Blood Awakening

by Jamie Manning

  “Okay fine, I’ll keep your name out of it. Let’s just get this over with.”

  I opened the door to find Aldric and Erik practically in a standoff. Erik’s hands were curled into fists at his sides, and Aldric’s chest was puffed out.

  “What are you two doing?” I said, crossing the room and stepping between them. “Enough fighting with each other. That goes for all of us.” I looked around the group, at the faces of the people who were my only hope for getting Chance away from Zyris alive. “We can’t do this, you guys. Not anymore.” Erik had taken a step back, but his blood was pumping through his veins at a rapid speed, so I knew that he was still fuming. “Look,” I said to him, placing a hand on his chest. “If Lacey and I can move past the crap we were flinging at each other, then you guys can, too.” I glanced at Lacey. “Right?”

  “I have no idea what she’s talking about,” Lacey said, shaking her head. “I think she’s a little psycho.” She even twirled a finger in circles next to her ear for emphasis before smiling.

  “See,” I said. “We’re over it. Please, Erik, let it go.”

  He finally lowered his eyes to mine, and I literally felt him calm down a bit. “Fine,” he said through still-gritted teeth. “Whatever.”

  “Wise choice, Mr. Sutter,” Aldric said, backing off himself.

  “See, it’s crap like that that gets me going with this guy.” Erik tossed his hands in the air and took a seat on the couch. “Just do me a favor, old man, and keep your mouth shut.”

  “Only if you extend the same courtesy,” Aldric said, with what sounded like true sarcasm.

  “Both of you keep your mouths shut,” I snapped. “At least to each other. Once we get Chance out of this mess, you can say all the nasty things you want, but until then, behave.” Erik slumped on the couch like a scolded dog, while Aldric remained stoic. He was nothing if not consistent.

  “Now,” I said, a sudden and unexpected fear leaping into my throat, making it hard for me to talk. “We think we may have an idea to get him back.”

  “Do tell,” Aldric said, still pouting in his old-world, almost gentlemanly way.

  “Why don’t we start from the beginning,” I said, taking a seat next to Erik on the couch. Once comfortable, I glared up at Aldric. “Why don’t you start by telling us about Zyris?”

  Aldric’s features shifted just a bit, a sure sign that I had hit a nerve.

  “What do you mean?” he asked, feigning ignorance.

  “Well, I assume that since she knows Sebastian pretty well, she knows you, too? That you two share some sort of past?” I half expected him to deny it, to go off the handle and start screaming at me for accusing him of such a heinous act. Instead, we all watched as he began pacing the length of the room, his back as stiff as a board and his hands clasped together in front of him. He just kept walking and walking…and not talking and talking. “Hello?” I said after two full minutes without a word.

  “Yes, I heard you,” he finally said. “I’m just thinking.”

  “About what?” I asked. “And please stop pacing, you’re making me dizzy.”

  He stopped and faced the room. “Yes, Zyris knows me, and I her. As far as sharing a past, I wouldn’t necessarily call it that. We belonged to the same coven, that’s all.” I had trouble believing him, mainly because he refused to look me in the eye.

  “Whatever,” I said. “We just need to know how to get in touch with her, to get this mess over with.”

  “We?”

  “Yes, we.” I stood up from the couch and walked over to face him. “You are going to help us get Chance back. You owe him that much.”

  “And what, exactly, do I owe him for?”

  “For screwing up his life. Or for being the reason he died. The reason he’s now a vampire. Or maybe for all the crap you’ve put me through.”

  “I don’t see how that one would be making it up to him,” he said. “And need I recall that you, Ava, are the one who forced my hand that night?”

  He had me there. I was the one who’d basically forced Aldric to turn Chance. At the time, I’d thought I didn’t have a choice. Looking back, I realized that I did—it was just a choice I wasn’t willing to make.

  “It doesn’t matter the reason,” I continued, ignoring his calling me out. “You’re going to help us.”

  A tiny smile crept across his face. “As I have always done.”

  I threw back a smirk. “Don’t try being cute, okay? It’s just weird.” He nodded, but kept the smile on his face.

  “So,” Kayla said from across the room. “What’s the plan, Stan?”

  “Who’s Stan?” I asked.

  She rolled her eyes. “It’s like talking to my grandma with you sometimes, Ava, seriously.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing. Let’s just find Zyris and give this a shot.”

  “Give what a shot?” Aldric asked, towering next to me.

  “Huh? What?” Kayla stuttered.

  “Smooth, Kayla,” I said, rolling my eyes this time.

  “What’s going on, Ava?” Erik asked. “What’s she talking about?”

  Though I had kind of decided to go with Kayla’s plan about keeping Erik in the dark when it came to our secret weapon, I saw no point in keeping it from him—especially since the plan was crap without Aldric making the arrangements, and he was standing three feet away, clueless. No matter, Erik would find out eventually anyway. “Kay—I thought of a way we can maybe get Zyris to give up Chance.”

  “And what way might that be?” Aldric asked, his curiosity clearly piqued.

  “Don’t sound so fatherly, either, Aldric. It’s kinda weird, too.”

  “Don’t be cute. Don’t be fatherly. Perhaps I should just be quiet?”

  “Now you’re getting it.” I half-smiled at him and, though he tried to hide it, I saw a tiny glimpse of a genuine smile on his face.

  “At the risk of sounding too cute and father-like, what exactly is this plan you two have concocted?”

  “Oh, no, I didn’t have anything to do with it,” Kayla said, taking a seat in the desk chair on the other side of the room—as far from Aldric and Erik as possible. “This was all Ava.”

  Aldric cut his eyes at me. “Whatever you say, Miss Harper.” I swear he almost winked. I almost puked. “What plan did you come up with, Ava?”

  “Well, um, apparently there’s this legend in the vampire world. And it says that a vampire will one day kill all of you or something. So we’re gonna use that to get Chance back.”

  If his undead skin wasn’t white as snow before, it definitely was now; Aldric knew something.

  “What?” I asked, so not in the mood to beat around the bush, as I’ve heard people say—though I didn’t really understand the cliché. “What do you know about this legend or prophecy or whatever they call it?”

  He paused a moment before finally speaking. “Only that the idea of you depending on some ancient folklore to save your friend isn’t a very wise decision.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s the only thing we have.” I stared at him, refusing to back down. “I told you, I’m gonna do whatever it takes to get him back, Aldric. I mean that.”

  “I know you do, Ava. But trying to deceive someone as powerful as Zyris is very, very dangerous.”

  “You don’t think I know that? I understand what’s at risk here. I’ve kind of been through this before.”

  “No, you haven’t.” He was the one to back down, taking a few steps in the opposite direction. “You have never been up against someone as devious and sinister as Zyris. She defines the word ‘monster,’ Ava.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t have a choice.” I bit my lip to stave off threatening tears. “I have to save him, Aldric. I have to save him this time.”

  He came back to me, awkwardly lifting his hand and placing it on my shoulder. I instantl
y felt uncomfortable. “I understand, I do. But you simply cannot go forward with this. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” I said, pulling my shoulder away from his hand. “Just tell me the truth. For once.”

  “The truth?” He looked hurt at my rejection of his gesture. I was far too mad to care. “The truth about what?”

  “The truth about what it is you’re hiding with this whole ‘don’t do it, Ava’ business. You obviously know something you’re not telling us.”

  “As I’ve already said, there isn’t much to know.” He regained his stuffy composure and began pacing again as his mind started recalling the past. “The legend speaks of a hybrid, a half human, half vampire said to possess the ability to either save or destroy our race.” He stopped pacing. “But I’m afraid that the legend is simply that, Ava: a legend. Nowhere in our history is there proof that it holds any credibility.”

  “Good,” I said, “then you’ll have no problem helping us pull this off.”

  “Absolutely not.” He actually shook his head at me, yet another human trait that didn’t suit him well at all. “I won’t allow this to happen, Ava. I can’t.”

  “It’s not up to you, Aldric. I’m doing this.” I pointed to my friends. “We’re doing this. I’d like to have you there, but I’m ready to do it without you. We all are.”

  I could see the anger he was trying desperately to hide. He stood across the room from me, but I could feel his judgment, his scolding, his golden eyes very unnerving. “Ava,” he finally said, “I am begging you not to do this.”

  “And I am begging you to tell me what the hell you’ve been hiding since the day we met. I get what I want, you get what you want.” The two of us were face-to-face, like the good and bad cowboys in that boring Western Kayla made me watch last week, neither of us prepared to back down. “Just as I thought,” I said when he broke our stare-down. “When you’re ready to tell me the truth, let me know.” I walked away from him and sat on the arm of Kayla’s chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “For now, I need you to get in touch with Zyris and tell her to meet us at Ellis Island.”

  “I have no idea how to contact her,” he said.

  “Well, you’re over a thousand years old, figure something out.” I surprised even myself with how bitchy I was being. It was like Lacey and I had somehow swapped souls while in Adam’s bathroom, and now I was the one who said her mind, no matter what. Though it totally wasn’t like me, I kind of enjoyed the freedom of it.

  Aldric opened his mouth to protest, but didn’t. Instead, he moved slowly toward the front door, turning back to me before opening it. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” he said, the tiniest hint of concern behind his words.

  “I have no freaking clue,” I said. “But I’m doing it anyway.” Aldric nodded in approval—though I imagine it pained him to admit defeat—before opening the door. “Have Zyris meet us on Ellis Island by midnight. Tell her what’s going on, that way she’ll know we’re not kidding around.” He stepped through the doorway, and I rushed over, catching it before he pulled it shut behind him. “And Aldric,” I said, keeping my voice low so the others couldn’t hear. “Please don’t bail on me again.” I was sincere with my request, and I hoped he could see that. Regardless of what I thought of him, and he of me, the man was still my Creator, the one who brought me into this world of vampires. I had no choice but to trust him when it came down to it.

  “Never again,” he said, before closing the door.

  MIDNIGHT CALLING

  Well, that was uncomfortable,” Kayla said once Aldric was gone. “I thought you were gonna rip his head off.”

  “I wish.” I was still so mad at him I could barely see straight. “I mean, he actually had the nerve to try and tell me what to do. I can’t believe that.”

  “Can’t believe it.”

  “And then to try and lie to my face.” I sat down on the sofa next to Erik. “Does he honestly think I believed him when he said he didn’t know anything about that stupid legend?”

  “He did.”

  “And then to act like he didn’t owe it to Chance—to me—to help. It’s just crazy.”

  “He’s a monster.”

  I glared at her. “Quit patronizing me, Kayla.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, clearly trying not to laugh. “It’s just…I’ve never seen you this mad before. It’s kinda funny.”

  “It’s not funny. I’m really pissed at him.”

  “No you’re not.” She shifted her weight in the desk chair, its legs squeaking beneath her. “You’re mad at Zyris. And Sebastian.” I rolled my eyes. “And maybe a little at Chance.”

  “I’m definitely not mad at Chance.” Even as I said it, I didn’t truly believe it. Somewhere, deep down, I was still mad at him for the way he’d treated me since he came back. Which made me a total bitch, seeing as how he was kidnapped by a sadistic vampire and all.

  “Whatever you say.”

  “I’m not,” I went on, completely forgetting that Erik and Lacey were in the room. “Honestly.” A slight pause, then, “Okay, maybe I was a little at first. He did ignore me for a month.”

  “Well, maybe he was just trying to deal with what happened.”

  “Yeah, that’s kind of what he said, too.” Then I really felt like a total jerk for even thinking bad things about Chance. When I first woke up in that coffin, I had an entirely new world to accept and deal with. Why couldn’t I see that Chance had faced the same problems?

  “I would die,” Lacey said from the chair across from me. “Seriously.” I just stared at her. “If I was turned into one of those monsters, I don’t know what I’d do.”

  “They’re not all monsters.” Erik’s words shocked me. From the very first day we’d met, he had always been one to express his utter hatred for vampires. I mean, he was a vampire hunter; it doesn’t get any more against them than that. And now, to hear him say that not all of them—of us—were bad? It was almost too much to believe.

  “You really feel that way?” I asked, lowering my voice and turning to look at him next to me.

  He rolled his face toward me slowly, his eyes staring into me. “Of course,” he said with a smile. “Took me a while, but I know that now.”

  I smiled back. “Thanks.” It was a simple word, but one that meant so much. It was the first time someone had actually said I wasn’t a monster. Sure, Kayla and Chance and everyone else had basically accepted me into their lives, but I always held the nagging feeling that somewhere, in the back of their minds, they hated that I was a vampire. Which was fine with me, considering that I hated that fact about myself, too. But to actually hear someone say that I wasn’t the monster I thought I was…it was liberating.

  “Any time,” Erik whispered back, and I felt the tips of his fingers graze mine as he slid his hand across the sofa. The moment was small, tender, perfect.

  “Gross, get a room.” Lacey got up from the chair. “Don’t we need to get going or something? I mean, if I’m gonna die tonight, I’d like to get it over with.”

  “No one’s dying tonight, Lacey,” I said, pulling my hand from Erik’s. I suddenly felt awkward and uncomfortable knowing that someone else—Lacey—had seen the chemistry between us. “And we can’t leave yet. Not until Aldric gets in touch with Zyris.”

  “We have to get back to Ellis Island anyway,” Kayla said, getting up from her seat. It was odd seeing her standing next to Lacey, the one person she just might have disliked more than vampires. “Let’s at least head that way.”

  “What about Adam?” I said, looking to Erik.

  “He’s fine,” Lacey answered. “He’s awake and alert, and I fed him some soup and crackers earlier.”

  “Does he know anything about what’s going on?’

  “Well, he knows that I’m a hunter,” Erik said. “And that Lila was one.” Just the mention of his sister bro
ught painful memories to the front of my mind. “He’s used to us running off without warning.”

  “Are you sure it’s okay to leave him here alone?” I asked, worry for Erik’s uncle adding to the already overwhelming pile I was dealing with.

  “We don’t have a choice,” Erik said, shifting his weight. “We have to try and stop them.”

  I didn’t reply, only nodded in agreement. Erik was right: all our choices but one were gone at this point.

  “And I don’t think another vampire’s gonna show up here now,” Kayla added. “Not since Zyris knows we’re ready to talk.”

  Though I didn’t feel as ready as I would have liked, I was as close as I was going to get. “Fine,” I said, giving Erik one last look as the both of us stood up from the couch. “Kayla, keep your phone close,” I added. “Aldric’s supposed to call after he contacts her.”

  “Here,” she said, pulling the phone from her pocket. “You keep it.” She tossed it across the room toward me. “But we’re getting you one after this is all over.” She went to the desk and gathered up her dad’s journal papers, clutching them against her chest.

  “I don’t need it.” I tucked the phone into my own pocket. “That’s what I have you for.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Let’s just go.”

  The trip back out to Ellis Island was slow going, the buzz of New York City traffic thicker than earlier. Aldric called halfway there, saying that Zyris was intrigued by what he had told her and couldn’t wait to see what we had to offer. I hung up the phone, feeling like a live wire. Partly because my mind was focused on Zyris and Sebastian and the huge lie we were about to tell, and partly because I knew Chance’s life depended on us convincing them of said lie. We wound through the streets of the city, doing our best to ignore Kayla’s ineffective shouts and rants about crazy drivers as we passed crowds of club-goers and glowing neon signs advertising HOT COFFEE and GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!. Flashes of memories hovered in the glowing streetlights, cowered in the darkened corners of grungy alleyways, wafted on the scents of fried meats and fresh-cut flowers. I couldn’t place any of them distinctly, but felt a strong connection to every image, every scent I remembered.