Jogging up to the car, she was happy it wasn’t locked. Opening the door, she bent down and went to work. Within minutes, she had the car running. So he must be back to trusting her, his mistake. With a snort, Jill climbed in, backed up and pulled out of the driveway.
As she drove, her mind kept going back to Sloan and Slade’s conversation, her stomach tightening with fear. Fear of death, fear of losing the only person she ever loved, and fear of watching him lose everything he ever worked for. She felt a full-blown panic attack coming on and fought it back.
After twenty minutes, she passed her old house and drove down a narrow dirt path. Seeing her brother’s car, she smiled, instantly feeling better. He leaned against the driver’s side door watching her with his familiar grin.
“Long time no see, stranger,” Trevor teased. “Now that you’re a big-time Warrior, you can’t find time for us lowly humans?”
Okay, that hit her hard, but she kept the smile on her face. “Yeah, I have to pencil you in.”
“You called me, remember.” Trevor grabbed her in a hug and ruffled her hair. “Smart ass.”
Jill hugged him, not realizing how tight. “Missed you.”
Trevor gasped for air. “Whoa, there, sis.” He gently pushed at her. “You’re squeezing me to death.”
“Sorry.” Jill pulled away then looked around. “Is the swing still up?”
“What’s going on, Jill?” Trevor’s smile slipped.
“What? I can’t call my brother to hang for a little bit?” Jill didn’t look at him; instead, she walked down the path she had walked more times than she could count. Things were different, yet comforting and the same. No, that wasn’t right. Everything here was the same; she was different.
Trevor stepped next to her and placed his arm around her. Quietly, they made their way through the woods, Jill taking everything in. A sense of peace mixed with turmoil consumed her mind. Reaching the end of the path, which overlooked a large lake, Jill stepped to the edge.
“Water’s up,” she said absently, and then looked over at the old tree leaning over the calm water. “And there’s the vine, still intact after all these years.”
Trevor leaned up against a tree watching her closely. “Okay, Jill.” He no longer wore a grin. “You’re freaking me the hell out. What’s going on?”
Jill pulled on the thick vine and sure enough, it held strong. With a sigh, she released it and sat down on a large boulder. “I’m sick, Trev.”
“Whatever. You’re a vampire.” Trevor snorted, rolling his eyes, but when Jill didn’t laugh he sat next to her.
“I’m half-vampire.” Jill glanced at him with her mismatched eyes. “Long story short, whatever was in the serum they injected to change us is failing, and my body is fighting it off.”
“You’re shitting me.” Trevor half-grinned, nudging her.
She nudged him back before looking back at him. “I wish I was.”
Trevor stared at her for a minute then stood. “No!” He shook his head. “There has to be something they can do.”
“It’s not just me this is happening to.” Jill sighed. “Sloan asked for permission for us to be changed to full blood, but it’s been denied.”
“Fuck them.” Trevor hissed, his face paling as he truly realized how serious the situation was. “There’s no way Slade is going to stand for that. Though I’ve only met him once, I saw how much he cares for you.”
“He can’t, Trevor.” Standing, Jill glanced at the lake. “He could lose everything he worked for, plus be put in jail. I’m not going to let that happen.”
“So you’ll just die?” Trevor grabbed her arm. “There has to be another way.”
Jill nodded before looking straight at him. “Do not say anything to Dad,” Jill ordered. “I don’t want him to worry.”
Trevor remained silent, not agreeing or disagreeing.
“I mean it, Trevor,” Jill warned. “Swear it.”
“Okay.” Trevor raised his hands in defeat.
“And Mom neither, not that she would care.” Jill said and those words hit her harder than usual. She would love to talk to her mom like a daughter should be able to. “But she would tell Dad and until things are grim, I don’t want him to worry. His health is too important.”
“She would care,” Trevor replied. “And do you think that’s fair to keep this from them?”
Jill thought about that for a moment. “Yeah, it’s fair.” Deep down inside she prayed it was a nightmare she would wake up from.
They stood and looked around in silence, a silence that drove Jill crazy. Grabbing the vine, she gave it a good yank. With a firm grip, she took five steps back and grinned. “Dare me?” She kicked off her shoes.
“No.” Trevor finally laughed.
“Bet me?” she continued, her laughter ringing through the woods.