I’d put a lot of thought into which ability I wanted to try first. This one made the most sense considering that I was going to have a lot to hide from the people I spend the most time with. I did as she suggested, repeating the phrase in my mind several times. Grant me the ability to read people’s thoughts.
“Your body is adjusting to the vampire blood.”
She didn’t have to say it. This was going to be the hard part. Even as she spoke, I felt the tingling turn into more of a burning sensation on the surface. It was like the tips of my nerves were being seared with a hot iron. My muscles bunched, throwing themselves into spasm. I squeezed my eyes closed and fought the urge to cry out. Aurora was sitting up next to me now. I could only tell because when she spoke, her voice came from above me and not from my side.
“Be strong, Trey,” she urged, holding my hand. “This is the worst part. It will be over soon.”
I clenched my jaw tightly, trying to breathe through the pain that had become more of a stabbing pain now, starting in my lungs. It was like a thousand bees were using their stingers to slowly puncture my lungs over and over. I tried for a second to hold my breath and see if that would minimize the pain, but it only exaggerated it. My heart throbbed with every beat. I’d been joking about my heart exploding earlier, but now I wondered if it might actually happen. I couldn’t fathom how it could keep beating while taking this kind of abuse.
Aurora was leaning her cheek against mine, whispering in my ear, but my brain didn’t want to process anything more than the suffocating pain as it tore through my body. The stabbing spread through my arms next, eating away at each muscle until it had overcome my legs and feet. Finally, it flared up through my head, piercing the top of my skull. I was sure my brain would turn to mush. In fact, I sort of hoped it might. At least that would stop the pain. But, of course, the opposite was happening. I was painfully aware of everything my body was going through. Every sensation was heightened. Then the pounding started, right in the center of my forehead. Thankfully, the pounding was followed by a beautiful void, cool and soothing. I let myself be enveloped by the blackness, and with it, the wonderful sensation of being numb.
Chapter 32
Aurora
THERE WAS NO TURNING back now. Nothing left for me to do but wait for my love to succumb to his mortality. I paused to take in the sight of him, Trey – my human – one last time. I studied his dark chocolate colored hair, the strong line of his jaw, and the way his lips parted.
As Trey’s heart began to slow in its pumping, I realized with a pang of longing that I would no longer enjoy the full, innocent sound of his heartbeat. I ran my fingers over his dark hair and watched his chest rise and fall with his shallow breathing.
“I’m here,” I whispered, hoping my voice sounded more confident than I felt. I didn’t even know if he could hear me as the rhythm of his heart grew more erratic, skipping beats. Using my fingertips, I traced the perfect little V on his top lip as he drew one last, shaky breath. Then his precious heart was still.
Trey was dead.
Something wet splashed onto his chest and I realized I was crying. I’d known this wasn’t going to be easy, but as I cradled Trey’s lifeless body in my arms, I wondered if we’d made the right decision. Was I really a strong enough vampire to change Trey? Or would he remain in this lifeless state for eternity, a sacrifice to my selfishness? More moisture trickled down my cheeks. I hadn’t cried like this in years, not since I’d lost my family.
I curled up next to Trey’s lifeless body on the giant bed and held him. I drew strength from the warm rays of silver moonlight that enveloped Trey and me like a blanket as I settled in for the agonizing wait. As much as I would miss Trey’s human heartbeat, I was anxious to hear the hollow echo of a vampire’s heartbeat resonating from within his chest.
The minutes crawled by, torturing me as I watched over Trey in the candlelight. It was as if time had deliberately slowed. Maybe this was Father Time’s way of getting back at me for the whole immortality thing. I would have given all of it up just then to guarantee Trey’s survival. What good was being young and beautiful forever, if Trey wasn’t here to share it with me?
Every doubt that I’d forced out of my mind since deciding to change Trey resurfaced, stronger than ever. I found myself wishing for the power and whimsy of fairytales. If only things were as simple as we’re led to believe as children. I remembered the story of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Both were saved with the power of a kiss, drawn out of their lifeless state to live happily ever after. Desperately, I bent and left a soft kiss on Trey’s lips. It was foolish. I knew that, but even that knowledge couldn’t prepare me for the agony that ripped at my heart when he didn’t respond.
I choked back a sob, the crushing weight of reality bearing down on me. What had I done? I was still a young vampire, years from being granted the use of all the abilities. What right did I have to believe that I could create another? I reached for my phone but sat it back on the bed again. Who would I call? Antonio? Mark? What would I say? There was nothing to be done now but wait, and I was in this alone. I had no idea how long it could go on. It was different with every vampire, but Antonio had told me that it was only about an hour before I’d come back as a vampire. Of course, Antonio had been well beyond his ten-year mark when he’d changed me. I was certain that had played a role. I laid down next to Trey, staring at his lifeless body, willing him to come back to me. His skin took on a bluish tint now and was growing cold to the touch. I pulled a blanket up over the both of us and tried to pretend that he was only sleeping. It didn’t work. My sensitive ears picked up the sound of the surf outside, a car driving not too far away, the crickets chirping in the night, but the only thing I wanted to hear still didn’t come. I was feeling the effects of the blood exchange. My strength was not what it should have been, but even that couldn’t distract me as I snuggled up to Trey and settled in for the wait, however long it would be. I wasn’t giving up hope. He had to come back to me. We were just starting our life together. I couldn’t lose him. Not now. Not like this.
I tried to focus my thoughts on more positive things, like the first time I'd seen Trey. He was standing alone on the stage at Carlie's with his guitar, hypnotizing the crowd with his sandpaper voice and emotionally charged lyrics. I thought of him simply as Guitar Guy as I watched him play that night, grossly fascinated by the power he held over the crowd despite his obvious humanity.
Then there was the time I taught him to paint at The Waking Moon. He kissed me that night and surprised me with his boldness. It was the first time I felt the emotional link that kissing him created. It had been terrifying and wonderful all at once, and I desperately wanted to do it again. I got that chance the next day when he'd invited me to the recording studio to watch him work on a song. It was only then that I realized I wasn't involved with some home-town garage band type, but the lead singer of a band who had sold more than a million records. The memory of it brought back all the feelings of shock and surrealism of that day. Any doubts I may have had about Trey and his feelings for me were washed away when he kissed me again. knew then that what was happening between us was special, unique, even if I hadn't known that Trey would change me in ways that I could never go back from. So many things had happened in the short time since that day. So many memories that I could never relinquish no matter how long I live.
I could see Trey standing in the sand as I walked down the aisle lined in flowers toward him at our wedding, just days ago. I could still see the look on his face as he watched me come toward him. He looked at me with the same awe and fascination I'd seen in his eyes the night I revealed my true self to him. He was so happy then, like no amount of pain and suffering could tear away that smile of his that I loved so much.
I could still feel his lips on mine as we’d had our first kiss as husband and wife in front of all the people who cared for us. I had realized then that I had more human friends in the crowd than vampires. It was just one more way in which
Trey had changed me forever. I could feel the sheer exhilaration as we danced back down the aisle to O'Shea's guitar playing, laughing at how amazing it felt to be married. I remembered Trey pulling me into the nearest tent to steal a private moment before we joined our friends to celebrate. The way he kissed me like his life depended on it.
I smiled at just the thought of it, but the cold realization of my present reality broke through the mirage of content brought on by those happy memories. I tried to push the fear and anxiety away again, focusing instead on other things Trey and I had done, but instead of happy memories, only heartbreaking ones flooded through now.
I flinched as my mind reeled back further in time to the moment I told Trey we couldn't be together. He stood there in front of me, blindsided and heartbroken as I'd turned my back on him, fully expecting never to see him again. My mind flashed again and suddenly Trey was bent over Wes's lifeless body in the pouring rain. He was pumping Wes's chest with his hands, determined to bring back the life that had been so unfairly cut short by vampires who were angry with me for my decisions. Another flash and Trey was lying on his back in the entryway of his house, a vampire bent over him, his head bleeding. Flash again and this time Trey was slumped over the steering wheel of his Mazda, unresponsive, blood streaming from his nose. I'd never be able to forget the pain he felt as I sat with him in the back of the ambulance that day.
My mind betrayed me as I was overcome with grief at the agony I had caused Trey throughout our relationship. More than ever, I couldn't imagine why anyone would go through all of that just to be with me. I wasn't worth it. If Trey didn’t wake up from the change, I would pay for it in endless guilt for the rest of my extended life, and rightly so.
My Jasmine candles had burned down now and the moon’s position in the sky had changed significantly, indicating that several hours had passed since I’d given Trey my blood. I felt him before I saw any visible changes. Trey’s presence became intensely clear in the room, causing me to sit up in surprise. I gazed at his face for a long moment before anything happened. It started with the color of his skin as it transformed from the bluish-white shade of death to an imitation of its usual sun-kissed color, except with the almost translucent-like quality that vampire skin has. I gasped in relief as I watched his chocolate hair take on a new sheen. Then I heard it, the echo of a heartbeat, strangely familiar despite the changes.
“Trey?” I called to him.
His eyes shot open, revealing the icy cool blue luminescence of a vampire’s gaze.
Chapter 33
Trey
AURORA’S ANXIOUS FACE WAS the first thing I saw with my new vampire eyes. I’d been dying the last I remembered, but I was alive again somehow. It was like surfacing for air after being under water forever. Every unnecessary breath held new meaning. My lips stretched into a smile and I felt the light pressure of my new fangs against my bottom lip.
“You weren’t worried, were you?” I said.
Aurora let out a breath in disbelief. “You’re late,” she said, exasperated. “It’s been hours. I was starting to think you weren’t coming back.”
“I’d never leave you alone.” I sat up, wrapping her in my arms. She buried her face in my chest for a long moment and then sat back. “Well, how do I look?” I asked, watching her face for a reaction.
She cocked her head to the side slightly, gazing at me with curious, green eyes. Then she smiled and gestured to the full-length mirror across the room with a nod of her head. “See for yourself.” I slid to the edge of the bed and put my feet on the floor, standing. Every inch of my body felt different. I could feel it in my bones and my muscles. I was more solid than I’d ever been, but moving was so effortless that it was like being weightless at the same time. I hesitated for a second, wondering what I was going to see when I looked in the mirror. “Go ahead,” Aurora encouraged.
I walked forward, my muscles responding with precision and control I’d never known as a human. When I gazed in the mirror it was the most surreal sensation, and it left me feeling a little detached at first. Despite the subtle differences, the guy staring back at me in the reflection had my body. He had my face, my mouth, my nose, but my eyes – they were more than just different. They were bright blue, glowing in that awesome way vampire eyes do. I stretched my muscles, enjoying the new found strength in them. No amount of time spent in a gym could earn power like that. My shoulder felt better than it ever had. It was hard to believe it had been out of its socket just earlier this week. I took a step forward, looking closer at my reflection. After a moment, it happened. I recognized myself. I was still me behind this new vampire’s glowing gaze.
Aurora left the bed to close the open window against the now gently falling rain and then crossed the room to stand by me. She put a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to face her.
“What do you think?” I asked her, gesturing to my new physique. “How do you like Trey 2.0?”
“You look just like my husband,” she said, taking my hand in hers. “You’ve always been perfect to me.”
I smiled, cupping her face with my hand. “Even you look different,” I said, gazing at her with new appreciation. “How is it possible that you look even more beautiful now than you did before?”
She smiled and shook her head. “You’re just seeing things with your new sight that your human eyes couldn’t process.”
“Come outside with me,” I said, taking her hand and leading her out of the house. Even my skin reacted differently to touch, from the warmth of Aurora’s hand in mine, to the cool drops of rain that splashed onto my chest and shoulders, to the feel of the grainy sand on the beach as it filled the space between my toes. Aurora and I walked along the coast, and I took in everything with my new and improved senses. Everything had changed right down to the sound of the surf as it crashed into the shoreline. Dark clouds hung overhead, but I was pretty certain nothing short of a full-blown hurricane could put a damper on my mood.
“This is incredible,” I said to Aurora, stopping in my tracks to pull her close to me. Her hair was getting wet from the rain, and tiny droplets of water were trapped in her dark eyelashes as she gazed up at me. I wiped a raindrop from her face, and she smiled, rising up on her tip-toes to brush her lips against mine. The kiss might have gone on forever if a bolt of lightning hadn’t surprised us, making us laugh and pull apart. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and pulled her back to my chest as we gazed out over the stormy ocean, beautiful in its own menacing way.
“You can hold your breath forever,” I stated, thinking out loud.
“So can you,” Aurora said as I let my chin rest on the top of her head. “Although I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s really hard to talk without breathing.”
I smiled. “Touché.”
“We don’t need oxygen in the same way humans do. Our bodies get everything we need from the blood we ingest.”
“Are you saying I’ll never enjoy a good cheeseburger the same way again?”
“You can eat a cheeseburger whenever you want, but it won’t beat the taste of blood.”
Then I remembered what Aurora’s blood had tasted like, and I knew she was right. Nothing could compare to that. Especially not a cheeseburger. When I heard Aurora’s voice again, it echoed around inside my head. Speaking of blood, I could really use a glass.
I smiled in disbelief, glad to have confirmation that I’d been granted the ability to read thoughts. Once the pain had set in during my change, I’d lost all focus. At the time, I hadn’t been certain it would work.
“Let’s get you back inside and get you a drink,” I said to her.
Aurora narrowed her eyes at me, grinning. “Did you just ...?”
“Get used to it. I have some getting even to do,” I teased. Aurora laughed and let me lead her back to the beach house as thunder rumbled in the clouds above.
“Be right back,” Aurora said as she disappeared into the kitchen. I went back into the bedroom, found the remote for the gas fireplace and tur
ned on a fire. I was waiting on the bed when she returned with her glass of blood. She snuggled up next to me, sipping the red liquid, and I was surprised at how normal the entire scene felt. The cold didn’t affect me in the same way that it had as a human, but there was something comforting about enjoying the fire with her by my side.
“Feel better?” I asked.
“Much better.” She smiled and leaned her head against my shoulder. “Since I chose another ability this month, I can’t hear the questions buzzing around inside your head. You’re going to have to ask them out loud if you want answers.”
“I was just thinking that I feel totally invincible right now.”
“Immortal,” Aurora corrected. “There’s a difference. We’ll never die of old age, or of any sickness that plagues humans, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be killed.”
“What about a stake to the heart?” I asked, grinning.
A small laugh escaped her lips. “I’m fairly certain a stake to the heart would kill anybody. I don’t really know why, but we’re particularly vulnerable to wood. The stake thing isn’t just a myth in that way.”
“No one knows why?”
“Well, I suspect the Synod Elders know. I don’t think they want it to become common knowledge for obvious reasons. No one really talks about it.”
“Okay, so slivers are about to become unusually bothersome. Got it.” She grinned and set her empty glass down on the nightstand. “What about your whole mind-block thing? Will I have a power like that?”
“You probably do,” Aurora answered. “Your moon-given talent isn’t always obvious right away. I’d been blocking my thoughts for a few months before I realized Antonio’s berating me about putting up too many walls wasn’t a metaphorical lecture. It took some time for me to learn to control it, and then even more time before I learned to trust anyone enough to open up at all. I’m still not good at that last part.”
Immortals And Melodies (Blood And Guitars #2) Page 17