Melissa de la Cruz - THE VAN ALEN LEGACY

“Yeah,” Bliss said. She found that her eyes were suddenly full of tears.

“Oh god, you’re crying. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,” Allison said. “Here.” She handed Bliss a scented handkerchief from her handbag.

“I’m okay . . . it’s just . . . it was complicated,” Bliss stammered, gladly taking the hanky and wiping her eyes.

“Life sure is.” Allison nodded. “But it’s good to see you . . . out. I mean, it must be so hard. I’m saying all the wrong things, aren’t I?”

“Not at all. It’s nice to be able to talk to somebody.” Bliss smiled.

“Well. You can always talk to me. You coming back to school in September?”

Bliss nodded. “Yeah. It’s weird to be held back. I don’t really know anyone anymore.” The Visitor had agreed that Bliss should go back to school. It would be odd if the senator’s daughter suddenly became a high school dropout.

“Well, you know me, and I’m in your class,” Allison said. “It won’t be so bad,” she said, giving Bliss a hug.

“That’s good to hear. Thanks, Ally. See ya.” Bliss smiled.

“See ya.”

Bliss walked back to her car, wanting nothing more than to be alone as she absorbed this news. There had been a memorial for Dylan and no one had come. To the Red Bloods he was just some troublemaker; to the vampires, collateral damage. No one cared or remembered him.

She hadn’t even been there to pay her respects. To see him for one last time before they put him in the ground. He was gone forever, and she would never see him again.

CHAPTER 23

Mimi

The directions on the map led them to the Tijuca Forest, located smackdab in the heart of the city, not too far from the smart beach districts along the coast. Rio was a wonder, Mimi thought. Where else in the world could you go so quickly from the glass towers of a modern financial district to a lush tropical rain forest?

In the cab up to Barra da Tijuca, Kingsley studied the carefully drawn map again. “It looks like there’s some sort of cabin in the woods next to a waterfall. That must be where they’ve brought her.”

Do you think she’s still alive?” Mimi asked.

Kingsley didn’t answer at first. He just folded the note back into his pocket. ‘They kept her alive for over a year, that much we know. If they were going to kill her, why would they wait so long?”

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Mimi said. “Like We’ve come too late.” The note had been dated four days ago. The little girl’s words echoed in her mind. Bad people. They took her away.

The cab driver took them to the parking lot by the entrance near the Cascatinha de Taunay waterfalls, which was as far as he could take them. The parking lot was a small plateau ringed by the tallest trees Mimi had ever seen. They had a panoramic grandeur, the kind of natural beauty you only saw in movies, so tall and green and wide they looked unreal. She stepped out of the cab and took a deep breath of the clear mountain air. It almost had a taste’like dew and sunshine mixed with an earthy green smell. Mimi looked around, there were several decent-looking trails, but they disappeared sharply up the mountain, twisting away to what looked like some sharp rocks. It looked like it would be a pretty arduous trek, no matter what, and she cursed her vanity once more. If only she had worn the regulation shoes. She was never going to make it up that trail in her high-heeled boots.

There were several battered-looking Jeeps whose drivers were trying to entice the small groups of day-trippers and hikers to hire them for the day. But Kingsley had read Mimi’s mind and nixed the idea before she could even suggest it. “No, let’s not put anyone else at risk,” he said. “Silver Bloods think of humans as sport. A guide would only make our mission more vulnerable.”

Fine, she thought. It’s been forty-eight hours since we left the hotel. Forgive me if I want to ride instead of hike. Even vampires got exhausted if you pushed them too hard. Meanwhile, the Lennox brothers had found a naturalist guide.

“Fastest way to the hidden falls?” The guide was so deeply sunburned his skin was mahogany. He had a British accent, and explained that he was part of the Natural Geographic Society.

“Best way is probably up the Pico trail; there’s an unmarked path through the woods that you can follow through the jungle. But it’s a pretty strenuous climb. Sure you don’t want to hire one of the Jeeps? The Taunay falls are right here. They’re just as spectacular. . . . No? All right, then, good luck. Park closes at sunset, so make sure you’re back here by then.”

Mimi looked down at her feet. She knew what she had to do. She sat on a fallen log, took off her boots, and chopped off the spike heels with her blade, wincing a bit at the destruction. Then she put them back on. Much better. She took a big gulp of water from her plastic bottle, wishing not for the first time that she was on that beach in Capri.

“Catch?” Kingsley said, throwing her something.

It was a small bottle of coconut water. “What’s this for?” she asked, pressing down on the tab. She took a sip. Surprisingly refreshing.

“Found it at the gift shop,” he said. “I know it’s not a limoncello, but I hear it’s really good for you.”

Why did he always seem to know what she was thinking? She was annoyed and grateful at the same time, a strange combination of feelings. They set a quick pace, soon leaving most of the other hikers on the main trail behind, and reached the mountaintop in short order. The air was so quiet, it was like entering a sort of natural church. From the top they could see all the way across the city, down to the coastline. It was a magnificent and awe-inspiring view.

“this must be that path the guide was talking about,” Kingsley said, leading them through the shrouded greenery to the other side of the hill. “I think I can hear the water.”

Mimi stopped and listened. She heard it too: a rushing, whooshing sound, just slightly audible and probably miles and miles away. Walking downhill was easier; they were almost gliding, one of the advantages of the vampire agility. They hiked in silence into the dark, desolate heart of the jungle, trusting the map to lead them. The heat was oppressive and overwhelming, the air so humid it was almost like breathing underwater.

The dense vegetation was primordial, the tree roots looking like the claws of an immobilized beast, the sky completely covered by a canopy of green, and everywhere, the rustling sound of animals in flight. Mimi glimpsed one or two of the wildly colored macaws, but was disappointed she didn’t see any monkeys.

Finally they came to a clearing that opened up to the hidden waterfalls, just as the map directed. A torrent of water ran down through rocks, an elemental, awe-inspiring majesty rushing down to a swirling river that ribboned through the jungle.

“According to the map we’ll have to cross the river to get to the bank on the other side,” Kingsley said, untying his laces and removing his shoes. The Lennoxes were already in the water. Their nylon pants were unzipped at the knee, and they carried their backpacks over their heads. Kingsley did the same, except he also removed his T-shirt, showing off his broad chest, tanned and smooth. When had Kingsley had time to work on his tan? Mimi wondered.

Well, at least she wouldn’t have to wear her uncomfortable shoes anymore. Even with the heel surgery, they didn’t provide adequate support. She kicked them off and stripped down to her camisole and underwear, and slipped into the water, holding her bag over her head. The water must have come from a mountain spring, because it was cold, almost freezing, but it felt wonderful after almost two days of walking around a hot city without a proper shower. The river current was strong and threatened to wash Mimi away. She used every inch of her muscles to make it to the other side. When she reached the shallow end, Kingsley held out his hand and pulled her up, but she lost her step and fell into his arms, her body crushing momentarily against his.