Page 81 of Tomb of Vampire

“I know you guys don’t trust me, but you’re gonna have to. We need to work together to avoid a war that’s bigger than all of us,” I said, squeezing Aera’s shoulder to comfort her as she tensed beside me. “I need all your help, because the people we’re up against are werewolves. Aren’t you, like, werewolf hunters?”

One of the hunters next to Keith raised his hand politely as he popped the question, “Why don’t we just text all our classmates to skip prom?”

A boy with purple permed hair chimed in, “I just did. They all sent me the ‘crying while laughing’ emoji and said Rainer is too hot to be a mass murderer.”

Jian covered his face, physically cringing from secondhand embarrassment. The rest of his team broke into concerned whispers, but as it waned, they all met my gaze.

“Okay then,” Cole spoke up first. “Tell us what to do, Jian.”

“Him?” I pointed at Jian in disbelief. “No, not Mr. Cobra Guy.” Jian grunted in the corner, shaking his head at my newfound nickname for him.

Cole disregarded it and said, “Yeah, well, he’s the leader.”

“I’m the alpha by blood,” I declared. “Rainer is a former pack. I don’t know how large the pack he’s leading is … but I know him better than all of us.”

“I agree with the deranged werewolf,” Jian concurred. “We’re in crunch time, and I have no clue what to do. Let him do his thing.”

“Great,” I said. “First thing to know is that Rainer masks his scent. Even from me.”

“I bet he smells like a skunk,” Jian commented, and a few of his team members snickered.

“But we can still win this,” I said as soon as the laughter died down. “We’ll just have to surprise him and his pack. Before that, we’ll get anyone who didn’t listen to the group chat out of the gym or have everyone move the party to the rooftop. One or two of you will be responsible for making that happen.” I paused, waiting for a few hesitant nods. “Rainer is a new alpha. He wants to make an impact … but more than that, he wants to hurt me. That’s why I’ll stay down there, front and center, while your best shooters wait to ambush from behind the prom decorations.” I swallowed hard, feeling my Adam’s apple bob with my nerves. “Once Rainer and his pack make a move on me, I’m trusting you to stop them.”

Aera choked. “You’re kidding, right?”

I shrugged. “Well, I got it right off the top of my head, but I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”

Jian raised an eyebrow. “What’s with the sudden rise of confidence?”

I shunned him, watching as his group members became ambivalent about my plan. “Listen, unless one of you knows where Rainer and his pack are hiding out, we have no choice but to meet them at the gym. Our options are limited as is our time.”

Cole nodded in agreement. “He’s right. But we’re going to need some concrete plan in place.”

I rummaged through my sling bag, pulled out a pen and a piece of paper, and placed it on a nearby table. The rest of the group followed, circling around me as I began drawing.

“Here’s what we’re gonna do.”

* * *

Embraced by darkness,the blanket was warm, but Aera’s skin was warmer on my bare chest as we lay on my double-sized bed. “As much as I want to be your first and last dance, I think we should skip prom together,” she mumbled.

“Youwill skip prom,” I stressed. “I won’t. I can’t keep on running away from my responsibilities, small bean. Don’t worry, I won’t be dancing with anyone else.”

Aera moved her head, propping her chin on my chest and staring at me through the dark. She probably couldn’t see me well, but I could see her worry lines were prominent on her face. “You’re not afraid to die?” she wondered out loud.

I placed a hand on her face, stroking her smooth skin as she leaned into my touch. “Of being dead? No. It wouldn’t be so bad sleeping eternally in a coffin, doing nothing. Of dying? Yes, I am. I don’t think I can even process it,” I told her honestly. “But there are other lives at stake that aren’t just mine, Aera. A mass murder is something we can’t control or avoid. But if I can try and fight it, I’m not running away.”

Reluctant, Aera pursed her lips. “Fine. Just come out of there alive, please.”

I nodded, but I didn’t make a promise. If I had, it would have been an empty one.

What Mrs. Choi had said before, about how only one could survive, she was talking about Aera and me. And if it were true, I wanted Aera to be the one who lives and moves on. Because I would rather disappear from the face of the earth than live the rest of my life unhappy because she wasn’t there.

“Can you and Howli walk me home later?” she asked, turning on the bedside lamp and leaning back on my chest, our legs intertwined and our heartbeats in sync. She nuzzled into me before once again lifting her face. “Or we could just stay like this forever,” she suggested.

“Your mom might be looking for you. It would be a better idea if you call her or I drop you home like a gentleman,” I advised.

Aera pulled away from me and sat up, blowing wisps of hair from her face.

---