by Mindy Majors
“Sometimes things are not as they seem old friend.”
“Well then, why don't you explain it to me?” Daire challenged.
“That would take time, a luxury that you don't have at the moment. Symarah is out there in the dark, alone and unprotected. I will say this though, you are acting awfully jealous for someone who has no intention of sticking around after this is all over. You can't ignore her and then get angry when she seemingly shows interest in someone else, it's not fair. You can't have it both ways.”
“This isn't over,” Daire hissed, as he flashed himself to Symarah's side.
“Take my hand, I'll flash you home,” Daire ordered.
“Don't touch me, and don't tell me what to do,” she snapped as she jerked her hand away.
“That's right, you prefer to be touched by Jareth now,” Daire scolded.
“What do you care?” Symarah said defiantly. “You don't want me, you've been avoiding me for over a month now. You got what you wanted and now you're done with me. You don't have the right to tell me who I should or should not sleep with. You can't have it both ways Daire.”
She knew he hadn't used her for sex, but she was so hurt and angry that she couldn't help but lash out at him to try to hurt him back.
Daire was crushed to know that she thought he had used her for sex. If the situation was different he would leave her to walk home, but no matter how pissed off he was he couldn't let Vaiden get to her.
“You can't walk home alone, it's not safe.”
“I don't care, leave me alone.”
“Vaiden will kill you.”
“Let him try, I'm not as weak and helpless as you think I am.” She shot him a dirty look.
“I don't have time for this,” Daire said as he placed his hand on her shoulder and flashed her back home.
“I told you not to touch me.”
“Believe me, that will be the last time I do,” Daire said.
“Go to hell!” she yelled at him as she headed for her bedroom.
“I'm already there,” he shot back as he headed to the guest room on the lower level.
CHAPTER 12
“I don't see why I have to be here,” Conner groused.
“Because we need all the backup we can get in case Vaiden attacks,” Duncan reminded him. “Just smile, and try to have a good time.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Look, the wedding only lasts what, an hour, and then we get to spend the rest of the night dancing and having fun.”
“That's easy for you to say, you somehow convinced Kassie to be your date for the evening,” Conner complained.
“Just because you don't have a date doesn't mean you can't have fun. Look around, there are lots of beautiful women here, some of them are bound to be single,” Duncan encouraged.
“That's true. Where are Daire and Jareth?” Conner asked.
“After they flashed themselves in, they scanned the place for signs of trouble, and then decided to sit up in the second floor balcony where there are no windows,” Duncan explained, gesturing toward the balcony. “When we get to the reception hall we are to text Daire on his cell when the restroom is empty, and he and Jareth will flash in. There are no windows inside the hall, so they should be fine till sundown.”
The wedding was fairly short, but beautiful. The bride wore a gorgeous gown with cap sleeves, a sweetheart neckline, and an empire waist. The beading was exquisite, and the hem line fell in a small arch over the bride’s feet, to show off her shoes, which were absolutely stunning. The groom and groomsmen all wore black, with crimson to match the bridesmaids, whose dresses were much the same as the brides, only without the beading. After the ceremony was over and the reception was in full swing, Kassie and Symarah excused themselves from the rest of the wedding party to go sit with Duncan and the guys.
“This must be the sexy table,” Kassie said as she sat down next to Duncan, “look at all these gorgeous guys.”
Symarah sat between Kassie and Conner, with Daire and Jareth sitting across from her.
“You look beautiful,” Duncan said, as he kissed Kassie on the cheek.
“Is there something you're not telling us?” Jareth asked.
“We wanted to wait till things calmed down before we told you but, we are a couple,” Duncan confirmed.
“I knew there was something going on between you two,” Conner said.
“How could you have known? We were very careful,” Duncan said.
“I know you well brother, I recognize the signs.”
“Did you know?” Kassie asked Symarah.
“I suspected, but I wasn't sure.” Symarah smiled. “I'm very happy for you both, you really are perfect for each other.”
“Thanks,” Kassie said as she hugged Symarah. “Okay, enough of the sappy stuff; my sister rented the hall for the entire night so let's party.”
“Aren't you two going to dance?” Duncan asked Conner and Jareth.
“I'm not dancing with him, he never lets me lead,” Conner said with a smirk.
“You're not my type anyway,” Jareth shot back, “I prefer brunettes.”
“Yeah, you're both freaking hilarious,” Duncan said sarcastically.
“Funny, I thought you preferred black hair,” Daire muttered. He knew he shouldn't have said it but he couldn't help himself. He was still angry at them both for their betrayal. Jareth had sworn there was nothing going on between them but if that was true, then why couldn't he explain what was really going on, and why didn't Symarah deny it? All she had said was that he had no right to tell her who she could or could not sleep with.
“Now is not the time to discuss this,” Jareth warned.
“I think I found the girl for you Conner,” Kassie said, changing the subject, hoping to avoid a scene. “She's smart and funny. Plus she's hot and she loves a guy that can make her laugh. She's over there by the bar, in the blue dress, her name is Fiona.”
Symarah was grateful to Kassie for trying to keep the peace. She was still angry at Daire for his insulting accusations, but Jareth was right, this was neither the time nor the place for such things.
“I've found someone for you as well Jareth,” Kassie said, pointing toward the brides table.
“Your sister? Correct me if I'm wrong but I think she might be married,” Jareth joked.
“Not Adalind, smart ass, the one she's talking to. That is Ava, she's the perfect girl for you.”
“He's already found the perfect girl,” Daire interrupted, looking straight at Symarah. He didn't know what was wrong with him, he knew he shouldn't be saying these things right now. He didn't want to ruin Kassie's sister's wedding but he couldn't seem to stop himself.
Symarah got up and ran from the table in the direction of the ladies room. It tore her apart to know how little he thought of her. How could he think that everything they had shared meant nothing to her, that he meant nothing to her?
“That is it!” Kassie declared, as she grabbed Daire by the arm and dragged him off toward the bathrooms. “What is your problem?” She demanded an explanation.
“I guess you don't know what's going on between Symarah and Jareth,” Daire replied.
“Oh, I know exactly what's going on between them; nothing that's what.”
“You weren't there. I saw them, she was on top of him. They were both covered in sweat from …”
“Training,” Kassie interrupted him, “they were sweaty from training. Symarah asked Jareth to train her to fight like the day walkers so that she could defend herself against the unden and maybe even the demmic. She felt really guilty about what happened to Conner, and if anything would have happened to those kids she could never have forgiven herself.”
“She was on top of him, I thought...”
“You never thought to ask, did you?” Kassie interrupted again. “You just assumed the worst about her, and your own best friend. I think you should know them both better than that. And just to set the record straight, the only reason she was on top of h
im is because she was finally able to counter his attack and knock him on his ass, which is exactly what I should be doing to you right now, you bullheaded, arrogant, jerk.”
“Why didn't she tell me?”
“She shouldn't have to, should she?” Kassie scolded, as she stormed off toward her table.
Daire felt awful. He was relieved that there was nothing going on between Jareth and Symarah but Kassie was right, he should have known them both better than that. He just got so jealous when he saw them together. He felt like such an idiot.
“Symarah was right, I am an ass,” Daire muttered to himself as he walked over and knocked on the door to the ladies room. “Can I come in?”
“It's not like I can stop you,” Symarah replied.
Daire pushed open the door and stepped inside. “Kassie told me what really happened.”
Symarah was quiet.
“I'm sorry,” Daire said.
Still she said nothing.
“You were right, I am an ass. I don't know why I got so jealous, I was just so angry and hurt when I saw you with him.”
“You were hurt, what about me? You basically called me a whore Daire, not to mention what you did to Jareth,” Symarah scolded him. “You should have...”
“Known better, I know,” Daire finished her sentence. “It was just so hard avoiding you, being so close to you and not being able to talk to you, feel your touch, taste your sweet kiss. It was torture watching you talk and laugh with everyone else. And then when I saw you with him I just...”
“Went bat crap crazy? Yeah, I noticed,” Symarah interrupted. “Look Daire, I know there's more to what's going on than what you and Jareth are telling me, I'm not stupid. You've been avoiding me like the plague since you found out about the necklace. You already knew that Vaiden was using me to try and get to you, you can't expect me to believe that finding out he used the necklace to do it is what's causing your little change of heart.”
“I'm trying to protect you.”
“Well stop trying. You can't protect me from everything Daire.”
“I just don't want you to get hurt,” Daire said.
“I'm not made of glass, I don't break that easy. I'm a lot stronger than you give me credit for. I know you are avoiding me because you don't plan on sticking around after Vaiden is dead, but I would rather spend what little time we have left together making amazing memories that I can cherish when you're gone, than to lose you now and have nothing to show for it when you do leave. Why can't we just enjoy the time we have left? If you could spend just one more day with Meissen, would you say no to avoid the pain of losing her again or would you take that day and fill it with as much joy as you could? If it were me, I would take that day and I would cherish it above all things.”
She had no idea how close to the truth she was. Daire knew she was right, she was always right; he knew that he was just being selfish, avoiding her out of fear, fear of the pain he would feel when he had to leave her. She was willing to endure the pain of lost love just to be with him, even if only for a few more days, but yet he was so selfish that he would deprive himself of the one thing he had longed for since the day she died, just to avoid the pain of losing her again.
“You are right, I was being selfish. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
“And a coward,” Symarah chided.
“Yes, and a coward,” Daire agreed.
“And apparently a bullheaded, arrogant, jerk.” Symarah smiled a little.
“So you heard that did you?”
“It was hard not to, she really let you have it,” Symarah said, facing him for the first time since he had entered the room, but still not looking him in the eye.
“I deserved everything she said, and more, so much more. I may be a god Symarah but I am far from perfect.” He walked over to her; placing his finger under her chin, he raised her gaze to his. He looked deep into her stunning blue eyes, “I beg of you, please forgive me.”
“No,” she said as she smiled and lightly punched his arm. “Jerk.”
He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “Now, to quote a wonderful lady and an amazing friend, enough of the sappy stuff, let's party,” Daire joked, repeating what Kassie had said earlier that evening.
Daire and Symarah went back to join Kassie and the others at their table.
“Are we all good now?” Duncan asked.
“We're good,” Symarah said. “Thank you Kassie.”
“Hey, someone had to set him straight, and you know me.” Kassie smiled.
“I'm sorry I...”
“Tried to kill me,” Jareth finished Daire's sentence for him. “Don't worry about it.”
“No, I should have known that you would never betray me. We have been friends for far too long. I was acting like a...”
“Bullheaded, arrogant, jerk,” Jareth interrupted with a smirk, “I know.”
“Is there no one who didn't hear me get my ass chewed out by an 80 pound girl?”
“I weigh a hundred and twenty pounds I'll have you know. What do I look like, a stick figure?” Kassie groused.
“So I take it I'm forgiven?” Daire asked.
“Of course you are forgiven,” Jareth replied.
“I hate to break up this little bro-mance you two have got going on here but I have some dancing to do,” Kassie said, as she got up from the table and took Duncan's hand.
“I could never stay mad at you, I love you man,” Daire said in a sappy girl voice.
“I love you too man,” Jareth replied in that same voice.
“Get a room,” Kassie teased, rolling her eyes and leading Duncan off toward the dance floor.
After the reception was over they all went back to Symarah's house. The guys decided that it would be best if the day walkers stayed there until this was all over. Symarah set them up in her other guest rooms, next to Daire and Jareth on the lower level. Conner had gone to bed as soon as his room was ready and Jareth retired to his room as well. Kassie and Duncan had gone off toward Kassie's bedroom on the second floor. It was two in the morning and Symarah wasn't ready for bed yet so she and Daire decided to take a stroll along the winding paths that traversed her property.
“This is the far northwestern corner of my land,” Symarah said. “Just on the other side of that hedge, is where the neighbor's yard begins. I'm told that the previous owner had an 8-foot fence built around the entire back yard, with three gates along the back of the property, one in the middle and one on either end, with paths leading to the private beach. Supposedly he kept the gates closed and locked at all times. I had them removed shortly after I purchased the house.”
“If the whole place is surrounded by fences and locked gates, why have an 8-foot tall hedge surrounding the back yard as well; you can't even see the fence?” Daire questioned.
“The fence was to keep people out, and the hedge was to keep the paparazzi from taking pictures through the fence, although I'm not sure how much they could have seen through all the trees and Spanish moss.”
“Paparazzi, who lived here before you?”
“Alexander Knight, if you believe the rumors that is.”
“The famous author; is that why you bought this house?” Daire asked.
“No, I bought the house because I love the landscaping, the winding paths, the statues, the trees,” she smiled fondly, “and the private beach of course.”
“Of course,” Daire grinned, as they began slowly walking back toward the house. Just then, a loud clap of thunder rumbled and a flash of lightning lit the sky. “We should get back, before the storm hits,” he said.
“You can go if you want, I'll be in after a bit,” Symarah said.
“You're not coming? You'll be drenched if you stay out in this weather.”
“It's only water,” she laughed. “Besides, I like walking in the rain. I always go out when it storms, I love how spooky the trees are, and the thunder and lightning make it even more eerie.”
Symarah was right, it was very ee
rie. This would be a perfect set for a movie about ghosts or a haunted house.
“Can I ask you something, Daire?” Symarah said, as they strolled along the stone path.
“You can ask me anything caria.”
“You said that you have to drink blood every three days or you will die, whose blood do you drink?”
“Some choose to take blood from mortals. They find someone to drink from and they put them in a deep sleep. They take only what they need to survive and then they erase all memory of themselves. The victim awakes, feeling rested and refreshed. Others who choose not to feed directly from a victim receive their blood from Athena.”
“They drink Athena's blood?” Symarah was shocked.
“No, she collects the blood from humans; some of the day walkers volunteer their blood as well.”
“What do you mean, how does she collect the blood?”
“I'm not sure exactly, when she needs blood she simply waves her hand in front of the empty bottles and they are instantly full. I know she doesn't take so much from any one person that it would hurt them. Every third day, what looks like a bottle of red wine, will appear while we sleep, kind of like auto ship,” Daire joked. “Jareth and I choose to receive our blood from Athena.”
“Could you take your blood from me … without putting me to sleep?” Symarah asked.
“To take blood from a willing partner, one who is awake, is a very sensual experience and is usually performed during the act of sex,” Daire explained. “It is an act of intimacy and is said to be intensely pleasurable to both parties.”
“You've never done it?” Symarah was surprised.
“In the beginning the cursed Atlanteans drank from one another; eventually, once we started to leave Atlantis, we were forced to find victims to drink from, but I've never drank from someone who was awake.”
Symarah was relieved to know that Daire had chosen to get his blood from Athena. She wasn't sure why, but the thought of him drinking another woman's blood, even if she wasn't awake, made her very jealous, almost like he would be cheating on her. She leaned in and kissed him gently. “I love walking along the paths at night, it's so peaceful and beautiful,” she sighed as she gazed up at the night sky. She was still wearing her bridesmaids dress, but she and Daire had both left their shoes by the front door.