"I don't care."
"But I do." He skims his hand over my cheek. "You belong with Michael, Dawn. Vampires and humans—we never work out long-term."
"We could try."
"That's one of the things I love about you. When you believe in something you fight for it. But this is a battle that's larger than the two of us. One where you must sacrifice for the greater good. You're as dangerous to me as my enemies are, because whenever you're close, my desires cloud everything else. We can't be in each other's lives. Too many people are depending on us. I'm sorry, but this has to be good-bye."
I feel something hard biting into my palm and realize he's placed the car keys there and wrapped my fingers around them.
"Drive safely," he says.
He rises and walks from the room, leaving me alone. I think I can actually hear my heart breaking. Once again because of a vampire.
What the hell is going on?" Clive bellows as soon as I enter his office. "Last I heard you were seen leaving the city in one of Valentine's carriages. I almost sent an entire squad of Night Watchmen out there after you!"
"You might want to sit down," I say, afraid Clive will collapse when I tell him. Unfortunately, that only makes him more anxious. "Dawn, I want to know everything, and I want to know it now!"
Everything. I can't tell him everything. Not the personal stuff between me and Victor. Not how much I care for him or that we kissed or that I really wish there was a way for us to be together. But I can tell him the political ramifications of all that's happened. "Okay, then. Valentine is dead. His son Victor has taken the throne."
I hit all the highlights that involve Valentine, from the moment I met Victor on the trolley until I drove his car into the parking garage here.
"An ascension," he whispers when I'm finished. "I can't believe it. I was hoping to retire without ever seeing one. They're messy, complicated affairs."
"This one won't be."
"You're putting a lot of faith in this Victor fellow."
"Because he's earned it."
Clive opens a drawer, removes a bottle, and pours some clear liquid into a glass. I don't think it's water. He downs it in one long swallow.
"We can't tell anyone yet, Clive. There's still the matter of Valentine's other son. Do you know anything at all about him? Have the Night Watchmen reported anything?"
"They've found a couple more vampires with their throats torn out, but other than that and the same smallscale abductions, it's business as usual." He studies me. "I'll increase the number of guards protecting you. Maybe you shouldn't go to this damn Teen Initiative party."
"No, I have to. It was my idea. I have to see it through. Besides, I'm not going to cower in my apartment. That would give Valentine a victory from the grave."
"You know, I thought he was nuts when he requested you as a delegate. Now I'm beginning to think he underestimated you. Maybe we all did."
I can't help but smile. "I think that may be the sweetest thing you've ever said to me."
"Go on. Get out of here, before you give me an ulcer."
I turn toward the door.
"Dawn?"
Stopping, I glance back.
"I know you don't want to hear it," Clive says, "but your parents would be proud of you."
I feel the tears sting my eyes, because for the first time I believe I have earned their pride in me. I'm doing what I can to bring about a world in which vampires and humans are truly equal. But more, for the first time I want them to be proud of me. I always resented that they gave so much to the city, felt that my mother loved me less because she gave up so much to be with my father. I'm understanding their devotion to their jobs and each other a little better. Although I doubt they'd be as pleased about my feelings for a vampire. But I do finally understand why my mother served at my father's side. Because I would give anything right now to be with Victor.
"Don't you look beautiful!" Rachel comments, sitting on the couch in our living room and watching me twirl. They released her from the hospital just this afternoon.
Beautiful is not a word I ever really associated with myself. But then, since her brush with death, Rachel is seeing everything as beautiful. So I don't put a lot of faith in her words.
I spin around once more so she can see my new outfit. New to me, anyway. It could be a hundred years old for all I know—a red silk dress that flows around me and whispers against my calves when I move.
It's been two days since Faith gave me this gift. Two days of thinking about this party. Two nights of thinking about Victor. So far his ascension has not made the news. Clive agreed to keep things quiet until Victor has secured his place among the vampires.
"I wish you felt up to going with me tonight," I say.
"I'm not exactly a teen anymore." She rubs her brow. "And I still have this headache. I don't know why it won't go away."
"So what are you going to do while I'm out having a good time?"
"Jeff's coming over and we're going to talk."
"Oh, yeah, I'm sure that's what you're going to do. Talk." I wiggle my eyebrows at her.
"Seriously."
I grin. "Whatever."
A knock sounds on the door. I open it and smile up at Michael. It didn't seem right to cancel on him so close to the event. But while I'm not looking forward to it, after tonight I'm going to tell him everything. Even if Victor was serious about not wanting to be together, it's not fair to Michael for me to be with him when I have strong feelings for someone else. But for tonight, I'm determined to be a good date. "Hey, come on in."
"You look great," he says.
"Thanks."
"What's with all the guards?"
"Rachel's home now, and with the party tonight, since I'll be out after dark, the Agency just felt that we should have additional protection."
"But you'll be with me."
"I know. I told them that." I can see that his pride is at stake. But it bothers me a little that he needs so much reassurance. And that he believes so blindly that he's a match for all the monsters in the night. He's never seen an all-out vampire battle like the one I witnessed between Victor and his father. He has no idea of a vampire's true capabilities. "But you know Clive. He just wants to take extra precautions."
"Okay." But I'm not sure he's convinced.
He walks over to the couch. "Hey, Rachel. How are you feeling?"
"Not as bad as I did. But you guys had better go before the sun sets. Once it does, they're locking the doors at the Daylight. We don't want to be responsible for any kids wandering the streets after dusk."
"Sure you'll be okay?" I ask.
"I'll be fine."
"Okay, then, see you later."
Michael and I step into the hallway, and four hooded Night Watchmen immediately fall in around us.
"Four?" Michael whispers. "Are you sure there's nothing going on that I need to know about?"
I decide to tell him a little. He needs to understand the dangers, to be on alert. "There's been some speculation that Hoodie is one of Valentine's sons."
"Shit. An Old Family vampire in the city?"
"We're not sure, so keep it to yourself. We don't want to cause a panic. Especially tonight."
"Right."
But as we step into the elevator, I can see that he'd really like a shot at taking down an Old Family vampire.
Outside, the city is so quiet, like a weight is bearing down on it, smothering all the sounds. The early evening feels thick and unending. The wind picks up and stops, but carries only silence with it.
"There's a strangeness on the air," Michael says quietly.
"Yeah. I can sense it, too."
We climb into the limo. Tonight we're traveling in style, and as Michael runs his hands along the seats, I consider letting him drive the Mustang before I return it to Victor. He'd love that. Course, I'd have to explain where I got it, but then, I've decided to tell him everything. He deserves to know.
Michael slips his arm around me and we do our best to ignore the two guards facing us, trying to pretend everything is normal. Just for a few hours.
When we get to the Daylight Grill, we discover the place is completely packed, the busiest I've ever seen it. The bartender has a huge grin on his face as he serves lemonade after lemonade after lemonade. And as I see the kids, and how much they're already enjoying themselves, I realize this could be the start of something major. Maybe the key to getting regular blood donations really does lie in the youth. We are the future, after all.
"Dawn, this is awesome!" Vivi shouts as she and Sin join us.
Michael draws me in against his side. "That's a rocking band."
It's the same one that was at the other party, out near the wall what feels like eons ago. Only I don't want to be the lead female singer anymore. I'm content with my position as delegate.
"You should say a few words," Sin tells me.
"You think so?"
"Absolutely," Michael says, and he takes it upon himself to lead me to the stage.
The band stops and the singer ushers me over. She hands me the mic. "Love your ink," she says.
I laugh a little. "Thanks. Love yours, too."
I step forward. The last of the sunlight is streaming through the windows. I clear my throat. "Hello. I'm Dawn Montgomery. Denver's delegate. Your delegate."
I expect a few boos and hisses, but instead I get applause and cheers. When it gets quiet, I say, "I want to thank you for donating your blood. You're helping to keep the citizens safe, and we want to keep you safe in return. We have a dozen Night Watchmen here tonight. And now that the sun is setting, we're locking the doors." Rachel had choreographed this moment. I signal to a Night Watchman, and he chains and padlocks the front door.
The sun sets and the lights on Day Street come on. Other Night Watchmen hang black drapes over the windows in order to give the place a more "party" atmosphere. The effect is perfect, bringing the tone down just a little, embracing the darkness, creating pockets of privacy where couples can escape for some time alone.
Everyone claps.
"Now let's party until dawn!" I shout, then hand the mic back to the singer and step off the stage.
Michael is waiting for me, and his smile makes me feel guilty.
"That was great," he says.
"Thanks."
Sin nudges Michael's shoulder. "Let's go get drinks. Lemonade for everyone?"
Vivi grins up at him. "Special lemonade."
There wasn't supposed to be any alcohol served, but I can tell the bartender is taking the opportunity to cash in on some bribes, and the special lemonade is flowing from the taps. And if that's not enough, kids have brought their own flasks, and are unabashedly emptying the contents into whatever drink they have in hand.
"You got it," Sin says.
Michael gives me one last squeeze before heading to the bar with Sin.
"I am so glad things are working out with you and Michael," Vivi yells in my ear.
I tell her the truth—albeit not the full version, not yet. "He's a great guy."
"Still, I wish Victor could be here," Vivi says with a wink. "Guess he needs to be patrolling the streets."
"Yeah." Only he's not. He's at the manor.
"What the hell does that bitch think she's doing?" Vivi suddenly asks, and I hear the anger in her voice.
I look in the direction she's pointing and see Lila wedged between Michael and the bar, her hand pressed to his chest like it was that day I saw them in front of his locker.
"I mean, really, what is she doing here?" Vivi asks. "You know she didn't donate blood."
"Her daddy probably bribed someone for a ticket."
"Get her ass out of here."
"Can't. Once the doors are locked, they're supposed to stay that way until the sun comes up. We don't want to provide an opportunity for a vampire to sneak in."
"That is just so wrong." She pushes me. "You'd better go set her straight about who Michael will be dancing with tonight."
Only I think that maybe I should just leave them alone. If he likes her, maybe she can be there for him when I'm not. Hurting Michael is going to be the hardest thing I've ever done. I don't want to do it, but I know that it's not fair to him if I don't.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Vivi asks.
"Just a lot of Agency stuff on my mind."
"Don't even think about the Agency tonight."
"A little hard to do when this whole party is because of the Agency."
"What you need is to dance. Go get your man."
"Okay. Yeah." But as I'm working my way through the crowd, halfway to the bar someone knocks into me and spills lemonade on the front of my dress. So I detour to the restroom. The hallway is way in the back, far from any windows, and the lightbulbs haven't been changed in a long time. Their dying glow barely provides enough visibility. The collection of noises—music, laughter, stomping feet—is muffled here, but the excitement still carries through. I wish Rachel could be here, could see how well everything turned out.
The bathroom is bright and clean. I'm the only one in it as I snatch up a towel and soak up the lemonade. The dress is ruined. Just as I know my relationship with Michael will be when I tell him everything. I wish we could still stay friends, but knowing his pride, I think it's probably unlikely. It makes me sad, and tonight there should be no sadness.
Calming my nerves, I'm determined not to ruin the night for Michael. It'll be my parting gift to him. I head back into the hallway.
As the door closes behind me, taking the little illumination with it, I realize that something has happened to the lights in the hallway. Where before they were dim, now they are nonexistent. The only light is coming from the end of the hall, where the party is in full swing. I start toward it when an arm shoots out and stops my progress.