# Chapter 45

It was so dark that Abraham could barely see the ground as he climbed on David’s back. David just fidgeted nervously. Tamil climbed on behind Abraham and wrapped his arms around Abraham tightly, unable to see, clinging to him was the only way he could make sure he didn’t fall off.
“This horse ride NOT enjoy-A-ble.” Tamil muttered.
“This is NOT a horse ride, because I am NOT a horse!” David snapped angrily, stomping his hoof.
“Feel like horse and smell like horse.” Tamil mumbled.
“And you smell like a corpse! You don’t hear me compla-”
“SHUT YER YAPS, BOTH’VE YA!” Alex shouted, marching towards them quickly, carrying Annie on his shoulder with Tori running behind him. “Ya ain’t got the time to have a shout’n match.”
“Where’ve you been?” David asked. “It’s already past sunset and the forests are REALLY dark now!”
“Stop being a baby.” Pen growled, hovering near David’s ear. “Jelly knows those forests like the back of her hand, she does.”
“Jelly know path!” Jelly squealed, jumping up and down excitedly.
“You want me to trust the slime ball?” David asked.
“Or you can go alone.” Pen shrugged. “Your choice.” David just sighed in disgust and placed his hands upon his hips. Alex set Annie down and Tori picked her up instead, opening her wings to fly. Since Annie was lighter, Tori would carry her instead. David was strong enough to carry Tamil, Jelly, and Abraham. Since Jelly weighed next to nothing, it wasn’t such a big deal to add her to the weight. Alex patted the free spot on Alex’s back just between Abraham and David’s back, allowing all three to sit on him. David grunted a little.
“Can we get going now please?” He asked. “I want to get this over with…plus carrying three folks is heavy.”
“Hold on, we’re not done yet.” Everyone turned to see Christina marching towards them with a backpack in her hands. She reached up to Abraham and handed the backpack to him with a smile, her eyes still hidden behind her shades.
“What’s this?” Abraham asked.
“Abraham, I used to think that any future that humanity had with monsters like us would end in death for one side or both…I may have labored under the delusion that we could coexist, but time kept proving me wrong time and time again until I’d just given up hope…and then we met you. You’re special…and if what we know is true about this grandfather of yours, there are other humans out there who see us as you do.”
“…I dunno if I’m all that…or if it’s that clear cut.” I blushed.
“It ain’t...It ain’t meant to be simple…noth’n is.” Alex replied.
“But the truth is, Abraham, that despite what we are and what we’re capable of, you look past that. Be it naivity, righteousness, or both, it gives us hope that we won’t have to hide forever. Take that backpack with you…inside are a few mementos from us here at the farm.”
“Jelly help make it!” Jelly said proudly.
“We all did.” Pen added. “If you and yer club are ever in need of a place to come and visit or stay…I think we can accommodate you? Would you agree, Alex?” Pen glanced at Alex who crossed his arms with a nod, his horns clearly dipping like a cat.
“We’d be honored.”
“Th-thank you guys.” Abraham whispered.
“You are so kind.” Tamil agreed.
“Now, that’s enough touchy feely stuff.” Christina announced. “David? Jelly? Get these three back home. Tori? It was nice to see you again.”
“I’ll visit soon!” Tori announced, already flying off to the sky, Annie clutched in her hug.
“Let’s go you three! Jelly, don’t get distracted please…..Jelly?”
“She’s staring at a firefly.” Abraham smirked.
“JELLY!”
“Jelly here!” She squeaked.
“Focus!” David snapped as he took off into the forest, causing Tamil to cling to Abraham tighter. Abraham glanced back at Alex, Pen, and Christina all watching them run off and waving. He prayed he’d get to see them again soon…he wanted to pause and look in the backpack, but he knew now wasn’t the right time…later…when he was safe with the club.

“GUYS! WE’RE BACK!” Abraham called out as they drew close to the garage.
“Shut up!” David snapped back. “We don’t know what’s waiting for us there.”
“Oh…right…” Abraham fell silent again as David slowed to a trot. Abraham looked around and what he saw…bothered him to say the least. There were tiny glints in the dirt from bullet casings, and he could see flecks of blood scattered here and there. The ground was uneven and the concrete areas around the building had cracks in it from massive impacts. Abraham jumped down from David’s back as Tamil stumbled off as well.
“It’s…like a battle took place here.”
“The Dawn Bringers, probably.” David answered.
“HEY!” Abraham glanced up to see Tori flying to the ground, Annie in her arms. When she landed, she looked around as well, the smile on her face vanishing. “Where’s…where’s everyone at?”
“We’d all like to know that.” Abraham replied. Annie walked up to Abraham and took his hand.
“They’re…okay right?”
“I’m sure they are.” Abraham assured her. Jelly was climbing down from David’s shoulder and looking around as well.
“Jelly never been here before!” She noted. “It so bad looking.”
“You mean it looks like a battlefield.” David explained.
“KATIE!? SARAH!? MICHELLE?! ASHER!? CALYPSO!?” Abraham shouted. “CAN ANY OF YOU HEAR ME!?” There was no reply…and soon Abraham began to feel his heart beat faster. How much had he missed. “EVERYONE! IT’S OKAY! PLEASE COME OUT!”

“Abraham?”
From behind the main entrance, Katie came slithering out. She had a black eye and her tail looked a bit damaged in places, but she was alive.
“KATIE!?” Abraham cried, running to her. Tamil ran in the direction of Katie’s voice and grabbed Abraham’s arm so he could lead him to her. When he approached, she fell forward and he quickly caught her. She was more injured than he’d realized.
“I’m okay…I’m okay…” She whispered. “Abraham, I’m so glad you’re okay. Tamil, you’re fine too? And Annie?”
“We’re all okay. But we were attacked by that monster who destroyed our home.” Abraham answered.
“He say one of you dead…is lying? Please say he lie!” Tamil shouted. Katie’s eyes fell and she bit her lip.
“It’s…it’s true…we fought hard but…but Asher couldn’t hold them off forever…they broke through and…”
“Who?!” Annie squeaked tearfully.
“…Mato…” She replied darkly. “Mato died shielding Sarah and Calypso from a fatal silver shard grenade.” She then stood up and tears rolled heavily down her face. “And Asher…Asher and Michelle are gone too.”
“No…please God no!” Tamil screamed.
“They were kidnapped. Taken by the Dawn Bringers…”
“No way! Asher’s too strong. He would’ve…he would’ve fought back and killed them!” Abraham argued.
“He was already exhausted…and the Dawn Bringers had timed their attack with the rising of the sun…he couldn’t keep fighting in day light.” Katie whimpered. “Sarah was unconscious and Calypso was mending my wounds….Michelle tried to save him, but got caught too.”
“Why not just kill them?” David asked. Katie glared up at David furiously who backed up a few paces out of fear.
“How should I know!? All I know…is that they’re gone…they’re…they’re…” She couldn’t say anymore as she fell forward and Abraham had to hold onto her as she bawled into his shirt. Tamil fell to his knees and hands as he trembled terribly.
“Not Asher…he too strong…he not lost…he can not lose…why…” Annie began to cry too, clinging to Abraham’s leg. Tori ran past them inside.
“Tori?”
“MATO CAN’T BE DEAD!” She screamed. “HE CAN’T BE!” She shouted.
“It’s true…” From out of the shadows, limped a very bandaged Sarah, and helping her walk was Calypso who didn’t look nearly as bad as the others. Her eyes were downcast and she looked more pale than before. Helping Sarah from the otherside was Naomi, who’s hair was pulled over her eyes so her gaze couldn’t be seen.
“Naomi!” Tori screamed. “Tell me it’s a lie! Tell me….MATO ISN’T GONE! HE…HE CAN’T JUST…”
“Tori…” Naomi muttered sadly. “We tried to save him…”
“No…shut up! SHUT UP!”
“We did everything we could. I’m sorry…there was too much silver lodged in his body…we couldn’t-”
“SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!!” She screeched before sprinting out the door and rocketing into the sky, screaming Mato’s name at the top of her lungs. Naomi looked away, tears running down her cheeks too.
“I figured she wouldn’t take that well….she looked up to Mato like a big brother.”
“I’m sorry, Naomi…” Abraham admitted.
“I know Mato didn’t like you but…” Naomi started to reason.
“No…he gave his life for my family…and for that, anything we had against each other is null and void.” Abraham sighed. Naomi gave the faintest shadow of a smile before letting go of Sarah and walking to him swiftly, wrapping her arms around him a tight hug.
“You’re a good man, Abraham…better than a lot of others I can think of.” Sarah gave a soft moan and looked up. When she saw Abraham she screamed and hurried to him…only to stumble and fall, crashing to the ground. One of her right legs was broken and only held together with thin silk casting.
“SARAH!?”
“It’s…it’s not as bad as it looks. It’ll grow back in time. Oh Abraham, you’re back!” She cried. “We missed you so much.” She then saw Tamil and Annie, who had barely moved. “Annie..Tamil…come here, both of you!” Without a word they walked to her and she wrapped her arms around them in a hug, all crying together…though Sarah more from relief than anything else.

“Well…sorry that we couldn’t be of more help.” David grumbled. Abraham and the others all turned to see David and Jelly standing nearby.
“Jelly? It’s been a while.” Naomi grinned.
“Hi fishy!”
“It’s Naomi.” She laughed. “Thanks for keeping an eye on them. Send my best back to Alex and Christina.” David nodded sadly and then glanced at Jelly.
“Let’s go kid.” He sighed.
“We go now?” She asked. “Want to play with new people!”
“Jelly…now isn’t the time.” David hissed. “They’re mourning.”
“But it not morning yet.”
“…Just get on my back!” He snapped, grabbing her and throwing her on top of her back. Jelly nodded sadly and waved goodbye as David ran into the woods, back towards the farm.
“See ya!” He called out. “Take care!” When they were out of sight, Abraham sat down next to Katie who was nursing a spot on her tail. The scales had been ripped away showing some red muscle underneath.

“Will you be okay?” Abraham asked.
“When I shed my skin, it’ll be fine…how was the farm or whatever it was?”
“I learned a lot there…some things I’m not sure I was ready to learn. But what happened here?” Abraham asked. He wasn’t ready to tell her about Solomon being his grandfather…he wasn’t sure if the Club was ready to stomach that news right now…it was all happening too fast.
“Abraham I’m so scared…it’s all falling apart. What if they kill Asher and Michelle?”
“I don’t think they will. They captured them alive for a reason…if we can find a way to get them back, we will.” Abraham answered. “After all, you escaped them once.”
“Only because they let me.” She cried. “They won’t be so forgiving with a vampire and a werewolf.”
“Let’s not worry so much right now…I think we should all rest a while…and when we’re ready, we’ll find a way to save Asher and Michelle.” Abraham answered. He looked to Tamil, Sarah, and Annie who were all embraced in a sad and pathetic lock of tears and wails. Calypso stood next to Naomi, the two speaking softly and, it almost felt like they were leaning on each other…having lost Mato and Asher, it was hard on the two merfolk.
“Abraham…who will lead us now?” Katie asked.
“…I don’t know…but let’s not write off Michelle yet. We’re going to make it out of this…I can feel it.” Abraham smiled. Katie hiccuped slightly and then leaned against him, her head nestled next to Abraham’s cheek, causing him to blush. Before he could shove her off in surprise, she was already asleep…clearly too exhausted to stay awake.
“…We’ll survive…we’ll recover.” Abraham whispered to her as Katie slept on his shoulder. “I will protect my family…like Grandpa would have.”