Chapter 61

CHAPTER — ELIZABETH

I spotted Vanessa before she even saw me — mostly because she looked like she hadn't slept. Her curly hair was tied up in a loose bun she definitely did not brush, and she was half-jogging toward me across the courtyard like she'd sprinted the whole way from home.

"Liz!" she called, grabbing my arm the second she reached me. "Okay, tell me everything. You texted me something happened last night with the Bennet boy? What does that even mean?"

I exhaled, long and heavy. "It means we seriously need new hobbies because monsters keep finding us."

Her eyes widened. "What happened?"

I walked with her toward the building before I answered. Somehow talking about it made it feel real again.

"He was... sleepwalking," I said slowly. "Or something like sleepwalking. He just appeared in front of me out of nowhere. No shoes, barely dressed, eyes blank. Like completely blank."

Vanessa froze. "Blank like... possessed blank? Or dead blank?"

"Somewhere in the middle?" I rubbed my arms. "And he kept repeating something creepy: 'You are the key. We cannot let them in.' Over and over. In another language too."

Her mouth dropped open. "Liz, that is not normal. At all. Even by our newly upgraded standards."

"And then the wind started blowing all crazy around us like some horror-movie nonsense," I added. "And he wouldn't let go of me."

Vanessa stared at me in silent horror. Then she blinked fast. "Okay. Okay, that's— that's a lot. But listen. I talked to my mom this morning."

I stopped walking. "Already? What did she say?"

"That she didn't know anything." Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Which is a lie. She always knows something. She even said the Bennet surname was 'famous' in New Orleans history so maybe I misinterpreted what happened."

I raised an eyebrow. "Famous in what way?"

"She wouldn't say!" Vanessa threw her hands up. "Just changed the subject like she always does. Honestly? I think she's hiding things."

"Vanessa," I sighed, "everyone in this town hides things. That's literally the brand."

"But she's hiding things from me," she said, voice dropping softer. "From me, Liz."

That made my stomach twist — because she was right. It was weird.

I nudged her shoulder. "We're probably overthinking. After everything with Chloe... after everything with Damon... my brain is basically fried eggs."

"Yeah," she muttered. "Scrambled."

"Burnt on both sides."

She snorted, and we pushed into the hallway as the bell rang overhead.

⸻

Lunch felt painfully normal.

Students were laughing, gossiping, fighting over fries. No one looked like they were being stalked by witch boys with cryptic prophecies. The normalcy irritated me.

I scanned the cafeteria. "Have you seen Chloe today?"

"No," Vanessa said. "She wasn't in first period either."

A twist of worry pulled at my chest. "I'm checking on her after school. Want to come?"

"Of course." She nudged me. "I'm practically her second mom."

"You're more like her chaotic sister."

"That too."

We sat down, pretending to eat. I barely tasted anything. And when I saw the cheer squad across the room practicing some weird new routine, I instantly thought of Chloe — how she used to always drag me along to her practices "for moral support" even though I clearly had none to offer.

"She really should've been here today," I muttered.

Vanessa sighed. "She's adjusting. Turning into a vampire isn't exactly... you know. Easy."

I swallowed. "I just want her to be okay."

"We'll make sure she is."

That was one thing I loved about Vanessa — she said things like she could bend the universe if she had to.

After school, I headed straight to Chloe's house. Vanessa texted that she'd catch up after practice ended late.

Chloe's mom opened the door, her eyes soft but tired. "Elizabeth, sweetheart. It's so good to see you."

"Hi, Mrs. Claire I just wanted to check on Chloe. She didn't come to school."

She nodded, lowering her voice. "She's resting. Not feeling well today. You girls... you really are good friends. She could use that."

Guilt tugged at me again — I already hated what Chloe had gone through, and knowing she was in there alone made my heart twist.

I climbed the stairs quietly and knocked on her door. "Chlo? It's me."

A pause.

Then a small voice: "Come in."

I opened the door — and the room hit me instantly. It was cold. Unnaturally cold. The curtains were drawn tight, and only a small blue lamp glowed in the corner.

Chloe sat curled in the corner of her bed, knees pulled to her chest, eyes hollow and red around the edges.

But she smiled the moment she saw me and threw her arms around me.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "For being so snappy. For everything. I just... Liz, I hate this."

I held her tighter. "Hate what?"

"All of it." Her voice cracked. "I hate drinking blood. I hate feeling like I constantly want more. I hate being... this."

My chest squeezed. "Chlo..."

"Yes." She wiped her eyes. "And Damon was just here earlier on .He gave me some you know.He says it's the only way to control the hunger. But I feel like a monster."

A surge of anger shot through me, hot and instant. "Okay, no. Absolutely not. That's— "

I took a deep breath, forcing myself not to yell in her house. "Where is he now?"

She shrugged. "He left a few hours ago. Said he'd bring something tomorrow. Something that would... help me move like they do in daylight? I don't know."

I blinked. Damon? Helping? Voluntarily? "That's... surprising."

Chloe let out a breathy, bitter laugh. "Tell me about it. He's still annoying. But he's been teaching me. Carefully. I think he feels bad."

I wasn't sure I believed that. Damon feeling bad? Damon doing anything gently? Hard to imagine. But whatever he was doing, Chloe trusted it — a little — and I wasn't going to ruin that right now.

We talked until Vanessa arrived, sweaty from practice and instantly dramatic.

"I'm here, I'm here — okay what did I miss?" she panted.

Chloe pointed at me. "Your bestie was about ready to go bite Damon."

"Not bite," I corrected. "Yell. Possibly kick."

Vanessa grinned. "Fair."

She flopped onto the bed beside Chloe. "So. About the Bennet thing? I didn't see them at school today."

My head snapped to her. "You didn't?"

"Nope. Asked a few people. One girl said they transferred but she might've been lying to my face just to look interesting, so—"

Chloe blinked. "Wait, wait, wait." She held up her hands. "Back up. Bennet twins? Key? Chanting? Guys, I missed a whole season of the show. Catch me up!"

Vanessa and I exchanged a look.

I sighed. "It's a long story, Chlo."

"Well I'm undead now, so I have time," she said, dead serious, making Vanessa choke on air.

After a few seconds, Vanessa leaned forward. "Look. My grandmother might know something. About the chant. About... what the boy said. But she's not here. And my mom is being weird."

"So what do we do?" Chloe asked.

"There's the library," Vanessa said. "There might be something about the Bennets. Or about... whatever the key thing means. It's almost sundown. We could all go."

Chloe's face lit up — soft, bright, hopeful. "Really? I can come?"

"Of course you can come." I squeezed her hand. "We're not doing this without you."

Her smile widened — real, warm, like the old Chloe peeking through the storm.

"Finally," she said. "A mission. I was getting bored in here."

Vanessa smirked. "Well, buckle up, vamp girl. We're doing research."

"And snacks," Chloe added.

"We'll get snacks," I promised. "Library adventures require carbs"