Of the Undead and Found Families

Gerard hadn't thought his plan through very well. He'd run off into unfamiliar territory with little over an hour until sunrise. Still it was better than being in that house of perverts. He shuddered to think of it. He swore he must have been some sort of creep magnet. It didn't matter where he went there was always someone trying to use him.

Something else that bothered him was his complete lack of strength. Even though could taste blood when he woke he clearly hadn't fed. He could even speed through the forest to shelter. Clumsily he scaled the tallest tree near him. This vantage point was much better, better to see that he was surrounded by a vast forest. How far had those stupid people from last night come for a tacky little house? He jumped down and headed towards what looked to be the biggest tree in the vicinity. That would probably shelter him enough for today.

Gerard hated feeling this weak. It reminded him of when he was human, and how helpless he'd been before. Admittedly he hadn't chosen this life but at least he could defend himself now. He flung his head back and sighed. Why had he told so much about himself to that guy Frank back there? It went against every rule Gerard made for himself. Somehow when he'd been sat in front of him it felt different, like he actually cared. When Gerard looked into those hazel eyes he'd felt safe for a moment. He was so believable. Gerard hated Frank for it, but he hated himself even more for being so drawn into it...

*4 hours later*

"Alright everyone listen up this is important. Last night a threat was brought to our attention. A young vampire came in covered in blood, and while I do not currently believe he is a threat, there a definite danger out there. I need everyone to drop their current duties and aid in the neutralization of this threat. Ray will take you to the site of a blood trail he found."

Frank hated direct he sounded. None of this was meant to be so formal. This whole business had started as little more than a joke. The house itself had existed with it boundaries for centuries, but a couple decades ago they did the house up for his birthday and he had a brainwave. Since then it had grown, but it didn't have the same thrill to it anymore. Hell it probably didn't even need him to run it. Frank was pulled from his thoughts by a hand on his shoulder. Lindsay was trying to get his attention.
"Hey are you even listening?"
"What?"
"I'll take that as a no. I said what happened to the kid? I saw you dash upstairs with him then nothing. Surely he could give us something more to work with?" Frank shifted uncomfortably.

"What did you say to him?" Frank briefly explained what had happened that night. It sounded even worse when he said it aloud.

"That's really out of character for Patrick."
"He said he meant to make the kid jump at first, try and lighten the mood a little then he doesn't really know why he did it. He's been beating himself up about it since."
"Well I hope he gets far enough away. Your Lycan muscle staff got here today and there's a full moon tonight. Anyone they aren't familiar with, that isn't human, is gonna be in trouble."

Frank had forgotten about that. There's no way Gerard could have gotten far. Not with how weak he's been when he left. If he got lost in the woods he'd could be stuck there for weeks.

"WAIT EVERYONE. WE HAVE A NEW PRIORITY."

◇◇◇◇

Gerard was going stir crazy. the sun had come up hours ago and he was stuck. The shade around the tree was patchy at best, not that it mattered. There was a rundown cottage with it's shutters still intact. Although cottage was a generous word for it. He'd been hiding in there. He was bored, he was angry and most of all he was hungry. There were a few small animals scurrying around but he knew if he drank from them he'd probably kill them. Why did he always end up in shitty situations like this. His current diversion was repeatedly slamming his head up against the wall. It was a habit he picked up before he'd turned, only now it lacked the bonus of potentially ending up unconscious.

He should have just followed the damn road but, no, he had to just blindly run off. He could have ended up in a nice little town, found someone to donate a bit of blood and been on his way but, nope, he'd just blindly bolted out of the back. Clearly no one has followed him, or they'd have caught him before the sun had even risen. Hindsight could be a real bitch.

"What did that wall ever do to you?" Gerard froze. Everything froze for a moment. He couldn't fight, he couldn't run, so he did the next thing that came naturally do him. He curled up with his arms over his head.

"That's an over reaction if ever I saw one." Gerard lifted his head to look at the stranger. Sat in midair was a man with short spiky black hair. He was translucent, and his features rippled a little, as if he'd been projected onto water. Gerard relaxed, he'd encountered ghosts before. They couldn't do anything to him.

"That's where you're wrong kiddo. I'm not just your everyday spirit. Before misplacing my physical form I was a warlock. Not that you have to worry I'm only playing babysitter til the others get here."

The brief shock of having his thought read was quickly overtaking by panic again.

"Who's coming here?"
"You already know. You've caused quite the fuss. we haven't had this much of a scramble since the time Frank thought it would be fun to have a spooky concert two days before Halloween. Worth it though. Shame he hasn't done it since."

Gerard just stared. The ghost had moved and was now sitting on the ceiling.

"Why do you even have to babysit me. It's not like I can go anywhere." The ghost just laughed. Gerard heard voices approaching.

"I'm Pete by the way."
"I don't really care."
"Good to know. Anyway I should just let you know I've been given permission to possess you if you try and cause trouble, which won't be pleasant for either of us so don't let it come to that."

The voices were at the door. Gerard groaned. The door but at open and he shot across the room away from the shaft of sunlight.

"What the fuck are you trying to kill me?" He raised his coat over his face as extra protection.

"You don't have to worry about that, Patrick's magic doesn't just disorientate young vampires who run off into the forest."
That was Frank's voice. Gerard lowered his coat and saw him stood in jeans and a t-shirt, practically bathing in sunlight. There was a group of silhouettes just beyond the door.

"One of the many things you never gave me a chance to tell you. There's still quite a few things you should probably know about this place." Frank held out a blood bag which Gerard grabbed and devoured.

"Who said I'm staying here? Did the running away not give it away?"

"Whatever your decision you just gotta know there's going to be a wolf pack round here for the month."

"So?"

"They would have torn you apart if they found you out here."

How was Gerard supposed to know that?"

"Don't you know about the pack mentality?" Gerard looked at him blankly. The group behind Gerard murmured uneasily. As he looked, Gerard started to pick up details from the group, green skin, one of them had an extra eye in their forehead.

"Do you know about the hierarchy of vampire nature? The difference between a Fey and a Pixie? The advantages of feeding from humans during a full moon?"

Gerard was getting angrier at this humiliation. Frank was getting agitated as he spoke.

"DON'T YOU KNOW ANYTHING?"

"NO. I DONT KNOW A DAMN THING ABOUT THIS. Bert didn't tell me anything."
"Bert?"

"He turned me"

"And he just let you loose on the world?"

"He didn't LET me do anything. I ran away from him."

Notes

So my lovelies I have another chapter for you. I my have greatly overestimated myself when I started this but I'm enjoying writing it so much. Thanks for reading as always and don't be afraid to comment
love you lots
Wren <3