9. Why?
Somewhere in the back of my mind I wondered why Daniel hadn't come to help me. After all he was meant to be fast and strong. Couldn't he save us? But most of my mind was thinking of how quick this death would be and if I would have time to feel pain. There was only seconds left. The headlights were so bright they were searing my eyes out. A second, half of a second, a quarter, an eighth, then...
Then a shadow appeared in front of me. A human shadow. Well a vampire shadow. I screamed at him to run but my voice was lost by the screech of the train wheels. What was he doing? He was strong but could he honestly beat a steam train? Apparently he was going to give it his best shot. There was a screech as the train hit him. Metal against vampire skin. My scream mingled with the scream of the passengers as the train came to a halt and flung passengers from the carriages. The whole train went on one side and the internal lights went off leaving only the headlights glaring at me as if what had just happened was my entire fault.
"Peter!" Daniel called out into the dark night. In less than a second Peter appeared by Daniel's side.
"Jesus! What did you do that for?" He hit Daniel on the back of the head. Hard.
"It was either that or Caz died. I know which I prefer. Look can you sort this out?"
"Course I can. I'll make it look like an accident, boulder alright with you?"
"Whatever." He was already moving towards me. My sister was in hysterics as she tried desperately to free her broken leg.
"What's going on?" She asked between sobs.
"Nothing you're dreaming." I told her wishing that I was telling the truth and none of this was real. Daniel reached us and bent down reaching out for the piece of track trapping Gabby's leg and simply broke it. She tried to move but he put a restraining hand on her leg to keep her still. "Get off her." I hissed. He nodded and moved his hand but he looked upset at what I had said.
"Jeremy!" He called out and yet again another of his brothers appeared. He looked over at the train wreck and nodded his approval.
"You really do like her." He said before coming over and laying his hand on my sister's leg. I went to move it but Daniel grabbed me and shook his head. "All better." He smiled at me sister and she looked up at him in wonder as she moved her now fixed leg.
"Thank you." I whispered, humbled by what he had done for my sister.
"'key." He shrugged and picked up my sister like she was as light as a feather. "We have to get her to George." He didn't explain why just began walking off with my sister in his arms.
"Why?" I asked Daniel as he held me up. Daniel didn't reply right away, instead he picked me up and held me against his chest as he walked along behind his brother.
"It doesn't matter."
"It does, I mean you saved my sister and me from a train. Killing hundreds of people for me. Some small town girl you met a couple of hours ago. Who will never do anything good for the world. Just someone ordinary. It just doesn't make sense." I added airing the thoughts that were niggling at my brain.
"No one was killed. A few were injured, yes but not severely. And you are not ordinary in any stretch of the imagination." He told me but I wasn't sure who he was trying to comfort. Me or himself. He was trying to justify his actions to both of us.
"But what if they find out it was you?! Your family will be killed or put in labs and tested on!" I cried thinking of Hannah, the nicest person I knew being burnt at the stake or tortured for what she was.
"We won't be found out. Peter is very good at making things look accidental. He will put a boulder where I was and make it seem like they hit that. And even if we were seen or your sister told like anyone would believe there was such a thing as vampires. It laughable."
"My sister won't tell. I'll convince her it was a dream."
"That's what we are helping you with now. George has a special power." He left it at that and I didn't question him further.
"You haven't answered my question yet. Why?"
"I have. It doesn't matter." He said as he avoided eye contact with me. I thought he wouldn't say anymore but then he added. "It could never happen."
"What could never happen?" I asked suddenly interested in what could never happen. What was he thinking about?
"Nothing just forget about it."
"What is it? Is it about my friendship with Hannah? Don't you think it will work like your brothers and sisters?"
"No." He said, he seemed shocked- and slightly disappointed- that I had come to that conclusion. "It has got nothing to do with Hannah and I for one think she needs a friend like you."
"You do?"
"Yeah. Someone decent and human. Here's George." He said as a group of vampires appeared in front of us. The short brown haired one I vaguely recognised walked towards my sister and reached out and touched her bare leg. Instantly she went still.
"What have you done to her!" I screamed and started struggling uselessly against Daniel's vice like grip.
"It's ok Caz. George has this gift where he can make people fall asleep with a single touch. She'll be fine."
"Do you need some help over there?" George called over. I knew what he meant, did Daniel want me to fall asleep as well. Daniel seemed to be considering it.
"Don't you dare, Dan." I threatened. He laughed.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"You still haven't answered my question."
"Will you just drop it!" He growled.
"Hannah! Your brothers being mean to me!"I cried out as I remember what she had told me before the party- "if one of them messes with you then just tell me and I'll sort them out." Hannah came over a bit sheepishly as she had obviously been filled in on me finding out her family secret.
"What's he doing?"
"Shouting at me."
"Daniel! I mean after everything that just happened, shouting at her is really mean. Just wait till we get home!"
"Look I told her to leave it but she won't!"
"Leave what?"
"He won't tell me why he saved me." I explained.
"Because you're my sister's best friend!"
"Its not though is it!"
"Fine! I'll tell you! You stubborn, annoying girl!"
"Go on then! And I am not stubborn. Or annoying thank you very much!"
Nothing in the world could have prepared me for what he said next.
"I love you."
