ChapterNine
QUINN
Icannot believe what I’ve just heard.
‘Could you say that again?’ I ask, as something dark and heavy tugs at my stomach. I was already on edge, if I’m honest, what with the midnight stone-throwing and the trespassing on hallowed ground, but the words I think just left Florence’s mouth have utterly thrown me for a loop.
She clears her throat and looks me in the eye. ‘We found some abnormalities in the blood we took from you. There’s evidence of a change in your red blood cells which we thought at first could be some form of anaemia, but upon further testing, it was found that your red blood cells have taken on a very unique shape.’ She pauses, searching my eyes for a moment before saying, ‘It’s one we’ve seen before, but only ever in cases of vampirism.’
Yep, that’s what I thought she said the first time.
This is a dream, right? One of those ones that’s good at the beginning but slowly turns into a nightmare. That’s the only reasonable explanation here.
Right?
‘You’re saying I’m a vampire?’ I manage to say, my voice so choked I barely even recognise it. But Florence shakes her head.
‘That’s the thing– normally it’s a small part of a whole pattern of changes in your blood, but in your samples the change is isolated.’
She’s lost me. I’m not particularly knowledgeable when it comes to biology, to say the least. I’m more of a practical skills kind of guy. But surely vampire blood is vampire blood?
‘I don’t get it,’ I say, latching onto her gaze like it’s a lifeline. I can hear the tremor in my voice and I hate it. ‘Explain it to me like I’m five years old.’
She nods, slipping a cold hand into mine. I’d be overthinking that far more if I weren’t currently absolutely freaking out. I’m too far gone to even think about flirting.
‘Part of your blood thinks it’s undead,’ she says. ‘Every other part of you is still human. You’re in limbo, essentially.’
The breath I pull in is ragged, catching at my chest as it expands. ‘So, am I human or am I a vampire?’
She shrugs. ‘Both? Neither?’ There’s apology in her tone like she herself has caused this, though of course that can’t be true. Her hand in mine is the most physical contact we’ve ever had. ‘We’re not sure yet. Cam is working with some of our contacts on getting you answers as soon as possible.’
‘Contacts?’
She nods. ‘A network of vampires high up in the health service. They’re doing everything they can to figure out how to help you.’
The quiet urgency in her voice speeds my pulse. My heart jumps and flutters in my chest like it’s reminding me I’m still human.
Mostly.
Hopefully.
‘Do Ineedhelp?’ I ask. ‘Can’t I just, you know,be?’
Florence takes a deep breath and blows it out all at once. ‘Our concern is that the current shape of your cells is hampering oxygenation of your healthy human tissues.’ She sees the confusion on my face and winces. ‘Sorry, I’ll simplify that for you. The parts of you that are still human rely on oxygen to function properly, and the new shape of your red blood cells makes them less effective at carrying it. That’s why you’ve been getting symptoms.’
I work it through in my head and, very slowly, the pieces start to come together. All of a sudden it becomes obvious. I’ve been getting a rash in sunlight, for fuck’s sake. I’ve seen that happen to Bram with my own eyes, and I never even considered the possibility.
But of course I didn’t. Why would I? Bram told me that turning someone was a very deliberate act– something you would definitely remember. And I definitely don’t.
‘How could this happen?’ I ask her. ‘I was never bitten.’
Well, not that I know of.
She nods slowly, contemplatively. ‘We don’t quite understand that ourselves. A simple bite is not enough to transition anyway, there has to be direct blood-to-blood transmission.’ Her eyes search mine, pupils blown wide in the darkness. ‘Quinn, somebodydidthis to you.’ She breathes out a humourless laugh. ‘Or they tried, anyway.’
Her words send a shockwave through me, my brain immediately kicking into self-defence. As of right now, I know exactly six vampires: Bram and his wife Lucy, his uncle Wladek, his old friend Elias, and Florence and Cameron. I would trust the first four with my life.
So when the panic and denial hits– and it hitshard– I take it out on Florence. I’m not proud of it, but that’s what happens.
