The Vampire Hunter's Daughter: Complete Collection(36)

After I finished calling the cab, I called the gates to let them know I had a cab coming and I would be up there to meet it. I pulled up Gavin’s contact picture, giving myself a minute to embed the picture of his face into my mind before I erased it from my phone. I pulled up Drew’s picture and did the same thing. I didn’t want Trevor to know what anyone I cared about looked like.

I looked over at my bow and quiver resting on my desk chair and sighed with sadness. I couldn’t take them with me because I couldn’t go into the hospital with them.

Sadly, I sat and wrote a note to Drew.

Hey Drew,



I can’t really explain why I had to leave, but I think you know. I don’t want anyone else I care about to get hurt, so I’m leaving. There is so much more to this I should tell you, but I can’t right now. Please don’t come after me. I am hoping I will see you again soon. I’m leaving my bow and quiver Sostrate gave me. Would you please put them away for me because I will be back for them some day. Take care of yourself, and please make sure to go see Luke as soon as you get this. I think he may even need one of the hunters to guard him. Please, keep him protected.



Love always,



Chloe.



After I folded the note and wrote Drew’s name on it, I wrote one to Gavin, too.

Gavin,



I can’t explain why I had to leave, especially right after we got to know each other. But I’m hoping that you will figure it out somehow and forgive me for leaving us hanging. I’m going to try my hardest to come back some day. I’m not sure when it will be, but I’m going to try. I hope that when I get back, we will still be friends.



Thank you for showing me that magical side of yourself. I will never forget it.



Love,



Chloe.



I folded Gavin’s note and then put on my coat. I threw my gun into my bag, zipped it up and slung it over my shoulder. It was time to go.

Before I left, I put Drew’s note on the kitchen table where he would see it. Then, after contemplating, I set Gavin’s right beside it. I hoped Drew would set aside his animosity and give Gavin the note.

I didn’t look around the house with long, lingering looks; I just turned and left.

I ran most of the way to the gates, my heavy gym bag thumping against my hip the whole way. I did my best to stick to the side roads, rather than the main road, just in case someone saw me running. I certainly wasn’t dressed for a daily run just for exercise.

The cab was just pulling up outside, so I ran directly through the gates as they opened for me, flung open the door of the cab and hopped into the back seat.

“Can you take me to St. Joseph’s Hospital, please?”

The man in the front seat turned and looked me over, giving me a knowing look, like he knew I was running away from something. “You got it, kid.”



The ride to the hospital was long and grueling. All I could do was panic and hope Trevor kept his hands off of Luke. When we pulled up in front of the main entrance, I looked through the giant glass doors and took a deep breath.

Be brave, Chloe, I repeated silently.

“You gonna get out?” the driver asked me.

“Oh, yeah… Here. Thank you.” I handed him a wad of cash and told him to keep the change. Gathering my bag and my strength, I opened the door and got out.

I stood on the sidewalk, staring inside and trying not to be afraid. But I was. I was terrified about what was going to happen. Mostly I was apprehensive because I really had no clue what to expect. I needed to suck it up. I straightened my spine, adjusted my bag over my shoulder, and marched inside.

I entered the elevator and pushed the button for the sixth floor. No one else was in the elevator with me. It was silent, like I had been suddenly blocked off from the world. It was one of those moments in which I wished I was blocked off from the world.

When the elevator doors opened into the hallway of the sixth floor, I stepped out and felt the familiar prickles of warning on the back of my neck. Man, I really hoped that would go away after spending more time around vampires. Just that thought caused more panic. I felt pretty certain Trevor wouldn’t hurt me, but how was I supposed to know all his little vampire minions wouldn’t?

I turned the corner where it opened up into the waiting room beside the nurses’ station. It only took a quick scan for me to spot Trevor. He was sitting in one of the pastel blue chairs, legs crossed, reading an old issue of Reader’s Digest. His hair was gelled back away from his forehead, and he wore the same leather jacket he'd had on the last time I had seen him.

Suddenly, as if he felt my presence, he lowered his magazine and our eyes met.

“Chloe,” he called out. “There you are.”

I stood where I was, trying to find my voice. That monster had sent the order to kill my mother, and he was part of me. How in the hell could I be half of any kind of being who would do such a thing?

He put the magazine aside and strode over to me. Still I said nothing. When he grasped my casted hand in his, he said, “It’s been too long.”

I felt my body begin its process of heating up, the warm tingles in my fingertips. To avoid any fiery accidents, I took several deep breaths in and out.

“I need to see Luke,” I whispered, trying to keep the rage out of my voice and yanking my hand back from him.