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“You have to try. I want no part of this.”
We decide to end the argument before it escalates again. When it’s clear that she’s already pleaded her case, Rory steps aside and we head to the movie together anyway.
But our entire car ride home is not filled with discussion about the failings of the movie, or how much we enjoyed it.
She continues to beg the entire way home, hoping futilely that I’ll abandon the best thing that’s ever happened to me because my neck itches sometimes. She still won’t listen, no matter how many times I tell her.
“But I really like him,” I tell her, over and over.
“You don’t love him,” she replies. “He’s a vampire. He’s probably got you hypnotized or something.”
There’s no point in having this conversation. I’m not going to give up my relationship with Caspian - she can’t make me - and for some reason, she won’t shut up about it.
She drops me off at my front door, fuming. I invite her in for a glass of water and a TV marathon.
“Day’s kinda ruined for me,” she says. “Have fun with your show and your vampire boyfriend. Don’t come crying to me when it blows up in your face.”
I shake my head. I know she doesn’t mean it.
“I’ll see you at work,” I say, smiling.
She drives off without saying anything. She’s been mad before, but this might be the maddest I’ve seen her.
I arrive to crushed flowers on my doorstep, along with a note.
I smile and shut the door behind me.
24
CASPIAN
The Moonlight Sentinels elude us still. I know that perhaps their capture should be an immediate priority, but my mind rotates in its cage, spinning endlessly. Quinn is always on the other side, just out of reach.
I have claimed her, body, mind, and soul, but I still do not feel that my conquest is concluded. There is always another part of her to conquer - another inch of her to penetrate.
“I need you to focus,” Ren tells me, as we stake out another inevitably empty building.
We have searched through nearly every building in this town - scavenged through every alleyway - and it all seems to lead to another dead end. Either they’re aware of us, and staying one step ahead at all points, or there’s a traitor in our midst, leaking information.
“How many times are we going to do this?” I ask Ren, sighing in frustration. “It’s obviously another empty building, and the janitor left the lights on.”
“We’ve had many reports of suspicious activity,” Ren says. “If we get a tip, it’s not something we can just ignore.”
“You ever think that maybe the one sending us these anonymous tips is the Moonlight Sentinels, and they’re just laughing at us while they go commit real crimes?”
We jump at a shadow lurking in the alley ahead of us, but Ren looks up, disappointed to find it’s just another homeless man.
“If you’ve got any other leads, let me know,” Ren says, tapping on the steering wheel.
There’s a scent of perfume in the air - I swear it’s one that Quinn wears. I cannot identify its source, but it drives me mad, because now her aroma is in my mouth.
But this is not the time for that, surely. I must continue working, to keep Quinn safe.
To keep Quinn for myself.
I open the car door, and the open door chimes ring out, as I walk into the cool air beyond.
“Where are you going?” Ren asks me, his vehicle still calling out in displeasure. “You’re going to blow this whole operation!”
