In the Dark by Lila Rose

by Lila Rose

  “You have ccompany. I’ll come b-back.”

  How does he know? Lately, he’s been surprising me with that sort of thing. It was little comments here and there that told me he was unique in his own way. For example, when he was over at my house one day studying, he told me someone was at the door before there was a knock. More importantly, even before I was able to scent it was Jeremiah. I’d asked him how he knew, though he didn’t say, only offering me a small, cheeky grin. After Jezanna’s brother told Jeremiah about it, it made him suspicious of Ty and said he would look into his background. I hadn’t heard any more of it.

  “No. You can stay,” Sofia said, getting up off the ground.

  “I-it’s all right, S-sofia, I d-didn’t mean t-to interrupt. You can s-stay.”

  Okay, how does he know it’s Sofia? Does he know her?

  “I-ah, no. I have to go anyway. Thank you though. Bye.” She blushed and left.

  “S-sorry to drive her off,” he said as he sat where she’d been next to me. “S-she must have wanted s-something important to have been here…” He winced. “S-sorry.”

  Nodding, I finished what he was about to say, “To have been seen with me. It’s all right, Ty. I know that, and yeah, it was.”

  “C-care to tell?”

  Always inquisitive, but recently about too many things. Once was why Darik kept slipping and calling, you know who, Sire. I told him it was a dare Darik lost. Another question he’d asked was how at times one minute either Darik, Xavier, or Jeremiah were there, and then the next, they’d gone. I didn’t have an answer, so I’d steered him towards another subject.

  He had many questions, and sometimes it was hard to have him around, because I couldn’t be truthful with him. I hated I couldn’t tell him everything. I wished I could, but there were too many risks in doing so. If it were only about myself, then I wouldn’t hesitate. I trusted him. He’d become a real, loyal friend. However, there were other lives that could be endangered than just mine and I wouldn’t put them in the line of fire.

  Although, trust was a funny thing. I thought I could trust him, and look where that got me.

  “I’m sorry, Ty, but I can’t. I promised her I wouldn’t.”

  He shook his head. “Leila, y-you’re the most unselfish p-person I know. Even though S-Sofia has been terrible to you, you’re still w-willing to help her, with whatever it is. I’m glad t-to know you and am very s-sorry for what that shmuck has done to you.”

  His words brought tears to my eyes. For the first time, I was glad he couldn’t see, only because I was acting like a softy.

  Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I gave him a squeeze and whispered, “Thank you.”

  At the end of the day, and after asking Ty to come to my place to help me with my computer science assignment, I walked out to the car park. I found Jezanna and Xavier parked in the same spot where they’d dropped me off. The only problem was—a problem that made my steps falter and my heart stop—that he stood next to the car. Jezanna had her window down while she spoke. She didn’t look too happy about what he was saying. I glanced over to his car and saw fathead MaryJane sitting in it with a grumpy-looking Darik. I pulled my hood up over my head and walked to Jezza’s car. I knew they could feel me coming, like I could smell their scent. However, he didn’t turn and no one said anything. Therefore, I opened the back door to the car and got in, slouching down in the seat.

  “Goodbye, Isaac.” Jezanna sighed.

  Still, no one moved and the car didn’t start.

  “Leila.” His voice held sadness. I flinched. “Please, Leila. I don’t mean to hurt you, but—”

  “Xavier, if you don’t move this car, I will shove a stake in your eye.”

  The car started, only the noise of it didn’t hide the frustrated sigh from Isaac. As we pulled away, a part of me wanted to tell Xavier to stop, but I didn’t.

  I wanted to look at Isaac. I wanted to hear his voice again. Feel his arms around me.

  I still wanted so much of him.

  My heart and soul seemed to pine for him in a ridiculous way.

  Groaning, I banged my head against the window and closed my eyes.

  Stuff it. No more thinking of him.

  Instead, I thought of what I had to do Friday night and how I was going to get away without anyone seeing.

  We drove along in silence, while I formed a plan. The only way I was going to be able to get out of the house undetected was to install the help of someone, and that someone was going to have to be Jezanna.

  Once we pulled up to my house, I got out and walked straight inside. I went to go straight to my room, but stopped after hearing Xavier speak.

  “I’m going to make a sweep of the property. Please don’t answer the door to anyone.”

  “Thank you, Xavier,” Jezanna said.

  “Okay.” I sighed.

  The front door closed. I waited a few minutes to make sure he was out of hearing range and turned to Jezanna who stood in the living room looking back at me.

  “He asked me to speak with you.”

  My head went back, eyes to the ceiling. “Jezanna, I don’t want to hear it.”

  “But maybe if you do you could understand and not hate him so much.”

  Scrubbing a hand over my face, I then looked at her and told her the truth, “I-I don’t hate him. I could never. It hurts. It hurts so much inside and I feel foolish for it. It’s still so raw, so please just leave it.”

  “Okay.” She nodded and then added, “For now.” She smiled.

  Shaking my head, I asked, “I need to ask you to do something for me.”

  “Anything.” She didn’t hesitate.

  “I have to go out Friday night, alone. I need you to distract Xavier for me so he doesn’t follow.”

  She stiffened. “Why? Where do you have to go?”

  “I have to do something for someone, but I can’t tell you what or why.”

  “You can’t ask this of me and not tell me why. What happens if something goes wrong? I need to know where to find you. Or a timeline at least, so if you’re not back by then, I’ll come for you. You mean too much to me, Leila. If you can’t give me those answers, then I can’t help you. I’m sorry.”

  “All right, okay. I’ll tell you what I can. I’ll be in the woods off Drummond Street. Do you know where that is?” She nodded. I added, “And I should only be an hour.”

  By the way, I’m going to see a pack of dogs, so if I’m not back within that hour, then I’ve failed and I’m probably dead.

  Guilt gnawed at me. I pushed it aside.

  “Thank you. And just how am I supposed to keep Xavier occupied?”

  “I don’t know, flash him your boobs or something.” I laughed when her hand went over her mouth and her cheeks pinked. “You’re going to have to figure it out on your own.” I smiled and she rolled her eyes.

  We fell into silence as the front door opened and Xavier came in with Caelen following.

  “What are you doing here? Does no one understand I don’t want you around?” I asked with amusement in my voice.

  “Sorry, love, but I ain’t that easy to get rid of. Besides, you just don’t scare me.”

  “I can change that.” I glared, placing my hands on my hips.

  He scoffed, winked and said, “Sure you can. But then you’ll not have two strapping men taking you out tonight.”

  “Find me two strapping men and I might rethink it.”

  “Ha ha, you kill me. Come on, ladies, go and change. We’re off to Boozers to have a good time.”

  “Sorry, can’t. I have assignments, and Ty’s coming by to help me.” I grabbed my bag I’d dropped on the floor earlier and walked off to my room. It didn’t take Jezanna long to follow me.

  “Please, please, Leila, come with me. Jeremiah and—yes well, you know who, don’t usually like me going there, but now that they’re not around to tell me what to do, can’t I indulge in a little fun?” She gave me her puppy-dog eyes.

  “You only want
to go, because a certain English guy asked you.”

  “Can you blame me? He never pays me attention. I’m hoping to change his mind on the subject if we can only spend some time together. Maybe with a little liquor to help my nerves.”

  Snorting, I told her, “You don’t need the liquor. He fancies you anyway.”

  She gasped. “You really think so?” She bounced around my room like a little schoolgirl. It was adorable and weird at the same time. She was, after all, an old vampire. However, the way she acted made me wonder if she’d had any lovers. Then I remembered she did have two very protective brothers.

  “Jez, have you ever…” I raised my brows up and down.

  She stopped bouncing and asked, “What?”

  “Been with anyone?”

  She blushed. Holy shit, how was that really possible?

  “But you’re old,” I blurted.

  She shrugged. “Schooling had always been important to me. Then, when I started taking notice of men more, things seemed to happen to capture my attention. Then there was always the bad luck I had with finding the wrong men, who only wanted one thing from me. To build their status with my family.”

  “You’ve kissed right?”

  She grinned. “Oh, yes.”

  Sighing, because I was about to take one for the girl team, I said, “Okay, I’ll go, but what about Ty? I won’t blow him off.”

  She beamed. “He can come with us. Ring him and tell him we’ll pick him up on the way. It’s not as if he’ll be able to see the bar is for supernaturals.”

  I really didn’t want to go to Boozers. It was only the previous night I was there and too many things had happened. But as I looked up into Jezanna’s eyes, I knew I couldn’t let her down. She was like my sister and she’d already done so much for me.

  Sighing loudly, I said, “I’ll ring him and then get changed. You can be the one to tell Caelen and Xavier a human will be coming with us tonight.”

  “Thank you so much, Leila. You’re wonderful.” She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and ran towards the lounge.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I opted for a pair of jeans and a black tank top under one of my many hooded jumpers. I took my hair out of its ponytail and brushed it, leaving it straight. I walked out to find Jezanna looking wonderful in a long leather skirt and short-sleeved, dark grey silk top. She had her dark curls pulled up onto the top of her head and wore no makeup, like myself. Where I couldn’t be bothered wearing the stuff and may have needed it, Jezanna didn’t need to wear it at all. Her skin was flawless. I could tell by the look in Caelen’s hungry eyes he very much approved of the way she looked.

  Xavier stood by the door, grumbling about how it was a bad idea. Not only about going in the first place, but having Ty come along as well. For some reason, I thought so too. However, I was doing it for Jezanna, so I wouldn’t complain. Yet.

  As we piled into the four-wheel drive, I noticed Xavier had also changed. Instead of his usual leather pants and tight T-shirt, he wore something similar to Caelen. Dark slacks and a light coloured shirt. They both looked like sex on a stick. Not that I’d tell them it; it’d just go straight to their heads. We pulled up to Ty’s small, brick home in the middle of town and found him standing out the front, looking just as good as the other two, in black jeans and a white, long-sleeve dress shirt.

  “Taxi for a Mr Ty Rivers,” I said as I opened the door for him.

  He pushed away from the wire fence, smiling. “I h-hope this isn’t going to c-cost me anything though.”

  “Not tonight at least.”

  He chuckled. “Well, th-thank you. You’re too kind, sometimes. Hello, Xavier, Caelen, and the lovely Jezanna,” he greeted as Xavier pulled the car away from the curb. Jezanna and Xavier said a friendly hi back and Caelen mumbled something rude. He didn’t like that Ty was obviously attracted to Jezanna and was so open about it.

  “So, what kind of bar is this?”

  “It’s a friend of the family’s bar,” Jezanna said.

  The parking lot was full. Boozers was going to be packed. I couldn’t resist glancing around to see if I could spot a familiar Hummer. I breathed a sigh of relief when I didn’t see it.

  “Why so busy tonight?” I asked Caelen while walking toward the door.

  “Karaoke night, love.”

  A smile settled on my lips from the thought of vampires getting excited about singing. Tonight may just be fun after all.

  At least I hoped. I quickly swept away the deep sadness to the back of my mind.

  As I held Ty’s hand, Caelen led us to a reserved booth in the corner while he continued on to the bar for drinks. I looked around the place. The dance floor was already busy with bodies bumping and grinding, while a male vampire was belting out an Evanescence song. He wasn’t doing too bad a job either.

  Caelen came back with a tray of five shot glasses filled with the same concoction I’d had the previous night. He also had five other glasses of what smelled like cola and whiskey.

  Wincing from the memories of the night before, I downed my first shot.

  “I won’t be drinking,” Xavier said. “Someone has to be the adult here.”

  “I’ll have his,” I said, dragging his over to me. Gulping it down, I slammed the shot on the table and took a sip of the cola and whiskey.

  “Easy, tiger, we’ve got all night,” Ty said.

  “That is true, but you only live once.” And have too many regrets to count along the way.

  We sat around and talked, laughed and teased one another. I relaxed enough to enjoy myself and felt a little merry. I wasn’t the only one. I looked over to Jezanna to see she was smiling and had gotten up enough courage to place her hand on Caelen’s thigh, which he didn’t seem to mind at all. He grinned away while leaning back in the booth. Every now and then, he’d glance to Jezanna with something akin to adoration in his eyes.

  “Come on, X and T. Let’s go dance.” I took off my jumper, grabbed both of their hands and pulled them out of the booth. Xavier came reluctantly, Ty more willingly. I wondered what kind of dancer a blind guy could be? I guessed I’d soon find out. Turning back to the table, I gave a sly wink to Jezza and then went off to the dance floor.

  We danced through three songs. All self-consciousness washed away, even when I got up close and personal with either of them. Mainly because I knew they didn’t think of me in any other way than a friend, like I did with them.

  It turned out, Ty could really get his groove on. A couple of times he bumped into people, but once he apologized and explained he was blind, they didn’t care. By the time the third song finished, I was thirsty. I sent Xavier back to the booth to find out if the other two wanted a drink as Ty and I made our way to the bar.

  Climbing up on a stool, I waited my turn, which gave me a chance to look around, while Ty stood silently beside me listening to the music.

  “Miss Leila Morgin and Ty Rivers, what are you two doing here?” I turned my attention to the bar and was very surprised to see Coach Bacon, the phys ed teacher, standing on the other side of the bar, as though she was there to work. “Close your mouth, girl. You never know what may fly in.”

  Snapping it shut, I gawked and finally asked, “What are you doing here?”

  She laughed and smiled at me. “My father owns the place.” She grinned.

  “What? Then he… No, that means, ah… You know?” I signalled with my fingers and eyes that Ty didn’t know anything about supernaturals. I could only hope she understood what I was saying and didn’t think I was having some kind of attack.

  Again, she laughed just as Xavier came to stand beside me.

  “Yes, I know, not that Isaac”—a flinch went through my body—“knows I’m related to Big Hardy. I don’t come here unless Dad needs help and tonight he did. It’s good to see you enjoy yourself, Leila.” She leaned in. “Of course, neither of you can tell the other students of my involvement here. They’d want free drinks, and really it’s not their sort of place. Anyway, wha
t can I get you?”

  “Um-ah.” I turned my shocked face to Xavier. “Did they want anything?”

  He bent down to my ear and whispered, “I think they are a little busy.”

  Looking over his shoulder to the table, I found Jezanna kissing Caelen, or was it the other way around? Didn’t matter what it was, because it was great to see it finally happen.

  “Ty, would you like anything?”

  “No, thanks. I’m fine.” He smiled.

  “Just a whiskey and Coke,” I said sweetly.

  Coach Bacon raised her brows. “My instincts tell me not to serve you, but I know you’ll only drink in moderation, as well as the fact you have very nice people taking care of you.” I could feel Xavier nod at my side.

  When she left, Ty leaned into me and whispered, “I think I may be missing something important here about this place, but I doubt you’ll tell me.”

  Wish I could, Ty. I really do.

  “No, sorry.”

  Coach Bacon came back with my drink. Thanking her, I paid and promised not to say anything. I wasn’t really sure it had sunk in yet. It was laughable really. My phys ed coach just served me alcohol and knew about the creatures of the night.

  The three of us sat at the bar while I drank. I’d just sat my glass down after finishing it when Xavier stiffened beside me. He turned his attention to the crowd around us. My heart started racing, thinking it was because he saw him here, but as I followed Xavier’s stare, I spotted Jensen standing in the corner on his own, leaning against the wall looking like a Greek god. Once he noticed us staring, he made a move our way.

  He stopped just in front of me. “Leila, isn’t it?” He made it sound like a question, but he already knew my name and it wasn’t like he really cared. His eyes stayed on Xavier.

  “Jackal, isn’t it.” I smiled.

  He laughed. “Xavier, good to see you.”

  Xavier did his usual nod and… wait, was that—holy shit, it was—a blush on his cheeks.

  “And who do we have here?” He turned his gaze quickly to Ty, but then back to Xavier.