“Well, I can. Besides, the chances of any coming here are slim to none.” Integrity looked at him with her eyebrows raised, and he clarified, “Animals don't like us, remember? It's hard to blend into a crowd when a polar bear's trying to rip your throat out.”
Somewhat reassured, but concerned about standing out even more by not moving, Integrity threaded deeper into the crowd. “Polar bears would attack? I thought everything would just run away.”
Evan glanced around, comfortably, then gestured in the direction he wanted to go. “Let's get on the bus.” They moved off to the right. Evan moved closer to her and, keeping his voice low, answered her question. “Anything big enough tends to go a little nuts and attack rather than run. Kind of a 'fight or flight' thing.” He smiled. “When you're used to being top of the food chain, 'flight' is not really in the equation.”
Evan waved her ahead of him, and she entered the double-decker bus. She slid into a seat on the first level, somewhere in the middle, and Evan slid in beside her. As much as she wished the bench were longer, she had to admit she felt some reassurance that Evan was a buffer between her and all of the other potential threats on the bus. After several minutes, the brief tour began.
The slight breeze was refreshing, though Integrity could still feel the humidity clinging to her skin. She forced herself to focus on what the guide was saying, and laughed out loud when she recognized some trees from the Dr. Seuss books. “I didn't think those were really real,” she said to Evan, smiling broadly.
The tour was shorter than she had thought it would be, but it only whetted her appetite to see more animals. The pair spent the entire day wandering the massive park, Integrity welcoming the anonymity of being in such a large crowd. Evan hung back at each of the exhibits, refusing to enter the private area for the giant pandas, but was careful to keep Integrity in sight at all times. In his dress pants and shirt, Integrity teased that he looked like secret service. “I've always wondered what it would be like to be the president's daughter,” she joked. “Now I know.”
Integrity was desperate to go to the small show offered a few times a day, and Evan finally agreed, but maintained that they must sit on the back row. She considered arguing that she could sit closer and he could keep an eye on her, but didn't want to press her luck. She kept half expecting him to announce that they were leaving, immediately.
The giant fans and mist of cool water was surprisingly refreshing—there was a definite drop in temperature inside the stadium. Integrity had expected a typical show with run-of-the-mill animals, but she had never heard of any of them. It was completely charming, especially the part where cats that were supposed to love water would do anything to get their treat out of it, unless it meant getting wet.
As the sun descended, and Integrity's energy sagged, the animals in the zoo grew restless, obviously awaiting their keepers and dinner. The area was emptying quickly of guests. “Are we going to get kicked out?” Integrity muttered to Evan when a pair of employees zoomed past in a modified golf cart; they were the only people they had seen in nearly half an hour.
“As long as we get a ride, I don't really care.”
Integrity stuck her tongue out at him. “It's gotta be close to closing.”
Evan glanced at his watch. “About twenty minutes.”
Integrity looked at the map she held in her hands, then sighed. “We'd better start walking. Somehow, I don't think they're going to offer us a ride.”
They caught a glimpse of the elephants, all gathered near a gate where their dinner would shortly appear, and made a detour to see the very sleepy koalas before leaving the zoo and climbing back into Evan's car. Worn out, Integrity was fairly quiet on the ride home.
Evan hit a drive-thru on the way and, as they waited for her food, asked, “So, what was your favorite part?”
Integrity groaned. “How can I pick? The hippos and pandas were way bigger than I expected, the koalas smaller.” She sat up straighter. “Hey, we didn't get to see the polar bears.”
Evan laughed, handing money to the teenager behind the window. “Do you want ketchup?” She shook her head, and he told the girl. After the window had shut, he said, “Don't you remember the whole polar-bears-want-to-rip-my-throat-out thing? Not exactly family friendly entertainment.”
Integrity rolled her eyes. “You could have hung back, like you did everywhere else. Only a couple of the animals even glanced at you.”
“Yeah, none of them were predators, either,” he rebutted, handing the paper bag of food across the seat to her. “Evan+predatory animal=awkward questions.”
Digging into the bag and pulling out a curly fry, she responded, “I'll try to keep that in mind,” hoping he would catch the hint that she wanted to go back again one day. It's much more entertaining than sitting in a hotel room all the time. She popped the fry into her mouth, then took a sip of her drink as Evan merged with the heavy traffic once more. As boring at the hotel is, she amended, I'm definitely ready to go back. I need to get off my feet for a few dozen hours.
Є
Integrity's feet were tender the next day, so she had no desire to go anywhere, but that was short lived. The next day her feet felt normal again, and she was restless. Rather than helping, the trip to the zoo had only added to her sense of cabin fever. Integrity felt like a spoiled brat, but that didn't change her need to get out of the suite.
Evan was reading a book on the balcony; she was hesitant to interrupt him, but finally decided she didn't care. Sticking her head out the door, she asked, “Can I go for a walk?” Evan closed his book and set it aside. “Oh, no, you don't have to come. I'm just going stir crazy.” Evan looked at her as though she weren't using her brain, and she mumbled, “Fine, fine, let's go.”
In the parking lot, Integrity paused. “Where to?” Evan asked, hands in pockets.
Integrity glanced around, then shielded her eyes as she looked to the sky. “It's too hot to go to the beach. Let's go see the hotel's seals.” She gestured off to their left. Silently, Evan started toward the path.
The foliage around them was dense, almost oppressive. Integrity felt like it was pushing in on her, and made a mental note not to come here in the dark. It's creepy enough in the daytime. Anyone could be hiding anywhere, and I'd never see them. When the path opened up at the seal enclosure, she sighed quietly in relief. The shrubbery was still dense, but at least she had room to maneuver if someone attacked. And to think, I would have felt this way before discovering the reality of vampires.
Hands still in pockets, Evan strolled easily over to a short stand displaying information about the two seals who were following each other through the water, the second miming the first to perfection. Integrity leaned her forearms on the railing, grateful for the shade provided by the tall palms. It's really quite peaceful here, she mused. What's to be scared of?
She shifted to one side so she could see further down the pool as the pair swam away. She noticed a child's ball and a few other toys floating on the surface, but the seals had no interest in them. The sounds of traffic, and one strident bird, floated over her head.
She had closed her eyes, listening to the sound of the water lapping against the walls, when she heard the sound of several people approaching. She frowned and clenched her eyes shut tighter as the obviously angry voices drew nearer. Thankfully, the adults quit talking to one another when they realized they were not alone. A boy of about eight ran ahead of them and hung over the wall surrounding the pool, eagerly looking for the seals.
“Oh, Ethan, dear, do be careful. You might fall in,” the woman worried, shrilly. Her son completely ignored her. Integrity rolled her eyes. Are you serious? The wall's at his chin. He'd have to be an Olympian to “fall in.” The mother moved nearer, her hands fluttering uselessly. Completely ignoring the pair, the father moved further down the pond, fiddling with a large camera.
The mother continued to fuss at her son, and Integrity's patience grew short. Catching Evan's eye, she jerked her head back toward t
he hotel. He shrugged and walked toward her, the mother and son between them.
Integrity watched as the mother reached out to pull her son back from the wall. Jerking away from her, the boy dashed onto the path, directly into Evan. Instinctively, Evan grabbed the boy's arm, steadying him. The boy got his feet underneath him and shot Evan a dirty look. “Why don'tcha watch where you're goin'?” he mouthed off, jerking his arm roughly away.
“Now, Ethan, honey,” the mousy woman coddled.
“Just shut yer trap, Elaine.” The large man was suddenly behind Evan, camera swinging on the strap around his neck. “The boy didn't do nothin' wrong. Mr. Hot Shot here should be watchin' where he's going, not runnin' over little kids.”
A slight smirk on his face, Evan said, “I apologize, sir. It won't happen again.”
The man cut him off, his face turning red. “Sorry? Sorry? Sorry's not good enough!” Stepping nearer to Evan, the man began jabbing his finger at him. “What are you, some kind of child predator? Hoping to grab my son and take him off to your little hidey-hole? Why, I oughtta--”
Integrity cut him off, stepping between the two men and getting right in the stranger's face. “Listen up, buddy,” she yelled at him, “I saw the whole flipping thing and it was your kid's own fault he almost fell on his butt. Maybe if he was under control, we wouldn't have this problem right now!”
“What? You little...” Looking as though he were only a heartbeat away from a stroke, the man lifted his hands and shoved Integrity backward. She felt herself collide with Evan before she fell to the ground. Ready to kick the stranger in his teeth, she looked up to locate him. Evan loomed over him.
“You're done.” Though Evan technically wasn't yelling, it felt like his words echoed in her ears as she continued to sit on the cool cement. The man had a look on his face that clearly stated, “Oh, crap.” When the man remained silent, Evan stepped away and walked over to Integrity. She thought he would offer her a hand up, but he didn't. Only after they had moved down the path did the man start up again, muttering about calling the police. Evan called over his shoulder, the ultimate picture of calm, “Please do. I'd love to talk to them, too.”
Integrity staggered down the path, heart thudding so loudly she couldn't hear if Evan were following or not. Once in the parking lot, he moved up to walk beside her. He seemed completely unaffected, as though the whole situation had not happened. Integrity wondered whether she'd dreamed the whole thing, then felt how cold her butt still was from being knocked on it. Definitely not a dream.
At the base of the stairs that led to their floor, Evan stopped. “You know, I think I'd like to go back and look at the seals some more.”
Integrity laughed, a little wildly. “Are you kidding me? You want to go back and see that dinkus again? Come on.”
Evan shrugged. “I don't let people like him bother me. If you want to see the seals, you have just as much right to be there as he does. Probably more.”
Integrity shook her head, still feeling a little off-balance from the whole encounter. “What was his problem, anyway? You apologized.”
“Ah, but not very sincerely.” Still making no move to ascend, he abruptly said, “Why'd you get in his face, anyway? Did you think I was going to forget myself and kill him?”
Integrity rolled her eyes. “Please, you wouldn't do that.” She moved to shove him lightly, but he shifted away. The friendly banter fled, grave seriousness replacing it fully. “What?” she asked, unable to keep eye contact.
“You mean like I didn't kill your parents?” His voice was cruelly mocking. “Oh, yes, please give me a soul I don't deserve.” He brushed past her and walked up the stairs, in complete, cold control.
I think I'd feel better if he'd been the one to shove me down.
Є
Integrity was too angry to watch TV and pretend nothing had happened, so she withdrew to her room. It only took a moment to realize she had nothing to do. Freaking jerk, she griped. Can't even bother to get me a book when he gets one for himself. I ought to march out there and rip it out of his hands. She knew she would never have the guts to do it, so she felt no pleasure at the thought.
Frustrated, she stomped around the room, looking for anything to distract herself, knowing she would find nothing. As a last effort, she jerked open the drawer in the nightstand, wanting the satisfaction of slamming it shut again. Instead, she paused—a Gideon Bible.
A wave of dark, pervasive guilt crawled slowly over her. When was the last time she had really thought of God, or the things of eternity? When was the last time she had simply expressed her gratitude to Him, without adding a huge list of wants?
She blushed. She knew if her mother were here, the first thing she would tell Integrity to do would be to pray, but the thought hadn't even crossed her mind. Thoughts of her mother caused her stomach to clench and her eyes to burn. What must she be thinking right now? Does she think I don't care, that I don't want to see her and Dad again?
Afraid she would balk, Integrity snatched the Bible out of the drawer and slammed it shut. The book was heavy in her hand. Ashamed that she hadn't looked for a Bible first thing, she sat slowly on the edge of the bed, tensed as though for flight. She ran one hand across the cover, then cracked open the book and began to read, pausing only when Evan quickly closed her door, almost slamming it. She felt a rush of anger, but quickly remembered what she was doing and forced it aside. She pushed him out of her thoughts and returned to her reading, her eyes growing progressively more heavy even as a quiet peace settled over her.
Є
She must have fallen asleep, for she knew she was dreaming. Rather than feel distant from the events, as was her norm, she felt more like an actor in a play, an integral part of what was happening without it being reality; it would end when she woke just as surely as a play would end with a final curtain.
She had found her true love, the one person that she felt complete with, and had traveled with him to his parents' home to meet the family. The house was tidy, the parents lovely and welcoming. All was well with the world, things flowing smoothly along. They even welcomed Kellin into their home, in spite of their own lack of pets.
The crack in the foundation formed as soon as she first glimpsed her love's brother, Luke. The first thing one would notice was his marked deformity, the right side of his face puckered, discolored, and warped from a burn beyond her comprehension. Luke turned to her, caught her gaze, and she looked away, only to notice that his right arm and hand were equally marked. She could not help but look to his face again, only to see hate flowing from his eyes at her, seeming to scream, “I don't want your pity,” over the voices of the rest of the family.
“Oh, dear, you're home,” the mother said, breaking into the flow of animosity. “This is our other son, Luke.”
“Nice to meet...” She allowed her voice to trail off, rebuked, as he spun on his heel and left the room.
Although time ratcheted past, she knew that Luke was creeping into her thoughts far more than her betrothed. She felt a dark, irresistible pull that she couldn't seem to overcome, steadily drawing her from her love to his brother. She fought it, avoided Luke, as he avoided her, but all with little result. She felt as though there were a magnetic pull between them, and not matter how she tried, her feet continued to slide across the floor away from one brother, to the other.
She found herself following Luke to his bedroom, where he had fled. The entrance to his room, in the true manner of a dream, was reached by a ladder. The hole, near the ceiling, was so small that she knew she would have to squirm just to get through, despite the fact that Luke was much broader than she. The entrance was clogged with various items, including an old letterman's jacket from a high school 35 miles north of where she had once lived.
Even in a dream, she knew she would not crawl into such a dark, cramped space, and the dream shifted abruptly to the living room, where she and Luke were alone. Though he was in a chair and she on the couch, their knees were almost brushing as s
he leaned toward him.
Though she had not heard him speak, she knew that he was arguing with her, telling her to let him alone. Thinking that she would be unable to do so, he ordered, “Look at me, then. Look in my eyes.”
Slowly, as though too many frames of film had been used for such a short time span, she raised her eyes and looked directly into his own. Her peripheral vision picked up the deep ridges and valleys on the right side of his face, but they didn't have any effect on her. Unable to stop herself, she raised her hand and, after a slight hesitation, waiting for him to strike her hand away, she allowed the tips of her fingers to brush across the scarring. His flesh was cool under her skin, bringing to mind how hot it must have once been. She felt tears start to her eyes. “Does it hurt?” she breathed, her voice breaking as her gaze sought his once more.
Luke brushed her hand aside, not roughly. “The skin has healed.” She dropped her hand from his face, but did not pull away, still staring into his eyes. He broke the contact, pulled back. “Don't you get it?” he barked, glaring once more. “There's no hope for us. I'm a monster.”
Integrity snapped awake, leaning forward from the headboard where she had reclined. Her heart was thudding, and she rubbed absently at the crick in her neck, still struggling to pull herself from the dream. She half expected to see the fictional Luke storming from the room, slamming the door behind him as Evan had done only a few short hours before. She shivered, closed the Bible, and crawled under the covers on the bed, curling into a tight ball.
Did she want the dream to return, or not?
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Hey, get dressed, we're gonna be late,” Evan called through her door, pulling her blearily from sleep.
“Wha'?” she said into her pillow. “Where're we goin'?” She was finding it hard to finish any of her words. They slurred together, sounding like one, long garble.
“Sea World.”
Evan: Book Two of the Destine Series Page 20