Vampire heart

4: In

cted from Malakai after thei

icture. But all he got, at

peak again fo

think he'd imagined the whole thing. That stress and sleep deprivati

reams kep

always, they ended the same way-wit

yo. E

de his heart ache scared

bar where he and Malakai had first locked eyes. He didn't

he

ssed in black again, as though t

alakai said w

t," Ayo

ant to over

hed slowly.

ke a living thing. Ayo watched the lights flicker across buildings,

reaming," he

nodded.

n them. A

ija

e real

ave. Always too quick to forgive. He had a

ou lov

at him. "With e

ed. "So why

railing. "Because I was weak. Because I trust

ean va

ndering, hiding. Some believe in power. Dominio

person k

He killed us both. I ju

moment. "Why are you

you to understan

d. "What i

did-that your soul has returned. That Elijah's

hy

that returns is a symbol. A threat to th

tone h

gh to awaken bloodlines. Even heal what's been bro

ing back. "So now

et. Bu

one. I barely passed

ed you to be a savior. I ju

locke

ll. As if somewhere deep in his marrow, somethi

de no

too mu

time," A

all yo

d below, but up here, it felt like the worl

him. "Do you

s wh

ng h

mornings. Real sleep. I miss the way food

. "You know, most people a

er watched everyone they l

shiv

longer, then Ayo sa

blinked.

show you

tween market stalls, past smoky nyama choma grills and woven baskets, u

r stones and a metal plate etched with initials.

dmother," he said

od quietly

t left stains." He smiled. "She always said the soul travels. That

beside him. "S

have li

in the distance, someone played

m. "If I'm really Elijah... tha

f him lives in you. Enough that I fe

. "Then I w

ry

learn. To see w

hifted. Surprise. Grat

could answer,

sure. A heaviness th

stantly, eyes sc

. The hairs on

it?" he w

n front of him. "

d. Tall, in a gray suit. His skin gleamed like obs

ou," the

oice was st

"It's been a lon

eart thuddin

sts clenched

ut

ow