Magic and Shadows: A Collection of YA Fantasy and Paranormal Romances

by T. M. Franklin

  Isaiah looked from Jeremiah to me. “Sir, I love her. I’ll do anything and everything that I can to help you keep her safe. Knowing that she cares enough about you and me not to tell secrets that could have hurt us both makes me know she is someone worth fighting for.” He smiled at my father, and reached over to take my hand. “I’ll do whatever I have to for you,” he said, as he smiled at me.

  I felt a little less afraid, and a lot more loved. These two men were going to try to take care of me, and keep me safe from whatever this lunatic and his son were after. “I don’t want either of you taking any chances getting hurt! You have to promise me,” I replied. When I said this, they both started laughing.

  Isaiah reached over and shook Jeremiah’s hand. “What do we have to do?” he asked Jeremiah.

  “First, I want the two of you to act normally, and pretend when you’re around Jason that you’re not afraid of anything that happened at his house. Just act like you think his family is crazy because there is no such thing as a vampire. But you have to remember that Jason is a vampire, too.”

  “Secondly, someone at your house, Elizabeth, must have invited him in. That is the only way he could enter a house. We need to find out who invited him in, and from this point on make sure that they don’t invite anyone else in. You’re going to have to make sure, somehow, that your family doesn’t invite anyone in that they don’t know. I may have to pay a visit to your home and convince them of this.”

  “I don’t know about him being at my house before he broke in that night, but I can find out tonight when I go home. I can let them know that he is someone from school who I don’t want around, and make sure they understand. What do I do if they did invite him in, so that he can’t come back?” I asked him, suddenly worried.

  Jeremiah smiled “That’s one of the most maddening things for vampires. If you don’t want us in your home anymore, you just say to our face ‘You are no longer invited in,’ and we are expelled.” He laughed out loud. “It’s a pretty funny thing to watch the face of a vampire when he is uninvited, and is pushed backwards out the house.”

  It was wonderful seeing my father laugh. I had to smile, too. “Well, that makes me very happy to know. Now, if Jason, for some reason, isn’t a vampire, and he got into my house, how do I keep him out?”

  My father smiled. “That’s very simple. We make sure your window is locked, and I’ll be outside at night, watching and waiting.” Jeremiah replied. This time, Isaiah started laughing with him.

  The three of us sat for a while longer, making our plans to try to get information from the other men that were in Jason’s house that night. This would hopefully give us some insight as to what Victor was up to. Jeremiah felt that this would help him know what course we needed to take to keep all of us safe.

  I was worried about my family, but he felt that as long as we kept everyone ignorant of what was going on, the better it would be for them, and the safer we could keep them.

  “Do you think that any of the other men with Victor are vampires?” I asked, as we were getting ready to leave.

  “I don’t think so. Victor is trying to make a name for himself, I think. This makes him very dangerous. But what concerns me the most right now is finding out who contacted him to make him aware of you. That, and keeping you safe, is my main focus. Once I get to the bottom of that I can try to go to John, and report what Victor has done with the other humans he has involved. This should negate what he claims to be true about you.” He touched my shoulder, and said, “Remember, don’t let yourself be alone at any time.”

  “I won’t, I promise,” I replied. Isaiah took my hand, and, under Jeremiah’s watchful eyes, we made our way down to his car to make the trip home.

  As we were driving home, I broke the silence. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner about my father.”

  “It really is okay, Elizabeth, I meant what I said.” He squeezed my hand. “I really care a lot about you, and I’m going to help Jeremiah find out what is going on and do my best to help keep you safe. I’ve been thinking about what he said, and I’m going to go in with you while we discuss Jason with your family. I think I have the perfect story. We’re going to tell them that he is chasing after you, and he and I had a confrontation at school today. We want to make sure that he comes nowhere around you, because he is hot-tempered, and it worries me that he might hurt you. I know that sounds pretty harsh, but in reality, it is the truth. He is evil, Elizabeth, and if he can, he will get you to his father again.”

  “I think it’s the perfect story to tell them. My father hates boys with anger issues, he has always warned me to stay away from guys like that.”

  I hope this works. I don’t want anyone, including me, to get hurt. We were turning on my street, and I thought how peaceful everything looked. I was beginning to feel like things might work out okay for us.

  Isaiah parked the car. I closed my eyes, and listened. “It’s fine, Elizabeth. No one is waiting for you. I’m behind the house in the woods watching and listening, it’s safe for you to go into the house. Keep your mind open to me.”

  I will, thank you for being here for me again. I felt good, knowing Jeremiah was there for me. I turned towards Isaiah. “We’re good, my father is in the woods behind the house, and says it’s safe for us to go in. Let’s go do this.”

  He looked at me. “So you can really talk to each other in your minds?” he asked.

  “Yes, and I can read the minds of some humans as well,” I replied.

  “Can you read my mind?” He looked at me really funny, dropping my hand and stepping away.

  “No, tried when you came to Victor’s, not knowing it was you.” I wanted him to know that I had not tried to read his on purpose. “I want to keep your thoughts private. I rather like being surprised by what you will say next.”

  He leaned over, and kissed me softly. “Thanks.” He took my hand in his again. We walked towards the house, hand in hand.

  When we got inside, my mother and father were just clearing the dinner dishes. “Hello kids, what have you two been up to today?” my mother asked.

  “Just working on that school project, Mom,” I replied. I wanted so badly for her not to question what we were going to tell her.

  She stopped, and turned towards me. “Is everything okay? You sound a little upset honey.” She looked into my eyes.

  “Mom, you know that boy Jason that I was going to help after school today?” I asked her.

  “Yes.” She looked at me her brow furrowed. She set the dishtowel down as walked over to me.

  “Has he ever come to the house?” I asked. “You need to remember, and tell me the truth. It is really important, Mom.”

  “Well, yes, he was here a couple of days before you told me you were going to help him with the project. He said he was a friend of yours and Isaiah’s. He seemed like a nice enough young man. Why do you ask?” My mother looked from me to Isaiah. “Did I do something wrong?”.

  I started to cry. I didn’t know where it came from. Isaiah took my hand again. “We were with Jason tonight, and he showed his true colors. He has a very short temper, and a lot of anger issues, and doesn’t like the fact that I’m with Elizabeth as her boyfriend. If Jason shows up here, you need to tell him that he is no longer invited into your home. It’s the only way to make sure that he can’t have access to her alone.”

  “Is Elizabeth in danger from this boy?” my father asked, coming into the dining room.

  “Not if we make it known to him that we’re all united about this. I think we will be fine. But he does have a nasty temper, sir. I got her out of there as quickly as I could,” Isaiah.

  “Well, rest assured, we will make sure he knows in no uncertain terms he is not allowed back in this house.” My father’s veins were standing out in his neck and his fists were clenched.

  “Dad, Mom, you have to make sure that no one is invited in that you don’t know. Jason has a bunch of friends at school, and I don’t want them spying on me for him.
” I could tell from the looks on their faces that they were really upset about this. “I need to make sure that my sisters understand this, too.”

  “Is something else going on here that you are not telling us?” my father asked.

  “No, I just want to keep him out of my business,” I replied. “He seems to be trying to break Isaiah and I up, and I don’t want anyone telling him things.” I hated lying, but I knew that I had to give them some explanation about this.

  “Okay, I’ll tell your sisters. Why don’t you guys sit down, and let me make you a plate. I bet you haven’t eaten yet. Isaiah, do you want to call your folks and let them know?” My mother was already on her way to the kitchen.

  He was here, and invited in. My mother and father are aware, and will make sure that he doesn’t come back. What do I do about my sisters? Are they going to be safe? I asked Jeremiah.

  “Yes, the younger ones go to a different school, and I think for now they will be safe. I would presume Victor and Jason are going to concentrate on watching you at this point. Remember, make sure you are not alone,” Jeremiah replied.

  What about Isaiah? He has a long drive home on a pretty deserted road tonight. I am really worried about him.

  “I don’t want to leave you alone, Elizabeth. I’m afraid it is too risky. Make sure all the windows are locked. I’ll ride home with Isaiah, and then come right back. If anyone comes to the door make sure that they’re not invited in. My only worry is if he sends one of the humans he seems to be controlling.”

  The thought of being left alone without Jeremiah watching made me start to shake. I leaned on Isaiah, and started to cry again.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Did something happen? Are you talking with Jeremiah?”

  I whispered, “Jeremiah is going to ride home with you to make sure you are safe, then he will come back to stay here tonight. I’m just a little scared.”

  “I will be fine, I don’t want him to leave you alone. Tell him to stay with you, please.”

  “No! If he doesn’t go with you I will be so worried. I have to know you are safe.”

  Isaiah took my face in his hands. “Don’t cry. I’ll let Jeremiah ride home with me if he can guarantee that he will get back quickly, and keep you safe. I don’t want you to worry about me.”

  He wiped the tears from my face, and leaned down to gently kiss me. He smiled, and whispered in my ear, “Guess I know now why you always feel so cold to me.”

  I looked at him. “I guess that must be my vampire side coming out,” I whispered back to him. “You better watch out.” We both started laughing. It felt so good to be almost normal for a few minutes.

  After tea, as I watched Isaiah pull away from my house I felt completely alone. They were the only two people that knew what was going on.

  Suddenly, I felt Jeremiah reach for my mind. “Are you in the house with the doors locked?” he asked.

  Yes, are you okay? Please hurry back, and let me know when you are here.

  “Of course I will. Don’t worry about us. I’ll make sure he is home safe, and it will not take me long to get back to you. Keep your mind open to me, Elizabeth.”

  I locked the door, thinking how it was almost a futile attempt. If Jason were a vampire, a locked door wouldn’t keep him out. The only thing would be my mother uninviting him in. I laughed to myself, thinking what the chances would be that he would show up and knock on the door.

  “Mom, remember what I told you before dinner about that boy Jason, right?”

  “Of course I do, honey. If he shows up, tell him he is not invited into our home anymore,” she replied.

  “Okay, make sure you say it just like that, Mom.” I headed back to my room.

  My sister was spending the night with her friend, so I knew that I would have no problem keeping the window locked. I reached out with my mind and felt Jeremiah’s presence. They were almost on Isaiah’s road, so he would be heading back soon. I changed into my pajamas and headed down the hall to brush my teeth.

  Looking into the mirror, I was amazed at how much I had changed since the summer. My hair seemed shinier; my skin was even paler, and more translucent than it had been before. I couldn’t believe that my parents hadn’t noticed the changes in me, but I was glad that they hadn’t. I looked radiant and more beautiful than I would have ever thought possible.

  I turned the light off and headed back to my room. When I walked in, and flipped on the light, my heart felt like it was going to pound through my chest and my breath caught in my throat. Jason was standing by my window, wearing that smile that never reached his eyes.

  “Hello, Elizabeth. You didn’t think that we would be stopped that easy, did you?” he snarled.

  Jeremiah! He’s here, where are you? I screamed in my mind. “What do you want?” I asked him. “How did you get in here?”

  “Your mother invited me in the last time I was here, didn’t she tell you? My father wants to talk to you again . . . now.” He smirked.

  “Well, as you can see, I’m ready for bed, it’s late, and I’m not going anywhere with you Jason,” I said, with my chin out and my head held high. “You shouldn’t even be here.” God, he is telling me his father wants to see me now. Please get back here quickly!

  “I’m on my way, but it will take me a few minutes to get there, where is your mother? Yell for her; tell her to tell him that he is not invited in. Do not leave the house with him!” Jeremiah yelled right back at me.

  I turned to yell at my mother, and that’s when everything went terribly wrong. Before anything came out of my mouth Jason had me, and I was being dragged out the window. I didn’t even have time to yell. He threw me onto his back and tore off. He has me! I couldn’t yell for my mother. Please, please come quickly!

  “Where are you Elizabeth? I can’t see where you are. What is he doing?”

  I could hear the fear in his voice. How could Jason be blocking Jeremiah from seeing where I was? I was terrified now. Maybe he’s taking me to his house again. That’s all I can think of. He is going so fast that I can’t tell where we are.

  “Try to look around you, Elizabeth! I’m going towards his house now.” Jeremiah sounded so afraid that I almost started screaming. I tried looking around me, but everything seemed to be a blur. I couldn’t understand what was happening. “Why are you doing this to me?”

  “Oh man, if you only knew what is going to happen when he finds out who your father is! He broke rules. Did you know that it’s against all the rules for a vampire to be with a human? Did you know that vampires and humans are not supposed to children? My father is going to present John with you . . . ” He turned his head towards me, smiling. “ . . . proof that a vampire and a human can produce offspring. Proof that my father deserves to be John’s right-hand man. You’re going to bring him glory, Elizabeth.” He started laughing, a terrible hollow laugh that scared me more than his words.

  “Jason, I don’t know what you are talking about. My father works for the government, he is a surveyor. Why in the world would you think that vampires exist, and that I’m the child of one?” I tried to sound as innocent and convincing as I could. “Can you please take me home?”

  “Do you really think you can act your way out of this? We’ve been watching you for months now. My father is sure that you have vampire blood in you.”

  “Jason, that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. There are no such thing as vampires!” I hoped I sounded like I didn’t believe him. He said his father is taking me to John, as proof that a vampire and human can have a child.

  “Can you see where you are yet?” Jeremiah asked me.

  Yes, we’re now on a street halfway through town. It’s not Jason’s street. If he slows down a little more, I’ll be able to read the signs. Jeremiah, how can he run so fast?

  “It’s something that vampires can do; we’re very fast. Listen, Elizabeth, if he takes you inside, you can’t admit to anything. Keep pretending that you don’t know anything. That’s really important. I�
��m not able to pick up any thoughts from humans in Victor’s group, so he must not have any with him tonight. He only wants vampires around for this meeting.

  “I’m almost there. I’m picking up scenes from your mind now, too. Keep your mind open Elizabeth,”

  I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. I had to do what he told me. I was sure that if I told Walter the truth about what I knew, all of us would be dead before the night was over.

  Suddenly we stopped, and Jason set me down. I was unsteady on my feet, and stumbled. He laughed.

  “Pretty awesome, wasn’t it? Didn’t know I could run that fast did you?”

  “I didn’t know anyone could run that fast. I don’t understand what just happened,” I said, hoping he would think I still didn’t get that he was something totally not human.

  “You're not real bright, are you? Come on.” He grabbed my arm, and pulled me through the doorway.

  When we got to the living room, I could see Victor standing in the center of the room surrounded by four other men. I looked at each one carefully, hoping I was sending the image of their faces to Jeremiah.

  Victor watched me intently. “Hello Elizabeth. How are you tonight?” he asked. He turned slightly towards the man on his left. “This is Robert.” Robert bowed slightly towards me, keeping his eyes on me. The next man Victor introduced as James, then Terry, and then Scott. Each man repeated the bow as Robert had.

  I looked at them all, and said, “I’m sorry if I seem confused, gentlemen, but Jason forced me to come here tonight, and I really have no idea why.” I turned towards Victor. “Maybe you can explain it to me, sir. I don’t understand this fixation your son has with me.”

  All of the men turned towards Victor with the same look on their face. Doubt! Jeremiah do you see that? It looks like they doubt what they were told is true. I must be convincing them that I have no idea what is going on. Are you almost here?