Sam I Am

by Heather Killough-Walden

  She closed her eyes, forcing the image of Maldovan from her thoughts.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” she said. “Why me?” She gritted her teeth and opened her eyes to peer up at Sam once more.

  “Logan,” he said, softly, shaking his head. “I am not a child. I’m no little boy with petty needs.”

  No, she thought. He’s definitely not a child. He was powerful. Very, very powerful. She only wondered why he hadn’t yet forced her into some obedient, frozen state as well.

  He took another step toward her. “Your body is young, Logan. And if I were only interested in the kinds of things you seem to think I should be, you would certainly suffice.” He smiled at that, hunger flashing in his eyes. And then the smile disappeared and he was serious again. “But you have a seasoned soul.” Another step forward.

  Logan took another step back.

  “You’re no stranger to the harvest, Logan,” he told her, his tone placating, all traces of any teasing long gone. “You know it, deep down. It guides all you do, all you dream of – all you write.” He stopped and raised his arms, turning his hands palm up.

  Logan watched as a tiny glowing orange light appeared above his right hand. The light grew and began to rotate until a small, crystal jack-o-lantern was taking shape a half an inch above his palm. It was exquisite. Logan couldn’t help but admire it.

  A second light caught her attention above his left hand. This one was a bluish-purple color and spun, just as the jack-o-lantern had. Within a few moments, the light was a glowing crystal skull, a mere few inches in diameter, but perfectly shaped.

  Both objects shimmered beautifully beneath the moon and lamplight. Their glimmer fairly begged to be touched.

  “I can give you everything your heart desires, Logan.”

  “I desire life,” Logan told him, not quite sure it was the truth. But she’d always been exceedingly stubborn.

  “Do you?” he asked. He closed his fists, then, and the crystal objects disappeared. He lowered his arms and began to circle her like a shark. She slowly turned in place in order to keep her eyes on him. “What can life give that you truly want – and that I can’t give you, also?”

  Logan licked her lips. Her vision was blurring a little. Breathe, she told herself. Don’t faint in front of him. God only knows where you would wake up.

  Sam looked at the ground and a small smile curved the corners of his lips. Then he looked back up and settled his gaze on hers once more. “You’ve no real reason to fear me, you know.”

  “Ha!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief.

  He shook his head, almost admonishingly, and continued to circle her. “Death isn’t so different from life, Logan. Only, in my world, there will be no big brother to beat on you. No younger brother to constantly protect. No alcoholic mother, no ignorant school mates, no financial worries – no worries at all.”

  Logan didn’t have anything to say to that. Behind Sam, Dominic remained frozen where he had come to a stop, and Logan momentarily closed her eyes. She’d forgotten about him.

  When she opened them again, Sam was no longer before her.

  Heat rushed through her and desire spiked hard in her gut when his lips were suddenly at her ear, his hard body pressed up against her back. “I will build you a castle,” he told her as his hands circled her wrists and then ran slowly up her arms. Logan’s eyes closed once more as she shuddered under his touch and found herself leaning into him. “Anything you want, my love. A ship on the sea, a cabin in the mountains, a warm hearth to curl up beside.”

  His words whispered across her skin, rising goose bumps on her flesh. His hands moved up, his grip tightening slightly as he very softly kissed her ear lobe. is cool dry lips sent a hard shiver through her body, and Logan felt what strength she had remaining within her slip from her grasp. She did nothing to stop him when he moved to kiss the tender space just below her ear and his fingers deftly swept her long, thick locks aside, exposing the pale length of her neck.

  One of his strong hands dropped to slip around her trim waist, his fingers splayed across her taut abdomen, pulling her body further into his. Logan sensed his breathing quicken against her skin as his head slid further down, his lips now trailing along the curve of her neck. She felt the material of her turtleneck pulled away from her tender flesh. The cool night air caressed the raw bite mark he had already left there; it was a reminder of his hold on her, his desire for her. She was marked and it was useless denying it; a part of her needed to be marked.

  I want this, she found herself thinking.

  Sam’s grip on her tightened, his arm around her waist holding her fast, his other hand fisting in her hair. When his lips parted and she felt the very gentle grazing of the tips of his sharp fangs against her sensitive wound, she arched in his grasp, her head falling back against his chest. She could not suppress the moan he elicited from her. The sensation was both painful and blissful and felt like sin, itself.

  Everyone has to die some time, she thought wildly.

  Sam’s grip on her now was nearly painful, it was so tight. She felt his presence brush her mind, as it had earlier in the gym.

  Take off the necklace, he told her.

  She barely registered the command, she was so lost in him. But he straightened behind her and once more spoke in her ear. “Logan, remove the necklace for me.”

  Logan frowned. The spell he had over her ebbed – and then receded. She was under it, drowning in pleasure and anticipation…. And then she wasn’t and her head cleared a little and she opened her eyes to find herself staring at the distant, still figure of Dominic Maldovan.

  She blinked, confused by the warring sensation of warmth and longing, and the waxing logic that screamed at her to fight, to get away – to get help.

  But Sam seemed to know all too well what was happening to her. His fist tightened in her hair, forcing her head back under his control, arching her neck beneath his gaze and waiting teeth. “Do it, Logan. Don’t think.”

  Just do as I say and this will all be over.

  But there was an uncertainty now. It was like an annoying flashlight beam in an otherwise pleasant darkness. Sam’s nearness still engulfed her, the scent of him was wrapped around her, the feel of his hardness at her back was so powerful, so breathtaking, she was delirious.

  And yet, she was no longer so sure. She was no longer so sure she wanted to die.

  Die? I don’t want to die.

  Take it off, Logan.

  “No,” she whispered.

  “Yes,” he hissed. She felt the tips of his fingers dig into her rib cage; they were clawed, sharp and unforgiving. They pierced her flesh there and she wondered if she was bleeding.

  “No!” she said again, this time with more force.

  “Let her go!”

  Sam growled and released Logan’s hair. He spun to face the source of the new voice, and as he did, he yanked Logan around with him, wrapping both arms around her now.

  The bliss that had enfolded Logan so warmly moments before now began to recede, fading away as realization set in. Mr. Lehrer was standing a few feet away, some strange object held out in his right hand. Now Logan could see where Katelyn was coming from when she described him as the watcher from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

  He did look a lot like him. Especially at the moment.

  “Get away from her Samhain,” he told Sam, pronouncing his name, Sowen. “She doesn’t belong with you – not yet.”

  At that, Sam laughed again, but it was a mirthless laugh, cold and cruel. “I think you’re just jealous, Lehrer. But don’t worry,” he said, grasping Logan tighter when she tried to pull away. “You can always come with us, if you like.” He smiled, bearing his fangs. “Visit your sister.”

  Lehrer swallowed visibly where he stood. Logan could see that the color had run from his face. “Sam, let me go,” Logan pleaded. “Please!” She didn’t know why she bothered to ask nicely. It was a useless gesture, as evidenced by the fact that he completely i
gnored her and continued to stare Mr. Lehrer down.

  And then Lehrer straightened, his resolve clearly returning, his gaze narrowing. He began to chant.

  Sam growled, low and long, a vibration that ran the length of his body. Because he held her so tightly, Logan could feel it move through them both. It was like being encased in growing thunder.

  Suddenly, Sam was releasing her, throwing her to the ground beside him. She caught herself with her hands and looked back at him. There was a flash of light, and when Logan moved her arm away from her face, it was to find a massive black wolf standing where Sam had been a moment before.

  From behind them, Logan heard someone groan, followed by the dull thud of something hitting the ground. She turned to find Dominic on his knees, one hand slowly running over his face. He seemed confused, and possibly in a little pain. He dropped his hand and looked up.

  Their gazes met. Then Dominic looked at the wolf. And at Mr. Lehrer. “What the –”

  “Stay where you are,” Logan told him. Just stay out of this, Dom, she thought desperately.

  As if he could read her mind, he nodded at her. Just once. Then he got his booted feet beneath him and remained where he was, crouched a few feet away.

  Logan turned her attention back to her history professor – and the wolf.

  Lehrer looked positively ill now, and Logan could see sweat trickling from his hair line to the collar of his button-up shirt. But he stood his ground, even when the wolf’s hackles rose and his ice blue eyes began to literally glow as if a light had been switched on behind them.

  He did not stop chanting.

  The wolf snarled, teeth bared, fangs flashing. The massive black animal spun around and sniffed the air. Logan watched as it lowered its head, its unnatural gaze settling on Dominic.

  “No!” Logan yelled, leaping forward from the ground as if she could somehow stop Sam from doing anything.

  The wolf lunged gracefully out of the way, reaching Dominic’s kneeling form in two lightning-quick lopes.

  Dominic’s eyes widened in shock and fear, but his body must have known what to do, because he dropped to his chest as the wolf leapt for his throat, and Sam’s lupine form wound up jumping completely over him. Dominic rolled and pushed up off of the ground, regaining his feet just as the wolf stopped and turned, again baring rows of sharp, white teeth.

  Mr. Lehrer’s chanting voice rose in volume, and the wolf took a tentative step back. It seemed at once a little unsure.

  Logan looked from her teacher to Dominic to Sam – and held her breath.

  And then Sam was engulfed in a second flash of light and moments later, the young man they were all familiar with was standing in the wolf’s place. His eyes were on Logan. They were such a pale blue, they looked silver, and they shone with the same inhuman brightness that they had in wolf form. He said nothing.

  A second later, he simply vanished.

  Mr. Lehrer’s chant stumbled to a halt, trailing away as the history teacher spun in place, seeking the darkness and shadows for any sign of the disappearing vampire-werewolf-death god.

  “Mr. Lehrer?” Logan approached him on unsteady legs. He turned to face her and exhaled; apparently he’d been holding a bit of his breath as well.

  “Logan, we need to get you inside. He’ll be back all too soon.” He strode forward and grasped her upper arms, looking her over. “Did he hurt you?”

  She shook her head. “No.” If the turtle neck was once more covering the mark already on her neck, she didn’t want to draw his attention to it.

  He nodded once and then released her, glancing up at Dominic. Logan turned to see as well. Dom wasn’t looking so good. He was pale and his dark green eyes were very large in his handsome face.

  “Dominic, you had also better come with us,” said Mr. Lehrer.

  “Katie! Meagan?” Logan was surprised to see the two girls sitting on the stage in the otherwise empty drama room. Katelyn stood, a tad slow and unsteady on her legs, and smiled a wan and sheepish smile.

  “Hey girl. Sorry I freaked out on you.” She looked well and truly ashamed and Logan was bewildered.

  Logan turned to the second girl, concerned for Meagan’s health. “What are you doing out of the hospital?”

  The young witch smiled a very small smile. “Mr. Lehrer is pretty good with the strength and healing thing,” she explained. “I’m still not at a hundred percent, but,” she shrugged, “I’m good enough for this.”

  Both girls looked over Logan’s shoulder when they saw Dominic Maldovan walk through the door behind her. Their eyes widened, a little more color finally returning to their cheeks. Dominic ran an unsure hand through his hair and turned to watch Mr. Lehrer enter behind him, locking the door once they were all inside.

  Mr. Lehrer turned to the students, pushed his glasses further up on his nose, and blew out a sigh. “I’m afraid Mr. Maldovan has been unintentionally involved in this as well, ladies.” He turned to Dominic and pinned him with a serious stare. “Dominic, we’re going to explain what is happening and I need to know that we can trust you. What you learn today, you must keep to yourself.” He waited for Dominic to reply.

  The young guitarist ran a shaking hand over his face and sat down at a desk near him. “Did… I imagine it or did that wolf turn into the new guy?”

  Mr. Lehrer gave him a sympathetic look and let his head drop. “I’m afraid what you saw was real, Dominic. Sam Hain is not what he appears to be.”

  Dominic looked up, his eyebrows arched. “He appears to be a werewolf,” he said, softly. “You mean he’s not?”

  Lehrer smiled. “Actually, not exactly.”

  “Dominic, you look like Dwayne from The Lost Boys.” Logan had no idea why she said that. It was just that she had been watching him – and The Lost Boys was one of her favorite movies of all time. And right now, he was dressed in exactly the same way that the black haired vampire had dressed. “I mean the original Lost Boys,” she added. Then she shrugged, feeling at once rather stupid.

  Dominic glanced over at her, his green eyes shining, his expression both surprised and a touch pleased. After a moment, he smiled. Though he was most likely in some kind of shock, he smiled easily, and it looked incredibly good on him. “It was Alec’s idea,” he told her. “He’s David. The whole band dressed up.”

  “As The Lost Boys?” Logan asked.

  Dominic’s smile grew. “Yeah. All four of ‘em.”

  “Umm….” Mr. Lehrer was glancing from Logan to Dominic, his expression questioning. “This is all very interesting, kids. But we have a rather big problem to deal with at the moment.”

  Logan blinked and turned back to her teacher. “Sorry,” she uttered, quickly. “Sorry, Mr. Lehrer. I know.” She nodded.

  “Right,” Lehrer said, hesitantly. A few more glances at each of them and he squared his shoulders and moved to Meagan, who looked up at him expectantly.

  “You sure you can pull this off, Meagan?” He knelt beside her and looked deeply into her eyes.

  She seemed to think it over for a few seconds. “I have no choice. I opened the door. I’m the only one who can close it again.”

  Mr. Lehrer nodded and stood again. He turned to Dominic. Logan felt her stomach tighten. Just her luck that the one boy she had ever crushed on would come to see just how much of a freak she truly was.

  “Dom,” Mr. Lehrer addressed him. “How much do you know about magic?”

  Dominic blinked and leaned forward. “I’m sorry?”

  “Magic, son. Witches, warlocks, inter-dimensional realms, vampires, demons – ” he shrugged. “That sort of thing.”

  Dominic sat back again. He glanced at Logan. She wanted to hide. She wanted to dig a hole in the sand and stick her head in it.

  Then he Dominic at Meagan and Katelyn. Then back up at Mr. Lehrer. He shook his head. “No more than anyone else, I guess.”

  Lehrer nodded and shoved his hands into the pockets of his sports coat. “Well, you’re about to get a crash course.”r />
  It was the fastest lesson in the supernatural that anyone had ever taught. And yet, if the pained expression on the teacher’s face was any indication, it took far too long for Mr. Lehrer’s liking – and was still far too unbelievable for Dominic’s.

  As they talked, Mr. Lehrer drilled Logan with questions. She felt strange answering them in front of Dominic. He watched her so keenly, listened so intently, she didn’t know whether he believed all of this and found it interesting, or was realizing Logan Wright was just as much of a weirdo as everyone had always told her she was.

  But Sam was out there and no matter how much it might hurt, Logan knew that her cooperation in this was vital. With a sinking feeling, she spilled everything she could possibly think of to Mr. Lehrer. In the end, he surmised that somehow, Sam Hain had read her stories and become an amalgamation of the male characters within them.

  “You’re a writer, Logan, and in ancient Celtic times, you are what they would have called a bard. A story teller. Your words have much more power than you most likely realize.”

  Logan blushed, and then quickly paled. There was nothing she could say to that. The truth was, she had to agree with the magic words thing. She had always felt that words were powerful. They gave her an escape; they kept her from going insane. They’d gotten her out of trouble with her parents countless time – hell, that was power right there.

  “Now, from what you’ve told me, and from what I’ve seen, his favored form seems to be that of a vampire,” Lehrer mused quietly. She blushed again at the observation, the wound in her neck throbbing as if on cue.

  And then Lehrer shrugged and nodded to himself. “It makes sense. Vampires thrive by stealing life force from the living. It’s fitting for him.”

  The Celtic life necklace, Mr. Lehrer insisted that she keep on her. He told her that it had been blessed by life magic and that it was what had protected her from Sam’s attack. She silently wished she’d had one in her possession the day before.