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Rob leered at me. “Why the hell not?”
I stared at the young Trainee, memorizing him. Someday he would be a vampire. And someday I would stake him. The thought was errant and vivid and shocking. And, I realized, so very true.
I still dreamt of escape. But if that didn’t pan out, my revised list of personal goals wouldn’t be a short one. First, I’d find and obliterate this jackass. Hell, I’d obliterate the whole vampire race, if necessary.
The thought so startled me, my eyes widened. It felt dangerous, reckless, maybe even treasonous, to let such a thing dance along the edges of my mind.
Josh looked at me and must’ve misread my expression, because his voice hardened. “Why not?” His grip became so tight his fingertips disappeared into the boy’s sweater. “Because I say so. ”
The two Trainees looked uncertain then.
Josh flung their shoulders from his hands. “Now, stop being such douche bags and go to class. ”
He approached me, not waiting to see if his friends had left. Wasn’t he afraid they’d stab him in the back? Given the looks on their faces, some caution might’ve been advisable.
“Ladies, ladies. ” He tsked at the girls. “Isn’t this quite enough?”
I watched in disbelief, amazed at the sheer insanity of what I was witnessing. Dude had a pair of cojones the size of Kentucky.
“We were just getting started,” Masha said, sounding seriously peeved at his gall.
Josh matter-of-factly slid a switchblade from his pocket and sliced the plastic along the length of the tree. “Show’s over now. ”
The Initiates didn’t move. “But we own her. ”
“She owns herself, I think. ” He straightened, leaning against the tree, and his hand moved slowly, as though he were bored, clicking his blade into place. Flicking it out. Clicking it into place. “Truly, girls. This has been great fun. But I think it’s time to call it. Wouldn’t want to be caught by Headmaster. This sheila ain’t worth it, I think. ”
“He’s right,” Trinity said in a monotone, and I gaped at her, stunned at what I was hearing.
Then Josh looked at each one, catching and holding their gazes. He spoke slowly, telling them, “Now catch up to the boys. ”
I wondered if I was witnessing some nascent vampire mojo going on, because damned if they didn’t disperse and catch up to the boys.
All except for Masha.
He turned his back to her, and for the second time, I mentally accused him of being stupid. The guy was going to get a knife in his back one of these days.
I watched her, not even letting myself blink. But she only stood there, glaring at Josh with astonishment, the rage rolling off her in waves.
He casually set about peeling the plastic from my body. When he spoke again, his casual surfer-boy voice was back. I realized he was addressing Masha. “There’s been one incident already, eh? Call it a morning, Guidon. The dining hall will open soon. Don’t want to miss Thursday’s omelet bar. ”
Finally she left, and I supposed it was wise. Without backup, I didn’t know if she could beat a Trainee in a fight. But the lasers coming out of her eyes told me it wasn’t over.
At the moment, I didn’t care. I was freezing to death. I tried to pull the plastic from my body, but my fingers were too cold and clumsy.
Josh stopped me. “Stand still. I’ve almost got it. ”
I could’ve thanked him, but I had another pressing thought on my mind. “I kn-kn-knew you were dumb. ” The words were barely discernible through my chattering teeth.
He laughed. “How’s that?”
“T-t-turning your back on those people. ” Never again would I turn my back on Masha.
“Maybe I’m not stupid. ” He waggled his eyebrows. “Maybe I’m just stronger than they are. ”
The concept gave me pause. Had he risked that theory just to save me from getting peed on? I
refused to believe it.
