Author's Note: Once again, thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed. Just as a precaution, re-read the prologue (Chapter 1) before you read this chapter.
Once again, the support and love you have showed has been above and beyond overwhelming!! Thank you Thank you!!
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Trish's eyes were frozen on her boyfriend as Dave slowly walked into the kitchen. He pulled up a chair and sat beside Trish while he maintained his focus on Taker. To say that Dave was not pleased was an understatement. His eyes were bleak and emotionless. His face was a blank stare and his demeanor was stiff. Kimberly was never spoken of in the home or anywhere for that matter.
Dave would never forget the night that Kimberly died. Edge and Dave were friends but wouldn't be considered close. When Dave met Kimberly, Edge immediately had his sights set on her. One night, he lured her into a friendly dinner with just the two of them alone. But when Kimberly was getting ready to return home to Dave, Edge stopped her.
A fierce battle took place with Kimberly defending herself aggressively against Edge. She clawed at him; threw sharp objects at him with her mind; started fireballs and hurricanes inside the building. But it wasn't enough. Knowing that she was weak, Edge surprised her with a sharp stake. He disappeared into the night before anyone caught him.
For two miles, Kimberly walked home, clutching her body. When she arrived at the mansion, she collapsed on the lawn right in front of Dave and Taker. Both vampires tried to bring life to her but it was to no avail. She was going to pass away soon and all three knew it. Taker was so distraught by the scene, he had to go inside.
"It's okay, Bear," Kimberly whispered. "It's time for me to go."
Dave held onto Kimberly tight and kept rocking her body. "No, it's not, Sweet Baby. We're going to save you."
Kimberly coughed up more blood. She was having difficulty keeping her eyes open. "Bear, you can't save everyone."
"I can save you." Dave nodded.
Kimberly reached up and caressed Dave's face. She motioned him to kiss her. "I love you, Bear."
"I love you, too, Sweet Baby."
Within seconds, Kimberly died. Dave and Taker buried her in the backyard and covered her gravesite with her favorite flower, roses. In retaliation, Dave killed Edge's love interest.
"We were just talking about…." Trish began.
Dave held up a hand to silence her. "It's time you met with London." He said coldly.
Taker shook his head as he watched Trish slowly got up and headed upstairs. Taker waited to hear a door shut before he spoke to Dave. "Keep treating her like that and she'll be the least of your concerns. You can talk like that to Blondie and everyone else and get away with it, Dave. But unlike Blondie and the kids, I'll kill your ass, you got that?" Taker replied.
"You had no business telling her about Kim." Dave flatly stated as he tried to maintain his composure. "It was none of her concern whatsoever."
"Now let me make it crystal clear to you before I have to call London and Nitro down here to burn your ass alive." Taker warned. "Blondie needed to know the history before she turned. That was something we all agreed on, remember? That little meeting in the library several days ago? The history of the Family not only included how you and the kids were turned but also how the Family became the Family. I think she had every right to know and frankly, I should've told her sooner." Taker replied.
"What happened with Kim had nothing to do with Trish."
"No, I think what happened with Kimberly has everything to do with Blondie. Are you going to sit here and tell me that there aren't any similarities between the two? The main difference between those two is that Kimberly was turned in two weeks; Blondie is at six weeks and counting."
"What I had with Kim is different from what I have with Trish and don't even try to compare the two. Yeah, they might look the same and have similar interests but that is it." Dave got up and looked out the window. He then shook his head. "What happened between me and Kim was a long time ago, Taker."
"But your feelings toward her are still the same as of today. If I didn't choose Blondie…"
"I would've been just fine." Dave interrupted.
Taker stared at Dave and shook his head. "Bullshit. And not only is that bullshit, but you know it's bullshit as well."
"So you chose Trish so I can get over Kim? Is that it? Because I didn't need your help."
"Kid, I rather see her smiling face than to hear you mop around like a bitch about how much you're going to kill Edge and you're waiting to do so." Taker said. "I chose Blondie because she needed to be chosen. I chose her because she needed to be saved and protected. I chose her to complete a mission."
"What mission was that?" Dave asked.
"What do you love about Blondie?" Taker asked.
"What?"
"Did I stutter? What do you love about Blondie?"
Dave hated that he had to humor Taker. He was in a very serious conversation about his personal history and he felt Taker was mocking him. Nevertheless, he agreed to answer him. "She's beautiful, but that's beside the point…"
"No, go on. What else is there?"
"Taker…"
"Just answer the damn question, Dave. Shit, you're worse than a child."
Dave stared down at his mentor and continued. "Okay, the only reason why I'm doing this because you asked me to."
"Yeah, yeah. Gonna answer the question, man?"
"I'm getting there." Dave looked out and watched the tree leaves bristle against the window. "I love her smile, her heart, her warmth. I love how she can turn a negative into a positive. I love how intelligent she is." He paused again. "I love her aura. I love everything about her."
After Dave finished talking, Taker held a mirror in front of his face. "See that?" Taker pointed to the mirror. "That is the mission."
Dave looked down at the mirror. He didn't realize he was smiling.
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Upstairs, Trish met with London to prepare for her instruction. In respect to her and not wanting an ass-kicking from Dave, London covered up his walls with black sheets and turned off his porn. He still had it on through his Ipod, however.
"Well, Ms. Trish, let's get started." London smiled.
"Um, just give me a second." Trish took deep breaths. "I just need to collect my thoughts."
"Did you need anything to drink? Some fresh air? Maybe some 'Hot Young Stud II?'" He suggested.
Trish stopped taking deep breaths and turned towards London. "Huh?"
"Just a suggestion, that's all." He clarified. "It's my porn. But if you want some of this…" He motioned towards himself.
"I just need to calm down. I just learned a lot of news right now." She said.
"Oh? What about?"
Trish hesitated yet again before she said anything. If Dave had such a stern reaction, who knew how London would react. "About Kimberly." She muttered.
London nodded. "She was great. I never got to meet her but I heard she was really something." He then smiled again. "Boy, did Edge get his!"
Trish had a confused look at her face. "What? What do you mean?"
"Oh, I guess Dave didn't tell you about what he did in retaliation?"
"No, I didn't realize he did anything in retaliation."
"Oh, he did. You see Trish, Dave and Taker very much believe in eye for an eye; you fuck me, I fuck you; you hurt me, I hurt you." London said as a bigger smile formed on his face. "But according to Dave and Taker, though, it's more like, 'You hurt me and I'll destroy your entire existence.'"
"So what did Dave do?" She asked.
London smiled again. "Well, I can't say out of respect for you and Dave but let's just say little Ms. Christy Hemme never saw it coming."