Eleventh Grade Burns(2)

But Vlad couldn’t think about a solution. All he’d been able to think about since the Freedom Fest was Meredith, and how much he wished they could be together. But they couldn’t. He was too much of a danger to her. So he’d broken her heart and, in turn, shattered his own to pieces. He was empty. He was alone.

And now he was in danger of dying at the hand of a slayer, his former friend.

He spun the coin again. Henry picked it up and threw it across the room. It clattered on the floor behind Vlad. “Do something!”

Vlad looked at him somberly. “Like what?”

“Anything. You act like Joss coming back to town is no big deal. I know you’re still all torn up about Meredith...” Vlad shot him a warning glance, but Henry wasn’t about to back down. “What? You’ve been like this all summer, but you did what you had to do. Now you act like you don’t care if Joss comes back here and sticks another stake through your heart.” Henry’s eyes shined in frustration. “But I do.”

His words hung in the air between them, weakening Vlad’s resolve.

Henry turned and walked to the other side of the kitchen, reaching up to wipe his eyes on his sleeve, trying to keep it hidden from his friend. “Look, man, I don’t want to get all chick-flick on you or anything, but you’re my best friend and I almost lost you last time. I can’t go through that again. I won’t”

Vlad sighed, saying everything with his eyes that he couldn’t bear to with his voice. He couldn’t do anything. Short of killing Joss—Henry’s cousin, Vlad’s former friend—he couldn’t do anything at all. “You’re right. I just don’t see how I can stop him without... ” He didn’t have to say it, and neither of them wanted him to. He couldn’t kill Joss. That just wasn’t an option.

“What about mind control?”

Vlad frowned. “I can’t control him for the rest of his life, Henry. Besides, sooner or later, my concentration would break.”

“There has to be something... ” Henry returned to his seat, a look of desperation washing over his features. “What about Otis? He’s like a million years old.”

“Three hundred and two”

“Whatever, he’s old. He’s dealt with slayers his whole life, I bet. You should ask him what to do.”

After a moment, Vlad nodded thoughtfully. If anyone would know what to do, his uncle would.

Henry nodded too, looking somewhat relieved that Vlad was actually going to take action. “Anyway, I’d better get back. My mom is on a cleaning rampage because of our extended family moving to town. If I’m not there, who knows what she’ll throw out! The woman has no respect for the treasures of an adolescent male.”

Henry stood and glanced at Vlad, a worrisome expression on his face. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine” Vlad forced a smile, and Henry walked out the front door, closing it behind him.

As soon as the latch clicked, Vlad reached down and retrieved the coin. A deep line creased his forehead as he read the inscription over again. He focused on Otis and spoke with his thoughts. “Otis? I need to talk to you. I could use some advice.”

“Just let me finish up my meeting with Principal Snelgrove and I’ll be home shortly, Vladimir.” A pause, then Otis’s voice once again in his mind. “Is everything all right?”

Vlad turned the coin over in his hand. An image flashed in his mind. A small point of silver at the center of his chest. And blood. Lots of blood. Vlad shook his head, willing the memory away “No. But it can wait until you get home. Just... hurry, okay?”

Otis grew quiet for a moment, then said, “I’ll be there shortly.”

Vlad gripped the coin in his hand and leaned forward, pressing his forehead to the tabletop. He fought, but the memories burst through his dam of resistance. Joss’s eyes narrowing at the sight of Vlad’s glowing mark. The bitter accusations of betrayal. A whisper: “For you, Cecile.” The feeling of being punched in the back. Looking down and seeing the silver tip of the wooden stake. He’d coughed, and the pain had dragged him under.

Afterward, when Joss had visited him in the hospital, Vlad had been almost certain he’d apologize. But he didn’t. Instead, he told Vlad that he was leaving. Their friendship, it seemed, was over. No longer friends, they were more than enemies. They were natural foes—vampire and slayer.

And Vlad still wasn’t sure how he felt about it.