Part 11 (1/2)
Bryan walked over to the bed, touching Mary's forehead. Did he-like Jessica-move her hair around to get a good look at her neck?
”You stay here all the time?” Bryan asked.
”Mostly. Her folks come, and so do Nancy and some of the other kids. I don't know why, but I never leave her alone,” Jeremy said.
”Because you're a good friend to her, that's why,” Bryan said softly. Jeremy nodded and smiled, lowering his head and blus.h.i.+ng a little. ”I try to be.”
”I'm going to stop by the nurses' station, but I'll be back.” Jeremy was surprised by the way, despite his words, the professor stood by Mary's bed, looking deeply concerned.
”What is it?”
”There were some real crazies in Transylvania. I think you could use some help. I'll spell you later. I have to give a lecture tonight, but you need a little time away, too, so I'll come back after.”
”That would be great,” Jeremy said.
MacAllistair started to leave, then hesitated. ”Hey, Jeremy.”
”Yeah?”
”Has anyone been around who...well, who seems a bit strange?”
”Strange?” ”Anyone you feel...doesn't belong.”
Jeremy frowned, but he gave the question careful thought. At last, he shook his head. ”No. Not that I can think of. Hospital people. Family. Friends.” He hesitated. ”Why? Have you seen someone who seems strange?”
”I'm not sure,” MacAllistair said. ”Last night...never mind. I'm honestly not sure.” MacAllistair glanced at his watch and swore softly. ”I need to get going, but I'll be back. You take care. And if I can help, let me know.”
”You bet.”
MacAllistair left, and Jeremy sat down again.
Strange people?
In a way, Professor MacAllistair was strange, what with his questions and weird knowledge. Still, Jeremy liked him. Trusted him.
Maybe he shouldn't. He was more disturbed now than he had been before the man's visit. He felt the need to stay awake, to figure it all out.
He was just so d.a.m.ned tired.
It was impossible not to doze off....
He blinked, trying to stay awake, but his chin fell to his chest. His eyes closed.
He tried hard not to sleep, because sleep brought dreams.
No.
Nightmares.
But even knowing they would come, he couldn't help himself.
He began to doze, a strange red mist entering his mind.
Darkness again.
Red darkness.
As she walked through the parking lot, Jessica felt irritated. She normally loved the night, loved the darkness and the strange shadows the clouds made in the sky. But it felt far too early to be so dark. And the color...
Impatiently, she strode forward, anxious to reach her car. She didn't like the way she was feeling, though, and she made a mental note to ask Sean if they could get an officer to watch over Mary. She hadn't imagined the girl would be in danger here, but...
Why not? With such a red sky, with a feeling of evil haunting her constantly now.
She was deep in thought, paying no attention to her surroundings. As she reached her car door, there was a flurry of action.
There was a split second when panic seized her. There had been so many times lately when she had been certain she was being followed. Stalked.
Times when she had felt darkness and shadows and the deep red, fetid breath of evil.She knew instantly that this was something else when she felt metal against her back even as she heard the words ”Drop the keys and your purse. And stand still. Be good, and we'll let you live.”
Despite the warning, perhaps because she felt so on edge, she turned angrily to face them.
Her impatience worked. The man who had pressed the blade against her ribs backed away a step, next to his buddy.
She stared at them in disbelief. They were in black jeans and s.h.i.+rts-and capes. The one with the knife was gaping in shock at her boldness.
He had vampire teeth. Fake ones. Bad fake ones.
”Stupid b.i.t.c.h!” he said, glancing at his friend, and Jessica knew he was thinking that she'd seen their faces. A strange discomfort settled over her then, and she frowned. There was something oddly familiar about him, though she couldn't place him. He had long, greasy dark hair and more than five o'clock shadow, though his facial hair couldn't be described as an actual beard.
”Too bad,” the second attacker said softly. ”She's a pretty one.”
Jessica inhaled, trying for calm. The teeth were fake, but the blade was plenty real.
”You're going to give vampires everywhere a bad name,” she said dryly.
”We are what we are, we do what we have to do,” the first one said.
”Oh, please,” Jessica protested.
”Shut up. Just shut up,” the second one said. He was lighter, and nowhere near as hairy. ”We need your purse and just a taste of blood, lady. But if you don't shut up...well, things could get really nasty.”
”Look, please. Right now you can drop the knife and walk away. Just walk away. Think about what you really are, who you really are, and save yourselves from a life in prison. Or worse,” Jessica said softly. ”If you leave now, I won't even report you to the police.”
”What?” the first one said. He stepped closer to her. ”You don't understand. Can't you feel it? Our time is coming. We will rule.”
”You're never going to rule anything.” she said firmly.
The second boy suddenly gasped. ”She's that psychologist! I saw her picture in the paper. And you-remember, you-”