After Daybreak by J. A. London

along the wall, just as you told me you had, and I knew exactly where I was going.”
    “There’s so much about the vampire world I don’t understand.”
    “Even we don’t understand it all.”
    Looking back out the window, I try not to think about my possible vampire heritage and how—if it’s true—it will change everything, like a massive earthquake centered beneath my life. What will remain standing once it passes? Will it even be recognizable?
     
    Even though Victor pushes the car as fast as he can, he can’t outrun the sun. The car’s windows are tinted, so the sunrise doesn’t hurt him, but he’s noticeably uncomfortable and has slowed down considerably. His vampire eyesight must be diminished even in the gentle predawn light.
    As the sky begins to lighten, I can see the massive wall that surrounds Denver in the distance. I know we won’t get there ahead of daybreak.
    The gates into Denver are closed. They used to open when the sun rose, but that was before we knew about Day Walkers, before Sin came to our city at the behest of his father, Lord Murdoch Valentine. We thought he was a new student at our school. We befriended him.
    “Jeff, are you close enough to get cell reception?” Victor asks. “I’d rather not lower these windows at the guard station to go through an inspection.”
    The city has one cell tower, located in its center. Its range is limited, its service sporadic.
    “I’ll give it a shot,” Jeff says, pulling out his cell phone. He presses a button, waits—
    “Clive, hey. We’re about two minutes from the gate—yes, we’ve got Dawn and Michael. They’re safe. . . . Great! I’ll let them know.” He moves the phone away from his ear. “The others arrived safely on the Night Train last night.”
    “Oh, thank God!” I feel like I’m floating up as a heavy weight lifts from my chest.
    “Yeah, so listen,” Jeff continues into the phone. “Victor’s driving. Need you to alert the guards to wave us through . . . Okay, good. We’ll see you soon.” He hangs up. “We should be good to go.”
    The gate rises and a guard lets us pass without any trouble. Victor continues on to the more populated part of Denver. The center of the city. The rebuilding efforts began there, and they haven’t quite reached the wall yet. Ten years since the war ended, and recovery is slow. But then with Murdoch Valentine ruling over us, we had little optimism or hope. Life under Victor will be different. Having seen Crimson Sands, I think by working together we can right all the wrongs of his father.
    Jeff makes another call. “Hey, Rachel. We’re back in the city. Dawn’s with me, babe. She’s okay. So is Michael. We’re going to the Agency first and then I’ll bring her to the apartment. . . . Yeah, okay. Hold on.” He extends the phone to me. “Rachel wants a word.”
    “ A word? I bet she wants more than that.”
    Jeff grins.
    I take the phone and press it to my ear. “Hey, Rachel.”
    “Dawn, oh God, it’s so good to hear your voice.”
    “Yours too.”
    “I’m going to head to the Agency—”
    “No, wait. I don’t think we’ll be there that long. I’m really dirty, tired, and hungry. I just want to come home. But I want to see Tegan. Can you track her down?”
    “I’ll take care of it.”
    “Thanks, Rachel.”
    “Just know that you are never again leaving this city.”
    “I hear you.” But I can’t promise her that I won’t leave. I don’t know where fighting Sin might take us, and I still feel Crimson Sands calling to me.
    We say goodbye and I hand the phone back to Jeff.
    Victor slows the car to a crawl, not hindered by other vehicles but by people walking the streets, heading to work and school. I realize how little I’ve thought about my homework and tests and assignments. I’m not even sure if I’m still enrolled. Although it hardly matters. I’ve learned plenty of lessons out here.
    In Los Angeles everything sparkled, but it was all fake. Here the