“How would you feel if you were Jonathan Harker, and you came across such a man?” asks our teacher.
“Not a man,” says Salma. “Amonster.”
William twists around to study her.
“Or is Dracula just being true to his nature?” asks Minaro, and William faces forward again.
I pinch Salma’s thigh, and when she looks at me, I glower and shake my head slightly. She rolls her eyes but slouches in her chair.
“Just because he is not human, does that make Dracula a monster?” probes Minaro, her gaze lingering on me and then William, as if expecting us to go back to our old ways.
“Humans can be monsters, too,” says William, and I’m sure he’s thinking of the Legion targeting human Stokers.
“Go on,” the director encourages him.
“Monsteris a construct,” he says. “So its meaning is ever-changing.”
“That is a lovely way to put it,” she says. Then our teacher looks at me, her dark gaze nearly as inescapable as William’s. “What do you think of Count Dracula, Lorena?”
I still can’t shake the feeling that she’s paying me particular interest for a reason. Like she wants something from me.
“I think he’s worse than a human or a vampire,” I say, and William looks at me curiously. “He’s a powerful white man with money and means—that’s why he thinks he can have anything he wants and force his will on everyone else.”
William winces just the slightest bit, and I get the sense my answer wasn’t as diplomatic as I’d hoped.
When class ends, Zach pulls William aside to talk to him alone, while Salma tugs me along with her and Tiffany toward our room. Even though it’s only Friday, she urges the three of us to get a head start on Monday’s homework—but I know she’s just trying to keep me away from William.
As much as I want to defy her, Salma’s right. William is leaving tonight—what good could come from spending more time with him? Better that he just go.
When we get to dinner, my stomach is too full of nerves to be hungry. Wearrive before the guys, and I hang by the table—which is once more set for six—while Salma and Tiffany go fill their plates.
“Navarro,” says Trevor, tipping his head in greeting as he picks up his plate and beelines for the food.
“Hey,” I say to Zach, curious what the vampire told him when they spoke after class. “You and William talk?” I ask in a low voice.
“Yeah,” he says, coming closer to me so we won’t be overheard. “I told him I’d talk to Fran about the story.”
The story?
“You mean, your article?” I ask in confusion.
“I’m not the one writing it. William told me Fran came up to you guys at the dance and asked to feature you in their Valentine’s Day spotlight on school couples. Will said it could hurt your mom’s career if it comes out that you’re in a relationship, so don’t worry—I’ll tell Fran you’re not comfortable and not to bring it up again.”
“Oh, thanks,” I say as Zach grabs his plate and heads to the buffet line.
I don’t get it. Why would William mention that article at all? And why wouldn’t Zach bring up the undercover investigation? It’s almost like—
William compelled him to forget.
Any possibility of recovering my appetite is gone, and I take off before Salma’s returned to the table. If William altered Zach’s memories, he’s probably making final preparations to leave. He might even already be gone. And all I feel is a desperate need to say goodbye.
If there’s any chance he’s still here, I have to find him.
“Where are you going?”
I turn around in the hallway. Salma followed me out.
“To say goodbye.”
