Page 125 of Black Bird

“Nah, just try to relax while it’s quiet. The busier I keep myself, the easier it is to get it off my mind. I’ve got this.”

Wren looked over at Sarah who had lost herself in the journal again, and then glanced back to the TV, stopping on the first channel she could find that came in clearly. As the marquee scrolled at the bottom of the small screen, Wren squinted to read it and then her eyes popped.

“Hey, look!” She pointed up at the TV with the remote still in hand. Sarah raised her eyes from her book. “They’re talking about the benefit you guys were at.”

Sarah closed the journal and lowered her knees as she leaned forward. “Turn it up, Wren.”

“Police say there still isn’t any information they can offer regarding the strange incident, or if it was simply a hoax.”The screen flashed from the reporter to an eyewitness that was dressed to the nines in a hideous yellow gown.“We heard gunshots. They keep telling us that there weren’t any, but I’m not sure how anyone could mistake something like that.”Wren and Sarah exchanged looks but said nothing as the reporter came back on the screen.“Many attendees of the highly anticipated event withdrew their generous donations, while others felt the cause was still important, even given the murky circumstances. Causes like the special guest at the event who still prays for answers.”The next image was a young girl in a red beanie who sat in a hospital bed. Wren saw Sarah’s expression drop and her face pale.“I was promised a future. A future I probably won’t have if they never figure this out.”The screen remained fixed on the little girl and the reporter’s voice continued over the silent video.“Nine-year-old Anne has been battling an aggressive blood cancer for much of her short life. She says that Senator Stratford proposed a trial that could spare her from treatments that areno longer effective. She and her family were hopeful, but those dreams took a dramatic turn when the Senator suddenly retracted his announcement and left her and her family side-stage.”

“Oh, lay it on thick, Stratford,” Wren hissed, rolling her eyes. Sarah shushed her and grabbed the remote from her hand to turn the volume up higher.

“The unexpected change of pace started when eyewitnesses say that this woman,”Sarah’s driver’s license photo appeared on screen alongside a snapshot of her being held by the arms at one end of the stage and Wren took in a sharp breath.“Believed to be his son’s former fiancé, threatened to reveal something the Senator clearly wanted to remain quiet. He canceled the event and was seen leaving with her afterwards.”Her picture disappeared and another clip of all the guests outside of the hotel played while the reporter continued.“Guests from the event recall hearing the shots a short time later, and then were forced to evacuate the building. Police say that upon investigation, there was no evidence of a body or a possible crime scene. There’s been no statement from Senator Stratford regarding the unexplained situation.”The little girl reappeared, and Sarah slunk back into the couch, clearly taken aback by the brief.“I just want him to step up. It’s a horrible feeling to have a clock ticking on your life, and then have a chance of being given more time, only to have it jerked away without reason.”

Sarah switched the TV off, tossing the remote onto the couch and springing up. Wren didn’t have any words of comfort as she watched her walk out the front door without a coat—or her cigarettes. It wasn’t like Sarah wasn’t used to seeing her face on the news or in tabloids, and Wren knew that she was well-aware of what she was doing when she made a scene at the benefit. Shewantedto be seen and heard, so it wasn’t that. Sarah and Brent had successfully made Conrad look like the biggest asshole in the country. She thought they’d be happier about it. But so far, Brent looked like he’d been hit by the bus Wren always prayed would find him, and Sarah wasn’t much better off these days. It was safe to say Wren was getting a bit weary of all the drama.

Rhaena was oblivious to the entire ordeal and popped her head around the corner while she fanned herself with what looked like a wall calendar. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, she just went to get some air,” Wren lied, raising from the couch and grabbing Sarah’s hoodie and cigarettes. “I’ll be back, okay?”

“Kay.” Rhaena smirked, returning to the crock pot.

When she walked outside, Wren was met with a rush of cold air. Much colder than it was when they’d arrived here yesterday. It was beautiful out though, and the thought of packing up and renting this place from Rhaena crossed her mind. She caught sight of Sarah testing the security of the rope swing in the side yard and skipped down the porch steps to join her.

“Hey,” Wren said, lighting a cigarette and passing Sarah her jacket. Sarah leaned forward to take it and Wren stepped back. “Whoa … careful with those. Frickin’ tits could cut a pear-shaped diamond.”

Sarah snorted and rolled her eyes as she pulled the hoodie over her head and held her hand out for the pack of smokes. “Sorry,” she smirked, lighting one up. “I just couldn’t listen to it anymore.”

“Why? Isn’t that what you wanted?” Wren asked, blowing smoke. “What’s got you all fired up?” She moved behind Sarah and grabbed both sides of the swing to pull her backward. Sarah’s arms hung around the ropes and came together across her middle.

“Yeah, it is. I’m just …” She paused and bit the inside of her cheek, shaking her head slowly. “That little girl. I haven’t been able to forget her damn face since the whole thing at the benefit and seeing her up there on the screen really didn’t fucking help.”

“You wanna give her the blood,” Wren affirmed, pushing her forward.

“I came to Boston to get answers. I definitely got some, just not the ones I wanted. So far, I’ve found out how many snakes are hiding around every corner, ready to strike at me at any given moment. I found out my dream guy, who was off-limits to begin with, is a fucking vampire, of all things. There’s an elected official, a whole government, and a coven full of undead that are after me, and my boss at the job IthoughtI busted my ass to get, sold me out to said snakes for his own benefit.” Sarah took a long drag on her cigarette and the wind blew their hair into their faces. “I tested my blood. I know what it does. I know if I give it to her, she’ll likely heal. I tested a piece of Mom’s crushed up ashes, and while it was beautiful, it did absolutely nothing to help me. All I’ve done is make the target on my back bigger, Wren. If I give my blood to that little girl, then everybody will know there’s a cure out there. I’ll never have a life. And it seems selfish to even think that when a nine-year-old is rotting in a hospital about to die of disease.” Wren quieted as Sarah loosed a deep sigh and hung her head as she swung. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Well …” Wren quirked a brow and puffed on her cigarette. “You don’t really know that, either. You could give it to her, and nothing happens. The only thing we’re sure of is the effect it had on Athan. He was already dead, technically.”

“I tested my blood against the tainted bags at the lab. I have a strong feeling that giving it to her will do exactly what I think it will do.”

“You need to test it onsomeone. Someone living. Maybe then you might get the opposite result and the government won’t really have any reason, at least, to come after you anymore. Neither would Conrad.”

“I’m not using someone the way that they used me, Wren. No human was ever meant to be a lab rat.”

Wren’s brows drew together with an idea. Ludicrous, but … an idea, nonetheless. “What about someone who isn’t human?”

“We already know what that does.”

“To a vampire.” Wren stopped the swing and Sarah turned to look at her with wide eyes. “What if we asked Rhaena?”

“Are you crazy? We don’t even know how bad off she gets when she changes, Wren. Who’s to say that even if she agrees that it won’t make things ten times worse for her?”

“It was just a thought. But imagine if she did agree, and it changed her life for the better?”

“So, if she said yes, you’re saying I should use the bag on her?”

Wren made a face. “No, dude. Why would you use a bag on her?” She pointed at Sarah’s bandage that was still wrapped around her finger as it brought the cigarette back to her lips. “You’ve got all you need to test the theory. You’re the only blood guru besidesPlatelet Petein there.” Wren chuckled, gesturing to the cabin. “Do your guru shit.”

Sarah’s smoke burst through her nose and mouth as she laughed loudly. “Platelet Pete,” she howled. “That’s awful, Wren.”

---