𝐖𝐀𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 || 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

Chapter 43 ~ The Cure

A scream emitted from the man as I bit down into his neck, blood gushing from the wound into my mouth. The sweet metallic taste was so delicious on my tongue, I couldn't stop. The man flailed his arms but I gripped his shoulder tighter, holding him down. I drank more and more until finally, he went limp in my arms and I let him fall lifeless to the ground. Taking a step back, I wiped my mouth off on the back of my sleeve.

"That's your fifth kill this month, Parker," a voice admonished me and I rolled my eyes, glancing behind me.

I shrugged as my eyes met Philippe's ice-blue orbs.

"I just took a little too much," I replied, biting my lip.

He sighed in exasperation and waved me over, urging me to follow after him.

"Come on, I finally found the location," he called over his shoulder, walking back towards the house.

I took long strides until I fell into step beside him. There were bags under his eyes from lack of sleep and he looked exhausted. This whole search had taken it out of him.

"Is it legit this time? Or just another phony lead?" I asked, completely deflated of my previous hope of finding them.

"Seems to be correct. Although I'm not sure if they're still there or not. They could've packed up again for all we know," he shrugged.

"We?"

"Another Familiar has been helping me. Her name's Portia. She seems to be able to sniff out a lot of things no one else can," he told me, smirking at his own pun.

I rolled my eyes, picking up on his subtle hint that Portia must be part canine.

"Well, at least she doesn't hiss at strangers," I teased, grinning over at Philippe.

He spun around to face me, holding up his index finger, "That was once, Parker, once!"

I smirked, crossing my arms over my Tokio Hotel t-shirt.

"No, it happened twice, Philippe," I reminded him.

He sighed, letting his hand fall back to his side before striding across the open parking lot that was situated just in front of his house.

"It was once..." he grumbled again and I snickered from behind him.

When we reached the house, Philippe made his way to the study and I followed after him. Walking over to his desk, I peered over his shoulder at the array of papers spread out there. They were map coordinates mostly as well as stills from security cameras. I grinned as I picked one up, eyeing the people in the photo. Most were blond but a few were brunettes. One thing was certain though - they all were family.

We'd found them! I smiled over at Philippe and he returned it.

"Told you we'd find 'em." he told me.

A few hours later, we had arrived at the abandoned building and Philippe and I made our way inside. The family was there, weapons drawn when they spotted us. But Philippe calmed them down enough, assuring them we meant no harm - only that we wanted to buy something from them. One man who looked to be their leader stepped out of the shadows then and eyed me warily.

"What exactly do you want from us, then?" he asked.

I licked my lips in an attempt to make sure they weren't bloodstained before speaking.

"We heard you have a cure for vampirism," I said, walking over to him, "And I know you won't give it over to me just on principle of the fact that I need it so I'm willing to pay you in exchange for the cure,"

The man took a step closer and Philippe walked up behind me protectively, eyes slitting into cat-form for a split-second. The man arched an eyebrow, looking between the two of us.

"So what are you? A vampire...or a witch?" he questioned.

I waved a hand, "What I am doesn't concern you. All I need to know is if you're willing to sell,"

He was silent a moment and I almost thought he was going to refuse me. But slowly, he nodded and signaled to one of the other men - a younger one. The young man walked off to a different room before returning with a small vial filled with a dark red liquid, the look of it similar to blood. I was about to grab it from him when he pulled back, holding it just out of my reach.

"The money first, Akasha," he smirked and I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

Philippe dug out some cash from his jacket pocket and slapped it into the man's waiting hand. He smiled maliciously and handed the vial over to me. The vial was cool in my palm and I looked down at it. Finally! I would be free of this curse! I could go back to the boys.

Tears pricked my eyes at the thought but I blinked them away, putting on my tough-guy persona once again.

"Nice doing business with you." I faked a brief smile before walking off the way we'd come, Philippe in tow.

We made it back to the house then just as darkness descended upon the city once more. I took a deep breath, eyeing the vial as I stood in the kitchen with Philippe.

"The Campbell Cure... You think it'll work?" I sighed and he shrugged.

"Won't know if you don't try," he admitted to me.

I let out another long sigh then.

"Now or never?" I questioned, looking up at him.

He smiled, nodding, "Now or never."

Taking the vial from my hands, he slowly poured the liquid into a Star Wars mug and handed it to me. I eyed BB-8 and Rey on the side, arching an eyebrow up at him.

He just shrugged, "You've had a slight influence on me...and my wallet,"

I chuckled as I put the mug up to my lips, "Well, welcome to the fandom life, my friend."

Throwing my head back, I downed it all in one big gulp, the liquid tasting like fire as it slid down my throat. I coughed as I slammed the mug down on the kitchen counter. Waiting a moment, I realized I could still hear everything like before. I frowned.

"I don't think it's working-" I started to say before I felt something surge up from my stomach.

Stumbling over to the sink, I emptied the contents of my stomach into the silver basin. Philippe came to stand behind me, rubbing my back soothingly as I vomited it up black liquid. After I finished, I glanced up at the moon outside, groaning as I felt my fangs receding. I saw it all in my mind's eye in that split-second - everything leading up to the transformation as well as all that I'd been through afterward. And then it was gone in a flash. Gulping in deep breaths, I turned around to face Philippe.

My dark eyes met blue and I let out a shaky breath.

"It's over.... I'm human again."

Note: Before anyone points it out, yes, I do remember that the Campbell Cure only worked if the person hadn't drank any human blood first which of course Parker had but hey, this is fanfic and I'm gonna write it how I want ;)