“Alrighty. In order we have vandalism,arson, misdemeanor battery, a restraining order, indecent exposure—”I stopped when Ari started laughing over my sentence.“Shut up!”
“You’re lucky that shit happened when you were still seventeen. That’s why you don’t get caught having sex in—”
“Shut up.” I shoved a hand at my still-giggling cousin. “Anyway, there was also aggravated assault and attempted second-degree murder but I was acquitted from the attempted murder.Thatone wasn’t my fault, it was legit self-defense. The end!” I clasped my hands and started humming. Sean and Nate were looking at me like I’d grown two heads. I giggled and spun on my spinny stool.
“The end?” Nate echoed. “You really did all that?”
“Of course not.” I grinned before bursting into laughter. “Okay, yeah, I totally did. Except the attempted murder. Like I said, not my fault. I want blood! Can I go get blood?I’m thirsty and I think I’m running out. Can we run out?” I was painfully eager to leave.
“Um…”Sean was now staring at me like I’d switched to another language.
“Yeah, I need blood. Can I go? I really need to find some before I die. I mean I know I can justgoif I want to, but I feel bad sneaking off without Dennis’ go ahead since he’s been training me or whatever. So can I get yours instead?”
“You should wait for him,”Sean said.“I can’t go with you and Mateo’s at work. You’re such a new vampire, you shouldn’t go alone yet.”
“She kinda drank on her own yesterday. D and I were in here while shedrank outside and it seemed fine,”Nate said.
“Yeah! See? The last couple times I drank, I was perfectly fine,”I boasted, hoping that would change Sean’s mind. “Trust me. It’ll be like taking the training wheels off a bike.”
“You’re not a bike, though,” Sean said. “Drinking is dealing withan actual life, not some toy you can get up from if you fall.If you didn’t mind killing it would be different, but you specifically asked us not to let you kill again.”
“Please, please, please give me your blessing?”I put on my cutest face.“Please?”
Sean thought for nearly a minute before sighing.“I guess we can try it.”
“Yay!” I climbed on the counter and threw my arms around him.
“Get off.”Ari tugged medown.“You’re not supposed to be up there.”
“ButI’m so excited!”I was hopping around and swinging herarms. Ifinally get to drink blood on my own!
“Be careful, okay?”
“I will.”I saluted Sean.
“And if you feel like you’re losing control, get out of there and call one of us.We’ll come get you. You have my number, right? Or Mateo’s?”
“No, but I have Ari’s. I can always call her and talk to you. But stop worrying so much! I’ll be fine, I promise.”I grinned and backed away before they could come up with more excuses. I’m so close to freedom. So very close.“If that is all, I’m off to do my lone hunting. By myself. Like a mature vampire who knows what they’re doing. Like the mature vampire I am.”I giggled at how exciting it is, then waited two more seconds before skipping out the door.
The Hunt
I slowed once I’d escaped. The same lovely scent was in the air and the craving was back. A few vampires passed while I racked my brain for a good place to go. Eventually I decided on Craven Lake. There tend to be random stragglers there at night, which is exactly what I need.
Itook my sweet time heading for the lake, creeping through shadows and darting past bright street lamps for funsies. I kept my voice quiet while I walked, doing a reenactment of my favorite spy movie and its theme song. I ducked behind the nearest shadow even though it’s already night time and spun in slow motion, searching for my prey.
“There appears to be nothing at six o’clock hundred,”I whispered, staring at every surrounding as I went. I held my hands up like a gun and inched to the side of a vacant building.“Mayday, mayday! A target is approaching!”I whisper-shouted. I threw myself against the nearest wall and froze.
Human footsteps were slowing. This might become my very first drink on my own.
“No way…” an unsure voice murmured. “Emery?”
The footsteps stopped.
I came out from hiding to see her standing there. A pang went through my stomach the second she smiled. My entire mood dropped. I knew I recognized that voice. I fuckingknewit. My heart pounded while I tried to stay calm.
“Bye.”I tried to walk around her, but she stepped in my path.
“What, you don’t wanna talk to me?”
