What Kills Me by Wynne Channing

overstaying my welcome,
clearly.”
    “You may have fooled my father but I
know that you’re hiding something.”
    He stood a foot from my face and
glared down his nose. His eyes were yellow-green, like those of a
cat. He had an angular jawline and full, almost pouty lips. He
might have been good looking if he hadn’t been so
menacing.
    “I don’t want to cause your family any
trouble,” I said. “They’ve been very kind. And, anyway, I’m
leaving. I have to get back to my own family.”
    “Good,” he said. He swept by me,
nudging my shoulder so that I stumbled back. “The sooner, the
better.”
    I waited in the darkness until I heard
him open the door before I turned around and followed. He slammed
the door shut behind him, causing the windowpane to shudder in its
frame. Through the walls I heard Noel say, “Why do you have to be
like that?” Boots clomped across the kitchen. There was no
reply.
    Jerome opened the door as I mounted
the stone step.
    “I’m sorry that my son is being an
ass,” Noel said. Lucas, who was standing in the middle of the
living room with his hands balled into fists at his sides, cast an
angry stare at his father.
    “I appreciate your help, removing the
chains, giving me clothes and, uh, feeding me,” I said. “But I
should really get going. Thank you, again.”
    “What?” said Noel. “You can’t leave so
soon.”
    “You’ve been so nice to me but I have
to go.”
    “Please stay, I insist.”
    “Really,” I said, “it’s
okay.”
    Lucas glared. “Father, she wants to
go.”
    “Absolutely not,” Noel said, his tone
changing.
    “Why?” Lucas and I said at the same
time.
    “The sun’s coming up in a few hours.
You can’t be wandering around, trying to find shelter at
dawn.”
    Lucas’s shoulders sagged. He shook his
head and his eyes searched the room as if he was trying to find a
solution in the dust. Our eyes met. In my mind I imagined him to be
hissing.
    I’m not worried about the
sun. I’m worried about your son drop-kicking me in the
face.
    “Zee, you’ll have to stay another
day,” Noel said. “Please. We’ll help you get on your way tomorrow
night if that’s what you want.”
    “Will you stay?” Jerome
asked.
    It did seem safer to stay a day with
Noel rather than wander around in the woods. “Okay. I can leave
tomorrow.”
    Noel smiled. “Now let’s all have a
drink and turn in for the day.”
     
     

Chapter
14
     
    This gives new meaning to
“playing dead,” I thought as I lay on my
side, watching the vampires sleep. They didn’t move. They didn’t
breathe. After fifteen minutes of silence, I called Noel’s name and
no one answered. It was as if they were in a coma. Or
dead.
    We were underneath the house. Noel had
pulled up a trapdoor in the kitchen, revealing a set of creaky
wooden stairs and an expansive basement. It was a maze of wood
beams, crates, drawers, and chests. Along the walls were
floor-to-ceiling cabinets. Jerome spread a cream towel over a
wooden chest and rolled another towel into a pillow for me. “So, we
sleep on top of coffins?” I joked. Noel chuckled but Lucas snapped:
“If you want a luxury hotel, then go find one.”
    We each had a tall glass of blood
before retiring. I felt as if I’d just downed a shot of espresso. I
turned onto my back, blinking against the blackness, inhaling the
musty air and pressing my spine into the towel and the wood
planks.
    I wonder what’s in these
crates? I hope it’s not bodies. They can’t be bad guys; I couldn’t
bear it. I really like these people. Well, not Lucas. He’s a
jerk.
    I should have told them. I should have
told them about the well, the Monarchy, the attempted execution,
the sunlight. But I was afraid they would react poorly and return
me to the castle. I knew Lucas would, in a heartbeat. I just hated
feeling like I was lying to them. Especially since Noel had been so
kind to me.
    I remembered Noel scolding Lucas while
he served us our drinks. I remembered him