Discern (50 page)

“I’ll be back,” I said, locking the car door behind me.

It was silly to think that a simple lock could keep immortals out, but I had to try. With one turn of the key, I pushed open the door and flipped on the lights. The alarm began beeping. I rushed over to the keypad and pressed in the four-digit code I had remembered.

I dashed over to the desk and pulled out the filing drawer where the personal information of the residents was stored. Stuffing several files under my arms, I ran back to the door.

After returning the shelter to its previous closed state, I bolted to the car. Andrew was still huddled inside by the rear door.

“That was fast,” he groaned.

“I said it would only take a minute.”

“Now what exactly are we doing?”

“Getting you what you need,” I said stiffly.

“I won’t hurt any of these poor women and children,” he protested.

“No. They’re safe inside, but their abusers won’t be.” My voice was dark and determined.

I had never been one for blind justice, but I refused to drive him around town, killing innocent people. At least these ones deserved what was coming to them, as they probably would never be punished for their crimes. And if it so happened that they were, it wouldn’t be more than a month or so, which did nothing to protect their victims.

“This is definitely a surprise,” he muttered.

I switched on the overhead light and began sifting through the folders. “How many souls do you need?”

“At least three,” he said weakly.

I flipped through the pages and found a few men that had repeatedly beaten their wife and children. Some had done worse things to their children, and these were going to be the first of Andrew’s victims. Playing god was an uneasy feeling, but if I were a judge, I would be deciding their fate, so I had to look at it like that in order to keep the strength that I had gathered.

I knew exactly where these first three men resided. It wasn’t too far from the college campus. I turned off the overhead light and began driving nervously.

“I’ll get them out of the house…” I began to explain the plan before being interrupted.

“No!” he shouted hoarsely. “You need to get me in the house.”

“Why?”

“Feeding isn’t a pleasant sight,” he said, gritting his teeth.

“Or sound,” I sighed loudly.

“Why do you say that?” he asked surprised.

“I’ve heard it before,” I said nervously.

I didn’t need Andrew hating Alec for doing what he did. I would listen to that sound a million times over if it meant I had been saved from being raped.

“When and how?” he asked angrily.

“I heard Alec taking the guy that...” I stopped myself knowing this would upset Andrew more.

“He fed in front of you?” he asked disgusted.

“He had no choice,” I said, hoping this would ease his anger.

“And you heard the sound of it?”

“Yes, several times,” I admitted.

“How many did he kill?”

“Just one, but I heard it the day at the park and the diner,” I sighed heavily, knowing this would upset him further.

“Oh,” he breathed. “I would’ve never done it if I had known you’d be able to hear it,” he said softly.

“It’s fine, I know it’s how you survive,” I reassured. “And Alec stopped himself from feeding several times after he realized I could hear the sound.”

“How long did you guys spend with one another?” he asked angrily at first, but his anger faded as he began moaning in pain.

“No more than twenty minutes at the most,” I assured.

“I want all the details after we’re done,” he demanded.

“Sure thing,” I promised.

“You’ll knock and I’ll be around the corner ready to swoop in once they answer,” he explained.

“Can you kill them with how weak you are?” I asked.

My feelings were mixed. I was definitely worried for his safety, but the thought of him murdering someone was sickening. And the worst part of it was my involvement.

“I can’t protect against an immortal, but a mortal takes nothing to kill,” he said darkly.

“I see,” I murmured.

My hands shook as I turned down the first street. I was about to look in the eyes of a dead man. I shuttered at the thought. The sound was horrifying enough. I couldn’t imagine how it looked when they killed.

“Thirty one-o-three,” I muttered. “We’re here.”

I popped open the rear door and watched Andrew slide out. He crept to the side of the house. Taking a deep breath, I anxiously made my way up to the front door. My stomach churned.

I balled up my fist and knocked loudly. I could hear racket from inside.

The door flew open revealing a very tall, slender man. His hair was long and dark. He was holding a bottle of beer wearing a black, ripped t-shirt and jeans.

“Well, if it ain’t my lucky day,” he burped.

“May I speak with Frank Moore?” I asked nervously.

“This is my lucky day,” he grinned widely. “That’s me,” he said, taking a swig from his bottle.

“Are you here alone?” I asked.

“Yes, but I hope not for long, sweetie. Why don’t you come in and have a seat,” he said, reaching for my hand.

I looked over toward the darkness. Andrew quickly appeared. “I don’t think that’ll be happening this evening,” he snarled.

“Who the hell are you?” Frank asked angrily.

“Your worst nightmare,” Andrew growled.

Andrew grabbed his body. I turned to run away, but something had a hold of my jacket. Before I knew it, I was being pulled inside the house with the both of them.

“Stop!” I screamed.

“Let go of her!” Andrew shouted.

As Andrew grew closer to the man, he was unable to stop himself from feeding. The same loud screeching sound pierced my ears. Frank fell to his knees, still holding on to my jacket. Andrew stood over him with disregard to my presence. I froze, terrified at the sight.

Andrew’s hand was wrapped around his throat, squeezing tightly as Frank desperately gasped for air. I gagged. Frank’s hand fell lifelessly to his side as I was now freed, but I couldn’t move. My eyes stayed glued to the horrific scene that was unfolding.

Andrew gripped the man’s hair, pulling his head back. A white mist began spewing from Frank’s mouth. Andrew’s mouth widened. He leaned in and began inhaling the white mist. The screeching sound worsened as the mist seemed to be fighting the inhalation.

Andrew looked over mid way through the process.

“Get in the car!” He managed to shout.

I ran quickly and heard the door slam behind me. I grabbed the car door handle, but before I could enter, I heard one last shriek. Sliding into the car and slamming the door, I started the engine trying to block out the noise—a very familiar noise.

Clasping my hands together, realizing they were damp, I noticed specks of blood. I frantically searched for something to clean it off. Opening the glove box, I found a few napkins. After wiping both hands, I noticed there were a few specks of blood on the arm of my jacket. I hastily pulled off the jacket and wadded it up, tucking it underneath the folded seats.

My eyes stayed focused on the front door as I lightly tapped my fingers on the steering wheel—refusing to analyze or even think about what I had just witnessed.

Andrew came springing out from inside the house. The rear door popped open and he jumped inside.

“Go,” he commanded.

I shifted into drive and sped off. I peeked in the rear view mirror. Andrew’s glow was coming back, and he looked slightly less frail. But I could not shake the vision of him murdering that man.

“Two more, right?” I clarified nervously.

“Haley.” His voice was raspy.

“Yes,” I swallowed hard.

“I’m sorry for what you saw, but I couldn’t stop. I was too weak.” His voice dropped.

“I’m fine,” I lied.

“I know you aren’t,” he said, slightly moaning.

The next house was two blocks away from the last one. I parked on the street in front of it. What I had witnessed was about to happen again. I hoped that these men were really guilty of these crimes, or I would never be able to forgive myself for sending a death angel their way—or a death demon, which really seemed more appropriate now.

“What’s his name?” Andrew asked.

“Mark Stanley,” I said.

“You stay in here. I got this one,” he said, sliding out of the car.

Andrew approached the house. A short man with blond hair opened the door. They spoke briefly before Andrew walked inside. I turned on the radio, hoping to block out any sound.

I scanned through the channels, but nothing quite fit the mood. There definitely was not a song appropriate for this sort of occasion—driving your boyfriend around town to horrifically feed off human souls.

The front door swung open, and Andrew now sprinted to the car. I turned down the radio. This time he opened up the passenger door and slid in beside me. I instantly shied away.

“It’s okay now,” he assured. “I wouldn’t sit next you if I thought I was going to hurt you.”

I cautiously looked at him. He looked like his old self once more—no longer weak and frail. This was reassuring and frightening all at once. I was reassured because the strong, confident Andrew was returning. But horrified that he might decide I was not worth the struggle and rid his life of me, as Mr. Mitchell had warned while I was being held captive.

“Okay,” I croaked.

“Haley,” he said softly, reaching for my hand.

I quickly pulled it away. “I need time to adjust,” I said flatly.

“I understand,” he said distressed as he retracted his hand.

Thankfully, the next house was only three blocks away. I again parked on the street.

“Name?” he asked coldly, hurt by my rejection.

I looked down at the next page. “Jack Martin,” I said dryly.

“Haley,” he whispered.

“What?” I asked, keeping my focus out the windshield.

“I won’t continue if this upsets you,” he said softly.

“You have to,” I said, wiping a single tear from my cheek.

“I’ll let them take me if it means that you no longer want me anymore.” His voice lowered.

“I do want you, but I wasn’t prepared to witness that…and maybe one day, it might be me.”

He gently touched my shoulder sending invigorating sparks flowing throughout. “I would never, ever intentionally hurt you like that,” he swore.

“You were like a demon. Like the demon that I’ve been warned about.”

“I know, and if I could survive without souls, then I would, just for you,” he sighed heavily.

“But you can’t, just like I can’t survive without food,” I sighed. “Go do what you must.”

“I love you,” he whispered, touching my hand lightly.

He waited for a second to see if I would answer, but I could not. He flew out the door and dashed toward the house. A man wearing glasses answered the door. But I closed my eyes resisting the urge to get a good look at him. I did not want to have nightmares of his face as he begged for his life.

Closing my eyes and leaning back on the headrest, I tried imagining I was somewhere else—but I couldn’t. I tried thinking back to where I was a year ago at this very moment, but that depressed me. I missed a few of my friends back in
California
.

I hadn’t spoken to anyone there since July. Several of them had tried calling for weeks, but I never wanted to explain what happened, due to embarrassment. I hoped they were all doing well, and maybe one day I would get to see them again.

The sound of the car door opening startled me as I quickly opened my eyes. Andrew entered.

“Are we done?” I asked.

“Yes,” he hesitated. “Let’s go back to your house.”

“Okay,” I nodded.

He cautiously reached out, lightly brushing my right arm. I resisted the urge to jerk away. My actions earlier had hurt his feelings, and that is not what I intended to do, but I could not stop myself. I really loved Andrew, but a sudden feeling of hatred came over me as I despised what he truly was and how he preyed upon humans. I knew he could not change what he was, nor could I, and I was positive he sometimes wished I were immortal like him.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly.

“You don’t have to apologize for what you are.”

“No, I can’t apologize for that, but I can for losing control and having you witness such a horrible, horrible sight,” he said ashamed.

“You were weak.”

“I shouldn’t have been. I should’ve stayed and listened to Alec and not been so arrogant,” he began rambling. “If I had waited patiently, then we’d be lying in your bed tonight in love like we were days ago, but I couldn’t wait. I had to make you safe, which I failed miserably at.” His voice went from shame to anger.

“It’s fine.”

“No it isn’t,” he said, his voice cracking.