The Last Corvus (completed)

Ch. 9 Meg-Elaine

Chapter 9

Meg-Elaine

"Where could they be, Toby?"

"You know I don't know, Meg-Elaine. Tell me again why we can't have cell phones," he gives me a pointed look and I try not to snarl.

Toby is by far the most annoying member of our team. He's also the youngest which means that I, the captain (not to mention his older sister) have to be his partner.

Despite what he lets on, he knows full well why we can't get cells. One, we have no money. We get our food money from the pockets of the vampires we kill. I know pickpocketing is against the law, but so is murder. We generally don't worry about the law; we're never in one place long enough for the authorities to even begin to look for us. Well, they can, but they'll get nowhere. We never leave a trail.

We live in the odd abandoned barn or warehouse, so sending us a bill would only be kinda tricky. And to top it off, we're rarely anywhere with service.

While I've been thinking, Toby's sat against one of the alley walls and has proceeded to sharpen his daggers. I get that guns would probably be a better bet in our line of work, but that would involve having a constant supply of bullets (which would involve having money, which, in case I haven't already mentioned, we don't). And who even makes gold plated bullets anyway? Swords are so much more dignified, and easier to hide. We always wear loose pants that hide the scabbard harnesses strapped to our thighs.

Each of my teammates have different swords that match their personalities. Shaun, my "boyfriend," for example, has a broadsword; he's the strongest on the team and can wield it just as efficiently as the rest of us with ours. My best friend (his sister) Toree has a rapier; she's always so prim and proper, which is hilarious considering she's probably the most perverted person I know.

Then there's my siblings; Ryan, Jules (Juliette), and Toby. Toby takes after mom and is the shortest member of the team, so daggers seem appropriate. Ryan is my older brother and has a scimitar (one of those awesome curved swords). Jules was born a year after me and has always emulated me. For example, she has a katana like mine, but with a white handle instead of black like mine. I also have two nine year old little sisters; Courtney and Beth, that still have seven more years until they can join the team.

Toree's and my families have been vampire Hunters almost as far back as the French history books go. All of us children start training when we turn eight and get a hand-me-down sword when we join the team (mine was great-grandma Milly's). We spend all of our childhoods in the small community made up of our and a few other families. Despite what most would generally think about children in the middle of nowhere, we have a college degree-worthy education by the time we turn twelve. I myself can speak ten languages including German, English, Spanish, Japanese, Flemish, and my native French.

Once we turn sixteen we join the team and usually "retire" around thirty-ish to raise kids. That's provided you don't get killed before then, or, if you're lucky, severely injured and bumped off the team.

It's not fun, but someone has to do it. I know that phrase has been used to death, but it's as relevant as ever. Even more so in our case, since countless peoples lives depend on what we do.

Pulling my katana out of its holster, I sit next to Toby as he finishes sharpening his daggers. I've always found sharpening very comforting; I don't know if it's the repetitiveness or the single-mindedness, but this simple act has gotten me through a lot.

Out of the corner of my eye I see a shadow move across the alley opening. Tapping Toby on the shoulder, I prepare for an attack. Silently righting himself beside me, he puts away his whetstone and grabs his other dagger in one fluid motion. I gesture in the direction of the possible threat... just as Ryan and Jules round the corner, Toree supported between them. Rushing over, I help Toree sit in Toby's now vacant spot. Turning to Ryan because Jules is trying to catch her breath, I ask, "what happened?"

Ry leans against the wall and takes a deep breath before answering, "we got three and were on our way back when we saw Tore sitting next to a dumpster, crying her eyes out."

I kneel beside her and she turns away, trying to hide her puffy eyes. "What happened?" I ask her, more urgently than before.

She answers, blubbering, "we were ambushed. There was nothing I could do."

"What do you mean?" I ask, dread bubbling up inside me.

"He was bitten. There was nothing I could do."

"Did you...?"

"You know what I had to do!" she screams at me. Both letting out sobs, we crumble into each other's arms.

"I do." I should have known something like this would happen. It was only last year when we lost my two oldest brothers. The vampire snapped both their necks before we even knew we were under attack. Still, none of us have ever had to purposely kill one of our own before; and the fact that it was her own brother just makes it that much worse.

We've all agreed a long time ago that we'd rather die than become one of those filthy blood-sucking fiends we so fiercely hunt. And today, it seems someone kept the agreement. But why him? Of course, I'd never wish any of my team to die; but him?

After releasing Toree from one of my rare spontaneous hugs, I notice the deep claw marks running down her forearm. Grabbing her arm, I turn it towards the nearest street light and begin inspecting it. She snatches it back, covers it with her sleeve and affects an English accent, "it's just a flesh wound."

I almost smile.

That's one of the reasons I love her. During our childhood we didn't have time to do wasteful things like have fun. Between combat training, school, and chores we rarely had time to do anything. When we were allowed to watch movies, we committed everything we could to memory. While the other children ran around quoting Batman or Tarzan, Tore and I would only speak in 'Monty Python: Holy Grail' quotes.

Eventually we grew out of it when we figured out how annoying it was. Now, whenever we have free time and see a bird, one of us will always ask if it's an African or European swallow. Ryan, being the rationalist and fun sucker that he is, always responds with 'that's just a pigeon' or some such, ruining it.

"Come on," I say while getting up and wiping my eyes. I hate showing weakness in front of my team. Just because he was my boyfriend doesn't mean I can slack off on my duties. "Let's hit one of their haunts before we pack it in." With that we set off to one of the known vampire hot spots. I stop Tore before she can get too far ahead of me and pull out a water bottle and roll of gauze from my pack. The others don't wear packs except when we're changing warehouses but I've gotten used to fighting with the hindrance (another thing that comes with being Captain).

She sighs reluctantly, as if to say 'let's get this over with' and holds out her arm. After washing and bandaging it we catch up to the others quickly. We head east, toward the Arch de Triumph. We've discovered that vampires tend to congregate near famous land marks and prey on the tourists stupid enough to take in the sights after dark.

Following my instincts, I lead the team to our left, the alley behind the restaurant in front of us. Reaching the side of the building I motion for them to stop and nonchalantly walk past the alley opening. I spot five of them hunched over what appears to be their latest victim.

I cringe. Filthy blood suckers.

Stepping under the streetlight so they can see me clearly, I hold up a hand and motion for Ryan to stay at this end. He finds a good spot on the wall to lean against while the others follow me around the restaurant to the other end. Once there, I post Jules next to the restaurant's side door and climb the windowsills the two stories to the roof.

Catching Toree's attention, I signal for her and Toby to join after I attack. She taps Toby's shoulder and relays the message. Unsheathing their weapons, they both wait to attack on my cue.

Usually we don't battle groups; we just kind of pick them off one at a time. But whenever we lose a member those closest to said deceased member tend to go on a sort of killing spree, tackling groups of all sizes. It's strangely therapeutic in its way.

When we lost my brothers, Shaun and Toree stood watch while my brothers, sister, and I finished off almost twenty of them over the course of a half hour (including the five in the group that killed my brothers). Since everyone was super close to Shaun it's only appropriate that we all get in on this.

Looking down at my target, the vampire right below me, I calculate the correct angle and jump.