A Girl in the Shadows

Chapter Fourteen

I watched Kai sitting on the shag area rug. Her fingers wrapped around the chipped and faded checkers from Old Portable, her beloved game set she took everywhere. Tristan sat cross-legged on the other side of the board. He was letting her win.

Go ahead. Tell him you're going to take the cash prize. I rolled onto my other side. Across from me, Liam was staring, the covers up to his eyes. You don't even know what Hiatus wants from you. This could be another trap. My head still pounded. I rolled over again. He could be forcing you to do something humiliating. You'll really sell out like that? I mean, I knew you were a dumb one, Tali, but I didn't think you were that—

"Be quiet!" I said, far too loud. Drake awoke, startled. Tristan and Kai looked up from the gameboard. I glanced over at the clock on the nightstand. "It's getting late, Kai. I think we should head back."

"Are you kidding? Just stay here with us for the rest of the night," he said. There were two groans on opposite ends of the room. Tristan got to his feet. "Cut it out, guys."

"You're sure it's okay if I crash here for a little while?"

He climbed atop the bed and laid down next to me and whispered in my ear. "Not a little while—as long as you need. Don't worry about the dean. You live with us now." His hand went in gentle circles along my back again.

"I'll be fine, Tristan. I think I can walk back. Your roommates are clearly uncomfortable with this."

"I'm fine with you chilling here. I'm just trying to sleep for my eight-a.m. tomorrow," Drake said.

My eyes went over to Kai. "Where will she sleep?"

"There's a study lounge down the hall with a couch," he said, his voice soft.

Kai was at her feet, her arms crossed. "You're really going to sleep here with some human guy you just met and throw me out?"

"Kai, stop it." I lowered my voice. "I really like him."

"Oh really? What's his last name?" Tristan and I exchanged glances. Kai stuck her nose in the air. "Ha! Gotcha!"

"That's it. I'll solve this whole problem!" Drake threw off his covers, grabbed a pillow and blanket, and made his way towards the door. "Other vampire girl can sleep in my bed. I don't care. I'll sleep in the study lounge if the couch isn't already taken."

"Wait, don't leave me!" Liam cried.

"You gotta grow up, man," Drake said, walking out the door.

"You know...I'll see if the couch is free in the study lounge upstairs," Liam said.

He gathered his things and was out the door in seconds. The three of us looked back and forth at each other. Kai plopped herself onto Drakes bed and used her backpack as a pillow.

"Yeah, this works for me," she said.

I pulled the sheets over my head. "I'm so sorry, Tristan. I didn't intend on causing issues with your roommates."

"It's okay. I was thinking of doing open room change next week anyway," he said, pulling the sheets off my head. "Just lay down and get some rest."

I tried to smile at him and laid my head back down onto his flattening pillow. When I yawned and leaned to the right, my eyes interlocked with another pair. I'd seen those eyes before. That medium, bright hazel tone. The eyes, the shy smile, the black hair. The image taped onto Tristan's wall was none other than that of the one and only Molly Fitzpatrick.

Just seeing her face sent me into hysteric screams, but it wasn't just the fact that she was there. Tristan was standing there with her. The two had their arms wrapped around each other, a plastic cup filled with alcohol in each of their free hands.

I squirmed frantically, almost falling onto the messy floor. Tristan tried to wrap me up in his arms. His face twisted with confusion. Kai leapt out of the bed and was by my side in seconds.

"That's...that's Molly Fitzpatrick!" I gasped, looking into Tristan's deep brown eyes.

"Well, yeah." He laughed. "I told you I had a twin sister, remember?"

I shivered at the thought. It was true, it was real. The image was right in front of me. I was falling in love with a man whose sister I turned and abandoned in a ditch. My eyes wouldn't leave the image. It was like Molly was smiling at me. Happy, satisfied. She ruined me, and she loved it. My body ached for revenge. You've really done it now, Tali. I raised my hand to rip the image off the wall, then stopped.

"That's...unexpected," I said finally. I turned to Kai. Her hands were covering her mouth.

"Taliah, what is it? What's wrong?" Tristan asked.

"His last name is Fitzpatrick, Kai," I said to her.

She nodded. "I can see that."

I rubbed my eyes. Molly was still there. "Tristan?"

"Yeah?" His arm was around me, and my eyes were glued to the image.

"Have you seen—" Don't make it obvious! Say something normal, for once in your life. "I'd love to meet your sister." Close enough.

"Yeah, I really want you to meet her too." He sighed. "But she's been sick like all week. She's holed herself up in her room."

Time stopped. I pinched myself. No, this wasn't a dream. Silence engulfed the room, which was starting to spin again. Are you going to get more information or are you going to sit there like an idiot?

"Her room?" I said.

"Yeah. She lives over in the Van on the forth floor," Tristan said.

Kai and I looked back and forth at each other. Her face was a mixture of loss and confusion. I placed my head back down on the pillow. Get up. I rolled over and held my stomach. Get up.

"Get some sleep, Tali," Kai said.

I said, get up. Tristan laid down next to me. I yawned, my eyes and Molly's eyes still locked on each other. Go get her. You need to go get her. I pulled the covers over my head. Are you going to get up or not?

"Tristan?" I said.

"Yeah?"

"Can you please move? I need to use the bathroom."

"Do you want me to help you over there?"

"No. Just move, please."

I held my stomach with my bandaged hand and sat up, took a few breaths, and touched my feet to the linoleum floor. I bit down on my lip and staggered over to my cloak, which hung on the back of Tristan's desk chair. Across the room, Kai was already snoring in Drake's bed. I turned. Tristan was facing the wall. My hands reached for the cloak. I quickly threw it on, using the chair to support myself. I looked back. Tristan was on his phone. That's it. Do as your told.

Each step became more painful than the next. I made it to the closet, then the sink, then the handle of the door. What are you doing? Get out there. My hand gripped around the handle. Still no reaction from Kai or Tristan. Go. I opened the door, stepped into the hallway, and leaned against the wall. The black and white checkered floor wasn't helping my head in any way. Keep going. Find her. I looked back down the hallway. I'd done many impossible things, but there was no plan in place, and my body was fighting me. Press the button and get in that elevator. I grit my teeth and made it to the elevators. There was another group of students already waiting. Stay under the radar. I leaned against the wall. Sweat was dripping down my back. Don't let your guard down.

"Please, what if I just went to the minaret to grab my things? I can't approach her like this."

The girl next to me took a step away. I put up my hood. Now look what you did! The elevator doors opened. Get in. I listened. I was unsure where I was going or if I'd even make it, but I didn't want to be in that awful dorm room anyway.