The detective scrawled feverishly on his notepad before looking up at Dimitri.
“No, I was unaware she was the one who broke in and stole the blood. I suppose it makes sense now that she is in a vampire cult, and you guys would want blood for whatever it is that you do. I will notify the guys on that case, thank you for the information.”
“Of course. Always doing my best to help with investigations. I like to perform my civic duty on occasion, Detective. How are you feeling, by the way?”
He hesitated, taking time to survey Dimitri’s actions.
“Why would you ask, Dimitri?”
“Just curious. I thought you might have a touch of what is going around,” he locked eyes with me, his eyes widening. He cocked his head to the side once again, studying my face as he continued, “You, young lady, look a tad under the weather yourself.”
“Well, enough for today. Thank you, you’ve been a great help. I’m sure you’ll be released soon as you’ve about served your time for the parking tickets.”
Detective Chase folded his notepad and tapped me on the shoulder, gesturing me to head to the door.
We took a brisk walk out of the jail, and after a hasty debriefing, I jumped into the car with Agent Bronson. With health deteriorating, I stressed about my overdue medicine and longed for a good night’s sleep.
I was worried about having nightmares from the sickness coupled with the appearance and behavior of Damien Lee and Dimitri LeMorte. After saying hello to my parents, I climbed into bed, choosing a positive television program to guide my mind into a happy place before going to sleep.
Before I could drift off, I heard my phone buzzing. It was a text message, and I couldn’t resist. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. Wolfe.
Fiona, I’ve been sick with strep throat. I might be back at school tomorrow. I am sorry that I missed the meeting at your house. I’ll just catch up with Lauren tomorrow during first period.
Relief flew through me that he hadn’t skipped school with Camber Johnson. My mind catapulted into a happy place as I met the Sandman.
9 ROOM OF ORBS
My alarm sounded, but it seemed as only an hour had passed since I went to sleep. At first, I believed my sickness was in full force, but after moving around and getting a drink of water, I realized the fever was barely present, if at all, and my throat hardly ached. My parents’ policy was after twenty-four hours on antibiotics and with no fever—you are allowed to go to school.
After getting ready, I ambled into the living room to discover my mother engrossed in a television news report. I dropped onto the couch next to her, laying my eyes on a familiar face splashed across the screen.
“This is the case I’m working on,” I whispered.
Unkempt grayish-yellow hair, cracked, dingy teeth with eyes covered by an opaque haze—probably cataracts. No makeup or any attempts had been made to look presentable for television. Emily Vance, the transient, was being interviewed by a news reporter only moments before a police officer escorted her into the back of a police car.
“That lady’s a loon!” my mother scoffed as she felt my forehead to check for a fever.
“Well, something must have happened because she’s headed to the station for questioning. I’ll get with Detective Chase later for the details. What did she say to the reporter?”
“She was mumbling something crazy about a prophecy of a Witching Hour murder. She claimed she knew a murder would happen one day at the exact time that it did—I guess it means the time the victim was murdered was during this Witching Hour,” my mother said with a perplexed tone, leaning over to the coffee table to grab her coffee mug.
“Yes, the time of death was around two in the morning when the Witching Hour begins. We can thank the Paranormal Science Department at the University for calling it that and making it a big deal. I heard they do a bunch of crazy ghost hunting research in there.”
My mother angled her eyebrows as she tapped on my knee, pausing to take a drink of her coffee.
“Fiona, don’t start. It’s a privately funded department. We all know it doesn’t have anything to do with real academics, but if somebody wants to throw money around, what do you expect the college to say? Go away and let someone else take your money?”
I laughed. She saw things black-and-white and always called things how they were.
“You’re right. It’s just annoying. What else did she say?”
“The reporter asked her if she knew the victim. She seemed to contradict herself, saying no, and when the reporter asked if she went to dinner with the victim the night of the murder, she admitted she knew her. That lady is all over the place—changing her story in one interview!”
I shook my head vehemently.
“She’s the one who claims she discovered the victim’s body in the cave.”
“Well, whatever the Room of Orbs is in that cave, they found more of the victim’s blood in there. Emily Vance claimed the room was her residence,” she said, checking the lymph nodes in my neck for swelling.
“I’m fine, Mom. Medicine’s doing the job—no fever today, I’m going to school. Have you heard anything about Gerald Smith? I didn’t get a chance to talk to Dad last night.”
She dropped her head down in disappointment with her hands folded in her lap.
“Nope, not a thing since he was spotted in the neighborhood. Agent Bronson is still watching over you. I see you’ve given up and are riding with him instead of having him follow you in your car. I think that’s wise, Fiona. I knew your senses would win over, and you’d give in,” she said lovingly, swiping my hair behind my ear.
“How is Janice? Can I go see her in the hospital yet?”
“No, you cannot. The hospital is detaining her for quarantine. But, if all goes well, she can still come home on Sunday. They are testing her twice a day, and as of yesterday, she didn’t have any bacteria left in her system. They want to be sure she is not contagious before she’s released. She sounds very cheery; I’ve been in constant contact with her. Give her a call when you get out of school.”
“Absolutely,” I said, grabbing my backpack from the countertop in the kitchen. “Better yet, I’ll call her on the way to school!”
I scooted through the foyer and out the front door to meet Agent Bronson in the driveway, waving him off from getting out of the car to open the door for me. I already felt guilty enough he had to watch over me every day, much less have to act as my servant.
“Good morning, Agent B! How are you today?” I said cheerfully.
He had on the typical black suit with perfect hair and glistening teeth. He offered me a stick of gum and I refused, grabbing the last cough drop from my pocket and thanking him for the offer. Even though my throat was better, the cough drops gave me an added insurance policy my throat would continue to feel good.
“You seem as though you feel much better, Fiona.”
I inhaled the clean pine scent of his car, and it soothed my throat even more as I swallowed the aroma. My senses had returned.
“I’m feeling much better than yesterday. Pardon me while I make a quick call to my nanny, okay?”
“Certainly,” he said with a smile, pulling the car onto Nikale Street.
I dialed the hospital and was quickly connected to the operator. I asked her to locate Janice Parker’s room, and within moments, she put me on hold, saying I would be connected shortly. After a few quirky-sounding rings, I heard Janice’s jovial voice and my heart melted.
“Janice! It’s Fiona!”
“Hello dear! How are you? I tried to call you yesterday, but your mom said you had taken ill and were sleeping. I hope you are better, and I am sorry that I was not there to take care of you. I thought of you all night. I have been so worried, dear!”
Janice always thought of everybody but herself. I missed her so much.
“My mom took wonderful care of me, so no worries. I miss your smiling face at home, and I’m so glad to hear you’re doing better. I’ve been trying t
o visit you, but Mom says you’re under quarantine so—boo!” I said playfully.
“That’s true, but I get released on Sunday as long as I continue to show improvement and test negative. I heard about Luminal, Fiona. I regret I was not there for you. My heart aches and continues to ache for the loss of our beloved family member. He will always be missed.”
“It was very difficult, to be honest. I’m still torn up about it, but I’m trying to stay positive. Well, I’m almost to school. I just wanted to check in, say I love you. I can’t wait for you to come home!”
“I love you too, dear. I’ll be home on Sunday and will make you a batch of your favorite cookies!”
Agent Bronson pulled up to the front of the school and waved goodbye as I got off the phone, climbing out of the car. I walked up the steps and Wolfe and Camber Johnson were sitting on a concrete bench in front of the school entryway. What I did next, I certainly didn’t think about before I acted.
“Can I speak to you for a minute?” I said coldly, pointing towards the steps.
With widened eyes, he followed me as I stomped out of Camber’s hearing range. I glanced over my shoulder to see her staring at us, trying to eavesdrop, so I kept my voice a hair above a whisper.
“You don’t seem sick anymore.”
“I feel much better, Fiona. Thanks.”
Irritation stewed in my veins as I looked at his magnificent eyes. It was difficult to be annoyed with him. I looked over at Camber once again and my fury returned.
“I am suspending your membership from the club while we are working on the Jody James murder case. Who knows how long it will be, as evidence keeps pouring in from all directions. Your girlfriend over there is still a suspect, by the way. And a liar!”
Before he could say a word in his defense, I stormed towards the school without looking back, wiping a traitorous tear from my cheek. I heard him call my name, but I ignored it. Swinging open the large glass doors, I marched into the large, empty foyer, furious at his betrayal, but realizing I was also to blame for my jealousy.
“Fiona! Fiona!” a familiar voice sounded from down the hallway.
Maddie. She had been released from soccer practice and was headed to the locker room. Within a few seconds, she caught up with me and looked me over with deep concern in her eyes.
“What’s wrong? You look as if you’ve been crying. Are you still sick?”
“I’m better, actually. A little bit of a sore throat, but I’ve been on antibiotics, so I shouldn’t be contagious. No fever.”
“Why were you crying? I can tell, your eyes are all puffy and teary.”
My biology angered me. Why did my face have to give away my emotions? At times, being human irritated me.
“I’ll say it; it affects both of us—Wolfe and the lying, vampire wannabe murder suspect are apparently a thing and are going on a date tonight.”
I realized the foyer was so empty, our voices echoed. I moved us closer to the hallway.
“Are you for real? Are you sure about that? He doesn’t seem the type to go for someone like her. Last I knew, he had his gorgeous eyes on you, Fiona. Like, just last week, hello!” she said, confusion sweeping across her face.
“Well, not anymore. He’s with her all the time and plus, my cousin Haley told my mother she is double-dating tonight with Camber. Who else is hanging around Camber all the time in the halls?” I said, fighting my eyes from welling up with tears again.
“Maybe you have a point, Fiona. That’s shocking. What about the case? I mean, he can’t work on the case if he is dating a suspect,” she said cautiously, shrugging a muscular shoulder.
We paused for a moment while the school’s attendance administrator walked by with an unseasonable pale-yellow suit, high heels clinking against the tile. She jammed her keys into the main office door, switched on the lights, and walked inside.
“I just kicked him out of the club. At least while we are on the case. Which, as you know, could take us the rest of the school year.”
My eyes locked on the ground, concentrating on the speckled tile to redirect my attention from the tears that fought to flood my cheeks. More school personnel strolled into the foyer, whisking away to their offices, followed by Principal Dinges, bullhorn in hand—returning from the bus line.
Maddie stared out of the towering glass windows at the front of the school for a minute, waiting for a group of students to walk by. I looked back, and Wolfe and Camber had moved from the concrete bench. Figures, they wanted to get away from me in case I went back for more.
“So, who is Haley double-dating with tonight?”
I hesitated. I knew telling her would hurt her feelings as she had been so excited when Carden asked her to the prom. They weren’t in a formal relationship, but I knew she hoped it would develop that way.
“Haley is…going out with Carden Doyle.”
Maddie’s eyes widened as her eyebrows angled towards the bridge of her nose in anger. She drew in a large gasp of air, exhaling with a fury.
“What! Are you freaking kidding me, Fiona? Carden is going out with Haley?” she shrieked, her voice echoing in the foyer.
I grabbed Maddie by her sculpted shoulders and told her to be quiet. I didn’t want her to make a scene as students were sauntering into the school, filling up the foyer—a common place to hang out before the first bell. After had I calmed her, we took a seat on the carpeted bench by the main office, right next to the bronze statue of a howling wolf, our school mascot.
“Maddie, I’m with you. It’s one thing for my cousin to associate with murder suspects. However, two of our club members associating with Haley and a murder suspect are not acceptable. Carden’s membership in our club will also have to be suspended. Haley broke into the lab. No matter what, if he associates with her, it’s done. I am sorry.”
“I agree. There’s nothing we can do now. I guess I’ll look for another prom date,” Maddie laughed with a sarcastic tone, dropping her eyes to the floor.
“Well, you have nearly three months, Maddie. It was a little premature for him to ask you anyway. If we don’t have dates, we’ll just go together!”
Maddie forced a smile.
“That’s a deal. We’ll probably have more fun anyway,” she said airily. A second had passed by before she relaxed her position on the bench, “Oh, Fiona, I heard something in soccer practice we might want to follow up on. Don’t know if it means anything, but it’s interesting, nonetheless.”
“Okay, what is it?”
“You know Mr. Thomas, the freshman math teacher that’s friends with Mr. Zuptus?”
I gazed at Maddie with an intense curiosity. I couldn’t imagine what type of story that she could have about this random teacher.
“Yeah, my mom said he just inherited over three million bucks and a bunch of other stuff. She read all about it in the paper. Did he quit?”
“No, he still teaches here for some odd reason. However, we were gossiping about it during practice, and a girl on my soccer team remembered that Victoria Newsted lived for a few years with the Thomas family when she was younger. She lived next to the Thomas’s. The Thomas’s were her foster family when she got taken away from her mother for child abuse.”
I nodded my head in acknowledgment this might be of value.
“Hmm, that is interesting. I bet she wishes she was still living there and not at home with her mother and the freak Dimitri LeMorte, the craziest person on the planet.”
“Really? Great. Hope to meet him one day soon,” she laughed and pointed towards the locker room. “Gotta go get ready for school, see you at lunch! Oh, and Haley Frost better hope I don’t see her in the hallways.”
“You won’t see her, Maddie, she was expelled.”
10 DESDE’S GOTHIC GARDEN
The rest of the day at school, Maddie and I sulked about boys. At lunch, it was all we could focus on. During my classes, Wolfe invaded my every thought like a virus. I realized immediately this is exactly what my parents had discussed with me
upon entering high school. I shouldn’t date until college. I had to snap out of my slump and realize that my lab, getting into college, and landing a perfect forensic job, were my priorities.
When I got home, I tried to fight a panic about Wolfe going on his first date with Camber. Even though I didn’t have confirmation this was happening, the circumstantial evidence was high. I neared Haley’s door and heard a violent coughing fit. Not that I truly cared, but in the end, she was human, so I opened the door to check on her. Normally, this would be Janice’s job, but I had to pick up the slack since she was still in the hospital.
“You alright, Haley?” I forced the words from my throat.
“I feel horrible. My throat hurts, I have a headache and every time that I cough, I think I’m going to die.”
She wasn’t going anywhere. The double-date had to be canceled. Then, dread set in—Wolfe and Camber would go alone.
“I’ll text my parents. I know my mom will want to take you to the clinic before it closes so you can get on medicine. You most likely have strep since it’s going around, and it’s what I had.”
I sent a text message and rushed down the hallway to the pink palace. At my computer desk, I checked my email and found two messages from Detective Chase. One—a short note about Emily Vance being detained for questioning, and the other—a report containing the details of the cave evidence for our group to discuss. The inevitable had to happen, so I decided to get it over with and call Carden Doyle to let him know that he was suspended from our club.
“Hello.”
“Carden, this is Fiona Frost. Do you have a minute?”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“It has been brought to my attention you have become involved with my cousin, Haley Frost. I understand you were scheduled to go on a double-date with her tonight?”
“Fiona, I have no idea what you are talking about. I don’t even know your cousin.”
“Carden, it is alright, I mean, it’s a big deal with the club, and she is a menace, but not a big deal overall.”
Fiona Frost: Order of the Black Moon Page 11