Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (62 page)
“Well, we shall see, of course. But I’m warning you Reynard, his evidence better be perfect! If not, I shall ask for the harshest punishment for what she’s done to our dear friend.” Blanche declared, and then stormed out of his office not allowing him to have the last word.
Lisbeth stormed through the long, arched, white marble corridor leading to the observatory. Her angry footsteps were deafening in the large hall. The rage in her eyes was framed by the unruly and wiry black hair that hung in front of her face. Throwing open the double doors leading to the observatory, Lisbeth spotted Andrei standing in the glass enclosed balcony. He was drumming his fingers on the banister that surrounded the balcony as he looked down at the Romanian village below. “Why didn’t you tell me that my brother’s condition improved?” she shouted. Andrei didn’t answer. Crossing her arms, “I am waiting for your response!”
“Oh Lisbeth, I didn’t notice you were there over the shouting, forgive me,” Andrei drawled unenthusiastically. Lisbeth shrieked violently, slightly cracking the panes of glass surrounding them on the balcony. “You are infuriating, Andrei!”
“Uh, uh, uh, let us try and use our inside voices, Lisbeth. I do not think Cain would be too happy to hear that we had to replace this glass for a second time,” he commented smugly. Lisbeth gained her composure and smirked evilly.
“It is funny that you mention our master Cain. He has awoken. Oh, and I am sure he will love to hear that three vials of his blood have been taken from the vault,” she said confidently. Andrei glared at her but became nervous at the thought of Cain’s reaction to what he’d done.
“What are you talking about? I had no idea that those vials were missing!” Andrei replied vehemently.
“Why so defensive, Andrei? I said no such thing. You better hurry, though, you do not want to miss Cain’s awakening ceremony,” she said slyly, as she walked out of the room.
Andrei scowled at her.
You have really done it now, Andrei! How could I be so foolish as to leave the evidence behind in Astoria! I have to fix this. Cain must never find out I changed those girls using his blood. After the dust settles I shall return to Astoria and finish what I started.
Rachel was waiting on the front porch as Cat arrived home after her ordeal. She rushed to Aldon’s car as it pulled into the driveway and ripped open the passenger side door. Grabbing Cat in a hug, Rachel began to sob happy tears. “Oh Cat, you’re safe!” she wailed, squeezing her daughter tightly. Taylor pulled Matt from the backseat and carried him into the house. As Taylor laid him on the couch, his dad filled him and Rachel in on what had happened.
Ryan helped Cat up to her bedroom and sat on her balcony while she cleaned up. Looking into her bathroom mirror, Cat didn’t recognize the person staring back. She was covered in blood and was as white as the towel she was using to wipe her face. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned away and headed into the shower. As the water washed the blood from her skin, she watched as it swirled down the drain.
I’m a killer,
she thought.
Ryan heard the bathroom door open and peered in at Cat through the open bay window. Seeing her strained demeanor he went to her side, took her hand, and led her to sit on the bright orange couch.
“How you holding up?” he asked.
“Isn’t it painfully obvious?”
“I feel like I’ve let you down. I hate the fact I couldn’t be there for you tonight.”
“Ryan, I told you it’s okay. I just wished Matt hadn’t seen all of this. And if you had been there, you might have been hurt,” she said, snuggling up close to him.
“Well, maybe Matt should have his memory wiped then.”
“I meant what I said. I trust Matt. He won’t say anything. Speaking of Matt, maybe we should go downstairs and see if he’s woken up yet. I wonder how he’s going to take all of this.”
Much to everyone’s surprise, Matt took everything pretty well. “Let me get this straight, you live with werewolves and you’re a half-vampire? But don’t they hate each other?” Matt’s forehead creased heavily as he pondered his question.
“It’s true, Matt. Like the movies, vampires and werewolves, or Varulvs, which is our true name, do not usually coexist. Some of us who were tired of the old ways moved here to Astoria. Cat’s vampire father saved my life many years ago. So when Cat was brought to us as a baby, having lost both of her parents, there was no hesitation to make her our own,” Sam explained, leaning forward in the chair, his eyes never leaving Matt’s as he answered his question.
“So, there are like good and bad vampires and werewolves? Sorry, Varulvs?” Matt asked and then Sam nodded. “And Ryan, are you a Varulv?”
“No, I’m one of the other guys.”
“Matt,
believe me
, I know this is a lot to take in, but people are out to kill me. And now that you know, they might come after you too,” Cat said quietly, reaching for his hand and looking directly into his eyes. “Some wanted to wipe your memory of what happened tonight, but I told them we could trust you. I trust you with my life, and that’s what’s happening here. My life!”
“I know I act like a dork sometimes,” Matt began and then noticed Cat’s eyebrow rise. “Oh okay, most of the time, but I know when to be serious. I don’t want my memory wiped. Remember years ago when we made that blood pact?” Cat nodded. “Yeah, I know, it was kind of juvenile and all, but we promised we’d always be friends, no matter what. We’d have each other’s backs. I have your back, Cat, and all of yours too,” he stated, looking around to everyone in the room. “I know it’s hard for men to say the ‘L’ word, but it’s not for me.” Quickly looking at Ryan, “Just letting you know I’m not trying to take your woman, we’re cool with that, right?” he was relieved when Ryan nodded his head with a slight laugh. “So Catherine Colvin, my best friend, I love you. I’ll protect you and your secret until the day I die. Which I hope is a long way off.”
Cat hugged him tightly, “I love you too, Matt! And I’m glad you’ve got my back!” she told him with tears in her eyes.
The small group stayed up most of the night talking, with Matt asking a million questions. Almost every question involved his movie impressions of both races, which had them all laughing heartily. After all the myths about vampires and varulvs were dispelled and Matt’s questions were answered honestly by both parties, they swore an allegiance to keep him safe. Matt found himself a little overwhelmed as he thanked everyone for answering his lone remaining question. Soon after, all of them finally found their way to a quiet, if somewhat restless, sleep.
The final bell finally rang on the last day of school, and an exhausted Cat made her way to her locker to clean it out. Over the last week, she had been plagued with nightmares about Edgar Girven. Dark circles were painfully visible under her eyes. Ryan was standing there waiting for her, as was Matt. “Guess what the rumor mill is churning out today?” Matt whispered. “According to Marissa, you know in our English class? Who knows Courtney, who works at the Three Penny Brit? Duffie and Leif went back to England due to a death in the family. Which explains why they haven’t been here.”
