My dreams were filled with horrific images. A raven hovered over a burning house. Shrill screams of an infant filled my mind. Salem, covered head to toe in flames, wobbling helplessly out of the smoldering building. A dark, cloaked figure whisking him up from the gray cobblestone alleyway. I heard him screaming, saw him writhing in agony.

“Alex!” Salem's voice yelled my name as the figure pressed his lips against the base of his neck. The world started to quiver and shake, and I heard him call my name again.

My eyes flew open. Salem was shaking me, yelling my name. “You were screaming in your sleep...are you okay?” he asked as he saw my eyes were open.

“I-I think so.” I clung onto his cold, thin body. “It was horrible.” I sobbed into his shoulder.

“It was only a dream,” he said reassuringly.

“It was a nightmare, about you...” I muttered. “The burning house, Hannah, Raziel...and then I heard your voice calling for me.”

“That part wasn't a dream,” he replied.

“There was a bird, too.” I remembered suddenly. “It was flying over the burning building…a raven.”

Salem flinched. “Raziel claimed that some hunters could transform into ravens.”

“Are...are Waldron's the only vampire hunters?”

“Surely not, the world is a vast place, but the Waldron's are the only ones I have ever directly encountered.” He stared at me inquisitively. “Maybe you should speak to Paul again. Ask him if he knows anything about that ability.”

“How would he know?”

“He knows a lot about vampire and hunter history alike. However, don't tell him I sent you...he can't know that I am with you. In fact, it's best that no one knows.”

I begrudgingly agreed to see Paul that morning after breakfast. I looked through the phone book Janet kept in the drawer of the end table beside the sofa then tossed it aside when I had an idea. I ran back to my room, plugged up my laptop, connected to the first password-less Wi-Fi I could find and searched online for ‘Paul's Auto Shop, Willowshire, Colorado’. Fortunately, it popped up right away.

I had the cordless phone with me ready for when I found the digits. I dialed the number, and Kate answered saying that Paul took the day off. She did, however, give me his home number to call. He may have played the role of my uncle, but we didn’t meet up that often—which was probably part of his intent of keeping his distance to ensure my safety over the years—and I definitely didn’t have his phone number stored anywhere. Janet might have, but I didn’t know where, so this had been my only resort. I nervously input the number and waited for his answer.

“Hello?” It was definitely Paul's voice.

It took me a moment, but finally, I choked out a greeting. “Hey, Paul...”

“Alexis!” His joy of hearing my voice was clear. “Is everything okay?”

I glanced at Salem. “Yeah. Everything is fine. I just wanted to see you again...and to say I’m sorry for the way I reacted yesterday. I’ve done some thinking, and I want to talk about…things…again.”

“Vampires, you mean?”

I cringed at the word. “Yeah, those.”

“Okay. Do you want me to drop by your place?”

“No!” I spoke too harshly; hopefully I hadn't arisen any suspicion about Salem being here. “I'll come to you. I’ve been cooped up in this place by myself for way too long.”

“You know, you are more than welcome to stay with me if you ever need to or want to.” He sounded a little too eager.

“Thanks, I'll think about it. Where can I meet you at?” I scrawled the address down hastily and hung up. Salem watched me from the edge of my bed, anticipating what Paul and I discussed.

“I'm driving over there after breakfast, do you want anything?” I about slapped myself on the forehead. “Never mind...”

Salem laughed. “I'll find something to sate my hunger while you are away.”

I wasn't sure how to respond, still uncomfortable at the idea of how he fed himself. I shuddered at the thought and clambered down the stairs. I grabbed two slices of bread, popped them in the toaster and waited impatiently, and hungrily, while they cooked. Moments later, the bread jumped out of the appliance. I smeared some jam across both slices before sitting down at the dining table and eating them quickly. Salem sat across from me, watching intently. It made me feel self-conscious.

“I'll be back before too long, hopefully,” I said after I finished eating, grabbed my car keys and ran outside.

I followed the directions Paul had given me. They led me into a quaint trailer park nestled between a park and an elementary school. I imagined it got quite noisy around here. I scanned through the lot, looking for trailer 16. I found it toward the very end. The trailer looked okay from the outside, if not a little unkempt—peach paneled walls, four worn steps leading up to a tiny porch. The door was flimsy; I was almost afraid that knocking on it would cause it to fall over, but I rapped my fist against it anyway.

Paul opened the door slowly, and then pulled it open completely. “Welcome to my humble abode,” he said sarcastically.

“It's not so bad,” I said. The entrance was cramped; to the immediate left was the living room, which could scarcely hold more than a ragged brown love seat, a TV stand and a small box TV. To the right was a square dining table pressed up into the corner with only two chairs. The kitchen contained two counters, a small fridge and a microwave. Every surface seemed covered in random, indistinguishable things. I felt bad for him as I scanned the place.

“Do you want to sit down?” he asked, distracting me.

“Oh, sure,” I agreed and sat on the love seat. It was surprisingly comfortable, despite the fact that I sank into the cushion.

“How are you?” he said, making an attempt at small talk.

“I'm all right...how have you been?”

“Not bad.” He smiled. “Always tired from work, but I do enjoy it.”

“Work as in as a mechanic, or...other work?” I didn't look at him as I spoke.

“Mechanic. I haven't had much 'other work' in a few months.”

“That's good.” I sighed, feeling uncomfortable. “I wanted to ask you something...”

“What is it?” He sat down beside me, offering me a warm soda he grabbed from a cabinet in the kitchen before he’d joined me.

I popped the can open, flashing him a smile in thanks before I took a sip. It was even warmer than expected, but I drank it anyway. “I had a weird dream last night, and I was wondering if you could help me figure it out.” I wracked my brain trying to figure out how I was supposed to ask Paul about this without mentioning Salem.

“Well, I ain’t much of a psychiatrist or anything,” he paused and chuckled, “but I’ll do my best.” I took pride in the fact that my vocabulary and speech varied from his—I had Desmond to thank for that one. Before he decided to leave Janet and me, he was an English teacher and actually made an effort to dedicate some of his time to helping me expand my vocabulary.

I described the dream exactly as it had happened, without naming names. Paul just stared at me intently as each word escaped my mouth. “Do you have any idea what it means?”

“Not exactly, no,” he answered.

“Someone told me that your–our last name,” I corrected myself, “means ‘raven’. Is there any meaning behind that?”

His eyes scrutinized me carefully. “Who told you that?”

“That's not important.”

“It better not be who I think it is,” he replied coldly, narrowing his eyes. “But, there might be some meaning to it. Our bloodline has been around for a long, long time, and every Waldron ancestor has been involved in vampire slaying. History claims that some of them have been able to turn themselves into ravens, but it's probably just all stories and tall tales.”

“Do you believe it really is just all made up?”

“Of course. I know that might sound weird coming from someone who kills the undead, but really—transforming into birds? Can you even imagine?” He shook his head, laughing lightly. “That's ridiculous.”

“I guess you’re right.” I looked down. “There was another thing that was bothering me.”

“Is it about Janet?” He frowned. I guessed he must have seen the news, too.

“No. But, I am worried about her, too. I think Mark... might have had something to do with it.”

His eyes grew suspicious. “What do you mean?”

“I might have found out that he is…he is one of them. A vampire, I mean,” I whispered, worrying what Salem might think—was I betraying him by telling Paul this?

“If he is...” He gritted his teeth as he spoke, “he'll regret having laid a hand on her.”

“Calm down, Paul. I don’t know that he did anything. It may have just been a bear attack like the news said.”

“Either way. Have you talked to your mom?”

I told him about the conversations I had shared with Janet and about how skeptical I was of her story.

“Sounds pretty fishy to me. Sounds like I might need to be makin’ a trip to Denver.”

I gulped. “Back to that other question...” I wanted to sway him away from that conversation altogether before he did anything irrational. “What can you tell me about my mother...my real mother?”

Paul's face displayed an expression of anguish, and I knew I wasn't going to like the story. “Her name was Destiny,” he said, smiling faintly as he spoke her name. “We met in high school, fell in love, and got married when I was 24, she was 22. I hadn't told her my secret, I was afraid she would freak out. Of course, once I did tell her, she did freak out. She was very reluctant to believe who I was—what I was—but I insisted, time after time, that I wasn't crazy, and that vampires do exist. I thought she’d end up leaving me before she came ‘round.

“Eventually, she had her proof, though. I took her hunting with me. She was terrified at first, but thrilled all the same. About a year later, you were born. She adored you, Alex...” He sighed, looking at me briefly. “You look so much like her.”

“I do?” I whispered, wondering exactly what my mother looked like.

“Yes, so much so it is hard to believe you are not her. You definitely have her eyes; the shape of your face is the same, your hair.” He laughed lightly before his voice turned grave. “During my next hunting trip, she insisted she went along again. I tried to convince her to stay home with you, but she insisted you would be safe with a baby-sitter. She hadn’t been able to go along with me in a long time due to the pregnancy and recovering and all. Well, she eventually convinced me, and I regret that I let her go more and more every day.

It was late in January; we were scouting through the woods–a common feeding ground–when one approached us. He was stronger than I had been prepared for...I told Destiny to hide, but it was no use. I knew he could smell her; I knew he could hear her...” He paused; I could see the grief in his eyes. “He took her from me...from us...I vowed that day that I would kill every last one of those bastards I could find until the day that I die.

“That was when I sent you away. I didn't want to; you have to understand that. You were the world to me, Alex. You were all I had left of her. But it was for your own good; you were safer that way.”

“I understand,” I said, watching a tear trickle down his cheek. I could feel the moisture welling up in my own eyes, but I forced it back. “Paul–Dad... there is one more thing I need to know.”

“Anything, Alex.” He reached over and gently touched my hand. I smiled warmly, feeling closer to him than I ever had.

“What happened to the vampire that took Mom?”

“He escaped,” he replied bitterly. “Of all the vampires I have fought in my lifetime, he was one of the few to escape. I might not be the greatest of hunters, but it is rare that I let one get away. He was old and powerful. I can still remember the way he looks, the sound of his voice, his name.” He shuddered.

“Dad...”

“Yes?

“What was his name?”

“Raziel,” he seethed, and I tried to cover up my sudden gasp at the sound of his name.

I leaned over and hugged him tightly, hoping he hadn't noticed my reaction. I wanted to hurry out of his house and find Salem to tell him what all I found out. “I am so sorry for everything you’ve been through. I am so sorry about Mom....”

He wrapped a bulky arm around me. “Don't worry about it, Alex.” I could feel the moisture of his tears soaking through the thin material of my shirt.

“Oh, crap!” I said, releasing Paul and nearly dumping my soda on the already-stained carpet.

“What's the matter?” He looked alarmed and curious.

“I told a friend of mine that he could throw a party at my house tonight.” I hung my head in shame. “How in the world did I get myself into this mess?!"

Paul laughed. “It’s part of being a teenager.”

“I’ve got to get home as soon as possible. Maybe I have time to talk to him and call the whole thing off.”

"If high school is anything like it was when I was there, the house is probably already full!" He laughed again, with a gleam of nostalgia in his eyes. I was grateful that his mood had improved, but it didn’t stop the dread that was welling up inside me.

“You're only making it worse,” I grumbled. “Thanks for answering my questions.”

“Anytime. Never hesitate to come over–and if the party gets out of hand, you know where to find me. I can come get you any time, and you can stay here.”

“I might just take you up on that offer.” I smiled and went to walk to the door.

“Oh, wait! Before you leave, I have something for you.” He stood from the lumpy couch and went down the hall. I heard a door open then close, and he returned with a cardboard box. “I meant to give you this on your birthday.”

“You didn't have to get me anything, Paul.”

“I'm your father, of course I did.” He smirked, pushing the box into my arms. “Go on, open it up.”

As I pried open the box, I began wondering what he could possibly have gotten me for my birthday. I nearly dropped the box when I finally got it open: a silver and black hand crossbow lay within the core of the box. I swallowed and looked up at Paul, expecting an explanation.

“Every hunter needs a good weapon.” He smiled, apparently thinking I would appreciate the gift.

I felt sick as I stared at the bow. “I don't know what to say.”

“You don't have to say anything, Alex. Let me show you how to use it,” he offered, reaching over to take the bow.

“No, it's okay. I think I can figure it out,” I muttered, pulling it away. “I’ve got to go.”

“Sure, sure.” He smiled again. “Maybe you will be the one that finally puts an end to that Salem Young.”

It was difficult to hide my fury at his words. Salem was nothing but nice to me so far. “I have to go,” I said again, grabbing the box and running out to the car. I slammed the door behind me, almost wishing it would fall off its hinges. When I got into my car, I angrily shoved the crossbow under the passenger seat and began driving away.