Chapter 79About Vexing Visions

It was hard but I had to keep my composure. I didn't want this man to be bothered and just had to act as if it was something else I looked for. This was just a fluke. That was all it was. I forced myself to sound unfazed.

"Thank you, I guess I was expecting something else." I smiled a bit, hoping it would work.

Valerie looked down, not wishing to show the man her face. She did agree with me though, the thankfulness like a cloud around her. The man nodded, relieved almost, and put the book back between the others with care. There it would even be noticed less than in the headmasters office. All of the books here asked for attention and one of this would be hidden here for a long time. There were probably worse books around here.

That gave me an interesting thought. Was there more research into us?

I shook my head. Not the place, not the time. "Thank you for finding the name of the family for us."

He bowed politely, his smile warmer than before. "Anything for an intriguing young lady."

I bowed as well, the smile returned. "Time for us to go?" I looked at Valerie

Valerie nodded silently and gave a little bow to the man as well. She walked past me and took my hand hesitantly. I was just about to turn around when she let go and walked back to the table. She picked up the piece of paper with my drawing on it and smiled apologetically to the store-owner. He nodded in acknowledgement. As if he had an idea why we chose to leave.

Outside I heard Valerie finally take a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I should have said something in there." She looked at me.

I nodded. "It's alright. I was shocked too the book was in there. Did you come in there often?"

Valerie nodded. "Yeah, I used to come by quite a lot actually in the past few years. But it has become a lot less the last few months. I guess I seek knowledge less in books and more in experience now." She smiled a little.

I smiled. "Anyway, time to home, finally." I winked playfully.

"I'm tired too." She giggled softly.

We walked the silent streets. It was getting early again and not many people were awake at this time. Before people got up, after people go to sleep. Those silent hours in the night that were the most free for me, for a vampire. After the hunts, after the trials and tribulations, after the work of a night has been done. Time to walk freely through the city.

We didn't speak during our walk, it was a reverential silence that harboured our thoughts. We may be only pawns of fate but we chose our path at least.

The truck was there, unexpected, but it was different. It wasn't the same style cheap, heavy-duty truck from before but a very modern, expensive specialized one. I remembered seeing one like it next to a supermarket, once a year ago, a smart cooling truck. It kept the contents at a precise temperature no matter the circumstances outside. And this one looked very new.

We both registered it but sneaked past it. No real sense it getting attention from them now. We jumped up and went inside smoothly and quietly. No one able to notice us or follow us like that. I went inside first, opening the door to the living room with a deep breath. It felt good being home again, seeing the sofa's and Kai in the other corner. Something was wrong though, like a disjointed color in a beautiful painting.

"Kai?" I spoke.

"Oh hey! Yes?" He looked from behind his screens.

"Where's Khuna?" I frowned.

He pondered for a moment. "You know... That's a good question, I haven't seen her in two days."

Valerie came up behind me. "What was the last time we saw her?"

Kai stood up and smiled. "Easy, before our brave burglary yesterday... I think... Yes, I did see her. Didn't she come up with you Amy?"

I blushed a little, remembering sleeping next to her that night before. "Yes she did. But where did she go afterward?"

Valerie shrugged. "Well, she's been gone before so I'm sure we would hear or feel something if she wasn't alright."

She had a point. I felt close to Khuna most of the time and if something goes wrong she would cry out for me. Except... I didn't feel it when she was thrown through that glass window, or chased by Kryss. But I was too busy then. But I had been busy now. Did I miss her cry for help? Would she be burning in the sun this morning? Had anyone else caught her, the orphanage, the brothers, my maker Afentis?

All those heavy thoughts swirled around in my head until I could take no more. "I'm going to bed."

Kai moved aside, even if it was not needed, a gesture of submission or respect?

No more thoughts. I felt Valerie step up to me, maybe to give a hug but hold back. I was glad of it, as her touch might have been too much for me now. My thoughts needed space. I headed downstairs and went into my room, unused for these past few days. Irony, I thought. I undressed and got in bed, lying on my back. I stared into the ceiling until all kinds of horrible possibility flashes fought for attention in front of my eyes. As if a projector made the most terrible suggestions in my mind. Very softly I spoke.

"Stop."

They stopped, replaced by an almost exploding vision of the park all around me. It was only a way to have my peace again and it worked. It wasn't a clear or a strong vision. But it was enough. Enough for me now. Enough for sleep to take me away from all of this and douse my thoughts in the thick of the day.

I was safe... But where was she?