“So do I, Emery.” He smiled, one side of his face a little more animated than the other, a little more dimpled, as if the other half was designated for regret. “So do I.”
~
Connor
Connor opened his eyes slowly, feeling numb and fuzzy around the edges from forced sleep. He didn’t usually take sleeping pills, but this felt like waking from a Nyquil binge. His chest ached, right at the center groove between the sides of his ribcage. His right hand lifted from the bed automatically when he remembered why. It barely rose two inches, connected with tubes at the crease in his elbow.
“Connor!”
Thank god. “Em.” Connor breathed relief when he turned his head and saw his friend—his boyfriend—rise from a chair in the corner of the room and approach the bed. “They let you in?”
“They moved you out of the ER. Your mom said it was okay. It’s been hours.” He still wore his burgundy suit pants, but only the red button down shirt remained of the rest of his outfit.
It was then that Connor remembered how ruined his own Prom outfit was now, the tie sporting an impressive hole, not to mention the likely stain of crimson over the tie, vest, and shirt. “Those hunters better reimburse me,” he grumbled, even as Emery placed a hand on his upper arm. His prosthetic was missing from his left side.
“They had to remove it,” Emery said, reading Connor’s mind like always. “It’s fine. It’s right over there.” He gestured to the corner of the room where Connor’s clothes and his Captain Cold arm were neatly stacked.
“Oh god,” Connor realized, “it’s been hours? How many hours? Those bastards made us miss Prom! Our senior year! When I finally had the chance to go with you…” He trailed, succumbing to a smile with the way Emery smiled back at him.
“I’m sure it’s still going. It’s only 10PM. Aurora was ready to head right over once word spread about what happened, but I told everyone to enjoy themselves, since the hospital probably wouldn’t like a bunch of high schoolers in formalwear showing up all at once. She said she and a few others are still planning to try to sneak in to see you once Prom ends at 11PM. I guess she’s going to convince Tim to be their personal chaperone since there’s still technically a curfew. Of course, everyone thinks it’s safe now that the murderer was caught.”
“Caught? Not dead?” Connor cringed as soon as he said it.
Emery cast his eyes down at the side of the hospital bed. “It was close. If Wendy hadn’t… He’ll make it. They have an officer posted with him, but he’s still unconscious after so much…blood loss.”
“Hey,” Connor prodded until Emery looked up at him again. “Don’t guilt trip yourself over him. You stopped. Like you always stop. And honestly, if our positions were reversed, even with Wendy showing up to play Buffy and save the day, I don’t know if I would have been as altruistic. When he had that thing pointed at you, and I knew he was going to fire, that he didn’t care, wouldn’t listen, I just…”
Emery chuckled. “Imagine that.”
“What?”
He stroked his thumb across the top of Connor’s hand. Met his gaze directly. “Here we were playing at hero and villain, and instead, tonight? Captain Cold saved The Flash.”
Laughter bubbled out of Connor. “Well they are a special brand of nemeses, you know. So what else did I miss?”
Emery disentangled his hand gently and stood up straight. He explained about Eli, about meeting up with the hunters, with Alec and Wendy as back up. “But he hasn’t called yet. I still think it will be tonight. I have to go. We have to make sure they won’t try anything. If the rest of the people are as bad as Gamble, they might come after you again too. I can’t risk that.”
“So instead you’ll risk meeting them on their terms? I don’t like this, Em. How do you know you can trust this Eli guy?”
“I don’t. But we have to try something.”
“Wish I could go with you.”
“You just worry about recovering. I’m actually impressed. You seem pretty okay for someone who was impaled earlier tonight.”
Connor shifted in the bed, staring down at the IV in his arm. “Whatever pain meds Mom’s got me hooked up with sure do help. Plus, if nothing vital was hit, I’ll be back on my feet in a week.”
“Right,” Emery huffed.
“It’s true. Ten days max if I take it slow. I bet I can walk myself to the bathroom already. You know, once I yank this annoying business out of my arm.” He shook his arm slightly. He didn’t like feeling constricted and confined to the bed.
“I should find your mom and dad,” Emery said, “let them know you woke up. I think they were going to call Ryn.”
“Oh God no, she better not come home early from college just for this. Although, if it cons a better graduation present out of her…” He tilted his head thoughtfully.
Emery laughed, grinned wide, and leaned over the bed, hands resting where Connor’s missing arm left space. “I really don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Me either. But I know it’d be boring.” His mouth, relaxed into a smile, went slack as Emery descended toward him.
The first press of lips forced a short intake of breath. It was all still so new, no matter how many times they’d kissed since the first one. Connor would never take the thrill of the sensation for granted. The soft press, the faint flick of Emery’s tongue as their mouths opened just enough to connect more deeply. He sighed into the feeling, maybe more tingly than usual thanks to the pain meds and whatever else was coursing through his veins, but he knew that the brunt of what he felt was still all because of Emery.
“Guess that confirms that theory.”
Connor gasped as Emery jerked upright out of the kiss. They both turned toward the open door to see John and Kay looking in on them—a half bewildered, half pleased grin on Emery’s mother’s face.
“You two say you’re going to Prom as friends, and then this?” She planted her hands on her hips. “Why the big secret? How long has this been going on?”
Connor doubted she’d accept the truth that they honestly had been too busy to think about sitting their parents down and explaining that their friendship had progressed another direction over the weekend.
Emery still tried. “We forgot? It seriously just happened, Mom, we didn’t think to tell you.”
“Just happened as in tonight? Because otherwise you have no excuses.” Her words didn’t carry any bite or accusation though. They couldn’t, not with the way she was smiling.
“It’s that whole you and my mom always wanted to share grandchildren thing, isn’t it?” Connor said, completely straight-faced.
Kay mimed the expression and tone right back at him. “That, and you two have been pretty obvious the last few weeks. Did you really think we wouldn’t figure it out?”
“I will bodily remove her if you two need a moment,” John offered.
Kay elbowed him in the side. “Except your parents are on their way back to the room, Connor, and they will be harder to remove.”
“It’s okay,” Connor said, turning from the pair just inside the door to look at Emery—at Emery in just a red button down and burgundy dress pants like deep, rich blood. Connor didn’t mind though, the fitting color, in the strangest year of his life where his best friend had to become something out of his favorite horror movies before they finally hooked up. “We’re good. Right, Em?”
Emery’s brilliant white smile answered him. “We’re good. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Do. Like, seriously, dude, text me, I don’t care how late. I…have my phone, right?” Connor looked around frantically, remembering that he was stripped down to just his own suit pants and confined to a bed.
Kay walked over to Connor’s clothes and produced his cell phone from out of the pile. “I’ll set it on the table next to the bed
, but sound off. What could you two possibly have to talk about yet later tonight that can’t wait until morning? You should be getting rest, Mister.”
Emery and Connor both paused the exact same brief beat of time before answering in unison, “Prom.”
“Yeah,” Connor said, “we missed Senior Prom, Kay! I need juicy details, and Em’s the only one who can grill everyone for some. It’ll help make the night feel more normal. Though it doesn’t make up for missing out on showing off those awesome outfits…” he pouted, not needing to feign his disappointment; that part was real.
“Your mom got several wonderful photos at least,” Kay said. “I already saw them. Well, even before the accident. She posted them on Facebook pretty much immediately.”
“Of course she did.” John rolled his eyes.
Emery’s phone beeped to indicate a text message. He pulled it out and managed to keep his eyes from widening too obviously, but Connor noticed, Connor understood. “You know, Mom, Dad, I hate for all of us to leave, but since Connor’s awake, Tim sort of wants us to congregate at home. There’s an officer waiting to tail us.”
Connor knew it was more than that. An officer likely was waiting for them, but as soon as Emery was home, he’d use his abilities to sneak out of the house and meet up with Wendy and Alec.
Connor gestured for Emery to lean down toward him, kissed him again, but used the proximity to whisper, “Text me every half hour. If you forget or something happens, I’m coming after you.”
“It’ll be fine,” Emery assured him, amusement in his eyes more than worry. “See you soon, Connor.”
“Yeah, Em. Be safe.”
Connor had the sinking feeling that even his best wishes wouldn’t be enough.
Episode 34
Eli told us to meet him behind the middle school where we’d killed the other vampire, and where Connor had first encountered Gamble. The hills and trees around the area hid it from surrounding roads and neighborhood windows. We wouldn’t attract attention, but that could also be bad if we needed help.
I told my parents I would just be up in my room on the phone for a bit and then crash to get some rest. I hoped neither of them came in to check on me. Within five minutes, I was out my window. I messaged Connor once the first half hour had passed.
It’ll be fine. Heading to the meetup now.
You don’t know how many there are.
I have Alec and Wendy.
Just be careful, Em.
Wendy stayed with me as we approached slowly from the school. Alec did a swift pass around the perimeter before returning to us.
“Five of them in total, including our dear Eli,” he said, matching our pace once he materialized out of the shadows. “No hidden sniper I can see. They’re well-armed.”
“That merely means they are cautious,” Wendy said.
“Yeah.” I nodded, trying to keep the nerves in my gut under control.
These people had tried to kill me. Eli had tried to kill me. And now I’d nearly killed one of them. What if the others didn’t see it the way Eli did, and saw me as more of a threat than as someone who brought an injured enemy into the ER?
Eli and who I assumed to be his uncle stood in the center as we approached, the other three hunters forming a semi-circle behind them, two women and one man. Eli’s uncle was Caucasian, but their eyes were the same. Bane’s mostly white hair and fine lines over his face made him look grizzled and hard, while Eli still had some softness. Unless it was all an act.
“That’s close enough,” Bane spoke once we were about three yards away.
The other hunters all readied their weapons, keeping them trained on us, me and Alec in particular. Bane’s canvas jacket and mostly earth toned clothing wasn’t at all grimy or torn. He took pride in his appearance for someone who spent most of his time out in the elements.
“So you put Gamble in the hospital and then ask for a parley,” Bane said.
“Uncle…”
“No, Eli, I’d like an explanation from the boy. You want to be left in peace, for us to believe you aren’t a danger to those in this town and elsewhere, but how can we be sure? How can we trust you?”
My fists clenched as I took a step forward. “Gamble shot my friend.”
“I’m guessing he was aiming for you,” Bane said.
“He was,” I faltered slightly, my fists loosening, “but that doesn’t excuse it.”
“So your friend jumped in front to save you, got caught in the crossfire. How do we know you didn’t glamour him to protect you? That you aren’t forcing him to be your retainer?”
“I—”
“How do you know he is?” Alec moved up to be parallel with me again. “Or are we throwing out the idea of innocent until proven guilty? You know it only leads to chaos, allowing supposed victims the only say with no burden of proof.”
“Sounds rather righteous coming from a monster who might be the guilty party,” Bane growled.
“Might be. Might. What a concept?” Alec spread his arms wide, his more manic side starting to show, which set the three hunters behind Eli and Bane on edge, twitching with their weapons. “The pact requires proof.”
“Yes,” Bane nodded, “before a hunter can take a life or before a vampire can take out a hunter. Yet your…charge here, nearly killed our companion—”
“For trying to kill him, if we’re being technical,” Wendy said. “We’re talking in circles. What is it you want, Bane? Here I stand, one of you, clearly not glamoured, defending these people. I have watched them, been with them these many weeks, and can attest to their good natures. So if you aren’t here to provide any proof that there is reason to hunt Emery, or William and Mallory Leonard’s sire…”
It seemed the other hunters weren’t aware of Alec’s identity, because Eli and the three with guns on us all flinched. Bane remained steady.
“…then what do you want? Because the senseless violence and attacks disrupting this town must stop.”
“I agree,” Bane said, and slowly, he began to move forward to meet us. “Eli seems quite certain we have nothing to fear from you. Our man lives, though it will be difficult to remove him from the situation you’ve left him in, since he is under police guard for attempted murder—”
“And actual murder,” Alec said, an edge to his tone when talking about his children.
“For that we did have evidence,” Bane said.
“Did you? The vampire woman had another story.”
“So Eli said.”
“And do you have a response to that?”
Bane stood in front of us, in front of me, while Wendy and Alec flanked me. He looked to each of them before settling his gaze on me. “I’d prefer we ended this here, now, before anymore needless lives are lost. We’re at an impasse, Mr. Mavus. We can extract Gamble once he’s well enough. We can administer any punishment that might be necessary. And your friend is recovering quite well, I hear. Why don’t we leave it at that,” he extended his hand toward me, “and call it a night?”
I stared at the offered hand. I knew this man from nothing. I’d only known Eli the few moments we spoke. He seemed decent, eager and hopeful back by the other hunters, nodding for me to accept this olive branch. Gamble could be an outlier. Even if Bane had been in on the plot, maybe he was ready to cut his losses.
So I reached forward. “Okay. I just want this to be—”
A jolt shot up my arm and tensed every muscle in my body. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. I could barely shift my eyes to see that as Bane’s hand clasped mine, something had shot out from his sleeve and attached itself to my wrist, sparking with electricity as it dug into my skin.
I heard gunfire and saw both Wendy and Alec drop. My heart seized from more than the shocks running through me, but it hadn’t been normal bullets
or wooden ones. They were both shaking on the ground, arcs of blue lightning dancing over them.
“Uncle, what are you doing?!” Eli called.
“Electricity is a wonderful thing, Mr. Mavus,” Bane said to me. “You can take something bigger than you, stronger, faster, more powerful in every sense, but affect their nervous system and they still drop. This isn’t over, boy, not yet. I still have use for you.”
He ripped his hand away from mine but the clamp around my wrist remained, shooting electricity through me so I couldn’t move. I couldn’t hold myself up either, so once Bane released me, I dropped, spasming on the ground beside Wendy and Alec, and feeling the fight drain from my body.
I thought I heard Eli still arguing, still calling out, trying to understand, not having been part of this trap, but he was just one man. The others followed Bane, all reason or evidence aside, and we’d walked right into their hands.
I thought of Connor as the world around me dimmed, hoping he didn’t do anything stupid when he didn’t hear from me, and get himself caught up in this too.
~
Connor
Connor checked his phone again. Fifteen minutes late. It was 11:15 and still no word from Emery like he’s promised to check in every half hour. Connor had promised his parents he would only stay up until midnight, giving him a few more checks from Emery to sooth his mind before sleep. But Emery had only checked in once, already out of communication.
It was possible their meeting with the hunters was going long, and Emery didn’t want to be rude by sending a text in the middle of discussions, but how long did it take to say no, I’m not a killer, please stop trying to murder me and my friends?
Life as a Teenage Vampire Page 28
