Page 26 of Crimson Born

He hadn’t just wanted to die—he’d wanted topunishhimself.

Deep inside of me, a tiny flame of self-preservation flickered into being.

Something in me rebelled at the idea of giving up on my life, no matter how bleak it might appear at the moment—and it was pretty bleak.

I remember thinking my life was over when I was turned, but it’s just the opposite, Kannon had said.

Could my life still have some purpose... even though I wasn’t “alive” anymore in the traditional sense?

There was only one way I knew to find out.

Waiting until dark, I set off for the motel again, praying Kannon hadn’t already left without me.

10

Bloodbound

We crossed into Virginia at just before five-thirty a.m.

Kannon’s BMW was the first car I’d ever ridden in, and the smooth, quiet ride and plush leather seating made me feel like I was flying on a cloud.

“Why Virginia?” I asked.

It seemed to me a group of vampires might be more likely to live in a big, exciting city like New York or San Francisco where the general attitude was “anything goes” than in a rural area not so different from where I’d grown up.

Those places certainly seemed like they’d offer more entertainment to people who stayed up all night.

“You’ll see when you get there,” Kannon said with a wink. “You know all those billboards that say, ‘Virginia is for Lovers?’”

“Yes. I’ve been seeing them.”

The lighted signs dotted the highway every few miles. Even theWelcome to Virginiasign at the state line had featured the iconic tourism slogan.

“Well they might as well say, ‘Virginia is for Vampires.’ There are almost eight thousand documented caves in the Virginias, including ten of the world’s longest. One of those—is ours.”

“Oh. I guess that makes sense.”

My expectations sank a little, along with my excitement. The snatches of information I’d picked up over the years—along with Kannon’s luxurious vehicle—had led me to believe vampire life was rather glamorous.

Cave dwelling wasnotwhat I’d pictured.

But I guessed when you were basically allergic to sunlight, living underground was a smart choice.

“Only about an hour left till we get there,” Kannon said. “You’re welcome to change the station if there’s some other kind of music you’d like to hear. Oh—wait, do you guys even listen to the radio?”

In answer, I switched the satellite station to a classic rock channel and started singing along with the song in progress, ACDC’s “Back in Black.”

It was an inside joke among Amish teens—an anthem of sorts.

Kannon laughed. “Well okay then. What—do you have stereo systems in those buggies or something?”

“Something like that,” I said. “We bring along boom boxes. Our parents won’t let us listen to English music at home, but we all work, so we have money. We buy the music and clothes we like and enjoy them when we’re away from home.”

Feeling the need for honest confession, I added, “I only heard this song for the first time last year when I was sixteen.”

Kannon wore an amused grin but didn’t laugh at me. “It’s a good one, that’s for sure.” In a low voice, as if speaking to himself, he added, “Imogen sure knows how to pick ’em.”

“What does that mean?”

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