4 - We Are Gathered by Jackie Ivie Page B

like every blind in their four-room apartment doing the same thing. She had some powers back. That was good.
    “What are you doing here?” Naomi asked.
    “I live here.” Rori mumbled it into her pillow.
    “Yeah. We know. It’s just we have a problem.”
    They had a problem . That was rich.
    “You shouldn’t be here, Rori. Not right now. And we thought—well. After meeting that guy…you know.”
    “Yeah. Where did you find him, anyway? He’s the real thing, isn’t he? A real live vampire. Or maybe, it’s a real dead vampire. Whichever he is, it’s just so cool.”
    “Not so loud, Elizabeth.”
    Rori groaned.
    “You got to admit, he’s the hottest thing we’ve seen since moving here. Come on, Naomi. Admit it.”
    “I’m not saying anything.”
    “Oh, come on. He’s the hottest thing like…ever. I mean…not only is he gorgeous, but did you get a look at that body? Even all covered up that guy looks like he’s got major muscle. So does he? Have a six-pack, I mean?” That was Elizabeth. Gushing. Again.
    “He shouldn’t have brought you back, Rori.”
    “Why not?”
    “We talked about this, Rori. We weren’t even going to report you missing for…well awhile. Maybe even a couple of days. I mean, it’s not like anyone would notice.”
    She could go missing for a couple of days and nobody would notice? Wow. Nice to know she made such little impact on the world. Rori was still reeling with that bit of information when they started up again.
    “So…did he? Did you?”
    “Did I what?”
    “Not so loud! They’re probably listening, and we have a lot of thinking to do.”
    “About what?”
    “Hiding you.”
    “What?” Rori moved to sit, but felt worse drained than she had mid-day yesterday. She fell back to the pillows with disgust. Billows of silk settled around her as if in approval. She ran a hand along the fabric, grazing fingertips on what felt like embroidery.
    “That’s a really cool dress. I mean like, I’ve only seen stuff like that in specialty shops. Did he give it to you? And if so…that means he like had to replace your dress. Because maybe he tore—.”
    “He didn’t give it to me, Elizabeth. Now, give it a rest.” Rori interrupted her.
    “Well, it looks fabulous on you. It’s silk, isn’t it? It even looks like the real stuff. The heavy kind from—.”
    “Can we discuss our problem, Liz?” That time, Naomi stopped their roommate’s gushing words.
    “Oh. Right. We have to hide her. We could use the basement. There’s a really small storeroom they like, keep lawn equipment in. I’ve only been in it once. It’s pretty scary.”
    “Do you need to hibernate? Or…whatever vampires do during the day?”
    “I’m not a vampire.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yeah. I mean, we saw the way he looked at you. He was like, ready to devour you. Or whatever it is vampires do. And you’ve got a lot more marks on your neck, and like, they look worse than yesterday. So…are you?”
    “No,” Rori replied.
    “We sort-of thought that guy would like, turn you into a vampire last night, and that would be like the coolest thing…ever.”
    “And it would solve our problem.”
    “What problem? You guys are blowing this way out of proportion. I had a late night. I’m tired. I need some sleep. That’s all.”
    “We had a visit yesterday. From some old guys in suits, claiming to represent your family’s estate,” Naomi informed her.
    “I don’t have a family.”
    “That’s what we told them. Then, they said it was technically just your mother who’d sent them.”
    “My mother was a junkie. She died on the streets when I was twelve. I got the obituary when I asked for it, since I didn’t believe them over the phone.”
    “We told them that, too.”
    “So then they started asking all kinds of other stuff. Like…if you’d been seeing any really interesting gentlemen lately.”
    “Elizabeth thought their guard was really handsome.”
    “He was. Tall, blonde…built. You