Something Sweet, Something Sinister; The War Begins (A Vampire Novel)

Chapter 2

The entire ride, Finn stuck his head out the window and let his tongue fly in the wind. It was both amusing and disgusting.

When Blake finally stopped the Jeep it was after the sun had started to set. It seems that we'd driven all day regardless of how early we got up to leave.

"We're here," he told me, trying to roll up the windows. I had to pull Finn back so that he wouldn't hurt himself. It was a little bit easier since he had ended up joining me in the backseat about halfway through the drive.

We had parked in front of a flower shop. The sign was scratched and chipped, making it's name barely recognizable. There were vines that overgrew the walls and covered the windows too. It looked a little run down and I was honestly surprised that Blake had chosen to bring me here. It didn't look like the Headquarters of anything other than moss.

"I used to come here all the time with my mother" he said while gazing longingly into the window. "I haven't been here since she passed."

"I'm sorry to hear that," I whispered. "My mom passed away too. She died when I was little, way before our home was destroyed."

He turned to look at me and his expression softened.

"I wish that wasn't something we both had in common."

Part of me was glad to understand him, even if it was for upsetting reasons. We had been travelling together for a while but we didn't exactly get a chance to talk about anything personal. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to anyway.

I started to pull my mask up from the inside of my hoodie but Blake shook his head.

"You don't need that yet. Not in here."

I didn't understand why but decided it would be best not to question him.

Blake got out of the car and I followed him inside the building with Finn in tow.

There was an older man at the counter who smiled when he saw us. Finn ran over to him, and attempted to knock the poor guy over and slobber all over him.

"You haven't been here in a while, Son," he said, coughing a little at the end as he readjusted himself back into a standing position. 

"I'm sorry Dad. I couldn't get myself to come in until now." Blake looked at me and his eyes shined. "Until I had a good reason to, anyway."

His dad laughed and coughed, and I felt my face heat up a little.

"Well I'm glad you finally found some good company then," the man responded. He turned to face me. "I'm Derrick."

I bowed slightly, to be polite.

"I'm Emma."

Derrick nodded and proceeded to engulf Blake in a massive hug. While they were inches apart from each other, I started to notice the similarities in their faces. Their eyes were the same crystal blue.

When they let go of each other, Derrick was patting his son on the back and smiling.

"So you got yourself a girlfriend huh?" He asked.

Blake laughed and smiled back at him, and the temptation to correct Derrick rose in me. Blake and I weren't together. Although, for the sake of trying to not accidentally upset Derrick, I held my tongue.

"I actually came in to ask you for a favor," Blake told his father. Derrick raised his eyebrow and looked at me before nodding his head approvingly.

"You want my specialty?" he asked.