I don’t know what to say, so we drive in silence while we make our way down the mountain. Signs of other people start to appear. There’s a truck pulled off the road into the ditch.
We come to Fish Creek Campground. The quiet sites dotted in between the tall evergreens are no longer peaceful. Two cop cars are in the campground with their lights flashing. The campers are packing. The police are carrying stuff to pickups for them.
Would they believe me if I told them what I think the killer is?
And if they did, they just face death themselves, for what they hunt can’t be killed with bullets.
Can the demons be killed at all? Or is Rob really a vampire? Did he kill those people? Those fangs he had could pierce a throat. What about Catherine? What does she know?
We drop down the mountain and pass mailboxes that mark long driveways to houses and cabins. I’m glad to see them. They’re a buffer between me and Florence.
When we reach our driveway, Aunt Kate pulls off the road and stops the truck. She gets out and walks to where the Carrolls have stopped. I follow reluctantly.
I glance at Megan in the back. She’s glaring at me but doesn’t whisper anything about shadows. Maybe seeing what happened to that old couple showed her that what hides in the shadows needs to stay there and never brought to light.
“Will you be okay?” Tammy asks after she rolls down the window.
“We’ll be fine,” Aunt Kate assures Tammy.
We say our goodbyes before scrambling back into the truck and pulling into the garage. Joe waits until the door is closing behind us before leaving.
Safe.
Aunt Kate shudders. She takes a deep breath like she’s collecting herself and then exhales. “Let’s go check the windows and doors and then get showers. I’m still freezing from this morning. We could heat up that leftover chicken and light a small fire. What do you think?”
I nod. Aunt Kate has lit a fire every day since we got here, no matter what the temperature is. But food always sounds good.
“Deal. What about all this?” I point to the back of the truck.
She shrugs. “Take what you want. We’ll deal with it when Ryan gets back.”
We jump into action. I grab my bag and lug it to my bedroom. Aunt Kate and I circle the house several times, checking and double-checking every single lock.
Ryan needs to make it back home, and then everything will be okay.
I check the doors and windows to make sure they are locked, and then I get my shower. When I’m done, Aunt Kate’s water is running. I pull out the chicken to heat up but get distracted by the Doritos. I’m far too weak to make lunch and wander into the living room with the bag of chips. I flop on a chair and lose myself in the food for a while until I remember Aunt Kate wanted a fire.
She’s going to be mad if she gets finished with her shower and nothing’s done.
I lick my fingers and drop the bag on the chair beside me. The box for firewood is empty, so I start to get more from the stack that’s beside the back deck but pause at the locked door.
Ryan said to stay in. Aunt Kate wants a fire. I glance through the glass. The stack of firewood is against the side of the house, not more than ten steps from the door. I can grab some and be back. Besides, nothing is going to happen.
I study the lawn and trees surrounding it. The trees on each side of the grass are still and quiet. I wait a few minutes but see nothing.
Maybe we’re over-reacting.
The demons will stay up in Florence where they always have. There’s no reason for them to come down here. We invaded their territory. One doesn’t blame the large timber wolves for attacking when people venture into their area.
Why should this be any different?
I unlock the door and slip onto the deck. There’s no reason for sneaking, but I try to be quiet and wish I had put on shoes, instead of going in my socks. I creep down the four steps to the grass and over to the firewood stack.
I pass the axe leaning against the house. The stack is higher than my head and runs the full length of the house. I pull down a few pieces and pile them in my arms.
“It wasn’t me. I didn’t kill those people.”
I jump. Wood drops out of my arms and thuds to the ground. I whirl around. Rob is standing in the shadow of one of the trees closest to the house. His face is deadly serious.
That same feeling that overwhelmed me at the cabin returns. The darkness inside of me churns, bringing up images of red and white mixing together.
Don’t let it get out of control.
“Get away from me,” I order. I back up against the stack of wood, hoping to be able to get up the porch and lock the door before he attacks.
Rob puts his hands up like he is surrendering. “I’m not going to hurt you. I wasn’t trying to hurt you before, but you didn’t know the danger you were in. Catherine is far more dangerous than I am.”
A shadow falls over his face like he’s just thought of something, and I have the feeling he’s not telling the truth.
“You attacked me! She was trying to stop you,” I argue. “What are you? You’re not human, are you?”
Rob drops his hands to his side, his hazel eyes filled with pain. “You know what I am, Nic.”
I want to hear it from him. I have my suspicions after seeing his fangs. The body of the older woman makes me think I am right, but I’m not going to say anything yet.
He sighs, looking frustrated. “I was dying. The only thing I was worried about was how my mother would never hear what happened. Yes, I was turned into a vampire. I never wanted to be. I still don’t want to be.”
The word has been said. He’s a vampire. I can’t turn away from it now. I can’t ignore the fact that they exist. Most people would probably protest that it isn’t possible, but I’ve seen too many things in the shadows that no one else sees.
“Come on,” Rob says almost apologetically. “Blaise said you saw him, so you’ve seen demons. Everywhere there is a demon, there are a few vampires around. You’ve seen them but not known it.”
I can’t stop the words, even though it sounds incredibly stupid when I say it. “But you’re in the sun,” I protest. “That’s impossible.”
Rob smiles slowly. “So say the legends. Yes, we can be in the sun, but it’s painful to us, especially our eyes. I keep in the shade and wear long sleeves during the day.”
Why is this happening to me? Isn’t it bad enough I see demons?
“I didn’t kill them.” Rob steps closer. “I know who did, but it wasn’t me.”
I sidestep until I press against the house. My hand brushes against the axe Ryan uses. I grasp it. The axe makes me feel a bit safer. It’s probably as good as a stick in a lion fight, but it’s better than nothing. I hope.
Knowing what he is makes me sick. A creature of death who survives on the blood of the living. Nothing more than a tick or a mosquito.
“Why didn’t Megan see you?” I ask.
“Who’s Megan?”
“She was yelling for me, walking down the road.” I realize I should have left her out of this and feel like kicking myself.
“Ah, Megan,” Rob says like he’s savoring her name. “I saw her coming. Speed is another gift bestowed on us.” He says the word gift with sarcasm.
“Where’s Catherine?” I ask. “What does she have to do with all of this?”
“She’s not what you think, Nic. She’s a vampire, too. Stay away from her! But listen, I must talk to you before we run out of time,” Rob says. “They’re making plans for you. All of them.”
“Look at who you found!” A second voice breaks through what Rob is trying to say.
Rob’s face falls with disappointment, and fear fills his eyes. He gives me a slight shake of his head, and I see the new arrival. A tall, lanky man with red hair.
Are you the man from the roof in Grangeville who came to the house that first night?
He comes closer, staying in the shadows. My heart pounds in my chest so hard it
’s going to explode.
You are!
“Does the little kitty have the mouse cornered?” He strides up and studies me like I’m a piece of meat. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
“Stay out of this, Liam,” Rob snaps.
Liam laughs. “I don’t think I will. I’m curious about this mouse.”
“Stop!” Rob commands Liam.
Liam ignores him and approaches me. His green eyes are full of hate, but I sense a power about him. The darkness inside of me is churning, fighting to be released.
I grip the axe harder and pull it in front of me, ready to block any attack. I balance it in my hands. It should handle like the swords I practice with. An axe can’t be that different.
“Leave me alone.” My words feel weak, and my palms slip on the wood.
“Oh, does the little mouse have some claws?” Liam mocks with a sneer that shows his fangs. “That will only make it more fun.”
Liam pounces at me. My hands slip on the handle as I try to get the blade in front of me. Rob shouts. I swing the axe. Liam closes the distance, and I awkwardly try to hit him.
I’m only going to get one shot at this.
Chapter Twenty-One
Not Ever
Liam ducks. The axe flies over his head. I yell. He twists and grabs the handle of the axe. My reach is overextended, and the handle slips out of my sweaty hands. I lose my hold on it and stumble back.
I missed.
The vampire snarls and swings the axe through the air.
I’m going to die.
My hands shake. I try to protest or reason with him, but my voice has left. In its place, the darkness rages through me and overtakes my senses.
But instead of being swept back to the past, rage follows the darkness. I march back to the fight, controlled by some dark force, and punch Liam in the face with the full force of my anger.
* * *
Eli sprinted back to the fight as the two wrestled for control of the axe. Liam ignored Eli’s presence in his frenzy to get to the boy. Nic stumbled back and lost his grip on the weapon.
The angel knew Rob’s warning had merit. Killing a vampire would alert the horde of demons controlling this area that there were angels present, ones strong and ready to fight.
Eli couldn’t kill the vampire, but he could hinder the vile leech. As Nic punched Liam, Eli grabbed the vampire by the hair and whipped back his head until his neck almost snapped in two. Liam yelled and struggled to free himself from the enraged angel.
* * *
Liam’s head snaps back, and he loses his grip on the axe handle. I yell with victory. My attempts at fighting Rob were hopeless, but maybe I can beat Liam.
I lunge at him. He stumbles back and snatches the axe to swing again. I dodge, swing, and miss the second time. The darkness fills me as I fight, making me feel more powerful than I thought imaginable.
This feels good.
Liam staggers away from me before regaining control. “Well, you certainly are putting up more of a fight than those old folks did.”
I yell and step away from the house and closer to Liam. I swing the axe again. My vision blurs, and I see flashes of a steel barrel...
Mom is getting milk out of the fridge. I’m at the kitchen table with a heap of chocolate chip cookies in front of me. She’s laughing at what I said.
The front door slams. Both of us freeze for a second.
Mom turns to me. “Just stay quiet. It will be all right. And remember that I love you very much.”
I know she loves me, and so I wonder why she feels like she needs to say that now. The footsteps pound heavily through the living room.
There’s a blast before I even know what’s happening. The ringing in my ears muffles my screams...
I scream with anger as I’m jerked back to the present. Instead of feeling exhausted like I normally do when the darkness takes over, I am eager for a fight.
Liam has closed the distance, a little more wary this time. I swing the axe again. I don’t know if I’m better at this or if Liam is now careless because the flat of the blade slams into his ribs.
I let out a yell. “Leave me alone!”
Liam straightens slowly, but I don’t see any pain in his movements. He charges. I hate myself for backing up but can’t figure out what else to do. With a snarl, he seizes the axe and rips it from my hands, his fangs close to my face.
I slam back against the house. Rob is getting off the ground by the trees, although I don’t know how he got there. He takes a few quick steps toward us and then stops. I look toward the house. The steps to the deck are a few feet from me.
Can I make it? Get the door locked before he catches me? Would the door hold him back?
Liam follows my gaze to the open door. “Yes, I know your little aunt is in there. I can smell her.” He takes a deep whiff. “After I’m done with you, I’ll have a bit of a snack. This young one here will, too. I’ll make sure he does. It’ll be good for him.”
Memories hit me without warning...
There’s a slap, and I see a handprint on Mom’s cheek. A pistol points at her. The finger squeezes the trigger. My ears are ringing, and a shadow on the wall turns toward me...
I need no time to transition to the present.
Not again!
I charge Liam in a frantic panic. Liam steps back as if surprised by my attack. He raises the axe and swings it at me. I see it coming, but I don’t stop.
The axe falls through the air. I am reaching out for his throat to rip it out. Maybe that will kill the parasite.
The head of the axe collides above my elbow on my right arm. I scream as the edge bites into my arm. It cuts deep before Liam pulls it back.
I stumble against the house and grasp my arm with my left hand. Warm blood oozes through my fingers and runs down my arm.
The darkness takes my vision...
There’s a stream of blood next to me on the floor. Mixed in the puddle is a broken glass. I stare as the red mixes with the white milk to become a deathly pink.
I hear myself screaming now.
He leaves. And then it’s just me. And Mom.
But it’s not Mom anymore...
The memory disappears, and Rob grabs Liam by the arms, holding him back from me. Rob’s feet are digging into the grass as Liam pulls to reach me.
Rob is gasping out words. “No! Not now!”
Liam snarls a response. His fangs grow long. “His blood. Can you smell it? Just a taste of such sweet nectar.”
Rob wavers as he inhales deeply. Desire fills his eyes, and I hate him for it as I slump to the ground. Blood continues to pour from my arm.
In the house, Aunt Kate calls. “Nic?”
Stay away. Don’t come.
Rob and Liam stand poised to attack. She’s not stopping, and they’ll kill her, too. Liam is growling like a wild wolf at its fallen prey.
“Nic? Was that you yelling?” Aunt Kate comes closer.
Liam stops struggling and glances away from me. I look at where he’s staring, but there’s nothing there. Then both Rob and Liam jump back like they are frightened. They vanish into the trees.
What did they see?
Aunt Kate bursts out the deck and screams when she sees me.
I stagger to my feet. “Hospital,” I say.
Then I pass out.
* * *
Eli flourished his sword one more time as he watched the two vampires retreat, although he felt no joy in victory.
The tall angel slammed his sword into his scabbard. All of their efforts were failing, and he couldn’t do anything about it. He couldn’t even keep his charge from harm. Discouragement threatened to sweep over him.
Where were You, God? Why don’t You move and end the enemy that has endangered Nic and his family?
But there was no time for these questions. Eli hurried to Nic. The boy was hurting physically and emotionally. The tall angel knelt in the grass and cradled Nic’s head in his hands, whispering words of comfort and p
etitions to their Creator.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Why Her?
I’m floating. I’m wrapped in peace and calm, even though I don’t see anything. No memories, no pain, no blood. Nothing bothers me as I drift without care. I want to stay here forever.
A voice I don’t recognize breaks the calm. I ignore it, determined to stay where I can’t be hurt again, but it gets louder and louder. Anger grows in the voice as the sound shatters my peace.
“Nic! Wake up!” Someone shakes my shoulders. “Nic!”
I open my eyes slowly and blink. At first, it’s hard to make sense of what I am seeing, but then her face snaps into view. Dark hair hangs around her face, wet and messy.
Mom!
My anger disappears as I study her face.
Are we back at the house the night you got shot? Am I the one who took the bullet? Please let me be the one, not her, and she is going to take me to the hospital where everything will be okay.
“Nic! Can you talk?”
I blink, and Mom is gone. Aunt Kate is in her place, bending over me. I groan. The grief I can barely face washes over me with physical pain. My arm is throbbing as the agony speeds through my body.
You’re gone.
I sob, no longer having the control over my emotions like I normally do.
I want Mom. I want to see her smile and hear her laugh. I want everything to be like it was.
Why did he have to do that? Why her, of all people? She never hurt anyone. Did he have any idea what he ripped away from me?
The tears refuse to slow. I’m an idiot lying on the cold ground crying about something that happened years ago, but I can’t stop.
This is why I don’t allow myself to think about when I lost Mom or that day in school. And this is why I never question why it happened.
“It’s going to be okay, Nic,” Aunt Kate says. Her large, dark eyes fill with worry and concern. She’s lying to make me feel better. “Can you get up? I can’t carry you.”
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