by Dawn Gray
“You didn’t have to snap.” Bobbie whispered.
“Yeah, well. I’ll apologize later.” I replied.
“Tell me about him.”
“About who?” I asked quickly, looking at her, and then I closed my eyes again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Justin.”
“What makes you think I know anything about him? You’re keeping him away from me, that is all I know.”
“Then why do you look so different this morning or afternoon such is the case.” Bobbie said softly. She pulled the covers from my neck, and then pulled down the shirt’s collar looking at skin.
“What are you doing?” I asked as I slapped away Bobbie’s hand.
“Looking for bite marks.” She replied. I turned over and looked at my cousin, a bit annoyed.
“Oh, is that it.” I replied and then nodded, as if I understood her perfectly. “You should check between my legs. They like the meat on the inside of the thigh. I hear it’s higher in protein.”
“Okay.” Bobbie said and stood up. “I’m only looking out for you.”
“Do me a favor.” I asked, looking at Bobbie. “Look after someone who might need looking after, like Taryn. You’re so worried about Justin that you’re not looking at the real danger. Cristian is his blood brother, and you know how it goes with family members. There’s not always just one black sheep.”
“Cristian has proved to us that he means no harm, vampire or not.”
“Yeah, well, you’ve never even given Justin a chance, Bobbie.”
“From what Cristian tells me, I don’t think a chance is what he needs. Maybe a full frontal lobotomy, but other than that, I’m not sure.” Bobbie stepped over to the door.
“You can’t judge something you’ve never even experienced before, Bobbie.” I sighed and turned over on my side. “And, you can’t go around trying to make people believe that there’s such a thing as a perfectly good vampire, because there’s no such thing. Sooner or later, Cristian’s going prove that to you and you better hope that Taryn isn’t at the receiving end of it.”
“Go to sleep, Sage.” Bobbie said softly. “Being lost in the woods, all alone, can take a lot out of you.”
“Yeah, and so can Cristian.” I said and looked at my cousin, who gave me a dirt look and closed the door. I inhaled deeply, and then let it out slowly, got up and walked over to the window. I looked through the foggy glass, and wondered where Justin might have hid himself that day.
I began to distance myself from Taryn and Bobbie. I would stay out later at night, not always with Justin though, and kept how I felt to myself. Bobbie began to worry, and as Taryn and Cristian drew closer together, in their relationship, she noticed how I moved further apart from them. She began to suspect that I knew something about the young man that even Taryn didn’t know, but she kept it to herself.
Chapter 7
August
Seven months later
I looked up from the letter in hand, and my eyes began to water, my mouth moved as if I wanted to form words, but nothing seemed to want to come out. Taryn walked into the room and looked at me. She watched as I placed a hand to my mouth, and then looked back down at the paper in front of me again.
“Sage?” Taryn asked. I turned quickly and wiped my eyes, and then I folded the letter and grabbed my suitcase. “What is it? What does it say?”
“I’m...I’m sorry, Taryn, but I have to leave.” I said softy and then looked at my friend. “Something’s come up and I have to go home.”
“This is your home.” Taryn replied. I shook her head.
“No, I have to go to Michael.” I answered. Taryn looked at me in shock and walked over to where I stood.
“Sage, this is insane.” Taryn said and took my arm. “You haven’t heard from Michael in almost six years, what’s so important that he would write now and want you back home?”
“He doesn’t know and all I know is that he wants me there. I have to go.” I zippered the bag and started to walk away.
“Wait!” Taryn yelled. I looked at her and tapped foot. “What about Justin?”
In all the confusion, I had forgotten to tell my friend that was leaving, and we had grown so close over the last eight months, just the thought made my heart race.
I had even convinced him to move into an apartment close by, but we had remained only friends, upon Justin’s sudden request. I nodded, thinking that this would be a good idea, and left the bag as I walked out the door.
Justin lived two houses down from us, and he didn’t seem to be home as I banged on the door. After only a few moments with no answer, a light came on in the room just beside the doorway and Justin’s new roommate of two weeks answered the door in his underwear.
“Hey, Sage, what’s up?” The half-sleeping young man asked.
“Justin? Is he home?” I questioned.
“Nah, he went out about an hour ago to the Ravenloft. It’s a club.” He replied.
“Thanks, but I know what it is.” I stepped away from the door, pulled my keys out of pocket and walked over to my car. I drove, as quickly as traffic would allow to the club at the north side of town. Once I was parked, I walked up to the bouncer and whispered Justin’s name and three power words in his ear. The bouncer stepped aside and let me through, as the crowd behind me booed.
I stood on the balcony, looking down at the people on the dance floor, as I scanned the crowd for Justin. I spotted him with Bobbie and Chris Tanner, along with three other people, sitting in a corner booth. As I made my way down, the words in Michael’s letter rang through my head. I had to leave soon, and this had to be quick.
I stepped up beside Justin, tapping him on the shoulder. He looked up at the urgency on my face and stood, quickly.
“What is it?” He questioned. I looked at Bobbie, quickly, feeling the odd emotions from her.
“I have to leave town.” I replied, looking back at him.
“Now, right now?” He asked, as I nodded. “Why? What’s the sudden urgency?”
“Michael wants me to come home.” I whispered.
“Did you say Michael wants you too? Michael who?’
“De Polyneices.” I said softly and watched his face turn sour.
“Let’s dance.” He said and grabbed my hand. He brought me out onto the floor, and even though the song that was playing was very fast, Justin pulled me close and together we swayed to it as if it were a slow love song. “Michael’s here?”
“No, not right here, anyway. He lives over near the town line, by Waterford.” I said softly and looked up into his eyes. “Is he the one?”
“The one what?” Justin asked and looked down at me.
“The one who hurt you so long ago?” I whispered to him.
“He’s the Michael that I mentioned.” Justin said and nodded, then closed his eyes. “Why are you going to him?”
“Well, it’s funny, actually.” I looked to the side and then back at him. “He’s sort of, well, what you might call a father to me.” I whispered. Justin stopped us from moving; staring at me a bit confused, and looked away for a moment before catching my eyes. “His blood is my blood, that sort thing.”
“Why didn’t you ever tell me that before?” Justin questioned.
“I didn’t think it would matter, really.” I replied and stepped back away from him. “But, I really must go now.”
“Please, don’t mention me to him.” Justin asked as he placed his hand on my hips and pulled me back to him. I started to sway gently once again.
“What’s with you and Bobbie?” I whispered and looked up at his face. “It’s been almost nine months since we met, you would have thought she would be over it by now, but she still insists that we’re seeing each other and that it has to stop.” Justin smiled, he leaned his head a bit to the side as he looked at me then his smile slowly faded.
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot, Sage.”
“I always think about you.” I said and batted my eyes, p
layfully.
“Would you come home with me tonight?” He asked softly. I closed my eyes and put my forehead against his chest. “I know you have to leave, but, I’m sure Michael can wait until the morning.”
“I’m confused.” I admitted softly.
“I know what I said, but I didn’t want you to have to explain us to your friends anymore. They’re still giving, you grief just for associating with me. Imagine how it would be if we were involved.” Justin sighed.
I stepped back and looked at him then looked at Bobbie, noticed the look on her cousin’s face, and went back at Justin.
“Judging by the look on Bobbie’s face, she thinks we are involved. Justin, I told you before that what we feel didn’t involve them. I thought I made it clear that I could care less about what they thought.” I moved back a couple more feet and looked him in the eyes. “Good bye, Justin.”
I walked away, getting lost in the crowd, and made my way out of the club. My eyes watered as I got into my car and drove back to the house. Cristian’s car was parked in front of the house when I pulled up. Slowly, I got out of the car and walked to the door and paused, not wanting to go up, not with him there, but just the thought of being close to Justin’s territory seemed to make me walk through the front door.
Cristian walked by without a word, as I walked up to the apartment. He looked at me quickly, with a look of concentration and impatience on his face, and then scooted out the door. I looked at Taryn when I walked in and the girl gave a mean face.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“What’s going on between you and Cristian?” Taryn asked. This made me stop and look at my friend.
“Nothing but detest, I assure you.” I smiled back, but saw that humor was not going to solve this one. “What is it, Taryn?”
“He’s leaving, just like you.” She replied. I looked at her, confused, and then it dawned on me. Of course, if my Michael were also Justin’s Michael than it would only figure that Justin’s blood brother would also be Michael’s blood brother. I shook my head. Why couldn’t I get rid of him?
“No, Taryn, I don’t think you understand.” I said and grabbed the suitcase. “They’re all connected.”
“Who?”
“Justin, Cristian, and Michael, they’re brothers and the reason that Cristian’s leaving in such a hurry, is because Michael asked him to come and see him, just like he did me.” I explained. “However, I don’t think that Cristian really realizes that Michael asked me to come home too.”
“Are you going?” Taryn asked.
“I have to.” I said and grabbed a pen and paper. I scribbled down Michael’s address and handed it to Taryn. “Wait two days, then grab Bobbie and come down. I’m sure Michael and the others won’t mind.”
“You’re sure?”
“Trust me.” I said and kissed my friend on the cheek. “I got to go.” I walked out the door, leaving Taryn standing there and stopped when I saw Cristian standing by my car. “What do you want?”
“Come with me.” Cristian asked, folding his arms across his chest. I laughed and shaking my head. “Why not?”
“We’re not exactly best friends, Cristian.” I said and unlocked the door to the car. I looked up at Cristian, who stood beside and smiled. “Besides, we’d probably kill each other before we get there. Hell, we’ll probably kill each other after we get there.”
“Why am I so bad?” Cristian asked. I straightened, sighed, and then looked at him.
“For nine months, you have been helping the others.” I said softly.
“He’s dangerous.”
“You just keep telling yourself that, Cristian. Keep saying that he’s dangerous, keep telling everybody that they need to stay away from him, try keeping me away from him.” I whispered and stepped closer to him. “And when you’re done, admit to yourself that you have some deep rooted emotional problems of your own to deal with.”
“You think you know it all.”
“I don’t think, I know.” I smiled. “People always told me that if someone tries so hard to keep something at bay it’s because they’re really afraid to face their own inner demons.” I placed a hand on his arm, moved very close to his face, and whispered. “What demons are you hiding?”
I backed up, closed the door to the car and walked away, down the street. Having no real destination point, I just kept going, not really watching where, until I looked up and found myself at Justin’s door. Reluctantly, I reached up and knocked. Justin’s roommate opened the door and stepped aside, letting me in without question.
“He won’t be back until after twelve. It’s still a couple hours away.” The young man said. I nodded my response, and followed him into the living room. “I’m sure he won’t mind if you wait in his room, if you want.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” I said softly and walked down the hallway. Slowly, I opened the door to Justin’s room, reached around the corner and flipped on the light then walked in and sat on his bed. The black silk sheets were cool against my skin and I closed my eyes as I lay my head on the pillow. It didn’t take me long to fall asleep.
My eyes opened slowly, surrounded by a white haze, and I knew it was a dream. There was no way that it could be real, for I stood in front of a large plantation house, like one out of the movie, “Gone with the Wind”. In the middle of the scene in front of me, was a large bomb fire, to my left, forming a horseshoe to my right was my family members, my aunt and uncle, Bobbie, Taryn, Chris Tanner, my parents, Michael, Cristian, and a young woman I didn’t know. Behind each one of them was a man, dressed in black, holding them in that spot.
Someone grabbed my arm, spun me around, and suddenly I was on the side of the house, looking up at Justin.
“Stay here, Sage.” He instructed. “You’ll be safe here, and no matter what you hear, don’t move from this spot.’
“What’s going on?” I asked him. He shook his head.
“Promise me that you’ll be safe.” he said and touched cheek.
“Justin, what the hell is going on?”
“Remember what I said. Stay here.” I watched him disappear around the house. That was when the horrible noises began. I turned to see my father with a flamethrower in his hand, walking in a circle, keeping the flying vampires away from us, which backed us into a tent, and I watched as people ran in different directions but were scooped up and carried away. I watched a man step closer and he smiled at me, and then threw an old fashion grenade in the tent.
“There’s no way out now.” He said and stepped away. Suddenly the tent was moving, as the bomb ticked away. I looked at my father, who stood by the back of the tent.
“Dad, we have to leave now.”
“There’s no reason, everyone’s dead.”
“No, dad, we have to go!” I said pulling on his arm. He snatched his arm away and flew out the tent. I looked around and watched the horror scene in front of me, too terrified to stay, but unsure of where to run. Quickly, as if my mind were made up, I started running, but was scooped off the ground. I could feel the wet lips of the vampire on my neck as we flew, and I screamed.
I sat up quickly then turned and looked at Justin, who was sitting next to me on the bed. Unsure of my reality, I touched my neck then looked around, and stopped at Justin’s deep brown eyes. My breathing slowed, and with a sigh, I pulled my legs up.
“What are you doing here?” Justin asked softly, looking me over.
“I don’t know.” I whispered and shrugged. “I was just walking and this is where I ended up.”
“Are you all right?”
“It...It was just a nightmare.” I said quietly, and lay back down on the bed, one leg hanging over the edge of the bed, next to Justin, and the other behind him, stretched out. “Justin, there’s something I think I need to tell you.” I sat up again, not moving my leg positions, and he smiled, as I licked my lips and put a hand on his neck, pulling him closer to me. Justin looked over my face as I brought him with me as I lay back down.
“You had something you wanted to tell me.” He said, smartly.
“I don’t want to lose you.” I whispered, and kissed him softly on the lips. He touched my cheek and looked into my eyes.
“You’re not going to lose me, Sage. I’m your friend.” He said as he kissed me softly on the cheek then over my skin, down my neck and to the other cheek. I closed my eyes and let him move closer to me, and then I stopped him, put a hand on either side of his face and looked him deep in the eyes.
“I don’t want to be just friends, anymore.” I told him. Justin scanned my face, saw the confidence I held there, the way I refused to let it go, and I could feel the want pouring off him. As he fought to find his words, I brought him to me and kissed him as I released him from my hands.
Justin moved his hands, slowly, from where they were and began to unbutton my shirt. He pushed it aside and looked over my light skin then looked up into my eyes. I smiled at him, then watched as he placed a hand on my neck, under my chin, then slowly and softly began to move it down over my bare skin, over the curves of my bare breast, and down over my stomach. His hand came to rest on my hip, and then he glanced at me as he kissed me passionately. I could do nothing but give into his touch, to his lips and into the fire that seemed to race through every vein in my body. My body ached for him, from being denied his closeness for so long, that I just got lost in him, for the rest of the night.