The Next Generation

  After my mood cooled, I rejoined the others in the motel room. Mom left me to drape her arms around Dad. Dad never lost his vigilant stance as he tenderly embraced her. Trey was lying on the bed with his eyes closed. His heartbeat was slow and steady as he slept. I didn’t understand how anyone could nod off after what we’d been through tonight. I was sure I’d be awake for days.

  Julian patted the corner of the bed where he was sitting. Arianna was still right beside him, clenching his hand for support, like he was the only thing keeping her grounded. I sat beside the pair, my mood speculative. Julian’s was sympathetic as he watched me. After a long moment of silence, his hand closed over mine. “It will be okay, Nika. If they can wipe him without killing him, they will.”

  I lifted my eyes to my brother. He wasn’t sure if what he’d just said was true; I could feel it in his emotions. Not sure either, I wrapped my hand around his. “I know.” We both knew the odds of that happening were slim, but I appreciated his attempt to comfort me anyway.

  The hours ticked by, and yet, at the same time, the hours blurred by with a speed that matched a pureblood vampire’s. My two absent grandmothers returned just as the clock on the wall moved into the eleventh hour. Imogen went straight to her room, to check on her daughter waiting with the others. Halina sauntered into our room. She gave Dad a business-like nod.

  “The vehicle will be delivered in the morning in near-perfect condition.”

  “That’s fast…good.” A slight frown marred Dad’s features as he absorbed her words. “I don’t suppose you allowed the mechanics to give themselves short breaks while they work on the van?”

  Halina raised an eyebrow. “Speed was of the essence. They can take all the time they need when they’re done.”

  Dad sighed. “I know, but if they work themselves to death…?”

  Halina waved off his concern with her hand. “The mechanic the fat man knew was young, strong…” she wiped the corner of her mouth with her thumb, “…tasty. He’ll be fine.”

  Dad let his concerns over the mechanic’s welfare go. Arianna shivered and buried her head into Julian’s shoulder. He patted her back while Trey let out a lumberjack snore. All the vampires twisted to look at the sleeping teenager.

  “I see he’s terribly upset by everything that has transpired tonight,” Halina mumbled.

  Julian lifted his chin. “I told you they could handle it, Grandma.”

  Halina eyed Arianna trembling in Julian’s arms. “We’ll see.” She focused her attention on Mom, Dad, and Ben. “Now, let’s go over our plan.”

  I tuned them out as they started discussing what to do. I didn’t want to listen to them making plans that would harm someone I cared about. In fact, if there was a way to sneak off and meet up with Hunter alone right now, I might do it. But escape was impossible, not with my internal GPS telling every family member where I was at all times. If it only came with an on/off switch…but the person who knew how to do that died a long time ago.

  At quarter to midnight, Dad squatted in front of me. “It’s time, Nika.” His face was both apologetic and determined. Regardless of my feelings on the matter, this was happening.

  With a sniff, I stood up. Surprisingly, Julian stood with me. Dad immediately started shaking his head. “No, son, you stay here with the others.” It had already been decided that Alanna and Imogen would stay behind with Starla, Jacen, and all the humans, sans Ben. He was joining the hunting party of Mom, Dad, Gabriel, and Halina.

  As Julian stood tall and proud, Arianna slowly raised herself to stand next to him. “I’m going, Dad. I’m not letting Nika do this alone.”

  A faint smile lifted Dad’s lips, then it faded. “She won’t be alone. Your mom and I will be right there, along with the others. Nothing will happen to her, I promise.”

  A level of determination filled Julian; it was stronger than any protective emotion I’d ever felt from him. “You’ll be in hiding while she’s exposed. I’m not going to let her be exposed all alone.” My brother looked over to me, fear and concern washing over him. “If you’re going to be in danger, I’m with you.” He held out his hand for me. “I’m with you to the end, Nick.”

  A knot formed in my throat as I took his hand. “The very end, Julie.”

  Julian looked back at Dad. “Besides, it won’t be odd to Hunter if Nika brings me along.” He shrugged. “We’re best friends.” Arianna let out a small sigh as she stared up at Julian. I couldn’t feel her emotions like I could feel my brother’s, but it was clear by the look in her eye that her crush on him had returned in force. If it had ever truly gone anywhere to begin with.

  Dad seemed like he wanted to argue, Mom did too, but Halina stepped right in front of us. She appraised us with a calm, almost detached expression, but I knew that she loved us and worried about us, even if she didn’t express it as freely as our parents. Tilting her head toward Julian, she asked in Russian, “Can you handle being her first layer of protection? I won’t put you out there if you are not strong enough. We cannot risk you having a…moment.”

  Julian swallowed. We all knew that a “moment” was really a panic attack. Given enough stress, Julian could freeze up. And if tonight went badly, and he froze up…he would be the one in the most amount of danger. But as surely as he would be protecting me tonight, I would be protecting him. And I knew he could do this with me by his side. We were stronger together.

  I shoved as much of my encouragement into him as I could, and he stood a little taller. Unwaveringly, he answered Halina in her native tongue. “I’m ready. I will not fail her…or you.”

  Halina smiled and responded to his statement in English. “Then you may go with Nika.”

  Dad bit his lip, not happy. “Great-Gran, I don’t think—”

  Halina merely looked over at him, but Dad immediately stopped talking. There was something in the power of her presence that made arguing with her pointless. Like it or not, she was the matriarch of our nest, and that generally meant that she had the final say over our lives.

  Arianna looked unhappy as her eyes darted between Julian and me. “Just how dangerous is this?” she asked, fear for us evident in her expression.

  Julian gave her an untroubled smile that I did my best to match. “We’ll be fine, Arianna,” I told her. “Hunter won’t hurt us.” And hopefully, none of us hurt him.

  Lips set in a hard line, Arianna shook her head. “I don’t like this.” From the way Dad sighed, I could tell he agreed with her.

  Grabbing her hand, Julian repeated my words of reassurance. “We’ll be fine…just fine.”

  Turning to face Julian, she quietly said, “Please be careful.” Her heart was in her eyes as she locked gazes with my brother, and it took her a solid ten seconds to look over at me. “Both of you,” she said, extending one of her hands to me.

  Taking her hand, I gently squeezed her fingers. I was so glad she was staying here at the motel with the others; I wasn’t sure exactly what might happen tonight, but I knew I didn’t want my friend in the middle of it. Julian was just as relieved as me that Arianna was staying behind, but as he kept holding her hand and staring into her eyes, his relief began shifting into something deeper. He was swirling with confusion over those feelings, but they were crystal clear to me. He cared about Arianna, and not just in a friendly way, and while he couldn’t quite see it yet, I thought maybe he was beginning to.

  Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Julian finally released Arianna. Walking over to Trey, he thumped his leg to wake him up. The dozing boy woke with a start. “What? What I’d miss?” Looking around with hazy eyes, he murmured, “Are we still at the motel?”

  I rolled my eyes at Trey, and Julian let out a small laugh. “Yeah, for now. But Nika and I are leaving with some of the others.”

  Trey sat up as our family started to rendezvous outside the motel rooms to say goodbye to those of us who were leaving. Listening to my mom say goodbye to Grandma Linda made my eyes sting. Standing, Trey clapped Julian’s shoulder. “W
here we going?”

  “You’re staying here with Arianna and the other humans,” I answered.

  Trey frowned. “What’s with the species-ism?”

  I pursed my lips, trying not to be annoyed. Sensing my mood, Julian interceded. Leaning in, he whispered, “Hey, man, I need you to stay and protect Arianna for me.” He paused, genuine concern filling him. “I need you to keep her safe for me. I’m counting on you.”

  Trey beamed with his protection assignment. “You got it, man.” His expression clouded over as he glanced between my brother and me. “What are you guys doing though?”

  Sighing, I pulled on his elbow. “I’ll fill you in outside.” I tilted my head at Julian and Arianna, hoping Trey would understand that I wanted to give them a moment alone to say goodbye. It took him a second, but eventually Trey got it. Nodding, he followed me out the door.

  Once outside, I quickly got Trey up to speed, then hugged every family member who wasn’t coming with us. As I tearfully said goodbye to Grandpa Jack, the tender conversation between Julian and Arianna filtered out to me. I tried not to listen to them, but Julian’s emotions were so strong, they pulled me into the conversation.

  “Are you really going to be okay?” Arianna asked, a tremor in her voice.

  “Yeah, of course.” Quietly, Julian added, “I’ll worry about you though.”

  “You will?”

  Julian sighed, the sound full of caring. “Yeah, you’ll be in the corner of my mind the entire time I’m gone.” He paused, then added, “I’m so sorry you got dragged into this. I never wanted…”

  “I know, Julian…but…I’m glad I know what you and Nika are.”

  Julian’s spirits soared. “You’re...happy that you know?”

  Arianna sighed. “Yeah, I mean, it explains a lot about why you’re…aloof. Why you sometimes seem unhappy. Why you look like you don’t think you belong. But, no matter what you are, you do belong, Julian. You fit. Even if you’re a…vampire, you fit.”

  Julian was awed by her comment, and my heart lifted for him…for them. “Arianna…I…I don’t…”

  Julian’s rising emotions boiled over, and I had to pause a moment while saying goodbye to Jacen. As I breathed through the intensity, Jacen asking me if I was all right, I heard a noise cutting through the night—the sound of two people exchanging sweet, soft kisses. Julian’s mood leveled off as he shared an intimate moment with Arianna. Smiling, I told Jacen, “I’m fine…everything’s fine.”

  Mom and Dad glanced at the motel room where Julian and Arianna were kissing, but they didn’t interrupt the pair’s innocent pecks. Even with my abhorrence of what was about to happen tonight, I wished Julian and Arianna well. If my pig-headed brother had truly opened his eyes, maybe they could finally be together.

  When they emerged from the room a moment later, Arianna’s eyes were bright, and Julian looked a little dazed. Halina smirked at him, but surprisingly didn’t comment. I hugged Arianna when she walked over to me. She giggled when we pulled apart, then her face turned serious. “You be careful, Nika.”

  My nerves spiked. This was it. Either way, this was the last time I would ever see my boyfriend.

  “I will. I’ll be perfectly safe.”

  I hoped so, anyway.

  GABRIEL AND HALINA blurred away, streaking toward their assigned hiding place. Dad started Grandpa’s truck and drove the rest of us to the library in silence. Nika’s mind was spinning, her emotions shifting from one extreme to the other. I could scarcely imagine how I would feel if I were in her position. If Raquel turned out to be a vampire hunter hell bent on destroying our family…or if Arianna was a hunter…well, torn wouldn’t even begin to describe my feelings.

  Thinking of both of those women in that context gave me pause. In a way, I was just as conflicted as Nika, but on a much smaller scale. Try as I might, I couldn’t deny that I felt something for Arianna. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it was growing with every passing second that I spent with her. I ran a finger over my lips, remembering the softness of her mouth pressed against mine; I was still tingling from the contact.

  Unlike Raquel, Arianna knew what I was, and even more shocking than that—she’d accepted me, told me I fit, told me I belonged. I didn’t know if Raquel would feel the same if she knew. There was a nagging knot in my stomach that told me she wouldn’t.

  Nika was right. Raquel would most likely never accept me. But Arianna…

  We arrived at the library while my thoughts were still spinning as rapidly as my sister’s. Dad drove past the library and parked the truck nearly a mile away. He didn’t want our vehicle to tip off Hunter. Not that Hunter knew what Grandpa’s truck looked like, but better safe than sorry. Besides, with our super-speed, it didn’t matter how far away we parked. We could be there in seconds.

  Keeping to the shadows as much as possible, we blurred toward the plaza. When we got there, we stopped across the street, where the cathedral-like county building was nestled in a clump of trees surrounding Washington Square. Ben couldn’t move as fast as the rest of us, so Mom carried him. After she set him down, he grinned and said, “I’ll never get used to that.”

  Dad smirked at his friend, then reconfirmed the plan. “Gabriel and Great-Gran are checking out the area to make sure Hunter is alone.” I couldn’t feel Gabriel, but I felt Halina, and Dad was right, she was flitting over the property, checking every nook and cranny she came across.

  Dad’s jaw clenched as he studied Nika and me. “You two stay close together, watching each other’s backs.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “Your mother and I will be right there with you, as close as we can get. You’ll be perfectly safe.”

  Even though butterflies were tickling my stomach, I nodded. Nika raised her chin. Her voice loud enough that our grandmother would hear, she told Dad, “Since he’s my boyfriend, I think I have the right to say…” her eyes shifted to lock onto the spot where we all felt Halina, “no one touches him until I give the word.”

  A low growl in the night air lifted the hairs on the back of my neck. Clearly, Halina didn’t like Nika’s command. Nika didn’t back down though. Determination in her eyes, she turned back to Dad. “Unless I’m in danger, no one makes a move on him without my permission.”

  I could feel the fear and desperation coming from Nika, but I couldn’t see it. On the surface she was calm, focused, in control…powerful. She was a force to be reckoned with as she bravely stood her ground. She made me proud.

  Dad glanced back at Mom, a small smile on his lips. “She remind you of anyone?” he whispered to her.

  Mom returned his knowing smile. “Every day,” she answered.

  Dad briefly grinned at Mom before schooling his features. His pale eyes as determined as my sister’s, he nodded. “All right, Nika. We’ll play this your way. As long as you’re safe, we won’t touch him…until you say the word.”

  Relief melted Nika’s rigidness. Our parents vanished with Ben into the darkness, leaving Nika and me alone. Well, they left us to ourselves, since we weren’t really alone. I felt our family’s presence shadowing us as we walked along the path that led to the meeting place.

  In the plaza next to the impressive steel and glass library was a wall of steps where water continuously flowed. Even I had to admit it was a beautiful piece. I might not be into art and nature like my sister, but I still appreciated the calming rhythm of the cascading water, enjoyed the sparkle of the spotlights reflecting off the fine layer of mist hovering near the bottom of the fountain.

  Nika’s eyes were contemplative as she stared at the slick stones. Her mood turned dark and I squeezed her hand. When she looked up at me, a tear fell to her cheek. She didn’t have to explain why she was crying…I knew. I knew all too well how jumbled her insides were, how badly she wanted to see Hunter, how badly she wanted to run from him. It was our gift, our curse—I knew it all.

  Feeling my sympathy and support, Nika nodded at me, and we silently watched the fountain while we waited for Hunter. The water see
med like a solid sheet as it washed down the steps, but my sharp eyes caught cracks and separations in the stream, where one section deviated from the rest to run around an obstacle in its path. As I picked out more breaks in the continuity, I began to see a violent pattern churning under the surface. Maybe Nika’s turmoil was darkening my thoughts, but the soothing fountain suddenly seemed metaphoric of our situation, an omen. No obstacle could stand in the water’s path. There was no deterrent that it couldn’t find a way around, no barrier that it couldn’t eventually penetrate. In the end…water always found a way.

  “Nika?”

  A voice behind us drew our attention from the fountain, and I immediately twisted around. Nika hesitated before she turned to look at her boyfriend. Hunter’s eyes were pitch-black in the night. The thick jacket he wore was dark, as well, and there were bulges in the pockets that I assumed were weapons. Stakes maybe, although it wouldn’t surprise me if he still had his gun on him. His brow was creased as he took me in. “Julian? What are you doing here?”

  Feeling my family start to close in, I stood tall and straight. “I wasn’t about to let Nika sneak off and meet you on her own.” Glancing at Hunter’s empty hands, I added, “Who knows what you might have done to her.”

  “I’m not here to hurt her.” He exposed his palms to me. My eyes locked onto the odd jewelry he was wearing. Every finger had a ring on it and every ring was connected to the bracelet around his wrist by thin chains that gleamed silver in the moonlight. I hadn’t spent a whole lot of time around Hunter, but I was sure I’d never seen him wearing those before. “I only want to talk to her,” he said.

  Nika dropped my hand and stepped up to him. I had to restrain myself from pulling her back. “Well, here I am. Start talking.”

  Hunter sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. “I…”

  He faltered, seemingly at a loss for words. My sister wasn’t. Anger surging through her, she spat, “You shot my father! In a high school!”