Chapter 4

"Dad, we will be very discreet. No one will know we are your son and daughter or vampires even if that makes you feel any better." Paula was saying as she and Merlin stood facing their father, Simon Bale.

Simon Bale was tall and looked no less than a six feet four inches giant with light green eyes just like Paula's. Merlin got his mother's amber eyes.

"I have many enemies, children. Both vampires and humans. You must know if you go out there in view of the world, I will not be able to protect you." Simon said in his deep hoarse voice, leaning back on the black chair behind the glass table adorned with a glass of red blood cocktail and a pen stand.

The house office that Simon used for his business purposes was no smaller than the size of an average house in Ginger-Spring town. From a bar to a separate bedroom, it had everything. Paula walked over to the giant couch sitting in the corner and laid on it, feet up on the side rest.

"Dad, I think we have proved enough of the times that we don't need your protection. You can relax." Merlin said. Centuries of living the life of a vampire and their father was still worried like a typical alive one. Despite being a protective father, neither Paula nor Merlin had to ever worry about intrusion upon their private life. Simon was one of those cool dads who never ask questions to his kids before handing out the keys to his car.

"Okay. Go do your thing. What do you need from me?" Simon asked, looking square into his eyes, Merlin grimaced a little. Asking things from his father will always make him uncomfortable, no matter how rare he does that.

"You know we don't deal in money and I wish to start this business with clean hands. Paula has agreed. So we will need some human currencies."

"That's it?"

"Yes that will be all. We already have a place in mind."

"Alright son. You got it. Come on, both of you, give daddy a nice long hug." Simon said, opening both his arms.

"Do we have to do this every time dad." Paula groaned from the couch but came to hug him anyway. "I love you both." Simon said, embracing the two of them together into a cuddly hug.

"Dad, do you seem to know any vampire hunters in town?" Merlin asked, breaking the hug first. The other two looked at him with confused expressions. Merlin knew his father and sister cared about him and despite already being dead, they would still worry about him and his afterlife.

"Not that I know of. Why did you ask that question?" Simon asked.

"I just heard a rumour that there was an attack, the vampire killed all the hunters but it is strange, isn't it? How come suddenly vampire hunters are interested in our town?"

"Well, I didn't hear anything about that. Where did you hear all this from?" Asked Simon, clearly trying to recall any past conversations that might have had the hint of something regarding the attack that he missed.

"Just around the corner. I don't even remember where."

"I will look into it. Still be careful, both of you."

As Paula and Merlin came out of the office, Paula kept her suspicious glare on him the entire time they took to reach his room. Paula didn't walk away, she entered the room with Merlin and climbed on his bed, Merlin climbed up beside her and both layed there side by side, staring up at the ceiling.

"So?" Said Merlin. Paula turned to her, resting her head on the elbow.

"So what?" Asked Paula.

"You want to say something?" Merlin imitated her pose.

"I do want to say a lot of things. But first things first, what was that about vampire hunters?"

"Nothing, I just heard a rumour." Said Merlin but didn't catch Paula's eyes.

"You know Merlin, I almighty be the bad big vampire duster who doesn't care about anything but herself but I do care about you and I can tell when you are lying to me. So quit this secrecy show and spill whatever is on your mind."

Merlin turned over on his back and continued to stare at the ceiling for a few more of the heavy seconds.

"You know that graduation party some college kids threw in the woods behind their college. It was like a group thing, no adults allowed. Leonard and I went and I made out with this really hot and cool girl. Well, as long as she thought I was a normal human, she was alright. Her name was —"

"Bloody hell Merlin, don't tell me your life story, just get to the point already. Who attacked you?" Paula snapped, throwing a pillow at Merlin. Merlin laughed, digging his head into the mattress.

"Okay Paula. Where did the caring sister go?"

"She got annoyed by your useless babbling."

"They were a bunch of hunters, I think four or five and they shot an arrow. But, I handled it. They are dead and buried. Nothing to worry about."

"Were you with that girl?"

"Yes. She freaked out and ran."

"Why didn't you use your vampire hypnotism? She will tell more people and it will attract more hunters. You are such a dumbass Merlin."

"Is my big sister afraid of vampire hunters now? That's new." Merlin mocked and Paula kicked him on the calf.

"I am not afraid of some pathetic human with stakes and silver arrow guns. I just don't want to worry about that stuff and cleaning blood is the most difficult job."

"I can't argue with that. Now go away, I have to sleep."

"Yeah whatever. I will call that owner to confirm the work place and put out the word for front job reception. Sleep well little brother."

Paula made her way to her room across the hallway. After doing all she told Merlin she would do, she still couldn't sleep. Her brain kept drifting back to the attack Merlin told her about. It was not something to ignore and she understood that. Vampire hunters aren't noobs, not even pathetic, they are very dangerous to the vampires and they were difficult to stop once on a mission.

She wasn't worried for herself, she was worried about the drama that follows the entry of vampire hunters in any town. She didn't like drama.

"Hey Paula."

"Monal?"

"Glad you remember my name this time." Monal was looking fresh and gorgeous in track pants and tube top that hung low on her breast. She was standing, leaning on the wall beside the open door of Paula's bedroom.

"No problem honey. What brings you here?"

"I didn't come for you, I left my mobile phone somewhere here." Said Monal.

"Of course you did. Won't you look for it?"

Monal walked towards the bed Paula laid, and as soon as she reached the foot of the bed, Paula grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her onto the bed beside her.

"Did I guess it wrong?" Paula asked and Monal slid her hand up her shirt.

"Absolutely not." After that, everything dropped to the giant pool of liquid ecstasy. Bare and sweaty.