Back Up Plan

Charlotte descended the stairs after Vincent, who had changed into an all-black ensemble with various weapons attached to the loops around his waist, arms, and thighs.

Sebastian met them in the foyer room where Katerina was also stationed. Charlotte bowed her head once more in thanks to Katerina while Vincent finished getting suited up.

It felt as though Vincent was getting geared up for battle. In a sense, he was, since they were basically walking into a minefield blindfolded. Things could blow up any moment and go haywire. Death was at the end of the spectrum if it spiraled down that way.

Sebastian handed Charlotte a slim handgun, and Charlotte received it with open arms. She was about to hand it to Vincent when Sebastian smirked at her. "This one is for you."

"Ah, I see," Charlotte murmured.

Sebastian gave her a gun strap that went on her thigh, and she quickly wrapped it into place before sliding the gun into the new home that was pressed on her warm skin.

There was also an array of needles in a small encasement that went on a hook that Sebastian clipped onto one of the many loops of her shorts.

"What are the needles?" she asked.

"They cause temporary paralysis. If you get taken hostage, this is the quickest way to escape from the perpetrators without dealing too much damage on yourself."

Charlotte agreed. "Yes. I'm confident I'll be able to use it well. The gun? Not so much."

Vincent leaned over her shoulder. "You'll be just fine. If all goes well, you won't even need to touch it."

"That's so reassuring," she drawled.

"Make sure that the gun is loaded, and the safety is pulled back. The best places to aim are for the head or the heart. Straighten your shoulders at the target and press the trigger with your dominant hand. With your other hand, stabilize the gun."

Katerina smirked. "All in all, just press the trigger."

"Hm, best case scenario---let's not have me do that shall we?"

Vincent ran a hand through his hair before finishing up with the last of his satchel. "Well, that's the plan."

Vincent tightly wrapped an industrial strap around her arm, and Charlotte realized that it was a knife sleeve when he slid the sharp knife into the encasement. She didn't know how to use any of it, but when the time came to it, she was sure that she would be able to handle herself.

They walked towards the front doors with Charlotte falling in step with Vincent's pace when he suddenly turned back to stare at the staff that appeared to send them off on their departure. It seemed to be most if not all the people who resided inside the house, and they all stared back demurely.

"Thank you, everyone. My apologies for my manners this week," Vincent said. "It has been a pleasure to see you all again after a decade. May everything be in your favor."

Charlotte tripped on her step as she slowed to a stop. A decade? She whipped her head back to look at Vincent incredulously. How old was he? Charlotte smiled at the staff since she also wanted to toss in her two pennies. "Thank you, everyone. I had a wonderful time."

Vincent pulled open the doors and strode out with Charlotte following his steps. She ran up to catch up with him. There was a slim black vehicle parked out in the long crescent-shaped driveway, and they both got in and clicked the seatbelts shut. She didn't remember most of the ride to the mansion, but she was familiar with the long winding road.

It was different seeing it in daylight. Much less ominous when she first came. The rolling hills and the tall trees obscured most sunlight when they got further down the road. When they first left the house, it was large spans of flat grasslands.

"When we get to the city, we'll need to ditch this car and go by foot. My name is tied to the license plate, so all the cameras in the streets would be able to capture every movement."

Charlotte nodded. "That's understandable. I can get a vehicle under my name if need be."

"Yes, however, Sebastian had already sent a backup car to one of the storage garages I own if need be."

"That's good. What's the plan when we get to the city?"

"We'll need to comb through all the streets one by one. It will be tedious, but safer than having more than one vampire out and about."

Charlotte grimaced. "Now I feel like a liability for coming."

He slid a glance at her. "You insisted."

She huffed out a breath. "I'll try my best."

"I'll call for backup when I find a vigilante hideout."

"Okay," Charlotte murmured. "Is there any specific way to trace vigilantes?"

"Well, yes. To vampires, they have a certain scent."

"Wait, really?"

Vincent smiled over at her. "Why are you so surprised?"

"I didn't think that they were any different than humans."

"Well, technically they aren't. They just have enhanced abilities. Not as much as vampires, however. Vampires are evolved humans, and vigilantes are a half-step from there."

"Is there any other creature out there?" she asked comically.

Vincent laughed. "No. You won't be seeing any lycans or spellbound witches."

"Missed opportunity there," Charlotte snapped her fingers. "What do vigilantes smell like?"

"They have a fresh scent that is salty."

"Like the ocean?"

"Correct."