“Can you cook?” he asked me.
I shrugged. “Mexican food, for sure. With a recipe—anything else.”
We got into a conversation about Mexican food, most importantly the differences between Mexican food among the border states.
A pint of Blue Bell Cookies ‘n’ Cream later and I was feeling better.
I stared down at the empty carton. “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.”
Mr. Dawson laughed. “I can. You’ve got to eat more. And you’re about to burn all that off, so it’s not even going to do you any good. Let’s go.”
I patted my stomach. “Just when I thought I had a nice food baby going on, you gotta ruin it.”
As we walked to class, I was more relaxed. Everything felt a little more okay.
But then again, it could’ve just been an ice cream high.
Chapter Twenty-Six
That evening we were watching the news on Meredith’s TV. It’d become a nightly habit. Every time we huddled around and waited to see how close the vampires were, but this time there was no mention of the “killers.”
“Maybe the Cazadores finally found them?” Meredith said as she muted the sound.
“We would’ve heard,” Shannon said. “Yesterday they were only fifty miles away from here.”
“But they won’t come here, right?” I said.
“I hope not, but they must be close.” Shannon sighed. “If the Cazadores are having this much trouble the school will have to relocate again.”
“Again?”
“It moved in the fifties,” Meredith said when Shannon didn’t answer. “It was in the Northeast, but the town got too big. It’s never had to move because of vamps finding us. You’d almost think they had help.”
I chewed on my lip as I thought. Maybe from the rogue Mr. Dawson had mentioned when I overheard him talking? But what if Mr. Hoel had something to do with this?
My imagination was taking my dislike for the Hoel’s and turning it into some crazy plot against St. Ailbe’s. I clearly needed more sleep. “I’m going to bed.”
Shannon ignored me and Meredith said good night. They whispered theories as I got ready for bed, but I tried not to listen too much. Just because I had great hearing didn’t mean I should use it all the time. People still needed privacy.
I was on the verge of sleep when St. Ailbe’s version of a siren—a modulating low-pitched hum—cut thorough campus.
Howls echoed through the night. Answering ones came from the dorm.
What the hell was going on?
The smell of rotten eggs filled my room.
“Oh my God.” I heard Meredith say from her room. “They’re here!”
Everything was still for a moment, before doors in the dorms slammed open. Girls were shouting in their rooms.
I ran to my window. At least thirty people were running though the courtyard.
No. Not running. Gliding.
“Vampires.” I whispered to myself as I pressed my nose against the glass. The cold bit into my skin but I couldn’t look away. Both werewolves and vampires moved silently, but this kind of silence turned my stomach. It wasn’t natural.
How were they moving like that?