The King, The Enemy, and the Wars[Sequel to The Slayer]

Chapter 17

He put a lot of weight on me; he must be completely dizzy from the blood loss. I got him in the car and buckled him, and hoped in the drives seat, and sped out of my driveway to the Emergency room. Trace passed out on the way there. I parked the car when I got there rushing in asking for my personal doctor. When the nurse went to get him I went back to the car and carried Trace in. I walked in and people stared at me. The doctor saw me carrying Trace with blood running down his arm, and the doctor helped me get him to a private room.

"You are lucky you got him here when you did, any more blood loss and there could have been severe damage." Dr. Gordon said.

"Yeah, I know, it was Vlad…" I said.

"What? But Trace isn’t a …he is human."

"Yeah, but Trace left the hunters so Vlad went after him and his dad. Trace got cut but got his dad out, and he pushed Vlad and he fell into a glass table and apparently had some severe wounds when they fled."

"Oh, he is alive though?"

"Trace said that he was alive when he left…the ambulance probably got there in time to heal Vlad. I swear Vlad can't die, he is like immortal." I said half joking.

"Trace will be fine, just needs to stay here over night so we can make sure he is alright."

"Alright, um if there is any progress or any change please call immediately."

"I will, you're like family to me. Every injury over the years I always healed. So he was a hunter?" Dr. Gordon said referring to Trace.

"Yeah, I originally hated him thinking he was arrogant and egotistical, but now realize that he has fire in him, he was determined and wanted to prove himself. He is a strong guy, and I admire that." I said looking at Trace who seemed so breakable in the hospital bed.

"Do you want to stay overnight?"

"No, but his dad might…I should call the house and see how everyone is doing." I said taking out my phone.

"Hello? Violet?" Luke asked.

"Hey, yeah, Trace is going to have to stay here over night, and I was wondering if his father wanted to stay over here with Trace."

"Let me ask, one second." Luke said. I waited for a moment.

"He says that is he can, he would like to stay here and let his son rest." Luke said.

"Alright, then I will head home soon." I said before hanging up.

"His father wants to stay at our house and let Trace rest." I said to Dr. Gordon.

"Alright, I will call you if anything changes." Dr. Gordon said.

                I then looked at Trace one last time before I left. On the ride home I was enraged at Vlad. He has crossed the line; attacking normal people...he is now going to be the hunted. I'm the only one who can defeat him, I know everything about him. I know all his tricks. I have to hunt him down and defeat him, it is the only way I or anyone else will be free. When I got home Trace's father was drinking some tea and his cuts were bandaged. He looked exhausted. He looked up at me and sadness filled them.

"How is Trace?" He managed.

"Trace will be okay; I got him there in time."

"Who was that? Why did they break in? I offered them money and jewelry but they went straight for me!" Trace's father said reliving the experience.

"Look, I promise you that the man will be found and you and Trace will be safe." I said.

"How can you promise such things? You are a kid."

"Trust me, I promise you that man won't be bothering you guys." I said.

"Violet…" Trace's father called out before I left.

"Can I talk to you about Trace?" He asked.

"Of course." I said grabbing a seat knowing it was going to be a long conversation.

"I know that you went to that camp with Trace over the summer, he told me about you, and when I heard you were going to his school I was happy. Tell me honestly, has Trace been bullied? He would never admit it to me."

"Yes, he has but I've stood up for him, and tried to help him." I said.

"How can kids just do that? They don't know Trace or what he has been through!" Trace's father said raising his voice a bit.

"I'm sorry Violet, it's just I get so angry when I think of Trace getting hurt. He has just been through so much, stuff a kid should never go through, yet he did and he is here trying to protect me."

"It's okay." I said trying to comfort him.

"It's just Trace; he has had a rough childhood. When I was married and we had Trace his mother seemed to really love him. That is, until he turned five. I don't know what changed in her but she would hit him, and beat on him while I was at work. I didn’t find out for a while because I was really busy with work at that time. One day I came home and caught her beating him, and his ear piercing shrill rang though out the house. I was horrified, and went to stop her but she went after me. She was drunk, I could tell by her breath. She grabbed a pot and hit my head. I was knocked out and when I woke up I found Trace on the floor bleeding and crying. We never saw that woman again until he was in eighth grade. I was working that day, and Trace was sick at home. She went in the house and I got a call from Trace and the line went dead after a scream. I raced home to find her sober and hitting him. He was trying to fight back but she was too strong. I ran in front of him to protect him, and I held his mother back but then someone grabbed me from behind and threw me against a wall. While I was down the man stepped on my leg and broke it. I was unable to get up and I was helpless as I watched her beat Trace up. The man she was with sat on the couch watching the scene doing nothing. I tried to crawl but the man pulled a gun out. Once she beat Trace to the point where he was almost unconscious they left. I made us move here so we would be safe. I've done everything I can to make up for the times I couldn’t help him. And yet I still fail." He said while tears started to fall.

"There was nothing you could have done. Trace loves you more than you know. He would never blame you for not being able to help." I said putting my hand on his shoulder.

"I just can't stand to see Trace get hurt. I'm sorry I dumped that all on you, I guess I am just in shock or something."

"It's alright. How about you go upstairs and rest so you can see Trace tomorrow without being worn out." I said as I helped him up.