***
“So why is it that you want to help me?” Anna asked, surprised in spite of herself.
It was dark outside, and Anna was seated with Mina at the brand-new kitchen table in her apartment. It was the first time Mina had ever been over, and Anna was really glad she was able to come.
While wandering absentmindedly around downtown, Anna had run across the sign outside of a building where she’d attacked a young woman some months ago. Anna remembered that night, and the ribbon she’d found just a short time later. Thinking of Mina had reminded Anna that she wasn’t as alone as she’d thought – one of her best friends was a vampire, after all. If anyone would know what to do, it would be Mina.
Anna had called Mina for two reasons – first, she knew she’d need help. And second, it was important to Anna that Mina agree with whatever she ended up doing. Anna already had two vampires who were out to get her – she didn’t want a third.
“Well, you said so yourself.” Mina told her, “Jackie wants to blame you for all the attacks in town. You’re my friend – I can’t let that happen.”
Anna was incredibly relieved to hear that. She let out a breath she only barely realized she’d been holding.
“I’m really glad you feel that way.” she told Mina honestly. Mina nodded.
“So how are we going to get rid of these two?” she asked, a wicked grin playing on her lips.
“I’m not sure,” Anna confessed, splaying her hands out on the table in front of her. It was something she’d been going over in her own mind, but so far she hadn’t been able to come up with a plan she could actually execute – which was exactly why she’d called Mina.
“Are we going to kill them?” Mina asked abruptly.
“I don’t know if I can.” Anna said quietly.
“Even after they threatened you?” Mina was surprised. Anna could tell from her reaction that Mina would never let someone threaten her that way. Anna wished she had that kind of resolve herself.
“I don’t know if I can purposely set out to kill someone.” Anna said, glancing down at the table.
“Have you ever killed someone before?”
“…Not on purpose.” Anna said after a long pause.
For the first several months after becoming a vampire, Anna had put off going hunting until the last possible moment. It made her feel better inside to know she didn’t have to go out more than once a week – that for six days, at least, she was normal. The downside was that when she did go out, she was desperate.
One of the first people Anna had ever attacked, she’d met walking down the darkened cobblestone road of a town just east of her own. There had been no streetlights in the town then. If there had, he would surely have seen her, surely realized that something wasn’t right. But he hadn’t seen her. She’d jumped out from the deep shadows of a building and lunged at him. And being so new to vampirism, she didn’t know how much blood she could take before she caused damage to someone. Anna had long ago forgotten the man’s face, but she could still remember the feeling when she realized he was dead. There had been a few others that Anna just wasn’t sure about, but she liked to think they’d all survived. But after killing that man, she’d finally started going out more than once a week. Too bad it had taken his life for her to get to that point.
“Well…” Mina said slowly. “Maybe we could just scare them away.”
“I hope so.” Anna told her. She thought for a moment before shaking herself back to reality. Of course it would work – she just had to believe it. “No. I know we can.”
Mina smiled, though she didn’t look completely convinced. Instead, she decided to change the subject.
“How long has it been since you went out?” she asked.
“Out?” Anna asked, confused. She thought for a moment before adding, “I’ve had a lot of homework lately, so…”
The look on Mina’s face told Anna that wasn’t what she meant.
“No, I mean out.” Mina said meaningfully.
“Ah.” Anna said, finally understanding. Smiling, she told her, “It’s been a couple of days.”
“This is my third night.” Mina said. “Why don’t we go out tonight – together?”
Anna smiled at the thought. This was exactly what she needed, something she could easily do. It would be good for her – she’d be in her element. She’d never hunted with anyone else, and the thought was somewhat exciting. She wouldn’t have to wait for one person to be alone, and it would certainly make those hours of waiting much more interesting.
“Where do you have in mind?” she asked.
Mina thought for a moment. “I usually go someplace downtown.” she said. “I have to take a bus to get there. But since I usually go a lot later at night, it’s a good place because there are more people still out.”
“I haven’t been downtown in a while.” Anna replied, returning Mina’s mischievous grin.
Chapter 25: Hunting Together