In My Veins

by Madden, C. A.

  Feeling safer with his arm around me, I glanced at the old books on the table with writing in different languages. Wanting to ask questions, I forced myself to stay quiet and let them do their thing. I played with my new ring, twisting it around my finger and looking at the diamond sparkle, as they talked about something.

  “I don’t know …” Collin said sounding just as stressed as James looked. I peeked up at him as he had his head back and an arm covering his eyes trying to think. His mouth was kind of open and I couldn’t help but look at the sharp tips of his fangs. I felt a shiver go down my spine remembering him bite into my neck. James squeezed me reassuringly. I looked at him and one side of his lips turned up in a forced smile.

  “You know… there is another book place in San Francisco.” He said, “I’ve never been so I don’t know if they’d have this stuff but---”

  “Where is it? I can go check it out.” James said quickly.

  “Umm…” Collin thought and pulled open the laptop and started searching, “Here it is.” He said turning the laptop to James. Haight and Ashbury.

  “I’ve been there.” I said casually.

  “You’ve been to the bookstore?”

  “No. I went to Haight and Ashburry during a field trip. I remember getting lost once with Tiff when we wanted to go shopping after the museum we went to. It’s safe and full of tourists during the day, but at night it’s kind of…not safe.”

  Talking about Tiffany… I need to tell her about my engagement as soon as possible! She’ll get angrier and angrier at me for not telling her sooner.

  “I’ll go today.” James said as Collin stood up.

  “I should get going too.” He said. “Let me know what you find.”

  James nodded as Collin left. I suddenly had a bad feeling about James going to San Francisco.

  “What’s wrong baby?” he asked.

  “I’m coming with you right.” I said more than asked.

  He hesitated, “It’s dangerous… I’d really prefer you stay here with David.”

  “Please James… I have a bad feeling about you going…” I said looking at him. He caressed my cheek and brushed my fringe out of my eyes, “James…”

  “Fine… I would probably be worried if I left you here without me anyway.” He smiled.

  “It’s only San Francisco. Not like we’re going out of state. And I’ve been a bunch of times.” I smiled.

  “Yeah… we’ll come back tomorrow.” He smiled. “When do you start your new job?”

  “Mr. Wilson said I start Wednesday. I was planning on going back to Mr. Yang on Tuesday to officially say bye and thank him. So it’s perfect.”

  He nodded and leaned in to kiss my forehead. “I hope we find something.”

  “Me too…” I thought and wrapped my arms around him.

  ***

  We left around one and got to San Francisco around seven. Considering the traffic and time of day...that was amazing timing. He drove and didn’t get any stares when we crossed the bridge and pay. Red eyes, crazy hair and fangs; Nothing new in San Francisco.

  “Maybe if we don’t find a cure we can just move here.” I suggested making James laugh.

  I’ve always loved San Francisco. The artistic architecture, the actual art on the houses, the crazy fashion choices, the fun shops, the gorgeous weather, and of course the bay. The list can go on.

  He parked the car a few blocks away and we held hands as we walked to the Haight & Ashbury area. It was starting to get dark so I was starting to freak out by the lack of tourists and increase of some scary people.

  James pulled me closer and eyed a group of guys that stared me down. I heard a low guttural growl from him and I got closer so he’d know I was safe and next to him. Before I knew it James pulled me behind him and slammed one of the guys on the wall. He held him by the neck and growled.

  The creepy guy was wide eyed and staring at James like he saw a monster. I peeked over and saw that he was flashing his fangs and his eyes were blood red. “If you even look at her you’ll regret it!” he growled.

  I glanced around and noticed there were still some tourists so I pulled on his arm so that he would let go before anyone called the cops. James calmed down but kept his eyes on the man. “Calm down…” I whispered loud enough so only he could hear.

  He looked at me and smiled, “Sorry… I sensed what he was feeling and it made angry.”

  “It’s okay… you’re with me. I’m safe. He can think whatever he wants.”

  James hesitated but continued walking with me to the antique book store. He glanced back a few times and kept his eye on people around us…mainly the men. He was never this possessive before. Could it be the unfamiliar area?

  “I don’t want you ever to wear these jeans out again.” He whispered in my ear.

  “My jeans? What’s wrong with them? They’re my favorite.” They made my butt look perfect.

  “That’s the problem. I don’t like knowing what these guys are thinking.”

  I smirked, “Possessive much?”

  “You’re mine.” he said heatedly.

  “I know.” I showed him our engagement ring, “And so does everyone else.”

  That helped him calm down a bit as we walked into the dusty book store that smelled like old paper and incents. The guy that was sitting at the cashier looked up at James through his dirty blonde dreads.

  “Cool eyes man.” He said nodding. I smirked. Yeah we’re definitely moving to San Francisco if we don’t find a cure. “Do you guys need any help?”

  James looked at me, “Um… where are your books?” I asked noticing only incents, candles, and random knickknacks.

  “What kind of books?” he asked.

  “Um… mythical?”

  He bobbed his head and stood up, “Follow me.”

  We followed him past the candles, CDs, pillows, belly dancing scarves to a curtain. He opened the curtain leading to a back room. “It’s in there. Need any help, just yell.” He said and walked back to the front.

  James and I went inside to the room filled with old looking books. Most were in Old English or other languages. James glanced at them up and down and stopped at a silver box. He bent down to get it and stared at it, “I think this is it.”

  I looked at the metal box with a diamond shape in the front. He opened the box and inside was an old leather covered book. He opened the book and was wide eyed, “This is it! It has everything about this curse in it!”

  He looked at me and had a huge smile, “This might have a way to get rid of it!” he leaned down and kissed me, “Let’s go buy it we can read it in the hotel.”

  We bought the book from the dreads guy and were both in an enthusiastic mood as we walked out. I didn’t care if the curse was cured or not, but I did care because it’s what he wants. I’d be happy either way. And the book could have the answer. Hopefully.

  As we were walking back to the car I noticed James suddenly wasn’t happy. He was tense. “What’s wrong?”

  He shook his head and gave me a look telling me not to say anything. I focused on how he was feeling. Worry? Fear? Anger?

  He squeezed my hand and lifted me. Before I knew it he was holding onto me and running to the car. Because of his speed we reached the car in no time and I was safely buckled as he sped off.

  “We’re being followed.” He said with his brows furrowed.

  “By who?”

  He hesitated as he kept at the rearview mirror, “The same man who took our picture…”

  “So he just wants a picture James. Calm down.” I said as I touched his arm.

  “No… he was just taking the pictures to study. When I talked to Collin today he figured out who he was,” he hit the steering wheel as he looked in the rearview and noticed we were still being followed, “Collin thinks this guy’s a vampire slayer wannabe freak. He thinks we’re vampires and he wants to kill us.”

  I looked at him wide eyed, “You have got to be kidding me.”

  “No, this guy�
�s insane. He has a website and everything.” He said driving even faster. I’m surprised neither of us have been pulled over for a ticket yet.

  “Where are we even going?” I asked as I glanced at the signs.

  “Just stay back, I don’t want anything to happen to you…” he said as he continued focusing ahead and glancing mirror every few seconds to check on the dark van that was catching up to us.

  “How is that van even driving so fast? You drive a Bentley!” I didn’t know much about cars but I was pretty sure that a Bentley was faster than an old van.

  “He probably got it changed so it would go faster. Someone like him who’s life goal is to kill people he thinks are vampires will go to any extreme.”

  “Has he killed anyone else?”

  “His website had a checklist of people. Some were crossed off.”

  “Why didn’t you call the police!?”

  “We were going to if we couldn’t get to him ourselves within a week.”

  I glanced back again to try to see a face but I couldn’t. He was getting closer and there weren’t any other cars around. I looked to our side and saw that we were on a narrow rode…or is it a bridge? It was so dark I can’t tell. But I can tell we’re surrounded by dark water.

  I glanced back and saw a glimmer of something shiny in his hands. “Oh my God James I think he has a gun!” I said but before James could do anything about it, there was a bang and the car started spinning out of control.

  The car rolled off the side of the bridge and I felt my stomach do the twisty feeling I got from the one time I was brave enough to go on a roller coaster. James eventually turned from his seat and was holding my head in his chest protectively. There was a loud splash and if it wasn’t for James holding me tight I was sure I would have had whiplash from the car’s belly flop.

  All of it happened so fast. Once the car felt like it had stopped falling we both opened our eyes and noticed, we hadn’t stopped, we were floating down. My legs feel like they were smashed as the water started filling up from the bottom up. I pulled myself away from James and looked at him. He looked like he was in pain. Before I could even say anything the car was filled with water.

  I tried to open my seat belt but it was stuck and so was James’s. The doors were jammed because of the pressure of the water. And the windows weren’t opening or closing because they were electric. We were drifting lower. I glanced at my legs and tried to bring them up so they wouldn’t get smashed even more by whatever it was. I brought my knees up to my chest and noticed that my ankle was bleeding.

  That must be why James looks like he’s struggling.

  James took grabbed my seatbelt and tore it off. I scooted closer to him and tried to open his but he shook his head. He punched his window and broke it. Feeling my lungs start to constrict I shook my head, I’m not going alone. He looked angry as he pointed out.

  I glared back at him as I grabbed my purse. He looked at me like I was insane as I grabbed the Swiss army knife my dad always made me carry. He won’t set himself free, I will. I cut his seatbelt open and he grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the car as he swam us up, almost as fast as he runs on land.

  We both took deep breaths as we made it up and hugged each other. He pulled me down a little, “Let’s keep low and only bring our heads up for air when we have to. Maybe he’ll think we died.” He said quietly as he pulled me back underwater. Since my ankles were hurting he made me hold onto him as he swam us both to the shore.

  Just as we made it onto land, I started to realize how freezing the water was. It’s helping with my ankle pain a little acting as an ice pack but it was freezing everywhere else.

  He made me extend my legs and he folded up my jeans. I watched him warily as he struggled from the smell of blood. His own knuckles were bleeding from the impact of punching the window open but it was already starting to heal. He took off his wet jacket and his wet t-shirt. He ringed his t-shirt dry enough then ripped it down the middle. He wrapped it around my ankle tightly.

  “It’s only a minor cut…the bleeding just looks like a lot because of the water. But you probably twisted your ankle or something when it got smashed too.” he mumbled. “You should probably stay off of it just in case before I can take you to a doctor.” He said and lifted me bridal style and started walking.

  I held on to his jacket as a safety blanket, “Where are we going?”

  “I’m sure there’s a gas station nearby. I can call for a cab.”

  “James what about the book?” I said as I suddenly remembered it.

  “I don’t care about that. I’m just glad you’re okay and I lived to see it.” He smiled sadly and leaned down to kiss my damp hair.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  We came back to L.A. the next morning and were on alert for what seemed like forever. No sign of the slayer wannabe. He must have assumed we had died that night.

  I still haven’t told Tiff about my engagement or even mention James because two and two go together and I’d feel like I was lying if I brought up James not the engagement. I visited my family, James-less and they asked about him.

  I found myself glancing at some wedding dresses online…but I felt as though our wedding was not going to happen if we didn’t find a cure. I need to somehow let James know my family and friends would be okay with him. They already accepted him before, why would eyes and dental status change anything?

  “Are you okay Karina?” said my assistant Sunny as she popped into my office. I actually had an office and an assistant. I couldn’t believe how awesome my new job was.

  “I’m fine Sunny. Thanks for the tea this morning but I told you, you don’t have to get me any tea or coffee. That’s not part of your job.” I smiled.

  “It’s ‘kay!” she said as she made her way in and sat on the chair across from me. I’ve been working at my new job for two weeks now and love it. Sunny was interning as my assistant while she goes to college. She has the kind of face that makes you want to just pinch her cheeks.

  In the two weeks we’ve worked together, we hit it off and she occasionally comes and chats with me when work is a slow and during our breaks.

  “How’s school?” I asked knowing she’s going to the same school I graduated from not too long ago.

  “Good,” she sighed, “But there are like no cute guys!”

  I laughed, “Tell me about it. Hence why I was single till I graduated.”

  She giggled, “How did you meet your fiancé?”

  I smiled at the memory, “Sushi restaurant. We were placed at the same table. It was weird but thank God it happened.”

  “Hmm… maybe I should eat sushi more often.” She giggled, “By the way, when does the office get to see your mystery fiancé?” she wiggled her eyebrows.

  Probably never at this rate. “Who knows? He’s always so busy that I barely get to see him myself lately.” Which wasn’t a lie… he’s been producing like crazy from home. He’s been taking all his anger out with writing music. I think he has given up hope on a cure. I couldn’t blame him, that book felt like our last hope.

  Sunny sighed, “I better get going before the others start complaining that I’m not at my desk during work hours.” She rolled her eyes, “See ya’ later boss lady!” she smiled and skipped out the office.

  My phone vibrated against my desk making me jump from the loud sound it made. I looked at it to see a text from Tiffany in all caps. “WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE YOU!?”

  “WORK! :P” I wrote back quickly

  As I set my phone aside it vibrated again, “We haven’t gotten a chance to really hang out in forever! And my Dani-bear told me something I need to talk to u about!”

  I laughed at her nickname for Daniel, “Dani-bear? Really? Lol!”

  “Don’t judge me! You have some explaining to do!” I could practically see her glaring at me through the phone.

  Feeling nervous about what she could possibly be mad at me for I wrote back quickly, “I do? What for?”

  When I
didn’t get a quick reply back I put my phone back on the desk and signed into my email. Just as I clicked on a name my phone vibrated again, “Dani-bear let it slip that you and James are engaged. SINCE WHEN!? And why am I last to hear about this!”

  Cringing I sent her a heart as a reply hoping that she would just drop it and understand.

  But she wrote back, “I am not speaking to you for at least two days! Love, your very hurt best friend.”

  When I got an idea of how to get her to forgive me I quickly wrote back a reply, “Bet you you’ll talk to me by the end of today! :P I get out of work at 6, I’ll be at your apartment by 6:30 with a treat :P”

  She wrote back that she couldn’t wait with a smiley face and I took that as a cue that I could finally shut off my phone. I’ll stop by her favorite pastry shop and pick up a couple cupcakes and coffee. Nothing says ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my engagement before everyone’ like cupcakes.

  Sunny knocked on the door again enthusiastically before opening it. She stuck her head through the cracked open door, “Seriously I HAVE to meet your fiancé soon!” she said holding a huge bouquet of pinkish white roses that covered half her body as she brought it over to set on my desk.

  I laughed, “He’s the best.”

  Sunny looked love sick, “I want to fall in love!!!” she whined as she set the roses down and went out. I giggled as I stood and grabbed the handwritten note attached to the side.

  I feel like we don’t see each other enough these days. Sorry I’ve been distant. Hope I can make it up to you with dinner tonight?

  I love you,

  James

  I couldn’t stop smiling and staring at the roses, my favorite color roses, and his hand written note. Something about a handwritten note that screams romance.

  I took out my cell and turned it on to text him, “Thanks for the roses baby <3. They’re my favorite! Love u too <3”

  He wrote back quickly, “Glad you like them. What do you say to dinner?”

  “I’d love to, are you cooking? :P” I wrote back and could picture his smirk as he read it.