hospital.
He doesn’t immediately answer. As if considering what to tell me and what not to tell me. “I am,” Derek finally says. “My Dad was an Enforcer and he trained me to be one as well. When he died I had to step up and take over his job prematurely.”
“I’m sorry about your Dad,” I say uncomfortably. I feel like it’s the right thing to say but I feel weird for expressing it.
Shadows cloud his eyes, changing them from a deep ebony shade to almost onyx. “Are you really?” He spits the question at me. “My dad was a phoenix and hunters killed him after all. That’s exactly what you’ve been trained to do too.”
I open my mouth to defend myself then close it without saying anything because he is right. That is exactly what I have been trained to do. It is what I took a vow to do. To rid the world of one less monster who preys on humans. But what if what Derek says is true? What if they are not all like the one that killed my mother? What if his family represents the norm and not the exception to the rule? I think of how nice and warm and inviting his mother is. I can’t imagine her ever hurting even a fly. Then I think about what he told me in his car. How hunters killed his Dad and sister who was pregnant. It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and me questioning everything I have ever known as true.
“If he was like yo-, your mom,” I correct myself, “then yes. I am honestly sorry.”
“Well that makes two of us,” he says dryly.
For the briefest of moments, raw pain flashes in his eyes at the admission. It is a pain that I used to feel all too keenly myself but has dulled over the years. Still, I understand it.
We stare at each other for a long moment.
It gets easier, my eyes say.
Does it?” His say back.
Yes, with time.
We don’t have the kind of relationship to have the conversation out loud. We are not friends, we are technically enemies, and we certainly do not like each other.
“Your car is parked out front,” he says standing abruptly from the bed.
I stand too so that I can follow him downstairs and lock the door behind him. My bare feet hitting the floor reminds me that my legs are bare too because I am only wearing underwear!
“Um..thanks,” I say awkwardly tugging the hem of my tank top down. “Just let yourself out. I’ll come behind you and lock the door.”
The movement of my hands attracts Derek’s attention.
“It’s a little too late to be modest. I already saw a nice eyeful before you snatched up the sheets.” He pointedly smirks down at my boy shorts. “I hadn’t pegged you for the type to wear panties covered in purple bows, but it’s a good look on you.” His smirk turns into a teasing smile. “You’re cute in them.”
“Get out. Now!” I growl at him.
Did Derek just sort of hit on me?! And tell me I was cute?! Hell must be freezing over somewhere.
He winks at me then turns to leave.
I gape after him as he swaggers out of the room. I wait a full thirty seconds after I hear the door shut behind him to go downstairs and lock up.
CHAPTER TEN
Fight Fire With Fire
The remainder of the summer comes and goes. It is uneventful. No more news stories break of abductions and subsequent bodies turning up in Red Creek nearly burned beyond recognition.
Mid way through August, there is a story about how local officials will continue the search for the individual behind the heinous crimes and will not rest until he is caught, but they will never find him For one: him was really a them, and for two: Derek has already taken care of the phoenix responsible. Eventually the cases will be filed under unsolved crimes and everybody except the victims’ families will move on. It will take them considerable more time.
It is what happened with my mom. We had to call the police even though we knew there was not a thing they could do about it. They searched in vain for leads and after a month or so of not a single one, her case
He doesn’t immediately answer. As if considering what to tell me and what not to tell me. “I am,” Derek finally says. “My Dad was an Enforcer and he trained me to be one as well. When he died I had to step up and take over his job prematurely.”
“I’m sorry about your Dad,” I say uncomfortably. I feel like it’s the right thing to say but I feel weird for expressing it.
Shadows cloud his eyes, changing them from a deep ebony shade to almost onyx. “Are you really?” He spits the question at me. “My dad was a phoenix and hunters killed him after all. That’s exactly what you’ve been trained to do too.”
I open my mouth to defend myself then close it without saying anything because he is right. That is exactly what I have been trained to do. It is what I took a vow to do. To rid the world of one less monster who preys on humans. But what if what Derek says is true? What if they are not all like the one that killed my mother? What if his family represents the norm and not the exception to the rule? I think of how nice and warm and inviting his mother is. I can’t imagine her ever hurting even a fly. Then I think about what he told me in his car. How hunters killed his Dad and sister who was pregnant. It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and me questioning everything I have ever known as true.
“If he was like yo-, your mom,” I correct myself, “then yes. I am honestly sorry.”
“Well that makes two of us,” he says dryly.
For the briefest of moments, raw pain flashes in his eyes at the admission. It is a pain that I used to feel all too keenly myself but has dulled over the years. Still, I understand it.
We stare at each other for a long moment.
It gets easier, my eyes say.
Does it?” His say back.
Yes, with time.
We don’t have the kind of relationship to have the conversation out loud. We are not friends, we are technically enemies, and we certainly do not like each other.
“Your car is parked out front,” he says standing abruptly from the bed.
I stand too so that I can follow him downstairs and lock the door behind him. My bare feet hitting the floor reminds me that my legs are bare too because I am only wearing underwear!
“Um..thanks,” I say awkwardly tugging the hem of my tank top down. “Just let yourself out. I’ll come behind you and lock the door.”
The movement of my hands attracts Derek’s attention.
“It’s a little too late to be modest. I already saw a nice eyeful before you snatched up the sheets.” He pointedly smirks down at my boy shorts. “I hadn’t pegged you for the type to wear panties covered in purple bows, but it’s a good look on you.” His smirk turns into a teasing smile. “You’re cute in them.”
“Get out. Now!” I growl at him.
Did Derek just sort of hit on me?! And tell me I was cute?! Hell must be freezing over somewhere.
He winks at me then turns to leave.
I gape after him as he swaggers out of the room. I wait a full thirty seconds after I hear the door shut behind him to go downstairs and lock up.
CHAPTER TEN
Fight Fire With Fire
The remainder of the summer comes and goes. It is uneventful. No more news stories break of abductions and subsequent bodies turning up in Red Creek nearly burned beyond recognition.
Mid way through August, there is a story about how local officials will continue the search for the individual behind the heinous crimes and will not rest until he is caught, but they will never find him For one: him was really a them, and for two: Derek has already taken care of the phoenix responsible. Eventually the cases will be filed under unsolved crimes and everybody except the victims’ families will move on. It will take them considerable more time.
It is what happened with my mom. We had to call the police even though we knew there was not a thing they could do about it. They searched in vain for leads and after a month or so of not a single one, her case
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