Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (44 page)

Cat awoke the next morning to the delicious smell of bacon. Rushing downstairs she flung open the kitchen door and saw her mom standing at the stove humming to herself.

“Morning, Mom! Mmmm, smells so good!” Cat commented, reaching around her mom and grabbing a slice of bacon.

Rachel chuckled. “Morning, sweetie, fix yourself a plate. Your dad should be down in a minute, and I heard Taylor in the shower, so you better grab some while you can.” Cat quickly piled her plate full of food and plopped down at the kitchen table. “I’m still a little wary of you staying home by yourself tonight. I wish you’d stay with Julie like you normally do.”

 “I told you that we’re all going to an early movie and after that I’ve got to study for my test tomorrow. You know I won’t get any studying done if I spend the night with Julie. I’ll be okay tonight. Don’t worry, Mom,” she said with a huge smile.

 “Don’t worry what?” Sam asked, entering through the kitchen door.

“Mom’s just worried, as usual, about me staying home alone tonight. I can take care of myself, you know. It’s not like I’m a half-vampire or anything,” Cat said sarcastically. “I pity the fool who messes with me!” she announced jokingly, thrusting her fork into the air.

“That’s not the point, Cat. Something’s going on in our town and it isn’t as safe as it used to be. Your mom is just worried like the rest of us are,” Sam replied, smiling reassuringly at Rachel.

“Oh no, she’s gotten to you too, Dad?” Cat joked as Rachel rolled her eyes. “I’m just kidding. I know that everyone’s kind of walking on eggshells right now, but I’ll be fine.”

“Uh-oh, serious faces, what’s this discussion about?” Taylor asked, standing in the kitchen doorway. Cat was glad to see her brother in better spirits. He had taken Trish’s attack the hardest of anyone.

“Hurry up and get a plate before the food gets cold,” Rachel ordered Taylor.

“So is this a secret then?” Taylor asked, spooning some eggs onto his plate.

“No, Cat just wants to stay home alone tonight,” Rachel replied.

“Uh-uh. No way! Are you actually considering it?” Taylor asked, looking at his mom and then his dad. “Why isn’t she staying with Julie?”

“Hello? I’m right here. Did everyone miss the memo of me being a half-vampire? I mean I have superhuman strength and quickness. Does that not ease your worries just a little?” Cat asked, looking around to all of them. No one said anything. They all just shared knowing glances.

“Alright Cat, you can stay home alone. Taylor, Sam, if Cat says that she’ll be okay, then she’ll be okay. Now let’s all eat before the food gets cold,” Rachel stated and swallowed hard, realizing what she had just said. Cat held back her smile as she shoveled a fork full of eggs into her mouth.

 “So we all agree that movie sucked! Whose idea was this anyway?”  Matt griped as they headed back toward the parking lot.

“Wasn’t it yours?” Elle asked, laughing at Matt’s feigned puzzlement.

“I don’t think so, I think it was Hannah’s,” Matt replied innocently, his arm pulling Hannah closer to him.

“It was not, I didn’t even know
Zombie Massacre 3
was a movie! I just came along with you guys,” she answered and then giggled as Matt gave her a peck on the cheek.

“Face it, Matt, you’re the king of picking terrible movies! If Amanda was here, your good arm would be sore by now. I even had to wake Ryan up twice,” Cat laughed as she felt Ryan squeeze her hand for tattling on him.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m freezing,” Elle moaned as they rounded the corner of the movie theater, and a gust of frigid wind blasted them. Rushing to get out of the cold, they ran to their cars, occasionally sliding on the slick pavement. Goodbyes were hastily said as everyone piled into their respective vehicles. Ryan jumped into Cat’s Jeep as she started the engine. She began rubbing her hands together in front of the air vents, waiting for the heater to kick in.

“Aren’t you cold?”

Ryan laughed. “Yep, fully cold-blooded.” Cat rolled her eyes at his vampire humor. “I wonder why Hannah didn’t ride with us. Won’t Matt have to backtrack after taking everyone else home?” Ryan turned at Cat’s laugh.

“Please, like he really minds. Especially since they’ll have all that alone time on the way to her house. Anyway, I thought I was the practical one in this relationship,” she giggled.

After Cat dropped Ryan off, she decided to take the long way home. As she slowly made her way along the slick streets, Cat saw car taillights ahead of her weaving back and forth. Suddenly the car ahead of hers swerved off the road into a grove of trees.  Passing by the car, Cat recognized it was Dr. Bane’s black BMW. She quickly slammed on the brakes, causing her Jeep to skid to a halt. She watched as Dr. Bane staggered out of the vehicle and then moved quickly into the dense forest. Alarmed, she unbuckled her seat belt and rushed from her car. “Dr. Bane? Are you okay? Dr. Bane?” she called out, following his footsteps in the pristine white snow.

“Damn, damn, damn. I knew I should’ve left before now, but that baby wouldn’t have survived if I’d left.  I just need to get deep enough into the woods and hope no one notices my car! Stupid cell phone. I can’t even let anyone know!” Harold Bane murmured to himself, drawing out a syringe from his bag as he trudged deeper into the thick foliage. He winced, plunging the syringe into his arm, “This will keep the beast at bay until morning.” The tranquilizer immediately kicked in and Dr. Bane didn’t notice the person approaching him until she spoke.

“Dr. Bane, are you alright?” He turned, shocked to see Cat standing only a few feet away.

“Catherine, what are you doing here?” he dumbly asked, as it was apparent she had seen him pull off the road and followed him. “You need to leave immediately!” he spat out and then groaned as he felt the change approaching.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look very well. Can I help?” she asked, reaching out to place her hand on his shoulder. As the full moon rose above the trees, its bright light glistened off the sweat rolling down Dr. Bane’s face. He ripped away from her.

“Cat, please get back…ahh…please leave…I can’t hold out much longer!” Backing away slowly, Cat watched on, horrified, as the doctor began jerking back and forth as if he was a puppet on a string. She could hear cracking noises, and cringed as he moaned in severe pain. 

“Dr. Bane?” Cat asked hesitantly and reached out to him again, but then jerked back quickly as his eyes met hers. His golden brown eyes were glowing. He growled as his hands crackled and began to elongate. His nose and mouth extended into a wolf snout filled with razor-sharp teeth. Dr. Bane fell to his knees as his growing body mass tore his clothes. Hair began to sprout all over his body. Cat was frozen, shocked by the transformation happening before her eyes. She wanted to run, but she knew deep down she was not the one in danger if she left him; he would be. She saw the syringe lying beside him and watched as the man who looked more like a beast now, sank farther into the snow, his eyes closing as his body continued its metamorphosis. The werewolf lying in front of her was still Dr. Bane. 

Sure, he’s hairier, has large claws, and big bad teeth, but he still saved my life, and I can’t leave him like this. If the werewolf legend is true, then all I have to do is wait until morning and he’ll transform back.
Cat told herself.
Wait…he’s going to be naked! Like really naked! I better get something to cover him up with.
“Dr. Bane, can you hear me?” The creature didn’t move a muscle. The only way Cat knew he was still alive was by the low growling noises coming from his mouth. “I’ll be right back. I’ve got a blanket in my Jeep.  Don’t worry I’ll take care of you,” she whispered.
I can’t believe werewolves exist! My life is a Robert Craven novel!
Cat thought, running through the woods back to her vehicle.

At least twenty minutes had passed since Cat left Dr. Bane’s side. During that time she pulled both vehicles farther off the road so no one would notice them and come snooping around. She trudged back through the snow with the blankets and beach towels she had retrieved from the back of her Jeep.  Luckily she had bundled up before going out with multilayered clothing and her winter Ugg boots. After wrapping Dr. Bane in two fleece blankets, Cat gently lifted his head placing a stack of towels underneath. Leaning back against a huge tree trunk, Cat wrapped her arms tightly around herself to keep warm and pulled the hood of her coat up over her head. “Everything will be okay, Dr. Bane,” she said, watching him sleep soundly.
I guess I’ll be winging that test tomorrow, huh?