“Alright, everyone, listen up,” Liam said, dropping his voice as we all gathered around. “We’re moving the show up.”
“What?” I knew I wasn’t the only one who was shocked at this.
All around me, others were shifting and whispering, “Why?”
“Because last night, Nina and I met with the De Ritter Shields,” he said. “I was concerned for Nina’s heath and I wanted some human relief. They informed me she is ill because we are so close to her date of siring.” He met my eyes, but I looked away. He could have told me that, rather than let me yell at him all day. “Selene was created as a vampire in December. December 31st to be exact. So she will be at her weakest then. On the anniversary of their siring, apparently vampires experience weakness, human emotions, all sorts of strange things.”
“How have we never known this before?” Connor asked, his arms around Isabelle.
I glanced to Sarah, who was making a point of keeping her eyes straight ahead.
“Because it’s a secret the Shields like to keep, an advantage they have while hunting us. The only reason they told me is to avenge Porsche, and if any of us disclose it outside this room, there’ll be hell to pay. So forget it,” Liam replied. “But I have decided that it’s our best chance to take Selene down. So December 31st will be our closing night.”
“Closing night?” I said, shocked.
“Closing night. The show will open on the 27th, and close on the 31st.”
“But you can’t do that,” I blurted out.
Liam gave me a glare. “I’m the headmaster, Amy. I can direct the school as I please. I will come up with some excuse for moving the show and inform the rest of the cast tomorrow. But for now, be aware that’s the reason. Everything that we are working towards will hopefully come to a close before the new year.”
Sarah made a noise and Liam turned to her.
“Sarah, you have a question?”
And then she screamed.
Chapter 12: Liam
I hadn’t realized how late it had gotten. The sun was already almost set and the scent of blood was so strong, I felt my jaw unhinge. Sarah was doubled over screaming, her arms wrapped around her midsection. With blood in the air, I could feel my transformation heighten, even in the presence of a Shield. Something was horribly, terribly wrong.
The other vampires lurched and groaned, fighting their instincts as blood began to spill from between Sarah’s legs. Even Nina moved forward and it was only due to my lightning quick reflexes that I was able to grab her.
“AMY!” I yelled, trying to get her attention in the crowd. “Do something!”
I didn’t know what I wanted Amy to do, I couldn’t even think clearly.
“Get out, get out!” I howled at the others. Their fangs were growing, and their eyes darkening and while I was strong, I certainly wasn’t strong enough to fight them all off and resist the smell of blood myself. But suddenly, relief filled the air. I whipped my head around to Sarah, who was now on the ground, Amy covering her. Amy’s arm was slashed from her elbow to her armpit, a pair of sewing scissors in her hand. It horrified me that she had to do it, but it was a good move. Her infected blood neutralized the cravings, and together with Sarah being a Shield, the fog in my mind began to clear. However, Amy had her arm held out, the blood dripping on the floor. I needed to keep it far away from Sarah or anyone else who could possibly be affected. My heart went out to her, as she crouched half on Sarah and half to the side. The war that she had to go through on a daily basis was enough, and I wished that I didn’t have to put her through any more. I hated myself for involving her in all of this.
“Call an ambulance,” Amy yelled at me.
I reached to pull out my cell phone. “Get out, the rest of you! Out, NOW! Connor, dismiss the cast!” I barked at them as I dialed 9-1-1 and let it ring through.
I could feel my heart beating hard, the transformation now half set. Connor met my eyes, and tried to head towards Sarah, but I pushed him back, glaring at him.
“If you do not do as I say right now, I will make sure that you and your wife are never free from Selene’s terror.”
He glared at me with intensity, but finally broke away, never saying a word as he pulled the others out. The ringing in the phone stopped.
“9-1-1, what is your emergency?”
I gave the information to the operator as everyone scattered and I hung up.