A/N: So, I see that it's been awhile since I last updated, and I am really sorry. My schedule has always been hectic, but I realized that I needed to make time for you guys. I'm in the process of getting a novel published, and I present it on Tuesday to publishing presses. PM me if you want to know more.
They searched for a month. Every vampire they came across told them the same thing. Drake was alive. While the information on Drake was plentiful, nobody heard about King.
Blade watched as Abby turned into a desperate hunter who killed any vampire who failed to supply her with information about King.
He knew that he had no business lecturing her about it, but she seemed to be getting worse. There were times where he heard her sneak out of the hideout only to come back covered in ash and blood.
The young woman who once lectured him about killing needlessly was now dying. He saw it in her eyes every time she killed.
Whistler hadn't wanted to her to end up this way, and Blade finally understood. After going through the same thing himself, he knew what a destructive path it was.
He also knew that he couldn't do anything. She would snap out of it once she hit rock bottom.
He wanted to end this maddening search. But since Drake was back in the game, he had to see it through to the end.
One particular night, they finally received a sliver of information that could help them find King.
"Where is he?" she demanded. The vampire in question was pinned to his apartment wall by stakes. There was one in each shoulder and hand.
Blade stayed in the background as Abby interrogated the vampire.
"I heard that Drake had a former vampire as his pet. He was a hunter too. I can't give you a location, but they stay on the move all the time. I don't know anything else," the vampire wailed.
"Where were they last?!"
"I don't know. I'm not trusted with that information."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Abby shot him in the head. The ash covered her as it fell.
"So Drake has him. I suspected as much," Blade commented.
Abby whirled on him. "You knew? You could have saved me all this trouble!"
"You needed to hear it for yourself, and now we have somewhat of a lead."
"And how is that?"
"Drake has King, so he kidnapped him for a reason. I suspect that it's to lure me out which means we played right into his hands. We can't stay here anymore. He knows we're here," Blade said, but Abby shook her head.
"If they know we're here, then they'll come for us. Then I can get Hannibal back, and you can go back to your happy little life. It works out perfectly."
Blade groaned in annoyance. "No, it means they have the upper hand. They probably know our every move, so attempting to take King back will be suicide.
Abby contemplated that for a moment before giving him a hard stare. "Then leave. I'll deal with it."
Blade crossed his arms. "I'm not letting you get yourself killed over one guy. I can help you, but we need to leave this country. Otherwise, we're all dead."
Abby brushed past him on her way out of the apartment. "Fuck you. I'm staying."
He was tempted to drag her back in the apartment to talk sense into her, but he knew it would be fruitless. Instead he followed her out.
By the time they reached the car, sirens could be heard in the distance.
"Shit," Blade growled. "Somebody called the police."
Abby eyes drifted over to the sounds of the sirens, and she paused. "They might be familiars."
"Or they could be the French police who are going to throw our asses into prison if we don't leave now," Blade replied.
"They could be familiars," she repeated as she stared off into the distance. Blade saw her pull her gun out of her holster as the sounds got louder.
"That's it," he growled. Moving quickly, he put her in a choke hold that blocked the blood from going to her brain. She was out in ten seconds.
He threw her unconscious body in the backseat and drove away from the scene.
When he made it back to the hideout, he sat her on a bench and waved smelling salts underneath her nose.
When she came to, she snapped.
Jumping up, she swung at him a few times before he grabbed her and slammed her into the wall.
"Don't you ever do that to me again!" she yelled.
"You were going to get us caught! How are you going to save King if you're in jail or dead?" Blade responded and released her.
When she didn't respond, he stepped closer to her. "You are a loose cannon. You are going to get yourself and maybe me killed. If you're going to continue to act this way, then I'm done. You can do this on your own."
"Oh, so you're going to abandon me, just like my father?" she asked daringly.
"Don't tempt me," he growled.
Abby smirked. "So the Big Bad Wolf does have feelings," she cooed.
"Whistler," he warned. He was tempted to drag her ass back to the States, but Drake still needed to be dealt with. "If you continue with this reckless behavior, I will track down Zoe and tell her that you're trying to kill yourself."
The mention of the little girl made Abby pause for a moment. "Stay away from her. She finally has a normal life."
"Then get your head together and stop taking needless risks. We can get King back, but we have to do it my way."
"Or what?" Abby challenged.
Blade stared at her calmly. "I'll show her pictures of your dead body."
Abby's body froze in place. Images of Zoe crying over the pictures assaulted her mind until she snapped out of it. The fire in her made her want to beat him senseless, but she thought about it. Zoe looked up to her, and if Blade went through with what he said, the little girl would be destroyed.
She could do things his way. For Zoe.
Head hung in defeat, she said, "Fine. We do it your way."
"Good," Blade said. "Pack your things. We're going to another country tonight."
"Tonight?"
"Yes!" Blade snapped. Her glare didn't even faze him.
As she stalked past him grumbling, he shook his head in exhaustion. He was so close to just letting her go. The old man would want her safe, but she was becoming more of a liability for him.
"Just a few more months, and we might be done," he told himself as he began to pack his things.
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed the update! Review!