“What are we going to do about the humans?” Paige asked. “They know too much.”
“They’ve spent too much time on this island to change their memories,” Stefan said. “We’re either going to have to trust them to keep a secret or turn them.”
“We can’t turn them against their will,” Abby said.
Charlie’s stomach plummeted at the possibility, but before she could find her voice, Mal spoke.
“They’ll never say a word about us or what happened here,” Mal said. “We saved them, and they’ll protect us.”
“You have more faith in the human race than I do,” Brian said.
“I second that,” Kirha muttered.
Mal held his palms out at his sides as he stared beseechingly at them. “Do you expect them to tell others about what happened here?”
“They could,” Stefan said.
“Who would believe anything they said once they started talking about vampires hunting them?” Charlie asked.
“There are those who would,” Paige said.
“Let’s say they go back and tell people what happened here,” Mal said. “Most of the people they tell will think they’re crazy. But let’s say there are some who believe them, where do they look for us? How do they find us? I don’t know about you, but I plan to get as far from this island as I can.”
“They can give them a description of us,” Paige pointed out. “Most of the hunters may be working with vampires now, but some hunters will only ever see vampires as evil.”
Mal froze before turning toward Paige. He was a hundred feet away from Charlie, but the astonishment on his face was evident as he gawked at Paige. When the rest of them stopped walking too, they formed a large circle around Mal.
“Vampiresandhuntersare working together?” Mal blurted.
“Yes,” Brian said.
“I’ve missed a lot after fifteen years beneath the earth.”
“You have no idea,” Aiden said. “Some people spend too much time arguing with strangers online, and we all carry smartphones or tiny computers in our pockets.”
“So Charlie told me,” Mal said. “Do you happen to have one of these smartphones?”
Aiden pulled his phone out of his pocket and walked over to give it to Mal. “It doesn’t get reception out here.”
Mal turned the phone over in his hand before giving it back. “I’d heard rumblings about these things before I came to the island, but I assumed they were urban legends. I have a lot to catch up on. Are hunters and vampires really working together?”
“We’ll fill you in when we get off the island,” Jack said.
Mal contemplated this before replying. “I look forward to hearing all about it.”
They all started walking again, and it was a few minutes before Mal spoke. “I believe the humans will keep our secrets. If they do decide to tell people, I can change my appearance so I don’t fit their description.”
“So can I,” Charlie said. “And Mal, Miguel, and I are the ones taking the risk. The humans haven’t known any of you, or Jack, long enough that you can’t eradicate their memories of you.”
“True,” Liam said.
“I don’t like the idea of them rememberingyou,” Jack said to Charlie.
“There’s nothing we can do about that, and theywillprotect us,” she replied.
“Maybe they want to protect you, but what if they also want revenge against the vamps who tore their lives apart?” Brian asked. “Iwould. And if they opt for revenge, they might search for someone who could help them find it.”
“But they still wouldn’t tell anyone aboutus,” Charlie said. “And I think destroying this island and every bastard on it constitutes revenge.”
