Page 11 of Dawn Caravan
“Right.”
Why would Sadia be afraid? Her father and mother were vampires. Her aunts and uncles were vampires. She’d been surrounded by them for years. Ben took a breath and opened his mouth. Just thinking about the scent of blood was enough to make his fangs lengthen.
Sadia stared and stared. In the end, she looked a little unimpressed.
“What?”
She sighed. “You don’t have curvy fangs like Tenzin. Just the same ones like Baba and Mama.”
Even the mention of her name after two years felt like a spike driving into his chest. Ben swept the net back and placed Sadia on the trampoline. “Sorry. They’re just normal fangs.”
“That’s okay. They’re nice anyway.” Sadia began bouncing. “Where’s Tenzin?”
Sadia loved Tenzin, and she mentioned her at least once a call. Though he hadn’t seen or talked to his former partner in over two years, Sadia still linked the two of them in her mind, probably because Tenzin and Ben had been together when she was young.
Needless to say, he wasn’t surprised she was asking about her.
“I don’t know where she is, Sadi.”
“Maybe she’s at your house in New York. Look!” She jumped and spun in a circle. “See, I did a twist. Do you know you’re the only one who calls me Sadi?”
“Excellent twist.” He watched her. Watched the springs and the net. “I’m the only one who calls you Sadi because I’m your only big brother.”
She kept bouncing. “Why do you call Baba and Mama by their name and not baba and mama?”
It wasn’t the first time she’d asked. “Because when they adopted me, I was a lot older than you.”
“Oh.” She attempted a move that looked a little like the splits. “Is Tenzin” —bounce—“coming” —bounce—“soon?”
“I don’t think so.”
“When I grow up, I want my fangs to be curvy like Tenzin’s.”
Ben smiled. “You only get fangs if you become a vampire, silly.”
Sadia bounced over to him and rolled her eyes, letting her head fall back. “I knowthat.”
“So you’re saying you want to become a vampire?”
“Yeah!”
“Why?”
Bounce. “Because” —bounce— “my whole family” —bounce— “is vampires.”Bounce.“Silly.”
“Right.” She made it sound so simple. As if she was going to grow up and inherit the family restaurant or take over the farm. “Well, it’s a very grown-up decision. You know that, right?”
“I know.” She stopped bouncing and wove her fingers through the net, leaning to the side and letting her hair hang upside down. “Baba said I can only decide when I’m really old like you.”
“I’m old?” He poked her in the side and she giggled.
“Yes.Reallyold.”
“Well, you’re my sister, so if I’m old, you must be old. And short.”
She stood up straight and looked at him, her mouth hanging open in outrage. “I’m the second-tallest girl in my class!”
“Oh.” He turned around and patted his shoulders. Sadia got the message and jumped onto them. “My mistake.” He started walking back to the house with Sadia hanging on his back, swinging her legs and humming a song. “You must be very tall then.”
