by Deandre Dean
Fast friends who she could discuss the topic of sex with. Sitting in her study after a three mile swim with Lucy. Ginger had to ask the questions that had been stewing on her mind and for once they caught Lucy off guard. Her psychic barriers had become a lot stronger with practice. It was a great way to guard against telepaths which was smart since some psychics or vampires had the ability to read thoughts.
Victor had become easier to defeat in the scenarios but somehow that didn’t stop her uneasiness of real life or death enemies. Lucy sat next to her in yoga pants, cross legged and listened to Ginger let out all her concerns and worries. She had a ton of anxieties and Lucy gave her helpful advise.
Lucy says, “Make Diego wait if pressing her because real intentions and jerks popped up after time. If it was something she wanted, make certain she was emotionally prepared for the outcomes of sex“.
Ginger laughs and says, “I know. Thanks mom”.
The next day they went into town and shop on earth away from all her responsibilities. She had condoms and wanted Lucy to come with her to gynecologist to be put on the pill. It made sense seeing as a 16 year old needed a parent or guardian. Lucy may look 29 years old but being a demon hid many things including one’s real age. Lucy went on about making sure he took care of her meaning he was sweet and wasn’t moving too fast as the left the doctor‘s office. The advice was great but she was nervous since this being her first time. The plan was to lose her virginity the eve of her 17th birthday so she would have the best birthday memories this year.
Chapter 19:
Ginger was happy when she squeezed her hand and assured her that was normal. It is hard to explain the physical comfort or discomfort unless both partners are having honest, open communication.
Ginger thought, “That helped a lot”.
The next day they spent the day off. Lucy was with her when she got contraceptives at the doctor’s office and then a spa day after lunch included. After lunch they went to a movie on a whim and by the end of the movie it was about time to return to the castle. All of Ginger’s anxieties vanished and hours went by and she knew she was ready to lose her virginity. Last year had been perfect. This year she was an orphan and in search of the person behind her parents’ murderer.
She didn’t want to wait another day so she planned a picnic outside for the next night the day before her birthday. Ginger set up candles all around her room hoping to make this night special. Something she would remember as she pulled Diego in a huge and a kiss that sent sparks all through her body. They kissed some more when they parted and she looked into his eyes and felt a rush of joy. This was love and she didn’t need her powers to tell her that just by the look in his eyes.
Ginger says, “I got a surprise for you”.
Diego replies, “Is that so? But isn’t it tradition the birthday person gets the surprise”.
Ginger answers, “It is unless she demands something and than you follow along willingly with a smile”.
She pulled him along as they raced back inside the room. He saw all the candles and had an idea what she hoped to accomplish.
Diego asks, “Are you sure about this? We can wait”.
Ginger kisses him in a passionate embrace.
Ginger says, “I know what I want. And I most definitely don’t want to wait. Don’t disappoint the birthday girl”.
Diego sighs before answering, “Anything you want”.
She squealed and lite the candles using her mind to make the lighter circle the candles all along the edges. Diego was impressed as they lay down on the bed and just gazed at one another lovingly for a few moments. The next couple of hours were joyous and she couldn’t contain her smile that night. Ginger had to write it all down after Diego fell asleep. She pulled out her journal wrote wanting to capture every special moment.
Once she finished writing she didn’t feel as sore as the books said but Ginger did remember Lucy saying demons healed faster than normal humans. Regardless she felt energized even though it was late she needed to burn off this excess of energy. She got up, grabbed some clothes and decided to go for a run.
Ginger was on the outskirts of the city where she gazed at the full moon. A pull of energy draw her in like a magnet to exact location as she changed course on the running path. There were whisper voices she could hear as she pulled her headphones out her ears. Her body felt the pull and she couldn’t ignore the allure any longer.
The force was so overwhelming she had to obey and began to change into a shadow to move faster to the source. The wind was low but she drifted off into the sky and saw two figures talking in private by a pond. The closer she got Ginger noticed she knew one of the shadowy figures. Lucy was one of them and she watched them talk. The man was in his late forties, handsome and something between the two of them seemed intimate.
Their auras glowed and both had similar shade of purple and orange so Ginger knew from her training that they had dated sometime in the past. Her empathic powers had grown and aura reader had become second nature with her ability.
Ginger thought, “Who was this man”?
Ginger did what Lucy had taught her to ease inside his mind without his knowledge and pluck out the information. His name was Jonathan Brendan Hathaway, he was a powerful demon and somehow she knew he was the reason she was drawn here. Their conversation seemed to be winding down.
Lucy looked angry, “As she refusing to help him”.
Lucy teleported away before he had a chance to persuade her decision. Standing alone Jonathan looked up toward the sky. This gesture reminded her of Frost and how a person could get lost in staring up at the sky. He was staring in no particular direction but Ginger had a feeling he knew she was there.
Johnathan loudly confirmed her thoughts, “I know you are there and no point in hiding”.
Ginger sighed after holding her breath a moment ago.
She hovered closer to the ground and in a split second turned from shadow back into her human form.
Ginger asked, “How did you see me”?
Johnathan answered, “Do you really care about that or don’t you have more important questions you’d rather ask me”.
He smirked and introduced himself, “Johnathan Hathaway, but you already know that. Don’t you”?
She didn’t feel anybody trying to read her mind so he wasn’t a telepath and her emotions were in check. So she had to wonder how he knew other things.
Ginger says, “I believe you have information that I require”.
That seemed far-fetched but Ginger didn’t voice her other opinions to this stranger and waited to see what he would reveal. It seemed studying war books wasn’t such a bad idea and she’d have to thank Caleb later.
Jonathan said,”I know who killed your parents and can take you to that person at this very moment if I wished”.
While Ginger gasped, she never imagined that is how he would respond but wondered could he be lying to her. She used her telepathy to cruise through his mind. She didn’t ask his permission which was rude but she needed answers and saw he was telling the truth. He did indeed have an idea who killed her parents.
Ginger asked, “Where to so we can talk in private”.
Chapter 20:
All she wanted to do was find out who murdered her parents and now she was hours away from discovering the truth. Who knew losing her virginity last night to the man she loved would end in meeting another man. No Ginger gave her heart to Diego but Jonathan held all the answers and that is why she was meeting him later. Just days from justice or more accurate revenge would be had.
Sitting inside the massive library surrounding by all the authors she loved and more she would someday read.
She had to wonder, “Can I trust Lucy? Maybe there was a reason she had met Jonathan in the dead of night on a full moon none the less”.
Things weren’t as they seemed. She sat and had nothing but time on her hands. She canceled all her plans that day unable to face Lucy for she couldn’t conceal what she kne
w.
The only good part of her day was tonight. Diego had planned a romantic night for her birthday and promised it would be something memorable. Last night was the best gift she had and couldn’t wait to recapture moments with him. She was looking forward to tonight.
Diego was the love of her life and being with him brighten her days. Caleb walked into the library like it was something he did all the time which was odd considering she has never seen him in here before. It was his kingdom so he probably had people do that for him.
She thought, “Caleb is kind, loyal and insightful. A wonderful set of qualities for a ruler”.
Ginger was glad to meet him and get to know him better. There was an entire world she knew nothing about into her parents died. She guessed all parents got a chance to see their children explore, mess-up and ask for help once they stepped into the real world. That would never happen for her so she imagine the wonders that being a parent one day would bring for her. She shook her head and couldn’t help but blush at the possibility of a happily ever after with Diego.
She looked up at Caleb watching her carefully so she cleared her throat of all the bile. She smiled hoping to hide her blushing at her uneasiness.
Ginger asked, “What was on his agenda for the day”?
Caleb shocking reply was, “You”.
She gasped and was sure her eyes hung wide open. Ginger closed her mouth and tried to regain her composure.
Caleb chuckled and said, “No. Not like that. I was plan on going over all my battle knowledge and leadership skills with you. Time for the easy lessons to end and no more taking it easy because it’s your birthday”.
She was now intrigued. Ginger had so much on her mind that a few hours hammering politics and philosophy might do her some good. Questions kept replaying over and over in her head about her parents and why they didn’t expose her to this life.
Ginger thought, “Who would want to kill them”?
That one question motivated her to come here with Diego to a foreign world to find answers. The more she learned the hardier it became to ignore Diego, her boyfriend but a part of her resented his protective presence. The fact her parents died a few months ago or that he always shielded her from the worse of her pain with his love. That was the best distraction but it also built a need to have some distance and to prove their love was real.
Not just a gap from Diego saving Ginger from her grief. After three strenuous hours with Caleb drilling her with war strategies and ethical dilemmas she wondered for the thousandth time was she the one from the prophecy. She was no witch but everything seemed to be guiding her in that direction. That all she knew was limited and Ginger wished she flat out asked Malcolm. Regret was the most difficult and time consuming part of her life.
Chapter 21:
Later while writing in her journal in Lucy’s study-office she wondered if this lump of what ifs would go away. She would always wonder and she missed her parents all the time. Life was turned upside down and nothing these days turned out how it should have.
This was most evident in the two days since she turnned 17 and she promised Monica and Hannah that she would take her DMV test with them. That was something she could never do with Monica who was still in intensive care. Ginger felt responsible and had been keeping constant tabs on her well-being. Monica hadn’t always been her favorite person but they had been through a lot together.
Closing her eyes to try and block the tears that were flowing. She had to close her journal to take a second to calm down. Getting up out of the sofa to stretch and she happened to notice that Lucy had tons of awards on her walls. She was happy that Lucy was in meetings all day or else she wouldn’t have any privacy at this point. All the awards were thanking her or recognize the philanthropic generosity that she inspired.
The picture of Lucy with children in the cancer ward made Ginger question her doubt about her. She pushed that aside, grabbed her journal and bolted to her room to get ready for her date with Diego. She called Hannah on the way to her room to catch up with her.
Ginger was thrilled and said, “You sure you aren’t busy”?
She listened and smiled as they set up plans.
Ginger says, “Ok. Talk to you tomorrow. Good night. I appreciate the best wishes part”.
The DMV test with her bestfriend was off but maybe they could have lunch to celebrate her birthday. And bring Frost along she missed them a lot. Pushing them from her thoughts as she grabbed the baby blue knee length dress from her closet. She had it pressed and laid it on the bed. Ginger quickly showered and applied light make-up before smiling to herself in the mirror.
Grabbing a few condoms and putting them in her purse as she headed out the door. It was only a quarter till seven with the sun barely starting to set. She nestled close to Diego as they watched the sun set before dinner.
Dinner was delicious and she order desert. A wonderful slice of cream flavored slice of cake that she split with her boyfriend. Ginger was practically floating about the time she left and glad she put off her meeting with Jonathan for a few nights. She needed to clear her head, joggle her options and make a wise decision. That night Ginger had another lustful and passionate embrace with Diego.
She sat outside under the moon and wrote. That journal was her saving grace; what kept her sane and helped her organize her life. Ginger sat hugging her journal looking up at the moon allowing her sadness to wisps away. It was painful to think about her parents and not being there anymore for guidance but she had to let that pain go.
Ginger got up from the balcony and went back to their room smiling watching him while he slept. His mouth hanging slightly open, a little hum escaping his mouth as he exhaled and she snuggled in beside him. His warmth was nice, washing away that tiny bite of loneness she bottled up.
Waking up to the smell of coffee and Ginger couldn’t help but smile. Diego handed her a cup of tea but the smell of coffee always made her think of home. In the bedroom with just him, Ginger felt at home and peace.
Ginger thought, “I wonder if this meeting with Jonathan is the best decision”.
She had been anticipating if he would just come out and tell her who murdered her parents or what else he knew. So when his text came in giving her directions to his location. She shot out of bed, kissing Diego as she rushed to get ready. Twenty minutes later Ginger found herself sitting across from him in a tiny Brazilian restaurant and wondered had he tricked her.
Ginger asked, “Do you really know the truth about what happened to my parents”?
Jonathan sighed and replied, “If I didn’t would you be sitting here”?
She hadn’t told Diego or anyone else about none of what she learned. Before she could jump into her questioning Victor appeared before them and took a seat without being asked.
Victor says, “Jonathan; been a while. Let’s catch up”.
The vampire being ancient should have had better manners but Ginger was pushing down her anger and frustration.
Ginger says, “Can’t you do that later”?
She looked at him and wanted to slap him for joining them without permission which is beyond rude. Something her mom used to say popped in her head that killing others with kindness was the best revenge.
Victor responded, “Perhaps, but the current company is too much of an coincide to pass up this opportunity”.
Ginger plastered on a smile and decided to act civilized.
She asked, “What brought Victor here today besides brunch”?
Victor replied, “You and your delightful presence”.
Ginger was stunned into he spoke again.
Victor says, “You a untrained girl who bested a superior indigo and put a powerful fairy, who is currently in a comma”.
The response ignited her and it took a moment for Ginger to recover.
She replied, “That the unfortunate consequence of Monica was unforeseen but she would do it again if had to stop some lady from hurting others and trying to kill her”.
&nbs
p; The calm response obviously isn’t what Victor expected when Lucy joined there little group.
Ginger thought, “This was one too many unexpected guests”.
Ginger says, “Excuse me”.
She was angry so just had left. Happy that she learned to build walls up to block others from her thoughts or else Victor might realize she despised him. That wasn’t the correct word but didn’t like his presence and he might be the one that she was trying to uncover. Perhaps it was Lucy but one of the pair had a secret she planned to uncover.
Chapter 22:
Not wanting to return to her room just yet Ginger decided to go for a run. She went to her room and changed clothes before heading back out. She didn’t want to focus on her life but when she was running it was bond to come up. And obvious things weren’t what they seemed. Pieces were jumbled up but at the end of six miles she was clear of tension.