“Oh, so that’s why you didn’t come on our trip? You claimed to have headaches but instead you were with this man?”
Raven sighed at the hurt in his voice.
“No, I was really sick that night. Kristian helped me through my pain.”
“I bet he did,” Max interrupted.
“Shut up, Max. Raven can date whoever she wants. You don’t have any dibs on her.”
“Yea whatever,” he said before storming off.
“Max, wait!”
Max didn’t stop walking away. He just kept going until he was out of her sight.
“I’m sorry, Raven, but Max needs to know that you are not his girlfriend and he can’t get upset every time a guy wants to talk to you.”
Raven heard Cynthia but she kept looking in the direction Max had stormed off. She didn’t want to hurt him like this.
“It’s all right, Cin. He will get over it.”
“Yea. So is this guy you are dating handsome?” She quickly changed the conversation.
Raven started walking again. Kristian was very handsome. She’d only known him for a few hours but she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him since she left him. The kiss of all kisses had her on edge. The romance novels and romance books she had read had never described what she felt when she kissed him. The heaven and earth moved when Kristian touched her and she was sure that it would keep moving for her each and every time he touched her.
“He is—”
The sound of the bell made Raven sigh in relief. She really didn’t want to talk about Kristian. It’s not like she knew a lot about him and if anyone asked too many deep personal questions, she was afraid that she would have to lie to some of her friends. That’s not something she wanted to do.
“I’ll have to tell you later.”
“Ok. I’ll see you later, Raven.”
Cynthia walked off, her blonde ponytail bopping up and down as she moved.
Raven turned to look at Kristian’s car once again. The only thing she wanted right now was to jump in it and go back to him. She wondered what he was doing at this moment. Was he sleeping? Thinking about her? If not, what? Thought after thought flew through her mind.
After a few moments of debating, she decided that school was more important. She had only a short period to go and she would be able to make any decisions after she walked across that stage.
* * * *
“Kristian, are you going to sit here and stare out the window all day?” Shane spoke from behind him.
“And if I am, of what concern is it to you?”
Shane moved to stand beside him.
“Are you doing all right? Does this human have your mind in some distant, bastard land?”
Kristian rolled his eyes. Why must his friend be such a pest all the time? Yes, he was standing here hoping and wishing Raven would come back to him. Shane didn’t have to acknowledge it.
“Me a bastard?”
“Yes, you. And frankly I don’t like this way on you, Kris.”
Kristian turned to him. “Why not?”
“Like you don’t know it. Being an asshole is my role in this friendship. If you become one, then we are left without someone of reason to go to. That will doom us both.”
Kristian laughed.
“Are you telling me that you are jealous and think I’m going to take your spot?”
“Damn right I am! Now go back to sweet push over Blackburn before I have to step it up a notch and become a narcissistic asshole.”
“That’s different from being a regular asshole?”
Shane nodded. “Yes, a step above you.”
Kristian never got a chance to answer him before his and Shane’s cell phones went off. Opening his phone he saw a message from the council.
“We have to go.”
* * * *
Raven placed the backpack in her locker then froze when she got a strange feeling creeping up her spine. She turned quickly to see a guy wearing all black, which was a school dress code violation, making his way towards her. Raven studied him closely. He was tall, the same height as Kristian. He had short black hair and very dark eyes. His skin was pale, not so much he looked dead, just noticeable.
The man made his way up to her. Raven didn’t feel any danger from him, but she knew he was not human. The last bell rang for class and the last of the students scattered to get to their homeroom. Raven had not moved from her spot. Time seem to slow down as this guy walked towards her. Raven closed her locker when the guy was only a few feet from her.
He smiled, his teeth pure white. She couldn’t miss the two sharp looking ones in the top.
“You know what I am and know what you are. I just arrived back in the area last night and I wanted to give it another go at being a teenager.”
“Another go?”
“My sweet slayer.”
Raven froze in her spot. He knew exactly what she was and she was sure that this man was not a man at all.
“What are you?”
The guy looked her over once then he tilted his head.
“You know what I am. You bear the mark of a vampire. Hmmmm…I’m driven by this. You let a vampire bite you, or do you not know what you are?”
“Don’t get into my business. Who and what are you? I don’t have time for these games.”
“All a slayer has is time.” His gaze caught hers. “I am Alec Sullivan. I’m a six hundred year old vampire. And I wonder when slayers start letting vampires bite them willingly.”
Raven slapped his hand away when he tried to touch the mark on her neck.
“Go to class!” Raven turned to see Mr. Washington come from the other hallway.
Alec raised his hand and Mr. Washington stopped in his tracks and fell to the ground.
“What did you do to him?”
Raven turned to walk away to go check on her principal when an invisible force field stopped her in her tracks.
Feeling trapped, Raven felt an energy surge through her body. She took a step back and lifted her hands ready to defend herself if she had to. She had not had any training and she was sure that this six hundred year old vampire could kill her but she would go out with a fight.
“Wait, young slayer, I come in peace.” Alec raised his hands.
“What did you do to him? And what’s this thing?”
Raven touched the shield and it shimmered.
“I merely put him to sleep. He will wake up feeling like a million bucks. And this thing is only a protective barrier. We can see out but no one can see in. I don’t want to be interrupted again.”
“What do you want?”
“I know you don’t have much training but I know you know the difference between dangerous and non-dangerous feelings. You should not feel any danger with me because I have not come to harm you or anyone at this school.”
“And?” Raven pushed for more information.
“I knew what you were the first time I saw you and you know what I am. If you have not even been told what you are I’m sure I could have passed you and you wouldn’t have known what I was. But I thought that it would appropriate to introduce myself to a slayer, and again I say, who lets a vampire feed on her willingly?”
Raven didn’t know where this would end but she needed to find out what this vampire really wanted.
“How do you know it’s willingly?”
Alec laughed. A deep, dark laughter that sent chills up her spine. He reached for her but she slapped his hand away again.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Feisty, I like that. But the reason I know it’s willingly is because an angry vampire would have tried to tear your throat out and your marks wouldn’t be healing so nicely. I’m sure that you would have a scar or two if you had been attacked. Also, a vampire out to kill wouldn’t bite you in an intimate spot there.” He pointed at her neck. “He would be going more for here, right under your chin. Just like a dog trying to kill someone.”
“So what if it is willingly?”
Raven frowned.
“What’s true?”
“That there is a slayer with a vampire mate.” Alec inhaled deeply. “He bit you, but you and your, to not sound disrespectful, mate have not had sex yet. Is your vampire lover going through the whole take your time road? If he is, I really hate to admit being a vampire.”
“No, he’s not. I just told him I’m not ready and he respected that.”
Alec rolled his eyes. “Must be some half-breed.” He shrugged. “Well I’m here in peace and I don’t tend to do anything but enjoy these last weeks of school. Maybe find a few virgins to deflower myself. That’s always tasty.”
Raven frowned at him again.
“What?” he questioned.
“I can’t just let you go around biting people. Aren’t we supposed to fight or something?”
Alec let out a deep chuckle.
“I know you are untrained, little slayer, and I do not wish to cause any confusion. If you would like I will go to the council and get my renewal.”
“Why haven’t you gotten that before now?”
“Let’s say I was in a deep sleep for the pass hundred years or so.”
“Deep sleep?”
“Yes. Vampires who want to pass a century or two can go into a deep sleep. We don’t need to feed, just rest.”
“And you decided to sleep for a hundred years?”
“Give or take. I woke to this new world. Very vibrant and exciting. I just want to have a normal life again. Find out what this new world is all about.”
Raven took in Alec’s appearance. He could pass for an eighteen year old kid. Maybe his deep voice and the way he carried himself would give him away, but besides that he shouldn’t have any problems fitting in.
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“You don’t. But you have to understand that your gut feeling is what you have to go on now. I promise you no harm will come to these delightful teenagers. And if it makes you happy I will not bite them, just deflower. Is that something you can agree with?”
“No. Because I really don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing here.”
“Slayer, I assure you if I wanted you dead or anyone in this school, I could have done it before you knew what happened. I will not cause any trouble.” Alec reached into his pocket. “If you need to contact me, here’s my card with my cell number on it. I read up overnight that many people are crazy about these little portable devices. Once I learn to work this smart phone I think I will become one who loves them also.”
Raven looked at the card. She really didn’t trust this guy, but what could she do? She didn’t believe for one moment that she would be able to take him down.
“Okay. I will let them know about this.”
“Them?” Alec asked.
“You know, the Council.”
“Very well. I will be in contact. Until then, have fun with your mate. I bet he’s going to love the ground you walk on.”
Raven placed her hands on her hips.
“And how would you know that?”
Alec smiled again.
“Do you know how tasty slayer’s blood is? It can drive even a sane vampire insane if he gets just a drop. Not insane in a bad way, just crazy in love with the slayer and they would do anything and I mean anything to have another taste.”
“You act as if you have had slayer’s blood before.”
Alec stalked closer to her until he was only millimeters away. Raven had the urge to back up but she knew the force field would stop her.
“I was once a very dangerous vampire and I killed many slayers over the years. Not that I’m happy about those victories now. I tasted blood made of liquid fire. All slayer’s blood is different and once I had just one taste I couldn’t get enough. I drained my slayers because I couldn’t stop. I went crazy when I couldn’t find another slayer. That’s why I went to sleep for so many years. I had to detox myself. I will never touch that stuff again.”
Raven heard the sound of moaning. Mr. Washington slowly pushed himself off the floor. He grabbed his head, looking around the hallway. He shook his head again and walked off.
“I bet he’s feeling like he never felt before,” Alec told her.
“I thought you said it was only a sleeping spell?”
“It is, but my sleeping spells are so much more relaxing. He just feels that he’s floating on air. Now, little slayer, I’m off to this chemistry class that is supposed to work my mind.”
Alec waved his hand and the barrier disappeared.
“Wait.”
Raven grabbed his arm as he turned to walk away. She tensed waiting on him to snarl or growl at her for touching him. Instead, he smiled at her and politely waited for her to say what she had to say.
“Yes, slayer?”
“Why are you here?”
“I told you before.”
“I know about you wanting to go back to school but to me that sounds a little more like bullshit than the truth.”
“Slayer, if you were sleeping for over a hundred years then you would understand my reason for wanting to see everything. I’m not going to stay around and pretend to be a teenager forever. I have many things I have to attend to. Many businesses I’m willing to run. The money I have in the vampire’s bank is not actually enough to keep me living good for very long. If I can’t get my renewal from the Council then I will have to make my own money. Remember, I killed before, and the Council tends to frown on that type of activity. I spent my time in prison for it, but before I decided to sleep I had not been able to get the Council back on my side. Now, little slayer, can I go to class, or are we going to talk about this all day?”
Raven knew that if Alec had any other plans besides coming to Meadville High to be a student she wouldn’t get it out of him this way. The only thing she could do was sit and wait for him to fuck up—then, she would be able to take action. In the mean time she had to learn what to do in these types of situations. She needed to go work out or something.
“Fine. You know I don’t really trust you right now, and I will keep an eye on you.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, my little slayer.”
Raven waited until he walked off before pulling out her cell. God damn it! She didn’t have Kristian’s number to call him. She might have gotten it if she had not been trying to get away from him so quickly last night.
She pressed in the code to get to the Council. She might not be able to get to Kristian but she knew that someone should know about this vampire who claimed to have been sleeping for the past hundred years.
* * * *
Kristian walked into the main room of the Council. It reminded him of a small arena. There were rows after rows of seats in a circle. The middle area had a long wooden table that could seat about twenty people.
The right door opened to the top part of the arena and people started to pour inside. They were talking amongst themselves as males and female vampires, werewolves, shadow demons and other mystical creatures sat in the empty seats.
“Man, it must be big for them to call everyone in the area,” Shane said, then patted him on the shoulder.
“Must be.”
“You going up?”
“Yeah.”
Kristian followed Shane up the stairs into the upper part of the arena. When they reached the empty seats, Arthas and Jana walked into the room.
The talk ceased immediately once they took their seats at the table.
“Thank you all for coming so quickly. Last night we had a tear into our world from a Karlem’s hell dimension.
“What!” The word flew from half of the room.
“Did any of them get out?” Jason, a shadow demon who was second in command of the area, asked.
“We have workers at the open site now examining it. So far, no trace of any Karlem demons entering this world.”
“You know that if any one of those demons escape it will be hel
l to pay,” Jason spoke.
Everyone in the room began to speak at once, some agreeing with what Jason had said.
“It’s been over fifty years since a Karlem demon has walked this earth,” Arthas reminded everyone. “We will make sure that none escape while this portal is still open.”
“Still open!” Shane jumped up. “How?”
“We have no idea, young Shane. It seems that they tore a hole in the timeline itself.”
“Are they attempting to close it? When will it be closed?” Jason questioned.
“They have our best warlock on the case now. Everyone knows Calvin Nolan. He’s there and we hope to have this closed soon. I don’t think…”
The room began to protest at the thought that this portal was still open. Arthas tried several times to speak.
“Silence!” Arthas’s voice boomed in the area.
The room quieted.
“As I was saying, I don’t think any of the Karlem demons where trying to escape. Maybe it was torn from the outside. I don’t know but we will find out later how it happened. Right now, our only concern is closing it.”
“Where is this hole? I would like to go and make sure that none of them will escape,” Jason offered his services.
“It was opened right behind the homes on Samville’s Drive. It is close to Raven’s Nowles’s home,” Arthas said.
“What!” Kristian jumped up. “Is she all right?”
Kristian wanted to know where Raven was right now. He didn’t have any contact information for her. He could detect her but didn’t know where or what she was doing at the moment. The blood connection between them would only connect once Raven took some of his blood.”
Arthas raised his hands and silently asked Kristian to sit.
“Your slayer is safe, Kristian.”
“What? A slayer?” Jason asked. “Why wasn’t I notified of this? Is that why the portal opened?”
“We are not sure why it opened. It could be because a new slayer was born. It could be that something was trying to get out. We don’t have time to figure out why it happened. First we need to control the situation, then figure out why. I want you all to patrol the area tonight, see if you can detect any signs of a Karlem demon in the area. You know their scent. If one has escaped we have to contain it and get it back to hell at once.”
Raven's Desires (Night Hunters) Page 10