Scott's mind seemed to be running at full speed. Kate was alive!
The night before Scott had heard the ruckus from the restaurant but, considering that was usually a nightly occurance he wasn't worried. Seth and Richie always had been able to take care of anyone who wanted to rumble.
After his shift at the gas station he went straight from there to his room. The sun was coming up and he wanted to get to the confines of his room before that happened. Now, sitting in Seth's office he was wishing he hadn't gone to ground before talking to either of the brothers.
"Where is she? I need to talk to her!" Scott said standing up from his chair. Seth put a hand on the kids shoulder urging him to sit. In the last year Seth had become fond of Scott. He was misguided at times but, not a bad kid.
"I know you want to see her but, right now she asked that you stay away," Seth said trying to be as sympathetic as possible. He knew Scott would want to see her, had a right to see her but considering what she did to Richie when he pissed her off, he didn't want the same for Scott.
"How is this possible? I watched her die!" said Scott. Seth walked around to his desk and opened a drawer he pulled out a small bottle of tequila and took a quick swig.
"I don't know. I sent word for my guy to bring Tanner here," replied Seth replacing the bottle in the desk.
"Sex Machine? Kate hates him!" replied Scott.
"Yes but, he is the only one who I think can help us so Kate will just have to get over it!" snapped Seth slamming the drawer. Both men stared one another down for a few seconds before Scott looked away.
Seth knew it must hurt the kid that his own sister didn't want to see him. After what Kate had said to him the night she died Seth had guessed that in some way Scott had been trying to make up for all the wrongs he had done. To know his sister might possibly hate him, Seth knew that couldn't be easy to swallow.
"Just give her some time Scott. She didn't even know a year had passed until yesterday," said Seth.
"Where is she now?" asked Scott.
"Asleep. Leave her be for now. Anyways I need you to watch the gas station tonight," replied Seth. Scott nodded and left the office. He needed to feed. Plus he knew if he stayed at Jackknifes he would go looking for his sister.
Through Kate's eyes….
It was dark, lightning flashed in the sky illuminating the ground filled with writhing snakes. I stepped forward onto the dirt ground and the snakes hissed and writhed. The closer I got the more they seemed to back away. They were afraid of me.
Thunder rumbled in the distance as I stepped up to the edge of a large precipice. I couldn't see what was in the hole, it was too dark but, I could hear faint sounds of people crying and whimpering. I strained my eyes trying to find the origin of the sound.
Lightning flashed setting several torches a blaze. My eyes widened in horror.
Men, women and children were all crawling and writhing in the large hole. I stared at them, there broken bodies trying to climb one another to get away from this evil place. I realized it was a mass grave and these people were the sacrifice. I wished I could reach out and save all of them but, they didn't seem to see me standing there and even if they did my body wouldn't cooperate.
"Katie cakes," his voice struck me like a blow. It was coming from behind me. I turned my back on the sea of sacrifices and there he stood. He wore his grey suit, the one he always kept for the pulpit.
"Daddy!" I whispered. He smiled at me and I stepped towards him and wrapped my arms around his neck like I did when I was a little girl. He hugged me back and for a moment I could pretend that things were normal. He pulled away first and looked at me.
"Oh Katie Cakes. I'm so sorry," he said. I could feel the tears welling up.
"I miss you Daddy," I said. He smiled.
"I know honey," he replied wiping away one tear.
"I'm just sorry I couldn't keep you," he said. I nodded trying to understand.
"I'll see you and momma again soon," I said and felt my heart expand at the thought. My Father stepped away from me. The look of warmth on his face was replaced with fear.
"Daddy?"
"You aren't my Katie!" He said backing further and further away. I took a step forward, my hands raised so as not to alarm him.
"Daddy, what's wrong? Please?" I begged. The look he was giving me was as if he didn't know me at all.
I don't know how but, somehow the pit of bodies was now behind him and I screamed as my father fell back into the pit among the crying and the screams. I reached over the edge after him but, he was too far away. In sadness and frustration I screamed into the sky!
My eyes snapped open. It was a dream, all a dream. I sat up in the queen sized bed and took a few deep breaths.
My face was wet with tears I had shed while I was asleep. How long had I been out? I looked at the clock, it was five p.m. but I had a feeling that it wasn't the same day. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up.
Just then a knock sounded at my door. I stood there staring at the door for several seconds before realizing I needed to answer it.
I figured it would be Seth but, when I opened the door I was shocked to see a pretty blonde hippie. She wore a flowery tank top and long bright pink skirt. Her arms were covered in a million hemp bracelets. Over her shoulder was a big beach bag that looked as if it would bust.
"Hey darling, Seth sent me over with some clothes and shower stuff," said the girl. Her voice was bubbly and upbeat which bothered me, considering I could tell she was a Culebra. I don't know how but, I knew it in my bones. This girl was definitely not human. I stared at her for a moment and she stepped into the room turning on the light as she went.
"Seth didn't know you size so just pick what you want and toss the rest," said the girl as she put the bag on the bed and started unpacking it.
"I'm Brandy by the way," she said. Finally she stopped and stared back at me. I knew my expression hadn't really changed. Truth was, I didn't know how to react to this person. We regarded each other for a moment.
"Is it true that you died?" asked Brandy holding up a yellow sundress to me.
"Yes," I said.
"Huh! Well, aint that something," she said picking up another top and holding it up to me.
"Why?" I asked.
"Well, most people I know that come back to life are usually blood suckers," she said giggling. I had to smile at the irony of it all. I had begged Scott not to turn me because I had been afraid of what I would come back as and yet here I was. Back from the dead and still no clue what I was.
Sometime later I was dressed in jeans and a tee shirt. Brandy tried putting me in a couple skirts and dresses but, I felt much more myself in jeans. Despite what she was, I found myself liking Brandy. She was bubbly and energetic. She didn't seem to have a bad bone in her body and yet part of me resented the fact that she had to kill to stay alive.
Like you'll be any different, came the snarky voice in my head.
Brandy walked me to Richards's office. We entered the hallway that I had repeatedly slammed Richard in but the wall had been plastered over and the glass and debris cleaned up.
"When did that happen?" I asked Brandy as we walked passed, mostly because I was sure I had slept days instead of hours.
"Two nights ago, no one is sure how though," she said sneaking a glance at me. I just nodded.
Brandy pushed open the heavy oak door and I entered Richards's office. He sat at his desk with Seth leaning up against it.
"What the hell did you call me here for!?" shouted the tall blond, leather clad man with his back to me. In knew that voice instantly and regretted asking Brandy to leave me at the office door.
Professor Tanner turned around when he heard my footsteps. The lazy grin that I hated spread across his face as I got closer. I glanced over to Seth and Richard. Seth's expression was one that I was used to. It was the look he always had when he was doing a job. The look of "it's time to go to work." Richard was staring at me with his normal glare but, something was hidden beneath it. I don't know what but, something else was in his face that I couldn't quite comprehend.
"Katie cakes! You're alive!" cried the professor in mock enthusiasm. He raised his arms as if to embrace me for a hug, I rolled my eyes and stood in front of Richards's desk next to Seth.
"Exactly. We want to know how and why," said Richard from behind me. The way he said it made it sound like he was angry with me for being alive. I couldn't blame him though as I thought of the beating he took last night. I smiled and tried to cover up some laughter.
"Well, how should I know?" asked Tanner. I glared at him as he looked me up and down like I was some kind of desert that he had never tasted.
"You're the expert, figure it out!" snapped Seth.
"Look I won't even have a place to start unless I have some of her blood," replied the professor with a sickly grin.
"What?" I hissed. I looked from Seth to the professor. This had to be some kind of trick.
"Its simple Katie cakes. I can see what the blood god has intended for you with a couple drops of your blood. At least that way ill when and where they want you to go," replied the professor. He took a few steps toward me.
"No!" I said.
"Then I can't help you. You were chosen so it's your problem," he said. He took a few steps casually away from us like he was going to leave.
I swallowed hard and let out a sigh.
"Fine!" I snapped. The professor turned back to me, a look of triumph on his face. I grabbed a letter opener from Richards's desk.
"But, don't call me Katie caked EVER again!" I snapped.
"Kate don't!" shouted Richard. I ignored him and pierced the end of my finger with the sharp end of the letter opener. A bubble of blood emerged and I held it out to the professor. He took my hand pulling it closer to him and placed it in his mouth. I cringed and I felt him sucking the blood out of my wound.
I had a cousin who suffered from epilepsy and seeing her have a seizure was terrifying. Her whole body went rigid and then began convulsing. I was reminded of that when Tanner dropped my finger from his mouth and hit the floor in a hard lump, convulsions wracked through his body.
