Back to You (Don't Forget Me Book 2)

by Sia Wales

  “Why did you come here, Vuk?” I cry. “Weren’t you just supposed to drop in to say goodbye?”

  “Goodbye,” he spurts insolently.

  My eyes can’t hide my concern as I search his face for an answer. He returns my gaze with a brazen smile, like a kid caught doing something he shouldn’t be doing, but knowing he will go unpunished. “So, do you wanna’ know why I’m here,” he asks, “Or do you wanna’ keep on my back for something I can’t control?”

  “Excuse me, but our friendship is important to me. And I don’t want to talk about private matters here in public, like my plans for the near future and deals that risk going down the drain,” I reply prudently, not wanting to antagonize him.

  Vuk looks at me detachedly for a moment before turning to Donn.

  “I won’t let you take Stella into the Council tower, into that bloodsuckers’ crypt,” he growls in a low voice, looking around cautiously. He is almost back to normal, only his hands are shaking now.

  I see Jonathan elbow Mark, and both look on with expectant eyes. Maybe they’re hoping to see a fight break out, anything to alleviate the boredom of a Tuesday afternoon in the library.

  Vuk scoffs and hisses angrily.

  “You might be able to control yourself at times, but those bloodsuckers you’re taking her to…” He shakes his head reprovingly.

  “You’re right, dog!” snarls Donn. “But Stella has to come to the meeting.”

  I stiffen up. Donn’s velvety voice growling insults sounds so out of place.

  “Or else?” barks Vuk.

  “Or else the deal can’t get off the ground. You know that,” replies Donn.

  “It’s been my job to protect her so far!” Vuk’s roar echoes in the space between us and the window, its panes vibrating from the blare.

  “Yes,” says Donn, placating. “Thanks for having protected her when I couldn’t. I waited two hundred years for her… but I didn’t see her coming.” His voice is wistful. “But you shouldn’t insist, Vuk. Stella has agreed to come to the meeting and Graham loses his patience easily.”

  Vuk’s tension doesn’t ebb, and he won’t even look me in the eye. Donn’s statement has caused other convulsions through his chest and shoulders. Donn leans down to whisper in my ear, his words dripping with sarcasm.

  “You know him well; do you think my words had a calming effect?”

  I throw him a dirty look. Vuk is overcome by another spasm; he breathes deeply and grinds his teeth to calm himself.

  Donn nails him with his eyes.

  “The Council is the only thing that can protect Stella right now,” he explains patiently. “With Graham on our side, working from the inside behind the scenes, Jack won’t be able to make a move. And do you think Stella would be better off if we left her to her own devices, with Adam on her trail. And he wouldn’t be working on his own if the Council were to start hunting her.” The accusatory tone in his voice escapes neither me nor Vuk, whose lips let out a low hiss.

  “Is someone trailing me?

  “Hold on, do you know who the rebel is?” Vuk says simultaneously.

  Before replying, Donn hugs me close to his chest, still acting as a shield between me and Vuk. He cups his big, gentle hand around my head, keeping me as far away as possible from him.

  “Yes,” he answers in reply to both our questions. “We know who the rebel is. It’s Adam Evans. I know him well. He once meant a great deal to me, more than Aaron means to Graham. We met when we were humans, we were very close. We fought side by side in the War of Independence. We met again in our new lives and then lost track of each other. And now, after all these years, he shows up again, hunting the only thing that means anything to me, that has become… necessary,” murmurs Donn, turning to me. “But don’t fret, baby girl. I’m essentially too selfish to give you up. I want you too much to risk losing you. So don’t get nervous; with the Council on your side, the wolves watching your back and me protecting you, we can counteract any attack.”

  Vuk looks at him, pure hate in his eyes. He snarls, showing his teeth. “We can deal with the rebel,” he roars.

  “Then why is he still on the loose, on the hunt?” laughs Donn, mockingly.

  “You’re starting to get on my nerves,” warns Vuk. “You keep repeating the same tactics––deception, escape, deception, escape. He’s starting to bother us, but he doesn’t act. He keeps changing his mind. But he’s not the one who decides.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me,” admits Donn. “When he was human, Adam was a strategist. During the war, he was used to undertaking reconnaissance missions in enemy territory and taking orders from me. Then, in his new life, he became a hunter.” I presume from his words that things are looking grim for me.

  “Can you explain better, please?” I ask politely, resigned.

  “I’m interested in his accomplice; before now we only guessed that he had one,” hints Donn.

  “Because she only came out into the open a few days ago,” explains Vuk. “They combed Vermont and now they’re hunting Stella in New Hampshire – our territory – but they’re still on the borders. They can’t penetrate our defense,” he states proudly, a wide smile on his face. “They must have heard about the deal and my deep bond – my great friendship – with Stella.”

  “Did I hear right? Did you say ‘she’? His accomplice is a woman?”

  “It’s his girlfriend, to be precise. Yep, you heard right, bloodsucker,” confirms Vuk, cocky and smug.

  “First of all, yesterday, as usual, I saw him try different roads. He seems a bit inconsistent,” Vuk reasons aloud. “But I guess it’s a tactic to find a breach in our defense, to try to defeat us. One false lead after another. But a few minutes after we got there, his accomplice appeared…” That “we” must mean the plural of the pack, this detail does not escape me. “As they were taking flight, I saw that it was a woman. Seems gutsy, I’d say. But not too smart. The pack was ferocious, we were all there.” For the first time he confirms what I suspected––his whole pack of wolves was involved.

  “Her life couldn’t have been more at risk,” continues Vuk. “One mistake after another, to keep them from seeing the weakness that would have allowed them into our territory. At that point, doctor…” He corrects himself. “My brother almost grabbed her back, but she managed to make it past the border with her boyfriend.”

  “What stopped you from capturing them once they had crossed the border?”

  Vuk looks at him grimly.

  “They came back.”

  I am totally and completely lost.

  “So he wasn’t alone?”

  “No,” Vuk’s replies shortly. “His backup came today.”

  I roll my eyes… Could I be more confused? But I would bet that Vuk checked his facts when he skipped Professor Wilde’s class.

  “He found out about the meeting and called the rest of the family,” concludes Donn calmly.

  “He must have heard at the party,” he confesses in a guilty tone. It sounds like an admission. So the person in question was at the party… But there were too many people, far too many, for me to make out who they’re talking about.

  Then Vuk looks challengingly at Donn as he says calmly. “I never promised to fight a clean fight, just as long as Stella is protected…”

  I shake my head, stunned.

  Donn stifles an caustic laugh. “I warned you about Graham not taking this news well. You touched a …raw nerve.” He tries to get us on our way, by moving toward the staircase.

  Vuk ignores him and anticipates his move. He comes closer to me and puts his arm across my path to bar the way.

  Donn doesn’t try to stop him; he doesn’t want him to lose control and worsen things with the Council. He knows how much Vuk means to me.

  “Hey, not so fast,” says Vuk, this time putting his hand against the wall to completely block my path.

  “Don’t you get it?” My voice is barely a moan. “I have to go…” I feel as if I am at the epicenter of an earth
quake, with the walls shaking around me.

  “No, listen to me!” roars Vuk heatedly. At this point, I realize… it is him quaking, not the walls.

  I sob and stare at his huge trembling hand. I feel a stabbing pain run down my spine.

  Vuk’s expression changes, he looks at Donn with torment in his eyes; they are half-close, as if he were focusing all his concentration on a demanding economics problem.

  “No!” growls Donn, shifting me behind him further, holding me at arm’s length. I can feel him shiver. He obviously didn’t want things to reach this point with Vuk, but I don’t know…

  “Donn…” I say, trying to find a way in. I feel like my back is to the wall in all senses. “Donn,” I try again, frustrated.

  He looks at me but doesn’t answer. I’m not sure, but I think I see some relief in his face, probably glad that Vuk’s outbreak has brought no harm to me.

  I watch Vuk’s contracted face, he’s obviously in pain. Judging by the way Donn is staring at him, it almost seems as if he is torturing him with one of his evil powers, burning him up with the power of his thoughts.

  The crowds start to disperse; they eye Donn anxiously, obviously coming to the same conclusion that he is dangerous.

  I try to regain control of my emotions, but I feel the tears that start to roll down my cheeks as soon as I close my eyes.

  Vuk jumps again, but with a slight effort he manages to lie down on the floor, but he can’t hide the agony in his eyes.

  My gaze goes back and forth between Vuk’s grim sneer to the impassible look on Donn’s face. “What are you doing to him?” I demand.

  “It’s nothing,” Vuk hisses between clenched teeth. “It’s just that Graham has a good memory, that’s all.”

  “What has Graham got to do with it?”

  Donn looks at me out of the corner of his eyes, acting as if he hasn’t heard, then turns his focus to Vuk again, a new urgency on his face.

  Vuk grinds his teeth, prey to another convulsion, this time seeming to come from within his body. He tightens his fists and curls up into a ball.

  Donn’s protective arms have become a constraint; Vuk’s pain has always brought out my defensive instinct. There is no logic behind this, seeing as I can hardly provide him with the physical protection he needs. But my arms, held fast by Donn’s, want to reach out to him, to take him in a loving, comforting embrace.

  Donn releases his grip, but holds onto my hand, still keeping his body between mine and Vuk’s.

  “Having fun?” spits out Vuk. “I bet Graham couldn’t have such fun in the upper floors of the library; another reason why I don’t want Stella to go down there.”

  Donn is piqued; he slowly unfurls his lips to reveal his teeth. “Shut your mouth, Vuk,” is all he says, as he coldly watches his body go into a spasm.

  Vuk looks daggers at him, I can’t take it anymore. “That’s enough! Whatever this Graham is doing, it has to stop now!” I explode.

  “The Council is no joke, Stella,” warns Donn. “It’s Vuk’s own fault if he has caused Graham displeasure, even if…” He holds his breath an instant. “Even if he is brave and I appreciate his sincerity.” He shakes his head admiringly. “He knew the risks… the unbearable pain he is feeling.”

  A new seizure washes through Vuk’s body. I would rather have Jack or Adam kill me a hundred times than see Vuk suffering like this. I suddenly feel that I should have asked him for the go-ahead before agreeing to anything, I know he wants what’s best for me more than Donn; he has been the one protecting me this whole year, he’s the one who has never left my side.

  I turn to Donn, these thoughts still swimming round my head, but he interrupts before I can get a word in.

  “I think you know he will never give you his blessing,” he says, without a blink.

  Then he turns away from me. “Vuk,” he whispers.

  “No!” Vuk roars, his jaws clenched, his grinding teeth exposed.

  “I’ve decided I can’t live without her,” He continues, glancing at me. “Which leaves me no other choice. It’s the only option.”

  I look from one to the other, biting my lip till it bleeds. I don’t want to cause Vuk any more pain by disagreeing with him.

  A second later I’m glued to the wall, Vuk, now on his feet, preventing me from moving. Donn’s face darkens. He grabs my waist to try to pull me free. “Don’t touch her, dog!” warns Donn. “Take your hands off her!”

  Vuk slowly lowers the arm that is pinning me to the wall. Probably the best option, seeing as he doesn’t want it ripped off. Then he leans his face into mine, his expression free from bitterness. Indeed, it shines with calmness, but his eyes betray his suffering. He drops the bad boy posturing, as if he has totally forgotten about Donn’s presence.

  “I’m sorry, Stella,” he says, his palms turned outward as if surrendering. “I really am sorry. But please don’t go. I can’t guarantee your safety down there. And I can’t deny how much the restrictions on the deal are cutting me up inside.”

  His raised right hand reaches forward to stroke my cheek. I can feel him trembling, but not with rage. It is as if he were concentrating all his heartfelt emotions in that tender caress, leaving me for an instant with no doubts in my mind.

  At this point, an enraged Donn flies down the stairs and disappears out of my limited human sight.

  I stare intensely into Vuk’s eyes for an interminable moment, before starting to run down the staircase. Vuk grabs me with a trembling hand. “Please, Stella, I beg you.”

  His green eyes are clouded with tears. I feel a knot in my throat.

  “Vuk, I have to.”

  “No, you don’t. You can stay here with me. And survive. Do it for Jeff and Scott. For me!”

  I’m trembling with joy at the thought of him still being here, in flesh and blood, that I can still touch his marble skin and hear his sweet voice… But he doesn’t seem to understand what I have to do.

  I turn my head to keep walking somberly down the stairs, but he stops me.

  “I won’t let you go alone, defenseless.”

  “I won’t let you get into trouble for breaking the pact. And I won’t be defenseless, I have Donn.”

  He searches my eyes, but I avoid his.

  “Vuk?” I call out, faintly. “I have to go.” Donn, now waiting at the bottom of the staircase, is staring at me resolutely. My head could explode from the tension I feel. Vuk glances at Donn, then back at me.

  “This is not the solution.”

  Donn narrows his icy eyes at him, as he stands motionless at the foot of the stairs.

  “This is the best solution for Stella, so it’s the best solution all around.” He turns, as if to be on his way.

  “I’ve made my decision. I’ll see you tomorrow in class.”

  “Please, Stella,” he pleads in soothing tones. But worry overwhelms his face.

  “I’m sorry,” I mumble and race down the stairs.

  No reply from Vuk, he just stands there immobile, watching me as I follow the path laid out by Donn, now striding down the first floor corridor.

  “I promise I’ll be careful,” I yell back as I hurry to catch up with Donn. “Donn, wait!” I add, as he almost disappears into the darkness of another hallway.

  He slows down and turns to me with a smile, holding out a hand to me, continuing impatiently on his way to the library tower.

  I anxiously take hold of the tips of his icy fingers, still illuminated by a thin veil of light, before they fade into nothing, like dust in the wind.

  Confessions

  I turn my head towards the pale light streaming from the staircase that is now almost out of sight, when I hear a roar of rage and frustration behind me. Even my limited human senses can perceive Vuk’s torment.

  The blood flows from my face and I glance down; I can only see part of my body now that we are immersed in the shadowy hallway. The other part is illuminated by the dappled light filtering through the huge windows.

  Donn keeps ste
adfastly on his way along the marble corridor, with his arm around my hips. We approach the entrance to another passageway and turn the corner into a narrower one, now deserted. I realize that this part of the library is off limits to visitors.

  My eyes search Donn’s face as I try to read answers to my questions, but his lips just smile at me; his eyes are giving nothing away.

  I suddenly realize that we have reached the foot of a massive marble staircase. I hesitantly take the first step, and feel myself tripping over. I fall forward onto my knees and think I’m about to knock my head against the fifth or sixth step. But two strong hands break my fall.

  “Sorry,” I mumble.

  He holds back a laugh. “Baby, baby. Whatever am I to do with you?” But I need a moment to stop my heart from beating too fast.

  He sweeps me up into his arms, holding the length of my body against him, as if I were a baby.

  “Grab a hold of me,” he suggests, caressing my face with his freezing cold hand. “Heart still racing?” he asks, barely holding back his laughter.

  He carries me up the stairs in silence; although surely he can hear the racing of my heart. I make an effort to stand on my own two feet when we get near to the top of the staircase, as Donn puts a protective arm around me.

  At the end of the long corridor, we come to a standstill in front of a white, windowless wall. Donn lets go of me and opens a wooden door to our right.

  It opens onto a small but airy room, its walls cladded with the same dark wood as the furniture. Even the light, filtering in from the window, seems to be the color of tree bark. The shining marble floor shows a classical rhomboid pattern, light contrasting with dark. Two large lightshades are hanging from the center of the room from the ceiling beams. A fresco covers the upper walls. Red dominates it. Perhaps this painting is the reason this room is known as the art room.

  Donn skims the wall and stops halfway round the room. He pulls down the first small lamp hanging on the wall next to the majestic ancient marble fireplace, which has thirteen bas-relief decorations carved along the top. He pushes on one of them; I swear it is the fourth one. How strange; the fourth is the same day of the month I moved to Boston four years ago and it is also the date I saw Donn again at my party.