“You
know I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“No
you are not. You are far too young to defend yourself against these blood
thirsty creatures.”
“But
dad-“
“Don’t
but dad me. I said you are too young and I mean it. You don’t know what you are
up against. I have seen the murderous remains of their victims left to rot like
some road kill that no one cares to clean up or bury properly. So when I say no
you are not allowed around those nasty vampires; that’s what I mean and it will
not change.”
“Well
I am sixteen. If mom was here she’d let me go. She would say that I am quite
capable of taking care of myself since she was the one that taught me.”
“Young
lady; your mother, god rest her soul, would be rolling over in her grave right
now. Yes, I know she taught you to defend yourself and I am grateful for that
every day. But this nest is different from what she was used to. If she were
still here she would agree with me. End of discussion.”
“But
dad let me explain.”
“I
said end of discussion.” Avery said very sternly and left the kitchen.
“I’ll
show you.” Sierra whispered under her breath and headed to her room. She packed
the weapons she thought she would need in case of danger. She knew that the
group she had met were not the monsters her dad was making them out to be. She
would prove him wrong.
When she had first met Edwin he was very shy. After
a while he came around and explained to her why he couldn’t be around her. He
explained that he was a vampire but didn’t drink human blood. Unfortunately her
blood scent bothered him so he had get his urges under control. When Sierra
tried to explain her friendship with Edwin her father wouldn’t listen and
ordered to stop hanging around him. So
she snuck out and went in search of Edwin and the rest of his group. She had to
prove her dad wrong even if it meant her death.
Six Months Later
Avery still couldn’t believe Sierra was gone. He
followed every lead he had received but to his horror nothing led him to her.
He tried to find the vampires that she had befriended but no one seemed to know
where they were hiding. Some claimed they had moved while others thought they
were still in town. The killings were
still occurring and he thought he knew who the killers were but he had no
proof.
When Sierra first left he was livid. How could she
just disobey him like that? Didn’t she listen to his warnings? He agreed that
she was able to defend herself but these
vampires were different. His worst fears
had been realized; that he was a horrible parent and had failed his wife. He
promised to protect Sierra when his wife died and he felt as if he had broken
that promise.
One day while he was at the office he received a
plain brown envelope that has his name written on the front. He was hesitant to
open it at first; but he finally opened and saw that there was a letter and a
picture. He placed the letter on the
desk and looked at the picture. Tears formed in his eyes. It was a recent picture
of his daughter, Sierra. He turned the picture over and on the back was April
28, 2011. He laid the picture down and picked up the note not even considering
being careful due to the fact that it might hold clues. The letter stated:
Dear Mr. Synclair:
Sierra
is alive but to keep her that way you need to cooperate. You cannot involve the
police or anyone else. She has been taken by a group of renegade vampires and I
fear her life is about to end. I need to
know that you will follow my rules exactly. I met Sierra six months ago and I am consumed
with guilt in not contacting you earlier. If you want to get her out safely
then please meet me at the old abandoned factory on Eighth Street at ten p.m.
tonight. Come by yourself. I will have others with me watching you to make sure
you comply. Any sign of law enforcement and I will leave and you won’t see her.
I am putting both of us in severe danger by sending this message. Please
destroy this letter as soon as possible. Please be careful and watch your every move.
If you aren’t it could be your last days
here on earth and your daughter will be dead. I know you love your daughter and
will do what’s best for her. I will be waiting for you and I hope you make the
right decision.
Sincerely,
A
friend
Avery laid the letter back down on the desk and
leaned back in his chair. He tried to think if he knew this person but no one
came to mind. And he didn’t meet all the vampires that Sierra started hanging
out with.
Later that night he pulled up in front of the
building. He hoped this wasn’t a trap. He stopped, turned the car off and made
sure the headlights were off. He looked around to see if he could see anyone
hiding but he wasn’t able due to the darkness. He slowly opened the door and
pocketed his keys. He put his cell phone in his pocket.
He carefully walked to the front of his car and kept
an eye and ear out for anything suspicious. He wasn’t sure who he was dealing
with and he knew that his and Sierra’s life depended on him keeping an open
mind. As he walked up the sidewalk and neared the building to his left he
thought he saw someone move but as he got closer there was no one there. He
then turned and headed back to the front doors of the building. From behind he
heard someone speak, “Mr. Synclair thank you for coming on such short notice. I
wasn’t sure you would. I figured though you would do anything for your daughter
including risking your own life despite your feelings for my species. I hope
that what I have to say will be helpful. Please keep your temper in check and
don’t go off half-cocked and go in guns blazing.” .
Avery started to turn around to see who was in the
shadow but he was stopped in mid turn. “No Mr. Synclair, you must not see me.
It is better that I remain invisible to you for the time being. If you find out
whom I am before the time is right it could ruin everything. Right now every
minute is crucial to getting your daughter out safely. So please bear with me
and do as instructed for everyone’s safety. Do you understand?”
“Yes
I understand. Why can’t you tell me who you are? Are you the one that actually
took her?”
“No,
I didn’t take her. I had seen her from a distance when she started hanging out
with Edwin and his friends but I never actually spoke with her. Edwin is a part
of Jean Pierre’s group who adhere to the rule of not attacking humans. But there are others who disagree. I was away the night your daughter was taken.
When I arrived she had already been captured and there was nothing I could do
at the time but stand back helplessly and watch them torture her. I’m sorry to
tell you that but I don’t think you want me to sugar coat what has happened.”
“No,
I appreciate the honesty.”
“That’s
what I figured and that’s why I chose to contact you and offer my help on
saving her. There are others who want to help but they don’t want to show
themselves either for fear of retaliation by the group led by Adler. Jean
Pierre doesn’t truly know what is going on yet but I am sure he will soon. When
he learns the truth there will be hell to pay. I want Sierra out of harm’s way
when that happens.”
“Thank
you for the concern. When Sierra started hanging out with Edwin and his group
she mentioned someone name d Quincy. Was he involved in her kidnapping?”
“No,
he wasn’t. I can assure you he would never hurt her. He liked her too much and
isn’t a part of Adler’s group. I’m sure Adler found out how much Quincy likes
her and used it against him. Jean Pierre is over five hundred years old and is
trying to blend in with the human race. He doesn’t kill unnecessarily and if he
feeds the blood is donated willingly. He
hates the myth that all vampires are blood suckers. He wants to coexist with
the humans and Adler is just the opposite. I digress. I had to do this quietly
and quickly because I do not know whom to trust right now. All I can tell you
is that Sierra is alive but she has been badly beaten and bitten. They haven’t
bled her to death because they want to punish Quincy. I think they have plans
to turn her.”
Avery spun around and growled, “No. I won’t let that
happen.”
“I’m
right here. I told you I cannot let you see me. So please stay calm and let’s
figure out a plan on how to save your daughter and take down Adler and his
followers.”
“Alright,
I’ll calm down and I’m sorry; she’s all I have left. My wife died seven years
ago from a vampire attack and ever since then I have raised Sierra. I have
searched for her killers but nothing. I won’t stop trying to find them; when I
do find the person responsible they will die or I will die trying.”
“I
understand your feelings. I was taken away from my family and every day I wish
I could go back and change things. Tomorrow night at nine o’clock I need you to
meet me at Old Miller’s Pond. I will be there and will have two others whom I
trust. Together we will plan a way to get you inside the group.”
“Alright,
nine o’clock tomorrow night at Old Miller’s Pond. I trust you will be there
because right now God help me you are my only hope of seeing my daughter alive
again. Thank you--?”
“Just
call me Athena.”
“Athena?
Like the Greek goddess of war?”
“Yes.”
“Alright
Athena, I will see you tomorrow.” Avery turned around and once again was
greeted by darkness.
“I
hope this isn’t some kind of trick.” He then walked back to his car and opened
it up and climbed inside. Once he has sat down he locked the door and leaned
his head back and took deep breaths to calm down. He finally felt like he was
in the right track of finding Sierra and might find the light at the end of the
tunnel. For the past six months he had been a robot walking in the darkness.
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