Chapter 6

A Week and a Half Ago

Dean

Serra would never learn how to relax. That girl was one amazing hunter, but she just had no ability to perform whatsoever. As we followed the young farmer towards the tool barn, I squeezed her hand and lifted my eyebrows, trying to tell her to relax, but she shrugged me off and did what she could to walk like she had nowhere to be. It was taxing.

"Here you go," the kid gestured to the open barn, full of tools and tractors. "Just make sure you bring it back," he continued. "Fred'll have my hide if any of his tools go missin'."

"Don't you worry…" I hesitated, pausing long enough for the kid to get the hint that I wanted his name.

"Oh!" he grinned. "My name's Danny."

I nodded, extending my hand. "Don't you worry, Danny," I soothed. "I'll grab the socket wrench, hoof it back to the car right quick, and we'll drive back over to return it."

The irritation just rolled off Serra. I didn't risk looking at her, worried that I would lose my cool and outright laugh at her facial expression.

"Not to worry, Jake," Danny answered jovially. "It's feedin' time for all the animals, so I'll make my rounds and meet you here so I can lock up after."

"Sounds perfect," I said, finding the socket wrench I wanted and turned on the ball of my foot, grabbing Serra's shoulder, and forcing her out of the barn. "It's probably a faster walk if we go around the flower field," I suggested, knowing we could take the long way around and get a better view of the entire property on our way back to the car. "Can we cut through the property?"

"No problem!" Danny answered, gesturing to the landscape. "Mr. Miller might be up in the house, but he's harmless. There're a few hands out by the dairy cows dealing a big ol' mess, but they won't bug you either."

Serra turned at that and raised her eyebrows questioningly. "Mess?" she asked.

"Oh yeah," Danny provided. "There've been a couple of dead cows over the last few weeks and the hands are tryin' to figger out what's goin' on."

I could feel Serra's gaze move to the side of my face. I refused to make eye contact. "Oh yeah?" I asked pleasantly, rubbing just the right amount of sympathy on my words. "They're sick?"

Danny shrugged. "Don't rightly know. Seems like they're just droppin' dead."

"No kidding," I sighed, eyeing Serra and trying to get her to stay calm. She was practically vibrating, knowing that there was at least something odd going on. "Well," I continued, "that's too bad. Hope they figure out what's going on soon."

"Yeah, me too," Danny agreed, nodding enthusiastically. "Dairy cows is what keeps this place runnin'."

"Are any…people sick?" Serra asked, trying her best to play the part. "Like, it's not 'Mad-Cow' or something I should be worried about, right? We've got kids."

Danny made a face and shook his head. "Nah, nothin' like that," he answered. "Seems like somethin's bitin' them. Then they like, bleed out."

Serra stared at me, but answered Danny, "No kidding," she replied, deadpan.

"Well," I chuckled awkwardly, pushing her towards the door of the barn. "We'll just get out of your hair, then." Danny grinned at me, nodding once, and turning towards the entrance with us. He hesitated as we got to the door, almost seeming like something just dawned on him.

"Although," he muttered, catching Serra's attention.

"Although?" she repeated, turning back towards the farm hand.

Danny tilted his head. "I haven't seen James in about two weeks," he commented. "He's one of the new guys. Hope he's okay."

Without looking at her, I unceremoniously shoved Serra out the door and turned to glance at Danny. "Huh," I commented, thoughtful. "Hope so too. Be back in a bit to return your wrench. Thanks so much."

Danny waved me off, smiling vaguely, still thinking. I left before he had a chance to talk to me anymore, putting my hand around Serra's waist and gently pushing her into a quick walk.

"Don't, don't, don't," I whispered to her as we began to move in tandem. I knew she was itching to turn and go right back to the barn. "Not until we get clear."

"Dean," she argued, turning back towards the horse paddock, where we could see a group of farmers gathered around a fallen cow, its legs stiffly shoved into the air. "We need to—"

"We need to get back to the car," I interrupted her. "It's the middle of the friggin' day and we are exposed. We are not going to hunt someone without knowing more."

"The sun is almost down!" she argued, still glancing backwards as we walked past the farmhouse.

I glanced to the windows, keeping my head down as we made our way back to Grace's old Toyota. "There's someone in the kitchen," I whispered. "He's watching us. We're not doing shit until we get back to the car."

Finally, Serra fell into step next to me without me pulling her along. "Fine," she grunted, staring at the ground as we continued through the property. "But we're coming back to check out that cow."

"In the dead of night, with no one around," I answered, seeing the happy red hatchback, waiting for us. "If it's a vamp, now it's gonna recognize our scent."

"Only if it smells us coming," she argued. "We'll blitz."

…

A week and a half ago

Dean

"Took Little to the farm today," I commented as Grace came out to the barn to join me and Liberty as we fiddled with a carburetor. "She's on one."

Grace smiled, shaking her head at her hunting-obsessed sister. "I know, I heard," she muttered. "She's always been like that. She gets bored."

I laughed, standing from the work bench and wrapping my wife in a hug. Before I closed my eyes, I caught a reflection of something shimmer against the car window from across the barn. Realizing it was her wings, I sighed and smiled to myself, thinking how lucky I was to have my half-angel back in my arms.

Leading Gracie away from Lib, I took a deep breath and lowered my voice. "Sere is going after the vamp whether we support her or not."

"Is it actually a vamp or is Serra just hoping?" Grace whispered, lifting her eyebrows.

I shrugged. "There's a big possibility," I answered, glancing back at our daughter, who had dropped a screwdriver with a clang. "There's a dead cow or two, and the guy we talked to sounded mystified about it. There's also a kid that hasn't been to work in a few days."

"Vampire," Grace sighed.

"Sounds like."

Liberty turned to us and grinned, holding the carburetor in three separate pieces. "Look, Daddy!" she exclaimed. "I got it!"

"I'm gonna put you to work," I pursed my lips at our daughter, nodding my approval. "Have you take Tony's job." Giggling and rosy cheeked from my compliments, Lib turned back towards the parts and continued tinkering. "Either way," I continued, dropping my voice, "now that we've been to the farm, we're gonna have to finish the job or risk the job comin' home with us, like those wolves."

Grace took a deep breath through her nose, "I'm not exactly worried about a couple of vampires."

I sighed, staring back at my little girl with blonde curls, sitting on the floor of the barn. "I'm always worried about the next monster."