Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (24 page)
“And I know you’re just so excited to learn that our girl Linda here used to be best friends with Cat,” Becca piped in. Andrei schooled his features as not to reveal his shock at this information.
It worked! They truly believed that while I was gone, I could read their thoughts,
he laughed to himself.
“You have no idea how delighted I was to find out this news,” he replied. “This little detail shall fit into my plans perfectly.” Andrei reached out for the girl’s hands. A cold shiver ran down Linda’s spine at the look on his face. “In fact, I feel this is cause for celebration. Shall we feed? I find that suddenly I have a very sizable appetite.”
“That’s awesome you made the swim team, Duffie! I’m not surprised though, you’re really good,” Cat said and then smiled at her while stretching her arm across her chest.
“You’re not too shabby yourself, Cat,” Duffie replied, putting on her swim cap.
Kirsten and her usual Trifecta sauntered into the locker room, their heads held high. Spotting Cat, Kirsten walked over and stood in front of her, Kirsten’s hands on her hips. “Look girls, it’s the three amigos,” she said snidely. Cat, Hannah, and Duffie all looked at each other, and then at Kirsten with a confused look.
“Was that supposed to be an insult or something?” Cat asked.
“That sounded like a compliment,” Hannah replied, grinning at Kirsten’s obvious frustration.
“I just meant that you always hang around each other. Whatever!” Kirsten yelled and stormed off.
“Daft cow,” Duffie murmured. Cat and Hannah both giggled, knowing that Kirsten heard the insult.
Turning abruptly, Kirsten yelled, “What did you call me?”
“Nothing. I didn’t say anything,” Duffie replied innocently. Cat and Hannah, along with a few other girls, snickered off to the side. Just as Kirsten was about to respond, Coach Hutchins entered the locker room.
“Alright ladies, head out to the pool,” Coach Hutchins ordered. Noticing the tension in the room, “Everything okay here?” she asked, singling out the Trifecta and Cat’s group.
“Everything’s fine, Coach. Just a little discussion between us girls,” Kirsten replied with an empty smile.
Coach Hutchins looked at Cat, “Is that true, Cat?”
Kirsten glared at Cat, mouthing the words “you better not.” Coach Hutchins quickly turned back to Kirsten, who immediately slapped the same empty smile back on her face.
“Yeah, we were just talking about swim strategies for this year,” Cat replied, hating the fact she lied to her coach: but she didn’t want to involve her in such petty issues.
“Uh-huh,” Coach Hutchins responded unconvinced. “Well, come on and hit the pool already, we don’t have all night!”
Standing by the pool waiting for their turns on the blocks, Cat thought about how her vampire abilities would work in water.
I wonder if I can swim faster. It wouldn’t necessarily be cheating. It’s only practice,
she thought trying to convince herself. Coach blew her whistle and shouted “next!” Duffie emerged from the pool and Coach Hutchins called out, “Way to hustle, Duffie! That’s what wins competitions around here!” Cat smiled at Duffie and mouthed “good job.” Waiting for the second whistle, Cat bent down into starting position. She watched the water glisten with a glow from the fluorescent lights above.
Alright, just this once. Let’s give this a try, shall we?
“Go, Cat! You can do it!” Shannon yelled from the sidelines. Cat smiled at her and groaned.
Wow, that girl’s something else. I mean she’s nice and all, but look at her frantically waving at me. It’s kind of weird
.
The next whistle had them all diving into the pool. Cat began swimming normally and then quickened her pace little by little. Touching the far wall, she kicked off and propelled herself like a torpedo through the water, causing a slightly larger wave than usual.
Duffie stood by watching with wide eyes. “What the?” she whispered to herself. Finishing miles ahead of anyone else, Cat climbed out of the pool and was greeted by Coach Hutchins.
“Keep that up Colvin, and you should have no problems retaining your regional title!”
“Thanks, Coach,” she replied.
So I can swim faster
.
“How did you move so quickly?” Duffie asked.
“Yeah Cat, that was amazing,” Hannah followed up.
“I don’t know, I just dug deep I guess,” Cat replied, wiping her face with a towel. When Cat wasn’t looking, Duffie glanced at her with questioning eyes.
“OMG, Cat! I so wish I could swim like you! You’re so amazing!” Shannon gushed as she linked arms with her.
“Thanks, Shannon,” Cat said, and then mouthed “help me” to Duffie and Hannah.
Walking up behind Cat’s group, Kirsten discreetly reached up and ripped out some straggling hairs poking out from underneath Duffie’s swim cap.
“Oww! Bloody hell!” Duffie exclaimed, turning around to face Kirsten. Kirsten gave an innocent look and shrugged her shoulders. Duffie glared, watching as Kirsten rejoined her group and then turned her focus back to Cat.
“Watch this,” Kirsten whispered to Jessica and Tonya. Nonchalantly, Kirsten walked over to the pool, and dunked her hand that was full of Duffie’s hair into the water. “Ewww! I found some of Duffie’s trashy weave in the pool!” she cried, pulling her hand out of the water so everyone could see. Snickers could be heard throughout the area. A tense Duffie scowled at Kirsten as she stood there with an evil grin and the strands of weave in her hand. Duffie began to move toward her, but then was gently pushed aside by Cat who proceeded to storm over to stand toe-to-toe with Kirsten.
“What’s your deal?” Cat asked forcefully.
“Oh look, it’s a freak standing up for her freak friend!” Kirsten replied with a laugh and then glanced over at her group. Without hesitation, Cat shoved Kirsten into the pool just as Coach Hutchins emerged from the locker room. The girls were startled by the deafening sound of the coach’s whistle as it filled the pool area.
“Cat! Kirsten! In my office, now!” Coach Hutchins roared. Cat glared at Kirsten splashing around, screaming for her two lackeys to pull her out. After two failed attempts, Kirsten muttered, “useless,” and pulled Tanya and Jessica into the pool.
Sitting in the Coach’s office, Cat fidgeted with her swimsuit while Kirsten put on a nonchalant attitude, staring at her manicure. Coach Hutchins closed her office door and then sat heavily in her chair behind her desk. “Now, what’s going on between you two? And don’t tell me nothing,” she said, pointing at them. They both sat in silence dodging her stares. “Okay, if that’s how you want it. You two can stay after practice and swim laps!”
“Coach, that’s so unfair!”
“I think it’s a fitting punishment,” Kirsten said sweetly, looking at Cat.
“Oh Kirsten, be quiet! Save your ass-kissing for someone else,” Coach Hutchins fired back. Both girls slouched in their chairs, crossed their arms, and looked away from each other.
Reaching the wall, Cat and Kirsten both came up for air and looked at their coach. “Another!” she yelled at them and then blew her whistle. Cat’s arms and legs were tired. She was really beginning to regret pushing Kirsten in the pool. Her breathing had become labored and her muscles ached, as she reached out again for the wall.
“Okay, hit the showers you two! Maybe now you’ll act more like teammates!” Coach Hutchins ordered. Pulling themselves out of the pool, both girls walked to the showers, feeling like their feet were encased in concrete. Cat went into the first set of showers and Kirsten walked to the last set, too tired to make a snappy comment at Cat as she passed. Turning on the hot water, Cat let it wash over her to massage her aching muscles. Toweling herself off, she headed toward her locker.
“Kirsten, I’m sorry for pushing you in the pool,” Cat said begrudgingly. She waited for an answer. “Kirsten?” A shiver of fear ran down Cat’s spine at the silence. “Kirsten?!” she shouted loudly, her voice echoing through the dimly lit locker room.
“What?!” Kirsten answered, popping out from behind a few rows of lockers ahead of Cat and startling her.
“Nothing,” Cat replied.
“You’re such a freak,” Kirsten said smugly, rolling her eyes while still towel drying her hair.
“Whatever,” Cat murmured. Opening her locker, Cat grabbed her clothes and pulled them on quickly. Her cell phone beeped signaling a message. Grabbing her cell from her messenger bag she read the text:
I thought Cats hated water!
Her eyes grew wide when she saw the text was from Linda. Cat called out to Kirsten. There was no answer. Quickly making a beeline for Kirsten’s locker, “I really think we should-” Cat began and then stopped as she heard Kirsten talking. Rounding the corner, she saw her busily getting dressed and a curly haired blonde was sitting on the bench behind her, her back to Cat. “Kirsten?” Cat asked cautiously.
“What now, freak?” Kirsten replied smugly. The blonde girl slowly turned around and smirked at Cat. It took her a few moments, but Cat eventually realized who the girl was. Her picture was plastered on many of the flyers posted about town. It was Becca, one of the missing girls. “Don’t mind her, Becca, she’s a weirdo!” Kirsten said, rolling her eyes. Two fangs descended from Becca’s gums adding an evil touch to her grin. “So Becca, what are you doing here anyway? You’re not still pissed about what I did at regionals two years ago are you?” she asked absently.
“Kirsten, I think we should leave,” Cat said nervously. Ignoring her, Kirsten kept rambling.
“Because I won that race fair and square!” Kirsten said while digging through her locker. Becca rose to her feet, anger filling her face. She moved up behind Kirsten and growled. “Gawd, Becca, you should really get that checked,” she said as she continued rummaging through her locker.
“Kirsten, run!” Cat yelled.
Kirsten turned, “Cat, I’m really getting tired of your-” Becca grabbed Kirsten by the throat and slammed her up against the locker. “Let go of me, you psycho!” she shrieked. Seeing Becca’s fangs glistening in the fluorescent lights, Kirsten let out a blood curdling scream. “Cat, help me!” she cried. Cat moved forward to intervene, but then Becca turned to her and hissed, waving her index finger back and forth. Two more figures emerged from the shadows, stepping into the light. Cat saw it was Amy, the other missing girl, and Linda. Amy was dragging something behind her. It was a body. Tightening her grip on the body’s shirt, Amy brought it up effortlessly with one hand, and threw the person at Cat’s feet.
