Dirty Blood (19 page)

I managed to be up and ready for school early the
next morning, which was definitely a first. Then again, I didn’t
usually get to nap – twice – in a day, so that probably helped. On
the way out of my room, my booted toe hit something, and plastic
crackled. I looked down and found a plastic bag peeking out from
under the edge of my bed. The green hoodie I’d bought at the mall
last week. I’d totally forgotten about it. Smiling to myself, I put
it on over my tee and zipped it up before heading downstairs.

I scanned the note my mother had left on the counter,
telling me she’d be home late, finishing inventory. It made me
think of Julie and George, and whoever might be next. Painful
images of Angela or Sam, their skin marred by teeth marks,
distracted me as I headed out the door and locked the deadbolt
behind me. A glint of silver caught my eye, and I turned. An Aston
Martin idled at the curb. Wes stood in front of it, leaning against
the passenger door. The sun shone brightly on his hair, making it
look more of a burnished bronze color and casting a golden glow
around his face.

No magnetic force was needed; the desire to go to him
and wrap my arms around him was pure physical attraction. I shoved
my hands in my jacket pockets and walked over.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Driving you to school.” He turned and opened the
passenger door for me. “Consider it guard dog duty,” he added, in a
half smile.

I slid inside and found that my seat was already
toasty warm, as was the rest of the car. Wes came around and got
in, revving the powerful engine and easing us forward.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, as he steered us
onto the street.

“Much better. My arm barely hurts anymore, and I
think I got enough sleep to last me like three days.”

“Don’t be so sure. You start training today and Jack
doesn’t go easy, believe me.”

“Yeah the thought of having to fight him is a little
intimidating,” I admitted.

“He won’t fight you today. He’ll start with the
basics.”

“Well, when will we get to the fighting part? I don’t
exactly have time to start slow.”

“It’s not like you can learn this stuff overnight,
Tara. It’ll take time.”

“Well, I don’t have time. Can’t you guys give me the
accelerated version or something? I need to be able to defend
myself and, more importantly, everyone else. Leo could try again
any time. I need to be ready.”

“If you try to go too fast you could get hurt. Your
muscles aren’t used to battle yet. You need to condition them
slowly, or they won’t be ready, and you could seriously hurt
yourself. Then you won’t be able to protect anyone.”

I knew he was right, but I was too impatient to want
to hear it. “How do you know how my muscles will react? I’m sure
it’s not quite the same for Werewolves.”

“No, it’s not. But I’m not just a Werewolf,
remember?”

“Right, Dirty Blood,” I said. He gave me a hard look.
“Sorry, does that term bother you?”

“Would ‘white trash’ bother you?”

“Point taken. So that’s how you know about a Hunter’s
physical abilities.”

“I have an idea, yes.”

“And is that why you can move like that? Because
you’re both?”

He seemed to be considering my question. “We think
so,” he said, slowly. “There’s no precedent or comparative
information but we think it’s a matter of me getting the best of
each race’s attributes so the strength and speed are twice as
much.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

He kept his eyes on the road and for the first time
ever, I thought I saw a hint of red color his cheeks. “It’s
complicated.”

I waited, but he didn’t say more. Maybe it was
because he always seemed so sure of himself but it took me a moment
to realize he was actually embarrassed. “It’s not really that big
of a deal,” I said with a shrug, hoping to ease his discomfort.

This time he did turn to look at me, and his eyes
flashed. “Actually, it is a big deal. Werewolves don’t look kindly
on it. It’s a disgrace to our lineage. And Hunters, well, they
don’t really know what to do with me. It’s kind of a mess. The only
group that’s ever really accepted it is The Cause. Then again, they
look at it as the ultimate peacemaking tool.”

“Well, if you think about it, it is a good way to
bridge the gap. I mean, there probably aren’t too many of you out
there but-”

“None,” he said, cutting me off in a grim voice. “I’m
the only one.”

“Is that why Leo hates you so much?”

He nodded, his mouth a hard line. “Probably. To him,
I’ve betrayed our kind twice. Once just by being born and again by
joining The Cause.”

We rode in silence for a few minutes. I wasn’t really
sure what to say, anymore. I was starting to realize why his mixed
genes were such a big deal. Clearly it bothered him and even
embarrassed him, to have to tell me. But I also felt like there was
a lot about it that I still didn’t understand. I glanced at him out
of the corner of my eye. A tiny muscle in his jaw was twitching
with tension. New questions kept popping into my head, but I bit my
tongue. I decided it was probably best to let it go for now. We
were almost to school, anyway.

We got stuck in traffic; the long line of cars
waiting to pull into the student lot was creating a traffic jam at
the entrance so we had to stop for awhile and wait for an opening
into the drop off lane. While the car idled, a familiar face rolled
up next to us. Cindy Adams, in her family’s Taurus, gawked openly
at the Aston Martin’s shiny silver paint and sleek lines. Her eyes
settled on the darkly tinted windows and I could see her straining
to see inside. When I realized she couldn’t, I felt a smirk cross
my face and before I could resist, I was pressing the automatic
window button, letting the glass slide down a few inches.

“What are you doing?” Wes asked, eyeing the
descending glass. He knew I wasn’t a fan of the cold.

“It’s kind of hot in here,” I said, still watching
Cindy. Her eyes were almost popping out of her head, trying to see
over the tiny crack of the window. I knew she had to be dying to
know who was inside. We didn’t see a lot of flashy cars at our
school. Most of the kids who could drive got their parents hand me
downs, so nothing was brand new, much less luxury-class. I hit the
window controls again, letting it slide down another inch.

“I can turn the heat down,” Wes said.

“It’s okay, I want the fresh air,” I lied.

Finally, I couldn’t help myself any longer, and I
pushed the control and sent the window all the way down, revealing
my face. Cindy’s expression registered surprise and then open envy
as her eyes went from me to the car and then finally, to Wes. She
stared at him for a full thirty seconds in open awe before she
realized I was still watching her. I smiled with devious
satisfaction as she tried – and failed - to smooth it over into a
blank stare. The traffic moved, and we inched past her. I rolled
the window up, still smiling to myself.

“Who was that?” Wes asked.

“Just some girl I know,” I said. At his stern look I
added, “Her name is Cindy Adams, and she’s basically been president
of the We-Hate-Tara club since sixth grade.

His eyes narrowed a fraction, like he was still
trying to understand what was so great about letting her see me in
the car. Did he not own a mirror? The second he pulled up to the
curb, I grabbed my bag and hopped out before he could question me
further.

“Two thirty?” he called.

“Two thirty,” I confirmed. “See you then.” I pushed
the door shut and hurried towards the entrance.

“Holy Mother…”

I looked up to find Sam blocking my way up the steps,
but she wasn’t watching me. She was watching the back end of the
Aston Martin as it disappeared around the corner. I stopped and
waited for her to turn her attention back. When she did, it was
with both eyebrows raised.

“Was that the guy?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I said, hesitantly.

She let out a whistle and a couple of sophomore guys
stopped and grinned at Sam with eager faces that she ignored.
“Wo-ow,” she said, falling into step beside me. “He’s a little bit
gorgeous, with some yummy on the side, Tay. I thought you said that
phone call was a bust.”

“Well, it was. At first, anyway. But he came over
yesterday and we hung out and…” I let the sentence hang. Aside from
the Hunter stuff, I had absolutely no idea what was going on
between Wes and I, if anything.

“Hanging out is good,” Sam said, easily accepting my
explanation. Then again, with Sam, ‘hanging out’ was as serious as
it got. “Does George know?”

“They’ve met,” I said, carefully.

She snickered. “How’d that go? Any violence?”

“It was touch and go.” I let out a frustrated breath.
“Seriously, though, George has no say anymore. He doesn’t get to be
mad or have an opinion at all. We’re not together anymore.”

“Yeah, good luck telling him that.”

“I know.” The first bell rang, then, signaling we
only had a few more minutes to get to class and Sam and I parted
ways.

~ 18 ~

When we got to Jack’s after school, there was an
extra car in the driveway. Before I could ask Wes about it, Jack
and Fee rounded the corner of the house, accompanied by the
aristocratic woman I’d seen at The Cause meeting. They were talking
and laughing, though Jack’s booming voice drowned out the women.
Wes nudged me, veering towards the house.

“Oh, hey you two,” Fee called, coming towards us.

Wes grimaced but his expression cleared before he
turned to face them. “What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing, Vera was just reinforcing the wards,”
Fee said.

“Is everything okay?” Wes asked.

“Everything’s fine,” Vera assured him. “Just a
routine checkup.” She smiled at me. “Tara, I don’t think we’ve
officially been introduced.”

Fee smiled apologetically at her and then gestured to
me. “Yes, I almost forgot. Tara, this is Vera Gallagher. She’s a
member of The Cause. Vera, Tara Godfrey.”

She smiled, a gesture that didn’t quite reach her
eyes, and extended her hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Tara. I’ve
heard a lot about you.”

I took her hand, shaking it slowly, trying to figure
out the odd expression she’d worn a second ago. “Nice to meet you,”
I returned.

“Jack and Fee tell me that you’re new to all this. No
training at all, yet you managed to take down a Werewolf all by
yourself. Impressive,” she said.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, wondering why it felt like an
insult when her words were meant to be a compliment. “Good reflexes
I guess.”

“Hmm.” She frowned. “Have you been able to determine
any more of your Hunter heritage?” she asked, her eyes sharp as
they searched my face.

“Um, no not really.” I was starting to feel a little
uncomfortable, like she was searching for something I hadn’t given
her permission to see.

The others finally seemed to catch on to Vera’s
scrutiny of me. Wes glanced at me and then back at Vera, sharply.
Fee and Jack seemed more at ease with it, but they watched Vera
expectantly. An awkward moment passed.

“Well,” said Vera, “let us know if we can help in any
way.”

The thickness in the air seemed to clear and everyone
exhaled. I nodded. I wasn’t sure what had just happened but I was
glad it was over.

“Vera’s a Hunter, Tara. If you need anything, she’s
here to help as well,” said Fee.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, pretty sure I wouldn’t be going
to her for much of anything, though.

The three of them wandered away, towards Vera’s car
and Wes led me inside.

“What was that about?” I asked, when we were alone in
the house. He didn’t answer; just kept walking, into the living
room, and I followed him. “Wes?”

He stopped in front of the bookcase, hands stuffed
into his pockets and turned to face me. He looked just as confused
as I was, and lost in thought. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

“But you have an idea.”

“Vera’s very… intuitive. It’s sort of a gift of hers.
Sometimes, she just knows things, and other times, she picks up on
a flash or an idea of something, with no real details as to the
whole picture.”

“Is that what just happened with me?”

“Maybe.” He seemed guarded.

“Well? Can’t you ask her?”

He shook his head. “Vera’s also very traditional. She
won’t share anything she sees with anyone but Jack and Fee. Then,
they’ll decide together if it should be shared with the rest of
us.”

“If it’s about me, I think I have a right to
know.”

“Vera doesn’t necessarily see it that way.” He had
his back to me so I couldn’t see his face but his voice was hard,
and again I felt like I’d hit a wall of information he was holding
back.

I sighed, knowing I wouldn’t get anywhere, even if I
pressed it. “Why Jack and Fee?”

“They’re the leaders of The Cause, and they represent
the Werewolf half of our group. Vera represents the Hunter
side.”

“So they’re like the board of directors or
something?”

“Sort of.”

The front door opened and closed and Jack appeared in
the doorway. “Training time. You ready?” he asked, looking at
me.

“Ready,” I said, glancing at Wes one last time before
following Jack out.

~ 19 ~

The drive home from Jack’s was awkward. Wes didn’t
say much and kept his eyes glued to the road. At first, I barely
noticed, I was so preoccupied with the screaming muscles in my
body. I vaguely remembered someone telling me Jack was a hard
teacher, but I hadn’t really believed them. I mean, sure, Jack
looked pretty intimidating, but once I’d gotten to know him, I’d
realized he was just this big teddy bear. Or maybe puppy was the
right word. But the minute the clock had started for our training
session, it was like he became a whole different person. He was
strict and no-nonsense and definitely pushed me way beyond the
limits I thought I could handle.