by Amy Richie
I grabbed one square package and shoved it in my pocket before turning to go back to Miranda. In my haste, I put a little too much weight on my leg and almost fell over. I righted myself, though, without losing any of the food, and limped quickly back.
Miranda was sitting up, a look of panic on her face. Her mouth fell open when she saw me.
“You’re awake,” I tried to smile wide like Melody. The kind of smile that made you stop worrying about everything outside of your control. It didn’t seem to work, though.
“I thought…you left.” I didn’t want to know what she had really thought, so I went with her half-truth.
“Why would I leave?” I shrugged. “Vampire camp under threat of a werewolf attack? Wouldn’t miss it.”
She relaxed a little then and smiled. “You’re insane,” she teased.
“You’re not so bad yourself.” I nudged her gently with my elbow. “I found some food.” I held out one of the deep red apples, which she took without hesitation.
“I was hoping they would get something.” Her eyebrows crinkled. “Is this all you got?”
“I got bread, too.” I wiggled the loaf in the air.
“And? Nothing to go on the bread?”
“I wasn’t sure whose food it was. I didn’t want to get in any trouble.” We didn’t need any more of that.
She chuckled at my worry. “They get the food for us. What do the vamps need it for?”
She was right, of course. The vamps didn’t really need human food. I heard from Melody that a lot of them still ate it, though, out of habit or just for taste—I wasn’t sure. I never saw the sisters eat anything, though. They lived their lives looking down at everyone—especially humans.
Miranda and I both grew quiet. My silence was mostly because my mouth was full, but she didn’t take a bite of anything. The pet next to us unwrapped one of the packages. A sandwich. Regret washed over me.
Miranda stared out at nothing and chewed her bottom lip until the skin was shredded off the top. What could I say to make her not worry so much? I tried to remember things my mother told me, but came up empty.
The sisters comforted me sometimes. Well, Melody did. What would she say to Miranda?
“I’m sure they aren’t dead,” I blurted.
“Huh?” She jerked her head to look over at me, her eyes blinking rapidly as she came back to where she was. Sitting by a dying fire in the middle of the woods, waiting for her vamps to come back for her. Yeah, not the best place to be.
“Owen and Addison,” I clarified just in case. “I don’t think they wolves killed them.”
“Then where are they?” she muttered almost too low for me to hear.
“What?”
“You’re right,” she said louder. “They’re fine.”
I never said they were fine, but I nodded without comment. “It’s hard to wait.”
Her shoulders sagged, as if she let out a breath that she had been holding. “Really hard.”
“We would have gotten in the way.” It was easier to agree with Paris not that he wasn’t the one saying it.
“I heard.”
“I can run…pretty fast.”
“Not me,” she laughed. “It’s probably why they left you here.”
“To protect you.”
“But you can’t do anything against a wolf.”
“Maybe not, but I wouldn’t just sit around and let them take me.”
We both looked out at the others. Most were now sitting up and just staring off, but a few were talking. I wasn’t sure if their silence or their conversations were worse.
“They aren’t coming back,” I heard a loud whisper from across the fire pit.
“They probably all got killed.”
I knew it wasn’t true, but I couldn’t help the chill that ran down my spine. The sisters weren’t dead; they wouldn’t let the wolves capture them. If anything was wrong, it was that they were a million miles away.
The sun was still in the sky, but there was a chill starting to creep into the air. It wouldn’t be daylight for too much longer. I glanced wearily around the circle of camp. Unbelievably, it didn’t look like any of the camps had left their pets and ran for it. Like the rest of us, they just waited for something to happen.
“I don’t understand why the others don’t leave.” Miranda surprised me yet again by saying out loud what I had just been thinking. How was she doing that?
“Me neither.”
She took a bite of one of the apples, the crunch echoing in the stillness around us. Several heads turned our way, but she didn’t appear concerned about them. “Maybe they’re afraid after what happened to you. No one wants anything to happen to their pets.”
“Why don’t they just leave them? It makes the most sense.”
Her eyes narrowed as she chewed another bite of apple. “They can’t.”
“Why? What’s stopping them? Was it like you said before—back in the nest—that they were like their kids?”
She swallowed before trying to answer this time. “Yeah, I think most of them come to see their pets as the children they can never have.”
“Why, though?” Vamps being sentimental?
“These vamps are old, so are Addison and Owen. Are the sisters?” I didn’t answer. I wasn’t a pet. “Old, but not invincible.” Her eyes moved to search the silent forest.
I shoved a piece of bread into my mouth to hide my side. They were fine. They would be back soon. I kept repeating those two thoughts so I wouldn’t be able to let worry seep in. “They are old, but I don’t think I’m their surrogate kid.”
She shrugged lightly, deciding not to push the issue, but also not agreeing with me. She had said this before, about the pets as kids, and I even saw it myself; but the sisters didn’t see me like that at all.
I couldn’t really see them as anything except what they were. Gloria and Liza had no business raising kids. Melody might be an ok mother, but even she was careless most of the time. They didn’t let anyone hurt me, but that was from Damien’s order—not some leftover human emotions.
I pulled the small square from my pocket and unwrapped it slowly. Cheese. Not as good as a sandwich, but at least it wasn’t more bread. I offered some to Miranda, but she denied.
“I’m going to get a sandwich, do you want one?” I nodded eagerly.
Hopefully by the time we were finished eating, the sisters would be back and we could be on our way. Unease slipped in at the idea of leaving Miranda, but I couldn’t worry about that. Her vamps would take care of her.
Chapter 23
I looked behind me yet again, and again I didn’t see anything except trees. I almost wished the wolves would be out there again. At least that way I would know that the others would be coming back soon. Whether they killed the white wolf or not, if the wolves came back that meant the chase was over.
A tiny flutter made me squint harder into the trees, hope springing into my chest. A small brown rabbit appeared from the bushes, moving slowly as if he didn’t have a care in the world. It was even more proof that the wolves were being incredibly quiet.
They were still out there, though, waiting for any of us to make a move. I wasn’t foolish enough to believe they were suddenly gone. If they were, the other vamps would take their pets and leave.
No, the wolves were still there—at least some of them—but they weren’t a threat right now. They hadn’t been a threat all day. Just enough of a presence to keep us all tense and huddled around the fire.
Night wasn’t on us yet, but it wasn’t far away. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, it looked like we would have to spend the night out here again. I sighed and lay back against the ground. I had to put my jacket back on for warmth so I didn’t have any sort of pillow now.
I watched the rabbit as it sniffed the ground experimentally. It didn’t come much closer, though, seeming to realize the danger in the camp, and hopped back away.
Miranda pressed herself close to my side. I couldn’t tell
if she was cold or afraid, though. It didn’t matter, I would have stayed beside her either way. The fire was burning almost out by then. A tall vamp had added more wood, but that had been hours ago and there wasn’t much left to it now.
“We’ll be ok if we stick together,” I told her again. I was even starting to believe it myself.
“It’s not like we’re going anywhere,” she responded lazily.
It had been a long day of waiting, so I understood her tone. “But if we do…”
“Stay together,” she finished before I could.
I almost laughed. “Should I be offended that the idea doesn’t appeal to you?”
She swatted at my leg. “You know that’s not true.” I gasped when she accidentally hit my sore leg. “Oh!” She cringed. “Sorry. Almost forgot.”
“Glad one of us did,” I grinned.
“Seriously, Lexi, you don’t even act like you just got bit by a wolf.”
“I didn’t realize there was a certain way I should act.”
“You don’t act hurt,” she clarified.
“It doesn’t hurt that much.” I tested the movement gingerly, but the pain wasn’t bad.
“How is that possible?”
“It must be your superior nursing skills.” I wiggled my eyebrows in her direction, making her giggle.
“Or maybe you’re one of those SH species.”
I clicked my tongue at her words, even if she was just teasing. “We all know how they end up.”
Her lips turned up slightly. “We should sleep. Hopefully we’ll have a big day tomorrow.”
“Yeah, guess so.” I sighed and tried to shut my thoughts off. I hadn’t really done anything today, but I was still tired.
***
I rarely ever dreamed, or if I did I couldn’t remember any of them, so I wasn’t entirely sure that I was dreaming at first. I stood up slowly and turned in a quick circle. There was no pain in my leg, but that wasn’t what made me think I was probably dreaming.
Paris was sitting on a high backed wooden chair in the middle of a meadow. He smiled when I saw him. “Wh… What are you doing here?” I stammered.
“Just sitting.” He shrugged cockily.
“But how did you get here? I thought you were out chasing the wolves.” I didn’t even know how I had gotten there, but his appearance was somehow more important.
“I probably still am,” he shrugged again.
“Then… Am I dreaming?”
“It would seem so.”
The chair suddenly disappeared and he was in my face, stealing the breath that was still in my lungs. I swallowed roughly, preparing myself to speak even though I didn’t know what to say.
“The question is,” he murmured softly, “why are you dreaming of me?”
My lips started to shake. That was a good question. “I…wanted to…see if you were ok.”
He raised his hand to trace his thumb over my cheekbone. “I think you just wanted to see me.”
I shook my head to deny his claim, but a smile was already plastered on my face. Since it was a dream anyway, I went with it. “You are kind of nice to look at.”
“As are you.”
“Me?” I scoffed. “I’m plain and way too tall.”
“Mmm… I don’t think so. I think…” he started to fade away though, before he finished his sentiment.
I jolted awake, still lying close to Miranda. The warmth of Paris and his cute smile were gone, replaced by the coolness of reality. I couldn’t get my breathing to slow down—that or my heart. Why was it beating so hard? It was just a dream.
I pressed my hand to my forehead, shocked that it was so warm when everything around me was chilly. My neck was warm, too. I had dreamt of Paris and it was so realistic. It was probably best not to tell anyone about that.
I rubbed my hands roughly over my face, stopping to wipe the grit out of the corner of my eyes. It may have seemed real, but it was only a dream, my imagination working overtime because I was so tired. But I had been sleeping all day.
I tried to clear my throat, but I didn’t want to risk waking Miranda up. I didn’t want to face her yet. I needed to calm my heart down first. I needed to be able to breathe and tell her ‘nothing’ when she asked me what was wrong.
I pushed my hair out of my eyes, annoyed that so much had fallen out of my braids. If Gloria was here, she would have redone it for me. But she wasn’t. She was out chasing a white werewolf. With Paris.
I covered my lips with trembling fingers. I ran with the sisters and faced certain death on more than on occasion without so much as a skipped heartbeat. Why was one stupid dream messing me up so bad?
It was Paris. The way he looked at me. The way he said my name. The way he promised to always protect me. The way his fingers felt on my face…
“Bad dream?” Miranda’s voice cut through my frantic thoughts.
“No.” It wasn’t exactly a bad dream, just unexpected.
“I wouldn’t blame you. We do have wolves hunting us.”
“Kind of creepy,” I agreed, breathless.
“Every time I close my eyes, I see her.”
“Addison?”
She shook her head, though. “Vanessa.”
“Who?” But I remembered before she answered. I finally turned to see her.
“Owen’s pet, the one the wolves killed.”
“She was weak.” I hadn’t even given the poor girl a second thought.
“She wasn’t always weak.”
Miranda would have traveled with Vanessa, I realized. “She seems like the type.”
“She got into using.”
“Using? What do you mean?”
“K.” I still drew a blank, which she must have seen on my face. “Drugs.”
“Why would she… I mean with giving blood… Wasn’t it…” I let my questions trail away, embarrassed to be asking.
“Owen quit taking blood from her about a year ago.”
Why would he do that? What was the point of even keeping her around? “Maybe that’s why she started using drugs.”
“Some people just can’t cope. Life changed after Jewell—for everyone.”
“I don’t remember much about my life before Jewell. My mother was a dancer.”
She grinned. “Really.”
I nodded, also grinning. “I remember watching her in her pretty dresses.” I closed my eyes, seeing the swirl of colors as she spun around and around just to impress me. I could hear the sound of the sweet music that had magical powers to take us away from the dingy rooms. When I opened my eyes again, a kind looking vamp was staring at us.
“Do you two need anything?” she asked kindly. I wondered who had told her to check on us—Owen or Paris.
I shook my head automatically. “We’re fine.”
But Miranda was used to being taken care of by the vamps. “Can you build the fire up? It’s freezing.”
“Sure.” She smiled to reveal way too many perfect white teeth. She worked quickly to add more wood to the dying fire. A few of the big pieces didn’t take very well until she added small twigs to the bottom. Then the fire leapt back to life.
“Thank you.” Miranda smiled, her genuine gratitude shining on her face.
“I’m Lori,” the pretty vampire introduced herself. “Addison asked me to look out for you two.”
“She’s so thoughtful.” Miranda’s voice had taken on that doting sound she used every time she talked about Addison.
“Mind you,” Lori held up one hand, “if the wolves come, you two are on your own.”
Miranda gasped out loud, but I couldn’t help my small laugh. It was to be expected. Lori had her own pet to worry about. “They won’t come here though,” Miranda gushed. “Not until the others come back.”
“They are being pretty quiet, laying low and pretty far away. That doesn’t mean they’ll stay away though. I’m not sure what they’re waiting for, but I don’t think it’s your vamps they are worried about.”
“It’s the whi
te wolf,” I said without thinking, “he has dibs on me.”
“Dibs or not—they won’t wait much longer.” She rose up gracefully and left without another word.
Outside the camp was still silent. Lori had confirmed that the wolves were staying far enough away. It was the perfect time to run, except I wasn’t fast enough to get away from a group of werewolves. I needed the sisters for that.
Liza must be furious, I thought with laughter on my lips. She was being forced to chase a wolf through the woods with Paris Letrell. I should be glad I wasn’t with them. They had to be bickering pretty badly by then. I laughed again.
“What’s so funny?” Miranda asked, her head perking up.
“I was just thinking about Liza—running with Paris Letrell. And him ordering her around.”
“The Letrells are a pretty powerful family. I’m sure she is listening to him.”
“Oh, I’m sure, too—and hating every minute of it.”
“And you’re not worried at all.” There was wonder in her voice.
“I’m sure he won’t really hurt her, even if he does feel like it.”
“The wolves wouldn’t mind taking a bite.”
“Liza is the fastest vampire I’ve ever seen. Even Melody says she’s fast. The wolves won’t be able to catch her.”
Miranda yawned wide. “I don’t know how I’m still tired,” she complained.
“Sleep while you can.” My nose wrinkled up at the familiar words. How many times had Gloria told me that exact same thing?
“I suppose you’re right.” She yawned again.
“Of course I am.” It’s not like we had anything better to do anyways. We were kind of stuck here.
Night was all around us and most of the others were drifting off again. It had been a rough few days, so it was no surprise that they were sleeping now that the wolves weren’t scratching at the door. There was a false sense of security, a feeling that the wolves had given up on us.
I knew it wasn’t true, but if I laid down and closed my eyes, I could almost believe that they really had just left. I stretched out slowly, putting my arm under my head to cushion it.