily, making me laugh as I walked out the door.
Walking into the early morning sunshine that was just starting to burn away the evening mist and hearing the birds twitter in the trees almost made me think I imagined the entire episode last night. But no way, in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the ghouls. I shuddered clear to my toes. That experience was not something I wanted to repeat. Ever. But if the vampire was to be believed, I would repeat it again, and again, and again. They are drawn to my smell, like crack. If I don’t train, the next time I face them they could kill
me. I barely got away last night. A horrible thought occurred to me – they could be drawn to my house and to my sister. I need to be trained right away so I can protect my sister. Just being around me put her in terrible danger and she wouldn’t have any way to protect herself.
As I continued on my walk to the diner my mind drifted to the vampire. There was something… different about him. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what exactly it was. Oh, he was big and intimidating but there was more. Almost like his presence was a presence like he radiated an unseen aura of power. At times, especially when he was looking directly into my eyes. I felt the hairs on the nape of my neck stand on end. I wasn’t afraid he would hurt me, but I knew, without a single shred of doubt, that he absolutely could. And it wouldn’t even expend energy on his part to end my life.
There was an awareness as well. As a man. That was something I had never felt before. I was 21 years old and, due to my circumstances, had not spent time in a man’s presence that didn’t require me to ask if he wanted a refill or if he wanted ketchup or hot sauce. I was too busy, had too much responsibility. I had a boyfriend before the accident and we were getting serious enough to want to spend time alone. I hadn’t planned to go all the way with him even back then, I was still too young in my mind.
But now, for the first time as an adult I felt something I hadn’t back then. Awareness of a man. Unfortunately, that man was not what I could ever get involved with. A vampire? Yeah, only if I wanted to become a late-night snack. And even if I could overlook the whole vampire thing and the needing to consume O-neg for breakfast, or dinner, whatever, he was seriously grumpy. He was not welcoming in the least and I got the impression that he was unhappy with me, what with the whole “I have no use for you” bit. So, even though the man was sinfully gorgeous with his rugged good looks and piercing gray-sometimes silver-eyes, I would keep that little awareness I had locked up.
I waved absently to Mrs. Cook who was watering her flower bed while standing there in her usual bathrobe and hair rollers. The town was quiet with little excitement and next to no crime. My sister and I used to live in the city of Chambers past the mountain but moved here after the accident when we came to live with Sandy.
Last night ended in a bit of a haze for me. I remember being shown out of the mansion to a dark sedan and put into the backseat. That felt weird to me since I was the only passenger to the huge driver. I think I dozed on the way back home. I did notice that we drove down the mountain. The driver didn’t talk other than to grunt at me when he dropped me off in the driveway of my little cottage rental. He at least waited until I closed the front door to take off, a plus for that I suppose.
My phone beeped with a message, so I dug it out of the bottom of my bag, surprised to be getting any messages. The only people that ever texted me were Sandy and my boss asking me to come in for a shift, which I was always willing to do. But I just left Sandy a few minutes ago and my shift started in 10 minutes at the diner.
Unknown: Rhys will pick you up an hour after sunset
Unknown: Wear comfortable clothes to train in
It didn’t take a genius to figure out that the text was from my new vampire “boss”. I quickly changed the contact name.
Me: How did you get my number
Vampire: One hour after sunset. Be ready
Well then. I guess I would be ready an hour after sunset.
I went straight into the breakroom and threw my bag into my assigned locker before putting my apron on, checking to make sure I had a couple of pens and an order pad. I nodded at the greasy cook and ignored his usual leer. He was creepy but harmless, making the girls shudder but not scared. After clocking in, I started my workday, taking orders and walking around with a pot of burnt coffee since the hot plate of the coffee machine always ran too hot, refilling cups and making small talk with the regulars.
Time passed quickly and before I knew it, it was time to clock out and head home. I dodged another request for a date from the cook and headed to the grocery store to pick up something for dinner. I didn’t have a car so I had to make frequent trips. I had a lot of strength, but it wasn’t fun carrying multiple bags of groceries in one trip.
I took my time, slowly pushing the cart up and down all the aisles. I wouldn’t get very much, but it was nice to be out of the house and away from the diner. Any time I could get to myself was precious to me. I tried to soak up as much of the non-responsibility time I could get all to myself. But there was only so much time I could take in the small store. I also realized that Mr. Broody Vampire was going to be taking up my running alone time. I needed that time to refresh and recharge.
Walking through the door to the cottage I could hear my sister yelling at Sandy again. While I put away the few groceries I bought I listened to Sandy speak to Iris in her soothing voice about stretching her legs for her. It was important, even though she couldn’t use them, to keep her muscles and tendons stretched. She absolutely hated the exercises. I honestly thought that it was because it was a reminder that she can no longer move them on her own. Being paralyzed was not something she had ever come to terms with. It made her angry and hateful and she took it out on everyone around her. Mostly Sandy and I were the ones who took the brunt of her rage and it fed my guilt.
We tried to get her to get out of the house, but she refused to even leave her bed most of the time. It was a battle and a nightmare to get her to leave the house for a doctor's appointment. I had come to expect it, and accept it, as I had most of the other changes in my life. Frankly, the tantrums she threw were not worth trying to force her most of the time. I would trade places with her if I could, but instead of being permanently injured like she was, I had healed without even a scar. And now I would also possibly lure monsters to her.
I let out a deep breath and hung my head, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I felt the burning in my eyes and shook my head. I had no reason to cry. I had my legs, my health. What did my sister have? I couldn’t stop the one tear from escaping. I couldn’t allow any more though. I had to be strong. I had to learn to protect my sister. I had to do what I could to make her happy again.
Sandy walked into the kitchen while I put together the rest of our early dinner of chicken and steamed vegetables.
“Hey beautiful, how was work today?” Sandy gave me a big smile and a one-handed hug while she walked past to grab a water bottle from the refrigerator.
“Hi, Sandy.” I gave her a smile back, so thankful for her every single day. “It was the same as usual.” I laughed lightly. Every day was the same. Well, it used to be, now things were turning out to be much different.
“Did Mr. Creepy ask you out again?” She wagged her eyebrows up and down grinning at me before laughing at the grimace on my face. “Oh, come on! If not him,” she gave a delicate shudder, “at least date someone! Just tell me when and I will be here to take care of Iris for you.”
I started to shake my head, no way could I go out on a date while my sister was laid up in bed. It’s not her fault that she was stuck here, and it wouldn’t be right to go out with a guy when she will never get the chance to have the same kind of relationship. But Sandy interrupted me with her usual argument.
“You need to stop punishing yourself like this Ivy. What happened is nobody’s fault and there is no reason for you to give up on life. You are young and beautiful. You have so much life left to live, and you are wasting it.” The look of sadness in her eyes always made me want to cry. I knew she was right, she was always right. But anytime I thought about it, it broke my heart for my sister, my twin. We should have both gone to college, partied, had boyfriends. By now one or both of us would have had at least one serious relationship, possibly a pregnancy scare, got drunk, done stupid, normal, young adult things. But that would never happen. Iris was a part of me, and part of my soul died when the doctors told me she would never walk again. A part of Iris died that day, too. It changed her. And I grieved for my lost sister every single day.
I wipe
d another tear that managed to escape. “Sandy, you know I love you but that is not going to happen. I can’t do that to her. Could you imagine what it would do to her to know I was seeing a man and having the kind of relationship she will never have? It would destroy her worse than she already is.” I shook my head and whispered, looking at the stained countertop, “No, I can’t do that while she is trapped in that bed.”
I gasped in shock when Sandy grabbed me by the arms and turned me to face her. The angry look on her face was nothing I had ever seen on her before. “Now you listen to me! That girl in there is choosing to stay bedbound. There is no reason, ever, for her to not have a life! People that are paralyzed can do almost anything anyone else can do. They have jobs, can drive, have relationships. She is so angry that she refuses to have a life, and she is destroying yours in the process!” She stepped back and grabbed a dish towel and started angrily wiping down the already clean counters. I heard her mumbling to herself while viciously scrubbing at a stain. I laid my hand over hers to stop her. I hadn’t ever seen this side of her and was surprised by it.
“I suppose, in a way, I know you are right Sandy. I know there are people out there that don’t let disabilities stop them. I want that for her. I just don’t see how she will ever accept how things are. And as long as she is unhappy, I will never be able to enjoy life either.” I held both of her hands in mine as I searched her eyes. I saw the disappointment in them and wished I could remove that. I hugged her tightly and closed my eyes at the comforting feeling. It made me miss my mom, the one we had before she ran away. Sandy had that warm, caring personality that made her a perfect caregiver.
She didn’t answer me, but she gave a small, sad smile before picking up her bag and leaving the house.
*
I fed Iris her dinner and cleaned up the mess that was created and smiled through most of the anger she threw at me. After making sure she had her laptop and cellphone and was comfortable I got dressed in my normal running gear but I had to use an old pair of running shoes. I figured that it would work for training in and it wouldn’t raise any suspicions since I left nightly for my runs anyway. I pulled my hair into a tight ponytail and tucked my extra house key into my sports bra.