Loud shouting echoed through the house. I got up, wiping my eyes, and walked down the stairs. Was some neighbour dissatisfied with our decorations? Nobody else would be up this late at night, venting about silverware.
I unlocked the door and prepared to shout. There was only one way to deal with these types. "What do you want?" I screamed at the person in front of me. For a few moments, they calmed down, but then it hit me – the person in front of me was none other than Zane. The reason I didn't recognize him was even more ridiculous than the situation I was in. None of us had ever gotten him mad enough for him to shout.
"I live here." In an icy cold tone, the answer coming from Zane assured me - he was livid. I stepped back as fast as I could, motioning for Zane to come in. He continued staring at me, until Cole's voice joined the room. "We're so sorry! We had entirely forgotten about you being a vampire."
After a few minutes of awkwardness and Jay fiddling around with the door, Zane stepped foot into the house. He didn't utter a single word, and just went to bed. So did everyone else, except for Cole. He felt responsible for disturbing Zane's vacation, so he agreed to take the silverware and dump it in front of Misako's door in a cardboard box.
As I went to sleep, only one question wandered around in my mind. What are we going to do now? Most of the weapons effective against werewolves were just as harmful towards vampires. Maybe we just had to put catnip around a few trees on the border of town. They would think there are cats and run there, leaving us safe.
With such ridiculous thoughts circling around in my mind, I went to sleep. I didn't dream that night. It was a peaceful rest. Even waking up was pleasant. Zane and Jay were chattering about technology, eliminating the threat of Jay attacking me with his flood of stories.
"Where did you put all the forks and knives?" Zane asked me, pouring himself a cup of tea. "We sent them back to Misako. What's the problem?" Jay took courtesy of answering in my place. Not that I'm complaining.
"I was planning to go to a meeting with my family for two days, or to be precise, two nights. There was no need to discard them." Me and Jay looked at each other with a blank stare. I just couldn't deal with this anymore. "What is up with you not telling us stuff beforehand! Like you being a vampire, the existence of werewolves and now this! Cole, back me up here!"
A silence overtook us all, Cole was nowhere to be seen. "Where did he go? We just sent him to Misako's shop and back." And cue Jay's freak-out. "Did you send him there in the dead of night?" Zane had raised his eyebrow so far, it might as well leave his face and float into space. Hey, that rhymed!
Since Zane's eyebrow doesn't require freezing, I answered. "He kind of sent himself there." Zane lowered his eyes and muttered something to himself, before turning to us. "Imagine what Misako thinks of is now? Sending a friend through this dangerous town alone at night-time. She probably hates us now."
"Then where is he?" Jay looked like he was in a panic. "Do not worry. Misako would never abandon a guest like that. She probably offered him a place to stay. After all, most of her customers visit at night. She has no problem, spotting an out of place person." Zane had an explanation gor everything, didn't he?
"Cole got to sleep in a normal bed!" Jay's expression changed from panic to anger. "I highly doubt that. Why don't you go and ask him yourself? I will be leaving in a few minutes anyway." Zane was calm once more. But how could he be? Cole had the luxury of an actual bed! But maybe Misako was understandable and gave him a mattress.
"Let's check!" I grabbed my phone and Jay threw his hands in the air, agreeing with me. Zane smiled at our enthusiasm. Maybe even he hated Cole's lucky break. He tends be good at hiding things. Like a secret about being a vampire.
But what does that matter now? He was drinking tea in a house, while we were walking towards Misako's shop of wonders. Jay was enthusiastic beyond comparison, in his every step, happiness and determination. I was in a simple hurry. We had to get that silverware back. Speaking about it...
A silver gleam caught my eye. It was a knife. The same kind Misako gave us. Had Cole dropped it, while walking towards Misako. But there were only a few houses in between. Then Jay stopped dead in his tracks. Then I saw it as well. Then everything became clear.
All the silverware Misako had given us was scattered on the ground, drops of blood and large claw marks dotted the ground. The trail lead down a long street, heading straight into the forest.
The werewolves had made their move.