Chapter 435
“You don’t expect me to actually take a nap at a time like this, do you?” I asked my sister, glancing at Ashley and wondering how in the world she was sleeping again. I couldn’t imagine my mind shutting off under the circumstances.
“I do,” Cadence confirmed. “What sort of use are you going to be if you can’t keep your eyes open?”
The idea of Vampires rampaging our rooms while I was sleeping made me chuckle. “Do you think I could fall asleep during a Vampire attack?”
I could see the other people in the room shifting their attention from me to Cadence and back again with each statement. I thought I saw a flicker of fear in Oswald’s eyes, like he thought maybe I would attack my sister. I wouldn’t.
“Your reflexes will slow down if you’re not well rested, sister dear.”
I shook my head. “Cadence....”
“Cassidy?”
I exhaled loudly. I am a teenage girl after all. “Fine. You can take me to bed, but you can’t make me sleep.”
“Fair enough.”
I didn’t want to go. I’m not sure why. It wasn’t like Brandon was going to suddenly appear in DC, but while we were here, I felt like we were doing something, anything. Now, pulling myself up from the chair, it was like I was just giving up. And I wasn’t ready for that. Holland could come for me if she wanted to. I’d kick her butt, no matter how tired I was.
Cadence gave a few quick directions to Oswald and Trina who said they’d come join the Independents in West Virginia to keep an eye on us in case Holland did try something later. Job was going to drive us back, which was good because Cadence’s eyes looked heavy, and I didn’t know if she could get us there. She exited the room with him, leaving me to wake up Ashley.
It was a difficult task. The usual shaking and calling her name didn’t work. Neither did the rolling her on her back and violently pulling on her shoulder. I finally had to tickle her awake, which was kind of weird, but it worked. “Come on, Ash. We’re going back to the B and B,” I said, once her eyes were open.
“Uhhh.” She wiped at her eyes and eventually sat up, rubbing her neck. I couldn’t imagine the floor was that comfortable. “What? Why? What time is it?” She looked around the room. Maybe she didn’t remember where she was.
“Bosslady’s orders. It’s a little after 5:00.” I stood up and offered my hand, which she took and I pulled her to her feet. Levitating her would’ve been cooler, but she seemed too out of it for that. “She’s already in the car.”
Ashley grumbled again, and we headed out to the SUV, which was idling in the parking lot. Cadence had her head in her hand, slumped against the window, and Job was fiddling with the radio. Ashley and I climbed in back.
“Do they know we’re staying over again?” I asked. We weren’t supposed to be there tonight. I had my seatbelt buckled, and Job was heading out of the parking lot.
“Yeah, Hannah took care of it, I guess. She went by there earlier.” Cadence sounded like she was about to fall asleep, so I decided to leave her alone and check with Hannah directly.
I could tell she was busy before she even answered because it took so long. “Just making sure we still have reservations at the B and B,” I said.
“Yes, for tonight. And I got Dax and Alex’s stuff out of their room, so you won’t need to worry about that. But you will have to get everyone else’s. I hope that’s okay. I thought you might want to get Brandon’s and Elliott’s yourself.”
“No, it’s fine. Thanks.”
“I’m on my way to pick Ward up from the airport, and we’ll get to work. It’s going to be fine, Cass.”
“I know,” I said, but I wasn’t completely convinced of it yet. I needed to see some more progress.
“Try to get some rest,” Hannah advised, and then she was gone.
I wasn’t tired. Maybe I should’ve been, but I felt my heart racing still, and every time I thought about Brandon, I got a sick feeling in my stomach. I couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing. What was it like in there? I hoped he’d send me a message at 7:00. I just needed to hear from him that he was okay.
Ashley was asleep before we hit the freeway, and Cadence kept doing that head bobbing trick, like she was dozing off but then awake again. Normally, I might’ve felt it was funny, but right now, not much would amuse me.
Job was driving super fast, and the landscape and other cars out the window were just blurs. I wondered what all of those people would’ve thought if they only knew who we were and what we were doing. I knew already, though, how hard it is to believe it all. I’d been one of them before, one of the ignorant, the naive. Sometimes, I wished I still was.
Shepherdstown is a cozy little community, and Brandon and I had had so much fun walking around exploring all of it. Now, when we hit the city limits, my stomach twisted into knots. Had it just been the day before the two of us had been out on an adventure together? I never would’ve imagined driving past that city limits sign without him next to me.
Before we reached the B and B, I decided to go ahead and start working on Ash. She woke up a lot easier this time, though when Job pulled in, she was still bleary-eyed. Cadence woke up with the change in speed. We all got out without a word, but my sister stopped and leaned against the window. He rolled it down. “Thanks a lot, Job.” She had a smile on her face, but it was forced.
“Sure. Get some rest, and I’ll talk to you later.” He had that look of sympathy I was starting to get used to now. Everyone wore it when they were around the three of us. It was getting old.
