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Chapter 3

Aaron’s calm voice filled our living room, and while I felt bad that he was the one who had to relay this information when he was the least to blame, I was thankful someone who wasn’t overly emotional was recounting the tale. “We got word late Saturday night that Steven Gibbon, the Jogging Path Killer, had been kidnapped from the hospital in Philadelphia where he was recovering from his gunshot wounds. We had intelligence that let us know that Giovani, the same Vampire that had been with Jack when he went on the killing spree in Cabo, was planning to turn Gibbon to use him against Cadence, so our team flew to Philly Sunday morning, hoping to locate Gibbon.”

My parents nodded, letting him know they were following along. “We had asked Brandon, a new Guardian who hasn’t completed his training yet, to drive Cassidy home, and he agreed to do that. But… instead, they took a train to Philly.”

My mom turned and looked at me, and I wanted to sink into the chair. I knew there’d be more questions about Brandon later, and while I’d hoped to keep his name out of it, I couldn’t blame Aaron from mentioning him.

“Neither of them had their phones on. We knew they’d left headquarters but had no way of knowing where they’d gone,” Aaron continued.

“If I’d really thought she was in any danger, I would’ve sent someone to track her down or something,” Cadence added. “I just assumed they were doing typical teenager things—like watching movies or visiting an arcade.”

“Anyway… we found out later that Giovani had actually been planning to kidnap Cassidy all along in hopes that he could use her to trade for Cadence. He’d had an associate tailing her in KC, maybe here, and he got on that train as well. He showed up at the train terminal as soon as they got off the train.”

“But Zabrina got me in the bathroom.” I figured Brandon had probably told Aaron and Cadence that at some point, but I wanted my parents to know how it had happened. “I left Brandon to go to the bathroom, and when I came out of the stall, Giovani’s girlfriend was there. I fought her, trying to get away, and that’s when she scratched me.” Memories of how I’d felt at that moment, when I’d realized it was too late, and there was no going back, made me sick to my stomach. “She dragged me out the door, and Brandon fought off the creepy guy from the train, but Zabrina managed to get me to where Giovani was waiting.”

“As soon as we got there, I traded her places,” Cadence spoke up, stroking my hair. “Cass tried to tell me it was too late, that she’d been scratched, but I couldn’t let them take her. So I went with them instead.”

“There was a bit of a battle there on the pedestrian bridge at the train station.” Aaron picked up where Cadence left off. “And I went to track down the helicopter Giovani had managed to get Cadence into while Jamie tended to Cass.”

“How did he get you in a helicopter?” my mom asked.

Cadence and Aaron exchanged glances, and my sister said, “You probably don’t want to know.”

“I do,” my mom insisted.

Exhaling loudly, like she didn’t want to think about it either, she said, “He bound my wrists with wire and dropped a hook through the glass ceiling.”

“What?” I’ve never seen my dad so shocked, ever. Not even when I told him I was half-Vampire.

“Yep. Like a fish. Reeled me right out.” I could only imagine how terrified Cadence must’ve been when she realized what was happening to her.

“So, obviously you were able to save Cadence,” my mom said to Aaron.

“No, she was able to save herself,” he corrected. “By the time we got there, Giovani and Zabrina were dead, and Gibbon was gone.”

“He ran away as soon as he got the chance.” Cadence gave my mom a reassuring smile, and I assumed my sister wouldn’t be telling our parents about the cage match that had left her nearly dead.

“Jamie thought the only way he could save me was by giving me the Transformation serum,” I said quietly. “And it worked—I didn’t turn into a Vampire, not completely anyway. And I didn’t die.” I hoped they’d be able to look on the bright side. I could be dead.

“Jamie is a godsend,” my mom said. “And the serum took? You are a Hunter then?”

“I’m not sure what I am,” I repeated. Maybe my mom thought everything I’d said at first was just for dramatics. “I’m wearing a colored contact, Mom. My right eye is… gray.” She gasped, and then I knew she no longer thought maybe I was just being a teenage drama queen. “Jamie says I have fangs, and even though I haven’t felt them drop down or anything, I think he’s right.” I ran my tongue across my teeth and gum line again.

“But you don’t feel like you need… blood, do you?” my dad asked.

“No, but I have an insatiable urge to drink tomato juice.” My parents didn’t find my attempt to lighten the mood very funny. “No, I don’t want to drink blood. Other than my eye and the fangs, I don’t feel like I’m Vampirish at all. But, I do feel stronger and faster, so I’m pretty sure my Hunter qualities are there.”

“She’ll need to train—eventually—to know what she’s capable of,” my sister said, seeing my parents’ eyes grow large when they thought she was suggesting I train now.

“Well, honey, I don’t know what to say,” my mother said with that parental inhale that only long time mothers can make. “I suppose you know how horribly dangerous this entire situation was. You’re right. You could be… dead…. We’re all very lucky neither one of you are hurt. We assume that Cadence will be in danger now. We don’t like it, but it’s part of her job. And we know she has capable people looking out for her.” She glanced at Aaron. “But you… you’re just a child.”

This was not the time to point out that I didn’t think I was just a child anymore or that I also had someone who should’ve been capable looking out for me. None of that mattered. I put myself in a dangerous situation, and I got hurt. “I know, Mom. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too,” Cadence said. “I should’ve done a better job of making sure she got home.”

“Yes, you should have,” my dad agreed. “At least you could’ve given her a responsible Guardian.”

“I thought I was,” Cadence muttered. “But you’re right. I should’ve made some better decisions.”

“Me, too,” Aaron said. “Obviously, I’m ultimately responsible for everything that happens at headquarters, and I should’ve done a better job here as well.”

My mother’s protests that this was not his fault were drowned out by my sister. “This is not your fault,” she said, turning to look at him. “I’m just as responsible for what happens there as you are now, and I should’ve made a better call.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said quietly, and once they’d all turned to look at me again, I said, “It doesn’t matter whose fault it is or what stupid things any of us did. It happened. Now, I just have to figure out how to live with it.”

“That’s true,” my mom said, her voice almost a whisper. “We need to make sure nothing else happens, of course, nothing worse, but in the meantime, this will take some adjusting for all of us, but most particularly for you, sweetheart.”

All I could do was nod. I had been a Hybrid for less than twenty-four hours, and I had no idea what to think of any of it.

“You know, Cassidy, no matter what you are, no matter what you’ve done, your mother and I will always love you—unconditionally—don’t you, darling?”

My dad’s voice broke on the last part, and I had to fight my tears again. “I know,” I whispered. “Would it be all right if I just went to my room now? You can tell me how long I’m grounded later.”

My parents didn’t bother to answer. They just stood and wrapped their arms around me again, and then let me go. I turned to my sister and hugged her, thanking her again for everything she’d done to save me, and while I was a little surprised when Aaron also hugged me before I left the room, I also found it comforting to know he hadn’t completely written me off as a failure.

Upstairs, I could hear their voices better than I could before I’d changed, but I didn’t linger on the stairs trying to hear. In fact, I closed my door on the noise, hoping to drown it out so that I didn’t have to think about what they might be discussing now. The familiarity of my room was comforting but also made my heart ache. Remembering what I had been a few days ago when Emma, Lucy, and I had discovered Giovani’s location and I’d begged my sister to take me with her to headquarters made me wish I’d made better choices.

I fell back onto the bed and took my phone out. Lucy and Emma had both been texting me all day to see what was going on and why I wasn’t at school. I’d only told them I was okay and would chat later, but I knew now was not the time for all of that. I wasn’t planning on going to school the next day either. My body still ached a little bit, and I felt like there was no way I could make it through class pretending everything was normal.

I knew Brandon was in the air and doubted he’d be able to send or receive texts under the circumstances, but I sent him one anyway while I still had my phone. It simply said, “Survived another close call. Parental units did not kill me. Will talk to you soon.” I shoved my phone under my pillow and closed my eyes, remembering only one of them was the same as it had been the last time I’d slept in this bed.

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