Immortal After All (Vampire Hunter Book 3) (10 page)

The next day Henry called me.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey yourself,” he replied. “Sorry I didn’t get back to you yesterday. Crazy day.” Before I could ask what he meant, he said quickly, “So how did the test go?”

“I already told you,” I said irritably.

“Huh? No you didn’t.”

“Yes I did,” I insisted. “Remember, when you came to my window last night?”

“What! Rory, are you pulling my leg or something?”

“Are you pulling
my
leg?” I shot back. Seriously, was he going to pretend it didn’t happen?

“Look, did you have a bad dream? I was in my room, sound asleep all night!”

Henry didn’t sound like he was lying. Had he been sleepwalking? I decided to let it drop – that would be another question for Emmett.

I forced a laugh. “I guess I’m losing it. My dreams have been more vivid lately,” I
lied.
I don’t sleep, much less dream.

“Okay.” Henry sounded worried. “It’s kind of scary when they’re so vivid you can’t tell a dream from reality.”

“Now that we’re talking about it I realize it was just a dream,” I tried to assure him. “Anyway, the test went well – I think.”

“Whoohoo!” Henry exclaimed. “Senior year wouldn’t be the same without you.”

“Yeah, it would suck to have different classes than you,” I agreed.

“Are you nervous about starting back?”

“I haven’t had time to think about it, with everything else going on, but yeah, I really am,” I admitted. “I don’t want lots of questions about my
coma.
”

“Try not to worry. At first I was
anxious about it, too, but I think once the novelty wears off of having you back, everything will feel normal again. People will ask questions in the beginning, but as soon as some new, juicy gossip comes along, they’ll forget about it.”

“I hope so,” I said skeptically.

“Anyway, I was calling to invite you to Bunny’s end of year school party on Saturday.”

I resisted the urge to groan. Spending Saturday before school started back with Bunny and everyone else I was dreading seeing at school sounded like a nightmare. But if I didn’t go, I would drive myself crazy wondering if Bunny was sinking her claws into Henry.

I only hesitated for a second. “Yes, I’d love to go!” I said enthusiastically.

“Good,” Henry said. “I wasn’t sure that you liked Bunny. Give her a chance. She’s a sweet girl.”

If it were possible, I would have vomited in my mouth right then. It took every ounce of energy to say the words, “Yes, she’s something all right.”

“Rory,” Henry said patronizingly, “I can hear the judgment in your voice. I admit she dresses a little bit provocatively, but she’s just having fun.”

I gritted my teeth. “Yes, I’m looking forward to it,” I managed to say. “Any word from Emmett?” I asked, changing the subject.

“No,” Henry said. “And last time I called him he said he’d let me know as soon as he had information.” Henry chuckled. “And in Emmett speak that meant
leave me the hell alone to think.
”

“I’m sure he’ll be in contact with you soon.”
If it’s not about the next meeting with Tobias, that is.

“What about you? Any word from your vampire?” Henry asked.

I hated it when Henry called him that. I don’t know why; he accused me of not liking Bunny but it was obvious that
he
didn’t like Lucas either.

“Nothing,” I said, ignoring the slur. “No reason to talk to him unless he finds out more about my case,” I said lightly.

“Well, I’d better get going,” Henry said. “I’ve got practice in a little bit. You’re welcome to come and watch.”

“Sure,” I said. “That sounds like more fun than sitting around the house.” Henry told me where to meet him and we hung up.

I immediately called Emmett.

“Hello?”

“This is Aurora. Is this Emmett?”

“Yes. What’s wrong?” he wanted to know.

Before I could speak he continued. “I can meet you somewhere, but it has to be a new place.”

“No!” I didn’t have time for this. “I’m on my way to Henry’s basketball practice. Please just let me tell you why I called.”

Emmett sighed. “Just make it quick then!” he snapped. “And speak in code.”

I was afraid if I told Emmett that I didn’t know how to speak in code he’d make me meet him. I’d just have to wing it.

“The blond, buff hawk, uh, flew the coop and landed at my door in the middle of the night. Not acting normal. Doesn’t remember it today. Asked
me
if I’d heard from
you,
which makes no sense because only the Greek God knows we talked. Did you get all of that?” I was pretty pleased with my code.

“Yes, your code leaves something to be desired. You might as well just speak openly if you’re going to practically say what happened anyway!” Emmett was exasperated.

I ignored him and said, “Please tell me you know something about it. He wasn’t himself! Has he started sleepwalking? Did his dad put him under some kind of spell?”

“I don’t know.” Emmett sounded tired. “Don’t say anything else. I’ll be in touch.” And with that, Emmett hung up on me.

“Goodbye to you, too,” I muttered, flinging my phone down on my bed. I would just have to ignore Emmett’s, er,
unique
way of doing things. Because right now, he was my only hope for some real answers.

My last week of summer vacation flew by. The school called and told me the good news that I had passed the test – yay! – so Wednesday afternoon my mom and I went to the school and officially registered me for the senior class.

I hadn’t talked to Lucas, except for a short phone call where he told me he was “working on things,” which I assumed meant he and Nicholas were trying to get a hold of that damn frequency blocker thingie.

And Emmett hadn’t gotten back to me either! I was okay with that though – I really just wanted to pretend I was a normal girl, even if it was just temporarily.

I spent my last week cheering on Henry at basketball practice. I had never been a fan of the sport but watching him play was incredible. There was absolutely no way he wouldn’t make the team – hell, he probably had a chance at captain! He was far better than all of the other guys.

Before I knew it, Saturday night had arrived. Henry was picking me up, and we had strict orders to get home by midnight. I thought my parents might be a little wary to let me go to the party after what happened before, but they were surprisingly cool about it. “Just keep your phone where we can reach you,” my dad had said, giving me a look that clearly meant
or we’ll ground you for life
.

Of course, this party wasn’t anywhere near the caliber of the one at The Manor House, but I still wanted to look nice. I had no idea if the kind of outfits
that Bunny wore were now ‘normal’ for seventeen year olds, but even if they were, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable in something so revealing.

I decided casual was the way to go: skinny dark jeans, my new red top with a picture of a lion on the front, and a pair of
flip-flops.

“You like nice,” Henry said when I got into the car.

“Thanks.” Henry looked really sexy in his fitted t-shirt and khaki shorts. I turned my head to stare out of the window, suddenly feeling more nervous than before.

“Who’s going to be there?” I asked, still looking out the window.

“I guess most of the kids in our class,” Henry said. “I think Bunny basically invited everyone. Weren’t you on the email invite?”

“No,” I said.

“I’m sure it was just an oversight – I even texted her your email address.”

“I’m sure,” I agreed. I wasn’t going to get into it with Henry.
That bitch did it on purpose.

Whatever. Bunny was unimportant, in the grand scheme of things. Even though she seemed to have Henry under some weird spell, sooner or later he would come to his senses and see what a fake twit she was. I had to stop trying to intervene; Henry wasn’t an idiot.

We pulled up to a huge three-story house.
So Bunny’s rich.
Somehow that made her more irritating, but I couldn’t think about it now.

There was already a huge crowd at the party. My eyes scanned the sea of faces; some I recognized but most I didn’t. Bunny must have invited kids from all of the schools in the area.

I could hear the music blaring before I even opened the car door. “Are Bunny’s parents home?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Nope, I think they travel a lot for work. They’re never home.”

How would you know?
But I didn’t ask the question aloud.

“My parents are going to be pissed if they find out,” I said, unable to hide the worry from my voice.

“Don’t they trust you?” Henry asked.

“I’ve, uh, kinda screwed up a few times,” I admitted. “Not heard my phone ring, not responded to text messages. That kind of
thing. That’s why they grounded me before, remember? And I told them I thought there would be adults here!” I added in a whiny voice.

Henry laughed. “Rory, just chill. Some dumbasses might be drinking, but I won’t be one of them. I’ll get you home safely,” he promised. “Nothing bad is going to happen tonight.”

“I wish you hadn’t have said that.” I gulped. “Don’t jinx us!”

Henry shook his head. “Don’t get paranoid on me. This is our last night of summer vacation. I don’t know what’s coming – what Emmett keeps alluding to – but we have to move forward like the world is the same as always. And after tonight, I know I for one will have my nose to the books. Dad wants me to go Ivy League, as long as I can get a partial scholarship.”

“You’re incredibly smart, athletic and talented,” I said honestly. “I don’t think you’ll have a problem.”

Henry looked taken aback by my words. “Well, I’m glad someone believes in me.”

What does that mean? Is he getting tons of pressure from his parents?

I hoped Henry knew he could confide in me if something was bothering him. This didn’t have to be
The Aurora Show
. Other people were allowed to express their feelings and fears.

I was just about to say that he could tell me anything when Henry put his arm around my shoulder. “Ready to go inside?” he asked, grinning.

I smiled back. “Let’s go.”

Bunny, who was laughing like a hyena and hanging on some red haired guy, came over to greet Henry when she saw us come in. She was obviously a little bit tipsy. “Hey, sweetie?” she purred, running her hand down his arm.

Henry looked uncomfortable. “Hey, Bunny,” he replied. “You remember my friend Aurora?” He gestured to me.

“Of course?” Bunny said, but she didn’t take her eyes off of Henry. “I had a great time last Saturday? You should take me out again soon?” Bunny batted her eyes at Henry.

So that’s what Henry was doing last weekend.
I tried to tell myself that it didn’t matter. Bunny wasn’t his
girlfriend
, after all. And even if he decided he wanted her as his girlfriend, who was I to protest? I wouldn’t commit to Henry; I wouldn’t commit to anyone right now, not in the fucked up mind-frame I was in. What did I expect? Henry to wait around until I made a decision?

I steeled myself, then and there. I had to be mature. I had to be
logical
. If Henry wanted to date Bunny, that was his choice, not mine.

So why did I feel such red hot anger?

Henry looked embarrassed by Bunny’s comment. “Well, I’m going to make the rounds, say to hi to everyone,” he said. “I’ll catch up with you later.” He flashed Bunny a grin – the grin I had thought was reserved for
me
– and started walking.

I huddled up behind Henry. “Don’t leave me alone!” I hissed.

He turned around, surprised. “You always used to go off by yourself at parties!” he reminded me.

“Well, now I’m like a skittish cat,” I said waspishly. I was annoyed at the image of Henry and Bunny out on some romantic date, not to mention overwhelmed by the tons of people who had showed up for Bunny’s party.

Henry placed his hands on my shoulders. Someone cranked the music up so loud that Henry had to lean forward so that our noses were almost touching to be heard. “Try and enjoy yourself,” he screamed over the music.

“I guess,” I muttered. Henry cupped his hand over his ear and shrugged. He couldn’t hear a word I said.

“I’ll mingle,” I screeched over the deafening music.

And with that, Henry disappeared into the crowd.

Great. Now what?

I wasn’t having a good time at all. Henry was ready to abandon me to chat with all of his important friends, and I basically wanted to talk to...well, no one.

I headed into the kitchen. Not that I could take a bite of any of the food or a drink of liquid, but I had hoped it wouldn’t be a room that people were congregating in.

Luckily, I was
right. I sank down into a chair around the large island.

There was a half empty bottle of wine right in front of me.
I wonder if I could have a sip? What would happen?

The only other people in the room were a girl and a guy in the corner, but they were obviously only focused on each other and hadn’t even heard me come in. I grabbed the bottle of wine and poured a huge glass.

What’s the worst that can happen?
Maybe I wouldn’t be physically able to swallow it – but hey, at least I’d know once and for all.

I had just raised the glass to my lips when I heard my name.

“Aurora!” the voice hissed.

The glass fell to the ground and broke, spewing the dark liquid all over the floor.

I spun around, searching for the person who had called my name.

And then I saw him. The kitchen door, which led out onto the patio, was open. And standing, huddled in the shadows, with the hood of his jacket pulled up over his head, was Lucas.