That next week, I ended up going to the MIT track with Isha every day. Sometimes Zarek would join us and teach me about stuff that was more specific to American vampires.

“What do you mean, there are different ethnic vampires?”

“Like different ethnic peoples, you know? Not everyone looks the same or acts the same or have the same genetic structure.”

Zarek loved talking about the genetic makeup of vampires, he loved genetics in general. Isha had mentioned that not only was he a computer nerd, but he was minoring in genetics, which made him a genuine nerd in her book. When I had asked him how genetics and computer programming worked together, he launched in on this long explanation of how computers are making anything and everything possible and how somehow that fit in with genetics. After he mentioned analyzing the human genome and the future of cyborgs, I was gone.

“So different vampires react to different things based on where they are from.”

“More or less. I mean, most vampires go along the old Dracula myths.”

“Zarek, Dracula was real, remember?” Isha reminded him patiently as we stretched, mid run.

“Yeah, but I mean, stuff like turning into a bat or a dog, those are myths. But the blood sucking, of course, and the whole ‘no reflection’ gig. The majority of vampires in America are like that.”

“The majority?”

“Yeah, it’s cool. Not all vampires are blood suckers.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Chinese vampires for instance, they suck chi.”

“Chi?”

“They are what the West would call ‘soul suckers’.” Isha clarified. “They only live in China, the Koreas and Japan though.”

“So Japanese vampires are actually soul suckers?”

“No, there are two different types of Japanese vampires.”

“What?”

“Japanese blood sucking vampires and Japanese soul sucking vampires.”

“Wow. Do they interact? How do they…?”

“It’s complicated. Edmund could tell you more about it. That’s his background.”

I nodded as we started running again. The longer I spent in Boston with the Society, the more complicated and complex vampire society became. I wish Lucas was here. I had forgotten to text him back after that initial day. Isaac had made sure that I was busy throughout the day and exhausted at day’s end with little time to take a break. I knew that Lucas had little need for sleep, but I usually didn’t have the energy to contact him at any hour.

I listened vaguely in the background to Zarek and Isha’s conversation on various vampires as we continued to jog. For the most part, though, my mind was on Lucas. Lucas and Dartmouth and Sarah and Nina and Raul. There hadn’t been any attacks on me since the first day, even though I was going out more and more on the patrols with the Society…

Well, I’m beat.”

“Me too. You ready, Mira?”

I looked up at Zarek and Isha who were jogging towards the door; I nodded and followed them at we cleaned up and left for the apartments the Society called home.

When we got there, we could hear noise coming from the upper level. I noticed that Zarek all of a sudden looked concerned and so did Isha. They unlocked the door and ran up the stairs to the second level. I hurried after them and as I looked around the corner into the living room, I saw surprised to see Sarah, standing defiantly next to Isaac, her back to me, looking angrily at Isaac.

I gasped as I saw Lucas pinned up against the window, Ruhan edgily pointing a garlic knife at him.

“Lucas!”

He looked at me and Ruhan lunged. The next thing I knew, there was a swirl of motion, my back was in a corner, one leg straddling the door frame into the office and when I looked to my left, Chloe and Tanwen each were holding one of Ruhan’s shoulders as he hung out of the now broken window. They pulled him back as I looked at Lucas, still standing protectively in front of me.

“What did you do that for?”

“He was going to hurt you. Do you think I’d just stand by and watch?”

Lucas smiled softly and kissed me on the forehead.

“Thank you. But next time, try not to get yourself in danger.”

“You know, you were in more danger from his knife than I was…”

Lucas grinned and stroked my hair softly.

“Hey, leech, get your grimeh claws offa her!”

Lucas and I looked over to see Tanwen gripping Ruhan’s shoulder, almost trying to keep herself from launching at Lucas.

“Tanwen, stop. Obviously Mira is fine.”

“But he’s looking at her like they do ‘afore they bite.”

Lucas and Sarah both hissed at the same time and everyone except for them, me and Isaac crouched slightly into a defensive position.

“Sarah…and Lucas… have every right to hiss at that comment. Back off, Tanwen.”

Tanwen mumbled something in Welsh and backed off; while sitting on the farthest part of the couch from Lucas and staring at us continually.

Lucas relaxed and I hugged him spontaneously.

“I’m so glad to see you.” I whispered quietly, “Sorry about not calling or texting. I’ve been busy this past week.”

“It’s all right. I expected that.” Lucas glanced over at Isaac.

“I don’t like anyone to be a slacker when it comes to what we do.”

I released Lucas from my hug and looked around at everyone. I noticed that everyone there were in clumps. Chloe, Ruhan, Tanwen and Edmund were closest to me and Lucas; Edmund hovering protectively near Tanwen, who was still glaring at us from the couch. Behind them, Elly and Kaden stood oddly, fingers interlinked but in an open stance. Behind the couch, Isaac stood facing us and Sarah stood facing him, only her head turned to watch. Finally, by the stairs stood Zarek and Isha; with Zarek standing defensively in front of her.

When I realized that they were all watching Lucas and me, I whispered, “Lucas is fine. He’s like Sarah. He’s not going to hurt anyone.”

“That’s what I tried to tell them. Then he – ”, Sarah pointed to Ruhan, “came running at Lucas.”

“Ruhan…” I turned to him as he sheathed his dagger and shook off Chloe.

“Isaac ‘as told us about you, the great and wonderful descendant of Mina ‘arker. But he didn’t tell us, ya were dating a leech.”

“Probably because he’s been trying to deny it himself.”

“It’s not right, Mira.” Isaac commented.

“A lot of things aren’t right, Isaac. You just have to deal with them.”

“Not in my house.”

“This isn’t your house, Isaac. You’re renting it.” Sarah commented dryly.

Isaac looked at her for a moment and snapped, “You told me it was important that you and Lucas come to Boston.”

“It is. You know how vampires evolve sometimes?”

“Of course. And we already knew that Raul could mess with the weather.”

“What?” I looked at Isaac incredulously and then up at Lucas. He gently squeezed my hand and nodded as if to say he would explain later.

“Anyway, he’s grown stronger. I don’t know if this is just an extension of his power or if he’s picked up something else, but he’s been focusing his storm on top of Hanover.”

“It’s probably an extension; not a new power.”

Everyone looked at Edmund who had just spoken. He still had his hand on Tanwen’s shoulder, as if to calm her.

“What?”

“The older a vampire grows, the stronger their power and at a certain point, they can extend it to similar traits. That’s what Dracula did.”

Lucas flinched suddenly and Edmund looked at him.

“Haven’t seen that reaction in a vampire when Dracula is mentioned. It’s usually either reverence or anger. Were you bitten by him?”

Lucas shook his head. “The vampire who bit me. She was bitten by Dracula. As was Raul.”

“Is she still alive?” Ruhan growled.

Lucas smirked, “Very much so.”

“Anyway, Dracula grew to be so old that his power extended into pretty much whatever he wanted. Which is the same reason why all of the people he turned into vampires ended up having their own powers. He was old enough to have ‘extended’ or concentrated powers which acted like a wild card in the vampires he created.”

“And vampires that have started gaining ‘extended’ powers, they are harder to kill. Mira will need Lucas and my help to actually train against fighting stronger vampires.”

Tanwen snapped, “I’ve fought ancient vampires all m’life. If that’s what Mira be needin’ she’ll find it her without ya’ll’s help.”

“Also, Raul’s been sending vampires to Boston.”

“We already dealt with those vampires.” Isha rebutted.

“He is sending more. There have been more than a few missing persons reports beginning to hang up in the local post office and a lot of them have been blondes, male and female.”

Isaac’s face twisted in disgust. “Are they all Raul’s victims?”

“No. He’s got a few female vampires, I’m sure. Does Jessica Chappel or Ashley Miller ring a bell?”

I gasped. “He bit Ashley?”

Sarah turned to me and nodded sadly. “She’s been missing for a couple of days now.”

I leaned into Lucas and shook my head. He rubbed my shoulder consoling.

“So if you and Lucas are up here, Sarah, who is watching Dartmouth?”

Sarah turned back to Isaac. “Daphne and Quintin. Raul won’t go up against Daphne again. She’d tear him to shreds this time.”

“So, Isaac… You’re the leader of the Society. It’s your call.” Chloe had finally spoken up, now that she wasn’t restraining Ruhan anymore.

“Sarah and Lucas can stay. I rented the empty apartment next door. They can do whatever they please over there.”

Sarah hissed and stalked off. I saw a slight sign of remorse in his face as she left. Lucas and I hurried after her and as I passed Isaac, he grabbed my arm.

“You don’t have to go over there right now, if you don’t want to.”

I snatched my arm out of his hand and replied, “I think I’ll go help Sarah ‘unpack’.”

I continued down the stairs with Lucas and as I opened the front door, I heard the men’s bedroom door slam shut.