Page 28 of Newly Undead in Dark River

Not that I would ever see them again. Pain shot through my chest at the thought that they’d be forever changed by my disappearance and apparent death.

“What is it?” Nico asked softly.

I shook my head, and then remembered he was meant to be my counselor. “I was just thinking of my family and how my disappearance would be hurting them right now.”

Nico nodded solemnly. “It is harder to leave it all behind when you know you are loved. It is what most newly turned vampires struggle with.”

I sighed, resting back on the arm of the couch. “It’s not even that I won’t see them again, though that’s tough. It’s the fact that this whole thing is causing them pain. That’s what I’m most angry about. I want to kill my maker just for making them all hurt.”

“Mmhmm,” he mumbled again, writing more in his Hello Kitty notebook. “Do you want some icecream? I feel like ice cream right now.”

He jumped up and pulled out two small tubs of Ben and Jerry’s from a small icebox in the corner of the room I hadn’t notice. Pulling two spoons plastic spoons from his filing cabinet, he handed me one of the tubs.

“Ice cream is the best invention of the modern age, in my opinion.” He scooped a large chunk of ice cream into his mouth. “Raine, I have no platitudes to make you feel better about the loss of your life. In fact, I will not even encourage you to let go of these vengeful feelings toward your maker, because he deserves your ire. But just know, while you will never forget them, the pain of losing your family will diminish with time. As you build a life here, create intimate connections with friends, you will once again find happiness.” We were silent for a moment as he let his words resonate. “Tell me about them. Not about how they would be feeling right now, but about them as people, as individuals that you loved.”

So I did. I told him all about my Mom and Dad, about my little brother Christopher who was in Sophmore year of High School. He was an accident. I heard that when my Mom was pregnant and talking to one of my aunts. I’d gotten my ass whooped when I’d thrown it in Christopher’s face when he nine, and I was fourteen, and he was being annoying. I told Nico all about my love of rock music because the boy next door used to tutor people in guitar for money during high school. I’d had the hugest crush on Tex since I was a kid. He was a couple of years older and had these beautiful lips that were almost too girly for his really rough face. He got his first tattoo at sixteen, and his parents had lost it. Hell, my parents had lost it. But I’d thought he was the best thing ever.

I told him about going off to college, and the fact that my whole family had come to wish me good luck even though I was moving less than two hours away.

I wasn’t sure how long I sat on that terrible chair just talking like it was my last day on earth, but when the words finally ran dry, my ass was numb, and my voice was rough. Also, I was a little embarrassed. I hadn’t been able to stop myself from speaking. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.

Nico shrugged. “Sorry. It’s one of my gifts, I guess. I am unable to control it. People like to tell me things with very little prompting. It is why I am the town counselor. It has its benefits.”

“As an interrogator?” I said, disgruntlement coursing through me. Now I knew why they insisted on these post-turning therapy sessions.

“In the past, yes. In a much darker time in history.”

I decided then and there that these little therapy sessions were going to be one way. I didn’t want to know his past, all the dark, and sordid details. I stood and shifted uncomfortably. “I should go. I have a shift at the Immortal Cupcake.”

Nico nodded. “Indeed. What is playing tonight?

“Dracula. The Francis Ford Coppola version.”

Nico let out a burst of laughter. “You jest, yes?”

I stared him dead in the eye. “I never jest about Gary Oldman, Sir.”

His laughter echoed around the room, and he wrapped his arms around his ribs. “I think you are just what this town needs, Raine. Perhaps I will come along tonight. What is the cupcake?”

“Red velvet brownie with a white chocolate lava center. The white chocolate has been dyed red. Honestly, I think Angeline might need the therapy. She has a terrible sense of humor.” I pushed through the beads back into the eye-searing waiting room. Someone was waiting there, but I knew who it was by the sound of their heartbeat. Odd, right?

Brody inclined his head. “Nico. It is good to see you,” he said. He did seem genuinely happy to see the ancient vampire.

“Ah, young Brody. How is your grandmother?”

Brody’s eyes lit up. “She is well, Sir.”

There was some fondness in Nico’s eyes at the mention of Brody’s family. Nico finally noticed my head ping-ponging between them. “Nico’s grandmother was a child when we decided to set up Dark River. She used to sneak in and listen to the meetings of the Elders, as we negotiated our treaty over this land. She was a fiery one, even when she was no more than an infant.”

Brody laughed. “Still is. Kicked my butt the other day.”

Nico laughed and waved. “I shall see you tonight, Raine. Brody, give my best to your family.”

Brody inclined his head and then opened the front door for me, like a perfect gentleman. Like I hadn’t been sucking face with him a couple of hours ago. Well, sucking something anyway.

His hand rested on the small of my back as we walked across the square. Honestly. It was like a hundred yards. Why I suddenly needed an escort was beyond me. But anytime I went to walk anywhere, boom, one of them appeared.

“Not going to lie, Brody. I kinda expected you to be run outta town by Mr. Tall, Dark and Overprotective.”

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