I’ve wandered so far from the fork in the path that I can’t see it any longer. There are whispers in the trees around me, but I can’t make out their words. There are too many voices to decipher which is his or where it’s coming from. The voices are faint, but they feel cacophonous in the otherwise silent forest. I try to call out—to ask for help or clarity—but my voice won’t come. I search the trees for any sign of movement.

The branches of the trees are swaying unnaturally. It looks like an old film that’s dropping frames. I stand still on the path, watching the foliage sway. I can feel something watching back. I see nothing. I shudder and my spine tingles. I’m certain that I’m being observed.

I’m alone.

I wake to a text from Ezra, asking if I’m free to meet with him tonight. I feel my heart flutter as I tap out a quick response. I was hoping to see him again soon. It’s probably not smart of me to give in to my attraction for him, but I can’t seem to help myself.

It’s not only that I feel safer when I’m with him or that his high cheekbones are attractive, there’s something else I can’t put a word to. Ezra is right, of course; it isn’t a good time to be pursuing a romance. Still, the prospect of seeing him again so soon makes me smile. I send him a message asking if everything is alright. It would be thrilling if he just wanted to see me, but I doubt that’s the case.

“Okay, that’s the fifth text you’ve gotten this morning and you are grinning like a fool, spill it,” Cass says as she sits beside me on my bed.

It’s Saturday morning and neither of us have changed out of our pajamas or ventured out for food yet. Classes have been exhausting and we’re both content to spend a lazy morning messing around on our phones.

I haven’t taken any of Ezra’s tea yet, but It’s sitting on my nightstand and just the proximity makes me hopeful. I’m a little nervous about drinking it. The scent of the bundle is strong, even from the other side of the room.

I put my phone down beside me and try to look innocent, but I can feel myself smiling. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” We both laugh as she rolls her eyes at me.

“What about you?” I say, bumping her shoulder with my own. “You and Harry were out pretty late last night.”

“Yeah,” she smiles brightly. “Not the type of guy I normally go for, but he’s great.” She gives an exaggerated dreamy sigh, then curses and scrambles for her phone. “I forgot; I’m supposed to have lunch with him today! I need to get ready! Tell me about your guy,” she demands, hurrying to the dresser and digging through her clothes.

“He’s not my guy,” I correct her. “He’s just someone I’m talking to.”

“Early phases then,” she says. “Why do I own so much black? I can never find the shirt I’m looking for,” she mutters. “Describe him, I’m all ears, Lids.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that,” I protest again. I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks, making my skin feel tight and warm.

“But you want it to be,” she says, pulling a shirt from the bottom of the drawer and shoving the rest of the clothes back in until she can force it closed. “So, tell me what he’s like. What kind of man has you all red faced and doe-eyed?”

“I am not doe-eyed!” I shout, feigning offense. I fall backwards onto my bed and let out an exaggerated sigh. “He’s got blue eyes.”

“Details, Lids. There are a hundred kinds of blue eyes. Are they icy, stormy, summer sky, what?” She’s digging through another drawer now and piling unwanted garments on the floor. I don’t comment, knowing she’ll pick it up when she’s done.

“Deep, ocean blue,” I say thoughtfully. “And his hair is a light, sandy brown. Not blonde, just very light brown.”

“Sounds like a day at the beach,” she teases.

I frown a little. Ezra doesn’t feel like a day at the beach. He’s too pensive and serious. “Maybe, a day at the beach just after a cyclone. When the sky is still dark and the air is a little cold,” I say thoughtfully.

“Oh girl,” Cass stops what she’s doing and looks at me. “You’ve got it bad.”

I push myself up on my forearms and look at her. “I do, don’t I?” She gives me a sympathetic nod and I groan. “How did I let that happen?” I sit up and put my face in my hands, feeling a little dramatic but not caring enough to reel it in.

“It sneaks up on you sometimes,” she sighs. “One minute you’re going about your day, just having a little fun and the next, bam! You’ve caught feelings. I should know.” She shakes her head and sits next to me, pulling her boots on. “How’d you meet him?”

“We’re working on a project together,” I say. It’s the closest to the truth I can get without telling her about any of the supernatural events involved.

“Classic,” she tuts. “Have you guys spent any time together not related to class?” I shake my head and she nods thoughtfully. “Any chance you could convince him to come to a party?”

“Oh, I don’t think so,” I start to answer, but I’m cut off as a violent shiver runs up my spine and I shudder.

“You okay?” she asks.

“Yes,” I lie. “Someone just walked on my grave.” She looks unconvinced but goes into the bathroom to finish getting ready.

The hair on the back of my neck is standing on end and my instincts are screaming at me to be on alert. I glance out the window, but we’re four stories up and there’s no sign of anything amiss. A sudden knock at the door makes me jump. I place my hand over my heart as if it will help calm its pounding.

I walk across the room and open the door to reveal Harry. The sensation gets stronger as I look up at him. I feel like the breath has been knocked out of me and all I can do is gape at him. Why is my danger instinct reacting to Harry?

“Hi, Lidia,” Harry says, louder than necessary. “How’s it going?”

“Not bad.” I smile, but I know it doesn’t reach my eyes. Something about him looks wrong to me. I step back and motion for him to come into the room. He enters and the cold feeling down my spine is almost painful with him this close.

I’m trying not to let on that anything is wrong. It’s incredibly awkward. Harry leans against the wall and looks around the dorm. He’s careful not to look at me. I sit beneath the crucifix on my bed and stare at his feet. He’s not a vampire, but something is horribly wrong with him. Why did I never notice this before?

Cass finally comes out of the bathroom. She grabs her jacket and kisses Harry on the cheek. “Don’t wait up,” she jokes.

“Text me,” I respond immediately. “Just so I’m not up all night worrying.”

“Sure, mom,” she says, giving me an odd look. I wave them off and find myself staring at the door long after they’ve gone.

Does the ability to sense danger come naturally to all vampires or is this part of the psychic abilities Ezra warned me about? It could be a sign that I’m in the second phase of the transformation. More importantly, what danger could Harry possibly pose?

"It’s natural."

I gasp and whip around, looking for the source of the baritone voice. I’m alone. I don’t sense anyone. This isn’t the first time this deep, male voice has broken into my thoughts. I should be freaked out, but it’s always so warm and comforting.

My phone buzzes. It’s a response from Ezra with an address. He wants me to meet him at his apartment at six. I respond that I’ll be there. He hasn’t answered my question about anything being wrong. I try not to think about how concerning that is. He has a habit of not answering my questions.

I’m glad I’m going to see him. Hopefully he’ll be able to assuage my fears about Harry. Even if he can't, I know that seeing him will make me feel better. His presence allows me to relax in a way that I haven’t been able to do since arriving in Chicago. When I’m with him, I can almost pretend that my life is normal for a moment.

I finally drag myself out of bed. I have homework to do, even if it’s the last thing on my mind. I want to take my classes seriously. I want to maintain some semblance of normalcy in my life. It would be so easy to stop caring about school in light of everything else I have to worry about. If I do that, then it will feel like I’ve given up. Even if my life up until this point has been quiet and lonely, it’s still mine and I don’t want to give it up so easily.

It’s becoming clear to me that I have two options. I can follow Ezra’s advice and bind my vampire side, even banish it if such a thing is possible. Or, I can seek Karl’s advice and try to adapt to what I’m becoming. I just wish I knew what the right choice is.