Author's Note: Oh my GOODNESS! I'm so freakin' psyched about this chapter! *foams at the mouth* I hope you guys like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.
Chapter Sixteen
When the vampires found the dead one's headless body, they fled town. All but one of them. This man was tall and lean, with slicked back hair pulled into a ponytail. His eyes were narrow slits of rage as he glared at Carl and Gordon. They were in a old worn down warehouse on the outskirts of town; the moon was high and the sky cloudy. Carl and Gordon were armed with machetes. The vampire had his fists and revenge on his side.
"You killed my daughter," The vampire seethed. "I'll make you pay."
But neither party moved, just stared at one another, waiting to react. Suddenly, Gordon whipped to the size and brought the hilt of his machete down hard on the back of Carl's head. The other man fell to the floor, crying out and looking at his companion in surprise. Even the vampire was still, surprise widening his eyes. Gordon reached down and forced Carl's hands behind his back and locked them in handcuffs.
Gordon calmly pulled out a crinkled picture from his pocket, Carl recognized it instantly. It was his picture of Nicole that he kept with him, a reminder of what he was fighting for, of what he had to protect.
Calmly, Gordon held it out to the vampire, "You want revenge, I can understand that. He's the one that brought the knife down on your daughter. This girl, this is his daughter."
The vampire hesitated for an instant before snatching away the photo. He glared down at it before muttering, "Cute."
"What are you doing, Gordon?" Carl asked, panic rising in his chest.
Gordon sighed, "As much as I hate this, it's what has to be done. The girl can be found in Windom, a few miles north of here. You shouldn't have any trouble following his scent to her."
The vampire narrowed his eyes, debating if he could trust the hunter, "Why are you telling me this?"
"I need something from him," He gestured to Carl, "Just like you need revenge. He's not cooperating, so I'm forcing him to. Now get out of here before I change my mind and remove your head myself."
The vampire glanced at the picture in his hand before disappearing into the night.
"Damn you, Gordon," Carl cursed, struggling against the cuffs. "What have you done? If he hurts her, I'll kill you, you hear."
Gordon circled Carl calmly, "Don't worry, Carl. Tell me what I need to know and you can get to your daughter before he does. No one has to die tonight other than that Fang."
"This is about the Winchesters, isn't it?" Carl continued to struggle.
"There are things about them you don't understand, Carl. If you knew what I knew, you'd want to find them, too." Gordon squatted down next to the struggling hunter. "Now tell me where they are."
"They were in Kansas last I heard, I swear to you," Carl's eyes were desperate as he looked up at Gordon. "Please, I don't know anything else."
For a moment, Gordon seized up the other man. Satisfied that he got what he want, he stood and began heading for the door.
"Gordon!" Carl shouted, "Let me free!"
Gordon paused with his hand on the door, "You're a talented hunter, Carl. Get yourself out."
…
Nicole jerked open the door just as Adam's knuckles met the wood. Bethany and Melba were gone, her apartment cleaned up and butterflies having a party in her stomach. But when her eyes met Adam's she was perfectly calm.
Adam's eyes traveled over her, taking in her curly up-do, the curve of her neck, down the smooth flow of the dress where the slit revealed just enough silky leg to drive him crazy. "You look amazing."
Nicole smiled, "Thank you. You do, too." And indeed he did in his tailored suit with his hair combed and a gleam in his eye. In his hands, he held a small bouquet of flowers which he offered to her.
"Oh, Adam, thank you," She smelled the flowers, their delicate scent filling her nose. "Let me put them in a vase and then we can go."
Adam waited patiently while she searched the kitchen for a vase, or even a tall glass to put them in. After several minutes of finding nothing, she grew annoyed and snatched a jar of dead man's blood from the cupboard.
As she dumped the contents down the drain, she answered Adam's questioning gaze, "Elder Berry juice." He wouldn't want to take her to the dance if she told him it was dead man's blood.
"You like that stuff?" Adam wrinkled his nose.
Nicole shrugged, "It's ok." She had no idea what it really tasted like.
"My mom makes me drink it when I have a cough. It's nasty," Adam watched as the dark liquid ran down the drain.
When the jar was empty, Nicole rinsed it out and placed the flowers inside with just a smidge of water. They locked the door and were on their way. Adam opened the car door for her and helped her in before running around and climbing into the driver's seat. As they drove to the school, Nicole spotted a car in her side mirror. It could be nothing, but she could swear it was following them.
Not tonight, she pleaded within herself. Don't let anything happen tonight. I've been keeping an eye out, don't let the bad things show up now. She wanted to convince herself it was just another student going to the dance but when they turned into the lot, the car slowly passed. Inwardly, she groaned. Outwardly, she smiled as Adam opened the door for her and held out his arm.
Together, they entered the gym which was decorated to match the theme: A night in Hollywood. They were greeted by two boys dressed in suits with dark sunglasses. Then, they walked past the refreshment table to where Nathan was bopping along with the beat, a slender girl with dark brown curly hair beside him.
"Hey guys!" Nathan slapped a hand on Adam's back, "I'd like you to meet Denise, my girlfriend. Denise, this is Adam and Nicole."
"Hi," they all shook hands and Nicole instantly decided she liked Denise. The girl was friendly and had a welcoming smile just like Nathan.
"It's great to finally meet you," Nicole said as she shook Denise's hand. "We were beginning to think Nathan made you up."
"I wouldn't put it passed him," Denise winked and they laughed.
As the night progressed, they danced, ate, took pictures and laughed at each other's outrageous dance moves. Nicole quickly forgot about the menacing car that had followed them to the dance and lost herself in the movement of dancing with Adam. It was all too soon that the music slowed and the DJ announced the last dance. The beat was slow and sexy and Adam took Nicole's hands and pulled her close, wrapping her arms around his neck as he rested his on her hips. They held each other's gaze they swayed with the beat, hips moving in time with one another.
Nicole's heart was racing as Adam bent down and their lips met. Oh yeah, Nicole thought as they deepened the kiss, Bethany was right, this was worth it.
"Hey, hey, hey, guys, come on," Nathan's voice broke through and they pulled apart. "The song's been over for like, five minutes. Do we need to get you a room or what?"
Denise playfully hit Nathan's chest as he pulled her close, "Come on, Nathan, don't be rude. Let them have their fun."
Nathan grinned, "Why don't we have some fun ourselves?"
Denise giggled as they walked away, forgetting about Adam and Nicole. Nicole slid her hand into Adam's. The gym was emptying rather quickly, couple retreated to cars to continue the party elsewhere.
"So, what happens after the dance?" Nicole asked as they headed for the car parked near the back where the deep shadows loomed.
Adam brought her hand to his lips for a kiss, "Anything you want."
Nicole bit her lip coyly and was about to answer when a shadow moved. She was instantly alert but not fast enough. A man shot out of the dark and slammed a fist into her jaw. She heard Adam shout in protest before he was struck too. Getting into Hunter mode, she crouched in fighting stance between the man and Adam, who was clenching jaw and struggling to regain himself, and parried a few of the man's attacks. She got in a few punches of her own but the man was unaffected. As she swung another punch, the man sidestepped and elbowed her hard in the face. Nicole struggled to regain her senses as the assailant struck her again. The man was strong, stronger than anyone Nicole had fought before and as he struck her again, she felt the world blacken around her and chided herself for not protecting Adam.