As Twilight Falls

Kadie went to Claude’s house last. Grouchy as always, he was scowling when he opened the door. “What do you want?”

Kadie thrust the last box at him. “I brought you a present.”

“Yeah? Why?”

Kadie shrugged. “Why not?”

He stared at the box for a moment, as if debating whether to give it back, then with a barely audible “thank you” he shut the door in her face.

Saintcrow laughed when she told him about Claude that night. “He always was a strange one.”

“Jeremy said none of the vampires like him.”

“That’s not my problem.”

“Were the vampires happy with the phones?”

“Yeah. They’re all at the tavern, exchanging phone numbers and catching up on supernatural affairs.”

“I don’t remember ever hearing anything on the news about vampire hunters. Or about vampires, for that matter.”

“The messages are relayed by encrypted e-mails.”

“Oh. Have any hunters ever stumbled into Morgan Creek?”

“Just once.”

She waited for him to elaborate. When he didn’t, she surmised that the hunter hadn’t lasted long. “Are there a lot of vampire hunters?”

He nodded. “And more every day. But it’s all under the radar. Most of the population has no idea that we exist, or that there’s a whole underground network hunting us.”

“It doesn’t make much sense to me for the vampires to leave here,” she remarked. “Considering what’s going on.”

He shrugged. “Except for Lonigan and Quinn, they’ve all been here forty years or more. I guess they need a change of scenery.” He didn’t see any need to tell her that the real reason they wanted out was to hunt again. He couldn’t blame them for that.

“I told Marti the vampires might be leaving, but that she and the others would have to stay.”

“How’d she take it?”

“Pretty well, I guess, all things considered. Can I have my phone? I want to call my parents and let them know I’m all right.”

She felt his mind brush hers, probing her thoughts, before he pulled her phone from his back pocket and handed it to her. “Be careful what you say,” he warned, and left the room to give her some privacy.

Kadie quickly dialed her mom’s number, blinking back her tears when she heard her mother’s voice.

“Kadie! Where are you? We haven’t heard from you in weeks. We’ve been so worried!”

“I’m fine, Mom. I got a little sidetracked.” She forced a laugh. “You know how I am when I’m working, but I’m fine.”

“Where are you?”

“Nowhere right now, sort of between ghost towns. I got lost.”

“But you’re all right?”

“I’m fine. I’ve . . . I’ve been getting some great shots. I’ll send you some when I can. I’m sorry I waited so long to call, but I . . . I didn’t have any cell service.” It was hard to lie to her mom. She wasn’t only her mother but her best friend.

“How’s Dad?”

“He’s fine, honey. He’s at work. There was a fire at the high school and he’s tied up at the emergency room. He’ll be sorry he missed your call.”

Kadie took a deep breath, afraid to ask the next question. “How’s Kathy?”

“Not well. The last infusion has worn off and there isn’t any more available at the moment. Your father has been out every night hoping to find a new source.”

“I guess she’s asleep.”

“Yes. You know how tired she gets.”

Kadie nodded, choking back her tears. “I’ll try to call tomorrow. And Mom? I love you.”

“I love you, too, dear. Be careful.”

“I will. Good night.” Kadie closed the phone, then hugged it to her chest, trying not to cry. She needed to get home, needed to be with Kathy.

She blinked back her tears when Saintcrow returned.

“Everything okay at home?” he asked.

“Same as always. Thank you for letting me call.”

“Tell me about your parents.”

“My father’s a surgeon. One of the best in the world. My mom’s a housewife.” She smiled wistfully. “One of the best in the world.”

“You love them very much.”

Kadie nodded. When she was a child, her parents had always come in at bedtime to hear her prayers and kiss her good night. They had shared bedtime stories and hot chocolate on cold winter evenings in front of the fire. Spent their summer vacations camping in the mountains. Her father had bought her her first camera when she was ten. She had quickly filled one scrapbook after another. Every few years, her father had bought her a new and better camera.

Saintcrow watched the play of emotions on her face as she thought about her childhood. He scarcely remembered his own parents. He had only been five or six when his father was killed in battle. His mother had remarried, only to pass away four years later, leaving Saintcrow with a stepfather he despised, and, eventually, a stepmother who tried to seduce him.

When he was sixteen, he’d run away from home and sought refuge in a neighboring castle where a knight took him on as a squire. He had spent the next four years in Sir Edward’s service, dressing him in the morning, serving his meals, caring for his horse, cleaning the knight’s armor, weapons, and shield. He had accompanied Sir Edward to tournaments and gone with him when he went to war. During this time, he had also learned to handle a sword and lance while wearing forty pounds of armor and riding a horse.

He had been just shy of his twenty-first year when Sir Edward deemed him worthy to become a knight. The day before the ceremony, Saintcrow donned a white tunic and red robes. He had spent the night in his room, meditating, praying for strength and courage, petitioning heaven for the purification of his immortal soul. Thanking heaven for Sir Edward’s kindness and patience with a rebellious youth. He had loved that man, respected him as he had no other before or since.

In the morning, the chaplain blessed his sword, and then heard his confession.

Later, attired in his finest clothing, Saintcrow had knelt in front of Sir Edward, his head bowed, as his lord tapped him lightly with his sword on each shoulder and proclaimed him a knight of the realm. It had been the proudest moment of Saintcrow’s life. It was one of the few memories he had clung to all these years.

“Rylan?”

“You’ll see your parents again, Kadie,” he said quietly.