ask you a favor.”
“I'll do anything you need me to, Alex.”
“Have you been keeping up to date with what’s going on in Denver? ”
“I have,” his voice held a hint of anger, “a nd I've been seriously thinking about taking a trip there, actually.”
“That's...sort of why I came here. I think it's dire that you – or we – go and figure out what’ s going on over there.”
“You want to go to Denver with me?” He looked stunned.
“Only if you want, or need me to.”
“The more hunters the better!”
I frowned at the term. I wouldn't be there to hunt; I would be there to protect Janet and to establish a cause for these horrific deaths. “ Is there anyone else that can go with us ? I don’t think I’d be much help if it turns out…you know. ”
“My si ster – your aunt – Kim, she’ s one of us,” h e motioned toward a picture frame sitting on his desk. It held a photograph of him and a woman with startling green eyes and brilliant red hair.
“That's my aunt?” I asked in awe. “She is gorgeous.”
He chuckled. “Sh e'd love to meet you, Alex. I’ ve told her so much about you.”
“Well, get a hold of her as soon as possible and let's make plans to go to Denver before things get worse.”
“Sounds like a plan...but, you'll end up missing out on a few days of school.”
“It's okay. I'll make up for it.”
He looked unconvinced at first, but agreed. “I'll get Kim on the phone right away . Why don't you go grab a soda from the machine?”
I nodded and left the back room. The soda machine was outside in the front of the store. As I was browsing the selection, I had the feeling someone was watching me. From the corner of my eye, I could see the shape of someone standing beside me. As I put in my fifty cents I silently hoped they were just waiting in line for the machine. The soda rolled out at the bottom of the machine and I grabbed it, hesitating a moment before turning around.
“Oh, Kate...it's just you, ” I smiled warmly.
“Hey!” The pink-haired woman grinned at me. “My shift starts in ten minutes. This is day seven of my work week. It's becoming tiresome.”
“Seven days in a row?” I asked in shock.
“Yep. Hopefully someone else gets hired on to manage the counter because I’m really getting sick of all this work. I appreciate the cash, but working seven days straig ht is going to drive me insane! ”
“It would do the same to me, ” I said as I twisted the cap from my beverage and took a swig. I was grateful that Paul opened the door to get my attention and dragged me away from the conversation. It wasn't that I had a problem with talking to Kate, but there were more important matters at hand.
“Kim says she is ready whenever,” m y father said quietly as he led me back to the room. “I can set up a flight for as early as tomorrow if you’re really up to it .”
“The sooner the better, right?”
“Right,” h e smirked. “I’ m so glad you are on board with this.”
If only he knew I wasn't. I sighed quietly, hoping he didn't notice.
“I'll handle the flight arrangements; you head home and pack yourself a bag . You won't need much, maybe a change of clothes or two and your bathroom stuff.”
“ S hould I meet you at the trailer tomorrow?”
“No, I'll just meet you at your house.”
I frowned. This meant I wouldn't be spending the night at Salem's. “Okay, I'll be there.”
13. DENVER
Salem kept me company and helped me pack. I could tell he was nervous about me leaving, no matter how many times I assured him I would be all right. He paced around my room as I collected my bathroom items and stuffed them in my book bag.
“I could come with you,” h e suggested.
“Paul would recognize you in a second. ”
“You're right,” h e sighed. “I just don't feel comfortable with you being amongst them.”
I wasn't sure whether he meant my father and aunt or the possible vampire lurking around Denver - p ossibly both. After my
“I'll do anything you need me to, Alex.”
“Have you been keeping up to date with what’s going on in Denver? ”
“I have,” his voice held a hint of anger, “a nd I've been seriously thinking about taking a trip there, actually.”
“That's...sort of why I came here. I think it's dire that you – or we – go and figure out what’ s going on over there.”
“You want to go to Denver with me?” He looked stunned.
“Only if you want, or need me to.”
“The more hunters the better!”
I frowned at the term. I wouldn't be there to hunt; I would be there to protect Janet and to establish a cause for these horrific deaths. “ Is there anyone else that can go with us ? I don’t think I’d be much help if it turns out…you know. ”
“My si ster – your aunt – Kim, she’ s one of us,” h e motioned toward a picture frame sitting on his desk. It held a photograph of him and a woman with startling green eyes and brilliant red hair.
“That's my aunt?” I asked in awe. “She is gorgeous.”
He chuckled. “Sh e'd love to meet you, Alex. I’ ve told her so much about you.”
“Well, get a hold of her as soon as possible and let's make plans to go to Denver before things get worse.”
“Sounds like a plan...but, you'll end up missing out on a few days of school.”
“It's okay. I'll make up for it.”
He looked unconvinced at first, but agreed. “I'll get Kim on the phone right away . Why don't you go grab a soda from the machine?”
I nodded and left the back room. The soda machine was outside in the front of the store. As I was browsing the selection, I had the feeling someone was watching me. From the corner of my eye, I could see the shape of someone standing beside me. As I put in my fifty cents I silently hoped they were just waiting in line for the machine. The soda rolled out at the bottom of the machine and I grabbed it, hesitating a moment before turning around.
“Oh, Kate...it's just you, ” I smiled warmly.
“Hey!” The pink-haired woman grinned at me. “My shift starts in ten minutes. This is day seven of my work week. It's becoming tiresome.”
“Seven days in a row?” I asked in shock.
“Yep. Hopefully someone else gets hired on to manage the counter because I’m really getting sick of all this work. I appreciate the cash, but working seven days straig ht is going to drive me insane! ”
“It would do the same to me, ” I said as I twisted the cap from my beverage and took a swig. I was grateful that Paul opened the door to get my attention and dragged me away from the conversation. It wasn't that I had a problem with talking to Kate, but there were more important matters at hand.
“Kim says she is ready whenever,” m y father said quietly as he led me back to the room. “I can set up a flight for as early as tomorrow if you’re really up to it .”
“The sooner the better, right?”
“Right,” h e smirked. “I’ m so glad you are on board with this.”
If only he knew I wasn't. I sighed quietly, hoping he didn't notice.
“I'll handle the flight arrangements; you head home and pack yourself a bag . You won't need much, maybe a change of clothes or two and your bathroom stuff.”
“ S hould I meet you at the trailer tomorrow?”
“No, I'll just meet you at your house.”
I frowned. This meant I wouldn't be spending the night at Salem's. “Okay, I'll be there.”
13. DENVER
Salem kept me company and helped me pack. I could tell he was nervous about me leaving, no matter how many times I assured him I would be all right. He paced around my room as I collected my bathroom items and stuffed them in my book bag.
“I could come with you,” h e suggested.
“Paul would recognize you in a second. ”
“You're right,” h e sighed. “I just don't feel comfortable with you being amongst them.”
I wasn't sure whether he meant my father and aunt or the possible vampire lurking around Denver - p ossibly both. After my
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