Turning, I prop myself against the wall one step below him. "A vampire?"
"I guess."
"Well, you either suck people’s blood or you don’t. Which is it?"
Alek’s dull eyes brighten and he smirks at me. "I knew as soon as I saw you, things would be different. There’s not only one kind of vampire, you know."
"Yeah, I know; some sparkle apparently. You glowed a bit last night."
"I live off other people’s energy when I can't find Shades. That’s what I mean when I say I’m a vampire. I prey on humans for their life force instead of their blood. Sanguine vampires get energy from blood, but I don't need to do that. All I have to do is be around humans, or if I need some urgently, I can touch them."
Involuntarily, I shudder and take another step away from him. He said we were the same. I voice my thoughts even though I know how crazy this sounds. "So, what am I? Ghost? Zombie? Vampire?"
"You’re like me."
"So, I’m a vampire, too?"
Alek studies for my reaction. I think my stunned look tells him everything he needs to know. "Between."
"Yeah, I guess ‘Between’ has a nicer ring to it than vampire."
"I didn’t mean to have this conversation with you here and now. I only came to ask you to keep away from Finn."
"Why? What’s he? A werewolf?"
Alek doesn’t laugh. "No."
Below, someone hammers on the door and I glance at Alek. "Let Lizzie answer it," he says.
"And what? He thinks you’ve done something to me. I doubt he’ll leave."
"That’s pretty ironic, considering he wants to kill you."
My backside bumps to the step. "He what?"
"Listen, I'll talk to you about all this, explain and let you make your own decisions. Please, don’t go downstairs to him, and definitely don't leave with him."
"When will you tell me?"
"In the kitchen, I wasn’t ignoring you.” He raises an eyebrow, acknowledging how annoyed I was with him. “I arranged the thing with Lizzie to get her out of the house so I can speak to you about all this. She doesn't want me to say anything to you yet; she doesn't think you're ready to hear it. I have some stuff at work I promised I'd do, and then I’ll be back."
We’re too high up in the house to be able to hear anything downstairs apart from the continuing banging on the door. Alek pushes past and I squeeze into the wall so he doesn’t touch me. He calls downstairs, asks Lizzie to get Finn to leave then stomps down in his usual fashion.
I decide it’s time to go and pack. I can't stay with these crazy people any longer.
***
I retreat to my room and stare at the walls, blinking at the Bo Peeps and trying to figure out what weird world I've been dragged into. Is Alek mentally ill? Or am I losing it because I half-believe him? A thought occurs: did Finn spike my drink? Did I hallucinate then Alek helped me through the weird trip he sent me on? The ghost... the girl in the alley. The kiss. What the hell was that? I've kissed guys before, plenty of guys, and never experienced anything like I did when Alek's mouth was on mine. Sure, I normally get heart-thumping arousal, but this was something else. Usually, I'm not desperate to rip my clothes off and have sex with arrogant guys who I've kissed once. My body coursed with sexual energy in a way I've never experienced, energy I think came from Alek. I shake the thoughts away.
Unable to hear what's happening downstairs from my room, I've no idea whether it was Finn at the door or if the visitor left. I send Finn a text, telling him I’ll see him at work later. Then I pull out my rucksack and pack my bag with enough to stay at a hotel until I can find somewhere else to live. Easier said than done, but if I stay here, I’ll go as crazy as the other residents.
Now, several hours later, the house has quietened and I creep downstairs with my backpack. I hold my breath, attempting to hear any voices or movement. I watched Alek leave, and then Lizzie. Alek in his car, and then Lizzie half an hour later on the bus. Obviously, the movie date didn't happen, so what was all that about? I grab some fruit and a bottle of water from the fridge. My handbag is on the sofa where Alek dumped it last night. Peeking inside, I see my purse so I’m set to go.
How can such a mundane house hold so many weird secrets? And how much of it’s true? Can I really see ghosts? Am I a ghost? Get a grip, Rose. Why the hell am I hesitating when I should be getting out? I shrug my bag onto my shoulder and leave.
Or I try to leave. Sure, I can open the door, but the view from the doorway glimmers like a mirage. Only this mirage is a solid barrier. The first time I try to get out the door, I whack my head on this invisible obstacle. Panic fuelling my body, I try again with my shoulder. This isn’t real. For a few minutes, I stand stupefied, watching cars drive down the street. Then I shout at the students passing on the opposite side of the road but no one hears me. I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Finn’s number. Okay, Alek told me Finn wanted to kill me; but as I doubt Alek's mental state, Finn seems the best option in the current situation.
"Rose? Is everything okay? I came to find you, but Alek said you were asleep. Then he threatened me again…"
"I’m stuck, Finn! I can’t get out!" I attempt to keep my voice even but panic tinges my words.
"What? Have they locked you in and taken your key?"
I don’t stop to consider what a strange thing that is for Finn to say. "No! I can’t get out, like there’s something stopping me." Silence. "Finn?"
"I’m coming over. You don’t need to panic," he says slowly, "you can get out; you just think you can’t."
"Don’t talk to me as if I’m mad! I can leave a house if I want to!"
"Just stay there." He hangs up and I stare at the phone. Didn’t he listen? I'm trapped. Where does he think I’m going to go?
The world continues its business as I sit on the carpet inside the doorway and watch the cars go by for the next half hour. Nobody looks. Autumn rain drizzles from the sky; the dark clouds roll in. I call hello to a young woman pushing a stroller, bags hanging from the handles. She’s hunched over, brown hair hanging across her face, walking at a determined pace to escape the weather. She doesn’t see me. The young boy in the stroller gazes at me with surprised eyes. I wave. Doesn’t anyone care the door is wide open? Suddenly, Alek’s words hold more reality than they did.
Finn approaches, striding along the pavement and breaking into a run as he sees me in the doorway. He’s red-cheeked and his face is full of confusion, hair glistening with rain.
"Why are you just standing in the doorway?" he asks.
"I can’t get out!"
He cocks his head. "I want to help you, Rose. I don’t think you’re well."
"I’m fine! I’m just stuck in this fucking house with a bunch of ghosts, a vampire, and a witch!"
Finn’s brow creases so deeply his eyes begin to disappear. "Okay, let’s get you out of there. Just step through the door."
He’s cajoling me, as if I’m a child. Or a lunatic. Oh, my God, he thinks I’m mad. I lunge forward at the invisible barrier to prove I’m not and trip out of the doorway toward him.
Steadying myself on the door frame, I spin around and look at the door. "I don’t get it…" I cover my mouth with my hand and look at Finn. "Please, take me somewhere safe."
Finn nods, a shadow of sadness briefly crossing his features. "I’ll keep you safe.”
I hear Alek saying the same words in my mind. The doctor was right. I need to speak to someone because I'm the one going insane.
I don't want to be alone with any of them. Mad tales of vampires, witches, and ghosts fill my mind; tears of frustration and embarrassment push from my eyes. The rain falls harder and Finn hovers next to me.
"Now what?"
I shrug one shoulder, my mind turning over my options.
He indicates my rucksack on the carpet inside. "Were you leaving? Where are you going?" he asks. "Home to your parents?"
I shake my head vigorously. "No! I need my life back on track, not to run home. I
'm old enough to look after myself."
"Maybe, you aren’t ready yet? Your health isn’t great, I mean."
"You think I'm mentally unstable, don't you?"
Finn wrinkles his nose, looks at me with his concerned blue eyes. "No."
"Liar."
The heavens open and rain pours, sudden and heavy. I snort at the weather reflecting my mood. Finn looks upwards, the water trickling down his face.
He shakes the rain from his hair. "Getting soaked here. Can we go inside while we decide what to do?"
Every cell of my body screams at me not to go back inside the house, but if Finn is with me, I’ll be okay. Surely.
"Only until the rain stops, and then I’ll help you leave. If you want to stay at mine..." He pauses at my shocked expression. "Okay, wrong thing to suggest. Have you any friends you can go to?"
I bite inside my cheek. No friends. Not anymore.
We step into the house and walk into the kitchen. Finn takes his grey hoodie off and hangs it over the chair. I throw him a tea towel and he looks at me with a crooked smile. "Gee, thanks. That’ll dry about one inch of my body."
His tattoo catches my eye as usual. I have an attraction to men's arms, always have. The strength I can see in his toned muscles contrasts with his gentle role in life. Finn's arms are more protective than dangerous. I blink. Why would I think that? When I shift to look at him, he's watching me curiously, aware I'm checking him out. I'm not, am I?
I hastily turn away to retrieve mugs from a cupboard. "Coffee?"
"Yeah."
Two steaming mugs of coffee prepared, I relax and sit with Finn. Mostly relax, I’m alert for someone else coming home, or whether he has a secret agenda to kill me like crazy Alek told me.
"So, what happened last night? Why did you disappear? I don't understand why Alek was with you," asks Finn.
"I don’t want to talk about it."
Finn sighs and sits back in his seat. "I’m not used to girls disappearing on me when I go on a date."
I swallow the warm coffee in my mouth. "Date?"
Finn dips his head. “Sorry, that came out wrong."
Alek’s face appears in my mind; his harsh kiss and the buzz it gave me. The blonde-haired guy in front of me could never do those things to me.
"I’m not looking for a boyfriend," I say quietly.
"Fair enough." Finn shifts his look to somewhere else in the room behind me. God, I hope I haven’t just isolated myself from my only friend by refusing him.
He rubs the back of his neck. "You really don’t want to stay in the house, huh?"
"The occupants are…weird."
"Yeah, I noticed. That Alek guy is seriously unhinged."
Unhinged is an interesting way of putting it.
Finn’s shivering isn’t stopping, and goose bumps grow on his arms. "Let’s go into the lounge room; I’ll put the fire on and get you a proper towel," I say.
Finn stands. "Please. Your house is bloody cold."
When I return with the towel, Finn is standing in front of the warming gas fire. His hair is darker blonde with the wet, and he turns to me with an unreadable expression in his eyes.
"I can tell why you don’t like this place. I get a really bad vibe. Is it haunted?"
I shudder. "Maybe."
He takes a deep breath and sighs. "I feel these things," he says quietly. "There’s people stuck here."
Oh, shit; not him, as well. I bump my rear onto the sofa. "Yeah?"
He doesn’t respond and stares into the fire. An awkward silence follows and I half-expect one of the ghostly residents to appear.
"I’ve seen one," I tell him and I’ve no idea why.
"Oh?"
"She attacked me." I decide not to mention the girl at the pub and her attack.
"How can she attack you if she’s a ghost? Like a poltergeist who threw something at you?"
"I don't know," I mumble, fighting tears, increasingly convinced I'm the deranged one here.
Finn moves from the fire to sit next to me on the sofa. Not too close, thank God. I hope the whole date issue is dealt with. I need a friend, not another lover. I shake my head. Lover? Alek’s barely touched me.
"You’re different today. Brighter. Not as pale," he says.
I look at my hands, perturbed by the way he scrutinises me, ending by looking at my mouth. Okay, I don’t think the date issue is dealt with.
"I’m so sorry," he says softly.
"For what?"
Finn leans back on the sofa. "For how you are."
"I don’t understand."
"I mean I’m sorry you have to go through this, not that I’m responsible."
"Why would you say that? Why would I think you’re responsible?" I push myself to my feet and edge away. Either everyone in my life is deranged or it’s time I start to process and accept everything happening to me. "I think I’m going to get changed; I got wet, too."
"Wait."
Finn stands and grabs my arm, curling his hand around my wrist. The familiar painful chill spreads up my arm; as the numbing travels up my neck, he drops his hand. I step back, rubbing my sleeve, staring back at a wide-eyed Finn.
As if on cue, the front door opens and slams shut. Alek halts, an initial wide-eyed look of surprise replaced by narrowed eyes and him shooting across the room toward us.
Alek shoves Finn in the chest. "Get the fuck away from her!"
I freeze, unsure what he’s going to say or do--to Finn or me.
"You should go," I say to Finn and step between him and Alek.
Finn laughs softly to himself, and I shift my look to him. He has his arms crossed over his chest. "Why should I? You asked me in."
Oh, crap. I hoped he’d be intimidated like last time, not hold his ground. I don’t want to be part of whatever is about to happen.
The dizziness creeps across my head as the pain in my arm spreads from where Finn touched me and into my chest, constricting my lungs. I back to the sofa and put my head on my knees, fighting the fog. As soon as I get my breath, I’m out of here.
"Calm down, man," says Finn, "No wonder she’s leaving."
"What?" He turns to me. "You’re leaving? Why? After everything I told you…?"
"Because of everything you told me."
He pushes a hand through his scruffy hair. "You didn’t believe me?"
In the logic of the outside world brought on by the daytime, his stories are fairy tales. Finding myself trapped behind invisible barriers in a claustrophobic house isn’t logical, though. "Maybe a little of it. But I don’t understand why you told me Finn is dangerous."
Finn chokes. "What the fuck?"
"Oh, don’t play so innocent. I know what you are!" snaps Alek
Now Finn steps away from Alek, palms held outward in a gesture of surrender. "Umm. Okay. Sure. What’s that?"
Alek runs his tongue along his teeth. "Fine, play games. You know what I am."
"A seriously messed-up guy?"
I suppress a laugh which is instantly interrupted by Alek pushing Finn against the wall near me. Finn makes a noise as his breath is knocked from him.
"You’re not funny," he growls, leaving his hand on Finn’s chest.
"Alek, stop being such a dick," I retort.
"Yeah, Alek."
Alek looks between the two of us, tensed. "He just touched you. What did it feel like?"
"Okay..." He looks at me. "Is this a jealousy thing? Have you guys got together?"
The red creeping across my face answers his question. "No. Not really."
A moment in time halts as Alek’s deep-brown eyes fix on mine in a way that delves into my soul. "We just kissed." He tips his head at Finn. "What do you think about that?"
"Whatever, kiss who you like. She’s not my girlfriend." Finn grabs Alek’s wrist and pulls his arm away from his chest. "You have some major issues. I'm not surprised she wants to get away."
"What does it feel like when Finn touches you, Rose? Cold? Numb?" His attention remains fi
xed on Finn. "Are you dizzy now?"
"I’m not listening to this!" I place my hands over my ears and close my eyes, focusing on pushing away the fog. Disconnected voices filter thorough my fingers, and I open an eye to see them practically nose to nose.
"Get out of my fucking house," he says in a low voice.
"Not without Rose."
Alek grabs Finn around the throat and I drop my hands from my head, wondering if I should intervene. "Get your hands off me, demon," growls Finn, "Or I’ll end you."
Demon?
"End me?" Alek squeezes Finn’s throat. "See! He’s a Reaper. He wants to kill you, and then he'll try to kill me! I think he's killing other people, too, at the hospital."
"What do you mean?" I yell at Alek, "What’s a Reaper?"
Finn claws at Alek’s hand, trying to free himself. His wide eyes meet mine and he shakes his head, unable to speak.
"Alek! Let him go!" I yell. My vision greys; I feel like I'm watching through fog.
Alek considers for a moment, and then drops his hand.
Finn shoves Alek with both hands and steps away. "Forget it. I’m not fighting you. It’s pointless anyway. But I don't want to kill her any more than you do you," says Finn. "And I am not killing people, you lunatic."
Their voices grow distant, alerting me to my incoming faint. My stupid, useless body collapses to the floor.
"Rose? Are you okay?" I struggle to open my eyes as Finn’s words travel through the fog. His voice and the presence hit the subconscious part of my mind, where the night of the accident lives. This is him. Finn was the one who let me live. How can that be true? Nothing makes sense.
"I think she's unconscious; we need to help her," says Finn.
"Get the fuck away from her!" shouts Alek, grabbing his arm again.
I open an eye and watch as Finn stands back, hands held out in self-defence. "Alek. There is something going on at the hospital. There are people dying, but it's nothing to do with me. Your housemate is involved."
"Bullshit," snaps back Alek. "You're the fucking Reaper; it's your job, of course it's you."
"I’m here because of Rose. That's it."
Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set Page 183