by J. N. Colon
Annoyed I pulled back, my brow furrowed. “What?”
A shadow fell across his jade eyes. “It’s so close to your heart—the place a hunter might strike if they messed up or hesitated.” Worry lines creased his forehead as he continued to examine it. “Are you sure you got it falling out of a tree?”
My head snapped back in shock. “Of course.” I blinked, doubt suddenly wiggling in. “I-I don’t remember, but that’s what my parents said. Why would they lie?”
Mac shook his head, his fingers tracing the star shaped pattern. “I dunno.” He sighed and leaned his forehead against mine, his soft dark hair brushing my skin. “Tell me I’m just being paranoid.”
“You’re just being paranoid,” I whispered, running my fingers across the sharp planes of his cheeks. Our lips met again and I could taste his worry. He was trying so hard to hide it behind his strong exterior, but I saw through his tough bravado. “It was just a tree branch.”
“You’re right.” His fingers slipped away from my scar and tangled in my hair as he deepened the kiss.
“Yep.” I fell out of a tree when I was five. There was no other explanation. Right?
A knock resonated on the door and we both tensed.
“Who is it?” I asked, suppressing the trembling in my voice.
“Madison.”
We relaxed and I sat up while Mac opened the door. “Hi Madison.” He moved aside to allow her in.
“Hi.” I hesitantly rose off the bed, chewing nervously on my bottom lip. My heart sped and checks reddened in a combination of guilt and embarrassment.
Her gaze flicked to Mac, grimacing. “You have company. I can come back later or something…” She shifted from foot to foot and fiddled with a yellow scarf that was draped around her neck.
My hand lifted to halt her. “No. Stay.” I had to face her eventually and up until now I hadn’t realized how much I missed her vibrant personality. I’d been so busy worrying over my life being in danger I hadn’t had time to dwell on our stunted friendship.
Her eyes flickered toward Mac again, unease growing in her expression.
I touched his hand. “Can you give us a few minutes?”
His jaw clenched as he gave a quick shake of his head.
I rolled my eyes. “It’s Madison. I’ll be fine.”
“Rubi…”
“Go check on Emmaline.” Ha. I knew that would get him.
“Fine,” he sighed. “But don’t go anywhere.” He kissed my cheek and closed the door behind him.
Madison stared at a spot on the floor, fumbling with the edge of her crimson uniform sweater. It matched her hair and clashed horribly with the yellow scarf, making my lips twitch at her odd sense of fashion.
“Did I do something wrong?” Madison’s unusually soft voice finally broke the awkward silence. “Because you’ve totally been snubbing me.”
“N-No,” I stuttered, uncertain of what to tell her. The truth was not an option. “I’ve just had a lot going on.”
She crossed her arms against her chest as if she was trying to protect herself. “If you don’t want to be friends anymore just say so.”
My mouth hung open, shocked she would think that. She’d my best friend at Highland and up until everyone found out about Mac and me my only friend besides Jackson. “Of course I still want to be friends.” My words trembled while hot tears stung my eyes. “I’ve just been spending a lot of time with Mac,” I lied. “But I promise I’ll be better.” As soon as someone wasn’t trying to kill me.
Madison breathed a sigh of relief, the tension loosening from her body. “Good. Because I totally missed you.” She stepped forward, grabbing me in a bear hug.
I squeezed her tight—until I smelled something tangy and delicious. I immediately pulled back to see a fresh scratch glistening on her neck just below her jaw. Part of me wanted to lick it and the other wanted to puke.
“What’s wrong Rubi?”
“Nothing,” I lied.
She arched a dark brow. “Sure?”
I nodded, gritted my teeth together.
“Okay.” A smile brightened her delicate face. “I better go. I told Jackson I’d help him with his math homework.”
“Good luck. He’s worse than me at math,” I said, walking her to the door.
Her laugh lacked its usual buoyancy. “I just love a challenge.”
My brows knit, pondering the change as I opened the door. Madison jumped beside me at the sight of Whitmore Davenport leaning against the opposite side of the wall, waiting.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you.” His baritone voice glided through atmosphere like silk over glass, entrancing and addicting. He stood and smoothed the lapel of his obsidian suit, the color a perfect match for his deep pitch locks.
Madison’s eyes were wide and face pale as she walked out the door, careful to avoid touching Mr. Davenport. “Bye Rubi,” she muttered, turning heel and running down the hall.
Part of me wanted to run after her. Whitmore Davenport was an intimidating man, power and authority emanating from him in thick, palpable waves. “Mac’s not here.” My voice embarrassingly shook.
“I know.” He closed the distance between us, an unnerving smile touching his lips. “But I’m sure he’s not far seeing how you two are—together.”
My cheeks flushed, wondering what exactly Roman had told him.
“I don’t know who murdered those three humans or why.” Whitmore Davenport paced the length of my room, his hands clasped behind his back. “But what I do know is Rubi is in danger.”
Stating the obvious.
“A hunter has set their sights specifically on her.”
“Should we get her out of here?” Mac sat on the bed next to me, his fingers playing with the tips of my hair behind my back and out of sight of his father.
Mr. Davenport shook his head. “Running is never the answer McCollum.”
Mac’s jaw tightened in frustration. “Rubi isn’t only being targeted by this hunter, but the murderer too. She found all three bodies and they broke into her room while she was in it, covering it in blood.”
My stomach clenched as flashes of crimson played behind my eyes.
“Problems only follow when you run.” Mr. Davenport stopped in front of the gilded mirror and straitened his tie. His piercing gray gaze zeroed in on my reflection. “Rubi is not to be left alone for even one second until we have this matter solved.”
Mac nodded.
I on the other hand was suddenly annoyed these two were making decisions about my life as if I wasn’t in the room. “I’m sorry, but don’t I get a say in this. It is my life.”
Mac’s father arched a dark brow while his gaze bored into me in challenge.
I swallowed hard, backing up a step or two in my verbal assault. “I appreciate this and all Mr. Davenport, but…” I cleared my throat and shifted uncomfortably beneath his heavy stare. “I would like to be included.”
The corners of his lips twitched, threatening a smile. “You may call me Whitmore.”
My mouth nearly hit the floor.
His almost smile faded. “But your safety is non-negotiable. Someone will be with you at all times.”
My lips pursed, questioning why my safety was so important to Whitmore.
Chapter 31
“Emmaline just go,” I urged, plopping on my bed and pouting like a petulant child. It was her turn to babysit me, but she’d forgotten a book in her locker.
“No. I’ll do my homework in the morning before class.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re being ridiculous. It’ll take less than five minutes and probably way less if you run fast. What do you think is going to happen to me during those few short minutes?
She bit her lip, considering as her eyes flicked between me and the door. “Fine. But stay right there.” Her long, delicate finger pointed to my bed.
I smiled bitterly as I compared myself to a dog. Stay Rubi, sit Rubi, eat Rubi.
This totally sucked.
After Emmaline left I looked down at my wrinkled uniform and grimaced. I hadn’t had a chance to change with all the vampires visiting my room—or more like prison.
I was attempting to separate my crimson sweater from my tank top, static crackling, when the old fashioned gold phone screamed into the room. I nervously bit my lip, hoping it wasn’t Mac or Whitmore.
It wasn’t.
“Rubi?” A familiar yet unrecognizably distraught voice cracked over the line. “It’s Madison.”
My brow furrowed in concern and I stopped fidgeting with my tangled hair. “What’s wrong?”
She was sobbing into the phone. “It’s that guy, Brant.”
Ice descended across my skin and I slowly sat on the edge of my bed, a jumble of unease and wariness soaking through my muscles.
“He…he…he was chasing me.”
More tension filled my body.
“He tried to do something weird with his eyes, but I kicked him and ran.”
“Are you okay Madison?”
“No.” Her sobbing became more frantic. “Rubi he tried to bite me.”
My jaw clenched so hard I could feel my teeth grinding. Brant didn’t have to worry about the hunter because I was going to kill him before the night was over.
“Rubi…” Her voice suddenly quieted. “He said he was going to rip me apart like he did those kids.”
My heart shuddered to a roaring stop and I shut my eyes, horror and guilt making my body tremble. All this time Brant was the killer. He’d been stalking me for weeks, murdering students for whatever sick game he was playing. I should have known. He liked playing games after all.
He’d fooled all of them including Mac, but he wasn’t going to get away with it.
“Where are you?” I stood, anger hemorrhaging adrenaline through my veins.
“I’m hiding in the library. I’m so scared Rubi.”
I jammed my feet into my Mary Janes. “I’m coming to get you.” I wasn’t afraid of Brant anymore. I doubted he’d harm me now that I was under the vampires’ protection.
The hunter on the other hand—I’d just have to run really fast.
I hurried to the library without incident, trees and fog whirling by as I pulled on the supernatural speed that would grow the closer I came to changing. Or fade if I never shared blood with Mac again.
That was a dismal thought.
“Madison?” I called, tiptoeing through the dim library lit by sparse table lamps. The place felt completely deserted and the silence was not only deafening but palpable. “It’s Rubi. Where are you?” No answer. I crept through the stacks as fear crawled across my skin, puckering it while my breath quickened. I was ready to break down and call Mac until I finally heard a noise.
“Here.” A soft, scared voice echoed from a few stacks away.
Relief settled over me, but when I turned the corner confusion was definitely the forefront emotion.
A guy was sprawled out on the floor face first, golden blonde tresses splayed around his head like a halo. Lines creased my forehead as I inched closer to an unconscious Brant.
What the hell?
“Hello Rubi.”
My gaze lifted to see Madison standing in the corner, her face ghostly pale… and eyes burning silver.
A ragged gasp barely made it past my lips as she lunged for me and my world went black.
***
I woke up leaning uncomfortably against a stone pillar, the ground hard and icy beneath me. My eyes slowly focused and took in the scenery through the soft flickering glow of candles. A huge marble fireplace was on my left, dark and cold emitting no flame to warm me. Several white gossamer drapes were fluttering in the distance like ghosts, some hanging loosely while others were tied back to reveal couches and coffee tables.
The vampires’ secret room. Without all the partygoers, laughter, music, warm fire, and heady fragrance it felt completely desolate and lonely—even bordering on terrifying.
My head throbbed on the left side and I could smell blood. When I attempted to check my forehead for a wound my hands wouldn’t move and I realized they were bound around the stone pillar behind me.
Everything came rushing back, a tidal wave of confusion and dread slamming into my body. Madison was a vampire?
“Hi there sleepy.” A cruel voice seeped from the shadows, puckering my skin and shooting eerie tingles down my spine. Madison stepped forward and kneeled in front of me, her appearance a shock of pale skin and cold, hungry eyes.
I swallowed over the knots in my throat. “You weren’t a vampire last time I saw you.”
The curl to her lips had a malicious, menacing edge, nothing like her normal cheeriness. “Nope. But it wasn’t hard to make that idiot Brant bite me repeatedly. And it was even easier to suck him dry after I staked him.”
“He’s dead!” My eyes stung and guilt weighted my heart, ashamed I’d thought he was the killer when he was now her victim.
“Not yet. It was only wood, but I’ll return with this.” The silver stake in her hand appeared liquid in the flickering candlelight.
All the moisture dissolved from my mouth while sickness churned my stomach, a realization dawning over me. “A-Are you the hunter?”
“Duh.” She laughed, a deep and skin crawling sound that made my body cringe away in protest.
My eyes turned pensive as I recalled details about Madison that seemed normal at the time, but when you tied them together it all made perfect sense. She was able to easily sneak around campus and always knew the latest news. And what about those early morning trips to the library Jackson told me about? I doubted her destination was the library and if she was studying, vampires were probably her subjects.
Madison moved so graceful and purposeful I had equated her to a ballerina when really it was a hunter. I remembered the trunk in her room she practically scolded me for trying to open. Did it store weapons? The same silver stake she jammed into Tatum and the one she held now? There was that strange phone call in Spanish she claimed was her cousin. And I couldn’t forget the way her dark eyes grew keen at moments only to turn warm when I noticed.
I mentally scolded myself, wondering how I could have been so clueless.
Her smile twisted eerily. “You’re getting it now, aren’t you?”
I nodded, tears stinging my eyes and betraying my hurt. “If you kill vampires why did you get Brant to turn you?”
She made a proud toss her head, shaking her choppy scarlet and black hair. “I’ve made the biggest sacrifice a hunter can make. I’ve become the monster so I have enough strength to kill my enemy. I knew I’d be no match as a human hunter.”
“Who’s your enemy?”
She threw her hands up in frustration while disbelief twisted her face. “Think about it Rubi.”
I shrugged. My head was pounding, I was cold, and in no mood to play guessing games.
Madison slowly sat the stake down and crossed her legs, demurely placing her hands in her lap. “Everything I’ve done has led to this point. Killing those stupid vampire-loving humans was just the beginning.”
I blanched and shook my head, thinking I heard her wrong. “You killed them?”
Their deaths flickered behind my eyes, drowning me in visions from hell. Alyssa’s body was savagely shredded apart. Patrick was frantically reaching for me with bloodied hands to tell me something—that Madison was the killer—but I left him alone so she could finish the job. Sutton’s tiny body lay propped against a tree with just two puncture wounds in her neck.
All made to look like vampire killings.
“Why?” My voice sounded so weak in the cold, cavernous room.
“To bring Whitmore Davenport here—”
Her big arch nemeses I presumed.
“—and to torture you,” she finished.
My heart twisted inside my chest, pain and confusion rippling out. She was only pretending to be my friend this entire time to torture me? I thought I could never feel more alone than I had that first day at Highland. I
was wrong. I had been alone this whole time.
“I made sure you were the one to find the bodies and then that little surprise I left in your room was icing on the cake,” she continued without noticing or maybe not caring about the betrayal playing all over my face. “It made for some great entertainment spying on you, following you around, and pushing you in the pool.” She laughed, her fangs gleaming dangerously in the flickering light. The sick humor faded from her face and her lips curled in disdain. “But what makes me so mad is you still don’t remember.”
My hands shifted, trying to see if there was any wiggle room in the ropes that bound me. “Remember what?” I hissed.
Madison looked past me, her eyes unfocused. “I thought seeing all that blood and those vampire-like deaths would jog your memory.” When she turned back to me there was nothing left of the old Madison in her dark, impenetrable eyes that held no emotion other than cold anger. “This isn’t the first time you’ve been to Highland Academy.”
My hands stopped their fight against the ropes as I scrutinized her, searching for lies within her words.
She smiled bitterly. “And you and Whitmore Davenport go way back.”
My head snapped back in shock. “What?”
“It’s why you can’t be compelled and why you’re turning so fast.” She trailed her fingers down my cheek, raising goose bumps.
I shivered.
“My mother was one of the best hunters until Whitmore killed her because of you.” Those fingers dug into my cheek, leaving behind stinging scratches and the scent of fresh blood in the air.
“You’re crazy,” I cried. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She hooked her bloody fingertips through the neck of my sweater and pulled it down, revealing my scar. “You think you got this falling out a tree when you were five?”
The blood drained from my face and it felt like I’d been dunked in a frozen pond.
Madison pressed the cold tip of the silver stake against my chest right over the star shaped scar. “This is how you got it. Sadly my mother missed, but I won’t.”
My uneven pulse pounded in my head, my vision spotting with darkness. I was staked? My parents lied to me? And this entire time they knew about vampires? “I-I don’t understand.” My lips trembled and I gazed at Madison, longing for the solace of my friend.