Haven

by Kristi Cook

  “They . . . they tortured you?” I stammered, my stomach lurching uncomfortably.

  He just shrugged.

  “What did they do to you? I . . . I thought it was impossible to hurt you.”

  “My body will heal itself when injured,” he explained. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel pain. Especially when an . . . injury . . . is repeated over and over again, every time it does heal.”

  Hate and revulsion welled up inside of me. More than anything, I wanted to harm the vampires who had harmed Aidan.

  But this was a war, and we needed an army. “Well, there aren’t any laws preventing me from telling them,” I said. “Are there? Would you be held accountable if I did?”

  “No,” he answered. “I wouldn’t. I guess you could call that a loophole.”

  Thank God. “We need their help, then.”

  “What are you suggesting?” he asked.

  “A plan, that’s what. With everyone’s gifts combined, we can turn the tables on Julius and his allies. Lead them into our own trap.”

  “Blackwell would never allow—”

  “Blackwell is the enemy, remember?”

  “But according to your vision, he’ll protect you. He won’t let them harm you.”

  “Even if that’s true, what about you?”

  “Your safety has its price,” he said somberly.

  I shoved myself up to a sitting position. “No way. You’re not going to . . . to . . . sacrifice yourself for me, Aidan. Forget it.”

  “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Violet,” he said, his voice suddenly hoarse. “I’ve already stood by once, watching helplessly as a woman I cared for lost her life in my stead. It won’t happen again. I won’t let it. If taking my life will save your own, then I must have your word that you’ll do it. I’ve taught you how.”

  I hit him then, on the chest. Hard, though he didn’t even flinch. Again I struck him. “No, you hear me? I won’t do it!”

  In a flash he’d captured my wrists and was holding them immobile in his grasp. His head ducked down toward mine, his blue-gray gaze steady and firm. “Yes, Violet. You will. You must.”

  I swallowed hard, trying desperately to slow my breathing, to steady my heart. “It won’t come to that. Not if you let my friends help us. I’m telling them everything, tonight.”

  “They’ll think you’re mad. You realize that, don’t you?”

  I shook my head. “No, they won’t. And when Julius shows up here on Friday, we’ll be ready. All of us. If I’m taking out any vampires, it’s them.”

  Immediately he released me. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You have no idea what kind of danger you’re putting yourself in.”

  “How is asking for help any more dangerous than facing them alone, Aidan? Explain that to me. We’re sitting ducks either way.”

  “Not necessarily,” he said, his eyes glittering. “You’ve foreseen the future, but we can thwart it. We can leave; we can disappear before Friday comes. If we’re not here, there’s no way it can happen as you saw it.”

  “What, and run forever? If we don’t face them now, they’ll just come after us.”

  He shook his head. “If Patsy hadn’t gotten in that cab, she wouldn’t have been in the accident. If your father hadn’t gone to Afghanistan, he might very well still be alive. At least, that’s what you’ve always believed, isn’t it? Didn’t you save Lupe from falling on the ice and breaking her hip?”

  “This is different and you know it. Julius is after you, and Blackwell is helping him. That’s not going to stop just because we’re not around on Friday.”

  Aidan raked a hand through his hair. “Very well. You win. Tell your friends. Still, I believe that everything will happen as you saw it. I must have your word that if Julius has me and the only way to save yourself is to put that stake through my heart, then you goddamn better do it, do you hear me?”

  I’d never seen him so fierce. “You have my word,” I said, my voice a whisper. After all, it wouldn’t come to that. It couldn’t.

  “Then go,” he said, rising from the bed. “There’s not much time before curfew. Tell my story, and see if anyone believes it.”

  I took his hand and rose to stand beside him. “Don’t be angry, Aidan.”

  “I’m not angry,” he said, though it was pretty obvious that he was. “Just promise me you’ll stay away from Blackwell, okay?”

  “What about anthropology class?”

  “Just keep your thoughts protected.”

  I nodded, hoping he was right, hoping that Blackwell couldn’t tell exactly what we were plotting.

  “C’mon, I’ll walk you as far as the East Hall lounge. Or should I take you there by other means? Much quicker, you know.”

  I shook my head. “I think I’ve had enough excitement for one night. Let’s walk, okay?”

  “You sure? How are those knees and hands?”

  “They feel perfect, as if nothing ever happened to them.” As soon as the words left my lips, something he’d said earlier struck me like a ton of bricks. “Wait, you said you took the elixir today. That’s the only way you could stand being near me, with the blood and all that.”

  “That’s right,” he said. “What about it?”

  “But . . . but doesn’t that weaken all the effects of vampirism? Not just the hunger?”

  He shook his head. “No. Even immediately after taking it, I’m stronger and faster than any human, and as you just saw, my healing capabilities remain unaffected, as do most of my psychic abilities. But yes, I’m somewhat compromised, far weaker than I would be otherwise.”

  I took a deep breath. “And how long did you say before it usually wears off?”

  “About two weeks,” he answered dully, and I knew then that he had already realized what was just beginning to dawn on me.

  Five days. We had five days till Julius and his merry gang showed up, bent on vengeance, and Aidan’s full range of powers wouldn’t return for two weeks!

  Still, my mind reasoned, even in his weakened state he could move faster than any human I’d ever seen, and with a few flicks of his tongue, he could totally heal some nasty scrapes and cuts.

  But . . . if those were the powers of a weakened vampire, then what exactly were his enemies capable of?

  We needed my friends and their combined powers, and we needed them badly. All I had to do was convince them.

  25 ~ A Little Help from My Friends

  Yeah, that’s real funny, Violet,” Sophie said, a scowl on her face. “Why’d you call us all in here if you’re not even going to tell us what’s really going on?”

  I sighed heavily, mentally exhausted from pouring out the whole story to them. “I am telling you what’s going on. I know it sounds crazy, but—”

  “C’mon, Violet, vampires?” Kate’s voice was laced with sarcasm. “I mean, you really expect us to believe that?”

  “Trust me, I thought it was just as crazy as you do. But . . . I’ve seen proof. And my visions—”

  “Proof?” Sophie asked. “What kind of proof?”

  “Remember when I got the weekend pass to visit my stepmother? Well, I never made it to her apartment. I ended up in a dark alley instead, where a junkie attacked me. Aidan . . . well, he saved me. Trust me, I saw him in action that night and if there was any doubt left in my mind, that got rid of it real fast. I know if you really think about what I’m telling you, it’ll all make sense.”

  I looked around at my friends’ faces, hoping to see some sign of belief, of trust. Instead, all I saw was skepticism, even annoyance.

  “Anyway, there’s more,” I continued, figuring I might as well just get it all out there. “It turns out that I’m some sort of vampire slayer, something called a Sâbbat. That’s why Aidan and I can speak telepathically.”

  “Oh my God, she’s lost her mind,” Kate muttered. “He’s brainwashed her or something.”

  “Even if there were vampires—even if they really existed— you think Dr. Blackw
ell would allow them here? At Winter-haven?” Sophie asked. “I mean, his gifts are pretty strong. I think he’d know if there were vampires masquerading as students, don’t you?”

  “Oh, Blackwell knows, all right,” I said, nodding. “Considering he is one.”

  They all started talking at once.

  “Shh,” Cece said, quieting them. “Let’s hear her out, okay?”

  So I continued on. I told them about Julius, about his sect of Propagators, about my recurring vision, about Dr. Blackwell’s involvement. “So we’ve only got till Friday, but the elixir has weakened Aidan; he won’t be at full strength by then. Which is why we need you. All of you. With everyone’s gifts combined, we can set a trap for them.”

  Kate stood up. “Okay, I think I’ve heard just about enough of this crap. What did he do, drug you or something? Is that what he does in the chem lab—manufacture mind-altering drugs?”

  “I saw him once, just outside the window,” Cece whispered, sounding slightly dazed. “I thought I must have imagined it.”

  “That’s crazy,” Sophie said, shaking her head. “You’re on the fifth floor.”

  Kate folded her arms, glaring at me. “What, next you’re going to tell us he can fly?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know what he does. But he can somehow carry me across campus in . . . well, in a matter of seconds. I’m not sure if he’s just moving really fast or somehow teleporting or what.”

  “He does move quickly,” Sophie said, chewing on her thumbnail. “Even I’ve noticed that. It’s like he’s there one minute, and gone the next. I always thought it was kind of freaky.”

  Feeling like I was finally getting through to them, I went on. “And you know that thing you call the Aidan effect? It’s really just nature’s way of drawing prey to him. Making him seem more attractive than he really is, sort of weakening your reflexes around him. Not that he would ever hurt any of you,” I added quickly. “Because he wouldn’t.”

  “And you’re saying Dr. Blackwell is one too?” Cece asked, her brow furrowed. “Maybe that’s why we all think he’s cool, even though he’s actually a little creepy, if you think about it.”

  “He’s got that whole ‘grandfatherly’ thing going on,” Sophie said. “He totally reminds me of Grandpa Patterson.”

  Kate’s gaze shot over to Sophie. “Hey, he reminds me of my grandpa too.”

  I nodded. It made sense—his grandfatherly appeal was probably what drew students to him, made them feel safe in his presence. “And all this time, Aidan thought Blackwell was protecting him,” I continued. “But now it looks like he’s handing him over to his enemies. This Friday, according to my vision.”

  I suddenly realized that Marissa hadn’t said a single word since I’d started talking. She just sat there the entire time, totally silent. Just as I was wondering what she was thinking, her eyes met mine, and she nodded.

  “Violet’s telling the truth,” she said suddenly.

  Everyone turned to stare at her, eyes widened with surprise.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me, Marissa,” Kate scoffed. “You actually believe this crap?”

  “Yeah, I do. What I don’t understand is why you don’t. Do you honestly think Violet would lie about something like this? Besides, I’ve got this feeling . . .” She trailed off, and I saw her shiver. “It feels like the truth. Like somehow I’ve always known, somewhere in the back of my mind.”

  I wanted to hug her. Who would have thought Marissa of all people would end up defending me against the rest of them? Tears gathered in my eyes.

  “Well, I believe her too,” Cece said, standing up and reaching for my hand. “I mean, is it really such a stretch? There’s all kinds of weird stuff going on here at Winterhaven, including kids who can shape-shift. Are vampires really all that more out there?”

  “Yeah, they are!” Kate protested.

  “No, Cece’s right,” Sophie said. “I mean, why not? I wonder if I could sense it. You know, like an illness or something?”

  I nodded, squeezing Cece’s hand and then releasing it. “Probably. He says it’s some sort of blood-borne infection, a parasite or something. Like malaria. Have you ever touched Dr. Blackwell?”

  Sophie shook her head. “Not once. Never had a reason to.”

  “So what do we do?” Marissa asked. “What’s the plan?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far ahead. Aidan didn’t even think you’d believe me.”

  “I believe you,” Marissa said.

  “Me too.” Cece.

  “Yep, me too.” Sophie.

  That just left Kate. “I think I must have lost my mind, but yeah, me too.”

  “What about Jack—do you think he would help us?” I asked her.

  Kate shrugged. “I could ask. He and Aidan spend a lot of time together. Who knows, maybe he already suspects it.”

  “Joshua!” I said, letting out my breath in a rush. I’d totally forgotten about Joshua, the shape-shifter. Hadn’t he said that he owed me one—me and Aidan both? Now was the time to call in that favor. After all, he’d seen Aidan in action, seen the red eyes, the fangs. It wouldn’t be that hard to convince him.

  “Who’s Joshua?” Marissa and Sophie asked in unison.

  “He’s one of the shifters. Aidan and I once saved him from some jerk who was bullying him, and in return he promised to help us out if I ever needed anything. Remember that time I was talking to one of them in the dining hall? The short, blond guy? Kinda cute? That was Joshua.”

  “So that makes, what? Eight of us?” Marissa held up her fingers, ticking them off. “Against how many of them? Do we even know?”

  “Julius, and two female vampires. Plus Blackwell. I think that’s it.”

  “So we outnumber them two to one,” Cece said. “That sounds like pretty good odds, right?”

  “Yeah, but keep in mind that they’re . . . well, vampires. They’ve got powers way beyond ours. And Aidan’s weakened by the elixir.”

  “But you said you’re some kind of vampire slayer,” Marissa said. “What exactly does that mean, anyway?”

  “That I can kill them. But hopefully it won’t come to that.”

  Kate shook her head, looking skeptical. “You think we can just chase them away? A bunch of badass vampires on a mission?”

  “I have no idea. All I know is that we’ve got to try.” Tears burned behind my eyelids, blurring my vision. “I can’t . . . I can’t just let them kill Aidan. Or worse, make me kill him. Because that’s their plan, you know. If you won’t help, we’ll have to fight them alone.”

  Sophie glanced down at her watch. “Uh-oh, guys, ten minutes till curfew. We’ve got to go. Just tell us what to do, and we’ll do it.”

  “Let’s all meet tomorrow, after sixth period. With Aidan. I’ll try and get Joshua to join us too. Kate, you talk to Jack. Do you know where the chapel is?”

  “Ugh, that creepy old place?” Marissa said with a mock shiver.

  “That’s where Aidan and I usually hang out. It’s private; we never see anyone else around there. I think it’s as good a place as any to meet.”

  Sophie reached for the doorknob. “Hey, at least now we know where to find you two.”

  “Yeah, but if the chapel’s a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’,” Kate teased.

  I laughed uneasily, but relief filled me as they filed out, all but Cece. Thank God they believed me. There was hope after all.

  As soon as we were alone, Cece and I quickly changed into our pajamas and climbed into our beds. For the longest time, neither of us spoke, and I wondered what was going through her head.

  Finally she broke the strained silence. “I can’t believe you kept all this crazy stuff a secret for so long. I mean, weren’t you going nuts?”

  “A little. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you before now. It’s just . . . well, they’re Aidan’s secrets, really, and if it wasn’t a life-or-death situation—”

  “No,” Cece interrupted. “I totally u
nderstand. I just feel bad that you’ve had to go through all of this alone.”

  “Well, I had Aidan. Some of the time, at least,” I added.

  “What was the deal with that picture? You know, the one Jenna gave you on Valentine’s Day. I thought you two broke up over that.”

  I took a deep breath, wondering if I should tell her. Why not? “That picture was a painting of the opera dancer I mentioned. The woman he was living with when he was made a vampire, the one who got killed.”

  “But . . . but she looks just like you!” Cece stammered.

  “Yeah, exactly. But he left that part out when he told me his story.” My face got hot just thinking about it. Even now I couldn’t entirely erase my doubts where Isabel was concerned. Just thinking about her made me angry.

  “But what does it mean? Is it just some random coincidence, or . . . or what?”

  I shook my head, staring at the ceiling, watching the shadows play across the plaster. “I have no idea. Aidan has some theories, but he doesn’t know either.”

  “Well, I can see why he wouldn’t tell you. I mean, I’m sure he figured that you’d think he only liked you because you looked like her, or something like that.”

  “Yeah,” I said, wincing. “That’s pretty much exactly what I thought when I found out.”

  “But now you don’t?” she asked, sounding hopeful.

  A slow smile spread across my face. “No, I’m pretty sure he likes me for me. At least, I think I am.”

  “But . . . but how’s it ever going to work out between you two? I mean, he’s a vampire and you’re not. He’s immortal, right? Or is that just legend stuff?”

  “No, it’s true. But he’s working on a cure, remember? He thinks he’s pretty close to getting it right.”

  “But if he doesn’t?” Cece asked. “You’re pretty much the same age now, right? What if it takes him ten or twenty years to cure it? You’ll be that much older, and he’ll still be, what? Sixteen, seventeen?”

  “Seventeen. He’s . . . he was seventeen when it happened.” My chest tightened. There was nothing worse than hearing your own fears spoken aloud. “I just have to hope he finds the cure fast, that’s all. Anyway, we’ve got Friday to get through first. One thing at a time.” Because if things went badly on Friday, the rest of it was all moot, wasn’t it?