“I’ve never sired a vampire before, so no, I don’t have tips.”
Vivi turns to him. “But how are you blocking Vaughn?”
“It’s different for me. I do it automatically.”
I let out an exasperated breath. “Maybeyoushould take classes on how to be a better sire.”
“Andyoushould show more respect. I saved your life, and I didn’t have to,” he retorts, snuffing the bravado out of me. He’s right. He did save my life, and here I am giving him attitude. I can only imagine the pressure he must be under.
“Lucca, how can you say that?” Vivi complains.
He shakes his head. “Sorry, love. I shouldn’t have said it. I’m sorry, Vaughn.”
“That’s fine. And I’m sorry too. I think we’re all a bit on edge.”
We don’t speak for a minute or two, but then Lucca lets out a relieved sigh. “Thank heavens.”
I look out the window to see what caught his attention. The Bloodstone Institute building comes into view. That explains his relief. He must be tired of me already.
Vivienne laughs, and Lucca asks, “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.”
I forget about the tension in the car and stare wide-eyed at the Gothic building. “Wow, this is awesome. I feel like I’m Harry Potter when he arrived at Hogwarts.”
“Who?” Lucca asks.
“Wait, you don’t know who Harry Potter is?” I ask, thinking for sure he’s yanking my chain.
But then Lucca glances at Vivi. “Should I?”
“Dude, there isn’t a person on this planet who doesn’t know who he is,” I say.
Grinning, Vivi shakes her head. “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll introduce you to him.”
Lucca is annoyed again. He really needs to learn how to relax.
He drives around the building and parks in the back. There’s someone there waiting for us, a short man with mad-scientist hair.
Once we’re out of the car, I step closer to Vivi and ask in a low tone, “Who is that funny-looking dude? Is he a vampire too?”
“That’s the headmaster, Solomon Corvicus, and shh. He can hear you even if you whisper,” she replies.
Thatderanged-looking man is the headmaster? Yikes.
I’m still staring at him when Lucca throws his arm around Vivi’s shoulders and steers her toward the door.Thanks a lot for waiting, guys.
I take a step to follow them, but Solomon steps in my way and eyes me from head to toe. “Uh, I’d think the first vampire sired after hundreds of years of a drought would at least be brawnier.”
“Hey! I work out.”
He rolls his eyes. “Sure you do. Come on. I have a long list of things to teach you and not enough hours in the night.”
Three
SOPHIE
Ihear noises around me, voices, but I don’t understand the meaning of what’s being said. The words are jumbled and distorted. All I know is that I feel unbearably weak and lost.
