"So… it's finally time for us to start your work too?"
David nodded without looking at them.
"Yeah. You're already sixteen and eighteen. By the rules, you're old enough to go through your first assignment."
"But first, Amelia. She said that after giving blood you can come back. Yeah, it's inconvenient… I just don't want her to know what we do. Those kinds of things."
Ethan felt everything inside him tighten. He knew about this. It was the beginning of the "initiation", the formal recognition of becoming part of the family business.
After that, you supposedly received the protection of the goddess of the hunt or whatever.
Yeah, the hunters believed in monsters, but not in higher powers. That part sounded completely ridiculous.
His father had never spoken about it with such bitterness before.
David raised his eyes. Deep sorrow lingered in them.
"Your mother…" he began, then stopped, as if the name had burned his tongue.
"She left because of this. She didn't want you to go through it. She said she wouldn't give her children to this kind of life."
"And then… she just packed her things and disappeared. Left me alone with the two of you.
He let out a bitter laugh, but the smile vanished from his face immediately.
"Back then, I thought I could protect you. Thought I could negotiate, delay it somehow… But they don't give us a choice."
"Either you give your blood and go through the initiation, or… they take you by force. And I don't want them taking you away from me. Those are the rules."
The hunters of the world had their own laws and agreements. Among them were vampires, and over the years they had formed contracts across certain territories.
Humans hunted down the mindless creatures, while vampires kept the intelligent monsters under control, maintaining peace between humanity and the wild beings of their world.
Gina reached out and covered her father's hand with hers.
"Dad… we understand," she said softly.
"You did everything you could. If we don't do this, they'll just tear us apart."
Ethan stayed silent. A storm of thoughts raged inside him.
David looked at Ethan. His eyes were red from exhaustion and restrained tears.
"I know this is scary, son," he said gently.
"Especially for you. You've always been… more sensitive. But today, both of you need to be strong."
"Give your blood, and tonight… I'll be waiting for you at home. No matter what happens, afterward we'll have our first job together."
Ethan nodded, even though there was a lump in his throat.
"Okay, Dad," he answered.
"We'll try to get back on time. The line's huge today. They decided to add our group too."
Gina stood up and hugged her father from behind, pressing her cheek against his head.
"We'll be okay," she whispered.
"I promise."
David closed his eyes and placed his hand over his daughter's.
For a moment, the kitchen became completely silent, only the ticking of the old clock on the wall and the distant noise of the waking city outside the window.
Ethan looked at the two of them and thought:
«Mom left to protect us. And we're still here. And now we'll have to protect ourselves from monsters…»
Suddenly, Gina reached out and playfully punched Ethan in the shoulder, not hard, just enough to make him sway.
"Hey, shrimp, stop sulking!" she laughed.
"You're doing it again? Earth to Ethan!"
Ethan stammered in surprise and nearly dropped his spoon.
"Huh? What?" He turned sharply toward his sister, rubbing his shoulder.
"That hurt!"
Gina snorted, clearly pleased with her small victory. She leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other with a wide grin.
"Well, finally, you're alive again. You were sitting there like a ghost."
She leaned closer and lowered her voice as if sharing a secret.
"Listen, Dad said last night that after the initiation he's finally going to teach us real hunting. Can you imagine?"
"We're going to learn how to defend ourselves. Real combat, tracking, all the things he used to learn himself."
An excited spark lit up her eyes.
"I can already picture the three of us chasing monsters across rooftops. It'll be like those old action movies. You'll be my partner, shrimp."
"Just don't slow me down, okay?"
Ethan looked at his sister and didn't know what to say. Part of him wanted to smile at her enthusiasm, but another part, the deeper part — felt nothing but a cold heaviness.
«Hunting…»
«We're going to hunt monsters. Like that's normal. Like we're not just meat to satisfy someone's thirst… now we're killers too.»
He had just opened his mouth to say something when his father suddenly interrupted them.
"Gina, enough," David said sternly, though exhaustion could be heard in his voice more than anger. He looked at both children with a heavy but warm gaze.
"Today is not the time for fantasies. You'll do exactly what I said. Give your blood calmly, no unnecessary questions, and don't bother Aunt Amelia."
"We'll talk tonight when I get back from work. Until then, no actions without me, and no talking about this."
He paused for a second, then added more quietly:
"Just do as I ask. Okay?"
Ethan and Gina swallowed at the same time.
"Yes, Dad…" Gina answered quietly, her smile already gone.
Ethan simply nodded, unable to find the words. He lowered his gaze to the bowl of soggy cereal.
«He's terrified for us. And we can't even tell him that we're scared too…» Ethan thought.
Their father stood up from the table, heavily bracing himself against the countertop for support. For a moment, he rested his hand on Ethan's head, then on Gina's shoulder.
"I'll be back tonight," he repeated.
"Be careful."
He took his jacket from the back of the chair and headed for the door. Before leaving, he stopped and looked at them one last time, as though trying to memorize the moment.
The door closed softly behind him.
The kitchen felt wrong again. Only the ticking clock remained, along with the distant hum of the waking city outside.
Gina looked at Ethan. Her usual smile had disappeared.
"So…" she said quietly.
"Shall we go give our blood?"
Ethan nodded silently.
Inside him, everything tightened with dread.
Today really was going to be a difficult day.