"Explain to me how you wound up in a family of rapists." Barb said loud enough that everyone could hear her including the children.
Kevyn was caught off guard by the greeting but recovered quickly. She was wishing that she hadn't changed her mind about going to the condo.
"I guess we don't have to wonder anymore do we?" Kevyn mused. "If you'll let us get settled, we'll tell you anything that you want to know."
Not to be deterred, Barb continued.
"Why? So you can come up with a pretty story? My situation may not be the best, but at least Thorne didn't rape anyone!"
"Barb..." Leon said softly.
"And you with all your talk about protecting us! You knew and you didn't do anything!"
"Barb, we can talk-"
"I have nothing to say to you rapist!" Barb snapped at Patrick who had tried to intervene.
"Mama?" Celeste called softly clutching Juliette's hand and staring at Barb with wide eyes.
"Barb you're scaring the kids." Juliette said her tone firm. "Now shut up a minute and we'll talk about it when the kids are settled."
"You knew too didn't you?" Barb asked Juliette in an accusing tone.
"Yes but as I said, this isn't a conversation for children. Now shut the hell up!"
Barb stopped, looked around and saw that the kids were indeed scared. Without saying another word, she turned and walked away.
Noel stood back and watched the interaction between the siblings. He then looked at the children and felt badly for them. Things were frightening enough without Barb making things worse. As he looked at each child, he saw the same similarities in the eyes of the portrait, but it was stronger in the girls. It confirmed what he already knew- the woman in the picture was somehow related to the Yancy family.
He watched Barb walk away, started to follow her; but then changed his mind. She had a way of pushing his buttons without trying. Let Thorne deal with her he thought to himself as he went to his room. Because there were going to be so many people around, he warded his room. After the incident with Barb, he didn't trust that he wouldn't hurt anyone.
**
Barb went to her room and slammed the door shut behind her. The only thing that she conceded was that she should have waited until the kids were out of earshot before she said anything. She hadn't planned on approaching Kevyn like that, it just came out. Nevertheless, she wanted an explanation. It occurred to her that she didn't want an explanation because she was concerned, it was because she finally had something that she could hold over their heads. In her heart she knew that she was wrong, but it didn't matter. She finally could say that she was better than they were.
"You really are a bitch" a soft voice said from behind her.
Barb turned to see Adrianna standing behind her.
"Do you ever think about anyone other than yourself?" Adrianna asked. "Apparently not" she said answering her own question. "I feel sorry for that kid you're carrying" she added and walked away before Barb could respond.
**
Leon wanted to go talk to Barb but Kevyn stopped him.
"Let it be for now" she said. "She needs time to cool off."
"She was wrong to do what she did" he said angrily.
"Yes she was" Kevyn agreed. "But confronting her about it when you're both angry isn't going to accomplish anything. Let's get the food and blood put away, the kids settled and then we'll talk to her."
Leon was fuming, but he agreed. Before he went help unload the vehicles, he checked on Celeste. Of the three children, she seemed to be the most frightened. Louise was already hugging the little girl and assuring her that there was nothing to be afraid of.
"Auntie Barb is just upset" Louise said softly. "She'll be alright."
Celeste didn't look convinced and Leon wasn't convinced either. Wanda and Victor had already recovered. They had seen Barb in action before, but had forgotten how impulsive and rude she could be. Wanda took charge of Celeste and asked where they would be sleeping.
That was a question for Barb and since no one wanted to deal with her at the moment, they decided to wait until she either came back or Thorne showed up. A sharp toot of the horn told them that more people had arrived.
"Hello?" Vanessa called out as she walked in followed by Luc, Rik and Veronica.
"We're in here!" Nathan called back.
"Where are mom, dad and Victoria?" Veronica asked looking around the room.
"They should be here shortly" Patrick replied. "Thorne is talking to the female hunter trying to see what he can find out."
"What are they going to do with her?" Vanessa asked.
"I don't know" Patrick replied. "By all rights she should be killed."
"Maybe" Nathan said. "But let's think about this. We now know that it was them that Louise and I have been sensing. My question is this, why haven't they killed anyone? They've been here for a little less than a week and we didn't know who they were until one of them was spotted by one of Thorne's guards. From what I know about hunters, they start killing as soon as they arrive and then leave quickly. The girl found at Thorne's club is the first death that we're aware of and she wasn't vampire. There have been no mysterious disappearances or deaths of our kind reported. This isn't usual hunter behavior."
"What are you saying?" Patrick asked.
"I don't know if I'm saying anything" Nathan replied. "I'm just making an observation. The issue right now is Rufus Saunders. My guess is that he'll be here by morning."
"He's already on the way" Ethan said as he walked in. "Hunters have already been spotted which means everyone stays indoors even within the gates. As far as we know they don't know about this house, but to be safe; no one goes outside except for those who can vanish. That's going to be a bit of a challenge for the kids, but it has to be that way. Also, none of the children are to answer the door. If anyone sees or hears anything suspicious, no matter how small; say something. One more thing, make sure that someone always knows where you are even in the house and keep your cell phones on. Thorne will be here shortly and will show us where the escape routes are and to tell us the pass words."
"Nathan and I will take first watch" Patrick volunteered.
"Me too" Leon said. "This is a big assed house and the more eyes the better."
'I'll help too" Louise said looking at Nathan. "And before you say that I need to rest, I'll rest when I usually do and that's with you. If I get tired, then I'll lay down. Let's face it; I'm the only one that can see them even if it's only shadows."
Nathan started to argue, but realized that she was right.
"Good" Ethan said. "Tomorrow night three others will stand watch. Adrianna, Grant and three wolves will stand watch during the day. Thorne and I have security scattered around the property and in the city including his club."
"Those of us who are up during the day can help too" Katrina said. "When are Martin and Rachel coming?"
"They're on the way" Ethan replied. "I'll fill him in when he gets here."
"Do we know the names of Olivia's crew?" Patrick asked.
"Yes and we also know the names of the hunters in the area" Ethan replied. "They are being taken from their homes as we speak, but there are plenty more arriving to replace them."
"So are we just going to sit here and wait for them to find us?" Leon asked.
"No" Ethan replied. "Once Thorne gets here we'll talk strategy. The first thing will be to find Rufus Saunders. I have people at the airport watching for him."
"What about the hunter's crew?" Leon asked.
Ethan hesitated. He wanted to wait until Thorne was there so that all of the information could be given at one time, but Leon had asked a direct question.
"I was going to wait until Thorne got here to tell you this, but it really doesn't matter. Olivia's crew is vampire. Those are the shapes that Louise was seeing. Right now we don't know where they are, but we have their names. They will be hunted just as the hunters are being hunted and will be treated as traitors."
"Does that mean that they'll be killed?" Juliette asked.
"Yes" Ethan replied. "They won't be tortured if we get to them first, but they will die."
Juliette looked at Louise and Kevyn to see what their reaction was. She was dismayed to see that they had barely reacted. Hans had told her how traitors were treated, but on some level she didn't believe it. Hans, sensing her discomfort put an arm around her and led her away.
"He's joking isn't he?" she asked.
"No he isn't" Hans replied. "This is the ugly part of our world that I wanted to protect you from, but Julie; it exists and from time to time it rears its ugly head. I had no real way of preparing you for it."
"Will you help kill them?" she asked.
"I will do whatever needs to be done in order to keep you and the children safe" Hans said. "These people hunt us and as long as they are in existence, you will never be safe. This family will never be safe. So yes, I will kill them."
"Isn't that what they're saying?" Juliette asked. "They hunt us because they think that their families aren't safe. They think that until all of us are dead, they will never be safe. Hans, when does this stop? It sounds like this is vicious cycle that both sides are too stubborn to end. I guess to some degree I can understand the need to punish the traitors, but do they really have to die? And what about the captured hunters? What will happen to them?"
"Rachel and Martin are here" someone called out.
