Ungifted

by Kelly Oram

  Since then the council has devoted themselves to keeping the existence of supernaturals secret, but they’re sort of tyrants about it. The resistance was formed when the council began to abuse their power. They want to disband the council and believe the safest way for supernaturals is to come out of hiding and learn to live peacefully again with humans.

  The history lesson continued until it was nearly four. I found it all very fascinating, but was still very confused about what it all had to do with Russ. I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

  When it was time for me to get ready for the dinner, Cynthia and her brothers drove Ethan and I back to my house where I found my dresses stacked on the front porch. I’d left them in Russ’s car and he’d thankfully dropped them off after he had disappeared from the café.

  Ethan gathered up the boxes for me and followed me inside. I could hear my dad thumping around in his office and my mouth went dry. “I’ve never asked if I could bring someone with me to one of these things before,” I whispered.

  “It’ll be fine,” Ethan assured me. “Why would he say no?”

  “You’re right. Plus, he already likes you.” There was no reason to be scared of my father. I took a deep breath and then called, “Dad?”

  “Gracie? That you? You’re back early.”

  “Yeah.” I took the light tone in his voice as permission to enter the office. “I figured I’d better get an early start. It takes me a lot longer to bathe right now.”

  I gestured to my cast and my dad chuckled. “I suppose so. And to think I assumed you were joking when you asked if you could get a doctor’s note to be excused from gym class.” He laughed, and to Ethan explained, “She tried to tell me that physical activity was hazardous to her health.”

  “It is,” Ethan said gravely. “I’ve never met someone as uncoordinated as your daughter, sir. No offense.”

  “None taken. Truth be told, I’m not much of an athlete myself.” He started then as though he’d just remembered something. “Oh! I almost forgot. You got a phone call today while you were out. It looks as if you and I are going to have to set a few ground rules,” he teased, “now that the boys are starting to take notice of you.”

  Ethan and I shared a look. “Who called?” I asked warily. “Was it Caleb?”

  Dad raised one of his eyebrows curiously.

  “Preston?” I tried again.

  This time Dad’s other eyebrow rose, too. “Heaven’s sake, Grace. You trying to give your old man a heart attack? Russ, Caleb, Preston, Andrew…How many admirers do you have?”

  “Andrew?” I reached instinctively for Ethan’s hand. He jumped when I grabbed it and I quickly let go realizing what I’d done.

  “That’s right,” Dad said, eyeing us suspiciously. “Andrew De La Cote. You remember him, don’t you? He said he was sure you would.”

  “I remember.” If my dad noticed that my voice was trembling, he didn’t care.

  “He called to ask if you would be his date this evening.”

  “Oh, actually dad, about that—”

  “I know. He’s the young man who upset you at the hospital last week. He told me all about it. Said he hadn’t meant any harm, he just isn’t used to young ladies being quite as shy as you. He apologized profusely and asked if he could make it up to you by saving you from all of the ‘boring political talk’ tonight.” To my astonishment, Dad laughed. “Sounds like he likes these dinners about as much as you. I told him you’d probably be grateful.”

  “No! Dad!”

  “Oh come on, Grace. Give the boy a chance. It sounds like it was an honest mistake. He’s just trying to make it right.”

  Yeah. Sure. Or maybe he’s an obsessed vampire who’s a little miffed that I didn’t turn into a monster and wants another shot at making me his eternal mate.

  “That’s nice and all, Dad, but the thing is…” My dad’s smile faded but I hedged on anyway, risking one of his famous mood swings. “The thing is…I thought about what you said earlier, about my attitude toward Ethan being really bad, and you’re right. If we have to spend so much time together, I should really try to like him a little more. I was going to ask you if I could bring him as my date tonight. Maybe if I get to know him better, it will help. He already said he would go.”

  “Oh. Well…” Dad look stunned. I could tell he’d been prepared to be angry with me, but I hadn’t given him a reason to be. In fact, I’d impressed him. “That’s very mature of you, Grace. I’m glad you’ve decided to be reasonable. Any other time you know I’d let him come in a heartbeat, but I’m afraid I already told Andrew you’d go with him.”

  “You what?”

  Dad shifted his weight from one foot to the other—a nervous gesture his image consultant would kill him for. “Well, you’ve never asked anyone to one of these before and I honestly thought you’d appreciate it. I know how much you hate these things. I thought you might feel better if you could sit with someone your own age. I’m sorry, honey.”

  “That’s okay, Dad.” I tried to bite back my annoyance. It wasn’t that hard because I was scared enough that I didn’t have much energy left to be mad. “Did he leave a number? I’ll just call him back and explain that I’ve already asked someone. He’ll understand.”

  “Sorry, Grace. They’ve already set the seating chart. It’s too late to add another person to the party. And since you will be sitting next to Andrew at dinner anyway, I don’t see the necessity of embarrassing the poor boy with a rejection.”

  In my panic, I lost my temper. “But I don’t want to be his date! I don’t like him!” I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. My dad responds much better when I’m not yelling. “He made me really uncomfortable.”

  My dad sighed. “It’s just one evening, Grace, and you won’t ever be alone. I’ll be in the room the whole time. The responsible thing to do here is—”

  “But, Dad!”

  If there’s one thing my dad hates worse than my eye roll it’s the words “But, Dad.” His face flushed with anger. “Grow up, Grace!” he snapped. “Everyone has to do things they don’t like every now and then. That boy’s father is the president of the American Hospital Association, and I won’t have you embarrassing me like that. You are going to go and at least sit with him at dinner this evening. Don’t encourage him if you don’t like him, but you will be cordial. Do I make myself clear?”

  All of a sudden I couldn’t feel any air in my lungs, no matter how much I breathed in. My heart began pounding so hard that I could hear the blood pumping through my ears like a roaring wind.

  Grace!

  I nearly screamed. It was Ethan’s voice, but it was inside my head.

  Stop panicking. It’ll be okay.

  “Okay,” I whispered.

  I was answering Ethan, but it was my dad who responded. “Good girl,” he said. “I’m sorry about the mix up.” He lifted his hand as if swearing an oath. “From now on I’ll let you plan your own dates. Promise.”

  He crossed his heart and then smiled sheepishly at Ethan. “I’m as new at this dating business as she is. I’m sorry you can’t come tonight. But I agree it’s a good idea that the two of you spend some time together. Maybe if you aren’t busy I could get you guys tickets to something one night this week. Grace loves the symphony and it would be good for her to get out since I’ll be out of town and she’ll be alone until Thursday.”

  “Dad!”

  “Oh, right! Sorry. Not my business. I’ll leave you kids to it, then.” Dad kissed my head and hurried out of the room.

  “He means well,” Ethan said after he left, but I wasn’t worried about my dad.

  “How did you do that?”

  “What?”

  “I heard you!”

  “Oh,” Ethan said quietly. “That. Same way you did, I guess.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The night Andrew attacked you, I heard you call for help. I didn’t realize it was in my head until I came into your room and saw that you weren’t
screaming out loud.”

  I shuddered. I didn’t like the fact that Ethan and I could talk to each other in our minds.

  “It must be because of our bond,” Ethan said. “It’s not something other nephilim can do. It’s not something I’ve ever heard of before.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’m not crazy about it either, Grace, but it could help. I’ll follow you tonight. I’ll stay close. If Andrew tries to—if you need me, just call. I’ll find a way to get to you.”

  “Okay,” I said dismally. It wasn’t much of a plan.

  . . . . .

  I wore the blue dress. Aside from promising Russ, I was afraid not wearing it might make Andrew mad. I was pretty sure an angry vampire was a very bad thing.

  The dinner was held at the De La Cote family estate, which turned out to be a gigantic mansion that resembled a castle. Seriously, if they made the nightmare version of Disneyland, Andrew’s house would be the main attraction.

  Then, as if the place weren’t creepy enough, my father and I were greeted in their majestic foyer by exactly three people—Andrew and his parents. Andrew didn’t really look anything like either of them, but he and his father were both impeccable in their expensive tuxedos. James Bond times five million. The mother could have put Audrey Hepburn to shame. Andrew was wearing some kind of exotic flower in his lapel the exact shade of my dress, and, strangely, I think that scared me more than anything else.

  “Senator!” Stefan De La Cote greeted enthusiastically. “Welcome!” He gestured to the woman clinging to his side. “Allow me to introduce my wife Elizabeth.”

  The woman let go of him in order to shake my dad’s hand. “It’s an honor to have you in our home.”

  Dad was putty in her grasp. “The honor’s entirely mine.”

  “And this must be Grace,” Stefan said. He held his hand out to me, but I was so terrified that my father had to elbow me before I took it.

  There was only the tiniest pause when Stefan touched me, but otherwise he hid his reaction expertly. “Charming,” he said, kissing my hand instead of shaking it. “Andrew has told us so much about you, but he failed to do your beauty justice.”

  Dad puffed his chest out proudly. “She gets it from her mother, of course.”

  “Don’t be so modest, Senator,” Elizabeth teased.

  My dad blushed and Andrew’s dad laughed. “Shall we carry on to the dining hall, then? I believe you’re the last of our guests to arrive.”

  “Sounds great.”

  Andrew’s mom started to lead Dad away, and when I clung to his arm Andrew’s father stopped us. “Forgive me, Senator?” he asked in a voice that purred. “I hope you don’t mind, but we’ve arranged for the children to have their dinner outside on the terrace. I’m afraid our Andrew finds these meetings frightfully dull, and there’s really no need for them to be present.”

  My grip on my dad’s arm got so tight I heard him wince. “Please no, Dad,” I whispered.

  He glanced down at me nervously and I felt a glimmer of hope. He could be selfish sometimes, but there’s no chance he’d put me in harm’s way just to get an endorsement. He patted my arm reassuringly and said, “I’m not sure Grace would be comfortable—”

  “Come now, Senator,” Andrew’s mother said, taking my dad by the arm and smiling directly into his eyes. “Surely the children would prefer to be alone. I assure you, Andrew will take very good care of your daughter for you. He is quite the gentleman. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Of course.” Dad nodded his head slowly as if he was under a spell.

  “Dad, no!” I yelled. “Snap out of it! Don’t you see what she’s doing?”

  “Curious,” Andrew’s dad said, smiling at me in a way that unnerved me from the inside out. I was a science project to him.

  Andrew took me by the arm then, speaking for the first time since we arrived. “Come, love. The chef has prepared an exquisite meal for us under the stars.”

  “I’m not the meal, am I?”

  The De La Cotes all laughed, a chorus of tinkling bells, and my father joined in nervously. “Grace, what’s gotten into you? These people are trying to do you a favor. I know you don’t want to sit in on the meeting with me. Run along with your friend now and enjoy yourself. It’s okay. I promise.”

  “Dad, wait! You don’t understand!”

  My begging didn’t do me any good. Dad simply gave me two thumbs up and followed Andrew’s parents down a hall and out of sight. I struggled but couldn’t move an inch in Andrew’s grip.

  “Relax, Grace,” he whispered, running a hand across my cheek. “I know you’re frightened, but I promise I will not hurt you.” He reached for a single rose sitting on a table beside the door. “Just dinner,” he said, and with a smile specified, “veal parmesan.” He placed the rose in my hand. “And hopefully a little pleasant conversation.”

  Andrew tried to escort me in the opposite direction my father had just gone off, but realized he couldn’t pull me along by force when I had to maneuver crutches. “Never mind with these wretched things,” he said, taking them from me.

  As he set them aside I stood there balancing on one foot, debating whether I should call for Ethan. I wanted to. I didn’t want to be alone with Andrew, but he wasn’t doing anything yet and if I called out, Ethan would do something drastic to try and get in the house. There was security all over the place and half of it was the De La Cote’s security. I couldn’t help wondering if that meant vampires. Ethan wasn’t my favorite person in the world, and I knew he could take care of himself, but I still didn’t like the idea of him fighting a bunch of vampires on their own turf just to try finding me.

  Not unless Andrew attacks me, I thought to myself.

  For a second I thought that’s exactly what he was doing, but it turned out he was only picking me up in order to carry me to our destination.

  “This is much better, don’t you think?” Andrew asked as he cradled me in his arms. My weight was nothing to him. When I cringed violently and refused to look at or speak to him he said, “You know, Grace, had you become like me you would be healed now.” He sighed. “Humans are so fragile.”

  His face was so close to mine that I pinched my eyes shut.

  “You are beautiful tonight, love.”

  The voice came from so close that I felt his breath on my cheek. It wasn’t warm like breath should be, but cool. I felt his skin brush against mine and choked on a gasp. My eyes stung beneath their lids and I could feel water gathering in my lashes.

  “Even your tears are beautiful,” Andrew whispered. “You will not always fear me. I’m sorry that you do now. It was not meant to be this way.”

  Even though my eyes were closed, I knew when we’d reached the terrace. The air I’d found so stifling inside the house had turned to a crisp, cool breeze and I could feel the unnatural warmth of heat lamps.

  I was placed so gently on a soft-cushioned seat that I might not have noticed I’d been set down if Andrew hadn’t propped my casted leg up. I braved opening my eyes and found myself on a velvet chaise. Andrew was placing a small throw pillow beneath my foot. He smiled when he noticed me looking at him.

  “Stefan says elevation helps ease the discomfort.”

  “Thank you.”

  I’d whispered so quietly I barely heard myself, but Andrew had no problem understanding me. His face lit up. “I will always take the greatest care with you.”

  I shuddered. He obviously didn’t consider tonight the one-time deal it was for me.

  I looked away, and when I finally took in my surroundings my breath was stolen from me. The terrace was covered with white latticework draped almost entirely in rich violet wisteria, and had been set aglow with tiny white lights.

  Beyond the patio was a beautifully manicured garden fully equipped with a large stone fountain fashioned after something you might see while touring Rome. It, like the terrace, was also illuminated to have almost a heavenly glow.

  All around me, the patio had been d
usted in a light layer of rose petals and scented candles. The most fancy silver and china had been placed on a small table beside me. The entire setting could have been more romantic than any movie had dinner not been set for only one. I looked at the singular place setting and shuddered again.

  Andrew watched me gawk with a satisfied look on his face, and when my eyes finally came back to him he came to sit with me. I tried to scoot back, but the lounger was obviously made for one and I couldn’t go far. “Do not make yourself uncomfortable,” Andrew said, resting a hand on my leg.

  “It’s impossible for me to be comfortable right now,” I muttered.

  Andrew sighed and lifted the lid off of a plate of food. “Eat and you will feel better.”

  Yeah right. As if I could put anything in my stomach when it was so tied up in knots? “I’m not hungry.”

  “There’s no need to be difficult,” Andrew said with a frown.

  He had a point. At the moment he was only asking me to eat. Eating was safe. Well, as long as I was the one doing the eating, anyway. There was no use in making him angry, so I picked up my fork.

  Andrew was quiet for a few minutes and I thought I’d be glad for the silence, but there’s nothing more awkward than having someone watch you eat. When he finally spoke, I welcomed it. “How is it?” he asked curiously.

  “It’s good,” I admitted once my mouth was clear.

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Andrew actually looked relieved. To my astonishment, he began rubbing his hands together nervously. “I wanted everything to be perfect tonight.”

  “Why?” I asked, startled. I didn’t dare imagine what he thought was going to happen tonight.

  “Because I know how you must feel right now—how you must hate me—but Grace, that wasn’t supposed to happen. Please understand that my actions were meant with only the best of intentions.”

  It looked as if he was waiting for me to respond. I had no idea what to say, so I shoved another forkful of food in my mouth. It worked. Andrew went on with his explanation.