I hear heavy steps approach my room, and the door slams open.
“I’m going to go insane!” Javelin roars. “We’ve got to go!”
Sticking my head out from under the bed, I glare at him. “Not another word,” I growl. “And feel free to go now. Then Cecil and I won’t have to listen to you anymore.” The sun would take care of him.
He scowls but shuts up. Folding his arms, he paces the room.
“We’re hunting tonight,” I say. “It’s probably crazy to do so, after that stunt you and your stupid, now-dead girlfriend pulled last night, but it is what it is. We still need to eat.”
“What’s going on?” Cecil’s in the doorway, rubbing at shadowed eyes. None of us get enough sleep these days, it seems.
“We’re going to hunt as soon as the sun sets,” I say. I heave myself out from under the bed and stretch. “We have two options.”
Javelin doesn’t speak, but I see him side-glance my way. Cecil looks openly curious.
“We’re going to hit another den, or go directly to a gang’s hideout.” I yawn and scratch the back of my neck. “And then we’ll feed.”
Javelin nods.
“You can talk now,” I say wryly, and he flushes, looking away.
“I know that,” he says roughly. A pause. “Cecil and I sensed you last night.” Another pause. “What were you doing?”
I frown at him, puzzled, until I remember. “Magic,” I say simply. “I have magic.” I can’t think of a better word for it. What else do you call visible energy that erupts from your fingertips? That explains Javelin’s sudden timidity.
“Really?” The sleep vanishes from Cecil’s face, and his eyes light up with excitement. “I knew it! There is something special about you.”
“More like there’s something wrong with me,” I say with an eye roll. “I’m a vampire. If that’s why I have magic, I’d gladly give it up to be human again.” But then, if I were human, would I have a chance with Stella at all? As it stands right now, I’m not as powerful as the elven prince, but more so than I’d be as a human. “And, anyway,” I continue, “Maybe you guys can do it, too. It might be a vampire thing we’re just figuring out.”
Javelin perks up. “That’d be awesome!” he says eagerly. “Show us what you did.”
Both he and Cecil look at me expectantly. I sigh. I’m no teacher.
But then, they could both sense my enchantment. Maybe that means they can harness the magic, too. That is both a disturbing and encouraging thought. I have mixed feelings about vampires having more power than we already have, but it can only help our survival, especially with the elves so keen on destroying us.
“Okay.” I half-shrug. “I’m not very good at it myself, yet, but I can try.”
An hour later, I’ve managed to summon the magic five times, Javelin once, and Cecil not at all.
“Poo,” Cecil pouts. He folds his arms and scowls at the floor.
Javelin is staring at his fingers in awe. His magic is red, too, with green flickering on the edges. I don’t know what that means. Mine is red with occasional white sparks.
“I have magic.” Javelin’s voice is solemn. He lifts his gaze to meet mine. “If we can figure out how to use it, we could run the elves out of Liberty. Maybe from the world.” He barks a laugh. “We could rule the earth.”
I snort and roll my eyes. “We’re a long way from ruling Earth. Plus, you know we’d just destroy everything if we were in charge. We’re vampires.”
“What happens if all the humans are eaten?” Cecil asks, his face scrunching in thought. “That . . . sounds bad.”
“There are loads of humans out there,” Javelin says dismissively. “Though maybe we’d be best off letting the elves kill other vampires. Means we have less competition with food.”
“Vampires are the only beings strong enough to hold their own against elves,” I said. Probably, anyway. “If we kill each other off, we’d be sitting ducks for the elves.”
Also, I want to believe that killing humans isn’t the only way for a vampire to survive. But I already know dogs and cats don’t slake the vampires’ thirst. Perhaps I should try other animals, but I have a suspicion it’ll just be the same, which is to say, have no effect.
“We’re monsters,” Cecil says to Javelin. “We’re the last race who should rule. Vampires aren’t even human.”
I cut off their discussion, swiping my hand through the air. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. Night has fallen.” And it has. Even through the walls, I can feel the comfortable cloak of darkness.
“I agree,” Javelin says. His eyes shine with anticipation. “Let’s do this.”
We head outside. I close the door behind me and eye the other two. “Search the perimeter and make sure we weren’t followed last night.”
Cecil’s face pales—he hadn’t thought of that—but he nods and scurries off. Javelin moves in the opposite direction.
I take a deep breath. I smell pollution, human blood, and the very faint scent of trees—that is new—but I don’t detect the presence of elves. That is good. It almost certainly means we weren’t found. Still, it might make sense to find a new hideout. I don’t think staying in one place for long is a good idea.
“All clear,” Javelin says, coming to stand by my side. “I don’t smell any elves at all.”
Cecil reappears a moment later with the same conclusion, and we set off.
My lopes are long and sure, eating up the distance as I close in on my prey.
“Where are we going?” Javelin asks, keeping pace.
“The Golden Fist gang.” The words are a growl.
Javelin whoops, and I glare at him. “Sorry,” he says in a whisper. “I’m just excited.”
“Your enthusiasm could get us killed,” I mutter. “Keep it down.”
We travel in silence for the rest of the way.
When we approach our destination, Cecil looks around with interest. “Hey,” he says, “this is
