Chapter 78
Boston, Massachusetts, 1887
Cornelia was taking him through his paces, again, and James was doing his best to keep up with her. At this rate, he felt like he’d never master the moves the older woman with the bright orange hair seemed to have down pat.
“You’re getting there,” she said reassuringly, though he wasn’t sure that was the case. He had grown more accustomed to her accent at least, so he didn’t struggle to understand her anymore. “Just keep workin’ on it.”
James noticed she was looking past him and turned to see Culpepper had entered the room. A bit embarrassed to be so incompetent and uncoordinated in front of his uncle, James stopped.
“Don’t quit on my account,” Culpepper laughed. “I see a lot of improvement this month.”
James held back the comment that he’d hate to see what he looked like when he first started working with Cornelia, so he held back. “I’m doing my best.”
“You’re doing great. Believe me, the true test will come in the field, when it has to.”
He had a feeling his uncle was right. Surely, in the heat of battle, he wouldn’t hesitate, and he’d be able to do the moves that were expected of him. “I hope so.”
“Well, we’re going to find out.” Culpepper patted him on the shoulder. “We’re going on a hunt tonight, and this one is personal for you and Margie.”
“What do you mean?” James asked, but he was fairly certain he already knew. His stomach began to knot up.
“We found him,” he replied. “Now, I know that your sister is hell bent on being the one to take him down, but she’s gonna let you get in there, too.”
James’s eyes were wide. He knew exactly who his uncle was speaking of. The Vampire he’d seen as a child, the one who’d lived in the alley near his house for so long, the one they’d been chasing the night Margie almost died, and they’d both began the Transformation process. “Where is he?” James asked, glad that his voice didn’t waver with the question.
“In another alley on the other side of town,” Culpepper replied. “We’ve been hearing rumors that he’s been in the area for a while, but we just got visual confirmation a few days ago. The thing is, he seems to be fairly law abiding. Sure, he feeds, but mostly on the underbelly of society—hobos and miscreants, prostitutes and the like.”
“Can we take him out, then?” James asked, remembering the rules as they’d been explained to him. As far as he knew, they were only allowed to kill non-compliant Vampires, the ones that killed innocent people.
“We sure the hell can,” Cornelia piped in, stepping over.
Culpepper nodded. “I’ve cleared it with Jordan. He said considering the circumstances, it would be best to go ahead and end him.”
James nodded, but he wasn’t sure how he felt about it. What had the Vampire done to him anyway? Sure, he’d set James on this path, but only because he was attempting to preserve himself. Now, his first test would involve a creature he wasn’t sure he wanted to destroy.
“We’ll leave around midnight. You, Marge, and Helms will take the lead. We know he’s fast, so we’ll make sure all of his exits are closed off. This time, I’m sure he’ll recognize the pair of you himself and try to get away.”
“And I’ll finish him.”
James looked up to see his sister, dressed in fitted trousers, standing in the doorway.
“All right, but you let James have first crack at him, you hear?” Culpepper asked, turning to look at her.
Margie nodded, but James had a feeling he’d have to fight her off if he wanted a piece of the action, and since he wasn’t sure that he did, he was almost glad the situation would turn out this way after all. Perhaps his competitiveness with his older sister would drive him into the fray more readily than if she were not there or if this particular Vampire had no meaning for her. Clearly, he did.
James continued his training with Cornelia for several more hours. He didn’t tire as easily now as he had even when he’d first Transformed, unless, of course, he was called upon to use his healing powers. Then, he still felt completely drained afterward. When Culpepper called them together that evening for a pre-hunt planning meeting, James still felt anxious. When it came down to it, would he be able to fight? Would he be able to end a being’s existence?
Culpepper’s directions were simple enough, and James followed the rest of the team out of their meeting room, fingering the knife he carried at his waist, wondering if he’d need it. He’d seen Margie and Helms decapitate so many Vampires, it seemed the way to go if possible. Of course, he was supposed to leave the kill for Margie, but if he had the opportunity, he should take it, shouldn’t he? His stomach was still tight, and now his mind was also churning.
The streets of Boston were nearly deserted this time of night, and James wondered if they knew for sure the Vampire was even there. What if he was out looking for his next meal? Before the thought was even fully formulated, a young man came running up to their group in a blur. Once he came to a stop, James recognized him as the newest member of the team, McElroy, who was barely seventeen and looked like he was much younger.
“He’s there,” the boy reported, not even out of breath despite the sprint. “Exactly where you thought.”
“Good, good,” Culpepper said, patting the young man on the shoulder. “Go ahead and report back to your post.” McElroy, who was a Hunter, nodded. James was certain he would be acting as a lookout of sorts and wouldn’t see any action, and he envied the other young man.
“Should we get into our positions?” Cornelia asked, clenching and unclenching her hands.
“Yes, let’s do,” Culpepper nodded. He gave some directions to the team members who would be heading the monster off should he try to flee, and then he began to walk again, leading Margie, Helms, and James toward the opening to the alley.
As soon as he saw the alleyway off in the distance, James’s stomach restricted even more. Memories of sprinting across the opening to the alley near his house as a boy flooded back to him. He’d feared the darkness then, feared the unknown, convinced there was a Vampire lurking there. Now, he knew that was the case, and even though he was almost certain this bloodsucker couldn’t actually harm him, he was more hesitant to attack and fail than he was nervous to be harmed. He was also unsure whether or not killing this particular beast was the right thing to do.
