Chapter 448
It was almost 8:00 when I stepped into my apartment. We should be getting another text in three hours. It seemed crazy to only sleep until noon when I was so tired. I hadn’t slept a wink since the night we were in Shenandoah, which was almost three nights ago. I wasn’t even sure how I was still moving. But then, some Hunters don’t need to sleep, and Vampires don’t sleep much either, so maybe I was getting used to my new identity. Or maybe I was so tired I had forgotten how to sleep.
Part of me wanted to run down to Brandon’s apartment and talk to his mom just as an excuse to be where his stuff was. I didn’t. I sat down on my couch and then slumped over, putting my dirty shoes on the sofa. I could do that. It was mine.
I had IAC messages from Tara and Lucy, both checking on me, but I didn’t answer them. I felt my phone vibrate and knew it was my mother. With a deep sigh, I pulled it out of my pocket. “Hey, Mom.”
“Oh, honey, it’s so nice to hear your voice. How are you?”
“I’m okay.”
“Good. Are you back in Kansas City now?”
I figured someone must’ve told her we were, but I decided to play nice. “Yeah. I just walked into my apartment.”
“Have you been getting enough rest? That’s important, even in a time like this.”
“Yeah.” There was no point in telling her the truth.
“Good, good. I know how awful all of this is, honey, but you know the team will figure out a way to get them back. Brandon’s not gone forever.”
“I know.” Short answers would prevent me from saying something I would regret—I hoped. And maybe also keep me from crying. Tears were already stinging my eyes.
“Okay. I’ll let you go. I just wanted to tell you how much we love you. Daddy’s here, too.” I heard my dad shout that he loved me in the background and wondered when the last time was that I called him Daddy. It had to have been years. “Is your sister okay?”
“She’s making it. She’s just really busy.”
“I’m sure she is. All right. We’ll let you go. Love you, sweetie.”
“Love you, too, Mom. Bye.”
I sat my phone down on my stomach and stared at the ceiling. My eyes were getting heavy, and I thought maybe it would be okay if I fell asleep—just for a little while. There was so much I could do to help. I knew Ward and Hannah would figure out as much as they could about the book, but I thought I’d have a much better chance at Hamish than Christian. I knew he was almost here. I could feel it. I could probe into his mind, no matter where he was, but it would be easier if I was right in front of him.
I didn’t do it, though. I picked up my phone and set an alarm for 11:50 and then plunked it back down. I was asleep quickly, and in my dreams, I was running around the abandoned carnival where I’d had my last hunt, with Brandon and Elliott. Then, something happened, and I was all alone, searching for them instead of Vampires. I kept seeing that stupid clown that had scared the crap out of Paxton. All in all, it was terrifying, and when my alarm went off, I was glad for it. I wished I hadn’t ever tried to sleep at all.
Sometimes being asleep can make you forget really important things momentarily, like that your best friend has died or your mom wants to imprison you in your room for all time. I never once lost my grip on the idea that Brandon and Elliott were gone, or that Alex was dead. So at least it didn’t hit me like a sledgehammer when I came to.
Setting my phone aside, I went to the bathroom, glad to be in my own home again, and then wandered into the kitchen for a can of pop and some chips before I returned to the couch. I had three minutes. I stared at the wall.
Stewart was here now. Christian had talked to him and gotten nowhere. Figured. I’d be happy to jab around in his mind for a bit, too, but not until I heard what Brandon had to say. The fact that the message wouldn’t be coming to me was oddly satisfying. I wouldn’t have to worry about jumping out of my skin if my phone dinged.
I figured it would take Cadence a few minutes to read it and then let us know what it said. So when 12:00 came and went, I kept my breathing even. I intended to give her until 12:05, but by 12:02, my patience was gone. “Cadence, what did they say?”
My lovely sister did not respond. I waited, thinking it might’ve been a long message. Two minutes later, I probed again. I could see she had me on. She just wasn’t answering. “Cadence?”
“Sorry, Sis. Nothing. My message didn’t go through, and they didn’t send one either. Did you get anything on your IAC?”
I hadn’t checked, but I did now. “No, nothing.”
“Cass? Did Cadence tell you anything?” Tara sounded as irritated as I felt.
I changed my IAC so everyone who was in my head was having the same conversation. Ashley was there, too, and she was already crying before my sister told them she didn’t get anything over her IAC. “Let me check with Ward and Christian and see if they have any idea what’s going on.”
“All right,” Tara said for all of us. It didn’t seem all right at all. I was praying this didn’t mean something had happened to Brandon or anyone else. Could he have gotten hurt, and his phone been crushed or broken? We should’ve been using more than one phone!
