The Hunters Daughter

~ Chapter Three: On Road To Mystic Falls ~

The journey from Lousiana to Mystic Falls, Virgina is around eighteen hours by car, excluding traffic. As far as i know, the plan is to stop of in Atlanta for the night then continue driving tomorrow, reaching our destination tomorrow evening.

I figit in my seat slightly, having not been on a long car journey like..ever. Ric glances at me, "You alright kid?," I nod finally getting comfortable.

"Yeah great, just not used to car jounreys," i tell him. Salem meows loudly from behind us, he hates being confined to his cat box - since we never travled anywhere he hasent had to be put in it therfore hes not needed to get used to it. "Shh Salem, settle down," I say calmly to him, earning a light chuckle from Ric. "Salem? unusual choice, how did you come to that name?" he asks curiously.

Okay Nat, lets see how daddy will react to your freakish hobbies.

"Well, I like reading and researching supernatural things...like witches, werewolves, demons, ..vampires. all that stuff." The car now sits inside a bubble of awkward silence. I tilt my head slightly looking at Ric, his face showing no emoition while his eyes show confusion, shock and realisation. Why realisation? A long, harsh beep of car horns makes My head snap to ahead of us seeing Ric driving through a red light at a cross junction, "RIC!" I shout getting his attenion back to the road.

"WOAH SHIT!" He exsclaims as we narrowly dodge two fast traveling cars. Both our hearts skip beats in that moment then in sync, we breath sighs of relief as he turns into the long strip of Route 20 heading for main Atlanta. "Shit..im sorry you arlight? god - i need to pay better attenion to the road," We both take in deep breaths, I nod in response to his question. "Yeah im fine and  you do .. " is all i say to him. Believe me, i could of come up with a sarcastic response .. but theres a time and a place.

Ric continues our conversation from just before the cross junction ordeal. "So...you uh like supernatural stuff? intersting." He says to me. "What made you start reading about it?" He asks.

I give a deep sigh. "Well...Mrs Roberts probably told you why i came to being put in adoption." i pause looking at him and he nods, a sign for me to continue. "On my 6th birthday, my grandparents..im guessing Mom's parents, were murderd. I dident witness their deaths but saw grandmas dead body. It was ripped up beyond recignition. I only managed to recignise her cause of her yellow night gown. Anyway..the final police report stated their deaths to be 'Animal Attacks'."

"And you dont think thats what killed them? do you?"

I shake my head. "No.. Im pretty sure it was a vampire." I say confidently with strength in my voice. Ric takes his eyes of the road, looking at me breifly before returning his eyes to their rightful spot. "How can you be so sure? i mean their myths. nothing but nightmares." He tells me.

"Im sure because I saw a woman that night. She had fangs, red eyes - i know what i saw and since researching im conviced it was a vampire that killed them." i sigh slightly. "Look..i know i sound crazy and you'r thinking im a freak righ-" He interupts me.

"Natalie i dont think your crazy or a freak. For one being a History teacher and somtimes R.S teacher I cant judge on what people belive in and in your case why would i? your my daughter i'll never class you as those two things nor will i judge you." Ric says kindly, giving me a side smile.

..H-he dosent think im a nut job! we'll he's the first. I smile happily, "Thankyou, Ric."

"Dont mention it, kiddo." He replys.

"So..what do you think? Think vampires and supernaturals exist?" I ask my curiousity growing. He chuckles, smiling, a look plasterd on his face like he knows somthing i dont. "I see no reason why they couldent - i remain open minded on the subject." seeing through the look on his face i simply nod in reply.