I was up early, leaving for work, letting Jason sleep. This morning was relatively busy for a Wednesday. Vampires were occupying tables at an alarming rate and we waitresses were literally running everywhere, taking orders and delivering beverages. Most were those I knew and were easily able to converse with; others I greeted, getting to know them.

Jason came at midday and was receipted with jeers and admiration. I called for my lunch break and joined him at the back table. We ate and our conversation went straight to last night’s argument of his health. Those closest to us listened intently. Our colloquy ended with Jason throwing up his hands in defeat.

“I don’t know how you do it, but I’m always submitting to your every will.” He bags me.

“That’s what older brothers are supposed to do.” I tease.

My brother shakes his head in either awe or frustration.

Maveric arrived five minutes later with a female vampire I had never seen before. Jason and his friend greeted each other. He, however, ignored our other companion with little gratitude.

We talked, joked and laughed most of my break away. The latest joke had sent me off so bad that I had a stitch. The woman, who had been silent till now, admiring my brother in a way that sent shivers up my spine, said, “So Jason? What are you doing tonight?”

Jason stared at her with cold eyes. “Working.”

 “Really? Why are you here than?” My brother just stares at her with an intensity that I would’ve cowered under. She takes the warning but ignores it. A look of disgust distorts her features.

“What would be more important than hanging with me?” She snaps.  Jason tenses, trying to keep a hold of himself. Another voice stalls his comeback.

“Shut up Sharma! We’ve had enough of your crap.” Maveric intervenes. All of us were taken aback by his approach. Not only being the usual shy, teasing and outgoing guy, Maveric can be sterner than most of us while keeping his cool.

“You can’t tell me what I can or can’t do youngling!” Sharma rounds.

“Let it go. We’re in no mood for your adventures.”

Sharma fumes. “Don’t push it…”

“Get out.” Everyone turns to me. Shock mists Sharma and Maveric’s faces. Confusion, warning and wary contorts Jason’s. “I said ‘Get Out’!”

“No. Who are you to tell me human?” Sharma scoffs.

“Amy?” Jason asks. My hand moves to my side. Jason’s eyes follow. Understanding clears his face. “Don’t!” He moves to intercept, all but a minute too late. I jump from my seat, escaping my brother’s grasp, and point my knife at him, warning, then switch it to Sharma, cocking my head. She eyes my knife.

“That’s puny.” Sharma bags. “You call that a blade!”

“Now you’ve started it.” Maveric sighs. “I’m not helping you outa this one.”

His neighbour stares at him in disbelief. “Against this weakling? Ha! I’d win within five seconds.”

“Amy, please. You’ll get yourself killed.” Jason pleads

“I don’t really care.” I decline.

“I do!” He yells; shedding internal feelings not expressed in years. Sharma notes our byplay.

“So this is who’s more important?” She confuses the relationship. “I’ve never know you to have such bad taste in mortals. This chick can’t even pass for pretty. You are really stupid to go for her. I’d bet everything, your getting too old and its catching up to you. You want an adult nappy?”

“That girl looks familiar.” Nearby people whisper. “She’s really comfortable with that knife.”

 Sharma ignores their hints. “Goo goo ga…”

I snapped then, launching myself towards her, kicking her in the chest. I could handle threats towards me, but my family goes beyond the boundaries. My victim flies back from the collision.

“You really think you can beat me?” She sneers. I refuse to answer as I bounce on the balls of my feet, relaxing for the best momentum. Sharma pounces at me. I step aside, deflecting her blow and deeply scratching her shoulder with my knife. She screams in rage. Rolling to her feet, she slams into me, sending me spiraling into the counter. Costumers bolt to safety as part of the roof falls onto a corner table. I groan. My rib cage is bruised and at least two are broken. My opponent leaps towards me. Two chairs away, my manager fumes. I’m sure to be fired after this. If I live. Sharma hisses as she knocks her hip on a chair.

Jason flips over several tables and stamps his feet into her back, bouncing off with ease landing. Landing on the floor, he rushes to my side, contemplating my injuries before grabbing my arm and haling me to my feet.

“I don’t know why you did it. But it sure pisses me off.” He whispers through my painful snarl. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”

“I don’t care. She’s pushed my boundaries.” I report.

“Think of everyone else who cares. Dominique, Sarah, Carol, Hasana, ME!” His reasoning voice withers me. I compare his ideas and mine. His are the more fruitful.

“Fine.” I reluctantly agree. “But you’re paying for it.”

“I already know.” 

Sharma is less than four foot away from us, shaking her head as she regains her composure. She looks up, her face contorting with rage as she sees Jason talk in my ear. Just seeing us together probably enrages her. Sharma howls as she takes a shoulder stance, sizing up to charge. Running like a bull, she thrusts herself towards us. Jason throws me at the back doors, leading to the cellar and the rental rooms, and takes the impact full in his chest. Glass sprays the surrounding objects, as he flies into the front window and lands fifty meters away on the street. My face shows my pain as I imagine the injuries, but quickly cover them and turn and run up the stairs beside the cellar door towards the rooms for migrating customers, as my brother’s attacker turns and walks purposefully towards me.

Running up the hallway, I look into each room, studying them for a spit second before settling for one with a wall sized window. Sharma’s footsteps resound behind the door. They don’t stop till coming to my residence. My sent must be strong for her to find me so quickly. The door falls off its hinges after a strong kick. I barely have time to respond as she comes in grabs my neck and hurtles me into the bed, breaking it in two. I lay there moaning, before she picks me up again and shoves me against the wall.

“What’s between you and Jason?” She sneers.

“He’s my brother.” I reply straight out, taking her aback.

“I didn’t realize he’s that young. I should leave you alone, but you attacked me and nobody lives after that.” Her grip tightens, strangling me. Lifting me off my feet, she spits in my face, “I just don’t know what to do with you.”

The window catches her attention. I groan, knowing her intensions all to well. She looks at me and smiles a cruel, heartless smile, before flinging me out the window.

Tubing, pipes, ruined swords and other sharp objects litter the ground below me. I don’t even scream. Jason runs towards me, pushing through the on looking crowd. I land on my back, the air whooshing from my lungs. Several blades cut into me. One in particular cuts deeply, grazing my spine. I hiss. Sharma leans out of the upper terrace window. She drops a knife at me. It hits my chest, blade first, sliding through my lungs and rupturing one of the arteries from my heart. I scream long and loud as blood billows inside of me. My brother breaks through the on-lookers and rushes to my side.

“I’m sorry but I have to pull it out.” He apologizes. Grabbing the hilt, he tears it from my chest. I scream again. My head lulls to the side as my yelling subsides, life ebbing out of me. I can barely see anything but fuzzy shapes as my vision fades. A tear falls onto my cheek as Jason leans over me, crying. He holds me to his chest.

“No, no. You can’t die. You can’t die. You can’t leave me.” He wines. “I’ve only just found you. You can’t die. You can’t die.”

We rock back and forth as his sobbing increases. A hand holds his shoulder. Maveric appears behind him. Grief paints his face. Jason ignores him.

“Change her.” His friend breathes. My brother gasps and ceases rocking.

“No. She can’t live like us. Feeding off blood will traumatize her. She’ll be hunted by her friends.” Jason complains.

“But it will save her. I’m sure she can handle it. You don’t always have to feed off humans.” His point made, Maveric waits for an answer. Jason’s shoulders slump. He looks to me, askance in his eyes. I struggle to nod. Death was upon me, fading away my life and aura. My brother must have known. He switches his gaze to Maveric.

“Get everyone out of here.” He says loud enough for the crowd to hear. “It’s not going to be pretty.”

Everyone starts disappearing before he finishes. Maveric shrugs and leaves. Jason turns back to me.

“I sorry.” He grabs the knife he chucked away and cuts his arm. Pressing it to my mouth he makes me drink.

I pass out after twenty minutes. My energy deceased. There was blood down my shirt and on my chin. Jason heaves me into his arms and teleports me to his house, lying me down to sleep. He goes to feed and repent his strength.

He’s on the couch when the banging starts. Jason gets up and opens the door revealing a red-faced, angered Dominique.

“Where is she?” She spits. Obviously not happy with my transformation.

“Sleeping.” My brother hisses. My mentor stomps to the lounge and sits.

“I’ll just wait then.” She insists. Jason pinches his nose in frustration.