Fire and Beauty

by Willow Rose

  Amy's mom closed her eyes quickly, then shook her head.

  "S-so, do you know what he's doing here?" she asked.

  "Living here, I guess," Amy said feeling a little confused. What an odd thing to ask about.

  The oven dinged, and Amy smiled. "Dinner is ready."

  "I'll go tell your dad," her mom said, still sounding distressed, maybe even more than before. She spun around and rushed up the stairs, looking like she almost flew.

  Chapter Nine

  Is that what you're wearing?"

  I gave my mom a look. "This is the dress you told me to wear," I said. "The blue one, remember?"

  "Really? That’s the blue dress? Well, I remember it as being a lot prettier." She reached out and grabbed my sides. "Have you gained weight? You'd think all that running would do the opposite."

  I pulled back, annoyed. "This is what I’m wearing," I said. "Can we please just get this over with?"

  My mom corrected my hair, then looked at me, her head tilted. "Well, yes, I guess that is the best you can do. It will have to do."

  I had literally spent an hour getting ready, putting on make-up and still, it wasn't quite good enough for my mom and her fancy friends who were related to the British royal family.

  I felt like throwing up just thinking about it.

  My mom had made some vegetarian dish that smelled awful, and I feared how it was going to taste. My mom looked so happy, though, as she showed the dish to me, holding it in her hands. I didn't dare to say anything.

  The doorbell sounded like a somber death march to me as it chimed through the house.

  "They're here," my mom chirped and rushed for the door, throwing her apron on the chair in the kitchen. She did find time to correct my dress one more time and her own hair before she opened the door.

  "Delia, Kieran," she exclaimed and walked outside. "Oh, it has been way too long."

  "Camille," Delia said as she reached out her hands and they both engaged in air-kisses without touching each other.

  "You look lovely, as always," Kieran said and grabbed my mother's hands in his, then kissed her on the cheek.

  "Where is he?" my mother asked, all flustered.

  "I’m right here, Mrs. Jones," a voice said coming up from behind them in the darkness. His face emerged, and I let out a light gasp. The guy was gorgeous beyond anything I had ever laid my eyes upon.

  "Ah, Duncan," my mom said and stretched out her arms. "Why…you look…you used to be this little boy. What happened to you?" she giggled as Duncan grabbed her hand and kissed the top of it, bowing gallantly in front of her.

  I felt like rolling my eyes.

  "I guess I grew up," he said and looked into my mother's eyes, his blue ones sparkling in the darkness.

  "That's right," my mom said. "You turned eighteen just a few months ago, didn't you? You're a grown man now."

  He let out a sigh, his glance landing on me. I looked away, shyly.

  "Duncan turned eighteen recently," she said addressed to me like I hadn't understood it the first time when she said the words.

  "So, I heard," I said.

  "And you must be Robyn," Duncan said and approached me.

  He reached out his hand like he wanted mine. I gave it to him, a little reluctantly. He then kissed the top of it, his lips icy cold as they touched the skin. The cold sent a shiver deep through my spine. He looked up at me and our eyes locked. It felt like he was about to devour me with them alone. I swallowed, then pulled my hand away.

  "And that makes you Duncan," I said as I turned around and walked inside, sensing his piercing glare following my every move.

  Chapter Ten

  As evening came and the sun had set, the dog was still out there, sitting on the doorstep, glaring at the door. Jazmine felt frustrated, wondering what it would take to make it go away. Her parents had called and said they were going to be late tonight and, once again, she found herself all alone in the house, just her and the cat and that stupid dog outside.

  It's gotta be a stray, right? Looking for a home. Well, this ain't it.

  Jazmine petted her cat sitting in the windowsill looking down at it, when a car drove up the cul-de-sac and stopped in front of Robyn and Adrian's house. It was no ordinary car. It was a long black limo, just dashing enough to grab Jazmine's attention and have her keep staring at it all the way till it stopped.

  She watched as Robyn and her family came out of the house to greet them and then she spotted a young boy, about the same age as Adrian behind them. Adrian had said that they were having guests over for dinner, but he hadn’t mentioned a word about this guy.

  What's going on?

  Jazmine watched as the boy greeted Robyn, kissing her hand and bowing to her and was suddenly struck by deep worry. Did Jayden know about this boy coming along? He was devilishly handsome, she could tell even from afar. There was an aura around him that made it impossible not to stare, even from far away. Jazmine felt her heart beat faster as she spotted Adrian greeting the boy too, then smiled.

  No, her heart belonged to Adrian. She had realized a couple of days ago that she was actually falling for him. She knew it when it felt like she was about to die when he left her. Did he feel the same way? Jazmine had no idea. Adrian was so hard to read. He didn't say much, rarely complimented her, but when he did it felt like thousands of compliments put into one.

  But would this guy end up being a threat to Jayden?

  Jazmine certainly hoped not. She cared a lot for Jayden and Robyn and was rooting for them to end up together.

  Relax, it's just guests visiting. They'll be gone in a few hours and Robyn will forget all about this boy. He's not even her type, more like my type anyway.

  Jazmine calmed herself down when she heard a bark and looked down, only to realize there now wasn't just one stray dog sitting on her doorstep, but two. The new one was barking loudly and would soon be disturbing the entire neighborhood.

  "Go away, stupid dogs," she mumbled from behind the window glass. "I am a cat person."

  Jazmine stared at the dogs below her, willing them to go away, when suddenly they both got up and ran away. Jazmine stared at the two dogs running across the cul-de-sac like something was chasing them, then smiled just as a bird slammed into the glass in front of her.

  Jazmine let out a loud scream and looked at the window where a black raven had hit the glass and was now sliding down slowly.

  "What the heck is going on in the animal kingdom?" she mumbled, then closed the curtain and returned to her computer screen.

  Chapter Eleven

  If he mentions the president or namedrops another celebrity, I am going to throw up on this nicely decorated table.

  I was about to die. Literally. If the food didn't kill me, this conversation would. It was so boring, I couldn't stand it. And guess who did most of the talking? That's right. Duncan. My mother's new best friend.

  "This is delicious, Camille," he said, eating the dish that to me was so repulsive I had to hold my breath so that I couldn’t smell it.

  "Best meal I’ve had in a very long time," he said, grinning.

  "It really is very good," his mother added. "The way you’ve mixed the vegetables and fruits. Who would have known that kale and banana went so well together and then with a drizzle of raw onion, it is simply perfect, Camille. Who else would have thought to combine these ingredients but you? It's marvelous."

  And my mom, of course, enjoyed every minute of it. "Thank you so much, both of you. It really was no trouble at all. I love to cook, ha-ha."

  I didn't believe any of them. They had to be lying, didn't they? This had to be the most horrible meal my mother had ever made, and she had made her fair share.

  Duncan cleared his throat. "It reminds me of the time I was invited to the White House…"

  I dropped my fork and it made a sound loud enough for him to stop. All eyes were on me. Duncan threw a dashing smile my way. I ignored it. I wasn't falling for his charm.

  "Is something wrong, d
ear?" my mom asked. "You’ve hardly touched your food."

  "I'm not that hungry. I think I just…need a little fresh air."

  I got up and walked to the door while Duncan continued his story. "So, Jimmy Fallon and I went hunting with the president…and you know how he gets, the old chap…ha-ha…so anyway he was being greedy and then…"

  I walked away, only listening to part of the story, feeling like I was going to be sick. I couldn't stand this guy and all his stories, and I hated…absolutely hated his thick British accent.

  I walked outside and sat on my old swing. It had been years since I had last used it, but for some reason, sitting on it made me feel comfortable. I looked toward Jayden's house and suddenly missed him terribly. Two years was a long time to have to wait to be together with the one you loved. Would we be able to wait that long?

  I wasn't sure.

  "Didn't like the food much, I take it?"

  The voice made me gasp, and I turned to look at him. Duncan stood behind me, smiling handsomely, keeping his hands behind his suit jacket.

  He was the last person I wanted to see right now, but I tried not to show it.

  "I’m not that big a fan of vegetarian dishes," I said.

  "I figured as much," he said and winked, then pulled his hand out and showed me a bag of cookies.

  "Here. I brought these."

  I grabbed the bag greedily and started to eat. He sat down on the swing next to me, chuckling.

  "I recall the days when I couldn't stand my mum's cooking," he said.

  I gulped down three cookies in a row before I said anything. "So, what happened?"

  He shrugged. "I grew up."

  "So, you're telling me you actually enjoyed the food you ate in there?" I asked, cookie crumbs spurting out of my mouth.

  "I did, I actually did. I didn't expect to, which is why I brought the cookies. I keep them with me when my parents tell me we’ve been invited out for dinner because you know…you never know what you're going to be served. But recently, I haven't needed them. I just bring them out of habit, I guess."

  "Well, I’m thankful you did," I said and finished the last one. "Grateful, almost."

  "I reckon I should have brought more, huh?"

  I shrugged. "I'm good."

  "You don't like me very much, do you?" he asked.

  I stared up at the stars above us, then exhaled. "It's not you; it's what you represent."

  "I see," he said with a light sniffle. "I see."

  Chapter Twelve

  I’m going to my room."

  Jayden carried his plate to the dishwasher and put it in, then drank the last of his water and put the glass in as well. He still had the taste of lamb and garlic in his mouth.

  "Can't you stay a little longer?" his mother asked. "The rest of us aren't done with our food yet."

  "I’m busy," he said, not looking at her. He was still sore where she had hurt him. The last thing he wanted was to sit at the dinner table and act like nothing had happened. His brother was eating his leg of lamb, gnawing it with his long teeth, holding it between his greasy fingers. He ripped off a piece of fat and chewed it, grease and blood dripping onto his chin.

  Right now, Jayden couldn't deal with his family. He found everything about them to be repulsive.

  "I have homework," he said and walked up the stairs, not caring that his mother sighed disappointedly.

  In his room, he closed the door and sat at his computer. He was watching his favorite YouTuber when he suddenly spotted Robyn across the street, in her yard, sitting on the swing.

  She looks unhappy. What's going on?

  Jayden walked to the window and looked at her. He didn't like it when she was unhappy. It made him miserable. And he was terribly worried about her being in that house with those nasty vampires all day long.

  He thought about going over there and asking her what was wrong, but he knew it would only get her into more trouble and he couldn't risk that. He grabbed his phone, thinking he could at least send her a Snapchat and ask her what was wrong when he spotted someone coming out of her house, and his entire body froze to ice.

  Who the heck is he? Did he come in that limo waiting outside their house?

  The boy approached her and stood next to her. Jayden watched as they spoke. Robyn didn't seem like she enjoyed his company much, at least not to begin with, but then he handed her something—a small bag of some sort—and she ate what was in it. They kept talking. Robyn suddenly didn't seem to mind him being there too much. Jayden stared at him and his perfect skin and hair, then felt something new that he hadn't felt before.

  Raging jealousy.

  It was so overwhelming, he could hardly keep himself restrained. Jayden's nostrils were flaring while he stared at them together, while they were talking, and Robyn was even laughing.

  He wanted to open the window and yell across the cul-de-sac that Robyn was his, yell at the guy to get away from her, that she was taken and belonged to him.

  But he couldn't. He couldn't even go over there and make sure the guy understood that Robyn was taken, that Robyn was destined to be with him. There was nothing he could do. Nothing at all.

  Jayden felt a low growl grow in the back of his throat as he stared at them together and then saw them walk back into the house together, Robyn smiling. He stared at the door long after it had shut. His blood was boiling as he thought about those two together in that house, and it wasn't until he decided to turn away—still in anger—that he spotted Mr. Aran in the street, standing across from Robyn's house, a camera in his hands.

  Chapter Thirteen

  My mom had made a dessert. I couldn't say I liked it since I didn't believe chia seed pudding to be anything but a punishment, and carrots had no business in any type of dessert if you asked me. But no one did. They all ate the pudding making sounds like they truly enjoyed it. Even Duncan.

  I just pretended to be eating mine, happily satisfied by the cookies he had provided me earlier.

  Our little chat outside had turned out to be not so bad after all. He was a very charming guy, and if I had to choose between hanging with my family and him, I would probably choose him any day. He seemed to understand me better than they did and remembered what it was like to be human in a family of vampires. I wondered why he had agreed to let them turn him when he turned eighteen, but I guessed they didn't leave him any choice. It was probably family tradition. Just like entering the family business was something he would never be able to say no to. He could have all his fun earlier in life, but as soon as he was done with college, things got serious, so now he was just trying to have all the fun he could until that day arrived.

  I wasn't going to let what happened to him happen to me. I had no plans to let them turn me; I would rather run away and be disowned for the rest of my life. I wanted to tell him that I was destined to be with someone from a family of werewolves and that neither of us was going to follow our family traditions, but how could I? Jayden and I wanted our own lives and planned to stay human, to remain mortals, but my parents couldn't know. Yes, that meant we were going to die one day, but I would rather be with the love of my life and die knowing I had chosen love.

  "This was delicious, Camille," Duncan's mother said, smiling.

  Duncan shot me a look, smiling from ear to ear. I smiled back, trying to hide that I had barely touched the pudding. It made him chuckle.

  "More coffee anyone?" my dad asked. "Or cognac?"

  Duncan's mom shook her head and looked at her husband. "We really should be getting back. It's late."

  "Maybe we should go hunting together one day?" Duncan's dad said and put his hand on Duncan's shoulder.

  My dad did the same to Adrian. "Sure."

  "That sounds wonderful," my mom said, chirping.

  "We have an estate on Martha's Vineyard. We should have you come up there. Wonderful hunting grounds."

  "We would love that," my mom said.

  "Oh, but it is, of course, nothing compared to Africa. Have you
ever been to Mozambique? The most amazing hunting grounds in the world. You have to go. Maybe we can take you all one day."

  "We should invite them to the game-hunt," Duncan's mom said. "The one next month, maybe? It's right here in our area."

  Duncan's dad nodded. "Sure. Consider yourselves invited." He burst into deep laughter and shook my dad's hand.

  I was just eager for them to leave. Duncan approached me when he had put on his coat. He grabbed my hands in his and kissed the top of them both. I felt myself blush and didn't understand why.

  He looked into my eyes with a sigh. "Enchanted to meet you," he said. "Truly. Can I take you out sometime?"

  I shook my head and glanced at my mother, then back at Duncan. "I can't," I whispered, hoping she wouldn't hear. "I'm sorry."

  Duncan nodded, a disappointed look in his glowing blue eyes. "I had a feeling you might say that, but it was worth a try."

  Chapter Fourteen

  Why did you say no?"

  Barely had the door closed behind Duncan and his family before my mom was on my case.

  "What are you talking about?" my dad asked.

  "Robyn. She said no to going on a date with Duncan," my mom said. "Can you imagine?"

  "Why would you say no to him?" my dad asked. "He's a fine young man."

  "Coming from a very fine family," my mom said. "And those don't grow on trees."

  "Yes, that too," my dad added.

  I shrugged. "I don't like him. He's not my type."

  "Oh, did you hear that, Doyle? He's not her type, well…that's a completely different story then."

  My dad didn't say anything. We could both tell from the sound of my mother's voice that she was angry and when my mother was angry no one spoke.

  "Here I have arranged for this nice and wonderful family to come to our house and have dinner with us, so you and Duncan could meet, and then you say no? Just like that? Without giving the boy a decent chance?"