Friends, Slaves, and Nightmares

7: Friends Joined Together

Mina slowly began to wake. She felt sore and confused as she blinked a bit and looked around. A nice warm blanket was over her as she laid in a small, but comfortable bed. The room around her reminded her of something she couldn't quite place. The windows were either closed, or covered with blinds, along with the minimal amount of lights on. That's right, it looked like the herb shop!

Trying to sit up she quickly felt weak and her head began to swim. Mina let out a weak groan.

David looked over at Mina and gently put a hand on her shoulder. "Katey said you lost a lot of blood and need to rest."

It took her a moment to put the pieces together. Then she remembered. All the pain, the hunters, the shooting. How was she healed so quickly?.. "It hurt.." She mumbled and laid back down, taking David's hand.

He nodded and held her hand. "I could tell from you shouting in pain.. But Kevin healed you. He passed out but Katey says he will be alright with some rest."

Thinking a moment she cautiously asked, "Was anyone else hurt?.."

"A man stabbed me and slashed at me with a knife a few times. Katey already bandaged me up and healed some of the wounds. I'm going to be fine."

Mina nodded quietly. "Why did they help us?.."

David was about to answer when Katey came upstairs. She looked over and Mina and David, having heard Mina's question. "Because why not? You were being hurt for no reason and needed help. Plus, it's kinda what Kevin and I do. We help people and make friends to where it's grown into a large group." She answered plainly.

"Large group?.. Do you do this on purpose? To get more people in your gang?.." Mina asked, a bit confused.

"No.. It sorta just happens?.. We help those who need it. And then it grew. If you stick around long enough you'll see."

Mina just nodded.

David listened to Mina a moment. "Get some more rest Mina.." He said gently and let go of her hand.

Mina nodded again. "Ok.." She talked quietly and rolled over to fall asleep.

Katey started back downstairs to check on Kevin, who she had laid out on the couch. His skin was pale and he looked weak. "It shouldn't have taken this much out of him.." She muttered. Maybe it took more of his life force than Kevin had expectes, or prepared for. But being the stubborn person he is, he would have pushed himself as far as needed to heal Mina.

David quietly went downstairs once Mina had fallen back asleep. "Is he going to be ok?" He asked again, feeling his way downstairs.

"He should be.. If he's not, I'll find a way to bring him back. I always have." Katey spoke softly, a hint of sadness in her voice. She slowly sat in a chair.

"So you can bring back the dead?" David asked quizzically and stood at the bottom of the stairs. Using the sound of her voice, he looked towards Katey.

"Yeah, I guess so. Kevin has died many times and so have I, but we never stay dead. Instead we get more and more people who want us dead." She adjusted the baseball cap on her head, pulling it down.

"That sounds good that you can come back to life.." David reached out to find a wall and then leaned against it.

"Not come back to life. We're brought back to life. No one can rise from the grave without help. Magic, science, reality warping can all bring someone back from the dead."

"Oh.. Sorry then?"

"It's fine. You didn't know the difference." Katey thought a moment, studying the amulet around her neck. "I never caught your name?.. Or your friend's name either."

"Oh, I forgot. I'm David and my friend upstairs is Mina."

"Nice names."

"Thanks.. So you both aren't human right? From the way you were fighting Katey at least?.. You took out what? Twenty, a dozen men, in a few minutes?.. I don't think that's humanly possible."

A smile spread across Katey's face. "You pay attention, that's good. It can determine the difference between living and dying. And no, I am not human. I'm attention vampire believe it or not. Kevin keeps the light level low around here for me so it's more comfortable. Luckily, as long as I have a hat on I can go out into the sunlight without becoming a pile of ash."

"Soo.. You're an undead being that drinks blood?" David was not troubled by Katey's announcement. It would take more than someone admitting to being a vampire for him to be freaked out.

"Well.. Yeah.. But I don't kill people or forcefully take blood from people. I try to drink animal blood instead."

"You try?"

"Kevin has forced me to drink his blood before and sometimes I lose control."

"Lose control?..." David thought a moment.

"Yeah, my amulet keeps me from going crazy around blood. That's why you should leave it on.." She laughed slightly. "That or blindfold me within ten seconds or less."

"I won't ask."

"Right.. Probably better that way. So how about you David?"

"Well, I'm blind.. And that's about all you need to know."

"Woah, don't be so talkative." Katey joked and laughed a bit.

David laughed a bit. "Alright, alright. I'll do better next time."

The two smile and then sat and waited. Mina asleep upstairs and Kevin limp, pale, and unconscious down stairs. It was going to be a while before either of them woke up.