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Ashley

Aping woke Ashley from her sleep. It was a text from Esther, and she couldn’t help the excited smile when she read the name.

They hadn’t spoken that day, and Ashley missed her. In fact, since their beach trip, she’d seen less and less of Esther. It was probably the approaching finals. Graduate students had quite a workload. She recalled Esther’s call for help in the library at the start of the semester. But there was a part of Ashley that worried there might be more keeping Esther away. Maybe the vial was too big a gesture too soon. What if Esther had made her decision and was avoiding telling her? Ashley was wary when she opened the text.

Esther

Uther is missing. I’m going with August to the city beach to look for him. Meet us if you can?

That question mark nearly killed her. Of course she’d meet them. She checked the clock. Sunset was still an hour away, but it was cloudy and she could layer up. She’d make it work.

“Hey, Cynthia?” Ashley called down the hall. “Have you seen my trench coat?”

No answer. She might still be sleeping, but Ashley guessed she more likely had her music on too loud. Sure enough, as she trotted down the hall, the drums and dirty guitar of Joan Jett blasted from behind Cynthia’s door.

“Cynthia.” Ashley knocked harder.

The door flew open. “What’s up?”

“Have you seen my trench coat?”

“Sure thing. Just give me a second.” Cynthia disappeared into her room, leaving the door open for Ashley to linger in. It was annoying that Cynthia borrowed her stuff without asking, but she was so close to getting into the Family. She could have a talk with her in a week when the school year was over and she was officially a member.

A light flashed on Cynthia’s nightstand, drawing Ashley’s attention. It was a text message, and obviously, Ashley wouldn’t have read it—except the name of the person texting popped up on the screen, and Ashley did a double-take.

“Hey, Cynthia. You’ve got a text.” She swallowed. “Who’s Konstantine?”

Cynthia continued to dig through her closet. “Oh, that’s some chick that was here a couple of years back. She was in and out for a while and finally decided to try nomad life. Maybe the year before you came back, actually.”

“Do you have a picture?” It couldn’t be her. But a vampire with the name Konstantine. And spelled like that. No, it was impossible. Konstantine was dead. “I think I might know her.”

“Got it!” Cynthia pulled out a long, tan trench coat that Ashley had forgotten was her purpose for being there. “Here yougo. And one more second.” She threw Ashley the coat and swiped through her phone. “Here.”

She passed Ashley the phone, not sure what she wanted to see. But there on the screen, in some bar with their arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders, were Cynthia and Konstantine. From her long, black curls and signature smokey eye to the black vintage Pink Floyd T-shirt Ashley had helped her style years ago, there was no mistaking her. Ashley felt an extra sting when she noted Cynthia was wearing her Farrah Fawcett costume from Halloween in the picture.

“H-how?” Ashley coughed, clearing her throat. “How did she end up here?”

Cynthia chuckled, taking her phone back and thankfully not noticing Ashley’s distressed state. “She had some crazy story about ditching this clingy ex. She supposedly paid off a witch. Could you imagine? How crappy was that ex? But it worked out because we only had room for one more person at the time, what with Gus not taking up much space anymore.”

Pieces fit together lightning fast. The overwhelming residue of magic at their apartment with no sign of a struggle or body, the business card in Konstantine’s stuff that led her to this house. It was all just a ruse to leave her. And a sloppy one at that.

But it had worked.

For twelve years, Ashley had fallen for it. She’d given up her life, and Konstantine couldn’t even tell her to her face that she was done.

“So, do you know her?” Cynthia’s question drew Ashley’s attention back.

“No.” She put the coat on and backed out of the door. “No, I don’t know her.”

She raced down the stairs, needing to get away from the knowledge that someone she cared about had left her. Konstantine. They were supposed to be in love forever. That wasthe entire point of changing, and Ashley’s death and rebirth had meant nothing to her.

“It’s still too bright to go out.” John sat in the front sitting room with a book in his lap.

Ashley didn’t have time for this. She was spiraling and needed to compartmentalize. Her friends needed her. Her friends that loved her. “I’ve got layers, and the sun’s nearly down. I’ll be fine.”

“There’s no reason to be rushing out at this hour. You may sit and wait.” He gestured at an open chair, but Ashley couldn’t wait.

“One of my friends is missing.” She cinched her coat, checking for openings. “I’m going to go help look for him.”