It wasn’t an easy choice to make, as they had to leave their families and the people they loved in order to keep them safe. The last thing you wanted to when working on a job like this was an emotional attachment to anyone, as they could be used as a means to get to you. So being a vampire hunter meant leaving every thing you loved. It meant becoming a living ghost. Travis had left someone he loved, but the other hunters didn’t know about that, and he intended to keep it that way.
Three weeks ago, Jeremiah’s son, Evan Desmond had been killed by a vampire in Greeneville. The police called it an animal attack, but they knew better, and Jeremiah was having none of it. He wanted to avenge his son’s death so badly, and that desperation was going to be the death of all of them if care wasn’t taken.
“Look, Jeremiah” Travis began, “I know that you are going through a lot right now, and I know that it’s not easy to be in your shoes, but if we are going to do this, we are going to have to do it right. Our efforts won’t matter if we all go to Greenville only to wind up dead. So we have to be careful, and we have to come up with a plan, so please, just calm down ”
Jeremiah suddenly stopped pacing the room and glared at Travis.” Fine,” he said,”But what do you suggest we do? You keep on ranting about coming up with a plan. Well, go ahead and start working on one, because I have very little patience right now, and if I see that you are making no progress, then I’m damn well going to do this on my own. I don’t give a fuck about what happens to me as long as I end that vampire that took my son away from me”
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Isabella didn’t even bother to take a shower when she got home, she simply threw her purse on the couch and headed straight for her room. She was very tired. Her eyes were hurting, and even rubbing them every two minutes didn’t make them stay open any longer. Time for bed. Time to rest… Finally. But her well-deserved rest wouldn’t come.
She tossed.
She turned. And her damn eyes just stayed wide open.
She lay on her side, her back, her stomach.
No use. Sleep wasn’t meant to be. A sound startled her. In the dark she couldn’t see anything. But she felt a heavy weight on her body, pressing her into a mattress. Hands touched her. Lips kissed. A hot tongue licked her neck. Not unpleasant, but unknown.
A body pinned her down, strong thighs imprisoning her. A hand swept her hair clear of her neck, then a mouth kissed her neck. Until suddenly . . . No!
Sharp razor-like teeth latched onto her neck and pierced her skin. Warm liquid ran down her neck. But the sensation wasn’t painful. It was . . . pleasurable!
Then a loud repetitive sound.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The alarm. It rudely woke her.
So somehow, she had finally fallen asleep. She jerked up. It was day. Her hand went to her neck where she had sensed the bite, but her skin was smooth, perfect like always. No wound. No blood. Just another dream. A very weird one at that, she thought. Why the hell would she be having dreams like that? It was so ridiculous, but maybe she should be having dreams like that because the if there was any way to describe the previous night, ridiculous would be the perfect word.
At least she had slept, if not much. Probably only three or four hours in all. Maybe even two. It definitely felt like two. She shook her head, as if trying to wipe away her thoughts. She had a very busy ahead of her.
A look at the clock told her she had to get herself over to school, and pronto. After a rushed shower, Isabella dressed quickly and glanced at the clothes she had come back in. Samson’s clothes. At least she had a reason to see him again. Okay, it was called an excuse. She could bring the clothes back to him. She could lie to herself all she wanted that she didn’t want to see him again, or that she didn’t care if she saw him again, but she knew that it was a big lie. And she knew that he was one of reasons why she had found it hard to sleep that night. She definitely wanted to see him again. She had to at least admit that to herself.
So she would return his clothes. Maybe he would invite her in. She had to work after school, but after her shift, she would try to stop by and hope he was home. Home alone.
Not that he looked like the kind of guy who would just be at home. He looked like someone who went out a lot. Why wouldn’t he? When he looked like that… So attractive… Plus he had super hot and nice friends. Didn’t they say something about throwing a party for him yesterday? They definitely did.
A look out the window told her it was drizzling again. Damn this stupid rain, she thought. She would be better off taking her umbrella to work today. While she searched for it in the hallway closet, she heard a knock at the door.
“Who is it?” she asked.
“It’s Paul. Delivery for you.” the voice said.
Delivery? By this time? Isabella wondered as she heard the delivery guys voice. She walked to the front door and unlocked it. When she opened the door, she couldn’t even see Paul’s face behind the two dozen red roses he carried.
“Good morning, Miss Stevens.” The strong scent of the flowers almost overwhelmed her. They were beautiful and as dark red as blood.
“Wow! Are you sure they’re for me?” She knew nobody here. Besides, it wasn’t her birthday or Valentine’s Day or anything special like that. And it wasn’t like she had anyone special in her life to do something like this for her.
“Yes they are for you. A gentleman gave me your name and asked that they be delivered to you. Along with this” He added. He handed her a hanger with clothes wrapped in plastic. Her clothes.