Chapter 56. Lorena #2
“The vampires are all gone,” I remind him, even though that’s not true. One remains.
“They could come back any moment,” says Zach. “We have no idea how any of this works.”
My heart inflates at just the suggestion that William could return soon, and it makes me feel like the ultimate traitor.
I wonder if that’s how William felt when he went against his kind to protect me and our friends.
“I think Zach’s right,” says Tiffany with a heavy exhale. “We can’t be sure we’re safe here.”
“Well, I’m coming,” says Trevor, ever defiant. “I hope a vampire shows up. I’ll be ready. And then I’ll get proof.”
He doesn’t add for the Legion, but I know that’s what he means.
“If we can get proof, we’ll actually have a story to report,” says Tiffany, sitting up.
“We could also get killed,” Zach points out.
“What about you?” Trevor asks me. “Will you and Salma come back?”
The fact that he assumes whatever we do, we’ll do as a team, makes my eyes sting. I look away from him and meet Tiffany’s gaze.
She looks as crushed as I feel.
“Salma’s not coming back,” I say, and the tears burn as they draw salty trails across my raw skin. “Sal’s mom … she had a very rare and deadly autoimmune disease. It’s hereditary, and Sal’s condition is … pretty advanced. She—she doesn’t have long.”
“To live?” asks a bewildered Trevor. He tries springing to his feet, like he might take off right now, on foot, to reach her. But he falls over on his bad leg and winces. “Fuck!”
“What are you talking about?” Tiffany snaps at me. “She’s going into treatment! She said her mom lived years—”
“She was just trying to make it seem less bad than it was.” It doesn’t even feel like I’m lying because it’s true—I’ve lost Salma.
“Her doctor told her over break that she’s beyond treatment,” I add in a low voice. “She knew she had only weeks left, and she wanted to spend them with us.”
Tiffany starts to cry, and Zach puts an arm around her shoulders. “Why … why wouldn’t she say anything?” asks a despondent Trevor, his eyes shiny.
“She’s not big on goodbyes,” I say gently. “But if she didn’t really care about you guys, it wouldn’t be this hard for her.”
We’re all quiet for a while, and it occurs to me that Salma could be watching us even now. As I look around for her, I let my gaze settle on a black car crossing through the gate and heading up the driveway, no doubt to pick up one of our classmates.
“What the hell?”
Trevor’s question seems to rouse all of us from our separate thoughts. He wipes his eyes with the back of his sleeve, then he reaches for the crutches and pulls himself onto his feet. He swings forward, toward a tall man with gray curls who just got out of the back seat of the black car.
I grab Trevor’s bag and carry it with me as I trail after him.
“Sir, what are you doing here?” he asks the man. Is that his father?
“Director Minaro reached out. She said you were hurt, so I took the first flight out. I was hoping … we could talk. I said some things I’m not proud of—” He stops speaking when he notices me listening, and Trevor turns to look at me, too.
“Sorry,” I say. “I just wanted to bring you your bag.”
“Thanks,” says Trevor, and he slings it across his shoulder.
“I’m Richard Cross, Trevor’s father.” Mr. Cross extends a hand to me, his coat sleeve exposing a Rolex.
“Lorena Navarro,” I say, and he frowns like the name is familiar. “Daughter of Viviana Navarro,” I supply.
“Right, of course,” he says, beaming a winning smile. “Any winter break plans?”
“Just trying to decide what I want to do after graduation,” I say, an idea striking me on the spot. “I’m taking a gap year and looking for an internship.”
“Well, if you’re interested in the world of finance and investments, you can check in with my firm,” he says, and he hands me a business card.
“Thanks,” I say, pocketing it. Then I turn to Trevor and give him my phone. “Save your number?”
“Sure.” When he’s done, we hug.
Tiffany and Zach come over with Trevor’s suitcase. They hug Trevor goodbye, too.
“Anyone need a ride?” asks Mr. Cross.
“We’re good,” I say, and we watch the car as it drives off. I wonder if Trevor is going to tell his dad about the vampires or if he’ll wait until he has proof.
I look down at the business card in my hand. BLACKFIRE INVESTMENTS. RICHARD CROSS, CEO.
I think of the Legion of Fire’s logo: Black flames and red smoke.
“Hey … can we talk?” Tiffany asks me, and Zach takes this as his cue to amble back to where we left our bags.
“Sure,” I say, squinting at her because the sun is too bright and my eyes are puffy from so much sobbing.
“Why didn’t William erase our memories of the vampires before he went back into hibernation?”
“He left that choice to me,” I say, since I can’t mention Salma. “And you were right—I did put you all in danger. I don’t want to do that again.”
“Are we actually in agreement then?” she asks.
“For once,” I say, and we share a small grin. Then I look at the business card in my hand.
William and the vampires aren’t the only ones whose trajectories changed as a result of what happened. Now there’s a small group of humans who know for a fact that vampires exist and will be coming back. My friends and I are the only people who can give the Legion—and the world—a heads-up.
And I have evidence. Hidden on a thumb drive in my room. Even Salma doesn’t know about that.
“Why’d you take Trevor’s dad’s business card?” asks Tiffany as we walk back toward Zach.
“I don’t have any plans for next year. So I’m looking into internships.”
I want to tell her about the Legion, and that Trevor’s family’s involved, and that I think the best next step is for us to get close to that organization and learn if they’re trustworthy. Then I can decide what to do with the evidence I have to protect future generations of humanity.
But I can’t say any of that yet.
The last vampire could be listening.