by Dani Hart
“Fascinated?” His smile was radiating. “Might I remind you that you came to my house? Maybe you are the one fascinated with me?” He downed a glass of water and pushed his food aside, crossing his arms on the table and leaning toward me.
“Are you serious right now?”
He chuckled. “My interest is not of my doing, I assure you.”
“Okay then, whose doing would it be?”
He sighed apprehensively. “I am repaying a debt.”
It was a mistake coming here. Fear collected with the millions of questions that pummeled me.
His smug smile faded. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to scare you.”
“What debt?” I was almost afraid to ask.
“A very large one. Call me your guardian angel, if you will. I was assigned to make sure nothing bad happens to you.”
“Why on earth would I need protection?” This was absurd.
“Really? Don’t you think you’re being pretty naïve?”
I got up from the table and paced in front of the fire. “Naïve of what? The only thing I might be naïve about is coming here and thinking you weren’t a serial killer. And now you’re telling me that you’re my guardian angel or something because you owe someone a debt. Don’t you think you’re sounding just a little bit crazy?”
“I’m not going to hurt you, Abby.” He stood up.
“Why is it so hot in here?” I flailed my arm quickly in front of my face. Panic was rising in my chest.
“Just try to calm down and I’ll explain.”
I escaped to the patio, welcoming the spray from the rain.
Elijah followed. “Why don’t you sit down?”
I obeyed, sitting in a wicker rocker.
“I come from The Order of the Crest.”
“The what?”
“The Order of the Crest,” he repeated. “It’s a powerful organization that prides itself on privacy and protecting the innocent. You have recently acquired friends that have raised concern, so they sent me to assess the situation.”
My heart was aching. He was talking about the Hunters. About Wes.
“A promise made a long time ago has me here for other reasons.”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“The Hunters aren’t what you think they are.”
Nausea rolled through me. “You mean who, right? Not what?”
“They’re dangerous, Abby. All of them, including Wes.”
I stood up, shaking my head in disbelief. “And someone sent you to protect me? From Wes? I’ve known him almost my whole life. I think I would know if there was something wrong with him.”
“But how well do you really know him now?”
He was alluding to the two years he was gone. All the things that seemed different about Wes suddenly consumed me. His eyes, his physique, his behavior. “I just can’t believe he would hurt me,” I replied weakly.
Elijah kneeled in front of me, capturing my wrists, leaving me no option but to look at him. “Abby, you need to understand you’re a part of a world far beyond your imagination. You will always be in danger.”
“But why?” I pleaded for more answers. “I’m just an ordinary girl.”
“You’re anything but ordinary, Abby.” His words trailed off as he stood up. “You need to stay away from Wes. From all the Hunters. I promised I would keep you safe, but you have to trust me.” His desperate eyes bore deep into mine.
“I have to go.” I felt weak and defeated. I had just found Wes again, and now Elijah was saying my life depended on staying away from him. I raced into the downpour, slipping in a puddle of mud and crashing to the ground, skinning my knees. My heart was breaking all over again. I couldn’t imagine a life without Wes in it. I had tried, and I felt nothing. I was lost and empty.
“I’m sorry.” Elijah’s voice shouted over the storm.
Pulling myself up, I ran to my car, fumbling to get the key in the ignition, failing as they slipped from my fingers to the floor. My body finally succumbed to the revelation. This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be real.
I pounded my palms against the steering wheel until they ached and then slumped over, feeling the world fall from beneath my feet once again. It was hard driving home. I wasn’t even sure if that was where I needed to be. I needed to be with Wes. I needed to hear from him that this was all a big misunderstanding. I went to his house and pounded on the door, but after several minutes passed with no answer, I gave up and drove home.
It was almost two, and I was scheduled to work tonight. I could ask Mr. Hunter where Wes was and then get the answers I needed.
Having talked myself down from near hysterics, I pulled into my driveway. My mom’s car was gone, and I was hoping that meant my parents were both gone.
It was still raining hard when I ran into the house. “Mom? Dad?”
Silence.
I left my muddy shoes out front and carefully tiptoed up the stairs, trying to keep the mud from slipping off of me. I headed straight for the bathroom. My chestnut hair was plastered to my skin, and my mascara bled into the dark circles forming under my eyes. The worst part was I didn’t recognize the person staring back. She was hollowed and broken.
I piled my clothes in a corner and got into the shower, soaking in the last few days. Nightmares.
I had a little more clarity, washing away most of the doubt that Elijah had planted in me. It didn’t matter what Elijah told me or what he thought Wes was. I knew Wes better than anyone, and he would never hurt me. If I were in danger, Wes would protect me. I didn’t need Elijah for that.
My car was a muddy disaster, so I headed out to clean it. I didn’t expect to see Wes standing next to it, but I was glad just the same.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” I teased solemnly from the overhang of my patio.
Headlights shone on the driveway, making Wes flinch.
“It’s probably just my parents. You don’t have to go,” I pleaded.
“It’s not,” he growled and then raced into the woods.
An unfamiliar blue sedan parked behind my Jeep, and Elijah stepped out.
“You forgot your jacket at my house.” He held it out as he approached the front porch. He looked over his shoulder into the woods where Wes had gone.
“Thanks.” I snatched it. “You can leave now.”
He flashed a hurt glance, and then without a word, headed back to his car.
I yelled at him, “I don’t want you protecting me. I don’t need it.”
He paused for a moment but kept walking to his car without acknowledgement.
“He won’t hurt me.” My voice lost power. “He couldn’t.” I waited, hoping Wes would come back after Elijah left, but he didn’t.
WHEN I GOT TO the bistro for my shift, I was relieved to see Wes floating around the tables, laughing and chatting with the customers. Mr. Hunter was pouring drinks at the bar, and Ben and Zoe were sitting at a table in the back, watching a game on TV. The music flowing out of the speakers was cheery, and the mood of the restaurant was upbeat. Penelope even said hi to me. Things suddenly didn’t seem so bad.
I tucked my bag under the register and smiled all the way to the table where Wes was refilling glasses like a completely normal human being. Nothing abnormal about him. “I’ll take that.” I touched his hand lightly as I took the pitcher from him, transferring a familiar energy between us.
“Thanks.” His fingertips grazed my waist as he sidled between me and the table behind us.
As the night went on, I stole as many glances at Wes as I could, blushing when he caught me, and admiring him when he didn’t. At the end of the night, Penelope didn’t plant herself at the table to roll silverware. Instead, she grabbed her purse and rushed out, looking somewhat stressed.
“Where is she going in such a hurry?” I asked Wes who was cleaning off a table nearby.
“Not sure. She said she got an urgent phone call. Gives me a chance to introduce you to my siblings since you haven’t officiall
y met yet.”
All this time and his siblings never gave me the time of day. It was a little bit weird, but now the pressure seemed insurmountable and dread filled my fingers, dropping the salt shaker from them and shattering salt all over the floor.
“I’m so sorry.” I swept my hands around the salt, gathering it into piles, but Wes’ hand caught my wrist.
“Leave it.” He locked his eyes with mine intensely, rubbing my wrist gently.
“But I—” Looking down, the salt had disappeared. “Where…what…” I searched the area frantically. I was losing my mind.
Wes pulled me up by my elbows, watching me carefully. “Don’t freak out, okay?”
I nodded nervously and followed as he led me to his family.
“Ben and Zoe, this is Abigail. Abigail, these are my siblings.”
I always thought it eccentric how he referred to his brother and sister as siblings. No one spoke like that.
Ben stepped forward, his jet-black hair slicked back, defining the contours of his thin cheekbones, sharp nose, and narrow jaw. In all the years I had known the twins, I had never been close enough to get a good look. It was clear now that all four of them shared the same iridescent eyes.
“Hi, Abigail. It’s nice to meet you. We have heard many things about you over the years.” Ben winked sincerely. He bent over and kissed my hand, then stepped back.
My body flushed with embarrassment. What had Wes told his family about me?
Zoe glided forward, her hips shifting gracefully and her blonde hair flowing freely, curls bouncing around her shoulders. The only similarities the twins shared were their eyes.
“I’m sorry we haven’t met until now.” Her simple smile showcased a dimple on her right cheek. She had soft cheekbones hidden under a round face and a ski slope nose that offset her full pink lips. She was magnificent up close.
“Me, too.” My voice cracked slightly. Wes squeezed my hand reassuringly.
Zoe bowed her head and backed up next to Ben. Their light skin glowed brightly under the fluorescent lights.
“And you already know my father, William.” Wes tipped his head to him.
I nodded affirmation. I was so nervous it was hard to formulate words.
“Some things have recently been brought to our attention, and we thought it was time to discuss them,” Mr. Hunter said authoritatively.
My eyes darted from one pair of eyes to the next, landing on Wes’ last. He wore an expression of regret, as though he was sorry, almost like he was trying to protect me from this.
“What things?” I questioned, working hard to keep an even voice.
Ben spoke up, “Knowing will put you in danger. I just want that to be clear before you agree to this.”
Wes’ jaw tightened. “She’s already in danger. That’s why we’re here.”
What sounded like a low growl escaped Ben’s lips.
“Enough,” Mr. Hunter threatened. “Wes is right, but we may be getting ahead of ourselves. We are more than capable of containing Elijah.”
Elijah? My legs buckled. Wes caught me before I hit the floor and sat me carefully in a chair.
“See, she’s not ready,” Ben argued.
Zoe sat next to me, sliding over a glass of water. “Hydrate. It will help.” Her voice was so motherly.
“You’re white as a ghost.” Wes’ worried eyes focused on me.
I took a sip of water, the chill on my throat taking away the dryness that accompanied my collapse. “I’m fine.”
“She’s too fragile,” Ben hissed.
Abby has always been a bit fragile.
“I’m not fragile,” I spat vehemently.
“If we really believed you were too fragile, we wouldn’t have brought you here.” Zoe patted my hand.
Her encouragement was comforting.
Mr. Hunter leaned against the bar. “As you can see, we aren’t exactly normal.”
I didn’t respond. Instead, I slid my finger around the rim of the glass and remembered when Wes told me he wasn’t normal.
“And you’re not safe around us.” Mr. Hunter’s words came out slow and calculated. Careful.
I stopped circling the rim of the glass while all eyes studied me, waiting for my reaction. “What do you mean?”
“This is wrong.” Ben knocked over a chair and stomped a few feet away, causing me to jump.
Wes bolted up and confronted Ben. “What is your problem?”
Mr. Hunter jumped between them and glared from one set of eyes to the other. The boys backed down without a word.
Wes took my shaking hands. “Don’t let him scare you. He’s just being a jerk.”
I bit the inside of my lip and nodded, repeating to myself, I’m not fragile.
“Wes,” Mr. Hunter pressed urgently.
“We need to talk about the night of the accident. Is that okay?”
I nodded again.
“The night of the accident I was sick,” Wes began.
“Yes, I remember.” The memory vivid.
“I scared you, and you lost control of the car.”
“Yes.” The thumping of my heart pounded in my ears, time slowing down as Wes recounted that night.
“There was a lot of blood. Your blood. My blood.”
Crimson splatters were on the windshield and pooled on the seats.
I nodded.
Wes’ eyes fell in shame, the next part difficult for him to admit. “I tried to kill you that night.” His face winced in pain.
I swallowed hard. “What?” My voice weakened.
Wes looked over to his father who nodded, giving him permission to go on. “Something was happening to me, and I lost control.” He took a deep breath and rubbed my hands methodically. “Elijah was there. He saved your life.”
The world began to spin and breathing became difficult. “What?” My eyes were wet with tears.
“Can we have a moment alone?” Wes looked to his family.
“Of course,” Mr. Hunter replied.
I shot up before anyone had a chance to move. “I think I need some fresh air,” I whispered, scared to look up again.
“I’ll go with you.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me alongside. The whispers among the twins and Mr. Hunter started up immediately behind us.
Wes walked me down the back steps to the pier and we stood silently against the railing overlooking the lake, the cool air prickling the sweat that had accumulated on my body inside the bistro. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on the soft ripples of the water.
“Better?” Wes’ voice was soothing.
“Yes.” My shoulders relaxed, and my breathing became easier.
“You must have a lot of questions.”
“A few.”
Wes took my hand in his. “I’m not a mortal, Abby.”
A surprised breath escaped me, the dizziness returning.
I’m not the one you need to be afraid of.
Wes is not what you think he is. He’s dangerous.
“I…I’m not sure what to say.”
“The night of the accident—that’s when I turned.” He leaned on the rail of the bridge, digging his fingers into the wood, splintering off pieces as he spoke.
“I don’t understand.” I put a comforting hand over his.
“I had been fighting the change for years, but that night I couldn’t anymore and all that blood summoned this primal urge to kill. I lost control.”
“What stopped you?” My lips quivered. I was so close to death that night.
“Elijah.” His voice faded, and his eyes wandered to some far off place. “I was staring hungrily at you through the window. It was just you and me, and then he was there.” His voice relieved.
“If he saved me, then what made you hate him so much?”
“When I found out he was with The Order of the Crest. That makes him a dangerous enemy. Everyone in The Order has an agenda. He was there for a reason. I just don’t know what it is yet, but I’ll find out before you are p
ulled into this any deeper.”
“Why does it have to be a bad thing? Maybe he just feels the need to protect me because he saved me that night. He said he was here to protect me.”
“Abby, please don’t ever let your guard down with him.” He grabbed my shoulders urgently. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I came back here and put you in the middle of a war.” He brushed his finger down my cheekbone to my lips. I pushed into his touch, wanting more. “I tried to stay away. For your sake. William took us far into the Appalachian Mountains, teaching me how to restrain my primal urges and training me how to fight. But he was also keeping me away from you.”
“Then why did you come back?” I whispered desperately.
He removed his finger from my cheek, allowing the cloud to lift. “The Order of the Crest hunted us down. They told us we had violated our agreement because I had exposed myself to you. That’s when I figured out that Elijah was one of them because no one else knew the truth about that night, aside from my family. William forged a deal to keep me alive, but we know how The Order works. It’s swift and merciless and we couldn’t be sure you were safe. That’s why Elijah is here, Abby. Despite what he did for you in the past and despite what he has told you. He’s here to kill you.”
My thoughts were all over the place—the accident, Wes, the bounty on my life. “But I’m just an ordinary girl. I’m Abigail Rose. A simple girl from a small town.” I shook my head.
He took both of my hands. “You’re anything but ordinary, Abby. We can’t trust him. I’m sorry.”
“But if that was the case, if he were truly here to kill me, then why hasn’t he?”
“I don’t know.” He pulled me into his chest, hugging me protectively.
“What did it feel like that night? When you were changing. You looked like you were in so much pain.”
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Can you try?”
He squeezed me tightly. “There are purebred immortals that are turned by another immortal, and then there are hybrids, albeit rare. It happens when an immortal and mortal conceive, but that kind of union is forbidden, so having a child wouldn’t be ideal. Most immortals find humans inferior, but my dad fell in love with my mom and he described her as an immortal would describe a True Mate.”