“Pack?”
“Like a wolf Pack.Werewolves have similar traits to normal wolves the way theyfunction.” She held her hand up. “Don’t ask because I don’t know agreat deal about it.”
With another swig ofher coffee, she placed the mug on the desk and began clicking awayat the computer.
“I’m sure there willbe something here,” I commented, trying to sound positive, andmoved over to the large bookshelf jammed full of big, old-lookingbooks all squeezed in with other books resting on top and bits ofpaper sticking out from between various pages.
“Your breakfast willbe cold.”
“Not hungry.” Herstomach grumbled.
“Liar liar.” My focusfell to a large trunk. “Is that an actual chest?”
“Don’t. Touch.It.”
If it hadn’t been forthe modern computer and gym equipment, it would have been reallyeasy to believe that this was a Vampire Hunter lair. I was justdisappointed there was no medieval cage down here.
“Shouldn’t you bethankful?” Teen Elle hopped on to the computer desk, legsswinging back and forth. “If there was a cage here, you mightend up in it.”
I ran my hand acrossthe wooden lid. “Are there stakes in it?”
“Than,” Ellewarned.
“Spoilsport.” Istopped beside her, ignoring the teen who watched us both intently.“I haven’t poisoned it. What good would it do me?” I pushed thebowl closer to her. “I need you, remember?”
A sigh escaped her.“Fine. Leave it there.”
“If you don’t want it,I spied some beans and other canned goods in the pantry. I can makeyou something else?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Okay, but make sureyou eat something today. I’m sure Vampire Hunters need theirprotein and fibre.”
“What are you, hermother?” Teen Elle chimed.
“If I eat the eggs,will you shut up?”
I folded my armsacross my chest. “Aye.”
Picking up the fork,she skewered a chunk and popped it in her mouth. “Happy?”
“Eggstatic.”
Teen Elle fell back onthe desk. “I’d say kill me, but I can’t die.”
“Is there anything Ican do t’help?”
“Not really.” Shedropped the fork back into the bowl and returned to thecomputer.
“Well, I guess I willgo and carry on catching up with world events.”
“Okay.”
“Yeah, I don’tthink you’re going to get much out of her, Than.” The teenrolled off the desk and bounced to her feet.
“Me neither.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Shout if youfind that you do need a hand.”
A grunt was myreply.
ChapterSeven
~ Danielle ~
Friday16th October, 2015
I woke at the sound ofa smash. Jolting upright, I immediately regretted it as all themuscles in my neck went into a spasm.
“Shit,” I hissed,cupping the back of my neck, working my fingers into the muscles atthe junction where my collarbone and shoulder met.
Nathan appeared besidethe desk, collecting the pieces of the mug I had obviously knockedoff the surface.
The computer screenbefore me was black, the orange light indicating it had gone in tosleep mode. My head was killing, and my eyes were heavy.
Damn it, I had fallenasleep.
“What time is it?”
“A little afterten-fifteen.” He placed the ceramic shards on the desk and walkedback into the centre of the room.
“What day is it?”
A chuckle escaped him.“It’s Friday night.”
I stretched my neckside to side listening to the muscles popping, the tension easingas I rolled my shoulders. Something slid down my back. Twisting, Inoticed a beige blanket crumbled up between myself and thechair.
He’d put a blanketaround me while I slept.
Second time you havefallen to sleep while there is a Vampire in the house with you.
God, my father wouldhave had a heart attack if he knew.
Reaching down to myhip, my fingertips skimmed the hilt of my dagger. The feel of theblade always reassured me, but more so because I knew Nathan knewit was there.
You can’t seriouslytrust him?
He had had ampleopportunity to hurt me, but instead, he had turned into a nanny,trying to make sure I was eating and getting rest. It was somehowworse than him trying to hurt me, because I didn’t understand whyhe was doing it.
Guilt?
Guilt would have madethe most sense. He had been a rubbish friend. Maybe he was tryingto apologize without having to say the words. As long as it wasn’tpity. Pity because I was worried about Heather. Pity because I wasobviously still pissed about his absence in my life, which he nodoubt found childish, maybe even pathetic. I didn’t need hispity.
“How long—”
“A few hours.” He satcross-legged on the floor, the hoodie he had borrowed reaching overhis knees and making him almost look like one of those toys thatrocked back and forth; a weeble. “You’ve barely slept the last twodays. I thought it was best t’just leave you be.”
What had he been up towhile I was sleeping? Had he left the house?
I patted my left jeanspocket. The house keys were there. Not that it really meantanything. He could have taken them and unlocked the door and thenput them back. In the meantime, he could have killed theneighbours.
Pulling the blanket upand around my shoulders, I stood, ignoring the protest of mycramped-up legs. I stepped toward Nathan, studying him. I couldn’tsay I was surprised to see that he had found something to style hishair. The brown mess that had original symbolized a mop had beenswept and moved into a style that would make a boy band memberproud.
I think he had takenhalf a dozen showers over the last two days. I wasn’t sure whyexactly. Other than removing the dirt, grime, and dried blood thefirst morning we’d arrived here, it wasn’t like he was dirty oreven stank. His skin was pale and smooth but looked much healthierthan the first time I had seen him at the graveyard.
Apart from theill-fitting clothes, he could almost pass for a human.
“You okay?”
He was looking at me;the blue in his eyes had come back, along with that mischievoustwinkle that remained hidden in the depths regardless of his mood.He had been a cheeky lad, a joker always pushing his luck. Thinkingabout him as that young boy, I would go as far as saying he had thespirit of a leprechaun. A spirit I could still see now in eyes thatshould have held no life at all.
“Elle?”
Shaking myself from mythoughts, I nodded to the piles of books that surrounded him. “Alittle light reading?”
He smirked.
“Well, I figured Imight as well
