In a lockbox, tucked away in Titus closet, is a three ring binder with journal entries dating back to 2005 the most recent entry, typed not printed, and hole punched to fit in the binder reads the lastest entry:
Finally got the stitches removed from my side today. Come to find out, in the fight with one of those vampires I tumbled over a pipe and it cut my side. Lucky me. A few shots for tetanus and I was on my way. I was a bit careless in that fight, I didn't plan ahead enough to allow for two other vampires which was sloppy of me. I am, for the most part, human going toe to toe with creatures that are much more powerful than me. Most have never learned combat training or how to fight so I have to exploit that advantage as much as possible. Sure some of them can pick up vehicles and throw them fifty feet, but most don't know how to throw a proper punch, which has saved me more than a few times. In that last execution, the fact those were fresh vampires and not that skilled gave me quite an edge, it just wasn't enough or in time.
I can't help but think about those two girls I had to kill inside the house. I dream about them from time to time, them begging me to help them. All I could offer them was buckshot and a final death. The therapist on call told me it was natural to have that feeling of helplessness and remorse, I couldn't have done anything to save them. It's a comforting thought, but I am sure the therapist at the federal building never had to step foot into that amount of carnage and danger. My only thoughts now are to pray they are at peace, and hope I gave them a bit of it with what I did. Coroner has still yet to identify the bodies of the girls. More than like Midwest girls coming down for a walk on the wild side. I almost envy them.
I remember the first time I dealt with the occult and supernatural, by chance raising that roadkill outside of the house. It was the most frightening thing in the world at the age of 15 but no where near the most frightening thing I've seen at 30. The Army Rangers and those days in the black ops tents near Kabul and Fallujah were some of the most terrifying things I have ever seen. Those two days I spent with Raed El Saladin were by and far the worst thing I have ever lived through. Since then I have seen a lot of strange things. I've dated wolves and jaquars on a few occasions and at current count, executed around 50 vampires in my time as a Marshal. The job allows me to look at the supernatural from an outside perspective which I have still yet to figure out if that is such a good idea. Who knows.
No word from Alex since she fell on the doorstep a few weeks back. It was good to see her, though it did pull up a lot of old memories I thought I had buried. I assume she's off doing what people like her do. She's more cat than anything at times, sneaking off in the night only to pop up a few days later on your doorstep after raising hell in town. She seems to be a constant in my life and one I like to have around. We've had our relationship and I would be lying to myself if I said I didn't think about starting one up again but right now, until I get settled back into New Orleans, I just need her around.
