A Vampire Tale

Chapter 39

  Jason
We waited or the excitement to die down until the final shots were heard before returning back to the site of the battle. We had hoped to find Taylor standing there, waiting for us if not injured, but were disappointed. The place was deserted with no hint of who had won.

"Is it possible he's..." Hailey started.

Parker shook his head no. "Taylor is strong. There's no way he would have gotten himself killed."

I noticed something sitting in a pile of ash and walked toward it. Taylor's gun was obviously used in the battle, but his scent doesn't match the one who used to be that ash. "Guys, Taylor's still alive." I picked up the gun and turned back to them. "He's injured, but alive. He also left this behind."

They didn't seem to care about how I knew Taylor was still alive, but they also must have realized it too. If Taylor's alive, then Samuel must be too.

"Let's get back to headquarters. Someone has to tell his parents their son won't be returning home anytime soon," Parker said, already turning back. I looked at the gun in my hand before following behind them.

When we got back, we began our search for the president. Instead, we found Megan sitting down in her father's chair. "Hi guys, how was the mission? Where's Taylor?"

Hailey stepped closer to her younger sister and said, "he's gone. The vampire took him."

That made Megan's pretty little face doubt her sister. "Your lying. Taylor is really strong."

Hailey nodded, "Yeah, but this time, he wasn't." She looked up to Parker before turning back to Megan. "He knew there was no way he could win this battle, kid."

Megan shook her head no before looking back at Parker. "Sweetie, Taylor was fighting the man who killed his parents. He used himself in order to buy us time to escape." Parker explained. "He's probably fighting against that man right now."

I couldn't help but feel sorry for the little girl who looked up to Taylor as if he were a hero. Well, he is a hero. Him and all the other hunters have watched over the city as silent heroes.

"Megan, where's your dad?" I asked her.

She turned her sad brown eyes to me and said, "in the recruits hall. Brenda was tested. she took the hunters exam and I think she passed." She passed the exam? How is that possible?

"Thanks, Megan," was all I said before I grabbed Hailey's hand. We ran out before she pulled her hand away from me.

"What is your problem?" she demanded.

"I need you to take me to the recruits hall. I have to stop Brenda, have to warn her," I told her. "Can you help me stop her from making a big mistake?"

She started to shake her head no.

"Please! Taylor loves her and the last thing he would want is for her to get involved."

Hailey sighed before taking my hand. "I'll do this for my brother, not for her. Only for Taylor."

I nodded, silently thanking her. We ran towards the hall, hoping they haven't left it yet. Hailey reassured me that the test for hunting vampires is a hard one. It requires constant training of the body and the mind. There's no way Brenda could pass on her own.

When we found them, Brenda was smiling as Mr. Anderson gave her good news.

"Brenda, don't do it!" I shouted, making everyone turn their attention to me.

"Why shouldn't I?" Brenda asked. "Let me guess, you think I can't handle it?"

I shook my head no. "Your making a big mistake. Taylor wouldn't want you to become one right now. Not when the war just begun."

Hailey nodded before saying, "I know your angry at Taylor, but you have to listen to Jason now. Taylor didn't come back with us from the mission."

Mr. Anderson sighed before saying in a low voice, "it's finally begun. That poor boy had to be the catalyst for this mess." He looked over to his daughter and said "Hailey, call a meeting in the lobby. Every hunter must attend, even the new recruits."

Hailey nodded but had to ask. "Are we going to help Taylor? The association already lost two vampires in that mission."

He looked away and said, "by two, I assume you mean Taylor and his master. We will do all that it takes to save Taylor, but I'm afraid we can't help Ann-Marie Nelson."

That answer seemed to satisfy her, because she turned and rad back towards the president's office.

"Sir, Ann-Marie gave her life in order to help Taylor," I started. "She knew that-"

"That all vampires must obey their masters," he finished. "Samuel Marcus wanted Taylor, but knew that without her, he couldn't control him. That's not the problem though, Mr. Mason. Taylor is in serious trouble right now, and if not rescued, may become our biggest enemy."

I frowned at him "my name is Jason. Jason Conner."

Brenda shook her head no, before taking my hand. "Does this mean I'm a hunter now, sir?"

He nodded. "I know how much your friends wish you wouldn't, but we will need anyone we can get. Consider you both honorable hunters."

As he walked away, I pulled my hand away from her. "Why can't you listen to Taylor? You know how much he wants to protect you."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "You don't understand, Jason. I don't want to be a damsel in distress. I don't want to have to be rescued all the time."

I pulled out the gun and handed it to her. "If you are sure about this, then I won't try to stop you anymore. I thought you should know that Taylor said he was sorry. He can't stay with you anymore."

She stared at the gun in her hand before looking up to me. "I'm going to bring him back. It's my turn to rescue him, so will you help me?" she asked.

"Yeah, he's saved me several times before. This is the least I could do in return." As soon as we heard Hailey's voice on the intercom, we made our way back to the lobby, following the other hunters as we went.

We found Hailey, Parker, and Megan in the front of the crowd and joined them. I noticed Hailey's worried face, so I took her hand and squeezed it. She looked over at me and gave a sad smile.

"My fellow hunters, the time has come. The war we have been preparing for is finally here," Mr. Anderson started as the room became silent. "Thirteen years ago, Taylor Adrian Garcia was brought to us as a victim of one Samuel Marcus. We all know what had happened to him. He was hunted down ever since infancy and confined after viewing the murder of Nicholas and Patricia Garcia, his parents. We took in the boy as one of our own. We trained along side him, fought alongside him, and gave him a family when he had no one. Throughout history, our kind has never backed down from any creature, especially vampires. We are known for not giving up on one of our own. A vampire had declared battle long ago, but now it's our turn to sound the drums of war."