Kindled

  Chris started in surprise, his eyebrows drew sharply together. “She never mentioned it.”

  “She had made up her mind not to join me. She probably felt there was no need to mention it.”

  Chris was silent for a minute, his eyes distant as he thought over Devon’s words. “She will come around.”

  Devon chuckled softly as he turned to him. “Are you always this optimistic?”

  Chris grinned back at him. “No, I just know how she feels about you…”

  “Felt.”

  Chris’s eyes narrowed upon him. “No, it is how she still feels; it’s just buried beneath self hatred and grief right now. She just needs time to work it all out. I know Cassie as well as I know myself. I know she’s still in there somewhere and that she will come back. She has to come back.”

  “And if she doesn’t?”

  “Are you always so pessimistic?” Devon couldn’t help but smile at him as he shook his head. “I can’t let myself think like that. I just can’t. It means that I’ve lost her too, and right now I can’t deal with that. So yes, I have to believe that Cassie will come back to us, you should too.”

  Devon ran his hand through his hair, nodding slowly as he mulled over Chris’s words. He was right; Chris had to have hope that Cassie would come back to him. However, Devon knew it was better if he didn’t. He could not allow himself to have such hope, not when he knew that Cassie’s decision was probably for the best. In the long run they could not be together, and there was a good possibility that he would end up hurting her, no matter what Chris believed. No, Chris needed his hope, but Devon couldn’t share it. He couldn’t crush it either.

  “Why didn’t she want to join you?” Chris asked softly.

  Devon shrugged absently. “Her parents, and now her grandmother, have all been killed by vampires. She was bred to hate what we are. You were all created to destroy my kind.”

  “Yes, but she doesn’t have to be a murderer like them.”

  “I know that, and so does she, but it’s still frightening to her. Plus, she would also have to give up the sunlight, the warmth and wonder of its rays.”

  Chris was silent for a moment. “Eventually she could return to it though.”

  “Maybe, but she would have to spend hundreds of years in the dark with no guarantee that she could ever go back into the light. Just because two of us have been able to do it does not mean that others will be successful.”

  Chris nodded as he placed his coffee cup down. “That would be awful for her, but I’m sure she would adjust.”

  “There will be no need for her too.”

  Chris smirked at him as he shook his head. “Man you’re depressing.”

  Devon grinned back at him. “There’s nothing more depressing then being dead, which I am.”

  Chris laughed as he nodded his agreement. The soft patter of footsteps turned both their heads toward the door. Chris’s mother was shuffling through it, her hand rested on the doorframe as she steadied herself, the ice in her glass of scotch rattled as she moved. “Christopher, what are you doing here? I thought you would be staying with Cassie, and your people.”

  Chris stiffened; his feet plopped loudly on the floor. “Luther and Melissa are with her. I thought it best if I returned home.”

  “Oh, this is your home now. You never act like it. In fact it’s more like a stopping ground where you keep your clothes.”

  “Mom…”

  “I have company,” she interrupted sharply.

  “Of course you do,” Chris mumbled.

  “What did you just say!?” she demanded, her voice taking on a near hysterical edge.

  “Nothing mom.”

  “Don’t you talk to me like that! I gave you life, I created you! I took care of you even after I discovered what abominations you and your bastard of a father were!”

  Devon sat in stunned silence. Chris’s face colored in shame, his eyes darted briefly to Devon as his head bowed down. His look in Devon’s direction caught his mother’s attention as she finally realized that Chris was not alone. She turned toward Devon, her eyes widened in surprise as the furious, alcohol induced glaze slipped swiftly from them. Disgust twisted through Devon as lust bloomed heavily from her.

  “You didn’t tell me you had a friend here,” she hissed to Chris.

  Chris’s jaw locked tight, his eyes narrowed as his nostrils flared slightly. She might well be one of the most repulsive women Devon had ever come across as she sauntered slightly forward, swaying her hips invitingly. “You didn’t give me a chance,” Chris said softly.

  She chose to ignore him as her gaze remained pinned on Devon. “What’s your friend’s name?”

  Chris glanced apologetically back at him, shame colored his fair cheeks. “This is Devon.”

  “Hello Devon,” she purred, thrusting her hand out. He chose to ignore it.

  “Cassie’s boyfriend,” Chris added pointedly.

  Her eyes widened slightly, she licked her lips as her eyes raked over Devon once more. “Whoever would have thought it from little Cassie.” Devon’s ire spiked up a level, his hands clenched the arms of the chair. “I’m sure you’ve taught her a thing or two. I could teach you more.”

  Revulsion and anger curdled through Devon’s stomach. Chris launched to his feet, his chair skidded back a few feet. “That’s enough!” he snapped. “Don’t you have a stranger to entertain?”

  Her sapphire eyes narrowed fiercely. Devon rose slowly, stepping forward he rested his hand lightly on Chris’s shoulder. Chris fairly vibrated with anger, his shoulders were set, his jaw locked as he glared at his mother. His eyes smoldered with ire and humiliation. “I assure you that I am a far worse abomination than your son,” Devon informed her quietly.

  Her eyes flickered, her eyebrows drew sharply together. She looked confused for a moment, and then his words finally pierced her alcoholic stupor. She took a step back, fear blazed off of her. “What do you mean?” she whispered. She glanced wildly at Chris, her heart thumped loudly; her terror was nearly palpable in the enclosed porch. Chris gave her a brief nod, confirming the fears and doubts rolling through her.

  “Why don’t you go back inside now.” Devon’s voice was low, urging. Though he didn’t use his power of mind control, the tone was compelling enough to make her step further away. Nodding rapidly, she spun ungracefully and hurried inside, glancing briefly over her shoulder before disappearing in the house.

  Chris’s shoulders slumped; he ran a hand wearily through his hair. “Sorry bout that,” he muttered, looking defeated and beat.

  Devon shook his head, squeezing Chris’s shoulder briefly before releasing him. He turned back toward Cassie’s house. No wonder Chris had spent most of his nights there, escaping from the woman that was supposed to be his mother. “Lily’s death really hurt you too.”

  Chris glanced at him, shrugging his broad shoulders. “She was a wonderful person.”

  Devon shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yes.”

  “Not to mention you and Cassie are killing me. I can’t keep her fury tuned out, and you wandering around like a kicked puppy is really starting to get on my nerves.” Devon quirked an eyebrow, not at all amused to be called a puppy. “The both of you are enough to drive a person crazy.”

  “And you can’t deal with your own grief.”

  “No.”

  Devon turned back to the window, watching as the snow drifted slowly down. It was beginning to stick to the sidewalks and roads now. From inside, music started to play. Apparently Chris’s mother had decided to bury her fear in a party. Digging in his pockets, Devon tugged his keys free, slipping the key to his apartment off he handed it to Chris.

  “Stay at my place tonight.” Chris glanced sharply at him; his eyes darted down to the key in Devon’s hand. “It’s quiet there, and maybe it’s far enough away that you can escape mine and Cassie’s emotions for the night.”

  Chris shook his head. “I can’t leave Cassie.”

  “I’ll be here. She?
??ll be fine. You need to rest; you’re starting to look like hell.”

  Issuing a sharp bark of laughter, Chris shook his head. “That’s the pot calling the kettle black.” He took the key from Devon’s hand looking as if a weight had been lifted from him. “Don’t you ever tell her I did this.”

  Devon grinned at him. “I won’t.”

  “You’re going to stay outside all night?”

  “My car’s at the end of the road. I’ll be fine.”

  Chris nodded and shoved the key into his pocket. “So, where do you live?”

  CHAPTER 2

  As the first rays of the sun broke over the horizon, Devon parked his car next to Chris’s beat up Mustang. Compared to Devon’s sleek new Challenger, the old Mustang looked even more wounded and decrepit. He stepped into the cold, shoving his hands in his pockets as he made his way toward the apartment building.

  Punching in his security code, he pulled the heavy glass door open, welcoming the blast of heat that hit him, warming his frozen extremities. He made his way slowly down the quiet hall. Most people were still asleep, though the scent of brewing coffee was beginning to fill the air. Pounding swiftly up the steps, he jogged to the third floor and turned down the hallway.

  Reaching his apartment, he pulled out the spare key he kept above the door and slipped it into the lock. He was exhausted, all he wanted was a warm shower, and a few minutes of sleep before he had to drag himself into the ridiculous institution of high school once more. Thrusting open the door, the first thing he noticed were the loud snores issuing from Chris. He was sprawled face down on the couch, drooling into the pillow he had grabbed from the bedroom.

  Devon lifted an eyebrow; he shook his head as he silently closed the door behind him. Chris had made himself at home. There was fast food wrapper’s on the coffee table, a couple cans of soda, and the TV was on. Though the furniture was all sleek, modern and expensive, none of it was his. The apartment had come fully furnished, a fact that was reflected in the high rent prices.

  Not like he cared, money was not an issue for him. That was one of the benefits of having lived a long time with little worries and little care for human life. He tossed the spare key on the table beside the door. Shrugging his coat off, he headed down the hallway to the master bedroom. The room was large with a massive California King jutting into the middle of it. The paintings on the walls were seascapes with boats and lighthouses, they also were not his. Tossing his coat on the bed, Devon pulled his shirt off as he made his way into the bathroom. It was large with a big Jacuzzi tub, his and hers sinks, and a separate shower stall. He had never used the tub.

  Turning the shower on, he set the temperature for as hot as he could stand it before stepping inside. The stinging rays felt good on his sore back and stiff shoulders. A night in the car had left him cramped and aching, but it had been worth it to make sure that Cassie was safe. He stayed in the shower for as long as the hot water lasted. When it finally turned cold he stepped out, toweled off and dressed quickly.

  Chris was awake when he returned to the living room. Sitting on the edge of the sofa, his head was in his hands as he stared at the floor. “Rough night?”

  He glanced up at Devon, his eyes slightly bloodshot. “I’ve had worse. Nice place you have here.”

  “Not my stuff. You could have slept in the guest room.”

  Chris shook his head. “Prefer the couch. Everything ok?”

  “Yeah, she stayed put, didn’t get much sleep, but she’s there.”

  “Doesn’t look like you got much sleep either.”

  Devon shook his head, running his hand through his damp hair. “No.”

  Chris sighed, tossing aside his blanket as he rose slowly. “Thanks for letting me crash here.”

  “Anytime.”

  “You going to school today?”

  Devon hesitated before nodding. He hated going to that place, it was boring, and the people were cruel and vindictive. But he wanted to see Cassie, and although he knew he was not welcome around her, he felt that she would need him in order to get through the day. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

  Chris handed the key out to him but Devon shook his head. “Keep it in case you need someplace to stay again.”

  Chris stared silently at him for a moment, surprise flickering through his eyes. Shrugging, he slipped the key back in his pocket. “You know, you’re not half bad for a dead guy.”

  Devon snorted, shaking his head at him. “Good to know.”

  Chris laughed softly as he grabbed his letterman jacket off the back of the couch. “See you later.”

  “Yeah.”

  Pausing at the door, Chris glanced back at him. “You know, if I were you, I would use that little gift you have for attracting women.” Devon’s eyebrows drew sharply together as he stared at Chris questioningly. “Jealousy can be a big motivator.”

  Devon’s eyes widened, shock slammed through him. “You can’t be serious.”

  Chris grinned as he shrugged. “Something has to reach her, but don’t you ever tell her I suggested it.”

  “Apparently we’re going to have many secrets.”

  Chris laughed as he nodded enthusiastically. “I don’t want her to kill me when she finally comes back to her senses. So yep, we are.”

  Devon couldn’t help but chuckle along with him. Chris gave him a brief nod, his eyes still twinkling as he slipped out the door. Devon clicked off the TV, heading back to the bedroom he plopped onto the luxurious mattress he had spent few nights in. Though he longed for sleep, he knew that he would not be able to do so just yet. Sliding open the drawer of the nightstand he pulled out one of the books he had borrowed from Luther.

  Flipping through the old, worn pages, he ignored its musty smell as he skimmed through the detailed history of The Hunters that had existed for the latter half of the sixteenth century. It was boring, tiring, and of little use as each of them had possessed an ability. He moved onto the next book in the line, flipping swiftly through the pages as he searched for and notes on a Hunter like Cassie, one that did not possess an ability. He was almost halfway through it when exhaustion claimed him.

  ***

  Cassie moved stiffly through the hall. Her legs were like wooden blocks; her shoulders ached from being locked in place. Her hand drifted to the sunglasses perched on her nose. The large lenses helped to block out the harsh fluorescent light that filtered through the halls. It had rarely bothered her before but now it constantly burned her irises, nearly blinding her with its brilliance. She chalked the strange effect up to exhaustion.

  Everyone stopped to stare at her as she moved past; their whispered comments were not as loud as they had been before the death of her grandmother. Apparently, the loss of a family member was enough to bring her a reprieve from the cruelty of her classmates. She was not fooled into thinking it would last long. She would probably become the center of attention again, once the gossip about the destruction of the school bathroom, and hallway during the homecoming dance became old news. They would all still be buzzing about her, if they knew that she had been involved in that destruction while fighting for her life against Julian.

  Stopping at her locker, she spun the dial quickly, her fingers going through the combo with little thought to the numbers. Melissa stopped beside her, leaning against the lockers as she waited for Cassie. She had a feeling that either Chris or Melissa was going to be with her every second of this miserable day.

  Her skinned crawled with aggravation; anger spurted through her as she thrust the locker door open. Grabbing her books she slammed the locker closed. She didn’t need a babysitter, and she sure as hell didn’t want one. She tugged the hood of her black sweater more firmly around her face. She didn’t want to see anyone, or be seen either.

  Keeping her head bowed she slipped into homeroom, relief filled her when she realized that Devon was not there. His car had not been in the parking lot either. Though she was glad that he was not here, that she wouldn’t have to deal with him on top of ever
ything else, she couldn’t help but wonder where he was, what he was doing.

  Her hands fisted on her desk as the brief thought of who he was with tore through her mind. He had claimed to love her, but he was a man after all, well sort of, and he had been dumped. She knew that he would find someone else soon enough. She tried to tell herself that the thought did not bother her, but it did. No matter how much she wanted to deny that fact, she couldn’t.

  The morning announcements droned on, but she paid them little mind, she paid little mind to anything. Everything seemed surreal now. Everything was so out of place. Just last week she had been sitting at this same desk with dreams, hope, and love. She had been looking forward to the Homecoming dance simply for the chance to dance in Devon’s arms.

  Now, just a few short days later, she was sitting here with nothing. No hopes, no dreams, no love. Her grandmother, the one person that had always been there for her, caring for her, loving her, was gone. And she had taken everything that Cassie was with her. Cassie was surprised that her heart continued to beat in her chest considering how dead she felt inside, how empty and alone and so very lost she was. How did the world continue to spin? How was she supposed to go back to her life, when the hurt and anger inside of her was nearly consuming?

  Didn’t everyone else know that they were supposed to stop? Didn’t they know they were supposed to recognize her loss, and acknowledge it by being as miserable as she was?

  Her name being called snapped her attention to the front of the class. “Here,” she mumbled, ignoring the stares she felt burning into her.

  Ducking her head once more, she played idly with her pencil, tapping it against the desk. She felt stuck, trapped in a life she didn’t want anymore. She had no idea why she was even here, what did school matter when she didn’t plan on living for much longer? It had simply been habit that had forced her out of bed and here this morning. Habit and the fact that she had nothing better to do with her day.