Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2)

by Kunz, C. A.

  “I’ll go after her. I think you guys have done enough damage tonight. Don’t worry, I’ll bring her home,” Taylor stated, grabbing his jacket and moving toward the front door.

  “I’d like to accompany you, if that’s okay? I promise I’ll let you handle Catherine alone,” Ròs said.

  “Whatever, but you better let me do all the talking,” Taylor replied, taking his car keys from the rack.

  Ryan felt like a stalker. He had no reason to be on Nehalem Avenue at that time of night. He wondered what Cat would say if she saw him on her street. Suddenly an orange Jeep flew around the corner, and Ryan swerved to the right as it sped by. He caught a quick glance of the driver. Noticing Cat’s distinct fiery red hair, he pulled into the nearest driveway to turn around and follow her. Before he was done, another car sped by and Ryan recognized Taylor’s Mustang in hot pursuit.

  Cat threw open the door as she stopped the Jeep and ran down the steep path toward the desolate beach below. She headed for the trees that sheltered the barren clearing. She sat down heavily on the concrete foundation, visualizing how the cabin had looked from her nightmares. Tears flowed freely down her face as she realized this was the last place she had been with her mother. Slouching, with her chest down to her knees, Cat rocked back and forth crying for the parents she never knew.

  Ryan pulled up quickly into the parking lot as Taylor and a woman with bright red hair, whom he didn’t recognize, were opening their doors. He immediately realized what she was.

  “Beckford, what are you doing here?” Taylor asked, anger present in his voice.

  “What’s wrong with Cat?” Ryan ignored his question.

  “None of your business, that’s what, now just leave!” Taylor’s face reddened as he started toward Ryan.

  “Now you two, let’s settle down. Hello, I’m Ròs Cowan, and you are?” she asked blocking Taylor’s path.

  “Ryan Beckford. I’m Cat’s boyfriend.”

  “Yeah, but you’re not wanted here right now!” Taylor tried to reach around Ròs for him only to have her push him back gently.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you Ryan. I’m Catherine’s aunt,” Ròs said, lightly shaking his hand. “She’s just a little upset at the moment. And Taylor needs to go and find her, don’t you Taylor?” she asked, looking pointedly at him.

  “Yeah, but I’m going alone!” he responded, glaring at Ryan.

  “Of course. Ryan and I will just wait here for you, if that’s okay?” Ròs smiled reassuringly at Taylor. Without another word, Taylor made his way down the path and followed Cat’s fresh footprints in the sand.

  “So, you’re Catherine’s boyfriend, huh? And a fellow vampire, I see. Don’t look surprised my dear, I can smell it on you,” Ròs said as she watched Taylor walking toward the woods. Turning her attention to Ryan, “You care deeply for her, don’t you?” Ryan nodded. “I can sense it. You will keep her secret, I have no worries about that. If I did, I would have already killed you by now,” she laughed at the look on Ryan’s face. “I am only kidding…well, kind of.”

  “Cat? Cat?” Taylor quietly whispered trying not to scare her. She lifted her head to look at him and Taylor’s heart sank as he saw the pain in her eyes. As he joined Cat on the concrete foundation, he pulled her into his arms and held her as she sobbed loudly into his shirt, not caring that it was quickly soaked. He stroked her hair until she was pacified.

  “Sorry about your shirt,” she whispered.

  “Yeah, you should be,” he said, and then hugged her to him again. Cat was overwhelmed with the love he was projecting. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought he’d be the one to come and comfort her.

  Taylor chuckled. “You know, Cat, growing up, I resented Mom and Dad for bringing you into our family. Man was I jealous, and of course I even hated you a little at times. But you’ll always be my little sister. This last week I’ve wanted to just bust into your room and tell you how selfish you were being. But now I realize, you were hurt and feeling alone. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

  Cat leaned her head against his shoulder, “I think I needed that week, especially with what was unloaded on me tonight. I mean, they told me I’m a Childe! A half-vampire! How the hell is that even possible? Don’t I scare you, Taylor?”

  He laughed. “Well, you don’t see me running do you?”

  “So you knew? They told you?”

  “Yeah, they told me. Oh, and believe me it took me awhile to come to terms with it. But I did, because like I said, you’re my sister.”

  “I can’t believe Sam and Rachel took me in knowing that I was a freak.”

  “Well, they did, so just deal with it. Now, being half-vampire aside,” he said matter-of-factly, “I know you have a huge decision to make. Ròs and Trevor want to take you away, but we want you to stay here. Whatever you decide, I’ll have your back.” Cat smiled up at her brother. “But know this, if you leave us, a hole will be left. I’m not trying to make you feel guilty. I just want to let you know how I feel. How Mom and Dad feel. So kid, get up and let’s go face this together. Tell them you need some time to figure out what you want to do,” Taylor said, returning her smile. “Give me your hand Red Freak.”

  Cat scowled jokingly as he helped pull her to her feet. “That’s Miss Red Freak to you, buddy.” As they walked back to their cars, Taylor threw his arm around Cat’s shoulders and pulled her close. She smiled, and swiped away the tear that had trickled down her cheek.

  When they reached the parking lot, Taylor was relieved to see Ryan’s car wasn’t there. Ròs stood by the Mustang, watching the pair warily as they approached. Cat moved toward her aunt, shocking Ròs as she hugged her tightly. Ròs’ throat constricted and words escaped her as she hugged back.

  As Ròs watched Cat and Taylor settle into their vehicles, a quick vision shot through her head. An ornate coffin, a gorgeous evil vampire, and the whisper of Catherine’s name from his lips. She gasped. “Cain is going to find out about her,” she whispered under her breath. Ròs looked at Cat with worry in her eyes, as she began to drive away.

  “Something wrong Ròs?” Taylor asked.

  “No, nothing.”

  “Well, come on then. Get in. Cat’s going to beat us home.”

  3

  I Know What You Are

  Cat opened her eyes and it was pitch black. She couldn’t see anything. Her breathing sounded louder than usual and seemed to engulf her. Raising her head quickly, trying to sit up, she hit full force into something. “Oww! Damn, that hurt!” she yelled in pain, rubbing her forehead. Feeling above her, Cat felt a soft, silky, fabric covering something solid. As she pressed her palms upward, she was met with resistance and couldn’t budge whatever lay above her. Kicking to the front and side, she felt she was enclosed within a space. She began to panic. Her breathing grew heavier as she started pounding her fists about, hoping someone would hear. She tried to scream, but nothing came out. Cat began frantically pushing upward using all her strength, but nothing would budge. She took in a couple deep breaths trying to calm herself and then tried to focus. A beeping noise startled her and she realized it was her cell phone indicating a message. Digging in her pocket she found her cell and read the text:

  Wake up, Cat!

  The number was unknown. By the light of her phone, Cat caught a glimpse of something next to her. Slowly, she turned to face it. Piercing jet black eyes bore into hers. The man’s cold stare caused Cat to freeze in fear. He grinned, revealing his long fangs. “Catherine,” he whispered. She let out a blood curdling scream and began pounding feverishly. He reached out for her, his evil laughter filling her ears.

  Cat sat up violently in bed, breathing heavily. Her throat felt raw, as if she had been screaming for hours. She reached over to her nightstand, her hand was shaking as she turned on her lamp, which filled the room with a soft glow. “Seriously, Cat? Dreams about sleeping next to vampires? Really? I’m so over vampires! I don’t care if they say I am one. I’m over it!” She pulled herself out
of bed and she made her way to the bathroom. Cat splashed cold water on her face, and then grabbed for her hand towel.

  Feeling pressure in her upper jaw, she moved closer to the mirror and opened her mouth wide. By the flicker of the night-light she saw two long pearly white fangs descend from her gums. Her eyes widened with shock. “What the?” she exclaimed, flipping on the overhead light, and then realized her mind was not playing tricks on her. She was indeed staring into the face of her vampire side. She moved closer to the mirror, and examined her fangs, pulling her lips back to get a better look.

  Hearing a knock at the bedroom door, Cat stiffened, putting her hand over her mouth, shielding her fangs. “One second!” she called out, her fangs causing a slight lisp.

  “Is everything alright? I heard you screaming. Did you have another bad dream?” Rachel asked through the door.

  “Yeah, Mom, I did,” Cat called out. She had reverted back to calling Rachel “Mom,” after a long discussion with her parents upon returning from the beach the previous night. On the ride home, Cat realized Taylor was right, that her mom and dad were suffering just as much as she was.

  “Could you open the door, please? I want to see if you’re okay.”

  “Actually, Mom, right now is probably not the best time,” Cat replied nervously at the thought of her mom seeing her like this.

  “Young lady, humor your mother and open the door.” Cat tried to figure out what to do, but couldn’t think of one good idea. Walking to the door, she kept her mouth covered as she opened it. Rachel looked at her confused with one eyebrow raised.

  “See, everything’s fine,” Cat lisped through her hand.

  “Why are you covering your mouth?”

  “Severe case of halitosis,” she joked, laughing hollowly.

  “Oh, I see. Well, as long as you’re fine.”

  “Yeah, I’m heading back to bed now. I think I’ve met my nightmare quota for the night.” Rachel scanned the room making sure everything was in place, and then kissed Cat on the forehead. Cat closed the door and leaned up against it, breathing a sigh of relief. She felt her mouth and groaned, realizing her fangs were still very much there. Great, how will I explain these in public? She thought as she climbed into bed.

  Along with dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep, Cat’s fangs were still there the next morning. “OMG! It’s Saturday and everyone’s home! What am I going to do? I can’t walk around like this!” Even though her family knew she was a Childe, Cat didn’t feel comfortable showcasing that fact in front of them, proving she truly was different.

  She stood in front of her bathroom mirror and squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating, trying to make her fangs disappear. “Cat, honey, it’s trash day! Could you take the garbage from the kitchen out to the curb?” Rachel called from downstairs. Cat moaned and tried once more to make her fangs retract with no success. With no other recourse, she covered her mouth and made her way downstairs. Hearing Taylor’s bedroom door open, she let out a tiny squeal and rushed passed him.

  What’s up with her this morning? Taylor asked himself.

  Cat grabbed the trash, and peeked around the kitchen door to see Taylor leaving the house. She waited until she heard the revving of his Mustang, and then slowly crept her way to the front door. Sprinting to the trash can at the end of the drive way, she quickly took the top off the can and threw the bag inside.

  “Yoo-hoo, Catherine! You’re starting the day late I see. And still in your pajamas, huh?” Maude, Cat’s nosey next door neighbor, asked smugly. “You know when I was your age, I wasn’t allowed out of the house looking like you currently do. You should always try to look your best in the presence of others, dear,” she continued lecturing Cat.

  Cat wished she could bare her fangs and growl at Maude just to see her either die of fright or run away screaming, tearing at her hair. Ugh, but knowing her, she’d just say that I’m being weird or eccentric, Cat thought as she grinned at Maude from behind her hand.

  “You silly girl. What on earth are you doing, covering your mouth like that?” Maude asked, peering through her thick coke-bottle glasses.

  “Sorry, Mrs. Roberts, I’ve got to go,” Cat said muffled through her hand as she ran for the front door.

  “Well I never. That girl is so strange. Runs in the family I guess,” Maude muttered under her breath as she waved to Sam, who was in his pajamas mowing the tall, soggy grass that was currently their lawn.

  Later that night, standing on the roof of their two story Victorian house, Cat swayed back and forth on the edge looking out onto Nehalem Avenue. Staring down at the ground, she wondered what would happen if she jumped. Will I land on my feet? Can vampires even break bones? Maybe I can float like those vampires in Robert Craven’s novels? She thought, lifting one leg and beginning to step off. Hesitating, she quickly pulled her foot back and sat down, feeling dizzy. “This is absolutely crazy! I can’t be a vampire! They don’t exist,” she murmured under her breath. Running her tongue along her fangs, she groaned at the fact they still hadn’t retracted.

  A fat drop of rain landed on the back of Cat’s hand and she looked up at the sky. There were no stars. Dark ominous clouds loomed overhead. She saw a quick flash of lightning in the distance, followed by the light rumbling sound of thunder. The storm had come up suddenly. As the rain began to increase, Cat rushed off the roof and made her way through the open attic bedroom window, closing it behind her.

  Cat’s bedside clock registered midnight and she was showing no signs of being tired. She felt that her body was becoming more nocturnal, thus the reason for her slight insomnia. Of course, it didn’t help that she had recently gone through two traumatic revelations. Her mind was restless with more questions than ever before. Wide awake, she gazed out her window at the rain, thinking back to what her Aunt Ròs had said. I can’t believe there are people out there who want me dead. I mean they don’t even know me, and they want me dead? Cat remembered the journal that she received while visiting The Purple Door, a unique store in the strange little town of Wedgewick Village. She had only read a couple of entries out of the small and tattered brown journal before it went missing. What she had read, though, made Cat think her current situation eerily mirrored that of the person who wrote it.

  Cat gasped as a huge gust of wind blew her bay window wide open and swept through the room. Papers went flying from her desk and were strewn about the floor as rain drenched the cushions of the window seat. Cat struggled to close the window against the strong wind. As she reached to latch the lock, a flash of lightning illuminated the balcony outside. She was startled to see a figure standing in front of her and let out a quick scream before she realized it was Ryan. Quickly covering her mouth, “Ryan, what are you doing? You scared the crap out of me!”

  “Sorry, are you going to make me stand out here all night, or are you going to let me in?” Cat opened the window and Ryan stepped in, a puddle of water quickly formed at his feet. She grabbed a towel from the bathroom and threw it to him. He thanked her for the towel as he began to wipe his face.

  “What are you doing? I mean it’s after midnight,” Cat whispered while trying to make her hand positioned over her mouth look natural.

  “Well, I think it’s perfectly normal for a boyfriend to worry about a girlfriend who doesn’t return his phone calls.”

  “Yeah, about that. I’m really sorry. I just needed to be alone for a bit. Figure some stuff out. You know, slay some personal demons and such,” she joked, trying to sound genuine, but instead it sounded hollow to her ears.

  “Oh, I see. How did that go?” he asked as he began drying his hair.

  “Uh, quite unsuccessful really,” she replied. Moving forward, Ryan brushed a rogue strand of hair dangling in Cat’s face behind her ear. He smiled at her, making her blush. Grabbing her by the waist he pulled her close, the towel now resting around his neck.

  “What’s with the hand? Kind of makes it hard to kiss you, don’t ya think?” Cat moved in closer and nestled up t
o Ryan’s shoulder burying her mouth into the towel.

  “Ryan, I’ve really missed you. And it was really sweet of you to come and check on me. But if my parents catch you in here, we’re both dead,” she stated, hugging him closer and getting her clothes wetter in the process.

  “Cat, I know what you are,” he said softly into her ear.

  “What?” Cat asked absently. Hearing the attic stairs creak slightly, she glanced at her door. “Ryan, you better get out of here, someone’s coming!” Turning back to look at him, her eyes grew wide at the sight before her. Gone were his baby blue eyes, and in their place were jet black ones. Two long fangs framed his mouth as he grinned. Cat screamed involuntarily, and the sound of the creaking stairs grew faster and louder. As her bedroom door flew open, she spun around to see her mom rushing in. Cat turned back quickly to look at Ryan, but he was gone. The window was open and her curtains were billowing in the rain-soaked wind.

  “Cat, what’s wrong? I heard you whispering up here, and then you screamed.”

  “I thought I saw something outside, but it was nothing,” she replied, as she rushed forward to shut the window, still stunned about what just happened. Rachel raised an eyebrow at her daughter.

  “But it sounded like you were talking to someone. Were they here? Tell me the truth, Cat,” Rachel demanded.

  “No, they weren’t, I swear. I just spooked myself. I’m going back to bed now,” she replied, climbing under her covers. Rachel gave Cat one last questioning look, and then closed the door behind her. Cat panicked. “Oh crap, I didn’t cover my mouth!” she said and then felt her teeth. There were no fangs. How did I make them go away? Did Mom see them? Did Ryan? Staring at her ceiling, Cat tried to take in all that just happened. Wait a minute, Ryan’s a vampire too? What the hell’s going on? She sprang out of bed and grabbed her cell phone from the top drawer of her desk and dialed Ryan’s number. The call failed to go through. She tried to text him, but it wouldn’t send. “No bars, damn storm,” she huffed. Frustrated, Cat tossed the cell phone back onto her desk. She plopped back onto her bed, and shivered, realizing that her gown and the sheet she pulled over her, were soaked. Sighing, she yanked the wet sheet off of her and tossed it into the hamper along with her night gown. She put on a pair of comfy pink and white pajamas and hopped back into bed. Cat picked up the tattered copy of Red Twilight, written by her favorite horror author, Robert Craven, and tried unsuccessfully to occupy her mind with reading.