CHAPTER 15
CARYN BANDAGED SARAH’S ARMS for school the next day. Sarah didn’t want to explain the marks. Her story, when anyone asked, was that she had been in a minor car accident.
She was glad that Christopher was not in school again. She had no desire to confront her friend about her enemy. So at her locker that afternoon, she was surprised to see the newest gift. A single white rose and a small white florist’s card.
129 Ash Road, November 4
She read the words twice, not believing them.
She, youngest Daughter of Vida, had been invited to a bash … intentionally.
Looking up, she caught sight of Nissa, who was talking with some of her human friends. Closing her locker, Sarah stalked over to Nissa and grabbed the vampire’s arm.
“What is this?” she demanded, flashing the card. Nissa’s friends all backed up, not sure what to do.
“I know what it is. I want to know why it was in my locker.”
“I have no idea,” Nissa answered, her brows drawing together in a puzzled frown. “Christopher told me what you said, and I would never … can I see it?”
Sarah handed over the card and Nissa went paler, if possible, than her already unnaturally pale color.
“You can’t go. Tell me you won’t go.”
“Why not?”
Nissa looked at the card again. “Where did you get this?”
“It was in my locker. If it’s not from you or Christopher, then who would have put it there? And why does it scare you so much?”
Nissa looked back at her human friends, then dragged Sarah away, lowering her voice so the humans would not hear them. “I’ve been to a bash in that circuit before, but would never go back. Sarah, they’ll kill you. If they know who you are —”
“Who are they?” Sarah pressed.
“It’s … it’s one of the harshest of the party circuits,” Nissa explained. “Tizoc Theron goes to these,” she added, naming one of the best-known vampiric assassins in the world. “Kaleo, Jessica Shade, Chalkha, Kamerine, Jega … even Kendra herself might be there.” Sarah took in the names, trying to match them with the faces she had seen at the last bash she had attended. Nissa continued, “Even I’m afraid to go to one of their bashes, and I haven’t been human in a long time. These vampires are not nice, Sarah. I’ve known them to brazenly invite vampire hunters just for the fun of it. If they invited you, then they know who you are, and they plan to kill you.”
“Is Nikolas part of this group?”
“What?” Nissa asked, very softly.
“Will Nikolas be there?” Sarah demanded again.
“He —” Nissa’s eyes flickered to the bandages on Sarah’s arms. “My god, Sarah … do I want to know what’s under there?”
“I think you already do.”
“You’re going to go, aren’t you? To murder my brother.” Nissa leaned back heavily, hitting the lockers with a metallic clang. “That group will kill you, Sarah.”
“They didn’t manage to last time.” This was not a conversation she wanted to have. No matter how peaceful, Nissa would surely not appreciate hearing Sarah’s plans for her brother. “Don’t worry I’ll bring friends.”
“No.”
“I’m not going to let him get away with this.”
“Sarah, I … don’t bring anyone else in. You’ll —” Nissa took a breath to brace herself. “If Nikolas marked you then he’s watching you. Anyone you would bring with you, he already knows about — they would be fair game. If you insist on going, go alone.”
“Even I’m not fool enough to go into the crowd you’re describing alone.”
“They won’t hurt you,” Nissa said quietly.
Sarah laughed.
“Most of the people in that circuit are either afraid of Nikolas, or loyal to him,” Nissa argued. “If he marked you it means he’s claimed you. No one else will touch you so long as Nikolas is alive.”
“Fine — I’ll kill him and then leave quickly. How’s that?”
“Nikolas alone is dangerous no matter how much training you’ve had.” Nissa continued as her voice took on a pleading tone. “Even the humans there will turn on you as soon as you try to fight him.”
“Nissa, I know he’s your brother, but do you have any idea how many people he has killed?” Sarah demanded. “If I let him go because I’m scared of him, he’s going to keep killing.”
“You think I don’t know?” Nissa responded, her voice strained. “I’m the one who gave him the vampire blood, Sarah. Every kill he makes I feel the guilt for.”