Chapter 7
SEVEN
I gazed out the motel window, watching as the moon dipped lower in the sky.
Dawn would soon break, and then I could find some rest. I missed the sun.
Its absence in my life felt like a void.
A missing limb. I longed for its warmth on my skin, for the sight of flowers unfolding and dancing beneath it.
I yearned for those moments when everything was alive, not just under the moon.
My mind lingered on how the sun used to illuminate the strands of Vail’s hair.
Now that she was back, her presence opened a gate of memories we shared, and my mind dwelled on thoughts of her.
Fifteen years had passed since our last encounter when we parted on a sour note after spending a long lifetime together. Never did I anticipate that Vail and I would remain separated for more than a few months, let alone years.
My thoughts were abruptly cut off by a loud banging on the motel door.
I pushed myself off the bed and moved toward it, my fingers briefly pausing on the chained lock as I listened intently.
After a moment of hesitation, I unlocked the chain and swung open the door. Why was I hesitating? I was a Vampire.
Vail stood in the doorway, arms crossed, a smile playing at the corners of her lips as she caught sight of me. She breezed past into the room and flopped down onto the bed, bouncing a little as if testing the springs. “This bed is awful,” she marked.
“Make yourself at home.” Sarcasm laced my voice. I was aware that Vail had a talent for making herself comfortable in any situation.
I stood close to her, not sure whether or not to sit next to her on the bed. I was angry about her leaving me at the lake. “Why are you here?”
She surveyed the room. “I need your help with something.”
I felt a pang of embarrassment as I looked at my sparse belongings. My life had been condensed into a single suitcase, and I no longer owned anything sentimental. Everything in my life had either been sold, given away, lost, or abandoned.
“I’m leaving town soon.”
“I know, Rosie, but this matter affects you … It affects us all.”
“What is it?”
“My friend George believes there is a new kind of weapon circulating.”
That piqued my interest. “What kind of weapon?”
“The silent Vampire-killing kind. We’ve been here for a couple of months investigating together, but it’s harder to track than we originally thought.”
“So, you lied to me when you said you were just passing through?” I asked.
“That’s what you take away from this? Not ‘Oh, Vail, what’s the weapon?’ but ‘Why did you lie to me?’”
“Yeah.”
“Yes, Rosalia, I lied to you. Are you happy now?” She crossed her arms. “I didn’t want to ruin your night. And to be fair, I am heading back home as soon as I can. This is just a minor bump in the road.”
“I wish you’d told me.”
“I need your help, Rosie. I couldn’t believe it when I saw you last night. It’s been so long since we last saw each other, and I didn’t know what to do. I tried getting closer. My mind was frazzled, I wasn’t thinking straight, and then you started chasing me,” Vail admitted.
I wasn’t ready to play “Let’s catch up” with Vail just yet. “What’s the weapon?”
“When I met George a couple of months ago, we had a group of friends who all died one night after a hunt. They didn’t have any wounds on them, and the sun didn’t kill them or anything.
We were so distraught. And then we discovered that someone had created a drug that humans take so that if a Vampire drinks from them, it kills us. ”
My chest tightened as her words hit me. “A silent way to kill Vampires.”
“Yeah, and from what we’ve found, there is no way for us to detect it until it’s too late.”
“What does it do to you?”
“From what I’ve seen, Vampires who fully feed just drop dead. I think it happened to me once after feeding. I didn’t drain the human; it was just a small snack, but then I puked my guts up and felt dizzy. I’m pretty sure the drug was in their system.”
Holy shit. My skin felt clammy, and my face paled. That’s exactly what happened to me last night. Oh god! If I had drunk more or killed anyone, I could have died.
“That’s really scary,” I breathed, sitting next to her on the bed. I decided not to tell Vail about last night. It had been so long since I’d last seen her, and I didn’t know if I could trust her … yet.
“Yeah, it was.” Vail took a deep breath. “So, I’m wondering … would you consider staying in town longer to help George and me with this?”
I hesitated, contemplating my recent nomadic lifestyle of indulgence and detachment. Perhaps a change of pace wouldn’t hurt, at least for a while.
“Please, Rosie, it would be really helpful. And it would be nice to catch up.” She reached for my hand, and I instantly pulled it back. I could see the hurt flash in her eyes, and the sight triggered a wave of nostalgia, a distant echo from a past life.
“Why haven’t I heard about this drug before?” I asked, trying to shake off the awkwardness.
“It’s new and from what we’ve found out, it only seems to be around Lakeview and the next town over. We want to stop it before it spreads everywhere.”
I sat there for a moment, contemplating.
I looked around the small motel room, at the mildew spots on the ceiling and the grimy stains on the carpet.
I’d spent months moving from town to town, having fun, drinking blood, and leaving a mess of bodies behind.
If I helped Vail, then I could be on my way again, and I wouldn’t have to worry about this drug spreading to wherever I end up next. I would be helping myself, too.
“Okay, I’ll help you,” I agreed.
She squealed with excitement. “Yay! Rosie, thank you so much! It’ll be just like old times.” She got up and took my suitcase, throwing it on the bed and tossing my clothes and shoes into it.
“Vail, what are you doing?”
“If you’re going to help me, then you can stay at my house. It’ll be easier, plus way more fun.”
I instantly regretted saying yes. But I didn’t see much choice in the matter, especially since she was already packing my bag.
Once Vail was done, I followed her out the door, and she tossed my bag into the backseat of her car.
We drove to the lake to pick up my car, and she instructed me to follow her back to her house.
As we drove, the sky turned from a dark blue to a soft purple behind me. I didn’t like to cut it so close. Usually, I tried to be asleep well before the sun started to rise.
We arrived at Vail’s, pulling in through an old iron gate and up a long, steep driveway. I laughed to myself, thinking the kids in Lakeview probably thought a witch lived here.
Little do they know.
I looked up at the Victorian-style house. The indigo paint was old and faded from the sun, but the garden reminded me so much of her grandmother’s old garden, overflowing with herbs and flowers. Even in the winter months, they flourished.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Vail said, elbow-deep in her purse as though it were larger on the inside. At last, she fished out the keys. “But I’m just house-sitting while the owners are on an extended vacation.” She winked and slipped through the door.
The sky was painted in dark shades of pink as the sun began to rise on the horizon. I lingered, waiting as the first rays of light filtered through the trees. The familiar burn crept across my skin, and before it could intensify, I stepped inside and shut the door behind me.
The house was brimming with clutter. The walls were adorned with paintings and diagrams of plants, while books were stacked haphazardly on the floor.
Herbs hung drying in various corners and doorways.
My fingers brushed over an ornate brass box on the entryway table.
Vail always liked collecting little trinkets and items from her travels.
“Do you want anything to drink?” Vail’s voice called out from the kitchen.
Entering the living room, she handed me a mug. I took a sip, letting the warmth slide down my throat and settle in my belly. It wasn’t the same as fresh blood but thank God for microwaves. I couldn’t stand cold blood.
“There’s more in the fridge if you need it. I’ll go get the extra coffin set up for you to sleep in today.” Her voice was laced with amusement.
“Very funny.” I let out a chuckle as I took another sip from the mug.
Vail led me down a hallway lined with doors. I stopped at one and listened, hearing snoring inside. “Is there someone in there?”
“Yeah, that’s George’s room.” She opened the door across from his into a small room with a double bed in the middle. The windows were large but covered, and the walls were a dark purple colour. “This can be your room.”
I put my bag down on the bed. Vail was still standing in the doorway.
She scratched her neck, “Do you need anything else before I go to sleep?”
I felt uncomfortable, but I needed to know. “Do you still have the necklace I gave you?”
Vail’s eyes softened. “Yes, I still have it.”
“But you don’t wear it anymore?”
Vail shook her head. “It didn’t seem right after you left. Besides, I’ve always preferred the night.” She started to close the door before pausing to look back at me.
“I’ve missed you, Rosie.” A tinge of sadness laced her voice, and she closed the door before I could answer.
I lay down in bed, and my mind buzzed with questions as people and memories from my past whirled through my mind. My thoughts drifted into my dreams, and for the first time in months, I slept without locking my door.