Chapter 7
Beca's POV
Waking up next to Chloe is something that I find myself wondering how I've gone my whole life without it. Sometime during the night, our legs found their way together and Chloe pulled me to her in her sleep until I was practically on top of her. My head was on her chest, listening to her slow heartbeat. I've heard that vampire hearts still beat, but I've never been close enough to actually hear it.
It's slow, thumping every 15 seconds or so. Not like mine which has started beating faster by the minute. I could've lain there forever, content, but sadly, Chloe woke up. Then, she laughed at our position and slid me off, still keeping me close. For a good hour, we just layed there talking about anything and everything.
I learned that her favorite color is grey(she wouldn't explain why) and that she loves art. Though she's traveled everywhere, she hasn't been to all the museums, preferring to go with someone who enjoys it just as much. Stacie apparently hates art unless it is the nude kind so she's out of the question. Trying to be honest, I told her that I'd never been to an art museum which she quickly promised to take me to. I also learned that both her parents are both vampires along with her brother. Before she could tell me more about it though, the girls began getting up.
"So what first?" Chloe asks me when I walk back into the room after getting dressed. The sight of Chloe stops me in my tracks. She's wearing just simple blue jeans and a t-shirt, but her hair is still messed up from sleep. My chest tightens as I look at her, wondering how in the hell she manages to dress so simple yet look gorgeous at the same time.
"First, I look over John's case while we eat breakfast. Then, I'll have Luke show me where the vampire turned him. I have a few hunches about that and if they turn out to be correct, then I'll have to call my boss."
"Okay. Mind if I tag along?" The insecurity on Chloe's face and in her voice makes me frown.
"Of course. Weren't you assigned to work with me?"
"Yeah, but most agents wouldn't be okay with letting a vampire follow them everywhere."
"Chloe," I sigh, shaking my head, "what do I have to say to convince you that I'm nothing like those other agents?"
"I'm just having a hard time getting used to it." Chloe motions for us to go and I follow her down the stairs and toward the kitchen. Amazing smells hit me like a freight train and I close my eyes, picking out every single one.
"Scrambled eggs, waffles- the homemade kind-, and bacon," my mouth waters and Chloe watches me with a smile.
"I don't know what we're having this morning, but I'm sure you could convince Gail to make you that." Chloe teases but her smile changes to shock when we step into the kitchen. Everything I named is spread out across the table being picked apart by all the giggling girls.
"Well good morning," Gail says cheerfully and then frowns when she looks at Chloe. "What's wrong with you?"
"Um, nothing," Chloe whispers, still looking at me. "It's nothing."
"Okie dokie. Beca, why don't you have a seat and get yourself some look famished." I do as she says because she's exactly right. I'm always hungry and I have no idea why. I've asked doctors, but they always just give me a weird look before telling me it's nothing to worry about. Then, when I pester them, they just tell me I burn calories a lot faster than most people. Since I'm already weird, I just take it and go with it. It has to have something to do with my freak genes.
As I eat, my gaze slides from the case file to Chloe. Should I tell her? Should I tell the others? They deserve to know but for once in my life I feel normal, like I can be myself. They don't see me as just a freak of nature as everybody else does and when they learn what I am, they'll see it too. So I'll wait to tell them what my mother was, what I am because of her. For now though, I'll just try to belong.
"Well, good morning Luke," Gail cheers and I turn to see Luke standing in the doorway. His whole body is tense and nervousness is written all over his face.
"Come get some breakfast and then after we'll go do what we talked about last night," I order and he sits next to me.
"Since you're so young, you probably can't handle this food yet," Gail says. "So we'll get you some blood for now. As long as you're with us, we'll work on decreasing the amount of blood consumption until you can go the normal amount of time without it."
"Thank you," Luke whispers, looking around at everybody like he's not sure what to do with all these girls.
"So what exactly do you guys do?" I ask, wanting to get an idea before going out into the field with Chloe. Emily looks up, excited to explain.
"Well, like you deal with the supernatural, we deal with vampires. We do the variety like defending them in court cases or providing support for those who can't deal with this life."
"So in this case with Luke, it would be more y'all's job than mine?"
"Yeah, but we could use your help. We haven't dealt with something like this in years and with John gone, none of us have much experience with it. All of us have more skills in providing therapy or teaching about our kind than detective work."
I nod and continue eating, trying to think of a way to go about this. I can't contact my agency, not without getting Luke taken away. They'll take him away for questioning and I know that we'll never see him again if they do. So I'll have to work this alone and maybe with the help of a few contacts I have in town. The agency wasn't able to spread their hate for me everywhere and when I explain the situation, quite a few are actually on my side. A hybrid with friends. Not many would expect that, least of all my father. Sadly, I don't trust any of those people. You never know when they'll turn on you.
"Okay, time to get rolling," I announce once breakfast is over. "How about a ride in a cool car, Luke?" Excitement lights up Luke's eyes, making me grin. This kid is quickly growing on me. Grabbing my jacket, I head toward the door and then pause, turning around to look at Chloe.
"You coming sugar?" Chloe's eyes widen and she nods, quickly getting up and following Luke out the door. I go after, loving the view of how snug those jeans are on Chloe.
"Can I drive?" Luke pipes up and I laugh.
"Maybe someday but for now, I'll be driving." We get in and I look at Chloe before starting the car. "How about you? Interested in driving this beautiful hunk of metal?"
"It's against the law for a vampire to drive," Chloe states without emotion, but I see the flicker of hope in her eyes.
"Well then, I guess we'll have to make sure we don't get caught." Throwing the car into reverse, we speed out of the driveway. After a few minutes of silence, I turn on the radio. Country music flows through the speakers and I sing along softly. Every few minutes, Luke points to a turn and I go that way. Hopefully, he remembers correctly. When we get closer, Luke's directions are pointless. Now, I know where we're going and it's just as I feared. Reed will have to hear about this.
When we pull up to the alley, I spot a familiar car there. Jesse Swanson is standing in the same spot as last time, staring down at the ground. Is that all he does? When I open my door, he turns around and grins when he sees me.
"Hey, what are you doing here? I don't remember making a movie date."
"Well," I smirk, "if we ever did go on a date, it wouldn't be at a movie."
"Even if I have juice pouches?" Blinking in surprise, I laugh.
"Even if there are juice pouches. I don't watch movies."
"You monster. I'll have to change that," Jessie grins and then looks over my shoulders. "Who are you guys?"
"Chloe is my new partner and Luke over there is a victim of a crime. Luke, is this the place?" Luke nods and audibly gulps.
"Why is he here?" Luke comes up next to me, ducking his head when Jesse looks at him.
"This is Detective Jesse Swanson."
"Is that like an agent?"
"Kind of." Jesse puffs out his chest at my words. "But not as cool." His chest deflates instantly and he frowns.
"We're still on the same side," Jesse comments and grins at me, but I can't find the energy to smile back. Are we really all on the same side? Jesse may seem easy going and like a good guy, but I've seen plenty turn their backs in a heartbeat. I've had it happen to me too many times.
"Can you show me what happened?" I ask Luke and he nods. Surprisingly, he takes my hand and pulls me forward. Chloe smiles at me and something in her eyes…
"So I was right here when he stopped me," Luke explains and for the next half hour we go through everything that took place. It all lies in the same place where John Smith was killed. Damn. Reed was hoping for an easy case and this is anything but that. He is going to be pissed.
"Luke, why don't you go with Detective Swanson here to get some ice cream," I suggest and Luke nods eagerly. "Here's a few bucks. There's a place right around the corner." I watch as Luke and Jesse walk off and wait to speak until they're out of sight.
"This is where John was killed," I turn to Chloe who gasps.
"Oh god. Really? What the hell happened?"
"I don't know. It looks like another vampire killed him." Chloe's creamy white skin gets paler.
"Are you sure? Could it be the one that turned Luke?"
"That's what I'm thinking. I'll call my boss and most likely have to head over to the agency later tonight."
"Okay. When they get back," Chloe gestures toward where Luke and Jesse went, "could you take us to the house? I can look over John's file and maybe see if I can find any vampire candidates. We have a vampire watch list of sorts."
"That sounds good," I nod wearily. "You guys will need to be extra careful. Not only is it a vampire going after people, it's a vampire after it's own kind. Whether you like it or not, y'all are in danger."
"Damn," Chloe curses, running her hands through her beautiful fiery hair. "Shit's hit the fan, hasn't it?"
"Sorry to tell you darling, but we're way past shit hitting the fan. Everything is about to go to hell."
…
"Damn it," Reed yells, slamming his hands down onto his desk. "This wasn't supposed to be a full out investigation, Beca. An open and shut case, that's what I want it to be."
"But it's not. We both know there's more to it and anyway, it's too late to go back."
"Yeah, thanks to you." Reed turns around and studies his shelf, his shoulders shaking with barely contained fury. "I should've had you just put his death down as a freak accident or something."
"I wouldn't have done that. John had people who cared about him. He deserves more than a cover up."
"What the hell do you know about deserving something?" Reed spins around, his bloodshot eyes full of hate and anger. All for me.
"I don't know much. Just that a good man doesn't deserve to have his killer get away."
"Oh shut up, Beca," Reed sighs angrily.
"No, I won't. He deserves justice and I will make sure he gets it."
"Do you know how fast I could have you framed for this? Your sorry ass would be sitting in jail if I so much as whispered a rumor. But since it's too late for any of that, you'll have to figure this out. Finish it or I will finish you."
"Yes sir," I sneer and Reed growls, coming around his desk.
"You will never be grateful for all that I've given you. I could have you thrown out and living on the street-"
"So why don't you?" I dare and Reed brings his fist up, slamming it into my cheek. Pain radiates throughout my face and I taste blood in my mouth. When I glance down, I see brass knuckles on his bandaged hand. Why is he so determined to hurt me?
"Don't test me. Now get out of my sight before I make good on my threats. Don't come back unless you have something concrete." Reed turns away and I flip him off before leaving. Coward. Couldn't even flip him off to his face.
Sighing heavily, I make my way downstairs. Lucky for me, Bumper and a few other instructors are leaving too.
"Well, if it isn't the mutant. What are you doing back? Couldn't handle it out there in the real world so you came running back to daddy?"
"Shut the fuck up," I growl. "You wouldn't know the real world even if I planted your ass in the middle of a fucking war."
"Someone's testy," Bumper teases and pushes my shoulder. "Why don't you prove that you're more than daddy's little puppet?"
"I'm tempted but I have to get back to the real world. See, I actually have a job that matters. What do you do? Teach little brats the very same thing you failed? How do you explain to them why you're teaching and not out there, working a real jo-" Bumper's fist flies out and hits the same cheek that Reed just punched a few minutes ago.
"Mother fucker," Bumper cries, holding his hand which is now broken. "You really are a freak. Get her!" All the other instructors come after me, but only a few get some hits in before I manage to break away. I run faster than any normal human being, to my car. When I look back, everyone is still far behind, breathing hard from running.
Holding up my middle finger, I get in my car and zoom out of the parking lot. My foot presses harder against the peddle as I make my way to the house. Those fucking idiots. Don't they already know how much my freak genes haunt me? How much I wish that I could be normal? I always try so hard to prove to them that I'm different, but tonight, I did the opposite. They saw how fast I can run and while many have seen it before, I only fueled their hate for me.
I pull up to the house but before I get out, I lean my head on the wheel and cry. Nobody can see me like this. Crying is weak. That's what Reed says and if I want to prove myself to him, I can't be weak. So, I lift my head up, dry my tears, and get out of my car. It's dark and I'm sure most of the girls are in bed. Hanging my head, I head inside and up to Chloe's bedroom. Trying to be quiet, I turn the doorknob slowly and close it softly behind me. Suddenly, the light turns on and Chloe stands in front of me.
"What the fuck happened to you?"