The Frenzy Series (Book 2): Frantic (16 page)

The scent of desperation was an easy one to follow. I tracked Dara across yards and down the street as she weaved past the pavilion and made her way toward Saul’s house. I picked up the pace. Was he in trouble? Would she hurt him? I could smell Tage behind me, tracking me like I was the danger. I wouldn’t be a danger to Saul, but Dara was another story. She was poking her fangs in where they didn’t belong, and I’d be happy to remove them for her. I’d love to rip them out of her nasty mouth.

Rounding the corner of Saul’s neighbor’s yellow house, I paused, hearing his voice and hers. My heart beat frantically. It was happy to hear him, angry that he was speaking with her, and angry with her for being there with him—all at the same time.

I listened.

“No, it’s fine. Thanks for checking on us, though,” he said.

“I’m just worried that she’ll hurt you. They can’t keep her in the cage anymore, and she almost tore the house down. I know she loves you, but if she can’t control herself around you, she could kill you, Saul.”

“She will control herself.” Even I didn’t believe his tone. “Porschia will be fine. She just needs...time and guidance.”

“Tage is helping her. We’re all trying, but she’s manic. Tage is better with her than anyone else. He and Porschia have become very close.” I bristled at her words. Tage and I weren’t that close. Sure, we were closer than the others, but that was because the alternate options weren’t very appealing. “Frenzy can drive some new vampires insane, and even ones who didn’t have those issues in their human lives can be affected. But Porschia is in a different situation. Her mother has mental problems, and you never know…Porschia may have already been headed down the same road. Emotional control is a difficult thing to master, but as a night-walker in Frenzy, they’re multiplied by thousands, even tens of thousands. Everything seems important, urgent, and all-consuming. The emotions, especially for a female, can be overwhelming.” Was she telling the truth? Could Mother’s mental state really have been passed down to me?

“I know,” Saul answered, shifting on his feet. “But she’ll be fine. And thanks for checking, but I have to go now.” Saul looked at his upstairs window, where a curtain fluttered closed.

“Just yell if you need anything,” she cooed, taking hold of his arm.

Saul shrugged her off and nodded as he turned and walked back to his porch. Dara quickly sped back toward the vamp side of town. I watched Saul as he stood there, running a hand through his hair and letting out a tense breath.

Without realizing I’d moved, I was in front of him. He gasped. “Porschia?”

“Hi.” My palms began to sweat, but seeing him at his home felt almost normal.

“Hey…what are you doing here?” His voice was soft, pleading.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay. I followed Dara’s scent.”

His eyes widened. “She just left.”

“I know.”

“There’s nothing between us, if that’s what you’re worried about. I don’t know why she keeps coming around, but there’s nothing on my end.”

I nodded. “There is on hers, though.”

“Doesn’t matter. My heart belongs to a different night-walker.”

I laughed and sobbed at the same time, and then the tears began to fall. “I was just playing around,” he said softly as he pulled me close. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not the joke; it’s just that reality sucks sometimes.”

He smiled and looked down at me. “It does.”

A shuffling noise from inside the house startled both of us and we parted quickly. He hooked his thumb toward the door. “My mom.”

“I’d love to meet her sometime.” I wiped my tears away and gave him a smile.

His eyes dipped to focus on my fangs. “Yeah, maybe some other time. She’s…busy.”

I swallowed the thick lump of his lie. I was fooling myself if I thought he would want me to meet his mother or father now. This wouldn’t work. “Look—no matter what, I’ll keep an eye on you.”

He shook his head. “You don’t have to leave Blackwater.”

I smiled. “Can’t stay. The Elders want me out of here, and it’s not wise to be seen.”

“They can’t force you out, either. No one can tell you what to do or where to live.” He took a deep breath and then said, “Hey—thanks for taking the risk of coming to check on me.”

My voice broke. “You’re worth it. You’re worth everything.”

“I lov—”

But before he could finish the lie, I ran away, leaving nothing but a whirlwind of dried leaves in my wake.

Near the pavilion, I almost ran over Ford. He was carrying a basket and barely kept the goods inside it. “I’m so sorry!” I said, steadying him.

“Nah. I got it,” he said, settling everything back in his basket. “I was just heading to Mrs. Dillinger’s house.”

My heart swelled again before breaking.

“She’d love to see you, Porschia. She knows.”

I nodded. “I think everyone knows now.”

Ford’s eyes narrowed. “They can’t make you leave, and I think you should come and visit her for a few minutes. Unless you don’t have time, or haven’t eaten lately.”

“I’m not hungry, and if we hurry, I can go. I’ll run ahead and meet you there.” Leaving him behind me, I pushed faster and harder. Trying to hide behind the porch posts, I waited for Ford.

“I hear you out there, Porschia,” a scratchy voice called from within the house. “Come on in.”

Easing the door open, I rushed upstairs. “How’d you know it was me?”

“No one else could run across the planks that fast.”

“It’s good to see you.” She sat in her chair, needle in one hand and fabric in the other. I smiled until her eyes found my mouth.

“Don’t hide yourself, child. I know what you’ve been through. It’s a shame, but not the end of the world. In fact, for you it’s just the beginning of a new adventure.”

“It’s hardly an adventure,” I said, plopping onto the bed across from her.

“It will be exactly what you make it out to be. If you believe it to be the worst thing that ever happened to you, I’m sure it will be. But if you decide that it is something exciting and wonderful.... I’m sure it will be that instead.”

“It isn’t that simple.”

“Saul still loves you. You just have to learn to accept yourself, calm and control yourself. You look amazing, even with fangs.” Her head tilted to the side. “Hmm. I thought they’d be longer.”

“Me too.”

Ford yelled a greeting from downstairs. “Sit it on the kitchen counter, please,” Maggie replied. He promised to be back in later with fresh water. He was giving me time with her.

“I’m glad you came today. I was just finishing this for you.” She held the dark dress up, looking over the last stitches she’d made. “Remember starting this?”

“Is this the dress I worked on?”

“The very one. It’s made to fit you, if you still choose to wear it.” Maggie looked over my jeans. “Although I have to admit that those clothes look more comfortable.”

“They aren’t comfortable at all, but they are functional. I had to borrow them.”

Maggie nodded, looking me over. “Roman? He’s the leader, is he not?”

I sank into the mattress. “He is.”

“You be careful with that one. I don’t trust him.” I didn’t either, but didn’t want to tell her that. She’d only worry. Plus, I had Dara to worry about when it came to Saul, and now had to figure out how Julian fit into the equation.

“I will. I should probably go. I don’t want to cause trouble.”

Maggie waved me off. “The Elders? I’m not worried about them.”

“I am.”

She nodded thoughtfully, folding the dress into a neat rectangle. “Have you voiced your concern to Roman?”

“He’s been busy.”

“Hmm. Maybe talk to another night-walker – the girl, perhaps?”

A low growl erupted from my chest and she chuckled. “And then again, perhaps not. What about the other boy; the one with the dark hair and light eyes?”

“Tage?”

“Yes. Can you speak with Tage about your concerns?”

“I can, I just don’t know that there is anything he can do about it regardless of what happens.”

Maggie’s wrinkled hand covered mine. “You never know what will happen until it does, but talking things over is never a wrong decision.”

She handed me the dress. “Thank you, Maggie.”

“Please come back when you’re able. I miss you, Porschia.”

“I miss you, too.”

I allowed myself a quick hug and then ran away. I needed to talk with Tage.