Vampire Emeritus (Part #3) ✔

Chapter 3: Crisis of the Soul

William let out a loud, slightly unhinged laugh, "It seems as if life truly goes full circle on you sometimes. I assume this means we have to go back to the college campus?"

I nodded, feeling the lump of fear forming in my throat. I haven't spoken to Caiden in two years, I haven't stepped foot on campus grounds ever since they've told me never to come back. Suddenly, facing both Caiden and Sheila again felt more frightening than facing an entire hoard of bloodthirsty vampires.

"He should be able to do it." I ignored the churning sensation in my belly. "He's been hacking shit since he was fifteen years old. He's extremely talented."

William grew surprisingly quiet and his gaze fell to the ground.

"I can go." Thomas suggested. "I mean, Caiden's never particularly liked me, but he's never hated me either. He might be willing to listen."

"No." I shook my head. "I should go. I owe him that."

"Are you sure?" Thomas asked. "He did ask you to stay away from him."

"Two years have passed." I shrugged. "And it's not like we're asking him to get involved completely. No one will know he's the one who hacked the system."

William finally looked up, "Is... Is Sheila still on campus?"

"I think so." I let out a sigh. "She's blocked me on social media, but I'm stalking her over a fake account."

Thomas chuckled, "Seriously? Which account is that?"

"Pinterest pictures of pretty nails."

"Did you create the account just so you could stalk her?"

"Not just her!" I defended myself. "I'm also stalking Caiden's girlfriend, Angie."

"And you remain the queen of pettiness." Thomas laughed shortly.

"Which reminds me," I took out my phone, "We need to rent a car if we're going to the campus."

"We can walk." William whispered.

"No, we absolutely cannot." I countered. "I haven't been there in two years. If you think I'm showing up on foot, you don't know me very well."

William nodded.

"Wait, we?" Thomas jumped in. "You want to go, too?"

William shrugged, "Maybe I shouldn't, but... I need to see her."

His face distorted into a deep, solemn frown. He still cared about her, but he's been a man enough not to stalk her on social media. And here I was, not only stalking everyone who told me to stay out of their lives, but also plotting the creation of an army just because I couldn't accept that a certain vampire simply wasn't that into me.

"You should go soon, then." Thomas stood up and looked out of the terrace door, checking our nefarious pyre. "The fire burned out."

"Good." I stood up, and when William offered a questioning gaze, I shook my head, "You don't want to know."

"When can we leave?" He asked instead.

"Tomorrow morning." I took out my phone and dialled Tina. "The sooner, the better. Feel free to stay here, we have plenty of rooms."

William nodded.

"What?" Tina answered after a couple of rings. "The woman is alive and well, if that's what you want to know."

"How soon can you rent a car?" I asked.

"Which car?"

"Something expensive." I said. "And please, stop by the store and buy some clothes for William. He can't keep walking around like he's just stepped out of an Abba music video."