by Chloe Adler
Carter looked like I'd punched him in the stomach. For a very small moment, I felt bad, then it passed.
"Julian," I opened the door to the house and motioned for him to go inside, "please dry yourself with the towels in the bathroom and try not to drip all over the hardwood floors."
Julian raised his eyebrows at me. "You don't want me to stay here, with you two?" He looked again between us.
"I don't, thank you. If I need you . . ."
"I'll check on you through the window."
I gave him a little pat on his back and then a stronger one to urge him into the house. Closing the door, I turned to face Carter again.
"You trust Julian more than me? He would have killed you if I hadn't stopped him."
"The brand on the back of my neck is what stopped him, not you."
"That's not true. Wait. What brand?"
Moving my hair aside, I turned around so he could see it.
"Ouch."
"Yeah." Turning back to face him, I made sure to narrow my eyes. He could offer all the sympathy he wanted, it didn't mean I had to accept it.
"Chrys."
"What?"
He started wringing his hands together and didn't make eye contact with me.
"What, Carter? Talk."
"That symbol," he said, still worrying his hands.
"What about it? It's for my protection."
He was shaking his head. "No, it's not."
"What do you mean? How do you know?"
"Because I do, it doesn't matter how."
"And you expect me to believe you? After you've lied to me . . . how many times?"
"No," he looked away, "I don't expect you to believe me."
"What's the symbol for then?"
"Tracking."
Something crushed my melting heart, like paint squeezed out of a tube onto a patch of hot concrete. The rain fell harder, large drops splashing onto the porch and hitting my face. The coolness brought me back.
Lucky for Carter, I was still wearing my amulet. He stood still, waiting. Cold rain splattered my face and hair, ruining the curls Jared had painstakingly added with the curling iron.
"I'm so sorry." Carter held his hands out in front of himself, palms up. "For everything."
I refused to cry in front of him. I pushed my hair out of my face. His hand stretched toward me but then he dropped it. Acknowledging the anger in my eyes, no doubt. I let him, my defenses down. Who could I trust? Not even my own mother.
"I care so deeply for you. I followed Julian here to make sure he wasn't going anywhere unsafe. He's too young to be out at night on his own. I'm glad he's here with you. I trust you with him."
I laughed, I couldn't help it. It came out more like a snort and a guffaw. "You. Trust. Me. With him?"
Carter's gaze faltered.
"I think he's pretty capable of taking care of himself," I said, rather snidely.
"He's still a kid, Chrys. There are plenty of other Signum out here, even humans, who could hurt him if they wanted to."
"Great, well now that you know he's safe, time to go."
"You have every right to be angry, but I care about you. I really do. And there's so much more. You saved my brother's life when no one else could. Without you, he would have died and I don't know how I would have gone on without him. We both owe you our lives."
His words hit my heart. What if it had been Iphi that had been sick? I understood the importance of siblings. But I was still mad. "You tricked me, used me, to get what you wanted."
"You're right. I wish I could go back in time and change things, I really do. Maybe in time you'll forgive me." Not waiting for a response, he turned, jammed his hands into his pockets and walked away. Into the wind. Into the rain. Into the night. I stood there watching him, unsure why. As he mounted his motorcycle on the edge of Sadie's driveway, he pulled his hands out of his pockets and something tumbled out along with them. I called out to him but the wind whipped my words away. By the time I reached the foot of the driveway, he was gone. A red box stood out starkly against the wet concrete. I pocketed the box, too angry with him to open it, and went back into the house to dry off.
Surprisingly, Julian was curled up in my bed, sound asleep. My heart did a little somersault. I pulled the sheet and comforter up to cover him and went to the bathroom to dry off as best as I could. Then I returned, climbing on top of the covers and lying down beside his small body. My thoughts raced. Why had our mother put tracking brands on me and Iphi, and why had she lied and said they were for our protection? Well, the lying part was simple, but why did she need to track us? Why would a man--no, a vampire like Carter want someone like me? That made even less sense. He hadn't offered any reason I could believe, not after everything that had happened. Still, why would he make it up? He didn't need me anymore. Unless he did.
Pulling the red velvet box from my own pocket, I turned it over and over, rubbing my thumb across the plush wet surface. Filling my lungs, I held it still in my hands, my heart suddenly racing.
Rip off the Band-Aid, Chrys. Closing my eyes, I snapped open the lid.
Chapter Seventeen
Sadie's kitchen was flooded with bright morning light after the night's storm. We all sat at the table, acting civilized, while she made us coffee.
"Let me help." I got up and walked over to the counter, taking the bag of coffee beans from my sister and pouring them into the grinder.
"Would you like anything, Julian?" Sadie asked him.
"What's the point?" Julian was staring sideways at Iphi while she read her tablet, trying not to blatantly ogle her and failing. Who could blame him? Even with morning breath and bedhead, Iphi was like a magical creature. I laughed out loud at that thought, because well, she was a magical creature. All heads turned toward me.
"I know you derive no sustenance from food or drink," I said, hoping to defuse the laughter, "but a lot of vampires like the taste."
Julian cocked his head at me. "Really? My family doesn't."
"I think it's personal preference," said Sadie. "Some vampires develop a taste for it and others just don't."
Julian asked, "So does human food do anything bad to us?"
Sadie looked up from her food preparation, smirking. "It usually results in weight gain."
"How?" asked Julian. "If our bodies aren't using the food, can they store it?"
Iphi looked up from her device. "They're still researching that but apparently it's just the fat that's stored. Vitamins, minerals and protein are, um, discarded."
"I've been locked in a room since I was nine, there's so much I don't know. So does that mean if I eat food, I'll poop?" His little eyebrows rose to his hairline.
"That's what I'm told," Sadie responded, trying not to laugh. She must have discussed such things with Burgundy, who never seemed to stop eating and had the figure to prove it.
"Cool," Julian exclaimed. "In that case, yes, please."
We all exchanged glances with each other, not wanting to pursue that particular topic any further.
"Eggs? Bacon? Toast?" Sadie was pouring hot water over the ground coffee I had added to the French press.
"Sure." Julian sat up straighter, trying to catch Iphi's eye, but she was reading again. He pushed some of his hair out of his face and cleared his throat. "So, um, Iphigenia . . . what are you reading?"
Sadie and I exchanged looks and tried not to laugh. Sadie had to physically cover her mouth to suppress a giggle.
Iphi looked up, completely unaware. Unconsciously fluttering her long lashes in his direction did not help matters. "Morning news."
"Anything interesting?" Julian asked.
Iphi looked at Sadie, who quickly shook her head. "Well, yes, but Sadie requests that we don't talk about news in her house."
Confused, Julian swiveled his head toward Sadie.
"I'm on a media fast," Sadie started. "The news is always bad and it fills my mind with negativity . . ." She looked at Iphi. "You're the one who's an empath. I don't know
how you can stand it."
"Looking at it from a purely investigative standpoint is interesting. Plus, you know I don't read the details of anything gruesome." Iphi handed the device to Julian, who merely glanced down at it, completely uninterested, before returning his adoring gaze to Iphi. Then a second later, he looked back down again, his mouth open in surprise.
Iphi shook her head no at him and looked sideways at Sadie.
"This is ridiculous, Iphi. You can't read the news in my house, act like there's something major and then not tell me what it is," Sadie said, bringing our cups of coffee over. She snatched the device from Julian and looked at it herself. "Huh, I wonder who it is."
I walked over with cream and sugar, placing them both on the table before looking over her shoulder. " 'Tree Crushed Motorcycle During Storm. Seriously Injured Signum,' " I read aloud.
Julian and I exchanged worried looks. Could it have been Carter? I shook my head at him, trying to convey that he shouldn't mention that his brother had shown up last night.
"Julian?" Iphi poured some cream into her cup. "Did you see anything when you came over here?"
My eyes, wide and imploring, darted over to him.
"I was spelled, like sleepwalking. I couldn't see anything. Maybe Carter saw something after he left last night," Julian said.
So much for my nonexistent telepathic skills. The snapping of my sister's necks in my direction was almost audible.
"What?" asked Sadie. "Carter was here last night?" She did not look pleased as she handed Iphi's device back to her, crossing her arms over her chest and tapping her fingers on her biceps.
"He didn't come inside," I said.
"Why would it matter if he did?" Julian asked.
Ah to be young and blissfully unaware.
"No reason, sweetie," I said to Julian, suddenly feeling protective. I shot Sadie a sideways glance. "Let's not talk about Julian's brother right now, okay?"
Sadie glared at me before walking back to the counter, where she began breakfast.
"Do you think he was the one who got hurt last night?" Julian looked at me, his eyes widening.
"I'm sure it's not him," I said quickly, not wanting to go down that path. It couldn't be him. That would be way too coincidental. We had six thousand Signum living here out of a population of ten thousand, and many of those had motorcycles. Even Sadie drove a scooter. It could have been anyone.
"Yeah, he's a really good driver," said Julian, smiling at me. "Did you two make up last night?" He looked so hopeful.
This warranted another disgusted glance from my sister. Iphi, on the other hand, looked up, interested.
"No." I waved my hand around in the air. "I'm sorry, Julian, but it's complicated."
Sadie snorted. I rolled my eyes at her but her back was to us. The smell of sizzling bacon filled the air.
He looked away from Iphi, then tilted his head when his gaze landed on me. "He gave you the ring!" He clapped his hands together.
I quickly palmed the gold eternity band embedded with tiny diamonds hanging from the chain around my neck, but it was too late. My sisters leapt on me, Sadie prying my hand open.
"What's going on?" she asked me, her green eyes flashing.
"Oh, it's beautiful, Chrys, I'm so happy for you," squealed Iphi, reaching out to hold it for a better look.
Julian seemed completely oblivious to the social cues and smiled at all three broadly. "Now you can hang out at our house." He looked over at Iphi, who was still fondling the ring. "And you can bring Iphigenia."
Sadie turned back to the stove so quickly her hair flipped.
Iphi looked away from the ring and smiled prettily at him. "That's so sweet, Julian." His blush traveled down his neck but Iphi remained oblivious.
"That smells good," said Julian, looking over at the food.
"You've never smelled bacon and eggs cooking before?" I asked him, feeling slightly incredulous and trying to get the focus off the ring.
"Never. Where would I?"
"At a restaurant?"
"No reason to go to one."
Vampire kids sure seemed to miss out on a lot.
"Where are your parents?" asked Sadie.
"In Del Mar."
"And why don't you live with them?"
Iphi and I exchanged a look, her eyes widening. I hadn't told Sadie about the curse.
"I live with my grandfather and brother," Julian said innocently.
"I get that," Sadie said, "but why?"
"How's breakfast coming?" I went to help Sadie in the kitchen. Iphi put a warning hand on Julian's shoulder and shook her curls at him. His eyes glazed over.
An hour after breakfast, we were at the docks. I wanted to return Julian to his house personally. Langton Dock seemed unusually quiet for a late morning. During the daytime, there were people walking dogs and kids playing but at that moment it felt eerie.
"Why don't you have a cell phone?" I asked Julian while we walked down the dock to his houseboat.
"I never needed one. I was cursed when I came here. They kept me locked up for the better part of a year."
"You poor thing." My first instinct was to put my arm around his shoulders. I didn't. He sniffled.
"It was really awful but you saved me." He looked up at me with such gratitude that I almost cried.
We got to his front door. The house itself seemed quiet too.
"Okay," I said, stuffing my hands into my pockets.
"Aren't you going to come in?" As he tilted his face up, the sunlight glinted off his pale skin. It looked almost translucent, no doubt the product of being locked away for so long.
"No, I think it's better if I don't."
The front door opened and we were greeted by Alistair. Barring Carter, Alistair was the last person I wanted to see.
"Julian!" He stepped outside, completely ignoring me and putting his arm around the child. "Where have you been? I was beyond worried. The only reason I'm still here is--"
"Julian was with me," I stepped forward, not appreciating the tongue-lashing he was doling out. "Surely Carter told you."
Alistair set me in his sights and I had to admit it felt better when he ignored me. He resembled a youngish Vincent Price, making him appear quite distinguished for his age, which was difficult to discern. Since most Signum lived at least twice as long as humans and started aging at a slower rate after puberty, a two-hundred-year-old vampire could look fifty or sixty. The gray at his temples blended nicely with the rest of his dark hair and I could see traits of both Carter and Julian in his unlined face. Pushing the wire-framed glasses he wore higher on the bridge of his nose, he regarded me for the first time since our arrival.
"Chrysothemis." He bowed. What on earth? Was I supposed to bow back? I didn't. "Thank you for what you did for Julian."
"Would have been nice if he wasn't the only one who gave me a choice," I said, a little under my breath.
My snide, yet truthful remark was met with a solemn nod. "Yes, well, we have to be going now." He tried to escort Julian inside but the boy stopped at the threshold.
"I want Chrys to come in too and you didn't answer her question, Grandpa."
Alistair looked flustered. "What question?"
"Didn't Carter tell you where I was?"
"Yes, well, about that . . ." Alistair looked inside the house and then back at me. "Carter never came home last night."
Julian and I exchanged glances. My heart thumped in my throat, making it difficult to speak. "W-what does that mean?" I tried to swallow. The stationary lump made it impossible.
"He was in an accident," Alistair said.
My breath hitched in my chest and I stood frozen in place. Pinned without inhaling. No. No, no, no. Why hadn't I realized until that moment, at the thought of losing him, how much he meant to me?
"What?" Julian placed his hand over his mouth. "Is he okay? What happened? Where is he?"
"Calm down, boy," Alistair said, not unkindly. "He's in the hospital. I'd have gone but I was wor
ried about you. He's . . ." Alistair looked away again and when he turned back his gray eyes were watery. "He's in a coma."
I gasped and Julian began crying.
"We need to go to him now," I said, my voice gravelly and distant. Remorse and shame flooded me. "He's the Signum that the tree fell on?"
Alistair nodded gravely. Hunching his shoulders, he said, "I don't have a car." Suddenly he looked much smaller than his six-foot frame. Overwhelmed and scared. My heart opened up to him.
"I'll drive you both," I said. "Do you need to get anything from the house?"
Alistair nodded. "I packed a bag for Carter. Let me run in and get it." He turned to leave and then turned back. "I'm sorry, I've forgotten my manners, would you like to come in?"
I shook my head. "No, thank you, I'll wait out here." The thought of going back into that house after my recent bad experience there did not sound fun. "Julian? Do you need anything?" I asked the boy.
"No, I just want to see my brother."
We stood together in the dappled sunlight. Julian grasped my first two fingers, looking away and biting his lip. Then he pulled his hand away from mine self-consciously, rubbing it with his other hand. I didn't react, letting him decide what he needed from me without comment. A moment later, he reached for mine again, tentatively.
Chapter Eighteen
Carter's hospital room was sterile and small. The ICU was lit with bright fluorescents that hurt my eyes and I couldn't stop blinking. Maybe it was the lights or maybe it was my emotions. My heart sped up as I watched him lying there, unconscious, with an oxygen mask over his nose, a tube down his throat and an IV of blood being pumped into his arm. I stood there, looking down at him, clenching and unclenching my jaw.
"Carter!" Julian threw himself on his brother, sobbing. His little body shook, racked with tears. They slid off his face in large red blotches, his sniffling loud and laborious.
"Here, sweetie," I said, handing him a tissue so his tears wouldn't bleed all over Carter's white bed sheets.
The boy took the tissue and blew his nose into it. More blood. Being a vampire was definitely messy.
