Page 134 of You’re So Vein

“I know all about helicopters and lightning. That’s why I have to go now. I’m not leaving Augustin on that hill during the storm of a century.”

Irene huffs. “He’s a vampire. He’ll figure it out.”

“Not while the husker is out there, not without me.”

“And you thought you didn’t love him.” Beth blows me a kiss. “Do what you have to do, but stay safe.”

Rain pummels Aishwarya as I slam the door behind me and log my flight path. The emergency dispatch warns me against it. My heart hammers against my chest as I push out the throttle and take off.

All my RAF training comes back to me as I steer Aishwarya through the driving rain. Visibility is poor, and the inside of the windscreen is fogging up. I switch to instrument control and turn on the defogger. My heart hammers against my chest. I know that I’m taking a huge risk, but I can’t leave Augustin out there alone. I’m relying on the fact that I’ve flown this route so many times that I know it off by heart.

Finally, I touch down. The wind rips the door from my hands as I push it open. I topple out, landing hard on the sodden ground, rain pelting me sideways.

“Augustin?” I call out, but the wind whips away the words. I move towards the hill, but the rain and wind work against me. For every two steps I take, I’m shoved backwards one. I scan the trees, but I can’t see a thing through the rain. Fear claws at my throat. Where is he?

Am I too late? Did the husker—

A shadow bolts from the tree line, colliding with me, driving the wind from my lungs. I struggle, gasping for air, reaching down towards the blade in my boot, but it wraps me tight against it and—

“What are you doing?” Augustin yells, his annoying dark curl plastered to his face, his eyes wide with fear as he grips me against him. “Why did you come back?”

“I’m not leaving you here alone.”

“I would have walked back.”

“Not when you’re still healing and the whole valley is flooded.” I cling to him. My teeth chatter. “G-g-get in the helicopter.”

“You are impossible.” He scoops me into his arms, covering the distance to the helicopter in the space of a single breath. He is fast. I bury myself into his chest as he pulls open the door easily and shoves me into the back seat, climbing up after me. Even with his superior strength, it takes both of us to pull the door shut again.

I crawl into the front seat and switch on my instruments, illuminating the helicopter’s interior. I check the weather report, and cold fear punches through my chest. This is bad.

Augustin’s fingers dig into me, his chin resting on me as he tries to read over my shoulder. “Komal, we must—”

“We’re not going anywhere.” A gust of wind rocks the chopper. I wince as hail hits the roof. “I can’t fly in this. We’re going to have to wait until the storm passes. We have no phone reception to check on people. My family. My papa is so weak. What if—”

“I’m sure the Nevermore Coven would have got him out.” Augustin’s face twists with agony as he adjusts his shoulders. Fresh blood weeps from a wound, although it’s already smaller than I remember. “What about Reginald? Will he survive?”

“Arabella thinks so, after Alaric gives him an infusion of vampire blood. He’s kept Alaric alive for the last fifty years despite his general Alaric-ness. I think the old grump owes him one.”

“When will we be able to return?” he asks.

“I don’t know—” I bury my face in my hands as another strong gust of wind hits us. The helicopter rocks on its skids. “Hours, at least, maybe longer. It depends on how long the wind and rain keep up once the main storm passes.”

“In a few hours, it will be sunrise, and I’ll fall into my dreamless sleep.” Augustin presses his lips against my neck. “I can’t be exposed to the sunlight through the windows.”

“Shit, and that’s not even our most immediate problem,” I say as I turn off the ignition. The interior light flicks off, plunging us into total darkness. My breath stutters, then quickens. I can’t see anything – not the console, not my hands, not him. My voice trembles. “We have to keep the power off to conserve the battery, which means for the next few hours we’ll be sitting here in the dark.”

50Komal

Argleton Weather Watch: Abandon all hope!

THIS IS BAD.

My mind goes to dark, bad places.

I managed to fly here and back twice and cut off a vampire’s head without a panic attack, but now that the adrenaline is fading, the old fear creeps back. I try to inhale, slow and regular, like my therapist taught me. But the air won’t go in properly. My fingers scrabble for something – fabric, metal, him – to anchor me before the panic takes over completely. The hail on the roof fades beneath my pulse roaring in my ears.

“Komal,” Augustin’s voice reaches me through the roar.