Intertwine (Book 3)

Chapter Five

Week after week have gone. Weeks have turned into months. After a while, Jason had to order pack members to cover up my mother's disappearance.

Her job had contacted me. I had to get our pack doctor to pretend as if she was lying in a hospital, deep in a coma from some freak accident. Bills? They have become our obligation. If not, the house would become a dump then get foreclosed by the bank. My dog has become a part of this household. The only one who is able to run in the house on all fours daily.

Why can’t we go to the police? Jess had asked me that question and at first, I thought the same. Jason and the others made it clear to keep mortal personals out of the situation. They knew nothing of this world. Besides, it would only lead them on a wild goose hunt.

I sat up in the bed. Looking at the small digital clock as I questioned Jason's reasons for dressing so late in the hour.

"What are you doing? It’s two-thirty in the morning."

"Someone found something." He pulled his shirt over his head. "It has your mother's scent."

Excited and also anxious, the realization made me unhopeful. I erased the joyfulness from my face. This is how it goes. We find something with the faint smell of my mother or the household. We would follow and come to a dead end within days.

It was like a trick. As if someone or something was taunting us, knowing we would never find them or their whereabouts.

"Okay." I tossed him his cellular phone. "Please keep me posted."

He leaned over the bed and planted a kiss against my forehead before he left the room.

After making sure he was gone, I reached under my bed and pulled my laptop from its case. I opened it. Clicking the Internet icon, I pulled the Google homepage.

Typing anxiously, I entered the word 'vampires' into the search engine., I have wanted to know more and more. I needed to know more.

"A mythical being who subsist by feeding on the blood of living creatures." I read in a whisper. I knew of this. Everyone did.

My eyes scanned the articles and pages they directed me to, each page portraying vampires as something different from the last. Vampires feed on blood. Vampires feed on others essences. Vampires are susceptible to the sun or other forms of extreme lighting. Others.....sparkle? Thanks a lot twilight.

What was I up against? What am I to look for? Is light their friend or foe? Where are they? The most important question is...how do I kill it?

How to kill a vampire? Hitting the enter key, I watched a list of links pop up.

"The crucifix isn't powerful enough to kill a vampire, but it can drain them of strength, burn their flesh, and keep them at a safe distance. Staking is the most common method of vampire hunting. We must thrust the stake into the vampire's heart to kill it." I read aloud to myself.

Leaning against the bed head board, I could only reminisce about my encounter with a vampire. How I had nothing on me to save myself. How he would have taken me away if it was not for Jason.

I need better defense.....

******

"I thought I told you to trash it?" Jess followed behind as I walked to my car.

"You did." She fiddled with the plastic. "But....I want to go."

"I’m not going to that damn gym." I roared up the engine as Jess slammed the passenger door closed.

"Did you ever dream up kicking Carl's ass? I mean come on; you have a small amount of combat training from working with Maya." She tightened her seat belt as I pulled out of the driveway. "He will not see the ass whooping coming."

"I don’t want to touch him." I reminded her.

"Well let me."

"Jess? Do you believe Jason and Brent will allow us to even come in contact with him?"

"Hey." Jess held her hands up in defense. "He didn't kiss me."

Staring out of the front windshield, I began to frown in distaste for her comment.

"Look. We don’t have to tell them it’s Carl's gym. Besides, it doesn't even have his name." I pulled up to a crossroad, bringing the car to a halt.

"Hmm let me see." She handed the card to me. Taking the small card into my hand, I looked over it before I ripped it to shreds and tossed it out of my open window.

"Hey?"

"Shut it." I pulled off.

*****

"Um why are we here?"

I looked at my phone's map before looking back up at the shop. Sure that this was my destination, I cut the engine. I stepped out. Jess exited the car and walked around to my side, awaiting an answer to another one of her questions.

"I need something." I looked up at the old small shop. It looked damaged, abandoned almost. The paint was chipping as the front door sign began to loosen from the hinge. The shop had aged. A structure that had seen many passing days.

"Come on."

“No. What kind of voodoo stuff is this?" Jess's facial expression screamed distaste as she peeked into the dusted window, acknowledging the uncanny statues behind the glass.

"Stop being a punk." I teased.

Opening the door, I listened to the doorbell ring upon my entrance. The old shop looked more distasteful in the interior then the exterior. Store shelves held blankets of dust. The old wooden floor boards creaked under our feet. I glanced over my shoulder to Jess, who’s faced seemed nervous like but also interested. I approached the counter, hoping that I could retrieve what I had come for.

"Hi?" A woman standing behind the counter turned to face me. Her black hair seemed so full and thick, even despite her aging face and frame.

"Hello?" She said as she looked into my eyes, allowing me to see her weird yet intriguing eyes. Her left eye was a beautiful shade of blue, like glass that held back the sun kissed ocean. Her right was like an emerald green that sparkled under the light.

They always got some odd person to work in these shops. It’s always some teen with a large amount of piercings or some guy who worshipped the devil himself.

"Uuhh." I found myself stuttering as I focused in on her eyes. "Uh yes, um- I'm looking for something....for a project for my art class."

"Sure." Her smile had grown.

"Well I need... Props. You know, to present." I lied. "A stake. A crucifix."

"A what?" Jess questioned me. I looked at her to warn her.

"For my project." I hissed to keep her quiet.

The store employee looked at me then smiled.

"Ah yes. No problem." She turned before she reached into a few old drawers, shuffling around until she pulled out a few things. Turning back to me, she placed a few items onto the counter. "Is this what you desire?"

Inspecting the items, I gave her the approval that the items were correct. She slipped the items into a box and slid it across the counter to me.

Reaching into my purse, I pulled my wallet to cover my cost. Her hands waved. She stopped me.

"No. Do not pay." She denied my money. "Just take this."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Aniyah." She took my hand into hers before she closed her eyes.

"How does she know your name?" Jess questioned just as I did.

Her soft yet wrinkled hand held onto my own. The flesh of her hand was warm but suddenly went cold and stiff. Her eyes fluttered open, showing me her dissimilar orbs. She released my hand.

She slid the box to me. Her emotions still and calm. I took the box. My mind was still wrapped around her knowing my name. My eyes still trained on hers, I turned for the door.

"Aniyah." She said my name once more. I cringed knowing that I never got the chance to even confirm who I was. "Kill those terrorizing vampires. And make sure you dig a stake in one of their hearts. For me."

It stunned me. She knew more then what we believed she did. Who was she? What is she? I nodded my head. Whoever or whatever she was, I knew for a fact she had the right idea.