âMom, did dad call?â SJ flashed into the bedroom and bounced on her bed.
âNot yet honey. Heâll call when he finds something out.â
Scarlet had been sitting up in SJâs room while she stared at her cell phone. She didnât let either of them out of her sight for a second.
âI hope he calls soon. He has to find Christina.â
âHe will. Why donât we go to the kitchen and get some breakfast.â Scarlet was trying to keep her cool. She seemed calm and composed on the outside while she was going crazy on the inside. She decided that staying huddled in a corner waiting for news, wasnât good for SJ.
âMom?â SJ peered through the window when a distinct smell filled the air.
âWhat honey?â Scarlet walked into the kitchen expecting her son to tell her that he couldnât fix anything for himself.
âDo you smell that?â
Scarlet took one sniff in the air and wrinkled her nose, âIs that coming from the refrigerator?â
âNo.â Kayla and Jade came up from behind her.
âWhatâs with her?â Scarlet pointed to Jade whose face was now a scowl as opposed to her usual relaxed look.
âThere is something out there and she can sense them.â
Scarlet grabbed SJâs arm and pulled him behind her, using her body as a shield. âWhat?â
âVampires, from their thoughts I can tell they arenât any of Mathiasâ men.â
âThen who are they?â
âI can only get the name Ric and.... and Marquis.â
Scarlet crouched in a defensive position as a feral snarl ripped from her throat cutting into the air.
âFront door.â Kayla turned and flashed to the front door, waiting for the intruders to come in.
âWe know you are on the other side of the door. We are here to see the black girl. We are only here to deliver a message.â A voice called out from outside.
Kayla looked over at Scarlet a cautious look on her face.
Get the children out of sight.
Scarlet rushed Jade and SJ into the TV room. She wondered what Marquis could want from Kayla. She remained still not making the slightest noise because she knew they could hear it.
Kayla took a deep breath and swung the door open, âYes?â
âWhere is the boy?â
âYou said you had a message for the black girl, not the white boy.â Kayla blocked their view of the house.
âWe have a message for him too.â
SJ ran past his mother to the foyer. Scarlet attempted to grab him but he was already gone. She and Jade ran after him, they were already discovered and there was no use for them to hide anymore.
âIâm here.â
âGood, we have a message for the both of you. Marquis needs you to call Stephan. Tell him to meet her where he met his first love.â
âThank you. Now that your message is delivered please get off my property.â Kayla made to close the door but one of the vampires stuck his foot out, wedging the door open.
âWe still havenât given the boy his message.â
âThis seems like a whole lot of information, maybe I should get a pen and paper to write it down.â Kayla snorted.
âYou are beautiful and courageous. We were told not to underestimate you and not to allow you to get your thighs around our necks.â He chuckled, as his eyes lingered on Kaylaâs thighs.
âWhat can I say I love killing rude vampires, and the thighs come in handy.â
âThey are beautiful.â
âYour message. Now!â Kayla was getting impatient.
âOur master asked us to relay our condolences on the loss of your mother.â
SJ was stunned, he looked over at his supposed deceased mother who was standing next to him.
âI have seen your sister and judging by her beauty, your mother must have been a goddess.â
âWhere did you see my sister?â SJâs voice was urgent and desperate. He felt his motherâs body tense at his side.
âIt doesnât matter, we are here for you.â
âWhat do you mean?â
âScar!â Kayla banged the door on his foot as hard as she could. They ran to the back door, the only other exit of the house.
âWhatâs going on Kayla?â Scarletâs hand was firmly around SJâs waist.
âThey are here to take SJ to Ric.â She grabbed Jadeâs arm as they headed for the forest, their only cover.
âWhat do you mean?â
âShe means that we are here for the boy.â The vampires blocked their path. They had doubled in number and instead of the earlier three, they were six.
âIâd like to see you try.â SJ hissed at the same time Scarlet yelled, âOver my dead body.â
âSo many requests which I will be happy to oblige.â
They closed in on them as Scarlet and Kayla retreated dragging their children along with them.
âGive us the boy.â The vampire hissed.
âNo!â
They stopped when the vampires surrounded them. Scarlet watched as they slowly advanced, closing in on the already small circle. She pulled SJ behind her back as her eyes darted around the circle, wondering who she would have to kill first to protect her son.
âMom, let go of my hand.â SJ pulled his hand free.
âWhat do you think you are doing?â Scarlet hissed her eyes still fixed on the vampires as her body anticipated their attack.
âFighting.â SJ ripped his shirt off. His shoulders slumped forward as his body heaved.
âWhat is he doing?â Kayla watched dismayed.
âPhasing.â With that one word, Jade reassured the two women. They werenât sure of his combat skills but hoped his double nature would work to his advantage.