Page 51 of Crimson Storm

“No way. That would only make things worse,” I said. “Plus, there’s nothing you could do against a cavern full of vampires.”

“I could try.”

Once again, I got that soft, melty feeling in my chest. “Look, I appreciate the thought, but it’s out of the question. It would be literal suicide for you. I’ll be fine. In spite of her threats, I don’t believe she’ll actually do anything to me. Nothing permanent anyway. And we need a place to hide. It’s not safe for usoutsideof the Bastion anymore.”

Reaching the front door of my family’s home, I hesitated before knocking, my heart doing a crazy dance in my chest.

It’ll be okay. All they can say is no. You have to try. Your friends need help.

Still, if they treated me like a stranger, I didn’t know how I was going to stand it.

Finally, I knocked. My youngest sister Rebecca opened the door. When she saw me, her eyes bulged then she smiled and threw her arms around me.

“Abigail! You’re home. I missed you so much. We all have. Mamm has been so mad at Dad since you left. We all worried we’d never see you again.”

Shocked by her exuberant welcome, it took me a minute to respond. “I missed you too. Is... is he here?”

I would not let myself get too excited about what Rebecca had said—that they’d missed me—until I saw my father’s face. This happy reunion would come to an abrupt end if he wouldn’t allow me in the house.

She pulled back and looked up at me. “He hasn’t come in from the fields yet. I’ll go and get Mamm. She’s in the basement doing laundry.”

She ran off, and a few moments later my mother appeared in the doorway at the top of the basement stairs. Her face reddened, and her eyes filled with tears when she saw me. Drawing me into her arms, she hugged me fiercely.

“My Abigail has returned. You are truly a sight for sore eyes. I haven’t given your father a day’s peace since he sent you away.”

She released me and gave my outfit a quick once-over. Clearly, she disapproved, but she didn’t say so. Instead, she smiled at my friends. “And who are these?”

“Mamm, I’d like you to meet Heather and Kelly and Shane.”

She made a come-here gesture with both hands. “You’re all welcome. Any friend of Abigail’s is a friend of ours. Do come in out of the cold.”

I hadn’t noticed it being cold, but Shane stepped inside eagerly and headed for the fireplace.

“May I offer you all some water or tea? Or something to eat?” Mamm asked.

Kelly and Heather said, “No thank you.” Shane took her up on the offer of both. I felt guilty, suddenly realizing how little he’d eaten during the past few days.

Mamm and I joined him at the table where he devoured a bowl of stew and then another. Heather and Kelly sat on the floor with Rebecca and my brother, Noah, and my youngest brother, Daniel, who had introduced my friends to his new kittens.

They all laughed together and chatted like old friends about the antics of the tiny creatures.

My mother took my hands inside hers. “How have you been, Abigail? I’ve worried for you, and I’ve prayed for you every morning and night.”

My throat was instantly sore, and it was hard to speak around the lump lodged there. “I’m okay. It’s been hard, but I have friends. We’re there for each other.”

Her face colored. “I feel sick that your family wasn’t there for you. Your father did what he thought was best to protect us all at the time, but I know he regrets it. He prays for you too.”

“He doesn’t think I’m a demon?” I asked.

She shook her head. “None of us knew anything about vampires—not really. We were afraid because we were ignorant.”

“Maybe you were right to be afraid. Look what happened with Josiah.”

“No. We were ignorant. After that night when your father returned from the hospital without you, I insisted we read some library books on vampirism. We understand a lot more now. We’re no longer afraid of you.”

“Not even Dad?”

“Him least of all. One of the things he’s prayed for is that you would return so he could apologize to you.” She smiled. “I can’t wait to see his face when he walks through that door.”

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