by Wendi Wilson
“Warren Thornberry seems to think we should take on the bad mountain vamps and bring them to some kind of justice,” I said, my voice deepening with concern. “Levi said it would be suicide.”
The vision flashed through my mind—the hard floor under my back, the pain, the out-of-body experience that told me I was dying—and I wondered if poking the hornet’s nest would be what ultimately led me to that point.
Was learning the truth about my father’s murder worth dying over? Or, like True’s experience with the drunk driver, could I alter the course and save myself? Was it worth the risk?
Those were all things I needed to consider before making a decision. How long could I dwell in the past before it had a serious negative impact on my future?
After my time with Levi, I finally caught a glimpse of a future worth having. And I didn’t want to give that up. Not for anything.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The week sped by as camp continued in full swing. I barely had time to contemplate all I’d learned at Warren’s, let alone what had transpired between Levi and me. But when I laid down in bed each night to mull everything over, my exhausted body gave up the fight within seconds. All day in the sun and sand navigating pre-teen drama and bug bites did that to a person.
And even though I longed for time alone with Levi, there was little to be found. This week there was a campfire, an archery demonstration, horseback riding, and a talent show, not to mention all the other daily events. The Saturday night talent show was the talk of the camp, and my girls spent hours lip-syncing and choreographing a dance that somehow, despite our better judgement, involved me and True.
One minute, I had self-respect. The next, I was wearing a zip-up unicorn onesie and singing into a hair brush. The things I did for my campers.
The Saka’am girls were sweet and funny, and I really wished I could give them my full attention. I did my best to stay focused during the day, but my mind tended to wander. Did Warren know more than he was saying? Was Sarah involved with the bad vampires? What about Chef Chloe? My mind worked over each and every angle as I tightened saddle stir-ups or handed out anti-itch cream.
In the times in-between, I thought about Levi. That kiss… He’d said he hadn’t felt the same about anyone in his whole life... or was that one of those lines guys said just to get into a girl’s pants? Having limited experience, I couldn’t tell. It felt authentic, but then most of what had happened could have come straight out of a fantasy novel, so my gauge was a little off.
Our busy schedule seemed to keep the others occupied, too. That meant no late night abductions or other nefarious acts from Sarah and her crew. It didn’t stop them from giving me dirty looks every time we crossed paths, though. I swear Micah was trying to set me on fire with her gaze alone. I did my best to ignore them.
By Saturday, our cabin had perfected our dance, but it needed one more run through before show time. So, after our dinner of barbeque chicken and baked beans, I grabbed the unicorn onesie and headed to the bathroom. True and I had decided to take turns, with True going first and heading back to help the girls get ready.
I slipped in the humid bathroom with the hope that no one would see me. Sure, I’d lose all my street cred the moment I stepped on stage, but I wanted to hold onto it as long as I could. My only hope was Levi’s skit was more embarrassing than mine.
I was about to enter the building when I heard a frantic voice behind me. “Piper!”
Whirling, I stared into the eyes of the last person I expected to see.
“Mom? What are you doing here?”
She looked... distressed. Frantic. Her hair was pulled in a sloppy ponytail, and her eyes were wide with dark circles underneath. For someone who put on makeup to go to yoga class, her appearance was an instant alarm bell. However, she was the one who scanned my body for injury like the time when I was seven and I’d nearly been hit by a car.
“I came as fast as I could,” she breathed, clutching her purse to her chest as if it would keep her racing heart where it should be.
“Mom, I don’t… What do you mean?” I glanced around, expecting True to jump out of the bushes and yell Surprise. Was this some kind of joke?
Mom walked forward and took my wrist, turning it over so she could see the underside. “Oh, thank God. I thought… The whole way over here I kept picturing…” She pressed her hand to her forehead, looking like she might faint.
“Mom, what is going on?” I grabbed her by the shoulders and walked her to a secluded bench far enough away that my campers wouldn’t hear. The vampires on the other hand… I had no idea what their hearing range was.
“Tell me why you’re here.”
Mom’s hands folded in her lap, but they were still shaking. “I got your message. I told you I would come. I will always come for you, bug.” She reached out, gently brushing hair from my eyes while tears wavered in hers.
I took her hand. “Mom, what message?”
“Your text message.” She leaned forward and whispered, “The one where you said that you were going to hurt yourself.” Her eyes went to my wrists again.
“Hurt myself? Mom.” My mind ran through what she could be talking about. Suddenly, I knew. “When did you get this message?”
“This afternoon. I came as soon as I could. We’ll get you help, bug. I already called Dr. Whitely. She’s on standby if we need her.” Mom fumbled through her purse and drew out her phone.
“Let me see the message.”
With a confused frown, Mom unlocked her phone and pulled up the text, showing it to me. It was from my cell phone number, all right. A message telling my poor mother that I was going to kill myself if she didn’t come and pick me up immediately. I cringed thinking about how she must’ve felt, but then the slow burn of anger took over.
I ground my teeth as I handed the phone back. “Mom, I didn’t write this.”
She blinked rapidly. “What do you mean? It’s from your number. If you didn’t write it, who did?”
“Sarah.”
I’d lost my phone the night she abducted me, so there was no doubt in my mind now that she had it. No one else would be mean enough to torment my mother in this way. My eyes scanned the shrubs and trees. Was she in the shadows watching? Was she happy with herself now that she’d scared the living daylights out of my poor mother? It was one thing to attack me. It was another to go after my family.
Vampire or not, she was toast. I had no idea what I was going to do to a vampire, but I’d figure it out. Hopefully.
“Why would someone do this, Piper?” Mom asked.
I shook my head. “Because they’re mean. Because they don’t like me. Sarah and her crew think True and I aren’t… cool enough to hang out with them. They tried to scare me, but it didn’t stick, so now they’re bringing you into it.”
“Oh, that’s awful.” Mom gripped her purse in her lap, looking fragile.
I put my hand on her wrist. “It’s okay, Mom. Really. I’m doing well here. I have my new friend, True.”
And Levi, I thought.
I wondered, in passing, if he’d heard any of this conversation, though he was preoccupied with his own dorm. They were doing some sort of video game skit and had roped him into it as well. It was one of the things I’d been looking forward to before this happened.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Mom said, finally. “But you can come home if you need to. I can take you right now. We’ll explain it to the dean.”
I shook my head. “I’m fine. Really. I promise.”
She released the lip she was biting and nodded. “Okay, bug.”
“Do you want to stay and watch the talent show before you drive back? I feel bad that you came all this way.” I held up the unicorn onesie, making it dance a little to lighten the mood.
She smiled. “I’d like that. I’ve really missed you.” She hooked an arm around me and pulled me in, kissing the top of my head.
I leaned into her. “Sorry I haven’t called. Now you know why.”
/>
Guilt leached into me as we sat on the bench together. I’d left her alone and hadn’t thought about her much until she showed up here. If I’d been talking to her regularly, she would have known I wasn’t suicidal. Sure, my phone was gone, but I could have at least emailed her.
I thought about Coco, too. We hadn’t had a single correspondence since I’d gotten here. I wondered how she was. Damn, I needed to get that phone back. I thought about asking Mom about Coco, but I’d already put her through enough. I could ask her about my friend later.
Focusing on the here and now, I slipped an arm around Mom. “You’re going to love the talent show. I get to be a frolicking unicorn while the girls do some pretty ridiculous dances.”
Mom chuckled. “I can’t wait to see it.”
Footsteps behind us made me whirl. Levi ran up, stopping just before the bench with fear in his features.
Geez. Everyone spent way too much time worried about me.
“Everything’s okay,” I said when our eyes met. “My mom is here.”
His eyebrows went up as Mom turned around. “Oh, hi.”
“Mom, this is Levi.” I didn’t add he’s my boyfriend because he wasn’t, technically. Instead, I bit my lip and gave him a one shouldered shrug as she appraised him.
“Levi, so nice to meet you.” She got up, extending her hand, which he took in his.
“Very nice to meet you, Ms. Williams. Piper says only good things.”
She blushed. Apparently, he had that effect on all women, even my mother. Gag.
“What a gentleman. Are you taking good care of Piper here?” Her eyes shot back to me, and his followed.
I felt my cheeks burn bright red, but he nodded and answered simply. “Of course.”
“Good. Now, what’s this I hear about a talent show?”
The night was hilarious.
Our dance was both ridiculous and the most fun I’d had in a long time. True and I did line kicks in our onesies to uproarious applause. I caught Levi’s eye in the audience, and he was laughing, honest to God laughing with his mouth open.
His skit was just as funny. The boys took cardboard boxes from the cafeteria and made Minecraft heads. Someone in their dorm was a comic genius because they had five minutes of computer jokes followed by a skit that sent everyone rolling.
Even Sarah and the other vamps participated, though Micah acted like she was too cool to be bothered and Sarah took the role of MC. Either way, their sour faces couldn’t spoil my night. Seeing Mom in the audience sitting next to Dean Purty was the cherry on top.
Sweaty and exhausted, True and I ran back to our dorm to change before I would walk Mom back to her car. I was a bit worried about her driving home so late, but she’d insisted. Plus, it was only ten o’clock. With the two hour drive, she’d be back by midnight. True had agreed to wrangle the girls and attempt to get them into bed while I said goodbye.
As I was stepping out of the cabin, a figure appeared out of the darkness. Familiar arms wrapped around me and pulled me in close. “You may be the only girl in the world who can make a onesie look sexy.”
I slid my arms around his neck, closing the distance between us. I couldn’t see his face, but his touch was electric, sending my heart pattering and making the butterflies in my stomach take flight. His fingertips trailed down my back before resting solidly on my hips.
“Every minute I’m away from you makes the wanting worse.” His voice was a low growl, as his hands slid down my backside.
Breathing hard, I let my fingers do some exploring of their own. Firm muscles rose and fell under my touch as his breathing degenerated into labored pants. Unfortunately, there was no time. I pulled away reluctantly. “My mom is waiting, but is there any way I can see you tonight?”
He pressed his nose to the sensitive spot where my shoulder met my neck, making my body arch and my legs tremble. “I’ll try to get away. If you hear two knocks on the window above your bed, come outside.”
I allowed my hands to linger on his solid frame for a moment longer before pushing up on my tip-toes and pressing my lips to his. Even if I kissed him a thousand times, I’d never get over how it felt to be this close to Levi Kass.
“See you later,” he growled, slipping away.
Smiling, I turned and walked to the main parking lot. Mom’s car was in the same spot it had been when she’d brought me here on the first day of orientation. But where was she?
I glanced around. Night had fallen, and the orange overhead lights washed out everything underneath while leaving the periphery in shadow.
“Mom?”
I walked around the car to peer into the driver’s side window. That’s when I noticed her purse. It was spilled on the ground, the contents strewn across the gravel. My heart began to pound. She wouldn’t have left it like this. Not unless…
My head shot up. “Mom!”
No response.
I ran around the car, then through the parking lot, seeing no one.
"Mom!"
Gravel crunched as someone ran up. Dean Purty appeared. His office was nearby, and he must’ve heard me. Frantic, I whirled to him. "Have you seen my mom?"
His brow furrowed. "She was just here. I walked her to the car." His eyes trailed to the vehicle and beyond it like he was sensing something.
I held my breath, hoping he'd spot her near the bathrooms or something, but his expression only darkened. "Piper, go in the office."
"Dean, I—"
"Piper, go!"
He sounded afraid, which multiplied my own fear. Near tears, I hurried up the stairs and slipped into the office but stopped at the door. I peered out the open doorway, biting my nails and counting the seconds until my mother was found safe and sound.
One, two, three…
Please let her be okay. Please, God.
Four, five, six…
Mom. Oh, God. Mom!
I got to three hundred before I stopped counting. Where was she?!
Footsteps pounded on the stairs. I looked up, expectant, but it was only Levi. He slipped in and shut the door behind him.
"What's happening? Where is she?"
I knew the truth the moment I saw his face. I stepped back, hugging myself. “Levi, no.”
He gripped my forearms, ready to catch me if I fell. “Piper, I’m so sorry. We can’t find your mother. She’s gone.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Let me go!”
I yelled the words as I struggled to yank from Levi’s hold, but he was too strong. Within seconds, the fight drained out of me, and his strong grip on my biceps was the only thing keeping me from slumping to the floor.
The next thing I knew, my body was plastered against Levi’s, his arms tight around me as I cried into his chest. Why was this happening? Where was she?
My body stiffened as the neurons in my brain began firing on all cylinders. Pieces of the puzzle snapped together, filling me with anger and fear in equal amounts, and the blood in my veins ran thick like hot lava. The anger quickly overran the fear, and I pulled back so I could look into Levi’s face.
“Sarah.”
“What?” he asked, confusion flashing across his features.
“The reason my mother is here,” I said, scowling when my words weren’t coming out quite the way I wanted them to. “She got a text from me, but not really from me.”
“Piper, slow down. I don’t understand what you’re saying,” he said, his voice soft as he brushed a hand over my hair to calm me.
I took a deep breath and held it for a moment. Letting it out between parted lips, I closed my eyes to center myself. When I opened them, I felt more focused.
“The night Sarah kidnapped me, I had my cell phone. I’d mostly forgotten about it until Mom showed up here today, claiming she got an urgent text from me. It said she needed to come get me right away, or I was going to kill myself.”
“What?!” he exclaimed, the wildness in his eyes strange and disconcerting. I’d never seen him like this.
/> “It had to have been Sarah,” I explained. “She has my phone, and she texted Mom to get her here. Maybe taking my mother was her plan all along. Or maybe she expected Mom to take me home, and when that didn’t work, she decided to improvise. Either way, I feel it in my gut. I’m right, Levi. Sarah has my Mom.”
“She’s right.”
We both spun toward the door at the sound of the voice. My mouth fell open as I spotted Micah standing just on the other side of the threshold. She wore her signature frown, and the sight of it made me lose my grip on reason.
“Go away, Micah. I can’t handle your bullshit right now.” I looked at Levi and jabbed a finger in her direction. “She’s with Sarah. I told you she helped load me into the boat the night Sarah and Lars tried to kill me.”
“Oh, calm down,” Micah said, stepping inside the office, “and stop exaggerating. No one tried to kill you.”
Anger taking away all of my common sense, I lunged for her, but lucky for me, Levi held me back. Micah was a freaking vampire. She could probably squash me like a bug while my very human, very frail fingers tried and failed to scratch her eyes out.
“I don’t have time for this,” Micah drawled, crossing her arms over her chest and giving me a pointed look. “I may not like you, but I never wanted anyone to get hurt. That night, on the dock, Sarah said she just wanted to scare you. She never mentioned hurting you. And I didn’t know anything about her and Chloe drinking from the children.”
“And Naveen?” I asked. “Lars?”
She shrugged. “I can only speak for myself, but I can tell you that other than Sasha and Dean Purty, she is the strongest of us. We’re all used to doing what she says, no questions asked. Did Lars and Naveen know her true motives? I don’t know. But it’s not like it would have mattered. Sarah could’ve made us help her.”
My eyes flicked to Levi, and he nodded. I turned back to Micah, crossing my own arms to mimic her stance.
“Why are you helping me, now?” I asked. “You’ve hated me since the moment you first laid eyes on me, though I don’t know why.”