Janie stood, silent.
“It’s better this way—for you,” Kai continued.
“Don’t presume to know what’s best for me.” Janie started for her car. She couldn’t even look at him.
He appeared in front of her in the street. “I killed your father. You’ve already made it clear you will never forgive me.” He sighed. “I can live with never forgiving myself. It’s a torture I’ve readily accepted, but the thought of you hating me. . .that kills me.”
She brushed his hair out of his eyes. “I could never hate you.”
“For now, but as time goes on—” His voice cracked. “You could start to resent me. I can’t take that chance, for either of us.”
Janie took a puff of her inhaler, partly to control her asthma and partly to stop her from blurting out something she’d regret. How dare you tell me what’s best for me or how I will feel in the future? It’s not your call. “Will you come back?”
“I don’t know.” He cradled her face in his hands. The sweat from his chest had dried in the cool air. He kissed her.
She spoke with his lips on hers. “Please don’t leave me.”
Her phone vibrated. She pulled back from Kai. He dropped his hands from her face. A text from Abram—where r u?
“I have to go.”
“Matt?”
“No, worse—Abram. He found something out today. He wants to talk. He’s angry.” She started toward her car. Kai placed his hand on her arm. She stopped.
“Do you want me to come with you?” He looked right through her. It stung.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, considering your history with each other.” She examined the scars on his forearm, the scars Abram had created.
“You’re right.” He let go and stepped up on the curb. “Call me if you need me.”
She nodded and left.
Abram removed the tea kettle from the stove and poured boiling water into a mug. He didn’t say anything to her at first.
“Isn’t it a little late for tea?” Janie said. “I guess Mom’s working an extra night shift.”
Abram nodded. “It’s going to be a long night.” He dropped a sugar cube into the water; the tea bag hung over the side of the mug. He motioned her to the table. “Why don’t we sit?”
He pulled a chair out for her and chose the seat next to her.
For a moment Abram collected his thoughts. He stirred his tea with a spoon. His tired, blue eyes met hers. “You know I think of you like a daughter. I’d do anything for you.” She nodded. “Today, I lied for you.”
“Why? For what?” Abram cut her off with a raised hand.
“The Chapter knows about last night. They were afraid you’d gone rogue. I told them I knew you rescued the vampire and that I supported you.”
“I was just doing my Seeker duties, protecting the innocent.”
“Janie—you rescued a vampire. They aren’t innocent.”
“They are trying to be, kind of innocent, in a way. They aren’t like the Daychildren. As I told you before, they’re evolving, trying to blend in with human society. They don’t want to be considered monsters. They don’t have to kill to feed. There are plenty of humans who will give them blood willingly.”
“It is not our job to protect vampires. We are Seekers. We protect humans.”
Janie’s blood pressure rose. “That is the way of the Chapter. It is ancient and outdated. Vampires aren’t the main threat any more. Daychildren are the new demonic breed humans should fear. I didn’t rescue Tanya because of—”
Abram laughed tightly. “Tanya. You’re on a first-name basis with the night children.” He sighed and raised a disappointed brow.
“That’s not the point.”
“It is the point. You can’t go making friends with the vampire community. You are a Seeker.”
“You’re not talking about Tanya, or any of the others; you’re talking about Kai. He has nothing to do with what happened last night. In fact, he was against it.”
“For once I agree with him.” His words were spoken out of disgust. “You shouldn’t have rescued a vampire.”
“I didn’t have a choice. If I didn’t help Jerome—”
“Jerome—I can’t listen to this any more.” He dismissed her with a wave.
“Yes, the head vamp in Baltimore, Jerome.” She took hold of his wrist, forcing him to listen to her. “He said he would help me take out the Baltimore gang of Daychildren. Their leader, Antony, is planning to Turn the Loch Raven football players on Friday night in an effort to please Tavares, to up his numbers.” She unintentionally tightened her grip. “Has the Chapter even spoken to other Chapters? This is happening in cities other than Baltimore. Antony just happens to be in my city.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you helped Tanya.”
“Jerome promised me we would have their support Friday night. He said the vampires would align with me. . .and Kai. He said they would help us stop Antony.”
“And you trust a vampire?” His eyes tightened. When he was a Seeker, they killed vampires; they didn’t trust them. Lesson one—don’t trust the undead.
Janie threw her hands in the air. “What other choice do I have? It’s just me and a whole gang of multiplying Daychildren.”
“I wish you would have come to me. You always come to me. What made it different this time?” His voice cracked. He coated his throat with tea.
“Kai—you couldn’t accept him. Even when you saw how much he meant to me.” She touched his arm. “Now I know why. I understand. He killed Dad. I don’t blame you. You witnessed it first-hand. You fought Kai and he got away.”
He spoke softer, lowering the intensity of their conversation. “How do you feel about him now that you know?”
“I love him. It’s not something I can just turn off. Of course I’m upset and hurt. I feel betrayed, but that doesn’t change what’s in my heart. I love him.”
“I can’t support your relationship.” Although calmer, she could see his disappointment.
“You don’t have to. He’s leaving Friday, after the game. He has to live with Dad’s death every day. Dad’s face haunts him in his sleep. He’s not the same person he was that night. He’s changed.”
Abram appeared to ignore her defense. “That’s what’s best, him leaving.” He didn’t seem overly joyous, either. This led her to believe he didn’t fully believe his own words. Maybe he had heard some of her argument. She knew he cared more about her feelings than Seeker etiquette.
“As for the Chapter,” he continued, “I won’t tell them that you’ve aligned with the vampire community, but I will have to warn other Chapters about Tavares’s plans.”
“Thank you. That’s all I ask.” Janie rose and kissed the lines on his forehead. “If that’s all, good night.”
CHAPTER 15
Kai lay across Janie’s bed, waiting. He switched from his back to his side, and back again, finally settling on his side. She’d been talking with Abram for a while. He was tempted to listen in on their conversation again, but he didn’t. He’d heard enough. Instead, he waited. He noticed a book on her nightstand and scooped it up. Twilight. He laughed, shaking his head. A Seeker who loves vampire stories.
He heard footsteps outside her bedroom door. He put the book back in its place and flipped on to his back. The door opened. Janie entered as she usually did, not surprised to find him in her room.
The front door shut and locked. Seconds later, Abram’s car started up and he left.
“You okay?” Kai said.
“Yup.” Janie took a seat next to him on the bed. “I didn’t expect to see you again tonight, although I’m getting used to you being in my room.” She fell silent. “It’s not gonna be the same after you leave.”
“I was worried about you.” He sat up and slid next to her. Her feet dangled over the edge of the bed. His touched the floor. “Did it go okay?”
“Yes, he supports me.” Her voice was low, sad.
“He supports you
in aligning with the vampires, but he sounded happy that I was leaving town.” He regretted his words. Every time he thought about leaving her, a little more of him chipped away. She’ll never trust me. I don’t have a choice.
“I’m not so sure of that. He knows the pain it will cause me.” Kai didn’t say anything. He’d already rationalized his decision. There was no point in arguing. She would never be able to forgive him for taking her father away from her and her mother.
Kai turned to face her. “You know we have no idea how Antony intends to execute his plan. We can’t just have an all-out brawl at your high school.”
She jumped off the bed. “You’re right. We need a plan. Are you tired?” One moment she acted sullen and defeated. The next, she could be pumped up like she’d been injected with steroids. He knew her well. Aggression helped mask her pain.
“Why?” He recognized the reckless look in her eyes.
“We need to go back to the lair.” She left the bed and slipped on her boots.
“So that you can get yourself killed.” He confronted her. “No.” She’d just gone there last night. He refused to take the chance.
“I’ll be with you.” She batted her brown eyes. Her long black lashes melted away any common sense. I’d do anything for you.
“Don’t try to butter me up,” he said. “You know damn well you can take care of yourself.” He shook his head, staring at the ground. Stubborn—a quality he loved about her. “Fine. Let’s go see what we can find out.”
They crouched behind the dumpster she’d hidden behind the night before. The same small light created rectangular shadows, what Janie now knew reflected a refrigerator and a lonely chair. Their arms touched. She could smell him, taste him. Her heart raced. It was all she could do not to grab him and kiss him. She couldn’t. He doesn’t think I can ever trust him again. He is wrong.
“I hear Antony near the front of the building. He’s angry,” Kai said.
“As usual.” Janie focused back on the old law firm. “Can you hear what he’s saying?”
“No.” He exhaled. “I don’t know why I’m going to suggest this.”
“What?” she said.
“We need to go inside. Did you say the kitchen was in the back? I’ll be able to hear them better in there.” A police car whizzed by the alley, siren blaring. “It’s too loud out here.”
“Through the wall?” she said, standing to align herself with Kai.
He smiled. “You read my mind. Run with me. Just make sure you hold on tight.” Kai wrapped his arm around her waist. “Ready?”
“Ready.” His muscles constricted across her back.
They sprinted toward the stone building. She gripped his hand that encircled her and they leapt through the wall, landing on the kitchen floor. He coiled her into him to steady her.
She covered her nose with the sleeve of her coat. “I’ll never get used to the smell.”
Kai tugged her behind the wet bar. “Someone’s coming.”
Antony and the spiky-haired girl Janie remembered entered the kitchen.
“Did you get what we need?” Antony said.
“We did,” she answered. “We have enough souls to Turn the whole team.” She laughed, her voice squeaky and resonating in an abnormally high pitch. “The demon world isn’t lacking in supply.”
“Good. How about the vampire venom?” Antony paced the floor.
“It’s being taken care of as we speak. Jerome won’t know what hit him.” The girl spit on the floor. “Serves them right.”
“Jerome sent a Seeker to my home. He will pay,” Antony said.
The girl laughed, though it sounded more like a snort and a screech.
“He chose to align with the Seeker. He will soon know how much of a mistake that was.”
The girl’s brows rose. “So, we’re still going to move up the timeline. You don’t want to wait till Friday?”
“No—” Antony said. “We’ll do it at practice, tomorrow.”
Kai mouthed Shit, his stare still planted on Antony and the spiky-haired girl. Janie figured his sudden stiffness had to do with Antony’s plan to move up the attack. But it was something else entirely. What’s wrong?
“I smell Seeker. She’s here.” Antony darted in their direction. At the same time Kai hurled her into the air, grasping her arm and running for the wall.
Antony grabbed hold of her ponytail and yanked her out of Kai’s grip. She landed back on the kitchen floor. “You aren’t gettin’ away this time.”
Janie searched for Kai. He was already through the wall. Antony spun her on to her back and straddled her. His fat body crushed her pelvis into the floor. She swore she heard her bones crack. He flattened her ear against the hardwood floor, exposing her neck. “I’ll suck the life outta you.”
Janie arched and walked her fingers across her lower back until she found the hilt of her dagger. She slipped it out of her waistband and popped her knee, catching Antony in the groin. He groaned and grabbed himself, releasing her. She rolled out from under him and jumped into a fighting stance. Her blade reflected the light of a faint overhead brass chandelier.
“Janie—” Kai stood next to her again. He’d come back through the wall for her. “Let’s go.”
“But I can take him,” she said. The room flooded with Daychildren.
“You’ll have to get through them first.” Kai twirled her around. “Another time.” He shot back through the wall with her in his gasp.
Outside, Janie stormed up the sidewalk. Kai kept pace. “Where are you going?”
“To warn Jerome. You heard Antony. He’s going to attack the vamps tonight and Turn the football players tomorrow at practice.” She dodged a group of guys who had just exited a dive bar. They were clearly drunk and taking up the entire sidewalk. They exhaled into the cold air, sending the smell of beer and cigarettes her way.
“Hey, babe,” one said to Janie. “Nice ass.”
Kai growled and lunged at the guy. The guy put his hands up. “She’s yours, got it.”
“What time’s practice?” Kai said, ignoring the drunks.
“Why?” Janie turned down an alley. She stalked forward. “Where’s Jerome? There aren’t any vampires out.”
“Daylight.” Kai sped in front of her, blocking her path.
She smacked into his chest and stopped in her tracks. “Crap—” she realized, “practice is right after school—three o’clock. The vamps can’t help us. They’ll be asleep. And if they aren’t, they’ll burst into flames.”
“Albania,” Kai said.
“Will she help?”
“I can try.”
“You go find Albania. I’ll find Jerome.” Janie pushed past him.
He held her in place. “Meet me at your car. No longer than thirty minutes or I’ll come looking for you.” He gave her a quick kiss. “Be careful.”
She touched her lips. “You too.”
Kai paced the floor. He thought he had more days with Janie. The timeline had been moved up, so now he had only one night left with her. He stared at a floral painting at the end of the hallway. Come on, Albania. Answer. You’ve got to be here.
The door swung open. Kai breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re here.”
Albania was dressed in a long black silk nightgown. It skimmed the floor, sweeping over her hot pink toenails. Her red hair framed her petite face. “What is it? Is it Janie?”
“Janie’s fine. Can I come in?”
“Sure.” She motioned for him to pass. Albania kissed his cheek and wove her fingers through his. She led him over to the couch. “Please sit with me.” She still held his hand. “Did it work? Was Janie able to rescue Tanya before your gift wore off?”
“She did. Thanks to you.” He smiled. Her presence calmed him. His first instinct had always been to react, but Albania had taught him to think first. He had to keep a level head in order to make the wisest decisions. Lavender. Bathing in lavender had been Albania’s idea, something about it being a soothing herb. She on
ce admitted she liked the smell on him. “I need your help again.”
“Anything.” She squeezed his hand.
“Can you create a spell that will make the night children walk in the daylight?”
She gasped, taken by surprise. “Why would you want to do that?”
“It would only be temporary, only for a few hours.”
“Kai, I can’t do that. I swore to use my gifts for good. I’ll never do anything for vampires.”
“This isn’t for them. It’s for Janie, me and a whole team of high school football players.”
“Now I’m really confused.” Albania scooted closer to Kai. She removed her hands from his and traced a line around his face, eyeing him adoringly. “When I found you, I was drawn to you. You lay dying, a silver blade so close to your brain that death wasn’t immediate, but would be slow and painful. I felt for you. I’ve always hated vampires, but with you. . .you were different somehow. I felt as though I loved you even then, before I even knew you.” She placed one finger on his lips. “Tavares knew you were different. He tried to kill you before you could reach your full potential. You were such a disappointment to him. The first Daychild created, yet you showed signs of a conscience. How would his new race of vampires succeed, grow and flourish, if the first one he created showed signs of weakness?” She kissed his lips. “But you are anything but weak. That’s why I love you.”
“Then trust that I’m only asking this of you because it will save many human lives. Trust in what we have meant to each other, what we still mean to each other, and help me.”
Albania stared deeply into his eyes as if reading something written behind them. “You’re leaving?”
“You know me well.” He looked away. Airplane lights flickered outside her apartment’s expansive window.
“You and Janie will miss each other.”
He tried to hold back his emotions, but tears stung his eyes. “She knows what I did.”
“Abram told her?” Albania said. Kai nodded and returned to her worried gaze. Albania closed her eyes. She breathed deeply, taking in everything around her within a state of meditation. “I don’t feel anger when I think of Janie. Only love. She loves you. She’ll move past this. She’s human. You have to give her time to heal.”
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