Page 22 of The Rising Dark
“I do,” Lavinia said.
Michelle took a deep breath to calm herself.“I appreciate that.But it’s my choice.”
“It isn’t.”
Michelle had had enough.She had been having this argument with Lavinia on and off for four days now, ever since Lavinia had shown her the photos of the warlock’s victims.She’d been lying low for over a week now, letting the vampires take care of her.But it had been days—days of just hanging around their fancy house, eating their food, sleeping in their bed.The scratch on her cheekbone had scabbed over, new skin itching underneath.The initial terror of the attack had faded, and the fear had transmuted into anger.
Howdaresomeone try to kill her.To try to end her life, and for what?Because of some arcane supernatural reason, even though she hadn’t even known vampires and witches existed?She’d had a couple of days to come to terms with all of this (and if she was honest with herself, she was sure there was more of that to follow), but she knew one thing for certain: she was absolutely sick of staying inside and feeling sorry for herself.Her whole being wasitchingfor action, to feel like she was dealing with the problem head-on.She couldn’t hide forever, even though that was clearly what Lavinia wanted.
“How are you going to stop me?”Michelle challenged.“Are you going to lock me up, prevent me from leaving?”
Lavinia frowned.“Of course not.”
“Then I’m coming.It’s just an animal rescue, for God’s sake.”
“No.”God, the vampire was infuriating.How dare she stand there, cool as a cucumber, telling her what she could and couldn’t do?She might be gorgeous as hell, but that didn’t stop Michelle from wanting to punch her right now.
“Besides, I have been training with Quintia.”
“So I’ve heard.”
Michelle clenched her jaw.Lavinia faced her, the clear jade of her eyes as unmoving as stone.
“She’s not terrible,” Quintia piped up from behind them.“She’s weak, of course, but determined.”Michelle didn’t bother to turn around.This fight was with Lavinia, not her brash Sister.
Lavinia narrowed her eyes.“Show me.”
“Are you joking?”Michelle said, incredulous.
“No.”There was ice in her voice, a hardness that she had never used with Michelle before.Her heartbeat pounding, Michelle dropped into the position Quintia had shown her, and jabbed with her right fist, aiming at Lavinia’s chest.Like Quintia, Lavinia easily deflected the blow, batting the momentum of it aside as easily as Michelle might a child’s punch.Michelle stepped forward, not letting herself be discouraged.She wasn’t helpless.Jab.She could stand up for herself.Jab.She was capable, goddamn it, even if she wasn’t a supernatural creature blessed with ridiculous strength.Jab.
“What do you think that’s going to happen?Is an army of demons coming for me while we look at some abandoned dogs?”Michelle’s voice rose higher as she went through the series of stances Quintia had taught her.
Lavinia caught the last blow in her hand, cupping Michelle’s fist.Michelle was suddenly aware of how close she had gotten.It was hard to draw a full breath as she stared at Lavinia, their bodies almost touching.
A faint flush swept across Lavinia’s cheekbones.She wasn’t as unflappable as she appeared.“Anything could happen,” Lavinia insisted.“We don’t know who wants you dead.”
“Exactly.And if you don’t let me help, you might never find out.”
Lavinia recoiled as if she had been slapped.She dropped Michelle’s hand.“You don’t trust me to protect you.”Her voice was suddenly quiet, nothing like the immovable wall of will she’d presented so far.
“I do.But you don’t trustme.”
“What?Of course I do.”
Michelle pressed on, despite Lavinia’s apparent hurt.If they were going to work together, they would have to be equals.She might have needed saving, but Michelle was more than just a damsel, and Lavinia better damn well know it.“You don’t.If you trusted me, you would respect me enough to make my own decisions.It’smylife we’re talking about.I can’t just sit here.I just can’t.”
An awkward silence followed.Quintia let out a low whistle.Michelle wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.A fear gripped her heart.Had she pushed Lavinia too far?All she wanted was to be heard, rather than being bundled off to whatever location Lavinia thought was best for her.
Lavinia’s shoulders dropped, deflated.Michelle had won, but the victory didn’t taste as sweet as she’d expected.“I only mean to keep you safe,” Lavinia said softly.There was an undercurrent to her words that hadn’t been there before.A vulnerability.It felt private, precious.It felt like a declaration, but of what, Michelle wasn’t sure.Lavinia lifted her hand, moved as if to touch her—Michelle desperately wanted her touch, found herself aching towards the gesture—but the vampire lowered her hand again, the ache unfulfilled.
“Right,” Quintia’s gruff voice tore through the moment.“We’re going then?”She strode over, wrapped her arms around their shoulders and steered them towards the front door.
“You’re coming?”Lavinia asked.
“Can’t leave you two lovebirds alone.Might miss something good.Besides, I do agree that it’s not particularly safe.”
“Why didn’t you say anything before?”Lavinia said, accusatory.Quintia bundled them out of the house.The late afternoon sunlight dappled the path leading to the car.Some leaves had drifted to the ground, crunching underfoot.
