Page 8 (1/2)

The house was a big, log cabin�Cstyle affair, tucked into a hol ow in the pines with no sign of any neighbors for miles around Al the ere black, as if the place were e froo went in first, and I tried to move behind hi ed doith a confident tread

"Trying to lose o’s alive," I heard Kevin ansith a distinct lack of enthusiaso said as I slipped into the dark baseht came from the various TV screens, but it ay more than any of us needed I hurried back to where Fred had a whole couch to hiht for me to look anxious because there was no way to hide it I sed hard as the revulsion hit, and curled up in my usual spot on the floor behind the couch Once I was down, Fred’s repel ent power see used to it

The basement was ht Al the kids in here had eyes the saht, recently fed red

"Took o told Kevin "It was alot to as left of the house Had to sit in a cave fil ed ater al day"

"Go tattle to Riley Whatever"

"I see the little girl made it, too," said a new voice, and I shuddered because it was Raoul I felt a little bit of relief that he didn’t know my name, but mostly I just felt horrified that he’d noticed me at al

"Yeah, she fol owed

"Aren’t you the savior of the hour?" Raoul said snidely

"We don’t get extra points for being o wouldn’t taunt Raoul I hoped Riley would come back soon Only Riley could curb Raoul even the littlest bit

But Riley was probably out hunting dregs kids to bring to her Or doing whatever else he did while he ay

"Interesting attitude you got, Diego You think that Riley likes you so onna care if I kil you I think you’re wrong But either way, for tonight, he already thinks you’re dead"

I could hear the othersout of the way I hesitated in ht the our cover if it didn’t co because he had so to have much to offer in that depart here, and soood side Would Riley get hoo’s voice was calm when he answered "You’re real y that afraid to take me on alone? Typical"

Raoul snorted "Does that ever work? I mean, besides in movies Why should I take you on alone? I don’t care about beating you I just want to end you"

I rol ed into a crouch, tensed to spring

Raoul kept talking He liked the sound of his own voice a lot

"But it’s not gonna take al of us to deal with you These til take care of the other evidence of your unfortunate survival Little what’s-her-name"

My body felt icy, frozen solid I tried to shake it off so I could fight my best Not that it would havetotal y unexpected - a wave of revulsion so overpowering that I couldn’t holdwith horror I was not the only one to react I heard disgusted snarls and retching sounds from every corner of the basees of the rooainst the wal, stretching their necks away as if they could escape the horrible feeling At least one of these was a

I heard Raoul’s distinctive growl, and then heard it fade as he took off up the stairs He wasn’t the only one to make a break for it About half of the vampires in the basement cleared out

I didn’t have that choice I could barely move And then I realized this had to be because I was so close to Freaky Fred He was responsible for as happening And as horrible as I felt, I was stil able to realize that he’d probably just saved ust faded slowly As soon as I could, I crept to the edge of the couch and took in the aftero was stil there, on the far end of the big roo, though everybody looked a little shaken Most of thelances in Fred’s direction I peeked at the back of his head, too, though I couldn’t see anything I looked away quickly Looking at Fred brought back some of the nausea

"Keep it down"

The deep voice came from Fred I’d never heard him speak before Everyone stared and then looked away immediately as the revulsion returned

So Fred just wanted his peace and quiet Wel, whatever I was alive because of it Most likely Raoul would get distracted by soer on somebody close by And Riley always cao had been in his cave rather than outside and destroyed by the sun, and Raoul wouldn’t have an excuse to attack him or me

At least, that was the best-case scenario In the o and I could coain, I had a fleeting sense that I was ure it out, hts were interrupted

"Sorry"

The deep, almost silent mutter could only have coh to real y hear Was he talking toI couldn’t see his face - he had his back to me stilHe had thick, wavy blond hair I’d never noticed that before, not with al the days I’d sat hiding in his shadow Riley wasn’t kidding when he’d said that Fred was special Gross, but real y special Did Riley have any idea that Fred was so so powerful? He was able to overwhelh I couldn’t see his expression, I had the sense that Fred aiting for an answer

"Uize," I breathed aled