CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Noon was bright and busy. After the rain of last night, it gave a fresher feel to the day. For some reason I felt more inspired and was looking forward to exploring the barn.

We were in our rented Mercedes again with Mattie driving in those sunglasses. We had left at eleven thirty to get there but due to the lunchtime traffic, was stuck waiting.

I hadn't said much to Mattie. To be honest I didn't even know what to say. Trying to cover up what he did was a huge problem.

I sighed. I doubt I'll get a decent answer I could accept even if I asked.

"Alice?"

I looked at him. I didn't really expect to make a conversation with him. "Yes?"

"About last night… I know what I did was bad, selfish and any other related words you can think of, and I know I can't just say any excuse."

Damn, is he a mind reader?

"All I can think of is that I did it on instinct. I wanted to help Caim no matter what so when he died after I gave my blood…" The steering wheel squealed under the pressure of his hands. "I just couldn't believe it. I guess you could say that I still regret that decision even after all this time."

"So you talked to my brother?"

"No, all I did was follow."

"But you spent so much time…"

"He's there. At the barn. I know that for sure."

I wouldn't say that the attempted attack on the woman was good, but to get a lead on this case… that needed pure luck.

Despite the short burst of confidence, Mattie's hands were restless on the wheel so I waited until he was ready to continue.

"There's also something else I have to tell you." Mattie took a deep breath. "I think you should know in detail how and why Caim died."

I swallowed. Suddenly my throat got really dry. "Ah, you don't have to push yourself-"

"Only if you want to, Alice." He looked at me briefly, concern etched like stone on his face. The concern I could deal with but the eyes…

Nothing ran through my mind. Was that bad? I looked at Professional Alice for help but she didn't make an appearance.

He's trying to tie up loose ends, right? That means at the barn… It's actually my brother there at the barn…

The feelings I had for him, the worry, pain, confusion… they had all formed a huge wad of feelings inside me that I couldn't tell which one was more prominent. Could this ease it?

I know. I know that if it was actually Caim hiding out in that barn, the pain will open up again. It will be raw.

I took a shuddering breath looking out at the road in front of us. "Tell me."

Seven shots were fired before he started running. That's what happens when you're partnered up with a human. Their reactions were slow but fast enough to dodge every single one.

Or it was just sheer luck.

The feeling of dread I had when taking this case spread everywhere from my stomach but still I had to plow on to protect him, the person who was dearest to me. The person who was running for dear life away from me as I did what I was best at: To cover for him.

"Get to point A!" I yelled as I jumped in front of them, shielding Caim's back from the shower of bullets praying to no one in particular that he didn't get hit. The message was for Caim. Point A was our start point in this God forsaken mission that was probably doomed from the start.

I heard his breathing ragged in the mic as I faced the twelve men.

Armoured in bulletproof vests, helmets, covered in camouflage material and weilding guns the size of each other's muscled thighs, they could have taken out the most elusive human criminals. There was a vibe between them I picked up on that I knew they knew they were successful, skilled and were known for it. They lived to maintain that stature.

"Vampire!" One of them called out to me. "Step aside!"

I stood my ground. These guys were all human. I could see the veins in their necks, how fast they were pumping the disgusting, foul smelling blood around their system.

I had to stay to buy time for Caim. Was it a good time to buy time? I could have supported him more if I was by his si-

A bullet flew past my head. I did not move.

"Move!"

Just as the warning was yelled, I heard Caim's voice through my mic, "Fuck sake!"

"Caim!" I cried concentrating on the noises coming from behind me as the barrage of twelve came at me. They shot with their guns but most of them missed me. The ones that hit, didn't hurt at all.

I used my hand like a dagger. I pierced them in their stomachs. I slashed it against their necks so hard the force broke their necks. In no time my right hand was covered in the red stuff. Spray had blanketed everywhere. I stood in a bloodbath.

"Caim, I'm coming!"

I started running without hesitation back to point A. I remembered it, I was a vampire. Caim had to too.

But doubt plagued my mind. Humans can make stupid mistakes sometimes. Did he get lost?

Point A was a huge square room of concrete similar to the room we were both in just now. There was a walkway around the walls and to get there, you needed to climb the ladders on the supporting pillars. Right now there were twenty people all pointing their guns straight at the person frozen in front of me: Caim.

He turned around to face me just as the first shot fired. And hit.

Fuck! "Caim!" I yelled rushing forward to catch him.

But the smell of his spilt blood was the first thing that hit me. It hit straight to my groin. Pleasure soared through me. I had to forcibly stop myself from taking more of his blood for my personal use by biting my hand, my own blood spilling.

The second thing I felt was anger. It was not Caim's fault that his cover was blown - our cover was blown. Our inside man should have been killed but God knows where the fuck he was now.

I tensed bearing my bloody fangs.

"Mattie!" Caim shouted.

But it was too late. I ran at the pillars, jumping on them to reach the walkway. I grabbed the railing and hauled myself up, kicking the nearest unfortunate shooter as I descended on it. He didn't see it coming. He died the second my feet connected with his torso, the force was that great.

They were all human. Their blood was foul, clogging my nose as I spilt it, painting the whole room red. Body parts flew, were broken, screams ran through my ears, incoherent words gurling. Pretty soon there was only silence.

It was only broken by Caim's groan.

"Shit!" I breathed, jumping down to take Caim in my arms. He was shot in the shoulder and in the stomach. Without another word I sank to the ground taking my jacket off in the process and wrapped it tightly around his waist. There was a part of my mind that whispered he had lost too much blood, that he wasn't going to make it despite my speed.

"Mattie, wait!" Caim protested, struggling with the tightness of the jacket but I slapped his hands away.

"Stop it!" I cried out, panic settling in. His blood on me, in my nose, my head… It was making me nervous. Can't he understand I was trying to help?

"Mattie." He sighed as his head rolled back. It was that simple action that made me take notice of him. "It's okay."

He knew it. Caim knew he wasn't going to make it.

What do I do?

But then something clicked inside me. I'm a vampire, right? I can save him.

Caim read my expression. "No, Mattie, stay away from it…. No, Mattie! Shit!"

Fangs drove themselves into his neck. I drank him greedily even as Caim hit, crawled or pushed as hard as he could. His blood was like the finest wine, every drop that I swallowed I desperately wanted more of. Pleasure drove itself further into his neck. I was turned on immensely, so glad that I was sharing this moment with-

I released Caim who had collapsed. I could still feel a flicker of his pulse so I put the hand I bit into his mouth. I saw the drops of blood fall.

Now if it works, he'll eventually become a vampire. He won't have to leave me.

I sighed. Relief washed over me. But we were not out of the woods left. I had to get safe to get to Rose. I had to check to see those bastards did not lay a fucking finger on Alice. If they did…

Caim was safe at Rose. Iain was keeping an eye on his condition. I was nearly home in the car pushing the speed limit, praying that Alice was still living and breathing.

But Caim's pulse was getting weaker and his face had turned so pale.

As I got out I could hear them. Five people sneaking against the hedges and fences, each step a step closer to her. There wasn't any moonlight, they had different smells, some were sweating more so than others. Strangely some had a cologne or deodorant. Rookies.

But one was different, the sixth was a vampire. He had the air of bloodlust.

I had grabbed Caim's Alpha and Beta. He wouldn't be able to use them in his condition. Iain didn't know. He didn't need to.

As I crouched I saw one guy test the door. It was open because who would want to enter a vampire's house uninvited?

The rest of the men rounded the front door. I took two quick shots, instantly killing off two. The rest including the vampire looked back at me.

I gripped the handle of the gun. I will protect Alice.

I guess he wanted to finish the end of that by adding that scene from long ago.

There was a moment of silence as I digested this. Caim…

It was bloody and violent and you had no control over how you want to die.

And my brother's death was also what I might go through being an advanced feeder.

"Alice, say something, please." Mattie whispered, begging.

"I-I don't know what to say." I had to cough to clear the way my voice broke then. I'm scared.

"You still don't hate me?"

Can you hate someone you love?

"I still don't. You had to do what you had to do. But-" I looked at his profile as he drove. It was frozen like a mask he wore to hide his tormenting feelings inside. "If I get hit and I wouldn't survive, please leave me, Mattie."

Pained eyes were dragged off the road. After a short hesitation Mattie replied, "Okay."

Forty minutes later we arrived. I called Iain to update him who replied that he wanted to be kept in the loop.

Since we're dealing with a kind of vampire… Rule number two comes into effect. Man, that restricts my movement.

The barn was how I imagined it. Although the painting was chipped badly, you could tell it was originally red with what used to be white now yellowed railings in that half teardrop shape that anyone would imagine. Heck, it even came with that window on the first floor and the double doors for an entrance.

Beside it was a stack of a few hay bales that blew lazily in the wind.

There was another barn not too far from this one in the same state, if not, a little bit better.

Mattie pointed at it. "I'll check that one."

I nodded patting Alpha and Beta who hung at my sides. Rule number three: Never leave Rose without Alpha and Beta.

The double doors squealed when I opened it. Once the gap was large enough, I slid in.

It was dark. It had that smell of stale air that hung from the arches above my head, between the cracks and between the creaks. From what I could see before me, there was a first floor which ended in the middle of the barn without a railing. The first floor was stuffed with hay bales whereas the ground floor just had stables for animals with a wide pathway in the centre. A ladder blocked the pathway.

But on the ground something was highlighted by the light coming in through the door I hadn't fully closed yet. Blood. There was a trail here. Shit. I doubt Mattie would be able to hear me from there.

I knelt down to touch a small patch as my other hand grabbed Beta. The blood was wet.

It lead to the ladder. Drops of blood had fallen and had landed on the ladder, a massive pool of it just behind it.

Someone went up a ladder bleeding this heavily?

I should have left while nothing had shown itself. I should have followed rule three because I have so many things I wanted to do.

But I didn't. I scaled the ladder with one hand.

I stood. On the first floor there was a small window which thankfully lit up the place. Four supporting pillars stood near each corner and gave two narrow pathways along the walls. There was barely anything there. The hay bales formed more of a barrier or something for privacy. They hid this open area. But strangely enough it had a blanket that laid right where the light hit the floor. A small hay bale sat next to it as if it was acting like a pillow. It was covered in so much blood that when I came closer, it had soaked the wooden floor around it.

I had to wipe the hand that held Beta on my trousers.

"So, you found me?"

Shit! I'm dead!

As I turned, a man was walking toward me. For every step he took, I took a step back. He stopped just before the light.

My breath caught.

I almost dropped Beta.

I almost ran at him for a hug.

I felt immensely saddened, regretful and lonely all at the same time.

Caim.

He was scruffy. Obviously. His hair was absolutely greasy and it looked like he had worn the same clothes for quite some time. He also had a five o'clock. And he stank.

But most importantly he had those red eyes. I had never came into contact with a rogue vampire but from my studies, they permanently had blood stained eyes.

"C-Caim!" I didn't know what else to say.

He smiled. "Hey, Alice."

He's alive! My brother is alive! And he knows who I am!

Another side of me emerged: Professional Alice. She only came when she needed to and by God was she needed.

Be careful. It may be Caim but he's still a vampire and a rogue one at that.

"I can see you thinking. Your mind is like an open book." He said. "Right now you're thinking 'should I drop Beta?' In which case I won't answer that for you." I didn't listen to him and aimed a shaking hand holding Beta at him.

It's only logical that he'll think that. And for heaven's sake slow your heartbeat! Professional Alice cried out.

Why does it feel so weird talking to my brother? It's like I forgot after these two years.

"Caim… what are you saying?" I frowned. This scene felt like something out of a movie. My brother wasn't a bad guy! He taught me a lot of things especially when we were no longer in contact with our parents.

"I'm saying you should leave before anything bad happens. You're breaking rule three."

My grip on Beta tightened. I had to use both arms to steady my aim.

He'll end up just like Daniel.

Why am I pointing a gun at my brother?

Professional Alice chimed in, because he indicated rule three meaning he indicated he wants something bad to happen to you. Don't think for one moment that he won't attack you just because you're his younger sister. I may not be well versed on what happens when a vampire has red eyes, but I downright know it's nothing good.

He didn't even react when he saw the barrel of the gun pointed straight at him. Almost like he was expecting it.

"Where's Mattie?"

"I don't know."

"Come on. Rose would have recorded my death and replaced me with you. They wouldn't allow a new advanced out on the field on her own, especially when it involves a vampire."

"I'm telling you the truth, Caim. I don't know." Please, please, please Mattie come now. I'm buying you time so you can have the element of surprise. It can't take you so long to check out the other barn! Didn't you smell the amount of blood here?

His eyes narrowed then he stepped forward. Again I stepped back to maintain the little distance between us. Not that it mattered with it being a vampire I'm up against. A portion of Caim was now in the noon sunlight.

"What were you thinking about?" Caim asked.

This isn't my brother. Caim wouldn't be so aggressive with me…

I wanted to say 'nothing'. I really did. But then that wouldn't have gone anywhere.

"For someone who said I'm an open book, you sure know how to read my face."

The next second was a blur. There was an overwhelming force on my throat as I was pushed back until I hit one of the pillars. My breath rushed out of me as I hit the pillar, automatically clawing at the hand that kept me off the ground. Somewhere in that I dropped Beta. No!

"Mattie?" Caim said leaning closer.

All I could do was concentrate on staying conscious. If I passed out now who knows what will happen to me during the time I lost it and till I woke up.

Not to mention getting air in your lungs. Professional Alice said.

"Mattie."

The hold on my throat let up a bit. I took a huge gasp of air until the invading unconsciousness was kept away for just a while longer.

"What… about him?" I breathed.

"You're in love with him." He said it without any reaction in the most monotoned voice I have ever heard.

"Rule… eight… nine." I whispered with the air I could manage to gulp down.

"Who fucking cares!" He shouted. I almost expected his grip would have tightened and killed me there but it didn't. "You're my sister who's..." Caim started throwing me against the pillar between every word, "In. Love. With. My. Mattie!" On the last, he released his grip and I collapsed gasping and coughing loudly for air. I hurt all over like an elephant had stepped all over me. I felt like hell.

How the fuck did he know?

Professional Alice shrugged her shoulders. She held two hands on my shoulders. Get up. Get up and find Beta. Use Alpha to slow him down.

He would have attacked me the moment I raised Alpha to aim.

"I can't believe you." Caim was pacing around the room. "I supported you and what did you do? Take the only thing that was mine away."

Why are we even talking about Mattie? Where the fuck is he more like!

"You're dead!" I screamed. "You're dead and despite visiting or whatever, you committed murders!" I panted looking at him with pleading eyes. "I never took him away. He was always thinking of you."

I didn't even confess yet.

Caim shot me a look saying that was the wrong thing to say.

He's so fixated on Mattie. It's like talking to a brick wall.

Maybe that was what Mattie was alluding to. Something that went wrong while he was changing him. Professional Alice said as she stared at Caim. There's not much we can do if he won't listen. There's also the job at hand.

"Caim." I said. I wanted the words out nice, slow and clear. "There's nothing I did that would have made Mattie love you any less. I also doubt that if I had even confessed to him during those two years you were dead, he would have accepted my feelings for him. He would have seen me as a rebound..." Which is the last thing I needed! "and that is the last thing I want to do." He gave me the same look. Shit. I'm dead.

I grabbed Alpha and aimed it at him.

But the next moment was a shock. He jumped in the air. I expected him to run at me since he had his vampiric speed. But gravity slowed him down and I shot him twice in the chest, once in the leg. He fell down in a poof of dust in a kneeling position.

After shooting, I took the chance of scanning the room for Beta. It had slid near the wall in the scuffle. I hurried and got it, turning around to see a running Caim recovered quickly to ram me into the wall again. This time I didn't let go of Alpha and Beta. This time I held on even though my body cried out against the pain and the involuntary movements.

"Alice! You shot me!" He was aghast. "You fucking shot me!"

I found my legs, putting and pushing off the wall with all my might and fell straddling Caim.

Aimed Beta under his chin before he could do anything else. "Everything that I've said so far is the truth and if you can't accept that then there's absolutely no need for you to exist." I hissed. I cocked the gun and just as I was blowing a hole in the thick head that was Caim Darling, Mattie's voice screamed out, "don't shoot!"