Chapter 5 A HEARTY BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

Dino woke with a start as he sat up from his bed seconds before the alarm clock went off, he yawned as he ran his hands through his black hair, with a push he was off the bed and standing, he turned to look at the calendar.

It was his birthday, it's been five years since he dropped the Carmichael name and three years since he settled into an ideal lifestyle as the owner of a small comic book store, to him life couldn't be better.

Dino fell head first to the ground and caught himself with his arms and immediately started his routine push-ups. When he had worked up a sweat he stopped and opened the window and hit the shower. Once he was done, he put on some slacks and made breakfast for himself before heading downstairs to open the comic book store.

The perks of owning a building and living where you work. The house was in a commercial district and large enough for him to open a store on the ground floor while living on the first floor and turn the second floor into a storage.

Dino cleaned up the store a bit before opening up then settling into his chair behind the counter with his headphones on and a pad with the latest news on.

"Hey D, is the new issue of Dr Fantastic out?" A man with an athletic build shouted as he entered the store.

"Raul, what did I tell you about shouting in the store?" Dino asked without taking his eyes off the pad.

"Not to raise my voice? that it would ruin the ambiance of the store?"

Raul snickered then added, "But there are no customers around so I'm off the hook." Raul came up behind Dino and peeped at what had Dino's full attention.

"You know you are one of the weirdest guys out there? You have a store filled with comics but I haven't seen you read any. It's like someone having cake and not eating it." Raul moaned as he made his way to the display counter to browse through the comics.

"Man like Dino!" A male voice echoed throughout the store as three people walked in, two men and a woman.

"Sup D!" The woman greeted as she made her way to a display counter.

"How you Dino?" The other man greeted.

"Sam! Dean! Sera! Good morning to you too." Dino echoed their greeting from his chair without looking up.

Like this the day went by with friends and new customers coming to browse with some occasionally picking up a few comics.

It was getting dark when Dino decided to close up the store but he had to wait for Raul who was still engrossed in his comic book to tell the time. Dino stood and stretched before picking up a broom to start cleaning up for the day. He was halfway through when the door swung open and a young lady ran into the store, her clothes looked worn out and tattered.

"Help me please! They want to kill me!" She cried out.

Dino paused confused as he knew that the commercial district was secure and no one was stupid enough to cause trouble here.

"What happened?" Raul asked as he rushed towards the woman, dropping the comic book he was reading to the floor.

Dino frowned as he didn't like where things were going, but grateful that Raul was here to play the hero.

He avoided the woman and picked up the comic book Raul dropped when a tug at his clothe drew his attention to what was happening.

The woman had apparently ignored Raul and headed straight for Dino with eyes filled with fear and a bit of hope she pleaded, "Please help me." She cried.

Dino was sure that something was afoot and he was not going to be dragged into some stupid cliché trouble.

"I'm sorry, I'll call the police for you right away." Dino said as he took out his phone to call the police but the woman slammed the phone out of his hands, "What's going on, at least tell us who is after you.

I will let you know that I have a black belt in three martial arts" Raul said as he made his way over.

Dino frowned and took a step back, "Raul call the police." Dino said as he reached down to pick up his cellphone.

"NO!" the woman shrieked.

Dino stood up with a frown on his face.

The woman finally realized that she had to explain herself, "My name is Emilia Orion, I am the last surviving member of my family please Dino Carmichael help me. Your family swore to help mine; you are oath-bound to help me." Emilia explained desperately.

Dino was shocked but that was all, even if God himself came he wouldn't be able to make Dino get involved. "I'm sorry, you have the wrong guy." Dino tried to explain when the door to the store swung open and five men in black long coats walked in.

Dino's frown deepened, he could smell it on them. Bloodlust! he had to make sure to send the woman and her assailants out of the store so that he could go back to a peaceful life.

"Sorry we are closed; I'm sending everyone out." Dino raised his voice making everyone look at him with different expressions.

"Lady Emilia, there is no where you can run to this time, how you managed to evade our pursuit is beyond me but this ends now." The man in the lead spoke, ignoring Dino's words.

Emilia felt despair like never before when one of the men walked up to her and dragged her towards the rest of his comrades.

"Hey, stop!" Raul said as he tried to interfere but was knocked out with one punch.

Dino watched everything with a cold gaze when a black card fell out of Emilia's pocket. "Stop!" Dino roared. As he bent down to pick up the black card.

"Is this yours?" He asked Emilia.

"Yes!" Emilia answered hoping that a miracle would occur.

Dino sighed deeply and turned to the men and gave them a choice. "My friends, please, choose to live!"