I returned to where she waited and saw her hope deflate before my eyes when I shook my head. “I’m sorry. It’s wasn’t there.”
“It has to be. Maybe if I go back I can find it.”
She began to charge deeper into the enemy’s territory and I grabbed her arm and spun her around. “Look, I have vision your simple mind cannot begin to comprehend. It simply wasn’t there and we’ve wasted enough time. If you have a death wish, then fine! Stay if you wish to die when these vampires awaken, otherwise, we must go now.”
My words clicked in her mind and she recognized the harsh reality of my words. “I know that you are right.” Tears threatened to spill from her eyes and I opened the door and ushered through before they could fall.
We stepped through the door into the sunlight and I thought we were home free, until a trio of vicious hell hounds waited for us on the front lawn. They were no match for me, but Avery was a different story entirely.
“I need you to stay behind me, Avery,” I directed.
“Don’t worry. You between me and three vicious dogs? I don’t have a problem with that,” she reassured.
The dogs were massive and bred for killing. My suspicions told me they weren’t here to take down a vampire; they were in place to deter Avery’s escape.
The first canine attacked and I struck him across the top of his head, briefly dazing him. We stood before the two remaining beasts and I said, “Listen to me, Avery. There is a black Lincoln Towncar parked on the right side of the drive. It is unlocked and I want you to run like hell and get in that car. I’ll be right behind you after I take care of them.”
I watched as Avery made a run for the car and my suspicions were confirmed when the two canines charged after her, because they were uninterested in me. I streaked ahead of them, preventing them from attacking Avery, and they jumped in unison before locking their massive jaws on my lower arms.
Avery stopped; turning to witness the attack of the duo, and let out a high pitch shrill that would wake the dead. I easily slung the dogs across the lawn and ordered, “Get in that car, now!”
I entered the car behind her and as I started the engine, one of the canines jumped onto the hood of the car and stared at us through the windshield before attempting to bust through the glass. The ferocious black beast with a huge squared face was joined by its identical partner and viciously attempted to attack Avery through the passenger window.
“What the hell kind of dogs are those?” she screamed.
“Trained killing machines more than glad to take off your head. That’s what the hell kind of dogs they are.”
I slammed the car into drive and shoved the accelerator against the floorboard, slinging the dogs from the car and I didn’t look back until the plantation was no longer visible in my rear view mirror.
We rode in silence during the drive to the location where we ditch the stolen getaway car and I was uncertain if it was fear or fatigue that prevented her from questioning me. She got out of the stolen Lincoln and into my truck as I requested and then she watched from the window as I doused the getaway car with gasoline and set fire to it, erasing any evidence that could lead Vincent to us.
I got into the truck and we were several miles down the road when I broke the silence saying, “Curry Brennan.”
It was a peculiar scene, her sitting in the passenger seat of my old pick up in her elegant ball gown flowing all around her. She turned to me and said, “What?”
“You asked my name earlier. I’m Curry Brennan.”
“I thought you were a vampire.” she said.
“I am a vampire and have been for quite a few years now,” I laughed.
“But you’re in sunlight?” she said, puzzled.
“There’s a reason for that and I’ll explain it later, if you still wish to hear about it.”
Her eyes trailed from me toward my caved in dashboard and asked, “What happened there, Curry Brennan?”
I laughed and said, “I hit it with my fist.”
“Why?”
“I was angry.”
“Yeah, I kind of guessed that one. What made you so mad?” When I didn’t answer immediately, she added, “I probably should know these things so I don’t make you mad. I don’t want to end up like your dashboard.”
I hesitated for a moment and then answered, “Someone kidnapped my girlfriend. Well, technically she wasn’t my girlfriend at the time.”
“You mean you’re companion?” she corrected.
“No, I don’t mean girlfriend or companion. She is my wife, now.”
The confusion was apparent in her voice as she asked, “I didn’t know vampires did the marriage thing.”
“We don’t, but I’m not married to a vampire. My wife is a human.” Well, she was mostly human. But, I wasn’t going there.
Astounded, she said, “Whoa, I didn’t think your species did that kind of thing with humans.”
Keeping my explanation brief, I explained, “Well, vampires and humans don’t marry, but our relationship is different. We’re different.”
She crunched her eyebrows and said, “You have to know that this keeps getting weirder and weirder for me.”
“I understand and everything will be explained when we get to the compound.” She didn’t share her thoughts about joining other vampires in another location and I continued, “You don’t have to be afraid because we want to protect you. It’s what we do.”
She turned her face toward the window and watched the passing roadside and nonchalantly said, “There’s very little that frightens me anymore after what I’ve been through.”
I drove a small piece, but felt like I should say something. “I’m sorry you have experienced such terrible things in your short life, but vampires aren’t all bad, including your sister. I know you don’t believe me right now, but you’ll see my words are true.”
She turned in my direction and said, “You’re right. I don’t believe you.”
A moment of silence passed and she asked, “Why aren’t you high from drinking my blood? It makes vampires go crazy.”
“We pretended to drink from the vials,” I explained and then added, “But, then Vincent forced Solomon to bite you. That was not part of our plan.”
“The vampire that bit me, I thought his name was Phillip.”
“No, that was just his cover.” Speaking of Sol rekindled my worry about him and I added, “Sol was unaffected by your blood when he left, but I fear we will find him in a different condition when we arrive at the compound. Wha
t’s going to happen to him?”
“He will be in withdrawals when he rises tonight,” she warned.
She confirmed my suspicions and I asked, “Will it be bad for him?”
“Yes, it will be terrible and he will do anything to have my blood.” She turned in my direction again and said, “Even kill you to get to me.”
I couldn’t imagine a blood so addicting that my best friend would be willing to kill me in order to have it. “You don’t know Solomon. He is incredibly strong and his will is like iron. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be fine.”
She cocked her head to the side and said, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Duly noted,” I said as I drove through the gates of the compound and I couldn't remember a time when I was more grateful to be home. I didn’t come to a complete stop before Chansey was through the double front doors and opening my driver side door to throw her arms around me.
“Curry Brennan, I have been sick with worry. Sol and Gia returned hours ago. Could you not call me to let me know you were alright?”
“I didn’t want to leave evidence that could be traced. It was too dangerous to call and I’m sorry you were worried, but all is well and Avery is safe.”
Chansey turned to the stranger in my truck and said, “Oh, I am so sorry, Avery. You must think I am so rude.” She walked from my side of the truck and went around to the passenger door. She opened it and when Avery stepped out, she hugged her and said, “I’m so sorry for what you have been through, but you will be safe here. Jenn will be so excited to know that you made it here safely. She is down for the day and you’ll see her tonight.”
Avery cautiously watched Chansey, a stranger and potential threat in her eyes. “This is my wife, Chansey.”
“Your wife, the human?” she questioned.
Chansey smiled and said, “I see she isn’t in the complete dark. That’s good, but I know you have a lot of questions and I promise they will all be answered. Unfortunately, we have a situation that needs to be handled.”