Page 126 of Devoured

She vanishes in seconds, as if she was never really there at all, leaving behind only the faintest trace of cherries and summertime. In a roundabout way, that scent reminds me what I stand to lose. Before Evander can reach me, I push open the doors and storm inside.

“Is my father here?” I ask, near breathless as I slam into the front desk. “Is Rufus Hart here? Officer Rufus Hart?”

The young man behind it glances up slowly, tapping away at his computer. He blinks at me. “Who’s asking?”

“I—”

“Vanessa? Is that you?”

My stomach plummets as I turn to locate the source of that masculine voice. My lungs seize. “Officer Warren.” The name rushes from me on a faint cry as my father’s old partner stares at me with alarmed brown eyes from behind a glass door. Officer Warren exits the back office to join me at the front desk. He claps a large paternal hand on my shoulder. “How are you? I thought you were at boarding school! Your father said we might not see you until after you graduated.”

My knees almost buckle. Boarding school? Dad told everyone I went to boarding school? Disbelief threatens to choke me, but of course he would’ve needed to tell them something. Teenagers don’t just disappear without a trace. Did he really think I would return, or was the lie only meant to be for now, until he could think of another one? I want to weep. I want to bury my face in Officer Warren’s uniform and sob until there’s nothing left of me. It’s too much. Being here. Standing in my father’s department with his friend. I miss him. I miss him so much I can hardly stand.

“I… I’m on break. I’m surprising him,” I say, trying to stifle the pain in my voice.

Officer Warren’s gaze narrows, and he tilts his head. “Are you okay, Vanessa? You seem… different.”

Different because I’m paler, leaner, stronger. Different because claws are begging to rip from my fingers. Different because I am a monster, and Officer Warren is about to become prey. I swallow hard and shake my head. “I’m fine. Just excited to see Dad. Is he here?”

Officer Warren sighs, resting an arm on the front desk. “Sadly, no. He doesn’t come to work often anymore. Once you left, and Celeste…” He winces as if her death is still fresh—as if there haven’t been a dozen others since then. And to him, there probably haven’t been. “We’ve had a lot of missing persons cases, and I think it took a toll on him. I don’t see him much.”

Agony curdles in my chest.

I want to hate my father for abandoning me. For throwing me to the wolves. I used to believe this was all his fault. But—he would’ve died. If he hadn’t sent me with Calix, if I hadn’t been welcomed into the castle, we both would have died.

I nod once. “Do you have a way I can reach him? I could write him a letter, or—”

“You could use the phone, Vanessa.” Officer Warren grins as if I’ve told a hilarious joke. It makes me want to scream. Everything makes me want to scream. “Don’t you have your cell?”

“N-no. I… I lost it.” Officer Warren continues to watch me, undoubtedly trying to determine if I’m on drugs. “Midterms,” I blurt. “Exams have been brutal at my new school, and I haven’t slept in ages. It’s messing with my head.”

“Ah, yes. Sleep is very important, but school is school.” Officer Warren inclines his chin. “My daughter is the same. Younger than you, of course, but—you remember Melody, don’t you? She started ninth grade this year.”

No, no, no.

Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it.

“Wow.”

He smiles with fatherly pride. “Go on back to my office. You can use my phone. His number is in my Rolodex.”

“Thanks.”

Officer Warren unlocks his office for me and leads me inside as a buzzer sounds through the department. The front door opens again, and I know exactly who’s walking through. Evander. My insides clench. Officer Warren gestures for me to make my call as he ducks back into reception to give me privacy. I seize his arm at the last second.

“Wait,” I say, because I can’t stop myself. “You—you should leave. You should go to lunch.”

He frowns at my tightening grip. “Vanessa?”

My eyes flash, and my voice lowers into compulsion. Officer Warren’s hands fall limp to his sides. “Leave now. Don’t let anyone see you, and never tell anyone that you saw me. Forget I was here.”

“Yes,” he murmurs, dazed, his eyes unblinking as I release him. “Yes, of course.”

In an instant, he turns abruptly on his heel and stalks out. It has to be enough.

Evander has already strolled past, vanishing into the depths of the building, which means I don’t have much time. I turn away from the rest of the department and grab the phone. I don’t need the Rolodex to remember my father’s number, at least. By the time I dial, someone screams.

I smell blood.