The Problem Read online

  "No won't be awkward at all,” I do my best to try and convince him and myself.

  "Great,” he mutters looking away.

  "Great,” I repeat.

  "So I should really get to class,” I look towards the direction of my next stop.

  "Yeah yeah of course go ahead,” he heads in the opposite direction as I finally make it to Vampire Anatomy class.

  Quincy has kindly saved me a seat, moving her bag as she sees me.

  Sitting down I look at her shocked, "What?" she asks confused.

  "I think Professor Fletcher and I just made up,” I say, almost not believing my own words and half in shock that it ended civilly and not with me being completely mortified.

  Quincy looks at me surprised, "Tell me everything.” And so I do, well as much as I can fit in before Professor Rafeson comes in.

  THREE

  "Can someone explain a vampire's fangs to me?" Professor Rafeson asks, looking around.

  Savanna's hand flys into the air like a dart, “A vampire has two sets of fangs. The front fangs are used for biting, fighting and draining blood from its victims, while the second set of fangs carry the venom that allows vampires to turn humans,” she explains.

  Rafeson nods, "Good now can anyone else tell me what traits a vampire has?"

  He looks around the room, his eyes landing on me, "Gemma.”

  "Vampires are fast, but only at night because the sun makes them somewhat weak. They have the strength of ten men and heightened senses. Their most noticeable trait is their eyes that turn red at even the slightest hint of blood,” I explain.

  He smiles in agreement, continuing with his lesson. I turn to Quincy, she looks up satisfied, having just devoured an entire granola bar and gives me a thumbs up.

  The rest of class seems to blend together, and when the bell finally rings my stomach grumbles. I'm starting to feel like Quincy, with my sudden need for food. I should have eaten more at breakfast.

  As we enter the cafeteria trainees sit all around hungrily devouring today's hot meal. We get in line each grabbing a tray, the food isn't great, but it's something.

  "Is your Pepere picking you up after next class or are you walking?" Quincy asks, shoveling a scoop of Mac n' cheese onto her tray.

  I smile, "He's picking me up for some reason they don't think it's safe for me to walk from school to their house since the amount of reported vampire sightings have risen.”

  "Don't they know that you're one of the best. You can take care of yourself especially with that stake you always keep in your boot,” She piles twenty or more nuggets onto her tray as I choose a bowl of the broccoli cheddar soup.

  "I'm still only a novice, I've never had to face a real vampire before just heard the stories. You never know how you'll react in a situation until you're in it,” I explain as we take our seats at the usual table.

  Quincy gives me a disbelieving look, "You're the most prepared person I know.”

  Catching sight of Fletcher I watch as he comes into the cafeteria and takes a seat at the teachers table.

  "Yeah in everything other than my romantic life,” I whisper moving the spoon in my soup around.

  Quincy hears me and gently places her hand on my shoulder, "You're not messed up G, you're just different. When you meet the right guy you'll want him to kiss you. It'll be explosive, like nothing you've ever felt before and it'll confuse you beyond any measure, but it'll feel right,” Quincy's eyes glaze over as if she is remembering something.

  I smile, "Do you know this from experience?”

  She returns her eyes to me and looks away quickly, "Of course not, just what I imagine it'll be like,” she returns to eating her food in a rapid manner.

  Just then Dmitri appears before us with one of his minions on either side, one holding his lunch tray the other his backpack, "You'll imagine like what'll be?” He asks, making Quincy turn a bright shade of red.

  "Nothing,” she all but yells, drawing more than a few heads towards us.

  "Right,” he mutters looking slightly annoyed at being kept out of the loop. "Anyway just a heads up Knightly I hear that Dean Tremaine has approved for eight seniors to go on a Creed chosen assignment with a Professor to get real world experience before the big leagues. My sources tell me that'll be You, Savanna, Beatrice, Hudson, Rick, Dante, myself of course and I was able to pull some strings and get Quincy here added to the list.”

  Quincy does her best trying to hide the smile wanting to make its way onto her face.

  "Do you know where they're sending us?" I ask, getting excited.

  He shakes his head making sure no one is listening, "No, but I hear it'll be Fletcher leading the mission,” he says looking over at the teacher's table.

  One of his Minions comes forward to whisper in Dmitri's ear, and a moment later Dmitri turns to us, "Well I seem to have an appointment I guess I'll be seeing you two around,” his eyes linger on Quincy as he walks away moving to his special table on the other side of the room.

  A table equipped with a tablecloth and silver utensils. He sits down across from a young blonde student, one that I recognize well, Savanna Blake. They whisper to each other about something and they both laugh.

  Turning to Quincy I see a sad look mar her face as she viciously attacks the rest of her food. I can tell any remark on my part will be rebuffed or denied so I keep quiet.

  As the last bell of the day sounds I make my way to the front of Huntington where dozens of cars are parked, many trainees go home for some or all weekends to be close with their families, or at least the ones that aren't away on missions.

  Quincy's Mom lives in Colorado with her third husband so Quincy only visits her on Holiday, she sticks around Huntington on the weekends.

  Pepere, as on time as ever sits out front in his truck waiting for me.

  "Hey kiddo, how were classes this week? Ooh clearly not good,” he takes in my bruised eye.

  "Don't worry I'm sure karma will get her,” or maybe I will if this is how the rest of the semester is gonna go, I only voice the first half of my opinion.

  I'm not typically a vengeful person, and she's lucky that it didn't draw blood, because one thing I absolutely despise is when someone makes me bleed. I've spent hours using my bare fists on a punching bag, but nothing can prepare me for the real thing. It's like when someone makes me bleed, it's open game for me to destroy them.

  Usually, in training and such, I hold back because I don't truly want to hurt anyone, not even Savanna Blake. With her, I held back, well until she bopped me in the face with her fist, that just pissed me off.

  Pepere launches into a full discussion about what we're having for dinner, as I zone out thinking about the future, and how things seem in place to change, soon, especially with Fletcher back at the Academy.

  FOUR

  My room at home is like an underwater explosion, the walls are painted a light sea blue, and my curtains and bedding match. Mermaid figurines litter all clear surfaces, "Henrietta dinners ready,” Memere yells causing a groan to escape my lips.

  She's the only person who refuses to call me Gemma. I mean technically my full name is Henrietta Gemini Knightly, but Gemma is way cooler than Henrietta. I made sure freshman year to inform all of my teachers to call me Gemma so that there would be no confusion about my name.

  Even Pepere follows my wishes and calls me Gemma, but Memere, nope, she's too stubborn.

  Memere takes one look at my bruised eye and places a light kiss over it before setting the green beans down in front of me. Yum, dinner is pot roast with mashed potatoes, gravy, and I can't forget the green beans.

  Pepere digs in, as he also works on cleaning his knives. He prefers to hunt with knives rather than a gun or stake. Memere prefers guns and if people aren't careful they may just accidentally sit on one since she keeps them hidden all over the house, you know, just in case.

  Once a hunter, always a hunter.

  "Leo you know the rule no weapons at the dinner table,” Memere chimes, taki
ng her seat on the other side of me.

  He sighs, putting the knives back into their box, "Yes Dear.”

  I grin, my Pepere is a scary guy, but a certain tone from Memere can scare even the most horrid of creatures.

  "So Henrietta, how was your week? Did anything interesting happen, why don't you tell me about that bruise you've got?"

  Pushing around my green beans I sigh, "Just a girl from school, she sucker punched me right as Professor Dayton ended a sparring match and before you even ask I've decided to let karma get her back.”

  She smiles lighty, "That's very level headed of you, I'm glad, but next time make sure you're on alert. You always need to be ready because the enemy won't play by the rules either.” She is the protective one, always worrying about my well being. With her daughter in law and one son dead and the other needing full care I think she's always been afraid that she will lose me too. No parent should ever have to outlive their child.

  I nod, "Are we going to visit Uncle Jonas tomorrow?" I ask, changing the subject.

  Pepere immediately smiles, "Of course, I have a new set of knives I want to show him.”

  "Leo you know as well as I do that the nurses do not want you bringing knives into Whiteshore,” Memere chimes.

  Smiling, I watch them bicker back and forth. Without the bickering it just wouldn't feel like home.

  After dinner, I decide to go out back for some target practice. I'm great with a bow, I've been told so was my Dad. It would be my weapon of choice, but mostly they prefer us to train with stakes, at least until the end of the year initiation. The initiation is when those who decide to become hunters make the oath and receive the hunters crest, those who choose not too either take jobs within the academy or go back to the mundane. Though few ever do choose that path.

  The hunters crest is a brand of an infinity symbol, it signifies our duty to protect the innocent from the evil of the world, always and forever.

  Aiming arrow after arrow I let them fly, as they each come to land in the center of the target, always hitting the mark, never failing me. It has become muscle memory after all these years of practice.

  Feeling eyes on me, I turn around sharply greeted by the warm smile of Pepere. He sits down on the patio watching me as I fire a few more arrows, a look crosses his face, like he is remembering a moment.

  I know this look well, he's remembering Dad. Watching him intently I set my bow and arrows aside taking the seat beside him, devouring the dessert as we watch the stars. Together, we sit in silence, both half mourning, half remembering a better time. One before our lives were full of loss and before it all changed.

  FIVE

  We all get up early the next morning, not saying much. It's usually like this when we go to visit Uncle Jonas. Kind of like a dark cloud, it's not that we don't want to or that we even feel wrong about visiting him, it's just the memories.

  Memere and Pepere have better, more solid memories of my parents, but all I have is a whisper of my young life, barely enough memories left to remember them. I remember that Dad had taught me how to use a bow, the joy that spread across his face when I couldn't put the weapon down. I spent hours outside, and he was always with me, every single time.

  I remember Mom being fearless, she would braid my hair telling me stories of all the places she and Dad visited.

  When I was younger, she told me that this world was full of people who would never understand our life, the life of someone destined to save lives. Some people would think that the weight on my shoulders would be heavy, but I know that I'll never be alone to bear it.

  There will always be those brave enough, strong enough to stand up for what's right.

  I don't remember much of my life with Uncle Jonas, only that he used to make me different origami animals. He promised to perfect a mermaid for me, that was before the accident. No one has ever given me the specifics on what happened to Uncle Jonas, only that he hit his head and was never the same. These days we hardly ever talk about it.

  "I think he'll be happy to see us,” Memere whispers, scattering her thoughts.

  "I'm sure he will Dear,” Pepere rubs her shoulders in a comforting manner.

  Uncle Jonas hardly ever even moves, let alone says anything, he was only eighteen, fresh out of the Academy, not much older then I am now.

  I follow behind Memere and Pepere as we sign ourselves in and Nurse Deely leads us over to Uncle Jonas. He sits, still, quiet, eyes unfocused, not even on the television that he is currently seated in front of. A few of the other patients are watching some reality show as it plays out on the small screen.

  Nurse Deely has been the nurse here since Jonas first came in, she's actually a little younger than him, she started out as a volunteer before she became a full time nurse.

  She knows all about our world as her family is linked with the Creed, but she never went to formal training at the Academy.

  Memere bends forward placing a gentle kiss upon Jonas's face, his expression never changing. He is dressed in his usual hospital issued pajamas and robe.

  "Henrietta would you mind staying with your Uncle while your Grandfather and I go speak to the Doctor,” Memere turns to me looking hopeful.

  I nod, as she and Pepere follow Nurse Deely around the corner.

  I move kneeling down in front of him,"Hey Uncle Jonas it's me Gemma again. I missed you,” I take his cold hands into mine gently rubbing them trying to warm them up. I catch sight of the brand on his neck, the infinity symbol that proves to everyone who he really is, not was, a hunter.

  I look around to make sure that no one is paying much attention before focussing my energy on him, "I just wanted you to know that I don't think you're broken. You're gonna be okay, one day you'll find your way out of the haze and when you do we'll be waiting here for you, your family is still here,” I look at his face hoping for some semblance of a change, but his body remains still.

  Reaching into my pocket I pull out the tiny piece of paper that I had folded last night before bed, it's supposed to be a tiger, but I'm nowhere near as good at making origami animals as Uncle Jonas. Bringing it to his eyes I show him before setting the paper into his robe pocket.

  Memere and Pepere return a few moments later looking sad, so no change. I have gotten good at reading their expressions over the years, this is the same one they have every time the Doctor informs them that no progress has been made with Jonas.

  We all sit around Uncle Jonas as Pepere sneakily pulls out his knives and launches into a full history of where and when they were made. After, Memere talks about what has been going on in our lives lately pretending that he would somehow respond back.

  At the end, Pepere whispers into Jonas's ear like he always does. I never know what he tells him, I asked once, he told me he would tell me, one day. Memere places a kiss on his cheek before wiping away her lipstick, holding the tears back that always threaten to fall from her eyes. She hates leaving him here, but knows that it's the safest place for him.

  As we leave, I can't help glancing back at him, and for a second, just a second I think that just maybe I see something in his eyes, perhaps it's my imagination or just my mind playing tricks on me, yeah that's probably what it was, but I could have sworn that I saw hope flash in his eyes.

  The drive home is filled with pained silence, "E.R. Fletcher has returned to the Academy to teach,” I don't know why I tell them, but I do.

  "Really are you sure? Last I heard he was recovering from his last mission, his face was scarred if I recall,” Memere replies, catching me up on the local community gossip.

  "He does have the scars, but they aren't too bad,” I comment.

  "Still fancy him?” Pepere turns away from the wheel to give me a knowing look.

  Words of protest rise to the tip of my tongue, but before I can answer Memere screams, "Leo watch out.”

  A moment later, a loud thud sounds as something makes contact with the windshield, and Pepere presses onto the breaks hard. The truck skids to a stop, m
y seatbelt, locking in place as it tries to hold me securely. I let out a breath I don't realize I'm holding as we come to a complete stop.

  "You both alright?" Pepere asks, looking between Memere and I.

  We both nod, "What was that?" I ask concerned.

  Pepere unbuckles his seatbelt and opens the door, followed closely by Memere who has pulled out the 9mm that she always keeps in her purse. I silently, get out following their lead, they stop to look down at something on the ground. I realize as I get closer, it's a bird.

  "Looks like the little fella got lost among its flock", Pepere comments, kneeling down to get a proper look at the dead bird.

  White all over with black lightly under the wings, the most notable trait being the black cap on its head. "It looks like a black capped chickadee", Memere observes.