“Well, you are young, aren't you?” she said.
“What do you want from me?”
“Nothing. I just want to get to know you.” Her voice was clear and soothing. I didn't want to be tricked by it. I didn't trust any of them.
“What brings you here? Did your mother bring you here? Or your father?” She wasn't talking about my human mother or father.
“No. I came alone.”
“How long have you been changed?”
“Two weeks.”
She fired questions at me, and I answered them with as few words as possible. Jamie stood by me, a warm pillar. He would not leave me. When Helena was done with me, she turned to Jamie.
“You have taken a dangerous path, dude.” He was surprised at her use of the modern slang. So was I.
“I'm not a moron.”
“I never said you were. Just that you seem awfully trusting of a person you've just met. Even if that person wasn't an immortal who wants your blood.”
“I've never touched him,” I said.
“I know,” Helena said with a smile. It looked so natural on her, but she'd had hundreds of years to practice. “But you are very young, and blood is still very new for you. I'm surprised you've managed to last this long. You must care for him.”
“I do,” I said without hesitation. Jamie must know that I felt for him. That I would do anything for him, even though I had only known him for such a short time. That didn’t matter. Time didn’t matter anymore, at least to me.
“I don't care about who she is. I care about her. The rest doesn't matter.”
“Are you prepared to give your life for that?”
“She's not going to hurt me.” He was so certain. It made me want to dance and laugh in the sunlight.
“Ah, youth,” Helena said, blinking a sigh. “Well, just in case, because your friends are worried about you, I'm just going to hang around for a little while.”
“You're going to babysit us?” I asked. I didn’t like the idea, but there was little I could do to stop her. I had not tried to attack another noctalis, but something told me that if we were in a fight, she would win. “Fine,” I said. “It's okay,” I said to Jamie.
“Are you sure?”
“I'm not going to hurt you, but even I can't stop wanting you that way. If something happened, I wouldn't be able to stop.”
“I think you would.” I knew he did, and that was the problem. He trusted me too much.
Sixteen
Peter
The situation with Jamie is unexpected, but I knew the moment we saw him that he was involved with a noctalis. It cannot be a coincidence. There is no reason that Brooke should end up in Sussex. There is something she isn’t telling us, and I hope Helena will be able to get it out of her.
I didn't tell Ava about my suspicions because she is so upset already.
“You're hiding something from me,” she says as we drive back to her house after school.
“It is nothing you need to worry about.”
“Nuh uh. You don't get to do that,” she says, shaking her head. “I have to share all my inner crap with you. I can't read your mind, but that's not an excuse to not tell me things.”
She is right, but I don't want to burden her further.
“I swear to God, Peter. Sometimes I want to strangle you.”
Her voice is angry, but really she is frustrated. I understand, but it is not going to make me tell her. “I am sorry.”
“No, you're not. You're being the big bad immortal who knows everything and I'm just the stupid human.” Her anger with me is not entirely directed at the fact that there is something I won't tell her. She's angry with herself and sad about her friend.
“I am sorry about Jamie,” I say, touching her arm. She flinches away from me. “Ava?”
“I just feel horrible, Peter.”
Tears gush from her eyes. She has only been able to hold them back for so long. I reach over to brush them away. She tries to push my hand away, but I don't let her.
“Pull the car over, Ava.” She obeys and I pull her into my lap, stroking her hair and letting her cry.
“I just can't believe how he looked at me. He's never looked at me like that. Never.” She rubs her face in my shirt. “I hate myself.”
“Shh, he'll forgive you. It is always darkest before the dawn,” I say, using her mother's quote. It elicits a laugh from her.
“You're almost as good as Mom at doing that.” She looks up at me with red-rimmed eyes. I wonder what it feels like to cry. I swipe my finger across her face and taste her tears.
“That would be totally gross if anyone else did that.” She sighs, putting her head against my chest again. “When is the drama going to be over? I mean, I can't see a day when it's just going to be the two of us. No crazy Mom, no worrying about Viktor turning Tex and now I have to worry about Jamie being a blood bank.” She covers her face with her hands and groans. “Why do these things happen?”
“I am sorry, Ava. If I could make it go away, I would.”
“I know.” We stay there for a few more moments, and then Viktor, with Texas on his back, and Helena appear.
“They really have to stop doing that. It's freaky,” Ava says, getting out of the car to meet them.
“We have to go, because we have to work, but do you want us to come over later tonight for a powwow? Maybe around nine?” Tex says.
“Sounds good. Just hang out in the backyard and we'll meet you,” Ava says.
“Works for me,” Tex says. “Onward, faithful steed!” she says with her fist raised. Viktor complies, vanishing into the trees. What a pair they make.
“You can take that worry off your face, Ava. He's fine,” Helena says.
“Who the hell is she? What is she doing here?” Ava says, barraging Helena with questions.
“Well, I'm not quite sure I got to that. She said she was changed and doesn't remember who it was. She said she woke up and didn't know where she was and started traveling, realizing that she needed blood. It all sounds very far-fetched. I am sure she is hiding something, but she's a very good liar, even though she's new. I think if I had more time with her, I'd be able to find out her real story.”
“How's Jamie?”
“Attached. She's got him under a spell, but that would have happened if she was human. Too bad she isn't.”
“Jamie? This is my Jamie you're talking about? I just can't believe it. He's never gotten attached to anyone, and he just met her. How is that possible?” Ava says.
“Love,” Helena says.
Ava scoffs in her head, but looks at me.
“Stranger things have happened,” I say, kissing her hand.
“This is batshit crazy.”
“Indeed.” I can't help but agree with her.
Helena blinks. “Well, I didn't know leaving India I'd encounter more drama than on one of those reality shows. I love those things.”
“Can you do me a favor?” Ava asks.
“Sure thing,” Helena says.
“Can you watch Jamie and make sure he's okay? That she's not going to hurt him? I don't think he'll take my calls and I have to know he's okay.”
“Of course. No problem. Although I won't be the only one standing outside of his window and watching.”
“I really didn't need to hear that,” Ava says. I try to push her worry away. Helena will take care of Jamie.
“He'll be safe.”
“Do you promise?”
“Sorry, babe. I don't do promises, but I give you my word that I won't let her harm him. She's new and fast, but I'm older and stronger,” she says, flexing her arm.
“What about Di?”
“Let's deal with one thing at a time, okay?” Helena says, giving me a look. I blink, telling her I understand. Ava doesn't catch it.
“See you later.” She waves and is gone.
“No more,” Ava groans, putting her hands over her eyes again. “Hey, I have something to bounce off you. My teachers are doing t
his thing where they're letting me off the hook for my exams because of Mom. I don't want special treatment, because people are already talking about me, but I don't think I can handle studying for finals and all this other crap.”
“You should do whatever you feel comfortable, but don't push yourself too far just so people won't talk about you. Who cares what they think?”
“Well, it's not just that. I don't know. I don't want to use what's happening as an excuse to be a slacker. There are other people who go through terrible things that don't get a pass. It just seems kind of like cheating.”
“It is not cheating to accept help.”
“It feels that way.” I take both of her hands, shooting pleasant feelings into her body.
“Whoa. That was nuts,” she says, her eyes wide. “It was like a shot of happy drugs. Do it again.” I comply and she giggles. “Okay, I think I need a shot of that every morning. It's better than caffeine.”
“Anything for you,” I say, kissing both of her hands. It is so easy for me to be happy around her. Why should I not share it? We smile at one another and she lifts herself up on her toes to give me a kiss.
Ava
It's actually a relief to walk into my house and deal with my human problems. Dad is in a better mood, and he and Mom are giggling on the couch at something.
“You're not doing anything that's going to scar me for life if I come in there, are you?”
“No, come in,” Mom calls, giggling.
Dad's tickling her mercilessly. I haven't seen him do that in a long time. I worry that it's not good for her, but then I figure what the hell. If you can't enjoy a good tickle fight, life's not worth living.
“What did you do today?” I say, flopping down on the recliner.
“Well, we went for a walk, Sam helped me in the garden and we were just about to start making dinner. Nothing too dramatic.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Good. How was school?” I want to just tell her it was fine, but I can't.
“Well, word has gotten out.” I don't really need to say more. They glance at each other. Dad leans his elbows on his knees and Mom clasps her hands together. Parental listening poses. I tell them about how all my teachers have decided to let me off the hook for finals.
“I mean, even if I do crappy the rest of the year, they're all going to give me A's. It doesn't seem fair, but I don't know what to do about it. I mean, I would really, really like to not have to study for finals.”
Mom and Dad do that silent conversation thing and it reminds me of Rasha and Kamir.
“I think you should take whatever they will give you. You have far more to deal with than anyone your age should. Take the help.”
“It feels like cheating. Other people have bad lives and they don't get free passes.”
“Life isn't fair, baby. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't take something when it's handed to you.”
“You didn't call the school and tell them, did you?”
“I didn't have to. I'm sure Mae or Liz told someone and it got out pretty fast.” The flowers are still all around the house, but they are starting to wilt, drooping in their plastic vases.
“Great.”
“Don't worry, Ava-Claire. It'll work out, okay? You just have to believe that.” She sounds like Peter.
“Okay.” It's easier than talking myself into circles again. “So you think I should do it?”
“Why not? Then I can help you with your projects. It'll be more fun. Remember the colonial costume?”
“How could I forget?” In fourth grade we did a unit on Colonial Living. Of course I did mine on the herbs and edible plants the colonists grew, but Mom also sewed me a costume complete with a muslin shirt and wool skirt. It was hot as hell, but I got an A.
“I am not wearing that stupid cap again.”
She fluffs my hair. “Oh come on, you looked adorable.” Tex had also laughed about that hat for weeks afterward.
“Is Peter coming over?”
“Don't think so. He's got finals to study for, too.”
“What a good boy,” Mom says.
“He is.” Too good sometimes.
~^*^~
I take a little nap before our meeting, but it seems like seconds later Peter is gently shaking my shoulder.
“They are here.”
“Okay, I'm up.” I slept curled on his chest, but somehow I twisted my back so I have to stretch to get my spine back in line.
“Give me a jolt,” I say, holding out my hands. He gives me a happy zap and I instantly feel better. “Dude, you could sell that stuff on the black market. Thanks.” I flex my hands and roll my way into a standing position. I hold out my arms and he scoops me up.
“Anytime.”
“Are the lights off downstairs?”
Peter looks out the window. “Yes.”
He walks out on the roof, wings out. Normally he runs down the edge of the overhang and takes to the air, but we're going straight down.
“Ready?” he says.
“More or less.”
He steps off the roof and for a second we hang in the air before falling to the ground. Everything inside me screams that this is wrong, that I'm going to die, but then there is a thump and we're on solid ground.
“You can open your eyes.” I do and we're good. Peter sets me down, but makes sure I'm steady before he starts walking.
I hear a weird sound that reminds me of a wounded bird.
“Nice try Tex,” I say.
“What? I thought we should have one of those signals. You know, to say that it's safe and all.”
“Safe from what?”
“You're no fun, Ava.”
Finally they come into view. Tex is cross-legged on the ground, Viktor is leaning against a tree and Helena is sitting in a tree on a branch that doesn't look like it is going to support her weight.
“A gavel! We should have a gavel,” Tex says, snapping her fingers. “I now call this meeting of humans and noctali to order.” She slams her hand on the ground. “First order of business: What to do about Jamie and his new friend.”
“If I may have the floor?” Helena says, dropping out of the tree without a sound. “I think we should let them be for now. If she thinks that we're suspicious, which she already does, then she's going to run. Or do something rash. She's young and impulsive, and if she panics, something could happen to him. So, I will watch them and see what else I can learn. My parents are also going to keep an eye on her and see what they can find out.”
Speaking of Rasha and Kamir... “Where are they?” I ask.
“Around,” she says. Oookkaaayyy.
“What have you learned so far?” I ask.
“That he is attached to her, and she is very protective of him. I know that she was trying to lure him with the story about being broken down on the side of the road. She's here for something, but I don't know what it is yet and she's not talking.”
“Oh my God,” I say, having an epiphany. “Di. She's here because of Di.” How has this not occurred to me immediately? It's so obvious.
“The bind we made said she could not send anyone to harm you.”
“Right, but we didn't stipulate harming people I love!” How could we have been so stupid? Di could hold my entire family hostage if she wants to. “What if Cal's watching us right now?” I look around frantically. Peter takes my face in his hands so I'll stop moving. “Oh, God,” I say, sinking to the ground. “She's going to kill him.”
“If she were going to kill him, she would have done it already.” I said the exact same thing to Peter when we first met.
“How can you be sure? Maybe this is all part of her evil plan,” I say.
“I don't think so,” Helena says. “I did a little fishing, and as far as I can tell, she doesn't know who Di is.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I am good at spotting lies,” she says. I bet she is.
“You are absolutely sure?”
She holds up h
er hand. “I would promise if I could.”
“God, Ava. Freak out a little,” Tex says, leaning back on her elbows and squinting at the stars. “You are really getting paranoid.”
“I have to be!” I say, a little too loudly. Peter clamps his hand over my mouth and we all freeze, glancing back at the house to see if the lights will go on. They don't so we all relax.
“See? You need to take a chill pill.”
It is so easy for Tex. Like a game. She doesn’t have a crazy jealous immortal out to kill her. Then she'd be singing a different tune.
“So is the consensus that we do nothing until further information has been gathered?” Tex says.
“I think that is the wisest course of action. We will watch her and Jamie and act if we have to,” Helena says.
“Don't let her kill him or Claim him, please. That's all I'm asking,” I say.
“We will do our best,” Helena says. “And with that, I should get back to my guard duty. See you tomorrow.” She blows us a kiss and is off.
“So we're doing nothing. Again. That is not a course of action,” I say.
“We shouldn't scare her. New noctali can be volatile, much like newly Claimed humans,” Viktor says.
I give Tex a look.
“What? I'm not volatile.”
I roll my eyes. How quickly she forgets. “You punched Jamie when he said he didn't like Dirty Dancing.”
“You threw those boxes this afternoon, and there was that customer as well,” Viktor says, and Tex smacks him on the arm.
“You weren't supposed to say anything about that.”
“I am sorry.” He definitely isn't.
“Well, now you have to tell us,” I say, grateful for the non-serious turn of conversation.
Tex goes on to explain that there were some boxes that weren't cooperating with her, so she went on a rampage and chucked them all around the stock room, and when a customer was snippy with her, she lunged and almost throttled them.
“Luckily this guy was around, so I didn't do it. Mom would have had a litter of kittens. Speaking of moms, how is yours? I heard everyone talking about it today.”
“She's okay.”