by W. J. May
“At least things are better as you are now. All you’re little powers and the not dying part makes things easier.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” He sighed, long and deep. “I’ve adapted and accepted what I am. At first I loved it, then resented it, then accepted it. However, there’s no going back. I’ll never have the luxury of growing old, or having children, or grandchildren. When I was eighteen or nineteen years old, I very much wanted to marry and have kids. To buy land and build a house with my own hands, set roots down.” He lay quiet for a moment. “What about you; have you ever thought about children?”
“The past seventeen years I’ve resented being born. There’s no way I’d want a kid to grow up the same way I have.”
“It wouldn’t be like that.”
“Michael, I don’t know who my parents are, or if they are even alive. I spent my entire life in the foster system. I wasn’t a bad kid, just unlucky I guess. When I was twelve, I spent the summer with a pretty messed up family. The foster parents had a seventeen-year-old boy who was really screwed up. He didn’t like me and spent most of the summer trying to make it torture for me. Stupid things at first, like pushing me down the last two steps when we came down the stairs or kicking me in the shins when his parents weren’t looking. It was my fault as I never said anything and he grew bolder. He would sneak into my room at night when I was sleeping and would light matches to burn my arm or put pins in my bed – stupid things. I just kept quiet because I thought he'd eventually give up. I figured he would get bored because I wouldn’t cry or tell on him.
"It was the last weekend before he had to go back to his boarding school. He snuck into my room while I was sleeping and hit me on the head with some kind of crow bar or bat. Whatever it was, it knocked me out. The next time I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital and it was four days later. I was beaten up pretty bad and had lost a lot of blood. The pity in the doctor’s eyes was worse than the physical pain. I’ve got liquid courage; I’m useless at standing up to anyone. So, not really the child bearing type.” I’d never told anyone that story. I couldn’t believe I’d just said it now. Michael had just been gone for a bunch of hours and here I tell a gruesome story of the last foster home before Jim and Sally’s? Smooth move, dummy.
Michael seemed ten degrees warmer than before. The brightness in his eyes confirmed his anger.
“It’s a stupid story. I’m just not interested in being a mother.” I wasn’t going to tell Michael if something ever happened to me and my kid got stuck in the foster system, I’d roll over in my grave.
“What’s the boy’s name? I’ll find him and pay him a visit.”
I put my hand on Michael’s leg and traced my thumb along his jeans. “It wouldn’t fix what’s already broken. That boy was pretty screwed up and should have gotten help years before I came along. The following summer he was with some buddies in the woods and the reports said he was attacked by a bear. He got mauled so bad he died from the injuries.” I shuddered, remembering the article in the newspaper. “I survived, moved on, and let go a long time ago. That’s all it is now, just a story about some silly girl who learned a very hard lesson.”
Michael cupped my cheek with his hand. “No one’s ever going to hurt you. You stand up and protect yourself with no shame or fear. There aren’t a lot of people who are fearless. It’s an incredible strength to have.”
Fearless? I liked the sound of that. “I never had anything to lose in my life – until now. You.”
“Well, you’ll never lose me. Wait, let me rephrase that; I sound like some sort of stalker. As long as you’ll have me, you are never going to get rid of me.” He pounded his heart. “We immortals have longevity on our side.”
I laughed. “I’ll love you forever if you’d like.”
Michael’s pupils grew big. For a moment he said nothing. “You’ve got my Siorghra so I figured it’s kind of assumed.”
Except you didn’t put it on me, Grace did. I smiled but kept my mouth shut – until I thought of something else. “Did you have a girlfriend back when…back before?”
He nodded. “I did.”
“Did you um… have you… were you intimate with your girlfriend back then?” Holy anciently word, dipstick! The skin on my face and scalp tingled, running all the way down my neck and back, even my shoulder blade burned. If hands could blush, mine were probably doing it right now.
Michael didn’t appear to notice, or at least he acted like he hadn’t. “Things were different back then. In those days it was frowned upon.”
He offered nothing more and didn’t ask me about my intimate doings. Maybe he’d done it a lot since dying and knew I was virgin territory. It probably flashed across my forehead like a billboard sign. I wasn’t embarrassed about being a virgin, just humiliated on how I’d brought the subject up.
I faked a yawn, which turned into one of those huge, long ones.
Michael smiled and grabbed the duvet. He tucked me in like a cocoon. “You try and sleep. It’s getting late. Tomorrow Seth and Tatiana are coming and you’ve got school the following day. We need to be organized in case Damon’s there.”
“Do they want to meet me?”
“Seth wants to see the parts of the book you can read.”
“And Tee-Anna?”
He paused. “Tatiana’s curious.”
“About me?”
“No. Why I’m taken with a mortal.”
“So am I,” I whispered, wondering the same thing, and curious to know how abnormal it was for them.
Chapter 15
Morning came and I didn’t even remember closing my eyes. A small note on the pillow beside me, written in scriptive writing, read:
Be back shortly. Caleb called. –M
Grabbing a pair of jeans and red knitted sweater, I dressed and then straightened the futon. On the other side of the window glass, white fluffy powder covered the ground. Michael came toward the pool house, wearing a pair of dark jeans and black leather jacket.
I opened the door. “Mornin’.”
“Heyya. Sleep alright?” He kissed me softly, his lips refreshingly cool. He straightened. “Seth and Tatiana are here. They’d like to meet you.”
“—and I'm just dying to see them.” I laughed nervously.
“Best not let them know – or at least not in those exact words.” He squeezed my shoulder and grinned.
“Let’s go then. No sense in keeping them waiting.”
Michael held me back. “It’s really cold out, like ten degrees below zero and that’s not even including the wind-chill. You need a coat and boots. Those sneakers are useless with a foot and half of snow.”
“It’s all I’ve got.” I’d left my boots at Jim and Sally’s, along with my winter coat.
“Great. All Grace needs is an excuse to shop.” He opened the door and turned around. “Hop on my back.”
“Excuse me?”
“The snow’s deep, I’ll piggyback you to the house.”
“Nice first impression. No thanks.”
“Better than cold, wet feet followed by a crappy cold and Caleb’s comments.”
“Piggyback it is then.”
He speed walked around the pool and I hid my head against his shoulder. It was freezing out. I said a silent thank-you when we went into the kitchen and no one was there.
Michael set me down and took my hand. “You ready?”
I swallowed and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I gave a brisk nod and we walked into the living room.
A tall woman stood by Grace, not facing me. The moment I entered, her back stiffened. Spinning around, she glared at me, her eyebrows drawn together. This had to be Tatiana.
Her black dress clung so tightly to her perfect body; I wondered how she got in or out of it. Tanned, like the others, but her hair was long and so black, it seemed blue. A shine from her silver antique necklace caught my eye, which I quickly dropped my gaze after realizing it looked like I was staring at her large breasts. Her thigh-high blac
k boots shouted ass-kicker. Tatiana was stunning but terrifying at the same moment.
I stepped closer to Michael – more behind him than beside him.
“Tatiana,” Michael said. Her sapphire blue eyes broke from me and looked at him, turning a few shades of lighter to a topaz color.
“She’s prettier than I imagined.” She spoke as if I wasn’t in the room.
“She has a name. It’s Rouge.” The static in his voice made even me shudder.
Tatiana tsked, her eyes flitting back and forth from me to Michael. “Fine. Roww-ge. It’s nice to see you. There’s been a lot of talk.”
I stepped away from Michael and despite my first hesitation, held my hand out. “Hello. You’re different than I expected too.” I figured she could read into that whatever way she wanted. My gut reaction—I didn’t like her either.
Her warm, long fingers brushed against mine, but quickly pulled away like I burned her. She opened her mouth but said nothing, only glanced towards the closed office door.
Straining to hear something I couldn’t, I jumped slightly when the door opened and Caleb walked out. Tatiana immediately retreated beside Grace, her body purposely angled so her back faced me.
Behind Caleb a tall, young man followed. Seth.
It took sheer will power to fight the urge to step back behind Michael again. These two strangers were friends – family – to Michael and his family but they were terrifying in a way I couldn’t explain.
Caleb moved to the desk and sat down. Seth leaned against the door frame, blatantly looking me up and down. Dressed in black like Tatiana, his bright blue eyes danced against the darkness of his hair and clothes. A silver chain hung around his neck, his Siorghra disappeared inside his shirt.
“Seth!” Michael spoke sharply.
All heads swung my way. The pity, dislike, curiosity, annoyance in their eyes became too much.
Nervous but annoyed at constantly being judged, I moved beside Michael. “I’m the Grollic-reader, so what?” I wouldn’t mind shoving the journal down the new girl’s throat and seeing if it had the same affect as Grollic’s blood. Where did that just come from?
Seth stepped in front of Caleb. “My dear, don’t be angry. We’re simply intrigued. You’re lovely, and so…fresh.” Seth's voice could send any female’s heart racing. It was deep and husky with an accent I couldn’t pinpoint. He had the charisma and confidence a lot of women would follow without question.
His hands neatly in his pockets, Seth ambled toward us. Michael exhaled forcefully through his nose.
“Ach, Michael.” Seth shook his head slightly. “You needn't worry. I shall be on my best behavior.” He took my hand and pressed his warm, soft lips against my skin. “I can see how you have become infatuated with this little prize. I commend you on keeping her a secret—”
“Enough!” Michael said quietly, but it felt like he’d roared the words and cut Seth off.
“My apologies.” He smiled at Michael and moved beside Tatiana.
“Well, where is this book the girl can read?” Tatiana snapped.
Caleb spoke. “Tatiana, you are a guest in my house.” He looked at Seth. "Upset Michael and you will disappoint and anger this house, especially me.”
What the heck? These people are wacked. I had no idea what was going on or why Caleb suddenly felt the need to protect. However, the needles in his voice proved to me he meant business.
Nobody moved. Heat began crawling up my neck and onto my cheeks. My heart hammered so loud I was sure everyone could hear it. “The journal’s in the pool house.”
“Grace,” Michael said. “Please grab it.” She nodded and immediately left. I stood by him, uncomfortable at the strange silence in the room. Thank goodness Grace raced back before I lost my courage.
“Here,” Grace whispered and handed me the journal.
The soft binding calmed my racing heart. Encouraged, as if it held some sort of inner power for me, I moved over to the desk. “Seth. Is it ok I call you Seth, or do you prefer something else?” I turned to Tatiana for her approval, thinking she might appreciate it. She gave a curt nod. Score one for me.
“Call me anything you’d like, sweetca—” Seth stopped and grinned. “My bad.”
I set the journal on the desk. “It’s apparently written in some ancient text. I tried finding something about it on the internet and came up empty handed.” I flipped open to the first section. “This part of the book is all foreign to me.”
Seth walked over and began turning the pages. Michael came and stood on the other side of me, not saying a word.
“Show me what you can read,” Seth said. “This entire book’s in the same language.”
I opened to the middle. “These pages, about twenty, are in English. I can’t explain why I can read it, or why none of you see it.”
Tatiana appeared on the other side of Seth. “It’s obvious. You’ve Grollic blood in you.”
Seth scoffed. “She’s no monster.” He touched my hand, covering it with his own.
“I had no idea Grollics existed till this summer.” I tried to ignore the warmth Seth’s hand offered, and the revulsion to jerk my hand away. The tug of war raged on inside my body.
“What about your parents?” Tatiana asked. “Grollics reproduce – you may be just a pup, unchanged. How old are you?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” However the possibility of what she suggested shook my insides. If I’m Grollic, Michael would be the enemy. I couldn’t be. I’d feel it…somehow. Right?
Seth answered before I managed to remind myself to breathe. “Wrong again, Tat. With Grollic blood, she wouldn’t want to be here.” He glanced at my neck. “And, she couldn’t wear a Siorgha without excruciating pain.”
If looks could kill, Tatiana would’ve just put me six feet under.
“I don’t know why I can read it.” I pointed to the book. “I found it this September and only started looking at it this week. Michael’s helping me sort it out. See if I can figure out how to read the rest.” I moved my hand from underneath Seth's and put it in Michael's. I wanted both of them to know who my alliance was with.
“Something’s not right.” Tatiana pursed her lips tight together for a moment. “No mere human picks up a book like this by chance. Nor should she be able to read it.” The girl was determined to make her point.
Surprisingly, Caleb spoke. “Michael trusts her, and that is enough. I have not asked you here to question the girl, but to find the Grollics. Your job is to scout. If you can’t do that, then you are not needed.”
Wow, the big guy came to my defense? Maybe Caleb wasn’t so bad after all. Maybe. He looked pretty pissed staring at me down the bridge of his long nose.
“I always enjoy you boldness, Caleb,” Seth said. “It’s no problem. We are simply covering all bases. One would hate to be blindsided by love.” He winked at Michael.
Michael seemed ready to pounce.
“Gorgeous,” Seth said to Grace, “would you care to show me around the area and fill me in on where you think monsters may be? Caleb, I believe we’ve concluded the personal business we needed to discuss today?”
Caleb gave a curt nod and walked to his office, closing the door. Grace and Seth headed towards the front door, chatting quietly.
Michael squeezed my hand. “I just need to talk to Seth a moment. I’ll be right back.”
I nodded, picked up the Grollic book, and headed to the kitchen’s back door.
Tatiana followed, but I ignored her. She wanted to try and intimidate me, which annoyed me.
“Is there something you want to say?” I tried unsuccessfully to keep the anger out of my voice.
“Words cannot explain what I think of you,” she hissed.
“Sorry to hear you feel that way. It wou—”
“I’m not finished!” She stepped closer, her hands on her hips. “You do not belong here, or with this Coven! I don’t know what Michael is thinking, but believe me, you won’t last! You’re a dan
ger to everyone around you. You are nothing.”
Last freakin’ straw. I’d moved across country, then got kicked out. I’d finally found the closest thing I’ve ever had to a family and this… this stupid girl wants to take it away. Over my dead body. “You know nothing about me, or my relationship with Michael. This is not your place to judge, so back off!"
“Are you challenging me?” Her eyes turned a darker blue, making the faint line between pupil and iris impossible to see.
“How dense do you think I am?” I scoffed. “You think I don’t know I stand no chance against you? You don’t like me, fine. However, you're going to piss off a lot of people in this house if you do anything to me. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes at this moment.” I grabbed the back door handle, cold air blasting across my face. “You may have the power but I control it.”
We stood silent, staring at each other, the antique clock hanging on the wall chimed the quarter to warning. Tatiana’s eyes faded to a lighter shade of blue. I had no idea what she thought I meant by the last line I’d just said. I wanted to say she had strength and ability on her side but I had the power to tell Michel or Caleb and get her booted out. I was pretty sure that would happen if I had a legit complaint.
I sighed. Maybe we could find some common ground. “I'm not asking you to like me, but if there is something I can do – even if it's insignificant – I’m going to help Michael.”
She spun around and stalked to the back door, slamming it just as Michael walked into the kitchen.
“Where’s the fire?” Michael watched her go, then looked at me. “Everything alright?”
“Just peachy.”
He came over and hugged me. “Tat’s just jealous–everyone likes you, even Caleb and Seth.”
“I think Seth likes any, and every, chick.”
“True. He does have a way with the ladies.”