H Is For Human (Garlic Is For Vampires, Book 3)

Chapter 1: Home Not So Sweet Home

I wrapped my hands in cloth before tightening the remaining fabric and straightening my posture, and then bending my knees and setting my legs apart carefully. I kept the bag straight before raising my fists and delivering the first punch. The bag started to move, and I drove my fist into it again, enjoying the pain that ignited in my knuckles. It would've hurt more if I hadn't wrapped my knuckles, but this was just perfect.

Ten minutes into the workout I started to remember what Skylark told me.

***

"You used him," Skylark said, looking at me with disapproval. "And it's starting to feel like you used me, too."

"I didn't use anyone," I said. "I only lied. Not that it makes it any better, anyways."

"Do you have any idea how he feels?" Skylark questioned me, raising his face to meet my gaze.

"Probably like crap. I did that to him after all."

"Bree," Skylark said, licking his lips before letting out a deep sigh. "I don't know what you were thinking. What you're thinking right now. But you really screwed up this time. I want you to fix what you've messed up for all of us. We were safer than we are now. Now it's like the whole place is swarming with vampires. Thanks to you."

"Tell me something I don't know," I said, looking down at the empty Brooklyn streets. Apparently everyone decided to lock themselves in their homes since crime rate had gone up just over the last couple of weeks. I grabbed my backpack and walked towards the door.

"Bree," Skylark said. I looked over my shoulder. He was still facing his desk, his back to me. But now he was standing up straight.

"I won't tell Brendon the truth about Mason," he said. "I hate that you hid this about my best friend from me. Me, of all people. I won't tell Brendon he's a hybrid. But you have to eventually. And the next time I ask him about Mason and he still doesn't know, I'm telling him. And we already have a clue of how that's going to go for you."

More than just the cold shoulder from Brendon. "I'll do what I have to do to protect my father. Mason has done a lot for us. Brendon would be wise to remember that before he kills him, and it's not just vampires or werewolves he has to worry about."

I opened the door and left the apartment.

***

That was just yesterday.

Maybe I did sound threatening or not serious enough, but I hadn't heard a word from Skylark, most definitely nothing from Brendon. After we got back from California four days ago, Brendon has been a ghost. We didn't see each other at the apartment, but I heard him waking up early in the morning, and I heard the floorboards creak under his weight when he passed my room in the hallway. I packed my meals quietly in the afternoon, and the one time I caught him was when he and Matt met for a training session. Then I just headed towards my room after greeting Matt.

Matt Saunders, the werewolf hunter. After he followed me to California for help with werewolves, and I told him all the secrets I was keeping from Brendon, he was still here. We spoke to each other and made the once in a while training session, but he was mostly with Brendon, trying to figure out the weaknesses of a werewolf for his own agenda. I introduced him to Skylark (I just gave him his apartment address and told him to say I sent him) and he was learning quickly, developing his own skills for hunting.

I kept telling myself Brendon was more upset about me keeping Dylan a secret than 'the other guy' lie. I had to do it to drive him away from me in the personal way-we could've been something if I had been completely honest. But I needed to know he would look at me as an ally, not girlfriend material. And it worked with the secrets. Yes, I still cared about him. It would hurt like a bitch when he met someone else, but it was for the better. After what I did, I didn't deserve his trust, or his heart. This was my method of punishing myself. Call it sad, but this was more than just sad. It was heart-wrenching.

In the supernatural department, I was an outcast. People were barely talking to me and Mason was nowhere to be seen. After I told him Brendon was feeling vengeful on the supernatural species, he took my advice and hid. It was better that way. Beebee, my vampire baby-faced cousin, was probably out enjoying herself, but since she used to be part of Dylan's vampire group before she killed for Mason and agreed to protect me, I was sure she was being careful.

As for the infamous vampire king himself, I was sure he was back here in New York, just waiting for the moment to strike. After I fooled him and made him drink the wolfsbane and holy water in my bloodstream back in Cali, I was sure it did some damage. I know it killed the group of vampires he had with him, and so I kept drinking the wolfsbane and holy water. If he was going to come after me, it would be to kill me. He couldn't use my blood anymore.

A lot of vampires would be after me for death, not for a way to walk in the sunlight. I destroyed those chances a couple of nights ago, along with some people's trust in me.

I delivered a low kick to the punching bag and felt it shake on the rope it was hanging from. I was in the old warehouse Skylark owned in Brooklyn where we trained. I claimed it as mine now even though it was still under his name. I set up more machines to work out and upstairs, a small living quarter if needed. I was currently alone, but then I suddenly wasn't.

I gave the bag a few more punches before spinning around and facing Matt with the side of my hand pressing into his neck. One swing of my arm and I could break his neck. He looked at me, unimpressed. I was breathing hard but then I took a step back to catch my breath.

"I could've killed you," I panted. "Then there would be no werewolf hunter."

"You'd be saving me a lot of trouble." He placed a hand on the punching bag to keep it from moving anymore. "You've been here all day?"

"Half," I said, reaching for my water bottle on the floor. "I was at work in the morning. What's up?"

"Just wanted to see how you were doing. I'm getting a little tired with babying Brendon. It's like he doesn't even know when to stop."

"Having problems with him?" I brushed back the loose strands of hair in my face and looked at him again. "What's he up to lately?"

"It's only been a couple of days," Matt said, making a face at me. "Not a couple of weeks."

"I lost track of time already," I said. "How are you holding up with the whole werewolf 101?"

"I'm learning," he responded. "You know, it wouldn't hurt to ask how Brendon's doing."

"I hear him waking up every morning and then going to work. What else is there to do? He won't talk to me. I get that."

"Do you know where he's at right now?" Matt asked.

I shook my head. He shook his head. "Unbelievable. You live with the man and you don't even know where he spends his afternoons. We have bigger problems than just your stupid bickering. There are vampires outside spread out across New York. And if you can't fix that problem, fix your problems with Brendon."

"He's not ready to talk to me yet," I suddenly said, looking at Matt sincerely. "We're not ready to make up. After what I did, there's no getting over it in just four days. I'll be here when he wants to start talking. But right now, he needs time away from me and this world."

"Fine," Matt said, already walking away. "But you're paying for his tab at the pub on Chester and Grandview." He left the warehouse and I frowned. A pub? Brendon was drinking? I heard my phone ringing from inside my backpack and I walked over to the desk in the corner. I dug around in the pocket before I grabbed my phone and pulled it out.

"Hello?"

"Are you Bree? There's a young man here talking about you here, and he said to call you when he needed you. He's a little tipsy ma'am."

"Yup, that's me," I said. "I'll be over there shortly."