The Eternity Road (The Eternity Road Trilogy, Book 1)

by Lana Melyan

  “Amanda, you don’t understand . . .”

  The phone lying on Hanna’s lap vibrated. They both looked at it. It was a message from her boyfriend, Ned.

  “You see? You can have boyfriend, and she can’t?”

  “Ah . . .” Hanna spread her hands, then dropped them helplessly on her knees. “I don’t want her to get hurt,” she said, and her eyes became sad. “She’ll fall in love with him, and very soon, Ruben will have to leave, forever.”

  “Why? It seems like he likes her, too.”

  “I’m sure he does, but . . . I can’t explain . . . it’s complicated.”

  “He doesn’t really have a girlfriend, does he?”

  “No, it’s nothing like that.”

  “I see, more secrets,” said Amanda, pressing her lips together.

  “Amanda . . .”

  “Why can’t you tell me, Hanna? As I understand, I’m part of that secret, too, and I have plenty of questions.”

  “And very soon you’ll get all the answers. But not right now, and not from me.”

  Amanda sighed and looked around.

  “Are they here?” she asked.

  “No, not the two I saw at the lake. But I don’t know what the third one looks like. And there can be others.”

  “Ladies,” said Alec, appearing in front of them with three mojitos.

  “It’s not too strong, is it?” asked Amanda, taking one of the glasses.

  “Absolutely not, trust me,” said Alec, handing the second glass to Hanna and putting the last one on the small coffee table.

  “Thank you,” said Hanna. She took the glass, sipped from it, then looked at Amanda, “It’s fine.”

  “As I said,” Alec smiled. “And, Hanna, you can trust me too.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to . . .” she looked guiltily at Amanda.

  Debra Gordon popped up out of nowhere and walked toward them with an artificial smile on her face. She wore a short red dress with frills around the waist.

  “Hi,” she said. “Nice party, isn’t it?” And, without waiting for an answer, turned to Alec. “Come.” She took his arm.

  Alec threw her an annoyed glance. “I’m busy, Debra,” he said, gently removing her hand from his arm.

  “Mark wants to have a word with you.”

  “What is it?”

  Debra shrugged.

  “Sorry,” Alec said to Amanda. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  “What is she now, a messenger?” said Hanna, looking after them.

  Amanda was looking in the same direction. It was funny to watch Debra trying to catch up with Alec, who deftly and quickly moved through the dancing crowd.

  “Where did they go?” asked Hanna, bemused, as Alec and Debra suddenly disappeared.

  “I don’t know. This is a big house. I’m sure there are other rooms beside this one,” said Amanda with irony.

  “Then I have to check them.” Hanna stood up.

  But Amanda grabbed her arm and dragged her back.

  “No. It’ll look like you’re spying on them. And besides, I’m here, not there, and you should stay with me.”

  A few minutes later she saw Alec talking to the DJ. Slow music started. He walked to Amanda and took her hand.

  “Shall we?” he said, and pulled her along.

  Now, when Hanna was alone, she read the message from Ned, saying how much he missed her and that he would be there soon. Hanna sighed.

  Ruben came back and sat next to her.

  “Where’s Kimberly?” she asked.

  “She’s talking to that girl, Nicole. I asked her to find out a bit more about the guy.”

  “Didn’t she ask why? She might think you like him.” Hanna smirked.

  “I said that he looks like some escaped felon I saw in the newspaper.”

  “She’s not stupid, you know.”

  “No, she’s not. She said it, too. But she said she’d ask for me.”

  “That’s it, she thinks you like him,” Hanna laughed. “Especially since you didn’t kiss her yesterday.”

  “I have the whole night to fix that mistake.” Ruben beamed.

  Hanna elbowed him.

  “Do you see anybody else who looks suspicious?” asked Ruben.

  “No, and as long as Alec is far from the door, they can’t get in.”

  “Then you can relax. This is a party and you deserve some fun. Come on, sis, dance with me.” He stood up.

  “Okay, let’s dance.”

  Ruben kept an eye on Kimberly while they danced, and Hanna tried not to lose Alec and Amanda from her view.

  “This is our first dance,” said Alec.

  His voice was casual, but he looked into Amanda’s eyes with a tender gaze. Kimberly was right, Alec was very handsome. Amanda noticed that he seemed different tonight, more relaxed and confident than usual.

  “Yes,” said Amanda, turning her eyes away.

  “It feels nice,” he said.

  Amanda didn’t say anything, but he was right, it felt nice. She hadn’t had a date for such a long time. It was nice to have somebody beside her who liked her and wanted to be with her. To know that she could put her arms around him if she wanted to, that she could call him anytime and he’d be there for her. She was in love, and she had all those feelings suppressed inside her. Except they weren’t for Alec. And if she felt comfortable enough with him to loosen that choking pressure a little bit, then Hanna was right—she and Alec weren’t friends. Deep down, she knew that, but didn’t want to admit it. Alec had been working his way to her for two months now, and he wasn’t looking for friendship. To him, this evening was their first date, and she was sure he would try to take advantage of it.

  When the music ended, he didn’t let her go.

  “I want to show you something,” he said. “Come, it’s in my room.”

  Amanda looked back at Hanna as she and Alec walked up the stairs. Hanna had stopped dancing and was staring at her with disapproval.

  “And what should I do now?” said Hanna. “Go up there and guard the door?”

  “Look.” Ruben nodded toward the hallway on the right side of the front door. “There’s a lot of movement over there.”

  “I know. That’s where Alec went with Debra.”

  “I’ll go check.”

  “No, I’ll do it. You don’t know how the vampires look. Kimberly is coming. Stay with her and keep an eye on the stairs,” said Hanna and drifted away.

  She went around the dance floor. When she passed a bunch of giggling students, somebody grabbed her arm.

  “Hanna, hi!”

  It was Sara. Judging by her glittering eyes, the cup of beer in her hand wasn’t her first.

  “Hi,” Hanna said, grinning. “Having fun?”

  “Oh, yeah. Great party, isn’t it?” She pulled Hanna aside. “Listen, who is that guy you were dancing with? Is he your boyfriend?”

  “Oh, no. He’s my cousin.”

  “God, he is so hot. Can you introduce me?”

  “Sorry, but he’s taken. He’s here with Kimberly.”

  “Damn it, all the cool guys are taken.” She desperately shook her hand with the plastic cup in it. The beer splashed out on her skirt and shoes. “Dammit! Look what I did. I need a bathroom.” She headed toward the hallway.

  Hanna followed her.

  “The bathroom is here?” she said disappointed. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, right next to the basement.”

  “The basement.” Hanna bit her lip. “Of course.”

  “Nice,” Amanda looked around, pleasantly surprised.

  Alec’s room didn’t look like a teenage football player’s room. It was large and spacious. Except for his desk, which had some books and sheets of paper lying around the laptop, it was clean; things were in their place. He had pictures, books, cameras and lenses, and only a couple of football accessories on the shelves. The walls were covered not with posters, but with beautifully framed photographs and paintings.

  “Not what you expe
cted?”

  “To be honest, no. I expected to see more football gear. I knew you liked photography, but I didn’t know it was a priority,” she said, stepping to the picture of an eagle soaring above the sea.

  “Football helps me stay in good shape, but photography and painting are my passion.”

  “Are these all yours?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where did you take this one?” Amanda asked, looking spellbound at the large image of a castle, captured at night in heavy rain.

  “In England.” Alec stepped closer to her.

  “It’s magnificent, and it looks so mysterious.”

  “Remember I told you about my website? It’s done. Most of my work is there. I’ll send you the link. Promise that you’ll look at it. I’d like to know your opinion.”

  “Sure,” said Amanda. “Do you want me to leave a comment?” she joked.

  “No.” He gently took her by the arms and pulled her closer. “I want you to tell me in person.” His gray eyes pierced hers. “May seventeenth was your birthday. I have something for you. I hope you like it.”

  He let go of her and walked to the desk. A large framed picture leaned on the side of it. He lifted it and turned it around.

  A thrill went through Amanda. It was a painting of her. In it she walked alone down the empty park alley. Its trees and the ground were covered by yellow and red leaves. She wore dark jeans and a short black leather jacket, and a small bag hung on her shoulder. A breeze pulled back her long hair. She was smiling, the way people smile when they think that nobody is looking at them.

  Amanda remembered that day. The park was far from school, and it was months ago, before Amanda and Alec were even friends yet. That fact moved something deep inside her.

  “Say something,” he said. “You look sad. You don’t like it?”

  “I love it,” said Amanda quietly. “I don’t know how to explain. You know that feeling, when something is so beautiful and so real that it makes you happily sad?”

  Alec smiled.

  “That was exactly my reaction when I saw you in that alley. That means you see what I wanted to show.” He put the picture aside. “I’ll take it to your place. I hope you’ll hang it in your room.”

  “I will. Thank you.”

  He stepped to her.

  “Amanda, I know you think of me as a friend.” He hugged her, and his lips touched her temple. “But I have feelings for you. I thought that, maybe if I told you, you’d look at me differently.”

  Amanda closed her eyes. She saw it coming, but the voiced version of his feelings confused her.

  “I see you, Alec,” she whispered. “You’re interesting and attractive, but . . .

  She didn’t know what to say.

  “No, don’t say anything.” He pulled back. “You need time. Just promise me you’ll think about it.”

  She didn’t want to cause him pain, not today. Maybe she would wait until the end of the school. After graduation, they would all go different directions. He’d start a new life and forget about her.

  “Okay, I promise,” she said, and stepped to the door. “Let’s go before people start talking.”

  “Maybe we should give them something to talk about?” chuckled Alec.

  “Come on.” Amanda smiled and opened the door.

  Hanna walked down the basement stairs. The basement itself was a big room with a low ceiling, and it was buzzing with people. She greeted those sitting beside the stairs and stepped forward. About half a dozen boys and girls stood around a pool table, watching the game. Hanna’s eyes moved from one face to another. Some of them she knew pretty well, others only vaguely. And then, farther, in the corner, she saw Debra sitting with three young men. Two of those three pale faces Hanna recognized immediately. The third one held Debra around the shoulders, his deep-set eyes staring at Hanna. She seethed with rage.

  “You stupid cow,” she grumbled through gritted teeth.

  “Did you say something?” The guy standing beside her turned around.

  “No, no.” She stepped away from him.

  The man hugging Debra sneered at Hanna. There was nothing she could do right now; she had to leave, but her legs were moving in the opposite direction of the exit.

  “Hanna.” Debra sounded surprised.

  Hanna stopped in front of them.

  “Did you want something?” asked Debra.

  But Hanna didn’t look at her. She kept staring at the smiling vampire.

  “Your bills are coming, pal, you’ll pay for everything you’ve done.” She sneered back. “So smile while you can.”

  “Oh, will I?” The vampire let go of Debra and leaned forward.

  “Do you guys know each other?” asked Debra, ping-ponging her eyes from one to another.

  “You don’t know who you’re playing with,” said Hanna, ignoring Debra.

  The vampire laughed. “I know exactly who you are, and when the time comes, we’ll see who wins.”

  “I know what you’re hoping for. But it’s never gonna happen.”

  “So you don’t wanna fight? Why? Scared already?”

  “Fight—that’s when you go up against an equal. You’ll always be just a bunch of leeches.” Hanna looked at him despisingly.

  The other two rose from their seats, but the third vampire raised his hand, stopping them.

  “Aren’t you forgetting something? You’re nothing without one very special thing, and you don’t have it.” The vampire’s thin lips curled into a confident smile.

  They were attracting attention. The room was becoming more and more quiet.

  “Oh, I’ll get it,” said Hanna. “We’ll get back everything that belongs to us.” Looking at a stunned Debra, she said flatly, “Have a nice evening,” and walked away.

  Ruben and Kimberly sat on the couch. He drank a beer while she sipped mojitos.

  “His name is Zac. He and Alec went to high school together,” Kimberly said.

  “To high school? I don’t understand,” said Ruben.

  “To his previous high school. Alec isn’t from Green Hill; he moved here only a year ago. Nicole said Alec introduced them when they ran into each other at a coffee shop. The next day, Zac asked him for her phone number.”

  “Thanks, Kimberly.”

  “Are you going to tell me what you need this for?”

  “Hanna,” said Ruben, spotting her. He put down his beer. “Is everything all right? You look disturbed.”

  “I think it’s time to leave,” said Hanna.

  “Leave?” said Kimberly, shoulders slumping. “Why?”

  “Kimberly, excuse us for a second,” said Ruben. He pulled Hanna aside. “What happened?”

  “They’re here, in the basement, and I think that it’s better if we leave.”

  “I got that part, but I know you better than you think. What happened, Hanna, what did you do?”

  “Nothing,” she said, looking away.

  “Hanna,” he insisted.

  “Ok. We had a few words. I couldn’t help it. He sneered at me, and it made me angry.”

  “And now you’ve made them angry.”

  “They killed Mr. Sullivan.”

  “And what do you think they’ll do now?”

  “They would do it anyways—they need to feed. And I think we should stop them.”

  Ruben glanced around and saw Amanda and Alec coming down the stairs.

  “You’re right. We can’t leave all those young people unprotected. We need to fish the vampires out of here. But first we have to take Amanda to a safe place.”

  Amanda and Kimberly conversed for a moment, and then Amanda approached Hanna and Ruben.

  “Kimberly said we’re leaving. What happened? Are they here?” Amanda asked.

  “Yes, all three of them, and guess who they came with?”

  “Who?”

  “That moron, Debra.”

  “Debra? Guys, they’re not going to hurt her, are they?”

  “First we have to make sure they wo
n’t hurt you. Let’s go,” said Ruben, and the three of them returned to Kimberly and Alec.

  “Kimberly.” Ruben took her hand. “Sorry, but we’ll have to go now.”

  “Guys, it’s not even ten yet,” said Alec. “Is something wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong,” said Amanda. “Something came up. I’m sorry, Alec. We really have to go. You have fun, though.” She said nodded toward the dancing crowd.

  “I am not much of dancer,” said Alec. “Mark asked me to play a round of pool with him. I think I’ll take him up on his offer.”

  “Mark? Is that Debra’s new boyfriend?” Hanna asked innocently.

  “Boyfriend or date, I don’t know, but, yes, that’s him. She introduced us a couple of days ago.”

  “Hanna, we need to go. It was nice to meet you,” Ruben said to Alec, and he and Kimberly headed to the front door.

  “Bye,” said Amanda, and she and Hanna followed them.

  But as soon as they crossed the threshold, somebody called Hanna. They turned and saw Debra.

  “Debra, are you alright?” asked Hanna, looking at her frowning face.

  “Am I all right?” shouted Debra. “What was that all about?”

  “Debra—”

  “Those things you said. Why would you do that?” Debra kept shouting.

  “Debra, listen to me,” said Hanna calmly. “Those guys are very dangerous.”

  “They were nice to me before you came.”

  “They were nice to you because they need you. You better go home. You’ll be safe there.”

  “You’re worried about me?” Debra laughed nervously. “You better worry about yourself. You made them so angry. They left and are probably looking for you.”

  “They left?” Hanna looked at Amanda. “I didn’t see them leave.”

  “Amanda,” a voice called behind them.

  Amanda and Hanna looked back. Two feet away stood Craig.

  “Amanda, you need to get in the car.” He put his hand around Amanda’s back and led her to the street.

  Hanna turned to Debra again.

  “I’m saying this for your own good, Debra, stay away from those men.”

  But Debra wasn’t listening. Her eyes were following Amanda and Craig.