Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (55 page)

Watching Taylor pull away from the driveway, Maude yanked on Fredricka’s leash and made her way back to her house. “Something’s not quite right about that family, and Mummy intends to find out what it is.  I know I heard voices and strange noises last night. Darn it, I wish I hadn’t left my glasses downstairs so I could’ve made out what on earth was in that big tree! Oh well, from now on my glasses will be right beside my bed. I’ll be prepared next time.” Maude opened her front door and made her way inside as Fredricka was busy attacking the leash.

The school day seemed to drag on forever as Cat was anxious to get the meeting over with Mr. Bancroft. Before first period she had found Miss Amaya and told her about the night’s events. She informed Cat of a sealing spell that she could place on her house. Unlike salting, which only wards off dark magics, a sealing spell would prevent the three girls from crossing her house’s threshold. Cat didn’t mention the part about Lucien Bancroft, wanting to see how the meeting would go first. She hated keeping secrets from Miss Amaya.

The final bell rang and Cat quickly grabbed her things and made her way to her locker. Ryan was standing there looking troubled.

“What’s wrong?” Cat asked before dialing her locker combination.

“I couldn’t concentrate today. All I kept thinking about was what happened last night and that I wasn’t there to help you. It scares me that I can’t be there all the time. If anything ever happened to-”

“Listen Ryan, I’m okay, really,” she said, emptying her messenger bag into her locker. “Now let’s go talk to Mr. Bancroft.” Cat took Ryan’s hand and lead him down the hall. “There’s Julie, let me give her my keys, and then I’ll meet you at your car.” She gave him a quick kiss before making her way across the parking lot. “Thanks so much for doing this, Julie. I’ll come by your house and pick up the keys later, okay?”

“No problem. Have a good time,” Julie called out as she opened the Jeep’s door and got inside.

“Thanks again,” Cat yelled back, smiling. Julie watched as Ryan drove away and then hit speed dial on her phone.

“Yes, I know,” she told the person on the other end. “I’ll take care of it.” Julie sighed as she pondered her night ahead. “I guess my English homework won’t get done tonight,” she muttered as she pulled out of the parking lot.

Sitting beside Ryan, Cat suddenly became nervous. She had only seen Lucien Bancroft from a distance. With his short black hair, his pale skin, and piercing green eyes, he reminded her of Isaac. She hoped he wasn’t as mean as his son, but more like his daughter. Ryan seemed to feel her tension as he reached across and took her hand in his, keeping his eyes on the road.

“What’s he like?” Cat asked.

“He’s cool, nothing like Isaac. Isaac may take after his dad in looks, but his personality is all his mom’s doing.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. My mom and Mrs. Bancroft don’t get along very well, and she just loves me to pieces,” Cat joked.

“Well, don’t worry. Lucien said she won’t be home when we get there.”

Cat sank back in the seat realizing she was holding herself so stiff and tense that her muscles had begun to ache. She had forgotten to show Ryan the journal that she had tucked away in her bag. She remembered it that morning while getting ready for school. Cat brought it with her to show Mr. Bancroft with the hope he might know who wrote it and what happened to them. Ryan had told her, though he was only seventeen, the vampire parents that lived in Astoria were each well over a hundred years old.

Cat took a deep breath as Ryan pulled into his driveway and turned off the car. Before they could get out, the front door opened and Ryan’s mom walked to the end of the porch. Making their way up the stone path to the front door, Cat’s tension increased when she noticed the frown on Christine’s face.

“Ryan, Mr. Bancroft is waiting in the living room.  He said you were to meet with him at his house, but plans have changed. So, now he wants to talk to you and Catherine here. What’s this all about?” she asked, her eyes pinning her son’s.

“Come inside, Mom, and we’ll tell you,” Ryan said, touching his mom’s arm, trying to soothe her nerves.

“Hi, Mrs. Beckford,” Cat said, staying behind Ryan.

“Oh, hello Catherine. Sorry I’m so rude, but it’s not every day that I’m kept in the dark about things I should know about,” she said, attempting to smile as Ryan put an arm around Cat’s shoulders.

“Mom, you were gone this morning when I got up, so I didn’t have a chance to tell you,” he replied.

 “Well, I guess I’ll get us something to drink then. Go have a seat in the living room and entertain Lucien until I return,” she said and then hurried down the hallway to the kitchen.

Cat followed Ryan into the living room, all the while focusing on the large A on the back of his letterman jacket, trying to ease herself. As Ryan stepped aside, she looked up. She watched as Lucien rose to greet them with a warm smile.

“Miss Colvin, it’s my pleasure to finally meet you. My Hannah talks about you endlessly. And of course Ryan, I hear, is quite fond of you as well. I am sorry we haven’t met before now, but it seems that we should have. Please have a seat and let us talk.” Lucien beamed, pointing to the couch opposite the chair where he had been sitting in.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Bancroft, and I consider Hannah one of my best friends.”

“Just Hannah, not Isaac?” Lucien chuckled at her discomfort. “You must excuse me, Catherine. I know my son is difficult, but deep down inside he is a good boy.” Cat smiled back, trying to envision Isaac being good.

“Here are some refreshments. I know I’m thirsty, and I hope everyone else is too,” Christine said, placing the tray down on the coffee table. She passed out the tall glasses of lemonade, her hands were visibly shaking.

“Now that we are settled, I think we should get your mother, how do you say, up to speed? Ryan you have the floor,” Lucien said and then leaned back in his chair, taking a long drink.

Ryan proceeded to fill his mom in on everything up to that point. She gasped as Ryan said Cat was a Childe, and looked to Cat for her reaction. He told his mom that Cat already knew and continued. As Ryan finished, he looked anxiously at his mother, whose normally pale face had become shockingly white.

“I think I need a drink,” Christine said, staring blankly.

“You have a drink right there, Mom.”

“I mean something a little harder than lemonade.”

“Mr. Bancroft, the three girls mentioned a master. Would you by any chance know who it could be?” Lucien shook his head, dodging Cat’s stare. “Are you sure, Mr. Bancroft? This master is clearly after me because I’m a Childe. At least that’s what I’ve guessed from what I’ve heard and read.”

“What do you mean read?” Lucien’s penetrating stare made Cat shudder.

“I have this journal about a Childe,” Cat stated, fumbling with her bag, oblivious to the look of devastation on Lucien’s face.

“I’m home. Where is everyone?” A voice came from the foyer. Christine jumped up from her chair and met the tall good-looking man standing in the doorway.

“Hello Lucien, what brings you by this afternoon?” Ivan Beckford asked, not looking at Lucien, but instead fixing his ice blue eyes on the two young people sitting on the couch.

“Dad, this is Cat, Catherine Colvin,” Ryan announced, relieved when he saw his father smile.

He laughed.  “I know who she is, son. And might I say it is an honor to have you in our home. What am I missing? Was I supposed to be here for this? I’m sorry I forgot if I was.”

“No, good friend, this was hastily planned. In fact, we were supposed to meet at my residence, but Ulla came home and this is not a matter I want her involved in.”

“What matter? And why does everyone look so stressed?  Honey, I must say you look ill. And if I may say Lucien, you also look worse for the wear.” Ivan’s puzzled eyes met theirs.

With everyone’s attention on Ivan, Cat was the only one that noticed Lucien glancing over to her lap where she held the little brown journal.
Why are his hands shaking? And are those tears in his eyes?
She thought. “Is something wrong Mr. Bancroft?” Cat asked quietly, breaking the silence that had fallen on the room.

“Um, it seems Lucien is upset at what you have sitting in your lap. Right, old friend?” Ivan asked. Lucien sighed and looked around the room at its occupants.