Authors: Tim Miller
Chapter 19
At the infirmary, Desmond was sitting up and talking with one of the nurses. He smiled when he saw Jessica step inside.
“Well hey little girl, good to see you. And you brought a pretty friend I see.” He said as he looked over at Anna.
“Hi Desmond! You look like you’re doing better!”
“Yeah, starting to get some energy back. They said I can have solid foods in a day or so.”
“Cool! Hey! Where do the vampires hide out? Adam wants to know.”
Anna put her hand over her face, shaking her head. She knew she should have discussed this with her more before coming up there. Jessica has no filter at all.
“He does, does he? So he sent you to talk to me?” Desmond asked, looking to Anna, then back to Jessica.
“
Yep! He sent me!”
“Look, Desmond,” Anna said. “I know for whatever reason you don’t like Adam. I get that. But you seem to care about Jess. The vampires were already after her. Now they are really going to be gunning for her. So if you care about her, you’ll help us. So we can protect her.”
“She can protect herself better than you realize, but I understand. I know where their nest is. At least where it used to be.”
“You think they moved it?” Anna asked.
“I have no idea. They kept me locked in that cellar for almost twenty years. They could have moved it a bunch since then.”
“Well where was it last?”
“Last place I knew of it was in the mines.”
“Mines? What mines?” Anna asked.
“How old are you? And what is your name anyway?”
“I’m Anna, and I’m nineteen. So what mines?”
“Well before you were born, there used to be an old copper mine outside the city. It hadn’t been in use for years. It was up in the hills about a mile or two past the city limits.”
“The city has expanded a lot over the last ten years or so. It might be closer,” Anna said. “Though I think I know where you’re talking about. It’s never been devel
oped. Too many rocks and hills, but I think it’s all sealed off.”
“That’s probably it. There’s a mine shaft out there somewhere. The vampires kind of use it as their headquarters. I’ve never been in there though. I’ve been told its way underground. Like an ant colony.”
“My God,” she said.
“As far as the stories go, there are thousands of vampires down there. The ones we see are only a few. I guess they take turns sleeping, like hibernating. Eventually they
will all wake up and come out, all at once. Then feed off us humans like cattle.”
“And you wanted to join them?” Anna said.
“I was young, angry, and foolish; I saw it as my revenge on the world. Guess they got the last laugh though. But if you guys are thinking of attacking there, I’m not sure how you’d do it. That mine is filled with tunnels and shafts. Plus there’ve been some small cave-ins over the years. That is if they’re even still there.”
“So why do they keep all the smaller nests?”
“Think of it like terrorist cells. They keep all these small bands of vampires all over with a goal or purpose. None of them knows the big plan, just what they are supposed to do. Where do you think terrorists got the idea?”
“So how do you know all of this?”
“Ivan was one of their lieutenants. I was there for a lot of their meetings, discussing the big nest. The Hive they call it.”
“Didn’t I kill Ivan?” Jessica asked.
“No, I’m afraid not. The three you killed were just sentries. That cabin is one of many they have around here. Remember, these guys are hundreds, maybe thousands of years old. They’ve had a long time to settle in and get organized. Best thing you kids could do is get as far away from here as possible. Maybe South America, they’d never go there. The days are too long and it’s too hot.”
“Thanks for the concern,” Anna said. “But we’ll take our chances. Those things killed my parents.”
“Well good luck to you.” Desmond said. “Just make sure you take this little one with you. You’ll need her.”
Chapter 20
The girls found Adam in the conference room with a large map laid out across the table. They came in and explained to him what Desmond had told them. Adam listened intently while making little notations on the map. He circled an area on the map where the mines had been located. Adam also made some notes about the terrain in the area. Once complete, he sat there propping his chin on his hands, staring down at the map.
“Everything ok?” Anna asked.
“This is going to be a tough place to launch an attack. It’s really the perfect defensive position. Only one way in, one way out, and a giant maze waiting for anyone who tries to get in,” Adam explained.
“Can’t we just go during the day?” Jessica asked.
“That would be part of the plan. But they’ll have grubs all over the place. Maybe even hanging out in the hills to give us a big fight before we can even get to it,” Adam said.
“What about a great big bomb? Just drop it in there.” Jessica said.
“Well, that’d be great, but we don’t have a great big bomb. And once again, have to get by all the grubs. Don’t worry. I’ll think of
something.” Adam said.
“Can I go see my mom?” Jessica asked. Anna rolled her eyes at the question. Adam looked up.
“Your mom?” He said.
“Yeah. You guys came and took me away from her. She’s got to be really worried. And I really miss her.”
He leaned back and let out a sigh.
“You have a point,” he said. “Anna. Could you take her to see her mom? Take one of the cars.”
“No! I wanna take Hawk.”
“God no. We can’t have everyone seeing that thing. People will freak out. Just go in a car.”
“People have always treated me like I’m stupid, like I can’t do anything. Well, I can do things. I proved it earlier. My mom will be super proud of me.”
Adam sat up and rubbed his eyes. He looked completely exhausted, as if he hadn’t slept in days.
“You can’t just take the car?” He asked.
“Just let her take the horse,” Anna said. “She will bug me the whole time if you don’t.”
“Will not.” Jessica said. “And he’s a unicorn. A flying one!”
“Whatever.”
“OK!” Adam shouted. “My God, I’d rather fight vampires than listen to this. Just take Hawk. Ok?”
“Yay!” Jessica squealed. “Thank you Adam! Thank you! Thank you!”
“All right, all right. Just go already.” He said as he sat back down. Jessica turned and bolted from the room. Anna walked behind her.
“Just hang on Jess,” Anna called out. “We’ll be there soon enough. I just hope we don’t freak your mom out.”
“Why would we freak her out?”
“Well, swooping in the middle of the night riding a flying unicorn, not something you see every day.”
“But she likes unicorns.”
“
Never mind, let’s go.”
They got to the roof where Hawk was walking around with one of the sentries guiding him along. Jessica ran toward him, as he perked up and flapped his wings once he saw her. She
gave a pat on the nose and then hugged him before climbing onto his back. Anna climbed on behind Jessica and held on around Jessica’s waist.
“You know what you’re doing, right?” Anna asked, uneasily.
“Sure! Well Hawk mostly does the work. We just have to hang on.”
“Do you know how to get to your mom’s from here?”
“No. I’m sure I can figure it out.”
“Wonderful,” Anna said. “Just don’t let me fall off.”
“Oh, Hawk would never do that. He’s a good unicorn!” She turned and yelped at Hawk. “Giddy up!” As she spoke, Hawk galloped to the end of the rooftop, and with a couple flaps of his wings, they were airborne, sailing once again into the night sky.
Chapter 21
Hawk landed in the backyard of her mother’s home. The flight took longer than it should have. Jessica had trouble remembering where it was, so they flew around for a while until she spotted it. Once they landed, both Jessica and Anna jumped off Hawk’s back.
“Should we tie him to something?” Anna asked. “So he doesn’t take off?”
“He won’t. He’s loyal, right Hawk?” Jessica said as she petted his nose. Hawk let out a whinny in response. Jessica was sure he could understand her, though Anna had her doubts. They walked around to the front door where Jessica rang the doorbell. After a few minutes, the light came on and a woman opened the door.
“Yes?”
“Mommy!” Jessica squealed reaching out to hug her mom. Her mother just looked in shock as Jessica squeezed her tight. Slowly she returned the hug. “I missed you mom. But I wanted to come see you and let you know I’m ok. This is my friend Anna; she’s been helping take care of me.”
“Hi,” Anna said uncomfortably.
“Hi, I’m Joyce.”
Joyce moved aside and the girls came inside. Joyce was wearing a pink housecoat. She didn’t look very old, but her hair was prematurely turning gray. Her eyes had bags under them as she grabbed a soda and returned with one for both girls.
“I was really worried about you,” Joyce said. She paused, looking both girls over for the first time, noticing their clothing. “What are you wearing?”
“These are fighting suits! I’m a vampire hunter now!” Jessica said. Anna let out a sigh as Joyce looked at Anna, confused.
“You’re a what?” Joyce asked.
“A vampire hunter. We go around and kill vampires.” Jessica went on to tell her about everything that had happened since the first night the vampire came after her. Anna looked on quietly as Anna spoke. Joyce listened intently, her facial expression not changing once through the story. Once Jessica was done, Joyce put her soda on the coffee table, stood and walked to the window. She stood there, staring outside for a moment.
“Mom?” Jessica asked. “Are you ok?”
“I’m fine. I’m glad you’re safe. I was hoping you wouldn’t have to go through any of this,” Joyce said.
“What do you mean?”
“Your father didn’t leave when you were little. He was taken, by them.”
“The vampires?” Jessica asked.
“Yes.” Joyce turned to face the girls again. “Not long after you were born, we were on vacation. Your grandmother was watching you. We were walking back one night from a party to our cottage up north, and a vampire attacked us. Someone killed him though. A young man named Adam.”
“Adam?” Anna chimed in. “Like almost fifteen years ago?”
“Yes, that sounds about right.”
“How old was he?”
“Oh I
don’t know, in his 20’s maybe…why?”
The two girls just looked at each other, though Jessica wasn’t quite making the connection.
“Nothing, go on,” Anna said.
“Ok. So Adam talked to your father. And he went to help them fight vampires. I didn’t like it then. But Adam made sure we were taken care of. We always had plenty of money, Adam made sure of that. Your father was gone a lot, but always came home. Then one day he didn’t. Adam came here instead.”
“Did they kill my dad?” Jessica asked.
“I’m not sure. He just said they took him. They could have killed him, made him one of those awful creatures they uses as slaves, or turned him even. Though Adam says that isn’t likely.
When you vanished, I feared they had taken you.”
Jessica placed her hand over her mouth, trying to take it all in.
“So why did you lie to me? All those years you never once told me about this.”
“Yes. I’m sorry. But most of the world doesn’t even know vampires exist. I didn’t want to expose you to that if I didn’t have to. I sure didn’t want you off doing this. But it looks like it’s too late. Not to mention, it sounds like you’re safer with them if that vampire came right outside our door.”
“I am really safe with them. But how did Adam save dad and me so long ago? He’s still pretty young.”
Joyce looked concerned.
“I really don’t know.”
“Is he a vampire?”
“Absolutely not!” Anna said. “Adam is not a vampire.”
“So why doesn’t he age?”
“I don’t know. I’m sure there’s a good reason. We’ll ask him later,” Anna said.
Jessica shrugged and turned back to her mom.
“Why don’t you come back with us?” Jessica asked.
“I can’t Jess, there’s no place for me there.”
“Sure there is.”
“It’s ok. I’m all alone now. I don’t think they’ll bother me. Plus, with you out there, I’m sure you’ll keep them plenty busy.”
“I sure will!” Jessica said.
“We should get going,” Anna said. “It’s almost morning.”
They both stood, Jessica hugged her mom and said goodbye. They walked out to Hawk, climbed on his back and he took off back toward the compound.