Lucy braced for the fight, but it seemed it had all gone out of Laurentius already. She saw the moment his disdain surrendered to resignation. “And by ‘her,’” he said, “you mean that you’d like me to run interference with Isabella Horne? Because you should know that she’s not aware that there’s more than one vampire on her campus.”
“I can make the call,” Hiro said. “I don’t mind making the introductions.”
There was some kind of debate going on behind Laurentius’s eyes as he watched his partner of centuries. Finally, he said, “You should feel free to be straight with her. Tell her there’s good news and bad news. She’ll be losing a megadonor today. But she can expect to gain another.”
There was something so young about the way Hiro’s face lit up. It was the surprise, Lucy thought. People his age probably weren’t surprised by much anymore. “I thought you wanted to keep that money for emergencies.”
Laurentius had a funny smile. Reluctant, somehow. As if it was just one more thing he had to endure. “We’re staying, aren’t we? I suppose we can think of it as rent.”
“And what about me?” Athena had been watching the whole exchange quietly. Lucy had felt the tension coming off her in waves as she waited to speak. “I’m ready now, Lucy.”
For the first time since they’d met, Lucy did feel older than her. Only by a few insignificant years. But the realization softened her, in a way. It made her feel more human than she had in days.
“She’s my best friend,” Athena said. “I told her I’d keep her safe.”
I guess we’re best friends, Mila had said to her, just the other night.Though I don’t know if she sees it that way.
Mila, Lucy thought, with a twist of her heart.She does.
“I’m going to bring her back to you,” Lucy said. She hoped, from the bottom of her heart, that that was true. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t want to feel as if you’re running away. But your fear isn’t something cowardly, Athena. It’s not something you need to be ashamed of. You’re afraid because you want to stay alive. Trust that instinct. Because if you go with me, I don’t think you’ll leave.
“And besides,” Lucy added. “I have a different job for you. And I think I can give you something else you want.”
Athena didn’t look too sure about that. “Which is what?”
Lucy smiled. “The last word.”
TRANSCRIPT OF ROLLINS UNIVERSITY STUDENT RADIO STATION WVBS (“PALLAS RADIO”)
Broadcast number: 1
PALLAS (HOST): I don’t really know what to say. Which I guess is a bit of an embarrassing way to open. All that time I spent applying for the grant, getting into this studio, learning how to use the equipment—and I never actually planned how I was going to open my first broadcast.
So…I guess I’ll start here. I met a monster, here at Rollins.
I expected a lot of monsters from this place. Tuition bills. Roommates. Out-of-touch faculty. An exciting new host of weird microaggressions from rich white kids. But this monster, I didn’t see coming. He wanted my life. He almost got it.
For a second, the night he and I crossed paths, he was close enough to touch me. He had the coldest hands I’ve ever felt in my life.
It’s almost needless to say that no one believed me about my monster. It’s not like anyone would have really listened to me about all those monsters I expected, either. My mom always said if those monsters got to me, I didn’t have to let them get me. I could always come home.
I could go home right now, too. Mom would help me buy a ticket tomorrow, if I asked. It would be expensive. Way more expensive than she can afford. But she wouldn’t ask me a single question. She’d just be happy to see me.
I could leave. But then the world would spin on, thoughtless and cruel as it always is. No one here believes me, and no one ever would. And if no one believes in this monster, then no one watches out for him, either. Going home means leaving this campus to be hunted.
So on this first broadcast, I’m going to ask you all for a favor. I don’t plan on making a habit of that: This show is for you, not me. But if you could do something for me tonight, I would ask you to forget what you know to be true. Allow for the possibility that this place holds monsters that you never expected.
When you listen to my voice, try to believe what I’m telling you. One of these days, it might keep you alive.
My name is Pallas, and this is Pallas Radio. I hope you’ll keep listening.
Athena and Natalie escorted Lucy to the basement of the Goldwell building. The astronomy lecture was in progress as they passed. Lucy had completely forgotten that there was class today. If she survived, she’d have a lot to catch up on.
She allowed herself the fantasy of catching up on missing homework. Cramming all the pages of reading she missed, probably sitting in for a makeup quiz or two, answering a few solicitous emails from professors and TAs. Waiting in a bus shelter that would never display a missing poster for her.
She thought of Sadie’s missing poster then. And it struck her that she hadn’t seen one for Addison.We have to be her family now, Athena had told her listeners on the radio.
Lucy adjusted the heavy burden in her arms as they made their way down the stairs. They’d stopped by Mila’s dorm to pick up one thing: her bow, which was now nestled in its black carry bag. Mila wasn’t usually without her bow for so long. She’d be missing it by now.
