by Unknown
I looked over at Kai biting his lip. “Stop,” I lightly scolded. He watched his brother fast at work for a minute before officially obliging my request.
“Ok, you can stand her up,” Kalel instructed. Kai hesitated.
“Just set me down. I’ll be fine,” I reiterated.
“Your parents are on their way. They’re a few hours away though in Virginia,” Gabi interrupted the tense mediation. Kai still hadn’t made a move to stand me up.
He suddenly lifted me up higher as he stood from the couch. “Spot her,” he ordered anyone. He bent halfway and set me down. Kalel was in front of me in case I toppled.
“Is anyone going to tell me what the hell happened?” Gabi cut in eyeing everyone hoping to appease them for the info.
“Later.” Kalel’s tone was final, authorative.
“Ugh. This is ridiculous! I’m a part of this family you know! I have a right to know these things,” she pouted as she stormed upstairs.
“Art. Ready our assassin ward,” Kalel directed. He set down the bowl of utensils and drifted obediently to the weapons room.
Kalel began pulling glass out of every exposed portion of my body. Considering my jeans and Kai’s shirt were ripped beyond repair, that was quite a bit.
Kai paced the room watching me intently. He projected edginess with every cut of his eyes, every curl of his lips and dent in his scowl. His hands nervously went between combing, well yanking, his hair and fisting his palms.
“Kai,” I called his attention. He stopped for a brief second and looked directly at me. “Calm down. You’re making me nervous.”
“Be still brother,” Kalel encouraged. Kai came and stood in front of me. I lingered my eyes on him, distracting myself as Kalel continued working from my forearms to my legs to my neck, head and back.
“Ok Leka. I can’t remove any more until you remove your pants and shirt. It will hurt worse if you slide them off; could tear your skin. You’d heal but its unnecessary pain. I can cut you out of them if it’s ok with you,” he offered.
“Just do what you have to do,” I sighed. My eyes wandered the room. I knew they’d seen me in a bikini but I was still self-conscious.
Kalel stopped, scissors in hand to look at me with the same open eyed gaze Kai now splayed.
“What does a girl have to do to get a little privacy around here?!” I grumbled. They quickly looked away. Kalel started with my pants. He cut up the side seams of my jeans. I felt a few tugs and miniscule tears of the glass in my skin but within seconds they were off and he was back to tweezing out the crystals.
“Watch it kunane!” Kai growled at Kalel. Koo-nah-nay?! He was behind me so I couldn’t see what he was doing. “It means brother in Hawaiian. And he was enjoying the view too much,” Kai stated eyeing his brother like a predator.
“Just stop. The sooner he’s done the better. If he works faster with a view, I don’t care.” I just wanted this to be over with. Would I be deemed a wimp to say I wanted my parents? Even when they were zealous in their efforts, I felt safe and loved. I especially needed that now when I had avoided the conversation to this point of who attacked me and why. I contemplated bringing it up.
“Later Leka. You need to heal first,” Kai softly spoke the words as he rubbed my cheeks with his thumbs. We were having an intimate moment until Kalel shifted my panties to expose a cheek. My eyes bugged out in horror.
“Brace yourself. This one’s deep,” he warned.
“Focus on me,” Kai continued stroking my face. I felt the extraction; it stung and seemed to open a gaping wound back up. The piece was big because the moment it was out blood began oozing down my leg.
“Jesus!” Kai exclaimed catching a glimpse of the stream. He put his fist through the closest wall causing the beams to creak.
“Oh God. Calm down Kai. She’s already starting to heal,” Kalel sighed. He reacted to Kai like he was an over-dramatic child having an unnecessary tantrum.
He cut off Kai’s shirt and tossed it aside. He went to work on my back and shoulders. I glanced at the bowl filled to the brim with shards of varying sizes. Kai saw me. I felt exposed wishing I could cover myself but I still had glass in my mid region.
“Will you please stop gawking at me? You’re making me even more self-conscious.” I fidgeted with my arms trying my best to cover myself. He approached, clasped my wrists and held out my arms.
“My turn. Stop. You look great but you are also flexing your shoulders which could lodge a piece.” I bit my lip anxiously praying for Kalel to hurry up. I moved my eyes around the room unable to face judgment no matter how kind. I wished Mel was here. She would have entertained me, made me forget I was nearly naked in front of two men.
And Kellan… Kellan!
“Did Gabi call Kellan?”
“I don’t know,” Kalel answered paying little attention to the question. Kai dropped my arms and walked away towards the windows. Kalel shifted to my front now.
“Almost done,” he stated. I breathed a sigh of relief; the end in sight.
“Can I please have my phone?”
“Done!” Kalel announced dropping the last bit into the bowl. “Your phone’s a goner babe.” He pulled a bunch of plastic and metal pieces from the pocket of my destroyed jeans.
“Ugh,” I pouted. I grabbed the fresh clothes off the arm of the sofa and yanked them on begrudgingly. “Stupid freaking assassin,” I muttered. I quickly got dressed in a pair of drawstring basketball shorts that barely hung on though they were tied as tight as possible and a t-shirt I literally swam in.
“Can I please borrow a phone?” I held out my hand for someone’s cell. Kai reluctantly handed me his. He knew who I was going to call and he didn’t like it.
I looked at the phone. I tried to slide it, flip it; I turned in over and over but found no buttons.
“How do you use this thing?” I asked studying the phone. He took it from me.
“What’s the number?” he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if to alleviate silent pressure. I gave him the number. He punched in the digits on the touch screen and passed me the phone again. It was already ringing.
“Thanks.” He walked away. I heard the library door close behind him.
“Hello?” Kellan’s voice was leery unsure of who to expect.
“Hey, it’s me,” I answered trying to sound perky.
“What’s wrong?”
“How do you know something’s wrong?” I pressed. I thought I’d covered well.
“What’s wrong?” Insistent little sucker.
“How soon can you get here?” I didn’t want to tell him over the phone. I knew he would flip and I didn’t know if anyone would be around to bring him back down or stop him from doing something crazy.
“What’s wrong?”
“I miss you.” Maybe this approach would help…
“Damn it Lex. Stop playing games. What’s wrong?” he pushed. He was losing his patience.
“I don’t want to tell you over the phone…”
“What you mean to say is you don’t trust me enough to tell me over the phone. You think I’ll overreact right?” His tone was hard, accusing but the words accurate.
“Promise you won’t?” No use lying to him. I didn’t want to make him more upset.
“Yes, I promise,” he droned robotically almost sighing as he spoke.
“A, ugh, a vamp assassin attacked me. I’m fine though!” I quickly added at the end hoping to soften the blow.
“Where the hell was Kai when this happened?” he demanded. Uh oh. I should have thought through that angle already.
“He was inside. I was in my car, which is officially totaled.” Tears began to fill the rims of my eyes as the magnitude of it all hit me. “When can you get here?” I asked, my voice cracked despite controlling my emotions for the moment.
“I’m on my way babe. Don’t worry. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” His voice was soft as butter. I could tell he felt bad for giving me a hard time.
&nbs
p; “Ok,” I sniffed trying to hold back the breeching down pour.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” I couldn’t help but lift the corners of my mouth forming the beginning of a smile with those words.
I handed the phone to Kalel since Kai was m.i.a. “I don’t know how to end the call.” He took the phone, pressed the screen a few times and set it down on the coffee table.
“Are you okay?”
“Yea, thanks for taking out the glass.” I settled on the sofa looking straight out into the night sky. Though I was unsettled, the night was peaceful and stars bright.
“Do you want to talk now or wait until he gets here?”
“I prefer to wait until everyone is here. I don’t want to have to repeat myself.” He shook his head. He ran a finger over my nearly healed but still puffy and welted neck.
“He was strong. I can tell he used a wire by the marking. That’s why your hands have those slices, right?” I shook my head confirming his perfect guess.
“You were lucky. You are stronger than I thought,” he smiled.
“Yea, I guess.” I fidgeted with my fingers nervously. I traced the ridged cuts on my healing hands.
“Art!” Kalel called. The old man came running.
“Yes?”
“Bring me a human. One from the holding cell,” Kalel ordered.
“Right away.” With that he was off down the stairs I’d entered my first time.
“You have humans in holding cells?” I didn’t know if I was more shocked, appalled or confused.
“Mortals who know of our existence and seek us out for immortality. We put them in holding cells. Most of them we kill; some we turn but they must work for us.” He was so casual about it. I recalled what I was told about them turning people but it’d slipped my mind with the events of the past few weeks.
“As long as you don’t hunt or capture them I guess it’s ok. Is that where you get your blood supply?”
“Most of the time. We work with banks too.”
Art returned with a goth teen. He had a pitch black Mohawk, chipped black nail polish, even though he was a guy, grungy black boots, parachute pants and a skeleton shirt, both black as well. Does this kid know that other colors exist?
“She is going to feed from you,” Kalel announced standing over the boy.
“Man this is cool shit,” the kid said. I couldn’t believe he was excited to have a vamp drink his blood. It sort of creped me out; he was like an overjoyed fanboy.
“Sit.” Kalel grabbed him by the arm and jerked him down beside me on the sofa.
“Ugh… Could I just drink a bottle from the fridge?” I didn’t like this one bit. This teen was on drugs or a suicide mission to want a vamp to feed from him.
“You mean you don’t want me?” he frowned acting heartbroken.
“Fresh has the most nutrients and will speed up your healing time the fastest.” I sighed. I knew Kalel was right but the boy was creepy.
“Give me your wrist,” I demanded succumbing to the pressure.
“Oh yeah!” He stretched both arms in my direction officially earning the title of suck-up.
I pulled one wrist to my mouth and sunk my teeth in. His blood covered my tongue like warm melted chocolate. It was, dare I say, delicious. I drew quick and sucked hard pulling more and more.
“Damn this is awesome shit,” he said sinking closer to me completely engrossed in my work. I officially lost my appetite. I withdrew and literally spit the serum on his wound.
“Woah! What’s that?” he asked watching as the bite marks disappeared.
“Healing serum,” I replied getting up and walking to look out the window.
“So do I pass? Are you going to change me now?” the goth asked anxiously looking to each of us with hope.
“You’re not ready yet. Tone it down first.” Kalel nodded to Art and he quickly removed the teen.
“How do you feel?” he asked. He came and stood beside me.
“Officially freaked out by fanboy but other than that I’m good, thanks.”
“You should see the others. Believe it or not, he’s the mildest one.” I just stared at Kalel shaking my head in slight amusement and disbelief. What is this strange fascination humans have with us? Our world is no better or easier than theirs.
“We know that, but they don’t believe it.” Of course he’d read my thoughts. I frowned. “Sorry, it’s a habit.”
“A bad habit,” I scolded. I couldn’t stay mad at Kalel for long. He has a pure heart and acts on the best intentions and the smartest of intentions given his way of analyzing everything.
Chapter 21
There was suddenly a fury of knocks and pounds on the door. It must be Kellan. Kalel opened the door and Kellan raced straight to me. He looked me over from head to toe scowling at every scrape.
“Are you okay?” he asked fervently.
“Yes, I’m fine I told you.”
“Hello Bladang. I’m Craig, this buffoons best mate,” Craig introduced himself to Kalel extending his hand courteously.
“Kalel,” he replied shaking the outstretched hand but making no warm welcome. He closed the door and brushed past Craig back to the living room.
“Hey love,” Craig greeted kissing my cheek. “I hear you were in a bit of a scuttle with a villain.”
“Uh, yeah.”
“No worries. We’ll plaster the kangaroo,” he said settling on the couch.
“That doesn’t even make sense,” Kalel commented scrunching his forehead in a non-approving way.
“You learn to go with the flow. Craig’s a little quirky.” I shrugged at Kalel’s raised eyebrow, smiling sheepishly.
“So what did this bloke bastard do to you? You look healed except for the noose mark on your neck,” Craig prompted. Kellan’s eyes went straight for the wound. His features hardened instantly. I quickly covered it with my hand but it was too late.
“Um, I want to wait for my parents so I don’t have to repeat anything.”
“Did you call the High Authorities?” Craig asked. Kellan continued glaring at my hand which was making me nervous. I knew he would eventually explode like Kai but the question was when.
“Ugh, no. I didn’t think about it,” I stuttered eyeing Kellan cautiously. I started to back away as his eyes lost their green hue to raging red. I’d never seen him so close to convulsion.
“Hey mate, air the bullocks,” Craig said. Kellan shot him a look. Craig patted the sofa. “Come on man; you’re scarin your babe.” Kellan scowled over to the sofa.
“I called them. They know. Auggy will be over later to discuss security for you,” Kalel stated. He stood by the fireplace, hands in his pockets but his body at attention. He didn’t trust Kellan or Craig; he didn’t bother to hide his feelings.
“Security?” I couldn’t cover the worry or distaste in my tone.
“Yes security. You were almost killed Leka,” Kalel argued.
“Holy shards of Chuck! Was all that in you?” Craig pointedly studied the bowl of blood glass pieces. I shrugged. Dang bowl of evidence; I didn’t have any privacy.
Kellan’s breathing increased, his hands balled into tight fists that turned his knuckles white. I angrily snatched up the bowl and pulled a Gabi by storming into the kitchen to dump the remnants. I stood against the counter trying not to break down the tough outer shell I’d been fighting so hard to create.
Just when my life was back to a somewhat normal existence, bam! I was attacked and I had no clue why. I didn’t mettle in other people’s affairs; I had no known enemies aside from Jenny and maybe Mike. I felt like I was being handed the short end of the stick all the time and I couldn’t figure out why.
“It’s not your fault Leka. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’ll learn that as the years pass.” I looked up to find Kalel in the doorway. I was getting good at blocking everything out: noises, people, certain emotions…life.
“I know.
I’m just looking for a reason.”
“Why waste the time when you know you won’t find one?”
“To distract myself from becoming a blubbering mess,” I offered. He chuckled lightly.
“Your parents are here.”
“Thanks. I know it’s childish but I really want my mommy and daddy.” I intentionally added their toddler titles. He nodded and smiled; no judgment, only understanding.
My parents ambushed me the moment I exited the kitchen. I welcomed their comfort leaning into both of them. I looked up and noticed everyone was watching us.
The next several hours were spent being scrutinized. I had to re-tell every microscopic detail over and over. It became annoying but I knew they meant well.
“Kellan, please go.” I turned to Kai and Kalel. “How far away does he need to be?”
“It’s not exact,” Kalel stated.
“Fine. Kellan can you please start walking and I’ll tell you when to stop.”
“I’m not leaving,” he bucked.
“Well unless you want me to kiss every mind reader in this room then can you please work with me.” Maybe I was a bit harsh but the repetition wore my patience. I felt like I was on trial but had eight lawyers trying me at once. Questions shot out from everyone.
“Kiss me and I’ll relay,” he replied leaning into me. His eyes were set on me to show he wasn’t backing down.
I huffed and turned to Kalel. “Will you accept his rendition?”
“I need yours. Yours will be more detailed. It won’t be missing anything small but pertinent.”
I swung back around to Kellan. “Well…”
“I’m not giving in on this one. I’m not leaving you here.”
“My parents are here, Craig’s here… What can happen? What are you afraid will happen?” I was livid yet still pleading to understand.
“Perhaps we ought to take a break,” my mother offered.
“No. I just want this to be over with. I don’t want to relive it over and over.” My tone changed from angry to bitter to sad bordering break down. Whoever it was was still loose.