Sam pulled in the familiar garage and cut the engine, but he didn't get out though or make a move at all, he just sat there for a moment.
“Are we going to go in?” I asked after a minute.
“Ah… yeah, let's go,” he said, grabbing his bag and jumping out of the car.
I slowly climbed out of the Hummer with my school bag slung over one shoulder. Sam waited at the door that led to the living room for me and I walked in past him. I held his hand when we walked through the house and up the stairs so we could get changed, but we were silent.
I walked into Janes room and inside her huge walk-in-wardrobe, while Sam continued to walk to his room. Before I left school, Jane said I could help myself to her closet, so thats what I did. I didnt want to be stuck in my gross uniform all night. My green skirt was uncomfortable and my light green blouse was a vomit shade of green, making me look horrible. I found a pair of long dark blue jeans and a plain white singlet that I thought was more my style, and because it was cold I threw a thin black jumper over top. I walked out to the hallway and followed it around to the upstairs living room where I found Sam sitting outstretched on the small sofa. He was dressed in a black t-shirt that clung to him well and blue jeans.
I tried to sneak up behind him, but before I could scare him he spoke, warning me that he knew I was behind him.
“How did you know?” I asked, walking around to sit in front of him on the recliner.
“Amplified senses,” he said with a sly smile.
“Right,” I said slowly with a nod.
He leaned forward towards me with a grin on his face, which made me wonder what he was going to do. He always had this face on when he was planning to do something.
“Would you like to join me downstairs?” he asked in a very gentlemanly fashion manner.
“Ah… sure.”
He offered me his hand and I put mine in his, then we got up and we made our way downstairs quietly. He walked me slowly into the ballroom and over to the stereo where he started fiddling with some buttons.
“What are you doing?” I asked slow and warily.
He had turned the music on and it weaved and flowed beautifully through the room with the beautiful song All my life by K-Ci and Jojo. Was there any type of song they didnt have?
Suddenly he whirled me around in a circle and pulled me into him, swaying slightly from side to side to the soft but strong Violin intro of the song. I think this was his way of showing me just how much he loved me, how affectionate he can be towards me.
The piano started up in the song and I smiled, remembering this was the song Adam listened to when mum died, it helped him get past her loss, but it made me remember him more.
I was intensely aware of Sams hands resting lightly on my hips. His touch alone was enough to fluster and distract me, always sending electricity through my body every time.
“Dancing, really?” I asked after a minute of gazing into his eyes, raising one of my eyebrows.
“Well, since we are alone I thought why not one last dance?” he asked rhetorically.
“Hmm… touché,” I said with a smile.
He smiled my favourite breathtaking smile, all his perfect white teeth showing. “You know I knew it would come to this, it was just a matter of time,” he said after a while, the smile slipping away.
“What?” I asked, coming out of my reverie.
“I knew they would never give up, even though we have the upper hand, I know they will find a way to…” he didnt finish his sentence, he started shaking with anger instead.
“Sam, its going to be fine. If Tommy wants to see his amator he will hand himself over,” I said, trying to make him calmer.
I didnt want this perfect moment to be ruined because of something this petty.
“No Lays, you don't understand. I've been thinking about this nearly everyday and like I pointed out yesterday, I will not stand to lose you again,” he said fiercely.
His eyes were suddenly black hard fire, his jaw clenched and his fists on my back were balled up. Everything in the room around us was raised off the ground, including us and he was struggling to maintain his calmness.
“Sam, please. For me, know that I will be by your side, it is my place to be and there I will stand,” I said softly, grasping his face in between my hands, making him look me in the eyes.
I knew how to handle situations like this, I knew to never make him angrier because he could break every possession around him within the blink of an eye. He would never hurt me though, I knew that, so I was never afraid to try to stop him.
I watched his sparkly green eye colour return as the black colour dissolved and everything on the ground lowered, including us, my feet touching down on the ground softly.
He stared at me for a while, consulting himself, his perfect brow furrowing in concentration. “I'm so sorry, I over-reacted. Will you forgive me?” he said after a minute.
“Always,” I murmured, running my hand through his silky hair.
“Thank you. I'm sorry, I always lose my temper when it comes to your safety, you are right though. You being with me tomorrow will be for the best,” he said, trying to reassure himself as he stroked the back of my hair too.
“I'm glad you see it that way,” I said relieved. “I love you Sam,” I said. “More than you could ever imagine, more than I can imagine.”
“I love you too… babe,” he said with a grin.
I rolled my eyes and reached to kiss his cheek, pressing them to the smooth skin of his face.
“Do you ever think I'll get better at this?” I asked as he looked into my eyes, hearing the song was still playing.
“You're already irresistible, so I think that makes up for it,” he said with a wicked smile.
I rolled my eyes. If not he was the irresistible one, I was just the lucky finder.
“So are we going to dance or what?” I asked, my feet were after all still off the ground.
“Yes, we shall,” he said, lowering me back on the ground softly.
He stepped back from me and bowed, keeping his eyes on mine. I curtsied and took his hand, then he pulled me against him and I heard the music increase in volume. The soft song was filling the air and we were twirling away. I was always looking at him instead of my feet, but dancing came natural to me which was really weird. I still could never get over how I could dance when I had never tried before, but like Sam said, its all in the leading. He was good at everything, I mean literally everything. I hadnt found one thing yet that he wasnt good at. Wait there was one thing; his anger. But then again, we both had anger issues. His were just more prominent at times where as mine werent, but I loved him, issues and all.
“And when are you going to believe me that you are deceiving yourself?” he asked, spinning me around and then back into him.
“When I see it happen,” I replied.
I honestly couldn't see what he saw in me, it just looked like the plain old me when I looked at myself in the mirror. But when I was looking in the mirror with him, I looked like a different person, stronger, more beautiful.
“It already has,” he said softly, murmuring against my neck and sending shivers down my spine.
His arms were around my waist and his lips were resting on my neck. I was almost ready to shut my eyes.
“Yeah right,” I said in disbelief, my arms wrapping around the back of his neck as we danced slowly.
I felt his grip on me tighten and the song was coming to an end, so I pulled my head back to quietly sing the last of the song to him.
“And all my life, I prayed for someone like you and I thank god that I, that I finally found you...” The song faded and so did my voice, and I found that I was just staring, that was all, staring into his eyes and seeing all of his goodness and essence.
“You're so beautiful,” he said, kissing my forehead. “But you don't believe me ay?” he asked, pulling back slightly and watching me.
“Ay?” I asked in disbelief.
“It's
just something Ive picked up,” he assured me. “I won't be changing the way I speak remember, you already like how I speak.”
“Good. What were you saying?” I asked.
“Umm… oh yes. You don't believe me that you are so irresistible?” he asked.
“Nah ah,” I said, letting go of him. “And never will,” I continued, spinning in a circle with my arms out.
I felt arms scoop me up all of a sudden and soon enough I was looking into Sams hypnotizing light green eyes.
“You are irresistible, why don't you see?” he asked softly.
“Because its not true,” I said, touching the tip of his nose with of my index finger.
He sighed. “What can I do to make you see?”
“Hmm… nothing,” I said, both my hands raised to either sides of his neck so I could pull him forward.
Half way through me kissing him I felt him smile and he suddenly pulled back.
“What?” I asked suspiciously.
He grinned and put me down, then he took a few steps back. There was something in his eyes, like he was going to pull something again.
I groaned.
“I will prove to you that you are irresistible,” he said, he was a few feet back from me now.
I crossed my arms. “How?” I asked through narrowed eyes.
He didnt answer, instead he just closed his eyes and stood with his arms by his sides, palm up.
“I bet that I could sense you anywhere in this house with my eyes closed,” he finally spoke.
I smirked. I had an idea. “Alright, give me thirty seconds.”
“Okay, thirty seconds,” he said, his eyes still closed.
I tip toed around him the long way, watching him intently, just in case he tried to cheat. But he didnt move so I snuck up behind him. I knew my thirty seconds were almost up, so when he went to take a step I jumped up on his back.
He started laughing his musical laugh and I was laughing too, my arms around his neck and his arms around my legs.
“I got you,” I said, kissing the smooth skin of his neck.
“For all eternity,” he said with a chuckle.
I slid down off his back and wrapped my arms around his neck again when another song had just started playing. Broken by Seether featuring the lead singer of Evanescence; Amy Lee. This must have been one of my CDs definitely.
“Do you want to know something?” I asked into his shoulder.
“What?” he asked softly.
“This might actually be our last dance together, if anything goes wrong tomorrow,” I murmured sadly, my hand starting to comb through the back of his hair again.
“Nothing is going to go wrong,” he said gently. “What would make you think such a thing?”
I thought for a minute before answering. “I just have this feeling that somethings going to go wrong.”
He had stopped, and with his hand he pulled my chin up to face him. “I promise you as long as I am still breathing, you will be safe,” he said strongly.
“I know, and I trust you,” I said.
“Goddess I love you, and I will never let anyone or anything hurt you again. And if they do I will rip them apart,” he said in assurance.
I smiled at him lovingly then reached up to kiss him once again. I loved him so much, and I think that love will never fade over time, it will only grow stronger. Like people say what doesnt kill us, makes us stronger, and that saying Ill live by.
Sam and I started dancing slowly again, looking into each others eyes deeply. Amy Lee started singing a verse by herself and I couldnt help but think these things about Sam, because I would do anything for him. I had never felt immense love like this, and at times it scared me, but at other times I really liked it. So I sung the lyrics quietly.
I swayed side to side with my arms wrapped around the back of Sams neck, thinking of what we both stood to lose tomorrow; each other, our family, everything...
'The worst is over now, and we can breathe again.
I wanna hold you high and steal my pain away.
Theres so much left to learn, and no one left to fight.
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain...'
24. Fight
I opened my eyes in the cold morning, my memories flooding back to me. Today was Wednesday, the day were going to the outskirts of town to meet with the Warrigal coven, again. It seems like only yesterday I had just meet with them in the forest, but this time was different, this time we had Thora as a bargaining chip and plenty of back up.
I looked around me and remembered Sam couldnt stay last night. After we had danced for an hour or so in the peace with just us, everyone else finally arrived home.
Sam was off making arrangements with the rest of his family last night. I was told that I should go home and get some rest before tomorrow. Sam walked me home and stayed with me for a while, but just until I fell asleep with him crooning a hum to me. It was the first time he had sung to me which made me worried that he knew something bad was going to happen tomorrow.
I curled up under the blanket and closed my eyes. I just wished this nightmare would be over already so it would just be Sam and I together with no other concerns of people coming to kill me or him. Thats all I wanted.
The alarm went off and I almost flinched off the bed. I threw the blanket back and pushed the snooze button on my alarm, then I decided to get my arse out of bed. I swung my legs over the edge and got up, stretching while yawning. Then I made my way to the bathroom with my bag of toiletries. I needed a good shower to wake me up anyway.
After my shower I went downstairs to find dad had left me a note on the fridge.
Sweetheart, I have been offered to go on a business trip for the company again and Im sorry about the short notice. I wont be back for a week, maybe two. If you need me, call me and I will come home straight away. I made you breakfast, its in the microwave.
Love you loads kid-Dad
Wow, dad had a superb sense of timing, going away on a business trip when I was about to go and meet beings at dusk that could kill me. Wonderful!
I went over to the microwave and inside was a plate with eggs and bacon. I went to take a bite of one but suddenly it felt like there was a collision inside my stomach. I put the bacon down and clutched my stomach. There it was again, butterflies were ramming into the walls of my gut, trying to get out. I suddenly felt nauseated. Something bad was definitely going to happen this afternoon. I was getting that feeling where you just want to vomit for no reason, it was nerves and it wasnt good.
I left the kitchen, grabbing my bag and walked out the door, still clutching my stomach. I felt like I really needed to vomit, the butterflies were doing flips and trying to break free of my stomachs threshold, but my reflux system just wasnt working.
I stumbled down my driveway feeling cold sweat bead on my forehead, and I walked the path to the gates for the Archer property. I entered the pin code and opened the small metal gate, trying to walk up their very long driveway as fast as possible.
I finally reached the front door and knocked, shivering and clenching my stomach at the same time. Someone opened the door and I saw Elane pop her head through.
“Good morning Lays,” she said in her usual cheerful tone.
“Morning,” I said, suddenly dry reaching and covering my mouth with both my hands.
Her face turned concerned. “You don't look so good, come inside,” she said, already pulling me through the door. “What is the matter?” she asked concerned.
“I don't know,” I said, trying not to vomit.
She looked at me for a moment, assessing my face, then she put her hand to my forehead to feel my temperature.
“Ow,” she said, all of a sudden pulling her hand back. “You're burning up, literally.”
My eyes started drooping and I felt empty. I started to slightly lean towards the ground and I couldnt stop myself, all my senses had gone numb and my vision started to go cloudy. I could see the tiled floor swirl up towards my face but I
was helpless against it. Luckily Elane caught me and she started yelling for help. I could barely make out her voice, it sounded no louder than an audible murmur but I tried to keep my eyes open.
“Layla!” I heard people shout, but their voices seemed fuzzy and distant.
I tried to open my eyes because they had closed, and I tried to search for Sam. I needed him to get me through, I was scared now, something was happening to me that wasnt caused by any nerves. I strained my eyes opened and Sam was the first one I saw, his beautiful caressing face in front of mine. I tried to move my limbs to search for his hand but I couldnt feel anything so I tried speaking.
“Sam,” I tried to say, but I couldnt hear anything come out of my mouth.
I did see him stop and look at me, his lips moved and then his hand grasped mine in front of my face.
Stay with me, I saw him mouth, he was probably speaking but it was as if he was on mute along with everything around me.
Then I floated away into darkness, scared out of my wits. I didnt have a clue what was going on with me.
****
My eyes flashed open and I was gasping. It was bright in the room I was in but it looked familiar. I bolted upright and looked around me, praying I didnt miss the bargaining with the Warrigal coven. I threw the blanket back and scrambled out of the bed. I was in Sams room, thats why it looked so familiar. I looked down at what I was dressed in; my tree green uniform and socks still. I stopped and listened around me but I got nothing. I needed to find out the time so I went over to his expensive computer and turned it on, hoping not to break it.
While I waited I paced the room back and fourth. If it was past dusk I knew something would have gone wrong, but I couldnt just make myself go downstairs and check for anyone. It was too late anyway, when I walked back to the computer I saw the time; it was only midday.
I let out a sigh of relief and went back over to Sams bed and collapsed down on it in relief. He probably went to school and thats probably why it was so quiet in the house.
Just as I thought that, the door opened and closed. I sat upright in a split second and saw Sam in the doorway, his face was stunned.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 46