Page 28 of The Last Vampire
How am I still alive?
“You sleep like the dead.” I roll over and see that Tiffany is already in her uniform. “You look dead, too.”
The door opens just then, and Salma strides in. “You’re still in bed?”she asks me, alarmed. Then she scowls at Tiffany. “I told you to wake her up!”
“She’s up,” says our roommate with a shrug.
“You were definitely not lying about needing your sleep,” Salma says to me, setting down her toiletries. “Hurry. Breakfast will be over soon.”
I sit up slowly, holding the sheet to my neck because I don’t know if there’s dried blood there. The thought triggers a hazy memory, probably of a dream I had last night. The vampire was depositing me in my bed, and before leaving, he leaned over, as if to kiss me good night.
Only his mouth hovered over my neck.
And instead of sharp fangs, I felt his cold tongue licking my wound clean.
I shiver.
“Are you sick?” Salma presses the back of her hand to my forehead.
“I’m fine,” I say, sliding out of reach. I’m still dressed from my late-night outing, so I grab my bathroom things and head downstairs. I’m winded by the time I reach the first landing, and when I look in the mirror, there’s no blood or bruising on my neck. No evidence at all, other than a couple of barely perceptible cuts.
I don’t have time to shower. Climbing back upstairs, I have to take a break between levels to catch my breath.
I change into my uniform to the beat of Tiffany’s heel tapping the floor. “You didn’t have to wait for me,” I say when I can’t take the metronome of her impatience any longer.
“Told youwe could have gone without her,” Tiffany says to Salma.
“Of course we waited for you,” says my best friend. She seems nervous, and I wonder why—until I remember how she and the others ditched me last night.
“You look pale,” she says, still scrutinizing me like I might be sick.
“No,Zachis pale,” I correct her.
“You know what I mean,” she says with an eye roll. “Your skin looksless tanthan usual.”
“I’m fine,” I insist as I pull on my uniform, and when I slip a period pad into my book bag, I ask Salma, “You need a pad?”
“I have my own,” she says without looking at me. “Come on, let’s go.”
It takes most of my energy to keep up with my roommates on the way to the dining hall, even though I’m in sneakers and both Tiffany and Salma have paired their uniforms with platform heels. They practically tower over me.
I don’t know if I should have breakfast or call the police. How can I just go about my day when I know what’s happening at midnight? The vampire is going to kill me, and I have no way to stop him.
The fact that he actually bought my bluff ismiraculous. But once he figures out that I don’t know anything, he’s not going to give me any more chances.
I need to get out of here.
But for all I know, he could be watching and listening even now. I cast my gaze all around as we enter the dining hall, searching for a sign of him.
When we get to our table, the guys are just setting down their bags. Theylook as exhausted as I feel, which confirms my suspicions—everyone went to the basement but me.
I take longer than the others to fill my plate because I’m not eager to sit with them and act like I don’t know what they did. I pile on servings of eggs, bacon, and toast, feeling hungrier than ever this morning. When I finally take my seat, Salma is moving some fruit around her bowl of granola, but she’s barely touched it.
Once I’ve polished off my bacon, she says, “I think it’s time we vote.”
Zach looks from her to me, the discomfort clear on his face. Even Tiffany stays quiet. Then Trevor asks, “Who wants to go back to that secret library tonight?”
He raises his own hand, casting his vote as he asks the question. Salma’s goes up next, then Tiffany’s and, after a beat, Zach’s.
