William shook his head, disappointed, but I didn’t really care. It wasn’t the first time and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. He walked past me, stopping short in the hallway. “You are so much like her, Zoë,” he said, the same admiration in his voice that had been in Roland’s.
“Wait,” I started. “So much like who?”
“That does not matter -”
“It matters to me,” I snapped, interrupting him. “I’m done being kept in the dark. You may have ruined my life, but it’s still my life. Roland told me I look like ‘her.’ Is that why Baldric wants me alive? Tell me!”
“Roland was alive before the Great War. He remembers.”
“Remembers what?”
“When you need to know, you will,” William hissed. “Now, I need to meet with someone tonight. It is important. Please, be careful.”
–
I got dressed as quickly as I could, going through my normal rituals. I found that they kept me sane. It was easier to pretend that I didn’t know each new day could be the end of the world. After all, ignorance was bliss, right?
A hard knock came to the front door. If I were still human, I might have jumped. Instead, I traded out my hairbrush for the dagger on my nightstand and slipped out of the bedroom. Clutching the short blade in my hand, I cracked open the door, surprised to see Alec standing on my front porch.
“You look surprised to see me,” he said coolly. “I told you I’d come to you.”
“H-how did you find me?” I fumbled over the words.
“That doesn’t matter. Aren’t you going to let me in?” He flashed me that devilishly handsome smile that I remembered all too well and forced the door open.
The sharp edge of my blade was at his throat in a second. I couldn’t help it. It was instinct – one that had kept me alive thus far.
He chuckled and pushed the blade away with his index finger. “Calm down. Do you treat all the men that come to your door like this?”
I withdrew the dagger. “I don’t have many men showing up at my doorstep these days.” I thought I felt blood rush to my cheeks. It didn’t, of course
“I can’t say that I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, running his hands up my bare arms. Goosebumps raced across the surface of my skin.
“I’ll, um, be right back,” I said, withdrawing my hand from his and escaping to my room. I closed the door behind me, resting my head against its cold surface.
–
“Ouch!”
“Sorry,” he grimaced, “but I have to make sure it’s clean.”
Alec leaned in close, blowing on the open wound, his eyes never straying far from mine. He placed a gentle kiss on my shoulder, distracting me from the pain. It worked for all of two seconds.
I winced as he moved to my back, pouring the liquid fire over my skin. “Why did he do this to me?” I sobbed.
“It’s part of the training. Although,” he paused, taking a mental note of the number of cuts across my body, “he seems to have you on the fast track.”
“Enough!“ I cried out, pushing away from him. “I can’t take any more. Why don’t I heal as quickly as you and William?”
He set the rubbing alcohol down and pulled me back to him, careful of where he put his hands. “Zoë, I’ve been doing it for over five hundred years, and William, well, he’s as old as dirt. You know that.”
I laughed half-heartedly, turning away. Alec caught my chin in his hand, forcing me to look at him. He smirked. “There’s that smile I love so much.”
Alec pulled something from his pocket and placed it in the palm of my hand. I looked up at him, confused. There was nothing there. He cupped his large hand over mine and, when he pulled away, an orchid remained.
The intoxicating scent traveled to my nose and I sighed. It rendered me speechless.
Alec smiled softly at me, picking up the beautiful white flower and tucking it behind my ear. He searched my eyes for what felt like hours before placing a gentle kiss on the corner of my mouth. “You are beautiful,” he whispered.
“Alec, I–”
He picked up the bottle and resumed his torture. “Don’t worry, it just takes time for your body to fully adjust. Within a year, you’ll be able to heal much faster.”
–
I hadn’t been on a date in a long time, longer than I cared to remember. Cindy had always nagged me about it. I couldn’t begin to count the number of times she’d tried to set me up with one of her he’d-be-perfect-for-you friends. It wasn’t just because of the “accident” or my not being human anymore. I was just never really big on dating. I hated the wasted hours spent on awkward conversation, being overly self-conscious, and the dreaded goodnight kiss. It all made me incredibly uncomfortable.
I hardly knew the man sitting in my living room. I hadn’t seen him in over five years and there he was, right back in my life, trying to steal my heart all over again. Did I have a heart to steal? I doubted it. Either way, he was doing a damn good job. There was something about Alec, something that drew me to him. It was something I couldn’t quite explain.
Every move I made felt unnatural. Clothes were strewn across my bed, strung over the computer chair and piled on the floor. After trying on seventeen outfits, I settled on a look.
“You’re a vision.” Alec smirked, his eyes dancing over my body with desire as I emerged from the bedroom. He took up my hand, kissing it. “There’s a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant a few blocks away,” he said as he escorted me out of the apartment, down the stairs and into the parking lot.
“You’re joking, right?” I gaped at the black motorcycle. I scanned the parking lot for another vehicle in the area. No such luck. Was he actually planning on driving me to dinner on a crotch-rocket?
“Don’t worry,” he said, his hand finding the small of my back. “I assure you, I’m an excellent driver. Trust me.”
“I did trust you once, Alec,” I started, “but that was a long time ago.”
His face fell. Alec picked up a spare helmet from the back of the seat and placed it over my head, strapping it firmly in place under my chin. “I plan to earn that trust back, Zoë. I’ll never hurt you again.”
He straddled the motorcycle and coached me onto the back of the narrow seat. As he turned the key in the ignition, the roar of the engine rattled every bone in my body.
“Hold on tight.” He flipped the face shield of his helmet down and hunched into the handlebars.
I wrapped my arms around his solid waist, gripping onto the bottom of his shirt with white knuckles. We exited the parking lot and sliced through the wind, dodging cars like bullets. My heart quickened as the salty air blew through my hair and, for the first time in a long time, I felt alive. It could have had something to do with the man whose hips I was straddling, but it was easier to blame it on the thrill of the ride.
I felt a little cheated when the motorcycle ground to a stop. He wasn’t kidding when he said a few blocks. Alec swung his leg over the bike and yanked off his helmet, revealing his naturally messy hair. His bright golden eyes glistened in the evening glow of the half moon. I felt my heart skip a beat.
“You don’t wear contacts?” I hadn’t noticed it until then.
Alec laughed. “I take my chances,” he said with a wink. “Just don’t tell William.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“You should try it,” he purred, his eyes traveling over my lips. He unbuckled the strap under my chin, his fingers lingering along my neckline for a minute before pulling off the helmet. “Eyes like yours shouldn’t be covered up.”
He extended his hand to me, helping ease me off of the motorcycle. He propped open the door to the restaurant with a subtle smirk. “Do you like Italian food? I’ve got reservations for two.”
“Adore it,” I answered, strolling past him. We were like a normal human couple. Not that we were a couple, or human, or even remotely normal.
A young bus boy seated us in a cozy little corner in the back, placing two me
nus on the table before excusing himself.
“Order whatever you like,” Alec said. His fingertips brushed against mine and my stomach did a flip. I casually curled my fingers and slid them away from his, gripping my menu with what I hoped were steady hands.
“Hi, my name’s Jade, and I’ll be your server today. Can I start either of you with something to drink?”
I didn’t look up at the woman. Alec was holding my gaze and I didn’t have the strength to break away. I thought he mumbled something to her about white wine and salad but I couldn’t be sure. Her footsteps trailed off and I forced my eyes to stare at the menu, scolding myself for being rude.
“I’ve missed you, Zoë,” he said in a hushed voice that only our kind would be able to hear. He scooted his chair closer to mine and I forgot to breathe. As the waitress approached our table, I tried to remember her name.
“Jade,” with perfect timing, Alec addressed the young woman, “I think we’re ready to order.”
The tall, slender woman with rich ebony skin nodded politely. Compared to the fancy décor of the restaurant, she seemed out of place. Her hair was cut in an A-line style, layers carefully placed in every which direction, purposefully chaotic. A row of metal lined each of her earlobes and a nose ring shimmered in the dim lighting. At the base of her neck I could see the peak of a black tattoo and I assumed that there were plenty more where that came from. I was unsure if her hair was dark brown or black, but I was leaning toward black. It extenuated the silver color that ran through her blue-gray eyes. There was something about her, something familiar.
“What can I get you?” Her voice was low and unenthusiastic as she set our glasses down on the table.
“Chicken parmesan for me and…?” Alec trailed off, motioning for me to order.
“Chicken alfredo,” I mumbled my dish to her. “Thank you.”
She scratched down our order and retreated from the table. I’d skipped lunch, and tried to hide the gurgling sound of my stomach by clearing my throat. Our kind didn’t actually need to eat to survive. We felt hunger, but we couldn’t actually die of starvation. Food was more of a luxury for us. We didn’t need it, but it made us stronger – as it would a human. It was the same for the vamps. They didn’t need blood to survive, but it strengthened them.
I twisted the stem of the wine glass in my fingers, watching the tiny bubbles rise to the top. It was funny, really. I technically wasn’t old enough to drink. I hadn’t aged since I was eighteen, since William found me in a dark and lonely hospital room in Washington. But the rest of the world didn’t need to know that. With the type of life I led, I needed a drink or two – or ten – from time to time.
I rubbed my eyes, trying to focus on the tall glass. Forks and spoons vibrated across the perfectly ironed cloth. My salad plate moved dangerously close to the edge of the table before shattering on the tile floor. I gasped, shoving my chair back. Tremors pulsed up through my legs, rattling my nerves.
Someone across the restaurant screamed as the floorboards cracked down the center of the building, taking a few chairs and tables prisoner. Steam erupted from the Earth below.
As people made a dash for the exit, an explosion from the street blew in the windows. Shards of glass soared like daggers through the air, burrowing deep into paper-thin flesh.
I gripped my left shoulder, ripping out the five-inch piece of glass. Blood spiraled down my arm, absorbing into the sleeve of my shirt.
Everyone scurried about the building, everyone except for Jade, our waitress. She scowled at me from the shadows, unmoving. She was leaning against a wall on the far side of the restaurant, her left ankle crossed casually over the right. Her arms were folded over her chest and I counted each of her exaggerated breaths. Those blue-gray eyes were fixed on me.
“It takes practice,” a voice tore me away from her stare.
“What?” I breathed, looking at Alec.
He sipped his wine, composed, golden eyes glued to the table. “It takes practice distinguishing the visions from reality or, at least so I’ve been told.”
I scanned the room, the perfectly polished windows, the neatly set up tables. The door chimed as a couple entered. Customers laughed and mingled amongst themselves, indulging in delicious delicacies.
The vision was over.
“We should probably get out of here,” I told Alec.
Before he could ask why, Jade placed the steaming plates in front of us, her eyes never straying far from my face. “Here’s your food, guys, enjoy.”
“It’s all right, Jade.” With a fork in his right hand, Alec sifted the food on his plate. “This is the one I’ve been telling you about. Zoë, this is Jade. She is one of us.”
I choked on my own tongue.
“Oh.” Jade seemed surprised, but I couldn’t tell. She was hard to read.
I nudged the plate to the middle of the table. “I think I’ve lost my appetite.”
She looked me over with disgust. “And William actually thinks she’s ready?”
Alec nodded. “William trained her well.”
“And what about you?” she asked, her tone still overly condescending. “Six years isn’t very long to prepare. I mean, look at her. She can’t even stomach her meal.”
Alec motioned her to settle down with a free hand. He took a bite of his chicken, taking his sweet time to chew. “I’ve seen her reaction time – it’s good. She’s ready. Besides, whether it’s been long enough or not doesn’t matter anymore. You know as well as I do that the time for preparation is over.”
“True. At least she’s had more experience than the red head. That girl will be dead before she even knows what hit her. William should just get it over with now, save her from what’s to come. It’d be a mercy killing.” Jade snuck a sip of Alec’s wine while the restaurant owner wasn’t looking.
“You haven’t met the red head yet,” Alec reminded her. “She might surprise you.”
“Doubtful,” she snorted. “She isn’t even a yearling. She’d probably bleed out from a scratch before it ever had time to heal,” Jade chuckled at her own twisted humor, looking me over with hollow eyes. “Six years isn’t much better. I don’t hold out much hope for this one. She’s weak, like Elizabeth was. I can tell just by looking at her. I give her two hours in battle before someone cuts off her pretty little head.”
“Enough,” Alec growled. Jade didn’t seem to be fazed by his anger. “Have a little respect, Jade. Elizabeth was one of us – don’t you ever forget that. What happened to her was of no fault of her own. She couldn’t control it.”
“No,” Jade said coolly, “she was weak, Alec. A coward. She sealed her own fate. Elizabeth wasn’t strong enough, and she had a hundred years on this one. This girl isn’t ready. She doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Stop talking about me like I’m not here!” My fist collided with the edge of the table, catapulting silverware to the floor. The room grew silent, fifty pairs of beady eyes taking note of my outburst. Slowly they went about their own business, removing their noses from mine.
“Zoë, please lower your voice,” Alec put down his fork and frowned at me.
“Alec, I think it’s time for you to take me back to my apartment.” My words wouldn’t be mistaken as anything but a command. “And, Jade was it?” I said, turning my attention to the tall woman looming over me. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big girl. I assure you, I can take care of myself. If you don’t believe me, I’d be more than happy to demonstrate by handing you your own ass.”
You could cut the tension with a knife. “I’ll get you a box, miss,” she said flatly, excusing herself with our unfinished food as the restaurant manager made his rounds.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Zoë,” Alec told me, tracing his fingers over the dimples along the small of my back. “I thought you’d want to meet others of our kind. I know she isn’t the friendliest. The years have made her hard.” Alec stood to his feet, offering a hand to help me get out of my chair. I didn’t t
ake it.
Jade returned with our boxes and shoved them in Alec’s hands before storming off to the back of the restaurant without giving me a second look.
“Her, unfriendly? Never. I think that we’re going to become the best of friends. And I’m sure we’ll have all of eternity to spend doing each others’ hair and sharing our deepest, darkest secrets.” Or trying to kill one another.
“Don’t worry, she’ll grow on you.”
“Like a fungus.”
“Oh, how I’ve missed your sarcasm,” he chuckled, directing me out of the building.
Once outside, Alec grabbed me by the wrist and spun me around, pressing my back against a white minivan parked next to his motorcycle. It might have hurt if I were still human. “Not just your sarcasm,” he breathed, his voice husky. His eyes were heavy with desire. “I’ve missed you. I’ve done nothing but count down the days until I’d get to see your beautiful face once more. I’m sorry I ever left. It was the biggest mistake of my long life.”
He dipped his head, lips connecting with mine. His breath was hot, igniting a fire deep within me. I was aware of his hand caressing the nape of my neck, of his body pressed firmly against mine, of the bulge against my stomach. My heart fluttered wildly within the confines of my chest. His lips moved over mine with passion and hunger until I broke away, gasping for air.
“We seriously need to get out of here,” I said, utterly breathless.
“What did you see?” he asked, kissing the corner of my mouth. He obviously wasn’t grasping the urgency. He had his own urgencies to take care of.
My heart hitched in my chest. I wracked my brain, trying to remember what exactly it was that I wanted to tell him. “Another earthquake,” I finally managed.
“Where?”
“Here.”
Alec released a weighted breath. He lifted the palm of my hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss in it before intertwining his fingers with mine. “Let’s go.”
He pried me from the van and lifted me onto the motorcycle, firing up the engine. The vibrations licked at my inner thighs and I sighed, resting my dizzy head on his back. I clung to his shirt as thunder exploded around us. The sky opened and rain poured down. Alec spun the back wheel getting us out of the parking lot, muddy water splashing up my legs.
Until Dawn: Last Light Page 4