Chapter 336
Tara might’ve been reading my mind to know I was thinking of Holland Hines. “What’s up with Holland?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I was just thinking I should get in her head a little later and see what she’s up to. Most of the time, she’s just blubbering on about Carter. It gets a little old.”
“Can’t blame her,” Tara replied. She had a point. Holland had lost the creature she loved most for the second time in less than two years. “Why do you think no one’s gone back to Australia, mate?”
Lucy giggled at Tara’s awful try at an accent, and I held back a laugh myself. “That is the million dollar question. I have no idea.”
“We seem to be dragging our feet about everything.” I could hear frustration in Dax’s voice as well. “What the heck happened with that Vampire who jammed the IACs when Bonnie went crazy?”
I knew Dax was particularly interested in Spittle, the Vampire in question, because Tara had nearly died on the night he was talking about. In fact, she had died, but she’d come back to life, thanks to the second dose of Transformation serum. “He’s out there,” I affirmed. “For that matter, they all are.”
“So why aren’t we going after them?” Tara asked.
“I have no idea.” I didn’t. I wished I knew. When we’d come back from Australia, I expected things to move quickly. Rather than actually going after the Vampires Holland had intended to use to attack headquarters, we were going after small pockets of Vampires who hadn’t done much at all. It made no sense. “Every time I ask Cadence about it, she says not to concern myself and keep doing what I’m doing.”
Tara made a tsking sound but said nothing else. Lucy just looked confused. I decided not to try to explain everything to her because she’d find out soon enough. Just being on campus, she’d hear what was going on and be able to piece it all together.
There was a light rapping at the door before Brandon let himself in. I couldn’t help but smile, even though I was still frustrated about the whole not attacking Holland bit. I stood and gave him a hug before he sat down beside me. He asked how Lucy was doing, and she gave the same half-hearted “I’m fine,” she’d been giving everyone. It’s not like she could tell everyone the truth—that she felt like her heart had been ripped out. I knew that feeling, and it’s not something easily put into words.
“What are you guys doing for dinner?” Tara asked. “Maybe we could grab some pizza and watch a flick. In Brandon’s apartment, though. It’s the biggest.”
“That sounds fun,” Lucy said, genuinely smiling.
“Uh, it’s a school night,” I reminded them before they got too far ahead of themselves. “And since I’ve missed the last few days of school, I’m sure my mom won’t let us go.”
“Won’t let you maybe,” Lucy shrugged. “She’s not seriously going to try to change my curfews is she? It’s not like I have school tomorrow.”
There was a tone of attitude in my friend’s voice I had only ever heard her use when she was trying to talk her own mother into letting her do something or buy something when Annie had already said no. “I’d be happy to lobby for you, but there’s no point in me asking for myself.” I hated the fact that they could all be in my boyfriend’s apartment, hanging out, probably with my other best friend, Elliott, even though he was Brandon’s dad, and I would be in my room, only able to join in through their IACs. At least my mom hadn’t figured out a way to turn that off yet.
Lucy shook her head and folded her arms, and I realized this was not going to work. But I am not one to interfere with Liz Findley and her mothering ways.
“Why don’t we walk around for a while, show Lucy where everything is, and then we’ll see what Mrs. Findley will allow?” Dax offered.
It was a fair compromise, and I was definitely up for going for a stroll. Tara’s apartment walls were closing in on me.
“Okay,” Lucy agreed as we all pulled ourselves up. “But you guys have to remember I’m a human. No walking at super speed.”
We all laughed. It was nice to hear her making a joke. Tara said, “I am ten times faster than all of these losers.”
“Hey, that’s not fair,” Brandon chided, opening the door for all of us. “It’s not our fault we haven’t gotten a second shot of super juice.”
“Gosh, what if they let us do that?” Dax asked, completely unaware that it had been discussed. I only knew this because I had been present at a meeting where my sister and Jamie had tried to talk Aaron into it. Brandon was there, too. In fact, Aaron had given Cadence and Elliott permission to go through with it when we got back from Australia. I hoped the only cause for delay was the tissue samples Jamie and Christian were running, but once again, the progress seemed slow.
“If they do, we’ll all be as fast as Tara,” Brandon said, and then he winked at me. His dad and my sister had shut us both down on going through with the procedure, but neither one of us were the type to give up quite so easily. I had already decided if the opportunity to use the Transformation serum a second time presented itself, I had to take it, no matter the risk. I had a feeling it would enhance the skills I already have—my telepathy, for instance—and I was all about seeing how far I could take it. The rest of them could be fast and strong. I just wanted to be stealthy. If I could get into Holland’s head a little deeper, I might be able to stop whatever she was sending our way before she could get it off the ground.
Brandon called the elevator with his IAC, and we climbed aboard, laughing and having a good time. I was glad Lucy was here, despite the circumstances. I had a feeling she was going to be a distraction, though, and I couldn’t let that be the case. As we headed to the ground floor, I reminded myself I had Vampires to spy on, and if there was anything I could do to get Cadence to start moving forward again, I’d have to do it. The longer we waited, the more dangerous Holland became, and in my gut, I had a feeling the clock was already ticking.
