She sprinted into his arms. He tightened his hold around her. With one large breath, she took every inch of him in. If only we could stay like this forever.
“Janie,” Abram spoke behind her. His heavy footfalls shook the hardwood floor. Is he wearing boots?
She turned, still holding onto Kai. She stared at Abram with wide eyes. “Where’s your suit?” Abram wore an old Duke sweatshirt and camouflage khakis, Army grade. He paired the get-up with Doc Martins. His thick belt was equipped with at least four silver daggers, including one under his pant leg, strapped to his ankle. She hadn’t seen him dressed like a Seeker since he had trained her. Even then, he never walked around layered in weapons and camo. He looks tough.
“Your boyfriend paid us a visit today. He’s worried about you.” Abram stepped closer to Janie, his eyes locked on Kai. “He told us what will be happening after school.”
“Us?” Janie looked past Abram. Isabelle entered the room, dressed in a black sweatshirt and camo pants. She’d never seen her mom and Abram look so matchy-matchy. Silver daggers were placed strategically around Isabelle’s belt. Janie blinked, surprised at how tough her mother looked—a side of her she’d never seen before.
“Kai thought it was best if we knew,” Isabelle said. She focused on Janie’s arms around Kai. Pain filled her eyes, like the distant longing for Janie’s father. But this longing was stronger, deeper, like when the wound was fresh. Even after she’d “healed,” Isabelle never acted the same. What’s going on?
“We’ve decided to help. The more of us, the better our chances.” Abram still hadn’t taken his eyes off Kai. They weren’t as hate-filled as before, but they were anything but accepting. Janie knew the only reason he hadn’t attempted to kill Kai was because of her. He’d spent years searching for the Daychild with green eyes. She’d gotten some of her stubbornness from Abram. He had to hate the resistance of not killing Kai.
“You’re going to fight?” Janie broke from Kai’s hold and turned to face Abram and Isabelle. Kai’s arms folded around her waist. She trembled at his breath on her hair.
“Don’t be so shocked. We’re not that old. We have done this before.” Abram shot Isabelle a hesitant look.
“There’s a catch. Isn’t there?” Janie stiffened. Her pulse started to race. “Abram, tell me why you keep looking at her!” She turned to her mother. “What’s going on?”
Isabelle tried to calm Janie. “Honey, we are Seekers and we’re family. We want to help you. It’s our duty. Those are the only reasons we want to fight alongside you.” Isabelle’s words didn’t reassure Janie.
“Abram,” Janie said. She enlaced her fingers through Kai’s. He held her tighter. His chest no longer rose and fell against her back, and she could no longer feel his breath on her hair. Is he breathing? Something’s very wrong.
Abram didn’t speak for seconds. He was doing it again, looking for the right words, darting his eyes back and forth to her mother. As he thought, Abram formed a steeple with his hands. The tip of his fingers rested against his mouth. “I’ve told Kai I’d stop hunting him.” He cleared his throat. “He’s obviously been an asset to you. He’s proven his loyalty on multiple occasions. And for that I’ve promised not to kill him for what he did to your father.”
But—I know there’s a “but” coming. Janie could hardly focus on Abram’s words. There was a catch; she knew it. She realized she was holding her breath, too. Trying to breathe became too difficult. It felt as if walls were caving in on her. Everything came crashing down around her. But why?
Abram brought his gaze from Kai down to Janie. “This afternoon Kai informed us that he intended to stay and deviate from his original plan to leave. Naturally, your mother and I don’t agree. We have decided he isn’t a positive presence in your life. What you had was temporary. It is time he moved on.” Abram cleared his throat. Janie couldn’t move or breathe. Shock absorbed her entire being. “We’ve also discussed our feelings with Kai, and he has agreed to leave after we defeat Antony this afternoon. In return, I will respect his honorable action and spare his life.”
Janie shoved Kai’s hand off her waist. “Spare his life. What is this, the Medieval Times?” Has everyone seriously gone mad? And Kai—did he really agree to this?
She knew Kai might be leaving, but this felt like a betrayal—her parents and her boyfriend plotting her fate, deciding what was best for her? It wasn’t their decision to make! She was almost eighteen, in a sense. That infuriated her as well. Next year she’d be much younger than Kai, again. She wanted it all to stop. She wanted to live. She wanted to love. It wasn’t fair.
“How dare you?” Janie stepped away from Kai and walked to the center of the room, able to see everyone, able to look into each of their back-stabbing eyes. “This is my life and I’m getting sick of everyone deciding what’s best for me.”
“Janie—” Kai attempted to move toward her.
She extended her hand to stop him. “Shut up.” Tears rolled down her face. “I’ve already told you I’ve forgiven you. What else do I have to do to convince you of that? I don’t blame you for my father’s death. I know what you were then and who you are now. You aren’t the same. You’re not that monster. You’ve shown me how to love and be loved. I haven’t been this happy since I can remember. Since my father pushed me on the swing or took me for walks in my little red wagon.” Janie wiped the tears from her face. “If you don’t love me—”
“But I—” Kai said.
“Let me finish.” For the moment, Janie forgot Isabelle and Abram were in the room. It was only her and Kai. It was always only her and Kai. It had taken her a while to realize this, but now she knew, for sure. “If you don’t love me, then feel free to leave. I won’t make you stay.” He tried to speak again. She cut him off. “But if you do—stop being a coward. You say I run from happiness? Well, so do you. Right now—” She pointed to the ground. “Right now, I’m confronting my fears head on. So you have flaws—we all do. You carry a lifetime of guilt with you—let it go. You’re not the same guy.” Her voice fell to a whisper. “I love you for your beauty and your scars—the scars that run down your forearm and cross your chest, and the scars that weigh on your conscience and tug on your human heart. I love you because you’re you.”
Sobbing erupted from behind her, making Janie remember her mother’s presence.
“She’s right,” Isabelle said, sniffling. She spoke to Kai. “We were wrong. This isn’t our decision. We can’t dictate who Janie loves.”
“Isabelle—” Abram took her hand. “What are you saying? We already discussed this. Kai leaving, it’s what’s best.”
“Best for who—you? You can’t bring Connor back.” Isabelle held his gaze. “No, Abram, you decided this was for the best. I listened and I don’t agree. I know what it’s like to love someone I’m told I shouldn’t, but you can’t help who you fall in love with. I was a Seeker and Connor was an innocent. Life with me was too dangerous for him, but nothing could keep us apart. You know that first hand.” Abram’s usually confident stature sank. Janie knew it had something more to do with her mother, her father and Abram’s history than she understood.
Isabelle joined Janie. She cupped her face. “I never told you how I met your father. It is time that I did.” She let out a deep, shaky breath and began. “I was responsible for the Houston district. It had just rained. It was evening. I had just finished running errands for my mother. She needed supplies for a protection ritual against U`tlûñ'ta.” Janie remembered the Cherokee legend her Gran used to tell her about the shape-shifter who ate human livers.
Isabelle stared past everyone, reliving the night she met Connor all over again. It was as if the movie of her life was playing on the wall behind them. “As I was leaving the Native American store, I saw him—Connor Grey. I remember the first time I saw him like it was yesterday. He was tall and strong with blond hair and eyes the color of a cloudless blue sky. Janie, your father was so handsome.” She gripped Janie’s face tighter. “B
ut no matter his mortal strength, he was no match for the vampire preying on him. I had to do something.”
“You saved Dad?” Janie gasped. Now she knew why her mom reacted the way she did when she told her about Matt. It all made sense now…
“How do I stop it?” Janie returned to her mother’s warm brown eyes, hoping desperately for an antidote.
Isabelle frowned. “You can’t. He’ll love you forever, or at least until he can find someone else to settle for, unless you fall in love with him, too.”
“You Imprinted Dad and fell in love with him.” Janie broke away from Isabelle’s grasp. She couldn’t handle this—Kai leaving, Abram insisting he go, her father being Imprinted, her mother never telling her.
Kai wrapped his strong arms around her from behind. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I know all of this must be very overwhelming, but Jerome and the others are out back. We should go before they change their minds.”
Janie didn’t move. “And after—will you still be here?”
“We’ll talk later.” He kissed the back of her head. “Now’s not the time.” Is it ever?
Jerome and Tanya stood at the far end of the yard. They brought three other vampires with them: a large guy with an afro, a tall thin girl with platinum hair and too much eye makeup, and an average-height bald guy wearing a Baltimore Ravens jersey. Tanya wore a black pair of designer jeans and heels. Her top slid loosely off one shoulder. It matched her cherry-red lipstick.
Three had on shades, including Jerome. The other two squinted. Janie was relieved to see they hadn’t burst into flames. She guessed getting used to the sun after years of avoiding it wasn’t easy.
Abram wore a look of shock. “Are those vampires? H—How are they outside, in the daytime, in the sunlight?”
“I have friends,” Kai said.
“Abram—did you know about this?” Isabelle swayed in place. The color drained from her face. “They’re vampires. We don’t fight with vampires. We fight against them.”
Abram steadied her. “I spoke with Janie last night. It’s okay. Times seem to be changing.” He rested his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll explain later. They are here to help. They have also suffered at the hands of Antony and his crew.”
Jerome stepped forward. “I’ve got to tell you, Seeker, this sunlight thing is okay. But it’s hard to see, too darn bright. I’ll stick with the moon and stars.”
“Thank you for helping us. You kept your word.”
Jerome acknowledged Janie’s appreciation with a nod. He crossed his arms over his chest and cleared his throat. “So, how are we doin’ this?” Janie wasn’t sure if he was tired, but his voice sounded weaker than usual, more vulnerable. She wondered how long he had spent at the graveyard. She remembered one of the tombstones read Brotherhood. He cared for his gang. Though he was a vampire, he mourned the loss of his brothers and sisters. Antony didn’t share the same quality. He was a demon—pure evil.
Abram stepped forward to address the group. “I’ll take the lead. I’ve been doing this the longest. How are we for weapons?”
Janie slung her backpack over her shoulder. “We have silver blades.”
The vamp in the jersey lifted his shirt, flashing an assortment of blades encased in leather and shoved in the waist of his low-riding jeans.
“The football players should be in the locker room changing before practice. Janie and Kai—stand outside the locker room door. If you hear anything, go in,” Abram said. “Jerome—you and your gang will take cover under the bleachers next to the field where they practice.” Jerome nodded. “Isabelle and I will patrol the parking lot and inside the school. Remember, we need to take down Antony as inconspicuously as possible. It’s going to be hard enough to explain this to the Chapter. We can’t wage an all-out war in public.”
“If we take down Antony first, his crew should be useless,” Janie said.
“Not necessarily. When one leader dies, another takes his place. They’re young. They will scrap like children for the position,” Jerome said.
“But they’ll be distracted fighting among themselves. We can use this to our advantage,” Abram said. “Jerome, how many are we dealing with? How outnumbered are we going to be?”
“They’ve got at least twenty. We’re going to be outnumbered, but we’re better fighters. Most Daychildren are babies.” Jerome looked at Kai. “They can’t fight like you. . .whatever you are. You were the first, created by the king. With age comes wisdom.”
Janie checked her watch. “It’s time to go. Practice starts in twenty minutes.”
CHAPTER 18
Janie and Kai stood outside the locker room, located in the basement of the school, along with the weight room and a few mechanical rooms. The football players laughed behind the door. Lockers slammed shut as they retrieved their gear and discussed plays.
One conversation perked her ears. It sounded like Scott Turner, the quarterback. “Did you hear, man? Molly’s not going to Homecoming with Matt. She’s free game.”
A player Janie didn’t recognize answered. “No joke. They broke up?”
“I guess. I heard it’s ‘cause he’s into Janie Grey,” Scott said.
“Huh. . .isn’t that something?” Both guys laughed. “Go for it, dude.”
They sounded so innocent in an annoying frat boy kind of way. They had no idea what hunted them or how their lives were going to change if Antony wasn’t stopped. Some of the players wouldn’t survive the Turn, maybe even Scott, and the ones who did survive would become demonic immortals, a fate worse than death.
Kai caught the tail end of the conversation. “Antony’s not in there. I don’t hear anything unusual, other than an irritating bunch of jocks.”
“Not everyone can be as cool as you.” Janie ran her finger down Kai’s chest.
“True.” He smiled. One brow rose. “You’re the topic of conversation. I guess that means you’re still going to that dance with Matt.”
“I have to. I told him I’d go with him. We’re just going as friends. Besides, Ava and Luke are going with us.” His bemused expression didn’t change. “I’m serious; friends, that’s it,” she assured him.
“For you, but I guarantee he feels differently.” Kai’s features hardened. He changed the subject. “I wish Antony would hurry up and show his face. Those boys stink.”
“Like sweat?”
“Among other things,” he said.
Janie didn’t ask, too busy focusing on another familiar voice in the locker room. “What’s up?” Kai moved closer to her. He rested his hand on her arm, causing her heartbeat to accelerate. The pounding of her heartbeat in her ears blocked her ability to hear Matt’s discussion. When Kai touched her, nothing else seemed to exist.
“Matt is in there. I told him to go home.” Janie’s hands balled into fists. “Why don’t guys ever listen? Can you hear what he’s saying?”
“He’s warning someone to leave practice. That something bad’s going to happen.” Kai paused to listen. “The other kid doesn’t believe him. He told him to go home.”
“Did Matt say anything about vampires or zombies?”
“Zombies?” Kai eyed her quizzically.
“Never mind,” she said. “Did he say anything about what’s about to happen?”
“No. Not that anyone would believe him. He already sounds like a nut job.”
“I’ve got to get him out of here.” Janie reached for the door handle. Kai grabbed her arm.
“It’s not your job to save his life.” He dropped her arm. “He’s like a cat. . .he has too many lives.”
“You don’t mean that.”
Kai let out a frustrated breath. “What are you going to do? You can’t just walk into the boys’ locker room.”
“But you can.” She realized.
Kai stepped backward. “I’m not going in there. You don’t think I’ll stick out like a sore thumb? I’m not a member of the football team, and I don’t exactly look like a jock.” He opened his arms. His scythe hung at his
waist.
Janie ran her eyes over Kai. His hair was longer than most of the jocks, and he was definitely prettier. His arms were exposed in his white tee. Lines raced down his forearm. His jeans appeared dirty, even though she knew they weren’t. Janie could smell their clean lavender scent. Kai’s black boots looked like they’d been chewed on by a teething puppy. She could tell he’d tried to clean them, but Daychild blood had eaten through the leather.
Janie had an idea. “You’re fast. You can retrieve Matt before anyone sees you. You don’t even need to use the door.”
Kai grunted. “I’m only doing this for you. He doesn’t mean anything to me. . .he’s in love with my girlfriend.”
“You’re jealous.”
He shrugged.
“You’re leaving. . .does it really matter?” she said under her breath.
“Not right now, Janie!”
Always the same reaction—not right now. This infuriated her. “When is it ever a good time to discuss anything? You are continually shutting me out. Maybe you should let me know when you’re ready to talk—”
“Janie—” Kai interrupted. He pulled her into him and kissed her hard, releasing all of his pain, guilt, fear, regret and. . .love. “Please,” he said. “It’s harder for me. You’re the only person I’ve opened up to.” His forehead lowered to hers. He fisted her hair, holding her tightly against him. She didn’t attempt to move. She wanted to grab him and pour every bit of herself into him right there.
She didn’t. He was right. It wasn’t the time. She wondered if the time would ever come.
He breathed heavily on her face. “I want to discuss this, discuss us. I’m trying to focus on what’s about to happen. If we don’t focus, you could get killed. That, I couldn’t live with.” He half-smiled, making her heart melt like warm butter. “Right now I have to get your Imprint.” Kai released her and disappeared through the wall.
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