“Talking to you, it’seasy t’believe that, but you’re a new Vampire, and you’ve only been‘out’ for the last three days. Neither of us knows what exactly hasbeen done t’you or why. Neither of us know what makes you differentor if there even is a difference between you and every otherVampire.”
“I feel—”
“Vampires don’t feel.”I rolled my shoulder forward, shifting away from his touch. “Theydon’t care.”
His hand fell away,but he remained leaning forward, close enough that I could feel hisgaze burning into my cheek.
“I came back for helpfrom my friend, who is the only living person I know would believeme. The only person who knows this craziness t’be true. If I didn’tfeel or care, why would I do that? Wouldn’t I be off plunderingvillages and murdering people?”
“You didn’t come t’mebecause you care. You came because you had nowhere else to go.” Itwas the truth whether he wanted to admit it or not. “Besides, I’mnot a hundred percent sure what a Vampire would do as I’ve neverstopped long enough to have a heart to heart, let alone makefriends, with one.”
His voice softened, aglimmer of hurt lacing his words. “I was your friend before I wasmade a Vampire.”
Then where have youbeen when I needed you? I bit my tongue, forcing the patheticquestion back down my throat.
“The bottom line is wedon’t know how dangerous you could be, or what might trigger you.You came t’me for help, and although there is a huge part of methat feels you don’t deserve it since I was so easy to forgetabout—”
“Elle—”
“I agreed t’help you,”I cut him off, not wanting this conversation to go on any further,not when we had hours stuck in my car ahead of us. “I’m nowresponsible for you, and believe me, Than, if you become a dangert’me or my family, I will put you out of your misery.”
“Understood.” Thereply was almost a whisper as he slid to the opposite side of thecar.
I watched as his focusturned to the outside world.
“So how come Heatherhas a Werewolf with her anyway? She’s a Vampire Slayer. If she’shad the same training as you, surely, she can handle herself.”
“The ‘why’ is what I’mhoping t’find out.”
“Your family isinsane.”
“Aye, I know.”
ChapterFive
Thursday15th October, 2015
4:44am
Wandsworth, London
I’d never been toAlexis and Dorian’s house. It was no big deal, and yet, now I wasparked up on the curb looking at the terrace beyond the blackgates, it suddenly seemed crazy. Families visited one another; theyspent time in each other’s homes, right? Parties, general visits,mini breaks … Why had I never been here before?
Just looking at thepile of bricks that could very well have been a stranger’s house,it was just another reminder of how messed up my family trulywas.
“You okay?”
A home was supposed tobe a haven. A home was supposed to be the heart of a family, for afamily to live and laugh and love together. Not just a rest stopbetween hunts.
This house had beenAlexis and Dorian’s attempt at normality, and yet, look where ithad got them both. Dead.
“Aye.” I cleared mythroat and popped the seatbelt. “It’s just weird being here, that’sall.”
This house was areminder that my family couldn’t lead normal lives, at least notfor long. No matter how hard we tried to fit in and keep toourselves, we were dead either way.
“When were you lasthere?”
“I’ve never been herebefore.”
“Never?”
His question onlyclarified how odd I already felt at being here.
“Never.” I climbed outmy car, shutting the door behind me. My focus shifted to Nathan ashe closed the passenger door and stopped by the car bonnet. “Whatare y’doing?”
“I’m coming with you,obviously.”
I shook my head. “No.Vampires—”
“I will behave. Ipromise. I just need t’stretch my legs after being cooped up for solong.”
“I don’t know ifyou’ll be able t’come in.”
Realization sparked inhis expression.
“Ah. Vampire.” Hepointed to himself. “Right. Got it.” He glanced at the house.“Well, I can try, and if I can’t, then I will wait right outsidefor you.”
I looked around thestreet. It was dark and quiet, apart from the gentle glow of theodd streetlights. All the other houses were dark as their ownersslept soundly inside, savouring a few more hours of sleep beforegetting up for work or school. The wall around the house was tallenough that Nathan could stay in the garden without drawingattention to himself, in case there were any early birdsaround.
“Okay,” I agreed as Istepped onto the road and we made our way over.
“There’s a car in thedrive.”
A black Range Roversat on the other side of the gate. It was a newer model to mine,but still amusing to see. I’d always told her they were the besttransport for a hunter. I guess she’d listened.
I swallowed the lumpthat had formed in my throat. “Just means that she didn’t need totake it with her.”
I would have liked tobelieve the presence of a car would indeed indicate someone washome—that was what we all presumed when a vehicle sat on a drive,wasn’t it? And considering the time of day, it would be easy topresume that Heather could be safe and sound in her bed.
“Your family reallyloves a barricade.” Nathan folded his arms, eyeing the wrought irongate fixed between the brick wall that had to be at least six-foothigh.
“It’s t’stop peoplegetting in.”
“Or out, by the looksof it.”
I shrugged off hiswords and opened the gate, stepping through onto the drive,ignoring the inward flinch at his comment. As always, the urge toargue the reasoning behind why my family lived the way they didniggled at me, but it would only make me a hypocrite. Hadn’t Irecently thought the same about my own home?
Vampires couldn’tphysically enter a home without an invite, but the land itself …they could walk right up to the door. So, what was the point insuch high walls?
“It’s for privacy.”The answer slipped from my tongue as we stopped by the front door.“The walls,” I continued as Nathan stared at me blankly. “Stopshumans from seeing things they shouldn’t.”
He shrugged. “Yeah,that makes sense.”
“It’s not just VampireHunters who like their privacy. Celebrities and people who arenaturally reclusive do the same.”
He held up
