“You’re not what I expected vampires to be like.”
“Because all vampires look alike, right?” I managed a wry smile and even Sekou had to chuckle.
“No,” she said defensively, catching my meaning. “I mean from the books. You can be out in the day. You can change into a—”
How much to say without saying too much? “Every culture has a variation of the same ghouls and monsters.” I began. “Same explanation for things they don’t understand. Ours is the West African kind. Yes, I can go out in the day, but it can wear on me. The night is better.”
I ran down the list of lore. “My kind doesn’t turn into bats, but fireflies—lightning bugs. We’re fine on holy ground. We’re at one with the land and the spirits. Each can have a specific gift. My grandmother can heal. I’m learning as I go. A newbie.”
“You don’t have to tell her all this,” Sekou told me. “You don’t owe her anything.”
I didn’t, but tonight she had almost lost her life twice. It was the most I would do.
“I can sense emotions, the energy people put out.”
Hailey asked, “Your grandmother is how old?”
“Over a hundred. Under two.”
Hailey calculated the dates, her eyes widening. “So that puts her back when…” She couldn’t make herself say the words that made so many white people uncomfortable.
“Back when Black people were enslaved on plantations for white massas?” I finished for her. “You’d have to ask my grandmother about that. If you dare.” I smirked at her terror when Nana Ama was mentioned.
She was about to ask more, but I’d satisfied my guilt at her near death. It was Hailey’s turn at truth. She wasn’t the only one owed explanations.
“How about telling us the truth,” I said. “No more bullshit.”
Hailey said, “I didn’t come to the island with some nefarious plan to expose you and your grandma. I had no idea you all were…” She paused. “The Endowment was created to be a help.”
Sekou snorted. “Carrying around vials to take specimens from people. Really helpful.”
“We take samples from artifacts for either carbon or archaeological dating to then get them to their rightful owners.” She sighed, clearly exasperated. “But whatever. It’s not like you’re going to believe me anyway.”
“First thing you’ve been right about since you got here,” Sekoushot back. “I hope you don’t try that guilt-trip shit here; you were only here because she was worried about your safety, and then you turn around and try to spy for your colonizing uncle and company.”
“You!” Hailey pointed at him, but she caught my expression and snapped her mouth shut, sitting back against the side in a huff. “I’m not a spy.”
I said, “Maybe research is allyouwant to do. Doesn’t mean the same for the Endowment. It’s usually not the same for big corporations. Maybe you don’t know what your uncle’s true goal of finding all of these artifacts really is; ever think about that?” I told her. Nana Ama’s words earlier in our kitchen came back to me. “Maybe you don’t know what your uncle Simon’s real intentions for the Isle are, or for the artifacts the organization finds.”
“Uncle Simon’s not like that. He and Dr. Franco have only ever wanted to help give back by restoring and returning stolen items.”
“And yet,” Sekou threw in, “you came to our island with sample vials… to steal, not restore.” He huffed out a laugh at her audacity.
She turned away. “A misunderstanding. When we get back, he’ll explain. We’re not all bad, you know? White people.”
“Of course not,” I snapped. “But enough have been. You’re always ‘well meaning’ until someone threatens what you think you have a right to. You can’t knock us for always being on guard.”
“Right,” Sekou said haughtily, pointing a long finger at her. “So don’t play victim here, okay? ’Cause you’re not one. You’re the villain. Save the tears.”
“Fuck you, Sekou.”
Before things got any worse, I cut in. “What do you thinkwould happen if the world found out people like me and Nana Ama existed? What would they do with the power of Nana Ama’s elixir? They’d take advantage of it. Don’t you think that’s what the Endowment is really trying to do?”
Hailey was defiant. “Then that would mean everyone has been lying to me my whole life—my uncle, Luke, our parents. I haven’t seen any evidence of this.”
“Guess lying runs in the family.” I couldn’t help saying. Whatever effect my words had on her, I didn’t see it.
“Let’s just get through the rest of the ride, okay?” Sekou interrupted when it looked like Hailey was about to reply. “Because I just can’t deal with either one of you right now.”
