Chapter 4
Rebecca woke a few hours before sunset and was momentarily confused as where she was. Then she remembered and she groaned as she rolled over on the unfamiliar bed. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand, shielding her eyes from the screen light when she forgot about her oversensitive eyes. She then looks at the time and curses the longer spring days. It was only 7pm which meant she still had nearly three hours before she could leave the house.
Rolling out of bed she begins digging in her suitcase for clothes. She picks out a pair of capris, a modest shirt, and with a triumphant smile she manages to find matching undergarments.
She dresses quickly and brushes her hair out to put in a braid. Once again digging in her suitcase she finds a pair of near matching socks, and as she ties the laces of her tennis shoes, makes a mental note to put things away later.
The house was quiet as she descended the stairs, save for the faint sounds scuffling. She followed the sounds to a door in the living room that opened to stairs leading down.
The basement was large with stone walls and a high ceiling. In the far corner sat two large wooden chests, one of which was open showing various weapons. But these were temporarily forgotten when she saw the reason for the sounds that brought her here.
The older vampires were sparing with their backs to the stairs where she now sat on the bottom step. She didn't know how long she sat there watching them but it appeared Lincoln was going to win this round. He had the other man on the ground with Henry's arm pinned behind his back.
Rebecca couldn't help staring at the lines of strong muscle beneath Lincoln's white shirt. 'Oh my. Those old pictures really don't do you justice. Oh my gods stop that! No I will not drool over him like some rabid fangirl. That is a sure-fire way to make him really uncomfortable.'
She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice that the men had broken apart and were now looking at her.
Her eyes widened and if she could have blushed she was sure her face would be beet red. She gave them an awkward smile.
"Sorry. I heard strange noises and I hope I'm not interrupting." she finished in a rush.
"You are welcome anywhere in this house. And after your first few hunts you make come and go as you please," Henry answered as he walked over to the open wooden chest and snapped it shut.
"Yeah about that. Just how long do you plan for me to stay with you?" she inquired.
Lincoln looked to Henry, "Yes Henry, do tell. You have avoided the subject at really turn."
"Let's go upstairs and I'll answer your questions."
When they were all sitting in the living room, Lincoln in his easy chair and Henry and Rebecca on the couch, Henry gave a long sigh.
"Does the name Timothy Wolfe have any meaning to you?" Henry directs at Rebecca.
She eyes narrow in confusion and slight anger. "He's my ex-husband. What does HE have to do with this?"
"It would seem that he has made alliances with the more devious of our kind. To further his own gain." Here he hesitated before continuing,"I also believe that he is the one who sent that vampire after you."
Rebecca sat there in stunned silence, blinked rapidly trying to process this information. It was Lincoln who spoke first.
"To what purpose Henry? And why am I just hearing about this now?"
"I only came by this a few hours ago Abraham and I thought she should be the first I told. And as to why I do not know. But we will find out." Henry looked at Rebecca,"that is why you need to stay with us. With your attacker not returning they will be looking for you. You only need to stay until we find what they are up to and why your ex-husband wanted you dead. If you choose to stay after that then we will cross that bridge when we come to it."
Rebecca sits there with her eyes shut tight. Seconds past and the men look at each other uncertainly. With an unneeded breath she opens her eyes.
"So do you plan on hunting down those vampires he's working with? And what do you plan on doing with him?" she questioned.
"Yes, that was the plan. It was rare for our kind to form groups but there are a few that have joined together, as is the case with this bunch. And the outcome when it happens is never good," answered Henry.
Henry then looked as if he was going to say something more but the look that Lincoln gave him told him he should let the topic rest for the time.
"Henry didn't you say we were taking her out to feed? It's nearly time." Lincoln pointed out.
"Then I suggest we get ready for the night ahead. I know it's a bit cliché but I would recommend dark clothes," supplied Henry.
She nodded before they all spilt to go to their rooms. Rebecca choose a black pair of close-fitting pants and a fitted sleeveless black shirt. She then thanked her papaw's insistence in making her bring her black leather boots. Looking in the bathroom mirror before leaving her room, she decided she looked a bit like a biker chick minus more leather, and she had to laugh at that.
Coming back to the living room she was a bit surprised to find that she was the first one done. A few moments later Henry came down the stairs wearing dark designer jeans and a dark blue button down shirt, and tossed a leather jacket at her which she caught.
"It's suppose to get cold tonight and while that doesn't bother us, we need to blend it. We never know when we might come across one of those over zealous hunters that don't care we only feed on those that would harm the innocent," Henry explained while she put the jacket on.
Just then Lincoln came into the living room. He was also wearing a button down shirt that was tucked into the top of black pants. Pants that, she decided, had no business looking that good on someone.
'Oh my gods! Stop it brain! What the hell is wrong with you? For months you decided to take a vacation in regards to men and now you think it's a good idea to come back. Typical.'
She was brought out of her internal monologue when Henry spoke.
"Well, then let's get this night started shall we? Where do you feel like going tonight my friend," he directed to Abraham.
"I'm thinking Baltimore. Near the harbor," was his reply.
They headed to the garage. Lincoln was once again driving. Rebecca slid into her seat and leaned forward to talk to Henry.
"So anyway we don't have to listen to the radio the way there? Like do you have CDs or something? Cause if not my phone can be played through the speakers," she pleaded.
Henry laughed at this and handed her the end of a cable to plug into her phone.
"Thanks. I'll try to not play anything that'll scream at you," she teased Lincoln.
"Many thanks Ms. Faulkner," he said good naturedly
"You can call me Rebecca, ya know. Or Becca."
He said nothing in reply and she shrugged. Picking a random play list and putting in on shuffle, she really hoped it would play something good and not a sad song.
What ever powers that watched over this world were with her right then because Boondocks by Little Big Town started to play. Henry joined her in singing all the way the Baltimore.
They had spilt up when they got to a likely section of town. Abraham taking the vehicle in search of his own prey while Henry went with Rebecca to give her advice and what to look for before setting off to find his own meal.
"You can hear the thoughts of those around you and you can use this to your advantage if you focus. Also you can disappear in the shadows which is handy for waiting out your prey and catching them off guard," he informed before they entered a crowded bar.
She ordered a drink and scanned the crowd. She could hardly think in here for the noise and she could almost smell the blood being pumped through the warm bodies around her. Henry brushes against her, shaking her thoughts.
"Remember, try to focus on blocking out all other whispers and listen for the aggressive ones," Henry said into her ear, "you're using yourself as bait so focus on the ones at are directed at you. Draw him out and take your time. You remember where we are meeting up?"
At her nod he wishes her luck and leaves the bar. And now she's alone in a bar full of the living for the first time since her turning.
She works on tuning out the many whispers in her mind while casually sipping her drink. Then she hears him. The man that would be her prey.
'Nice little piece of ass...follow her when she leaves and take her behind the building. Just like the last ones'
She couldn't fight the feeling of revulsion she got from this. Oh yes this one will be meeting his end one way or the other tonight.
Knocking back the rest of her drink she got up from the bar. She had it all planned out.
Rebecca exited the bar and turned left, walking at a leisure pace. Behind her she could hear the creep match it.
She ducked down the next alley and let the shadows consume her. The creep walked right past where she hid. Silently she slipped up behind him and she felt her fangs grow. With speed born of her new powers she had her hand over his mouth and her fangs in his neck before he could utter a cry.
Warm, rich, fresh blood flowed and she could hear the rapid heart beat of her prey. The man tried in vain to break away from her grip but she sunk the claws of her free hand into his chest to still him.
Soon his heart slowed and then finally stopped. When she could get no more blood, she released the dead man and with a heavy thump he hit the ground.
Wiping the blood from her chin she looked down at the heap that moments before was a living breathing man and she tries to feel guilty. She had just killed someone. But then she remembered the creeps thoughts of his earlier innocent victims and she figured the world wouldn't miss this rapist.
Quickly she ditched the body in one of the many dumpsters in the alley. She then began the three block walk to the pick up point.
When she got the place she sat on a near by bench, lit a cigarette from the pack she had in her pocket, and waited. She wasn't waiting long before Henry sauntered up and sat next to her on the bench. She offered him a cigarette which he surprised her by taking.
"I see that you were successful," at her confused looked he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped some missed blood off her left cheek.
"Oops. Thanks. Yeah I was and I hid the body in a dumpster. I ,apparently, wouldn't have been his first victim. The sicko."
Henry flicked his burnt cigarette into the road. "Yes that is why we prey upon those types. They are the ones that fall through the cracks of the thing they call the justice system these days."
Just then Lincoln pulled up in the SUV and they climbed inside. Lincoln looked pensive and this seemed to bring the other mood down as well. The ride back to the house was silent.
When they arrived home Lincoln headed straight in the house and Henry followed close behind.
Rebecca didn't want to eavesdrop again so she headed to the back yard. She found a large swing and sat down in it to smoke.
Abraham headed straight to the basement with Henry directly behind.
"What is wrong Abraham?"
"We need to get this business squared away so she can leave Henry. I can't have her here. I feel too much guilt every time I lay eyes on her," he croaked, shoulders hunched.
"You mustn't feel guilty. She doesn't blam..."
"No she doesn't, for now, but I did to her what swore I would never do to anyone. I still don't know what force compelled me to do so," he muttered.
He ran his fingers through his hair, making it stand at strange angles.
"Probably for the same reason I saved you from that first vampire all those years ago. She may be needed in the days to come," Henry said,"or maybe it's something else entirely."
"What are you implying? That I wanted this? You should know me better than that."
"All I'm saying is that maybe it's good that she stay here. She has the opportunity that most new vampires rarely get. She can learn from us. And we may learn from her as well," Henry said, placed his hand on his tall friends shoulder.
"I don't like this Henry. But I can not disagree that for the time being she is safer with us. After that…" he trailed off.
"After that we can discuss it like adults and she will make her own decision."
He was about to speak again when he heard Rebecca enter the house and approach the basement door.
Having finished her cigarette she headed back into the house. She immediately heard the sound of muffled voices coming from the basement and hoped she wouldn't be intruding.
Coming down the stairs, she took a set on the bottom step and look at the men standing in the middle of the room.
"So if that offer to train me is still on the table I'd like to take you up on it."
"It is,"answered Henry.
"Good, because if what you say it true and my ex-husband is going to send more vampires after me, then I need to know how to fight. I don't want have to rely on you two to protect me all the time. I'm not one to just sit by and do nothing."
Henry smiled at this. "No, I would imagine you're not. We can start when your ready."
"I'm ready now. I have all this energy and nowhere to vent it. And the sooner the better I would think."
Henry looked at Lincoln and they seemed to have a silent discussion. He then cast his eyes back to the to the young vampire and nodded.
"Very well. Then let us begin."
AN: Well that's the fourth chapter. What did you think? This one took a bit of time for me to write because I kept getting distracted by everything. Anyway thanks for reading.