Page 40 of Blood that Burns
When I awoke, my head was on his shoulder and drool was caked to my chin.
Ugh. Humiliating.
But that’s the last thing I’m concerned about, looking through the metal bars at my best friend. She’s crouched over a pile of pictures, lost in her own head, oblivious to our presence.
“Should I call out her name?” I look to Law and then Anderson, the vampire that’s looking over Shannon.
“She can’t hear you. She has earbuds in,” the man explains, looking at my dearest friend. For the rough exterior and unfriendly disposition Anderson has portrayed since we arrived, his voice when speaking of Shannon is soft... protective.
He likes her.
“She’s listening to recordings of her parents’ voices.”
I choke back a sob. Shannon has always been so close to her family. The thought that she might not be able to see them again hurts my heart. Why did this have to happen to her?
Marina steps next to me and links our fingers together, then calls out to Shan.
When she turns to get a look at us, a range of emotions sweeps across her face. She recognizes me, and all the tension in my shoulders releases along with the breath I’d been holding.
“How? H-how are you here? How is this possible? We thought you died.”
A tear slides down my cheek and I swipe it away. It’s a mix of happy and sad as I’m reunited with my friend but remember how everything has changed for her. She’s a vampire.
“It’s a long story. I promise you, I’ll tell you all about it, but right now, I want to know how you are.”
“Oh, you know, living the vampire dream.”
Bitterness oozes from every word she speaks, and it’s a sentiment I understand in my own way. I might not be a vampire, but I’ve lived a life clouded by their existence and the implication my knowing brought on me and my family. On my friends. It caused Marina and I to have to push them all away. For their safety.
“I want to hug you.” I look to Anderson and then to Law. “Can we go in there?”
A mere minute or so later, I’m finally able to hold Shannon in my arms and the dam I’ve been holding back crashes through. Emotion overtakes us both as we get our second chance at friendship despite our former selves having died in some capacity.
We spend the next hour catching up. Marina informs us that Julian has help watching over our parents as well as the rest of Liberty. Since there was so much vampire activity there over the past year, it’s likely that others will be drawn there as well. We don’t want anyone else to be victims.
Marina steps away to help Anderson with something, and I turn to Shannon.
“So what’s up there?” My head nods toward the cell door where Anderson’s back is to us.
A blush stains her cheeks and her eyes lower to the ground as she picks at invisible lint. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
My mouth twitches. “Oh, you know exactly what I mean. Spill it, Cline.”
“He’s been a huge help in getting me back to myself. There were others before, but none of them have taken the time like Neil has.”
“He’s intense.”
She snickers. “He is, but he’s gentle with me. He’s been through a lot, Mags. He gets what I’m going through better than anyone.”
“I’m glad he’s helping you. I can’t imagine what it’s been like.”
She doesn’t say anything, and I don’t press. Today has gone so well, and I don’t want to trigger anything to set her back.
“Are you going to tell me what’s up with you and the sexy vampire prince and why he stands over you like some bodyguard?”
I snort. “Sounds about right. He’s always been concerned about keeping me safe. That’s all.”
“Why do you seem sad, Mags? You’re back. You’re human...”