Darkness Before Dawn (15 page)

“The guy’s good.”

“He just got lucky.”

“Maybe.”

I hug him hard. I don’t care who’s watching. “I always feel safe when I’m with you.”

“Hey, what’s this?” He puts me at arm’s length and studies me.

I don’t know if it’s the stupid dream, or watching Michael fight so hard for his place as the best soldier in the school, or the craziness of the past couple of days, but I say, “I just want you to know that you’re important to me.”

Michael grins with triumph and pleasure at my words. “I do know.”

“Colt!” Mr. Timmons yells.

“Later,” Michael says, giving me a quick kiss before darting across the gym to where the guys are working out.

I go back to the girls’ side and we finish our drills. I’ve never seen anyone come close to besting Michael, and Sin’s smile, even in defeat, makes me wonder what secrets he brought with him from Los Angeles.

Chapter 15

“P
leeease tell me you’re free after school,” Tegan says, as we settle into our seats for the last class of the day.

“As far as I know,” I say.

“Good, because I want you and Michael to hang out at Daylight Grill with me and Sin.”

“Whoa, that was fast.”

“What can I say? When I see something I want, I take it.”

“And you want Sin?”

“Absolutely. What’s not to want? He’s hot. He’s traveled. I mean, he’s been on the Night Train. And did I mention that he’s hot?”

Only every time that our paths crossed throughout the day.

I start scribbling in my notebook. “Yesterday you were interested in Victor.”

I’m not even sure why I said that, why I brought him up, why I’m drawing two Vs, one on top of the other. I scratch them out.

“That was yesterday,” Tegan says. “Besides, it’s not like I made the best impression on him. With Sin, I have none of the I’m-going-to-be-sick garbage hanging over my head. And everyone’s talking about how he kicked Michael’s butt—”

“Actually, he didn’t,” I hear myself saying, sticking up for my boyfriend automatically. “He might have come close, but Michael won.”

“Still, Sin’s practically a god. And since I’m already a goddess—”

The bell rings, cutting her off. I’ve never seen her react this way to any guy. She always has guys hanging around her, is never without a date on the weekend. But this is different. I can’t tell if it’s a good or a bad thing. I just know I don’t want her to get hurt.

Hanging out with her and Sin will give me a chance to see if he’s good enough for her. After all, she’s my best friend. I want only the best for her.

After school two arms encircle me at my locker. “Guess who?” Michael’s voice is cheery.

I turn into his embrace. He is all smiles as I tell him Tegan’s plan. Apparently he had another class with Sin and they formed a bond of mutual respect.

“The guy can fight,” he says as we wait outside. “He’ll make a good bodyguard if he wants.”

“Not as good as you,” I say loyally.

Tegan and Sin aren’t holding hands as they approach, but they’re so close everyone can see they’re an item already. How does she work so fast? It must be her psychology background; she picks up on signals that fly under my radar and knows how to volley them back.

The attraction between them is obvious. I have to admit that they make a cute couple.

It’s just small talk as we head to the Daylight Grill: boring classes, terrible weather, and the rolling blackouts that have been plaguing the city lately.

“I hope you don’t like your lights too much,” Michael tells his new friend. “They seem to have a mind of their own.”

Once we get inside, it’s an average Tuesday for the place, half the tables taken, kids from school shooting pool, others drinking the famous lemonade. We take a booth in the back and order.

Outside, the sun drops below the horizon, and a hushed calm descends as everyone pretends not to watch. My parents wanted a world where sunsets could be beautiful, instead of feared. I have to remind myself that I want that, too. That’s what I’m fighting for.

“I always hate watching the sun disappear,” Tegan says.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of the dark,” Sin jokes, eyeing her like she could hold back the night.

“I’m fearless,” she parries.

“I like that in a girl,” he assures her.

Michael reaches beneath the table and squeezes my knee. When I glance over, he gives a little eye roll and I wonder if he thinks Sin is trying too hard. Michael and I have always been comfortable together. Our first kiss knocked off our socks, made us really aware of each other in a more-than-friends way, but we never went through a getting-to-know-each-other phase. Or maybe we did, but it was so long ago, and we were kids. We’ve just never had to impress each other.

We eat our burgers; at least, that’s what they look like. Our city now has a gigantic, multistory greenhouse that produces crops year-round. Harvested vegetables are diced up and mixed with artificial flavors to give it the look, taste, and texture of meat. I think it’s delicious, but I’ve never had the real thing, so what do I know?

“So what’s it like to ride on the Night Train?” Michael asks as he takes a fry and dips it in ketchup.

“Pretty awesome,” Sin says. “Especially at night. Lot of vampires out there.”

“Did they attack the train?” Tegan asks.

“Only a couple of times. I think it’s young vamps just being wild. They know it’s impenetrable.”

“I don’t understand why they attack it at all,” I say. “VampHu allows for the train to deliver goods across the country from city to city. If we can’t get the goods we need from other cities … how can we survive? And if we don’t, how will the vamps?”

“I know,” Sin says. “It’s totally crazy, this whole setup. No one obeys VampHu’s laws, not even the vampires who created them. If you ask me, things won’t stay this way forever.”

I feel Michael go into alert mode. “What are you talking about?”

Sin glances around as though afraid of being overheard. “The Night Watchmen are great. We have them in Los Angeles, too, but … there are some underground movements.... I probably shouldn’t discuss it.”

“Is that where you got your training?” Michael asks. “From some underground group?”

Sin grins. “I have a very simple philosophy: If you want something, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get it.”

Tegan beams at the strength in Sin’s voice and inches closer to him in the booth.

It gets kind of quiet while we finish eating. I think Michael and I are trying to decipher exactly what Sin is talking about. When the waitress takes our plates away, Michael challenges Sin to a game of pool.

“Is Sin awesome or what?” Tegan asks me as we trail them to the pool tables.

“Yeah,” I say. “He’s pretty cool. But his whole ‘simple philosophy’ is a little worrying. I assume he’s talking about vigilante groups.”

“Yeah, so?”

Okay. I can tell by her tone that she doesn’t like me questioning Sin. “I have to do everything within the confines of VampHu, so if you’re going to get involved in something …
underground
… don’t tell me, all right?”

“He just got here. He’s not talking rebellion—although I’m not sure that would be such a bad thing.”

Before I can respond, Michael is holding a cue out to me. “So, do we want to play partners or do you ladies just want to watch?”

“Partners,” I say, taking the cue.

“We’re going to kick their butts,” he whispers in my ear, and a familiar thrill shoots through me. We’re a team. Michael and me.

Tegan breaks. She gets a ball in the pocket, misses the next one. I go next, get two good shots before I miss and rejoin Michael against the wall. It’s Sin’s turn, and he’s making the most of it. I watch Tegan’s smile broaden with each ball that Sin sinks.

“He’s good at everything,” Michael says, studying his opponent’s game.

“Kinda like you.”

Appreciation lights his eyes, and he lowers his head to kiss me. I rise up on my toes to meet him and curl an arm around his neck. He moves his mouth over mine with purpose.

“Ahem.”

Michael jerks his head up, and Sin looks at him apologetically. “Sorry, I scratched. It’s your turn.”

“I’m halfway tempted to forfeit.”

“I don’t blame you,” Sin says, and winks at me.

I feel my cheeks warm. I can’t deny he’s charming, but he doesn’t appeal to me in the same manner that Michael does. I watch as Michael strides over to the table, his long legs eating up the distance. There’s a beauty to his movements—whether he’s handling a cue or a stake—that comes from confidence and constant practice.

A few quick strikes and it’s all over. We win. Michael starts racking up the balls for a rematch while Sin goes to the bar and returns with some lemonades. I take a sip, wrinkle my nose. There’s something different about it.

Tegan must have thought so, too, and said something to Sin, because I hear him say, “I had him add a special ingredient.”

Tegan’s eyes widen. “Booze? How did you talk him into that? We’re underage.”

He just grins and says, “I know how to get what I want.”

“You’re all about sin, aren’t you?” she says with a giggle.

He puts his arm around her, draws her in, and kisses her. Based on the dazed look on her face when he pulls back, I think she found the kiss more intoxicating than the drink.

Time gets away from us as we play one game after another—and Tegan drinks one lemonade after another. When waiting for her turn, she leans against Sin like she can’t stand up without his support. I see horrible flashbacks of the party where everything went wrong.

When Sin goes to take his shot, I scoot over to Tegan and whisper in her ear, “Don’t forget what happened the other night.”

“You worry too much.”

“How are you getting home?”

“Sin, of course. Loosen up. Have some fun.”

The last time I did that, we nearly lost our lives. If Victor hadn’t shown up—

And then, as if I conjured him with my thoughts, I see him in the corner of the café.

He’s watching me, and as soon as our eyes meet, he starts to walk toward us.

“Oh, no,” I mutter.

“What?” Tegan glances in the direction I’m looking. Her eyes brighten and she smiles as he arrives. “Hi, Victor.”

“Hello, Tegan.” He looks at me. “Dawn.”

I want to ask him if he’s crazy. How can he just show up here again like he’s … not a vampire? Michael is suddenly at my side, and I can feel the tension radiating off him. If he could, I think he’d mark me as his territory. Maybe he can, because his arm comes around me, clamping me to his side. The message is clear:
She’s with me
. Sin looks up from the shot he was about to take, and I can see speculation in his eyes as he saunters over to join our awkward little group.

“Who are you?” Michael demands.

“Oh, this is Victor,” I say, and make introductions.

“Dawn, I need to talk to you for a minute,” Victor says.

“So talk,” Michael says.

“Privately,” Victor replies, clipping the word sharply and reminding me of his father and how he expects to be obeyed.

“I don’t think so,” Michael says, clearly shifting into protective mode. Maybe even a little jealous.

“Michael—” I begin, not certain how to reassure him, and hating that Victor has put me in this position. But before I can say more, Tegan speaks up.

“It’s okay. It’s probably Agency business. He’s a Night Watchman.” Her eyes go wide and she slaps her hand over her mouth. “Oops! I wasn’t supposed to say that. I’m sorry, Victor, one special lemonade too many, I guess.”

I can tell that Michael is conflicted. He doesn’t like Victor, but if he’s a Night Watchman—how can he not admire him?

“Uh, yeah, Tegan’s right. Agency business. I’ll just be a minute.” I grab Victor’s arm and herd him toward the hallway that leads to the restrooms. When we get to the dimly lit, empty hallway, I whisper harshly, “What were you thinking? Why are you here?”

“I need your help. I was waiting outside your apartment, got impatient, and came looking for you.”

“Victor—”

“I need blood.”

Anger explodes through me. I was so stupid, beginning to wonder if he was different: saving Tegan and me, caring about my encounter with Hoodie, giving me a stupid gift. Like all vampires, he was really after only one thing. “And you think I’m going to become your fang diva? I don’t think so.” There’s a black market for blood donors. People who let vamps—for a fee—take blood directly from the source. Vampires claim that nothing compares to blood taken straight from the neck; as it passes through the still-beating heart it has a warmth and taste unparalleled to anything else. Many vampires protested the blood bank terms of VampHu for that very reason and try to find humans desperate for cash.

But those who serve as blood divas are ostracized. Arrested if caught. All blood donations are supposed to go through the Agency, where control is kept tight.

“Not from you. From the blood bank. About a dozen bags. I figure as a delegate you have access.”

I do.

“Blood will be delivered to your father on Friday. Get it from him then.”

“That’ll be too late.”

I don’t see how it could be. Victor is vibrant, energetic. Hardly the image of a starving vampire. “You’re just like him. Greedy, just wanting to drink all you can.”

Disgusted, I turn to go and he grabs my arm. “Dawn—”

“Get your hand off her,” Michael barks. I didn’t see him arrive, but the fact that his stake is still holstered reassures me that he didn’t hear the crux of the conversation.

The testosterone level is so high that I feel like it’s battering me.

“Victor, please,” I say, my voice low, because I know that if it comes down to a fight, he’ll take Michael out.

“You force me to do what I don’t want to,” he says, his voice equally low. He releases me, spins on his heel, and strides down the hallway to the back exit. The door shudders with the force of him opening and closing it.

I want to rush after him, stop him. Is he going to attack someone, take blood by force? Have I condemned an innocent citizen? I should tell Michael and Sin. They could go after him, but I know by now that he’s disappeared. They’d never find him. Besides, I don’t want to put them in danger.