"Have I no control, is my soul not mine?
Am I not just man, destiny defined?
Never to be ruled nor held to heel
Not heaven or hell, just the land between"
- VNV Nation - Joy
…
"Why did you save me?" Vaun's voice was strained as he commanded the bundled up woman to answer him. White blood was spit to the floor and he sat up, frowning at the three fallen sun hunters he had brought with him. He had never expected any of today to happen.
"You seem to have some sense unlike the others and you're fighting against them… I figured you were good."
She had come out of nowhere once he was overwhelmed by a group of strigoi he had not been expecting.
Vaun looked her over. Her body was a skinny one. A scarf, hood, and her beanie covered most of her head with a skull mask covering her nose and mouth. He tried to look into her mind but failed, this person seemed to be blocking him somehow.
"Don't even try to look in my head." Vaun's rescuer said, "The other creatures did that and I hated it…"
"Alright." He stood up and reached his hand out, "Come to me."
"No."
An annoyed sigh left him with a roll of his red eyes, "I want to make sure you aren't corrupted."
"I'm not."
"Really." Vaun smirked, unsure as to if this female was being truthful or not. She did seem to be a very talented fighter, someone they could use on their team. They were starting to run low on numbers, "I should recruit you."
"For?"
"To be a sun hunter."
"A sun what?"
…
Santorini jumped when the door opened but was relieved when she saw her bundled up sister walk in, "Vesuvius! You're back!"
"Tori, get some things. We are leaving." She took the hood off, "This guy Vaun just recruited us to kill these weird things running around. I figured we would be safer with him than we are here."
The younger woman nodded and grabbed the important keepsakes and some supplies with ammo before bundling up herself. Her older sister pushed the younger's hair up into her beanie and scarf so it was hidden and out of the way.
I can finally take you somewhere you will be safe. This guy appears rather frightening but it's clear he needs help. He promised no one would eat us. I have blocked my thoughts from him-"
"What? Eat us?" That didn't sound good.
"He is a half breed, he called himself a born or something. He is determined to kill the big guy that made all these creatures. Remember how to block everything, just like I taught you?"
The younger nodded nervously, silently wondering what her sister had gotten them into.
"Good. Lets go."
…
Vaun waited in the black car for the woman to collect her little sister with their supplies. Vesuvius was her name. She had fought better than most humans, almost as good as his own brother Quinlan. He just hoped and prayed the younger one was as good as this one. He couldn't read her thoughts and assumed the younger sister was as good as the older. An annoyed growl escaped his throat. He saw the two walk out and discreetly rolled his eyes when he saw the other was even smaller. They didn't have much, each had two messenger bags that seemed fairly light.
"This is my sister, Santorini." Vesuvius exclaimed as she got in the front and motioned to her sister in the back. It was quiet for a moment, an awkward silence. In an attempt to avoid the uncomfortable pause, Vesuvius fiddled with her gloves, making sure the pieces of clothing were properly situated before looking at Vaun once more, "Okay, where are we going?"
"Somewhere safe. Back with the others."
"Others?"
Vaun turned the car left then to the right down the street. The oldest of the two new recruits looked back at the youngest and gave a comforting nod that everything was going to be okay. The ride to the safe haven was a long, awkward one. Vaun couldn't see their thoughts and they didn't talk much, it was… Weird and uncomfortable. He was used to riding with his mate and the human Augustine, both of them were talkers. It felt like a weight had lifted off his shoulders when they all stepped out of the black vehicle.
"This place… Doesn't look very safe." The oldest said.
But then again, nothing looked safe in this city. The sun was beginning to set and it was making the two sister rather anxious.
"Go inside, the elevator is directly in front of you. Go to the top floor, to the left, last door on the right. Ask for Doctor Goodweather. Tell them you're here to fight against the master…"
Vaun climbed back in the car and drive off. The two looked at each other before walking inside, straight into the elevator as directed. At least there was some sort of doctor in the group they were going to start helping. Every apocalypse team needed one of those to survive.
The elevator opened and the two stepped out, turned left, making their way to the last room on the right.
"This is too fancy." Santorini muttered, "Rich people place, maybe?"
"I don't think rich or poor applies any longer with the things that are going down. At least we will be safe, I hope…"
The large room was well lit with artwork on the walls. The area gave off a relaxing vibe, something that was a major relief to feel after staying in a small hotel room for several weeks.
"Can I help you two ladies?" The voice belonged to an older man, leaning over a book.
"Are you Doctor Goodweather? We are here to help in your fight against the master."
The older man spoke in a rough tone, suggesting he was exhausted, "I am not. He will be back soon. Your help will be greatly appreciated. My name is Abraham Setrekian."
"I'm Vesuvius, this is Santorini."
"Welcome. Sit, wait, Doctor Goodweather should be back within the next… Ten minutes or so."
His attention went back to the book on the desk in front of him. Every now and then, he would mutter to himself and write on a notepad next to him. After a while, Santorini quietly stood up and looked at the books in the bookcases. Vesuvius just preferred to sit and reflect on things. It was easy to do here, Not much background noise.
"Who the hell are these guys?" A voice said from behind them.
"Mr. Fet, these are two new recruits. Our friend Mr. Vaun sent them."
"Okay…" Fet laughed, "They are pretty but can they fight?"
"We can."
"Alright, straight forward. I like that in a lady." Fet winked and looked through a bag that was on the floor in the corner of the room.
Vesuvius shifted her long orange hair over one shoulder then went back to the empty spot on the wall, letting herself slip back into deep thought.
After coming here to get their father and take him back overseas with him, back home, they discovered he had been turned into one of those creatures. By the time they found the will to release his soul, they were unable to travel and return home. They were stuck here until this was over. Compared to home, this place was a crowded nightmare.
A loud slam of a door snapped her from her thoughts, making Santorini jump and turn around. In came two men, one human, the other was not.
"Doctor Goodweather, these two girls were sent to help us in our fight. I believe Mr. Vaun was the one to bring them here." Setrakian said, looking up from the book.
Eph nodded and held his hand out, "Oh, well. We need the help. So, I assume the two of you know what we are up against."
Vesuvius shook his hand, "We do. We just want to end it so we can go back home. Just tell us what to do."
"You can help Fet blow up things." He said with a laugh.
"The master doesn't need help, Doctor." Fet laughed.
Eph coughed, "You know Mr. Setrakian, Fet and myself." He gestured to the one beside of him, "This is Quinlan."
"Hello, Quinlan." She nodded to him, "This is Santorini, my name is Vesuvius."
"Vesuvius." He scoffed, "Is that your birth name?"
"It is."
"Did your mother not stop to think that such a name could be rather… Offensive to the people who live in that area?" A growl followed his words.
"I live in the area. The people there do not mind it." She snapped.
"Alright, how about I introduce you two to Dutch. I'm positive you and her will get along." The doctor jumped between the two and led Vesuvius and Santorini outside, "I could use some help, anyway."
Silently, the two women followed him into another room.