"But you can't be sure," Liam said coldly. "And I can't leave them unprotected."
"We would still be here."
"Leaving isn't going to solve anything," Liam replied. "Only one thing will."
"We already tried to find Beth."
"She can track us through our blood, we could probably do the same thing," Doug said. "We've never tried it, because we never wanted to find her. What if we try it now?"
"I did try," Liam told him. "When Jack and I went looking for her. I couldn't sense anything. She is stronger than us, if she wants to keep us blocked out, then I'm sure that she can."
"Then you could probably do the same thing."
Liam unfolded his arms. "Maybe, but Sera couldn't."
"But... oh," Jack said dully.
Liam's jaw clenched as he glanced out the doorway of the kitchen. Beth would be able to find Sera through his blood and Sera was far too new to understand her abilities. "Until Beth is dead, there will be no peace," he said. "When we get back to the college, Sera will stay with me."
"Kathleen and Danielle?" Mike asked.
Liam closed his eyes and shook his head. "I don't know. I'd like to say that Beth would leave them alone, but I know she won't. She'd kill them, or turn them, just to hurt Sera."
"Maybe it would be better if we did stay. At least we're all together, and if the ski resort opens tomorrow, we won't have to be concerned about food."
"Beth can come in here anytime she wants," Jack remarked.
"But with all of us here, she can't get to them. Not if we stay aware, and awake," David said.
"So, for now, we stay," Liam confirmed.
CHAPTER 21
Sera was beaming from ear to ear as she pulled to a stop with a whoosh of snow. Pulling her goggles up she watched as Liam slid to a graceful stop beside her. He grinned as he pulled his goggles off. "I'm glad we stayed," she gushed.
"Way to leave the rest of us in the dust!" Danielle panted as she skidded to a stop.
Jack and Doug halted behind her, breathing heavily as they scowled at her. "You're the ones that said you wanted to race!" Sera reminded them.
"That was before we realized that you were hell on skis," Jack muttered. "I think Mike's still stuck in a tree somewhere."
Sera glanced up the hill as Mike cautiously picked his way through the snow toward them. She had to bite back a smile as she spotted the twigs stuck to his boots, clinging to his parka, hat, and scarf. "I hate this stupid sport," he muttered as he stopped before them.
"What did you hit?" Danielle demanded.
His scowl deepened as he angrily ripped a twig from his jacket. "A briar patch." Unable to stop herself, Sera burst out laughing. Mike's scowl deepened as he pulled another twig from his hat. "Glad you think this is funny."
"You would too, if it was one of us," Liam replied with a grin.
Kathleen bounded up to them; she'd given up on skiing a couple of hours ago. "They're having a dance tonight! What happened to you?"
Mike muttered something as he pulled his glasses off. "Mike has trouble following the signs," Liam answered.
Sera laughed even more. "Oh shut up!" Mike snapped.
Kathleen snorted, and then laughed. "Anyway, they're having a big dance," she continued between bouts of snickering. "A kind of reopening celebration. We have to go!"
Sera immediately stopped laughing as she glanced at Liam. The smile slipped from his face as his jaw clenched. "I don't think so," Jack said as he popped his skis off. "Riding back to the cabin in the dark isn't such a good idea."
