Turned

Chapter Sixty Two

I went to the only person I knew would be up and hammered on his door repeatedly. He swung the door open with a slight smile. I didn't want to disturb him, but I was absolutely terrified of what could happen. I wasn't scared for my life, not really, I was frightened for Lena's, she didn't deserve to be hurt, not because or by me or my... kind. 

Nick left the door open, but I still couldn't walk in. I sighed and gestured to him. He shook his head once and stepped outside. He pulled me into the alleyway and looked into my eyes. "What is it?"

"I'm sorry, I... I need help" I begged.

"What if I wasn't alone? Seriously, you can't just... wait... you're serious" he replied, softening his tone as he saw a tear forming. "Come in, but I warn you, I better not be harbouring a criminal in here" 

"You're not" I promised as he let me in. "I need help" I repeated.

Nick didn't utter a word, yet I saw his face, the indistinguishable fear. I knew that look all too well.

"What is it?" he asked as he sat me down on his sofa.

I didn't know where to begin, I tried to tell him but what came out was noise, just pure noise. I was scared of losing Lena, terrified of it. She was my sister and the idea of that place... feeding from her, it was too much.

"I went to a vampire's club... it was good, at first"

"But?" Nick asked.

"But I have all these... feelings and I don't understand it" I replied.

He sighed and sat by me, he could probably tell I was upset, by the way I was reacting. I couldn't understand it, I was so scared. I didn't want to show it, but I had to, I couldn't keep lying to myself, to friends and family.

"Tell me" he whispered calmingly, soothingly.

I told him everything, everything I said, everything that happened. I didn't want to, not exactly but I knew I couldn't keep it to myself either. It all came out, my secrets, my fears, how I feared for Lena, how I was scared of losing her but a part of me knew one day my secret would come out, that I'd no longer be just her brother, I'd be a man and a monster. 

I told him about my subconscious thought about Lena, how I wanted to invite her to the Liquid Lounge, a place I no longer trusted, just something about it didn't sit right, something was wrong with it, definitely, I could feel it, I could sense it, it was a dull sense, but it was there, hiding in the back of my mind, screaming to get out.

"Do you know where they get the blood?" I asked.

"I'm a werewolf, not a vampire expert, shouldn't you know?"

"I'm not a vampire expert, I've not even been one that long... please, do you have any ideas, any at all?"

"Only some, none of them very good" Nick admitted.

"Tell me" I asked.

"Jack..."

"Please"

"Vampires used to get blood from people they'd lure into their... clubs, various people would be lured there, then mysteriously vanish... I'm sure it's just a story"

I shrugged my shoulders, hopeful but not convinced. If people were, did that mean they could lure Lena, use me to get to her. I had to know if I was a danger to her or not. I had to get answers, to know the truth. Sapphire would probably know but I doubted my chances of getting her to tell me anything, she wasn't the type to spill her guts, but Caleb might see a little sense in trying to help me, he might actually give me some information, but I knew it wouldn't be for free, he wasn't the type to give up anything for free, unless he had to, absolutely had to. 

"What are you planning?" Nick asked.

"I need to know the truth, Nick, I just have to"

"Listen, it might be something and nothing, what I told you might not even be right"

"I... I don't think you're wrong" I admitted.

"Jack... don't rush into things" Nick requested.

"I'm not, I want to talk to a vampire... I know won't be cooperative, but I need to know, I really do, if I've... I'll never forgive myself if I've..."

"You wouldn't have, if you knew, remember that" Nick assured me, but it was useless, I was still twisted inside, angry if I'd caused someone to get hurt. That wasn't fair, all the drinks in the world wouldn't change my mind, anger was the only thing I was sure of.

I needed information from Caleb and I was going to get it, one way or another. I had to believe that although he was a tough nut, like all nuts, he could be cracked.

"Do you want some help?" Nick offered.

I didn't want to say yes but I had to, I nodded, admitting I needed help, that I couldn't do it alone. Nick put his coat on and with a smile, led me out the door. 

It was nice, being friends with him, he was type of guy I liked hanging out with, even though I missed the good times, I longed for new times with him, as friends or something else. I knew I was hopeful, but I wanted to stay close to him, besides, if he could help me get information out of Caleb, then I wanted him to stay close.

"You do realise he won't be an easy one?" I asked.

"The easy ones are always boring, too easy to make them talk... I like a little challenge" Nick promised as he smiled eerily, like a hunter stalking prey.

"Thanks for your help" I replied, gratefully.

"Anything to help the community, anything to help a friend"

"Good friend?" I asked.

"Don't push it" he joked with a smile.