Chapter 5: Trouble

Hailey's POV

I watched Nessie as she was riding one of my horses who I had named Stargazer. As promised I started teaching her how to ride and she seemed to grasp it right away.

I could see that she enjoyed riding as much as I did. I'd taught her all about horse racing and how much I wanted to get into that business. I even took her to the Breeders Cup Classic, an extremely important race, that had been held here in Kentucky this year.

Over the past few weeks I'd begun to teach her other subjects like math, literature, Science, and History. If there was one thing I could say about this girl is that she loved to learn. She soaked up knowledge like a sponge and retained it almost instantly. She'd even taken in interest in learning Italian. A language that I happened to know. So what could I do but teach her?

When she wasn't learning or taking riding lessons she was training my dog. I'd given up on the whole idea of training Dexter years ago because he was so stubborn. Nessie saw it as a challenge she wanted to overcome. So imagine my jealousy when he started listening to her less then two days later.

She and Dexter were made perfectly for each other. The Dalmatian was a constant companion of hers. He literally followed her everywhere she went. Even to the bathroom. I'd never seen my dog look so happy either. So much so that I was even toying around with the idea of letting Nessie take Dexter with her if her family ever came for her. Those two had grown as close as any little girl and her dog ever could.

Speaking of her family I had no way of really knowing if my plan was working or not. Ben had promised me that he'd spread the message of a half vampire child by the name of Nessie living here as much as he could and as fast as he could. He'd promised to ask everyone he told to spread the story as well. I hoped it was working. No other vampire had passed through in last few month so I couldn't ask.

Nessie had grown over the course of the month. She now resembled a nine year old girl. I kept documenting her time here with me. It started with her pictures on Halloween but I've been adding constantly to the photo album. Pictures of her studying, riding horses, training Dexter, and learning how to ice skate. I'd made two copies. One for myself and one for her family to see everything she's been up to this whole time.

The next pictures I would be adding would be Thanksgiving pictures. Thanksgiving was only three days away and it looked like we'd be celebrating together. I was just happy to have someone to celebrate with period. Normally I spent the entire holiday season by myself. I wished more then anything in the world that I could celebrate with a family but that was impossible for me. At least this year I'd have Nessie for Thanksgiving.

"Hailey what are you thinking about? You looked very thoughtful for a moment,"

"Oh nothing sweetie. Nothing important. You done for the day?"

She smiled. "Done for now," she said as she got off the horse gracefully. "Whether or not I'm done for the day remains to be seen,"

"Okay smartass,"

She laughed.

I knew she still missed her family immensely and was still hurting and longing to be with them. I did the best I could to make her happy here but there were times when I would hear crying for them and I'd go comfort her.

"You know I consider you family, right?"

I stopped.

"What?"

"It's just, well, I've never thanked you for helping me out so much. For taking care of me when you didn't have to. You remind me so much of my mother sometimes and I mean that in a good way. You're like family to me now,"

Whatever I had been expecting it sure hadn't been this.

"Nessie you're like family to me now too. I'm going to miss you when you go back with your family,"

"If I ever see them again you mean,"

"Stay positive Nessie. You'll see them again and soon. Just watch,"

She smiled. "When and if that happens I'll miss you to. I'll miss you a lot,"

"Well let's enjoy each other's company while you're still here. Anyway why don't we go into town and do some shopping since you're outgrowing all of your clothes again. Then we can go get the food for our Thanksgiving dinner,"

"What's the purpose of that holiday anyway?"

"Just to remember all the blessings we have in our lives and be thankful for them,"

Right now I certainly did feel blessed. More blessed then I had in years.

We got to the mall thirty minutes later. We hit shop after shop searching for clothes that Nessie liked. Nessie didn't care about fashion. She much preferred something comfortable over fashionable any day.

I was waiting outside one of the shops when I first smelled it. Vampire. I didn't recognize the scent. I scanned the area and spotted her. A young girl probably about 12 or 13 years old. She had blond hair and the same pale skin that all vampires had. Her eyes were a frightening ruby red. She was dressed in a black cloak.

The smile she gave me sent chills down the very base of the spine. My heart started racing.

"Hailey I'm finished,"

Nessie's voice made me jump.

"Are you okay?" Nessie asked.

"I'm fine let's just get out of here," I said hastily. Never had a vampire frightened me as much as this one did. I'd fought, and turned full vampires human, and killed them but this one really scared the crap out of me for some reason.

Just when I thought we were free I heard a voice behind me.

"So the story is true then,"

I spun around and saw the strange vampire standing behind me.

"There really is a half vampire half human child being held against her will by another half vampire half human,"

"That's not true," I said defensively. What kind of story had been spreading around?! "I've been taking care of her,"

"We've heard both versions of the rumor. Nevertheless Aro will be interested to learn that such creatures like yourselves do exist,"

I didn't know who or what she was talking about but I was really scared.

"As soon as we heard the stories Aro sent me to investigate. I just have one last question for you. Do you two have any special talents? He'll want to know that as well,"

"No," I said. There was no way in hell I was going to tell this creepy girl that I could easily turn her human if I wanted to know. Which was a really tempting idea right now. But know. I would safeguard my secret know matter what.

"Okay. Just know that if you're lying that's a punishable offense and Aro will know if you're telling the truth or not. We'll be visiting in the next few days. Take care,"

Nessie whimpered.

"Let's go home. Please," Nessie sounded scared and I was scared to. I didn't feel any safer until we got home. Even then I still didn't feel completely safe.

That's why, even a few hours later, I jumped when I heard a strange noise outside.

"What do you think that is?" Nessie asked.

"I don't know. I'm going to go see,"

"What if it's something dangerous? What if it's that girl again?"

"I'm not going to feel any better until I go check it out. You just stay in here, okay?"

"But it's dark-"

"Nessie I'll be fine. I promise,"

As soon as I stepped outside I smelled another vampire nearby again. It wasn't the girl from earlier but it was defiant vampire. Well so much for vampires not passing through here anymore.

I walked cautiously and used my enhanced eyesight to look for anything strange. Suddenly I was blindsided from my right. I fought back as hard as I could but I was sure my right leg and arm were broken.

I screamed out in pain but was able to avoid getting hit by the vampire again. His eyes were pitch black which meant he was either thirsty or extremely pissed off and since vampires didn't find my scent appealing I knew it was the latter. I just didn't know why.

I avoided getting hit again and as soon as I saw the opportunity I went in for the bite. I sank my teeth into his thigh and he screamed. Almost immediately my vampire turn human venom kicked in and immobilized him. He'd be human by tomorrow evening and then I'd get some answers out of him.

"Hailey what's going-grandpa?!" Nessie screamed hysterically. "Grandpa!"

Okay what the hell?!

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