Hiding Till Dawn by E M Rinaldi

Author:E M Rinaldi [Rinaldi, E M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CHBB Publishing
Published: 2018-05-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

I t had been so long that I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be the resident outcast. My entire life was spent living on the outskirts, hiding from mocking stares and malicious taunts. I never knew a time where I fit in, until I came to this camp.

For the first time, I was wanted by others that I didn’t see as family. Finally, I was on the receiving end of kind smiles and offers of friendship. Until the night I turned into a monster and once again became the neighborhood freak.

“Stop being so overdramatic. You know the others don’t see you like that.”

Cedric’s steady footsteps made soft thuds as he closed the distance between us. If he’d wanted to, he could have completely hidden his approach from me. He was the best out of our trio at moving through the foliage undetected—a fact he liked to point out every chance he got.

He stopped, kicked a rock out of the way, and crouched next to me. “This pity party of yours has to end. It’s been two days, Casey. Why don’t you try coming back to training?”

I shook my head. “I couldn’t take the stares.”

“They’re staring because you’re such a badass,” he replied, and I glared.

“I almost killed a friend! Some badass.”

Cedric stood, forcing me to look up and squint at the few rays of sunlight that made it through the canopy. His face held a scowl, the same one that he directed at me each time our conversation headed in this direction.

“For the last time, no one is blaming you for what happened. You didn’t even know you could do something like that, so it’s not as if you did it on purpose. Right?”

“Of course not!”

Cedric nodded and moved on. “All the more reason for you to return to training. The faster you learn to control it, the better you’ll feel about it.”

I knew he was right. Of course he was right. But I was wracked with latent fears of losing the acceptance I’d found here. Mahon was a leader at camp. If he held this against me, others would follow suit.

I hadn’t spoken to Mahon since our fight. At first, he was secluded in Asa’s hut. Most of his recuperation remained private and under careful observation from our favorite Vampire medic. He’d since been released, having made a full recovery, and I’d become a coward.

I hid out here, not straying too far from my own hut, and avoiding people when I could. I was afraid that when I confronted Mahon, I would see disgust in his eyes. Or anger. I deserved both. Cedric sighed and stepped away. If he couldn’t convince me to come with him today, he would only come back and try again tomorrow.

But he wasn’t leaving quite yet.

“It’s better if you get this over with now, so we can all move on.”

He waved to a figure that leaned against a thick mangrove. There was only one person on this island with that height and build.

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