by Santos, Anna
“Do you tend to glow much these days?” I questioned, finding it odd, but also understanding that it had something to do with the fact that she was no longer human.
“Only when I’m mad,” she answered me, stepping away and releasing my hand. “Listen really carefully to what I’m about to say to you, vampire. Stay away from my family, or I’ll rip your head off.”
My eyes widened in surprise. The amber in her irises was flickering with a threatening glow. My flesh was experiencing a burning sensation only compared to the sun’s effect on it. Is it fire that’s coming out of her? I have encountered fire angels before, but I thought angels were born that way. I thought gargoyles would simply evolve to angels and could not turn other people into angels. I felt suddenly worried and sad. What if Aria could never become normal? What if she eventually was gone and replaced by that thing?
“You don’t mean that,” I whispered, pretending that her alarming words didn’t hurt me. It wasn’t her talking, anyway. She wouldn’t use that tone of voice on me. I barely knew the girl, but Aria wasn’t like that. It was the weird angelical presence she had inside.
“Listen to me, vampire,” she poured the words out of her mouth nonchalantly. “I don’t really give a damn about you. I don’t see any point in being here. Except, the human likes her parents, and I have to obey her. But have no doubt, if you try to harm me, harm her, or hurt them, I’ll kill you.”
“I have no intentions of hurting you, Aria,” I stated, ignoring that she was talking in the third person. I wasn’t talking to the second presence anyway. I was talking to Aria. “Or your parents. Just relax,” I demanded, moving my hands to get to hers and feeling the heat almost burning me. Aria stepped back, evading my touch. “Relax, Aria.”
“I’ll burn you,” she whispered, almost inaudible.
I smiled. “Then you just need to take control of yourself, so you don’t burn me,” I said, grabbing her hands and noticing how the heat stopped and her eyes became brown again. It didn’t actually burn me. It just heated my skin and left an uncomfortable stinging sensation. I would heal fast even if it burned. I didn’t want her to find me intimidating. I wanted her to come back to me and had no intentions of letting the angel ruin my date with Aria. “See, it’s not that hard, is it?”
She glanced away, evading the hand I wanted to put on her face.
I clenched my jaw, feeling hurt because she was afraid of me. Her heart would beat fast whenever I tried to touch her, and she would have a panicked expression on her face.
“We’re missing the show,” she complained, making me snap out of my over-romantic thoughts of how her face was white as snow and her lips were redder than blood. “Mom and Dad must be worried.”
I didn’t know why seeing her pouting looked adorable and endearing. “Do you trust me?” I asked, putting one finger under her chin so that she would meet my eyes. I knew the answer would be no, but I had to ask the question. I had to reassure her.
Aria shook her head, frowning at our closeness. I felt her hesitate to think if she should step back or stare deep into my eyes. She nibbled on her lip.
I swallowed hard. What is it about her that makes me feel vulnerable and happy? Happiness made my heart swell every time I looked at her. It was a raw and uncontrolled happiness. The notion of belonging hit my soul and washed all my sins away.
“Just don’t scream,” I said as I took her in my arms, bridal style, and sped my way along the staircase to get to the box in time to see the show.
She didn’t scream. She just held on tightly to me as she hid her head against my neck.
Seconds later, we were in front of the wooden door that led to my box, and I put her down. Aria stepped back as she fixed her dress with an annoyed look on her face.
I merely smirked and opened the door, making a theatrical movement for her to get in and see her parents. When she saw them inside, all the grumpiness disappeared, and she rushed to hug them.
I felt envious of the way she jumped into their arms and the happiness they brought to her face. But I also felt happy for being the one who made her content and brought a genuine blissful smile to her face. I could have done atrocious things, but I was ready to redeem myself. At least with her, so she wouldn’t lose her innocence and damn her kind soul to misery and Hell.
Chapter THIRTY-FIVE
ARIA
I should be happy and excited to be here. The ballet performance had been beautiful. With my parents, I got to see the wonderful décor and the amazing view of the city from the Palace of Garnier restaurant. I should be smiling, but I wasn't. I wasn't because I missed Cedric, and I was feeling bothered that he didn't talk to me after our fight. He had ignored my presence when I passed by him to go to the limousine that was waiting for me. He was being obstinate. He should apologize to me and not the other way around!
I had no idea why he was acting so cruel. Camille wasn't taking my side, either. She was abstaining from taking sides. But she helped me get ready for the show and to meet my parents. I was nervous at how they would react to my new look, to my new hair. Strangely, they didn't seem to notice the transformation. They were treating me like the old Aria—the innocent, kind, and unaware-of-the-existence-of-supernatural-beings Aria. It was a relief. I didn't know how to explain the lack of glasses, the red hair, and the fancy clothes I was wearing. They didn't ask, therefore, I didn't bring up the subject.
On the other hand, Philippe was chatty. It annoyed me because my parents seemed to like him a bit too much. They had no idea he was a conceited and ruthless vampire who could kill them in a blink of an eye. The charming guy talking to them was an act. The real Philippe was vicious, self-centered, and a cruel, heartless murderer. I knew that side of him. I had the unfortunate luck to see it first hand and almost died because of it.
It was frustrating how much my dad and Philippe got along. My cheeks puffed up as I got grumpier throughout the evening. My mom was finding my attitude strange. She wouldn't if she knew the man—she was finding so intelligent and handsome—had hurt her baby. Too bad I couldn't tell her that without putting her life at risk. It was Cedric they should be meeting and not Philippe. Cedric was my boyfriend. He was part of our family, and we were bonded. Even if he was mad at me and was doing an excellent job at being stubborn. I was using my new phone to text Camille. Trying to understand where Cedric was and what he was doing. I was getting paranoid. What if he stops loving me?
“Tomorrow, we’re going to visit the Sacré Coeur,” my mom said.
I tried to smile, incapable of feeling happy and reassured. Philippe had planned three intense days for my parents in Paris, so they could see everything. It was confusing, but, at the same time, I was envious. I hadn't done any of that since I'd gotten here. Well, being almost killed and mated to a gargoyle prince had something to do with it.
“I bet you’ve already seen everything and aren’t willing to go sightseeing again. So, we won’t ask you to come. In fact, you must be extremely busy with your new classes.”
Mom’s words made me frown. “What new classes?”
“Gabby told me all about it. I think it’s wonderful you’re taking this trip here so seriously and attending so many summer courses at the University. I didn't know they had summer pre-college programs in Europe that you could attend. I thought you wanted to relax.”
“I also thought that,” I whispered, staring at Philippe who was chatting with my dad about the struggles that the classic music industry was facing and about wine.
Yes, they were also talking about wine. My dad was a serious wine lover. It was his dream to be an owner of a winery. And Philippe had to own one since he was so damn rich. He even invited my dad to visit his winery before they left for London. Just what I need, my parents spending more time with Philippe! I could just growl and yell at that damn vampire for being so annoying. Why is he trying to win over my parents?
“Philippe is so handsome and polite. Where did you two meet?” my mom asked me close to my ear, catchi
ng me off guard with the question.
“What do you mean?”
What has Philippe told my parents about us? He used an excuse to bring my parents here, but I didn't know what he had said to explain my presence there. Imagine his face if I would tell them the truth! You see, Mom, he’s my former soul-mate. He tried to kill me and is an arrogant jerk who thinks he can take back all the awful things he did and said to me just because he’s rich. And, suddenly, he regrets being an asshole to me and wants me to forgive him.
My mom questioned me, “Isn't he your boyfriend?”
“Hell no!” I answered too loud for my own good, catching the attention of not only Philippe and my dad but also from the surrounding tables. Yes, another rude Yankee in the middle of the important and wealthy French people. Take a good look at me then keep eating and meddling in your own pathetic lives.
Okay, so I am losing it. I have a good excuse for that.
“Cedric is my boyfriend,” I told my mom while staring at Philippe with a sense of pride, hoping it felt like a slap in his face. I should have slapped him harder the other night. The nerve of him! “Where did you get that idea, Mom?” I asked, staring at her who gazed from Philippe to me and then again at Philippe.
My dad seemed to be oblivious to what was going on, but he caught the word boyfriend. “So, when can we meet your boyfriend, and how come we don't know anything about him?”
I suddenly felt stupid and small. He was my dad, and I should have told my family something so important. But I couldn't have told them before. Now, I didn't want them to think that Philippe was my boyfriend.
“Aria.” Dad stretched my name in his mouth, making it clear that he wanted me to answer him.
I was getting myself into a mess.
“What’s his name again?” my mom asked, trying to save me from my father's ‘we-have-a-lot-to-talk-about’ face.
“Cedric.”
“How old is he?” Dad asked.
I looked at the ceiling. I didn't know the answer. I had no idea. Cedric didn't seem more than twenty-two.
I looked at Dad when he probed again, “Is he older than you? Is he one of your cousin's friends?”
“You’re making the girl blush,” my mom said to my dad who shrugged his shoulders and looked at Philippe.
Philippe quietly stared at me with his big brown eyes. He could look hurt all he wanted. He wasn’t my boyfriend. Cedric was. I wasn’t going to lie to my parents about that. He could just go and drop dead in some hole in the ground.
“You can meet him. I just need to talk to him first, and then we can meet,” I said, trying to conceal the uncomfortable feeling that Cedric may not want to meet my parents after our fight.
“So, what's up, cousin?” a girly voice greeted me behind my back, putting her hand on my shoulder and giggling into my ear.
It caught me off guard, and I snapped my head back, staring at a happy Gabby with her vampire boyfriend by her side.
“Gabby,” I exclaimed, unable to conceal my surprise.
What is she doing there? Is everybody invited to the party and they neglected to tell me?
“I've come to join you for dessert. Sean and I were invited,” she added while greeting my parents with kisses.
My cousin acted as if I was never gone from her life, and we were friends or something. I glared at Philippe. He had something to do with that, although he was silently staring at his glass of wine.
“So how was the show?” she asked, when she sat down, holding Sean's hand. Her boyfriend, who had already greeted my parents, smirked at me, probably because I had a dumbfounded expression.
“Amazing,” my mom said. “You don't know what you missed.”
“I'm not into ballet. Sean and I went to a pub with our friends and decided to come here to see my cousin. I've missed you,” she shrieked.
I faked a smile.
As his keen, deductive powers flared, Dad asked her, “Don't you two sleep in the same room?”
“We do. We have become inseparable,” Gabby explained.
I frowned at her words. What the hell is going on and why is she lying through her teeth?
Placing a hand on my arm, she beamed as she said, “I'm so happy to have a new best friend. We’re having a lot of fun together, aren't we?”
“Yes, we are.”
“So, Gabby, do you know anything about Aria's boyfriend?” my dad asked.
I almost palmed my face. He wasn’t someone who would drop a subject he was interested in. He wanted to know more and wasn't going to give up.
“Her boyfriend?” she asked as if it was the first time she heard about it. It was!
“Yes, Cedric. I've met him at my summer classes in the university,” I refreshed her memory. If they could lie, then I could, too. “He’s blond and tall.”
My cousin shrugged, and I almost sighed with annoyance.
“So, what are we having for dessert? I'm starving!”
At least, Gabby’s productive addition to the conversation made it possible to change the subject. I stared at the menu that Philippe asked the waiter to bring to us.
“Can I make a suggestion?” Philippe asked, right over my shoulder, shifting closer to my chair because he had to make room for Sean and Gabby to sit at the table.
I wasn’t enjoying the proximity. I would rather have free space between us. I timidly stared at him, fully aware of how good he smelled. I waited for him to speak again, letting my silence be the answer to his question.
“You should try the vanilla crème brûlée.”
“I was more inclined to eat the ice-cream. It sounds nice, Tulips with Raspberry Sorbet,” I shared, intrigued by the dessert. I wondered how someone could put tulips in an ice-cream.
He smiled at me, flashing his perfect white teeth.
I blushed. “What?”
“Were you wondering if it had tulips in it?”
I nodded, biting my lip. A crystalline laughter left his mouth. I pursed my lips. He was apparently mocking me, and he looked dashing doing so.
“Don't get mad. I thought the same thing when I first read the name.”
I lost the scowl. “So, why do they call it that?”
“It's quite simple actually. The tulip is the cookie they put the ice-cream in. It's an elegant and edible dessert shell,” he over-explained, but it didn't bore me. He seemed to know a lot of things. The vampire was annoyingly smart.
“If you get that, I can get the crème brûlée for me and let you taste it,” he added.
I smiled at the idea. If he was trying to buy me with food, it was probably working. Maybe he wasn’t all that bad. He gave helpful tips about food. Otherwise, he was a jerk. I should keep reminding myself of that.
When I looked over the menu, Mom and Dad were observing Philippe and me. I turned red from head to toe. Then, I relaxed when Dad smiled at me and asked Mom about her opinion of what they should eat.
Meanwhile, Gabby was speaking with Sean about the chocolate pudding she wanted to eat. He just agreed, as always. She seemed to have a firm hold on him. He was the vampire. However, she was the one who enthralled him and made him do whatever she wanted. I wondered if Sean loving her had something to do with it. Would it be enough to keep her safe? After all, he could kill her by drinking from her or holding her too tight.
“He won't harm her,” Philippe said as if he was guessing my thoughts. “She’s his soul-mate.”
I detected the uncomfortable feeling behind his words and desolation, too. But my face was serious as my eyes remained emotionless on his. There were no excuses for what he did. “No. He wasn't stupid enough to reject his soul-mate as I did.”
Is Philippe able to read my mind? That was terrifying! I didn't say a word, and he looked like he knew what I was thinking. I didn't know what he was plotting. Angels didn't have that ability. But I didn't think vampires had it either.
“Get out of my head,” I hissed at him.
He looked hurt, moving away from me and staring at his plate.
I felt like cursing right there. He was playing the grieving part when I was the one who ended up in a river because of him.
“Aria,” Gabby's voice interrupted my scowling stare at Philippe. When I looked at her, she looked serious. “Do you want to share a dessert with me?”
Her question astonished me. The sadness in her voice alerted me that something was wrong.
“What are you going to order?” I asked politely.
“Chocolate pudding.”
“I think I'll have the ice-cream. But we can share it,” I said with a smile, trying to be nice to her, though she hadn't been with me before.
“Okay,” she agreed, tears falling down her eyes.
Why is she crying? “What’s wrong?”
Sean turned to his girlfriend, noticing her tears. “What’s wrong, honey?” His face became gloomy and worried as if the world was falling apart just because Gabby was crying. “Why are you crying, mon chou?”
“I just got terribly sad,” she sobbed, dropping the menu and hiding her face against Sean's chest.
Everybody stared at her in confusion.
“I just remembered she fell in the river, and I got so worried and upset!” she whimpered. “I'm so glad she didn't die.”
I was left speechless. Then, I felt Philippe's hand holding my cold one under the table. My heart was pumping blood fast. It felt as if my heart was pulsing inside my head. I should have taken my hand from his. I should have been invulnerable to Gabby's words, but bad memories came rushing to my mind and my eyes stung with tears.
“Let's just go to the bathroom, so you can calm yourself down,” my mom said to Gabby, releasing her from Sean's arms.
It was challenging for Gabby to leave Sean and for Sean to let her go. He looked troubled and miserable with her sadness. They seemed to be in love. I bit my lower lip, remembering Cedric. He was like that to me, too. We are in love, aren't we? I missed him so much! I wanted to cry, too, in his arms. Everything was less terrifying with him by my side.
I took my hand from Philippe's. Breathing deeply and getting a hold of my feelings, I stood up and followed my mom and cousin to the bathroom. I wasn’t going to cry, and I wasn’t going to be tricked by Philippe's nice manners and witty comments. He was a jerk, and I belonged to Cedric. The sooner that meal was over, the sooner I could go back home and be with my prince.