Cain---
After I left the room, I found a nice spot just outside where I could see the moon through the trees, and there were barely any street lamps.
Leaning up against a short brick wall, I took a few deep breaths, reflecting on what just happened.
The dynamic between Maria and Max became awkward... I mean it's none of my business, I warned her.
Max already gave me an earful about identity. When Maria called me an animal I thought it was funny but I could sense Max's confusion.
I could hear Max's light, tentative footsteps approaching me.
"Max? Don't you need to go back to bed?" I say, turning to face her.
Max walks up beside me and stares at the moon, "Does that mean mom doesn't like my vampire side?"
Um, how am I supposed to say 'yes'?
"Is that why she doesn't want me to leave the human world?"
Sighing, I take a seat on the cold concrete.
I see where this is about to head but while I do like rebellion... maybe it's a bit too early for that.
Max sits next to me, and then looks at my face, scrutinizing.
Oh god… She's about to ask the big question. I look up at the sky, Okay here we go.
"Whatever you're thinking, stop! You're the one who told me about how much your mom loves you, plus about how you are young and don't know much about the world," I proclaim.
Max jerks straight, "And you're the one who told me my mom is holding me back!"
Crap...why am I involved…
"Where's the human blood you promised?"
"Woah calm down little monster. You need a lot of self-awareness practice before I give you anything."
Taken aback, I adjust my sitting and crossing my legs.
Max jumps up, stomping her feet, "I've been training for months now! I'm more than ready! Hand it over now!"
I look back at an invisible camera…. she's not talking to me...
Turning back to Max who is still glaring. Children…
"Max, we'll come back to this later."
Max feels the pressure I give off and backs down, "Are you mad?"
Fuck! Damn her perceptive nature, "Ugh. When a child threatens or yells at me... yeah."
I cough lightly. "I didn't promise. Plus, we're vampires, we technically have forever."
Reaching out I pat Max's head.
"Sorry for lashing out... I guess I freaked out when I realized mom still is uncomfortable with you," Max takes a deep breath before continuing, "We feel like a real family I've read about and I don't want us to split up. I'm sorry."
Max curls up to herself.
God dang it! I got pulled in.
Pulling Max into a hug, "Your mom is just stressed and she didn't hurt my feelings. As long as your mom treats you right and continues to love you no matter what, we'll be a big happy family," I say, giving her a tight squeeze.
Kevin---
As soon as Kevin and Kai arrive in Kansas, they head to the hotel room where the rest of the team is holed up.
Kevin calls for a meeting, and everyone gathers in a rough circle, with Kai sitting on a bed.
"Team…" Kevin looks down at the ground, "Two of our men died, I'm assuming they ran into the targets."
Kevin straightens up, "This is why I've warned everyone to be careful. We need to stick together for our safety."
Theo is standing next to Kai, 'who has yet to look me in the eyes.'
"Theo? You good?" Kevin steps over to Theo, who is now sweating.
"Yo, boss, you know how we... " Theo stepping away in fear.
Kevin trying to get closer, "We... What?"
"I was hungry! " Theo cries out, pleading as he falls to the floor.
"Did you kill someone!? We have enough supplies," Kevin starts to pace, "Were you caught?"
Everyone else looks away, "oooh..."
"Nah, someone did see me but I dropped the human on the ground and ran... I just saw eyes in the pitch black," Theo says, shivering but drooling, thinking about the taste of the blood he sucked yesterday.
'Human blood is rare in the vampire world. Most blood has to be harvested from animals but the rich get all of the good blood first.'
Kevin nods to himself as he slows down his pacing.
'As long as we don't get caught, in the human world, we can take sips. But….'
"Theo, um do you know how nasty human blood in the human world is? That's why we carry harvested human blood," Kevin says, stepping away from Theo to a reasonable distance, "We might need to quarantine you to see if you develop a disease."
Kai also walks over to stand next to Amir, leaving Theo standing alone.
"Okay, we'll have to wait and see if there are any reports running around. Amir, you'll be in control of that, inform me when something happens."
"Yes, Sir." Amir writes something on a piece of paper.
Kevin looks up at Kai, who somehow bought Hot Cheetos, "When did you get that?"
"Today, " Kai replies, licking his fingers.
"Kai.. you know what, never mind. Kai, where do you think they headed?"
"North..."
"We just came from the north," Kevin says, questioning what he means.
"East.."
"Fine, we'll head to the northeast," Kevin says, signaling everyone to head out.
Everyone heads out of the room towards their bikes with Kai leading the way, Kevin and everyone following behind.
With mics attached to everyone's helmet. Kevin goes over the situation and the rest
stops nearby.
"Google also says there's a grocery store near a few of the rest stops. Amir, how much human money do we have?" Kevin commands while changing lanes.
Amir pokes at his phone which is on a holder, "It looks like our card accounts haven't been used."
"Amir, I know, I was asking how much."
"80,000," Amir says, locking his phone before speeding close to Kevin.
"Good, Kai take the next exit," Kevin says, nodding towards Kai, who is now looking around for an exit.
Once Kai finds an exit, he speeds off changing lanes into the exit-only lane.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Theo yells, also changing lanes.