She was late for first hour but in the scheme of things she supposed it really didn’t matter. It’s not as if she’d ever tried to win the award for perfect attendance or anything. After class she hurried to her locker hoping to run into Brianna. She spotted her down the hall talking with the volleyball coach.
Jael reached inside her locker for the package of Junior Mints she kept on the top shelf. It wasn’t there. She rooted around in the bottom, pushing books and junk aside, but came up empty.
“You made it.”
She looked up and found Shadow staring down at her with a pleased expression on his face. His hair hung loose around his shoulders again as he offered his hand and helped her to her feet.
“Thanks.” She spied the edge of his bandana sticking out the front pocket of his jeans. The school had a no hats in doors policy, apparently to keep old bald men from sneaking on campus and blending in with the students or something. But it didn’t matter. Shadow’s young Keanu Reeves Excellent Adventure look was working for him.
“What are you looking for?” he asked. “Maybe I can help. I am pretty familiar with the contents of your locker.”
She laughed and slammed the door shut. “That’s right. No wonder I can’t find anything. You stole my mints, didn’t you?”
“The little chocolate covered mints?” he asked, with a look of wide-eyed innocence. “No, of course not. Well… I wouldn’t call it stealing exactly.”
“Oh, what would you call it?”
“Payment for services rendered,” he said with a teasing grin. “Thanks, by the way. They’re my favorite.”
“What services?” Brianna asked, suddenly behind them. She wore a bright pink top with white shorts and matching pink and white flip flops, and looked as much like a Disney princess as she ever did. Her expression did not match her sunny outfit though.
Jael plastered on a wide smile. She didn’t want her last day with Brianna to be clouded with distrust and jealousy. “Oh, he still thinks he saved my life or something after the game the other week.” She waved her hand at him as though shooing away a pesky fly. She wouldn’t lie outright to her best friend but letting her assume the wrong scenario was way easier than the truth.
Brianna’s expression lightened and she made a face at Shad. “You didn’t save anyone’s life,” she said, flipping her blonde hair. She glanced around and lowered her voice. “But Jael does owe you for taking the blame for Lyle’s injuries.”
“I didn’t ask him to take the blame,” Jael argued. “Lyle’s the one who lied to save face. If I’d known he was such a jerk I never would have…” She shook her head and looked away.
Brianna threw an arm around her and rested her head on her shoulder. “Don’t sweat it, Jael. We all do stupid things for love.”
“Love?” Shad smirked.
Jael shot him a glare that could melt cold marble. “Don’t even…”
He held up his hands in defense but couldn’t hide the amusement in his eyes. Then suddenly it faded as his gaze moved past Jael’s shoulder. “I’ve got to go,” he said, and moved past them.
Jael turned around and watched him weave through the crowd of mingling students. He stopped at the open door of the school office and looked inside. A tall, thin man, cap pulled low over his eyes and a long grey braid hanging down his back, stepped out into the hallway beside him. He glanced their way and said something to Shad. Shad kept shaking his head. Finally the man turned and walked away. She saw him push through the outside door.
“Who’s that?” Brianna asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Never seen him before.” But she wondered if the grey haired man could be his grandfather. Shad moved down the hallway and disappeared from sight as well. She turned back to Brianna. “We really need to talk. Are you up for skipping class?”
Brianna looked at her as if she’d just confessed to murdering the Pope and burying his body under the bleachers on the football field. “Skip class?”
“Look, Bree,” she began and stopped to clear her throat. “I won’t be here tomorrow. I know you hold the perfect record for class attendance but couldn’t you make an exception–just this once?”
“Won’t be here? But it’s your birthday. I didn’t bring your gift today.”
“That’s actually the reason I can’t come,” she said, hating the fact that the truth sounded like a lie.
“Your parents have big plans for your birthday?”
“Something like that. So can we get out of here?”
“If you think it’s that important.” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you finally going to tell me what’s been going on with you?”
She bit her lip and nodded. “I just hope you’re ready to hear it.”
Brianna glanced over her shoulder as though afraid someone might be listening in. Most of the kids had already scurried off to their next class. “Let’s go before Mr. Townsend makes the rounds looking for escaped delinquents.”
“We’ll take your car,” Jael said as they pushed through the outside door. “Mine’s in the shop.”
They hurried across the parking lot and climbed into the old Cadillac. The interior was already smoking hot from the heat of the sun. Brianna turned the key and cranked up the AC. Warm air blew from the vents but at least it was moving. She backed out of the parking space and turned to Jael.
“So where to?”
“Find some shade and park under it, then I’ll tell you everything.”
Brianna shifted into drive and inched slowly forward when there was a sharp rap at the rear window. She slammed her foot on the brake. “What the…?”
They both turned, eyes wide. Shadow stood behind the car, waving his arms at them. He strode to the driver’s door and pulled it open, then bent down and peered in. His eyes met Jael’s. “We need to talk.”
Brianna shook her head. “Seems to be going around.” She glanced at Jael. “Well?”
“Get in.” She motioned for Shadow to climb in the backseat. Her glance returned to Bree. Her friend looked totally confused. “Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything.”
Brianna pulled out of the parking lot and drove slowly through town without a word. She took the side streets, rather than Main Street through downtown Sunburn, to avoid any nosy residents from reporting their escape from school. Little towns were known for people being in each other’s business and Sunburn was no exception to the rule.
“Let’s go to Hackinaw Park where they have those covered picnic tables,” Jael suggested. “We can sit outside.” The park was new and oddly unused. There was no wading pool or fountain like at the old park and that seemed to win out over clean tables most days.
She glanced back at Shadow. He frowned. He was obviously not happy with the situation. What did he expect? That she would keep her best friend in the dark forever?
Brianna pulled the car up to the curb and shut off the ignition. She pulled out the key and turned sideways in her seat. “You both are making me really curious with your silent stares. Creepy. And it’s not even Halloween.” She pulled open her door and climbed out.
Shadow whispered, “Are you sure about this? She’s probably safer the less she knows.” He didn’t wait for an answer.
Jael followed them both to a picnic table a few yards away. They were avoiding each other’s eyes like opposing magnets. She sat down on one side of the table, and Bree plopped down across from her, arms crossed on the tabletop. Shadow remained standing, leaning casually against a corner of the framed shelter. He watched her with those wolf eyes of his.
A young mother, pushing a stroller and trying to hold a toddler by the hand at the same time, passed their table on her way toward the playground area on the other side of the park. “Good morning,” she said with a curious stare. The little boy pulled away from her and took off running, and she hurried to catch up.
Jael waited until the woman was out of earshot. “So…” she began. This was going to be much harder than she thought. “I know you think my family is weird.”
/> “I don’t think...”
Jael placed a hand on Brianna’s arm. “It’s all right. We are weirder than most. My parent’s over-protectiveness, keeping us secluded in the country…” she shrugged. “that’s really the least of it though.”
“Are you sure you want to discuss this with,” she slanted her eyes toward Shadow, “I mean, I’ve known you for years but...”
Jael nodded. “Shadow already knows,” she said, and then groaned inwardly when she saw the look of hurt on her friend’s face. “It’s not what you think, Bree. I didn’t discuss it with him. He just found out on his own.”
“He knows about the abuse?”
“What?” Shadow moved forward and took a seat beside Brianna. “What in the world are you talking about?”
Jael put up her hands. “Okay, lets set the record straight once and for all.” She looked at Brianna, trying to instill the truth by sheer stare power. “I have never been abused by any member of my family. There is no abuse going on. Okay? Can we just drop the whole domestic abuse thing now?”
“Then why are we here?” Brianna shook her head. “I skipped school because I thought you had something private to discuss.” She tipped her head toward Shadow. “Apparently, not so private.”
“Hey, I can leave if that’s what you want,” he said, sliding out of the seat.
She shrugged. “Whatever.”
“Bree, this isn’t about Shadow. It’s about me. About who I am.”
“Who you are?” She rolled her eyes. “You’re turning sixteen tomorrow, Jael, not graduating from college. It’s a little early to have an identity crisis. You haven’t even decided what you want to be when you grow up.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice like she was telling a secret. “I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be in the field of science.”
Shadow snorted a laugh through his nose and Jael shot him a warning look.
“I know, right? But here’s the deal.” She paused, trying to think of a simple way to say, I kill vampires, without actually saying I kill vampires. “I found out I’m Amish,” she blurted.
Brianna stared at her for long seconds and then covered her nose and mouth with both hands to hold in the laughter. Her shoulders shook and little squeaks of mirth escaped through her fingers.
“Fine, laugh it up, but that isn’t the most entertaining part.”
Shadow shook his head, a teasing light in his eyes. “Actually, it’s pretty entertaining after the rumors going around about you.”
“…commune…sister wives…” Brianna gasped through her laughter.
Jael expelled a loud, annoyed sigh. “Enough already!” She stood up. “You know what? I can do without the condescending attitudes. I’m the Chosen One and I don’t have to take this crap.” She turned and strode away, leaving them in the comfort of the shaded canopy while she moved farther and farther down the hot concrete sidewalk.
“Jael!” Brianna called after her. “Wait up! I’m sorry.”
She kept walking but soon heard the slap of Brianna’s flip-flops against the ground as she ran to catch up. Brianna grabbed her arm and twirled her around. “Where are you going? This is so unlike you. I’m the one who is supposed to be the drama queen. You are the solid, dependable, level-headed friend. Remember? ”
“Things change.” She glanced over Brianna’s shoulder. Shadow now sat on the tabletop, elbows on his knees, watching. She shook her head. What ever happened to the normal boring life she had before vampires and trackers and Amish ancestors showed up?
Brianna put an arm around her and urged her back toward the park. “Just because some things change doesn’t mean other things can’t stay the same. Like us. Best friends forever, right?”
She took a deep breath. “Bree, remember those books you read, how when that pathetically depressed girl fell in love with the pathetically depressed, sparkly vampire, she started hanging out with vampires and her human friends just sort of dwindled away?”
“Hey, just because you didn’t like those books...” she stopped and turned to look at Jael. “What are you getting at?”
“Cut to the chase, Jael! You’re running out of time,” Shadow called. He stepped down off the table and stood in the full sun, black hair gleaming with hints of blue. He raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glare. “Just tell her straight out.”
Brianna gasped, eyes wide. “You and Shadow?”
“No!”
“Then what?”
They moved back under the shade of the canopy. Brianna crossed her arms tightly, suspicion written all over her face. A hint of pink tinged her cheeks though when Shadow smiled reassuringly at her. The girl had it bad.
“Let’s just say that the Amish community needs me. My family’s moving back to Minnesota.” She looked down at the ground and scuffed the toe of her tennis shoe across an anthill, causing major construction damage. Ants scurried looking for a way to save their colony.
“What?” Brianna said. “That’s insane. Amish communities don’t need outside people. They take care of their own. Ever hear of quilting bees and barn raisings? What are you going to do for them? Teach martial arts in a community of non-resisters?”
Shadow laughed. “How do you know so much about Amish, Bree?”
“My grandmother was raised in an Amish community. Also in Minnesota – believe it or not.”
“Your grandmother lives in Minnesota?” Jael asked. A little bit of hope sparked in her chest. “Really?”
“Yeah. Didn’t you know that? Remember, you met her when she came for a visit last summer.” She sat down on the bench and stretched her legs out, crossing them at the ankles. “Why would your parents want to go back now after all this time?”
Jael met Shadow’s eyes for a second and saw a flicker of sympathy before he looked away. She pushed her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and cleared her throat. “They don’t want to – they have to.”
Shadow pulled out his cell phone to check the time. He turned it so she could see the screen. “You should really get back in the school building where it’s safe, Jael. I don’t want your parents blaming me if something happens to you.”
“Shad, please just…” she broke off as a pickup drove slowly passed, continued on to the next street and turned right. Strange. The driver in the shadowed cab hadn’t even glanced in their direction. Everyone in Sunburn stared at everyone else. How else would they know what the neighbors were doing?
“What is it?” asked Brianna, following her gaze. “Do you know that guy?” She reached out and snapped her fingers to get Jael’s attention. “Hey! What is going on? Why wouldn’t you be safe here, Jael?”
Ignoring Jael’s warning glare, Shadow straddled the bench next to Brianna, facing her. “In a nutshell,” he said, “Jael’s The Chosen. She kills vampires. Even sparkly ones. The Loon Lake Amish Community in Minnesota is run by vampires. They want her dead before her sixteenth birthday. Otherwise, she’s going to come down on their heads like a ton of bricks from Heaven.”
Brianna didn’t say anything for a few seconds, her jaw clamped tight and eyes suspiciously moist. Finally she stood up and pulled the car key from her pocket. “Okay. Let’s go. I’d rather be in ancient history class than sit here and be the butt of your joke.”
“I wasn’t…I mean…” Shadow stammered.
“You mind?” Jael interrupted. Guys were dopes. She turned back to Brianna. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Bree. In spite of the way it sounded when it came out of his big mouth, everything he just said is true. I know it’s sort of unbelievable but you know I wouldn’t lie to you, right?”
Brianna turned and headed for the car, head down and flip flops slapping the pavement angrily. She jerked open the driver’s door, slid behind the wheel, and started the engine before Jael had time to register the fact that she was being deserted on the far side of town with no way to get back to school but her own two feet.
“Bree!” she yelled as the Cadillac was thrust into gear and peele
d away from the curb with a squeal of rubber. Burning tire smell wafted up from the asphalt and she coughed and rubbed her nose.
“That went well.” Shadow joined her at the curb to stare after the Caddie with a mixture of annoyance and relief. “Probably for the best though. She’ll be safe at school. I’m not so sure about you.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“My grandfather stopped by the school this morning.”
“I saw him.” She started walking, and Shadow fell into step. He usually came off as confident and a bit cocky, but with the mention of his grandfather he seemed more than a bit unsure. “What did he want?” she asked.
“My help to find you.”
She paused, a hand on his arm. “He looked right at me. He knows who I am. He doesn’t need you now.”
“I know. That was him driving by just now.” He started walking again.
They crossed the street and followed the shade along a row of overgrown Acacia bushes, keeping enough distance from them to avoid the sharp hooked thorns that were as dangerous as the claws of a cat. A man stepped out onto his front porch, checked his mailbox and went back inside.
“I thought he was done tracking for them. That he was angry at the way they treated him.” She hurried to catch up with Shadow’s long strides.
“He was, but they’re desperate and they promised him something he couldn’t say no to.”
“What?” she asked, fear creeping in at the thought that her family might now be in danger because of her. “What does an old man desire more than respect?”
“Immortality,” he said, the word slipping from his tongue like a curse.
Chapter 25
The hammer is mightier than the sword