End of Days (24 page)

“I thought you didn't trust my uncle.”

“I didn't. But while you were in the ambulance, he was convincing. And John feels he has your best interests at heart. I think we were meant to work together. It's the only way we'll survive. War does make strange bedfellows.”

This seemed a bit out of character for her. She wasn't a trusting person. “What did he say?”

She paused. Her eyes drifted up while she considered what to tell me. “We talked about the night he betrayed you to Vlad. We talked about mistakes and misconceptions. He was badly used, your uncle. And deceived.” She took a deep breath. “The situation is complicated, but it's hard to say no to a dying man.” She reached out and pinched my cheek. “Now if we could just get Gerald on board.”

“Gerald?”

“Dr. Abbott.”

“Do you think he'll let them stay?”

“I think the good doctor is seriously rattled. But we may have a chance to impress him. The alarms and security cameras will help. We almost seem like we know what we're doing. Leaving Luna in our care is certainly the best thing for her. If he's a reasonable man, he'll come around. Luna is a child vampire, just like you are, and so the threat is constant. Going back to Newark won't make it go away.”

“Does he know that?”

“I don't think so. But that just means we'll have to be more convincing.” She slipped her arm through mine and we walked back into the living room. Everyone stopped talking when we entered. Luna looked upset. Her eyes couldn't settle comfortably on anything. Mr. Entwistle was still looking out past the curtain. He let it fall.

“I'd like to leave as soon as possible,” he said. “That trail isn't getting any warmer.”

Ophelia nodded. “Can you let me get Luna and Suki settled on the top floor? I'd like to have a word with you before you go.”

The old vampire nodded. Charlie helped Suki to her feet. He pulled her into a hug, then reluctantly let her go.

“You did the right thing coming here,” I told her.

She smiled. Dimples formed at the sides of her mouth. For just a moment, she looked like the old Suki.

Then Luna bumped past me. She didn't look over, but I saw her lips move. Just enough breath was behind them for me to hear her words: “Meet me on the roof.”

My ears started to burn. Then Ophelia led them upstairs. I listened as their footsteps faded to the second floor, then the third.

“What a ham,” Charlie said. He must have meant Dr. Abbott.

“Don't underestimate Ophelia,” Mr. Entwistle said. “If the doctor has an ounce of sense, she'll bring him around.”

He had a point. No one I'd ever met could say no to her.

“And it's what both his daughters want,” the old vampire added. “Although you two might have to sleep in the ambulance.”

I didn't think that was funny. Charlie didn't, either. Mr. Entwistle was trying not to laugh. But the mention of the word
ambulance
reminded me of something I had to say. “I forgot to mention this to you before. When I was at the hospital visiting—”

“Agent X,” Mr. Entwistle interrupted.

“While I was visiting Agent X, he had a visitor.”

“Who's Agent X?” asked Charlie.

He seemed to have forgotten. I wondered if it was the effect of being drugged in the hospital. I wasn't sure what to say about this.

Fortunately Mr. Entwistle answered for me. “He's an old friend who's agreed to help us. He was the one that you and Zachary met at the Civic.”

Charlie shot me a questioning glance. I felt myself blush.

“He shot you with a tranquilizer,” I explained.

“That was my fault,” Mr. Entwistle said. “I forgot to say there would be two of you. He was only expecting Zack.”

“So you talked to this guy?” Charlie asked.

I nodded.

Mr. Entwistle cut in again. “He set up the alarms and cameras around this apartment. We're keeping his identity a secret, for his protection.”

Charlie made a face. He'd want an explanation later. I told my brain it had better come up with something good, then I explained about Detective Baddon's son—and what Charlie and I had seen in the hospital. Ophelia entered about halfway through and asked me to back up and start over. When I did, it was clear she'd had no idea the boy was sick.

“I can't believe he never mentioned it! I wonder if Everett knew.”

Mr. Entwistle removed the top hat from inside his coat and started for the door. “If Baddon's son is in danger, too, it's all the more reason for me to get going. I couldn't find a trail last night. I'm losing time. If I can follow Hyde's footprints from that house on Gilmour or pick up his scent, we might be able to figure out where he goes each morning. If I need to, I'll call in for some backup.”

“Do you think leaving is the right move?” Ophelia asked.

“I won't be gone long. If anything comes near the place, you'll know. Agent X is on call. And with these two young bloods handy, you're well protected.”

“I was more worried about you,” Ophelia said.

Mr. Entwistle laughed. “I'll be fine. You have my cell number?”

Ophelia nodded.

I looked at Charlie. Disappointment was etched clearly in the lines around his mouth. He was restless, and with his girlfriend asleep upstairs, he clearly didn't want to spend the rest of the night indoors. My bet was, if he stayed housebound, he'd wear the carpet down to threads pacing the room.

“Why don't you take Charlie, just to be safe,” I said.

Ophelia stiffened slightly, but the damage was done. With that one suggestion, I'd severed my friend's shackles.

“Sounds good,” Mr. Entwistle said. “If we need you, we'll be in touch.”

Charlie brightened up immediately. He gave me a shot in the shoulder on the way out. “Don't die of boredom while I'm gone.”

I wasn't planning to. The hunt for Hyde could begin without me. I had a date on the roof with Luna.

Ophelia wasn't thrilled to see Charlie go and let me know the minute he was out the door. “He's just as reckless as John. We'll be lucky if those two don't set the whole town on fire.”

I thought this was a slight exaggeration. They wouldn't set it on fire so much as knock it down. “He's got a lot of restless energy,” I said. “He can't work it off in here. You know how he can get?”

“One night inside won't kill him.”

“No. But it might kill us.”

Ophelia shot me a look, then headed for the basement. “I've some research to do. Watch your step on the roof.”

She must have heard what Luna had said. Fortunately she was already at the top of the stairs, or she would have seen my face turn flammable red. A second later, she poked her head around the corner again. So much for hiding my embarrassment.

“I almost forgot. I'm setting you and Charlie up on the second floor. It's furnished, but there's no bedding. Why don't you come down and I'll get you some sheets.”

I followed her downstairs to the basement. This simple living space had a laundry room near the back. A small office was on one corner, with the door open wide enough for me to see a long desk inside. It was covered in computer monitors. Every few seconds, the view through one would change. It didn't take long to recognize the street outside. These must have been where the security cameras were hubbed.

Ophelia retreated to a storage closet, then came out with several sets of linens. “They're a bit dusty. The key's hanging in the rack by the front door.” She handed me the bedsheets. “Please don't do anything foolish. We're going to have enough trouble with Dr. Abbott as it is. And a bit more rest wouldn't kill you either.”

I said my thanks and headed for the stairs, then stopped. “Are you going to be talking to my uncle?”

“Only if it's necessary. He has a cancer treatment tomorrow. Why?”

I handed her Detective Baddon's business card. “He wants Maximilian to call him.”

Ophelia took the card and read it over. “I'll take care of it.”

I scampered up the stairs. “He said to use the cell number,” I said over my shoulder.

“Got it.”

I made my way to the front door, grabbed the key to the second-floor apartment, and took the steps two at a time. I'd never had a place of my own. It was exciting just opening the door. I was making up one of the canopied beds when I heard a knock at the window. Luna was outside, hovering in midair. It was like a scene from
Harry Potter.
All she was missing was a broom.

“How are you doing that?” I asked.

She laughed and started flapping her arms like wings. Her body was bobbing gently from side to side. “Flying is my talent.”

I couldn't believe it. And of course it wasn't true. She was standing on a fire escape. Her knees were bent and she was shifting her weight gently from foot to foot to make it look as if she were floating.

“You coming out sometime tonight, or were you planning to scrub the floors and vacuum the carpets?”

“Would it impress your father if he knew I was house-trained? Maybe you could take a picture and show him when he arrives.”

“I think he'd just assume you were trying to steal the vacuum cleaner.”

I walked over to the window and wound it open. I popped out the screen and stepped onto the fire escape. Luna grabbed my hand and nearly pulled my arm out of the socket hauling me up the steps. They led to a flat roof that was covered in pea gravel. Our feet made crunching noises on the stones. A chimney along the side made a perfect backrest. We sat. She still hadn't let go of my hand, not that I was complaining.

“Is there any chance your dad will let you stay?” I asked.

Luna's lips pressed together and one side of her mouth curled down. It was a perfect I-don't-know-but-probably-not face. “He might let Suki and I visit the lake while he meets with his colleague in Toronto. But he . . . well, he'll want us to steer clear of you. As far as he's concerned, you and Charlie are the real danger.”

“Do you think he might be right?”

“What do you mean?”

I had to choose my words carefully. “I hate to say it because I want you to stay, but it might be safer for you to get away from us. At least until we've dealt with Hyde.”

Luna let go of my hand. “That's not fair.”

I didn't understand. What did fair have to do with it?

“If I were Charlie, would you want me to stay?”

“I already said I want you to stay. But I also want you to stay alive. This thing . . . I don't know what to tell you. You remember how terrifying Vlad was. Well, Hyde's a hundred times worse.”

I didn't think she believed me, which wasn't at all surprising. Vlad was a live horror show. “Honestly. Until you see him, you won't understand.”

She looked away, shook her head, stood up, and started pacing. When she spoke again, her hands were on her hips. “It's because I'm a girl.”

I was totally confused at this point. I'd never had a problem with the essential girlness of her. In fact, I was pleased about it.

“If I were Charlie and I said I was leaving to go hide in New Jersey, you'd think I was a coward.”

I hadn't thought about it that way.

“Ahhh, see. You know it's true. I can see it in your face.”

I stood and dusted off my pants. “You're right. If you were Charlie, I would think badly of you if you left.”

She put her hands in the air and started doing a victory dance. I had to admit, she had some pretty good moves. Definitely rave material. Then she started shadowboxing with me.

“You don't think I know how to fight?” She followed this question with a few jabs. Had she punched anything harder than shaving cream, she would have broken a wrist.

I waited for an opening, then slipped inside her guard and took her down to the roof. I twisted so she'd land on top of me, then I rolled over for the pin. It took about half a heartbeat. Just enough time for her to yelp.

“That was fast!”

“I had to move quickly. I was worried you might accidentally hit me and hurt yourself.”

I rolled to the side, then let her up. She pulled me back to the chimney so we could sit side by side and look up at the stars.

“You've changed,” she said.

“How?”

“You don't seem as shy. You were so funny at the cottage. So polite.”

“What's wrong with that?”

“Nothing. I like polite.” Her hand snuck into mine. “You seem a little . . . I don't know.”

“I think it's the poison. Maybe I need more blood. And a bit more sleep, too.”

She glanced at me and smiled. It made her eyes pinch shut. I remembered this from last summer—this smile. But seeing it was something else.

“That's not what I meant. You seem more confident. And don't take this the wrong way, but you're a little more like Charlie. I think he's rubbing off on you a bit.”

Rubbing off? What did that mean? Was it good? I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised. I spent more time with Charlie than with anyone else. But I didn't think we were alike at all.

“Did I spoil things?” Luna's smile sagged a little and she looked up at the night sky.

“No. Not at all. It's wonderful to see you.”

She was still holding my hand. For a moment we just stared at the arrangement of our fingers. Both pale. Hers slightly shorter, leaner, more delicate, but still strong. Years of weight lifting had built thick calluses on the inside of mine, and along the top of my palm. I had to use the back of a finger to feel how soft her skin was.

She looked at me and her face turned serious. “Could you show me how to do that . . . that thing that you just did.”

“You mean how to fight?”

She nodded, then bit her lip and smiled again.