by J. N. Colon
I nodded.
He crooked a smile at me. “See. Don’t worry about it.”
I swallowed hard, reluctant to say the words forming on the tip of my tongue as I looked into his intense violet eyes. “I am worried about it Demy—because I still think about biting you.” That last part was barely a whisper, a mixture of guilt and anxiety rippling through my insides.
His eyes flickered in surprise and he took a deep breath. “We’ll figure this out Rubi.” He slung his arm around my shoulders and kissed my forehead. “Don’t worry.”
Easy for him to say. His fangs weren’t aching as we speak.
Steam followed me out the bathroom. I took a long, hot shower to clear my mind from all this Demy, ghost, descendent, hunter crap. And to wash the dust out my hair. I was thoroughly pruned.
I wrapped the towel tighter around and searched through my drawer for some panties. As I did I got distracted by a bag of beef jerky.
“Oooh. Come to mama.” I tore the bag open with my teeth and began chewing on the end of a stick, savoring the spicy flavor. A cold chill suddenly prickled my spine. I glanced around and didn’t see anything so I figured it was the air conditioner kicking on.
“I guess we should have knocked first.”
I yelped and spun around to find Lynn and Thomas sitting on the edge of my bed with smiles. “What the hell you two?”
Lynn laughed and Thomas averted his brown eyes while his cheeks flushed. I didn’t even know it was possible for ghosts to flush.
“Sorry Rubi,” Lynn said, swinging her feet and tucking a strand of corn silk hair behind her tiny ear. “We just wanted to apologize for not telling you we were dead.”
I blinked, confused. “Okay… Why didn’t you?”
Thomas looked up and I could tell he was struggling to keep his eyes on my face and not travel down my body. He shook his shaggy sandy brown hair out his face. “Once we realized you didn’t know you could see ghosts, we didn’t want to scare you away. It isn’t often we run into someone who can really communicate with us.”
I nodded just as Thomas’s gaze started roaming down. “Okay.” I motioned with my finger. “You two turn around so I can put some clothes on before Thomas decides to take a scene from Anne Rice’s The Witching Hour.”
Thomas appeared confused while Lynn titled her head back, practically dying with laughter. They both turned around.
“I’ll tell you about it later,” Lynn told Thomas, apparently familiar with the novel.
I quickly tossed on a pair of cotton shorts and tank top. “Okay. You can look.” I grabbed a hoodie off a chair and threw it on, feeling a chill from the ghosts in the air.
“So anyways, we’re sorry.” Thomas looked slightly disappointed over the jacket.
I leaned against the dresser pensively. “Did you both die here?”
“Sort of,” Lynn answered. “I died in the hospital from a brain tumor. My spirit just decided to haunt the school I attended and lived at for three years.”
“I was mugged and shot downtown.” Thomas’s tone was matter of fact.
I grimaced at the thought of their deaths. “When?”
“I died 1965,” Lynn said.
“1978 for me.” Thomas winked, which was odd because he was discussing his death.
Damn. I slumped lower against the dresser. “So neither of you went to school with a Sara Oliver.”
“Nope.” Thomas tried to pick up a throw pillow, but it simply sailed through his hand.
I grumbled and started rubbing my temples.
A knock resonated on the door. I strolled over, hoping it wasn’t Laney wanting to be my study buddy again.
It wasn’t.
“Mac!” I pulled him inside. “I thought you were working on a project with Hudson.”
A smile lit his face. “I’m done.” He suddenly grabbed me and planted a hot, wild kiss on my lips, stealing my breath and making my knees quake. “Vera’s in the library with Lucius and Allison. We have the room to ourselves for a while. Let’s not waste it.”
Heat pooled through my body and insides quivered with anticipation. Mac started pulling me toward the bed when someone cleared their throat, reminding me we weren’t alone.
I put my hand on Mac’s chest before he could toss me on the bed. “We’re not alone!”
Mac stopped and glanced around the room, obviously not seeing anyone. “What are you talking…?” Realization finally broke across his face. “A ghost?”
I nodded and held two fingers up. “Two actually. Lynn and Thomas.”
His brows knit as he took in my wet hair and the towel draped haphazardly on my dresser. “How long have they been here, specifically Thomas? They didn’t watch you change, did they?”
“Uh-oh,” Thomas said from less than a foot away at the end of the bed. “I’m suddenly glad more people can’t see me. Otherwise this guy would rip my incorporeal head off.”
Lynn giggled. “You’re not wrong.”
My silence was answer enough, Mac’s eyes darkening with anger. “Now, you listen.” He shook his finger toward the desk. “You can’t just pop into Rubi’s room whenever you want.”
I cleared my throat. “They’re on the bed.”
He growled and shifted so he was looking toward them. “I mean it. You can’t spy on my girlfriend naked. I might not be able to see, hear, or touch you, but I will find a way if you cross that line.”
Thomas paled while Lynn was completely nonchalant. “Come on Thomas.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him up. “Let’s go before you wet your incorporeal pants.” They slowly disappeared.
Mac was still growling.
“They’re gone.” I tugged his arm to get his attention. “Besides I made them turn around while I changed.”
“I still don’t like it.” His hands found my hips. “I’m the only one who gets to see you without clothes.”
I grinned, my heart fluttering with anticipation. “I believe you mentioned something about us having the room for a few hours…”
Without warning Mac grabbed me and I suddenly found myself on my back with Mac pinning me to the bed. “We’ve already wasted several minutes. We’ll have to catch up fast.” He ripped my shirt off—literally.
“Mac,” I tsked.
A devilish grin split his lips. “I’ll buy you another one.” He nipped my bottom lip. “I know you like it.”
Any denial fell to the wayside once he covered my mouth with his.
Chapter 25
“All right class we’re going to do a fun little group project with Romeo and Juliet.”
Half the students groaned at Professor Holland’s assignment.
“That doesn’t sound like fun to me,” Lucius said, a humorous pout on his handsome face. "I hate that Shakespeare talk.”
Professor Holland fought a smile. “I think you mean Iambic pentameter.”
He waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Whatever. It’s all flowery gibberish to me.”
I totally agreed with Lucius.
“Well, this will be fun.” The professor walked to the overhead projector. “With a partner I want you to come up with another ending for the play or an extension after they died or if you decide they didn’t die. Be creative.” He flipped the light on the machine to display a list of names grouped in twos. “I’ve assigned the partners.”
More groans of protest resonated.
“Don’t worry. I tried to pair you with a person you’d like to work with. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.”
A squeal of delight resonated out of Laney as she clapped her hands together. She nudged Mac. “We’re partners.”
Huh!
My jaw nearly hit the desk when I saw their names together while I was with Vera. Son of a freaking sushi roll. Mac looked just as surprised—so did Professor Holland.
His hazel eyes narrowed on Laney who was acting oblivious, flipping through her notebook to find a blank page and smoothing it down. He cleared his throat. “Here are the groups.” He shot m
e an apologetic expression.
I had no doubt in my mind that harlot switched partners with me.
Vera tapped me on the shoulder. “Looks like it’s you and me chickie.” She laughed at my expression. “Gee. Don’t look so excited.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Don’t worry Ruby.” Laney’s sweet voice grated against my ears. “I’ll keep Mac warm for you.”
If my eyes could shoot fire they would have incinerated Laney Cavanaugh in less than a nanosecond.
Mac unexpectedly pulled me into a kiss, his lips stealing my anger. “Sorry baby,” he whispered against my mouth when he thought it was safe enough. “It’s just for class. It’ll be over before you know it.”
Was he seriously blind to her trickery?
“Whatever,” I mumbled before turning my desk toward Vera’s.
“Come on Luc,” Demy said from beside us. “Let’s hurry and finish this so we can make sure Rubi doesn’t fang out.”
I scoffed only spurring their laughter more. “So funny Demy. Maybe I’ll take my anger out on you.”
He winked a violet eye. “Oh, be my guest. I like it wild and crazy.”
“How about I rip that piercing out your eyebrow?” I sat down with a huff. “How’s that for wild and crazy.”
Lucius laughed. “She is so cute.” He made pretend claws out of his hands and hissed. “Like a little angry kitten.”
Vera tossed a pencil at his head. “Shut up.”
“Hey!” He rubbed the spot she hit. “You could damage my brain.”
She smirked. “What brain?”
I snickered.
A smile broke across his face. “Hey, let’s make Romeo and Juliet come back as zombies.”
Demy’s expressive eyes lit up as he rubbed his chin pensively. “Yeah. That sounds cool. They could eat their parents.”
I shook my head. Boys.
“What do you want to do?” Vera asked, taking out a purple pen and opening her notebook.
Laney’s giggles echoed and I turned my head to see her enthralled at something Mac was saying. I rolled my eyes. “How about let’s have Juliet crawl out of the story and poison Laney.”
Vera shot me an exasperated expression and sighed, absentmindedly twisting a leather cuff bracelet around her wrist. “Rubi, Laney’s not that bad really.”
I hitched my thumb over my shoulder. “She’s flirting her ass off with my boyfriend.”
“That’s just how she is.” She tapped a black nail on her paper. “Let’s focus on this.”
One of these days Laney is going to slip up and everyone will see her true colors—which are devious slut and lying manipulator.
Vera perked up as an idea crossed her mind. “What if we have them live and be haunted by the ghost of Mercutio and Tybalt?”
My lips curled in a sneer and eyes narrowed to slits. “Seriously Vera?” I pointed to my chest. “I’m not into art imitating life or whatever.”
She sucked her teeth in realization. “Oh, right. My B. I forgot.”
“I didn’t.” Speaking of ghosts… Madison was suddenly standing by my desk, glaring at Laney.
“Why doesn’t anyone else notice how evil she is?” she asked, crossing her arms against her chest and tapping her black combat boot against the floor. “You think it’s that glossy blonde hair? Maybe it hypnotizes everyone.” She examined a strand of her black and red hair thoughtfully.
“I don’t know.” I answered.
“Yeah I know.” Vera was mussing up her own hair, assuming I was talking to her.
“You want to have a little fun?” Madison’s smile was downright malicious.
It was a bad idea. It probably went against some cardinal rule. But that wasn’t really important to me right now. What was important was getting back at Laney. “Show me what you got.”
“Huh?” Confusion entered Vera’s expression, her nose crinkling infinitesimally. “What do you mean?”
I waved my hand in the air. “Never mind. How about we have them live, but Paris and Rosaline scheme to break them up.”
“Oh. Sounds very teen drama-ish.”
I absentmindedly nodded as Madison made her way toward Laney. She bent down and started blowing in her ear. Laney shivered and swatted the air. Mac made a questioning expression, his lips quirking up on one side.
“I think there’s a breeze or something,” she said.
Mac’s brows dipped together. “Inside a closed classroom?”
She shrugged. “Maybe it’s the air conditioner.”
Come on Madison, you can do better than that.
As if she heard me she started poking Laney with her finger. Most of the time the tip simply sailed through, but a few hits managed to get skin.
“Ouch!” Laney grabbed her arm and pulled her sleeve down. “I think something’s stinging me.”
Mac leaned forward, his eyes searching. “I don’t see any bugs.”
I snorted on a laugh, quickly averting my gaze to my desk.
Vera’s brow arched questioningly, her gaze going from me to Laney. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I lied. “What were you saying about Paris?”
She didn’t exactly believe me. “Well, I think he should…”
Her words were cut off by a squeal from Laney as she jumped out her desk. The entire class turned their attention on her as she started slapping her legs.
“I swear it feels like something is crawling on me. There has to be a bug somewhere.”
My laughter slipped out, but I quickly covered it up with a cough.
Mac’s gaze landed on me, narrowing with suspicion. I gulped. He couldn’t possibly know a ghost was messing with Laney or that I might have insinuated I wanted that said ghost to do it for me.
I flashed him a sweet, innocent smile and shrugged. Prove it Mac. Hah!
The door opened, interrupting Mac’s stare down. Headmaster Morgan strode in, his thinning auburn strands swaying gently as he walked. He nodded in my direct with a smile, the crinkles around his eyes deepening.
“Sorry to interrupt class. I need to speak with your kind professor for a moment.” Headmaster Morgan took a chair from the corner and pulled it to the side of the professor’s desk close enough to talk softly.
I turned toward Vera and motioned my chin toward them. “What do you think that’s about? Some secret shifter business?”
Vera tapped her lips pensively. “Or maybe it’s some top secret school business,” she answered sarcastically.
I shot her a grimace.
She shrugged. “I don’t know Rubi. Don’t be so paranoid. It’s probably about the play or something.”
I suddenly had to throw something away in the trashcan—specifically the one by Professor Holland’s desk. I got up and casually moseyed over, tuning into their conversation with my vampire hearing.
“I don’t really need to approve the costumes,” the headmaster said. “I trust you.” He rolled up his sleeve to scratch at a spot.
A little gasp slipped out my mouth as I caught sight of a scar on his forearm. “What happened?” I asked.
His soft eyes met mine before trailing down to what I was staring at. “Ah. Just a little hunting accident a long time ago.”
“Oh.”
He flashed a wry smile. “My grandson was a little clumsy with a knife one day.” He pointed at it. “Caught me by surprise.”
As he rolled his sleeve back down I couldn’t help but think of the star shaped scar on my chest. It kind of reminded me of it.
“Where are you going?” I strode into my room to see Vera packing her bags.
She glanced over her shoulder with a manic smile. “My sister is in labor! I’m going to help with the little roly poly monster for a while.”
“Oh.” I grabbed a bottle of blood out the hidden mini fridge beneath my desk and took a gulp. “I guess I’ll have the room to myself.” I plopped on my bed, wrinkling the jewel toned bedding.
Incredulity splayed across Vera’s face. �
�I doubt that. Whitmore would want someone to make sure you didn’t go nuts with all the voices in your head.”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
She laughed. “Maybe they’ll put Allison with you.”
I ran my fingers through my hair absentmindedly, my pinky getting caught in a knot. “That wouldn’t be too bad. What does she like to shift into anyways?” I grimaced as I worked the knot out.
“A deer.” She emptied a drawer of hairbands into her bag. “Unless she’s fighting. Then a mountain lion.”
I snorted. I couldn’t see Allison fighting.
“Hey, don’t mock. She’s vicious.” A smoky laugh tumbled out her mouth. “Well, she does a vicious prance.”
I fell back on my bed laughing. Yeah, being roommates with Allison wouldn’t be bad at all. I’m sure anyone here would be okay.
A sudden horrible thought struck me so strong my body threatened to have a freaking seizure. Anyone but Laney Cavanaugh. I’d rather let the hunters get me than share a room with that two-faced harlot.
A knock resonated on the door, breaking me out of my nightmarish daze. Celestia poked her head in. “Hey guys.”
“Hi,” I said waving her in.
Her green and gold maxi dress floated around her ankles, the color bringing out her olive skin, green eyes, and dark hair. “I thought you might need help packing Vera.”
My brows knit. “You know she’s leaving?”
She pointed to her head as if to say she saw it.
“Oh.” Why couldn’t I see the future like Celestia instead of weird, convoluted dreams and ghosts?
“Cool.” Vera pointed to her dresser. “Just throw all that crap into this bag.” She tossed Celestia a blue duffle bag.
“I’ll help.”
I sidled up to Celestia, opening the first drawer and dropping things in. “Do you know who my new roommate will be?” I asked, hoping for once this psychic crap would help me.
She shot me a smile, her Disney eyes twinkling. “Sorry Rubi.”
I pouted. Of course not.
She cleared her throat. “There is one thing I’d like to tell you.”