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Malcolm waited a while before returning to the nursery. He opened the door and saw both Sara and Allie holding babies, playing with them by their incubators. “Are you all right?” he said to Allie.
She put the baby down. “Yes, thank you. I am fine.”
“Good.”
Bethany walked into the room behind him. “Are you all right, Allie?”
“Thank you for asking, Bethany. I am fine.”
“Good. You will apologize to Shelby.” She said no more and left the room.
Allie was in shock. Apologize? Why should she have to apologize? She wanted to go and talk with her about her statement but she sat in her seat and tried to keep calm.
It was not working, she directed her question to Malcolm. “I have to apologize?” Disbelief covered her face.
“She is female,” said Malcolm harshly.
“I don’t even know what I did,” Allie whined.
Sara looked at her. “Girl, get real.”
“Well okay, maybe that one time, but that wasn’t so bad. An apology?” Allie said.
“She is female,” Malcolm repeated. “Don’t get bent out of shape. Just do it and get it over with, lassie.”
“Fine, if I have to.”
“You do,” they both said to her.
They laughed for a moment. “Lassie, what did you do in the first place?”
“Nothing! The first time I saw her I was at my locker and when I stood up I bumped into her. We both fell down. I said I was sorry.” Allie began thinking and stood. “Malcolm… that same day on the bus ride home, I felt like someone was on the roof of the bus and they were after me. Was that her?”
“Yeah,” Malcolm said, nodding his head.
“Why didn’t you say something? I ran into the house scared half to death and you just laughed at me. The next day the bus was cleaned up, but I know there were dents in the roof before.”
“I did my job and I took care of everything. She is female. You stay as far away from her as you can get.”
Allie was irritated. “Why do you keep saying she is female?” She tried to mimic the way he said it. “Who cares?”
“You better. Their females are the most violent and destructive, just like the rest of your lot.” He chuckled. “This place is run by females, both vampire and human. Their men take no part in raising the young so the females must have a little bit of extra testosterone in their systems. They are aggressive and if they think you have slighted them they will attack. You could have embarrassed her in front of her friends and made her look bad. In fact, you probably did without knowing it. Shelby is a Princess. She is next in line to take over, and like an elephant she does not forget. She may not be able to touch you right now, but when she assumes the throne... just like in the Godfather movies, she will settle all debts. Don’t ever become one of her debts. Right now she has no power to come after you. As their leader, she will be able to make her own rules. She is female. You will apologize for disrespecting her and then stay out of her way.” And with those final words, he left the room.
Allie turned to her best friend. “What do you think?”
“I know she is dangerous; I told you so at school. Apologize then stay away from her and her crowd.”
“All right, I guess I better.”
“What did the boy look like that attacked you?”
“Short, maybe about seven with short brown hair and eyes.
“That sounds like Marcus. He is Stephanie’s brother; she’s Shelby’s best friend. I bet you anything she is the one who told him to attack you.”
“Well, do I have to apologize to her, too? I apologize for you having to go to the trouble of having your little brother kick my butt,” Allie said, shaking her finger, sticking out her tongue and making faces.
“Girl, you are so stupid.” Sara laughed.
Chapter 16
Cavers: A Vampire Tale Page 22