Garlic Is For Vampires (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 28: The City That Never Sleeps

We returned to my apartment where I cleaned up on my own until I couldn't wrap gauze around my wounds. Brendon helped with that. We were sitting in my bedroom in the dark, neither of us talking.

"He won't leave me alone," I said. "Ever. Not until I die and he gets all the blood he needs. I won't give in. I swear I won't."

"I believe you." Brendon sat down beside me on the bed and gave my arm a squeeze. "I won't leave you, Bree. You need me and I need you."

"I know." I leaned my head on his shoulder. "There's going to be a lot coming up. Are you ready for this?"

"I'm ready to do anything for and with you, Bree Hawk."

"I'm glad to know, Brendon Stark."

He lifted me up and carried me to the living room. He set me down on the couch. My knee was damaged, looks like I really would need surgery, just like my doctor said if it didn't heal. Skylark was polishing his crossbow, sitting in the chair beside the couch.

"How did you know we were in danger?" I asked him. He didn't look up, but he did answer.

"I had a feeling." He reached into his T-shirt and pulled out a chain with something hanging from it. It looked like a quarter, but George Washington's head wasn't printed on the surface. So it was just a smooth circle of silver.

"It was a gift from a friend," he said. "I can think about someone and it heats up when that person is in danger. I had you and Brendon in my thoughts tonight. And I can tell you, this thing hurt like a bitch when it heated up."

"Oh."

"I hope you found what you needed," Skylark said.

"We did. Thanks." I frowned quizzically at him. "I know you don't owe me anything but why didn't you come help us?"

Skylark gave me a hard stare. I noticed his hands clench into fists. Then he slowly nodded, clucking his tongue.

"Because I didn't feel right digging up my best friend's body."

I blinked and then the realization dawned on me. I sat up, looking him in the eye. Brendon swore under his breath.

"You knew my father?" I spat. "You knew who he was the entire time and you didn't even tell me?!"

"I didn't know Mason had a daughter," he said. "I didn't know anything about a big secret either. But he took me in when I was a teenager. He was always distant-always alert. It took me two years to get his trust. I trained in Switzerland for a couple of years. When I got back he was dying. I spent the last year of his life helping him finish off any enemies he had. Dylan just happened to be one we could never take down.

"After he died I began tracking down Dylan. It wasn't easy. Then he was spotted with a girl who looked so much like Mason. It was you, Bree. When news came out that he attacked you I had to act. I was surprised Mason had a daughter. If I had known Mason was hiding something that put you at risk I would've told you. But I had no idea about this big secret. I don't know why his blood is the cure. But I owe him. I owe him for saving me. So now I'm here to train you."

"At least we have someone else to depend on," I said, glancing in Brendon's direction. I scratched the spot between my eyebrows and licked my lips. "Did-did he suffer? When he was dying, did he feel pain?"

"No. But your father hid his emotions. He never mentioned any life he may have had before becoming a vampire hunter." Skylark set his crossbow down and ran his hands through his hair. "You have a lot to learn, Bree. Ready yourself."

"It's not fair!" My hands flew out and I slammed my fists down on the coffee table. My voice was clogged with emotion but I tilted my head back to breathe. I held my breath, trying to make sense of this all.

"My future was already planned before I was even born," I said. "The moment I was conceived I was doomed because of my blood. Now there's a vampire after me for a cure. I have a past I know nothing about because I have parents I know nothing about. I have one vampire hunter who only knows so much about my father."

"But you have me," Brendon said, reaching out to touch my hand. "And you have Skylark. You have your strength, Bree. You'll make it."

I took a deep breath, and then I let it all out. "I have to plan," I murmured. "I have to train," I said, a little louder. Then in a firm voice, I said, "I have to fight."

We were quiet before Brendon stood up and collected his jacket. "I have to go tell my boss I caught our killer."

"We haven't got Dylan."

"It wasn't Dylan." Brendon smirked. "Doesn't have to be. I caught one of his vampires on a camera-same night that dead guy turned up outside the club when you graduated. He was one of the vampires tonight. I can say he attacked me and killed all those other people. We caught our bad guy."

"Good," I said. "Did you save the body?"

"It's in my trunk."

I looked at my friend. "You're a strange detective."

"Things will just get weirder." He nodded to Skylark and leaned over. He kissed my forehead. "Rest up. I'll see you later, Bree-lee."

He left. Then it was just me and Skylark. He leaned back in his chair, fiddling with his chain. I leaned back against the couch and closed my eyes. Things would get stranger. I remembered the book, the stake, holy water, and Garlic Spray in my bag.

I lived in the city that never sleeps. The city of vampires. My world was dark, even in the daylight. But I remembered my adoptive family's motto.

Hawks soar from above.

A/N: TO BE CONTINUED...

                                    -Redbird