How Far We've Come

Chapter 1 Harvelle's

As someone who never really had a solid home, Harvelle's Roadhouse was the closest thing to home and family I ever knew, (well besides Sonny's and Dean Winchester). It was one place I always felt comfortable, and playing pool was always my release, my happy place some might call it, but I wouldn't put it quite like that. It was, however, one of the few things, other than hunting, that allowed me to feel truly in my element. This poor bastard had no idea what he'd gotten himself into. I was hustling this baby faced greenhorn while Jo sat nearby and watched. I was just about to sink the eight ball and win two hundred bucks, when I saw Ellen answer the phone out of the corner of my eye. Out of force of habit my ears perked up, and I couldn't help but listen. It was one sided but I had been around the Harvelles long enough to know when something was wrong. It also helped that I seem to have a sixth sense about forthcoming crappiness, especially since it seems to follow me. Ellen hung up the phone with a solemn look on her face and caught my gaze and gestured me over to her. I looked back down at the table and took my winning shot, leaned over to the greenhorn and said with a smirk, "Sorry baby face, time to pay up, better luck next time."

He replied, "Wait, wait, wait...how about double or nothing?"

I looked to Jo and said, "Fine, but Jo here is gonna have to play this round for me, I'm needed elsewhere."

I walked up to Ellen at the bar and asked, "What kind of doom and gloom situation are we dealing with now?"

She looked down, then back up at me and said, "A hunter passing through Colorado just called. Daniel Elkins is dead. I'm sorry sweetie."

I replied, "Oh… wow," as a look of surprise tinged with sadness passed across my face. Ellen continued to look at me with concern so I said, "Well that sucks. But it's not like he was my dad Ellen, don't expect me to get all emotional. He was a mentor, I respected the man and appreciated that he took me in and taught me about hunting, but we were never overly close. And, I haven't even seen the guy in ten years. But, Elkins being dead does pose some interesting questions."

Ellen gave me a look, like she wasn't buying what I was selling, and then she sighed and asked, "What kind of questions?"

"Like what killed him? My guess would be vampires since hunting them was his specialty, any vampires left out there would have it out for him I'm sure. But the more important question being, what has become of his most prized possession?"

Ellen looked at me confused, "And what exactly is his most prized possession?"

"Sorry Ellen, but the fewer people that know about it the better, it was Elkins best kept secret and I'm gonna try to keep it that way."

I took a deep breath and sighed, "I guess I need to be headed to Colorado."

Ellen squinted at me suspiciously and huffed, "Well, on that cryptic note, I guess you better be going then," she said then looked at me seriously and urged, "Be careful, please."

"Always," I replied with a smirk just as Jo walked over handing me two hundred dollars.

I smiled at her impressed and said, "Nice! Look at you hustling like a pro, I'm so proud," as I took the cash.

Ellen rolled her eyes saying, "You're not a very good influence you know."

I feigned offense, "Ellen, I'm hurt." Then I smirked and raised an eyebrow, "Besides, you let her spend all her time in a bar, constantly filled with way too many ego inflated, rude, crude, socially unacceptable, male hunters, you should be happy that I am the one influencing her, it could be worse."

Ellen sighed, "Yeah, yeah."

Jo rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated, "Could you two please not talk about me like I'm not even here."

"Sorry kiddo," I said smiling fondly at her.

I patted her on the shoulder as I grabbed my black leather jacket from behind the bar and said, "See you around" as I gave a sarcastic salute and made my way out of the bar and toward my most prized possession. My silver 1965 Fastback Mustang. It was time to go hunting.

Next chapter will start to actually get into Dead Man's Blood. There is more info about me and this story and the inspirations for it on my profile check it out if you want. I hope you continue to enjoy this story!