Their voices are low, and I can’t hear anything they are saying through the door. It’s motivation to get dressed quickly so I can mediate between the two of them. After I fumble getting everything on, I can stand without having to hold anything. Something pokes my side, and I remember the envelope in my pocket. I pull it out, hoping it will reveal my mission, but the paper is still blank. Was she just trying to get information from me?
I open the door to find the two of them sitting in the kitchen. Clark was bent over, his elbows resting on his knees with his head in his hands. Ivor slumps in his chair and his shirt is back on. I only catch their last words. “...it will be an all-out war.”
I’m standing beside them before they notice me.
“P.” Ivor stands up first. He grabs my arm and guides me over to a chair.
“It’s been five minutes since I puked.” My laugh comes out stale, and neither of them finds me funny.
“We need to leave.” Clark grabs his coat and holds his hand out for me to take.
I look at Ivor and hear Clark’s body let out a sigh. His hand falls to his side, and his head hangs low.
“I need to know what’s going on first. I’m not sitting around while you all decide what’s best for me.” I cross my arms and hold down what could be another puke – false alarm.
“The secret council is blaming the vampires for the deaths. We need time to figure out who is behind them. It’s not vampires.” Ivor says.
I switch my gaze to Clark to get his input.
“It’s not the vampires.” His voice is low. I hadn’t noticed until now how pale he was. Dark circles pool under his eyes.
I didn’t dare ask him if he was unwell in front of Ivor. But I couldn’t hide the concern from my face. Clark was ill, but from what. He was a wolf. His body could heal whatever ailment he had.
“How do I fit into all of this?” I ask Ivor.
He exchanges a look with Clark, and neither of them speaks.
“Enough of this protecting me bullshit. I need to know how I fit in.” I slam my fist on the table, surprising both of them.
“Your mystery blood,” Clark states without further explanation. “Please go to the car now. I need to speak to Ivor alone for a minute.”
Ivor is quick to nod in agreement with Clark, and I give in and stand up. My pounding head was no match for the screaming I was doing inside. I could get Clark to tell me more when we were alone if he still trusts me.
Ivor and Clark both grab an arm as soon as I stand up. For a moment, I think they may pull me apart like a wishbone. Ivor lets go, but his hand lingers on my side.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Ivor says as he lets go of me.
I nod and let Clark guide me to the door. As we reach the porch, I stop to face him. “I know seeing that was hard. I never meant...”
“I don’t want to talk about you and him.” He cuts me off and tries to get me to go down the stairs, but I don’t move.
“I never want to hurt you.” I blurt out. I had so many feelings bouncing around, but barely any words that made sense together. But I knew this to be true.
“Who said you did?” He puts his hand on the doorknob to go back into the house, “Please wait in the car.” His voice is bitter and with no kind of emotion.
I take the three steps down as tears roll down my cheeks. I face forward so he can’t see. As I reach the car, he presses the button to unlock it. I take my seat in the front and wait for him to come back.
I watch as he disappears into the cabin, watching the windows for any hint of their conversation. I wipe my eyes with my sleeve.
A knock on the side of my door scares the bejeebers out of me. I almost scream as Una opens my door.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, even more confused.
“Clark called me. Come with me.” She reaches in to take me by the arm, but I slide away from her.
“What do you mean? He just asked me to stay in the car.”
“No, he wants you to come with me.” Una’s voice is unusually forceful, like a child having a tantrum. She pulls my arm, and I almost fall out of the car.
“Stop it!” I stay in the car, with the little strength that I still have.
“We don’t have time. Ivor can’t know where you are. Don’t blow up Clark’s plan.” Una's entire body wines when she finishes her sentence.
“I need a minute to think.” All I can think of are the words on the first magic letter I received. Trust no one.
We don’t have a minute, Penelope. She’s bouncing up and down now. I’m not sure if it’s from the night chill or her impatients.
He would have told me for sure on the porch if there was another plan. Maybe he was going to before I spoke to him. My head pounds with each thought, and a wave of nausea takes over. I bend out of the car and puke blood all over the ground, coming inches from Una’s pink leather boots.
“What the hell did they give you?” Una reaches in and places her arm under my armpits. She helps get me to my feet.
“Wait,” I lean back on the car and catch my breath from the strenuous workout. “Is Clark going to meet us?”
Una nods her head, but something about
