Dirty Blood Boxed Set, Includes, page 108
“She said she has some questions for you. She’ll find you later,” Mom added.
This was news. Grandma had yet to really question me on anything that’d happened that day. She’d been there when I’d given my initial recounting of events and that had been good enough for her. It made me wonder what had changed to make her want to bring it up again. The thought of Steppe having made any sort of progress in his witch hunt exhausted me.
“Fine,” I said.
Something about my tone, the weariness in it, must’ve caught my mother’s attention. She turned away from Vera to study my face. “Have you been here long?”
I shrugged. “I sat with Alex for a couple of hours before coming in here.”
“I’ll sit with Vera. Go grab some food and fresh air. Hopefully Grandma will be here when you get back.”
“Mom, I’m fine—”
“Humor me. There aren’t any kitchen appliances to scrub if my worry spikes.”
I smiled at that. “All right. You want me to bring you something?”
“No, I’m fine. Go,” she said, waving me away.
I hesitated a moment longer, watching as she pulled a chair across the scuffed linoleum and sat next to the bed. In profile, I was struck by how much my mother resembled Vera. I’d never noticed, although I’d never really looked either. The shape of her chin and nose, slim and narrow and almost regal in the way they held their heads up, made it impossible to deny the relation.
It made me sad. I’d only recently come to know Vera and already, I was losing her.
I was always losing people.
As I made my way down the hall, my phone rang. I fumbled with it a moment, my fingers clumsy in their haste to silence it inside the hospital’s walls. The two nurses at the desk shot me dirty looks but I ignored them once I read the incoming name. I accepted the call with a smile and quickened my pace, heading for the closest exit.
“Hey, Angela,” I said.
“Tara, wow, it’s good to hear your voice. How are you? What did I miss? Any change? Is he awake?”
Angela had been gone for the past ten days. Family vacation. Even though she’d been allowed to keep her memories and knowledge of my world, family vacation was sacred. She’d had to leave and forfeit cell phone reception since towers were scarce in the part of Mexico her family visited. She’d tried calling a few times but it was always so patchy and full of static, I wasn’t sure how much of my words got through.
It was good to hear her voice, uninterrupted by static and dead air.
“Sam’s got a new crush,” I said.
Angela snorted. “I asked what I missed,” she said and we both laughed.
Sam had stayed but I hadn’t really spoken to her much. She remembered nothing since Wes did his memory-wiping thing, probably good after her breakdown the night Olivia’s hybrids went after her and Angela. Alex had saved them both and been rewarded with a stab in the leg from Angela, who didn’t know whether he was a friend or enemy in the confusion and shock of all she’d seen.
The blast of warm air on my cheeks as I exited the hospital helped too. “No change,” I told her. She sighed and I sensed her disappointment. I appreciated her concern for Alex. It was amusing to see a sort of friendship developing on her end, especially after she’d basically tried to kill him. “There’s something else, too.”
I told her about Vera and Nick, abbreviating the second part as much as possible, downplaying the violence that had overcome him at the end. I didn’t want to scare her, but I needed to vent. I paced back and forth on the sidewalk that led to the parking garage. The area was empty of foot traffic, but I kept my voice low anyway.
“I think I need to move them but I have no idea where,” I said.
“Tara, I hate to say it, but even if you move them, if they lose themselves and go off the deep end, there will always be a town close enough for them to hurt someone.”
Angela’s words were gentle, but the stark truth of them still stung. She was right. There was nowhere I could take them that would protect the rest of the world, not completely. And what about protecting them from themselves? If one of them lost it, I felt the pain like it was my own. Even now, with my mind engaged in conversation with Angela and the worry for Vera and Alex that lay under that, I could still hear the hum of voices and feel the emotions of the pack as they settled in for the night. There was no escaping the bond.
Or the almost subconscious hunger they all struggled with, for something they kept telling themselves they couldn’t have. What happened when one of them stopped believing that?
“You’re right, but I … I can’t let them hurt others. Or themselves. I feel it all, Ang.”
“That must be exhausting,” she said. “Is that Chris guy still helping?”
“Yes. They listen to him. And George. He’s a big help.”
“George, a big help. Who would’ve guessed? How’s he doing?”
“George is great. Better than great. He loves being a Werewolf and now that he’s got his shifting under control, he’s back home with his parents.”
“They didn’t wonder where he’d been?”
“Sports camp, remember,” I said wryly.
“They bought it?”
“Wes may have helped sell it,” I said cryptically, but Angela chuckled. We both knew what that meant. “Things are good for him now. He even has a few wolfy admirers.”
“George is being responsible and moving on from Tara Godfrey? We’ve officially entered the Twilight Zone.”
“I don’t think he’s noticed his admirers.”
“Maybe someone should point them out.”
“One thing at a time. Let’s be happy the moving on part is happening.”
Angela laughed. “Agreed. And the bond between you?”
“Crystal clear. Always on.”
“How’s Wes doing with that?”
“How do you think?”
“Struggling.”
“Good guess,” I said and she laughed. “No, really, he’s good, he’s—”
A hand closed over my shoulder and I jumped and whirled around. It was Wes. With Grandma behind him—and something about Grandma’s expression made me nervous.
“He’s here, actually. Let me call you back.”
“Okay. Is it all right if I come by the hospital tomorrow? Can you get me in to see Alex?”
“Um, I can try.” I had no idea how I’d get a human into the Hunter wing, but that was something I could figure out later. “Call me when you’re heading over and I’ll meet you.”
“Sounds good.”
As soon as I disconnected, Grandma pulled my face close and planted a kiss on my cheek. That, more than anything else, let me know something was up. Grandma wasn’t the type to display affection unless there was a reason.
I slid my hand into Wes’s. “What’s up?” I asked.
“Your momma said you need to eat,” Grandma said.
“I was on my way when Angela called. What’s going on? I know you didn’t come all the way out here to lecture me on missing a meal.”
She stared at something over my shoulder, as if considering her next words carefully. I glanced at Wes for some clue. From the glow of the white lights lining the landscape beside us, his eyes sparkled with things unspoken.
Grandma looked back at me. “Let’s go eat.”
I knew better than to argue.
We wound up in the hospital cafeteria. I wasn’t hungry enough to care how bad the food might be here and I didn’t want to waste any more time. It was clear Grandma had something to say and that she wasn’t going to say it until we were settled at a table with a plate in front of us.
I ordered a cold-cut sandwich. It looked the safest. The hot food, a turkey and gravy entrée that looked as if it’d been sitting for longer than Alex had been here, made my stomach recoil. Wes bought himself a soda, no food. Grandma didn’t seem to care whether he ate. I gave him a dirty look.
We found seats in the corner of the room, closed off by a loudly humming vending machine. Grandma watched me expectantly so I took a bite of the sandwich and made a production of chewing.
“Tell me,” I said around a mouthful of food.
It must’ve satisfied her because she finally began. “They started the inquiry into the events in the woods,” she said.
I frowned. “I thought they’ve been doing that.”
“No, not officially. We’ve been digging farther back, trying to figure out what Olivia’s been doing with herself all these years, her connection to Miles and all that.”
“She’s his mother. What other connection do they need?”
“How she met Leo. When her intentions turned nefarious. Did she know what Miles and Leo intended to do with the hybrids? Did she have a hand in the actual kidnapping and turning of Hunters and humans?”
“Obviously I would make a terrible investigator. What’s the story?”
“She didn’t know. At least, not until it was too late. Her contact with Miles was very recent. Hadn’t spoken to Leo in years. I don’t think Leo ever intended to make a relationship out of it. He wanted offspring. Mixed offspring.” Grandma’s eyes flickered to Wes. “Leo might’ve been the first to do it but he never said a word to anyone. Even after the attack and your parents—he never said a word. We always thought you two were it.”
“Why didn’t Olivia come forward?” I asked. “She must’ve realized at some point that Leo wanted a son so he could use him. And her.”
“I think she tried to stay hidden. Protect Miles from Leo. It worked for a while, but then Leo found them and took Miles.”
“And she still didn’t ask for help? She’s a Hunter. CHAS would’ve gladly gone after Leo on her word.”
Grandma shook her head. “She’d been an outcast for so long. You have to remember how it was back then. She was a Hunter. Leo was a Werewolf. It was even harder than it is now. Her family disowned her. Every Hunter she’d ever known shunned her.”
“So she took to the woods with Miles and never looked back,” I finished. It sounded surprisingly similar to my mother’s story. She’d been a Hunter who’d married a Werewolf and when he was gone, she’d run. Far and fast and never looked back. All to protect me.
Grandma nodded. “Today marked the first day of the inquiry regarding her run-in with you.”
“Run-in? That’s what they’re calling it?” I said around the mouthful of stale bread.
“Tara,” Grandma warned. I shut up. Under the table, Wes squeezed my knee.
I swallowed. “How bad is it?”
“Right now? Not horrible. But they’re still asking questions. Problem is, none of the answers are going to make it better. You’re part Werewolf. And you can shift now. You’re alpha to an entire pack of man-made hybrid Hunter-wolves whose grasp on their own humanity is tenuous at best. And you attacked one of the most skilled Hunters of your generation and almost killed him.”
My chest tightened in response to the last part.
“Basically,” she finished, “they want your head.”
We all took a deep breath. I took another bite of my sandwich. Chewed. Swallowed. “Oh, well, if that’s all,” I said finally.
Grandma glared.
“I thought you said it wasn’t horrible,” I said.
“It isn’t. Right now they don’t have the legal authority to come get your head.”
“Lucky me.”
“In other words, it could be worse,” she said, still glaring.
I hated seeing her angry, especially when it was aimed at me. My shoulders sagged. “What can I do?” I asked.
“Absolutely nothing,” she said. “And I mean it. Lay low. Do not call attention. Do not break another rule. I don’t care if it’s the golden rule. Behave. And let me figure this out.” She rubbed at her temples, a gesture I rarely saw from her. Grandma was obviously stressed beyond the norm. I hated that I was the cause.
“All right. I can do that,” I said. “I wish I could do more to fix it.”
“They shouldn’t view you as the bad guy here,” Wes said. “There are more important things to focus on. Like Olivia. And what happened to the formula Miles used to create them in the first place. Or your blood and how it can heal the hybrids. I mean, shouldn’t we find out what else it can do?”
Grandma shook her head. “Steppe doesn’t care about any of that right now. His priority is dismantling The Cause. Or at least making them susceptible to Hunter law.”
“The law is cruel,” Wes said.
“Then it and Steppe are made for each other.” I dropped my napkin onto my plate, over my half-eaten sandwich.
“Tara, you should eat,” Grandma said.
“I’m not that hungry.”
“You should try,” she argued.
“I will. Later. Promise,” I added when her brow rose. “I want to see Vera again.”
Wes grabbed the unopened bag of chips off my tray. “How about a compromise? You can eat these while you sit with Vera.”
I looked to Grandma for approval. “Deal,” she said.
I shoved back from my chair. Grandma and Wes did the same.
Outside the door to Vera’s room, my mother was speaking with someone. A large man with pants too tight in the waist, yet somehow loose everywhere else. Even with his back turned, he was familiar, though it was odd seeing my mother speaking to a man—it so rarely happened. I slowed, trying to place him. Grandma passed me by and walked up to them.
“Hello, Vernon,” she said.
He turned to greet her, his face reddening with the attention. Headmaster Whitfield, the principal of Wood Point Academy. What was he doing here? Maybe he came for Vera?
He gave Grandma a tight smile and then turned to me. “Miss Godfrey, good evening,” he said. A large manila envelope was tucked under his arm. It had words printed on the front in letters too small to read.
“Hello. Did you come to see Vera?” I asked.
“Well, err, yes, that is ...” He seemed ruffled by the question. I eyed the envelope. “That and to speak with you. May I have a word?”
“Sure,” I agreed.
I didn’t move. I had a bad feeling about that envelope.
He lifted a brow, glancing beside me at Wes. “In private?” he added.
“I’m good here,” I said firmly. Wes tightened his grip on my hand.
“Very well.” He freed the envelope from underneath his ample arm and extended it to me. I took it.
He cleared his throat. “My handing you this letter shall be official service of notice of removal. You are forthwith no longer a student of Wood Point Academy due to your ineligibility and your recent assault on a former student. An appeal may be made within ten days if you choose and a hearing scheduled.
“Otherwise, your records may be forwarded to an institution of your choice. No ill bearing has been made upon your academic records, nor will the reason for your removal be disclosed to a civilian. Should you have any questions regarding this decision, an inquiry may be made in writing to the board. The contact information is provided in your separation packet.”
By the time he’d finished, his face was flushed and beads of sweat dotted his forehead. He threw a nervous glance at Grandma. “Sorry, Edie,” he mumbled. “It wasn’t up to me.”
“Of course,” she said. Her words were gracious enough, but they were spoken through tight lips.
“I’ll be going now,” Headmaster Whitfield mumbled. The change in his pockets jingled as he hurried off.
“You’ll hear from me,” she called after him.
He lifted a hand in a final wave and disappeared around the corner.
The envelope was flimsy in my hand. I didn’t bother opening it or even looking at it. Instead I stared blankly at the wall in front of me. “Did I just get expelled?”
“I think you did,” Wes said.
“Again,” my mother added.
I winced. Two schools in less than a year. I was on a roll.
Some twisted and traumatized corner of my brain wanted to throw my head back and laugh. Expelled. Again. It was hilarious in a so-not-funny-and-actually-sort-of-pathetic kind of way.
Reluctantly, I turned to face my mom and Grandma. Both of them wore hard expressions. My mother twisted her hands together, a sign her anxiety had spiked.
I had absolutely no idea what to say. I couldn’t even be happy about it. All the time I’d spent hating being so far away from home, the bullying and mean comments from my classmates because of what I was. Dirty blood, mixed, impure. It was a relief not to have to go back again, but the look on my mother’s face overshadowed all of that.
“I’m going home,” Mom said finally, her voice clipped. “I have work in the morning. Tara, do you need a ride?”
“No,” I said, though the word came out sounding like more of a question. I was waiting for the part where she grounded me for the rest of my life.
“Fine. I’ll see you later.” She stopped, held out her hand. “I’ll take that.”
It took me a second to realize she meant the envelope. I handed it to her, unopened. She took it and left.
Grandma mumbled something about checking on Alex and disappeared in the other direction.
With nothing else left to do I pushed open Vera’s door. Maybe the beeping of the monitors would drown out the noise in my head that, for once, was caused by my own internal voices and not those of the pack.
I stopped short, causing Wes to bump me from behind. “What …?” he began.
Someone was already in the room.
He sat hunched over in the chair, his back to me, his hand wrapped around Vera’s. Unlike my confusion at seeing Headmaster Whitfield, I recognized the man immediately and panic surged. Through the bond, concern spiked as George and Chris both sensed the change in me and reacted. Even a few of the other pack members tensed up.
I tried taking a deep breath. The hospital was full of witnesses. And I had Wes behind me. Did that make this better or worse?
