“Are you ready for our lecture?” he jokingly asked, as the group neared the compartment where Turner and Arianna sat. Arianna held her breath as the door slid open.
His face flushed, but in his normal, serious composure, Devin entered the room and sat down across from Arianna and Turner. Arianna listened as the other five entered the rooms on either side.
“Are you still mad?” Arianna asked curiously. Devin sat there without saying anything.
“If you want to leave, all you have to do is tell me, and we can make safer arrangements,” Devin explained. Arianna nodded. “Please think before you act in the future. If your grandfather knew, he would have been completely lost. We only care for your safety.”
“She did think,” Turner defended Arianna. “She thought she needed to get away from being followed around all the time.” Devin glared at Turner, knowing it was true.
“Ari, you need to feed,” Devin said, ignoring Turner. “Come here,” he directed. Arianna wanted to refuse, but knew it was true. Just sitting across from him made her hungry.
Arianna moved to sit next to Devin as he unbuttoned the top few buttons on his shirt. Though she was aware that he wasn’t telling her everything, Arianna knew Devin was always conscious of what she needed. He seemed to understand the new night human side of her better than she did, even though he wasn’t even one of them.
“Can’t we do the IV thingy?” she asked, blushing from embarrassment.
“We could at home, but someone decided to run away this morning, so we were a bit rushed getting here,” Devin replied.
“But I still don’t know how to,” she complained as he picked up her hand and placed it on his bare chest. With a rush of overpowering sound, Arianna felt his heart beating and slowly the scent of his blood was beginning to pull her near. Kneeling beside him, Arianna closed her eyes and continued to listen. Brushing his shirt away from his neck, Arianna neared close enough for Devin to feel her breath. Arianna slowly bit down, trying to not touch anything except the vein that was throbbing. As she released her bite, she tasted his blood. It definitely tasted better than either her grandfather’s or uncle’s blood. With her hand still resting on his chest, and listening to his heartbeat, Arianna drank until she felt the beat slightly change. Licking the holes she had made, Arianna slowly pulled back and watched them close before her eyes.
“Was that enough?” Devin asked.
Arianna pulled her hand back at his voice and turned to face him as he spoke. Realizing she was mere inches from his face, Arianna tried to quickly move, but was dizzy from the blood. Devin held onto her waist to keep her from tipping over.
“You’ll get used to that feeling eventually,” he explained. “But for now it would probably be best if you just sleep it off.” Devin picked up her hand and placed it back on his chest. “It’s a four and a half hour train ride, so you have plenty of time to rest.”
Arianna couldn’t complain. She nodded as the sound of his heartbeat filled her mind again. Arianna heard clearer than she had before she took his blood. Everything in the small compartment seemed to be amplified. Arianna looked around the compact space as colors vividly filled her mind. Turner stared at the crystal-blue eyes scanning the room. He had been at her coming-out party, but he hadn’t been close enough to be as in awe as he was now, watching her. Slowly, she curled up on Devin’s lap, placing her head against his bare chest, and she instantly fell asleep.
Devin lightly placed his hand over her other ear. “I don’t need her ability to feel emotions to see the jealously written all over your face,” he teased. Turner tried not to pout, knowing Devin was correct.
“If you ever try this stunt again, I won’t promise that I’ll be able to keep Lord Randolph from coming personally to take her back,” Devin continued. “Are you stupid? You know there are many people that want to get a hold of her.”
“Does it make a difference? She was taken from her own bedroom upon arriving here,” Turner replied.
“True, but she was safe the entire time. Her uncle makes it a point to personally see that she doesn’t get into trouble,” Devin explained.
“Is that how you knew so fast that we were gone?” Turner asked.
“Yes, he called as soon as you stopped at the station and bought tickets,” Devin replied.
“But I was so safe. No one was following us. I am sure,” Turner complained, racking his brain to try to recall any little detail that would have indicated that someone was following them.
“You’d never notice he was there. It’s his specialty, or rather should I say, he was meant to be a spy who goes unnoticed. That’s what his kind are good at,” Devin replied.
“You mean he’s baku?” Turner asked.
“The best,” Devin replied, moving Arianna slightly to prop his legs up on the rest of the seat.
“Are you saying that her uncle is Gabriel?” Turner responded in awe, still staring at the sleeping Arianna. “The best?” Turner repeated, raising his eyebrow at the thought. “Then is he here now, on this train?” Turner asked.
“Correct again,” Devin replied, shutting his own eyes. “Purebred baku and purebred dearg-dul.”
“She really is both?”
“Yes, I wouldn’t doubt it. He doesn’t exactly trust us to watch over her yet, and I doubt it’s for her dearg-dul qualities,” Devin said, yawning. “But you wouldn’t find him even if you went door to door looking in each room. You don’t live as long as he or Lord Randolph have, in the middle of an ongoing war between the two races, no less, unless you are the best.”
Turner spent the rest of the ride alternating between looking out the window and watching Arianna peacefully sleep on Devin. Devin was right. Turner couldn’t sense the presence of a baku on the train at all, but he knew Gabriel must be somewhere. Gabriel obviously didn’t trust Devin and his team alone to protect Arianna. He had to be close, but Turner couldn’t even guess where.
When the train finally stopped, Devin gently placed Arianna on the seat and joined Molina in the room to the right of their compartment. Turner could hear them talking. It was 1:30 in the afternoon, still too soon for any dearg-duls to be out in the sunlight. They would have to wait on the train. Turner listened to them debate their options as two large, black cars with tinted windows arrived at the station. Turner knew immediately his father had sent an escort for him and Arianna.
Arianna stretched as she yawned. “Why does he always have to be right?” she asked.
“Who?” Turner replied.
“Devin,” Arianna responded.
Turner laughed. “I wouldn’t say he’s always right, but concerning your health, he is the best person to trust. Your grandfather has trained him well.”
Arianna peered out the window into the train station. “What are we waiting for?” she asked. “Is this our exit?”
“Yes, but it’s 1:30,” Turner replied. “Molina and Devin are deciding what to do.”
Arianna listened to the next room, then looked at the train station blocking her view. “You said the train goes right into your city. So, we don’t have to travel farther do we?” she asked.
“No, it’s only about a ten minute drive to my father’s house from here,” Turner replied.
“Then why can’t we leave now? Molina, Nelson, and Mica can catch up after two,” Arianna replied. “I’ve traveled around with just Devin before, and they considered that safe. Besides, my uncle is nearby.”
“You know where your uncle is?” Turner asked.
“Yeah, I can smell his blood,” Arianna replied, standing and walking to the door.
Turner closed his eyes and searched for the baku scent. Again, he found nothing. “How can you smell his blood, he must be quite a ways away from us right now ‘cause I don’t smell any baku blood.”
“No, he’s just four rooms down,” Arianna replied. “It’s like Devin. I can smell his blood anywhere he goes,” Arianna explained. “The same with my uncle.”
“You’ve drunk his blood b
efore?” Turner asked, dubious that such an important baku would share his blood.
“Mm hmm,” Arianna opened the compartment door. “Are you going to stay behind?” Arianna asked as Turner remained seated.
“It still isn’t two yet,” he replied.
“So what?” Arianna tied up her hair, ready to go.
“Do you want to be burned?”
Arianna laughed. “You’re worried about me? Don’t be.” Turner followed as Arianna opened the door to the room with Devin and Molina in it. “Can we leave now?” she asked boldly, still running on the elation that freedom gave her.
Devin and Molina looked to Arianna.
“I mean, can I leave with Devin, Jackson, and Nixon as my guards and then you guys can catch up later?” Arianna rephrased her question, trying to be nicer.
“If you leave now, people will know your secret,” Molina replied.
“Who cares?” Arianna shot back. “I’m sick of all the secrets. They’ll eventually find out anyways.” Molina gave Devin a look, but he just shook his head no.
“Fine,” Molina replied hesitatingly. “You can leave here, but only go straight to Lord Winter’s compound. Wait there for us to catch up.” Arianna nodded.
“Right boss,” she replied with a salute and then a giggle as she noticed Turner’s complete shock.
FOURTEEN
Arianna and Turner arrived at his home and threw the whole estate into chaos. Lord Winter sent them to town to get clothing and supplies for the weekend, as they had left Lord Randolph’s estate without a single packed item. Once the shock wore off, Lord Winter had promptly decided a formal dinner was required for Arianna, his son’s unannounced guest, and the plans were off and running. Arianna and Turner happily ran back into town to avoid the chaos that always pursued Arianna. It took five stores, but they had found everything they needed for the weekend, and regretfully knew they would have to return to Lord Winter’s home.
Arianna sighed as she took the last bag from the cashier. “That should be enough to get through the weekend,” she commented, counting the bags between Turner and herself. “I still think that hat suited you. It completes your look,” she commented on the small, multicolored beanie hat Turner was wearing around the last store.
“One more stop,” Turner added as they walked out of the store.
“But I have enough,” Arianna complained, counting the number of outfits she had bought in her head.
“Nope, you need something for tomorrow night,” Turner replied.
“I thought your dad was just being generous, offering to throw a party in my honor,” Arianna complained. “I didn’t know he was serious.”
“Oh, he sure was,” Turner replied. “It’s important to people like my father to show their connections in the world, and what better connection than his son being friends with Lord Randolph’s granddaughter?” Turner explained with a shrug. “I thought he might do something like this, but I didn’t think he’d do it the first time I brought you here. The old man is a little eccentric when it comes to these things. This way,” Turner directed, grabbing Arianna’s arm and pulling her across the street. Arianna smiled. First time, she pondered.
Her smile instantly faded. Arianna wrinkled her nose as Turner pulled her into a nearby dress shop. Lining one wall were various-styled wedding gowns and on the other side were formal dresses.
“Pick anything you like,” Turner responded. “No dress codes for the guest of honor.”
Arianna looked behind Turner to Molina standing outside the shop. Arianna waved her inside.
“I need help,” she whispered. “I don’t do the formal girly things that well. It’s easier to just wear what someone else picks out.” Molina smiled. Arianna’s boldness at the train station was only temporary. She had changed back into the shy girl that needed an older sister’s help. Obliged to follow her orders, but more so amused by the sudden change in Arianna, Molina began picking through the racks of dresses.
“Try these three,” she said, handing three deep blue colored dressed to Arianna. Arianna nodded thankfully.
Following the sales lady to the dressing room, Arianna sighed again as she plopped down in the seat in the waiting room. So far, she had found the town was more normal than she expected. No one walked around in night human form. People weren’t drinking human blood as they walked down the street. In fact, it could be anyone’s hometown. As she listened to the random conversations outside, it was what you might expect in any town: a group of teenage girls talking about their latest crush, a middle-aged man in the hardware store asking how best to install a new kitchen sink, and a little child asking his mother to be picked up.
Reluctantly, Arianna stood and picked up the first dress. She wasn’t looking forward to another dinner in her honor. Whether the guests realized it or not at the last one, she could hear everything anyone said about her. She didn’t like being made the centerpiece for an evening, but even more dreaded wearing a formal gown again. At least it’s not pink with lace, she reassured herself with a giggle as she slipped into the first dress. It wasn’t something Arianna could be seen in public in, so she changed to the second dress. The second dress was fine, except it was too long for Arianna’s short size. And the last dress, Arianna knew her grandfather wouldn’t approve of. Changing back into the second dress, Arianna exited the dressing room for Molina’s approval.
“That looks good,” Molina said, as she walked into the dressing room hallway. “It’s a little too long though. Eight-inch heels should do the trick,” she teased. Pulling her hand from behind her back, she offered up a pair of heels. “But I thought these would probably look best with any of the dresses.”
Arianna put the shoes on, but the dress was still too long.
“Not a problem,” the saleslady said, joining them. “We can alter that for you and have it to Lord Winter’s place by tomorrow afternoon.”
Arianna returned to the dressing room. Pausing in the room, she tapped on the wall between her room and the next.
“Gabriel?” she asked quietly, trying not to be heard by Turner standing in the store.
“Put your hand under here,” Gabriel directed, waving to her from beneath the wall between the two rooms. Arianna followed his direction, squatting down by the wall and placing her hand under the partial wall. “Just hold still one second, and we can finish talking.” Arianna felt him take her hand gently and prick the tip of her finger. Quickly he grasped her finger in his hand, but Arianna could already hear Turner and Molina hurrying to the dressing room.
“Arianna, are you okay?” Turner asked, worried as he had momentarily smelled her blood.
“I’m fine,” Arianna replied. “I just pricked myself on one of these pins,” she lied.
“Okay,” Turner said, leaving the room.
‘Good lie,’ Gabriel replied. Arianna stared around the room. She was sure she heard him clearly, as though he was standing next to her and not through a wall.
“I don’t understand,” Arianna replied.
‘Don’t talk out loud,’ Gabriel explained. ‘Turner will hear you’ Puzzled, Arianna continued to sit on the floor, wondering how he was talking to her without talking out loud. ‘This is a method baku can use to communicate without talking. Blood to blood allows us to communicate with any other night human. All you have to do is think what you want to say, and I’ll hear it.’
‘Just think?’ she pondered. Immediately imagines flashed to mind of Devin and Turner.
‘Yes, just think but not about those boys. I don’t need to know what you think of them,’ Gabriel replied.
Arianna blushed, realizing her thoughts had just been conveyed to him.
‘Why don’t you just talk to me normally?’ she asked.
‘Because this isn’t a safe place for our kind,’ he explained.
‘But Devin and Molina are fine with you, now that you helped them,’ Arianna tried to reason.
‘They may be, but your friend out there, and all the people of this
city, wouldn’t be,’ he replied. ‘I wanted to talk to you before I left. I need to get home and deal with some business, so I won’t be following you around until you return to your grandfather’s home. I need you to promise me, no more of this running-away-without-Devin business. That boy knows how to better protect you than anyone. It’s just not safe for you to be running around. You don’t know what kind of world is waiting to get a hold of you.’
‘That’s the same thing grandfather said,’ Arianna added.
‘For once, I agree with him. Promise me, until I return, you will keep two guards with you at all times,’ Gabriel begged.
‘I promise, but I only have one with me right now,’ Arianna replied.
‘Turner counts as a guard,’ Gabriel explained. ‘He is as strong as most purebred dearg-duls.’
‘Oh,’ Arianna added, still unsure why they worried so much about her.
‘Please follow anything Devin tells you to do. He is watching out for you, and trying to keep you safe. I know you get frustrated because you don’t like to be lied to, but cut him some slack. He is a seventeen-year-old taking on the responsibility of protecting the rarest night human to ever come along,’ Gabriel explained.
‘I know,’ Arianna replied. Gabriel was right. Devin was holding a great responsibility to take care of her and from what she could tell, he was getting nothing in return. ‘I’ll be a good girl until you return. Then can I be a bad girl again?’ Arianna teased.
‘Of course,’ Gabriel replied. How could one keep a teenager from not acting out and testing the rules? She needed to find her own place in the world. Gabriel let go of his niece’s hand and quietly slipped out of the store, unnoticed by everyone.
“Now that we have bought clothes and a dress for tomorrow night, is anything else left?” Arianna asked Turner as they left the store. Arianna listened as Gabriel continued to move father away from her. She had known all along he was following them on the train. Like Devin, Gabriel had become a constant in her new life.
The Legend of the Blue Eyes Page 12