Chapter 5

The trip home that next afternoon seemed to take entirely too long. It was 3 hours back to Natchez, and I was ready to bang my head against the dash by the time David turned down my driveway.

Danni and Ben kept sneaking worried glances at me when they thought I wasn’t paying attention; Ross slept; and despite David’s valiant effort at lighthearted conversation, you could cut the tension with a knife. They all looked at me differently; it was subtle, but there was definitely a change…then, again, maybe I was just imagining it. Either way, I was more than ready to be home.

Until I actually got home, and it dawned on me that I was going to have to explain all this to my parents. No way were they not going to notice my bruised face, or the fact that I wasn’t wearing the same clothes I left in.

I did my best to finger-comb my messy hair, my stomach beginning to churn. I was getting sick and tired of rehashing everything over and over again. Maybe I should write up a statement and start passing them out, so I didn’t have to keep telling the story…or lying.

But is it really lying, though?

I had admitted that someone else was in the alley – I just didn’t say exactly what he was. That’s just an omission, not technically a lie…right? Besides, keeping the truth to myself was for everyone else’s own safety. No one wanted to be running around knowing there were real vampires out in the world. I would be a terrible person to burden them with that. At least, that’s what I told myself.

I mumbled a quick goodbye to my friends, then stood on the porch for a minute, watching David’s blue Dodge truck disappear down the road. I didn’t want to go inside now that I was here, but it was inevitable, so I bit the bullet, and trudged through the door.

Probably too much to hope for that I can make it through the living room and down the hall without Mom noticing me…

And I was right. No such luck. Our black lab, Sydney, was already waiting at the front door, tail wagging furiously, as I pushed the screen door open. “Hey, girl,” I whispered, reaching down and scratching behind her ears. She cocked her head to the side as she looked up at me – like she knew something wasn’t quite right.

I could hear my mom in the kitchen, and since my dad’s big rig wasn’t in the drive, I knew he wasn’t home. At least I’d only have to do damage control with one parent.

Unless I can get to my room quick, before Mom sees me… I turned to dart down the hallway…

“Hey there!” her voice called out. “You’re just in time; supper will be ready soon.”

“Uh…ok,” I called back, still holding on to the hope I could get away…

“So, your dad called earlier,” she began, stopping me in mid-step. “He won’t be home this week; got a long haul – What the hell are you wearing?!” And just like that, the jig was up. Mid-sentence and she’d spotted me.

Dang it. I looked longingly down the hall at my bedroom door, and debated on pretending that I didn’t hear her…

“Shelly – I asked you a question,” She stated, a bit firmer. “What are you wearing, and what happened to your clothes?”

Uh...think fast!

“The clothes are Michael’s,” I blurted.

“Ok. And why are you in Michael’s clothes? You know what – nevermind. I probably don’t want to know.”

I breathed out a sigh of relief, ready to make a run for it. It’s not like I was scared of my mom, I just didn’t want to talk anymore.

“Wait – what are those scratches? Oh my God, why is your arm all bruised?” She sounded closer now. She must have left the kitchen and crossed through the living room. “What aren’t you telling me?”

My shoulders slumped. I knew I was going to have to turn around, and I knew she was going to freak out when she saw my face. I took a deep breath. “Ok – so, promise you’ll try and remain calm.”

“Oh, Lord,” she sighed out, and I knew without even looking that she was standing with one hand on her hip, bracing for whatever I was about to unload on her.

“Ok – so, there was a thing…that happened, and…” I trailed off, realizing that sounded stupid, and totally inaccurate. “I mean, so it’s really not as bad as it seems – ok, that’s not entirely true-“

“Would you just spit it out?” I could feel her eyes boring into the back of my head, and I could hear both the worry in her tone ratcheting up and her patience wearing thinner.

“Do I have to?” I asked. I was just stalling now.

“The only things you ‘have’ to do, is die and pay taxes,” she responded. “However, you can make this easy and tell me now, or wait until I find out on my own – which I will.”

She would. She always did. I never quite figured out how, but neither me, my brother, nor my sister had ever been able to keep much hidden from our mom.

I turned around.

For the next half hour, I watched the tiny bundle that was my mother come un-glued; all five feet, one hundred pounds of her. Her reaction had sent Sydney running for cover, and she now looked on from the safety of her dog bed, her black eyes shifting nervously from me to the madwoman who paced back and forth in the living room. I had to recount for what felt like the millionth time the events of the night before, a flurry of expressions crossing my mom’s features, before settling into a permanent scowl.

“And why didn’t anyone bother to call me and let me know what was going on?!” She asked, furiously. Her initial concern had receded a bit since I was standing right there in front of her and she could see me and touch me and know I was basically okay. Now she was just pissed.

“There was nothing you could have done, mom-“

“That’s not the point!” she interrupted, sternly. “I am your mother! Someone should have let me know! Danni should have, at least!” Her hands were back on her hips and her foot tapped frantically against the floor. “Wait – does Carolyn know? Or Pam? Or Janis? Did any of you bother to tell anyone?!”

I groaned inwardly. Honestly, I didn’t know if Danni had contacted her mom, or David’s, or Ben’s. I hadn’t asked. I somehow doubted it, though. All of our mom’s had tempers and tended to react passionately to things. If she hadn’t called mine, then she probably hadn’t called theirs, either. Especially, since I was the only one who was actually harmed. Plus, we were all legally adults, but I didn’t think now was the right time to point that out.

“And what about the police? What did they say? They ruled it self-defense, right?” she continued, her tone changing slightly from angry to worry.

“I don’t know; I mean, I think so,” I pinched the bridge of my nose, my eyes closing as my head started to pound again. “I’m kinda fuzzy on that part. They questioned me at the hospital, but I don’t remember much…” I paused. “Can I just…can I just go lie down? My head is killing me, mom.”

Her posture and voice softened, as she relented. She followed me to my room, hovering as she handed me Tylenol and water. I could tell she didn’t want to leave, that she was brimming with more questions, but I had nothing more to give at the moment.

“I’m fine, mom; it’s fine, everything is fine.” That’s the best I could do, as far as reassurance. I kicked off my shoes and curled up on my bed, pulling my comforter around me, and throwing my arm over my eyes. I felt her presence for a minute or two, before I heard my door softly close.

Even though I was finally alone and had the peace and quiet I had been desperately craving, my mind wouldn’t shut up. It kept replaying scenes from the attack, and a hundred questions gnawed away at me.

Could I have done anything differently? Probably.

I could have bailed the minute that dread came over me…But where would I have gone? All my friends were partying it up for Danni’s birthday – oh crap! I ruined her birthday!

Ugh…

I’m going to have to call her later and apologize…

I rolled over and curled into a ball, my uninjured cheek burrowing into the pillow. I fixed my eyes on the window, catching glimpses of the bright pink flowers on the azalea bush outside. Again, the thought of what I had done, how I had reacted in that alley, crawled through my mind. I felt guilty for the blood on my hands, for the taking of a life; but I also felt guilty because I didn’t regret it. Deep down, I knew if I was in that situation again, I would do the same thing. Did that make me a monster?

Speaking of…

I couldn’t help but wonder why ‘he’ intervened. No doubt, that other guy would have probably shot me – I mean, I was paralyzed with shock at the time and made an easy target…but the vampire stepped in and stopped him...

But, why, though? Why was he still hanging around afterwards? What did he want?

Maybe I know too much…maybe I’m next on the menu…

Nah. He could have easily taken me out if that’s what he wanted…

But, if that wasn’t it, then why had he followed me? Would I ever see him again?

What the hell?!? He’s a VAMPIRE! A real, live, fucking vampire!

Yeah? So?

I couldn’t even pretend that I was surprised that part of me wanted to see him again. Not only to prove to myself that I wasn’t completely unhinged and imagining things, but also for the sheer thrill and adrenaline rush. I mean – how many people get to say they’ve seen a real vampire, and lived? How awesome is that?

Maybe I am a little bit crazy…

I was floating in the darkness – somewhere between sleep and awake. I had been dreaming…there were eyes…so pretty…a strange, purple color…

My own eyes snapped open. I looked around the familiar room – the walls covered in photos and posters and concert tickets – none of which I could see clearly since it had grown dark outside. My door was still closed, the lights off; I could hear the distant sound of the television in the living room, which meant my mom was still up. I glanced at the digital clock next to my bed, the glowing red numbers reading 10:34 pm.

I sat up, yawning, then immediately grimacing in pain. My face hurt like a son-of-a-bitch. I supposed I was lucky the blow hadn’t broken any bones, but still…ouch. I was hesitantly testing the limits of just how much I could move my jaw without pain, when I realized what had awakened me.

Goosebumps rose over my arms, my neck tingled, and awareness rolled over me in waves. It was the same presence I’d felt in Jackson Square, the same presence I’d felt at Michael’s apartment – only it felt stronger…or maybe I was just more attuned to it now…

He’s here!

I slid off the bed and crept towards the window, pale moonlight filtering in through the curtains. My gaze swept over the driveway and the pasture, but I saw nothing unusual. The only sounds were my own breathing and the incessant chorus of crickets.

“Where are you?” I whispered, my breath lightly fogging up the windowpane. “I know you’re there; I can feel you.” I had no idea why I was speaking, and I felt a tad idiotic, standing there talking to nothing. Maybe he couldn’t even hear me.

Maybe you’re just imagining things…

But I wasn’t, and I knew it. My sixth sense had never been wrong. I didn’t always listen to it and that tended to get me in trouble, but that was on me, not my abilities. I stood there a few more minutes, just waiting for something – anything – to happen; but it didn’t. I closed my eyes and concentrated, wondering if I could connect again, the way I had at Michael’s apartment – but again, nothing happened.

The sensation of ‘him’ remained, but it seemed to fade just a bit; as though he had put some distance between us, and I exhaled, slightly relieved…and slightly annoyed.

You’re a glutton for punishment, I thought, as I pulled the curtains closed and crawled back into bed.

I know.