{Chapter 13}
“Thank the Goddess you finally came to visit,” Layla said hurling herself into Glen’s arms as he walked through the front door. He could feel her trembling as he held her.
“What’s wrong,” he asked. “Did something happen to Marcus?”
“He seems all right,” she replied sniffling as she pulled away from him and wiped the tears away. “Glen, he’s been acting strange.”
“Strange how,” he asked looking around for the boy.
“He goes into trances,” Layla replied sinking into a chair at the kitchen table. “I can’t bring him out of them. When he finally snaps out of the trance he speaks of a girl and Mark and even you sometimes.”
Glen sighed. “What does David say about this,” he asked.
“I haven’t been able to get in touch with him,” Layla replied. “I’ve been sick with worry.”
Glen squatted down in front of her. “Don’t be,” he said cupping her face in his hand and tilting her head up so that she was looking him in the eye. “You know that he’s a twin,” he said. “It’s just twin telepathy, though it seems to be one sided.”
“What happens…”
“Rose has shown no sign of telepathy at all,” he said cutting her off. “Your spells seem to be holding.”
“Glen, there’s something else,” Layla said. “He ran out into the sunlight earlier.” Glen’s heart leapt into his throat. “He’s all right,” she said quickly seeing the concern on his face. “He didn’t have a mark on him.”
“Rose did the same today,” Glen replied standing up now. “She too was unharmed.”
“Perhaps because their mother was human…maybe they lack the sensitivity to sunlight that a true vampire would have.”
“I’ll have to talk to David about it, but you may be right,” he said. “Where is Marcus? I’d like to see my nephew before I head back home.”
“Up in his room,” Layla said smiling.
~~~~~
Shawn had been wandering around for quite some time. He didn’t want to head back to Punk’s place just yet. The sun had set a half hour ago and the weather had turned much cooler. He knew he shouldn’t be out after dark by himself, but at the moment he didn’t care.
“Hey, check out this old guy,” Johnny Nitro snickered to his girlfriend, Melina as they happened upon Shawn.
“Hey, Pops,” Melina cackled. “You lost?”
“Not at all,” Shawn replied turning around with an evil smirk curling his lips. “You two feeling frisky tonight? Huh, bloodsuckers?” His right hand was behind his back as he spoke.
Nitro sneered. “A hunter,” he hissed and then grinned wickedly. “I’ll bet your blood tastes so much sweeter than anybody else’s.”
Shawn smiled wide. “Hey, punk, catch,” he said tossing a bottle of holy water at the two. Nitro brought his hands up to catch the bottle, but Shawn whipped out his gun and shot it before he could. The glass shattered showing the couple with holy water.
“HOLY WATER,” Melina screeched as her skin began to bubble and smoke.
“Bastard,” Nitro growled, baring his fangs. “You’ll pay for this.” He was unfazed by his skin burning.
With a low growl he pounced. Shawn saw Nitro leave his feet, but couldn’t react fast enough and wound up pinned beneath the young vampire. Nitro glared down at him, smiling, his skin already starting to heal.
“Now we get to see how sweet your blood tastes,” Nitro said extending his fangs fully and lowering his mouth to Shawn’s neck. His teeth were mere inches from the tender flesh when Nitro felt a shock and flew back off of his prey. “What the fuck?!”
Shawn got to his feet and held up the stun gun. “Won’t kill ya, but it sure stings like a motherfucker, doesn’t it,” he asked with a chuckle.
“Enough games,” Nitro growled.
He lunged at Shawn again and once again proved to be faster and stronger. He landed on Shawn’s back as the hunter attempted to run away. Shawn landed on his face smacking his head against the rough pavement. Immediately a gash was opened up on his forehead and a small pool of blood formed under his head.
Shawn’s vision blurred as he tried desperately to hold onto consciousness. His gun skittered across the pavement stopping at Melina’s feet. She bent down and picked it up, scowling down at Shawn.
“You’re not a very good hunter,” she commented, touching her cheek where the last of her blisters was finally disappearing. “Guns won’t kill us.”
“I beg to differ,” Shawn replied as Nitro rolled him onto his back, pinning him to the ground.
“Johnny, let him up,” Melina screeched. Nitro obeyed her hauling Shawn to his feet. His head was swimming, but he did his best to stand on his own.
“Here,” Melina said thrusting the gun into Shawn’s hand. “Show us how you’re going to kill us with this gun.” The word gun was spoken with such venom.
Shawn gripped the gun, taking off the safety and taking aim at Melina. He smirked at her a moment before he spun on his heel and pulled the trigger. The bullet exploded from the barrel and penetrated Nitro’s chest forcing him off his feet.
“JOHNNY,” Melina screeched rushing to his side.
The force of the gun blast had knocked Shawn from his feet. He rolled onto his back to look at his handiwork with a smirk. The world was starting to darken when he heard familiar voices approaching.
~~~~~
“I kid you not,” Hunter chuckled as he walked with London and Kendrick. Lashley was shooting death glares at him as he hung back with Punk. “The damn gun went off and there was Bobby with a hole in his thigh.” London and Kendrick chuckled at the story.
“I’m glad you find it funny,” Lashley growled smacking both men in the back of the head before punching Hunter’s arm.
“Ow! Damn it, Bobby,” Hunter said holding his arm.
“Guys! Quiet,” Punk said listening. “Was that gunfire?”
“Shawn,” Hunter said realizing he hadn’t checked in with his friend in a couple of hours. “Come on.” He took off running in the direction of the sound, pulling his gun. Lashley and Punk did the same.
“Kids,” Lashley called glancing back at London and Kendrick who were following them. “Hang back. Don’t get involved. We know what we’re doing. All right?” London and Kendrick nodded.
The men rounded the corner just in time to see Melina leap onto Shawn’s prone form. She was screeching profanities and she beat on him. Stunned for a moment at the scene Hunter watched as she began to bash Shawn’s already bloody head on the pavement.
“Hunter,” Lashley yelled taking aim at Melina. “What the hell are you doing? She’s going to kill Shawn!”
Melina heard Lashley yelling and stopped battering Shawn. She hissed at him, her demonic eyes flashing. She stopped short of attacking the men seeing that she was outnumbered. With a banshee like shriek she grabbed Nitro’s body and dragged him off.
“Shawn,” Hunter called snapping out of his daze. He knelt down by his friend’s body. The blood was already starting to pool around his battered head. “You stupid son of a bitch. Why’d you do it? Huh, Shawn? Why?”
“I called John,” Punk said. “He’s sending an ambulance and he’s going to meet us at the emergency room.” Punk, London and Kendrick watched as Lashley and Hunter knelt by Shawn.
~~~~~
Hunter was pacing in the waiting room. Lashley sat with his head in his hands saying a silent prayer that Shawn would be all right. London and Kendrick were dazed, unable to believe that the man who had saved their lives was now at risk of losing his. Punk had gone to the cafeteria for coffee for everyone.
When the doors to the emergency room opened and Cena walked out Hunter practically pounced on him. “How’s Shawn,” he demanded. Lashley had joined Hunter and the two men stared at Cena expectantly.
“I’m not gonna lie to you,” Cena said seriously. “He’s got some real bad head trauma. That vamp bashed his head pretty good.”
“Is he gonna live, Doc,” Lashley asked.
“I can’t answer that right now,” Cena replied. “He needs surgery to alleviate the swelling on his brain. We’ll take it from there after the surgery. I have the best neurosurgeon in the city coming in to operate.” He sighed and shook his head. “I wish I had better news. Why don’t you guys go home and get some rest. I’ll call you when Shawn’s out of surgery.” With that said he patted the men on the back and walked away to check on his patient.
~~~~~
Glen was on his way back to the mansion when he heard crying coming from nearby. Following the sound he found a woman wailing over a dead body. He knew the moment he caught her scent that she was a vampire and the body belonged to her now dead lover.
“Miss,” he said softly.
Melina raised her head, glaring at him a moment before her expression softened and she began to wail again. “He’s gone,” he moaned. “My Johnny is gone.”
“Come on,” Glen said feeling sorry for the poor woman. “Come home with me.” Melina glared up at him. “There are others us where I live. We can take care of you.” Melina sighed casting a mournful look down at Nitro.
“What about him,” she asked.
Glen bent down and picked up the body. “We’ll give him a proper send off,” he said helping Melina to her feet. “My name is Glen.”
“Melina,” she said accepting his help. “Thank you.” Glen just nodded as he walked her back to the mansion.
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