"Let's get her out of here," a third voice said, belonging to a small chubby woman. "Before he returns."
Veronika glanced with great terror at the empty bodies of her mother and father as she was carried out of the RV. The fourth person, a tall woman with sparkling purple eyes, was holding the door for them. She slammed it shut behind them as they ran for the car.
Chapter Four
"Why me? Why can't someone else take her? Carol?"
"We are home so little," Carol said. "The girl is young and needs people around her; she needs adults."
"Plus, she just lost both her parents," Briana said.
"Then why don't you take her in?" my mom said. She was raising her voice now.
I was sitting on top of the stairs of my house, listening to their conversation down in our kitchen. I had been quite surprised when I realized they were all in my house, even Jayden's mom, whom my mother loathed. Something important had to be going on, and I was trying to figure out what it was.
"She just lost her husband," Amy's mom, Carol, said. "Don't you think she has enough going on as it is?"
"And what about you, Claire?"
"Camille," Carol said. "You know she just lost her son. You can't expect her to take care of a young child now."
"It would give her something else to think about," my mom said.
"Camille," Claire said without addressing my mom's remark. "The girl needs to stay here. Can we trust that you will take good care of her?"
My mom sighed, annoyed. "Okay, then. It's not like I don't have anything else to do, you know. I run my own company and have the house filled to the brim already."
"Hopefully, it'll just be for a little while," Carol said.
"Okay then," my mom said. "I guess."
The women left, and I was about to return to my room when my mom called my name. I turned around and peeked down at her.
"What?"
"Come down here. There’s someone I want you to meet."
I hurried into the kitchen where my mom was standing. Behind her, hiding halfway behind her leg, was a young girl, the same one I assumed they had argued about.
"This is Veronika," my mom said with a sigh. "She'll be staying with us for a little while. She's an orphan, so be nice to her."
I smiled and reached out my hand toward the girl. "Hi, Veronika. I’m Robyn."
The girl stayed behind my mother, hiding, staring at my hand and I removed it. My mom clasped her hands together.
"All right then. I'll get back to work."
My mom started toward the office, her heels clicking on the tiles. "Mom?" I said.
She stopped. "What?"
"What about the girl?"
"I don't know. You take care of her, okay? Do you have anything better to do?"
I didn't. Unfortunately. It was still summer break, and my four-week internship at News13 was over. I was back in my prison with nothing to do all day. My mom had let me meet up with Jazmine and Amy at the diner in the afternoons, but only because she didn't know that Jayden worked there. Not that it mattered anymore since we were no longer together and, frankly, seeing him there every day was like torture.
My mom smiled, then turned around on her heel. "I didn't think so."
Chapter Five
You better watch your back. You better watch your back, big brother.
Those had been his last words to Logan on the day he died. And it had devastated him ever since. To think that was the last thing he had to say to him? Couldn't he at least have said something nicer?
Jayden sat in his room, throwing a football in the air while the TV was on airing some show he didn't care enough about to watch. He just liked the noise. He didn't like the quietness in the house since Logan had died. He couldn't stand the silence between his parents at the dinner table or when they sat in the living room at night.
He blamed himself. Of course, he did. They all did. His mom, his dad. They all blamed themselves for Logan's death. But the fact was that they didn't really know what had happened. Jayden had been there, yes, but he hadn't seen it. Robyn had told him that he had been under a spell of some sort and that was why no one had seen anything till the animals started to stampede. But Jazmine had seen it happen. She had seen Logan turn wolf and attack Mr. Aran and then she had seen him suck out his soul. That was how she had explained it to Jayden. She, too, blamed herself, she had also told him. He could tell she found it hard to look him in the eyes when she came to the diner or if they met in the cul-de-sac. So many people blamed themselves but, knowing Logan, the only one to blame for all this was probably just himself.
Jayden sighed and looked out the window toward Robyn's house. He wasn't working at the diner today and those days were the worst. He didn't know what to do with himself alone in the house all day. He didn't want to hang out with any of his friends. What he really wanted was to talk to Robyn about his loss. He had missed her terribly and missed talking to her since it happened. She knew him so well; he wouldn't have to explain everything he felt. She would simply know.
While staring at Robyn's house, he received a text from Ruelle letting him know she was on her way. Seconds later, the doorbell rang, and he walked down to open the door. Ruelle was smiling as always, and she looked as gorgeous as ever. He let her in. She turned around and as soon as he had closed the door, and she leaned over and kissed him.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" he asked, still holding the football in his hand.
"I'm good," she said.
He shrugged. "I think I'll have some coffee."
They walked into the kitchen, and Jayden found a cup.
"I was thinking we could go out tonight? Maybe grab a pizza somewhere?" she said while sitting at the counter.
He sighed. "I'm not really in the mood today."
She tilted her head. "Okay. We could get a burger instead?"
He shook his head.
"Come on," she said. "You never want to go anywhere anymore."
"Well, in case you haven't noticed, I just lost my brother," he said with a slightly harsher tone to his voice than he intended to have.
"I know," she said. "But don't you think it would do you some good to get out…a little? I mean, all you ever do is work at that diner and hang at your house."
He shrugged and poured coffee into his cup. "Well, I’m sorry. I’m just not in the mood for anything else right now."
Chapter Six
"So…Veronika…That's a cute name…"
I looked at the young girl. She seemed terrified of me and backed up when I tried to walk closer to her. I had never been good with children, and it didn't feel like I was doing or saying any of the right things.
"What do you like to do?"
Of course, she didn't answer. I scanned my surroundings for anything that could help me out. I hadn't finished my smoothie this morning, and my mom had left it on the counter covered with Vita-wrap in case I wanted it later. I pointed at the green substance in the glass.
"You like smoothies?"
The girl stared at the glass, then shook her head.
I smiled. "I have a feeling you and I might end up being good friends. Although, you might want to learn to like them since they’ll be a very important part of your diet here. At least you'll have to learn how to fake that you like them. ‘Cause you'll get them several times a day. And I’m not talking about those delicious smoothies with chocolate and strawberries and so on that you can get in restaurants. No, these are serious smoothies. We're talking kale or beets or cucumber or all of it mixed together. It tastes awful, but you have to drink it. The thing is, you’ll want to please my mother. It's very important, okay? If you keep her happy, then you’ll be happy." I walked to the cabinet and pulled out some boxes, then stuck my hand in deep. "I often hide a little something in the back here for desperate days."
I pulled out a Hershey's chocolate bar. The girl smiled when she saw it. I handed it to her.
"Here. This might make you feel better."
I helped her up on the barstool by the breakfast counter and helped her with the wrapper. Her eyes were red from crying and her nose runny. I handed her a napkin, and she wiped it. She took a bite of the chocolate, then looked up at me with her big blue eyes. The chocolate was immediately smeared on her cheeks and, somehow, she had gotten it in her hair as well. It made me laugh. I found a towel and helped her wash it away.
"We can't leave any trace, okay? That is very important." I poured her a glass of almond milk and handed it to her. "Here, wash it down with that when you're done. Then mother won't be able to smell the chocolate on your breath. It's a very important trick to keep in mind. Mother is clever, but we're cleverer."
She chuckled and nodded to let me know she understood. I looked at her while she finished the bar.
"I like you," I said. "It's going to be nice to have another hum…I mean another girl around the house. We're quite outnumbered the way it is now, you see."
Veronika's big eyes were on me, then she nodded. I stretched out my hand toward her again.
"What do you say? Friends?"
Veronika swallowed, then stretched out her hand with the chocolate-covered fingers. I took it in mine, then shook it. As I did, something happened to her. It was like her body started to tremble…but tremble isn't exactly the right word for it. It was more like she…flickered. Like when a light bulb is about to go out but still has a little spark in it. I blinked my eyes, thinking I was just imagining things. I removed my hand in surprise, while Veronika let out a small shriek, then ran away from me and hid under the dining table.
Chapter Seven
Is this really who I am? Everyone who comes close to me dies?
Jazmine looked at her reflection. She was staring at it in the bathroom, thinking about Logan and the day he was killed. The funeral the week after had been the worst part. She hadn't loved him; she had only been on one date with him, yet she somehow felt like she had lost someone dear to her.
Jazmine sighed and wiped her hands on a towel, then returned to the dining room where her mother was still eating, shoveling down lasagna. Dinners with her mother were the worst. Jazmine felt so repulsed by her and what she had done. Being alone with her was a constant struggle. She still hadn't told any of her friends what she had seen and, every night when her mother left the house, Jazmine feared for what she was doing. A couple of times, Jazmine had picked up the phone and called the police station with the intention of leaving an anonymous tip, but then hung up before anyone answered. She didn't dare to do it. Where would it leave her? Would she become a foster child? She couldn't bear the thought of losing both her parents within only six months. Yet she wasn't sure she would be able to go on living like this for much longer, knowing what her mother had done. Luckily, there had been no more killings for weeks now. She hoped it would stay that way. If there was another one, she wouldn't be able to live with herself.
What happened to you, Mom?
"You were in there forever," she said as Jazmine approached the table and sat down. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"Yeah. I'm fine," she said. She stared at the lasagna but had no appetite.
"I know what's wrong with you," her mother said.
"You do?"
"You're bored, aren't you? Summer break does seem unusually long this year," she said. "And I am away all day working, even on weekends. It's only natural to feel a little down. Maybe you should invite some of your friends over, huh? You never do that anymore. Have them stay the night. Have a slumber party."
"Mom. We're not eight anymore."
"Ah, then call it what you want. Hanging out, spending the night?"
"So you can kill one of them while they're asleep?"
Jazmine clasped her mouth. Had she said that out loud? She had meant only to think it.
"What's that, hon?"
Jazmine shook her head. Her mom hadn't heard it. "Nothing. I…I'm not hungry anymore. Can I be excused?"
Her mother exhaled, and her fingers tapped on the side of her glass. "You never seem to want to hang out with me anymore."
Jazmine shrugged. "I am a teenager."
Her mother grinned. "Right. What did I expect?"
Jazmine got up and rushed her plate to the kitchen where she put it in the dishwasher. It was her job to clean the kitchen after dinner, and it was a big mess. Her mother had her back turned toward her, still eating, and now she turned on the TV. Jazmine closed her eyes and remembered the spell she had read a few nights ago in the attic. Her mother had caught her doing magic several times over the past few weeks and said nothing, so she thought she might as well practice a little bit.
She opened her eyes and pointed at the pile of plates left there from lunch, then said:
"Veni."
By lifting her hands, she got the top plate to float, then made it come to her and place itself in the dishwasher. Then she continued, getting five more plates to fly through the air and then made the pan wash itself in the sink and the broom remove the crumbs on the floor. The entire kitchen was simmering with activity when she suddenly lost control of it all, and a pile of plates fell to the tiles, scattering all over.
"What’s going on out there?" her mother said.
"Nothing, Mom. Just cleaning," Jazmine said, fearing her mother's wrath, but luckily she didn't even come out to check on her. Instead, she watched her TV show, finishing her red wine and laughing out loud.
Chapter Eight
"It'll only be a few days."
Amy's mother leaned over and kissed her forehead. She was standing in the doorway, suitcase in her hand. Next to her stood Amy's dad and he grabbed his wife's suitcase and took it to the car.
It had been so long since they had last left for a trip that Amy was almost happy to see them go.
"There's leftover asparagus soup in the freezer and veal if you want to make a stew. Don't forget to eat."
"I won't," Amy said. "That's one thing I can promise."
"And you're sure you'll be all right?"
"Yes. I'll be fine," Amy said. "Besides, I have Melanie, remember?"
"Okay. You two be good now, you hear me?"
"Just go, Mom."
"And don't let anyone see you…you know what I mean. That awful spider man across the street is meaner than ever before. You should have seen him today killing those poor people. I am so happy that we managed to get ahold of their daughter before he did."
"I can't believe you placed her with those people," Amy said, nodding toward Robyn's house. "Why not let us take care of her? I mean, we have the puppies and everything?"
Amy's mother sighed. "I know. I just…well, I was afraid it would be too much for you."
"Because I love taking care of people and I love kids?"
Her mother bit her lip, then reached out her hand and caressed Amy's cheek. "I know, sweetie. It's just…well, you're still not fully in control of that dragon, and I feared that the girl would be left alone or that she would get hurt. You did, after all, set the curtains on fire just yesterday."
"That was an accident…I would…"
"I know, sweetie," her mother said. "But as long as you have those accidents, and as long as you turn into the dragon out of the blue, then we can't have some child living here. Between you and the werewolf, it's no place for small children, I have to say."
Amy nodded. Her mom had a point. She just couldn't stand the thought of that little girl being stuck in number fifteen with Robyn's awful vampire parents. Especially that brother and the three cousins. Would they be able to restrain themselves around her? What if she saw them, saw what they were? Luckily, Robyn was there, but honestly, she wasn't very good with children. Amy was very worried about the entire situation.
"We have to go now to make it to China in time," her dad said, coming up behind Amy's mom.
"All right. We must go, sweetie. Now, promise you'll be careful, okay?" she said, kissed her again, then left.
Melanie came up behind Amy once the door had closed. She put a hand on A
my's shoulder.
"I thought they'd never leave," Amy said.
Melanie laughed.
"I know there was a time when I hated to see them leave," Amy continued, "but ever since they got all mushy and wanting to take better care of me, I’ve felt like I was being suffocated a little more each day."
"So…Kipp is coming over later?" Melanie asked.
Amy blushed. They had been seeing each other a little lately. Mostly going for walks along the lake or hanging out in his backyard while he played the guitar or just talking. Tonight, she had invited him over for dinner. Melanie had promised to be there too since Amy was too nervous to be alone with him. She was terrified of running out of things to talk about.
Amy gasped then looked at Melanie. "My meatloaf!"
"What about it?"
Amy hurried toward the kitchen, where the smell of burnt meat filled her rather large nostrils.
"It's getting burnt!"
Chapter Nine
I was the first to arrive at the diner the next day. I had barely sat down before I ordered a double cheeseburger with curly fries and a chocolate milkshake. Jayden wrote it all down, then gave me an awkward smile before he left. I opened my mouth to stop him. I wanted to ask him how he was doing, but somehow the words didn't leave my mouth. We hadn't talked about the death of his brother, not really talked. Not the way we used to, and it tortured me. I could tell he was hurting, but somehow, I sensed that he no longer wanted to share it with me. Either that or we just didn't really know how to talk to one another anymore. It left me feeling awful.
"Did you order already?" Amy said as she rushed inside and sat down. It had started to rain, and her hair was soaked.
"Yes. I couldn't wait," I said. "I haven't had anything proper to eat for two days."
Amy took one glance at the menu then ordered a bacon burger. I suddenly regretted my choice of burger and asked Jayden if he could add bacon to my cheeseburger.