The Problem Read online

  "So you did read that book on birds that I got you for Christmas", Pepere mutters in awe looking at Memere.

  She grins giving him a wink, "Of course, now what should we do with the poor little guy?"

  "You both go ahead and get back in the truck. I have a shovel in the back, I'll bury it on the side of the road and put us all in ease. As it looks, no damage has been done to the windshield,” Pepere goes to retrieve the shovel.

  "Come on sweety let's get back in, it's getting cold out,” Memere stears me back to the car.

  I get in, not being able to scratch the thought, perhaps this is an omen of something terrible to come.

  SIX

  Pepere and I get up early the next morning, he drops me off at Huntington before six. I want to be able to get some free gym time in. Even though I prize my sleep I take training very seriously.

  Taking the steps two at a time, I walk quietly trying not to wake any still sleeping students as I make my way to mine and Quincy's room. Gently, and silently unlocking the door, I open it slowly, expecting Quincy to be sleeping. I am not in fact expecting to find one Dmitri Fuller naked in bed with Quincy. She’s snoring lightly using him as a pillow. He’s looking at me eyes wide as he holds up his hand for me to be quiet.

  I gesture for him to meet me in the hallway. He nods, before I step out of the room, quietly closing the door.

  He slips out now fully clothed, "You saw nothing, heard nothing and will not mention this to her. She won't like that someone saw us together,” Dmitri looks at me almost threateningly.

  I cross my arms smirking, "Don't worry I'll wait for her to mention it.”

  He nods about to walk away, but I stop him with a hand on his arm, "I know who your family is Dmitri, just don't hurt her okay. She's not someone who deserves to be treated like some one time trophy girl.”

  "I'd never hurt her, never Quincy,” he says with such certainty, like a man in love, he leaves me with a smile.

  What do I know though? I've never been in love, maybe I never will at the rate I'm going. I spend more time alone in the gym than I do being a normal teenage girl who goes on dates and who has the freedom to crush on guys.

  I almost let a touch of envy hit me, but with a shrug I brush it away and quietly enter our room. Setting my bag down on the floor I change into my workout gear, heading for the gym.

  Setting up three dummies I grab my stake and practice some moves on them. Each ends with the stake at the dummies' hearts. Vampires are fast, so the hunter needs to predict where the vampire is going to be. That's when we stun them, a pinch of stunning salt will put any vampire down for an hour. It was invented by Scientists working for the Creed. After we stun them they're either staked or captured. The ones that we stake are used to get information out of, to find the bigger threat. That's rare though and always on special orders from the Creed.

  "I wouldn't want to be the guy you're picturing,” a voice draws my attention away from practice and to Fletcher.

  "I don't need to picture a man to inflict damage, I just need to have good aim,” I do my best to ignore his presence as I go back to attacking the dummies.

  He walks around me taking a seat on the bleachers, just watching me with interest. A feeling of self consciousness spreads across my body tinting my cheeks and ears in red, I can feel it and the unfamiliar feeling sends a wave of annoyance through me, "Are you just going to watch me all day?" I ask annoyed.

  He smirks, "Would you prefer that I join you?"

  "No, I would prefer if you could give me some words of wisdom, oh wise Professor,” I don't know where this sudden flash of courage is coming from, but I hope it doesn't leave too soon.

  Standing up he approaches me, "May I?" He asks for permission to touch me, I nod.

  Moving behind me he gently takes my arm and moves it in a different form, slowly swinging it at one of the Dummies heart, repeating the action a few more times, "Just like that, it's easier to get the stake to reach the heart at this angle,” he whispers, his breath grazing the back of my neck. I can feel his muscled abdomen against my back, he's standing so close.

  Shifting so that we are looking at each other he moves his face closer to mine, his scent assaulting my nose. He smells like expensive cologne, slipping out of his grip and moving my face away from him. I repeat the move a few more times on my own trying to shake the feeling of him off, but it seems to stay slithering up my spine.

  I remain on edge feeling him behind me, his eyes on me, "Good, just like that,” he encourages continuing to look on at my performance, but something tells me that he is paying attention to anything, but that.

  I clear my throat putting my stake back into my boot, "Thanks for the lesson Professor,” I chime looking uncomfortable.

  "Anytime,” he smiles, keeping his eyes on me until I leave his sight.

  SEVEN

  "He did what?” Quincy yells.

  "I've told you a hundred times I don't think he meant anything by it. He was probably just trying to teach me, he would do that with any student,” I say trying to convince her, or maybe myself.

  Quincy scoffs while eating a bowl of lucky charms, "Gemma a man does not simply stand behind his students touching them. He was putting the moves on you, it's the oldest trick in the book.”

  I roll my eyes feeling myself getting nervous for my first class with Fletcher, "He's our teacher now Quincy he can't have feelings for me he would get in so much trouble.”

  "Well someone needs to tell him that. I don't like the idea of some older guy coming in here and trying to sweep you off your feet even if it is E.R Fletcher. You deserve a beautiful, emotion filled love story not some creepy wham bam thank you mam tuesday night romp from our teacher,” she murmurs.

  I laugh, "Thanks Quincy, but that was a little too much imagery for me, however, I get your point. I do deserve a good love story and who knows maybe it'll be soon, at least I really hope it is. I’m starting to think I’ll be a virgin forever.”

  Even though I'm a hunter I'm still a teenage girl, a girl that still dreams about happily ever afters and one loves. Looking a few tables over I notice two hunters sitting closely together. Dante whispers into the ear of his boyfriend, Rick. They smile at each other, together they're one of this Academy's cutest couples. I just wish we could all have that, find that one special person who's always going to be there, or at least be there for as long as they can. Nothing is certain in our line of work.

  Looking at Quincy, I catch her staring at Dmitri's table, where he is sitting alone, eating breakfast. He pays no one any attention only focusing on his computer and eating the five star breakfast that has been prepared for him. As if sensing my eyes on him, he looks our way. Just for a moment he and Quincy make eye contact before she breaks it and stands up, "Come on let's get to class. I want to get a good spot on the bleachers.”

  Wordlessly, I follow glancing one more time at the couple only a few tables away wondering if I'll ever have that.

  "Alright everyone, welcome to your first day of Stakes and Daggers class. I like to keep it casual so you may call me Fletcher. If anyone has any questions about what I'm teaching don't hesitate to ask because no question is a bad one. Now I've taken on this position so that I can better prepare everyone for what it's like hunting real vampires because learning to hunt is not the same thing as implementing those skills. So for learning purposes I've brought in a real vampire so you can all see what they're like before graduation,” he gestures over to the doors as two men dressed in protective gear roll in a cage.

  The cage is large, big enough for a chair, which the creature is sitting in. It sits with chains all over linking it to the floor and with a sack over its head. Everyone begins to whisper and some move back slightly, everyone becoming on edge as an enemy has entered our safe haven.

  Fletcher nods to one of the men and he reaches through the cage removing the sack from the creature's head. Two things surprise me, one, that this so called creature looks remarkably like us. Light brown
hair, brown eyes, appears to be in his late twenties, a metal mouthpiece over his face to prevent biting. The second thing I notice is that, instead, of looking aggressive and hungry he looks, dare I say scared. Although, he's in a room full of trained teenagers ready for the slightest hint of escape to attack.

  "Class as you can see they appear almost human to untrained eyes, but if you pay special attention you can see the pale skin, and if that isn't enough of a sign there's always a way to determine if they truly are what they don't appear to be,” Fletcher crudely pricks his finger with a dagger and within seconds the monsters eyes turn bright red.

  Pulling at the chains the vampire tries to spring, to get to the blood, but measures have been taken to avoid that happening. His body shutters and he unleashes a pain filled scream as one of the men uses a long cattle prod to keep him in place.

  Fletcher wipes his hand of the blood, "I would like each of you to write a paper on what you've just seen. Tell me how you would subdue a creature like him and other methods you may use to get them to show their true intent.”

  Quincy looks away a grim look on her face.

  "You alright?" I whisper.

  "Fine,” she plasters, a fake smile on her face.

  Before I can question her further, selective groans ring out at the prospect of having to write more papers. Fletcher makes eye contact with me, it only lasts for a moment, but I feel as though I can't trust it for some reason. The look was nothing I have ever seen before, it speaks of desire and an almost possessiveness.

  He breaks the contact first, "Yes I know the agony of having to write a paper, but maybe this will sweeten the deal. You can all leave early today except for Savanna, Beatrice, Hudson, Rick, Dmitri, Quincy, Dante and Gemma,” excited murmurs ring out as everyone not called proceeds to leave, without need of more encouragement.

  The two men force the sack back over the vampire's face and wheel him back out of the room. "You've all probably heard rumors, but Dean Tremaine has agreed to allow me to take the eight of you off campus this weekend. It'll be dangerous and you'll all have to listen to me explicitly, but the Creed has given me an assignment that they agreed would best be handled with a group of hunters and I've chosen all of you to assist me. I understand if some of you may not feel ready and so there's no shame in stepping down, but I would appreciate it if you did that now.”

  We all remain silent excited by this honor, a real world mission doing what will be our full time job one day.

  "Good, be ready Friday morning at five am, pack your best weapon,” he dismisses us.

  Everyone begins to gossip, "I can't believe this, can you? We'll finally be able to prove ourselves on a real assignment,” Beatrice mutters to a startled looking Savanna.

  I follow Dmitri and Quincy out, "I've decided that you shouldn't come,” Dmitri says, catching Quincy off guard.

  "What are you talking about?”

  "It's too dangerous you're just not prepared for it,” he tries to reason.

  "WHAT, you and everyone else have received the same training that I have. I'm going and don't you even try and stop me Dmitri Fuller or I will be very cross with you,” she points her finger aggressively at him.

  I can't help smiling at the bickering couple, Dmitri looks ready to start arguing with her, so I make my move, cutting in between them, "Quincy why don't we go to our room and start deciding on what to pack?” I grab her arm dragging her away from Dmitri, she glares at him until we are out of sight.

  Quincy shakes her head, getting the anger out, "Can you believe the nerve of him. We've all been waiting years to get out of here and now that we're finally going to he's trying to get me to stay behind, no thanks.”

  "Quince he is just being caring, he doesn't want you getting hurt. It's kind of adorable if you ask me it means he cares about you, he wants you to stay behind so that he knows you're safe,” I explain.

  Most of her anger starts to fade listening to my reasoning, "You think so?" She asks, showing me a moment of vulnerability.

  "I know so,” I confirm.

  She nods regaining her sanity, "Well just because he supposedly likes me doesn't mean I like him back,” she argues walking ahead with an extra added pep in her step.

  "Whatever you say, Dear,” I silently laugh following her, taking a note from Pepere, sometimes it's just easier to agree.

  EIGHT

  The rest of the week goes by in a flash, people buzzing with the news of our field trip. In accordance with our mission, we are trained harder by Fletcher than the other students to get us ready and by the time that Saturday morning rolls around we are ready, at least we all hope we are.

  A burgundy van pulls up in front of us with the words Saint Henry's High School on the side of it. Fletcher gets out smiling at all of us, he's wearing casual clothes, we all are, "Alright everyone ready to go?"

  "We're taking that?" Savanna more comments then questions, none of us looking happy about it.

  "Of course, we need to blend,” Fletcher reasons.

  "We call the back,” Dante chimes, pulling Rick along with him.

  We all file in, Savanna loudly claiming the front seat beside Fletcher. He looks somewhat saddened by the idea, but only for a moment as he conceals his emotions.

  I take a seat in the front row against the window, Quincy sits beside me, with Dmitri on the outside. Just behind us Beatrice has snagged a seat with Hudson and she is tactfully trying to flirt with him. While he remains as quiet and stoic, as always.

  In my boot, is my usual stake, up my sleeves I have a knife in each side and in my bag a collapsible bow and arrows, just in case.

  Quincy has packed a stake and her a small axe, she has it attached to her back. I've only seen her use it a few times, but she's actually really good with it.

  I can only imagine what weapons the others chose to bring. I know that Fletcher supposedly favors a short sword, even though most hunters favor guns these days.

  The ride is long and consists mostly of everyone making small talk, halfway through Quincy falls asleep leaning against Dmitri, but he doesn't seem to mind. Beatrice is laying fully over Hudson, while she looks peaceful he just looks uncomfortable. Savanna is watching them through the front mirror, her fists clenching with a look of anger maring her face. She sees me looking and covers up her emotions turning away, but not before sending a harsh glare my way.

  Interesting, very interesting, I may have just found the cause of some major future disputing between Savanna and Beatrice, supposed friends.

  "Alright everyone, the Council would like us to look into this town and try to find any information we can on several missing persons. We'll stay together at all times, and none of you are to ever at any time to take off from the group,” Fletcher reports from the front seat as we pass the Now Entering Fillmore sign.

  Savanna looks surprised for a moment and turns to Fletcher questioningly before looking back at me in an almost concerned gaze. No, I must be seeing wrong because she looks away just as quickly and a thoughtful look crosses the side of her face. That’s weird.

  "We'll stop here first to get some food, but remember we're in enemy territory now so, keep your guard up,” he orders as he parks the van across from a diner. Everyone in the car agrees to the conditions after only having drive thru and gas station snacks for a whole day.

  Looking around, I notice a bar, flower shop, clothing store, beauty salon, grocery store, church, and town hall all in eyesight. People walk by, all blending into the scenery. Pulling my bag over my shoulder I keep my senses open and alert in this unfamiliar place. We make our way inside the diner passing a few teenage girls as they head for the beauty salon, one of the girls turns back to look at us and whispers to her friend.

  "Well hello folks you can all go have yourselves a seat wherever yah fancy,” an older waitress with the name tag Sandy gestures for us to take our pick of seats. We move pushing a few tables together and all sit down. A moment later, Sandy comes over with a full pot of coffee and a stack of
menus, "Welcome to Fillmore it's so rare that we have out of towners around these parts are yah all just passing through, where yah headed?"

  Fletcher clears his throat, "We're on a school field trip expected to join the rest of our group in Portland for the Maple Sunday celebration tonight, we just decided to stop to get some lunch before meeting with the others,” he lies easily.

  Sandy smiles kindly, but a look in her eye almost gives away that she can sense the deception. A family of four eats happily in the corner, a group of five friends on the opposite side and a few gentlemen sit on stools by the front, I notice taking in the whole of the diner. I notice another waitress, this one looking like a younger version of Sandy, obviously her daughter with the name Mina on her apron.