Only Human: Monsters and Men

Chapter 6: Hendrix and June

Change of POV

"Mary! What news do you bring?" I asked as I came up to the woman who had been a servant of mine since I was young. Mary was dressed in her normal maid attire, and looked as lovely as ever. Her hazel eyes were sharp and quick witted. Her dirty blond curls were pinned back and bounced at just below her shoulders. Blessed with vampire longevity she only had a few wrinkles that made her appear forty to humans, even though she was much older than that. In my opinion the wrinkles only made her appear wiser and more mature. She was a very handsome woman indeed.

"Welcome back, Master Hendrix. While you were away Master Jerves of Jerves Jewelry came by to pay you a visit. I offered an apology for your absence and arranged for you to meet with him Thursday of next week. A letter also arrived from Her Highness Princess Katharine." Mary informed me in her usual manner. I moaned and glanced at Mary reproachfully.

"Do you have any good news?" I asked. Mary smiled brightly.

"The contract with the Continent's Journal newspaper has finally been approved." I grinned broadly. This was good news indeed. With that contract in action now, my business's publicity will sky rocket.

"Wonderful!" I cheered.

"How was your trip, Master Hendrix?" Mary asked sincerely.

"It was just a shopping trip at one of those black markets in the human territory; nothing elaborate. Although, I did purchase something that I would like you to fix up for me." I informed as I glanced at Keith. Mary studied me disapprovingly.

"Whenever you go to those black markets you always bring back something strange. And whenever you ask for my help with it, I tend to regret it."

"Nonsense. This thing is harmless." I reassured. Keith and I led Mary around the bend to my Silver BMW. Once the car was in sight, I noticed the left rear door was open. Keith and I instantly rushed to the car and found it empty. She had run off. She could have only been awake for a few moments and she was already off trying to escape. I sighed and pointed towards the forest. Her scent told me exactly which way she went off to. "Keith. Can you go get her for me?"

"Yes Sir," Keith nodded and vanished into the woods. I caught Mary shaking her head at me.

"Uh... She tends to run off every now and then... She's easy enough to retrieve... I don't know what you want me to say," I said. Mary shrugged and placed her hands on her hips. We waited in awkward silence for Keith to return with the human. It shouldn't take too long.

Back to Original POV

I had been running nonstop for approximately ten minutes. My muscles stung and ached from their overuse, but my adrenaline kept them going. My breathing was close to hyperventilating, and my heart beat wildly against my chest. The chain leash I carried in my arms grew heavier and heavier as time progressed. I was heading towards physical exhaustion, but I set my mind to running up until I hit it. My concentration was interrupted by a strong gust of wind that tore past my right side. Suddenly Keith appeared right in front of me. I skidded to a stop and turned direction, but Keith was in front of me again within moments. Before I could think of what to do next he rushed forward and usurped the chain leash from my arms. His movements were occasionally faster than my eyes could track, so it was no surprise that I was caught so quickly. I fell to my knees exhausted. I had failed once again.

"Master Hendrix asked me to retrieve you," Keith said nonchalantly.

"Yeah." I murmured to myself. Keith quickly swooped me off the ground and into his arms again. I struggled to get out of his grasp. "What are you doing? I can walk!"

"Not fast enough," he simply said, and in a moment we were off. Trees whizzed past and the sounds of the forest fluttered as we made our way back through the forest. I squinted my eyes and held my breath as wind and debris whipped at me. In less than a few minutes time we were back at the car. The place it took me ten minutes to run from. I was definitely outmatched in speed when it came to vampires.