Frenzy (The Frenzy Series Book 1) by Casey L. Bond Page B

afternoon.”
    “The tea will help you rest.”
    “It will?”
    “Mm. It’ll calm your nerves, too.”
    “Will it make me a good hunter?” I teased with a grin.
    She smiled back, blowing the surface of the hot, golden liquid. “I certainly hope so. Go on home. I’ll see you for a few hours tomorrow morning.”
    I stood and gathered my teacup and saucer, but her voice stopped me. “My door is always open if you need a place to stay, Porschia.” I swallowed thickly. “I live here. That’s my room across the hall,” she said, motioning to it. “There are several rooms in this old house, and most of them are empty. One holds the bolts of fabric and other supplies, but there is plenty of room for you here if you need or want it.”
    “Thank you,” I whispered and left her behind me.
    My feet carried me home and by midday, it was warm enough to relax without a coat on. Mercedes’ scent still clung to it. Every time I put it on, took it off, or simply looked down, I could smell her sweetness. I could remember her delicate fingers working over the buttons. It made my heart hurt, but in the best way when that happened. It was like a part of her still lived.
    Father was waiting on the porch in a rocking chair when I arrived. Sweat dampened his hair and his fingers curled around the edges of the arm rests, turning his knuckles white. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.” He pasted on a fake smile. “Let’s go around back.”
    He took out a large knife and handed it to me before retrieving another for himself. He gripped it tightly and showed me how to slash, stab at things. I was confused. “Father, if I’m hunting deer and bear, why would I need a knife? I wouldn’t be fighting them so closely, would I?” Please say no.
    Father let out a heavy sigh. “There are other things in the woods that are far more dangerous. I want you to be able to defend yourself if you...” He stopped, his voice shaking.
    “The Infected?”
    He nodded and swiped the wetness pooling beneath his eyes. “There’s more. And you cannot breathe a word of this to anyone. Only a few people in town know about this. We’re working with the leader of the night-walkers to handle the situation.”
    “Okay. I promise not to say anything.”
    Staring at the trees that stood beyond our back yard, which was basically a huge vegetable garden, Father told me something that shook me to the core. “A night-walker attacked someone last night. I found a body in a shallow section of the river this morning.”
    “Dead?”
    He pursed his lips. “Bitten and then tossed out like garbage. They weren’t even drained of blood.” Tage’s face immediately came to mind. But then Father said, “It’s probably a new vampire. I understand they get overwhelmed with hunger and emotion and are very difficult to control. The night-walkers call it ‘frenzy’.” Was Tage a new vampire? I didn’t get that impression from him at all. And if it wasn’t Tage, who was it?
    “I want you to be careful tonight. Stay with Saul. He knows how to bring down the game. You just worry about watching his back and staying alive. No matter what, you run if you get in trouble. I don’t care if you have to leave everyone behind. You . Run ,” he said, emphasizing each word with a jab of his finger. “I can’t lose you, too.”
    Father’s lip trembled and mine began to wobble. I nodded my understanding and watched as he walked toward the house, unable to withstand the weight of the emotions swirling in the air around us.

 
     

     
    Mother either stayed in her room all day or else she wasn’t home. Her absence allowed me to swipe a pint jar of corn and two biscuits that she made yesterday and was saving for tonight. I would have felt guilty had my ration bag not contained fresher bread. Walking through the sunshine and grass toward the river, I hoisted the burlap sack onto my shoulder. Ford’s clothes, which I temporarily altered to work for me, and to my knowledge he