Dark Seeker (13 page)

Janie realized her words had come out sharper than intended. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m just upset with my Mom and Abram. They’re being so closed-minded.” Janie shook her head and set her stare back on Kai. “Is there a reason you’re here? Did something happen?”

“You said you’d see me later; it’s later.” He smiled, immediately making Janie forgive him for lurking like a stalker in her bedroom.

“We must be friends. Otherwise, you wouldn’t hang around so much,” Janie said. She brushed past him.

“Are we still friends?” He turned in her direction, leaning up against the wall with his hand in his pocket. His blond hair fell into his eyes.

“Why would you ask me that?” She plopped down on her bed.

Kai moved his shoulders around uneasily against the wall. “Your conversation downstairs. I was included in over seventy-five percent of it, and most of what was said about me,” he paused, removing his hand from his pocket to raise his finger, “no, let me correct—
all
of it, wasn’t good.”

“They don’t know you like I do. All they see is a Daychild. They don’t see your human side.”

Kai leaned forward, meeting Janie’s eyes. His straight, even features could have been etched from stone. “Have you ever thought that it could be more complicated than that?” he said sharply. “That their hatred for me is ingrained in them? That they could have a good reason for despising me?” He crossed the room and clutched her arms. “Have you?” His voice deepened. She didn’t back down.

Janie straightened her spine, squaring her shoulders to meet his intensity. “Why would they? They don’t even know you. All they know is what I knew the first time I saw you—you’re a Daychild, but you’re different from the others. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. You’d be dead. I usually kill, then analyze later.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” His smile returned, but a foreboding energy still loomed. He released his grip.

Janie’s phone rang. Kai rolled his shoulder, settling into an annoyed stance. He focused on the ceiling. “Does it ever stop ringing?”

She held her phone out. “It’s Matt. I should take this.”

“Go ahead.” He slid his hand back into his pocket and stared out the window.

“Hey, you made it home,” she said to Matt.

“Yeah, sorry I didn’t call you today. I didn’t really know what to say after my behavior this morning.” Kai rolled his eyes, apparently listening in on the conversation with his heightened sense of hearing. He still hadn’t turned to look at her, but she could see the side of his tight jaw.

“You know it’s one in the morning?” Janie said.

Janie heard a pause on the other end of the phone. “Did I wake you?” Matt said. “I couldn’t sleep. Albania said it might be a side effect of the poison.”

Kai had fully turned his back on her. She decided to hurry along the conversation. “No, I’m awake. It’s cool. Well, I’m glad you made it home okay. Try to get some sleep. I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Hey, Janie,” Matt said, catching her before she hung up. “Would you mind if I came by tomorrow? There’s something I want to ask you in person.”

Kai spun around and shot Janie another look. He scanned the walls of her room. Not that there was much to look at—a 1980s
The Lost Boys
movie poster and a sketch of James Dean she’d bought in Manhattan during a Seeker convention.

She stuttered, “S—sure. I’ll be home most of the day. I’m going over to Ava’s to study for an Algebra test, but other than that I’ll be here.”

“I’ll come by around noon, if that’s okay?”

“Yeah, it’s good. See you then. Bye.” She hung up quickly.

Kai didn’t move from the window. “So he’s coming by to ask you something. Do you know what it is?” he said flatly, eyeing her.

“How would I know?” She folded her arms in front of her.

“He’s
your
boyfriend.”

“He’s
not
my boyfriend. Can we please
not
discuss Matt? You get all weird.”

“Weird?” He spun around to face her again.

Janie stood to confront him. “Yes, weird. You look at me in this strange way. I can’t tell what you’re thinking, but I don’t think it’s good.”

“It’s not your business what I’m thinking.” He took a step closer to her.

“You get angry with me. Like now.”

“Can’t you see, Janie, I’m not angry with you. It has nothing to do with anger.” He stared down at the carpet. She crossed the distance and lifted his chin with her finger, forcing him to look at her.

“Then what does it have to do with?”

“Your mom’s coming. I’ll be back.” Janie blinked and he disappeared.

Isabelle knocked on the door. “Janie, can I come in?” Her voice sounded calmer.

Janie scrambled onto her bed and grabbed her book from her nightstand, flipping it open to the bookmarked page. She scanned the page. “Come in.”

The lines across Isabelle’s forehead had smoothed and Janie noticed she’d neatly placed her hair into a loose bun. “I’d like to talk with you without Abram around.”

“Sure.” Janie crossed her legs and set her book beside her. “Have a seat. But I don’t want to discuss Kai anymore.”

Isabelle gave her a dubious look. “We’ll see.” She lovingly placed her hand on Janie’s leg. “I’m just worried about you. It’s a mother’s job.”

Janie sighed. “I don’t get it. There’s a species of vampire out there using high school kids to multiply their demonic race, and you’re concerned about a friend of mine.” She folded her arms in front of her, legs crisscrossed. “It sucks.”

“Janie, I’ve been where you are. It wasn’t that long ago that I had to deal with the same issues you’re dealing with, but everything isn’t black and white.”

I’m realizing that.

“Kai and I are just friends. He’s helping me investigate what’s happening among the undead community. That’s it,” she snapped. She realized her blood pressure had risen to an unhealthy level. She drew in a breath to calm herself.

“As much as Abram might think it’s possible, I know I can’t keep you from seeing Kai while you’re in the city.” Isabella’s eyes tightened. “This doesn’t mean I condone your relationship.”

Janie interrupted. “I told you. We don’t have a relationship—we are
just
friends.”

Isabelle held up her hand, squelching Janie’s words. “Okay. Your friendship, whatever you are calling it. Just be careful. He’s not like you. As much as he may profess to be, he’s not,” she told Janie, her tone sharp.

“Fine, Mom, I’ll be careful. Just don’t tell Abram. He seems really angry. I’ve never seen him this way.”

“He has his reasons. Abram will share them when he’s ready. He doesn’t deal with things the same way you and I do.” Isabelle hung her head. She paused, reluctant to finish her thoughts. After a few moments of silence, she returned to Janie’s eyes, a mirror of her own. “Abram didn’t like your father at first. I suppose he had his own reasons for those feelings as well. But he grew to love your father. They became very close friends.”

Janie sat in silence, staring at her mother, shocked by this new information. Isabelle never wanted to talk about Connor. The only tangible memory of him she’d taken with her during every move was the picture in the living room. All Janie had to remember her father by was a single picture in a plain wooden frame and distant childhood memories that faded as the years passed.

Isabelle continued, her words and tone more severe. “I’m not comparing Connor to Kai. Connor was a human, and Kai is something entirely different. Remember—he is part demon, which means he is also partly evil.”

“He’s not evil.” Janie sat up straight.

“Janie, I already told you. I’m not going to tie you to your bed so that you can never see him again. I’m just warning you to be careful. I’m still your mother.” She pointed a long slender finger at Janie.

“Fine.” Janie sank into a slouch. “I’ll be careful.”

Isabelle stood to leave.

“Mom—wait. I have something else to ask you. I’m afraid this thing with Matt has gotten worse.” Janie exhaled loudly. “He seems a little, for lack of a better word, ‘into’ me.”

Isabelle shrugged. “He’s a high school boy, why shouldn’t he like you?”
 

“Do you remember what you told me a few days ago? You said Matt was a problem, other than the problem of him possibly outing me to the whole school. You even brought up Dad.”

She waved her hand dismissively. “I talked to Abram. I’m sure everything’s fine.”

 
“Mom—” Janie knew she was hiding something. “Tell me what you know.”

Isabelle’s hands found her hips. “It rarely happens anymore. Humans are more aware than they used to be. It’s not needed.” Janie waited impatiently for her to continue. Isabelle let out a puff of air. “Okay, I feared Matt may have been Imprinted.”

“What does that mean?” Janie clutched her comforter in her fists. Whatever “Imprinted” was, it didn’t sound good. She suddenly pictured Matt as a baby duckling, a disturbing image she quickly dismissed.

“It’s when a human falls in love with a Seeker because she has saved his life. It was meant to ensure secrecy back when no one knew vampires existed. If a human were in love with the Seeker, he would never tell anyone about the Seeker’s gift or about the vampire that attacked him. He forms an unwavering loyalty to the Seeker who saved him. Often, this comes out as a form of love.”

“Are you saying Matt’s in love with me?” Janie’s mouth hung open. She didn’t even know what to say.
The Junior Prom King, the star wrestler, the most popular guy in school—he’s in love with me.

Isabelle sounded upset. “That’s exactly why I didn’t want to tell you. I’m not saying that at all. He probably just likes you. It’s a normal teenage crush. Teenage love can be intense.” Isabelle moved over to Janie and retrieved her inhaler out of her nightstand drawer. “You look like you might need this. Breathe, will you?”

“I’m okay.” Janie flung her hand in the air, signaling she didn’t need her inhaler and stared at Jason Patric on her
The Lost Boys
poster. “Let’s just say you’re wrong. How do I stop it?” Janie returned to her mother’s warm brown eyes, hoping desperately for an antidote.

Isabelle frowned. “You can’t. He’ll love you forever, or at least until he can find someone else to settle for, unless you fall in love with him, too.”

Janie choked. “I’m not in love with Matt Baker. Besides, I’d have to kill a human if that happened.” Isabelle stared at Janie, clearly expecting an explanation.

“Molly Hall. She’d never let it happen, and I’d be forced to kill her.”

“Janie.” Isabelle furrowed her brow. “That’s not how you should be using your strength. I didn’t raise you that way.”

“I’m just kidding, Mom. I’d only hurt her.” Isabelle’s brow didn’t straighten. “A little.”

“Whatever you do, be nice to that boy. Imprinted or not, the poor thing was attacked by the undead twice.”

“How will I know if he just likes me or
really
likes me?”

Isabelle let out a reminiscent laugh. “You’ll know. He won’t leave you alone. And he may profess his love.” Isabelle’s features straightened. “I’m not trying to make light of this. It can have serious consequences on the human Imprint. Seekers can destroy Imprints without lifting a finger.” She paused. “But as I said before, it’s most likely just a teenage crush.”

Great!
Janie shook her head.
What have I done?
Most girls would dream of Imprinting the most popular boy in school. Janie just wanted to bury her head in the sand.

Isabelle gave Janie a reassuring tap on the knee. “You’ll figure it out. Get some sleep,” she said. “It’s late.” She smiled and shut the door behind her.