by J. N. Colon
He nodded and sat on the edge of the bed again, stroking a finger down her tiny cheek. “That she is Sara. Just like her mother.”
I couldn’t keep her. It wasn’t because of my age. It was for her protection. They’d harm her. I know it. She wouldn’t even be safe with him. She has to be taken far away.
Tears leaked out my eyes as I stared at my little girl.
“Oh Sara.” He brushed them away with his fingers tips. “I am so sorry. I wish I could do something. Are you sure you won’t let me take her? I could protect her.”
I shook my head, resolved. “No. She has to be as far away from me and all of this as possible. She can’t grow up around this.” I gently tucked the blanket under her tiny neck.
“And what if she doesn’t have your gift of sight?”
“Then her child will or her grandchild or great-grandchild.” I smiled down at her. “It doesn’t matter because I know one of them will be the curse to these hunters.”
“But you don’t even know what their plan is. What is she supposed to stop?”
“Something I can’t finish in my lifetime. She will. I’ve seen it.” Those last words were barely a whisper as I remembered the day I got that fated vision. I stared down at my daughter and made a promise. “I will find out their intentions and I promise to help when the time is right anyway I can.”
I pressed one last kiss to her warm, pink forehead while tears welled in my eyes and sadness clogged my throat. “Take her please before I’m not strong enough.”
He did, placing her back in the basinet.
I rolled on my side and cried into my pillow for the loss of her.
Someone shook me awake, tears leaking from my eyes as I sobbed. “Rubi, what’s wrong?”
I looked through my watery vision to see Mac lying next to me with agony etched on his handsome face. That look finally knocked me out of my daze and I took a shuddering breath to calm down. I sat up and he followed.
“Baby, what happened? Was it a nightmare?”
I nodded and laid my head on his shoulder. “I-It was the dark headed girl from my dreams. But this time it was…” My breath hitched and I couldn’t continue without choking on sobs again. I had been her in the dream and just like the death cut on her throat and the pain from it, the sadness from giving up her baby still lingered. It was like my insides were ripping apart. “I lived through one of her memories. It was just really sad.”
Mac wrapped his arms around me and rocked me. “You want to tell me about it?”
I shook my head. I wanted him to hold me and chase these feelings away that weren’t even mine. “Being psychic sucks,” I mumbled against his chest.
“If I could trade places with you I would in a heartbeat.”
“I know.”
Mac held me and kissed me gently while stroking my hair. I stopped thinking about the loss of the baby so much and focused on the rest of the dream. The girl—Sara—had been like me before I turned, somewhere stuck between human and vampire.
She promised to help when the time was right. If Celestia is her descendent then why isn’t she having these dreams?
Oh yeah, dreams and ghosts are my specialty, I thought wryly. Does this mean I’m supposed to help Celestia figure this mess out? Or what if she’s not even the one and I’m jumping to conclusions? I have been known to do that in the past. I hate remembering the whole ‘I thought you guys were witches’. Still so embarrassing.
***
“Rubi, why don’t you want to be in the play,” Vera asked from her spot next to me on a tan leather couch.
The rec room at Mossgrove was similar to Highland’s except it was slightly smaller and a hair less opulent. The walls were navy with gold and green accents, the name of a dorm claiming their own. The floors were a golden maple and furniture light. The Mossgrove crest hung above the door while pictures, collages, and other memorabilia were placed around. A bar loaded with drinks and snacks was on one side. Two pool tables, a foosball table, and air hockey table were in the center. Several round tables littered the room along with couches and chairs. A massive television was in the corner, currently occupied by a group of senior guys watching football.
“Yeah.” Allison peeked around Vera. “It’s going to be so much fun. And Professor Holland is producing it.” She wiggled her eyebrows as her smile grew, deepening her symmetrical dimples. “I’d join anything to spend more time with him.”
I shook my head with a laugh. “Well, I don’t know how to act and I suck at public speaking.”
They both shot me mirroring looks of incredulity.
Vera gently squeezed my shoulder with an expression you’d give an eight year old that didn’t understand something. “Rubi, sweetie, you do realize you’re a princess and will be a queen someday. You’re going to have to talk in public.”
I swatted her hand away. “I know. But I’m not doing it unless I have to. You guys should have seen me at my coronation. I was a rambling idiot and I don’t even remember half of what I said.”
Vera grinned. “I heard about that. Everyone said you were cute.”
I rolled my eyes. Great. Just what I want to be, the cute, addlebrained princess. Mac must be so proud.
My gaze sought him out across the room at a table playing cards with Demy and Hudson. The dream I had about Sara—at least I had a name now—flooded through my mind. I blubbered for an hour against Mac and I still couldn’t tell him about it. I think the only reason he didn’t press me was because he was afraid to make it worse.
“I’m so glad we get to do Macbeth,” Allison said. “I love dressing up in those costumes.”
“Oh I know.” Vera pointed to her chest. “Those dresses always make my boobs look huge.”
Allison snorted. “You’re boobs are huge.”
“I’d have to agree.”
It took everything I had not to jump twenty feet. Madison was sitting directly in front of me on the coffee table.
“What do you want?” I hissed under my breath as Vera and Allison continued discussing the play. I didn’t want them to get that terrified look in their eyes like Lucius had done the other day when I told him a ghost was standing next to him.
Madison gave a noncommittal shrug as she scanned the room. “Your boyfriends are getting along swimmingly.”
I rolled my eyes at her insinuation.
“A couple months ago at Highland they wanted to tear each other apart and then you became the thing they agreed on.” She clasped her hands. “You brought them together.” She tapped her chin in thought. “I wonder how Mac would feel if he knew the dirty thoughts you were having about the Russian shifter.”
I scoffed. “You can’t read my mind.”
Her dark brow lifted. “No, but you don’t need to be a mind reader to see you want to rip Demy’s veins open and have your way with his body while you do it.”
My cheeks turned ten shades of red, displaying my guilt.
She laughed. “I knew it.”
The door opened, stealing my attention away from Madison, and in walked Laney, swaying her perfect hips as she strutted toward Mac.
My eyes narrowed. Why can’t she leave my boyfriend alone? I twisted the silver and ruby ring around my finger contemplatively. He’s more than just my boyfriend, but she doesn’t seem to get that. At all.
“Hey ya’ll,” she crooned in that stupid accent as she leaned toward him almost putting her boobs in his face. “Who’s winning?”
“Mac,” Demy grumbled.
A giggle slipped out Laney’s mouth and she slowly rubbed his shoulder. “Of course he is. He’s good.”
Mac grinned, completely oblivious to her flirting.
I rolled my eyes and staunched the urge to puke.
“She’s got some balls,” Madison mused. “Why don’t you rip her throat out?”
I shot her an incredulous expression. “I don’t think Mac would like it if I killed his ex-girlfriend.”
“Somebody should.” She crossed her arms against
her chest. “She’s annoying as hell.”
I bit my lip to stanch the smile.
Laney ran her fingers through Mac’s hair and my not-smile turned into a snarl. “Good luck sweetie,” she sang as she pivoted and slinked toward us.
“Bitch,” I mumbled under my breath.
Vera and Allison glanced my way with questioning expressions.
I waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Never mind.”
“Hey,” Laney said as she plopped down on the other side of me, nearly sitting in my freaking lap. “What are ya’ll girls talking about?”
She ignored my glare as if it didn’t compute in her brain that I was annoyed she was hitting on my boyfriend.
“The play.” Vera fixed her red leather headband. “Will you be trying out?”
Laney shook her head. “No. I wouldn’t be a good actress.”
I doubted that considering I knew this sweet act of hers was just that—an act.
Her gray eyes landed on me. “Are you?”
I shook my head.
Her expression brightened a hundred kilowatts and she slung her arm over my shoulders. “Great! We can sit in the audience together.”
A forced smile split my lips that probably looked more like a grimace. “Great.” My voice was full of sarcasm that she either ignored or didn’t pick up on.
“She can’t be that stupid,” Madison said dryly, glaring at Laney. “It’s obvious you hate her.” She leaned forward with a mischievous glint in her dark eyes, her red and black hair shifting around her face. “You want me to sneak into her room at night and try to scare her.”
This time I couldn’t stop the smile from melting across my lips. “Absolutely.”
“Absolutely what?” Laney asked, clinging to me like a leech.
“Nothing.” What? I might as well get some kicks out of the curse people call a gift.
Madison rubbed her hands together like the evil villain in life she was.
***
The sun was setting over the school grounds, disappearing behind the horizon like a giant egg yolk.
Mmm. I’m hungry.
I’m certain Rufus or Daedalus or both will become my shadows any minute now. And right now I might not necessarily mind. Unease was twisting through my insides as I walked through the willow trees. I kept looking over my shoulder, expecting to see someone—dead or alive—following me, but there was only darkness.
I also couldn’t shake the dreams of Sara. What was she trying to tell me and what did she have to do with the white ghost that pointed me to her murder sight? And where did that elusive secret door in my dreams lead to?
A deep, frustrated sigh flitted out my mouth as I scrubbed my face. I haven’t told Mac about the dream of Sara giving up her baby yet. Every time I tried the words lodged in my throat, choking me with emotion.
Maybe I’ll write it down.
I shuddered at the thought of seeing the words on paper. No. I’ll have to suck it up and tell him. Soon.
Cold snaked across my back and I halted, knowing a ghost was near. Sure enough as I slowly turned it was directly behind me.
I yelped and stumbled back, taking in his horrifying appearance. The boy was about my age when he died with shaggy brown hair and brown eyes. His bloody hands were braced over his abdomen in an attempt to stop the intestines from spilling out.
My own hands went to my mouth to halt the scream. I clamped my eyes shut, hoping he’d be gone when I opened them.
Fat chance. He was still there.
He moaned, his eyes turning an unnatural sheen.
I gasped. “Are you a shifter?”
He nodded. “Don’t eat it,” he garbled out.
My brows knit in confusion. “Don’t eat what?”
He grabbed my arm, shooting icy pain through my veins. “Don’t eat it!”
I frantically tried to yank away, but he held on, continuing to shriek. Finally I pulled free and lurched back, slamming into a tree. Dizziness enveloped me and my vision swam. I closed my eyes against the moving world, my knees trembling with sudden weakness. It felt like the ghost had drained my energy and the fact I hadn’t had any blood since this morning wasn’t helping.
I better get some now, I thought as something delicious crashed into my senses.
“Rubi?”
My eyes snapped open to see Demy standing before me with concern shading his violet eyes. But his eyes didn’t hold my interest for long. My gaze locked onto his neck pulsing with life while his amber and earth smell made my mouth water.
I wouldn’t be surprised if I was literally drooling.
My fangs tore through my gums and jaw ached with need, a need so fierce and deep it washed any other coherent thoughts away. My mind was full of fog except the burning thirst and desire to sink my fangs into the creature before me no matter the consequences.
“Demy…” I whispered as I stalked toward him. “You smell too, too tasty for your own good.” My voice was low and breathy with a dangerous edge I didn’t recognize.
His studded brow arched, disappearing into his inky black hair and his violet eyes surveyed me, instantly noting the difference.
I wasn’t in control. And I liked it.
“Rubi,” he warned as he backed away with his palms held up in surrender. “Don’t do this. I don’t want to.”
I tsked. “You say one thing while your scent and blood says another.”
A smirk twitched his lips. “Oh does it now little vampire?”
A hot shiver spread over my skin at the precarious tone of his voice. “Remember when you said you wanted to tame the wildness in me?” I was inches from him. “I think you really want to do the opposite.” Before he could open his mouth again I attacked, pinning him on the soft ground beneath me. Our bodies slammed together, stirring his scent and spurring my hunger.
Chapter 23
“Rubi,” he growled, his eyes glowing in the darkness. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
My laugh was dark and wicked, sounding nothing like me. “I know what I want.” My mouth ran the length of Demy’s neck, licking his salty skin as his pulse quivered beneath my tongue. “I want to taste you.”
Demy growled and with the quickness I knew he was capable of, rolled us over until he was pinning me with his heavy weight. His lips curled back as he snarled, revealing elongated teeth. “Stop this Rubi.”
I wriggled beneath him to get out but all it did was make him snarl more. I pouted. “I just want a little taste. Just a little bite. It won’t hurt. It’ll feel real good Demy, I promise.” I shifted until his hips were aligned with mine and pleaded. “Please Demy. You always said you’d do anything for me. Were you lying?”
Shock entered his face and his grip loosened enough so that I turned us again until I was straddling him with his arms pinned above his head.
“One little bite. That’s all I want.”
Demy’s body loosened beneath mine. “Okay.”
My eyes flared. “Okay?” I released his arms and his hands found my waist, gripping tight.
He nodded. “Okay Rubi, you can bite me, but you know it won’t be just a bite right?”
My brow furrowed. “What do you mean? I’m so thirsty.”
His hands left my waist and slid down until they were on my thighs, trailing a little up my uniform skirt and squeezing. His fingers branded me with heat, filling my insides with a longing I usually ignored. I wanted more than his blood. I wanted him. “Do you feel that Rubi?”
My eyes fluttered closed. “Uh huh.” I licked my lips as my stomach fluttered.
“We have a connection Rubi. And we’re attracted to each other more than just friends. If we cross this line…”
I opened my eyes and stared into his. “I don’t care,” I whispered, leaning forward.
Demy gently pushed the hair from my face, his thumb gliding over my bottom lip. I leaned into his hand, my tongue flicking out to taste the pad of his thumb. His pulse radiated from the tip and I moaned with hunger and
anticipation.
He swallowed hard, fighting a conflict in his head. “Rubi, you’d be cheating on Mac.”
It felt like ice water had been dumped over my head. Mac. How could I have forgotten about Mac!
Horror must have been written all over my face because worry suddenly entered Demy’s expression. “Rubi, it’ll be all right…”
I climbed off him and crawled away, tears blurring my vision. Oh man what was I doing? “I’m sorry.” I shook my head as I watched him sit up. “I…” My words were caught off by a pair of jade eyes staring at me through the darkness.
Mac was standing a few feet away, watching us!
How long had he been there? His face was unreadable, but I could feel the anger simmering beneath him.
“I-I’m s-sorry…” I choked out. I turned and ran before he could tell me what a horrible person I was.
I almost bit Demy. I almost did other things with Demy. My brain had been running on blood and lust and I just wanted to hunt something.
Their arguing carried on the wind like a monster chasing me. I had to find a place to hide and drown in my shame.
I found myself in Radcliff hall and ducked into a linen closet when I heard voices. I couldn’t explain to anyone what happened. I just wanted to hide.
I slid down in the dark, pulling my knees against my chest and laid my head down as I cried. I bit my lip to keep my sobs quiet so no one would find me.
What’s wrong with me? I asked myself, agony and shame ripping through my insides. I love Mac with all my heart—our souls were bound—but I had wanted Demy. I could still feel the desire simmering deep below the surface like a nasty infection.
After a few minutes of sobbing a bright light grew behind my eyes and I knew I wasn’t alone anymore.
I reluctantly peeled my lids opened, unwilling to deal with anyone else’s problems right now, especially the dead. The ethereal white ghost squatted in front of me, her features slowly coming into focus until she looked as solid as me.
And I recognized her!
“Sara,” I gasped. Freaking frying ham hocks! “You’re the girl from my dreams.”