TAPPING MY THUMB ON the steering wheel, I look out the window, watching the trees pass in a blur. The sound of Raya’s soft, steady breathing makes me glance over at her. She’s been asleep for a few hours now, and although we are getting close to Cas’s house, I don’t want to disturb her.
She has been through so much in the past few weeks and her nightmares are worsening. Even as a vampire, she is still tense, tossing and turning during the night, waking up screaming. It will pass eventually, the longer she is a vampire, but as everything is heightened right now, it is going to get worse before it gets better.
When I turn off the highway and slow the car down, she stirs. Yawning, she rubs her eyes, and looking over at me, she offers me a small, soft smile.
‘I didn’t mean to fall asleep,’ she mumbles, looking adorably sleepy.
‘You needed it. Do you feel better?’ I ask, moving my hand across to her thigh.
‘A little,’ she replies, leaning back in the chair and stretching. ‘Are we almost there?’
I nod. ‘About two minutes away.’
Straightening, her relaxed expression morphs into one more serious. ‘Do we have a plan?’
I exhale. ‘No. Not really.’
‘I don’t think we should expect cooperation,’ she says, looking out the passenger window. ‘Since he is under Kian’s thumb, and all.’
My jaw clenches. It makes me sick to my stomach that someone I thought I could rely on, someone that I trusted, could turn his back on me so swiftly, and without a second thought. This is why I hate meeting other vampires. Most of them are two-faced and manipulative. The main thing I need to remember is that they are always looking out for themselves, and only themselves.
Turning onto the street, it seems unusually dark and quiet. I’m certain there’s less cars parked out on the street than when we stayed here. Yet there’s something else, something I can’t put my finger on.
When we pull up out the front, I frown at the house. It’s completely dark. Not totally unusual as we can see well regardless if it is night or day, but it seems a little strange not to see any light on at all.
‘Ready?’ I ask her, reaching out and placing my hand gently on top of hers. She curls her fingers into mine, giving it a squeeze.
‘Ready when you are.’
I give her a nod and we exit the car. Deciding to approach this head on, I walk straight to the front door, and knock. When we’re greeted with nothing but silence, I glance at Raya, knocking again.
It’s unnaturally quiet. If there was any movement in the house, we would hear it.
Bracing myself, I ram my shoulder against the door, stumbling as it bangs open. If it wasn’t for my vampire reflexes I would have fallen. Considering vampires tend to attract attention and trouble, I thought the door might have been harder to open. Deadbolted, or something. But it was simply locked, like any normal front door would be.
Raya flicks the light on, and the space around us brightens into focus. We glance around, and she gasps as I stare with my mouth agape.
Everything is gone.
With the dark aesthetic of the house, it seems even darker and colder without any of the art or furniture. Any hint of Cas, or any presence, is long gone. Swallowing, I lean against the wall, exhaling heavily.
‘Of course he left.’ I sigh.
‘I did wonder if he would,’ Raya admits, as she slowly walks around the empty room. ‘But I thought he might want us to find him. You know, so he could have the chance to explain himself.’
Rubbing my hand down my face, my shoulders slump. ‘Me too.’
‘Let’s check the house for anything he might have left,’ she suggests.
‘Okay,’ I agree.
Splitting up, I shoot upstairs, and make my way down the hallway, checking the spare rooms. Every room is empty, and so vastly bare that there isn’t even dust left behind. It’s like the place has been scrubbed clean by someone who had just committed murder and bleach-cleaned the crime scene.
‘Where are you, Cas?’ I mutter, raking a hand through my hair, feeling frustrated and unresolved. I’m not sure what it is I want from him. Answers, of course, but maybe something else. Someone to take my built-up anger on, since I’m not going to go searching for my brother to do so. I don’t ever want to see him again, not that I think I’ll be that lucky.
‘Oh my God,’ I hear Raya whisper, and immediately I am at her side, my feet barely touching the ground as I glide down the stairs.
Finding her in the garage, she is staring at the sleek black Porsche that Cas had gifted to Alex. She is silent as she blinks at it, frozen in shock. Moving toward it, I pluck the note that is tucked underneath the wiper.
I did what I had to do to survive.
I’m sorry about Alex and my role in what happened.
Kian was a worse enemy to have than you.
Be well, my friend. May we meet again in another life.
Cas
Swallowing thickly, I stare down at the note, rereading it over and over, his words slowly sinking in. While it doesn’t make the sting of betrayal any less potent, I understand his position, and why he did what he did. Doesn’t mean I forgive him for it, but I get it. Vampires look out for themselves above all else.
Raya snuggles up to my side, and I plant a soft kiss on her forehead as she leans into me.
‘Super shitty of him,’ Raya mumbles, sniffling. ‘But I get it.’
I make a noise of agreement. ‘Yeah.’
Lightly touching her fingertips to the car, she sighs. ‘Alex loved this so much.’
‘I know,’ I reply, recalling his face when he first saw it. ‘I wish he got to spend more time in it.’
‘Me too.’
‘We need to get out of here,’ I say to her. ‘Others might be looking for Cas, too. It isn’t safe here.’
Nodding, she tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. ‘I want to take the car.’
Thankfully, I already made plans for the rental we used to get us here, not that it would be a problem regardless. What Raya wants, Raya gets. I’ll make sure of that every damn time.
‘Okay,’ I say. ‘You can drive it back, and I’ll drive my truck. I already compelled the guy from the rental store to come get the car tonight.’
‘That was smart.’ Raya’s lips twitch. ‘You’re very kind and thoughtful, you know. Most people would just abandon the car and not think twice about it.’
‘Well.’ I shrug. ‘I didn’t want anyone to get in trouble over it.’
She offers me a watery smile. ‘I love you.’
‘I love you, too.’
Standing on her tip-toes, she presses her mouth to mine briefly before she goes around to the side of the car. As expected, it is unlocked, and the keys are sitting in the centre console.
‘Be safe, legata una,’ I say. ‘I’m going to wait around until the guy shows. To make sure he’s safe. I’ll meet you back at the Airbnb.’
She flinches at the mention of it, and I wince. I know it’s hard for her. Trying to process Alex’s death and everything else that is going on with Cora. It’s a lot for one person to handle, and I wish there was something more I could do to help.
‘I’ll wait with you,’ she says, and I know she is dreading going back there and facing all the things she left behind.
‘He shouldn’t be too far away,’ I say, tapping my phone to check the time.
Silence stretches between us, and I worry Raya might get consumed by her thoughts.
‘What do you want to do, Raya?’ I ask her. ‘What’s next for us?’
‘I want to meet your family,’ she says, turning to face me, smiling. ‘I want to visit where you were born in Italy.’
Collecting her hand in mine, I bring it to my mouth, and kiss her knuckles. ‘I will take you.’
‘Really?’ she asks. ‘I thought you said vampires don’t do well at airports.’
‘It’s tricky, with the long flight and no feeding situation,’ I explain. ‘But I will get us a private plane, love.’
Her smile widens. ‘That’s literally insane.’
‘We can do anything,’ I tell her.
Raya has been through more trauma and heartbreak than one should have in a lifetime. I want to make her happy. Spoil her in every way possible.
Headlights swing across the porch and a car pulls up. The man I compelled exits the car, and walks directly to our rental. The driver who dropped him off cruises down the street, and the worker follows after in the rental shortly after.
‘After you,’ I say, getting to my feet, and pulling her with me.
When she has reversed out onto the road, I double check the garage door is locked. Raya idles at the edge of the driveway, waiting for me as I go to my truck.
I’m barely seated, when my phone rings. Answering it, I hear Raya’s soft breath through my speakers.
‘Hi,’ she says.
‘Everything okay?’ I ask.
‘I just . . . don’t want to be alone. On the drive back.’
Smiling, I nod, meeting her eyes in the dim lighting across the road as she waits for me to pull out behind her.
‘I’ll always be here,’ I promise. ‘Always with you. No matter what.’