Ash Redfern

The styrofoam cup of coffee smelled stale within the small confines of my car. I watched Mary-Lynnette sleep now, her hand smashing up her face with her forehead glued to the window. It astonished me that she was even able to sleep – but it's most likely that she didn't get any sleep at home overnight. She insisted on stopping for coffee, wanting to stay up to see where we were going. Had my sisters asked to stop for coffee I would have blown a fuse – as if they wanted to stop in the middle of a high speed car chase. But for her, I felt myself melting – conforming. The gas station had day old coffee and I would have asked them to brew me a fresh pot had she cared. I would have risked the time. Simply to please her with coffee.

I had been so concerned for her safety that my mind had been rushing a mile a minute. I hadn't even stopped to consider that I was here – with her. Inches away from touching her hair, her body, her hands. It engrossed me now as I drove down the solitary road, feeling immensely restless. I sank into thought instead, distracting myself from the smell her skin gave off.

The question was whether I drive us south to California or north to Washington state. Even the Clearwater National Forest of Idaho was a consideration, but I wanted to stay familiar. The entire state of Oregon was out because I didn't want to be near the farm. Washington threatened above me, the rumor of a darker presence in Seattle was something I wanted to steer clear from – fact or fiction. If getting across the country border was as easy as it used to be, I would be heading for Canada. The stretches of land were endless, but I didn't want to have to influence due to no passports.

California had places to camp and people, endless amounts of people. Tracking for the supernatural isn't hard, but when those smells get embedded with the smells of others, of cities, of even rancid coffee – everything gets trickier.

I was taught how to track humans when I was younger. Lamia and made vampires simply have heightened versions of human aspects. Where if humans were meant to evolve to become more dominant, they would evolve into us. Naturally become weapons and tracking beacons. Instead, humans spend time and money on guns and spineless attempts of hiding using camouflage. I missed using my body only, my senses that reached above the initial five. New vampires tracked with their eyes only, indulging in a fifty feet scope and in details they didn't even know objects had. It is easy and amateur – same as hearing. The next to learn is smell. The overpowering scents are hard to miss, burning the insides of your nose and lighting up into your lung space. Once a vampire can differentiate and the smells and hone in on what they need, they're limitless. With touch things are rougher, things are smoother. I compare it to constantly being on ecstasy except not everything feels good.

Now, taste.

That only comes after years of killing. Of tasting different bloods.

I have a good sense of taste.

I blinked and noticed outside my driver's side window the sketch of my sister's face against the glint of a passenger window. Kestrel's hair swung around in the wind like a fiery pinwheel. They were now on the opposite side of the road, driving beside me like they were aching for a race. The girls looked wild in their car, like dangerous huntresses. If they weren't driving an old pick-up, I would actually be somewhat intimidated. Rowan peered over her wheel and gestured me to pull over. I steered sideways smoothly, hoping not to disturb Mary-Lynnette.

My car purred to a stop. Mary-Lynnette remained asleep, her head now twisted to the side. Mark stirred with a mumble, drool pooling at the sides of his mouth. All three of my sisters were at the side of my car, their hair whipping around them. I got out without a sound.

"We need to know where we're going, Ash. There's no sense in keeping us in the dark." Rowan remained cool, but I could tell her annoyance had peeked. Her eyes stared into mine, so dark they looked like holes. Kestrel looked un-amused and Jade was busy peeking into the backseat at her drooling white knight.

"You don't even know where you're going, do you?" Kestrel spat, her lips pursed at her words.

"We're camping. Northern California."

"And how long do you expect us to camp?" Kestrel interrogated. "With humans, no less."

"I have enough supplies for about five days. Enough time for me to figure out what our next step is. I assume everything is going to be happening very fast." The Night World always moved fast. Kestrel looked bored, twirling her fingers through a long rope of hair. Jade tapped on the back window with the pads of her fingers to her own internal beat. I couldn't help feeling like I'm leading them into darkness. My sisters haven't been around the Night World for too long. Too much has changed and they only know a fraction of what has been going on.

"What about this – Circle Daybreak?" Rowan threw out an attempt.

The truth is that I have to contact Circle Daybreak. The thought had been pressing on me for most of the ride. I don't want to ensue panic, but if they attacked there first when I knew all along – I would never forgive myself. However, with that pack of intuition, they most likely already knew. I still had trouble thinking that I should take Mary-Lynnette there, into the heart of the best attack. If you're looking to attack the soulmates what better place than Circle Daybreak?

The pro to going out to Circle Daybreak was the security. Thierry is one of the most protected vampires in the country. He had werewolves that would lay down and die for him if it meant he was guaranteed safety. I wouldn't mind having a mutt listen to me.

"I know. I'll take care of it."

"And what are we? We're not useless, Ash." Kestrel raised her voice over the rolling car behind her. Even Jade stood up straight at this, her eyes serious for once. I struggled to see how my sisters could help, but they were Redfern lamia after all. They were powerful in strength and in the name alone.

"If I can just get her safe, I'll contact Circle Daybreak." I gestured to the car.

"They're going after the humans, aren't they?" Rowan's face hardened, the puzzle pieces linking in her head. I hung my head, unsure of what to say. I was losing my anger and determination due to sheer terror. Terror of what I would turn into if she was hurt. "Then we camp." She continued.

As it slowly reached mid afternoon, I felt my strength begin to revive. If I was human, I would be parched and drained, swerving around in attempt to stay awake. Instead, my blood was pulsing. A fire was burning in my skin, aching for human blood to bring my muscles back to life. I had been watching Mark in my rear-view mirror, the blood pulsing within the veins of his neck. I gritted my teeth, practically ripping out my molars.

We had followed a dirt path into the covered forest, leaving the paved road behind us. I avoided set campgrounds, families running around a crammed RV. The trees were old, rooted years ago. There broad branches twisted above us like a protected net. The sun trickled through the leaves, highlighting the olive tones of the aging leaves. I could smell the crisp air despite the thick pane glass of the car. It smelled of weeds and dried earth.

I stopped the car when the dirt road ended. My car whined in attempt to move forward, branches poking at the tires. Rowan pulled her truck up behind me, the engine wheezing. The sisters were already out of the truck, unloading the bed.

I looked over at Mary-Lynnette, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks. I was unsure how to wake her, considering I didn't want to. I wanted her in constant peace, forever unknown to the horrors we could be facing.

Mark – on the other hand – felt differently.

"Mare! Wake up." Mark strained his voice, pushing on her shoulder. I looked back at him harshly. "You've been sleeping this whole time."

Her eyes opened and she looked at me with foggy eyes. "I don't usually sleep in cars."

"Just in mine." I winked at her before swinging open the car door.