Thankfully Sasha had a spare bedroom, setting up some fresh sheets and blankets. Duke thanking her sincerely (it had been a long time since he had slept on something comfortable). Quickly he fell asleep, allowing Sasha to text her friend's.
By morning Sasha had asked everyone to meet up at her house. Unsure of how to explain Duke, Sasha simply said it was urgent. "So whats going on Sasha," Gloria asked.
Sasha now called for Duke, the teen slowly making his way downstairs. Sashas friends now gave the skinny teen a curious look as he waved sheepishly.
"So whose the new guy," Felicia asked. Sasha gave her friends a nervous smile as Duke now stood with her. "Okay don't freak out," she said. "This is Duke, I kinda met him last night. He doesn't have anywhere to stay."
"So your dad's okay with having some stray boy stay at your house," Felicia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"He kinda thinks he's a foreign exchange student," Sasha replied meekly. A collective groan now escaped everyone's lips as they shook their heads.
"Yeah this is all sorts of a bad idea," Jackie sighed. "I mean do you even know who this guy is?"
"His name is Duke," Sasha replied. "Duke Tepes."
"Tepes," Naomi asked, rubbing her chin. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
"I'm uh...Dracula great grandson," Duke stated, rubbing the back of his neck.
If the others had been worried before, it now reached a critical stage as they now looked at the teen fearfully.
"Geez Sasha a vampire," Gloria exclaimed. "You invited a freaking vampire into your house!"
"Damphir," Duke corrected, the others giving him a quizzical look. "Half vampire. My mother is human."
"He also doesn't drink blood," Sasha added. "In fact he's scared of it."
"Thanks for that," Duke grumbled.
"A vampire afraid of blood," Felicia asked curiously. Duke nodded, blushing slightly as he gazed at the teenage girls. "Really was hoping Sasha wouldn't being that up," he sighed.
"Look Duke needs help," Sasha stated. "His dad disowned him. He's been abused, he has no place to stay. We need to help him."
"Wait he was abused," Naomi asked. Studying Duke carefully she could see that the teen was indeed skinny. Duke looked like he had showered yet his hair was still rather long, tied in a shirt ponytail. "He looks like he's been through the ringer."
"Kinda cute though," Diane added. "Especially the eyes. I didnt know people, er, damphirs had purple eyes."
"Thanks I think," Duke mumbled.
Gloria rubbed her eyes, studying both Sasha and Duke. First she runs into a demon hunter. Now she runs into a vampire. Their was no way this was a coincidence. "Okay Duke," Gloria stated. "Leta say I believe you don't want to hurt Sasha. Why are you here?"
"My dad heard about the war," he said. "How the timelines merged. He has some big plan about taking out wizards. He never really went into the details with me but I think he's trying to improve his standing amongst the magical realms."
"Do you think that's why Mr. Moreland came to the shop," Felicia asked.
"Moreland," Duke said fearfully. "Jacob Moreland?! The Moreland family is here?"
"Yeah I ran into him why," Gloria asked.
"Ugh great," Duke groaned. "My family and the Morelands do not get along. They've killed probably hundreds of vampires of the years."
"But you're not like your family Duke," Sasha countered. "I mean, if they disowned you than the Morelands might want to help you instead."
Duke raised an eyebrow, sighing before forcing a smile. "Is she always so optimistic?"
"Not usually," Jackie deadpan. "But she does have a point. Pretty sure we could use all the help we could get. I mean, just how many vampires are we dealing with?"
"Alot," Duke said quietly. "Dad brought his strongest and smartest lieutenants with him. Chances are their turning more the longer were here. He wants to make a statement, and turning wizards would make one hell of a statement."
Gloria and her friends gave eachother looks of concern, shuddering at the prospect of having to deal with an army of vampires.