by M. R. Polish
“You might as well come over here and sit if you’re not going to leave me alone.”
“I’m not sure I should.” He shifted his weight and stared out across the pool.
I sighed. “You had fun with me earlier tonight. What’s changed?”
“That’s before—never mind. I’d love to sit.” He strolled over to me. Squatting down, he dipped his fingers in the cool water. “Have you made your decision whether or not you’re going to help? They’re about done in there, and then you can go back in to see Meadow.”
I glanced away, not wanting to face him with tears welling in my eyes. “It’s hard. How do I help her condemn herself to a lifetime of damnation?”
“It’s her decision, Es.”
“I know.” I leaned back on my hands, and let out a deep breath. At least I think I knew. “I wish I could talk to Ailaina, or my dad, err… I mean Bry. You know?”
Reaching behind his back, he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. He tapped it in his hand a couple times before handing it to me. “I know… Do me a favor and don’t tell anyone. And for your sake, as well as mine, please don’t call Bry or the police.”
I couldn’t contain my smile, not that I wanted to hide it. He was going to let me borrow his phone! Excitement bubbled under my skin. “Seriously?”
He grinned. “Yes.” He looked down at the water. “But it’s our secret. At least until I figure out how to tell Victor.”
I knew this was a monumental thing for him to let me do, but I was grateful. Snatching the phone from his fingers, I held it in my hands, staring down at the blank touchscreen. I ran my finger over it, and it lit up. Flinging my arms around him, I almost knocked both of us over into the pool.
“Thank you,” I squealed.
At first he just sat there, but then he wrapped his arms around me, hugging me back. I took a long deep breath; his scent was a mix between spiced apples and something that reminded me of sandalwood. He smelled so good. I could stay there for hours, but my moment ended as he pulled away from me. I tried not to let myself feel rejected, but his face was hard to read, void of any emotion.
Breaking up the awkward moment we were in, I gazed back down to the phone still in my hands. “What time is it back home?”
He looked down at his watch. “It’s about midnight here, so around three o’clock in the afternoon. We are nine hours ahead of Nevada.”
I smiled again. That would mean Ailaina would be up. Not that she’d mind being woke up by me anyway, but this made it so much better. I couldn’t wait to talk to her, except I wasn’t sure what to say. If I told her about my kidnapping she’d freak out. I wasn’t sure she’d believe me that I was a witch and staying with vampires either. Heck, I just started accepting it myself.
“What are you waiting for?”
I looked up at him. “I’m not sure what to say. She’s my best friend, but I hardly believe what’s happening myself.”
“Just call her. You’ll know what to say.”
I slid my finger across the pad and unlocked it. Mountain scenery with a wolf background lit up his screen. Touching the small phone icon, I inserted her number that I memorized since we both got our phones in high school.
Her familiar ring-back tone made me relax. This was Ailaina—my best friend. She would know what to say to me. She’s always been there for me, and this would be no different. The song played all the way through, and my hopes dampened. Right before her message played it clicked.
“Hello?”
I let out a sigh of relief. I heard her voice, and began crying immediately. It was all too much. “Ailaina,” I sniffled.
“Ara! Where are you? Are you okay? Talk to me!” She demanded on the other end of the phone.
I knew she’d be going crazy, and I could hear it in her strained voice that I was right. I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I’m in Spain. I have so much to talk to you about, but you have to promise not to tell anyone, okay.”
“Chicka, you better start talking. I got home, and you weren’t here. Your dad has been frantic looking for you, but refuses to call the police. I don’t know what’s going on, but he made me promise not to call them either. I’m looking up flights to Spain right now. I’ll come get you.”
“No. You can’t… I mean, I want you here more than anything, but it’s not safe,” I cautioned in between sobs. She was so awesome. I should’ve guessed she’d try to come to me.
“Sweetie don’t cry. I’ll be there soon.”
I tried to control the tears. “No, I’m okay, I promise.”
“So what? You can have all the dangerous adventure and leave me out? I don’t know what you got yourself into, but Arabeth, you are my best friend and I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“It’s not like that.” I hesitated then rambled on about everything that happened in the last couple of days.
Her end of the line was quiet. Too quiet, and it worried me.
“Is he cute?”
I laughed and sniffed at the same time. “Out of everything I told you, that’s all you got?” This is what I missed.
“Oh come on, Ara, we’ve known each other since we were like, what, five? I know when you’re lying and telling the truth. As weird as it sounds, I believe you. Besides, you know how I always thought supernaturals existed.” I could hear her smiling even from thousands of miles away.
Talking to her made me feel better. The world didn’t seem so heavy on me anymore. “I miss you.”
“I know, that’s why I just bought my tickets online. You tell that hot stuff of a Guardian to pick me up from the airport. My plane lands on Thursday, the eleventh, at eight-thirty-five am. It’s gonna be on Air France. Oooohhh, this is going to be so exciting!”
I giggled with her. I wasn’t sure how or why she accepted everything so easily, and I had the feeling she knew more about me than she said. Something for a later conversation for sure.
Ailaina was right, with her here it would be epic, and if Victor wanted my help, I needed her with me. He was just going to have to deal with it. “Thanks, Al.”
“Anytime. So, I guess I better get off here, it’s close to around what… one-thirty in the morning there?”
Crap. I hadn’t paid any attention to the time. We talked for an hour and a half. It was perfect and just what I needed, but I wasn’t sure Jarak would like the international roaming bill. “Yeah, and until you get here, I don’t think I’ll get anymore calls in. I’m not sure how the charges rack up internationally for texts either. Not that I care, but Jarak might decide against picking you up, or letting me use the phone once he sees the bill.” We both laughed. It felt so good to be happy again. We both hung up after she promised again not to tell anyone, not even Bry.
I was too excited to sleep. Maybe things could be getting better. I could do this—whatever this was, I wasn’t sure, but at that moment, I believed I could accomplish anything.
“So, you’ve made a decision?” Jarak’s voice startled me. I forgot he was still outside with me. I smiled. He hadn’t stepped in and told me to get off the phone, yet he knew how long I was on it. He was special, that was for sure.
I rolled my eyes before admitting my resolve out loud. “Yup, I have magic, you’re a wolf man and Meadow’s gonna drink blood for eternity.” I chuckled. Just saying that made me sound deluded.
“For the records, Wolf Man would be a cool name if I were a super hero.” He laughed with me.
“Very true.” I had one more thing to tell him. “Um, so here’s the thing, Ailaina is flying here.”
He smiled and sat back down beside me, watching as his finger created ripples in the water. “I figured that would happen. Another reason I have to figure out how to tell Victor that you had a phone.”
“So, you’re not mad?”
“Nope. I wouldn’t have given you the phone if I weren’t okay with it. I know girls. They’re always in herds, and they need each other. You need her. Don’t
worry, I’ll tell Victor.”
“Thanks for understanding.” I wanted to give him another hug, but I remembered earlier and how he backed off.
“Esmerelda.” Victor stood at the back door. “She’s ready.”
I gulped. Meadow might be ready, but I wasn’t sure how ready I was. Taking a deep breath I recalled how Ree promised me that once Meadow turned, she’d have no more haunts of death to loom over her pretty face. That was enough to make me at least curious. I nodded toward Victor. “I’ll be right there.”
Jarak took my hand and squeezed it. “I can come if you’d like.”
“I’d like that, thanks.” I wanted nothing more than for him to take me away from here, but no one could, I needed to stay. At least Jarak would be there for support.
The room blurred behind the tears in my eyes, stinging my soul. Sunk deep into the pillows on the bed, was Meadow. She didn’t stay awake any longer than to give me a welcoming smile as I entered the room. Her skin was so pale it appeared grey. The moonlight crept through the open drapes, casting an eerie glow around the room.
I sat beside her, holding her frail hand, placing it in my lap—afraid to let go. Jarak sat in the other chair, never letting go of my other hand. He knew I needed that.
A knock on the door startled me.
Ree entered the room, but stayed close to the door.
“Hey,” she hesitated.
I gave my best attempt at a grin. “Hey.”
Relief washed over her face. “I was worried.”
“Worried?”
“Yeah, when Meadow came here I realized there wasn’t anything we could do but turn her. I worried about how you’d take her decision, and that you wouldn’t help. And then, there’s the fact that she isn’t really your mom. I’m sure that made it difficult to make a decision knowing she kidnapped you.” Her mouth twisted. “My mother made the decision for me.”
“I’m so sorry, Ree.” I wanted to feel sorry for her, but my heart was too heavy with my own problems, lacking the compassion to say more than those words.
“I’m fine. I mean, I am now. It was back in 1915. The First World War had been raging for around a year or so. I traveled through Germany because I trained to be a nurse, and I wanted first hand experiences.
“But, by the time I came back home, I was already sick. The Spanish Flu was a horrid pandemic in the world. I was one of the lucky ones who died. Well, the world thinks I died. My mom watched as I slowly became nothing. I tried fighting my way to health, but it was always two steps ahead of me.
“It became inevitable that I would perish. My mother met Trevor months before I came home and called him over to help. While I was away, he’d told her what he was in confidentiality; he trusted her and needed a friend.
“One minute I felt my life slipping away, and the next I was in fiery pain as if I’d been thrown in a lake of fire. I never had a choice.” She looked down at the floor.
My throat constricted. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I just want you to know that not all vampires are inimical. In the end, most of us just want to die, like every other creature out there. I didn’t choose this Esmerelda, but it’s what I am. I drink blood, and I have to hunt for it, but it doesn’t mean I like hurting people.”
I tensed up a little more, and fought the urge to cover my throat with my hands. “Why haven’t you attacked me?”
She smiled, but it reminded me of an evil sneer. “Oh trust me, I want to. I can smell your blood, your fear, and it calls out to me. I hear how fast your heart beats when you get scared or nervous—like right now. I want to rip your flesh apart and drink the sweet nectar that runs through you until there is no more.” She licked her lips. “My kind is dying off. Nicholas is turning them into Crossbreeds. Except without you to fill in the missing gap, they pass away. I need you to save my family.”
It scared me to think that was all that kept her from tearing me apart. My stomach churned. What if I wasn’t who they thought I was? What if I couldn’t help? I fought down the bile that rose in my throat. I won’t puke. I won’t puke, I chanted to myself.
“What about Jarak? Why won’t you bite him?” I was a little worried she would clamp on to him at any time.
“Because he’s a Guardian. Never piss off the Guardians. If I take one out, they’ll all be after me. They would consume me in fire. I might suck blood, but I’m not stupid.”
Jarak stifled a small laugh and barely nodded his head. “If you bite Es, you’ll have all of us to deal with, just another incentive not to rip her throat out.” He winked at me.
I didn’t want to read too much into it. He probably just wanted me to help with the whole war thing or something too, but I couldn’t help the pitter patter that fluttered around in my stomach as I smiled back at him.
Looking back at Ree, I realized just how stuck I was in this predicament. If I couldn’t help fix things with Crossbreeds, my life would be nonexistent. Even with Jarak’s threat, I’m sure it would only be a matter of time before Ree or some other thirsty vampire found me.
I looked down at Meadow one more time, biting my bottom lip. “She has Victor now, and this is what she wants.” There, I said it aloud to someone other than Jarak.
In one fast motion, Ree had her arm around me. Tears fell down my face as I reluctantly embraced her back. I tensed up having her close to me. “Let me go get Trevor, there isn’t much time left for us to waste.” Ree tried to sound chipper as she released her embrace.
I let out a snicker, wiping off the tears. “Yeah.”
Ree stepped back from me. “She’ll be okay.”
“Okay.” My voice scratched.
Ree left the room faster than I could see her move. I didn’t want Jarak to see the uncertainty of how I felt, but I was sure it showed on my face, so I gazed down at Meadow’s face.
I shuddered. I didn’t want to remember her like this, a frail, decrepit being that wilted before my eyes. I couldn’t help but fear she wouldn’t make it through the turning process, and she’d still die. Even after all I learned about her, I couldn’t just shut off all my feelings for her. I still cared.
Footsteps shuffled up the stairs. The room spun, making me dizzy, knowing the time had come. Jarak must have sensed my anxiety because he was up on his feet, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I clung to him, gripping my hands in the back of his shirt. My heart raced. This was it, the time had come.
Victor came into the room and walked to the other side of the bed. I let go of Jarak then turned back around.
“Hold on.” Victor whispered as he picked up Meadow’s hand, holding it close to his chest. I could see tears glisten in his eyes.
“What would your choice have been?” I asked him.
He looked over at me. “This is my choice, too. I need to know that this can work. I will do all I can to help you with her, but ultimately it will be up to you to fill in the gaps.”
“I want to help, but I’m not sure what to do.” Anxiety stirred in the pit of my stomach.
He shook his head. “You’ll know what to do when the time comes. It will be like second nature to you.” He paused to take a deep breath. “Okay, you’re right. This is still new, so I’ll tell you what I know.”
“I can do this.” I was determined to help. Anticipation spread through me like wild fire. I could help. He was right. This was inside of me. Like a hidden, or dormant secret that brimmed over, waiting for a release.
“First, close your eyes and feel deep in the pit of your stomach, feel the pull to every living thing in this room.”
I closed my eyes as Victor instructed, focusing on finding the strains inside me. I couldn’t feel anything and released an aggravated breath. Then a sharp yank inside my chest made me gasp and open my eyes wide.
“Concentrate. That was just me tugging a little to help you.”
I nodded and closed my eyes again, searching deep inside. I couldn’t help but think I was missing fairy dust or something fictional, but con
tinued to dig deeper. Then there was magic, I felt it, several pulls tugged at me all at once. It was as if they were invisible ropes that tied me to everyone, Jarak—Meadow—Victor, even the plants that were in the room. All of them attached to my insides pulling at me with an unseen force. How did I not feel that before?
My eyes snapped open. Victor chortled a little. “You can feel it, that’s good.”
I rubbed my stomach. It wasn’t painful, but it was weird to feel so much.
“Keep your eyes closed and listen to my instructions, I’m only having you close your eyes to help concentrate. You’re not accustomed to using your skills yet. Once you are, you won’t need to concentrate as hard—or close your eyes.”
Obeying him, I shut my eyes once again.
“Now that you can feel all of the living sources in the room, I want you to find the one that pulls from me.”
It was harder than it sounded with so many living things in the vicinity. I concentrated on each tug until I came to one that pulled harder; it was as if Victor had his hand on my stomach, pulling the rope taut. I knew without a doubt that connection belonged to him.
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Good, now I want you to follow that force, to where you feel me. This is hard to accomplish, but a good witch or warlock can un-weave the tangled mess of another’s emotions. I have no reservations about teaching you. I’m certain you’ll be better than me—with training.” He stopped, giving me time to find my way through the mess.
I became oblivious to everything around me, except for the sound of Victor’s voice and the energy I focused on. Mentally, I pictured the rope that connected him to me. It lit up in my head showing me the way. I envisioned myself moving with it, following it to him. The closer I got the more intense the feeling became.
Heat on my cheeks made me aware of tears that ran from my eyes. I forced myself to get closer to the end of the rope, nodding my head when I knew I found my way.