CH.14: Written in the stars

Star stormed to the town as fast as she could. Racing at a tree she pushes off with her foot before landing behind a vampire. She swings her sword chopping off the head before tackling the zombies in her midst. She chops off limbs and heads but doesn't stick around to take them all out. No, there was no point, she had to conserve her energy…build up her stamina so she doesn't tucker out before reaching her destination.

In her training she paced herself…never extended herself beyond a point that would leave her vulnerable. Her shorter blonde hair allowed for less grasp for anyone to hold her back. Star had to only hope that Marco was still alive. Since the day she fully confessed her feelings for him in the rain…knowing that he was with Jackie, it was a hard pill to swallow.

Star kept her mind on the prize…getting through these hordes of enemies to pushing through the town itself. Her body was hurtling at speed that few could handle without stressing their body. Star held her blade out and cuts through zombies as zombie entrails and cuts rains about her coating her clothing with a smell she'd have difficulty getting out.

"Toffee…life ruiner, earth shatterer, for the last time you will sever the ties of loving families. I know you are responsible for all this…for running the Diaz line into the ground and pushing Tom down his ill-fated demise. Just you wait…there is a reason this sword is feared by those whose flesh it takes."

Star left devastation in her wake and in the distance she can still hear her father calling out for the darkness to do its worse. Part of her was tempted to go back and help him…but…in that time Marco might be truly gone. Her heart…she wasn't sure it could endure much more. This life she led…it wasn't one she had a choice in, if she did, she might have chosen something a bit more teen oriented that left little wake of destruction in her path.

Star knew the land really well as she used to practice in these parts. To think she was so close to Marco…and yet…the two of them didn't wind up meeting till that fateful day. Star wished in part that she had known Marco earlier…things might have been different then. It wasn't like his lie would have hit her hard…as she too would be doing the hurting as she couldn't reveal her role in life and the hunting of monsters. When they both found out they would deal…it is what they did.

For the most part her family often kept with one another, in short, fall in love with someone in their circle. Tom happened to have some ties to wealth and it was how they met…through that circle. However suffice to say what started off as sparks became something more sinister. Instead of meeting the boy next door, the one with the heart, she was attached to the one without one.

Star danced among the dead, her blade a maelstrom of silvery vengeance. She however met a few too many as they began to attack her. Her clothing was torn and she was scratched up and it took all her willpower not to crumble down into a ball and hope the pain stops, the attacks cease. She sends an upper palm attack to the jaw of a vampire and elbows a zombie behind her.

"You really don't know when to stop do you?" Star was breathing hard feeling her adrenaline starting to wear down. Sweat glistened off her body and she could barely hold her sword up…even with her strength.

"I never knew you to be the one to give up!" Star was curious where the voice came from, not who it belonged to, she knew well enough who it was.

"Janna?" Star spots her up in a tree wearing a sly smile. She somersaults off the branch and lands next to her scattering the vampires and causing the zombies to stir restless.

"Look, about what went down and all…I am truly deeply sorry. I became addicted…Tom got me so hooked it was impossible to say no. What went down with Jackie's parents…it sickens me and I am a vampire. I also am responsible for Marco's Uncle…and there was no getting out of that with Toffee pulling my strings. I wish to atone for my mistakes, make amends where due. It is too late doing so with Marco…I can never take back what I did…but you Star, there might still be a chance."

Star had no idea about Marco's Uncle, but, given who Toffee was there was no way of getting out of that one. Star had spent time with her…and…unlike most she was kind of open about vampires and werewolves cause they were people still. The monster tended to come out under certain circumstances and even then what control they normally had was taken from them…by force.

Star closes her eyes and things slow down…when she opens her eyes she offers a smile. "Very well…get me a path…and we'll see about forgiveness."

Janna smiles a wicked smile and with her fangs out and her facial features warped she lets loose a carnal yell. Star seeks what energy she has and stashing her sword in her scabbard she resorts to fighting hand to hand. However a stake always comes in handy when taking on vampires.

"Yahoo…time to wipe out the scum of the earth!" Janna let loose a triumphant yell as she charged forth tearing limb from limb, her vampiric abilities heightened many of her senses and she barely got winded. Star was amazed at this…saw a sense of freedom in her that was not there before. Janna according to Marco was weird and tended to say stuff out of the blue…still…as a vampire she could be all she could be, and doing what Tom never could…retaining that human spirit, that goodness that was there.

Star had only known Janna a short time but even with her craze of impulses she never would harm lest in bad company, in company who took advantage of her. Star hated herself for having put her into Tom's hands…but…she would not have known what he would do. Maybe some part of her clung to the belief that there was good in him…that he could offer her a haven of sorts; now, side by side she could make up for lost time.

"Janna…don't' do anything…crazy ok? I just need a path and you are coming with me. We'll find Marco together, and, we'll go take down Toffee. You got it?" Star had done a bit of beating around the bush, knocking heads together as vampire's had their spines broken but far from dead. Nope, well, technically they were already dead…maybe out of commission was the right word.

Janna nodded her head but it was hard to tell if she was nodding in acknowledgement or just nodding to nod. Star threw a vampire over her shoulder and staked one in front of her. Moving through the ash she made sure not to have her mouth open, learned it the hard way the first time and her father never let her live it down. She settled into a comfortable rhythm of sorts with Janna a mere blur of feral fury as she sunk her teeth into necks and twisted necks and well…yeah glad she was on her side.

It was hard to tell how much progress they had made but one thing was for certain…Toffee was really making things difficult on them. For every enemy they fell…another took its place. No doubt the amount of vampires and zombies surrounded Echo Creek making it impossible to break through.

"So…it would appear there is no way in," Star held her arm which had begun to bleed and she could feel blood coming from a wound on her forehead.

"Yes there is…a very small window though. Say hi to Marco for me." Star tilts her head curious until she feels Janna grip her.

"Whoa, hold it, we were going together Janna!" Star tries to fight her but Janna's grip tightens on her and she winches.

"We both know that is wishful thinking, plus, would feel too much like a third wheel. We'll see each other again, count on it." She then throws her forth with all her strength. Star felt herself shooting with enough speed that pushes her through a very small window and landing on the other side she doesn't take long to gather her bearings as she sets off in search of Marco.

Marco didn't know what to do…after the death of his Uncle. He had sweat and grime covering his body after he had buried him in the backyard. After all was said and done and Echo Creek recovered…would anyone even know who was buried back here? He pondered on what he was to do next…what steps he could undergo to prepare for the final fight.

"So, Uncle Carlos…I wish to apologize for how things went down. I felt like my priorities took over what I already owed to you…to all of you. I let thoughts of a life outside of this…dominate everything…and it cost me. Jackie, Star, all of you…and here I stand, alone. Maybe it is better this way…no one else has to suffer or die at my expense."

Marco wiped at his eyes as he felt a renewed and profound feeling surging through him. He was the last Diaz…if what Toffee said was true, and why wouldn't it be? Life was cruel and honestly he wouldn't be too happy if they lived and somehow decided to write them off. He was in need of a shower but no one said saving the world came with time to bathe and be normal.

Placing his hand on the makeshift tomb he walks back into the house and raiding a closet he finds a blue jacket with a black shirt and some tight jeans. It did nothing to repair what he had lost, his red jacket and white shirt, but it would suffice for what he had planned. Marco felt like he had aged…but it was hard to determine, though hard answer was he only felt aged because of all he had been put through.

There is no going back to the way things were, come win or lose…Echo Creek was gone. His Echo Creek was gone. He moves to the door but suddenly the door handle turns and he reaches for his guns. Thankfully this place had a secret place for the weapons, something overlooked when his Uncle and him had come here. This was it though…no going back now.

"W-Who is there? Don't come in…you aren't wanted-." The door bursts open and he is tackled to the ground. Landing with a grunt he finds a weight on him and looking up he sees an out of breath Star, with shorter hair, huh?

"Marco! Oh thank goodness, you are in one piece, I was so worried. Listen there isn't much time, so, about what happened that night in the rain, kind of put a lot on you then, but…if it made things awkward between us…so so sorry. I mean, sorry, but also not sorry cause that is how I felt. Jackie…I have nothing against her, great girl, if you ever wish to go back to her…get it, I do, but if not I was thinking-."

Marco reaches up running his hand through her hair. So far his life had felt so big, a grand adventure, with Jackie he felt like he had something outside of the hunting, but with Star…there was no need to play it safe. There was no telling how Jackie would have handled things, if she would have gave up normalcy in pursuit of hunting down darkness and still maintaining a sense of…yeah. Perhaps he was being too hard after what they had been through…and who knows down the line she might forgive him someday.

"Star…you are rambling," he says softly and patiently. His brown eyes never leave hers and she sniffs a bit.

"Sorry Marco, I just thought…well I thought I had lost you. I don't want to continue till I get this off my chest. I'm done waiting on the sidelines, Marco Diaz, I want you in my life…like…girlfriend status and such. I want to be swept off my feet and have you at my side as I gut zombies and stake vampires. I want sweet kisses and all that romantic stuff. I'm a simple girl, with simple needs…and when we take on Toffee…we do it as one."

Marco blushes a bit and letting out a breath he leans up. "Star, you had me at…well…my name. But yes Star…I'll be your boyfriend." He kisses her on the lips and she kisses him back. He was just a boy, she was just a girl…and none of this was easy. Still he was ready to open his heart again, and this time perhaps do things right. Toffee could wait, for now, he had Star and that is all he needed to mend his broken heart.

Authors note: The beginning of the end starts next chapter. It all comes down to this, will Marco and Star succeed in defeating Toffee? Yeah I got nothing more than that, see you then.