Origins Unkown

chapter 5

The drive was quiet except for the music, if you could call it that, coming from the radio. John couldn't stand the silence and the radio was just annoying him.

"Shadow, what's the plan exactly?"

"Survive." She said simply.

"That's it? Survive? We are going to face the monster that killed your family and you don't have a plan?"

"I PLAN on killing him. I PLAN on making sure he's dead this time. That's my PLAN?"

"Okay then. How hard is that going to be?"

"He's THE vampire. The first. I thought I killed him once. I staked him right through the heart, but he lived."

"How?"

"I later learned that vampire's develop a second smaller heart when they are turned. The human heart essentially dies so it's no good. You have to hit the vampire heart for it to do any good."

"I see. And where is this vamp heart located?"

"Behind the human one."

"Right, of course. That's why it doesn't feel any different to me."

"Exactly. The only way to ensure he dies this time is to stake him, cut off his head and burn him. Then we have to incinerate his ashes."

"Wow. Sounds like overkill, but if that's what it takes, I'm in."

"I'm so sorry John." She said quietly.

"For what?"

"For dragging you into this."

"Honey, I put myself here. I wiggled my way into your life and I have no regrets. I love you Phedra, and nothing you say or do will ever change that. Never."

"I love you too, John. I never thought I would again. Thank you for showing me love again."

"You are very welcome. And thank you for letting me. I have loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you. You were all dirty and smelled awful, but I still thought you were the most beautiful woman I had laid eyes on. Still do."

"John stop. We have to focus on what's to come. If we survive this night we will have forever to love each other."

"Forever, huh? I like the sound of that." The rest of the ride was done in silence. They switched sides and John drove while Shadow searched for the monster they were after.

When they reached the edge of Shadow's home town, she told him to stop.

"He's here."

"How can you tell?"

"I can feel him. It's like an itch. I can feel him all over my skin."

"Strange, I don't feel anything."

"You might not. He made me and I made you. You might not be able to feel anything like that unless we were apart for a while."

"Oh." he said simply.

"Let's get going. I want to gas up and eat before we go to my old house."

John put the car in drive and drove slowly through the town square.

"Are you okay, honey?" John asked looking at Shadow. She had a look of sadness on her face.

"Huh? Yeah, just a lot of memories. Sorry."

"Its okay. But I've passed the gas station 3 times. People are starting to stare." he said laughing.

"Oh lord. Sorry." She said rolling her eyes and motioning him to pull in. "I'll pay if you pump."