Hidden in the Immortals (Book #1)

Chapter 22

It took me a couple of hours to fall asleep that night; and when I finally did I kept waking up again. Tossing and turning, tossing and turning for hours. I wished my brain would shut off for just a little while so I could come get some sleep. Dad told me everything tonight. Everything from Immortals being real, to our family coming from a long line of hunters, to the pact they have with the Addams'. He even showed me his secret weapons room in the basement. I didn't think I had ever been more afraid in my life. Especially after he grabbed me by the shoulder and told me he was taking me on my first hunt, soon. He said I wouldn't be expecting it when it happened so I always had to be ready. But I wasn't tonight.

I had finally managed to drift off to sleep when dad was standing over me, shaking me and telling me to wake up. "Dad," I whispered. "What are you doing?"

He held a finger up to his lips signalling me to be quiet. "Get up," He commanded quietly. "We're going on a hunt."

I felt my heart sink. No. I couldn't do this. I could hardly bare to observe him go on a hunt, I didn't think I would be able to survive seeing him kill someone up close and personal. I shook my head. "Dad, I can't," I told him breathlessly. "I-I'm really tired." I tried to think of any possible excuse I could come up with to get out of this hunt and that's the one I went with.

"Get up." He repeated, angrier this time. I slowly sat up. He nodded once. "Get dressed in all black clothes and meet me in my truck in five minutes." He instructed. Before I had time to throw out further protests or ask any questions, he hurried out of my room and down the stairs.

I huffed and swung my legs over the edge of my bed. "Great," I muttered under my breath. I pushed myself off my bed. "How am I gonna get myself out of this one?" I knew I wasn't going to be able to, but asking this made me feel like I had some kind of control over my life. I grumbled to myself as I dressed myself in a black sweatshirt and pants. I tied my hair up in a high, tight ponytail and made my way down the stairs. I paused for just a moment next to the front door. I took a deep breath in and out, then exited the house.

My dad's truck was parked on the curb, running, with him inside. I tried to get my breathing in check before sliding into the truck. Dad didn't say a word to me as I buckled in and he began driving away. We rode in silence for a solid twenty minutes. I wasn't exactly sure where he was taking me, but I knew we were entering the outskirts of Greenwood. It was silent for another ten minutes before I couldn't take it any longer.

"Why have you kept this a secret for so long?" I blurted out.

He glanced over at me in surprise for a moment, before bringing his attention back to the road. He was quiet for another moment, before clearing his throat to speak. "From the second we found out that your mom was pregnant with you, all I wanted to do was protect you." He began. "I was a first time dad so I didn't know how to do that. Of course, Roger and the others were pressuring me to get you started in hunting by the time you could walk because that's what was expected of me as a hunter and a parent." He went on. "But I didn't want that for you; or Jana. I wanted the two of you to have a nice, normal childhood and not have to worry about Immortals. So, I took on twice the load to protect you from this life. I cannot even count the number of Immortal lives I have taken; for you."

I looked down at my hands in my lap. Yeah, but the murder of children and torture was unnecessary, I thought bitterly. And what about Chad's father? He was innocent. And Caleb... That wasn't dad's fault technically, but still. I wanted to fight him on what he was saying, tell him off, but I could see he truly thought he was doing the right thing -- for me and Jana. "Oh." Is what I said instead.

"They're evil, Jules. Plain and simple and they need to be removed from this planet." He growled.

"What about Jack Addams?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.