Rachel's glare when I walk into the apartment is almost as fierce as Valentine's was when I told him there was no additional blood.
"I know, I know," I cut her off before she can say anything. "I've been sitting in the stairwell thinking."
Both her eyebrows shoot up at my lie. "Why? Did something happen?"
I plop onto the couch and draw my legs beneath me. "I don't feel like I'm making any contribution as a delegate."
"You spoke with Valentine. His vamps aren't storming the walls."
"But being a delegate is more than that. My parents used to do blood drives." All these thoughts bombarded me as I rode the elevator. "They had that five-K blood run—"
"Which garnered zero pints, as I recall."
"What was the reward? A T-shirt? No one's going to come for that."
She joins me on the couch, tucking her legs up against her chest and wrapping her arms around them. It makes her look young. It's easy to forget that she's not even ten years older than me. We all have to grow up fast these days. "So, you want to start paying for blood?"
"No, but … we take blood from anyone who is at least seventeen. But I don't know anyone at school who gives blood. So teens are an untapped resource. How do we get them to donate blood?"
She presses a well-manicured finger against her chin. I can see that she's seriously considering what I'm saying.
"I mean, most of the posters around the city are focused on parents giving blood to protect their children," I point out.
"Because that's who we've always thought was most likely to give. But you're right. If we can get the teens into the habit of donating, they'll carry it into adulthood. So do you have some ideas for how we do that?"
"A dance?" I suggest. "Donate blood and get a free ticket?"
She puckers her brow. "I think it needs to be more than a dance. I think it needs to be a kick-ass party."
I grin. "I like the way you think."
"Write up some plans, some justification for the expense. We'll run it by Clive on your way to school in the morning."
"Thanks." I pop off the couch, stop, and study her. "Rachel, have you ever known a vampire? Other than Valentine, I mean?"
"By 'known' I assume you mean for longer than it takes to put a stake through their hearts?"
I nod. "Yeah."
A sadness touches her fudge brown eyes. "A lot of what I know about vamps I learned from one I considered a … friend. I was younger than you; the war was still raging. He would come into the city at night. It was easier then—we didn't have the wall. We would talk. Then one night … he needed blood. He wanted mine. And when I said no, he tried to take it. I screamed. People rushed out of their homes and … they killed him. I felt guilty for a long time. Because he was just asking for help."
"If he were really your friend, he wouldn't have tried to force you."
"No. He wouldn't have. But if I were really his, wouldn't I have given him what he needed? Relationships with vampires are complex, Dawn. Remember that. Valentine will never be your friend."
She's right, he won't be. But I'm not thinking of Valentine. I'm thinking of Victor. Could we be friends?
"So here's what we're gonna do. After school, we'll all go to blood site five and donate blood. Rachel is going to arrange for a news crew to be there so we get coverage. We're going to start a special blood drive—the Teen Initiative—and every teen who donates a pint of blood between now and next Saturday will get a ticket to a party at the Daylight Grill. Free food. Free drinks."
I'm sitting at a table in the lunchroom with Vivi, Michael, and Sin. I can see the wheels in their heads turning as they try to decide whether or not to embrace this incredibly cheesy idea. The Agency kept the blood bank theft under wraps, so no one knows about it. No need to scare the already frightened citizens.
Rachel and I met with Clive before school this morning. My delegate training paid off, because it took me fewer than five minutes to convince Clive to let us give the Teen Initiative a shot. After my trip with Victor last night, I'm determined to see the blood donations increase. It's part of my duties as a delegate, something I've been slacking off on. I have to admit that Victor's outing helped me see the value of our blood.
"You sound like you've gone a little pro-vampire," Michael says after a couple of minutes.
"What? No. It's just that they need our blood. And I'm supposed to ensure that we get enough of it to Valentine"—although if some went to Victor, who was going to know?—"to keep the peace, and I thought this would be a fun way of doing all that."
"Unfortunately I gave blood just before I left Los Angeles," Sin says. "So it's a little too soon for me. But I'll definitely spread the word, maybe even help set up the party."
"I hate needles." Vivi gives a visible shudder, then grins at Sin. "But if you'll hold my hand, I'll do it."
"I'd hold your hand without your giving blood, but of course."
I glance over at Michael. "Michael?"
"Yeah. Okay."
I wish he'd seen what I did last night. I know he'd be more enthusiastic then. I'm trying really hard not to compare his reluctance to Victor's willingness to risk so much to procure blood for vampires on the verge of starvation. It's an unfair comparison, because Michael would do anything for humans. Although Victor didn't hesitate to save Vivi and me that night on the trolley.
"Think you could convince some of the guys around school to come with us? They're not listening to me much lately," I say.
"I'll talk to the guys in the training program."
"Thanks." Reaching out, I thread my fingers through his and am unsettled to realize that the fit doesn't feel quite as perfect as it did with Victor last night. That's crazy. Michael means everything to me. And Victor… I don't know what to think about him anymore.
A news crew is waiting at blood site five when I arrive with my small entourage: Vivi, Michael, Sin, and four of Michael's buddies. Half a dozen other people are in various stages of donating. Even I'm surprised by the positive turnout.
I smile, stretch out on the recliner, and roll up my sleeve as though I'm about to have the most exciting time of my life. Michael takes the recliner next to me, and Vivi's on the other side of me. She's pale. Sin takes her hand.
Several Agency guards are strategically placed at doors and elevators. This place is practically the Fort Knox of blood now. Only donors ever get to see this floor, but beneath it are several levels of frozen and chilled blood, all waiting to be delivered. During the day, of course. Placed outside the manor in insulated containers every Friday.
"So, Dawn," the reporter with the mic begins as the nurse rubs the inside of my elbow with a cold, alcohol-drenched cotton ball, "if you weren't our delegate, would you be donating?"
"I would, Chip," I say, recognizing him from other news stories he's done. "Vampires can't survive without our blood. Giving my blood… I see it as charitable."
"Some people consider vamps parasites."
"It's true that they need our blood in order to survive. But recently, I had the opportunity to visit with a vampire family." Standing behind him, Rachel widens her eyes, and I know I'm going to have to do some explaining after this. "They feed only on legally drawn blood. I guess… I think we have an obligation to do what we can to preserve all life. We can either give our blood to the vampires or have it taken from us. By giving it, we control how it's taken and how much is taken. Meanwhile, negotiation is the best path to reclaiming our place alongside vampires rather than beneath them."
Rachel gives a subtle nod of approval. When I asked for this publicity op last night, she gave me a list of talking points to memorize.
"Do you honestly think Valentine will ever consider us equal?"
Not him, but maybe his son. But Chip doesn't specify whether he's referring to Lord Murdoch Valentine or Victor, so I simply say, "With time, yes."
I grimace as the needle slides into my vein.
"With all due respect, Dawn, you're a kid who Valentine can't possibly take seriously—"
"I don't hear much respect there, Chip. I'm young, yes, but I learned a lot from my parents. And I don't carry the hatred that those who fought in the war do." Sometimes delegates lie. "I truly believe I can make a difference for the citizens of Denver. I wouldn't have accepted the position otherwise."
"Well, here's one reporter who hopes you and the Agency know what you're doing."
"The Agency knows exactly what it's doing, and has full confidence in Dawn," Rachel says, stepping forward. "As you can see, several teens came in with Dawn. Under her guidance, we're starting a new program that we're calling the Teen Initiative. To help get it off the ground, we're throwing a party a week from Saturday at the Daylight Grill. There will be a live band, and free food and drinks for any teen who donates blood during the next week."
As she fields the tougher questions, I relax, pressing my head against the pillow. Cameras are clicking. Michael reaches over and wraps his hand around mine.
"Not exactly the most exciting date we've ever had," he says