Blame the Blood

Chapter 3

Alexa

A big fat black rat ran out of the hole in the floorboards behind the television screen. 

Not in my house, I thought. I caught it straight in between the eyes with a throwing stake, I had to rest up and I'm not happy about it. I may like naps, but not moving when I'm awake, that's hard. I could 100% run a good half marathon right about now. How to distract myself? I seldom even get scratched by vampires nowadays let alone sustain wounds vs. one who looked more like a schoolboy than a gigantic murderous demon. All she could do was fidget and wait for Father's research into vampires who can walk in the sun with glowing red eyes.

I flicked to another music video on youtube. Father would know more about them, he always knew something, even if it was minute or inconsequential, he was just a monumental font of information, and I love him for it. He has been so inspirational over the years, when it had been just the two of them, against the world, against the vampire hoards. He'd taught me to fight, to protect myself, to protect others, to find an understanding with others, to lust for knowledge, and to love and accept others, no matter how different you are. Kind of at odds with my vampire hunter destiny, but what would I have become without him? Would I have been able to save anyone ever, or just been a machine of violence, a monster as bad as the vampires I hunted? If I had even survived?

The attacks I had been the target of as a child were too vast and frankly terrifying. They came at any time any day. Like I was some kind of magnet. My father had to keep us moving for so long. We moved continents and countries at the drop of a hat. So he had to teach me everything, my first language, my social interactions and manners, they come from him to the most extreme degree. I owe him so much, the abandoned baby he decided to give life to. In short, I owe him everything, and he still only thinks of me.

He had found this place, this abandoned old farmhouse in the middle of the South West England countryside and made it a home for the last 3 years so I could experience life, make friends, and get a formal education. How do I know this? Because he would still rather be on the road. From time to time he disappears to go on solo adventures, and I see the contentment in him when he lands. He's probably bored of the life he's made for us, for me.

But, I've failed him. I will never understand humans enough to stay friends with them. I was keeping my phone close, not a single message from her yet. I miss Sarah and Edmund, even though we were such a mismatched bunch. Sarah was also one of those people that didn't judge anyone by appearance exactly like Father, it got her in so much trouble, but made their meeting on my pretty tragic first day of school ever as a 13-year-old.

Sarah and her father collected friends and people that just wanted to spend time this them, wherever they went. Who knows why she'd come back to hang out with me and my intimidating 'butch' nature.

With her help, I had attempted to be 'girly' once. A guy looked up at my tight black pencil skirt when I was sitting in art class, it was rude and degrading so I knocked him out. Was I supposed to be flattered and go all, 'sempai has noticed me' I decided no. Sarah had cooed at him after and he decide to go follow her around for the rest of the month... See I don't get the people at school. Most are lucky they're even alive with all the vampires around.

I'm very happy the number of types of supernatural creatures has been greatly exaggerated by fictional media. Fairies, witches, werewolves, demons, ghosts, pah, I'd never encountered any. However, there was that memory of being given a hot chocolate by a leprechaun... Father had probably taken me to a kids Santa's grotto, but the realism of the leprechaun has always stuck with me.

So, sitting here in my gloomy couch potato state, I watched a mad victorian urchin, bound into the room. Had Father brought home a random stray again? "Ah Alexa darling, I'm just popping off, I'll see you tomorrow!" The overly family, and strangely familiar person, beamed at me patiently waiting for a reply. I shrugged off the fur blanket I'd been hugging perching on the end of the sofa, exposing my extensively bandaged shoulders, which didn't hurt much at all anymore. Supernatural healing is a perk.

"I hope you don't mind me asking but... Who are you?" And waited for a substantial reply.

The girl's expectant smiling continued, "What do you mean? Alexa it's-" she was going through a lot of expressions so fast I couldn't read a single one. "I'm um, you know your father, well guardian, D? Something erm, happened to him."

"What!" I jumped up and started to shake her. "What's happened? Where is he?"

"He's fine! Just not, well..."

"He's not well? Take me to him!"

"I can't! No, he's well! He's fine! He's..."

"Just tell me!" I must have been screaming because she looked frightened, confused, and possibly sad.

"He's gone on a mid-life crisis adventure and doesn't wasn't you to go find him. He's left me to look after you, for the time being, I'm his niece... D-D-D..." The young woman looked around for something and stared momentarily at a few roman vases, my father had collected on the small sideboard. "-Diana." Diana trembled a bit, but I couldn't smell real fear, she was afraid of something, but not me.

I grasped Diana's hand and studied her, her palms were warm and sweaty but she didn't attempt to draw them back. Although the girl was of a different age and gender I see the family resemblance. She had the same warmth and orange tint in her eyes as Father. "Alexa as you know, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise!"

I could sense him before I heard the creaking steps and his gasp. But the vampire was fast and entered the room. As soon I saw his blonde mop and suit slide through the doorway I knew it was the same one as before! Now the blonde daywalker survived sunlight and a wooden bullet to the heart!

I pulled Diana behind me and reaching for any weapon, my hand found a pirate's cutlass on the wall. "How are you not dust?" Diana pushed around from behind me nowhere near as afraid as she should have been!

"You're a vampire?" Diana edged closer to him.

"Duh." The vampire gestured to his mouth where distinct vampiric fangs protruded.

"But, you helped me?... Alexa, this vampire saved D's life! As payment D asked me to stick around and teach him a few things." She spoke firmly turning to the vampire she added, "Paul this is Alexa and I'll still show you everything if you don't try to harm anyone. Our safety is part of the deal now."

What deal? She or my father made a deal... With this devil.

The vampire 'Paul' opened and closed his mouth, no words were coming out. He was starting to look less threatening. His bright red eyes faded to pink, claws to normal nails, and fangs receded to almost Human level. He looked like almost that, a pretty human boy. He just collapsed on the sofa with his head in his hands.

"What did you do to my father?" I asked, a sword tip expertly pointed at his jugular. No reaction at all from the beast! It wasn't fair, I didn't have time to waste getting information out of him. I have to find Father!

"I told you he's fine." Diana stood in between us again.

"Well please forgive me if I don't take your word for it, I have to go find my father!" I glared at Paul. "I'm giving you a pass for now but be gone when I return!"