A few people had stopped to watch the fight. Those that did quickly escaped as soon as the interesting stuff was over. If they weren't trying to escape the imaginary fire, they were now trying to escape the two giant wolves in the building.
I sigh heavily, feeling most the adrenaline leave me. I had never fought a person to the death and the thought of doing so sent waves of sickness through my entire body. Back in the academy even injuring a fellow classmate, even during training would have great repercussions.
I turn to Fletcher who was clutching at his chest, all the fresh blood quickly leaking from his body. Noah was close by, but even he had no delusions. He was staying a good couple feet away, despite the worried look in his eyes. "We gotta go." I say, grabbing the guard again. "My jeep is out there. It'll fit all of us." I look at Fletcher, "You okay?"
He was gasping in pain and pulling out shards of wood from the wound. Somehow that guy had a gun that shot wood. Even as a hunter I'd never heard of anything like that.
Fletcher forces a smile, "If I don't get blood soon, I'm going to snap." He informs us.
Noah steps forward, pulling his collar down. Bruises still fresh and deep purple blooming all over him. To my surprise, Fletcher just looks sick, "I can't drink from you after you were just beat to a pulp, Noah."
He forces a laugh, "I'll be fine, go ahead."
As if in a trance Fletcher takes a couple steps forward. We all hold our breath watching in horror as he grabs Noah and pulls him in, his face leaning directly over Noah's neck. But, his face passes by, instead pulling the boy into a hug, "No, Noah. I can't."
I take an involuntary step back. No, this can't be the same type of creatures I was hunting only a couple weeks ago. How can he have such empathy? So much love? Even for a human? His prey? I couldn't understand, what was a blood slave if not a bag of blood to be thrown away once sucked dry? Wasn't that the point?
You're being deceived. You're young, foolish, easily deceived. My own words mock me in my head. I had told them to Noah when I firmly believed all vampires were monsters. Terrible, blood sucking monsters.
But, how could that possibly be true? How could I ever believe that again? My life, my beliefs shattered in a matter of days!
They all start to pile out, with the weakest in the center, but my body wouldn't move. Even the guard goes to move around me, following them, but I don't move. Even after most of them pass me to get to the door, my body doesn't move. To my horror it was Fletcher who turned back to look at me. "You coming? You're the one with the keys."
"I tried killing you." I mumble. Zeno and Cecil stop and turn back to look at me. Fletcher raises an eyebrow, leaning on Noah. "I wounded you. I broke into your house. I injuried you. How? How can you trust me?"
Fletcher stairs at me in confusion, blinking, "Well, I broke your arm, so we're even. Lets go. Before backup arrives."
I open my mouth to object, but clamp it shut again. I felt like my whole life had been split in half. Vampires were monsters! They're animals that hunt and kill us to drain the blood from our bodies.
And yet…
Here was a starving, injured vampire leaning on his own blood slave with no intention of biting him. Treating him as if he truly was family and not just some blood bag to use and throw away.
How? How had I missed it? Or was it just Fletcher? How many others?
Damn it, I was the monster.
I force myself to move forward, but my mind was racing. Oh, god! What are my parents going to say? When they find out-
Nope, no. No. I wasn't going to go there. My father would probably actually explode. My mother would probably cry.
Nope, couldn't go there.
The wolves change into their human forms. Zeno was a middle aged man with messy blonde hair and piercing golden eyes. He was slender and lanky, wearing a white t-shirt with a long black coat thrown over with dark blue jeans.
Cecil on the other hand gave off a much darker air. His shoulder length jet black hair loose, falling into his face with eyes of deep chestnut. He was tall, but not lanky like Zeno. He was made of muscle. Even the dark baggy sweatshirt and black cargo pants couldn't hide the layers of muscle he had.
I take another deep breath and force my legs to move. Fletcher was right, I couldn't just stand here. As soon as word gets out that headquarters was attacked everyone will come running.
I shove the guard into the back seat next to Cecil, ignoring his protests as I slam the door shut.
I hop into my jeep with everyone piling in soon after. Beth jumping into the front seat with me, too scared to try and fit into the back with the boys.
Before Zeno could get in he says, "I'm uninjured, I'll follow close behind." He turns to Beth, "Don't go getting kidnapped again." With a hint of a smile.
She returns the smile as he changes back into his wild form with a terrible cracking. Even Beth was visibly uncomfortable with the noises of the transformation. Somehow I had missed when they both changed before. I was too busy drowning in my own thoughts.
I look in my mirror at the group of misfits. The poor guard from before somehow got stuck next to Cecil. But at least he was far enough away from Fletcher.
"We need to go to my place." Fletcher says, "I got a couple blood packs there."
I nod, and start the car. I still had to get in contact with Michelle. Explain the utter mess I'd gotten myself into. And you know… Everything else.