Haven (34 page)

“Gone,” she said simply. “I am headmaster now. Acting headmaster, technically, though I’m certain the board will quickly make the appointment permanent.”

“He’s gone, or dead?” I had to know.

Mrs. Girard looked me square in the eye. “Dead. I’m only sorry I didn’t learn the truth in time to foil their plot and spare you the trouble.”

“Are you saying that you’re . . . you’re one of . . . of them?”

“A vampire? Yes,
chérie
. I am.”

I twisted in my chair, looking up accusingly at Aidan. “She’s one too, and you didn’t tell me?”

“Please, Miss McKenna,” Mrs. Girard said, and I turned back to face her. “You must know that he could not tell you. It’s against our laws to do so, and the punishment would have been severe. Only I could tell you such a truth without punishment, and I had no cause to do so. Until now, of course.”

Remembering the three days of torture Aidan had endured as punishment for telling me about Dr. Blackwell, I just nodded, swallowing hard.

I’m sorry,
I said to Aidan.
I shouldn’t have accused you—

No, I understand. But just know that she is very powerful, more so than Blackwell was. Much more so.

In other words, we should be cautious.

“But yes, I am a vampire, and Aidan Gray is perhaps my greatest handiwork, my most valuable creation. I could not possibly let Blackwell destroy that, not when Aidan offers our kind such hope.”

She turned you?
I asked him, completely stunned.
Mrs. Girard is the vampire who did this to you? But I thought you didn’t know—

I didn’t. Not until last night, while you were sleeping.

“Anyway, Miss McKenna,” Mrs. Girard continued, unaware that Aidan and I were having our own private little conversation, “I want you to know that you are safe here. Blackwell was a fool—weak and easily manipulated, it would seem. Winterhaven
was meant to be a safe haven, a nurturing environment for those in need of one, even a
Sâbbat
. That Blackwell violated that tenet—well, it’s unconscionable. I hope you’ll choose to stay on. For now, at least, despite the recent unpleasantness.”

“But . . . but I thought you weren’t allowed to . . . you know, harm one of your kind. Won’t the Tribunal—”

She waved one hand in dismissal. “Oh, have no fear about that, Miss McKenna. You see, I
am
the Tribunal. Chairwoman, at least.”

I nodded, trying to digest that. The kindly Mrs. Girard, chair of some merciless vampire court?
She was part of the group that tortured you?
I asked Aidan.

She’s the one who ordered it,
he answered.

“Anyway, you
will
stay, won’t you?” she asked, watching me closely, as if she was trying to gauge my response. For the first time I noticed that her eyes were as pale and washed-out as Dr. Blackwell’s. How had I missed that?

I cleared my throat before I answered her. “I’m not going anywhere. All my friends are here, and Aidan . . . well, Aidan and I . . .” I trailed off, not quite sure what to say. She was the headmaster now, after all, and I’d just spent the night in his room. Surely that was grounds for expulsion.

“Mr. Gray has explained your feelings for each other, Miss McKenna. I offer only one warning—you are a
Sâbbat,
a
powerful one, if last night is any indication. I’ve known several throughout the centuries, and every last one possessed a deep, internalized hatred of my kind. It’s safe to say that your current feelings are an anomaly, and it’s likely that your feelings will change as you come of age. If that happens, if your presence here begins to pose a threat to Mr. Gray and myself, I’ll have to ask you to leave Winterhaven.”

“My feelings aren’t going to change,” I said, shaking my head. I loved him entirely, with all my heart.

Nor mine,
came Aidan’s voice in my head.
I am yours, heart and soul.

Mrs. Girard smiled, looking more like someone’s elegant grandmother than a powerful vampire. “I hope you are right,
chérie
. Truly, I do. Perhaps you’ll prove to be the first of a rare new breed, a
Sâbbat
who can see inside a vampire’s heart, who can tell the good from the evil. That might prove useful for our kind. Some vampires are far less monstrous than many mortals are, you know.”

I thought of the mortal monsters who had executed my father, and nodded in agreement.

“I fear that a war is brewing amongst our kind. Perhaps someday . . .” She trailed off, sighing heavily. “Never mind. In the meantime, Mr. Gray will continue with his work. Perhaps he’ll find his cure before it’s too late. I’m a romantic, you see.
Perhaps it’s the Parisian in me,” she said with a shrug. “Either way, we can only hope for the best. So, if there’s nothing else, I think you’ve some friends in the infirmary who would be pleased to see you.”

I just nodded.

“I’m happy to see the true spirit of friendship thrive here at Winterhaven,” Mrs. G. continued. “Vampire, lycan, shape-shifter,
Sâbbat
—all coming together as friends, despite their differences, despite their natural instincts. It’s a rare thing, isn’t it? If only the rest of the world could take notice. Ah, well. Our secrets must remain safe, no matter how enlightened.” She stood then, showing us both to the door. “Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I should get back to work.”

I took Aidan’s hand and followed him out. “Thank you, Mrs. Girard,” I said, turning back toward her one last time. “I . . . I promise you have nothing to fear from me.”

She just smiled. “Time will tell, won’t it,
chérie
? Oh, and, Mr. Gray? Please see that Miss McKenna finds her
own
room tonight.”

My cheeks flamed as she closed the door.

“That went well, don’t you think?” Aidan asked, then bent down and kissed me lightly on the lips.

I was suddenly so overwhelmed with emotion that I could only nod. At once the world seemed a bright, happy place. I
had my friends—plus one, if you counted Jenna. And after yesterday, how could you not? And I had Aidan. A lump formed in my throat as I looked at the boy beside me, pale and beautiful and loving and kind, even if he
was
a vampire.

As to the future—well, I supposed that Mrs. Girard was right, and that time would tell. Still, I had to believe that our feelings for each other wouldn’t change, even when I came of age; that Aidan would find his cure; that someday he’d be mortal again, before it was too late for us.

And if not . . . we’d cross that bridge when we came to it. I wouldn’t think about it now—I couldn’t.

Still, there were so many questions left unanswered. Why had Jenna come to our aid? How had she even known about Julius and the attack? Were there other Propagators out there, and would they come after Aidan too? And what about the other two
Sâbbats
who were out there somewhere? Girls like me, born to slay vampires. Did they know their purpose yet? Could I find them, these sisters of mine, if I tried? Did I even want to?

“Shall we go to the infirmary?” Aidan asked, interrupting my thoughts. “To see your friends—
our
friends?” he amended. “They’re waiting for us.”

Tears welled in my eyes—happy tears—and without warning Aidan pulled me into his arms. I laid my cheek against his
heart, listening to the steady thump-thump, breathing in his familiar scent. He was cold, so cold. And yet I didn’t mind, not one bit. Cold was the new hot, I told myself, then laughed at my own cleverness.

“Let’s go,” I said, leaving the safety of his arms and starting off down the corridor.

“Forget walking; let’s go my way,” he said, his voice full of mischief. “The fast way.”

“Fine,” I said with a grin, feeling suddenly brave and adventurous. I reached out my hand, and he took it firmly in his. “Only this time, my eyes stay open.”

There are so many people who helped make
Haven
a reality— where to begin?! First of all, I’d like to thank three amazing authors: Charlotte Featherstone, Lori Devoti, and Caroline Linden. Your insightful comments and critiques were invaluable as I wrote (and rewrote!) the manuscript. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Dr. Michael Davis, professor of Biomolecular Science at Central Connecticut State University, for his aid in crafting a “scientific” explanation for vampirism (and for not laughing at the request!). And thanks to his wife, Kate Rothwell, for offering up his expertise.

Big thanks and hugs to my generous beta readers, Sonya Russell and Carey Corp. You both rock! Thank you to my agent, Marcy Posner, for her continued guidance, support, and friendship. I’m so glad to have you in my corner! An equally enthusiastic thank-you to my editor, Jen Klonsky, for making this a better book, and for being so much fun to work with.

Lastly, heartfelt thanks to my family—Dan, Vivian, and Eleanor—for . . . well, everything.