Page 58 of The Second Sight

“We’ll be right back.” I said.

Dad nodded, suddenly looking exhausted. “I’m gonna go change. Been in these clothes all day.” He stood, hesitated, then pulled me into a hug. “I’m glad you’re safe, baby girl,” he whispered before releasing me and heading upstairs.

As soon as we heard his bedroom door close, Brooklyn grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the front door.

“We need to talk,” she hissed. “Like, now.”

I followed her out to her car. As we slid into the seats, Brooklyn turned to me.

“So,” she said, her voice low despite the fact that we were alone. “Vampires, huh?”

I leaned my head back against the headrest, the enormity of everything crushing down on me again. “Yeah,” I sighed. “Vampires.”

The conversation we were about to have would change everything between us, but as Brooklyn started the car and pulled away from the curb, I felt an unexpected surge of relief. Maybe I didn’t have to carry all these secrets alone.

“Okay, I need all the details.”

“Seven is a vampire. He’s been alive for four centuries. His house is like a museum. Lily is one, too.”

“Damn, for real. She looks like one and acts like one. Where’s the proof?”

“I don’t have a video or anything.”

“Tell me some vampire shit.”

“Remember when I had to use the bathroom at the Fountain of Youth.”

“Yeah, you ghosted me.”

“I did not. I went to pee, and I saw him drink blood from this lady in the bathroom stall. That’s why I disappeared for so long and you couldn’t find me.”

“Lowkey, you was tweaking after you popped back up.”

“Yeah, ‘cause he saw me, see his ass, drinking blood from some lady. He took me out to the alley in back of the club and threatened me. I told him I wouldn’t tell anyone, and he let me come back inside, but he was watching me.”

“Damn, that makes sense. He was attached to you like he was trying other jump inside your body.”

“I’m not even sure I should tell you this. I don’t know the rules. He has a coven of vampires, and he never told me what the rules are.”

“A coven?”

“It’s a fuck-ton of vampires in Chicago.”

“No fuckin’ way.”

“Yes, fuckin’ way. Seven showed up at my house, and then I handed my virginity right over to him after he ate the cat. I even let him bite me with fangs.”

“Oh, my God. Was you scared? Did it hurt?”

“I wasn’t scared. Seven would never hurt me. At first, I felt a little sting, like getting a shot at the doctor’s office. But he bit me when he had his dick in me at the same time, so I was distracted. The mark is on my neck, but it’s flat and you can barely see it.”

“Point to it.”

I did as she asked. Brooklyn slowed down and looked at my neck. She reached up and turned on the overhead interior light.

“Is it still there?” I asked.

“I can see two little, teeny-tiny dots.”