10 Years Earlier. . . Part 3

Hunter had already been taken into emergency surgery by the time Chase and the girls arrived. Violet and Elizabeth sat in the cold sterile waiting room while Chase talked with the other hunters trying to get answers. Elizabeth shivered and Violet wrapped her arm around her sister. She watched Elizabeth stare mindlessly towards the operating room.

"I know. We should've taken you home." Said Violet. She gave Elizabeth a light hug as the younger girl shook her head.

"I'll be okay. I can't avoid hospitals or any place with alot of death and pain forever just because of my powers."Answered Elizabeth. She took off her glasses to wipe her green eyes, her father's eyes. "Dad said I have my powers for a reason. That I can help those who are lost or stuck. I shouldn't be afraid of that."

"Well, Dad's tough. He's known as one of the best hunters for a reason." Violet added. She wasn't sure if she was trying to comfort Elizabeth or herself at this point. Their uncle had said that Hunter's daughters were always on his mind; could her words have distracted him? Why had she acted like such a brat?

Grandma Rose arrived wrapped up in her beige shaw. "No word yet?"

"Not yet." Answered Violet. Her eyes fell to the white and gray vinyl tiles on the floor. "It's my fault."

"No. Your Dad knows the risks of being a hunter, better than anyone." Grandma Rose argued. She tilted Violet's chin up until their teary eyes met."We're never guaranteed tomorrow."

"But I wasn't there to help." Started Violet.

"He didn't want you there because he knew . . . This particular vampire was extremely dangerous." Corrected the grandma. She sat down next to Violet and pulled a stray lock of red hair away from the teenager's face. "It was the one that's been attacking girls your age."

Chase came over to them dusheartened. He sighed. "It should've been me."

"Not you too." Grumbled Grandma Rose.

"He has two girls . . . " Started Chase.

"And you have two nieces that are scared to death right now." Lectured Rose. "Besides, you think your brother doesn't blame himself everytime you get hurt?"

"Well, the good news is Dénes Vadás is dead or undead? Deader? Whatever you called a destroyed vampire. Anyway, Hunter made sure the bastard won't have anymore victims." Sighed Chase.

Rose gave him a stern look. "Neutralized I think is the technical term and please watch your language here."

Elizabeth's eyes widened and a lone tear ran down her cheek. She whispered, "No."

About half an hour passed before a doctor came out of the operating room. Grimly, he walked up to them. "Daniel Hunter Thorn's family?"

"Yes. Brother, mother, and two daughters." Answered Chase.

"Would you please follow me?" Asked the doctor. They followed him into a room. "I'm sorry. We did all we could, but . . . He already lost too much blood too quickly. He had two arteries ripped open. We lost him on the operating table."

"No." Cried Violet. She fell to her knees with tears pouring down her face. It couldn't be true. "No. No. Can we see him, please?"

"It's not a pretty sight, miss." Warned the doctor.

"I have to see him. There's just no way . . . " Violet started.

"We just need a chance to say goodbye." Chase finished. Elizabeth winced and clutched her fists tightly.

The doctor nodded. "They should be done cleaning him up. Follow me."

"I'll stay here." Elizabeth said. She hid her eyes behind her bangs. She already knew the truth her sister refused to believe.

The rest of the family followed the doctor into a darkened room. There on a metal gurney covered in a white sheet from the shoulders down was Hunter. His chest still and the color already draining from his face. Violet stared at her father's body. Rose leaned against Chase. "My baby."

Violet walked up to the gurney. With every step, a memory of her Dad played in her mind. The day Elizabeth was born and he promised no one would forget the new big sister. The day Violet cried into his shoulder as her mother left. The day Hunter taught her how to play soccer for the first time. The day he cheered her on in her first game. The day of Henry and Andra's wedding where they both were in the wedding party. The night of their first parent student dance four years ago. The day Violet became a junior hunter and her Dad giving her a rifle engraved "V. Thorn." Then, her yelling at him over not going to a stupid dance. . .

Violet ceased his face and broke down into a flood of tears.