Turned

Chapter Sixty Six

I didn't know what to say so I admit, I said nothing, I left him there to do as he wished without question. The blood he'd given me... I thought it made me a monster, it actually... made me... stronger, tougher, more powerful. I felt like I could do anything... live through it all, whatever life threw at me. I didn't feel so fearful anymore, not because I'd hurt someone but because I felt so powerful, so strong. I could feel all that killer instinct running through me but understood the basics, that I'd have to play the game or pay the price.

I walked home and took off my shirt, sticking it in the wash. I didn't want to knock on my bedroom door, so I opened the door and snuck in, pulled out a t-shirt from my drawer, I didn't look at it, I just took it and put it on before quickly leaving and sitting on my sofa. I pulled the shirt on, thanking my luck for the decent shirt, just a simple black shirt but it was admittedly one I liked to wear.

Matt hung around me, looking at the washing machine with a worried look on his face. I didn't tell him, he didn't need to know but one of the long list of concerning things, were gone, now I just had the hunters to worry about and worry, I did, I could only worry. I felt my inside contorting as I thought about them, their methods were enough to fill me with rage.

I kept my cool, I had to, Matt was so peaceful and sweet, I didn't want to see any different but in myself, I felt the change, saw it, I lived it and I needed it. I needed to change, there was no doubt about that, I was losing myself and my mind, going absolutely bloody insane, hunting down the monsters that needed to be hunted down... almost like... a hunter, as if I'd become one. I hadn't, I wasn't, I couldn't be, but it felt like it... it almost felt right, yet my mind also said it was wrong and rightfully so, a hunter couldn't be a vampire and a vampire couldn't be a hunter, but I was a vampire and I felt... like a hunter.

"Are you okay?" Matt asked as he handed me a beer from the fridge.

"I'm fine" I admitted.

For once, it was true, I was fine, I was content with what I did. A part of me wondered why, if it was anger, hatred or a... deeper emotion, stronger one or if it was just Caleb's blood, there to stay, changing me inside, what was worse was how much I seemed to like the change, I welcomed it, the chance to be an immortal hunter, even if it was never official, even if I was never officially a vampire hunter.

"Just thinking of a career choice" I admitted.

"You have a long time to think of one, Jack, you don't need to choose right now" Matt replied.

I knew what he meant. With immortality came choices, many of them, options, I could do a lot of things with my immortality, I could live many lifetimes, doing what I wanted, anything I wanted but I wanted to hunt the vampires who caused panic and hurt, like Henry, who kidnapped people and farmed them for their blood... blood I drank, while its source was blissfully unknown to me. If I had known, it wouldn't have touched my lips, I'd have left it where I should, I'd have left and never come back. They were the monsters within the ranks of monster, the evil creatures that offered vampires and even worse name. They were the reason we were hunted down, mercilessly. 

"If I were to go, would you come with me?" I asked.

"That depends on where and why, if you're leaving to escape the humans... then... no, I'd convince you to stay with me" Matt replied reassuringly.

"What if I asked you to come with me, to protect the humans?" I asked.

"Then yes, I'd join you" Matt replied.

I wanted to believe it, that he'd join me, that he'd help me, but I was cynical, I couldn't believe it, that he or anyone else would want to help a person like me, a monster like myself. As much as it hurt to, I'd probably leave Nick behind, I'd have to, he wouldn't want to see me like that, as a hunter but I'd never hurt him, not in a million years, even if it meant I'd be safe, alive... I couldn't do it.

Thinking about leaving only made me more determined to go, only more certain that I would be leaving, with my head held high, some blades commissioned, a list of vampires to find, hunt and kill, all who took human lives without conscience, reason or consequence. They took their prey's choices away, so I was going to return that precious favour.

"Are you sure you want to?" I asked.

"Jack, I am human, I don't know how long I'll... stay one but, I am one and I want to help the people out there"

"Why?" I asked.

"Because people have an unfair disadvantage, they don't know what's out there, they don't see what I have seen and therefore, they don't know what to do when things hit them"

"Thank you" I whispered.

"You're my brother, I'll help you"

I liked the idea of him helping me, him looking after me like he promised. I cared for him, he was my brother, one I never had, yet wanted. I cared about him, I wanted him with me, so I could protect him in our fight to come but I was scared to lose him, to finish what I started so carelessly, without thought of Matt, I was selfish, but I couldn't leave Lena behind, not even if it meant protecting her. She was my sister, I loved her dearly, I wanted to protect her but leaving her wasn't protecting her, it was leaving her open to a blind attack from the monsters.