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"Careful," I warn her. "Remember who you're talking to. I'm still your clan leader."
She chuckles, but not in a mocking or condescending way—more in a sad amusement. I suppose I must look pretty sad and amusing scene.
"I know who andwhatyou are," she says. "I mean no disrespect. But I am also going to say my piece because you need to hear it from someone. Clearly you aren't managing your own thoughts and emotions that well."
I open my mouth to say something to the contrary, but there's no point. She's right. I can't really argue when the evidence is all around me—the room is destroyed, my hand is bleeding profusely, and I have no doubt that my eyes are glowing again. They sting like I've opened my eyes under salt water.
"It's that witch. Youloveher," she says, uttering that word again. "There was some speculation in the clan about it, but no one thought your feelings went as far as actuallove."
"Can youpleasestop saying that word?" I beg with an exhausted sigh that sounds like a moan.
"Why? It's the truth. You're in here destroying things—destroyingyourselfbecause you love her and you can't stand it that you can't have her. Tell me that I'm wrong."
I can't. Because as Vanessa says the word again, I realize it's true. I do love Blair more than I can stand.
"Fine, Vanessa. You've found me out. What're you going to do with this information now? Tell the clan and use it against me?" I ask, feeling defeated. I stand there in a stupor as her big, brown eyes continue to look me over, and then she answers me in the most unexpected way.
"Fuck them," she says confidently.
"Excuse me?"
"Fuck what the rest of the clan thinks. Do you have any idea how precious a love like this is? A love so strong that you're destroying your own home just to cope with being apart from the object of it?"
"It feels more terrible and violent than precious, if we're being honest," I admit.
She laughs. "Violent and terrible is what vampires are known best for."
I can tell she's joking, and I appreciate the change in mood.
"But seriously, who cares what the clan thinks? Go after the woman you love. It's all that really matters in this life."
"But I'm the clan leader. I'm supposed to—" I stop myself before I finish that sentence because Vanessa is right. I'm no good to anyone like this, and without Blair, I'll never be any good again. I need her, no matter the consequences.
Without hesitation I rush to the doorway to leave.
"Hang on," Vanessa says as she grabs for my arm. She lifts up my hand and pulls out the glass piece with one quick jerk. It gushes fresh blood, but my hand hurts less than it did with the glass inside.
"Go get her." She smiles.
I rush to Blair's apartment and don't bother to knock. She'll be mad at me, like I was at first with Vanessa, but I'll explain and hopefully she'll understand. But when I break inside, I'm dismayed to find she isn't there. The apartment is empty and all the lights are off. She's gone, and I have no idea where.
For a moment, I think about going to ask the coven witches to tell me where she went. But even if they know where Blair is, I doubt they'll tell me. From the way they acted at the party, I know they'd be only too happy to lead me in the wrong direction, throwing me off her scent and wasting precious time.
So, I search around her apartment for clues that will tell me where she might have gone. Her laptop is still open on her couch.
"Salem, Massachusetts?" I murmur as I read the webpage. "Why in the world would she go to Salem?"
Maybe it's coven business? Or maybe wanted a break after everything that happened. Regardless, Salem is notoriously anti-witch. Granted, the days of the witch hunting trials are in the past, but old prejudices die hard, and if she went to Salem alone, she might be in danger.
I quickly put her door back on its hinges, lock up, and head to the train station, hoping I'm not too late.
15
BLAIR
When I arrive in Salem, it doesn't take me long to stumble upon a small coven of local witches. I can't imagine why any witch would want to settle here in a town that once persecuted our people, but I suppose it's a sort of divine defiance.
The coven is welcoming enough, and happy to answer my questions about the rogue vampires living in the town. They point me in the right direction and give me a warning about how Salem's vampires, who are "rough around the edges."
