Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2)

by Kunz, C. A.

  Gretchen stood up from the table, as did Cat, and she opened her arms to give Cat a huge hug. Aylah wrapped her arms around them as well and squeezed.

  “I think I’m going to cry,” Spirit said in Gretchen’s ear.

  “Well, if you’re going to cry, could you do it in someone else’s ear?” Gretchen groaned.

  “What?” Cat asked, looking up at her.

  “Oh no, not you dear, it’s Spirit. He’s quite the drama queen you know,” Gretchen remarked, squeezing Cat and Aylah tighter in the hug.

  A knock came at the door and a red-faced Annie peeked into the room. “Uh, Gretchen, about that calming tea, we were out, so I went and searched the whole village. It was all used up, remember? Trouble at the big witch convention last month? I hope friendship tea will be okay, because that’s all we have,” Annie rambled on.

  “That will be just fine, Annie, just fine,” Gretchen said with her arms still around Cat and Aylah.

  On the drive home, Cat missed the car parked on the side of the road. She wouldn’t have recognized it anyway. The occupants, yes, but not the car. Duffie and Leif watched as the orange Jeep moved down the forest road.

  February 2nd, Cat’s birthday, was sunny but very cold. She lay in her warm comfy bed not wanting to leave it. Cat wished it was Saturday or Sunday instead of a school day. Grumbling, she threw back the covers and made her way to the bathroom to get ready.

  Bounding down the stairs a half an hour later she found her family sitting in the kitchen, all grinning from ear to ear. Nothing like last year when she thought everyone had forgotten her birthday. It was supposed to be a surprise, but then she ruined it all by passing out and missing her party.

  “Good morning, birthday girl,” Sam greeted her, standing and giving her a big hug.

  “Happy birthday, Cat,” Rachel said, pushing Sam aside and pulling her close.

  Taylor smirked, “Yeah, happy b-day, Red Freak. Hope this one turns out better than last year.”

  “Of course it will. We’re doing it my way this year…no surprise,” Rachel replied. She let go of Cat and swatted at Taylor’s hair. “He really does love you, you know,” she continued, smiling at her.

  “I know he does,” Cat grinned as Taylor made a face at her behind their mom’s back.

  “So, how does it feel to be seventeen?” Sam asked, as Rachel filled Cat’s plate with food.

  “No different than sixteen, I guess. Except I don’t feel weird…er,” Cat answered.

  “You look weird, though. Okay, Mom, leave the hair alone. I’m sorry,” Taylor complained. Standing up, he gave his mom a kiss on the cheek, fist bumped his dad, and tugged on Cat’s hair as he flew out of the room.

  “I swear, boys never grow up! I mean, look at your father. Prime example,” Rachel commented, pushing Sam away as he tried to pull her hair. “Now off to work with you. And please act like a grown-up while you’re there. I don’t want to have to go and speak with the dean about you again,” Rachel giggled as Sam reached out to grab her and missed as she ducked, moving to the other side of the table.

  “I’m off to school so you guys can have some alone time,” Cat joked. She chuckled at the shock on her mom’s face as her dad grabbed her and went in for a kiss. Putting on her coat, Cat smiled at the laughter coming from the kitchen.

  The cold wind tore through her as Cat opened the door to the Jeep. Julie came sprinting across the road, bundled up so that her eyes were the only parts showing.

  “Darn, its sooooo cold! I wish we were in Florida right now,” Julie moaned, climbing into the passenger side.

  “Yeah, it’s a little nippy, huh?” Cat rubbed her hands together as the heater finally kicked in, sending them much needed warmth.

  “Happy birthday, Cat! You have to wait for your present until tonight, though. I can’t believe a year has passed since your last birthday.”

  “Don’t remind me. I’m still mortified that I passed out in front of everyone and missed my cake. This year I feel great, and I’m going to get some cake. Even if I have to eat it as soon as the party starts. I want cake!” Cat giggled as Julie rolled her eyes.

  “So you don’t even want presents? Well, I’ll take mine back. Or better still, I’ll just keep it. I want one anyway.”

  “Want one what?” Cat asked innocently.

  “I may be cold, Catherine Colvin, but I won’t fall for that. You’ll just have to wait and see.”

  “Okay, I’ll wait, but we better get a move on because here comes you-know-who and her little monster. And the last thing we need is to be late for school.”

  “Put your foot on that gas, girl, and let’s go! That lady drives me nuts,” Julie said and then cheered as the Jeep took off down the driveway.

  “Silly girls driving so fast! Parents should have a strong grip on them and not let them act like wild animals. Thank goodness you don’t drive, Fredricka. Now pee so Mummy can go inside. It’s colder than the dickens out here. Not on Mummies boot you naughty girl! I swear, you need glasses,” Maude Roberts reprimanded, dragging the little pooch behind her.

  That night Cat’s birthday party was in full swing by seven. The young ones had taken over the living room forcing the grown-ups into the kitchen and study.

  “I think Cat looks wonderful, given what she’s gone through. I’m so glad Dr. Bane found out what was causing her illness. Last year was just awful,” Amanda’s mom, Aurora, stated.

  “Yes, it was. And of course it doesn’t hurt that Harold Bane is such a hunk,” Matt’s mom, Lilly, whispered which caused everyone to laugh.

  “Quiet, he might hear you. We don’t want him getting a bigger head than he already has,” Rachel giggled, watching the door. “And we definitely don’t want any of the kids to hear us. Even though you’re absolutely right. Though I will say Harold has some competition now with Gerard McNeil in town.”

  “Oh I know, and isn’t his English accent to die for?” Lilly stated.

  The men heard the women laughing from the kitchen and wondered why.

  “You must have half of Astoria High here for your birthday,” Duffie shouted over the music.

  “Yeah, Taylor hates that all of his friends love me,” Cat joked. “Hey, where’s Leif?” she asked, looking around the room.

  “He’s hiding over there in the corner. He heard that two of the girls who’ve been driving him bonkers are here. He’s just trying to avoid them,” Duffie replied.

  “I don’t blame those girls. If I wasn’t already hooked, I’d probably join them,” Cat replied and then jumped as two arms came around her waist.

  “Join who?” Ryan asked close to her ear.

  “Oh nothing, just girl talk. And didn’t you learn anything from the last time you startled me from behind?” she asked with one eyebrow raised. “And where have you been? The birthday girl has been neglected and-” Cat didn’t get to finish her sentence before he twirled her around.

  “Sorry, but I had to hang out with the guys for a bit. But now that I’ve done my duty, I’m all yours.” Ryan’s smile made Cat melt.

  “You’re forgiven. Now please go and fight that crowd and get us something to drink. Everyone’s threatened me with birthday spankings, even though I’ve told them I’m too old for that, so I’m trying to keep my back to the wall.”

  “Your wish is my command, ladies. I’ll be right back.” Ryan slightly bowed and plunged into the crowd.

  “Cat, if you didn’t already have your claws in him, I’d give you a run for your money,” Duffie sighed. Cat laughed, linking arms with the gorgeous dark-skinned Brit.

  “Uh-oh, here comes Amanda, and she doesn’t look happy,” Cat murmured.

  “So somebody needs to give the waterboy some serious tips about dating,” Amanda stated. “If I was Hannah, I’d leave his arse.”

  “So what travesty did Matt commit now?” Cat asked.

  “Well, you see that girl he’s dancing with over there?” Cat and Duffie nodded. “That’s the third girl, other than Hannah, he’s dance
d with tonight. I mean, he did ask her if it was okay, but still. Ugh, men! They’re all pigs!” Amanda’s anger subsided as a mischievous look came across her face. “I know what I’m going to do. I’m going to find a guy to ask Hannah to dance. Let’s see how Matt likes that,” she stated defiantly and then walked off.

  “Amanda’s definitely an intense person, huh?” Duffie asked.

  “Uh, yeah, just a little,” Cat joked. “At least now she’s kind of found her niche with The Damianic Bombshells. She used to be all over the place. We never knew which version of Amanda we were going to get. At least now there’s some consistency,” she continued with a laugh.

  “Hey, why aren’t Bridgette and her band here tonight?” Duffie asked.

  “Maybe we’re not cool enough for them to show up. Their loss.”

  “Just between you and me, there’s something off about them. And what’s with Mrs. Rosenbaum being their fangirl? Kind of weird if you ask me,” Duffie commented.

  “Alright, I’ve got refreshments here. One fruit punch for my birthday girl and one pink lemonade for the Duffster,” Ryan stated, handing the pair their drinks. They both thanked him and Cat gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

  “Cat, you have a phone call,” Rachel announced, coming up behind her, and competing with the music.

  “Who is it?”

  She laughed. “I didn’t ask. I’m not trying to play the part of nosy mother here.”

  “You, Mom? No, never,” Cat replied sarcastically.

  “You hush. It’s probably someone wanting to wish you a happy birthday,” Rachel said, gently guiding her in the direction of the foyer.

  “Maybe you should give my father some advice on that subject, Mrs. Colvin,” Duffie joked.

  “Oh, where is Gerard? I did invite him,” Rachel asked.

  “He’s doing inventory at the store and scheduling some local author book signings. He said he might stop by later, though,” she responded with a smile.

  Picking up the phone in the front hall, “Hello, this is the birthday girl,” Cat said. There was silence. “Hello?” she repeated again.

  “Happy last birthday to you…happy last birthday to you…happy last birthday, dear Catherine…happy last birthday to you!” An eerie chorus of voices sang.

  “Who is this?” Cat asked forcefully. The caller hung up and all she heard was the dial tone. Her hand shook as she placed the phone back onto the receiver. It was them, I know it, Cat thought.

  “Hey, Mom sent me to tell you it’s time for presents,” Taylor called down the hall. Noticing the look on her face, “Something wrong?”

  “Oh, no, nothing’s wrong,” Cat replied, forcing an unconvincing smile.

  “Well, come on, then. Presents are waiting!”

  “Alright Cat, spill it,” Ryan said while lying on her bed later that night.

  “Spill what?” she asked.

  “Who called you? Your mood changed considerably after you got off the phone.”

  “How do you know me so well?” she asked, looking deep into his blue eyes. Ryan gave her a questioning look with an eyebrow raised as she tried to change the subject. Cat shied away, “I think it was the three girls.”

  “What? And you waited until now to tell me?!”

  “Hey, it’s my birthday, and I just wanted one day to be normal, and not have everyone freak out like you’re doing now.”

  “I’m sorry, but these girls are dangerous. You need to come to me when this kind of thing happens. We’re in this together, remember?” Ryan said, combing his hand through her fiery red curly locks.

  “I know Ryan, I know,” she replied, snuggling up close to him and burying her head into his firm chest.

  The next day after school, Cat followed Ryan to the cave in her Jeep. He had insisted on an emergency training session, wanting Cat to be fully prepared for what may lay ahead. As they made their way down to the beach holding hands, Cat pulled him to a stop. She sighed. “Why can’t we just be a normal couple walking along the beach?”

  “Because life doesn’t always turn out the way we want it to, Cat. Growing up, I often thought that way myself, craving to be normal. I could only truly accept myself when I hung around Isaac and my fellow brethren. But Cat, do you really think anyone has a normal life? Not everything is as it seems.”

  “Yeah, that’s one heck of an understatement. Here I thought you were just a normal math tutor, but now you’re my vampire trainer,” Cat stated.

  “I hope that’s not all I am to you,” he said, pulling her close.

  “No, you know what I mean,” she said, giving him a love tap on his chest. He grinned as she giggled softly. “I mean what does a person like Kirsten have to worry about? Her hair being out of place? What outfit to wear to school? I don’t see her training because people are out to kill her.”

  “Kirsten’s shallow and insecure. A cloned, hollow shell of a person. You, at least, are special.”

  “That’s what I’m told anyway. But can you really blame a girl for sometimes wanting to be just like everyone else?”

  “Come on, let’s go get your aggressions out,” he said gently guiding her toward the cave.

  “You should be scared, Mr. Beckford, I’ve got a lot of pent-up emotion just waiting to come out,” she joked. “Let’s do this!”

  “Now that’s the Cat I like to see!”

  Debbie Fuller ran down the long hallway toward her daughter’s room after being awoken by her blood-curdling screams. Flinging open the door and turning on the light, she made her way to Kirsten’s side. Kirsten was sitting up in bed, her eyes wide with fear and her knees tucked up against her chest, “Honey, what’s wrong?”

  “Oh Mom, it was horrible…those eyes, those jet black eyes!”

  “What, sweetheart? Did you have a nightmare?”

  “I had the most horrid dream about Cat Colvin again,” she huffed while rubbing her head, trying to ease an oncoming headache.

  “Who’s Cat Colvin?” Debbie asked blankly.

  “She’s just a girl at school, on the swim team.”

  “Who are her parents? I don’t recollect that name.”

  “Her mom is Rachel who owns the flower shop in town, and her dad Samuel, is a professor at the college,” Stan Fuller replied, coming up behind his wife.

  “Oh, those Colvins! I swear that woman needs a makeover, and he looks like your typical dowdy professor. Dull people, no wonder they didn’t ring a bell. Now sweetie, why are you dreaming about this insignificant girl?” Debbie asked, giving her daughter a puzzled look.

  “I don’t know…anyway, back to me. I keep having these awful dreams about her and her teeth. Long white teeth and weird black eyes. It feels like a memory, not a dream, but I can’t seem to remem-”

  “Hush now, of course it’s just a dream. I’ve seen people in this town with crooked teeth, but none with long teeth and weird eyes. But then again, I’d probably avoid such individuals.”

  Stan rolled his eyes at his wife’s blatant snobbery. “Your mother’s right, Kirsten. It’s just a dream and you need to keep telling yourself that.”

  “Now honey, do you want me to ring for Gracie to heat up some milk for you?” Debbie asked.

  “Yuck, Mom, I haven’t liked hot milk since I was little.”

  “Well, we could go and make some cocoa for you, couldn’t we, Deb?” Seeing her open her mouth to protest, Stan continued, “Why wake up Gracie when we’re perfectly capable of boiling water? Will you be okay, honey, until we come back?” Kirsten nodded.

  “I guess we could. Ooh, maybe we have some of those little marshmallows to add to it.” Debbie stood up from the bed and made her way to the door. Her daughter’s distress was completely gone from her mind, and she was now focused on making cocoa.

  “We’ll be right back. I’d stay, but I don’t think your cocoa will taste very good if I leave it up to your mother.” He chuckled and then bent over to kiss Kirsten on the forehead. Kirsten watched her tall and handsome father leave the room.
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  “It does feel like a memory, I don’t care what anyone says,” Kirsten whispered to herself while pulling the covers up to her chin.

  18

  Be Mine, Valentine

  A huge snowstorm hit a few days following Cat’s birthday. The white snow quickly turned into dirty mush a couple days later. Hurrying to his car, Sam shivered in the frigid February wind. Tearing off one of his bulky gloves with his teeth, he put his key into the rickety door lock. He had endured much teasing over his antiquated car, but he loved his old dependable Volvo. His heater made a gurgling noise as the cold air turned warm and then blissfully hot, thawing him out. Pulling out of his parking spot, he made his way cautiously out of the parking lot.

  With the condition of the roads, he figured it would take about twenty minutes to reach Aldon’s. Sam had received a text from him asking if he would swing by before heading home. “It must be something important for him to want to see me in person. I only hope it’s not something about Cat again. Last month was enough.” He laughed, “Look at me talking to myself. Next I’ll be answering, and then they’ll lock me up for sure.”

  Arriving at Aldon’s mansion, Sam saw Elsie holding the front door open, ready to take his coat from him as always. “Good to see you, Sam. He’s in the study. Hot chocolate coming right up,” Elsie said as she hung his coat in the foyer closet.

  “Oh Elsie, you know me well,” Sam replied with a smile. Elsie just laughed softly as she headed toward the kitchen, leaving Sam to make his way to the study.

  “Sam, thank you for coming by. I do hope my text was legible. Druanna insists I get up to speed with all these newfangled devices, but I think speaking on the telephone is a better way to go. Even though my preference is still the good old face-to-face meeting.”

  “I know what you mean Aldon. It took me forever to figure out my dang computer and it still baffles me at times. So what is so urgent?” Sam asked, taking a seat across from Aldon’s desk.

  Aldon leaned back in his chair, “We’ve been summoned by the Varulv Council. We must leave for Austria tomorrow.”