“You’re a vampire,” Stick whispered, as if he’d just figured it out. “A vampire.”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “I was pulled down by rabids and would’ve died, but a vampire happened to be in the area and Turned me instead. But the other vamps are looking for us now, that’s why I can’t stay. I don’t want them to come after you, too.”
But Stick was edging away, every muscle in his body tight with fear. “Stick,” I tried again, holding out my hand. “It’s still me. Come on, I’m not going to bite you or anything.”
“Stay away from me!” Stick’s frantic cry finally roused the others around the fire, and they looked toward us, muttering and rising to their feet. I felt my lips curl back, my fangs lengthen, even as I gave my old friend one last, desperate look.
“Stick, don’t do this.”
“Vampire!” he shrieked and lunged backward, sprawling in the dirt. “Vampire, over here! Get away from me! Help! Someone, help!”
I growled and drew back as the group around the fire leaped to their feet, shouting and cursing. Stick half ran, half crawled back to the fire, shouting and pointing in my direction, and the rest of the camp exploded into terrified chaos. Screams of “Vampire” echoed through the warehouse as the small group of Unregistereds scattered to every corner of the room, diving through windows and shoving each other aside to escape. Stick gave one last cry and fled into the darkness, out of sight.
The noise from the panicked Unregistereds was almost deafening, stirring something primal within, something that urged me to give chase, to slip into the crowd and start tearing out throats. For just a moment, I watched the humans scramble to escape a predator they didn’t even see, who could kill them before they knew it was there. I could sense the terror, smell the hot blood and sweat and fear, and it took all my willpower to turn away, to draw back into the shadows and leave them alone. They fled before me, but in the mass confusion, I slipped through a window, and I didn’t look back until the howls and screams of terror had faded into the night.
*
HE WAS SITTING AT THE OFFICE DESK when I crept back down the elevator shaft into the hospital. I didn’t see him in the reception area or the halls, and thought I was home free as I tiptoed back to my room. But then I passed his office door.
“Did you enjoy your time with your friend?”
I winced, freezing midstep. Kanin sat behind the desk with a stack of files, scanning another document. He didn’t look up as I slipped warily into the room.
“I had to,” I told him softly. “I had to know if he was all right.”
“And how did that work out for you?”
I swallowed hard, and Kanin finally put down the paper, watching me with unreadable black eyes.
“Did he scream?” he asked calmly. “Did he curse you and flee in terror? Or was he ‘understanding’ and promised nothing would change, only you could see how terrified he was?” I didn’t answer, and Kanin’s mouth twitched in a humorless smirk. “I’m guessing there was screaming and running.”
“You knew,” I accused. “You knew I would go after him.”
“You aren’t the most pliable student in the world.” Kanin didn’t sound amused or angry or resigned. He just stated it as a fact. “Yes, I knew, eventually, you would seek out the last remnants of your old life. Everyone does. You aren’t one to listen to advice you don’t agree with—you had to see it for yourself. That said…” His voice went cold, and his eyes glittered in that blank, terrifying stare. “Our time together is drawing to a close. If you disobey me again, I will take that as a sign that you don’t need a teacher any longer. Is that understood?”
I nodded, and Kanin’s expression softened, even if his voice did not. “What did the boy say?” he asked. “After you showed him?”
“Nothing,” I said miserably. “He just screamed ‘vampire’ and ran. After everything I did for the ungrateful little…” I stumbled to a halt, not wanting to think about it, but Kanin raised his eyebrows, silently telling me to go on. “I knew him for years,” I growled. “I shared my food with him, looked out for him, stood up for him when he would’ve gotten his ass kicked—” My chest felt tight, and I crossed my arms. “And after all that…” I paused, not knowing if I wanted to cry or rip a door off its hinges and fling it through the wall. “After all that…” I tried again.