Fight For Me

by K. A. Last

  “Ryan already knows about us,” Michael said. “And from what I’ve seen, I happen to think he’s pretty cool.”

  I’m cool, too. Archer glared at me.

  “That’s debatable.” Michael tapped my leg under the table.

  “Don’t stir him up, Michael. I don’t want you two fighting,” I said.

  “You still haven’t told us who you are.” Archer’s glare intensified.

  “This is Michael. He’s … not supposed to be here.” I turned to my old friend and pursed my lips. “Really? A Boxster?”

  “Well, I can’t exactly explode cloud dust here, can I?” Michael said.

  I smiled.

  “Gracie, come on. Who is this guy?” Archer said.

  Michael laughed.

  “Arch, he’s kind of my old boss, but not the big boss. Michael is an old friend.”

  “We’re still friends?” Michael leant his elbows on the table.

  “I’m still thinking about that. I haven’t forgiven you yet.”

  “Do I need to hit him? What did he do to you?” Archer asked.

  “It’s more like what he didn’t do.” My smile wavered.

  I glanced at the ring on Michael’s right hand. A large white opal sat at its centre with golden wings on either side. He wore light-blue denim jeans and a white button-up shirt. The ring should have looked out of place, but he pulled it off. I fiddled with my ring and wished for the millionth time the stone was still a sapphire.

  “Onyx is pretty cool,” Michael said.

  “Not as cool as sapphire,” I said.

  Gracie, would you please find out why he’s here, before I prise it out of him with a spoon? Archer thought.

  He can hear you, you know.

  Good. Archer glared at Michael.

  Michael laughed. “Are you good with a spoon?”

  Archer scowled. “Tell us, please, how can you possibly help? Grace isn’t technically on your side anymore.” The two guys stared at one another, testosterone bouncing back and forth between them.

  “Nothing is ever as plain as black and white. The same goes for good and evil. Believe it or not, not everyone who’s in Heaven’s good graces actually wants to be there,” Michael said.

  That was something I could believe. There were a lot of things the Council did that I didn’t agree with, but look where that had gotten me.

  “I don’t want you to get into trouble,” I said. I didn’t like the thought of Michael suffering the same fate as me. He was too important to consider throwing everything away. “Helping me will most definitely get you into the bad books. I’m not exactly popular at the moment. Ask Angelica.”

  “Yep, she’s a whole different kind of trouble,” Michael said.

  “You’re not wrong.” Archer bit into his apple and chewed loudly.

  I questioned Michael with my eyes but he wasn’t giving anything away.

  “Please don’t worry about me, Grace. I can take care of myself.”

  “Are you going to tell me why you’re here?” I asked.

  “Let’s just say I have a debt to collect.” Michael got to his feet and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.

  “Is he always so cryptic?” Ryan asked.

  “Only when he knows something and doesn’t want to share.” I leant forward onto the table and cupped my tea with my hands. The Styrofoam cup warmed my skin. “Technically, I’m still mad at him, so now is about the time I’m going to start ignoring him.”

  “Be careful, Grace. Please.” Michael held my gaze with his deep brown eyes. His brow furrowed, and I wished he’d open up and let me in, but the wall in his mind was far too strong. “I wanted to warn you that you’re heading into trouble.”

  “What kind?” I asked at the exact same time as Archer said, “What’s new?”

  Michael shook his head and pursed his lips. I can’t tell you. That would be sharing information with the enemy.

  Oh, I’m your enemy now?

  In the Council’s eyes you are. Michael turned away and headed towards the door.

  “What? No goodbye?” Archer asked.

  I like your brother. Michael’s laughter rang through my head and he glanced over his shoulder as he walked through the car park. I’ve always got your back, Grace. I know you, and I know you’re where you are for a reason, but be careful. If you need me, call and I’ll come. Michael stared at me for a brief moment before stepping into his fancy car and closing the door.

  Archer wiped the yoghurt off the table and threw the napkin, along with his apple core, into the empty tub before standing. “Why do I get the feeling that today is going to be one of those days?” He sipped his coffee.

  Ryan cleared the table, putting our rubbish in the bin. “Come on, man. You should be used to it by now.”

  “He’s right,” I said, following both of them to the door. “Every day is one of those days.”

  ELEVEN

  Josh

  Lilith adjusted the curtains as the first morning rays hit the street outside. She stared at the folded fabric and wrung her hands. Lilith didn’t usually do the nervous thing.

  “Why are you so worried?” I sat in my wing chair and flicked the lamp on.

  Lilith turned to me and pressed her lips together. “It might be safer if you don’t know.”

  I stayed silent for a while, watching Lilith and trying to figure her out. Since I’d first met her she’d always been strong, and sassy, and acted as if she were indestructible. She didn’t care who she killed or where we went, as long as we stayed away from the angels and hunters, and any vamp we met had this weird sort of respect for her—everything was good. But sitting there, staring at her worried eyes, everything changed.

  I didn’t know her.

  I didn’t know anyone, not even myself.

  “Since you found me, all I have known is you, and what you’ve shown me,” I said. “I’m living in a world where I know nothing about my past.” I tried to keep my voice even, but by the time I’d finished my sentence I was yelling. “How can you say I’d be safer? I’m running from something I don’t know anything about. Wouldn’t it be better if I knew so I could stand up and fight?”

  “You won’t win,” Lilith whispered. “Not against Lucas.”

  “Where did the Lilith who pulled me from a ditch go? Huh?” I shot up from my chair and ran at her, pushing her against the wall next to the front window. “I want her back. The Lilith in front of me is a spineless coward who can’t even tell me the truth.”

  “The truth won’t save you.”

  “Maybe not, but it might free me from this hell I’m living.”

  My fingers wrapped around Lilith’s neck. I squeezed and she raised her chin. I loosened my grip and rubbed her lips with my thumb, pressing my hips to hers. She crushed her mouth over mine and slid her arms around my neck, showing me the Lilith I knew.

  She pulled away and I dropped my hand to my side, stepping back. We’d reached the time of day when Lilith got to sleep and I had to suffer through the torturous daylight hours, alone with nothing but my thoughts.

  Lilith tilted her head to one side. “Have you ever thought about why you can’t sleep?”

  “Not really,” I said. “But I know that it sucks.”

  “You’re the only vampire I know who can’t sleep during the day. Except for Charlotte.”

  “Is she the one who’s been following us? Who came here?”

  Lilith nodded.

  “So you do know her?” I asked.

  Lilith looked away. Finally, I’d caught her out.

  “It’s complicated.” She sauntered over to the base of the staircase and stopped, staring at me over her shoulder. “When I look at you sometimes I think you weren’t meant to be a vampire. You’ve always been special, but I could never put my finger on how. It’s like you have a conscience or something, or maybe your soul is different, I don’t know.” She pursed her lips. “Charlotte is like that. She can walk in the sun, and she doesn’t sleep during the day, so maybe
you can go outside, too.”

  “Are you crazy? I’d burn to death.”

  “For your own sake, I hope that’s true.”

  Lilith put her foot on the first step. I wanted nothing more than to go upstairs and get into bed with her, but the moment she laid down, she’d be dead to the world. I didn’t fancy cuddling up to someone who was pretty much a corpse.

  “I’ll see you at dusk.” I returned to my chair.

  “Maybe you should grow a pair and see if my theory is right.”

  I was still laughing when the bedroom door clicked closed. She wanted me to man up, I’d like to see her walk out into the sunlight. What a stupid idea. Still, I couldn’t take my eyes off the window. Was I crazy for even entertaining the idea? For a couple of hours I sat in my chair, imagining what it would be like to have the warmth of the sun on my skin.

  Anger welled inside me and I grabbed the lamp from the side table, hurling it across the room. It hit the wall and the antique glass shade shattered into tiny shards, raining onto the carpet in a glittery mass.

  How had I gotten to where I was? I was tired of not knowing anything.

  I settled back into the chair to wait for sunset. The curtains that covered the window usually changed in colour slightly as the sun rose and fell with the day, but this time they stayed the same for several hours due to the dull weather. By late afternoon I finally got up the nerve to walk to the window.

  I hooked my finger into the edge of the soft velvet and pulled it back slightly. Moisture from the drizzling rain had turned the street black, and the leaves on the trees dripped water onto the footpath.

  Everything I knew about vampires told me that if I walked outside, I’d die. There were times when I wished I had an easier existence, but I wasn’t suicidal. As hard as my life was, I didn’t want to stop being.

  I let the curtain fall back into place and glanced at the clock on the mantle over the fireplace. Four pm, which meant I had a couple of hours at the most to wait before I could go outside and know for sure I wouldn’t die. But instead of going back to the wing chair and taking up my trusty position, I went to the front door. I’d opened it before when the sun was up, so at least I knew I could let the fresh air in.

  My chest tightened with anticipation when I rested my hand on the doorknob. The moment I opened it and the cool afternoon air hit my face, I felt better. I hated being holed up in a stuffy old house all day.

  The sun hid behind grey rain clouds. I couldn’t have chosen a better day to play with my existence. I stepped onto the veranda under the protection of the balcony above, and shoved my hands into my jeans pockets. Even if I didn’t have the guts to walk completely outside, at least I could enjoy the fresh air.

  “It’s the direct sunlight that affects vampires.”

  I glanced down at the blonde girl. It unnerved me that I hadn’t heard her approach. My senses were usually excellent; maybe I’d been too focused on thinking about the sun.

  “You’re back,” I said, not really knowing what else to say.

  She came up the stairs and stood beside me on the doorstep. She was beautiful. More beautiful than anyone I remembered, and it was the first time I’d really had the chance to look at her. Her hair was like silk waving in a gentle breeze, its colour a lovely blonde tinged with red. She definitely wasn’t human. Her eyes were as black as ebony, and I had no urge to rip her throat out.

  “Can I come in?” she asked.

  “Why have you been following me?” I wasn’t sure if I should let her into the terrace. If Lilith had taught me one thing, it was to be wary of beautiful women. I didn’t know how strong she was, if she were strong at all, but I didn’t want to find out the hard way.

  “There are things we need to talk about.”

  “Your name is Charlotte, right?”

  The girl nodded. “Josh, please. I’m not going to hurt you.”

  Charlotte’s hair glistened with droplets of mist, but the rain didn’t seem to bother her. I stepped aside and let her into the hallway. She followed me to the living room and I settled into the wing chair. She went to the window and pulled the edge of the curtain aside, peering through the gap.

  “I don’t think anyone followed me.”

  “If you’re talking about Lucas, he can’t. The sun’s still up,” I said.

  “I know.” She let the curtain fall into place and sat on the couch. “But I have to watch my back.”

  “What are you?” I asked. Why not cut right to the chase? No one was being straight with me, and I wanted answers.

  “You really don’t remember?” Charlotte sat on the lounge, her back straight and her hands in her lap. The only people who could sit perfectly still like that, without even the hint of involuntary breathing, were vampires, but I still didn’t believe she was one. She’d walked in off the street during the day. She couldn’t possibly be like me.

  I leant forward and rested my elbows on my knees. “I don’t remember anything before Lilith.”

  “You obviously know you’re a vampire, but there’s a lot you don’t know.”

  “Then please, enlighten me.” I waved my hand, motioning her to speak, and sat back in the chair to wait.

  “Show me your wrist.” Charlotte’s gaze flicked to my left hand. “You have a scar.”

  “How did you know that?” The long-sleeved shirt I wore covered the scar she was referring to. I’d never given it much thought; it had always been there. I rolled my sleeve up and rested my arm on my leg with the underside of my wrist facing up.

  “The bite of our creator is the only scar that stays behind once we’re turned,” Charlotte said. “Mine is on my shoulder.” She pulled the neck of her top to the side and showed me a crescent-shaped scar. It looked out of place on her perfect skin.

  “I don’t understand,” I said. “Lilith told me you’re a vampire, but how can you be? You walked …” I looked at the closed curtains.

  Charlotte studied me. “I told you, there’s a lot you don’t know.”

  There were so many questions filling my head I thought it would explode. “How do you know Lilith? How do you know me? Do you know who my creator is?” When I returned my gaze to Charlotte, her brow furrowed and she bit her lip.

  She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and the action stirred something inside me. She froze, her eyes questioning.

  “Your hair,” I said. “When you did that it reminded me of something, but I don’t know what. It’s like I have these memories that want to come out, but something is holding them back.”

  “That’s because something is. You have a mind block.”

  I stared at her. “You mean someone has done this to me? Why would anyone want to do that?”

  “To cause trouble.”

  “And what did I do to deserve this? Who did I piss off this much?”

  Charlotte shook her head. “It’s not all about you.”

  “Then who is this about?” I ran a hand through my hair. “Okay, can we go back to the beginning for a minute? You still haven’t told me how you can be a vampire and walk around getting a tan. Let’s start with that.”

  Charlotte sighed and stood up. “Before I was a vampire, I was an angel.”

  The chair rocked from the force of me standing up. After everything Lilith had taught me, how could I let an angel into our house? I was across the room, ready to grab Charlotte and throw her against the wall, but when I reached her she’d gone. I spun around to find her sitting in the wing chair.

  “How did you do that?”

  “Josh, I’m not going to hurt you,” Charlotte said.

  I relaxed a little, but there was no way I was sitting down again. “Go on.” I crossed my arms and waited.

  “I can’t explain everything to you, but you have to trust me.”

  I laughed. “I don’t trust anyone.”

  “We were friends once. Good friends. We had each other’s backs. You just don’t remember. When you were human, you fell in love with an angel, and before you ju
mp in, let me finish. You wanted to know the truth … so I’m giving it to you.”

  Charlotte stared at me, challenging me to interrupt.

  “All right, keep going.” I sat on the edge of the couch, ready if she tried any funny business.

  “Grace is—was a Protection Angel and vampire hunter.”

  She wasn’t making it easy to not interrupt her. How could I have been in love with not only an angel, but one who hunted my kind?

  Charlotte continued talking, telling me how Grace had broken all the rules by wanting to be with me. Charlotte had come to our school to find Grace, and her brother, Archer, who also hunted vampires. I didn’t like the sound of him.

  “Where do you fit into all of this?” I asked.

  “I was running from Lucas, but some of his vamps followed me. The short version is I wanted Grace and Archer’s protection, and Grace fought hard for me, and you got caught in the crossfire. But I wasn’t completely honest with her. When I told her the truth, all hell broke loose.”

  I shook my head and ran my hands through my hair. “I still don’t know what the truth really is.”

  Charlotte’s face was a blank, unreadable canvas. “I wasn’t only an angel, Josh. I …” Her gaze moved, staring at something behind me.

  I sensed Lilith before she rested her hand on my shoulder. Her grip dug into my skin, and I prepared myself for the confrontation that would come.

  TWELVE

  Grace

  Late Saturday morning

  By the time we got to the outskirts of the city, the sun was awake and the day well and truly started. Rain clouds hovered overhead, covering everything in a fine mist. Archer guided the car onto the bridge, slotting in with the traffic, and I sat back in my seat, staring at the little white peaks of the choppy water on the harbour.

  Archer muttered some choice words under his breath when a taxi cut us off, exiting the bridge.

  “Relax, Arch. Getting uptight will only make it worse,” I said.

  “I hate this.” Archer scowled. “Everyone is in too much of a hurry. How are we supposed to get anywhere with all these cars?”