“How did you end up under the control of the church?” I asked.
“Well we're not, not really.” she said. “We cooperate with and stay in contact with the church, since our mission is to eliminate the same vile monsters they want eliminated from the earth. But we don't answer to them. Not exactly.”
“Not exactly?”
“Well... let's just say since 252 AD, I think, we've almost always had a Pope, or more often a Cardinal, on our committee of directors. That first one was Pope Lucius, and he was big on fighting demons. They were kind of scared of him, according to the stories.”
“Why was this being kept from us?” Jess asked her.
“It's a very secretive organization.” she answered.
So secretive that they wouldn't share our origin with us? I wonder who the oldest living vampire is now. Are either of the two originals still out there?
“Any other mythical creatures who owe their beginnings to the VI?” I asked.
“Not that I'm aware of.” she said. “Brynne, I'm so sorry. If it weren't for the VI your family wouldn't have been killed like they were.”
So it's all their fault? This whole thing, this... my family dying, me being this way, it's all them!
Okay, okay, that's not true. Not directly. Alejandro still is the one who did it, he is the one who made the decision to attack us. They may have created vampires, but he still had free will. To a certain degree, anyway. Besides, it's not like I can do anything about it now anyway, so it doesn't help to be angry.
When Jess headed off to work, Celeste and I headed out to the shelter. Willa was waiting for me when we got there. She immediately stuck me on chopping onions. Apparently she can't do it, her eyes are too sensitive. I barely tear up from the onions. Not really because I'm a... Celeste calls us non-vampires, which I kinda like. Not because I'm like this, I never had a problem chopping onions before I was changed. Some people apparently just aren't as sensitive.
“A bunch of us are going to World's of Fun tomorrow.” Willa said to me. She sat a bunch of potatoes in front of me, I'm assuming for me to peel. “You should come if you're not busy.”
“Um, I don't know if that's a good idea.”
“Hey, if you can't handle the big rides it's okay, one of us will wait with you, or go ride another ride with you.” she said. “There are ten of us going, other than you, so there'll probably be at least one other person needing a break, or who doesn't feel like riding The Mamba or Boomerang.”
“I'm guessing those are big?” I said. “Uh... I just...”
“Come on,” she whined. “It'll be fun.”
“Um,”
Okay, so... I mean I get that she's trying to be nice and all, and I appreciate it, but we barely know each other, and I don't know if we classify as friends. I mean I guess we do. Still, I don't know any of her other friends. I mean... I don't know if I really want to be around that many strangers.
“See, uh, I have a skin condition, and...”
“What kind of skin condition?” she asked, looking down at the food I was holding.
“Oh, no, it's just... I sunburn, like really easily. I can't be in the sun, so...”
“It's supposed to be cloudy. Plus, you can usually find some shade. Come on.”
“I just... I...” I sighed. Great. “I have to, um, ask Celeste.”
“Oh. Well let me know, okay?”
“Um... and... I mean... can I bring someone else, too?”
“Yeah, sure, no problem.” She smiled. “It's a public place anyway, so it's not like I could stop you. So... who are you bringing?”
“Um, if I can go I'll probably see if Jess can go.”
“Ooh, is he your boyfriend?” she asked.
“Uh, no. I... I don't... I'm gay.”
“Oh. Well that sucks.” she said. “I thought you and my little brother might...”
“Why are people always trying to set me up!?”
“Sorry, I just...”
“Jess does the same thing. All the time!”
“Who is this Jess guy? Is he cute? How old...”
“Jess is short for Jessica.”
“Oh. She your girlfriend?”
“No, just my best friend, that's all.” That's not all. I mean I live with her, I turned her into a monster, we're connected on a whole different level than just friends.
“I see. Well, bring her along. We'll all have fun, I'm sure.”
“If Celeste lets us come.”
“Right.” She held her hand out. “Give me your phone. I'll put my number in there so you can call me and let me know if you're coming.”
The thing is, I don't like being around people a lot of times. I do, but then I'm just reminded of what I can't be and can't have. I can't be carefree and laugh and play in the sun like they do. I have to be on guard all the time, I have to avoid the sun, I have to be careful not to do anything stupid that would expose me or Jess. I can't have the normal friendships they all have, either. I tried that with Jessica, and as much as I love the girl, I see now how big a mistake that was. I doomed her. I ruined her normal, happy life. She doesn't even realize it yet, it hasn't been long enough, but she will one day.
“But I deserve to have fun, too.” I mumbled.
“What?” Celeste asked. We were in the car, heading home.
“I... nothing.”
“I talked to Jessica a little bit ago.” she said. “She won't be home until late tonight. She has a date.”
“She's allowed to have a date?” I asked.
“Yeah, sure she is.” She elbowed me. “You are too, ya know.”
“Um,”
Is this a hint? Is she telling me she'd like to go on a date with me? That's really sudden. I mean she kinda said before that she was interested, or hinted at it, or something, but this is unexpected. Am I ready for that? I mean she's very pretty, gorgeous even, but I don't know her very well. I don't think we've talked enough to really click like that yet. Not like I did with Teresa, and that was right off the bat. But I may never have that with anyone again. Does that mean I should never date?
“Willa is cute. You should ask her out.”
“Wh-what?”
Oh. So... so she wasn't saying... Oh. I am so glad I didn't say anything and make a fool of myself. I wonder how red my face is right now, just from thinking it. Ugh.
“She's not... I mean I think she even has a boyfriend, but I don't even... I'm not interested in her like that.”
“Is there anyone else you might ask out?” she asked.
“Um,” You mean other than you, Celeste? No. “So... Willa said a bunch of kids are going to ride roller coasters tomorrow. Can I go? I mean if I can get Jess to go, 'cause I don't want to go alone.”
“Yeah, I don't think we have any plans tomorrow, so go have some fun.”
“Oh. Thanks.”
Why am I thanking her for telling me I'm not a prisoner? I used to not care what people thought. I swear, if it weren't for the Sloans being in danger if I did it, I'd take off now and the VI would never find me again.
“So, uh, are you... do you want to come tomorrow?”
“No,” she said. “But thank you for asking.”
We got back to the apartment and Celeste disappeared into her bedroom. I could hear her in there, talking to someone at the VI about what our plans in the next few weeks are. After a while she finished her conversation, and I could hear her sigh and slam a book down. A moment later she came in and sat next to me on the sofa.
“Smurfs, huh?” she asked, nodding toward the screen.
“Um...” I reached for the remote. This is embarrassing.
“I prefer the old cartoons like that.” she said. “The new ones just aren't nearly as good.”
“You like cartoons?”
“Sometimes.” she admitted.
“Me too.”
“Yes, I know.” she said, smiling a little. “We should go watch that new an
imated Disney movie tonight.” she said.
“Um, okay.” I said, startled by the invitation.
“It's getting late,” she said, looking at the time on her phone. “We should grab something to eat before going. Go put something nice on.”
“Um, how nice are we talking?”
“Just one of your dresses will do.”
“Um... okay. I'll be... back in a minute.”
Dinner and a movie. Is this a date? I mean... I mean she didn't say it was, but this sounds very date-like. I mean I'm still not sure she likes me, even, but from what she said before I think she might. And now this, so... so this has to be a date, right? So what do I wear for a date?
I'm being ridiculous, this isn't a date. She's just taking me out because she wants to see that movie and there's nobody else around. People go to movies with friends all the time. I mean we're almost friends, right? So that's all this is. I have got to stop letting my mind stray, she is not interested in me. She would have said so if she was.
I put on the nicest dress I had with me. I hurried to do something with my hair, since I had just thrown it in a pony tail this morning, and I applied a little more makeup. And to top it off, I spritzed a little perfume. Just in case. I mean I know it's not a date, but... well it doesn't mean I should be a slob, right?
Celeste looked very hot in her red dress. It hugged all her curves and her black hair stood out nicely against the bright red. She had gold heels, which I personally wouldn't have worn with that dress, but she managed to pull it off.
She didn't even seem to notice what I was wearing. We got into her car and had a very quiet trip to a restaurant that was very packed. Everyone there was much older, and I felt so out of place. And then we got menus and ordered our food and ate without talking. It felt so incredibly awkward.
It was obvious to me by the end of our meal that she doesn't like me, not even in a friendly way. She didn't talk to me, barely responded when I tried to start a conversation, and never even bothered to look my way when I was talking. I wanted to go home and just, like, die from embarrassment that I ever even thought there was a chance she liked me, but I still had to go to watch a movie with her.
The movie was a complete fail. It sucked, big time. Plus, I never was able to even get comfortable. I was so worried about leaning too close to Celeste and making her think I meant anything by that, or leaning too far away, and her think I meant anything by that. She sat so stiff in her seat that I know she was uncomfortable being there with me, too. The whole night had been terrible, and I was glad it was almost over when we walked from the theater.
“The air is cool tonight.” she said. It was the most she had said to me in hours.
“Yeah.” was my response.
“Let's go down this way.” she said, pointing away from the parking lot.
“Uh, it's kinda dark.” I said.
“You're scared of the dark?” she asked, smiling.
“No,” Sometimes, maybe. “I just... whatever.”
We walked about a quarter of a mile away from the theater, to a bridge that overlooked another road. She stood there and watched the cars stream by below, and she was smiling.
“Did you have fun tonight?” I asked. I was just trying to make conversation, because I know she didn't.
“It was nice.” she replied. “It's not every day I get to have a night out with a beautiful girl.” she said with a laugh. “I don't really have a lot of friends to go out with, and I don't date, so it's rough sometimes.”
“You don't date?” I asked. “At all?”
“Nope.”
“Oh.”
So she takes me to dinner at a nice restaurant, takes me to a movie that I wanted to see, drags me for a nice and sort of romantic walk, and then tells me it's not a date. That's just great. Or maybe she just meant everything before this wasn't a date. Ugh! Why does she have to be so confusing?
“You could.” I said. “Date more, I mean. You're really pretty, and you're nice, and I'm sure you could go out on dates any time you wanted.”
“That's sweet, but it's not that easy. Work tends to get in the way, and my work is very important.”
“But other people work, and they...”
“With the VI I may end up in New York one day, Los Angeles the next, and there is no way anyone deserves to be put at risk like my job would.” She sighed. “There's always the chance that some dangerous creature will pop up and I just can't let someone get hurt.”
“I get that.” I said.
I put Teresa at risk, too. I know I did. But I cared about her too much. I couldn't stand it if Teresa was ever hurt. Especially if it was because of me.
“Maybe you just need someone who already is exposed to all that.” I told her. “That way you're not putting them at additional risk.”
“Yes.” She smiled over at me. “But the VI doesn't permit agents to date each other.”
I'm not an agent. I don't work for them. At least not directly. Does that mean she thinks of this as a date, or not? Should I just ask? I'll just ask.
“Celeste, are we...” I can't ask that. “Um... do you think Jess and I will be able to find this striga thing soon?”
“I don't know.” She sighed and turned away from me again. “I hope so. I know we don't have much to go on.” She looked over at me again. “I was going to wait until Jessica was home to tell you this, but there was another body found.”
“Where?”
“In a school locker.” she said. She shook her head. “The girl had been dead for a long time when they found her.”
“We have to stop this thing.”
“Yes.” She sighed. “We should get home.”
Back to the quiet act as we headed back to the car, then drove to the apartment. She disappeared into her room as soon as we were inside, and I went in to shower and prepare for bed.
I laid in bed, tucking Jenna tightly to me, when Jess laid down in her bed. She was trying to be quiet, probably assuming I was asleep. I just couldn't get there. I couldn't stop thinking of another dead girl.
“There's another dead girl.” I whispered.
I whispered all I knew about it, all that Celeste had said. And then I also told her about the evening Celeste and I spent. It was weird to talk about, especially after talking about the dead girl, but I needed advice and Jess was the only one who could give it.
“So what do you think?” I asked, still whispering so there was no chance of Celeste hearing. “Was it a date?”
“Honey, it all depends on her. I mean it's not a date unless it was meant to be a date, ya know?” she said. “I mean when we go out like that it isn't a date, right?”
“She confuses me so much.”
“I know, honey.” she said.
“Tell me about your date.”
“Roderick.” she said, giggling. “He's very sweet. Very strong, too. He has muscles like you wouldn't believe.”
“As long as he treats you right.” I whispered. “Oh, hey, maybe he can come to World's of Fun with us tomorrow!”
“Where?”
“Willa said a bunch of her friends were going. They like roller coasters. Anyway, you're invited too.”
“Sounds good.” she said. “Ooh!” she got her phone from the dresser. “I'm inviting a couple of other people.” she told me, as she sent a text off. “A couple of my coworkers might like to go.” she said, smiling.
Saturday, May 24
When we got to the park, we immediately found Willa and her friends. They came in a van, and it was overflowing with people. I introduced Jess to everyone, and she introduced Roderick, who I had just met five minutes before getting here myself.
“Brynne, this is my little brother, Mikey.” Willa said.
“Hi.” he said, nodding to me, then looking away shyly.
“Hello,” I said. He's so tiny. This is the guy she wanted to set me up with?
“Oh, there are my friends.” Jessica
said.
Across the parking lot five girls climbed from a black Toyota. Jess waved at them, they waved back. She introduced them around as we all walked toward the park entrance.
“Oh, and this is Marissa.” Jess told me. “She doesn't work there, she's Miranda's sister.”
Okay, I get it. From the way Jess is looking at me and then at Marissa, and the smile Jess gave me, I can tell. This is another of her set ups. Yay.
At least this girl is cute. About four inches taller than me, blonde, kind of skinny, but very nice curves. And a very cute face with big green eyes. And a nice, kind of shy looking, smile. And dimples. Oh my gosh, she has dimples!
Betrayal: Book 2 of the Non-Vampire Series Page 5