Fledgling (The Vampire Manifesto, Book Two) by Rashaad Bell Page B

all together.
    “I’ve got you.” She whispered in my ear. “If you fall, I’ll be there to catch you.”
    I had to force myself away from her embrace. “Like I said, I died and Connor…”
    Everyone turned to look at him.
    He wiggled his fingers. “That would be me.”
    “Connor brought me back to life.” I continued. “As a Vampire.”

Chapter 4
     
    Touch me, tease me, pull my hair…
     
    There was complete and utter silence in the room.
    “Didn’t see that one coming.” Ethan muttered.
    Connor placed a handful of chips in his mouth. “That’s what we in the industry like to call a plot twist.”
    My eyes fell on Dakota. “Are you okay with this?”
    She caressed my face with her hand. “I’m okay.”
    Connor was next to Ethan, thrusting the Doritos bag in his face. “Chip?” He asked. “Bet you can’t eat just one.”
    Ethan shoved it away. “No thank you.” His eyes were strictly on Dakota and me.
    Connor pointed to us. “Look at the hand holding.” He said. “The way their heads are touching, the way she just fondled Madison’s face. Now when they do stuff like that, what does it mean exactly?”
    Ethan didn’t speak.
    Connor shrugged. “Chicks.” He headed back towards the kitchen, tapping Ethan on the shoulder as he passed. “Think about it brother.”
    Abigail stood up. “I’m calling the police.”
    “What?” Girard got up too.
    Connor had his head in the refrigerator. “I fail to see how the police would contribute to this conversation.”
    “It’s obvious that she’s drugged. She’s talking crazy, you drugged her. ” Abigail was glancing around. “Where the hell is my cell?”
    “Looking for this?” Connor was waving her phone in the air while he was still digging through the fridge.
    “How did you…” Abigail began making her way towards the kitchen, but Girard was obstructing her path.
    “Wait Abigail, it’s true.” Staci exclaimed. “Everything she said is true.”
    Abigail just looked at her like she was crazy. “Oh please, you came in with them, your everything you say is suspect.”
    “Abigail.” I called out.
    Connor was closing the fridge, a slice of cold pizza in his mouth. Abigail was right there, in his face as soon as he turned around. She attempted to grab the cell out his hand, but he just held it over her head so she couldn’t reach it.
    “Give me my phone jackass.” She was jumping up, but he was toying with her, lowering the phone, then raising it higher each time she reached for it.
    “Now why do you wanna go and call the cops for?” He asked between mouthfuls of pizza. “I’d just have to kill them all when they arrived.”
    “Abigail.” I repeated.
    “Tough talk coming from a date rapist.” Abby proclaimed. “They’re gonna really love you in jail.”
    Connor smirked. “I’m sure they would.”
    I yelled louder. “Abigail!”
    This time she turned, proceeding back into the living room. “How can you defend him Madison? He drugged you. He probably drugged Principle Girard as well. We need to…”
    I wasn’t listening. I had the remote in my hand and I turned the TV on, switching the channel to CNN.
    “…and in the extraordinary aftermath of the explosion that rocked The Pine Gardens in San Francisco, a prominently exclusive, residential neighborhood, an attack which left seven dead, which was then followed by the detonation of an eighteen-wheeler on a busy Oakland freeway, which claimed thirty four critically wounded and twenty one people dead, President Nathanial Kennedy issued this most unprecedented statement today to the people of America. A statement that will transformation not only the face of the nation, but the entire world as a whole. Here is the speech that astounded the globe only thirty minutes earlier. Please stay tuned for CNN for continuous updates on this most startling situation. This is Haley Carter reporting live for Hard Talk.”
    The screen faded from the Hard Talk reporter to the White House