Until the End Do We Part BOOK TWO

Chapter Four IV

May 3rd, 2024

Matthew grunted, hefting the heavy box onto his shoulder.

"The things I do for my brother..." he mumbled.

After bringing it up from the basement into the living room, Matthew set it down with a loud thump. Blowing the dust off of the top, he sliced open the packing tape with a pocket knife.

Inside were two thin knives, a bag of salt, reinforced bottles of holy water, and numerous books and what Arthur would call spell books. He didn't really have a name for them.

He picked out a few, setting them on the floor beside him with the knives, holy water and salt. A small eight-point star pin lay in the corner of the box, which Matthew pulled out. He rubbed on the iron to get the majority of the dust off. He remembered when Francis had given it to him when he finished his training. The Frenchman had called it self defense, but Matthew had known it was something else entirely.

He knew Francis had been training him to fight vampires. He had also known that he wanted to fight the creatures.

He fastened the star pin to his hoodie, putting the supplies in his already full bag, slinging it over his shoulder. Matthew walked outside, getting into Arthur's car. He left Kuma in his backyard (the woods really). He didn't want the bear cub to get hurt.

"I'm ready. Where are we going, exactly?"

Arthur reached into the backseat for a map, and opened it, "Well, we need to find an Angel's feather and make a Vessel to summon an Angel, which is the only way we'll be able to get Alfred back," he explained, fingering the amulet.
"So I thought we might as well try to find a black market that specializes in supernatural goods."

Matthew nodded, studying the map. It showed the United States on one half and Canada on the other.
"I think..."

"Hm?" Arthur looked up at Matthew.

The Canadian pointed to an outlying town in Washington state, "I think there's one there."

Arthur nodded, "Alright then. Let's go." He put the keys in the ignition, and was about to take off when a small squeak came from his pocket. Rosemary poked her head out, and Matthew jumped.

"What is that?!" He leaned away from Arthur subtly.

Arthur took the doll out of his pocket, holding it up, "She is a doll that I found in Alfred's house that acts afraid when a demon gets near. Her name is Rosemary," he replied nonchalantly, setting her on Matthew's leg.

She sat cross-legged and blinked up at the Canadian, who cautiously pet her head with a finger.
"She gets afraid when a demon gets near?" Matthew asked, and as surprised when Rosemary nodded.

"I'm guessing Alfred made her? He's better at animating things like this than I am... actually, I've never done it. He's just into voodoo I think..."

Arthur shrugged, "I've seen worse," he commented, pulling out of Matthew's driveway.

"So Washington state, hmm? What exactly are we going to find there?"

"Well..."

Arthur glanced at the younger, "What?"

"There may be a bit of a problem."

"Why?"

Matthew bit his lip, "...The market? It's... um..."

"It's what?"

"...it may or may not be run by vampires."

"Wait, what?" Arthur stopped the car, looking at Matthew, who was studying the car's upholstery with great interest.
"Matthew?"