Off With His Head

27. Don't be so damn cute all the time

"I feel as though I must warn you," Lideri says. "This mission is going to be very dangerous. Caleb, is your arm fully healed?"

It's the day after my mum left to return to my dad and I'm still reeling at the revelation of them being Hunters. I've tried so hard not to let my thoughts wander in that direction and focus on my training, but it has been extremely difficult not to dwell on. Truth be told, I was relieved when Lideri called us into his room for instructions on our next mission, eager for the distraction and ready to channel all my energy into taking down the next vampire.

Caleb nods and lifts up his arm that still has stitches in. The area surrounding the cut is red and swollen and the bite mark above it has scabbed over, looking like small puncture wounds. I personally think it could do with another few days of rest, but maybe that's just me.

Lideri places three photos on the table in front of us. "Kyle Lancaster, Drew Andrews and Langton Byers; our next three targets. They reside together in a double story on the edge of town."

I pull one of the pictures towards me for a closer look. The man in it is undeniably gorgeous, with dark tan skin, mahogany eyes and short cropped hair. He looks only a few years older than me. "You know," I muse. "I'm starting to get a little offended at the fact that Henry only turned men. It's a little sexist don't you think?"

No one answers me, the three of them exchanging an exasperated look at my words. I wait a moment for one of them to make a comment about how 'men are stronger', but thankfully none of them do. I sigh heavily to show my frustration, before looking at the three photos in front of me, and realising something else. "Wait, we have to take on all of them at once?"

"Yes."

My mouth drops open and I wait for Zach or Caleb to protest. Neither of them says a word, both watching Lideri with interest. "Am I the only one that realises that this would be a suicide mission? The last one almost turned Caleb and we were fighting him three against one!"

"You have managed to defeat a vampire in one-on-one combat, have you not?" Lideri clasps his hands together, his eyebrow raised as he waits for an answer he already knows.

"Yes, but-,"

"Well, then this should be easy," he cuts me off quickly. "Now, I don't think using Peyton will work this time, I'm sure that they will have realised by now that the others have been terminated. It's going to have to be a stealth mission. Try catching them unawares."

"Like while they're washing dishes?" I chuckle, still unable to believe the absurdity of this mission. Once again, no one answers me, but Zach's lips twitch upwards so I know that he at least got my joke. "Tough crowd," I mutter.

"Go tonight," Lideri continues as though I never said anything. "Once it gets dark. If you're lucky, they won't all be there and you will have a slight advantage." With that he waves his hand, effectively dismissing us.

I want to argue with him some more about how dangerous this mission is, but, judging from the look on his face, that would be a very bad idea. Grumbling under my breath, I stand up, my chair squeaking against the floor. With one last look at Lideri, I leave, walking as quickly as I can to the weapons room. If we're going to be facing three vampires at once, then we're going to need all the ammunition we can get. I want to go there and load up on any weapon I can get my hands on.

Caleb clearly has other ideas.

"Jennings, wait." He grabs my arm to stop me, letting Zach go ahead. "You're not still mad at me are you?"

"No," I admit. Now that I've had some time to cool off slightly, I've realised that it's not entirely Caleb's fault for not telling me. "But a little heads up might have been nice. Something like 'oh hey by the way, your parents are also hunters'. Anything along those lines would have been fine."