Charlie's eyes widened. Simon pressed his hand down slightly—a warning.
"Good. I want this resolved, Simon. The intelligence might be wrong, but he's still a vampire."
"Understood."
"And Simon? Don't let your curiosity override your training. In the end, vampires are all the same. Don't forget that."
The warning was clear. Albrecht had gotten "curious" once. They'd found him drained in his own apartment, his research notes scattered around his body.
"That won't be a problem," Simon said.
"See that it isn't. I'll be expecting your report."
The line went dead.
Simon stayed frozen for another heartbeat, Charlie's tears wet against his palm, before slowly removing his hand.
Charlie immediately gasped, pulling in air he didn't need. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—I was—there was a dream and?—"
"Stop talking."
Charlie's mouth snapped shut.
Simon sat on the edge of the bed, suddenly exhausted. That had been too close. Way too close.
"That was your boss?" Charlie whispered.
"Yes."
"The one who wants me dead?"
"He wants all vampires dead. You're not special."
Charlie pulled himself up to sitting, the blanket pooling in his lap. His hair stuck up at odd angles. "You lied to him."
Simon didn't answer.
"Why?"
That was the question, wasn't it? Why was he protecting this pathetic excuse for a vampire? Why had he fed him? Why was Charlie in his bed instead of dust on the convenience store floor?
"I don't know," Simon admitted.
Charlie studied him for a long moment. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. This doesn't change anything. You're still a vampire. I'm still a hunter."
"Right." Charlie hugged his knees to his chest. "So what happens now?"
Simon honestly had no idea.
Chapter
Twelve
Charlie had been sure he wouldn't sleep again after that nightmare—after Simon's hand over his mouth, after hearing that other hunter talk about him like he was already dead. But exhaustion had won eventually, pulling him under sometime near dawn. His body, finally having received real nourishment for the first time in three weeks, had apparently decided to shut down for repairs.
He wasn't sure how long he'd sleptexactly, but it must have been a long time. His vampire senses told him that dusk was approaching.
