“Okay.” I replied. Evan kissed me and ran the back of his hand along the side of my face. I could tell by the look on his face that he was just as scared as I was. A lone tear fell from my eye.
“We are going to find her and take care of her, I promise. I want you to call me as soon as you pull into the driveway at your house.” He said and then he got out of my car. I slide onto the driver’s seat and put the car into drive. I never even noticed when Everett climbed out of the backseat. I watched Evan in the review mirror walk to his car and watched him as he watched me until my car disappeared into the Reservation, hoping that it wasn’t the last time that I would ever see him again.
Chapter 16
As I pulled into the driveway I pulled out my cell phone to call Evan. The phone only rang once “Hello”
“I just pulled in.” I said as I looked around nervously.
“Okay. Go on inside, Do NOT come outside of the Reservation until tomorrow morning Emma. You will be safe as long as you are inside of there.” He said. I wanted to ask how he was so sure, but I had so many other questions I didn’t know where to begin. “I will call you in just a bit okay?”
“Okay.” I said as my voice cracked.
“If you need me before then call me. I love you Emma.” and then the line went dead. I would have sat in my car a little bit longer to get myself together before facing my grandmother but I still wasn’t as confident as Evan was about being safe as long as I was on the Reservation, so I hurried out of my car and into the house. Gran was in the kitchen making dinner as she promised, which I totally forgot about in my current crisis. “Chicken and Dumplings will be done in about thirty minutes.” Gran said as she was putting clean dishes away. After learning I had a jealous Vampire trying to kill me I didn’t have an appetite, but I couldn’t disappoint Gran after she spent the day making them.
“Awesome.” I said with as fake of a smile as I could manage. “I am going to go take a shower before dinner is finished.” As I got to my room I hurried to grab my bed clothes and made my way to the bathroom. I locked the door and sat down on the toilet before I started to undress. I need time to gather my thoughts. Everything happened so fast that I haven’t even had time to take in what was happening. I reached over and turned the shower on and quickly the bathroom filled with hot steam. As I stood under the hot water in the shower and let the water wash over me my mind started to go over the events of the day, and the seriousness of exactly what could happen if and when Destiny finds me. And it seemed to end up the same ending, only that I would end up without Evan. No matter what Destiny did to me, the ending would be I would be dead and without Evan. And then my mind went to Evan’s words “I will do whatever it takes to make sure you are safe.” And I remembered Evan was not as strong as Destiny, because he was not a full Vampire like she was. She could kill him. And when that thought crossed my mind that he could be killed protecting me, I fell to the shower floor in a sobbing heap. I could accept that I may meet my demise, but Evan didn’t deserve too.
I didn’t know how long I had been on the shower floor. It must have been awhile because the water had turned from hot to cold, I started to shiver and it brought me out of my semi unconsciousness haze enough to climb out of the shower to get dressed. And tried to compose myself before going downstairs to eat dinner with Gran, I didn’t want to break down in front of her to have her ask any questions. Because I wouldn’t know how to explain this to her that my Vampire boyfriend’s ex Vampire girlfriend is trying to kill me. That wouldn’t go over well, since Gran didn’t want me seeing Evan Blake anyways, or any Blake for that matter.
As I walked into the kitchen Gran had my bowl of her famous chicken and dumplings on the table. They smelled amazing, but with the fear that ran through my body of Destiny trying to kill me, killed my appetite. I couldn’t disappoint Gran though so I sat down and tried my best to eat. I took each bite slowly trying not to throw any of it back up. I couldn’t tell if Gran knew something was wrong, but she stared at me during our whole dinner. I tried not to make eye contact with her, afraid if I did I would break down and cry. And once I did, I was afraid I would spill my guts to her about Evan and how he is a Vampire and how his crazy jealous ex Vampire girlfriend is out to kill me. Halfway through dinner Gran spoke.
“So-” Gran said more loudly than I think she planned to, that I jumped spilling the rest of my chicken and dumplings in my lap. “Oh I’m so sorry Emma. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Gran said as she jumped up to grab a towel.
“It’s okay, I’m a little jumpy today I guess.” I said as I started to pick up food out of my lap.
“I was just going to tell you that Marie and Levi were going to come by this week for a visit. Levi has been asking about you. Said you two have a date this weekend?” Gran asked as she helped cleaned the rest of the mess from my lap. I had forgotten that Levi and I had planned a movie date awhile back that I had been putting off.
“We are just going to the movies on Sunday.” Was all I could say, my heart was still pounding from the scare I just had. “Just as friends!” I added. Not wanting to give Gran any false hope of Levi and I becoming a couple, that I knew she secretly wished would happen.
“So what day is good for you?” Gran asked. I sat there for a long moment thinking. What day was good for me? Let me see, I have a crazy Vampire out to kill me so he probably better make it quick if he ever wants to see me again. Today may be my last day.
“Any day I guess.” I said.
“I’ll let Marie know whatever day works best for them.” She said with a smile as she started to clean up the dishes off the table. I started to help when Gran stopped me. “Emma, I’ll do the dishes, you look tired. Why don’t you go get some rest, I’ll finish down here.”
“Are you sure Gran? I don’t mind helping.” I asked.
“I’m sure. Go on.” She said as she finished clearing the table. I went to walk out of the kitchen and I stopped and turned around.
“Gran.” I said as I turned and walked back over to Gran at the kitchen sink. “I love you.” I said as I gave her a big hug. When I hugged her I didn’t let go for a long moment. Gran held on for as long as I did too.
“I love you too Emma...always.”
I went to my room and grabbed my phone to see if Evan had texted or called. When I didn’t have any missed calls or texts from him I decided I would call him. The phone only rang half a ring.
“Emma, what’s wrong?” Evan asked on the other end of the phone.
“Nothing I just needed to hear your voice.” I said as my voice shook. “Have you found her?” I asked.
“No. But my father and mother are out looking for her.” He said. His tone seemed to sound more worried than earlier today at school.
“So what happens when you do find her?” I asked. Not really wanting to know the answer to the question. Evan didn’t answer for a long moment. “Evan?”
“When my father finds her, he will make sure she doesn’t remember ever being with me or my family. And she will not remember anything about you.”
“So your father will erase her memory?” I asked.
“Yes. And then you will be safe again.” Evan replied. I could hear Evan’s siblings in the background talking but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I longed to be with Evan, I wanted to be by his side and safe in his arms. This was the first time I was away from Evan since we started dating and I didn’t feel safe here, by myself with Gran. I was afraid and I started to cry when Evan started to talk again. “Emma I got to go. I will be outside the Reservation in the morning. If you need me before then call me. I love you.” And then the line went dead. I lay down on my bed with my phone beside me just in case Evan tried to call me back as I cried myself to sleep that night. I don’t know how I even slept with as scared as I was. Sometime during the night Gran must have came into my room and covered me up because when I woke up the next morning at five a.m. I had a blanket that came out of the hall closet on me. It frightened me that
I slept so soundly that I never heard Gran come in my room last night. Destiny could’ve come in my house and into my room that night and I wouldn’t have even known she was there before she murdered me in my sleep.
Since it was still too early to get ready for school I lay in my bed, my mind racing at the previous day’s events. Hoping that it was only a dream, my body froze with fear when I realized they were real. Destiny wanted to kill me because Evan was in love with me. As I lay in my bed, frozen, my heart started to race and the tears started to flow. I tried not to make any noise as not to wake Gran, so I put my pillow over my face and cried until I couldn’t cry anymore. When I finally cried until I felt I could cry no more I got up and went into the bathroom and turned on the shower, I ran the water as hot as I could stand. The hot water felt good as I stood under it. Washing away the past day, although the danger was still going to be there when I stepped out of the shower, I stood under the hot water as though nothing could touch me while I was under the hot steam. When I finally ran out the hot water I got out of the shower and got dressed for the day. I didn’t do much with my hair but put it in a messy bun, much like I did on my first day of school at Astoria High. I didn’t have the energy to do anything more with it than that between the fear that had take over my body and after my break down this morning. After getting my books and homework together and put into my book bag I noticed I was still early for school, so I grabbed my phone and sent a text message to Evan.
“Hey I am ready to leave. Let me know when you are outside of the Res.” I pressed send and waited for a response. It was only two minutes or so when I reply came.
“I am already here waiting. Come on.”
Evan must have been sitting outside of the Reservation for awhile. I hurried downstairs and passed the kitchen as I was too nervous to eat. Gran was still in bed since it was only 6 a.m. so I quietly shut the front door so not to wake her. I didn’t want to explain why I was leave so early for school. As I walked out of the house I looked around for anything that may be out there, Destiny mainly. Even though Evan said I was safe on the Reservation I wasn’t as sure as he was. I walked to my car opening the door, looking in the backseat for anyone who may be hiding back there. When my search came up empty I climbed in and started up the car. I didn’t even give the car enough time to warm up before I put it in reverse and backed out of the driveway and headed out towards the exit of the Reservation. When I came to the stop sign at the entrance way of the Reservation, Evan was standing at the corner waiting for me just like he said he would be. He walked over to the driver’s side of the car and told me to move over. I put the car in park and climbed over the seat into the passenger’s side as he took my place in the driver’s seat. Looking both ways for traffic, Evan pulled out and we headed off towards the school. We both rode in silence for what felt like eternity, but was only a few minutes before he spoke. “I feel horrible.” Evan said as he looked at me. The look on his face looked as though he was going to cry, and he quickly turned away from me. “Emma, I am so sorry. This is my fault.” He said as he kept his eyes on the road now as he spoke.
“How is this your fault?” I asked reaching out for his hand. He still never looked back over at me when he began to speak again.
“Destiny wouldn’t be after you if it weren’t for me. And you wouldn’t be in danger.” He said as he looked at me out the corner of his eye. I could see his eyes tearing up now.
“This isn’t your fault Evan.” I demanded. As I reached my hand to his face to turn it towards mine so I could see his eyes. We were now stopped at a red light and I wanted him to know I didn’t blame him for anything. “Evan, please look at me.” I said as I turned his head towards me slowly. He looked at me only briefly and I could see the guilt in his eyes before he quickly looked away. The rejection tore at me deep and I just turned my gaze out the side window the rest of the way to school. We didn’t speak the rest of the way there. I wanted him to know I didn’t blame him for Destiny’s revenge out on me, but I was angry with him for this silence treatment he was giving me. Once Evan and I made it to the school, Evan pulled into the school parking lot. We had the choice of any parking spot we wanted since we were the first there. Evan chose the spot on the side of the school by the forest of trees. I assumed for privacy or for a quick exit if we needed to make a fast escape. Evan turned the car off and we sat there in silence. Neither of us spoke. The silence was almost as fearful as the fear Destiny had over me. I was afraid that this would be the end of Evan and me. Either Destiny would find me and eventually kill me, or this situation we were in would put such a strain on Evan’s and mine relationship that even if Evan’s father finds Destiny and erases her memory so much damage will have already have been done to our relationship that our relationship will meet its demise. The thought made me sad, and I started to cry. I tried to hide this from Evan, but when he saw the tears falling from my cheeks he flung open the driver’s door of my car and in a blur he was gone. Almost like seeing a blur in front of my eyes as he flew into the forest. I could hear a rustling of trees and then I heard a loud crash. My only thoughts was he was angry, he must of pushed over a tree or something like he had done on the first day I had found out he was a Vampire. Fear crept in as I sat in my car alone. I slowly got out of my car as I look around the empty parking lot. When I saw no one around, I walked into the woods in the direction that Evan had entered. I thought about calling out for him, but then thought against it. If Destiny were here creeping around I didn’t want to call out my position to her. I just walked slowly into the opening of the forest hoping to find Evan before Destiny found me.
Sitting on an old Fur tree that had been lying on the ground, was Evan. He had his head in his hands and didn’t even move when I walked up behind him.
“Evan.” I said as I placed my hand on his shoulder. As he raised his head out of his hands I noticed he was wiping his eyes. He had been crying. Do Vampires actually cry I thought to myself? “It’s okay.” I said quietly as I walked in the front of him and kneeled down. He slowly looked at me to meet my gaze. He was crying. My heart fell in my chest. “Please don’t cry.” I said as I wiped his tears away.
“Emma, I can’t protect you like you need to be protected. I’m not strong enough. Not like my parent’s or Cameron is. Destiny is too strong for me-” he said this as his sentence trailed off. Almost as if he knew her strength from a previous encounter he had with her. “And look at what this has done to you. It has destroyed you. You are terrified.” He said as he ran his hand down my cheek. He was right, I was terrified.
“We will get through this…together.” I said, trying to sound convincing. I didn’t even convince myself, let alone Evan. Evan stood and took me in his arms. There are no words to describe what it felt like being in Evan’s arms. It’s like heaven and chocolate wrapped up in one. Evan made me feel safe, even when a crazy Vampire was trying to kill me. I squeezed Evan really tight and looked up to him, leaning in to kiss him. I could still see the guilt in Evan’s eyes as he leaned in to kiss me. Evan’s kiss lingered for a long moment, his kiss was sweeter as though it may be our last and he held me tighter than he normally did. And when Evan whispered “Just remember that no matter what happens. You were my one and only true love” And then I knew deep down that Evan felt that Destiny would win in the end. The only thing I didn’t know. Was when my time with Evan and my life would come to an end.
Chapter 17
As we walked out of the forest back towards the school parking lot were my car was parked Evan grabbed my arm, grabbing it a little harder than he meant to. “Wait, I hear something.” Evan said softly. I stopped as soon as he grabbed my arm, I winced when he did. The pain soared up to my shoulder and I tried not to cry out just in case Destiny was close, I didn’t want to give out location away. Evan looked around for a moment making sure it was safe before he pulled me along, trying to make our way out of the thick forest. It was spring time now and most plant life was in bloom. Everything was green and thick wit
h leaves, which made it harder to see if anything or anyone was hiding in behind the trees or the bushes. Evan looked carefully all around to make sure no one was in behind the trees or even hiding up in the trees above us as we walked along the trail. As we finally made our way out of the forest and back to my car I noticed Payton, Everett and Cameron was standing beside their car and I let out a sigh of relief. Evan’s face fell and I immediately felt guilty for making him feel bad once again. I didn’t want him thinking I trusted his siblings with my safety more than I did him. Besides, this wasn’t his fault that Destiny was after me. He couldn’t have known she would try to come after me. “I think Destiny is here in the forest.” Evan told his sibling’s as we walked towards them.
“Well, we don’t need to stand around here for very long then.” Payton said. “She won’t bother Emma as long as she is inside the school. Let’s get her inside.” She added. Evan nodded at Payton as he guided me along with his hand on the small of my back, as Everett and Cameron took off into the forest to see if they could find her.
“Let’s get your things from your car.” Evan said as he led me toward my car. As we got to my car Evan seemed to relax more. Getting my things out I shut the door and turned towards Evan. I wanted to make him feel better and to know this wasn’t his fault and that I didn’t blame him “Evan.” I said as I reached my hand out towards his face and turned it to look at mine. “This isn’t your fault.” As I said the words his tears started to flow again. My heart ached for him. I could see that he was in pain. That he truly felt this was his fault. I leaned into him and kissed his lips. Wiping his tears away I looked him in the eyes and whispered “I love you.”
Astoria: Secrets, Lies and Vampires Page 13