Almost 2 hours later, I'm in my apartment with my truck parked outside. I'd already taken a shower and changed into something that wasn't dirty, covered in blood or ripped to shreds.
Which was nice.
Fletcher had come with me and was sitting, waiting on my couch as he read a book he'd taken off the shelves. His eyes scanning over the pages with an alarming and quite frankly annoying speed. Considering I was dyslexic, there was no way I could ever absorb a book that damn fast. I'll say it; I was jealous.
I step out of the bathroom, my hair still slightly damp as I pull out a new phone from my collection and turn it on. I had my mother's number memorized, so after taking a deep breath, I call.
I hold my breath as it rings. My stomach is turning with worry and anxiety.
Good god, I felt sick.
I'd had this whole speech planned out. What to say. How to say it. What I needed to accomplish with this one phone call.
But, as soon as I hear my mom answer, saying, "Oh my god, Quinn! You're okay!" With this… heart wrenching sob of relief, all the words I'd previously wanted to say, melt away and the only thing I say is, "Yeah." Back, tears welling in my OWN, damn, traitorous eyes.
"Quinn, we were SO worried! Airplanes have been grounded. We wanted to come back, but everything is in pure chaos! Your father had been working non stop to keep everyone here safe. Please tell me you're somewhere safe, please!" Her words come out in this panicked, jumbled mess.
I'd never heard her like this before. She's always been a worry wart, but this was a whole new level. Then again, with all this shit going on, I couldn't really blame her. I could only imagine how bad everything's gotten across the whole goddamn planet.
I swallow hard, "Yeah. Yeah, I'm safe. I'm… I'm with Michelle and a… couple other friends." I say, keeping it vague intentionally. No way in hell I'm going to tell her I'm staying with some vampires & werewolves.
"Michelle is okay, too?" she asked, sounding relieved.
I glanced up at Fletcher who was definitely listening intently, despite looking at my book still. His eyes were no longer scanning the pages. I watch him as I answer, "Yeah. We're both fine. Injured, but fine."
"Thank god." She sighs out.
"I… uhm, I called for a reason, mom." I say, using to steer back into the reason why I called. "The high school, on main street where DMHS currently has a safe house set up, do you know anything about it?" I ask her.
"I don't know, Quinn. Your father and I are nowhere near HQ. Wouldn't it be easier for you to look into it?" She asks.
I hesitate, "I uhm… I can't, mom. I've been… compromised. DMHS doesn't consider me an asset any longer."
There's a long pause. An uncomfortably long fucking pause. Even Fletcher stirs nervously. My stomach is turning with growing anxiety.
Shit.
Then, slowly she says, "Was it you?"
My mouth goes dry as my heart leaps up into my throat.
SHIT!
"Were… were YOU the hunter that took the side of the monsters?" She asks, her voice laced with disbelief. Anger. Worry.
DOUBLE SHIT!
I suddenly feel like I'm going to throw up. I was expecting this. At some point. I KNEW this would be a talk we NEEDED to have. But… I wasn't ready for this today! I wanted to do this face to face with her! Not… not over a god damn phone!
Fletcher sits forward, closing the book and setting it aside as he stands and comes to my side. He has vampiric hearing. There's no way he can't hear what we're talking about. What she asked me.
He placed a gentle, but slightly cold, hand on my back, 'Breathe' He mouths to me. I gasp in a small breath as I realize I'd stopped breathing.
"Quinn!" my mother snaps over the phone, causing me to flinch.
I didn't have an answer! Not here! Not now!
FUCK! Wait, we're my hands shaking? I ask myself with growing panic.
Fletcher holds his hand out for the phone. It wasn't a demand in any regard. It felt more like… a gentle question of if I wanted help. I bite my bottom lip and hesitate. Then pass him the phone, already regretting it.
"Greetings Mrs. Quinn's mom." He says, putting it on speaker, "My name is Fletcher. Fletcher Adlet. I'm a Royal vampire and I'm friends with your daughter." He states.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting him to say, but it SURE WAS FUCK WASN'T THAT!
"Fletcher!" I hiss, trying to get the phone back.
He holds it above my head, where I can't get it.
"A… royal?" My mother gasps. Then, her next words come out laced with such pure hatred that makes both Fletcher and I pause "I swear to God, if you hurt my baby girl, I will track you down and I will kill you in the slowest, most painful POSSIBLE way." She hisses. "You leave my baby girl ALONE."
My lips part slightly as my eyes go round, I'd never heard her so angry before. So absolutely filled with rage and hate.
"Your daughter is under my protection." Fletcher says, snapping me out of my shock, "I would never let anything happen to her. I swear on my life that she's safe with me." He says, surprisingly calmly.
"Mom, he saved my life." I state, loud enough for her to hear.
"Quinn… I didn't raise you to be a fool." She snaps, causing me to flinch. Oh, God. I am going to throw up! I think to myself, clamping a hand over my mouth. The guilt. The fear. The anxiety. She was never going to understand this! What the fuck was I thinking!?
Fletcher looks torn between being angry at my mother and feeling guilty about putting me into this situation. He placed a hand on my shoulder & as much as I hated to admit it fucking helped.
"Mom, I…" I pause hesitating, "I…"
"Quinn." Fletcher says gently, rubbing my back again, "Deep breath."
I immediately comply.
I had a job to do. I needed to get this information. I clench my hands into fists, "You didn't raise a fool, mom. You know exactly who you raised. You know I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't believe in it. You know damn well that I'm a good hunter. You know damn well that I can compartmentalize. And I'm telling you, I'm telling you, I'm safe with Fletcher. Okay? If you don't trust him, thats fine. Don't. Don't trust him. Trust me."
Another long pause. And just as regret was setting in, there was a long sigh and she says, "Of course I trust you, love."
I nearly sob in relief. "I… Mom, I need your help. I need to find out if there's a witch in that DMHS safe house that's set up at that high school. Please. It's extremely important. Not only because I need to recharge my sword, but also because I need to find witches. It's a long story, but I'm trying to help. I'm trying to save lives."
"Okay." She says with a sigh, "Okay. I'll can call a friend I think is stationed there and get back to you." There was a pause and I was about to thank her when she says, "And Quinn… please, please be careful. Don't trust them. Don't… Don't trust anyone, actually."
I blink, swallowing hard. Well, that sounded awfully fucking ominous, "What?"
"Don't trust the vampires. Don't trust the werewolves. Don't even trust the humans, Quinn. Times are changing and now? Now's when you do what you have to to survive. Got it? Do whatever you need to to survive. Adapt, devise a plan and execute it."
I'd heard that many times while training. Adaption was the best way to survive. I knew that. I'd been taught that since I was born. "Yeah, mom. I know, okay? That's what I'm doing. That's exactly what I'm doing. Adapting. And right now, that includes my alliance with Fletcher. My alliance with the others, too." I say, firmly, clutching my hands into fists.
Fletcher lifts an eyebrow, looking impressed, but my mother says, "Just be careful, Quinn."
"Mom, you know me. When have I ever been careful?"
She chuckles lightly. Almost… sadly? "Quinn, I swear to god."
I smirk, she sounded like herself again. Good. "Mom, make that call, please and get back to me. I kinda have a lot on my plate, and this would help me out so much."
"Okay. Okay. Fine. I'll call you back in 10 to 15 minutes, okay?"
"Okay."
"Love you, Quinn." She whispers.
"I love you too, mom."
"Take care of yourself."
"You too. Tell dad… Uh, Tell dad everything. Please. Just… don't let him call. I… I can't deal with him right now."
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye."
Fletcher hangs up the phone, giving me a look of guilt, "She sounds… nice."
I choke on a laugh, "She scare you?" I ask.
"Absolutely." He says back with a smirk.