Eventide

Chapter 17. Biology 101

Chapter 17

Biology 101

(See Who I Am, by Within Temptation)

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

     I ran throughout the night so that thing wouldn’t track me back to Trapper Creek. To say I took the scenic route home would have been an understatement. I circled deep into the Canadian wilderness on my way, running streams and crossing rivers to throw off my scent-trail every chance I got, constantly listening for any sound of pursuit.

     There had been plenty of time to think, but only in circles. I couldn’t reconcile my Brogan with that creature. My Brogan was the best man I’d ever known, patient and caring and just---perfect. That thing was murderously vicious beyond all reason, more inhuman than the filthiest of leeches. Like chocolate cake and hemlock salad with an arsenic dusting, the two had no business sharing courses within the same meal.

     The sun had just cracked the horizon by the time I made it back to Trapper Creek. If the legends were true, Brogan would again be himself.

     Two familiar scents hung on the breeze as I approached my cabin, though they were new to Trapper Creek. Abruptly, their presence reminded me of Jacob’s plan. I knew the first step, but I hadn’t been in any condition to think through what came next. Still wasn’t, for that matter.

     Edward and Carlisle spoke to one another in ultra-fast whispers out front as I slipped in the back door to get dressed. Fashion not being high on my priority list at that moment, it didn’t take me long to join them out front.

     “We thought a more conventional mode of transportation was in order,” Carlisle explained as I eyed their truck. “We don’t want to scare her.”

     Of course, their idea of conventional was a black Hummer H-1 with tinted windows. I got what he meant, though. It probably would be less traumatic to drive there and knock on the door, rather than run there, scale the wall, and creep in through her third story window.

     “This Moira, she has knowledge about children of the moon?” Carlisle’s eyes shined with the promise of new information.

     Edward sighed as I climbed into the back seat. I grinned. He hadn’t really expected me to sit in the front seat with one of them at my defenseless back, had he? They were, after all, vampires.

     “I’m sure of it,” I said. “Only, I don’t know her very well and I doubt she’ll willingly tell us about Brogan.”

     “We don’t need her to voluntarily tell us anything. Our questions need only make her think of Brogan‘s condition so Edward can hear the answers,” Carlisle said. “If I’m going to find an alternative, I need as much information about Brogan as possible.”

     Alternative?

     “You have to understand,” Edward said, his eyes on me in the rearview mirror. “What we’re doing is very, very dangerous. By law, any child of the moon must be destroyed immediately, or at least reported to the Volturi so they can destroy it. We shield or help Brogan in any way and we become the criminals.”

     “We need something, some piece of information about Brogan’s condition that will buy us time, something to stay Kate’s hand,” Carlisle said. “Edward is right, though. The biggest threat will be the Volturi if they find out what we’re attempting.”