by C P Fleur
“She’s preoccupied,” he replied, shrugging as he closed my door behind him. I rolled my eyes. Last time Remy asked me for my help, he’d killed a mailman and nearly exposed our entire clan.
“Not my problem.”
“It is your problem. Rumor has it Fellows is forcing you to couple with Sylvi. That practically makes us family,” he bit out his words, unable to hide his jealousy. “Even if it isn’t what she wants.”
I barked out a laugh. Remy had no idea what Sylvi wanted. “Who told you that?” I asked, taking a step closer to him. “Did Fellows mention it when Sylvi went to him to tell him I’d gone to Edgewood? Or did she have you do her bidding for her?”
“Sylvie wouldn’t do that, and I’d know if she did. No one in this place has anything better to do than gossip,” he shrugged. “Like about that new girl –”
“What about her?”
“That she’s some sort of genetically altered species. Why else would she be here?”
“She’s human.”
“What is a human doing at one of the most prestigious vampire academies on the East coast?” His smile grew, causing the light to glint of the silver ring pierced through his bottom lip. “Why is she with you, Lucas?” He took a step toward me.
“That’s none of your business.”
“If it hurts Sylvi, it’s my business.”
“Then, I’d suggest you tell Sylvi to stay away from her, and she won’t need to worry about getting hurt.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a warning. Back off. It’s clear that Sylvi and Fellows have some sort of scheme going on behind both our backs. If you want answers, ask your maker.”
“Sylvi doesn’t lie to me.”
“Are you sure about that, Remy? Because it looks like she’s willing to do almost anything to be coupled to me, and she’s willing to take out anyone who stands in her way. What do you think it means for you?”
“That’s not true.” He bristled but didn’t back down. “Are you going to turn that human?” He asked. “Last I checked, unauthorized creations couldn’t sire new vamps.”
“No.”
“Then maybe I will. I don’t mind breaking a few rules.”
Before I had time to think my hand was around his throat, fangs extended. “If you or Sylvi go anywhere near Nova, I will rip you both apart with my teeth, bit by bit. Do you understand? She’s protected. I am personally seeing to it that she remains unharmed. If you’d like to remain the same, walk away. Now.”
He held up his hands in surrender, but his eyes were narrowed. “Understood,” he croaked. Reluctantly, I released him, craning my neck to the side as I stood to my full height. Remy pushed from the ground, a scowl on his face as he brushed his hand over the front of his shirt.
“Sylvi deserves better than you,” he sneered. There it was. The truth. Remy wanted to be coupled with Sylvi, but she wouldn’t give him the time of day. He couldn’t help her out of here because he didn’t have the power. The union would be unsanctioned. Fellows would rather force me to suffer an eternity with her than allow her to run off with Remy. He was no more than a burden, but he was desperate to change that. Aside from a miracle, it would never happen.
That’s what Nova was to me. My miracle.
Rule 7: Protect Your Vital Organs
Nova
MY DRESS CLUNG TO ME like a second skin, the deep red material nearly paper-thin and silky soft. I pulled my hair off my neck and wrapped it in a messy bun on top of my head.
“It’s even better than I’d imagined.”
I spun around to look at Lucas, his eyes raking down over every curve of my body before sliding back up and stopping on my neck. His white Oxford was crisp with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his dark slacks looked like they’d been tailored to fit his body. They probably had been. He stepped closer, a small stone dangling from a delicate chain hung from his fingers.
“May I?” He asked.
I swallowed before nodding as I turned away from him. He draped the chain over my chest, dragging it up slowly to secure the clasp behind my neck, his fingertips gliding along my skin and causing goosebumps to trail his touch. It was like his fingers were magnetized, pulling me closer. I couldn’t help the way I swayed on my feet. Desperate to chase the electric shock that tingled through me.
My hand went up to grab the pendant, rolling it between my fingertips as I turned to face him. I lifted the charm, my eyes dancing over the dark-colored stone with splashes of red cut through the center. “This is way too much.”
“They say it can heal your heart. Rule number seven – protect your vital organs,” He replied, and my mind flashed to Wyatt as I fumbled with the red friendship bracelet on my wrist. “Besides, It matches the dress.”
“I can’t accept this.”
“It’s already yours. It was made for you.”
Three soft taps at the door grabbed our attention.
“Not too late to change your mind,” Lucas warned, his tone teasing as he cocked his eyebrow.
“I don’t scare that easily.”
“Super Nova.”
“That’s what my mom used to call me when I was little.”
“Then maybe it’s true,” he teased, a playful smirk on his lips.
I rolled my eyes and walked over to the door, yanking it open to greet Kamala. Her dress was emerald and hugged every curve of her body. Her chest was nearly spilling out of the top, and she laughed when her eyes scanned my outfit. “We look like Christmas,” she teased.
I glanced over my shoulder at Lucas, who could barely contain his laughter, but when my eyes went back to Kamala, her gaze was locked on my necklace. My fingers went up to grab it, as I glanced down at the gemstone.
“It’s pretty, right?” I asked, unable to hide my smile.
“It’s a statement piece, for sure,” she replied before shaking her head, her eyes flitting to Lucas. “That was fast.”
“Life is... short.” He bit out the word like it tasted acidic.
“Are you trying to make it even shorter?” she asked, her words laced with concern.
“You don’t have to join us if you’re scared,” he shot back. “She can handle it.”
“You can’t be sure of that,” Kamala’s worried tone caused anxiety to spread throughout my belly.
“She can if we’re with her,” Lucas reassured her.
“You want my help?” Kamala asked, a blush darkening her cheeks.
“Can someone fill me in on what you are talking about?” I asked.
Lucas turned to me, his eyes dancing over the necklace. “She’s worried Sylvi will be jealous.”
“Of me?” I scoffed, thinking of the statuesque girl who had no reason to be jealous of anyone.
“Of us.”
His words sputtered butterflies into flight in my stomach.
“Oh, I love drama,” Kamala squealed.
FROM THE OUTSIDE, THE old library looked desolate. Even the gentle thumping of bass from the music could be written off as the sounds of the city in the distance.
I glanced over at Lucas, audibly exhaling. He grabbed my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. His little touches, brushes of his fingertips were becoming addicting. “We can leave whenever you want.”
I nodded before stepping forward and yanking open the side entrance to the old stone building.
We slipped inside, careful not to linger too long with the door open. The space was dark, and I needed to grip the wall to keep from running into something. But Lucas grabbed my hand and pulled me through the room like he’d made the trip a million times. I let him, trusting him not to let me trip over my own feet or smack my face against a wall.
After a few more turns and ascending a couple of stairs, he pulled open another door, and the room came alive. There were bodies lounging everywhere, and the smell of liquor was heavy in the air. Smoke clung to the walls, the dank smell of something other than cigarettes perpetrated my nostrils.
The lights
flickered, and pulsed, deep blues and magentas threw streaks of color across the faces that otherwise would have been cloaked in darkness. But I could still feel eyes on me. One set in particular, and it only took a moment to find Sylvi, her two friends at her side, sauntering toward us.
I looked to Lucas’ profile, but he kept his eyes ahead as his hand slipped from mine.
“She wasn’t invited,” Sylvi snapped, her eyes locked on Lucas. “She’s an outsider.”
“I invited her,” Kamala spoke up.
“You?” Sylvi asked, her perfect eyebrow arched. “That figures. No one invited you either, motor mouth.” She rolled her eyes before giving her full attention to Lucas. Her hand pressing against his chest as she leaned into him.
“I’m glad you decided to come to see me. I was worried you wouldn’t make it,” she cooed. “Now that Fellows has you on babysitting duty.”
The copper-headed friend to her left cackled, and I rolled my eyes.
“I’m not babysitting. I brought Nova here,” he began as he gripped her wrist and pulled her hand from his chest, “as my date.”
“Date?” She drew back as if he’d slapped her with his words. And that’s when she saw it, the necklace that hung against my chest. “You gave her a bloodstone?” Her eyes narrowed and in a move almost too fast for me to perceive. She clutched the charm in her hand, yanking the chain. “That’s mine!” The thin metal bit into my flesh, tearing it open as it gave way.
I reached up to press my palm against the side of my throat. My fingertips dampened by a drop of blood that oozed its way from my flesh.
I winced, my eyes fluttering over the crowd of students, all eyes locked on me as if frozen in time. But that second of peace was gone as I was shoved to the ground, the wind being knocked from my lungs as the weight of Sylvi’s body slammed onto mine.
I opened my mouth to scream, but no sound emanated from my throat. Her nails bit into my forearms, her mouth wide in a toothy grin as if she wanted to eat me alive. I squeezed my eyes shut as I pushed against her throat with my forearm, before using my other arm to break free from her grip.
Lucas grabbed her, pulling her back from me, giving Kamala a chance to grab ahold of me and drag me back into the darkened hallway. Someone moved in front of the doorway, blocking my view. But as I pushed to my feet, I could see Lucas, pinning Sylvi against the wall with his hand gripping her throat; her feet barely reaching the ground. I gasped, and his eyes slid to mine, baring his teeth. That’s when I saw his fangs, two sharp teeth jutting down from his usually straight and blunt smile.
My hand flew up over my mouth. You can run, but you can’t hide... not from me. His words played over in my head before spurring me into action. We’ll see about that. I took off, tumbling down the few steps that led to the room. My body slammed against a wall, but I pushed on, knowing tomorrow I would be sore and covered in bruises if I lived that long.
“Kamala,” I screamed out into the darkness.
“I’m here,” she assured me, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward the exit. We broke out into the cool night air, and I bolted, running full speed up the brick path before my lungs began to strangle me. Panic pressed heavily against my chest, and I doubled over.
“We have to run, we have to –” I stopped speaking when I caught a glimpse of her face in the moonlight, fangs protruding, not the least bit exhausted. “You’re... you’re one of them,” I gasped, stepping back from her as my eyes focused on her mouth.
“Don’t lump me in with Sylvi and her band of plastic brats. I am way cooler than them. Like, seriously, that’s offensive.” She shook her head, holding up her palms to signal she didn’t mean me any harm. “I won’t hurt you. This is a new dress.” I watched the two pointy teeth ascend, disappearing behind her full lips. “It’s expensive.”
“Like Sylvi wasn’t going to hurt me,” I snapped.
“Sylvi is angry. She wanted to be coupled to Lucas. Can’t blame her. I never even got a shot at him.”
“Coupled?” I asked, my eyes dancing around to make sure we were alone.
“Like... married,” she explained. “Anyway, I’m old enough to control myself. It’s one of the first things they teach us. Never bite the hand that feeds you. But Sylvi, she’s not someone you mess with. I warned you. I mean, I did. To be fair. You just didn’t listen.”
“They teach you,” I repeated, still breathing erratically. “They know. Fellows, everyone else...” My mind was racing, desperate to process everything I’d discovered in the last couple of minutes. “You’re –”
“Vampires,” Lucas’ voice cut through the night, and I gasped, my eyes searching for him. He stepped forward out of the cloak of darkness, his one hand shoved deep into the pocket of his slacks, the other holding my necklace.
“They're not real,” I replied, shaking my head as he moved closer, each step slow and deliberate.
“I’m real, Nova.” He reached out, his hand grabbing mine as it shook and placed it against his chest. His eyes closed momentarily, lost in that feeling of euphoria that melted its way through my veins whenever we touched. He felt it too. But what I didn’t feel was impossible. No heart drummed beneath my fingertips or fluttered and raced the way my own did.
As his eyes opened, I searched them, waiting for them to tell me this was all some sort of elaborate prank, that I was caught in the middle of one of those plays that drag the unsuspecting audience into the act.
“Why didn’t you hide it? Why did you bring me here?” I asked, my gaze going between him and Kamala.
“You need to know,” he explained, his expression pained. “Who I am, who your father is –”
“My father?”
“Who you are.”
I pulled my hand free from his grasp, shaking my head. “I’m not like you.”
“No, you’re not like us, Nova. I told you. You’re different. You were born to stand out.”
“What do you know about my father?” I asked between clenched teeth.
“I’ll explain everything to you, but we shouldn’t do this here.” He held out his hand for me to take. I hesitated, my mind spinning.
I glanced at Kamala before nodding my head once, my bottom lip pinned between my teeth, as I slid my fingers against his palm. We began to walk, and as I turned to look back at Kamala, she was gone, the path now empty.
We were back in my room within a minute, and I paced the floor as Lucas stood in the doorway. I turned to face him, pausing as I looked him over. “Do you need to be invited in?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “No, I can enter your room without permission, I just thought it would be polite to wait... given the circumstances,” he replied. “I also have a reflection in mirrors, I’m not allergic to garlic, and I don’t turn into a bat,” he joked.
“You can go in the sunlight.”
“With sunglasses. My vision is sensitive, so I can see better at night. Mostly, I try to avoid going out on sunny days, hence the pale skin.” He shook his head. “And because of the whole undead thing.”
“You’re heart doesn’t beat.”
“No.” He held up the small stone that dangled from the broken chain. “Because I already gave it to you,” he replied, causing a little gasp to escape me. The necklace. It represented his heart. That’s why Sylvi attacked me when she saw it. The party wasn’t just a chance for me to find out what he was; it was for everyone to find out what I was to him.
“Does it bother you?” I craned my neck to the side to reveal the smattering of dried blood. “I mean... do you –”
Lucas swallowed hard before shaking his head. “I would never hurt you, Nova.”
I eyed him for a moment. “Come in. Close the door.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to scare you.”
“I’m not – you don’t scare me. You saved me,” I replied. He nodded once as he pushed the heavy door closed behind him.
“That doesn’t change what I am,” he warned.
“I dunno. You don’t
sound much like a vampire to me. I mean, you can’t even turn into a bat. What can you do?”
“I can drain a human body in under a minute.” His eyebrow rose.
“I’ve survived around you this long. Maybe you’re not as bad as you think.”
He closed the gap between us, placing his palm against the center of my chest, my heart racing under his fingers as if he’d just jump started it again. “How is it that you still, after knowing everything, don’t look at me like I’m a monster?”
“I know what it’s like to be treated like you’re different.” I pressed my palm against the center of his chest. “I’ve known humans who are less kind,” I replied, earning me one of his devastating lopsided grins. “Even my own father didn’t stick around.”
“You’re father loved you, Nova. He did what he thought was best for you.”
“He abandoned me.”
“He gave you a life. If he had stayed, people would have noticed that he didn’t change. They would have questioned what he was, what you are.”
“He was a vampire.” I swallowed hard, struggling to process that information. “But my mother –”
“Your mother is a human.”
“What does that make me?” I asked, searching his dark eyes.
“My Super Nova.”
Lucas
“So, I-I’m a monster too.”
“It wasn’t the thorn bending to the honeysuckles, but the honeysuckles embracing the thorn,” I quoted from her favorite novel as her eyes searched mine. “You’re not a monster, Nova.”
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same,” she replied with a quote of her own.
I laughed, shaking my head. I couldn’t help it. I was finding it harder to believe that she existed than she was about me. I glanced down at the necklace in my palm, smattered with Nova’s blood. “I’ll get this fixed for you,” I promised her, struggling to keep my body from reacting to her blood. “If you still want it.” Even that small drop against my skin set my body on fire. There was something about her, something more special than just who her father was.