Fate of the Fathers

Jenna gaped at Chase, who rested one hand over the steering wheel. They had been stopped at a red light when he nonchalantly told her he was a vampire.

A fucking vampire who had fangs and drank blood. The only thing she knew of them was from TV and movies.

So, the first thing she asked was if he could be out in the sunlight. It seemed like a reasonable question as dawn was breaking on the horizon and she needed to know whether she would be the one driving the whole way to Lincoln City. One had to mentally prepare for shit like that.

That was when he also nonchalantly added that witch magic was fucking awesome and the VEA had to be good for something. He showed her the tattoo on his forearm: a triangle with the letter “V” inside. It was nearly disguised among his other tattoos.

“You’re kidding me,” she said, when words finally found their way inside her head again. Chase only shrugged. “So, I’m a supposed werewolf and you’re a vampire. Aren’t we supposed to be enemies or something?” If the lore was true.

“We’re not enemies, but we also rarely associate,” Chase said, slowly accelerating in the heavy traffic. “The vampires have their territory, and the wolves have theirs. Usually in the more forested and mountain regions. The vampires tend to prefer cities.” He gave her a side look. “More food sources.”

“Gross. I’d rather not hear the details about your dietary preferences.” Jenna grimaced. A part of her wanted to balk at the idea of being a werewolf, but even she had to admit that the signs were there. Even if she hadn’t fully ‘wolfed’ out, she had sprung claws just last night and Chase said he could sense her wolf. Fucking sense it!

“You don’t. . . drink werewolf blood, do you?”

“Fuck no.”

She nearly sighed in relief. “Tell me about the VEA, I mean, they’re the reason you can traipse around in daylight, so they must not be too terrible.” She made a sweeping motion with her arm, indicating the glowing rays of sunrise.

He had mentioned it briefly when she asked about which department he worked for. This had also been a surprise—to find out that there was a law enforcement agency that only dealt with supernatural crimes. It made sense though.

“They are the governing act that keeps humans blissfully unaware of the supernatural existence. Obviously, there is lore that was passed down; hence the general knowledge of what werewolves and vampires are, but it’s departments within the VEA that make sure it remains like that. And yeah, it’s not bad, it’s just . . . well, it’s fucking dumb sometimes. Bureaucratic bullshit.”

“But why is it the Vampire Enforcement Agency? Like wouldn’t the other supernatural beings be mad about something like that?”

Chase snorted, but said, “Yeah, they are, but mostly just the wolves. When the vampires established it two hundred years ago, the wolves rarely caused issues, as they resided in less human-infested areas. The attacks they were responsible for could easily be covered up as a wild animal attack. The VEA was formed to intervene on vampire attacks in cities, and eventually it was made the governing agency for all the supernatural’s. Each group has representation, and they try to maintain a fair justice system. It gets complicated sometimes, though.”

Jenna still wasn’t sure if she had just fallen asleep at work and dreamt about the man she attacked, or Chase.

Or if what he said about her parents was true.

It all sounded so absurd!

They rode in silence for a bit, before Chase asked, “Can we talk about the case now?”

Before she could respond, her phone vibrated with an incoming call. Thank fuck. She answered it, only flinching slightly at the name on the caller ID.

“Hey, Uncle Dwayne,” she said, noticing the glance that Chase gave her. “Did you get my text?”

“Yeah, hon. I was hoping I could convince you to rethink this.”

Jenna sighed, sinking into the back of the seat. “I know it’s last minute, but I need to do this. Did Aunt June say anything?”

A pause on the other end of the line, before Dwayne said, “I think she’s more upset than I am. She said she knows why you are doing this. . . something about a conversation yesterday? But she said the finances are not your concern and you shouldn’t burden yourself with this, and I agree with her.”

For fuck’s sake, she was an adult, and fully capable of making this decision without their consent. Jenna gritted her teeth, holding back the retort.

“Please be careful,” Dwayne continued. “You call me if anything happens, okay?”

Jenna frowned, but said, “Yeah, of course. Can I talk to Aunt June?” There was brief silence as the phone transferred hands. And then June was there, telling her she was an idiot for leaving like that.

Despite everything, Jenna felt relief flood through her, and she smiled. “I know I am, but I’m doing it for you and Dwayne. How are you feeling today?”

“Oh, I’m alright,” June replied. “I’d be better if you were here, eating waffles with us this morning. Your uncle burnt the scrambled eggs again.”

“He never listens when I tell him the heat is too high,” Jenna said, chuckling. “I’ll be home soon, I promise. We’ll get the flowers planted in the front yard.”

“It’s still too cold anyway,” June said, and Jenna could almost see her waving a hand through the air. “It’ll be better in a couple of weeks.”

“Love you, Aunt June.”

“Love you too, sweetie.”

After ending the call, Jenna stared at the illuminated cell phone screen for a long moment. She had figured they would try to talk her out of making such a rash decision like this, but Dwayne had told her to be careful. It was unsettling.

A look at Chase told her he had somehow overheard the entire conversation.

She rolled her eyes. “Let me guess. . . supernatural hearing?”

“I can’t be revealing all my secrets just yet.”

“God, Chase, it’s like a nine-hour drive to the coast! You might as well fill me in on everything, so I don’t look like an idiot.” Jenna huffed in annoyance as her stomach grumbled. Of course, she had forgotten to bring food along, and there was no way she was going to tell Chase to make a stop just for her. He probably had a gallon jug of blood in the back he could sip on.

Her eyes narrowed on the fast-food soda cup in the holder. Or he stashed his blood supply in plain sight. It would be genius.

Chase snorted, retrieving the cup, and shaking it. Ice clattered within. “Just diluted soda water.”

Jenna blinked as she wondered if she had voiced it aloud. But she said, “Vampires drink soda?”

“Some of us have a pretty unhealthy obsession with it, actually.” Then he added, with another side-look at her. “We can stop for a burger.”

Jenna flushed as she realized he would have heard her stomach grumble with supernatural hearing. The burger sounded amazing though. And fries. She couldn’t forget the fries.

Fifteen minutes later, Chase was handing her a brown paper bag and Jenna took in the heavenly scent that hit her nose. She quickly unwrapped the burger and took a bite, savoring it, before popping in a fry.

Chase had muttered something about all the food she had ordered, but just sighed loudly when she handed him the cash. Two burgers, a large fry, and a drink. She knew it was a lot, but she was ravenous and the thought of asking him to stop again just for her somehow sounded more embarrassing then eating two fucking burgers.

“How old are you?” Jenna asked, wiping a napkin over her mouth. She had devoured the burgers and most of the fries. She wasn’t completely heartless though and had offered Chase a couple of them, even going so far as to make a joke about whether a liquid or blood diet allowed fries. He hadn’t laughed.

He choked on his watered-down soda. “Isn’t that rude to ask?”

“You’re the one drinking yesterday’s beverages, you tell me,” Jenna said, loosening the seatbelt as she reclined in the passenger seat.

“It’s hydration. I don’t know, shut up.”

“You’re immortal, right? So, like four-hundred years old?”

“Do I look like I’m four hundred?”

Jenna shrugged, pecking another fry from the container. “Honestly, you look like twenty-eight or something.” She eyed the muscled definition of his arms and slight stubble around his jaw line. She hadn’t noticed that before. God, he was absolutely gorgeous. Definitely had Spanish or Italian ancestry. Of course he was a god-damned vampire. “Maybe thirty.”

There was a pause of silence, before Chase said, “I was twenty-seven when I became a vampire, so you’re not far off.”

“Mmm.” She nibbled at another fry. “And what year was that?”

He side-eyed her but smiled. “Wouldn’t you like to know. . .”

Jenna couldn’t help but offer a small smile back. She was curious, but she’d try again later. He had to tell her eventually.

“Just a clue then,” she said, taking a sip of the soda. “What history event happened around the time you were twenty-seven?”

“Nope, too easy.”

“Make it something people don’t know.”

“How will that help you?” he asked, with a snort.

“Maybe I’m a history nerd.” She really wasn’t, but fuck, she had to know. Besides, she would just look up whatever he said on her phone. Technology had to be good for something.

“What will you tell me in return?”

“Seriously?” At his continued silence, she rolled her eyes. “Fine, I’ll leave it. How much longer to Lincoln City?”

Nearly eight hours later, they turned off Highway 101 and entered the neighborhood Jenna had grown up in.

Weathered, pale siding, and dark, storm-wrought roofs, made up the houses in the area. Scattered trees and crates filled with colorful wildflowers lined the sidewalks of some. The road had endured rain and wind, that only something like the Pacific Ocean could garner.

“If you break the door handle, I’ll throw you out to walk the rest of the way,” Chase grumbled.

“Sorry.” Jenna unclenched her fingers from the handle as she sat straighter in the seat.

“You don’t need to be nervous,” Chase said, turning down another side street. “We’re just here to do some research.”

Jenna figured the smile he offered was supposed to be reassuring. It did nothing to calm the raging seas of her insides, though.

The overcast skies of the coastal town mirrored the tossing waves of her soul as Chase pulled into the driveway of the small beach house.

He said, “Just take your time. We’re not in a hurry.” He rested a hand at her shoulder and let out a breath before adding, “I can’t believe you grew up here, it’s beautiful.”

Her whole life somehow revolved around memories of this house; her mom cooking pancakes in the kitchen, placing small chocolate chips on top that spelled out J-E-N-N-A.

She’d say, “Open up, sweetheart,” before spraying a dollop of whipped cream into Jenna’s mouth. A weekend tradition that was only one of many that they had in the family.

Her father often had stacks of papers spread out across the dining room table. As a research scientist and geneticist, he often joked that everything was an experiment.

“I’m experiencing!” Jenna would shout as she looked up from where she poured concoctions into cups; large swimming goggles encircling her face.

Her father would smile and ask what hypothesis she was proving today.

“You okay?”

Chase’s words shook the memories, wobbling them until they moved out of focus. She wasn’t okay, but nodded anyway, and said, “yeah.”

She would put the mask on and face this place: those memories. She would do that, and then never look back again.

The next chapter will be released February 11, 2024 at 6pm PST.