{Chapter 12}
“You were a maniac out there, Shawn,” Hunter fumed. “You’re slipping again, man.”
“I’m fine,” Shawn replied calmly.
“Hey, kid,” Punk said to Kendrick, who had been released from the hospital just recently. He glanced outside into the hall and shook his head as Hunter and Shawn continued to argue. With a sigh he shut the door to the apartment to drown out the men. “Why don’t you come sit with Bobby and I.” He slung his arm around Kendrick’s shoulders and led him over to the couch.
Kendrick took a seat between London and Lashley. Punk sat down in an easy chair. Kendrick looked from Lashley to Punk and back to Lashley, biting his lip.
“What’s on your mind, kid,” Lashley asked setting down the hunting knife he had been playing with.
“You all live here together,” Kendrick asked.
Lashley and Punk exchanged glances and started laughing. “Fuck no,” Lashley said still laughing. “If I had to live with Punk or Frick and Frack I think I woulda killed them all a long time ago.”
“No,” Punk said chuckling. “This is my place. The guys only stay here when they’re working a case.”
“What exactly are you guys,” London asked taking not of the various weapons on sticking out a trunk.
“Vampire hunters,” Lashley replied.
“How the hell do you go into that line of work,” Kendrick asked.
“It kind of chooses you,” Punk replied reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his wallet. He pulled out a picture and handed it to London and Kendrick. A dark haired beauty smiled back at them.
“That’s Maria,” Punk said smiling sadly. “She was coming home from work one night…” He sniffled and took a deep, ragged breath. “I heard her screams, but by the time I got outside…the bastards had ripped out her throat.” Tears clouded his eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
“I’m sorry,” Kendrick said handing the picture back to Punk. “She was beautiful.” Punk nodded, putting the photo away. Lashley reached out and gave Punk’s shoulder a little squeeze.
Punk wiped his eyes and forced a smile. “Hunter and Shawn saved my ass when I tried to get revenge on the bloodsuckers. Turns out they had been hunting the same nest for weeks. They realized I could help them with computer stuff and here we are today.”
“What about you Bobby,” London asked. “Why are you a hunter?”
Lashley sighed, clearly not wanting to talk about his past. “I was married,” he said softly, his eyes going to his ring finger where his wedding band used to be.
“Her name was Kristal. I was away in the service. When I was discharged I knew something was up. She didn’t meet me at the airport. When I got home I found the windows in the house had been blocked by newspaper.”
“Oh no,” Kendrick gasped, his hand covering his mouth.
“When I went up to the bedroom I found her,” Lashley said, his hand clenching and unclenching at the memory. “She practically threw me on the bed. That right there was red flag number one. She was stronger than I remembered her being. Much more aggressive too. When I pried her off of me she practically clawed my eyes out.”
He sighed. “She chased me down to the living room. That was when Hunter and Shawn busted through the door. They tried to shoot her, but she used me as a shield begging me to protect her from them. It was just like that. Just like flipping a switch. Suddenly she wasn’t this monster anymore she was my sweet wife.”
“What’d you do,” London asked. All three men were mesmerized by the story. Punk, despite knowing Lashley for a while had never heard the full story.
“He took the gun from me and calmed his hysterical wife down,” Hunter said startling the group. “Then he told her to close her eyes and pulled her into his arms.”
“And then I shot her,” Lashley finished. “She wasn’t my wife anymore and I knew she never would be again. Since then I’ve been working with his sorry ass.” He motioned to Hunter in mock disgust.
“Fuck you too, Bobby,” Hunter replied with a smirk.
“Where’s Shawn,” Lashley asked.
“Went for a walk,” Hunter replied with a shrug. “So, what brought on the trip down memory lane?”
“The kids asked,” Punk replied. “Shawn still upset?”
“I don’t know anymore,” Hunter replied with a sigh. “How about we go eat. I’m starved.”
“There’s a surprise,” Lashley said chuckling as he got to his feet.
“Just for that you’re paying,” Hunter said shoving the bigger man ahead of him.
~~~~~
Rose frowned as she bounced her ball idly. It was a beautiful sunny day, but she was stuck on the back porch, remaining in the shade. “Uncle Glen,” she said looking up at the large man. He was sitting with his feet up on the railing reading a book. “Why do I have to stay on the porch.”
“Because Daddy says so,” Glen replied not looking up from his book. “Play with your ball like a good girl.”
Rose frowned deeper, she didn’t like his tone one bit. Her father would have doted on her, but Glen seemed to resent her and she didn’t understand why. Her frown suddenly curled into a smirk. Glancing at Glen to make sure he wasn’t look she began to bounce her ball. He smiled hearing the ball bouncing again and relaxed into his seat more.
“Oops,” Rose said losing grip on the ball. It bounced down the back steps and into the yard. “I’ll get it!”
“Rosie! No,” Glen yelled, on his feet in seconds. His book fell to the porch as he tried to stop the child from rushing down the steps and into the sunlight.
The light hit his skin as he clutched at Rose’s dress and he hissed as the flesh began to bubble instantly. He released her and she bounded down the steps into the yard. “ROSIE!”
“What’s going on,” Mark demanded hearing the yelling. He turned his gaze out to the backyard seeing his daughter happily playing with her ball. “ROSIE!”
~~~~~
“Marcus, come back here,” Layla called as the child bolted out the back door. “Marcus no! You can’t go out in the…” She stopped at the back door when she saw Marcus happily frolicking in the sunlight. “Marcus come in here please.”
“All right, Mama,” Marcus called as he skipped back into the house.
“Let me look at you,” Layla said, her nerves frazzled. She hadn’t been able to get hold of Heath in days and Glen was unable to speak or sneak away. She looked over the child and couldn’t find a single blister from the sun.
“Mama, what’s wrong,” Marcus asked.
Layla forced a smile. “Nothing, my sweet boy,” she said kissing his forehead. “Don’t scare Mama like that anymore. You were lucky this time, but you must not go out into the sunlight again.”
“But the girl did,” Marcus pouted.
“What girl,” Layla asked.
“The one who’s just like me,” Marcus replied. “She drinks blood too. Uncle Glen takes care of her and sometimes a man Uncle Glen calls Mark.”
“Marcus, how do you know this,” Layla asked.
“I see it,” Marcus replied with a shrug. “I see her playing with Uncle Glen and her Daddy. Mama…why don’t I have a Daddy?”
Layla sighed. “Your Daddy is a very bad man,” she replied softly. “If he knew you were alive he would hurt you and probably Uncle Glen too.” Marcus looked at her, his sapphire eyes wide. “Go play in your room,” she said finally ruffling his blonde locks. “I need to find you something for lunch.” He nodded and headed up to his room to play.
~~~~~
“It’s all right, Daddy,” Rose said smiling wide as she played with her ball in the full sunlight. Mark and Glen watched horrified.
“Rosie come back here right now,” Mark ordered.
“But Daddy,” Rose whined stamping her foot.
“Joselyn Rose Calaway,” Mark growled. When the child refused to listen he shoved Glen out of the way, heading toward the steps.
Glen grabbed him. “Mark, you’ll be ash before you even make it to her,” he said. “She’s not showing any signs of sensitivity to sunlight.”
Mark grunted a curse under his breath and shoved Glen away before jumping off the porch and sweeping Rose up in his arms. When he got back to the porch he was smoking and his arms and face were covered in blisters.
“Daddy,” Rose whined, her eyes filling with tears. “Daddy, your face,” she sobbed.
“You can’t go out in the sunlight, Rosie,” Mark said wincing as he set her down on her feet. “Do you see why?” He pointed to his now healing wounds. “We’re not like other people, Rosie. The sun will kill us.”
“I just wanted to play,” she said sniffling and hicupping.
“Play inside where I can keep an eye on you,” Mark replied looking pointedly at Glen. “Obviously Uncle Glen is much more interested in his book than your safety.”
“It happened so fast, Mark,” Glen replied defensively.
“It was my fault, Daddy,” Rose said taking Glen’s hand and kissing the back of it where his blister had finally healed. “Please don’t be mad at Uncle Glen.”
Mark sighed. “Fine, Rosie, I won’t be mad at Uncle Glen,” he said holding out his hand for her. Happy with his words she took her father’s hand and allowed him to lead her into the house.
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