by Wendi Wilson
I glanced down the row of chairs at Coco. She’d changed into an outfit of mine, throwing away the rags she’d been wearing when she crawled out of her grave. Or, had she crawled out of her grave? I honestly didn’t know.
Guilt set in around the fact that I hadn’t asked her. I hadn’t been able to spend much time with her in the twenty-four hours since I’d learned she was still alive—or undead, as it was. I made a mental note to do better once I had time. Lately, the luxury of free time had been in short supply. I was exhausted and just amazed I was still on my feet. It had been a hell of a couple of days.
Last night, after learning my father was alive and hearing his story, we’d set out to see if we could locate Warren and his surviving crew. Unfortunately, the mountain vamps found no sign of them, and the search was called off. We still had the awful job of dealing with the remains of the dead vampires, or what was left of them, anyway. Thankfully, I’d been spared that job since Dad’s crew had offered to clean up as well, and they’d tasked us with dealing with the camp fallout. So, after a fitful night’s sleep, we got up to help Sasha and the dean sort out the camp.
The first issue had been the campers. We knew it was no longer safe to have them on site, so we spent all morning calling their emergency contacts and arranging pick up. We explained that one of the counselors had come down with an infectious disease, and, although all the children were safe and had not come into contact with this person, the camp needed to be shut down ASAP. We offered to issue refunds and fielded many angry comments from foster parents and group homes as they picked up their kids.
The day was exhausting, but it wasn’t over.
After that, we helped Sasha and Dean Purty make funeral arrangements—setting up chairs, putting up twinkle lights, and printing photos of the deceased to pin on display boards. The remaining vampire counselors didn’t tire, but True and I were barely better than zombies as the time neared for the funeral. Thankfully, Zelda made pots and pots of coffee. I never would have survived without it.
I was tired and probably suffering from mild shock, but I had to keep it together. Naveen and Miranda deserved that much. They’d died trying to keep us alive.
Sitting beside me, Levi held my hand, much as he had during Coco’s funeral. He lent me his strength once again, and I needed it. It was heartbreaking listening to the dean talk about Naveen and Miranda’s lives and afterlives. Naveen had been over a hundred years old, but Miranda was barely thirty with both parts of her life combined. I was especially sad that her life and afterlife had been cut so short.
It didn’t seem fair. None of this did.
The dean’s words washed over me as he spoke about summer camp memories. His eyes were dry, but I saw Sasha, Barbara, and Analise wiping away tears. Levi squeezed my hand as Sasha began singing some sort of mournful hymn I’d never heard before. It was beautiful yet filled with sorrow and brought a fresh wave of tears flowing.
I dropped my head. How many damn funerals would I have to attend? And all because of Warren Thornberry.
That thought sent a surge of anger pumping through my veins. Warren was the mastermind behind all this chaos and death. Warren was the one who needed to pay. I felt a stunning and all-encompassing urge to drive my vampire blade right into his heart and watch his body explode into ash. He deserved it after all he’d done. And I wanted to be the one to deliver that final blow.
“Are you okay?” Levi whispered, bringing me back to the moment. “Your heart is pounding.”
“Yeah, fine.” I took several deep breaths, trying to slow my raging heart. “Just worked up from all that coffee.”
Levi raised an eyebrow as if he wasn’t buying what I was selling, but he didn’t have time to push for answers because the funeral was coming to an end, and people were getting up.
“What’s happening now?” I asked, standing with everyone else.
Levi turned and put his hands on both of my shoulders. “You, True, and Coco are going back to the dorm to get some rest.”
I shook my head, pushing up on my tiptoes to see the camp vamps walking over to my father as if some sort of meeting was about to take place. “Something’s going on. I need to be there.”
I tried to shift out of Levi’s grip, but he held me firmly in place with gentle hands.
“My love, you are going to the cabin to rest. I am going to sit outside the door all night to make sure you do.”
I folded my eyebrows down. “You’re not the boss of me.”
“He’s not, but I am,” Dean Purty said, coming up to us. “And this is on my order. You are to go to bed and not come out until morning. Got it?” He gave me one of his fatherly expressions.
“No, I need to be a part of whatever’s going on,” I said, turning toward where the vamps were meeting, only to see my father striding over.
“Do I get a say in this?” he asked, smiling softly. “Because I also agree. You should rest, Piper.”
I stared at the three men around me, realizing there was no way to fight this.
“I don’t like it when people gang up on me,” I huffed.
I was being childish and stupid, but honestly, sleep felt like the last thing I needed right now. Sure, I was more tired than I’d ever been, but Warren was still out there. Someone had to stop him.
“We won’t do anything without you,” my father promised. “We’re going to meet and discuss preparations for the council’s arrival.”
Ah, the council. I’d been hearing that term thrown around a lot, but still had no idea who they were or what help they might bring. They certainly hadn’t been helpful when Warren was manipulating everyone in this region to his whims. I couldn’t imagine they would be much assistance now.
“I’ll tell you all about the council tomorrow,” Levi offered, once again seeming to read my thoughts.
I wanted to protest, but found myself being shuffled off along with True and Coco to Saka’am. In the blink of an eye, we were ushered inside the dusty cabin.
“What if I have to use the bathroom?” True said with a yawn.
“Let me know,” Levi answered. “I’ll be out here all night.” He leaned in, kissed my cheek and closed the door.
As True walked over and flopped into her old bunk, now vacated by the camper that had taken up residence, Coco glanced around. “This is where you guys stay?”
“Oh, shit. How stupid of me,” I said. “You’ve never been here before, duh. Let me show you around.”
I took her around the cabin, showing her the bunks and cubbies. It was sad to see them all empty, only a couple of hangers and candy bar wrappers to remind me that children had played here, slept here, and drove me crazy here only a few hours before.
“I’m going to miss the little buggers,” I said, finding a button with the name “Mikayla” on it. She’d been a quiet girl with big brown eyes from my last group.
Coco took the button from my hands, turning it over in hers. “It’s weird, but ever since I’ve come back to life, things look differently. They smell differently, too.” She put the button to her nose and inhaled. “This girl smelled like bug spray and ointment.”
True laughed, sitting up. “You are spot on. Mikayla used to slather on itch cream like her daddy owned stock in it.”
A smile played on Coco’s pink lips. With the dirt and grime off, she looked like herself, except better. Her eyes were brighter and her teeth whiter. Sharper. Even her dark hair was glossier. Vampires never needed the help of makeup or a stylist.
There were other things about her that were different as well. When she was human, Coco was always jabbering away or checking her phone. Now, she seemed quiet... listening, perceiving more than True or I ever could. I knew her senses were heightened, but I didn’t know it would cause her personality to change.
“How’s your hunger?” I asked Coco quietly. I didn’t want to sound accusatory, but Levi had locked us in with a vampire who, twenty-four hours ago, had wanted to eat me. I knew he was right outside, but still.
“So you don’t have any urge to sink your fangs into us?” True asked, gripping the bunk railing as if thinking about using it as a stake if Coco got too wild.
Coco cocked her head to the side as if contemplating. “I’m sure I will once I’m hungry again. They told me a young vampire’s hunger is so strong it drives out all rational thought. It gives a new meaning to the word hangry, for sure.”
True snorted a laugh, and I joined her. There was a tiny sliver of the old Coco showing through. Maybe she was in there, after all.
“What does it feel like to be a vampire?” I asked, sitting on the bed beside True. “I mean, you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
Coco shrugged. “It’s fine. It feels… like I’m a butterfly.”
I wrinkled my brow in confusion so she continued.
“Like, in my life before, I was a caterpillar. I was happy eating grass and living this kind of boring life on the leaves. It didn’t bother me because I didn’t know any better. But then I died—the coffin was like my chrysalis—and when I awoke, I was reborn as this completely other thing, and the world suddenly got so much bigger.”
I nodded, her metaphor making sense. “You’re a butterfly.”
“I’m a butterfly,” she said with a smile.
True leaned forward, putting her hands on her knees. “You almost make it sound like being a vampire is better. I mean, no offense, but you’re dead.”
“True!” I blurted.
“No, Piper, it’s okay,” Coco said. “She’s right. There’s lots of bad. I can’t ever see my parents again. They must be so sad.” A frown settled on her face.
“They are sad. I just saw them a few weeks ago.”
“You went to my funeral?” she asked.
I nodded. “My mom held your mom’s hand nearly the entire time.”
A tear appeared in Coco’s eye. “Tell your mom thank you when you talk to her.”
“I will.”
My mom. I’d almost forgotten. I knew that the love of her life was alive—well, sort of—and she didn’t. Then I remembered she started dating again, but I was sure it wasn’t serious. She would want to know her husband was alive.
But I could never tell her.
I stared up at Coco, blinking away my own tears. “Did they tell you not to go see your parents?”
Coco nodded. “Vampire law or something like that. Humans can’t know about us. Not unless there are special circumstances. Like you two.” She gestured to True and I.
“Yeah, and we’re not supposed to tell anyone, either,” True said, staring at me.
Sheesh. Was everyone around here a mind reader? Did she know what I was thinking about telling my mother?
“My mom already knew there are vampires,” I said in retort.
“But Warren wiped that memory,” True reminded me.
“He did?” Coco asked. “Geez, I’ve got a lot to catch up on.”
“You do, sister,” True said, yawning. “But I’m pooped. I need sleep. Give me some room, bubble butt.” She began pushing on my bottom until I was up off her bed.
“Where should I sleep?” Coco asked, glancing at the bunks.
“You can sleep above me.” I patted the bunk above mine. “Wait, do you sleep?”
Coco shook her head. “Not really, but I’ll think of something.”
An idea occurred to me. “Hold on a sec.” Digging around in the bag under my bed, I found what I was looking for. I pulled the cellphone out, powered it on, and handed it to Coco.
In the blue light, her eyes went wide. “Oh my God. I haven’t been on here in like…” Her voice trailed off as she opened up her favorite social media app.
Satisfied that she wouldn’t be bored out of her mind all night, I laid down on my bed. The men in my life were right. As much as I hated to admit it, this weak, frail body needed sleep to function. But tomorrow I would figure out a way to take Warren Thornberry down for good.
Chapter Three
I rolled onto my back, again, a quiet sigh slipping through my lips. I’d been tossing and turning for what felt like hours, unable to fall asleep as my thoughts ran rampant. Images of everything that had transpired in the last twenty-four hours assailed me every time I closed my eyes, making it impossible to relax.
Coco was a vampire. She died, I mourned her, and attended her funeral, yet somehow, she was lying in the bunk above me. How had that even freaking happened?
And my dad…
It was a strange sensation, being overwhelmed by a hectic mix of joy at having him back, anger that he was taken from us in the first place, and grief over the last year I’d spent retreating from life as I mourned him. So many things would be different if that night had never happened.
Of course, if it hadn’t, I’d never have come to work at Camp Shadow Lake. I would have most likely never found out that vampires actually existed, I wouldn’t have met True, and I never would have fallen in love with Levi Kass.
My emotions ran the gamut as I tried to process them and decide if falling in love with Levi was worth losing my dad for a year. I felt like an asshole for even thinking about it, but facts were facts. I was so in love with Levi, I couldn’t begin to imagine my life without him in it.
But dad had died which put me on the path that led to Levi. He’d been brutally murdered by…the vampire I killed that day at The Society. That foul-smelling, ugly-as-sin monster that savagely bit me while grinding his pelvis against me in the most disgusting of ways. He’d been the one to take my father from me, and I felt an involuntary sliver of pride that I’d been the one to destroy him.
The pain of his fangs, the fear I’d felt, the taste of his ashy remains in my mouth—it was all worth it, knowing I’d avenged my father’s death.
My next thought was punctuated by a sharp breath, and I nearly flew upright in my bed. Warren sent that asshole to kill my dad and stop him from revealing the truth about the vampires at Camp Shadow Lake, which meant… he’d also sent him after me that day during our so-called training session.
Did he want me out of the picture? Was it a test of my skills? I squeezed my eyes shut and breathed shallowly through my nose as the truth hit me—he wanted that beast to turn me.
How many times had he sung the praises of becoming a vampire? How often had he told me I would be so much stronger, faster, and practically invincible if I’d just consent to the change? I knew he wanted me for himself. He’d tried wooing me with praise and expensive gifts—those damn earrings he surprised me with were still tucked into the bottom of my duffle bag. I vowed to chuck them in the lake first thing in the morning.
Then, he’d had his goon attack me. When that didn’t work, and I’d proven I was too strong to be taken down so easily, he’d resorted to compulsion. There were no lines Warren Thornberry wouldn’t cross to get what he wanted.
And what he wanted was me.
I rolled onto my side and snuggled under the blanket. I tried to clear the dark thoughts from my mind and force sleep to come. It had to be getting late, and if I didn’t get some rest, I’d be trash tomorrow. I pictured sheep in a pasture and began to count them, but the image changed until they all had red-streaked wool. Blood oozed from neck wounds as they stumbled and fell to the grass from the blood loss.
I flopped onto my back with a growl and rubbed my eyes. It was impossible. I wasn’t going to sleep anytime soon.
I barely stifled a shriek as Coco’s head suddenly popped over the edge of her mattress. She stared at me from her upside-down position, her brown hair blowing in the slight breeze from an open window.
“Can’t sleep?” she asked, the sadness in her voice ringing in my ears.
“Not really,” I replied, and her face disappeared before her legs swung over, and she hopped to the floor.
I sat up and scooched toward the head of the mattress, leaving room for her to climb in and sit beside me. My eyes searched every inch of her face in the darkness as hers searched mine. It was like we were drinking each other in, memorizing the planes and angles before we were ripped apart once again.
“I missed you,” she whispered.
“I missed you, too,” I replied in a low murmur. “Tell me what happened to you. I need to know everything.”
“I can’t,” she said, her quiet voice cracking with emotion. “You’ll hate me.”
“I could never hate you, Coco,” I assured her, reaching out to squeeze her hand.
“I know,” she said, sniffing. “I hate myself for being so stupid.”
“Tell me,” I coaxed, tightening my grip on her fingers.
“I met someone… in January.”
“January?” I mouthed, no sound coming out.
I left home for Camp Shadow Lake in June. That meant she’d kept this guy a secret from me for five months. I thought we told each other everything. We had no secrets… at least we didn’t until I came here and found out vampires existed. But, apparently, Coco had secrets long before that.
“Please don’t look at me like that, Pipes. I’ll never get this out if you keep staring at me like I killed your cat.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, shaking my head to clear it. Coco had been through hell and back. She didn’t need me adding more guilt to the mix of emotion she must’ve been feeling.
“He approached me at the coffee shop,” she said, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears in the moonlight that filtered in from outside. “He offered to buy me a latte, and I let him. He was so hot, Piper. Like, bad boy hot. Soft, mussed-up hair, bright blue eyes, dimples… you know I’ve always been a sucker for dimples.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, making sure to keep any accusation from my voice.
“Because he was older, and I didn’t want you to talk me out of seeing him again.”
