“It has saddened us to see such deplorable conditions. Not that we haven’t worked in such neighborhoods before, but to live in one is a completely different matter,” a vampire with slicked black hair and pale skin, who actually looked like a movie vamp unlike most of them, stated as we entered. “We formed a fake family that are the only ones to show themselves outside of the house for appearances sake, and we have gotten quite the education.”
“We’ve been talking in the brief moments we either have the time or need the distraction about changing how we operate,” a pretty blond, female vampire picked up the conversation as I twirled a strand of my hair as if it helped me to think. “We help people, but we need to redefine what it means to need help. Physical injury is not the only cause. These people need our help in so many ways.”
“They really do,” another vampire chimed in, one who looked much younger, like a teenager, yet spoke with years of hard-earned wisdom. “So many humans are afraid, with good reason, to come into these neighborhoods and help. I mean if you end up dead, really what good can you do? But, for us, the immortal, with our strength and speed, our means, we could do so much good without any fear.”
“That would be amazing,” I managed, as always, blown away by this group most would be terrified of, misjudge, if they ever chanced to meet them.
Television, movies and books had done the group such an injustice. Not that many didn’t want to be fictional vampires, but none would want to meet them in real life, not how they were so inaccurately portrayed. When all of this was over, that was going to be my new mission, to write my story, giving a whole new version of vampires, even if I had to call it fiction.
By the time we all got settled in, with no time to be weary from travels, we gathered around on the floor in an empty room save for a few mattresses. This place had been a foreclosed house which resided in this not so great, or more far from even livable neighborhood from what I had seen making my way through it. Still, I’d seen a drug deal, a fight, and heard some domestic disturbance that made my wolf want to knock down the door to put a stop to. This area was definitely the perfect camouflage for the vampires that lived in a million dollar loft and Royals who had come from a secret island on a private jumbo jet.
“We apologize for the sleeping conditions along with lack of amenities,” Nira said, the only one left standing, addressing the room. “Let’s think of this as camping. At least we have real mattresses and indoor plumbing. We’ve smuggled some mattresses into every room to give everyone a place to rest, but still it will be tight quarters with all of us crammed under one small roof.”
“We will all be fine,” one of the Royals said, a girl who always had a kind word to say, like the rest of them, but went over and above making people feel good about themselves, like a self-esteem booster.
“Right, it will make us gritty for battle,” another chimed in, the oldest male of our wolf pack outside of Edward. He brought a tight smile to our host’s faces.
“Well, I thank you for that,” Nira said.
I could tell how the words had touched her, something needed, even if small, in such stressful times. The comradery alone I could never describe, as I’d never felt it before. Closest I’d ever come had been my best friend Chloe, so this was like having a large group of improved versions of her. Not to say she wasn’t amazing, we just didn’t have the paranormal connection this group did, and that accounted for a lot.
“It was the best we could do given safety was our top priority,” our fearless, yet weary host continued. “We’ve lost many already. Daniel, or the man Christina always lovingly referred to as the man in the black suit, has been ruthless and unmerciful. Every place we have been has been destroyed, and those there at the time killed.”
“Are you in this place just for safety, or did he take your loft?” I asked, some comment from earlier clicking in my brain, making me wonder if the magnificent place still existed. Not that it mattered, the loss of it, but it had been where they’d called home for some time as I’d understood.
“Both. He burned the entire place to the ground. Everything was lost. Thankfully, in that one, no one had been there at the time due to a last minute call for help from another group he’d attacked. He foiled his own plans that time if he’d meant to do any of us in, not that I think he bothered to think it through. He’s become a wildcard, and he’s killing, I’m afraid, just to show us that he’s pissed for the whole warehouse thing. Now don’t you say I’m sorry, I can see your lips getting ready to. We’ve already had this conversation. No matter what happened to him, in my eyes he should be thanking us for sparing him. No one has the right to act this way.”