Benji turned off his motorcycle, put his black helmet under the seat, took the key out of the ignition and slipped it into his pocket along with his cell phone. He was getting anxious as he approached Campus Coffee, but he knew he had to tell his brother the story. He needed advice, and didn’t know who else to turn to.
As Benji pushed open the door to the coffee shop, he heard the bells ring at the top of the door. He could smell the delicious aroma of coffee, which infused the air. He looked around but didn’t see Hunter. He wondered if this was the right place.
Benji walked up to the counter and looked through the glass at all the baked goods and sweets.
“Can I get a mocha latte and a Danish please?” Benji asked the woman behind the counter.
“Sure,” she replied. “Take a seat, we will bring it over to you.”
Benji paid the woman, and then turned to find a seat. At that moment the bathroom door swung open, almost hitting Benji in the face.
“Hey Bro!” Hunter said. “Way to be on time.”
“Oh, hey man,” Benji, said. “Sorry, got caught up.”
The two walked over to a small table that was located in the back corner of the coffee shop. Benji knew that table would give them privacy to talk about what happened.
“So, what’s the urgency?” Hunter asked, looking quizzically at Benji.
“Well, there’s this girl I like. Her name is Rachel,” Benji paused,
“and we’ve been out a few times. I really like her.”
“That’s why you came up to see me?” Hunter laughed, beginning to stand up.
Hunter took everything very seriously. He and Benji were complete opposites, and sometimes Benji couldn’t help but get frustrated by his meticulous and critical ways. Hunter spent his days in the art studio, where he painted miraculous pieces of art. He had been studying art for hundreds of years, although nobody knew that. Hunter was always dressed immaculately, he wore a suite and tie with a crisp white collared shirt— “Mount Pines Est. 1832” embroidered on the pocket. He was clean-shaven and well groomed, never a hair out of place. Hunter never seemed to have time for anything or anyone. He was a loner who enjoyed spending his days painting and sculpting things. He had been at various prep schools for as long as Benji can remember. He didn’t like living at home; he didn’t like having the rules of the coven constantly hanging over him. Not to mention, Hunter liked being in the mountains. He liked to hear the howling of the wolves at night, and seeing the dark night sky. He felt invigorated and inspired by them, and it sparked his creative juices to be in that environment.
“No, that’s not the only reason I came up here,” Benji snapped back. “Geez, why do you have to be so short with me?”
“I’m sorry, go on. I just have to get to class in fifteen minutes. We are studying the realm of darkness today, and I don’t want to be late,” Hunter said.
“I, um, she’s incredible. She has beautiful eyes, soft skin, warm hands.”
“Did you taste her?” Hunter interrupted.
“NO! Never. Don’t ever say that again,” Benji yelled.
“I didn’t realize you were so sensitive, Benji. What has come over you? I don’t even recognize you.”
“Listen, Hunter,” Benji said as he leaned into the center of the table. “I did something.”
Hunter leaned in, “What did you do? Did you sleep with her?”
“No. I did something else,” Benji whispered.
“What are you talking about?” Hunter asked.
“If I tell you, Hunter, you have to promise to stay calm. And you can’t tell anyone.”
“This is bad,” Hunter said, now looking at Benji with a serious look. “What did you do?”
Benji swallowed and cleared his throat. He could feel his body getting colder and colder. “I told.”
“Told her what?” Hunter asked.
“I told our secret,” Benji said remorsefully. “I had to.”
“What do you mean you had to?”
“I mean what I say. I had to tell her.”
Hunter stared back in total disbelief. Benji had never seen him so shocked.
“How could you do this to us? Do you know what could happen to us, to our family?”
“I know, I do. But I trust her. You have to believe me. She is just like us.”
“What do you mean she is just like us? She is a human.”
“I know, but there is something so radiant about her, you will see.”
“I will not see anything. I don’t ever want to meet her. Especially now,” Hunter snapped. “This could cost us our lives, Benji. I can’t believe that because of some stupid high school romance you would betray our coven like this.”
“I didn’t mean to betray the coven. I think when everyone gets to know her; they will feel the same way I do. I know she won’t tell.”
“You don’t know anything. You don’t know how the human mind thinks.”
“Listen Hunter, she is special, OK? Stop reprimanding me.”
“If our parents were here now, what they would do to you…” Hunter said, shaking his head.
“Oh would you stop,” Benji said. “You have no idea what I’ve been going through in Westchester. It gets lonely, really lonely. You wouldn’t know what that’s like. You’re still alive, living here with friends and other vampires.”
“Stop belittling me, Benji. Every time I see you, you put me down, I don’t need to take this from you anymore.”
Hunter stopped and looked at Benji. Benji could tell that Hunter had taken this too far. There was nothing either of them could do at this point. The damage was done, and now they had to work together to recover from this.
“Benji, we need to figure out a way to fix this. You can’t do it on your own -- you are not thinking clearly.”
“Yeah, spoken from a guy who does nothing but paint,” Benji said with a smirk.
“Fine, if you don’t want my help, then deal with this one on your own. I am the only person who can help you get out of this. If you tell anyone else, they will have you terminated.”
“I’m sorry, Hunter,” Benji said, regretfully, “Let’s figure something out.”
The bells rang and Benji jumped. He turned and saw a pale-skinned girl with dark black hair enter the coffee shop. Benji could smell her. She reeked of the after-scent of blood and immediately he knew she was one of them.