Along came Reid

16. Dusk

Morning. Normally, Jamie welcomed the coming of dawn and the light it brought. The screechers would cease their howling and the world would be a hair safer. However, this morning, Jamie had no desire to greet the day or deal with what it would bring.

Rolling onto her back, Jamie stared at the white office ceiling, her fingers absently moving to touch her neck. Though shallow, the pads of her fingers could clearly make out the indents where a pair of fangs had punctured her skin. Jamie's eyes fluttered closed at the memory.

Was this going to be her life from now on? Sure, she wouldn't be a blood cow to a larger society of vampires, but Jamie wondered if she now would be forced to become a food source for Reid.

"I will not hate him." she whispered hoarsely to herself, a reminder of her resolve. Jamie laid in bed for hours until the day crept closer to noon. When both mental fatigue and hunger forced her from her room, she was faced with several suitcases and trunks stacked near the exit door.

It was real. She was going to have to leave her fortress, the place she'd known as safety and home. It was a concept she was aware of, but couldn't fully grasp.

"Reid had us start packing up things this morning." Courtney explained softly. Jamie turned her cheek to find him carrying a cardboard box in his arms.

"Where's TJ?"

Courtney shook his head. "Still upset. None of us want to go."

"It's not like we have a choice." Jamie admitted quietly, trying her best to extinguish the bitterness souring her words. Courtney moved and put his box down beside the others, dusting his palms off.

"You know, I kind of thought your home would be it." he began, his dark eyes staring unseeingly at the pile of luggage. "We had everything here; protection, food...family."

"Yeah we did." Jamie nodded softly, hugging her arms to her chest.

"What's going to happen when we get there? I mean, Reid's kind of okay, but I don't like other vampires."

"I don't have any answers for you Courtney." Jamie sighed, leaning her back against one of the cubicles. "We're just going to have to trust that Reid will be enough to keep us safe."

"What's with all the sour faces?" Reid asked as he approached them. Jamie's eyes closed and her chin lowered. Not yet, she wasn't ready to face him yet. This was his fault, but she couldn't be angry with him, she couldn't lash out...God, why did she ever agree not to hate him?

"We just can't believe we're leaving." Courtney offered with a shrug. "It doesn't feel real."

"Aw come on! It'll be fun!" Reid exclaimed as he moved towards Jamie with a plate in hand. "Peace offering." he explained as he shoved the plate full of sliced tomatoes, bacon and eggs into her hands.

A nostalgic memory of the first night Reid arrived floated to the surface of her mind. He'd offered chocolate the first time for peace. "Thanks." Jamie said quietly as she moved to sit on the floor. Somehow this whole ordeal stole her appetite from her and despite the deliciousness of the food, Jamie just couldn't bring herself to eat.

"I don't see how living with vampires is fun." Courtney noted with a raised brow. "The last time I met one, you killed him."

"Well, it won't be like that this time. First off, you guys are my humans. Second, have you ever seen how vampires live? You'll be able to live in luxury like you've never seen. Think, no more deaders or screechers to worry about-"

"No, just vampires." Jamie sighed. Her cheek turned to Barron who decided to join them. He fooled no one when he went to Jamie first, sniffing her face while constantly glancing at the plate in her lap.