KATARINA: VAMPIRE (SLAY/LOV)ER

Part XII - Go Big or Go Home: Kill Shot

"What – in the – actual – fuck?!"

"I know, it was risky," Kat defended herself. "But now I have a direct way to reach him, and we can take care of it tomorrow instead of who knows when."

"She's got a point," Jasmine chimed in, acting innocent like she didn't know what Kat had planned.

Mark glared at Jasmine and sighed, shaking his head. "Meh," he let out while tossing his hands up. "It worked once; it might work again."

"Exactly!" Kat agreed. "Plus, it would be suspicious if I cancelled."

"I can follow her and stand by just in case things get sketchy."

"Is there anyone else living at the mansion with him?" asked Mark, still attempting to be the voice of reason.

"No, it's just him," explained Jasmine. "Been like that since my mom died and he abandoned me – well except Derrick, but, you know."

They knew

"Still," he added. "This situation is similar but it's completely different too."

"What do you mean?" asked Kat.

"With Derrick, he came to your turf, and you had all your tools staged. Mr. Smith's house is unknown territory. What are you going to do, walk into the most powerful vampire's house with a bag full of vampire slaying tools?

"The most powerful vampire you know of," Jasmine cut off Kat from responding. "There are more powerful one's on the East coast."

"Thanks for that, Jasmine," Kat joked. "And yeah, dad, that was my plan. It's not like he's got a vampire-slaying-tool-detector at his front door."

"To be fair," Jasmine chimed in. "Some vampires can detect things like silver, holy water, crucifixes, et cetera, but I don't think Mr. Smith has those abilities."

"Let's hope not," said Mark. "This isn't a game. Your life is on the line, Kat; don't forget that."

"Back to what I was just saying," Jasmine interrupted again. "We can't underestimate the situation and need to think about what could happen if things go sideways."

"Such as?" Mark asked.

"Well, we could both die," she continued, pointing to herself then Kat. "and I'm sure it wouldn't take him too long to realize that you were in on it, Mark – eh Mr. McKinley."

"Mark is fine," he said rubbing his chin. "You might be right."
"If he takes out us three, then he'd have free reign to wreak havoc across all of Everett and 'eat' to his hearts – or stomachs – intent."

"So, we just have to be extra prepared and –"

"That's not it," Jasmine interrupted Kat's interruption. "If we want to think worst-worst-case-scenario, he could turn all of his victims. With the only vampire slayers on the West coast gone nobody could stop him."

"Why would he need to do that?"

Mark chimed in: "The Church has ancient texts that state 'when the time is right' there would be a clash of monstrous beasts, first fighting each other for territory and control, then taking as much as they can. They never were specific about the 'right time' but this could be it as much as anything."

"Considering Mr. Smith was banished from the East Coast sect, he would be as good of a candidate as ever to light the fuse," stated Jasmine. "The East Coast sect are still, well, vampires, but they like to keep a low profile; it's their survival tactic.

A somber blanket enveloped the room.

Mark shifted his vision to Kat; she could tell he was starting to get emotional.