Page 19 of A Memory in the Flame

During my sheltered life at the mansion, I’d thought that the only occupants of this section of New Ve were rodents and insects. Apparently, it was just one more thing I’d been wrong about—more than once, I catch a glimpse of something moving between the rows of trash.

“Hold on,” Noah says, wrapping his fingers around my wrist.

I glance down at his hand. “What?”

“Where’s your gun?”

“In its holster, exactly where you told me to put it,” I say with a frown. “Why?”

Noah drops his hand and appraises me. “Are you ready to use it again?”

“Is this place that dangerous?”

“It’s always a possibility, baby vampire.” Noah slides his hand up my arm and squeezes my shoulder. “Fortunately, you know what to do now.”

“In theory.” I touch the gun again, as if to reassure myself it didn’t vanish. We walk farther into the landfill. Eventually, I realize the mounds of junk are haphazardly piled around makeshift homes in various stages of falling apart. The materials they’re made with vary from plywood, corrugated metal, sheets of plastic, and cardboard boxes. “How exactly are we supposed to find one person in… all of this?” I ask Noah under my breath.

Noah’s vibrant eyes scan the area around us. “I have a contact here. He’s been around awhile—used to run with a different crowd. But he knows everyone in the Barrens.”

“He’ll be able to help us find Leo, then.”

“Indeed, halfling.” Noah leads us through a row of shanties, stopping at the second to last one, and pounds his closed fist against the metal door. The sound echoes through the night, and someone from across the row bellows at us to be quiet.

A few beats later, the door flies open and slams against the side of the shack. A scruffy-looking vampire bares his fangs, but paired with his long, black beard, it’s more comical than threatening.

“What do you want? The fuck is this?” the vampire growls, his scarlet eyes landing on me. His gaze swings to Noah. “Bloody hell, Forrest. What kind of shit you got yourself messed up in now?”

Noah sighs. “Calm down, Tarian.”

“What are you doing bringing a Travesty here?”

“We need your help,” I cut in before Noah can answer. “And my family has nothing to do with why we’re here.”

Well, not directly, at least.

Tarian stares at me. “Fine. But you better not be getting me into some shady shit.”

Noah smirks. “Wouldn’t be the first time. Besides, you’re plenty talented at getting yourself into shit. As I recall, I’ve helped you out of said shit many times.”

“Damn you, Forrest,” Tarian grumbles, stepping aside so we can enter.

Noah slaps his shoulder on his way past. “Thanks, friend.”

I hurry to follow him. Inside, Noah leans against the wall. After a brief hesitation, I sit on a ratty couch that looks a few seconds away from collapsing. A space heater in the corner wheezes as though it’s about to collapse at any moment. “How do you know this guy?” I whisper, hoping the sound of Tarian’s coughing will disguise the question.

“Not important right now, baby vampire. Just sit and listen.”

Tarian pulls the door shut and moves to lean against the kitchen counter. I try to keep my eyes on him, but it’s difficult to stop them from wandering around the tiny space. There’s no bed, which makes me think he sleeps on the couch I’m sitting on. His living area is one room, save for a bathroom, which I assume is on the other end of the shanty.

“Have you seen the news?” Noah asks.

“You’ll have to be more specific, Forrest.”

“Someone is releasing weepers into the city.”

“And blaming it on our king. What a travesty.” Tarian shoots me a wink, and I just stare at him.Gee, haven’t heard that one before.

“You’ll have to excuse my friend’s pathetic attempts at humor,” Noah tells me. “Girls make him nervous.”

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