“This way,” urged Jenny, still far ahead of me.
We walked downstairs to a long hallway. At the end of it was a large door. Jenny pushed it open and I followed her inside.
“What is this place?” I whispered.
A group of people were gathered around something in the center of the room.
“Let’s go,” said Jenny, pushing through the crowd while I hesitated. Something was wrong; I felt it in my gut.
“Come on, Nikki!” called Jenny, disappearing.
I swallowed my fear and pushed through the crowd. When I made it to the center, the blood rushed to my ears.
“Hi,” said the girl lying naked on the bed. Her throat was cut and blood trickled down her neck.
“Ashley?” I whispered in horror.
She lifted her head, exposing more of her wound. “What do you think?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
She smiled dreamily. “Do you think he’ll like it?”
I shook my head, confused. “Who?”
“Him,” she said, looking behind me.
I turned around and gasped in surprise as my eyes locked with the vampire’s. “Ethan?”
***
A warm breath whispered into my ear, “Nikki…”
I gasped and sat up, pulling my blankets around my shoulders. When I realized I’d been dreaming, I let out a shaky sigh and looked at my alarm clock.
It was after two a.m.
I stretched my legs and yawned, then got up to use the bathroom. When I was finished, I flicked off my lights and got back into bed, prepared to sleep until late in the morning. Just as I was drifting off, I heard a soft thump. When I opened my eyes, a shadow moved across my balcony.
Oh, my God!
I leaped out of bed and raced out of my bedroom, hysterical with terror. As I rushed downstairs to grab a knife or something to defend myself, the front door opened and Nathan walked in with Celeste.
“Nathan!” I choked. “Thank God you’re home!’
“What’s wrong?” he asked, moving towards me, his eyes full of concern.
“Someone was on my balcony!” I said, pointing upstairs.
Before I could stop him, Nathan bounded up the stairs to investigate.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” said Celeste, a small smile on her face.
I glared at her. “It’s probably one of your bloodsucking friends. Why don’t you go and help him!”
She looked at me with amusement. “My…my…my… I see someone’s a little paranoid.”
I glared at her. “Paranoid? Everyone in town should be paranoid. Those girls murdered Friday night should have been paranoid.”
She ran a hand through her long red hair and sighed. “I assure you, Nikki, I had nothing to do with that.”
I snorted. “Oh, well, if you say so.”
We stared at each other for a few seconds and then she frowned. “What is your problem anyway?”
“You are my problem, you and your entire band of bloodthirsty monsters.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “You’re so melodramatic.”
“Nikki, there isn’t anyone up there,” interrupted Nathan, as he walked back down the steps. “It was probably a bat or even an owl. We live near the woods, remember?”
I knew it was pointless arguing with him, so I went into the kitchen and grabbed a butcher knife.
“What in the hell are you going to do with that?” he asked as I hurried back into the great room.
“Protect myself, what else?”
He shook his head and turned to Celeste. “See what I mean?”
“Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?” I snapped.
She licked her lips. “Oh, he was just telling me that …”
“That you’re delusional,” smirked Nathan.
I scowled at him. “That’s not funny.”
“Jesus, I was just kidding. You’re no fun at all these days,” he sighed. “Listen, I’m going to throw in a pizza, would either of you like some?”
Both of us declined.
“Okay, suit yourselves. I’ll be right back, Celeste. Make yourself at home,” he said, heading towards the kitchen.
I turned to her. “What’s wrong, don’t enjoy your food cooked?”
She smiled. “Of course I do. I’m just not in the mood for… pizza.”
The way she looked at me gave me the chills. I sat down in the club chair across the room and studied her, trying to decide what she wanted with my brother. With her long, red hair, perfect complexion, and soft curves, I could certainly understand why he was attracted to her, but what was she doing with him? What did she really want?
“So,” I said, changing the subject. “If you weren’t responsible for those girls the other night, who do you think was?”
She sighed and sat down in the leather sectional. “Truthfully, I don’t really know.”
I raised my eyebrows. “What, there’s a rogue vampire in your midst?”
She shrugged and then studied her nails, which were long and painted blood-red.
Go figure.
“Great, a crazy rogue vampire,” I huffed.
She rolled her eyes. “Vampire, such a droll term for us; we prefer to be called ‘Roamers’ or even ‘Travelers.’”