002. The Mission.

"I know you guys didn't come here just for me but I'm still glad you're here." The three of them are browsing at a flea market with Kristina's friends. It was Wren's idea, saying that he wanted to tag along in hopes of finding a new and more stylish blazer. I just might find the perfect one at the market, he said a few hours ago. Kimberly saw right through his lies. She knows that her best friend only wanted to go just intercept any of Kristina's chances with any of Dani's guy friends. And yet, he wouldn't bring himself to ask Kristina out. Just a typical man. "I would've came even if we didn't have a mission," Kimberly says, lightly nudging her sister with her shoulder. "We're just lucky that the mission is here in Boston." "And not just any mission," Wren says, sliding into their conversation with ease. "This mission will determine the rest of her future." Kristina looks between the two, confused. "What he mean by that?" "I mean, that if Kimmie succeeds in this mission, she'll become an official council member. The youngest member yet." Kristina squeals, squeezing her younger sister's hand tightly. Her eyes shined with pure astonishment that the sight alone almost makes Kimberly giggle. Why, she doesn't know. "You're lying! Girl, how? Why?" Kimberly only nods as a response, shyness slowly overtaking her. Becoming a council member is a big deal and a long process that takes years. The process is difficult, physically, mentally, and financially. So much goes into becoming one of the most powerful members of the association that the many hunters give up on becoming one. Except Kimberly, she always believed that it was her destiny to become one. While other children dreamed of becoming chefs, doctors, lawyers, and princesses, Kimberly was already creating her plan of becoming a council member. She knew from the start that it wasn't going to be easy and yet that didn't deter her in the slightest. "There's no guarantee that I'll succeed," Kimberly says, stopping to look at a dark green dress. The color alone catches her attention and she almost buys it because it's cute. Though, with her own insecurities and worries, she knows better than to do so. Kimberly has always felt so awkward and almost alien in her whenever she's in a dress. Because of her job as a vampire hunter, her body is painted with scars from missions and some training exercises. Not only that, she's not exactly dainty and small, she's muscular and knowing how society looks at muscular women with disgust, she always wanes away from any feminine clothing out of fear. Add her unshaven armpits, legs, and her now shaved head, Kimberly Westwood is the exact opposite of a conventionally attractive woman. And she knows better than to not care about society and their thoughts, but it's a little difficult to do so when the woman who shares her face is deemed attractive by all and the "perfect woman". Sometimes, her stomach drops whenever she sees a new picture of Kristina. Jealously is truly a disease. "Kimberly, be so foreal right now." Kristina stops beside her, frowning. "Of course you'll succeed, you're literally the best hunter of our generation-- full offense." She looks directly at Wren who doesn't look offended in the slightest. That makes Kimberly smile. "It doesn't matter who or what you're going after. You'll get them, complete your mission, and become a council member. I'm sure mom and dad are excited for you and already planning your surprise party." Kimberly's smile instantly vanishes, her care and desire for the green dress leaving her heart and mind. "You know they're also excited for you," she says, trying to the find truth behind her own words. "They said they'll come to Boston soon to see you perform, that they promise to come." Kristina scoffs. "Then they should've told me that, not you." "Kris..." Her twin doesn't let her finish, she's already walking away, most likely to find Dani. Whenever the topic of their parents comes up, Kristina always runs away and Kimberly is usually left alone, unsure of what to do or who to side with. Kimberly knows that their parents love Kristina, there's no denying that, but there's always this... awkwardness and thin layer of disappointment that keeps the Westwood parents from showing it. Thus ruining their relationship with their oldest daughter, a relationship that their youngest daughter has been trying to mend over the years. And just like today, she fails in doing so. "You know she's right. Your parents should've said that to Kris, not to you." Wren hasn't left her side, not even to go after Kristina and block any men who try to flirt with her. Wren is always at Kimberly's side, always has and always will. Though, despite being beside her, he doesn't look in her direction, just at the green dress that no longer has her attention. "They have her number, they can easily text or call her.""Yeah but we both know that they won't." Her fingers twitch at her side, wanting to twist and pull at something in a nervous habit. "It's just easier if I do it, at least Kris will know they're coming and won't get blinded when she sees them." Which has happened many times before that resulted in a very confused and annoyed Kristina texting her. She's just trying to avoid that happening again. Wren shrugs. He takes the dress by its hanger, holding it against Kimberly's body as he continues. "Still, it shouldn't be your job to do that. They're adults, way older than us, they don't need their twenty-seven year old daughter to help them talk to their oldest daughter. They got this." Wren then pulls the dress away, draping it over his arm with a gentle smile. "You'll look good in this, so I'm buying it for you.""You don't have to do that, it's not like I need it." "Maybe not but you do deserve something nice for a change," he says. "So let me treat you for once."Stopping Wren is useless when he's already decided on something. Especially when it comes to spoiling his best friend, it's his own little way of comforting her and anyone close to him. (Kristina says that it's just his little way of flaunting his family's money and reminding everyone how rich he is.) Even if Kimberly finds it a little annoying... she decides to accept his gift and his words. Wren's right, it's not her job to mend this relationship between her parents and Kristina, but even so... she still wants to. Maybe it's a waste of time and energy but it's the only thing she can do, and she has to do something.For her family.. . . "To think, a beautiful woman is leading our mission. Man have times changed." Kimberly's eye twitches as her lips press into a thin line. This isn't the first time that she's lead a team and it's not the first time that a woman has lead a mission. But when you're Clarence Duncan, it's a big deal when your new team leader is a woman. A beautiful woman, as he made sure Kimberly was aware of his attraction towards her. If only she could say the same about him. "You are aware that other women have been team leads before, right?" Asks Reggie McClain, the oldest hunter on their team and a council member's nephew. While more rough and scruffy looking than the rest of the team, Reggie sits with poise and grace, reminding one that he's from a different status and pay grade than them. "It's been like this for years, it's nothing new." Clarence smirks. "Maybe so but it's a first for me. Never been under a woman before." His words make the hair on Kimberly's arm perk up, the sexual innuendo not lost on her. Her fingers flex on her lap, itching to pick up her gun and shoot the man in his dick. It would be a lost to be down a man, and possibly ruin her chances of becoming a council member, but it would make her happy to watch him wither away in pain. So there's that!Wren steps in, leaning forward a bit in his seat. "I would watch it, Hunter Knox. The association doesn't take too kindly to sexual harassment, especially regarding a future council member's." "I'm just having fun, no need to get all serious, pretty boy," Clarence says, his eyes finally moving away from Kimberly and to Wren. "Captain doesn't seem to care, isn't that right, sweetheart?" "Don't call me sweetheart." Is all Kimberly chooses to say, not wanting to waste anymore time on the man across from her. She's the team lead and future council member, she needs to be the mature one in this moment. Any emotions or thoughts she may have regarding the other must be pushed to the side, just for this mission. "Let's focus on why we're here." Kimberly slides each hunter a manila folder, the content within neatly tucked inside. "Hello and welcome to the team. Our mission? To capture the Vampire Queen." The air in the private room grows tensed, the importance of the mission finally weighing down on the men like an anchor. Before this official meeting, the men were told that this mission was an important one that none of them could mess up on. The target of the mission was left a mystery. Only Kimberly was told in advance— which meant Wren also knew of it because of course she had to tell him before the others. Wren, of course, played along with the others, appearing shock as his eyes grow big and his mouth shut tightly. Kimberly almost giggles at how comical he looks. Though, she held it in as she appears calm and serious. She's the team lead, she has to act with some bit of seriousness even if her best friend is a very unserious man.Hunting and capturing the Vampire Queen is obviously no easy feat and hasn't been done since the birth of the vampire. Many have attempted to capture the woman and every single person has failed in doing so. Every single hunter that went after the Vampire Queen was found dead the next day, bodies badly burned and a hydrangea sitting on top of their bodies. It's became the association's main indicator of the Vampire Queen murdering someone. Though, there was one case where a hunter survived the Vampire Queen, however, they were left with burn scars, blindness in one eye, and an end to their career as a hunter. While the hunter wasn't able to see the Vampire Queen's face, they did remember one thing. The hydrangea tattoo on the Vampire Queen's shoulder. It was the only clue given to the association and the one that they've been using ever since. Until now. Now, the association has an actual lead that's more than just a tattoo. This Thursday night in the infamous witch city Salem, the original Vampire herself is to be attending a jazz club, alongside her entourage of vampires and aides. It's their biggest lead yet and while Kimberly was curious about how they got said lead, she knew better than to question the council. She just nodded along and accepted what was given to her. Reggie carefully flips through his manila folder, taking his time to read the pages. Clarence carelessly flips through it, his actions vastly different from his eyes that showed how anxious he is. The fifth member of their group, M, a young tech wizard, taps away on his laptop, probably already looking into their destination. And even Wren takes the time out to look through his own folder, absorbing the information displayed. The four men taking this seriously washes away some of her anxieties. These guys are pros, some of the best hunters yet, they know when it's time to get serious. Clarence and Wren are examples of this. "So we're doing this." Clarence whistles. "I guess I should be honored that I was picked for this." "You should be," Kimberly says, tone serious and heavy. "The council handpicked all of us because we're some of their top hunters. Alone, none of us would be able to capture her, but as a singular unit? We're unstoppable. We have to work as a perfect unit if we want to succeed and live." Mostly live. Even if the five fail, if they can at least make it out alive then that would be enough for Kimberly. "We're to go to Salem and act as tourists. Each of us have been given a cover story that can be found in your folder. The only point of contact that we'll have will be the hunter communication app. This mission will officially take place on Thursday, at the Brewery. That's when and where we'll capture the Vampire Queen." "How do we know that she'll be there?" Asks Wren."Our private intel gave it to us, even warned us that she won't be there alone." Reggie nods. "It would be stupid of us to think she would travel alone. She's the Vampire Queen, she's probably protected at all times." He has a point. The Vampire Queen may be all powerful and the original vampire but she's still an important figure for vampires across the globe. She must be protected at all times if they wish to see their kind live on. "That's why we have to be prepared for what's to come," Kimberly says. "Any mistakes that we make will not only jeopardize the mission but also our lives. And I don't know about all of you but I'm too young to die." "And don't forget hot." In a flash, the water that Clarence ordered spills, the entire content covering his slacks. "Shit!" He yells, shooting up and grabbing a handful of napkins to clean the wet patch on his crotch. The timing of the spillage was perfect, happening at the right moment. As if it was magic. Kimberly's eyes slide over to Wren, who's own eyes are waiting for her's. He has his usual boyish grin on his face and fingers forming a little gun. He blows at his fingertips as if he's a sniper who just hit his target, which in this case, he did. The action alone makes Kimberly smile. Reggie, on the other hand, doesn't find the situation amusing, only embarrassing. "You need to be more careful," he says. "Just go to the bathroom to clean up, we'll update you if she has anything else to share." Clarence nods and does as told, though, the group can still hear him as he leaves the private room. "I don't know how it happened, I didn't even touch the damn thing!"It seems that not even one of the top hunters of the association could detect the usage of magic. Reggie turns back to Kimberly with an apologetic expression. "Sorry about that, he's a bit of a..." He doesn't finish his sentence, though, there's no need to. Kimberly can hear him loud and clear. "Is there anything else you need to tell us?" The three remaining men all look at Kimberly, awaiting any final words that she has to share. Though, what more can she say? All information regarding traveling, lodging, and even where to eat is in the manila folders. Every little detail about their time in Salem and the persona they're displaying had been perfectly typed out and would answer whatever questions they may have. There's nothing more for Kimberly to say without sounding repetitive. "Well... you might want to have your wills ready to go. Just in case... you know." It's a morbid joke and the only thing that comes to her mind. Kristina has told her many times that her morbid jokes aren't funny and no one would want to laugh at them. (Kimberly knows this and has been trying to do better. But it's really hard to do when you're forever surrounded by death and blood.) She almost takes it back and is ready to apologize until M snorts, the sound making her blink. That's when she sees the little smile on Reggie's face and even Wren who playfully rolls his eyes, used to her jokes more than anyone else. Kimberly leans back in her chair, her own lips tweaking upwards. She can't wait to tell Kristina about this (and to also prepare her will just in case... you know).