What the Fae?

Chapter 2 - Ernie

Chapter 2 - Ernie

“Vampires?” Ernie stumbled and splashed half of her iced coffee on the pavement. Her eyes darted all around the empty parking lot, searching for any sign of bloodsuckers, or rather, one in particular. The fear clawing through her gut overrode reason as the sun shone brightly overhead.

“Will you pay attention?” Joe snapped.

She straightened her shoulders and met his gaze, determined not to show her team leader any more weakness. She needed to focus.

“I’m sending a group to Old Sac to help with all the vampires coming in and wanted to know if you were ready. But obviously…” He motioned to the spilled liquid splattered across the ground, a few drops staining his white sneakers.

“You just startled me.” It was a lie, of course. Her heart still hadn’t calmed down since he uttered that one little word.

He raised an eyebrow in obvious disbelief.

Could she help? Was she ready to face a vampire head on and actually be able to scare him away or kill if necessary? The trembling in her hand told her no. Werewolves, fae, drunk wizards she could handle with ease, but vampires…

“It’s been three years. Shouldn’t you be over him by now?” The accusation clear in his tone as he eyed her with arms crossed over his barreled chest. His immense size and steely gaze could make the fiercest of trolls piss themselves.

How could he be so callous? But, of course, he didn’t relive that week with Fernando every night in his dreams like she did. Her hand automatically searched out the scar on her cheek, but stopped halfway when she realized what she was doing. Instead, she ran her fingers down her black French braid, hoping to draw his attention away from her jaw.

“I’m a little out of practice fighting vamps.” Her voice creaked and she had to clear her throat to continue. “Let me train with Greg a few months and then I’ll be ready to help.” Her stomach churned, instantly regretting every word that spilled from her mouth. Would he buy it?

He said nothing, scrutinizing her, judging her. Cars rumbled down the street and birds chirped in the nearby trees, but silence hung between them like a thick fog.

Her body stiffened, refusing to shrink before him. The longer he stared, the more she clenched her jaw to keep from taking back her offer. He wouldn’t break her.

Finally, he nodded. “All right. I know you don’t need it, but you can have some extra training. I’ll let Greg know to expect you this weekend.”

Panic jolted her heart. That was too soon. “Um, this weekend—”

“Ernie,” he warned.

“—will be perfect,” she finished. She was on the verge of disappointing him, again. Not a good idea when he had the power to literally throw her to the lions, or magic-wielding monsters, as it were.

She didn’t think the fake smile she plastered on her face was fooling him, but she held it in place anyway. “Um, I gotta go.” She didn’t wait to be dismissed and hastened to her truck.

“And Ernie,” he called after her. “I got a report that the Folsom portal was activated about a half hour ago. If you encounter any fae, take them out.”

After setting her cup on the hood of her bright orange truck, she searched for the keys in her backpack. “Take out faeries, got it.” She unlocked her door and opened it when Joe pushed it shut. For being a bear of a man, he sure knew how to turn on the stealth mode.

“I mean it. You can't keep letting every fae, witch or werewolf off with a warning. Rousseau wants them all eliminated.”

“I know that. No one is getting past me.” She grabbed what was left of her drink and climbed in her truck. She rolled down the window. “I'm at Rutter Park tonight, right?”

He poked his head just inside her window and rested his forearms on the frame. “Yes and remember, if you see any faeries—”

“I know, I know. Kill them.” Did he think she was deaf? She turned the key and the engine roared to life. She glanced in her rearview mirror when fingers dug into her chin and turned her head.

Joe's jaw was clenched so tight, she could almost hear his molars grinding together. “This isn't a game. I don’t want to find out you let any escape. And you will be going to Old Sac next week, so train hard.”

She jerked away, her heart pounding. “I got it.”

“Good,” he said as he stepped away to let her back out. “I'm glad we have an understanding.”

Once his reflection in her side mirror disappeared into the old café, she slumped in her seat and sighed. Vampires. She had spent the last few years avoiding them at all cost. Was Fernando back, too? He had promised to return for her when she came of age. She turned eighteen last month. A shudder racked her body. Maybe the extra training this weekend was just what she needed.

When she reached her assigned territory, she parked in the shade and turned off the engine. Staring out at nothing in particular, she drew a couple deep breaths to prepare herself for the evening. She needed to buck up and do what was expected of her, no matter how wrong it was. What choice did she have? Her head fell on the steering wheel with a thud. “My life sucks.”