Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (13 page)
“What do you mean you still have no leads on the Childe? What have you been doing this whole time?!” she asked in frustration, and bared her fangs. Andrei gave her a withering look. “What of my brother Lucien then? Has his condition improved?”
“No, he is still as stubborn as always, and has yet to rid himself of his drinking addiction,” he replied with a smirk.
“This is no joke, Andrei! You are seriously trying my patience!”
“Now, now, Lisbeth, calm yourself,” Valdir said placidly as he strolled up to the pair. His footsteps on the white marble floor echoed throughout the vast space. “There is no reason to shout, my dear. Andrei seems to be doing his best to locate the Childe. Is that not right, Andrei?” Valdir asked looking pointedly at him. Andrei nodded. Lisbeth crossed her arms in anger and let out a huff of annoyance. “See Lisbeth, there is nothing to fret over. Time is on our side. Neither our master Cain, nor the Parliament are aware of this situation. As long as we keep on top of it, we can rid ourselves of this issue before it escalates.”
“But my visions are becoming stronger. This Childe seems to be different,” Lisbeth whispered anxiously.
“Yes, and her appearance has not been the same from vision to vision. At first she had black hair and now she has bright red, curly hair. Maybe you are losing your touch, old girl,” Andrei stated dryly.
“I have had just about enough of you!”
“Silence you two! I tire of your incessant arguing!” Valdir whispered. “Maybe it is time for all of us to pay a visit to our dear Lucien. It would seem that a little persuading is in order.”
“I have a plan, Valdir. Give me a little while longer and Lucien will be compliant with our wishes,” Andrei stated confidently.
“What are you playing at, Andrei? You have been at this for quite some time now, with no results!” Lisbeth put her hand up protesting Valdir’s attempted interruption. “Let me finish! You have always been a little sneak, and I have never trusted you. You’re just lucky that I cannot see into your mind. But trust me when I say, when I do find out, you will no longer be Cain’s favorite little errand boy,” Lisbeth whispered angrily, glaring at Andrei. Giving a glance to Valdir, she stormed out of the great hall.
“That woman is such a nuisance,” Andrei commented, leaning back in the ornate, dark red wood high back chair he was sitting in.
“Quiet, Andrei,” Valdir muttered as he spun to look Andrei dead in the eyes. “I know what you have been up to in Astoria. For your sake, it better pan out. I am tired of cleaning up your messes! If those girls cause any issues for us, you will be kissing sunlight. Understood?” he growled, his eyes turning jet black. Andrei looked at him with shock written all over his face.
“How do you know?”
“Don’t concern yourself with that. Just make due on your promise, and bring Lucien back to us. And find the Childe!”
Andrei stormed into his personal chambers, his normally deathly pale face was bright red with anger. “What am I, some kind of servant at their beck and call? I will show them. Yes, I will find the Childe and bring her…directly to Cain. Those bumbling fools will receive no credit for this! The only decision I will have to make is will the Childe be alive or dead when I present it as a gift to him.”
Holding a piece of paper in her hand, Linda scanned it from top to bottom. Coming face to face with her slightly fuzzy, black-and-white picture, she stopped.
I look so happy.
She traced the picture with her index finger and then read the heading on the flyer, “Missing.”
Of course my family is looking for me, why wouldn’t they be?
She thought.
“You really need to stop dwelling, Linda,” Becca stated nonchalantly, her voice echoing slightly in the abandoned tunnels beneath Astoria. Many years ago, the tunnels were used for drainage, but now were vacant and dilapidated. The limestone walls of the tunnels were grungy and most of the metal gates that separated the many chambers connecting the tunnels were now rusted. They were officially condemned thirty years prior.
“Becca, don’t you ever miss your family…your friends?” Linda asked while still looking at her picture.
Becca thought about it for a few seconds and then said, “Not really. What about you, Amy?”
“Like my family really cares about me! Did you see the picture they picked for my flyer? It’s hideous! They only want me back so they can put me back in juvie so they know where I am at all times,” Amy answered as she stared directly at Linda, her eyes turning jet black. “Besides, now we’re vampires. How could you miss being an insignificant human?” Linda didn’t answer.
I wish I could just go home, I don’t belong here with these girls. Damn you, Andrei, for doing this to me!
Linda thought as she continued looking at the flyer.
“Why do you think Andrei took us in the first place?” Becca asked while she thumbed through an old issue of a fashion magazine.
“It doesn’t matter why! He just did! And if you don’t want to end up like the first girl, then I would stop asking such stupid questions,” Amy growled, baring her fangs.
“Geez Amy, you really need to relax, like pronto,” Becca murmured while rolling her eyes. Amy ripped the magazine from her hands and flung it down the tunnel, landing it in a puddle of murky water. “Hey! I was reading that.” Amy just rolled her eyes and proceeded to plop down on one of the three mattresses lying on the ground.
“I’m bored. We should go cause a little trouble or something,” Amy said mischievously.
“I agree, I’m just itching to try out these new abilities we have now that we’re vamps,” Becca stated.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Linda said sheepishly, turning to look at them.
“Well, it’s a good thing it’s not up to you, Linda. Andrei left me in charge, remember,” Amy said.
“How could we forget,” Linda muttered under her breath.
“What did you say?” Amy asked, her eyes pinning Linda’s. “You better start falling in line, girlie, or you’ll have Andrei to deal with when he returns.”
Linda shied away at the mention of Andrei’s name and looked back at the flyer. She clutched the cell phone that she kept hidden in her pants pocket, her only link to her old life.
I wish I could just call my mom and hear her voice again,
she thought.
“Uh, Amy?”
“Yeah, what?”
“Before we cause a little trouble, could we get some new outfits? I’m not feeling this whole ragged look anymore,” Becca said while examining her blood-stained and torn clothes.
“Whatever,” Amy replied in an annoyed tone.
“Great, because I know the perfect place for a five-finger discount,” she said with an evil grin.
A hand shot up from the front row causing Mayor Markus Woods to groan inwardly. As soon as he spoke the words Founder’s Day Celebration at the town hall council meeting Markus knew that the self-appointed Queen of Astoria, Debbie Fuller, would have put in her two cents. Correction, make that fifty cents. “Yes, Mrs. Fuller. Do you have something to add?” Markus asked.
“As you all know, my mother, Carrie Winthrop, has passed the torch of ‘Head of the Event Planning Committee’ to her only daughter, moi. And with me as your leader, I think this year will be the best Founder’s Day celebration we’ve ever had,” Debbie Fuller announced arrogantly while looking around at everyone in attendance. Groans could be heard throughout the assembly as the mayor tried to restore order to the crowd.
“What great enthusiasm, Mrs. Fuller. I’m excited to see what you’ve planned for this year’s festivities,” Markus replied with an empty smile. Debbie took her seat with a look of pride on her face. “Now, moving on to the topic of ending the curfew. I’ve spoken with our sheriff, Barry Stokes, and he believes it would be okay to end the curfew effective immediately. However,” Markus said, pushing his glasses up off his nose and then cleared his throat, “I’m still asking that we express caution while traveling alone at night, especially since the culprit has yet to be apprehended.”
Rachel looked at Sam with slight concern in her eyes over the fact they had yet to figure out who was behind the disappearances. Sam squeezed her hand and smiled. Pulling her hand up to his mouth, he kissed it.
“There’s one more incident I’d like to bring before you. A few nights ago, Aurora Steven's store, Squaresville, was broken into. Sheriff Stokes and I feel that it was the work of juveniles, and is being considered an isolated incident. Nothing of major value was stolen except for some clothing. Please keep a watchful eye out for suspicious activity. And if you hear anything, call our local sheriff’s office with information. Meeting adjourned,” Markus declared, banging his gavel.
