by Kylie Price
“I will get you there as fast as I can,” Lachlan said. The car started moving much faster.
I didn’t say more, I couldn’t. I was too consumed with Nikkee and what she was feeling. I felt like crying all over again as I felt her fear and sadness weighing heavily on my chest. She needed me and I her, yet I was not sure where she was, but I guessed Lachlan did.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I didn’t want to look. I didn’t want to move in case I fell apart, but I reached down to pull the phone out of my pocket in case it was Nikkee.
I slid my screen open to find it was a message from Jason.
“Are you ok?” he wrote.
I looked at the screen and felt like screaming. I was back to square one, with all of my unanswered questions.
“Is Nikkee ok?” I sent instead.
I just stared at my phone waiting for a reply.
“She is doing ok. She is not out of the woods yet, but it looks promising,” he replied.
A small sigh of relief came over me and then my phone lit up again.
“Are you ok?” he sent again.
“You know I’m not,” I replied.
“Sorry.”
I closed the screen not replying. I was angry but not really at Jason for not telling me that he could sense my feelings. I mean he should have told me when I found out he was the one who scratched me. I feel so embarrassed, so exposed to him now. How much was I able to block out so he did not know? I didn’t so much mind about Lachlan anymore, but to find out the guy you are crushing on can feel all your emotions, excitement, feelings? Well, it is just too much. Especially when I don’t get the same privileges. I was going to have to work on blocking each of them out. As soon as I figure out how I was going to do it.
The car slowed, and I looked out the back window to see why. We were passing the truck stop where Jason and I had stopped. Only this time, there were police cars scattered around with the lights flashing. I tried to see what was going on, but they blocked the view from inside where I had eaten dinner.
“We need to get back fast. I have a bad feeling about this,” Lachlan said, putting his foot down on the accelerator as soon as the truck stop and flashing cop cars were out of sight.
Chapter Three
I reached out to touch Nikkee’s hand, only to pull back from the chill. She looked dead. She was lying in a bed with a drip line in her arm, which had blood going directly into her veins. I could only hear a faint heartbeat and see a slight rise of her chest to let me know she was still with us. I had never felt so relieved in all my life as I sat there looking at her pale skin.
I didn’t ask any more questions on the way back. I just sat there in horror at what I could see unfolding. For thousands of years, mythical creatures had been in hiding, and now they, we, would be exposed. Was that the part of the Prophecy that I was going to fulfil? If it was, I bet I was going to have more people wanting to kill me than before.
I sat back in the chair beside Nikkee’s bed, sucked in a deep breath and let it out. My life seemed to have gone from crazy straight to the insane asylum.
We went back to Lachlan’s house. It seemed strange that he even had one, since he didn’t look any older than 20, same as Jason. They were not supposed to seem so grown up and mature, yet they were.
Jason was not here when we turned up. Vex said he left him and Chelsi watching over Nikkee as he had to get more supplies.
I didn’t know who this girl was, but I knew she was a wolf; my irrational female side kicked in and all I wanted to do was punch her in the face when I was told she was in the car with Jason. I didn’t like feeling that way. I didn’t even know what Jason was to me and what I was to him. We never spoke about anything to do with us, yet he had shown me he felt the same as I did. I kind of thought it made us exclusive, though I knew I was being naïve. I still felt out of his league and unable to match up to his other girlfriends. My feelings for him grew with every moment he was gone, but I couldn’t help wondering if his did too. Was he distancing himself from me? Knowing what I was feeling and pretty much thinking? Would he know that I was not going to be like his other girlfriends, did that make him want to go be with someone else? Someone like Chelsi?
“God, snap out of it,” I said to myself.
A knock came at the door. I knew it was Vex. I could hear him walking in the direction of the room.
“Come in,” I said in a normal voice. I knew he was able to hear me no matter how quiet I would say it.
The door opened, and he closed it behind him. He was tall, though not as muscular as Garth. His facial features were slim and lean. He looked about thirty years old, with sandy blond hair that was cut short like Jason’s. His blue eyes looked so sad, just as they did in my dreams.
He pulled a chair over to where I was sitting and sat down.
“Garth told me he dropped a bit of a bomb on you,” he said.
I just raised my eyebrows. “Dropping a bomb is a bit of an understatement, more like a nuclear warhead,” I said flatly.
“I need to tell you something too,” he said.
I looked at him, “What?”
I really wasn’t in the mood for any more nukes, bombs or questions. My head was full of enough clutter.
“’A time will come when one will father and one will nurture. You will bear no more before or after. Only when she is ready to accept, will you be able to make yourself known to her. Look to Sab to help guide you her way. Her hope depends on it and all our fates will rest on her shoulders.’ That was the last Prophecy my dear Carra ever made while I held her close to me as her soul slipped through my fingers,” Vex said in a sad voice.
I reached my hand out placing it on his arm, for comfort. I could tell he was upset. I didn’t know him, he was a stranger and yet I felt a connection and the need to help ease his pain.
“It was my child whom Carra carried in her womb the day that we all changed. We had been trying for a child for so long, but she never made it far. Sherra had told us that she could not carry a child without aid. Her body could not help it grow past a few months. We had all but given up. I still loved her dearly. She was my One, Trinity,” he said as a tear slid down his cheek.
“So Sherra gave the seed to Carra knowing it would help her carry her baby to full term?”
“Yes! It was the happiest day for us both when our daughter was born. The story you were told, that she hid her baby is a lie, we lived together and nurtured Sab, Eba and our child, Sherra. We named the child after her as a tribute for the sacrifice she made for us, giving us such a wonderful gift,” he said with pride and joy.
“So the Prophecy, you’re the one that will father?”
“No, I already had. Garth was the one to father. I am the one to nurture. All through time I have watched my descendants grow, love, have children of their own, and then die.”
“Were they not immortal as well?” I asked feeling curious.
“No. That was the down side of it. We watched our daughter grow, have her own child, and then pass from this world. The night Carra died, they also thought they had killed our last living descendant. They had not. The baby was hidden, soon found by the people in the village. That was the moment that the Prophecy was told to her enemies, as she saw her grandchild survive,” he said, pained.
“So none of them were immortals?” I asked.
“Yes and no. They did live a longer than normal life. Our daughter died at one hundred and sixty-two years old,” he said with a slight smile.
“So I am not an actual immortal?”
“You are because Garth is. Also, your mother was a direct descendant. She grew that magic in you. The seed of immortality was with you, it just took another to trigger it,” he said.
I looked down at Nikkee.
“But Garth is so old. It sounds creepy, him being with someone young,” I pointed out.
“And if you had not met Jason, and in one hundred years you finally did, what would you do?” he asked in an amused tone.
/> “I don’t know,” I replied honestly.
“Don’t be so hard on him. He also lost her,” he said sighing. “I hated Garth. I hated him with a passion. I blamed him for Carra’s death. The three of us were so close. Even though Carra was the leader, we all worked together for the best outcome for the people that were in our care. For hundreds of years, I hated him. By that time, the fluid between beast and monster had grown out of hand. It is both prejudice and petty. Now it is about who is the best monster to rule.”
“Why does there have to be a ruler? Why can it not be like before? Why does there have to be anyone to make the decisions? Why can’t we all just live in peace?” I asked.
“Everything needs to be governed Trinity, to help keep people in line. Garth and I have tried to keep the peace and govern our kind. They still get out of hand. That is when we decided to build ‘Mutual’,” he said with a smile.
“What is that? I heard Garth say that to the others.”
“It is a sanctuary where we all can try to co-exist together. Learn not to hate each other. It is also a school, a tutoring place for monsters and beasts who both want and need help coping in the outside world,” he told me.
“’Mutual’? It sounds fitting,” I said smiling.
“That is where we will be going after your friend is better.”
“I don’t need to go there,” I pointed out.
“It will be a home for you. You can help bring them all together,” he persisted.
“I have a home with Nikkee and her family,” I said sounding firm.
“She cannot go back there Trinity, and neither can you or Jason.”
“Why?”
“Because the police have been there looking for the three of you,” he said in a flat tone.
“What? Why would they be looking for us?” I asked puzzled.
“From what your friend Sky has said, it is your other friend Mark that has called the authorities. Sky can also not go home.”
I felt my jaw drop. What the Hell? Mark? Why would he do that?
“How can one-person cause so much chaos? Wouldn’t they just think he was crazy?” I asked with a frown.
“Not if he has proof like a phone full of pictures and recordings of Sky’s conversation with him, Jason and Lachlan talking about the changes you both went through.”
“Shit!” I said a little louder than I wanted.
Nikkee stirred slightly.
“So what, we are on the run now?”
“Until this blows over. It is probably better this way. Vampires are the main ones that can’t go back to their homes or families; the first few weeks of a change are extremely hard on them trying to resist eating everyone,” he said.
“It wasn’t hard for me,” I said still looking at my best friend.
“You are different Trinity,” he replied in a kind voice.
I turned to face him square on, “So does this make you my great, great, great, great grandfather?”
“Yes, but I am just Vex,” he said, giving me a smile.
“Did you know my mother?” I asked in a quiet voice.
“Not as well as Garth, we took turns protecting Carra’s legacy. That was how Garth was trying to make it up to me, even when he didn’t have to. Lachlan told me about the dream you had. I think that was Carra showing you,” he said.
“How many more prophecies are there?” I asked.
“Carra had a journal of sorts. She told me that a day would come when it would be shown to the one that needs her guidance. I think that will be you since you are her final descendant. Give it time she will guide you as she seems to have already,” he told me with a soft smile.
“You all seem to talk in riddles and leave me needing more answers than I did before we talked about something,” I said annoyed.
“Life is a riddle Trinity, sometimes one must choose their own path and their own answers to be given the right one.”
Chapter Four
I decided to curl up in the bed next to Nikkee. Vex had left me alone with her to collect my thoughts and process some stuff. He also told me I would be leaving in the morning. I was not sure if he was aware that I would not go anywhere without my best friend or not, but he is old so I presume he should know that.
I tried to imagine what ‘Mutual’ would be like. Would it be like a boarding school? Would Jason be there?
I reached down and pulled my phone out of my pocket and turned the screen on. I had no new messages or missed calls. A pain started rising in my chest thinking of Nikkee’s mum and dad. They were such good parents and would be going out of their mind with worry. Still, they had not messaged me or called to find out what was going on. A frown came over my face, wondering why?
“Hey,” came a croaky voice next to me.
I sat up fast and looked at Nikkee.
“Hey yourself,” I said with a big grin and then put my head on her chest and wiggled my arms around her, trying to give her the best hug ever in an awkward position.
“Your hair smells dirty and sweaty like really bad,” she said, the sound muffled in my long black hair.
“Sorry,” I said and lifted my head off her.
She looked at her arms and then at me.
“I was dying?”
“I know,” I simply replied.
“You saved me?”
“I’m not sure I think of it that way,” I admitted.
“Why not?” she asked as a small frown came over her face.
“I was selfish, I couldn’t bear the thought of not having you in my life and now I have turned you into a vampire,” I said in a quiet tone, feeling ashamed.
“Are you kidding me? This is awesome. I mean I felt kind of special being the only human around you all but now I’m in the IN crowd,” she said with a big grin.
Only Nikkee would see the bright side of the situation and I couldn’t help but grin back.
“You’re not mad at me then?” I asked.
“Oh my gawd Trinity, really? You know I would do the same for you,” she said and sat up fast wrapping her arms around me in an extremely tight hug.
My arms went around her automatically.
“I love you, Trin. I would have made the same selfish decision you did just so I didn’t have to live in a world without you,”
I smiled in her neck. I knew deep down, she wouldn’t be mad, but the look that was on Jason’s face when he’d seen what I had done made me think that I was the monster I feared being.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Really good. I got to tell you, I had some strange dreams while I was out,” she told me.
“About what?” I asked and sat with my back against the wall.
“That someone was telling you Garth was your dad and how we can’t go home.”
“Oh, that,” I said and then added, “It wasn’t a dream, you were over hearing Vex talking with me and what you heard is apparently true.”
“Are you kidding?”
“No.”
I filled Nikkee in on everything I learned and had been told. She listened intently and barely batted an eyelash. She seemed to be handling everything really well, more so than I was.
“So Jason can feel your feelings and now you can sense mine?” she asked.
The door opened with a loud bang against the wall.
“Nikkee?” Jason breathed. He looked at me and then back to Nikkee. “We have to go. Leave your phones. Can you walk?” he asked her.
“Yes, I think I can, I feel great. What’s going on?” she asked a bit panicked.
“The FBI are on their way to this location now. We have to leave. Don’t bring your phones, they are being traced,” he said. He walked over to the bed at a fast speed, pulled the IV out of Nikkee’s arm and helped her up.
I climbed off the bed and stood there watching them walk out of the room.
“Hurry, Trinity,” Lachlan called out.
I looked at my phone that I still had in my hand and then tossed it on the bed and
raced out of the room.
Nikkee had gone in the car with Jason, Sky, and Chelsi while I was in the SUV with Lachlan and Vex.
We had left the house without even shutting any doors behind us. We pulled onto the highway and noticed a stream of blazing lights heading off in the direction we had just come from.
“What are we going to do?” I asked.
“We will get to ‘Mutual’ and figure it all out from there,” Lachlan said next to me in the back seat.
“How far away is it?” I asked.
“A few hours,” Vex replied.
“Okay. Where is Garth?”
“He left a few hours ago. They found the bodies Trinity, and also Dustin,” Lachlan told me.
“Is he…?” I could not say it. I had only met him once, but he seemed to be an okay guy.
“No, he is not. I would feel it if he was,” Vex said.
“Our species have been discovered,” Lachlan added.
“That’s part of the prophecy. I would bring the enemies out of hiding. It makes sense that this would happen,” I said in a calm tone.
Lachlan just looked at me and I felt Vex’s eyes from the rear view mirror as well.
“We are not the enemy,” Lachlan pointed out.
“No, but you are also cut from the same cloth of those that are and were,” I said, but not knowing why I was even saying it like that.
“She is right,” Vex cut in.
“What?” asked Lachlan in an amused tone.
“Oh yeah, you watch yourself. I’m all smart and shit since I decided to be who I am destined to be,” I said with a smirk on my face.
“So you won’t defy destiny, but you will defy me?”
“Who said I’m not defying destiny? I’m still the same person I was twenty-four hours ago.”
Chapter Five
The drive seemed to be taking forever. I was trying to concentrate and not let my mind wander and dwell on the things that have me feeling so uptight. I kept sneaking glances at Lachlan to see if he was sensing anything, but he did not give anything away and I knew he would not.