“Out.”
“And where was out? I demand to know!”
“Eric, firstly, since when did I answer you? And secondly, get a fucking grip. You are seriously becoming a wannabe alpha male and I won’t stand for it. So back the hell off.”
“A wannabe alpha? Hayley, are you seriously pulling rank on me? You were attacked only a week ago and our home was set ablaze, and now you bring this guy here. We haven’t even managed to dig up anything about him! You are being reckless and should know better.”
“Hey - I’m standing right here and if you want dirt on me, I can happily tell you what you need to know.” Darius lent against the kitchen doorway with his arms crossed, his dazzling smile catching my eye.
“Do me a favour Eric and shut the fuck up. I don’t need a babysitter and I most certainly don’t need a security guard. I can easily take you even at half strength, so you either deal with this arrangement, or you piss off back home. Darius has some explaining to do, and he’s come here to do it.”
I was stern with my words as I didn’t enjoy being told what to do or being watched. I left the manor because of these so-called rules, and I would be damned if I’d have the same rules in my own home. I knew deep down Eric meant well as he always wanted to help and keep me safe but now, I had to deal with Darius trying to do the same.
However, as the leader of the Van Helsing’s clan, I was blessed with the powers of extra strength, speed, and agility. It didn’t make me immortal, but I healed faster than most humans and I knew how to take care of myself, I always did.
“I believe we have gotten on the wrong foot here,” Darius broke the silence first as Eric sat there unmoving, unchanged.
“Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Darius Michaels, and I was sent here by Hayley’s mother to help her with the coming war.”
Eric looked at Darius suddenly, his eyes widening as his words set in. I was still shocked at the notion my mother would ask anyone outside of the family to help any of us, especially me so it would be interesting to know what the letter said and whatever Darius had left to say.
“How are we so sure you knew Hayley’s mother? Personally, I mean, she was well known throughout the city, an enemy to many, and friend to only a few.” Eric asked, something I hadn’t really thought about.
“You can’t know for sure as, sadly, she isn’t here to answer that question. However, I have given Hayley that letter, and it should explain everything.”
Picking up the letter, I looked at it intently, examining the handwriting on the front.
“This is my mother’s handwriting, but how do I know if it’s hers on the inside?”
“Open it and find out.”
“Hayley, perhaps if it is your mother’s letter to you, maybe you’d like to read it in private?” Eric stood then, placing a hand over mine and lowering the letter down onto the counter.
Thinking about it, and as much as I would have wanted to read the letter in private, it was obviously important if Darius had come out of the darkness to meet me, to help me and show himself to me. Perhaps, that was part of my mother’s plan all along.
I understood what Eric said as I might become emotional, and I hated expressing myself to anyone as it could be perceived as a weakness.
Deciding I would just have to hold it together, I picked up the letter and tore it open, pulling out the several pieces of paper, all with scribbles written by my mother, and I instantly felt my throat closing as I held back the sudden tears…
My dearest Hayley,
If you are reading this, then I fear the worst has already happened and this will now become my final hello and goodbye to you. We are due to go on a mission in a few hours to rescue an entire hunting party, and I am unsure if we will succeed. They have been taken far behind the enemies’ lines and I am nervous if we can even pass their defences.
I am sorry I brought you into this life, and now, I am leaving you to potentially pick up the pieces. You know I am not an optimistic person, that’s your father’s job. I wish sometimes I were more like him but sadly I am not, and I fear you were ‘blessed’ with the certain dark traits of my own. Oh, to be a Van Helsing is a burden, I know, and I wish I had run away with you shortly after you were born, away from this life, away from this evil. You have and always will be my greatest gift in this life.
However, I fear by you reading this letter that you have been introduced to my dear and closest ally, Darius Michaels. He is no normal man, nor is he a normal supernatural.
His lineage is special, for he was born from the union of a witch and a vampire. His mother, a lifelong friend and witch who helped us in many battles, fell in love with a vampire, and yes, it probably sounds as strange to you as it did me when I first heard of it. Through some sort of magic, I won’t go into too many details, she bore a son. That son is Darius, and he is a...
My eyes widened as I read the news, and quickly shot up towards Darius who was now sitting opposite me, drinking some water, and appearing to be not shocked or remotely bothered that I knew who, or what he was. It explained so many things, how he had the strength to take down a vampire twice his size, how he was able to disappear and reappear whenever he wished.
I had thought him to be a witch but not a vampire. No. A vampire was now in my home and my blood didn’t begin to boil, the urge to kill was not there. I just felt confused. I didn’t feel anything towards dusting him if anything I wanted to know more. I had more unanswered questions about who he was. Thinking back on it all, not once had I felt the urge to kill him, which was unusual as it was always there, and was worse when a vampire was nearby.
“You’re a hybrid.” I said out loud, my thoughts betraying me.
“A what?” Eric shouted suddenly as he leaped from his seat, and quickly backed up at the door.
“Hybrid. He’s a hybrid. I thought they only existed in stories.”