B007Q4JDEM EBOK (14 page)

“Yeah, I'm fine...I just need to ask you a favor.”

“I'll do anything you need me to, Alex.”

“Have you been keeping up to date
with what’s going on in Denver?
”

“I have,” his voice held a hint of anger, “a
nd I've been seriously
thinking about
taking a trip there, actually.”

“That's...sort of why I came here. I think it's dire that you –
or we – go and figure out what’
s going on over there.”

“You want to go to Denver with me?” He looked stunned.

“Only if you want, or need me to.”

“The more hunters the better!”

I frowned at the term. I wouldn't be there to hunt; I would be there to protect Janet and to establish a cause for these horrific deaths. “
Is there anyone else that can go with us
?
I don’t think I’d be much help if it turns out…you know.
”

“My si
ster – your aunt – Kim, she’
s one of us,” h
e motioned toward a picture frame sitting on his desk. It held a photograph of him and a woman with startling green eyes and brilliant red hair.

“That's my aunt?” I asked in awe. “She is gorgeous.”

He chuckled. “Sh
e'd love to meet you, Alex. I’
ve told her so much about you.”

“Well, get a hold of her as soon as possible and let's make plans to go to Denver before things get worse.”

“Sounds like a plan...but, you'll end up missing out on a few days of school.”

“It's okay. I'll make up for it.”

He looked unconvinced at first, but agreed. “I'll get Kim on the phone
right away
. Why don't you go grab a soda from the machine?”

I nodded and left the back room. The soda machine was outside in the front of the store. As I was browsing the selection, I had the feeling someone was watching me. From the corner of my eye, I could see the shape of someone standing beside me. As I put in my fifty cents I silently hoped they were just waiting in line for the machine. The soda rolled out at the bottom of the machine and I grabbed it, hesitating a moment before turning around.

“Oh, Kate...it's just you,
” I smiled warmly.

“Hey!” The pink-haired woman grinned at me. “My shift starts in ten minutes. This is day seven of my work week. It's becoming tiresome.”

“Seven days in a row?” I asked in shock.

“Yep. Hopefully someone else gets hired on to manage the counter because I’m really getting sick of all this work. I appreciate the cash, but working seven days straig
ht is going to drive me insane!
”

“It would do the same to me,
” I
said
as I twisted the cap from my beverage and took a swig. I was grateful that Paul opened the door to get my attention and dragged me away from the conversation. It wasn't that I had a problem with talking to Kate, but there were more important matters at hand.

“Kim says she is
ready
whenever,” m
y father said quietly as he led me back to the room. “I can set up a flight for as early as tomorrow if
you’re really up to it
.”

“The sooner the better, right?”

“Right,” h
e smirked. “I’
m so glad you are on board with this.”

If only he knew I wasn't. I sighed quietly, hoping he didn't notice.

“I'll handle the flight arrangements; you head home and pack
yourself a bag
. You won't need much,
maybe
a change of
clothes or two
and your bathroom stuff.”

“
S
hould I meet you at the trailer
tomorrow?”

“No, I'll
just
meet you at your house.”

I frowned. This meant I wouldn't be spending the night at Salem's. “Okay, I'll be there.”

Salem kept me company and helped me pack. I could tell he was nervous about me leaving, no matter how many times I assured him I would be all right. He paced around my room as I collected my bathroom items and stuffed them in my book bag.

“I could come with you,” h
e suggested.

“Paul would recognize you in a second.
”

“You're right,” h
e sighed. “I just don't feel comfortable with you being amongst them.”

I wasn't sure whether he meant my father and aunt or the possible
vampire lurking around Denver - p
ossibly both. After my bag was fully packed we both sat on the edge of my bed, our hands intertwined.

“I'll be safe, I promise.”

“Unfortunately, that's not a promise you can ke
ep on your own,” h
e said smugly. “Try to stay at the hospital while Paul does his...work...”

“That's a good idea,
” I replied. “I can stay with Janet. I shoul
d call to check where she’
s staying.”

“Go ahead,” h
e offered me the cell phone. “You should take this with you, also. I have one of my own that you can reach me at.
The number is already in there,” h
e smiled.

“Thanks,
” I returned the expression as I dialed Janet's number. “Hey, mom-”

“How many times
do
I
have to
tell you that she is
fine?
” Mark growled.

“I-I just wanted to talk to her,” I said in shock, “j
ust for a second.”

“Fine, but make it quick.
”

“Alex?” I was relieved to hear Janet's voice. “
How are you doing honey
?”

“Where are you at, mom?”

“
Just a
t a
hospital here in Denver. It
's not
that
important, really.”

“Yes, it is!” I thought carefully. “I wanted to send you some flowers, but I need the address.”

“
Aww, that’s sweet of you
,
” I could tell she appreciated the idea. “Hang on, just
a
second,
” I heard the muffled voices again, this time Mark's voice sounded angry and loud. She whispered the address to me and I could tell she was frightened.

“Thanks, mom...” I mumbled. “Are you sure you don't want me to bring you home or something?”

“No,
it's okay...I'm fine where I am,
” I didn't believe that for a second. “I'll talk to you later.”

“Bye,
” I said it too late, she had already hung up.

After relaying the conversation to Salem,
I heaved my bag downstairs.
We were both further convinced th
at something was just not right.
It was nearing time for Paul to arrive to pick me up and I was growing more and more anxious as the minutes passed. Salem stayed with me, anxiously sitting on the couch beside me. He insisted he would hear the car pulling up long before they arrived.

“I wish you could go wi
th me, Salem,
” I
said
quietly as he played with my hair.

“
As do I
,” h
is voice was withdrawn, and I knew he was filled with worried thoughts still. “
Please
make sure to call as soon as you get to Denver. If Paul asks, tell him you are talking to Jason.”

“I w
ill,
” I promised.

“He will be here soon,” h
e muttered and sat up. “Be safe,
my
little raven.” He leaned in close an
d gently pressed his lips to mine
before heading through the back door. I stared after him, wondering if this might be the last time I would see him.

Not
two
minutes later I heard the rumble of Paul's Jeep Wrangler pulling into the driveway. I stared out the back window, watching Salem vanish from sight. The knock on the front door startled me and I ran to open it. Paul stood there with a grin on his face, and beside him was the pretty red-haired woman from the photograph on his desk.

“You must be Alex,” she said in a light, wispy voice,
“Paul has told me so much about you.”

“
Sorry
I can't say the same for you,
” I said with a frown.

“
Keeping me a secret are you? Embarrassed of your little sis?
” s
he smiled
comically at Paul, then looked back at me
,
“I can tell you everything you want to know on the trip.”

“Let's get in the car; w
e don't want to miss our flight,
” Paul said, took my bag and plopped it in his trunk.
“We’
ve
got
about an hour’s drive to
even
get
to the airport.”

The airport was packed and it took Paul almost twenty minutes to direct us to the right side of the huge building. This was precisely why I wasn't looking forward to the trip (excluding the fact that we were possibly going to meet a hostile vampire) – airports are too busy, too crowded and too stressful. We made it through security without any issues, and made it to our terminal right on time to get in line and wait to be seated. Paul was fortunate enough to get three seats together. I wasn't sure if I felt good about that or not, but I was relieved to know I wouldn't be sitting beside some chatty stranger – plus I was interested to hear about my aunt's life.

The seats on the plane were relatively comfortable. Aunt Kim took the window seat – apparently she had experience with sky diving and loved imagining herself soaring over the world – I took the middle and Paul was at the end. I was perfectly content until the large, rotund fellow in the seat ahead of me decided to recline his chair so far back that it crushed into my knees.

“Excuse me, sir?” Paul said
politely
to the man. “Could you please straighten your chair up a little, you are
squishin’
my daughter.”

“Oh, yeah.
Sur
e,” h
e grumbled in response, clearly not eager to re-situate.

With great relief, I stretched out my legs and relaxed as the seat was lifted. The flight attendants gave instructions on what to do if an accident
happened while in flight
,
and then
requested everyone put on their seat belts. I gripped onto the chair arms as the plane ascended
and the flight attendant’s safety instructions played through my mind – I had not braced myself for any of this
. This would be my first plane ride, and I had not been anticipating the push of force against my body as we rose into the air. Kim leaned over and patted my arm reassuringly.
She appeared completely at ease.

“You’
ll get used to it,
trust me,” s
he smiled. “I can’
t even
count how many plane trips I’
ve taken. I was nervous at first
too
, but
now I
actually enjoy it.”

“What do you do for a living?” I asked as I nicely declined the
peanuts the attendant offered. My palms had grown sweaty as I continued to
anxiously
grip the arms of the chair.

“Well, outside of...hunti
ng...I'm a journalist,” s
he replie
d, glancing out the window
,
“As well as
a
bit of a thrill-seeker I guess you’d say
,
”
s
he turned at me and grinned. “Maybe someday I will take you skydiving
.”

I was certain she could see the horror in my expression. “
Umm…
I think that's something I’m going to have to
say no to,
” I laughed nervously
.

“Your
dad’
s never be
en too keen on the idea, either,” s
he said, eying Paul. “It's amazing how he doesn't freak out about his side job, which is
way
more
dangerous
than
parachuting
out of a plane.”

I laughed, trying to hide my discomfort on the subject of vampire hunting. It amazed me how open she was about discussing the subject, especially on a full plane, but no one seemed to notice. Of course, she never openly used the words beyond 'hunting', so no one would know exactly what she was talking about.
If anyone did hear her
, they would probably just assume she was speaking of game hunting.