RAMI

***

"How do you deal with this thing? It's awfully slow."

I gawked at the vampire beside me with disbelief. "I'm going as fast as I legally can!"

"We should have just ran there. We would have arrived within minutes." Idris shakes his head as he looks out the window. "How far is Red Peaks again?"

The other vampire in the backseat of Drew's car shrugged carelessly. "About five miles."

"See? Not too far. I say we abandon this machine and we travel the rest by foot."

"I don't know if you've noticed, maybe not because you're so weird, but I'm actually human." I retorted at the dark haired vampire. "I don't run a hundred miles per second. I don't run at all, unless necessary."

Idris raised a brow. "Weird? Me? I know nothing of this madness you speak of. "

"For one thing, you're wearing a fancy suit and tie when we're literally about to kick some hunters' asses." Now that I think about it, Idris has always been wearing that fancy black attire every since I met him.

"I like to perform my every action while looking good."

Never in my entire 23 years of life had I imagined to carpool with vampires. One vampire in the back is slumped down, giving me the directions while the one next to me constantly changes the radio stations as he can't ever find a song that he likes. We have only been driving for half an hour.

We are going to a mountain called Red Peaks, which is apparently the closest base of hunters around the area. The base is inside a mountain, which would make sense as one hunter from the video on my phone said to take Drew in a cave. It's not too far from Redwoods, so I really hope I would be early enough to save Drew, untouched. As for Lysander, the werewolf is going to have to be strong for a little longer because Ulysses does not have a clue where he is. He knows the area, but he can't tell us a specific place unless we narrow it down. There are several military base in the west coast and he could be in any of them.

"What is it like being with a werewolf and his mate?"

"Awful. Great, but very awful." I cringed, thinking back to the first time I had heard them mating.

"Werewolves are known to be rather wild with their mates." Idris grinned. "I can only imagine what it was like for you. Even with your human ears, it must have been horrible. But no matter, I can bring you back to West Grove if you'd like. Now that they got a tail on the werewolf, the securities had died down and you can return."

Return to West Grove. That hasn't crossed my mind for a while now. To go back to normal: being with my loud roommates, stressing on tests and essays, waking up early for school and coming home late for the internship, and staying up for my TV shows. I would love to. But then, it would feel weird to just act like everything is normal because I know. Vampires are around me. Hunters. A werewolf. Supernatural beings. I just feel like there's so much more to the world than to stay at home.

"Maybe."

***

Red Peaks is exactly how it sounds. Mountains with red peaks with trees that had suffered from acid rain.

"The hole that you're looking for is up there." Ulysses pointed to the highest of the three mountains. "Not at the peak, but somewhere at the top. It is almost impossible to see as it is hidden very carefully. The strong, disgusting scent from it will hit you. You will smell it when you get to it. It's not the humans that stink, but the poisons they are cooking." He explains. "I won't be going in there because it's too dangerous for supernatural beings."

Fuck hunters and their fucking traps. I hate hunters so much.

"I can handle it." I looked at the top of the mountain and breathed heavily, putting some confidence in myself. I can do this. For my friends. I got this. I've sneaked past hunters before, in The Citadel. I can do it again. I turned to the two vampires while I put on my backpack. "Thanks for the help, I guess. I still don't like you guys."

With that, I tightened the strap of my backpack from my shoulders and began walking up the mountain. There is a small, narrowed trail to hike up the red mountain. I will just follow that and I should be able to reach the top.

This should be easy. Go up to the cave. Sneak inside. Get Drew. Run away. We make a plan to save Lysander. Kick some ass. Done. We all live happily ever after.

I will just pretend to be a superhero. I am cool and I am strong and - I am already exhausted. Only after ten minutes. This mountain is really steep.

***

"Would you like me to carry you?"

"Holy shit!" I jumped startled as the well dressed vampire suddenly appeared at my side with hands on his pants' pockets. Here I am sweating and out of breath while Idris only looked like he had crossed over a puddle. "What are you doing? You can't come!"

He walked beside me casually while my lungs silently cry for help. "Why not?"

"You heard the oversize mosquito. It's dangerous for supernaturals."

"Oversize mosquito?" He smirked. "That's a new one. You really are interesting. If only I could read minds like Eleanor."

"You'd see me mentally killing a lot of vampires and hunters."

"That's fair."

"Seriously though." I stopped to catch my breath. I faced Idris with a small frown. "You can't come."

He leaned his back against a tree, his eyes held nothing but determination. "And who is stopping me?"

Grunting, I marched forward to leave him behind. "Suit yourself. If you want to die, then go for it. I mean, it would suck since you've lived for so long and then you're just going to die because you decided to follow me to - " Words failed to escape my mouth as I felt my body being lifted from the ground and everything around me moved. Or at least, that's what it felt like.

The mountain at my side moved as if they are images from an old movie projector. The wind gets cooler by the second, and by the time my feet returned to the ground, my glasses had become foggy. My stomach flipped and my head continued to spin even though I was certain my body was still. That is the second time that happened to me. The first one was in The Citadel and it was done by the same man in front of me.

And he remembers too, because he's grinning madly while staring at me. "The more you do it, the easier it gets." He informed with pure amusement. "The first time I carried you while running, you threw up. You didn't, this time. I'm proud." Last time, I was clinging onto him for my dear life and he had teased me about it. But can you blame me? He jumped off a building with me in his arms. Without a warning. Just like right now.

"Prick."

Idris fixed his barely messed up hair. "You're welcome."

We reached the top of the mountain. The view is absolutely amazing from up here, as we are surrounded with nothing but nature. I can hear birds above us, and a faint roar of a waterfall. The clouds are as high as we are. The air is as cold as the water in the wolf wave's bathroom. There is not a sunlight at present, which is great for Idris.

I was going to ask if he's cold, but the layers of his clothing are enough to protect him from the cold temperature.

"Okay. Now, where do we find that hole?" I cautiously stepped down from the top of the mountain, making my way back to the small trail. There is nothing but rocks. I put a hand on the solid, rough wall of nature, trying to feel any hollowed area.

Idris did the same, but froze instantly. His nose scrunched as he walked ahead, stopping a few feet from me. I ran at his side to find nothing but more rocks. "That scent that Ulysses mentioned. It's definitely here." I inhaled and caught nothing. "It smells like... death."

"Ah, just like vampires then."

"You, sir, are really something else." Idris gazed at me with a small smile. If it wasn't for the fangs, he would have looked like a prince. A vampire prince. I wonder if he ever tries to be friends with any human and smile at them like that. It would be so funny. "The hole has to be behind this wall of rock." They are massive rocks that only Lysander would be able to pick up. "Back away, human."

I took two steps back as he began to pick up boulders from the top. I helped him remove it from the wall, since we are only dealing with small, light rocks. When we get to the bigger ones in the bottom, the vampire can do it himself. It's probably twice, thrice my weight.

"You're right. It smells disgusting." I grimaced once the scent from the inside of the mountain hit me. Idris did find the hole behind the rocks. The more rocks we removed, the stronger the scent gets. It smells like burning garbage. I can't believe Drew is in here.

After throwing a few more rocks that covers the hole, we finally saw the hidden cave. At first glance, it would appear nothing more than an ordinary hole in a mountain, but if you walk inside, far enough, it is anything but ordinary. It's pitch black dark inside and I could not see anything. It's also difficult to breathe because of the horrible scent.

I took only a few steps inside the mountain before I heard Idris coughing behind me. "Are you okay?" I asked worriedly. He shouldn't be here. It's dangerous for him. "You should just stay outside. I'm going to get Drew by myself. It's okay."

"It's nothing I can't handle." He replied, though his voice sounded strained. "Besides, you need me."

"I don't need you."

"You're right." Even with no light, I could tell the vampire has a goofy grin on his face. "But I need you. I need you to save our human friend. Because I need her."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, whatever." I took a flashlight from my backpack, but it was immediately snatched from my hand as soon as white light emerged from it. "What is it with you supernatural folks and lights?" I groaned quietly, remembering when Lysander took Drew's phone when we arrived at Redwoods. "Let me guess, it would attract unwanted attention?"

"Correct."

"So how do we know which way to go?"

My questioned was silently answered when the vampire's eyes suddenly glowed bright red. It's literally like glow in the dark. A vampire thing, I'm assuming. Lysander can also see in the dark, with his werewolf vision, so vampires of course, should have something similar. Must be nice to be a supernatural.

I scoffed at the bunch as I walked aside Idris. I wonder what else he can do. I thought of the vampires I've seen in the media and wondered how accurate it is. Since we are in a cave, maybe it'll be just like in the movies when he transforms into his true form.

"Are you gonna turn into a bat?" I asked excitedly. That would be so rad. I can say, I know a bat. I can say I know Batman. I'm going to tell everyone I know Batman.

"Would you like me to?" Idris whispered and I detected no sarcasm or teasing in his tone.

So, it's real? Sweet Einstein. I can just imagine Idris growing a pair of bat wings. Or a bat wearing the suit and tie outfit Idris is wearing. I giggled at the thought. "Yes."

I heard him snort. "Sorry to disappoint. We aren't that majestic."

***

Thanks to the vampire's ability to see in the dark, we finally reached the secret base. It felt as if the path inside the mountain is labyrinth, with all the turns we had to make. Before we decided to fully enter the base, we rested behind a wall.

I brought a permanent marker and drew the hunter's mark on my left arm. One long horizontal line and five vertical through it. I've learned that hunters have different amount of vertical lines. Some have many, some had less than five. I'm not sure what the count is for, but five seemed like a pretty good number.

I also put the mark on Idris' wrist, even though it isn't visible due to his black blazer. Just in case we encounter any hunters and check for the mark, we will have one. While I was marking his wrist, I couldn't help but notice how fast his pulse is. The strong scent must be really getting to him. If it's bad for me, it must be torture for him, since his sense of smell is much stronger.

"You can just stay here or go outside." I suggested, wanting him to take the second option. There's enough people in this mess. I don't want to drag another.

Idris huffed a breath. "Either I help you get Andromeda back or die trying. I need her for the cure not only for me but for my clan. My family."

I shook my head with disapproval. "If you only need her for the cure, just get it yourself. It's somewhere in the wolf cave." Selfish prick.

I kept a knife inside a pocket of my jacket and a Sleeper in another. Leaving the speechless vampire behind, I anxiously headed to the base. Two hunters guarding the entrance. I don't know how many hunters are in here, but Drew and I only made a few Sleepers. It won't be long until I run out. I have to use it wisely.

I hid behind a boulder and picked up a smaller rock from the ground. I threw it somewhere far, making sure it made a loud noise.

"What was that?" A man stood from his chair, setting down a book he was reading.

"Probably just an animal like always." The other hunter replied with boredom. "I hate this damn job. Why couldn't I have been one of the hunters to go with the werewolf?" She complained. "I heard he's hot."

"Says who?"

"Everyone who saw him."

The other hunter rolled his eyes. The base has a light, but it's one of those yellow, dimmed lights. Just by looking at the entrance, I already notice a lot of wires, weapons, and machines. I could hear engines. How the hell did they manage to build a secret evil lair here?

Okay, first attempt of distracting the guards failed. Second attempt: improvise. I don't have a backup plan. I removed my glasses and shoved them in my backpack before straightening my back, appearing to look as tough as the hunters. I came out of my hiding spot and faked a confidence as I reached the hunters.

"Who the hell are you?" The girl eyed me up and down.

"Sam." First name that went to my head. I made my voice sound deeper than usual.

"Okay, Sam." The male hunter rolled his eyes. "What are you doing here? Where'd you come from?" His eyes wandered down to my arm and stared at the mark I drew. I found his mark by his shoulder and he only has two lines. The woman hunter has three. "Five marks, huh? What were they?"

My heart raced with panic. "What?"

"The five marks. Who were the unlucky bastards you killed?"

Even the woman looked interested as she waited for my answer. I have none. "I don't have to answer to you." The marks must be how much supernatural beings they've killed.

"But I'm curious. Surely a scrawny thing such as yourself couldn't have possibly killed five vampires?"

I gave the woman a smirk, hoping it looked as wicked as Idris'. "There is more than meets the eye."

"Is that so?" She stood up and ran a hand from my shoulder to my hand. "Would you mind showing me, then?" She gave me a seductive stare as she licks her lips.

I snatched my arm back. "Nope."

"For fuck's sake. Get out of my face." The male hunter cringed. His eyes lingered on mine for long ten seconds, until something else caught his attention. Something trailing down my leg. I followed his gaze and almost lost my tough act as I saw a big black spider on my black jeans.

The woman screamed and jumped inches away from the entrance. I shook my leg and the arachnid jumped to the male hunter. He immediately screamed and jumped up from his seat, vigorously shaking his body to get it off him. "Get it off!" He ran to the other hunter, who backed away from him.

"Don't go near me, what the hell."

While the two are occupied with the spider, I took the chance to enter the base. I found a safe spot to hide and catch my breath. I can't believe that worked. Also, I can't believe a spider was on my leg. That was disgusting. I hate caves. I hate spiders. I hate hunters. Where the fuck is Drew? The sooner we get out of here, the better.

***

Animal skins. Chemicals. Computers. Weapons. Lots of them. Those are the first things I've seen as I entered the center of the base, which I found only had three hunters, all of which had been put to sleep by a Sleeper I've thrown at them. They didn't even see me. I just poked holes on the cover of the handmade Sleeper and slid it at the center of the hunters, and waited for the magic to happen.

In here, they are definitely preparing some nasty poisons. This include wolfsbane, and a dark pink boiling liquid labeled as ' Lamprocapnos', which is a poisonous plant alternatively known as Bleeding Heart. The other poisons they have at stock include hemlock, larkspur, and a funny little plant called Jack-in-the-Pulpit.

I wanted to explore the hunter hollow a little more, but I had a friend to save. There are several rooms in the base. Some are big and contain machines and computers with hunters that I didn't want to bother, and some are small that contain little objects and more weapons.

In some hallways, the light is brighter. For example, one hall has yellow lights and the next one has white. Another has red and the following has blue. Right now, I'm in a hall that has nothing but sharp, shiny weapons hanged on the walls. I found a mirror hanged at the end of it.

"Rami. You got this." I whispered to myself, running a hand over my face.

"Took you forever to get here, I was beginning to worry." I jumped for the third time as I saw through the reflection who is behind me. I glared at him through it as he casually fixes his black tie.

"How did you get here? Didn't I tell you to leave?"

"You said no such thing, Rami Nazari." He smiles brightly, walking towards me while staring at the reflection of now the two of us. "Also, I entered through the other opening. There was no guard there. Unless you count the cute little salamanders."

"I had to deal with two hunters and a fucking spider."

"Spiders are delicious." He nods. "Did you eat it?"

"What?!" I cringed at him. "Vampires eat spiders?! That's so gross!"

"Some humans eat spiders as well." He shrugs. "You'll find that they are actually quite delicious and healthy."

Sighing, I stared at his reflection again. "How do you even have a reflection? I thought vampires don't show up on mirrors."

"Only when mirrors are made of silver."

"Why?"

Idris shrugs, observing the weapons on the wall around us. "I don't know. You're the clever one, you tell me."

"I think it has something to do with the absorption of - "

"I lied. I don't care."

I spun around, shooting daggers at the vampire with my eyes. "You are such a - "

"Lovely vampire? I know."

I couldn't do anything but groan as I walk passed Idris, who just laughed at me. I made it halfway through the next hall before I was pushed to a small niche and my body squished against the cold vampire. I didn't have time to make any complains as a hunter walked passed us.

I did not move a muscle or let out a breath. Not even a blink. While I waited for his footsteps to fade away, I couldn't do anything. Even with the unbelievably cold skin of the vampire against mine. My body heat is warming up, which balances out with his. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Shut up."

Vampires are so annoying.