Page 27 of Our Little Monster
Since Dad died, every clue I’d chased down, every lead I'd followed, had unraveled into nothingness, leaving me with empty hands and a heart heavy with unspent grief.
The fury within me simmered, a constant companion that had kept me barreling forward. But beneath all that anger lay a well of sorrow so vast and deep, I feared I'd drown in its silent depths if I ever let myself feel it. So, I would keep running, keep hunting, because motion meant I didn’t have to face the stillness, the darkness, the pain.
I couldn’t work with them. I wouldn’t… yet here I stood, pondering their proposal, the weight of it settling on my shoulders like a mantle I wasn’t sure I wanted to wear.
Was it desperation that made me consider their offer, or something else?
“Like I said, I don’t work with monsters.” Still facing them, I took a few steps back toward the front door.
“What? Not going to kill us?” Nox questioned with a raised brow.
“You're all not completely useless to meyet,” I said as I finally turned away from them, the decision burning like a brand upon my conscience.
For now, they would live. For now, I would walk away.
“Ouch,” Nox mumbled as he went to take a swig from his glass.
“You know where to find us when you change your mind,” Bastian stated smoothly. “You know you won’t be able to do this forever, which is why you aren’t leaving us staked in our living room.”
My hand paused on the door handle.
He went on, “Not eating, not sleeping, running on fumes will only get you so far…” He said this so matter-of-factly, as if he could read my mind, and I knew he was right, but I ignored him as I walked out of the house, letting the screen door slam behind me.
8
Serina
Sam:Briellesaidwhenshe was in town last week that there was a group of Vampires lurking around an abandoned warehouse off the highway into town. I don’t know if they’re still there, but I’m going to assume they were there for a reason. Stay safe.
I received the text this morning. I knew Sam wanted to talk to me more. Ask me how I was and offer to meet me somewhere to help me.
I knew because over the months since my father died, she had done just that, but I refused her every time. I wouldn’t have someone I loved so close to me again.
Especially not when I was on a war path straight to hell.
So instead, she helped me the only way she could.
She did the research and would send it to me, so I didn’t have to waste time going from one hunt to the next.
Tonight, I would be heading out for a hunt hoping to find some answers. I hadn’t heard anything from the Davorin brothers since I was at their house a few days ago, but I couldn’t deny their offer still rolled around in my mind.
No, ugh, fuck their offer. I don’t need their help. I don’t want it.
I stood outside, leaning against the flimsy old railing right outside my motel room, looking over the trees in the distance as sunset settled over the sky. I was ready to go early tonight, as anticipation was thrumming through me.
Hopefully I’d kill a few more monsters tonight or get a name of the Vampire who’d orchestrated the whole thing.
Any normal Vampire wouldn’t have left us to bleed out the way they did. Maybe our blood was like acid on their tongues after all the monsters we had killed over the years. Doubtful.
But it didn’t matter; they should have killed me that day because now, I wouldn’t stop until I’d satiated my need for revenge.
As the sun dipped lower, I began walking down the narrow hall to the stairs that led to the parking lot. I passed doors of other motel rooms on one side while there was open railing facing out toward the woods and the small parking lot.
I made my way down the stairs and got to my motorcycle. Double-triple-checking I had all my weapons where I wanted them before slinging my leg over the bike and starting it with ease.
I kicked up the stand, still feeling a dull ache in my leg from the day in the alley, but it was mostly healed now.
With that, I took off out of the parking lot, feeling the roar of the engine under me.
