"The only thing I'll do is get you two to the hospital and then far away from that bastard.” I ground my teeth together and surveyed the room. Pictures of Celeste and her family aligned the walls and shelves. The one with her and Jeremy drew my attention because of the sincere, happy expressions beaming on both their faces.
"I want you to take Celeste to her aunt's house."
Celeste and I met Tamara's stare. She smiled, though it looked sad and forced, and pushed a tendril of auburn hair back behind her ear as if it was the one thing out of place on her body. I shook my head no, and the women glanced up at me.
"I'm not leaving you, Mom. If I'm going, so are you."
Tamara ran her thumb over her daughter's swollen lip. Her lips trembled and her voice cracked with emotion. “I promised myself if he ever hurt you I would get you out of here, no matter what."
"I can take you, too, Tamara.” I bent down. Her strong blue eyes met mine, and I could see the pain within them. “We need to get you to a hospital first. I won't feel content until I hear that you're fine."
Tears muffled her soft words. “I'm going to die regardless of what I do."
Celeste picked up Shadow and held him to her chest, and she bit down on her lip. Tamara touched her back, but she winced and drew away from the tenderness. “The doctor said you could have an operation,” she said, directing the attention away from the abuse she'd just endured.
My mind spun with questions. A huge clump of emotion collected in my throat.
"They said the tumor in most cases is inoperable and that it would be best if I didn't choose that option.” Tamara patted Celeste's hand. She glanced back at me. “I have a brain tumor, Cameron."
I swallowed hard and looked away. Was I in a never ending nightmare? Tumors weren't meant for people like Tamara. With all this family had been through—was still going through—it just didn't seem fair.
"Please, Cameron.” Cold fingers touched my hand. “She can't stay here."
I bit down on my tongue, wanting to fight her on this, yet not having the strength.
"I don't know.” The thundering of my heart made my chest feel tight and heavy. What she asked of me could be justified by the fact that fear penetrated this household in a deathtrap.
"Celeste likes you, I can see that. Will you please help her?"
I marveled at her trust—the fact that she handed it over to me without hesitation. I saw the feeling reciprocated as trust, pain, and even more tears etched her face. Rather than wipe the emotion streaming down her cheeks like I wanted to, I nodded.
"Will you take her tonight?"
Celeste's apprehensive blue eyes met mine, shining like the depths of the sea during the calm before a storm. Her body trembled as the black bundle of fur lay on her chest. I stared at her tender back, though she tugged the shirt down when she noticed. A quiet yelp of pain escaped her lips.
"This can't be my decision and it can't be yours, Tamara. It has to be Celeste's."
A long pause took over and none of us moved.
"I can't leave you, mom. The only way I'll go is if you do too."
Tamara looked at me as if to say that I needed to explain it to her. I shook my head. I didn't want to be a part of this separation. Their mother daughter bond was all they had, and I hated thinking I might have to leave one here to die.
"Tell me what your decision is.” Picking myself up off the floor, I walked out into the hall. “I need some fresh air.” I walked through the house, though I felt as if someone watched my every move. It made my skin crawl, and I scratched at my throat.
I stepped outside, thankful to see the truck gone. An icy chill wrapped itself around me, and I shivered. I found comfort and peace in Montana's summer, yet this feeling was something other than weather. I cupped my hands and blew into them, willing the warmth to return.
Movement across the street in the neighbors’ yard drew my attention, and I braced myself for the worst case scenario. Picking up the potted plant, I stood, ready. My heart raced, and the sweat on my palms felt as slick as butter. If it's Paul, I'll kill him!
The figured emerged from the shadows, and my fingers clenched on tighter to the pathetic weapon. Only when the moonlight hit his strong face did I breathe a sigh of relief.
"I could've killed you."
"Not likely.” Jeremy's eyes flashed to the plant.
I thought about shouting to Celeste and Tamara, so that they could see him, but something restrained me from doing so. The pale face revealed blood on the edges of his mouth. No, I will definitely not bring this to those women's minds.
"I had to feed.” He circled around me, his direction focused on the ground. “I should've been here!” His whispered hiss filled me with dread, yet I didn't dare to intrude on his thoughts. “If I had been though,” he muttered, before a deep laugh and a growl of anger took over, “I would've drained his blood instead.” His eyes shot up to seek mine. “Every last drop."
I nodded, frightened to ever cross him. “So what do we do?"
"Celeste has to go with you. My mother...” His voice split, and I thought he might cry. All hints of him being some powerful vampire faded away. “My mother must choose her own path. Whatever that is, I will support her."
"They both deserve to know you're alive."
"Once you leave with my sister, I plan on talking with my mom. I must wait."
"Your sister is really sick because of you!” The image of Celeste dumping her plate in the sink after a few bites flashed in my mind. I wondered how someone like me could help her. “I don't think I can take her. After what your disappearance has done to—"
"Cameron, she's always been this way. She uses me as a crutch is all."
I sighed, knowing that very well could be true. If only she didn't have to lose two thirds of her family in a year. A new idea came to mind, and I clenched onto the sleeve of his black jacket. “Your mother, you can change her, and then everything will be all right."
Jeremy shook his head without hearing my words, his hypnotic stare intimidating me. His black locks blew in the wind, and the breeze carried the scent of blood to my nostrils. You don't even know what blood smells like. Stop being paranoid!
"How can you sit back and watch her die?” I yelled into the moonlight, putting my insignificant thoughts aside. The idea of Tamara dying made me sick, and I'd known her for a day. Why could her son not see that good people like her deserved to see old age?
He glared at the moon. “I wouldn't wish this curse on my worst enemy."
"But your mother's going to die."
"Better to die than be forced to live in evil."
I thought about it, coming to no arguments of my own. I couldn't imagine Tamara's purity in the form of a vampire. Were Jeremy's crimes as a creature of the night beyond my understanding?
Shaking my head, I cleared those thoughts. Celeste, how can I help her?
"What will I tell your sister when you die for real?” His face didn't crack and that made me angrier. “Do I explain how her brother was an idiot who wouldn't visit when he could?"
"It's harder to kill vampires than you think. Their resiliency has mutated over time.” Jeremy left it at that, and when the front door of his house opened up, he vanished into the darkness.
"You have to promise that you won't make me do something I'm uncomfortable with.” Celeste's body leaned against the doorframe with her arms folded tightly against her stomach. The black hooded sweatshirt was gone. A loose fitting, white tank top took its place.
"I would never pressure you into doing anything.” The fact that she thought I might stung, and I looked back at my car to collect myself. “All I care about is getting you away from your father. No man should take it upon himself to hit a woman. Only weak, selfish men do."
"Any woman who expects a knight in shining armor to save her is a fool."
I nodded. It wouldn't be easy convincing her that I wasn't out to hurt her. “Yeah, but those same women need to accept help when it's offered. Wil
l you trust that all I want is to help you?” I took a breath of fresh mountain air. “I would never think of placing you in harm's way, and if you ever felt like you wanted to escape me or a situation, I would be fine with that."
"I'm so tired of being alone,” she cried, resting her forehead against the house.
It took all my strength to not climb the stairs and scoop her up. I couldn't begin to know what she had been through. First, her brother left, then she learned of her mother's tumor, and finally this night arrived, bringing a thousand different nightmares to reality.
"I'd like to help you say goodbye to Shadow."
She sighed, tears gleaming in her eyes. “I'll go pack."
When I walked around to the back yard, I found a fresh dug hole and Jeremy standing next to it. “I gave her that cat, to protect her from all her fears.” He smiled. “After being gone for two months, I came home. Seeing my sister sob in my bedroom filled me with the deepest kind of guilt imaginable."
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
A quiet acceptance displayed on his face. “The cat was the first thing to make Celeste smile after my disappearance. The moment they made eye contact while I watched from behind a tree, I knew everything would be all right."
"It isn't though, is it?"
He shook his head. “Many vampires are set on acquiring my blood."
"What does that mean?"
"The way to kill a vampire is with their own blood. It's complicated.” He sighed. “My blood has been tasted by only one vampire, the one who turned me. If she were still alive, she'd be able to kill me."
"So you can't die?"
He shook his head. “Celeste will be a match, or as close to one as needed. My enemies have put a price on her head. Once they have her blood, the wrong hangnail could kill me."
"Fight fire with fire?"
"Exactly."
"What have you done that is so bad?” I asked, daring myself to learn the truth.
"I'm trying to stop them."
The creak of the back door startled me, and by the time I turned back to Jeremy, he was gone. Tamara carried a small box; Celeste held the cat pressed up against her heart. They wandered over to me.
"Thanks for doing this, Cameron."
I allowed my lips to curve up for a split second at Tamara.
"I don't want to say goodbye.” Celeste sobbed. “To either of you."
Tamara hugged her daughter from behind, and I turned away from the heartfelt goodbye. I don't want to do this. I leaned my body against the house. Minutes passed, and I wondered if Celeste had changed her mind.
I faced them just as she placed a kiss on Shadow's forehead and laid him in the box. Her mother closed it up and crouched down to place it in the hole. She stood up and stared down at the resting place for the cat.
"I can't lose you, too, mom.” Celeste broke the silence. The summer air dried her face, though her stare remained fixed on Shadow's grave. “You're going to the hospital."
I picked up the shovel next to me and began filling the hole.
* * * *
A half hour later the three of us stood next to my car with a trunk full of luggage, waiting for the ambulance to arrive for Tamara. At a loss for words, I watched the two women struggle with losing each other.
When my cell phone rang, I hurried to fetch it out of my pocket.
"Your travel plans are in the car.” Jeremy's commanding voice instructed. He left no time for me to answer. “The keys for the cabin will be in the mailbox. Keep Celeste there until I contact you again."
"What are you talking about? I'm going home."
"Cameron, you have to trust me.” With that, the line went dead.
A tap on my shoulder made me flinch, and I spun around. Celeste stared at me, her big, blue eyes numb of any emotion. She opened the door and attempted to get in. Something stopped her and she spun around back to her mother.
Tamara gave her one last hug and kiss on the forehead. “I love you so much."
Celeste whispered the same back before entering my car and shutting the door.
Tamara rubbed my arm, and her face lit up. “Cameron, I prayed for someone like you, someone who'd look after her—a man who could undo all the damage Paul has done to her."
I clenched my jaw, scared I'd disappoint her. Why did she have to place her faith in me? If not for my presence in their home earlier, maybe this all could have been avoided. It stung and made me feel guilty for a thousand different reasons.
"When Jeremy disappeared, she got sick. I know you picked up on that at dinner.” She whisked her auburn hair off her face. Her tall, well-built body seemed frail now. The idea of death claiming this amazing woman made me sick. “She doesn't eat much. She sleeps maybe a couple hours a night, if that."
I looked inside the car at Celeste. I didn't want my suspicions about the girl to be true. She was far too young to be experiencing that kind of anger and sorrow. The suppression of those feelings could kill her and seal the same fate her mother faced.
"When Paul found out, he didn't understand, of course. One day when she changed into a swimming suit, he said something I won't ever forget, No guy will want you when they see you like that, girl.” Tamara changed her tone of voice to mimic her husband's.
I opened my mouth to tell her how awful that was when she raised her hand.
"No wait, there's more.” She cleared her throat and dropped her chin down to emulate the double chin of her husband's. “Why don't you kill yourself the fast way and save everyone the drama of dealing with you? Of course there are other instances, but this memory hurts more than most."
My jaw dropped. My hatred for Paul changed to loathing, the strongest type of loathing I'd felt for any one human being in a long time. It must've shown on my face because Tamara put her hand on my cheek and stroked my skin.
"Celeste clung to me from the time that she was born and has never stopped. The thought of her being left alone with her father and his brutal words fills me with a hell no mother should experience."
"You'd rather trust her with a perfect stranger?"
Her smile brightened. “Cameron, you're the angel I prayed for, remember?"
I replayed her mother's words as I stared at Celeste, fast asleep in the seat next to me. For all I knew, she faked her slumber, though she did look peaceful. When I had driven away from her home of twenty-three years, her face tensed, and even more tears collected on her face.
"I hate doing this,” I admitted to her in a soft voice.
"I know.” She stared at her mother standing on the corner, waving. “Me, too."
I had left Celeste to her thoughts after that. Her pillow cushioned her head, and she clung to the warm blanket brushing her shoulders. I gave a weak smile at the idea that this woman had never been held by a man before. I'm still not sure I can do this, Jeremy.
We had about three hours to go until we made it to the marked spot on the map. Why I followed through with everything that Jeremy wanted me to do I would never know. I think I saw something in his sister's face that begged me to trust him.
We'll spend a few days, a week maybe, at that cabin, and by the time we're traveling back through Celeste's home town, maybe Tamara will have reconsidered. The fact that I had my own plan eased some of the worries digging at my skull.
I reached over and opened the glove box. Searching for a few aspirin, I tried to be careful of not waking the girl. It seemed to work until I set the pill bottle down. The small noise roused Celeste, and she began to stir.
"What time is it?” she asked, stretching. The world around us shined a blossom of colors. Her beauty heightened in the sunrise, and I had to force myself to keep my eyes on the road.
"Almost six,” I answered. “I'm surprised you slept so long."
She ignored me, and I saw her eyes glued to a passing sign. “We're still in Montana?” Her face turned to me, and the innocent confusion made me feel guilty. “I thought you promised my mother you'd take me to my aunt's house in Kentuc
ky."
I panicked and feared I would say something to upset her. “Celeste, I need to take care of some things first. I promised to visit my friend's family while in Montana, and then there's this cabin rental.” My fingers searched for the brochure. I gave a silent prayer of thanks when I found it.
She grabbed the leaflet of cabin pictures from my fingers. “Cameron, keeping your vacation plans makes no sense. I mean, what am I supposed to do while you're relaxing? I can't sit around and do nothing."
"Maybe you need a break from real life too.” I smiled.
"You sound like my brother,” she said, leaning back against the pillow.
"What do you think happened to him?"
She sighed and looked out the window. “I think he's still around. I just don't understand why he won't come see us.” She pulled the blanket tighter around her bare arms, and I reached down to turn on the heat. “Jeremy always wanted the best for me."
Her eyes met mine and I gave a dumb shrug.
We passed a convertible full of teenage boys, who gawked at Celeste. I gritted my teeth when they started catcalling, and turned up the radio. Her fingers touched my hand, and I had to keep from flinching.
"This must be really hard on you. Do you have any daughters?"
Ouch! She would never see me in the way Jeremy wanted her to. I shook my head. “My ex-wife told me I was the only child she could handle.” I let out a nervous laugh. “If I act like a complete idiot, you can't say you weren't warned."
The next few hours consisted of minimal conversations and a lot of awkwardness. I didn't have the first clue what a woman her age liked talking about, let alone how to make her feel comfortable with me.
"Can we stop soon?” she asked, interrupting my thoughts.
I nodded. “There's a town up ahead. Is that okay?"
She smiled at me, then returned her gaze out the window.
Five minutes later I pulled into a small town and drove to the nearest gas station. The place was packed, and I felt lucky to find an empty spot to fill up my car. Shutting off the engine, I stepped out and stretched. Celeste did the same, though she looked much sexier doing it in the white tank and jeans.
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