Jaden's Heart

by Melanie Jackson

  Our eyes met and I could hear her heart flutter. “I want to kiss you,” I whispered.

  “Okay,” she whispered back.

  I cupped her cheek, placing my hand onto her waist. Closing the last few inches between us, I kissed her passionately. My world spun when her lips pressed back. The kiss deepened as her lips parted slightly, allowing my tongue to explore and taste her. Her mouth tasted of mint toothpaste. She trembled and I slowly released her, afraid to cross the invisible line which now seemed like an impenetrable brick wall. We stood breathless, both needing something more, but fear keeping us from exploring the need further.

  “We should go. I don't want to be late,” she whispered, not attempting to move.

  Taking our coats from the wall, I helped her into hers and donned mine after. Then I took her hand and led her, still somewhat dazed, into the main hall.

  The slightly chilled night air hit us as we stepped out into the clear night. The waxing moon cast her beams upon us as we walked hand in hand down the lowly lit, empty streets. We were silent, each enjoying the simple pleasure of the other's company.

  The large glowing sign that read Sal's Diner came into view all too soon. I realized that within moments I would be alone and my heart ached. I pulled Alexis closer to me, not wanting this perfect evening to end. She must have felt the same way because she took our joined hands into her other and held on tight.

  A sudden wave of hatred for the small diner filled me. I thought about burning it down for taking her from me. The extremely possessive nature of the thought took me by surprise. I never thought I was the kind to become possessive about anything.

  It had always been easy to leave, but under the glowing sign, I came to the realization that I did not want to be away from her or allow her out of my sight. It frightened me.

  “I hope you have a good night,” she said, trying to ease the tension building between us.

  “I will,” I replied, trying to sound casual.

  Quickly, she kissed my lips and walked into the diner. I stood breathing in the remnants of her scent, my empty hands closing into fists.

  Eight

  feeling lost, I walked, my destination unclear. My mind was completely occupied as it replayed our kiss.

  The sudden unpleasant smell of urine and sweat filled my nose.

  “Got any change?” the old man asked, holding out his hand.

  I dug into my pocket, stopped, and looked around. We were alone, standing in MacArthur Park by the water. I felt the familiar burn fill my throat. Grabbing the old man by his shoulders, I drank. His blood was mixed with the bitter taste of unclean flesh. Disgusted, I pulled away from him.

  Still holding his thin arms, I peered into his frightened eyes. “Forget,” I commanded.

  Releasing him, I placed a five dollar bill into his chapped hands then walked deeper into the park. I found a woman of forty or so sleeping on a bench. I fed on her, once again repeating the word, washing out all memory of me. I fed two more times before leaving the buffet.

  My coat pocket vibrated and I removed my cell. “Hey, Dez,” I answered.

  “Where are you?” Her voice sounded worried.

  “Just outside MacArthur Park. What's wrong?”

  “Are you alone?”

  “Yes,” I replied. The truth in the words hurt.

  “Are you sure?” she pressed.

  I sniffed the air, tuning out all the background noise as I listened for any sign I was being watched. “Yes, I'm sure. What's this all about?”

  “We need to talk.”

  “Okay. I can come by the club,” I offered.

  “No!” her harsh voice frightened me.

  “Dez, what's going on?” I said, my senses now on high alert.

  “I'm coming to you. Don't move until I get there!” she ordered, and the line went blank.

  Suddenly worried about my safety, I surveyed the area, but I was alone. There was little traffic; a police officer walked on the other side of the road checking parked cars. Everything seemed normal for one in the morning.

  I crossed to a stone bench and sat. Alexis's face filling my vision made me smile.

  A frightening thought entered my mind, driving away the bliss. Could the news Desiree is bringing separate me from her? I haven't knowingly broken any laws set down by the council.

  I gripped the bench hard to keep myself from running back to the diner. Some of the stone crumbled under my iron grip, falling to the concrete by my feet. I suddenly felt disconnected, as if I was standing outside of my body. What is wrong with me? I've only spent a few days with her. How could I already be infatuated?

  Desiree's silver Bentley pulled up next to the bench, drawing me from my thoughts and filling me with dread. Standing I walked stiffly to the car, and climbed in the passenger side. How could my day have gone from an extreme high to such an extreme low?

  Desiree sat rigid in a long-sleeved lilac shirt and blue jeans. Her hands tightly gripping the steering wheel.

  She pulled onto the road. “A House has been assassinated,” she said softly.

  My breath caught in my throat. “Which?”

  “The Seventh,” Desiree replied.

  “Ivy?” I exclaimed.

  She added somberly, “And all forty members.”

  “This means there's going to be a summit,” I said.

  She nodded, changing lanes. “The French are hosting. It's at Lord François's summer estate.”

  “Do they know who or what killed them?”

  The wind from the opened window tousled my hair as the car climbed the ramp to the interstate. “No, but rumors say that Hunters are responsible,” she replied.

  “Impossible. We all but exterminated them. I was there when we nailed them shut in their churches and homes then set them ablaze.”

  The Bentley flew down the highway, doing close to ninety miles-per-hour. I scowled; I could not understand why out of all the more practical reasons, this one was singled out. It was not like the Houses were friendly with each other; small skirmishes broke out between them all the time.

  “It's probably a power grab,” I said, shaking my head.

  She nodded. “Look, I know you and Ivy were—”

  I clenched my hands into tight fists. “How long before the summit?” I asked, cutting her off.

  “The summons has been sent. Two weeks and four days,” she replied, and descended an exit ramp.

  My fear in the park was justified; I would have to leave. When a summons went out, no one dared refuse. I was expected to present myself, regardless of circumstance. I stared out the open window and let the air pound against my face.

  The holdings of the Seventh would be separated among those that remained. The whole event would take days, if not months. The council members would probably fight and grip for larger pieces of power. I could end up trapped there for over a year.

  Perhaps, since I was not a noble or in service, I could just make an appearance—as long as I was unneeded and I could leave right after Ivy’s remembrance ceremony. This meant I would only have to be gone for a week or two, so there was some relief.

  “That's not all,” she said.

  I wondered what other news she could possibly have. The uncertainty in her voice worried me. “Dez?” I pushed when she did not finish.

  “We only got the message about the summit an hour ago, in the form of a phone call. Maxwell doesn't think I should tell you who was on the other end. He said you're better off not knowing, but I told him we should tell you because you would find out anyway. We're your friends. I didn't want you to find out from someone else.”

  “Find out what?” I asked, now annoyed.

  “Annora has returned and is staying at your estate,” Desiree replied, and stopped the car at a red light.

  I flinched visibly, a large lump forming in my throat. “Oh,” I breathed, unable to process her words.

  Annora’s back! I reclined my head against the seat.

  The light changed and we be
gan to move once again. “When Annora called, she told us she was looking for you,” Desiree said.

  So she wasn’t dead and now after all this time, she‘s returned for me. Just as I had begun to move on. What am I going to do? My groan was a cross between pain and desperation.

  “We didn't tell her you were here. She said that if she didn't track you down in a week, she would collect Maxwell and me for the summit,” Desiree said. “I suppose you have until then to decide whether you're going to return with her. Unless, of course, she finds you before then.”

  Desiree's words hit me like the hundreds of lashes Annora administered to me personally and a wave of fear washed over me. Why am I afraid? Annora is all I have ever wanted and now I have another chance at a life with her. But, do I want that life?

  I shifted uncomfortably. It has been over nine hundred years. I’ve seen the world change and learned to adapt. I’m no longer the same person. Alexis's face entered my mind and I smiled.

  Suddenly, I felt strong and confident. “I'm not going back. I won't.”

  “You're not?”

  A wide smile spread across my face. “I think I'm falling in love with someone else.”

  Desiree pulled into the Flowing Desire's empty parking lot. Turning off the car engine, she turned in her seat and glared at me. “You were getting sandwiched just two nights ago and now you think you're in love?”

  I shrugged. “Her name is Alexis.” Her name was honey on my lips.

  “Where did you meet her? Is she immortal?”

  I answered every question and explained everything that happened over the last two days, minus my fleeting thought that Alexis could be of Egipcion descent. She listened to every word without interrupting. When I finished, I could smell morning in the air.

  Desiree leaned back in the drivers seat, frowning.

  “What?” I asked.

  “I'm happy for you...” her voice trailed.

  “But?” I pressed.

  “Humans are fleeting; their lives are short and they have alternative motivations. I am sure Alexis's intentions are pure, but I think you should use caution when dealing with her.”

  “I know that, Desiree,” I snapped.

  “I hope so. I just don't want you to get hurt again.” She gently bumped her fist against my arm. “So, a Human!” Desiree said, shaking her head in disbelief.

  “Yeah, I can't believe it myself.” I grinned.

  “Wait till I tell the others,” she laughed.

  If I could blush, I would have.

  “Be with her, but use caution. Also, keep a close watch on your surroundings. Whoever attacked the Seventh won't think twice before attacking a single Immortal,” she said.

  The thought of once again being at Alexis's side filled me with a warming joy. “You should be more worried than me. You're the one with the flashy lifestyle,” I pointed out.

  She sighed. “Yeah, I suppose I should close down until things have quieted down and send the others back to their House. It's just this club has been my dream for so long. It would be a shame for it to end before it really began. Besides, William dearest would never let me hear the end of it and I don't think he would help fund another,” she said sadly.

  “Sam will keep the place running while you're gone. I don't think you'll lose it, but if you do, I'll float you the cash,” I offered.

  Desiree grinned. “You're a true friend, Jaden.”

  “I know, I'm great,” I agreed and she shoved my arm.

  “What do you want us to do about Annora?” Desiree asked, opening the car door.

  “Nothing. Don’t interfere with her search for me. If she finds me before the summit, I'll deal with her. Let her have a taste of her own medicine,” I replied, anger and resentment moving through me.

  She nodded.

  “Dez?” I asked. “Can I borrow the car?”

  “Okay, but you'd better not have sex in here,” she teased. “I just got it reupholstered.”

  Nine

  Alexis was walking down the sidewalk away from Sal’s Diner as I pulled the silver Bentley up beside her and rolled down the passenger side window.

  “Alexis, get in,” I said, smiling.

  She surveyed the car then glared at me.

  “Unless you would rather walk?”

  She opened the door, climbed in, and closed it behind her. I watched her put her seat buckle on, a smile on her beautiful, tired face.

  “Is this your car?” she asked.

  I pulled back onto the road. “No, Desiree let me borrow it.”

  “Who's she?”

  I could feel her watching me. “An old friend of mine. She owns the night club, the Flowing Desire.”

  “I heard about that place. Some guy named Florida told me to avoid it unless I was hard up for cash,” she said. “He said they pay well but it messes with your head.”

  “It's a service Desiree provides to my kind. Blood without the danger of being discovered, and if the human is accidentally killed, easy clean up.” I explained.

  For long minutes, she was silent, and I glanced over at her where she sat rigid, looking at her hands.

  “She’s very careful about who she selects and she pays them well,” I added.

  “At least she has good taste in vehicles,” Alexis said, changing the subject. “I've always liked Bentley's.”

  “You know about cars?” I asked, surprised.

  She smiled. “When I was hitchhiking, a guy named Shorts picked me up. He was a mechanic and car thief. He said every girl has to know how to change a tire and hotwire a car.”

  “Wait, you can hotwire cars?” I was fascinated. An image of her driving a stolen car, the wind whipping her hair, played across my mind.

  “Yeah, he also taught me how to drive, pick simple locks and mend my clothing. We ran together for almost a year. He always had one scheme after another but none of them ever panned out. I guess he owed money to some guy.” She paused. “In the end, the shark took his payment out in blood.” She grimaced.

  “I'm sorry. He sounds like he was nice to you,” I said.

  Alexis shrugged. “He did it to himself.” I could hear the sadness in her words.

  “I suppose,” I replied, watching her through my eyelashes. “Are there any other fascinating skills you've acquired?”

  “If I reveal all my secrets, I'll lose my mysterious allure,” she said, waving her hands majestically in the air.

  I laughed.

  “Speaking of secret skills,” Alexis turned in her chair to face me, giving me every ounce of her attention. “Do you have any cool powers?”

  “You mean like shape shifting or reading minds?”

  She nodded, her eyes never leaving my face.

  “No, I don't possess any special gifts. Apart from the normal improvements the change bestows, I'm fairly average when it comes to Immortals,” I said, changing lanes.

  “Improvements?” she asked, tilting to the side.

  “The demon blood changes your body's makeup on a genetic level. It improves what is already there: strength, endurance, and agility. It also hardens the skin's surface, making it harder to penetrate. And it accentuates one's natural beauty,” I said, tightening my grip on the steering wheel; I wanted, needed to touch her.

  “So no cool superhuman power?” she asked.

  I laughed. “No. But I can run fairly fast.”

  “Oh,” she said, her lips curving into a disappointed frown as she turned in her seat.

  “However,” she looked back at me, her eyes once again bright and interested. “On rare occasions, an Immortal is discovered with unique gifts, like seeing visions of the future or taking on the form of large animals,” I explained.

  “Wow!”

  I nodded. “When one of us shows signs of having special talents, the council provides them with specialized training and bodyguards. We treasure and greatly rely on them. They help protect our people and our way of life. Their gifts provide us with the tools we need to fend off humans a
nd those not loyal to the council, ones that want to harm us.”

  “Humans attack Immortals?” she asked, her eyes wide.

  “You wouldn't think someone would be insane enough to try, but it happens. It used to happen all the time, but after we disposed of the majority of Egipcion Hunters, it's a rare occurrence.” I steered the car down another street.

  “Egyptian Hunters?” she asked.

  “A group of humans who at one point tried to exterminate my kind,” I explained.

  “Oh,” Alexis said, biting her bottom lip in thought.

  The sun was starting to come up over the horizon and filled the sky with a beautiful assortment of reds, yellows, and oranges.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Before, when you said you were a soldier... you fought Hunters and other Immortals?”

  I nodded. “A few werewolves, a former witch and three succubi, but it was a long time ago.”

  “Are all the monsters you read about real?”

  “No! Some are made up,” I said.

  “What about dragons?” Alexis asked as she turned the heat off and unzipped her coat.

  “Yes, they existed once. Extremely intelligent from what I heard,” I replied, stopping the vehicle at a red light.

  “What happened to them?”

  “Humans exterminated them thousands of years ago.”

  “Humans did?”

  “They were the keepers of arcane knowledge, but their scales made light and steadfast armor, so humans hunted them.”

  The light changed. “The dragons must have fought back?”

  “They did, but like in all things, the humans were relentless in their pursuit of riches. Humans take and consume until they have destroyed everything beautiful.”

  “Not all humans,” she pointed out.

  I pulled the car into a parking garage a block from my apartment. “You’re right. Not every human took part in those atrocities. Unfortunately, many sympathizers were killed alongside their friends or lovers for clinging to their beliefs of equality and peace.”

  “Why?” she whispered.

  I parked the car. “The leaders of such groups always used fear to rally support for their atrocities and justify their actions. The true motivation, however, was obvious: wealth and power. Unicorns were hunted for their horns, werewolves for their claws, dragons for their scales, sprites and fairies for their wings.”