Off With His Head

Epilogue. The mark of a Vampire Hunter

"Stop squirming, Jennings." Caleb sighs in exasperation from somewhere near my left shoulder.

"I can't help it," I whine, too scared to care that I sound like a child. A fine sheen of sweat covers my forehead and my heart beats erratically, hammering against my ribs. "I'm scared."

"Sure," Zach says with a chuckle. "She takes on vampires, gets stitched up and has blood tests, but is terrified of a tattoo gun."

He forgot to mention the multiple cannulas and the iron shards that embedded themselves in my skin. But, none of those seem as scary right now as the machine currently poised over my rib cage. Maybe it's because those injuries are in the past, or maybe it's because, deep down, even after all I've been through, I'm still a scaredy-cat when it comes to needles.

"It makes a funny noise," I complain, as Matthew once again turns on the machine. The buzzing sound fills my ears as he approaches my skin, ready to, once again, try and get this over with. I steel myself, unable to look away from it as my fists clench in anticipation.

"Wait no stop!" I screech, just as he's about to touch me. He turns it off again, trying and failing to hide his frustration.

"Peyton, you knew what you signed up for." Zach stands over me, running a gentle hand through my hair, and from the corner of my eye, I see Caleb pointedly look away.

"Yes but," I gulp. "I'm not sure that my ribcage is the right place for it. Maybe we should try somewhere else?"

"We've discussed this. It has to be somewhere that's easily hidden," Zach explains for the tenth time. Today.

"You both have yours on your shoulders," I protest again. I've made this argument several times in the last forty-five minutes, to no avail. I have to admit, Zach has been incredibly patient with me. Even I almost want to slap myself for how annoying I'm being.

I get the feeling I would have to wait in line behind Matthew. Possibly even Caleb.

"We mainly wear t-shirts, unless we're in headquarters. Can you guarantee that if yours is on your shoulder, no one will ever see it?"

Zach has a point, and it's one he's made a few times. I know he's right, but I had spent some time researching on the internet and apparently your ribcage is one of the most painful places to get one. I wish I had never looked, I feel as though it made me even more terrified.

"Come on, Jennings, it's been forty-five minutes," Caleb groans, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "That's like triple the amount of time getting the actual tattoo takes."

"I have a very serious question first." I prop myself up on my elbows and look at each of them in turn. "Have you guys ever considered henna?"

Matthew rolls his eyes at my latest remark and adjusts the latex gloves on his hands.

"Peyton." Zach crouches down so that his soft blue eyes meet mine. As always, the colour reminds me of warmth, comfort and love. I feel my fear slowly start to subside as I get lost in his gaze. "There's no need to be scared. It doesn't hurt as much as you think and it's over quickly."

I nod, lying back down and reaching a hand out. He takes it in his, threading our fingers together and squeezing tightly, reassuring me that it's going to be okay. With a big smile, he reminds me, "I'm right here."

And somehow, that's all I need to know. I nod towards Matthew who switches the machine back on and approaches me. This time, as the needle touches my skin, I don't flinch away. The steady buzzing fades away into the background as I lose myself in ocean blue.

The pain is a sharp stinging sensation, but nothing compared to being stabbed or having iron shards embed themselves in my skin. Matthew follows the lines of the stencil he had placed on me almost an hour ago, turning the blue into a permanent black.

A small circle, the size of a coin. Seven lines surround it, extending outwards, all with a small mark on them. One is longer than the others, with two lines that run through it.

The mark of a Vampire Hunter.

This was my last step. I signed my contract only three days ago, almost six weeks after the night we got Zach back. Like the rest of my team, I chose to turn myself over instead of becoming a vampire; a decision I made after discussing it at length with Zach. And now, with the tattoo, I can finally call myself a fully-fledged hunter.

It feels better than I ever expected.

Matthew finishes up tracing the lines and swabs it with something that smells vaguely like tea tree oil and eucalyptus, before placing a patch of cling-film over it. He gives it a soft pat, causing it to pulse and sting for a moment, which I strongly suspect was his revenge for the hell I've put him through in the last hour.

"Keep it dry and clean until it fully heals," he advises with a smirk, furthering my revenge suspicion. "It will scab over and be itchy, but whatever you do, don't pick at it."

"Can I still train?" I ask, eager to finally be able to go into the training grounds as an actual Hunter. We've all been on bed rest while we waited for our injuries to heal and I've been starting to feel antsy lately, desperate to get back into it.

"You really shouldn't," Caleb answers, shaking his head. "But knowing you, you'll do it anyway."

"You're damn right, I will." I get off the bed, feeling a slight twitch of pain where the tattoo is. "See you guys there!" And with that I take off, utilising my head start to beat Caleb and Zach there.

I arrive, panting and heaving and definitely less fit due to staying on my bed the last few weeks. But, I've managed to beat them both, so I hide behind the door frame and as soon as I see Zach's blonde head poke through, stick my foot out. He trips over it and goes sprawling across the training mat.

Caleb, who only had his cast removed last week, is a lot slower, coming in just in time to see Zach sprawled on the floor. He chuckles loudly at his friends expense, his green eyes glittering with mirth.

Zach gets up and raises his fists, circling me slowly with a gleam in his eye.

"Again."