CHAPTER 13: GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER
2644 Words
We told Uncle Fernand about what happened earlier. He said the SAC are going crazy about Stacey. "Imagine, SAC went furious after losing the traces of the daughters of Priest Orden and Conde Argus," Uncle Fernand announced as he laughed. "If you can only see what they look like while being restless." He then looked at me. "Won't that half-blood betray you? Just because you saved them, it doesn't mean you already got their loyalty."
"I know, Uncle. I made it clear that I saved them because they needed help, but I am still an enemy of killer vampires. Also, the SAC planted some of their vampires in their group. I killed one of the spies and they caught the other one. "
Daddy came out of the kitchen, carrying our vervain tea. He sat next to Martha.
Martha drank vervain tea first before speaking again. "What was the name of Conde's son? She was probably the one with the red hair. I finished her."
"Queenie, she is the eldest child. She has two more children but I have not seen them yet. All I know is the other one was a half-blood, they converted her into a full vampire when she was still a kid, unlike Stacey who was fully grown before they converted her. They said that the experiment on the Conde's daughter failed, and they should have waited for her to grow up before being converted. " Uncle Fernand also took his vervain tea first before he spoke again. "Be careful. No one should know that you are the one who finished them. Deny it if anyone asks. It is difficult. Let them look for those who have disappeared," Uncle Fernand ordered.
"Yes, Uncle." I looked at the main door. Louie and Ana were entering while curious in what we were doing. "Hello. How's your day?" I tapped my side to tell Ana to sit beside me. He sat down. Louie sat on the single sofa next to Uncle Fernand's sofa.
"What are you having?" She looked at what we were drinking.
"Vervain tea," I casually replied.
Ana's eyes widened at me. "No way ?!" She also looked at Martha. "You too?" This is the first time for them seeing us drinking vervain tea.
Yeah. We've been taking vervain for more than 50 years. It's delicious. Do you want to try it?" Martha offered while laughing.
"N-No thanks. I might die in no time." She even signaled that she did not like to drink it using her hands. "H-how can you manage drinking vervain? That's fatal to vampires."
"I'm not really sure how, but at first we just mixed drops in the blood, then we gradually add more servings. Now we can drink vervain tea in water." Martha poured the vervain into her cup and took a sip again. Ana seemed disgusted. "It helps us in masking our real identity."
"Professor Louie, you want to try it?" I offered him, trying to sound casual despite the fact that I can feel my blood inside me, boiling.
"You want me to die?" a serious question coming from Louie.
I shrugged. "We are still alive." Then I drank tea again. I was having fun teasing Professor Louie when my phone rang. "Justin?"
"Can we talk in person?" Justin sounded pleading on the other line.
"About what?" I gave him a cold response.
"About a lot of things. Hmm... if you also have questions, I will answer all of them." He paused for a moment. "Please?"
I sighed deeply. "Right now? Where's the meet up?"
"Yes. In the plaza."
"Okay. I'll be there in a few minutes." I dropped the call. I stood up when the phone rang again. It was Jeric on the caller ID.
"You are in demand," Martha said while laughing.
I rolled my eyes, then I answered the call. "Hello?"
"You missed our group meeting," Jeric's opening sermon.
"Sorry, I have family emergency," I answered sparingly. As if I care if I pass or not. Oh well, I have to blend in.
"We have another meeting tomorrow. Will you join us by then?"
"Sure, I will. See you tomorrow then. Bye." I ended the call and looked around. They were all watching me.
"One half-blood and one human... you are really in demand with the boys huh. Is there no pure-blooded vampire on your list?" Martha's teasing me.
I'm sure I blushed. I didn’t look at Louie, no way I would dare. I looked at Ana, her eyes seemed teasing me, pertaining to Louie. I glared at her. She giggled.
"I'll go ahead." I was about to leave the house when Professor Louie called me.
"Vanessa, where are you going?" he said in a cold tone.
I turned around and looked at him. "Meeting a half-vampire. I'll be back soon."
His face looked dark but he did not respond to me. I turned around and finally left the house. I didn't use my car. I used my vampire speed power to arrive on time, but I stayed a little farther from the meeting place just to make sure it wasn't a trap. I hid my power and looked around to see if someone's out there.
I saw Justin standing beside a post lamp, patiently waiting for me. He looked safe to approach so I went out of my hiding place and called him. "Justin."
His face lit up when he saw me. "Vanessa."
"What do you want to talk about?" I have a serious questions I need to ask.
"Hey, chill. I just want us to become friends and hang around. I just really want to see you and be with you."
I gave him the most boring look I could give to anyone. "Yeah, right." I quickly turned around and tried to leave but he blocked me.
"Don't be like that, please," he's begging. "I like you so much, it's killing me inside. I can feel my blood boiling when I see you, but the other side of me is stopping the monster inside me. I'm having a hard time."
I signed. I fully understand him. I feel the same way, not to him but to Louie. "I don't know what to say." I don't know how to dump a half-vampire. "I don't feel the same way to you. But thank you."
Justin tried to speak but no words came out of his mouth.
"Justin, someone explained it to me. That's how we really feel when a vampire likes someone. They even become violent when their blood lust are not satisfied. My grandmother was a r**e victim of a vampire.. But since we are half-blood, our human side is stopping us. Telling us not to do what isn't right. "
"I know. But I really like you—no, what I feel is stronger than that." Justin took my hand and stared at me honestly. I'm speechless. I can see sincerity in his eyes.
I took a step back, slowly removed my hands from his hands. "Justin, I feel the same way, but not with you... with another vampire."
Justin's face seemed gloomy. "Am I late? Are you both together now?"
"N-not yet. He doesn't know. I'm still a half-vampire. I still believe in courtship." That I knew Louie was unlikely to do. Male vampires will never court a woman they like. They will just claim any woman they want. I wonder if there is forever in them. Although some male vampires take women and marry them, I'm not sure if it's because of love or it's just for companionship. Imagine if you're living alone for a very long time.
"Then I will court you. I will prove to you how I really feel." Is he serious? Am I that beautiful in his eyes?
I answered with an awkward smile. "Where is Vlad? Why aren't you with Vlad?" I changed the topic.
He laughed while scratching his head. "I took care of him, then I ran away. I escaped. He doesn't want to go with me to see you."
I slapped him on the arm. "You're crazy! What if the hunters found you?"
"Ouch! He's really concerned about me seeing you. I told him it's fine. You're a hunter but I am still alive, see?"
"Crazy! I didn't save you earlier just for nothing."
"I know. I can see a little hope in you. You won't be concerned if you don't feel anything for me, right?" The length of his crazy smile is so wide. His eyes are sparkling.
I also thought about what he said. Do I really feel something for him? I do not know. I also don't know if I will give my full trust to him, but he is okay. He's just arrogant at first but he seemed nice.
"How old are you?" I changed the subject again.
"47." Justin replied.
"I'm 11 years older."
Justin laughed. "Age doesn't matter to vampires. I have no issue with age. Even if you're 1000 years older than me, I wouldn't even mind."
I laughed at his joke, then I felt something not far from us. "Someone's coming." I looked to my left. I felt Vlad's energy. I became familiar with his power. He went out of the darkness.
"You're just here. How many times have I told you not to run away. What if something happens to you?" Vlad's sermon to Justin.
"That's what I said earlier, he won't listen," I agreed.
Justin stepped back and looked at me. "You even helped him preaching me."
"Thank you again for saving us. We owe you." Vlad bowed at me, a formal gesture of an ancient vampire.
"Is Justin your son?" I asked curiously. Vlad could not answer.
Justin answered. "That's also the question I always ask him because he looks like my father when he acts, but he isn't. I don't know who my father is."
Vlad shook his head. "I also don't know who Justin's father is. We just found him in the woods. Her mom just left a short note and fled."
I nodded. "My grandmother was a r**e victim of a vampire. Most likely your mom was the same case as my grandmother so you were left in the forest." I cut my story there. They don't need to know my background. "I still have a lot of questions but maybe next time. I need to go home. We have a stake out tonight. Don't be caught victimizing people or you're dead."
They both laughed out loud. "We wouldn't dare," Vlad replied.
"Good. Bye." Then I quickly returned home to pick Martha. We're doing vampire hunting again in a few minutes.
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