“Do you ever leave that area?”
“There is no reason to. I have all the food I need there, and I have no desire to be around humans. They see me as a helpless child, and I was bored with that persona centuries ago. It’s easier to avoid them. There is nothing I need that is not provided by the forest.”
“I guess I can’t argue with that, but don’t you get lonely?” I asked.
A look passed between Marlon and him before the two of them grinned. “Never. We’re meant to be solitary creatures, which is why when we do end up in the same place as another of our species, one of us ends up dead,” Marlon answered.
“I don’t think I’ll ever understand that. It would be easier to work together, and if you’re not mated, at least you’d have companionship. You had to be lonely at times, Elias,” I said.
“It all comes down to competition for food. Vampires have a need to always be the top predator, which is also why they never willingly changed humans. Now, it seems that it has changed. Or maybe it’s just the way it was for Josiah,” Marlon said, as I struggled to hold back my reaction to him using that name.
We stopped again for gas an hour into Washington and continued. The freeway skirted most small towns, and I was thrilled to finally see the signs for Seattle and even happier to see it in the rearview mirror. “We’re close, love,” Marlon murmured.
“When we get to Blaine, we’ll find a safe place to park your truck, and we’ll cross the border. From there, our priority will be to find a safe place to wait out the night,” Elias said.
“How do you know where?” I asked. I hadn’t traveled this far north before, and I had no idea where to stop or where we’d be crossing, but somehow this vampire knew.
“I’ve traveled all over this country and many more. When you’ve lived as long as I have, you have lots of time to see what else is out there,” Elias said.
“That sounds nice. I always dreamed of traveling, but I never got the chance,” I said, and tried to remember if I had traveled at all. Some of my memories were crystal clear, while others were hidden behind a heavy layer of smoke or fog.
“We can do whatever you like, but this is a conversation we should have later,” Marlon said.
We took the first exit to Blaine, and Elias guided us down a quiet street that led to the edge of town. “Turn here,” he said and indicated a narrow road that was little more than a path. “Pull up there.”
Ahead of us was a wide, flat area where it seemed a structure had been at some point or it had been cleared for one. “Are you sure this is okay?” I asked.
“Yes, no one comes out here anymore,” Elias said, and the tone of his voice held an edge of sadness.
“Did you live here?” I asked, and he slowly nodded.
“For a time,” he said.
I parked the truck, and none of us moved. Finally, Marlon opened the passenger door. “We need to move. There’s only a couple of hours before dawn.” He was at my side instantly and opened the door for me. “I need you, love,” he whispered.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
Elias wandered away for a moment, and Marlon pulled me into his arms. “Please be careful. We have no way of knowing what we’re walking into. I know you trust Elias, but there is always reason to be cautious,” he whispered in my ear.
“I will, I swear,” I said, not sure what else to say.
“Come, we must find a place to stay.”
I slipped my backpack onto my back and locked the truck before hurrying along the same path Elias had taken. Things were even stranger now Elias had joined us. Marlon was more on edge, and the path ahead was unknown. But one thing still held true: I’d follow Marlon wherever he went.
Twenty-Four
Marlon
The three of us hurried to a boundary line that only mattered to humans. Even as word spread across the west of gold being discovered, I had never ventured this far north during my time in America. Thinking back on those days, there were so many times I should have questioned what Josiah really sought from me. But I was stupid and let my heart lead me right into his trap.
“This way,” Elias said when the trail grew narrow and rougher. No one had traveled this way for a long while other than local wildlife.
“Are you sure this is the right way?” I asked.
“Yes, we’ll cross the border just there,” he said, and pointed at an even narrower part of the path that passed between where a massive rock had split in two.
Elias looked back, and his eyes narrowed before his lip lifted in a sneer. “Blake!” I yelled just as two shapes dropped down behind him. He spun away and avoided them both, with me just behind him.
