Part 7
Juliana stood there staring after him. Be careful what you wish for...what was *that* supposed to mean? She had no idea. It sounded like a threat. She thought of everyone she had met today. It seemed that everyone had something to hide. Everyone had a secret.
Well, she was no exception. She had dangerous secrets of her own no one must ever find out. The unexplained pain of the vision had faded, leaving confusion in its place. She shook her head, completely baffled as to what was going on, why she had ended up the way she had.
She had no clear recollection of how she had become what she was. But the vision must have been trying to tell her something in regards to one of the shady areas of her life, she was sure of it.
The vision had cut itself off. There was more to be seen. Juliana shuddered, wondering if she really wanted to see. The second girl in the vision was the one that had been in the school hallway. Who was she? Apart from identical features, what did they have to do with each other? Did she have something to do with Juliana or a vampire she'd made in the past?
She knew there were some vampires out there, made by her, who had gone on to make their own. Other Night People. There were some here in town. She could sense them. Most places she went there were so few of them. The differences may be subtle, but she had always been pretty sure she could spot others of her kind.
That girl in the hallway had been one. She wasn't even hiding the psychic senses that probed outwards, telling Juliana what she was. But those people at lunch....there had been something about them...they all showed the signs...that girl Rhea had tried to read her mind. But when Juliana had tried to enter their minds she had just come up against blocks. She couldn't get around their blocks any more than they could hers. It wasn't just general Night World blocks. It was something else. Something more powerful. Who, or what, Juliana couldn't tell.
A terrifying thought suddenly struck her. What if they were in league with the Hunter? The Hunter who had made her life a living hell.
Instinctively Juliana stopped walking and looked around her, her heightened senses aware. Her sharp eyes probed the area around her. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. School had just ended, both the high school and elementary she was passing.
People were milling around in small groups of two or three, kids laughed and chattered with one another as they made their way home. Children were shrieking happily like the annoying little brats they could be.
Juliana had never been very fond of children, except for the taste of their blood, which was nice, like after dinner mints. She smiled a not-very-nice smile at two little boys who were running around her feet. The smile was enough to send them running back to their mothers before she kicked them back.
She pulled her keys out and entered her apartment, dropping her books by the small staircase and just stood there silently, wondering what to do. When the phone rang suddenly she panicked, wondering what it could be. She pushed the door shut and went to answer it. She paused, wondering who it could be.
Her hand hovered over the receiver. She hadn't given anyone her number. She was pleased her voice sounded so controlled when she answered. "Hello?"
There was no answer. Just heavy breathing on the other end of the line. Juliana frowned. "Hello?" she said. "Is anyone there?"
"Who is this?"
A throaty chuckle answered her.
"Who is this?" she snapped again, loosing her temper.
"You can run, but you can't hide," the throaty voice hissed.
Juliana froze. No it, couldn't be...
"I'm coming for you Serefina. You won't get away this time."
Click.
The caller hung up and the line went dead.
* * *
Juliana stood there staring after him. Be careful what you wish for...what was *that* supposed to mean? She had no idea. It sounded like a threat. She thought of everyone she had met today. It seemed that everyone had something to hide. Everyone had a secret.
Well, she was no exception. She had dangerous secrets of her own no one must ever find out. The unexplained pain of the vision had faded, leaving confusion in its place. She shook her head, completely baffled as to what was going on, why she had ended up the way she had.
She had no clear recollection of how she had become what she was. But the vision must have been trying to tell her something in regards to one of the shady areas of her life, she was sure of it.
The vision had cut itself off. There was more to be seen. Juliana shuddered, wondering if she really wanted to see. The second girl in the vision was the one that had been in the school hallway. Who was she? Apart from identical features, what did they have to do with each other? Did she have something to do with Juliana or a vampire she'd made in the past?
She knew there were some vampires out there, made by her, who had gone on to make their own. Other Night People. There were some here in town. She could sense them. Most places she went there were so few of them. The differences may be subtle, but she had always been pretty sure she could spot others of her kind.
That girl in the hallway had been one. She wasn't even hiding the psychic senses that probed outwards, telling Juliana what she was. But those people at lunch....there had been something about them...they all showed the signs...that girl Rhea had tried to read her mind. But when Juliana had tried to enter their minds she had just come up against blocks. She couldn't get around their blocks any more than they could hers. It wasn't just general Night World blocks. It was something else. Something more powerful. Who, or what, Juliana couldn't tell.
A terrifying thought suddenly struck her. What if they were in league with the Hunter? The Hunter who had made her life a living hell.
Instinctively Juliana stopped walking and looked around her, her heightened senses aware. Her sharp eyes probed the area around her. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. School had just ended, both the high school and elementary she was passing.
People were milling around in small groups of two or three, kids laughed and chattered with one another as they made their way home. Children were shrieking happily like the annoying little brats they could be.
Juliana had never been very fond of children, except for the taste of their blood, which was nice, like after dinner mints. She smiled a not-very-nice smile at two little boys who were running around her feet. The smile was enough to send them running back to their mothers before she kicked them back.
She pulled her keys out and entered her apartment, dropping her books by the small staircase and just stood there silently, wondering what to do. When the phone rang suddenly she panicked, wondering what it could be. She pushed the door shut and went to answer it. She paused, wondering who it could be.
Her hand hovered over the receiver. She hadn't given anyone her number. She was pleased her voice sounded so controlled when she answered. "Hello?"
There was no answer. Just heavy breathing on the other end of the line. Juliana frowned. "Hello?" she said. "Is anyone there?"
"Who is this?"
A throaty chuckle answered her.
"Who is this?" she snapped again, loosing her temper.
"You can run, but you can't hide," the throaty voice hissed.
Juliana froze. No it, couldn't be...
"I'm coming for you Serefina. You won't get away this time."
Click.
The caller hung up and the line went dead.
* * *