"I'll be careful," she murmured.
"Be smart. You'll last longer."
He didn't sound optimistic about her chances to face Jonny. Ashley's heart pounded hard, and she assessed all Xander had told her. It was hard for her to imagine what he meant about lines that shouldn't be crossed. As long as she didn't do anything that she didn't feel was right, she wasn't going to have a problem with regret or scars.
"C'mon. Let's check in on Jessi and the boys," Xander said, turning.
They started walking back towards the boxy white mansion perched at the edge of the beach. Deep in thought, Ashley didn't dare reopen the discussion. She had too much to think about. The troubling idea she was endangering Brandon was foremost in her thoughts.
Jonny had found him despite his ability to hide. What were the chances the Black God could do it again?
She didn't break out of her solemn silence until they reached their apartment later that evening. Brandon was in a cheerful mood. She usually was, too, after the weekly dinners with Jessi and Xander.
Tossing her purse on the couch, Ashley paused to watch Brandon. He moved with habitual purpose, depositing his keys here, tossing his jacket there, flipping on his laptop before disappearing down the hallway to change into sweatpants and t-shirt. When he reappeared, she waited for him to take up his place on the couch before the computer.
"Maybe we should stop trying to fight vamps," she started.
"What?"
"I mean, what if Jonny warning us is something we should take seriously?"
He sat back and gazed at her quizzically. "He didn't scare you off, did he?"
"No."
"Did Xander?"
"Not really," she replied vaguely. "But you can't fight and I can't be everywhere."
"Hel-lo. Of the two of us, I can disappear," he reminded her. "You're the more vulnerable one."
"What would you do if they trapped you?"
"What would you do if you were about to have an episode and were being chased by vamps?"
She rolled her eyes. "I don't have them that often!"
"It only takes once for Jonny to catch you," Brandon said and turned to face his laptop screen. "I think we should keep on fighting them."
"Even with Jonny's warning and knowing where we live?"
"I told Jessi we wanted to move. She said Xander pays the bills so to do whatever," Brandon replied. "We can find a new place this weekend."
Ashley blew out a breath. Her brother wasn't cooperating with her plan to help save his life. He had a point about her purely physical gift, but so did she about his purely mental ability.