Winter advisory sirens pierced the silent night as Asher snuggled up in his bed with all his fluffy blankets. Duke laid at his feet, snoring away. Flames flickered from his candles while he continued reading the spellbook that he and Sebastian discovered.  Unbeknownst to Sebastian, there was a section dedicated to slaying vampires.  

Gruesome diagrams showed beheadings and heart removals.  It even detailed how to manipulate a vampire against their will and turn them into a ghoul.  Even more frightening, it provided him information on possessing a vampire’s body.  Asher’s skin prickled at the mere thought, shaking away haunting memories from his past.  He’d never wish to be trapped inside a vampire for eternity.

Someone created that spellbook to weaponize against the vampires.  Asher suspected the author used a pen name, so tracking down the original writer would be tricky.  Most black magic spellbooks were written decades ago.  With new laws in place, magic users were forbidden from attacking vampires unless they were in imminent danger.

Icy rain pounded against his cabin as if it desired to break inside and snatch them away.  Over the storm siren and roaring winds, Asher perked his ears at the sound of something crashing near his window.  It was enough to jolt Duke awake, barking toward the source.

“It’s okay, buddy.” Asher gently patted his head, then reached underneath his pillow for his pistol.  With utmost caution, he peeled the blanket away and neared his window.  

Before shifting the curtain aside, Asher aimed the barrel of his pistol at the windowpane, prepared for anything that might try to break inside.  However, nothing caught his eye amid the sodden trees and stirred up debris.  A bolt of lightning flashed before him as he strained to make out any monstrous figures in the woods.

Duke howled on his bed, fretful eyes glued to the window.  Asher frowned.  Storms didn’t frighten Duke, but monsters did.  

Just when Asher thought he was safe enough to climb back into bed, a ruckus in the living room made him freeze.  He heard the front door wallop open.  Heartbeat pounding in his throat, Asher crept out into the hallway with his gun, loaded with silver bullets.  Only very few monsters ever crossed through his barriers and lived afterward.   

Embers of blue encased his body in a protective shield as he conjured up an attack spell.  He heard the door close just as he entered his living room, freezing at the threshold.  The man tugged down his hood, revealing silvery wisps of coiffured hair.  A jagged scar sliced down his lower left glass eye.

“Father?” Asher choked out.

“Pardon the unexpected visit, Asher.  I needed a place to lay low and your cabin was nearby.” Mr. Odowix kicked off his boots, then produced a plastic to-go bag from his overcoat pocket.  “I brought food.  You weren’t sleeping, were you?”

“Uh, no.” Asher rubbed the back of his neck, self-consciously gazing down at his bunny slippers. 

“Nightmares still?” A sympathetic smile touched his crooked lips as he came around and patted him on the back. “I got your favorite cinnamon rolls. Catch me up on your hunt for that bloodsucker while we eat.”

Asher nodded, following his father into the kitchen.  Unease blossomed in his chest while his father set the table then brewed them a pot of coffee.  Why was he there now?  

“I know you must have questions.” He yanked out a chair, taking a seat.  “Truth is, something’s hunting me.”  Mr. Odowix peeled up his shirt, revealing deep penetrating claw marks across his chest.  “This was the only place I knew was safe enough to lay low.”

“What the hell happened?” Asher crouched at his side, examining the claw marks.  “Was it a wolf walker?”

“It was something more wicked than that, my boy.”

Asher frowned.  “What do you mean?  What was it?”

“Those damn bloodsuckers.” Mr. Odowix grimaced before biting into his cinnamon roll.  “They’re after me, Asher.  They used their claws to try pinning me down but I wouldn’t let them bite me.  Oh, they wanted to.”

“What did they look like?” Asher asked, wondering if it could be the same vampires who attacked him.  

“Like every other hideous bloodsucker we’ve hunted.” Mr. Odowix gulped down his coffee.  “Why?  Did you identify any other leeches around here?”

“I was attacked by some vampires not long ago outside the Last Drop pub,” Asher explained, willing his pounding heart to settle.  “Before they could bite me, I sent a counter-attack spell their way and escaped in my jeep.  Usually they don’t attack like that but I think they were waiting for me out there.  Like they knew I’d be coming.”

Panic pulsed through Asher’s veins, hoping his father didn’t see through his lies. He didn’t want him to know about Sebastian.  Especially not how he allowed a vampire doctor to treat him.  His father would demand he be thoroughly examined back home by their own specialist if he dared to be honest.

“Are you okay?” Concern crossed his father’s face.  “I know I’ve given you a daunting task, but if you’re in this much danger-”

“No, don’t worry about me.” Asher waved a dismissive hand.  “I know how to handle myself out here.”

“That’s my boy.” Mr. Odowix grinned. 

While Asher updated his father on his findings, he bit into one of the cinnamon rolls he bought.  They weren’t as delicious as the ones Sebastian baked him. Honestly, they were quite dry and bordering on stale-tasting, but Asher didn’t tell him that.  

His father wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. “Do you mind if I crash on your couch tonight?  I swear, it’s only until morning.”

“Of course.  You know I don’t mind.” Asher took a sip of his steamy mug of coffee.  “Are you hunting a pack of vampires here in Nevermourn?”

“I am.  Followed them from Valortath.  You know my old buddy Orick, right? Head of the Supernatural Council. Anyway, he’s got me following a newly turned vampire in these depths,” Mr. Odowix explained.  “Name’s Castor Vale.”

Asher blanched.  “I think I’ve heard of him.”

“I’m sure you have.” Mr. Odowix nodded.  “Sebastian Wraith turned him illegally.  Despite that, his immunity has yet to be revoked.  Marusticia has too many strict laws here to protect those bloodsuckers.  It’s bullshit.”

“For sure.” Asher agreed.

“There’s somewhere I think you might be interested in checking out.” His father snatched a quill and pad of paper from the counter.  “It’s an old hospital.  Once used to treat vampires, many years ago.  Someone’s been hiding out there lately, but I’ve not gotten a chance to check it out.  I’m always followed anytime I go near it.”

Asher glanced at the napkin with his father’s familiar squiggly drawing to detail the directions.  “How strange.  I’ll check it out when I can.”

While Asher polished off his cinnamon rolls and coffee, he realized he was faced with a dilemma. Should he turn his back on his father and confide in Sebastian about their latest target? Or would he have to betray the vampire, who’d shown him nothing but kindness?