A Collection of Seemingly Unconnected Tales

Fun Family Reunion

20170605
2:56am

"Luke!"

"What's up, Rey?" The blond vampire asked after he stopped in front of Reyna. She glared at him slightly.

"First, don't call me that." Luke grinned mischievously. "Second, I've gotten reports that there's been trouble at the border. We're going to check it out."

"Sure. What are we waiting for?" Luke said as he turned towards the door.

Just then, another vampire came speeding into the room. They bent over to catch their breath for a moment and then stood up. It was Ethan Nakumura. One of the border guards.

"My Lady. The northern border. Wolves. Hydras. Three. No time. Hurry!" Ethan was already zooming back out the door before they could respond. Luke and Reyna looked at each other before following Ethan to the northern border as fast as they could.

When they got there the guard house was on fire and there were now four hydras stomping around. The vampires were swapping between fighting the hydras and the wolf shifters and that was not helping in the least. The vamps were getting beaten silly. The wolves didn't seem in much better condition.

"Ignore the wolves. Get the monsters, you idiots!" Luke shouted before Reyna had a chance. She nodded at him in thanks. Then he unsheathed his sword and lept into the fray. She followed soon after.

After their leader and the second in command joined the fight, they were making more and more progress against the hydras. Ethan and his girlfriend Lacy could be seen whirling around the smallest hydra. She used her charmspeak to keep the hydra distracted as Ethan ran around cutting off its heads and burning the stumps. Pollux, Castor, Dakota and Jake were taking on a slightly larger on. Jake was setting explosives on the heads while Pollux held them still and the other two distracted the rest of the heads. Octavian and Mitchell were taking on the largest hydra with the help of two wolves. Mitchell cut off the heads with his katana and Octavian burned the stumps. The wolves helped where they could, making sure Mitchell's head didn't get bitten off by one of the many other hydra heads. Reyna and Luke helped with the last hydra. In less than ten minutes the battle was over and everyone was exhausted.

"Octavian radio Gwen and tell her to get the infirmary ready. Pollux and Castor help Octavian bring the injured to the infirmary." Reyna ordered. The three nodded and started their tasks. Jake got caught in his last explosion and Lacy got venom sprayed on one of her legs. Dakota had a large slash across his chest.

"Mitch, help me with this dust." Luke shouted across to the red head. Mitchell ran over and the two boys started to run circles around the hydra dust piles. They started to go faster and faster and the dust was picked up into a small tornado.

"Now!" Luke yelled. They two boys ran out of the tornado. The storm carried into the woods for at least a mile and then dispersed.

Luke high fived Mitchell.

"Well that was fun." Mitchell laughed.

"Yeah, we don't get exercise like that very often." They both dissolved into laughter until they noticed Reyna glaring at them.

"Oh cmon, Rey, you know that was fun." Reyna's glare didn't soften, though her lips twitched. She turned to the pack of wolves who had assembled behind her.

"Thank you for your assistance in defeating these hydras." Reyna said in her 'leader voice'. "My name is Reyna Ramirez-Arelleno. I am the leader of this clan. On behalf of everyone here I thank you."

A silver wolf stepped forward and shifted back to her human form. Luke froze where he was.

"My name is Artemis and I am the Alpha of this pack. I accept your thanks." The auburn haired girl said. Reyna nodded.

"If you don't mind, I just have one question." Artemis nodded for Reyna to continue. "What were you doing outside our borders?"

"We have been tracking one of these hydras for a few days now. When we finally caught up to it, it had joined three others and led us here." Artemis explained. "We had no intention of trespassing on your lands."

"I see. Then the trespassing is forgiven considering you helped defeat the monsters." Reyna said. Artemis smiled. "You are all welcome to stay for dinner if you wish. You must be hungry."

"We don't drink blood like you leeches." A harsh female voice snarled out.

"Clarisse!" Artemis scolded.

"It's quite alright. I understand the hate. Our former leader gave our kind a horrible reputation." Reyna said. "We do have actual food, along with blood. We still eat it, we just need blood along with it to keep us going."

"Oh."

"Oh is right." Luke laughed. He had stepped up next to Reyna. "Speaking of, I need a drink after all that. I'm gonna head in." Luke gave Reyna a sarcastic salute and then turned and slung his arm over Mitchell who started laughing at something he said.

Before they got far, Luke was slammed into a tree by a dark shape. This caused snarls from the vampires and growls from the wolves. Luke saw a glowing pair of sea green eyes before he saw the person who had a death grip on his neck.

"You're supposed to be dead."

"Percy! Percy, let go of him!" A blond boy from the wolf pack flew over and tried to pull him off Luke.

"No, Jason. I'm waiting for him to explain himself." Percy said with a deadly calm.

"Funny story-"

"No jokes, Luke! Not really in the mood."

"You're so grown up. You've changed so much. Your hair is as messy as ever." Luke smiled a bittersweet smile. Percy growled.

"I'm serious, Luke. I thought you were dead. You left your brother and your friends worried sick. It's been three years! And now I find out you're a friggin' bloodsucker? You're just going to sit there and smile at me? We had a funeral! I thought you died! I-" Percy was interrupted when Luke finally shoved him off. Percy slid back ten feet.

"I did die. I am dead. I was tortured to the point where the only way for me to survive was for Reyna to turn me." Luke said with a calm voice. "You know what my first thought was when I found out?" Luke paused and smiled wryly. "That my brother was going to hate me." He shook his head, still smiling. "I guess I was right."

Percy just gaped at him. He had nothing to say.

"Come on, Mitch. I really need that drink now." Luke laughed humorlessly. Mitchell caught up with him and they started to shove each other around, laughing as they went.

Reyna pinched the bridge of her nose.

"That went so well."