"No, Jason," Benjamin said grabbing my free shoulder—Tink held the other one. "We must act rationally, not out of anger."
"That's what he wants." Elizabeth added.
I relaxed and both Tink and Benjamin released me. I flopped back onto the kitchen chair. We were back at the Faulkner home now. I slowly scanned their faces—each reflected the same anger—the same horror I felt, but they controlled it.
"Jason," Melanie said. "you look exhausted.
I slumped forward, catching my head in my hands, elbows on the table. "Yeah." A sudden flood of emotion drained what little strength I still had. I guess I'd been running on adrenalin. "I'm sorry, I can't seem to keep my eyes open."
"You're only human." Melanie said.
I looked up into her face. "I have to help her."
"Not like this. She needs you to be strong."
"But you saw her, I can't leave her like that—I can't."
"What you did," Tink said, "it helped."
I shook my head remembering her frantic screams.
"Tink's correct," Elizabeth added, "you saw how she reacted to your voice."
"Sure, her wild, desperate screams?" I looked around the room at each of them. "What do you mean?"
Elizabeth rested a hand on my right shoulder. "Her thirst for human blood is over powering, but despite that, when she heard your voice it calmed her. You got through to her."
"You really think so?"
Elizabeth looked to the others and they all nodded in agreement.
"Come with me." Melanie said. "You need to rest."
I stood. "You all won't leave?"
"No, we will be here when you awake." Elizabeth said. "Go, get some sleep."
I followed Melanie up the stairs, but turned away from her when she started toward the guest room. I went straight to Izzy's bed, flopped down and pulled her quilt up over me. I glanced back. Melanie was standing in the doorway.
"It's not proper." she said.
"I need to be with her any way I can right now."
She smiled—a sad smile. "If it will help, then yes, sleep here."
"Is it alright if I call my mom? I don't want her to worry."
"How thoughtful. Sleep well."
"I doubt that's possible." I replied.
Melanie nodded before disappearing down the hall.
I pulled out my cell phone and started to press the call button, but hesitated. What was I going to tell Mom? What could I tell her? What would she ask? I decided to take the easy way out and send her a text message.
'Mom, I'm fine. I'm with the Faulkners. We're working on a plan to rescue Izzy. I'm exhausted, I have to sleep. I'll call you, I promise.'
I hit the send button.
I looked around the room at Izzy's meager possessions. Were we working on a plan? I had nothing, but there had to be something we could do. My phone buzzed. I opened the text from Mom.
'Be safe. I'm praying for all of you, especially Izzy. I love you.'