Cold Blood

by Heather Hildenbrand

  “I was attacked out at the garage. Single Werewolf,” said Alex.

  Vera’s eyes widened and Kane took a step towards us.

  “That’s not possible,” Vera said.

  “How long ago?” Kane asked, ignoring Vera’s denial.

  “About thirty, forty minutes ago. The body needs to be disposed of. And a perimeter check done,” said Alex.

  Kane nodded. “I’ll go start with the body. You take Cord and round up some others to help with a perimeter sweep. Radios on silent. Check in with me in twenty.”

  Alex nodded and Kane turned to Vera.

  “I really didn’t see this. How could I not?” Vera said.

  “I know. We’ll sort it out after the perimeter’s been secured. Wait for me in the conference room,” Kane said. His voice was lower now, almost soothing.

  It was the most vulnerable I’d ever heard her, and it made me uncomfortable. Vera was like Alex; invincible. Add to that the aura of ‘untouchable’ she exuded and it felt wrong somehow to hear her sound so lost and unsure.

  “Tara, you stay with Vera. We’ll be back when we’re done,” Kane said, pulling my attention back to the conversation.

  “What? No, I want to help check the perimeter,” I argued.

  “Only seniors can be assigned patrol duty,” he said.

  “Cord’s not a senior,” I pointed out.

  The look Cord gave me could’ve melted steel.

  Kane looked momentarily at a loss, like he didn’t know how to respond to an argument. Maybe he wasn’t used to being questioned. The scar on his face twitched, either in frustration or deep thought. “Cord’s not technically bound by school rules, either,” was all he said. Then he headed for the door, with Cord and Alex in tow.

  I crossed my arms.

  “Come, Tara,” Vera said “Let’s go upstairs to wait. I need some tea.”

  Vera moved slowly, but she was still halfway to the stairs before I caught up with her. I really didn’t want to sit in a room with her for the next hour, waiting for everyone else to decide if we were safe or not. And I didn’t need any tea, but it was either that or risk getting sent back to my room.

  Dim sconces with glassy red covers lit the stairwell and the second floor hallway, casting a burgundy glow on everything. It made Vera’s face look even more shadowed and gaunt, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it before. She definitely didn’t look well.

  “Alex told you, didn’t he?” she asked.

  I looked away, startled and guilty. “Yes.”

  “I suspected he might’ve.” She turned into a room with giant double doors and crossed to a sitting area near a set of French doors. On my right the room went on forever, with a polished, wooden table running the length of it. The tapestries and carpet were all neutral tones and matched the sofa and armchairs that made up the sitting area Vera had settled in. It was like any other board room in the world, with nothing in particular to set it apart as a place where Hunters discussed the killing of Werewolves.

  I sank into an oversized chair that overlooked the view of twinkling lights from the courtyard below, and beyond that, Lexington Hall.

  “You two have grown close in your time together,” Vera said.

  It took me a minute to realize she was talking about Alex and me. “Oh. I guess so,” I said after a lengthy beat.

  “You are friends then?”

  “Um.” What the heck kind of conversation was this? She wasn’t my mother. And she might’ve been blood related, but we were so not having the ‘boy talk.’

  “Yeah, we’re friends.”

  “Good.”

  She seemed satisfied with that answer. I held my breath, praying that would be the end of that line of questioning.

  “You know, Tara, I thought we’d have more time, but tonight is a glaring reminder that things are progressing much more quickly than I’d hoped. I am glad for the chance to speak with you alone, despite the circumstances being what they are.”

  “More time for what?”

  “To talk about your future.” She leaned back and shifted, like she was settling into the deep cushions of the couch. “You will have many options available to you in the next couple of years. More than most young women your age.”

  “So I’ve heard,” I said.

  “What exactly have you heard?”

  “Well, your vision for one,” I said slowly. “Apparently, I’m seen as the next leader of The Cause. Along with Wes.” Saying that last part gave me a pang in my gut. I ignored it and went on. “But being a Godfrey means I’m also next in line to serve on the council for the school, and for this CHAS thing, right?”

  “Those are both choices, correct,” she said. “All of which are affected by your DNA. The biggest part of it is obviously that you are a mixed race. It complicates your choices, in the eyes of some.” I felt my spine stiffen and Vera noticed. “I’m not one of those people, but there will be those who oppose you, no matter what choice you make.”

  “And what if I don’t want either choice?” I couldn’t help a little bit of attitude creeping into my tone.

  Vera looked surprised, like she couldn’t imagine someone turning down one, much less both, of those options. “It’s your decision, so you have the right to refuse.” Her expression changed then, her eyes faraway and unfocused, like she was looking at something not in this room anymore. “But you’re not the type to walk away, Tara. You want to make a difference. In the end, it will be a matter of where you can do that best.”

  “You sound sure.”

  “As sure as you are of your own identity.”

  “And you think I’ll do the most good being with The Cause.” It wasn’t a question. It was clear which world she’d chosen to live in.

  “It was the right choice for me.” Her gaze sharpened. “I faced the same crossroads that you do, Tara. There were reasons and regrets for both choices. Don’t forget that. You have to be willing to live with both, whichever road you choose.”

  “I’m not a politician,” I said, needing to argue because her words were heavy and scary, and I believed her.

  “Good. The only way you will make a difference anywhere is to be yourself.”

  I sighed. I couldn’t argue with that answer.

  “I’ll admit, there is another reason I wanted to speak to you alone,” she said after a moment. She tilted her head and her expression turned curious, watchful. “Have you been feeling any differently the past few weeks? Anything out of the ordinary?”

  “What do you mean, like sick?”

  Vera shook her head. “Not necessarily, though that is one way of putting it. I mean, has anything happened that made you feel not like yourself.”

  “No,” I said, drawing the word out slowly to prove I had no idea what she was talking about, even though, for some reason, the memory of my bad-ass temper was rolling around in my mind. “Why?”

  “Your grandmother and I have spoken about you and we want to alert you to the possibility that you may have special gifts that have lain dormant inside you. We want you to be prepared, should any of them surface.”

  “What sort of gifts?” I gripped the armrest extra hard.

  “I don’t know, exactly. It could be anything, since you have the blood of both races inside you.”

  “But you must suspect something if you’re bringing this up to me,” I said. “Did you see something?”

  “No, nothing all that specific,” she said, waving her hand.

  And in that moment, I knew she was lying. It surprised me, and I wondered if I was imagining it, because Vera wouldn’t do that. She had no reason to, right? But I knew with every piece of me that she was holding something back.

  “You’re lying,” I said.

  Her brows shot up. “And how do you know that?”

  “I just do. What are you not telling me?”

  Vera’s shoulders sagged in a sigh. She seemed to let go of all her poise and rigidity in that one exhale. It left her looking entirely too human and f
rail, and for a second, I caught a glimpse of the heavy fatigue she must be feeling. The lines that etched her face were deep and the haunted look in her eyes evidenced pain. Then she straightened, and the façade was back in place. There was still a hint of what lay underneath but you wouldn’t see it unless you were looking.

  “I’m not well, Tara.” She smiled, but her expression was hard and humorless. “Dying, if you want to be technical. Maybe sooner rather than later, no one really knows. I’ve never been good at ‘seeing’ anything about myself. I had hoped to work with you more, help you develop your knowledge about this world, yourself, and anything else you need to assume the role given to you at birth. You’re a leader, Tara. You come from leadership on both sides of your blood line and those of us who know your DNA is not a curse believe that you hold the key of bringing the races together, more than anyone else in our recent history – maybe ever.”

  She paused to take a breath, and I waited, needing to hear her out. I felt like she was being honest with me for the first time since I’d met her. I felt like this was the most honest any of my family had been up until this point, and I desperately wanted to hear it.

  “I’ve seen you in my visions. An older you. A different you. You’re amazing, breathtaking. But there are two paths. You may or may not find your way. If you do, it’ll be the best thing that ever happened to either society. If you don’t, it will kill you.”

  She said the words gently, as if to soften the blow, but I felt it like a brick wall. Kill me. So, if I didn’t choose right, I would die?

  “I have seen that you have gifts, as well,” she went on. “And I know you would rather me tell you what they are, but I will not. If I do, it will make it harder, not easier. You will have to come into them in your own time. It’s the best way, trust me. I will be here as long as I can to help you.”

  We sat in silence. I knew she was giving me time to process everything she’d said, but there wasn’t nearly enough time in the world for that. And I couldn’t really stay focused on the whole “it could kill you” aspect, anyway. It was like my brain had decided that was too much to carry and skirted it in favor of the other things she’d said.

  “Why will you be here for me?” I finally asked, and there was more than a little accusation in my voice. “Why now? You haven’t been here for me at all before, so why all of a sudden? Because you’re dying? Because you need to feel better about your successor?”

  Vera’s only reaction at my outburst was to blink. “I stayed away out of respect to your mother, and your grandmother. I told you in the beginning, I never knew you lived so close by, and even after, your mother wanted nothing to do with my vision. Or your grandmother’s politics, for that matter. I’ve respected her wishes. But you’re old enough to make your own decisions now, or close to it, anyway. If I’d waited until you’re legally an adult, it might be too late. I might not be around that long.”

  I felt the sting of guilt when she said that. She was right. And she didn’t owe me anything. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” I said. “Is there anything I can do? For you, I mean?”

  “Let me help you,” she said.

  The intercom next to her buzzed with static. I jumped and the tin sound of Kane’s voice came through the speaker; I hadn’t even noticed the radio sitting there until now.

  “Vera, you there?” he asked.

  Vera pressed a button and said, “Go ahead.”

  “All clear out here. Guess he was a loner. We’re heading back. Get Whitfield, and we’ll see you in ten.”

  “Understood,” she replied. She let off the button and pressed another, next to it. “Nina?”

  “Yes, Vera.” The reply took several seconds and sounded half asleep, but it was there.

  “I need you to summon Headmaster Whitfield to the second floor conference room. Can you do that?”

  “He went to bed, ma’am.”

  “I know. Do it anyway,” she said.

  “Yes ma’am.”

  The static ended, and we went back to sitting in silence. I think both of us felt like we’d said everything we could for now.

  “Tara, would you mind fixing me some tea?”

  “Sure,” I said, getting up and heading for the mini kitchen counter. There were mugs sitting out, upside down, on the faux granite countertop and packets of tea and instant coffee in bins along the wall.

  It dawned on me that if Vera had asked this of me when we’d first arrived at the room, I would’ve refused. Now, I felt like it was the least I could do. I knew my view of her had changed, and it had nothing to do with sympathy. I saw her as real, approachable, and possibly, someone I could trust.

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Kane and Cord came in first. Kane’s hands were dirty, and he went straight to the sink and began scrubbing, so I was pretty sure there was more than dirt on them. Cord took a seat in one of the rolling chairs at the conference table and drummed her fingers on the wooden tabletop. She looked impatient to be moving again.

  “Any evidence of where the breach occurred?” Vera asked.

  “Hard to say for sure until it’s light out. Looks like the southwest corner, though, off the main road. No vehicle in sight, so we’re wondering if he had help, after all. Jackson and Hekler are going to ride out a ways and see if they find anything.” Kane finished scrubbing and dried his hands with a paper towel. When he was done, he came over and sat next to Vera, looking her over like he expected an injury in his absence. “How are you feeling?”

  “Responsible,” she said. “But otherwise, fine.”

  “Did you call Whitfield?” he asked.

  “Here.” Headmaster Whitfield stood in the doorway, taking up every inch of open space between the frames. He wore a rumpled suit and his hair had some serious bed head going on, but he looked wide awake and ready for the crisis. “Someone please tell me why I’m up,” he said, walking to the counter and pulling out a mug and the makings for tea.

  Kane filled him in on what had happened, and I saw him glance my way a few times, like he didn’t get why I was here, but he let it go.

  Alex came in while Kane discussed the patrol efforts. Alex had a water bottle in one hand and a packet of a single serving Aspirin in the other. He set his water on the table, tore into the packet, and knocked the pills back in a single motion. He didn’t even seem to need the water chaser. I got up and went to him.

  “So, nothing?” I whispered.

  “Possible trail to the main road. Couple of the guys went to check it out, but it looks like he was alone.”

  “What do you think he was doing?” I asked.

  Alex eyed me, his expression grim, and it wasn’t hard to see what he was thinking; probably because I’d been thinking it, too.

  “You think it was Miles?” I asked.

  “I think it’s time we clued everyone in on the details,” he said.

  “They already know,” said Cord.

  We both looked over to where she was twirling absently in her chair.

  “You told them?” I asked.

  “Well, how else was I supposed to get them to let me shack up with you?” she shot back.

  “It makes it easier, to not have to explain it,” Alex said. He sounded as irritated as I was, though, and he was glaring at Cord like he wanted to knock her out of her chair.

  I wasn’t ready to let it go. “But that means… They know I wasn’t lying about the first breach, then.”

  “Correct,” said Kane, coming up behind me.

  “And I still got in trouble,” I finished, making sure to avert my eyes from his face. It was a little difficult to stand up to him when he stood this close. His size was intimidating enough without the scar.

  “Did you?” His eyebrow shot up; just one and it made the scar elongate.

  I turned towards the door as a couple more kids entered the room. They took seats at the conference table and sipped from bottled water. One was a tall, lanky guy with freckles. I’d seen him patrolling out by the gat
e near the main road on my runs with Alex; one of the few areas that got patrolled in daylight. The other was a girl that was butch enough to pass for a boy – or a high school gym teacher. She was grinding her teeth and staring at me.

  I looked away, and caught sight of a familiar figure entering the room. Professor Flaherty was dressed in all black and even though it was casual, it contrasted starkly with her bright red hair, and made her look like she’d just come from a Cat woman try-out. Even her movements were fluid and almost feline. She smiled at me and then went to the kitchen counter and took a mug.

  “All right, everybody take a seat,” Kane said.

  He stood right behind me and I scurried forward, sliding into an empty rolling chair, across from Cord and the future-gym teacher girl. Everyone else fell quiet. Professor Flaherty was last to sit, with a steaming mug of tea. She slid in next to the freckled boy and sipped at her drink, while watching Kane over the brim.

  “Everybody knows why we’re here,” Kane began. “There was a breach tonight. Single Were went after Alex and got taken down.” There was a definite note of pride in his voice at the mention of how Alex had handled things.

  “By a screwdriver, no less,” said the freckled boy with a grin aimed at Alex.

  “Carver, congratulations are being saved for the end,” said Kane, but his lips curved at the edges, too.

  The boy –Carver – nodded, but he was still grinning at Alex.

  “We did a perimeter sweep and came up empty. There’s a possible trail to the main road that we’ll confirm when it’s light out. No vehicle. Looks like the guy came on foot,” Kane said.

  “Any ID on him?” Whitfield asked.

  “No. We’ll contact the local pack leaders tomorrow, via Vera’s people, and see if anyone’s missing,” Kane said. “In the meantime, we need to talk about the wards.” Kane hesitated like he didn’t want to bring it up, but we all knew he didn’t have a choice.

  I glanced at Vera. She sat expressionless, all business; the usual Vera. She nodded at Kane and rose to address the group.

  “Some of you have heard, and some of you have been kept unaware. I am not well and my illness has begun to affect my ability to feel a breach. It doesn’t mean the wards aren’t effective. It means my body’s alert system isn’t working like it should. In light of the recent attacks on our fellow students and alumni, I feel it’s in the best interest of the school that I step down as head of security and let someone else take over.” Vera finished and took her seat again.