23

he thick drapes were drawn, keeping the sunlight out of the motel room. Evonne’s eyes adjusted to the low light and found Gabriel asleep on his bed, laying on the covers. She looked at the clock on the bedside table. 3:47 p.m. The pain in her stomach returned. She needed to eat something.
Quietly pulling herself out of bed, she gathered up her dry clothes and went into the bathroom to change. She remembered seeing a couple of vending machines near the main office. Though she had no money, a quick thought came to her; complain to someone at the office that the machines took her money, and they may give her a refund or help her get the items she “tried” to purchase. She had seen the scam work before on TV, so why not try it out here?
Evonne grabbed her coat from the chair and walked to the door.
She heard Gabriel speaking to her. “If you are leaving to get something to eat, you’ll need some money.”
Turning around, Evonne saw him approach. He handed her a single bill and a key. Slowly, Evonne accepted them, stuffing them in her pocket.. She didn’t see the amount of the money, but assumed it would be enough. Gabriel said nothing else as he returned to his bed.
“Thank you,” said Evonne. She carefully left the room, making sure she didn’t allow much light into the room.
Outside, the bright sun burned her eyes. It had been a while since she had been in direct sunlight. Even when she was in her room at the estate, the curtains were closed most of the time. The sun gave her a new burst of energy.
Evonne began to walk toward a convenience store near the motel. It was a one stop shop for anyone traveling, and it would also be her first time in a convenience store. Such little things other people took for granted where unique experiences to Evonne.
Inside the store she picked up a basket and began looking around. There were a few other people, some paying for gasoline, while others quickly grabbed what the needed.
Evonne spotted some microwavable cups of noodles and tossed them in her basket, along with several snack cakes and soda. Her eyes then caught sight of a pack of cards. Solitaire was a game she played on her computer back home, and the idea of playing it with actually cards would help her pass the time. The other items she placed in her basket were toothpaste, a toothbrush, and deodorant. Just the basics.
“Road trip?” a male voice said.
She glanced to the side an saw boy about eighteen years old, with wild brown hair, addressing her. Evonne ignored him.
“Oh, the cold shoulder. Don’t worry, I’m used to it.” He extended his hand. “The name’s Thomas, but friend’s call me Tommy.”
“Hello, Thomas,” Evonne acknowledged. “I’m in a hurry.” She moved past him and into another isle.
Thomas followed and peered in her basket. “Staying at a motel?”
Evonne didn’t reply.
“You see, it’s easy to figure out,” he went on, unhindered by her cold shoulder. “You have those microwavable things and most, if not all automobiles don’t have microwaves. But then there’s RVs, but I didn’t see any parked outside. Then there’s the motel across the way. It’s called the art of deduction. Plus, the cards and other stuff helped in guessing.” He paused and went over his words. “So, did you runaway or something?”
“No,” Evonne nearly snapped out. She lowered her voice. “I’m on a trip to meet up with some friends.” She picked up a small can of shaving gel and a bag of disposable razors, then placed them in her basket.
“You know, you are a bad liar.” He nodded at the razors. “Any of these friends personal friends? Smooth legs are nice.”
Evonne caught what he was hinting at and moved away from him, once more.
“So what’s your name?” Thomas said as he still followed her.
“Brittany.”
“Now that’s a lie. You don’t look like a ‘Brittany.’ You look more like a ‘Michelle’ or a ‘Sarah.’ ”
Evonne placed a bag of chocolate covered pretzels in her basket. “My name’s Heather.”
“Well then, Heather, since you’re just passing through, how would you like some company tonight?”
“Sorry,” she shot down. “I’m traveling with someone.”
Thomas shrugged. “Maybe she’d like to party, too. I can bring a friend.”
“He,” Evonne corrected. “We’re not staying long, and he wouldn’t like the company.” Approaching the cashier, she sat the basket on the counter.
“Oh…” Thomas thought for a moment. “Oh! He’s that kind of traveling buddy. But hey, if you need any directions for anything, I can help.”
The lady cashier finished ringing up the items. Evonne reached into her pocket and pulled out the money. She unfolded the bill to see a one-hundred staring back at her. Quickly, she handed it to the cashier.
“Wow,” Thomas exclaimed upon seeing the money. “With pocket change like that, I would think that you’d be staying at a nice hotel and not some place that rents rooms by the hour.” He snatched the receipt offered to Evonne and grabbed a pen from the cash register, scribbling down his name and number. “You can reach me here. I won’t hold it against you if you don’t call me.” Thomas slid the receipt into one of her bags as she removed them from the counter.
Evonne was thankful to be out of the store and away from the annoying Thomas. The boring motel room rang out like a sanctuary to her. Shit, I forgot the floss. Evonne’s stomach sank at the idea of returning to the store. Screw it. I don’t need it that bad.
As she headed back, she thought about walking around the block once, just in case Thomas waited to see which room she entered. But Evonne remembered who—what—was sleeping in the room. If this Thomas kid had the balls to come to the motel then she would sic Gabriel on him. She almost laughed at the mental image.
Carefully, Evonne unlocked the door and slid inside. She locked it back and set her bags on the table. God, I’m starving! Opening one snack cake, she didn’t wait to unpack before eating. The tiny chocolate cake was the best thing she had ever eaten. She then opened a 20 oz. bottle of soda and took several gulps.
“Hungry?” Gabriel said, turning on the lamp.
She swallowed fast and nodded. “Yeah, a little.”
He made his way over to stand beside her, giving a curious look at the items she purchased. “Not a very healthy selection.”
“Oh,” she remembered as she gave him the remaining money, “here’s the change.”
“Keep it.”
“Are you sure?”
“You may need it later.” He looked in one bag and found the receipt with the writing on the back.
“Yeah, that,” Evonne explained swallowing another bite. “There was this really obnoxious guy at the store who wouldn’t leave me alone. I tried to ignore him, but that made it worse.”
He raised the receipt to sniff it. “He’s a werewolf.”
Evonne narrowed her eyes at him. “You can tell that just by the scent he left?”
“What all did you say to him?”
She shrugged. “Nothing, really. He wanted to know my name, so I told him it was ‘Heather.’ He also wanted to keep me company while I’m here.”
“You told him that you are staying here?” He sounded concerned.
“He guessed that I was, but I didn’t tell him that he was right. He was very pushy.”
Gabriel sat the receipt on the table. “He sounds like an impure.”
Taking the pack of cards out of the bag, Evonne sat on the bed and opened them. “How do you know that?”
“Purebloods are more respectful of humans,” he said, glancing at the other items in the bag. “They can tell if a human is uneasy around them and will try to avoid any suspicion. This ‘Thomas,’ did he want to meet you somewhere?”
She shook her head. “I think he wanted to come back to my room.”
“Did he follow or watch you as you returned to the motel?”
“He may have. I didn’t pay attention to him. I just wanted to get out of there.” Looking through the deck, she took out the Jokers and instructional cards and began to shuffle them.
Gabriel went over to his bed and retrieved a gun from his bag. He then placed it under his pillow.
“Paranoid?” she joked.
“Impures may not have the same respect as purebloods, but most run with packs. If he comes here to pay you a visit with any of his friends, I’m not taking any chances.”
“I’m sorry. If I would’ve known, I wouldn’t have said anything to him.”
“You didn’t know, so there’s no need to apologize,” he said as he lay on his bed.
Evonne shuffled her cards once more then stopped. “I hope I’m not keeping you from sleeping.”
“I don’t need sleep,” he admitted. “I just use it to pass the time until sunset.”
“Must be nice.” She removed her boots and coat to sit on the bed comfortably. Giving one last shuffle, she began setting up for the game Solitaire. Playing the game this way felt a little awkward, but she muddled through.
“We could talk,” Evonne offered. “That’ll pass some time.”
Gabriel remained quiet for a moment. “What would you like to talk about?”
“I don’t know.” She scrambled for a question. “How long have you known my father?”
“Since 1873,” he replied, keeping his eyes closed. “It was before he reached the notoriety he has now. He wasn’t too friendly. But I believe he’s warmed up to me since then.”
“So as a person, he hasn’t really changed?”
“Not that I’ve seen. Most humans change their actions and moral policies because of how they wish to be perceived. Alexander sees that as a form of yielding to certain constraints, all which he deems compromising to his character. Your father may seem like a complicated man to most, but he keeps to one path and never allows outside influences to alter his course. All admirable traits.”
“You said that I am like him. Am I really?” Evonne asked as her attention slowly drifted away from her card game.
“I said that you sounded like him. There is a big difference.”
“What difference is that?”
Gabriel glanced at her then closed his eyes once again. “Changing how one acts is harder than changing how one believes. Belief and actions are rooted together, but they’re two different entities. Belief can be changed over a short period of time. Actions, however, are based in habit and what one sees as a working tactic. A mother shouts at a child because he has spilt his milk. Next time it happens, the mother retaliates the same, even though the action pains her afterwards. Belief is coming to understand something as truth, even when there is no solid proof to back up the theory. You believe that my kind are nothing more than monsters. Though the theory cannot stand up to fact, it is the stereotypical view that fuels those thoughts. ‘Monster’ can also be used as a label for certain humans. And in this, you know it cannot answer for all humans. Your father will never change his actions on his own, and you will never change your beliefs. To see things with your own eyes will give you a better perspective. Next question.”
She stopped playing with the cards. “How old are you?”
“That is a personal question.”
“I know. I was just curious. I’ll ask something else—”
“In about forty years from now,” he went ahead and answered, “I will be eight-hundred years old.”
Evonne’s eyes widened. Did she hear him right? Eight-hundred? Though he was telling her the truth, her mind refused to accept it. She knew he was old but that old? And what did he see when he looked at her? Probably just another faceless human he happened to pass by during his many years. Why was he even bothering with her childish attempt to escape her father?
She continued to speak. “Then I guess you have been hunting werewolves for the majority of that time.”
“After the first fifty years, I turned my attention toward them. But this is where your father and I differ. He hunts all werewolves, no matter who they are. I alone seek out the ones who break free from the rules. If these rogues were allowed to roam unchecked, then there will be an imbalance.”
“Are you a hired hunter?”
“Sometimes. If I am commissioned, it will be by an Alpha. I only hunt individuals. More than one target runs the risk of losing a limb or two. Within most well respected packs, I am welcome in their territory. But it’s the ones who break the rules that fear me the most.”
“How come you don’t work with SEVEN?”
“They have no respect the work I do. They believe that all werewolves should be destroyed. Again, there’s that word, stereotype. Working for SEVEN leaves the constant threat of waking up with a stake to my heart.”
Evonne scooped up her cards and set them on the bedside table. “But you help my father sometimes, don’t you?”
“A while back, I use to make weapons for him.”
“What kind?” she asked, laying down.
“Swords and knives, mainly. But as the modern world crept in, the use for my skills became a lost art. He didn’t need them any longer.”
“Skills?”
“When I was human, I was a blacksmith. It is something I sill practice but not as often.”
“I guess guns are more efficient.”
“It’s more about personal preference. Any more questions?”
Rolling over to face the ceiling, Evonne thought of something else to ask. “Do you kill humans? I mean, for the obvious reasons.”
“Still frightened to be around me?” He paused then answered, “Yes, I do.”
“But why go to that haven last night? Why not find a human on the streets? It would have been a lot less out of the way.”
“Because it isn’t as simple as that. There are rules in this age. The time of feeding on anyone we happened to pass has ended. If vampires continued to kill, the population of the world would suffer. There has to be a balance. These rules apply to the werewolf society, as well. Though the killing will never end.”
“Protecting your natural resources,” Evonne unknowingly joked. “Will you be going out tonight?”
“Yes.”
“I can stay here and wait, right?” The thought of tagging along with him didn’t rest well with her.
“No,” he said bluntly.
“I will be all right here,” she tried to argue. “I have the TV, endless amounts of junk food, and cards to keep me entertained.”
“The whole part of watching you is that you must be in my presence at all times. And now that there is a chance a werewolf may come looking for you, I can’t leave you alone in the room.”
“The door will be locked,” she pointed out, searching for any excuse. “Hell, I can even turn off the lights and pretend to be gone.”
“You’re coming with me.”
Evonne stirred on the bed as she grew uneasy. This whole “going out” meant that he would be hunting, and not for werewolves. She wanted to stay in the room until the three days were up.