The vampire's mind acted with uncharacteristic mercy, she was not haunted by the horrifying visage of the hapless thrall, or the disarming sensations of another sick fantasy centered around the last Helsing. She almost wanted to retreat back into that black void when she came to. There, she had felt a peace she hasn't felt in a long time, no consuming bloodlust or overwhelming revelations. But that peace was an illusion brought on by the numbing sage. Away from it, reality had to be dealt with.

The room tilted as she tried to sit up, grasping at any rational thought as to where she was and how she ended up there. Hands pushed at her shoulders urging her to lie back down on the bed. "Nash, try not to move so fast or you might pass out again," Pam said.

A nauseous feeling floated up from her stomach, filling her head to the brim. When she puked, she tasted the acidity of the yellow bile. No one hated their own taste buds as much as she did in that moment. Pam was prepared with a plastic grocery bag, a bottle of water, and a sleeve of saltines.

"What happened?" Anastasia groaned as she struggled to simultaneously tuck the mass of her hair to one side of her neck and look around each corner of the room to assure herself it was just her and her best friend. She listened closely for any hints as to the whereabouts of the hunters.

"What happened is you are not taking care---"

"Where is AJ?"

"Not here. Nastia, look at me. When did you eat last?"

Confused for a second, her eyebrows pulled together. "I don't know... yesterday?"

"Were those few bites of the cafeteria's tater tots the only thing you ate yesterday?"

Yes. "Maybe."

"Anastasia!"

"Don't 'Anastasia' me. I can't help it," she argued, then lowered her voice, peering towards the door that was cracked open. She had finally recognized the room as the one her and Pam had slept in that first night at HeadLight. "I can't taste anything."

"Exactly why you should've been watching how much you eat. Especially since you're now more physically active than before. It's no wonder you passed out."

Nastia's flippant defense crumbled in the light of the genuine worry in the red head's eyes. She sighed. "I'm sorry, Pam. I promise I will eat more."

"Good! Not just at school or here. At home, too. Your family will catch on if they haven't already. Here, eat a cracker."

Anastasia munched on the cracker, wishing she could taste the salt. It only served to dry her mouth, the mushy substance sticking to the roof of her mouth. She took a big gulp of water and leaned her head back. "You're literally the best, Pam. I don't deserve you."

"Don't forget that" she laughed then her words sobered. "You've been so focused on training... one way or another, you're going to get yourself killed if you don't slow down. Why are you in such a rush?"

"You sound like Ethan."

"You ought to listen. He does know what he is talking about. And you didn't answer my question."

"I don't have an answer for you... except that, I need to become strong enough to defend myself. Not just from the hunters, but the thralls, too. I can't ask my parents for help... if they knew thralls or hunters were in the area, they might make us leave. Mother is already itching for an excuse."

"You are dealing with a lot. I wish you weren't alone. It feels like there is nothing I can do for you, but watch."

"Are you kidding or are you fishing? If I didn't have you helping me... you have no idea."

The human throttled the water bottle in her grip as she pursed her lips, the words visibly formulating in her mind before being spoken. "Nash, can you answer just one question honestly for me?"

"Okay..."

Her best friend nodded. "Just be straightforward then. When you become a... you know... will you remember me?"

Nastia sighed, relieved she didn't ask what she thought she might. "Of course. And you will remember me. I probably couldn't erase your mind when I awaken, even if I wanted to."

"That makes me feel better."

On the contrary, Anastasia found no comfort in the thought because Pam would remember her, but not in fondness. She would hate her for killing AJ. Her heart tightened in her chest and tears blurred her vision. Holding her breath, she willed herself not to give into the despair that clawed at her very soul. Before, she would've thought this devastation only had to do with Pam's inevitable disappointment, but now she knew it had more to do with the fact she would have to kill the boy she has begun to deeply care for. Where did these feelings come from? Why would she fall for her prey? Like any infatuated human, Nastia could not logic her way out of her own feelings.

Her head perked up to the sound of footsteps on the staircase, echoing in the great room. She held a finger to her lips signaling to Pam that she heard someone coming. It didn't take her long to pinpoint who it was. She recognized AJ's gait, one full of cautious purpose. Not as driven as Ivy's or relaxed as Jason's. It was identical to Ethan's, except Ethan's steps always seemed heavier compared to AJ's. The teenager's steps faltered as they got closer. He shuffled indecisively before knocking on the door.

"Anastasia? Pam? You good?"

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Torn between wanting to see him and wanting to stay away from him, she swallowed. Pam welcomed him in and the vampire schooled her features to cover her inner thoughts and rose up out of the bed.

"Hey. Anastasia, are you okay?" The same genuine concern that Pam had displayed echoed in his iridescent green eyes. She had to look away from him to settle her aching heart. Though the heat rising to her cheeks betrayed her, her cool expression and forthright tone masked her newfound tenderness.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Forgot to eat today. No big deal. Where's Ethan? We can go ahead and start training now."

Before he could answer, Ethan walked in behind him. "Hey! Glad to see you on your feet. Gave everyone quite the scare."

"Yeah, sorry."

"No need to be sorry. Tonight won't be heavy on the physical training. For this next part, I called in an old... acquaintance. We will be meeting him down by the docks. But first, before we can go any further with your training, I have to ask if you are ready to commit your whole life to this fight. It's not too late to turn back."

"How many times do I have to say I am not weak? I've been doing great. You even said---"

He held up a hand. "Anastasia, this isn't about if you can do this or not. We know you can do it. We've already tested that. What I am talking about is commitment. If you do this, it becomes your life. I do not want to mislead you. Most people do not have a choice... Once you learn how to resist a vampire's compulsion, you will become a target. Any vampire that comes across you will be more willing to kill, whether you're a hunter or not. This part of your training is your true initiation. After this, you are a hunter."

Her eyes slid over to AJ, knowing he was hoping she would take the out. But he wasn't meeting her eyes, showing intent interest for a spot on the floor.

Nastia thought about this carefully. Little did they know, it was already her life. But one thing didn't add up. Why give her this choice at all? "If I said no, then what would happen? Wouldn't I be a liability to you then? Couldn't a vampire compel me to tell them about your little hideout?"

Ethan smiled. "Smart grasshopper. It's true. That is why we would all leave if you declined. The hunters have safehouses around the world. Often, hunters are nomadic. We only settle like this in special, rare cases."

Special as in hiding the last Helsing. If she said no, he would take AJ with him to some undisclosed location. She would lose him...

"If Nastia does it, I'll do it, too," Pam declared. The vampire shot her a glare. "What? Are you going to try to stop me, Nastia? We are either in this together or not at all. I don't want to be used to find this place."

"Fine," Nastia conceded. She should've compelled her before it came to this. She hadn't thought about the consequences of a human who knew how to resist mind control. "Looks like we are both in."

"Alright, ladies. Let's go. I'll drive." They all started to leave the room to head upstairs, making a small detour to the weapon rack. As she sheathed her sword, she noticed AJ did not gear up.

"Are you not coming?"

"No... I got strict orders to stay here."

"Why?"

"To hide from little ol' me." An unfamiliar voice interrupted their conversation from the top of the staircase. Anastasia spun around in shock. She didn't hear this person come in. And even as he descended into the basement and she strained her ears, she still could not hear his step. It made no sense given the massive size of the man.

"Gunther. I thought I told you we would meet at the docks," Ethan said, irritation darkening his scowl.

"Only a dumbass would do what an enemy wants him to do. Besides, I love surprises."

Ethan took a deep breath. "We are not enemies. I have bigger monsters to worry about."

"Says the man who stabbed me in the back," the silverback gorilla of a man sneered.

Ethan's attempts at being cordial seemed to be fraying fast. "Don't you even start on that---"

"Leave them buried bones in the past. Damn, really got your knickers in the spinner, eh, Saint Jude? Proverbially speaking, I know you don't got a spinner to spin---"

"I called you because I need your help with teaching viresanimy. You helped me once with Ivy---"

"How is the little spitfire? I see you two found what you were looking for..." He strode past Ethan to have a closer look at AJ. "I would recognize those eyes anywhere, baby Helsing. By that 'eat shit' look you're giving me, I am guessing you have no idea who the fuck I am."

"No, I know exactly who the fuck you are," AJ said.

Gunther's smile didn't falter. If anything, it widened. "Well then, boy, I suggest you wipe it off before I test just how developed them freaky dinky angel powers of yours are. Speaking of which, where is yo' daddy? Hm? Where is Thaddeus at?" AJ continued staring daggers at the man. "Not gonna say, eh? Wow, Ethan. You must be proud as a big ol' pile of Patty's pan licking pancakes. You done poisoned him against me."

"I have done nothing but tell him the truth. Your sins will be judged by God and punished in Hell. Make no mistake, Gunther," Ethan said in a quiet voice. "We all have dues to pay."

"That was a hell of a way to say, 'pretty please help me with a little cherry piece on top'. How rude of me! We are in the presence of some fine little ladies. How you doin'? I take you two are in need of my expertise."

His jovial banter did little to ease the savageness of his words. Anastasia sized him up from the white scars on his thick hairy arms to the cross around his trunk of a neck to the white bristles of his jaw. Combined with his soulless eyes and toothy smile, he painted the picture of a dangerous man and seasoned vampire hunter.

Pam gave a cheery greeting, affected only a little by the nervous tension in the room. Nastia stayed silent not having anything to say. He caught her staring at the coiled whip held to his leather belt.

"Like it? Yeah, I'm a fan myself. Nothing like a good whip to make a man feel alive. Now if we are done prettying ourselves up, let's hit the road. Last one there is a rotten egg." He left just as quietly as he came.

"I'm going," AJ announced.

"No, AJ," Ethan said, "I don't want you anywhere near that man. I wouldn't be able to look your mother in the face when my time comes if I allow that."

"You'll have time to sort out your conscious before you see her again. I'm not letting him anywhere near them without me there."

"Why? Who is he?" Nastia demanded.

"Gunther was mine and Thaddeus Helsing's master. He found us shortly after we had escaped Helsing manor."

"Escaped?"

Ethan pursed his lips, his expression one of anguish. "That... is not important right now. Gunther was a cruel mentor, but he was all we had in a world that was hellbent on killing us. Thaddeus, AJ's father, had it worse than me. Gunther beat the living shit out of him. It was an old belief that breaking of bones makes you stronger. For the angel bloodlines, it was believed the more often you were exposed to pain, the more effective your regenerative abilities became."

"Can we learn the mind trick from anyone else?" Pam asked.

As expected, Ethan shook his head. "A jackass he may be, but he is a hell of a hunter and one of the best at resisting compulsion. I called him for the same reason I sought him out years ago to help Ivy. He is your best shot."

I know there is a lot of mysterious pasts and backgrounds to unpack. You will be getting some of that in these next few chapters. Promise! It's been difficult deciding exactly how to divulge these stories without derailing the current story. After all, one could consider this Anastasia's own origin story.... hint...

Make sure to hit that star button if you are enjoying the story and leave comments as your read. It really makes my day :)

This chapter is the product of me pushing through a writer's block! Woo hoo!