The Vampire Hunter's Daughter: Complete Collection(32)

It was hilarious.

“How are you doing today?” I asked him, taking one of his hands into mine.

“Same; nothing has changed. I know I’m healing pretty fast, but not nearly fast enough. All I can do is watch the damn television. It’s boring.”

I nodded. “I totally understand that. I don’t know what I would do if I had to lay here and do nothing all day. Do you need us to bring anything from home?”

He tiredly shook his head. “No, no. I’m fine here. At least most of the nurses are pretty.”

“Luke!”

“Well, they are. I’m hurt, not dead. If I have to have someone giving me a sponge bath, I’m just glad she's pretty.”

I laughed. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Hi, Drew,” Luke called out.

“Hey, Luke,” Drew responded and came over to the bed. “How’s it going?”

“I already just told Chloe, and I know you heard it. Why don’t you go down to the cafeteria and get me a banana and a couple of those little cartons of milk. Would you do that, please?”

Drew nodded. “Sure thing.”

He left without question. He always did what Luke told him to do.

“Chloe, come here, child.” I could tell he was trying to pull me closer so he could whisper.

I leaned my head in and whispered, “What’s up?”

“I know what you are thinking about doing, please… please don’t go.”

How on earth would he know that? But then again, he knew to come to the rescue when my mom was murdered.

“I have to, Luke,” I whispered in his ear and looked him in the eye. “I don’t want anyone else I care about to be hurt. You are the only family I have left.”

“We are hunters, Chloe. This is what we do, and as long as a couple of them go down with us, we are glad to sacrifice ourselves. It is who we are.”

“But still—”

“I’m not done,” he cut me off. “I will not make you stay with us. I know you will do whatever you want anyway, but at least stay until you’re ready.”

I was already shaking my head. “Luke…”

“No, you need to be trained more. At least think about it. Also, I know I just finished telling you that we are hunters, and that this is what we do, but child, I don’t want to lose you so soon after losing my own daughter. Remember that too.”

Oh great… he went and pulled a guilt trip on me.

I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll think about it.”

“Just don’t leave without telling me. I don’t care what you do about everyone else, but don’t you dare leave without telling me.”

“I promise.”

I pulled away and sat in the chair next to him. We watched Wheel of Fortune on the little television and didn’t speak. Drew returned with the banana and milk. He also had two cartons of orange juice with him.

“Here.” He held one out to me.

“Thanks.”

Luke’s eyes followed from one of us to the other and then an eyebrow rose. “Did you two have a fight?”

Neither of us answered. It seemed like we had been fighting ever since the attack. I had to wonder why that was. It seemed like something like that would only make us closer, you know, help us learn to work together.

“I see,” Luke said. “Well, get over it because the two of you still have to train. Chloe still needs help improving her skills and working with her fire power.”

This time we both answered. “Yes, sir,” Drew said at the same time I said, “Okay.”

We sat there for another half an hour in silence, Drew on one side of Luke and me on the other, watching Jeopardy because it was on after Wheel. After Jeopardy, we left. I always hated leaving Luke there in the hospital alone, because he was injured; he had no way to protect himself.



When we were back at home, I changed my sweater and put on a long-sleeved thermal shirt with skulls on it. I put on my holster that Drew had given me. It was nice to not have to wear my gun in the back of my pants where I might shoot my butt off. Next, I grabbed the bow Sostrate had given me and the beautiful leather quiver. I inspected my arrows to make sure they were all there and carried it over my shoulder. I really needed to practice with the bow, because I hadn’t used it at all with my cast on.

I dialed Gavin’s number on the way out the front door. I didn’t even tell Drew I was leaving. He probably knew where I was going anyway since he had eavesdropped on my phone call earlier in the day.

“Hey, Chloe,” Gavin answered from the phone.

“I’m on my way over to the ranges now.”

“Awesome. I’ll meet you there. Let’s start with archery.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I told him and clicked off the line.

Outside, I blinked against the brightness after being inside so long. It seemed strange for it to be so bright, because the day was gray and threatened to snow. I shrugged the quiver up onto my shoulders and hurried down the driveway.

The walk to the ranges was cold and wet. I was really hoping spring would come soon. I had never in my whole life spent so much time outside in winter. I avoided the trails because I wasn’t sure how much snow was on them, so I stayed on the roads. When I arrived in town, I went into the coffee shop to get a latte to warm me up. Funny how in town one could just walk into any business establishment with a bow slung over the shoulder and a gun strapped on.