Shadow Lake Vampire Society Book Two: The Count

by Wendi Wilson

“What the…” I jumped to my feet as the expletive trailed off. “I’m sorry, Zelda, I have to go. Thanks for the coffee.”

  I rushed out into the early morning light, my hands brushing up and down my arms. Chill bumps peppered my skin despite the warm air. Where had that thought come from? I had no desire to become a vampire.

  Did I?

  I was becoming more and more immersed in the vampire world with each day that passed, but I hadn’t really considered joining them. At least, not consciously. Obviously, somewhere deep down in the recesses of my subconscious, a seed had been planted.

  Levi’s smiling face flashed through my mind, and I realized that must be it. I’d been slowly falling in love with him for weeks, but I hadn’t thought about the future ramifications of our relationship. I was growing older with each day that passed, but he wasn’t.

  Would he still want me when I was thirty? Fifty? Old and gray with wrinkles on my face and pain in my joints?

  Would I really make him watch me grow old and die?

  As I walked back to Saka’am, the thoughts blasted through my mind. Confusion enveloped me in a hazy fog as I pictured my stooped, frail future self, holding hands with a young, robust Levi. His smooth lips brushing against my puckered ones.

  I shook my head to clear the image. It was too soon to even consider such a future. Despite my strong feelings, I was only eighteen. People my age fell in and out of love over and over again before choosing their life partners, didn’t they?

  What if I decided to become a vampire, then Levi tired of me? Forever was a long time. I needed to be sure before I made that kind of decision.

  As I neared the front steps of our cabin, True rounded the curve and approached from the opposite direction. I cocked my head, wondering where she was coming from. She’d been asleep in her bunk when I’d left the cabin this morning.

  “Hey, good morning,” I said, softly so as not to wake the girls inside. “Where are you coming from?”

  “What’s with the inquisition?” she shot back, popping out one hip and bracing a hand against it.

  “Jesus, True, I was just making conversation,” I replied, my tone a little harsher than I’d meant it to be.

  But I couldn’t help it. Her shitty attitude was grating on my last nerve.

  “Sure, you were,” she snapped, narrowing her dark eyes. “You just can’t stand it that I have a boyfriend now, can you? No more sad, lonely, pathetic True, hanging on your every word and tagging along at your heels like a little puppy.”

  “Where is this coming from?” I asked, my voice pleading. “You’re my best friend, and I care about you. Can’t you see that?”

  “What I see is that you think you’re hot shit, dating Levi Kass and hanging out with the leader of The Society all the time. Well, guess what? Everyone at the estate hates you. Most of the counselors here hate you. Xander hates you. And I’m beginning to see why.”

  I stumbled back a couple of steps, the force of her words hitting me like a freight train. Tears filled my eyes, and there was no blinking them back. They trailed in thin streams down my cheeks as I looked at her with wide eyes.

  “True, don’t do this,” I begged.

  “No, Piper. I’m done following you around like some devoted acolyte. I have my own life, and it no longer revolves around you. If you can’t handle that, it’s not my problem. I don’t care anymore. I’m done.”

  She wrapped her hand around the leather cuff on the opposite wrist, twisting it like the skin underneath itched. I watched her movements, deciding to focus on her hands instead of her hate-filled eyes. The cuff had been a gift from Xander, and she never took it off. No wonder an itchy rash was forming underneath.

  “I want to be transferred to another cabin.”

  True’s words snapped me out of the random train of thought, and my eyes flew up to meet hers. Her expression held as much finality as her tone when she spoke, and I found myself shaking my head vigorously.

  “What? No, True. Don’t do that. We can work this out. I know we can,” I begged, stretching out a hand to her. I had lost one best friend, and I was losing another.

  “I don’t want to work it out,” she snarled, taking a quick step back. “I told you, I’m done. I don’t need you anymore.”

  My arm dropped back to my side as the fight drained out of my body. She was serious. Our friendship was over.

  How had we come to this? Had it ever even been real?

  I watched her spin and jog up the steps before disappearing into the cabin. I stood there, frozen in time, as memories assailed me.

  Meeting True for the first time. Her sweet, sunny disposition winning me over so quickly. The experiences we shared. Her unwavering support. Our trust in each other.

  No. I refused to believe that was all fake. There was no way she’d fooled me so completely. There was a reason she was doing this now, and that reason had a name… Xander Banks.

  With his gorgeous, pale face and shaggy blond hair, he’d weaseled his way in between us. I didn’t know if he was encouraging True to turn on me, or if she was doing it all on her own, but one fact remained true—this was all his fault.

  True stomped back out onto the porch, and I flinched as the door slammed behind her like some dark omen. But I refused to give up without a fight.

  “True, please,” I said, watching her sling a duffel bag over her shoulder. “Don’t go. Let’s talk about this.”

  “It’s already done, Piper,” she said firmly. “Xander talked to Dean Purty, and he agreed to let me switch cabins with Rose.”

  “Wait. What? What do mean, Xander talked to Dean Purty? Didn’t you just decide to move out right now?”

  She stared at me for a moment, and I swore I saw a glimmer of regret in her eyes. The shine quickly faded, leaving nothing but dull lifelessness. She shrugged and rolled her eyes.

  “Whatever.”

  With that parting word and no further explanation, True left me standing there with my mouth hanging open. As I watched her stomp down the path, the fight drained out of me. She disappeared around the corner, and I was alone.

  Abandoned. Like I didn’t matter. Like our friendship didn’t matter. Like it never existed.

  A light chatter picked up in the cabin behind me. The girls were up and getting ready for the day, just like any other. And for them, it was.

  But not for me. For me, it was the day everything started to fall apart.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  My new roommate glanced around the cabin and sniffed. “Not much for cleanliness here in Saka’am, eh?”

  I stared at Rose, my ability to put up with bullshit at an all-time low. The irritated blonde had been reassigned to my cabin to replace True, and it seemed that no one was happy with the arrangement.

  “Your bunk’s over there,” I said, pointing to the other side of the cabin.

  I’d asked one of the girls to move, leaving a bunk empty as far from me as possible. If I couldn’t be with True—the real True, the True that loved me and watched out for me, who shared my secrets—then I didn’t want some poor substitute. I definitely didn’t want Rose.

  Rose eyed her bunk and rolled her eyes before sashaying over and plopping her things down. She set a few things on a shelf, put a few clothes on hangers in the cubby and made her bed. For a girl who always looked amazing, she had very few beauty products and a small array of clothes. One of the many benefits of being a vampire, it seemed: eternal beauty without ever having to lift a finger.

  Speaking of vampires, I realized that, even though I was irritated to have Rose in the cabin with me and super upset over what happened with True, it did give me an opportunity to ask the questions that had been burning in my gut since she’d mentioned Xander. She’d hinted, or rather Amelia had, that she and Xander had dated once upon a time and that things hadn’t gone so well. This was exactly the kind of info I needed to make my case to True, or maybe Dean Purty, about why Xander had to go.

  Maybe I could get rid of him once and for
all.

  When the girls finally settled in for the post lunch quiet time, I forced myself to walk over to her bunk and offer a smile.

  “Hey, we got off on the wrong foot, but if we’re going to be cabin mates, maybe we should try again.”

  Rose blinked up at me, her eyes a startling blue framed by long brown lashes. “What do you want, Piper?”

  Had she seen through me so quickly? I tried to backpedal. “What do you mean? Can’t we just be friendly? We’re going to be together for days on end, so maybe we try being nice.”

  “I’m not nice,” she shot back. Then, quieter, she said, “You want to ask about Xander, and I have nothing to say.” She laid on her back and then rolled to face the wall.

  I stood for a moment, collecting myself before trying again. I lowered my voice, making sure no girls were listening before continuing. “I need to know what he’s doing to True. She used to be my best friend. Now she’s…”

  “Barely a shell of the person she once was?” Rose said into the wall.

  I stared down at her, holding herself like a poor abused wife, and suddenly it hit me. Maybe Rose wasn’t a bitch simply for the hell of it. Maybe Xander had affected her, too.

  I sat on the narrow slip of bed beside her, but resisted the urge to touch her. I had the feeling if I tried, she would break my fingers.

  “What did he do to you?” I whispered.

  She shook her head, still holding onto herself. “I can’t talk about it.”

  “Because he won’t let you or something else?”

  “Both.”

  I knew it! I knew he was bad and covering it up. But I couldn’t give up now. It wasn’t enough information.

  I pressed further. “Listen, Rose, you can trust me. I won’t tell anyone.”

  Her head turned until her blue eyes gazed up into mine. “Seriously, Piper? You’re so far up Warren’s ass you two are practically conjoined. No, I can’t trust you. And you shouldn’t trust him.”

  “Who? Xander? Or Warren?”

  But Rose rolled over and refused to speak another word.

  Shaken and more confused than ever, I walked back to my bunk and laid down. It was clear Xander had affected Rose. It was also clear that he was making her keep quiet. But, maybe if she told me what he’d done, I could go to True and explain—

  Who was I kidding? True wouldn’t believe me. She’d think anything I said was a ploy to separate them so I could have her back.

  Arg! It was all so frustrating. Fidgety and anxious, I sat up. I couldn’t just sit here and stew. I needed air.

  I walked back to Rose’s bunk and whispered to her, “Can you watch the girls during rest time? I need to clear my head.”

  Rose shrugged. “Fine. No problem. Just be back before afternoon activities.”

  I thanked her, grabbed my shoes, and slipped out of the cabin.

  The day was overcast, a pending storm on the horizon, and the breeze felt good. I started to walk, then jog down the path away from Saka’am, away from all the cabins. Soon, I realized I was heading toward the lake.

  When I got to the dock, I skidded to a stop. I’d expected to find peaceful scenery, lapping water, and the call of birds.

  What I found was Warren.

  He stood on the dock near the water, his hands in his pockets. He wore his usual athletic gear and sneakers as if we were supposed to have a training session, but nothing had been planned.

  I walked toward him, my brow furrowed. “What are you doing here?”

  “Hello to you too, Piper.” His eyebrow arched above his dark sunglasses. “It’s nice to see you as well.”

  “I just… I didn’t expect to find you out here.”

  He turned his head and gazed out over the lake contemplatively. “I like to come here now and then. It helps to clear my head. It seems we share that sentiment.”

  How did he know I’d come out to the lake to clear my head? I stared at him. “Did you… Are you having me watched?”

  “Of course not.” He walked toward me, lowering his sunglasses so our eyes could meet. “Us meeting here is just a coincidence.”

  His eyes were so intense. I felt that shiver trickle over me again. He was right. I was jumping to conclusions.

  “Of course.”

  “But I did hear that you and True are on the outs. So sad. I’m very sorry to hear that.”

  I nodded. “It’s just…”

  I stopped, wondering if it was prudent to spill my guts to Warren. Should I just say it? Could I trust Warren with what I believed about Xander? But when I looked at him, I knew that I could.

  “I think that Xander has something to do with it. He’s doing something to True, turning her into the Mr. Hyde version of herself.”

  Warren shook his head, taking a step closer until we were only a few feet apart. He was close enough that I could smell his expensive cologne on the breeze.

  “Ma belle, Xander is a close associate of mine. He would never cause harm to your friend.” Warren reached out, brushing a strand of hair off my shoulder, his cool fingers trailing along my skin before retreating. “Now, shall we train? We might as well since we’re both here.”

  “Yes,” I found myself saying. Suddenly, training sounded like a great idea. I could blow off some steam while learning skills that could save my life. I was so lucky to have Warren here right when I needed him, like always.

  “Turn around,” he commanded.

  I did as he asked, my back to him. His body slid up behind me, the hard planes of his chest brushing against my shoulders. One hand slid across my collarbone before grabbing my shoulder and pulling me roughly to him.

  “Can you get out of this hold?” His lips brushed against my skin as he spoke, and his breath tickled against my neck, sending tingles down my arm.

  “Yes,” I said, still feeling my head whirl. We were training, right? Then, why did it feel so sensual?

  “Then do it,” he said, gripping me tighter to him.

  I did as we’d practiced, grabbing his thumb and yanking it back. As his hands released, I spun around and struck out with my other hand, hitting him in the chest as hard as I could. The blow did little, making him take a step back, but, at the same time, his free hand shot out, grabbing my wrist and pinning it.

  He pulled me into an embrace again. “Too slow,” he purred. “Try again.”

  This time, I spun away from him, ducking down when he tried to grab me and kicking out, but he grabbed my foot and pulled me in. Once again I found myself in his arms.

  “Still too slow.” He inhaled my scent before releasing me. “Again.”

  When I tried again, it took only seconds before he had my arms pinned against him, and his head nestled into my neck.

  “If I were a bad vampire, I would bite you.” I felt his teeth graze the tender skin of my neck. “Right here.”

  My body convulsed, lighting up at his touch, but I shook my head. This wasn’t what we were here for.

  “Warren, let me go,” I said quietly.

  “What, ma belle?” He pressed his nose to my flesh and inhaled deeply.

  “I said, let me go.” I whirled, yanking my arm out of his grasp. My determination seemed to vibrate through me, making every inch of my skin tingle. I felt something expand in my chest akin to a flower opening up. Then I could see it, the moves he was about to make, each laid out in front of me like a series of photos I could scroll through. When he reached for me this time, I blocked every move with ease. My last hit sent him flying back. He landed on his ass on the dock, stunned.

  “My God, Piper, what was that?” He stood, adjusting sunglasses that had gone askew.

  I stared at him. “I don’t… I don’t know.”

  He walked toward me, wrapping his arms around me, this time in an embrace instead of an attack. “That was amazing!”

  The hug felt good, and I settled into his arms, enjoying the warmth of it.

  “I’m so proud of you,” he said. “We all are. Isn’t that right, Levi?”


  Levi?

  I whirled around to see my boyfriend staring at us from the end of the dock. His face was clouded with barely contained rage, and something that looked like jealousy.

  “You keep your hands off her,” he growled.

  “Levi, it’s fine,” I said, letting go of Warren and walking towards him. “He was congratulating me. I think… I think I just used my powers to fight.” The possibilities were endless and exciting.

  But Levi didn’t seem to think so. He glared at Warren like he was going to make good on the threat to rip his head off. “Piper, walk away from him.”

  “Careful now, young vampire,” Warren warned, his voice barely controlled.

  “Piper, come with me.” Levi’s body was stick-straight, his hands fisted. It was the look he had right before he tore Lars’s heart out. The look he always had when it came to Warren and me. If I didn’t calm things down, the situation would go from bad to worse.

  “Levi, it’s fine. We were just training. Why are you so mad?”

  His eyes flashed to me, and a look of hurt crept into his features. “Piper, don’t you see? He’s got to be using compulsion on you. It all makes sense.”

  “What does?” Warren said. “You think that because she likes spending time with me it has to be compulsion? Get a grip, mate. Or are you just that insecure?”

  I glanced between Warren and Levi. How did I always find myself in the middle?

  “Piper?” Levi pleaded, he held out a hand. “Please.”

  I stared at him, not moving. “Warren is right, Levi. We aren’t doing anything wrong. There’s no reason for you to be so angry.”

  Warren took a step to stand behind me. “She’s right, little vampire. We aren’t doing anything wrong, and if you can’t see that, maybe it’s time you buggered off.”

  I expected Levi to rage, but instead, his face fell. With one more glance in my direction, he turned and took off, disappearing into the distance.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  It wasn’t until after Warren deemed our training done and left the camp that I started to really think about what had happened today. Not only had I lost my best friend and partner in crime, I was pretty sure I’d let the man I love walk away from me—after siding with another guy.