Kindling (8 page)

Braith noticed me staring at him. “You look just as bad as I do,” he said.

“Oh,” I said. I touched my head and winced. There was blood on my hand when I pulled it away. I ran my hand through my hair and started to straighten it out.

Braith grinned. “Making yourself pretty for me?” he said.

“Are you serious? Don't flatter yourself,” I snarled. “Tell me who the hell they were and what the hell just happened,” I demanded. I refused to allow his cocky attitude to bother me. I was so utterly confused I couldn’t hold in my emotions anymore. I was on the verge of tears and I think Braith must have noticed.

“Okay,” he said. He paused a really long time. “First off, you fight like a man.”

I wrinkled my face up and groaned. What a sexist ass he was! “You’re such a jerk,” I said.

“That’s not what I meant, god, that’s not how I meant it,” he sighed and clutched his hip. “I meant you were phenomenal back there, you kicked ass. You held them off and they were wounded, Kit! Oh my god you wounded one of them. You have no idea, but that’s like next to impossible, especially to someone not fully trained.”

“You’re stalling,” I said. “Just tell me what’s going on.”

“Yeah,” he grinned. “I’m stalling a little, but I mean it. You fight unbelievably.”

I shrugged and looked away. “Thanks,” I said.

He continued walking. “I’ve never had to tell anyone before. Most people I deal with already know what’s in store for them.”

“Know what?” I said. I gritted my teeth, trying not to get too aggravated, but he was making things difficult.

“Do you know who Heike is?” Braith asked.

I shrugged and sighed. “He’s my father?”

“Yes,” Braith said. “But do you know his name? His last name?” I shrugged and shook my head. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something but then closed it and stopped walking. He looked at me kind of funny. “Kit, he’s a Van Helsing,” he finally said. “His name is Heinrich Van Helsing

There was an ever-so-slight recognition in that name, but I couldn’t really place it. “I don’t understand what his name has anything to do with anything,” I sad.

“Americans,” Braith grumbled. Oh, I couldn’t stand him and I rolled my eyes. “He’s a Vampyre Hunter. We’re both Vampyre Hunters.”

“Vampyre hunters,” I repeated and nodded. He let me think about this for a minute but, honestly, I didn’t know what to think. Mainly, I thought he was insane and it made me a little nervous that my parents were okay with him walking me home. I didn’t know how to respond to something that absurd. “Oh. Okay,” I said. If he expected me to believe that he was smoking crack or something because that was ludicrous.

“God, I suck at this,” Braith said. “I should just let Heike explain everything.” He paused for a minute or two as we walked to my house. I didn’t know whether to run from him or just let him try and explain some more until I could get into the house and lock myself in my bedroom. Finally, Braith said, “Who do you think they were, then?”

“I don’t know, Braith. Vampyres are totally logical, sure. Let’s go with that,” I said, quickening my pace.

“What, are you nervous?” He said. He looked around, then realized I was trying to get away from him. “You think I’m crazy, don’t you?” I didn’t answer and just kept walking. “God, they were vampyres, Katherine. That’s why they came after you. Because you’re Van Helsing’s kid. And ...” he paused.

I stopped walking when he said ‘Katherine.’ No one has ever called me that, even though it’s technically the name on my birth certificate. I’ve been Catalina since infancy. “And, what?” I said to him.

“And Heike will explain more,” he said.

“So, okay,” I said. We were standing in the middle of my street. The moon was full and large so the night was incredibly bright. I could see my house from there, but I wanted to be clear on a few points. “You want me to believe that, A, there are vampyres in the world even though, no, no there isn’t and, B, that my biological father is Heinrich Van Helsing, a Vampyre Hunter?”

“Well, when you say it like that it sounds so implausible,” Braith said. The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly and I was sure he was making fun of me.

“Don’t give me any of your crap.” I said. “Who are you? Really? Who are you and who is Heike?”

Braith sighed. I could tell he was becoming aggravated, although I’m not sure if it was towards me or his inability to make me understand what he was trying to say. “I’m Braith Hywel. I’m a tracker. I track vampyres. You’re father, Heinrich Van Helsing, is a Hunter. He hunts and kills vampyres. Those guys we kicked the shit out of tonight, why do you think they weren’t hurt despite you breaking their bones? You snapped a neck, Kitty, or don’t you remember that? No one walks away from a snapped neck. But those bloody twats didn’t get a mark on them except for the one, right? And you saw it fade, didn’t you? I know you watched it disappear. It faded as we bloody stood there. How do you explain that?” He paused but I didn’t answer. “Tell me what they are, then? If they’re not who I say they are than who are they?” For a long time we were both silent. I didn’t have an answer because I didn’t know what they were. No one could have gone through that fight without being wounded - hell, I probably had bruises all over me and I could feel warm blood congealing down my face - but, no matter what I did, nothing hurt those guys. But, they couldn’t be vampyres. Vampyres didn’t exist. I was speechless. “I’ll tell you, Kitty, I’ll swear to you. Heike and I are Vampyre Hunters. Heike is a Van Helsing. He’s a big name in our world and that’s why they were sent to you. Your family is one of the oldest families in the Hunter World. Those vampyres were sent to you because they haven’t killed yet and whoever sent them knew Heike can’t kill them. It’s a code. We can’t kill one unless they’ve killed. They were here to scare you because you’re ...” he paused.

“Van Helsing’s daughter?” I ask, cynicism dripping from my voice.

He paused, so I knew that there was more to his weirdo story. “Yeah, Van Helsing’s daughter. You are Katherine Van Helsing.” He got quiet and we faced each other. The brightness of the full moon made our shadows intertwine. It would almost be romantic, if I was attracted to him and if he wasn’t insane.

All I could hear were the sounds of the night - a breeze rustled the dried grass, an owl cawing somewhere in the distance as it hunted its prey - and Braith, a little out of breath because he was so upset. I noticed he was pale and looked fatigued, but before I could suggest going inside I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I jumped and startled Braith, who shouted a curse word.

“Kids, it’s me, relax,” my papá said. “Come inside. Heike and I will talk to you now.” I didn’t say anything as my papá ushered us both in the house. “Go change, Catalina,” papá said.

“It’s ok,” I said.

“No, it’s not,” papá spat. He was really annoyed. “I’m sure one of your friends gave you that. Allie?” I shook my head. “Sadie?” I shrugged. He sighed and looked at my dress, torn and bloodied in various places, but I know he was mainly upset about the length of the skirt. I had just been in this terrible fight and he was more concerned about the length of my skirt?

“I’m fine,” I grumbled.

“Go put clothes on,” he said through gritted teeth. When I didn’t move, he said. “¡Ahora! ¡Rápido!”

I didn’t want to listen, but I didn’t really have the energy to start a fight with him. I wanted answers and I didn’t want to wait another minute. But I was exhausted and ready to collapse and too tired to argue with him, so I gave in and limped upstairs. My leg was beginning to ache.

I rustled through my drawers to find a clean outfit - I didn’t want to smell like baked road kill. There weren’t many, but I finally found a t-shirt and yoga pants. Then I looked in the mirror and - holy crap! - I looked awful. I had a big gash on my forehead. Dried blood stuck to my hair and cheeks and forehead. My right cheek was swollen and red. My jaw already had a black bruise forming. And my hair looked like I had been through a wind tunnel.

I went to the bathroom and poured water over my head, then brushed out the blood and knots. I got my hair to look fairly normal and pulled my wet tresses into a clip. I still looked beaten up, but washing the dried blood off helped. I splashed water over my neck and it made me feel a bit better. My body stung and my muscled ached. My heart began to race. I was headed down for another fight, I knew, and I had this overwhelming feeling that this one was probably going to change my life.

I was actually glad to put on the yoga clothes. They were comfortable and familiar and soft against my bruised and beaten body.

When I was dressed and looked a little better, I went back downstairs. Heike, my parents, and Braith were waiting for me. My parents had changed out of their formal clothes and into sweatpants. Heike changed back into his black leather and Braith, god, even with the bruises and swelling and redness and messy hair, he was gorgeous. Somehow, this struck me as incredibly annoying and I glared at him as I took a seat. He looked genuinely hurt, so I felt bad and broke my gaze. Maybe he was more than just an insane mimbo ...

“So,” Heike began. “Braith filled you in a little?”

I shrugged. “A little.”

“And there was no way you believe him?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Not for a second.”

“Ah,” Heike said. He turned to my parents. “Menno, you want to start?”

“No, go right ahead,” he said. “I’ll fill in if necessary. But I’m sure you can handle it, old man.”

Heike chuckled and nodded. I was pretty apprehensive, because it felt like an intervention and, there was a huge part of me that just didn’t want to hear what they were going to tell me. “Where should I begin?” Heike said, mostly to himself. Then he looked at me. “You’ve got to listen, okay? No interruptions?” I glanced at my parents. My mom gave me a thumbs up and I sighed.

“No interruptions,” I agreed.

Heike nodded. “You have to know I didn’t want this for you, Katja. I wanted you to have a normal life, we all wanted you to have a normal life.” He nodded towards my parents and sighed. “I’ve been hunting with my father for as long as I can remember. Even as a little boy, my father would take me on even the most dangerous excursions. He made me do things I won’t forget. There were times I was so scared I thought about killing myself just so our enemies couldn’t have me. So, I vowed I wouldn’t have children and put them through what he put me through. And for many, many years I held good to that promise. Until I met Molly,” Heike blushed. I looked at my mom and she smiled. “And then you came, Katja. We knew you were a girl and I was so happy, because usually it’s just the boys that are given The Gift. But, when you were born a month earlier than expected, on a Saturday, under a full moon, at midnight, I had to admit to myself that, maybe, maybe my daughter was cursed and it was all my fault.

“I remember when you were just two weeks old, Katja, I could hold you in my hands. You were so tiny and fragile. It was my job to protect you and I knew I had failed. In our world its called having The Gift, but it’s a curse, too. You’ll never have a normal life. So, by cursing you with the hunt, I failed you, Katja. But I wasn’t sure, of course, so I brought you to Mexico to see The Oracle. We stayed with her for a month, and I’ll never forget when she called me to her and told me. “The child is a hunter,” she said. That’s all she said, because she knew I knew already.

“We left The Oracle when you were three months old and went to stay with the Chavez’s, your grandparents and papá. They have been my family for all my life, Katja, and I could trust them with you and your mom. I knew what I had to do. I had to leave and try with everything in my power to keep you safe. But I knew, if you got too attached to me and I got too attached to you, I wouldn’t be able to leave. I told your mom I would only be gone for a month, Mercutio knew that I was leaving you in his hands. He gave me his word he’d take care of you and your mom, and he did, more so than I could have hoped.” Heike looked at my father and grinned, a strange, proud smile. “I knew I couldn’t be selfish with you, Katja. You’re my daughter and I couldn’t ruin your childhood like my father ruined mine. Menno and your mom didn’t want that for you either, because they grew up in that life, too. We all knew, if I stayed, your childhood would be over. Would your mother ever forgive me? Would you ever forgive me, moving you from place to place, suspicious of everyone and everything, not being able to play at a park without worrying. I couldn’t do that to you, Katja, understand I couldn’t put you through what I went through, what most of the children of this life must go through.

“So, Menno has raised you as his own and trained you under my constant supervision.” When I looked surprised my papá and Heike smiled. “Yes, I wanted to make sure you. I knew they would come for you eventually, and I wanted you to be prepared for them. And I tried, Katja, I tried to find any way of breaking this curse for you. I did everything and I thought, maybe it would pass because I’m not around you. Like, nature versus nurture, you know? But, you are what you are.” He sighed and rested his elbows on his knees. “You can say something now.”