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  “I was making conversation.”

  “Well, talk about something else.”

  “What shall I talk about?”

  “I don't know.” I cast around my head for something, anything. Anything that wouldn't make me think of Peter. It was a really short list. “What are your opinions on nuclear proliferation? Or, uh, zombies. What is your opinion on the preparedness of humans for the zombie apocalypse?”

  “Zombie apocalypse?”

  “That's what I said.” Peter and I had never discussed it. Even though it was an important issue. I wait for him to answer.

  “From what I have heard, surrounding the house with outward-facing treadmills is most popular, but the fly in that ointment would be constantly powering the treadmills.”

  I'm stunned, but only for a moment.

  “Exactly! Since all the power will go down, and everyone will probably be on generators. I've told Tex that a hundred times, but she just keeps going on about how you could stock up on generators ahead of time. But who does that? You can't prepare for the zombie apocalypse.”

  Turns out Ivan is kind of a Chatty Cathy. Who knew? I mean, after the whole neck-squeezing incident, I would have told you he would as soon talk to me as ride a pink unicorn. Saddle up, cowboy.

  As the pain recedes and I get giddier, Ivan gets more wary. I can tell the way his eyes dart, and how he slows down a bit.

  “Where the hell are we?” Somehow we'd crossed the highway three times, but had managed to avoid major cities and even residential areas.

  “According to a sign a few miles back, Baltimore, Vermont.”

  “I've never heard of it.”

  “Neither have I.” He stops for a moment.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Stopping for a moment.”

  “You didn't lose the trail, did you?”

  “I am not sure.” I close my eyes. Fantastic. So much for the noble steed. I close my eyes and reach out to to Peter.

  “That way.” I close my eyes and point.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yup. Don't question. Just run.” I open my eyes. He's looking at me in a way I can't figure out. I get the feeling that he was testing me. Just seeing if I could do it. I don't let on that I know. I close my eyes and hold on.

  I give him directions the rest of the way. I think he goes wrong a few times on purpose, just to see if I will correct him. I can tell this isn't a selfless mission. He thinks he's getting something out of it. Well, everyone wants something. And he wants something from Peter. I can't even begin to wonder where he's going with that. The only thing that matters is Peter. Getting to him. We'll figure out the rest later.

  When we go over the border into South Carolina, I know we aren't far. I am so stiff from my burrito position, and I really, really want to stretch my legs. It will have to wait and I hope that when the time comes for me to stand tall, my legs will carry me.

  “What are we going to do when we find him?”

  “I assumed you would have a plan.” Oh no, Peter is the one with the plan. But he didn't tell me what it was so I have to make one up as we go along. I'm going to punch him when we find him.

  “We go in, we get Peter and we leave.”

  “That is the plan?”

  “So far. I don't like to plan too far ahead. What's the point when things never go the way they are supposed to?”

  “That is a valid point. But I am sure they did not storm the Bastile or conduct the Civil War without a plan.”

  “I'm sure the South had a plan during the Civil war. And look how that turned out. Maybe if they just flew by the seat of their pants, they might not have lost the war.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” The comment reminds me of something Peter might have said. Peter. God I miss him.

  When we're within a mile, Ivan slows way down.

  “Can they hear us this far out?” I say it so soft my lips barely move. He shakes his head and then blinks. I guess that means maybe yes, maybe no. Best to take the precaution.

  It takes minutes upon minutes to slowly make our way through the woods. It's different than Maine here. The trees are different, less close together. The distant sounds of the highway reach my sensitive ears.

  I focus on Peter, hoping I can hear him or something. I know he must know I am coming. If he could, like, go all ninja and free himself and run to me and we could have one of those slow-motion moments with running and kissing and twirling around and laughing, that would be awesome. It will not happen, but I have a brief moment when I imagine it. I try to send the image to Peter. As if I can do such a thing. But who knows?

  I'm coming. I love you. I'm coming. I love you.

  My heart sings and I feel as if I could sprout wings myself when we get really close. We probably should have discussed if we were going to go with our guns blazing (so to speak) or if we were going to wave the white flag. I'm not really a white flag kind of girl. Guess Ivan isn't a white flag kind of guy. Noctalis.

  He walks slow, but doesn't try to hide or do something like that. I test the connection. Peter is nearby, but I can't see him. I tug harder. He tugs back. I look down. Oh. I jab at Ivan and point to the ground. He nods. I study the ground in the increasing light. We're going to have to do this fast, or else I'm not going to get home. That would be a fine situation if we got out of this and then were busted by my parents. Worry about it later.

  Ivan puts me down. I guess we're storming the Bastile.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Peter

  I feel her progress. Di goes out to hunt, leaving Cal to watch me. He does not try to talk, to explain. I do not ask him to. It would be pointless.

  “I know about the bind.” I stay silent. “The bind you made with Di. To protect your human.”

  I still do not answer. It has been my experience that to stay silent is the best course of action more often than not.

  Never show all your cards.

  “It was a foolish move, I think. But you did not know about the bind that supersedes yours. The bind made at the time of transformation is stronger than any other bind you could ever make. When forced to fight against one another, the stronger bind will win out. But you did not know that, or else you would not have done it.” I cannot stop myself from asking the next question.

  “Did Di know?” Even though I already knew the answer.

  “Yes.” She had to have known. Well. She certainly put up a good act. I did not know she was that talented. She should win an award of some sort. Once again, Ava was right. I should give her an award.

  “What was that?” Her heart has finally gotten close enough for him to hear.

  “A human.” He looks up at the shaft of morning light that falls through the opening of the the cellar. There is no use denying it.

  “What is a human doing here at this time?” For the first time ever, he seems perturbed. It seems that Di brings out his emotions. Like Ava brings out mine.

  “I do not know.”

  He goes to the entrance and sticks his head into the air.

  “It is your human. And she is not alone.” I call out to her in my mind. Her soul calls my name and it is like an embrace. I was so much to see her, touch her. Kiss her. Adore her.

  Di must be close by. I hear hear voice as she says, “Ivan, darling. What on earth are you doing here?” The ice is in her voice, but her tone is friendly.

  “We're here for Peter. We want him back.” The sound of Ava's voice is almost my undoing. How could I have forgotten how lovely it is? It is, perhaps, the most beautiful sound in the entire world. Di cannot talk to Ava, or look at her. I hear her moving away from Ava. I did not give parameters for the bind, but it seems to be working.

  “Ivan, why are you here? With her?” She cannot talk directly to Ava. I enjoy that very much. Cal looks at me, and then emerges. He doesn't do anything to stop me from doing the same. The sun is pleasant on my face after being underground. My eyes find her face and she beams the most brilliant smile at me. And I sm
ile back. For the first time, I can smile without trying to.

  Ava

  Oh. My. God. He's here, he's here, he's here. I want to run to him and touch him and make sure he's all in one piece. Yes, I know he's immortal, but that doesn't stop me from making sure he's unharmed. Or at least that he's still generally okay.

  “Peter.” I breathe his name, and everything inside me shatters. All the pain and the wanting and waiting. I want to jump on him so bad.

  “Ava.” He breathes my name right back. He's still got the most glorious smile on his face that I don't think I'll ever forget as long as I live. Which I hope will be a very long time.

  “I am here on an errand. It is none of your concern.”

  “It is my concern. You are my son. I don't let my children keep secrets from me.”

  “Then you should have put that in the bind.” Oh snap. I'd never been an Ivan fan, but I was starting to kind of like him. It would be a whole lot easier if it weren't for the almost strangle and the fact that he wants to destroy Peter. Other than that, we'd be buddies.

  “What is he doing here?” Ivan says to Cal.

  “I have come to support our mother. Unlike you.”

  “She is not our mother,” Ivan snaps back. Feisty.

  “You knew?” Peter says.

  “Of course I did.” Ivan looks at me like I'm an idiot. And now he's back on my shit list.

  “Why did you not tell me?”

  “It did not matter at the time.” Guess I'm not the only one in the dark.

  “It does now.”

  “So it seems.”

  “Can we go now? You guys can stay and chat, but I've got to get my beauty rest.” I yawn, which is totally unplanned, but totally works.

  “Ivan will you tell that human that she is not leaving with him. I will not let it happen.”

  “And how are you going to stop me? None of you can touch me. You can't even look at me or you'll crumble into a pile of dust. Which might not be a bad look for you.” I stare right at her. I feel her flinch and look away. Oh, I am enjoying this. It's sick, really. Ivan pinches my back through the blanket.

  I walk to Peter and finally give him my hello. I let the blanket fall away from me, which exposes skin that they can't touch. My hands go around his neck and I pull him in. He resists for a moment, and I don't understand it. What is he doing? And what about Ivan and the whole promise thing? I shut my brain off for a moment and kiss him with everything I have. He gives it back to me. Tenfold. It's perhaps the sexiest kiss I'll ever have. Tongue and lip nibbling and hands in hair and pressing bodies.

  “Ivan. Come to me. Bring her.” Di's voice is like a being dunked in an ice cold pond in January.

  “No,” he says, stepping away from her.

  “What did you say?”

  “No.” He looks at me one more time. His eyes are deep and haunted. Then he winks. And he's gone. I scream, because it's a very troubling thing to see a person wink at you and then crumble into ashes. A wind comes out of nowhere and sweeps most of them away.

  A brilliant sound fills the air around us. Di. She screams on and on as Peter puts his hands on my ears. It doesn't do much to stop the sound. I guess noctali can't cry. But talk about the cry of the banshee. My eyes tear up a little bit, even though I hated him most of the time. He'd brought me here. And he'd sacrificed himself for me. I hold onto Peter. I turn around to see his face. It is still, and not in a good way. Di stops keening. Finally.

  “You did this to him, Peter. You killed your brother. For her.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you will keep killing. For her.”

  “Yes.”

  “When will it end? Would you try to kill Cal? Me? You cannot kill your mother, Peter. Not if you love me.” Cal is silent, watching. I wish he'd go to hell.

  “Are you crazy? Don't listen to her.”

  “You should listen to me Peter. She will destroy you too. I can't have that. Do you love me?” He looks at me and then over my head at her.

  “Yes.”

  “Then do what has to be done.”

  “It will not end. I will do what she asks. It will only be a matter of time.”

  I meet Peter's eyes and I can almost hear the wheels churning. He's sending me vibes, but I can't quite make them out.

  “I am sorry, Ava. I must do this.”

  “What? What are you doing?”

  “Are you going to kill her at last?”

  “Yes. I can no longer fight the bind.” Di shrieks with delight. It isn't that different than her wail of sorrow.

  “What are you talking about?” What the hell?! Peter takes my arm, not roughly but strongly. “Peter.” I know this can't be happening. That this is some plan he's got going that I'm just not in on.

  He pulls me tight against him, and I think he's going to fly with me. Until he sinks his teeth into my neck. It isn't gentle this time and it's not on my wrist. I try not to scream, but it seems like the thing to do. I can feel him sucking the life from my body. Just before I think I'm going to pass out, he pulls back and whispers something so low I can barely hear it.

  “Adore.”

  And now I'm pleased to give you an interview with Peter and Ava!

  (clears throat and shifts into "talk show host" voice) Today on Left and Write we have Peter Hart and Ava-Claire Sullivan with us. They're both characters in my book, Nocturnal. Let's have a round of applause for Peter and Ava!

  *blinking applause sign*

  Ava: Thanks for having us. (looks at Peter.) Aren't you going to say something?

  Peter: Yes. Thank you for having us.

  Me: Oh, you're welcome. (shifts in seat, looks through question cards) So why don't we start with you, Ava. Tell us about the first night you met Peter.

  Ava: I, um, I don't really like to talk about it. (looks at Peter again. He blinks) It was kind of a bad night.

  Me: Except for meeting Peter.

  Ava: Well, he didn't really make a good first impression. I thought he was going to kill me.

  Peter: I nearly did. I still might.

  Ava: (rolls eyes) Yeah, you've said that before. A million times. I have yet to see it.

  Me: You don't seem really concerned, Ava.

  Ava: I know I should be. Because there was that one time... but I just don't think that he'd hurt me. (stares at Peter. Peter stares back. Staring lasts for several seconds)

  Me: *clears throat* So Peter, what was it about Ava that attracted you?

  Peter: It was her eyes. The way she looked at me. I could not look away. (reaches one finger out to touch her cheek. She blushes) I wanted to keep her safe. Because her soul is pure. I couldn't taint that.

  Ava: (looks down at lap) Thanks, Peter.

  Me: That's very sweet, Peter. (fans self with cards) So you'd say it was an instant attraction?

  Peter: Yes. She reminded me of my mother.

  Ava: Awesome. That's what every girl wants to hear. "Your soul is pure and you remind me of my mother." (crosses arms)

  Peter: You are upset.

  Ava: (sighs) No, I'm not upset. I'm just... I don't know. It's like sometimes you say sweet things like that about my soul, and then you say other things, and it's very confusing. Do you understand?

  Peter: More or less.

  Me: Moving on. Peter, was it hard to tell Ava about you not being human?

  Peter: No.

  Me: Not at all? No reservations?

  Peter: She needed to know. So I told her.

  Me: You didn't think that would freak her out at all?

  Peter: I thought that it might. I still wanted her to have a way out, if she wanted. I could not keep it from her any longer. (he blinks)

  Ava: It wasn't really that big a secret. I noticed that first night when you weren't breathing.

  Peter: You did?

  Ava: Uh, yeah. There was also that freaky conversation with your brother that tipped me off.

  Peter: Yes.

  Me: Are you close with your brother, Peter?


  Peter and Ava at the same time: No.

  Me: (senses this is a touchy issue. Decides to move on) We're almost out of time today. How about one last question? Hmmm... (shuffles through cards) Oh! Same question for both of you, what is your favorite thing about the other person?

  Peter: I am not a person.

  Ava: Yes you are. We've been through this a million times. Just go with it, Peter.

  Peter: But I am not.

  Ava: (turns to Peter, ignoring me) Peter Henry MacKintire. You. Are. A. Person. You may not be human, but you are a person. So just answer the question.

  Peter: Her. She is my favorite thing.

  Ava: Aw, you're my favorite too, Peter. (turns to me) How could you not fall for that?

  Me: (gazing at Peter) What? Oh, right. Well, that's all the time we have for today. Thank you Peter, Ava for chatting with me today.

  Ava: It was cool.

  Peter: Thank you.

  Me: So, uh, how many brothers do you have, Peter?

  Ava: Oh boy.

  *music plays as credits roll*

  Nightmare is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. All rights reserved.

  Copyright © 2012 Chelsea M. Cameron

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