Chapter 13-Betrayal
It’s hard to erase the memories of what transpired over the next few hours. Teary eyed and heartbroken, Zilla and I searched for Luke, Locke and Cole in the throng of people, finally finding two of them near the edge of the crowd. Locke was lying as motionless on the ground as Jett had been, his face a pale white with beads of sweat slipping down his forehead. Luke was sitting beside him with his head in his hands when Zilla rushed over and threw herself on Locke. She proceeded to shake him while tears poured down her face. Luke finally rested his hand on her shoulder and said, “He’s not dead Zilla, he’s just unconscious. But if you continue to shake him like that you may kill him.”
Zilla took a swing at him which I intercepted and turned into a hug. “Don’t worry Zilla, we’ll get him to the hospital and he’ll be alright.” She hugged me fiercely as if I was all she had left in the world and buried her head on my chest. “Has anybody seen Cole?” I asked starting to worry.
All I got were no’s. Cole was missing and there were no traces of him anywhere. I pulled out my cell phone and tried calling him, but it just kept going to voicemail. An ambulance wailed in the distance and flashing lights of police cars came into view. They wheeled Jett and a few other seriously injured people, including Locke, away on stretchers while the cops interrogated the rest of us. No one believed our story about the creatures, not even when all of them matched up. They thought we were drunk or on drugs and insisted on having us take tests. When we passed those, they still thought we were lying. There were just some thing’s adult’s could never understand. In the end we made up a somewhat plausible story so we could leave.
“I’m going to go see Locke now,” Zilla said after some of the madness had died down. I was buried in the sand arms wrapped firmly around my knees and tears pouring out when she spoke.
“I don’t think that’s a great idea. We probably shouldn’t split up until we figure out what’s going on,” I said trying to stay calm when all I really wanted to do was throw something.
“Yeah, well tough luck. You made a promise that we wouldn’t keep secrets from each other and you did by not telling me about Draven. I may have seemed unaffected by it before, but I am and right now I just need some space and that space includes me going to make sure my boyfriend is okay. Now you can come with me if you want so you can keep an eye on me, but I would prefer that you just leave me alone for awhile.”
It was hard not to pretend that I wasn’t hurt by her words and tone, but I was. “I’m so sorry Zilla. I would have told you if I could, but I wasn’t sure that it would be safe.”
“Yeah you’re sure right about that, it wasn’t safe at all. Look what happened to all these people and to Jett. Our best friend is dead and another is unconscious in the hospital, you should have told me sooner.”
I could feel anger burning in my cheeks. I was just as upset as her and yet I was taking all the blame for this. I didn’t even know if my current situation and this attack were related. Besides, she had powers too and was just as much to blame for this as I was. To make it all my fault and act like I didn’t care that one of my best friend’s had passed on was ridiculous. “I realize you’re angry and so I’m going to respect your wish to be alone right now, but only for tonight. After that we need to talk so that I can tell you everything and just for the record I do care about what happened tonight and I don’t appreciate you acting as if I didn’t.”
She didn’t even respond, just turned on her heel and sprinted towards her car. I sniffled a little too loudly and felt Draven sit down next to me, wrapping his firm body around me like a blanket. I relaxed into the welcoming comfort of his arms and let it all go. All the bottled up emotion’s I had been building flowed freely, the loss of Jett, my best friend being angry with me and Cole disappearing on me when I needed him the most. When I finally stopped crying I looked up into his eyes and froze. Why was it that I always felt so safe and right in his arms? I don’t know what came over me, but I reached over and pulled his lips onto mine. The kiss was long and passionate, the kind that makes your heart beat fast and your toes tingle. I was thoroughly enjoying myself and didn’t want to stop, but he gently pushed me away.
“We can’t do this,” he said firmly.
“Why not? Am I not good enough for you?” I said getting more irrational as the minutes ticked by. Why couldn’t my life just be normal? Finish school, find a nice guy and settle down. What was so complicated about that?
“Oh please Callie, you know that’s not the reason. It’s because you’re with Cole and because after we figure this whole thing out I still have to go back home.”
I lowered my head. I knew he didn’t want to go home and I didn’t want him to leave so that wasn’t an issue yet, but his mention of Cole had left a guilty feeling inside of me. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He sighed. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re upset and things happen. If it’s any consolation, I liked it.”
I smiled. “Really?”
“Yeah really, now let’s get out of here and get you back home because you look exhausted.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet practically dragging me through the sand.
We had only taken a few steps when something smacked us both face first into the ground, instantly knocking me out. I don’t remember much after that because it was like a horrible carnival ride. When I finally shook the stars out of my eyes I saw Draven leaning over a Polong with his knife. “Who sent you?” he spat.
“I don’t have to answer any of your questions,” it replied in a raspy voice. Draven dug his knife farther into the back of his neck enough to make the Polong squeal.
“What was that you said?” he asked vehemently.
The creature groaned. “I was sent by my master.”
“And just who would that master be?”
He remained silent. A little more poking and whimpering convinced him to continue. “My master is a great witch known to all from the Kingdom of Sheol. She is called the bringer of despair, but you may call her Circe and she will not rest until she has accomplished her task.”
“Right, we already know this part. Tell me where we can locate her.”
“I will never reveal her location,” he said trying to wriggle free, “it would mean certain death for all of my kind and I would rather risk my life than sacrifice theirs.”
“Okay, then consider your life forfeit.”
“Wait,” I yelled loud enough to stop Draven from taking the final blow. “What’s your name?” I asked the creature.
“Viale,” he replied reluctantly, gaze flicking from side to side.
“Listen Viale, isn’t there a way we can help each other out? You can tell us the location and we can help save your people?”
“Why would I trust your kind? You offer nothing of value to us.”
“You mean having freedom isn’t valuable to you?”
“We desire blood, feed on it, live on it and she provides it to us at a cost. We do her bidding and she sustains us. Unless you’re willing to offer yours or someone else’s blood to us in exchange I cannot make a deal with you.”
“That’s kind of gross if you ask me,” Draven said disgusted. “I say we just off him and try to find out where she hibernates on our own.”
Viale chuckled. “The path is shielded, heavily guarded and full of dangerous traps. You would do well to take someone along who knows the lay of the land.”
“We don’t need a guide,” Draven responded. “We will find another way, but thanks for nothing.”
We couldn’t do this alone. Draven knew that, he just didn’t want to cater to the abomination before him. It looked like there was only one way I could get it to cooperate with us. “What if I offer you my blood instead?” I asked hesitantly.
“No,” Draven gasped, “you cannot offer yourself up in exchange. You don’t understand what kind of bargain you would be making.” His face look
ed tormented and I reminded myself to question him about that later, but I ignored his warning and waited for Viale’s reply.
“Deal,” he said joyously.
“No,” Draven tried again “you can’t do this. Once he has a taste of your blood the deal is sealed, you can’t go back or undo it.”
“I have to do this,” I pleaded. “I need to get this all figured out and as soon as possible before more of my friends or family get hurt.”
He just shook his head defeated. “I can’t stop you, but you have no idea what kind of mess you’ve just entangled yourself in. Do as you will.”
“Sorry to ruin the lovers quarrel,” Viale hissed, “but I require sustenance. If you wouldn’t mind,” he said nodding to me, “I promise to only take a drop or two.”
“Right now?” I asked nervously. “You can’t wait until we get somewhere more inconspicuous?”
“It has been hours since my last feeding so unless you would rather kill me...,” he trailed off.
“Alright,” I said biting my tongue. “Let him up,” I told Draven. He complied, but stayed at arms length from wherever Viale went.
“What do I need to do?” I asked queasiness overwhelming my already raw emotions.
“Just give me your hand,” he said salivating. The hungry look in his eyes made my stomach churn even more. He made me self-consciously aware of the life force flowing through my veins. I was just a piece of meat to this creature and I had agreed to do it, whatever the costs to come. I held out my hand reluctantly and he took it with lightening quick speed biting down deeply into my wrist before I could even bat an eyelash. I squealed out in pain and Draven rushed to my side within seconds trying to comfort me.
“Only a few more drops,” he gurgled over my blood. I nodded as lights danced in front of my eyes and just when I thought I couldn’t stand it anymore, the pain was gone. Viale let go and trickles of blood spattered the ground around us.
“Fantastic,” he said licking his lips with a smug smile. “You sure are one of a kind.”
I swayed on my feet, but managed the best retort I could come up with. “Well if it hadn’t been for you I would never had known.” Draven chuckled and Viale looked furious. “I guess we should head back to my house for now. I need to gather some things before we head out and I also want to check-in on my friends at the hospital.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Draven said avoiding eye contact. He must be really angry with me, but what’s one more to add to the list of people severely disappointed with my behavior?
“I better call my parents. You guys meet me back at the house. Make sure to keep him quiet and out of my things.”
Draven nodded, “Done deal.”
I was sitting in the parking lot by the beach waiting for my ride and trying to cover up the two tiny puncture wounds on my wrist when I saw their headlights. I knew it was them from the squeal of the breaks as the car glided up next to me and skidded to a stop. Both of them jumped out and came barreling towards me. Dad scooped me up in his arms and smoothed the hair back from my face. I caught a glimpse of mom scowling at me over his shoulder. I could tell she was not happy. I thought I was all cried out, but tears started spilling over my cheeks again. This had been the saddest week ever. I lost my cat and one of my friends, my boyfriend disappeared when I needed him the most and my best friend was angry with me. I looked up again and noticed my mom sniffing the air with an odd expression. My parents exchanged a look that they thought I couldn’t see, but it was a “we need to talk about something when the kids aren’t around” glare.
“Ready to go home?” dad asked squeezing me tight.
“Yeah.” I stumbled into the car and buckled myself in. My eyes had swollen to the size of golf balls and my head was thrumming.
As soon as we pulled out of the parking lot the questioning began. “What happened?” mom asked quizzically.
“I told you on the phone already, a bunch of kids were drinking and tried to surf. They fell off their boards when a giant wave came, the end.”
She grimaced at me in the rear-view mirror. “I want the truth Callie and I want it now.” Dad reached across the car and rested his hand on moms lap causing her anger to dissipate.
“I told you the truth, why won’t you believe me? You want me to make something up? Like a group of ugly creatures attacked us on the beach?” Her eyes grew wide with horror and dads jaw dropped open.
Well that was not the reaction I was expecting to come from either of them. They have to know something otherwise they would have shrugged it off just like the cops did, right? I thought it best to play coy until I figured out what the real deal was.
“They were grotesque and smelled like hamburger meat that had been left out for months,” I continued on. Mom raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. “You can’t possibly believe me,” I said exasperated, “nobody else did.”
She looked frustrated when she said, “You’re right, I was just entertaining you. When you want to tell me the truth you can come find me, but until then you’re grounded.”
“That’s not fair,” I whined. I looked over at dad who just shrugged his shoulders. I wanted to scream at them, yet knew it wouldn’t make a difference anyway. What I had to do next was going to happen, punishment or not. I nodded in defeat.
I took the steps two at a time up to my room and slammed the door behind me. Much to my surprise Zilla was sitting on the end of my bed. I rushed over to her and hugged her tightly. “How’s Locke?” I asked concerned.
“He’s still in the ICU,” she responded dully.
“What are you doing here then?” I asked confused.
“Your friend came to find me. He told me that he really needed to speak to the both of us together urgently and to meet here. I let myself in with the key you made me,” she said holding up the purple colored chotchkie for emphasis.
“I’m so sorry about everything Zilla. I really am and I promise from now on I won’t keep anything else from you, ever!”
“It’s okay,” she said remorsefully.
“Really?” I asked somewhat shocked that she would forgive me so quickly.
“Yeah. I may have overreacted quite a bit about the whole situation so I’m sorry too.”
I smiled. “You’re my best friend and always will be so we need to stick together.”
“Agreed,” she said returning my smile. “So where is this other friend of yours?”
“I’m not sure actually. I thought he would have been here by now.”
Draven cleared his throat from somewhere behind us. “I’m here.”
“Eavesdropping,” Zilla said frowning.
“Not eavesdropping,” he said curtly, “giving you space and time to talk is all.”
Before an argument could ensue I said “Focus people. First off, where is the uhm baggage we procured from earlier and second, what did you need to talk to us about?”
“Baggage?” Zilla asked suspiciously.
“Well its not real baggage,” I said fumbling for words. “Listen, if I tell you then you have to promise not to freak out, okay?”
“I promise not to pummel you into tomorrow,” she said weakly. I grimaced. “Okay fine, you win.” she said defeated.
I turned to Draven “Is he here in this room?”
He eyed me steadily. “Yeah, in the closet,” he replied.
“Bring him out,” I said beckoning towards the door.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked skeptically. I wasn’t, but what else could I do if I wanted our friendship to last?
“Yes, I’m sure. I told Zilla there would be no more secrets and so there will be no more secrets.”
Draven disappeared into my closet and came out trailing Viale who gazed at me longingly. I squirmed internally at the thought of having to give him my blood again soon. I glanced at Zilla whose eyes were as big as they could possibly get and then she looked at me confused. At least she didn?
??t try to bail, that’s good, I thought. Her confusion hardened into anger as she said, “Explain.”
So I told her the whole thing, about Draven and what I suspected and how we intended to track down this Circe and get information from her and to do that I would need Viale’s help. I didn’t, however, mention the price in which I would pay in exchange for his services and surprisingly enough she didn’t ask. After I finished she nodded in agreement. She understood what I had said, but that didn’t mean she had to like it and she didn’t.
“You realize how insane that sounds right?” she asked.
“I know, but trust me, it was the only way.”
“It’s the only way to what? To get yourself killed?” she said frustrated.
“What else would you suggest that we do? We need to get this resolved. I can’t live my life with this much turmoil all the time. It’s complicated enough just having these cursed abilities and now I’m being targeted.”
Nobody said anything for a long time until I thought the silence would deafen me. Then she said defiantly, “I’m going with you.”
I shuddered at the thought. “No way, absolutely not.” There were numerous dangers ahead of us and the last thing I wanted to do was put her life on the line for mine.
“You can’t stop me. You know that I will just follow you.”
When she set her mind to something she didn’t give up until she had accomplished it. Fighting her was a lost cause. I looked to Draven for guidance and he nodded in approval. I sighed and shook my head, “Fine, you win, but let me just state for the record that I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m already putting myself at risk and don’t want to add you into the mix.”
“I’m a big girl and can decide these things for myself. Plus, you’re my best friend and I need to have your back. You’d do the same for me.”
I smiled. “You’re right. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I know,” she said sincerely, “but I understand the potential consequences and I’m willing to chance it.”
“Alright then, I guess we should devise a plan. Like when should we leave, what should we pack and where we are going, that sort of thing.”
“I’ve already got that all taken care of with the help of our escort Viale here,” Draven said patting him roughly on the back. “The only thing you need to get ready is yourselves.”
I must have looked startled at the idea that everything was already all set to go because he said hurtfully, “Unless of course you wanted to do it yourself?”
“Oh no, of course not,” I replied apologetically. “I trust that everything is in order if you’re the one who has prepared it.” We exchanged a look, one that I’m sure Zilla could read between the lines of, but right now I didn’t care. Honestly I wasn’t even sure what he was thinking when he looked at me that way, but I could guess and I liked the ideas that flitted through my mind. Instinctively I remembered Cole and drew back from his intensifying gaze.
Draven proceeded to look back and forth between the both of us and it clicked in my brain that he had been the one to get us here together for something. I didn’t want to know what for after everything that had happened so far so I didn’t bother to bring it up. If he wanted to give us bad news then he needed to remember it on his own. “Well I’m off,” Zilla said jumping up and rushing out the door.
“Wait, what do you mean you’re off?” I said confused. She couldn’t leave now, we were about to embark on our journey.
“I can’t very well go on this adventure without checking on Locke first and besides I need to get a few things ready.”
“Right, well don’t pack any stiletto’s okay?” The funny quip reminded me of something Jett would say and tears threatened to leak out again. “What about Jett’s funeral?”
She pondered for a minute. “You’re right. We should wait until after that before we leave. Plus, it will give you a chance to confront your parents about what’s going on so far to see what you can get out of them. Any little bit of information helps us.”
I nodded in agreement. “Okay, go and I will see you tomorrow. We will figure out the funeral stuff when we get more information.” With that, she bolted down the stairs and out the front door.
That just left the three of us, talk about awkward. “Callie, I need to talk to you about something privately,” Draven said.
I nodded, “Viale, would you excuse us for a moment?” He licked his lips, eyes regarding me with something similar to lust and retreated back into the closet.
“Creeper,” I whispered. Draven snickered and I nudged him making it clear that I didn’t want to be overheard.
“I got some more information out of Viale for you,” Draven said. I didn’t even want to know how he came to squeeze that from him, but I’d take it.
I beckoned him forward. “Spill it.”
He cocked his eyebrows and proceeded. “According to Viale, during one of their “rituals”, Circe mentioned a blood debt that must be repaid. She didn’t go into details, but something about Thanatos being angry about an incident that happened a long time ago and needing to even the playing field.”
I crinkled my nose. “What does that have to do with me?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not entirely sure, but it definitely had to do with you being the blood debt.”
I had a hard time processing the information once it was out there. I knew that I was being hunted by Circe through Thanatos, but I had no idea why. Why me? Why not my parents or my aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces or nephews? There were so many unanswered questions and only one person who knew the real answer, Thanatos. “I will need to talk to my parents, they’re the only ones who….” Draven looked up at the window alarmed. He stood slowly, tiptoed to the curtain and peeked out.
I closed my eyes and concentrated to see if I could hear what had him on high alert. Finally I heard a light tapping on the glass. I opened my eyes and Draven was looking at me his expression unreadable. Then he whispered, “Its Cole.”
My eyes lit up at first and then I got angry when I remembered that he had disappeared on me when the going got tough only hours earlier. He left me and my friends out there on the beach to be devoured by those hungry creatures, one who now I was indebted to and for that I held him partially responsible. Draven sensed the change in my mood and reached for my hand. I tried to smile back at him to let him know everything was alright, but when he asked if he should stay I nodded and had him hide out in the closet with Viale until I could get rid of Cole. I took several deep cleansing breathes and marched to the window, pulling up the curtains and pushing it open wide so I could peer down. The sight of him made my heart race, but I scowled anyway to show my disproval.
“Can I at least come up there and talk to you. Let me get my side of the story out before you judge me?” he asked. I wanted to toss a rock out and let it thunk him on the head instead, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it so I sighed and motioned him up.
I walked away from the window, my mind racing and trying to analyze all the things I wanted to say to him and some I didn’t. It felt like I was pacing forever and when I finally looked up to see what was taking so long I realized he had been there all along. He was sitting on the ledge of the window just watching me. Our eyes locked as butterflies swam around in my stomach. How did he get up there? My room is on the second floor. Before I could even open my mouth he started talking. “I’m so sorry,” he said. I just stared at him with a blank expression. “You have no idea what this has been like for me.” That’s odd considering all he did so far was run away when thing’s got sticky.
“There is something I need to tell you and for quite some time, but couldn’t.” A little more than worried, I moped over to the bed and sat down. He followed me and took my hand. “What’s that smell?” he asked sniffing near my arm.
I pulled the sleeve of my sweater down more and said, “Nothing.”
/> He gave me a weird look, but continued on. “Promise me that no matter what I say now, you will remember this one thing…” I nodded. “I love you.” I struggled to get a proper intake of breath. “I’m not sure how it happened or why, but I can’t change it or make it go away.”
Did I just hear him right? He loved me? I blushed. We haven’t even been dating that long and I’m not even sure I could say the same back to him no matter how much I had originally wanted him to say it to me. I was at a loss for words so I said the first thing I could think of, “I promise not to forget.”
He hesitated, but dove right in. The rest of the conversation seemed like a blur. He told me he was an Asema. The same creature Draven told me about before and coincidentally the one that had been attacking me. He continued on about how he was hired by Circe to turn me into a vampire in my sleep. His tale included how he followed me to school, the first day bumping into me and the next day attacking me during class. He told me that he tried to get to me by meeting me at the restaurant and how he fell in love with me along the way, he was pretty sure it may have been at the Halloween dance when that girl shoved cake in my face. Regardless, he couldn’t complete the task and that’s why he had been so weird lately and why he left when he saw the Polong’s on the beach.
Was he the hot vampire I danced with who laughed at me? I was stunned. I couldn’t say anything, couldn’t move or react and then it hit me, what about Garbage? I felt the anger well up inside me as I dropped his hand and got up. Everything else I might have been able to process on some twisted level, but not that. Through gritted teeth I said, “The other stuff really pisses me off, but this I have to know even more, did you kill my cat?”
I knew the answer before he even spoke. His body language and facial expression said it all and my temperature accelerated to cosmic levels. I was a white hot star about to burst into a trillion tiny specks. Before I could blink a blast of heat shot out, lashing him across the face. I raised my hands and flicked my wrist increasing the consistency. He squirmed under the waves of pressure I was shoving his direction, but didn’t try to move. He looked up at me, his eyes sad and pleading, beads of sweat rolling down the folds of charred skin on his cheeks. Pieces of it were turning black and drifting to the floor like flaky ashes. In an almost whisper I said, “You’ll pay for everything you’ve done.”
I wanted to kill him. To be rid of every part of this evil being that had ever touched me no matter how badly my heart was telling me to stop. I was about to give him the last bit of everything I had in me when Draven appeared beside me and caught my gaze. A calming sense of peace rushed over me and I relaxed into it, letting everything else cease to exist and melting the white hot lava that was my power from me. I smiled at Draven and dropped my hands. When I turned to look back at Cole I gaped. The pieces of burnt skin were reanimating themselves and putting itself back together, like a jigsaw puzzle.
I was thankful for Draven’s intervention. I still hated Cole just as much, but I knew I couldn’t end his life. That just wasn’t the kind of person I was. Draven floated a few feet away and remained at my side though still invisible to Cole who looked stricken. He stood up like he was going to approach me.
“Stop right where you are,” I said with an air of power. His eyes regarded me cautiously as I continued. “I want you to leave my house, turn into that orb thing you’re so fond of and get out, now. Don’t ever look back. What you feel for me is pointless because I don’t feel the same, it was all a lie. I just want you to answer me this one thing before you go. Why?”
He looked really pale and his hands were shaking as he said, “It’s more complicated than it seems.”
“Explain it to me then.”
“Well, your cat really isn’t a cat,” he said trying to avert his gaze.
“What do you mean my cat wasn’t a cat? He was fluffy, had four paws and meowed. Ya know, the kind of stuff that cat’s do,” I said making a face.
He shook his head. “Right, they do seem like cats to humans, but he was actually a tricon.”
I blanched. This had to be another whale of a tale from the master spinner of lies. “What the hell is a tricon?”
“They’re creatures that can take the form of a cat, but when they are threatened or attacked they morph into the likes of a giant bearcat. Usually tricon’s are given as gifts to someone with immense power in the Underworld as a protector.”
“That can’t be possible. I found Garbage just dinking around in my backyard. He was a cat, plain and simple.”
He frowned trying to push the issue. “He wasn’t a cat, he was a tricon. Whether you choose to believe me or not, I was in your backyard because I smelled something weird and wanted to make sure you were okay. When I got close to the back door I accidentally bumped into it. It made a loud noise so I decided I should come in so I could let you know it was just me in case I scared you and that’s when your tricon attacked me. I tried to fight it off, but there was nothing I could think of to do to keep him alive and at the same time save myself. I did what I had to do. I am so very sorry that I have caused you such terrible pain.” He reached out to take my hand and I yanked it back. He looked hurt, but at this point I didn’t care.
“I don’t want to see you again, ever.”
“Don’t do this,” he said his eyes pleading with mine. I was walking over to the window to show him the way out of my room when a noise coming from the closet demanded our attention. Up until this point Draven had remained invisible and somehow had made his way back into the shadows without me noticing. Cole sniffed the air and came at me lightening quick, pressing his body against mine in a protective stance.
“What are you doing?” I asked shoving him off of me. I couldn’t get this close to him without feeling faint. My heart beat faster and my pulse raced. I knew it was just because he was a vampire and not because I had feelings for him. Or was it? I didn’t know anymore. There was too much going on in my life already that I didn’t have time to really analyze it. He still stood close to me and sniffed the air again. When he started towards the closet I jumped in to intercept him. His eyes grazed over me then turned purple and his fangs popped out. How did I not notice those before?
“What are you hiding in there?” he asked deadly serious.
“I’m not hiding anything,” I said trying not to sound guilty.
“That smell,” he said trying to take a step closer, “That’s the scent I picked up on before in your house and that day on the beach. What is it?”
So he did know something was up that day on the beach. A faint memory was tugging at the back of my mind, but it wouldn't break through. It was as if someone had blocked it from me. “It’s a friend of mine,” I said tartly. I didn’t need to explain myself to anyone, especially not him.
“And what about the scent on your clothing? It doesn’t match the other.”
“That’s because they’re not the same,” I said taken aback. I hadn’t realized how accurate his sense of smell was, but then again I just recently discovered what he was. “Can you put your fangs back now?”
“Not until you show me what’s in there.”
“Fine” I said resignedly, “I’m going to show you what’s in there, but not because I have to and then you need to leave, for good.”
“As you wish,” he replied giving me a look that I assume indicated he would comply with my request.
I walked over to the closet and pulled open the door. Both Draven and Viale came out reluctantly after I nudged them along. Draven stepped protectively in front of me and Cole’s eyes widened. “So, this is why you’re rejecting me?” he asked smirking. “You’re smitten with an Unforgiven? How’s life treating you there buddy? I bet you must love being invisible to just about everyone in the free world and well, pretty much everywhere else.”
Draven took a step forward like he was going to attack and I stepped in the middle. Guys were so frustrat
ing. “Enough,” I said loudly. “I don’t want to be with you anymore because you lied, killed my cat, tried to turn me into a vampire and who knows what else, but it has nothing to do with Draven.”
“So, it has a name does it?”
Draven tried to step around me to get at him, but I blocked his path again. That’s when Viale spoke up. “Good to see you again my friend,” he said eyeing him with a wicked grin.
Cole looked like he wanted to disappear after ripping him to shreds. “We are not friends.”
I glanced from one vampire to the other and couldn’t believe how different they both seemed. One was handsome and the other resembled a shriveled up piece of beef jerky. As if sensing my thoughts, Viale looked at me and started salivating again. I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to look as disgusted or sickened as Cole did at that moment. “That’s the smell I found on your clothes isn’t it?” he asked rushing over. He yanked the sleeve of my sweater up and perused the bite marks. His hold on my wrist tensed when he looked into my eyes, his voice tight and clipped when he said, “What have you done?”
“What I had to do,” I said trying to wriggle my hand free.
“Let her go,” Draven said stepping forward to intercept. He let go of my hand and said, “You have no idea what you’ve just done, do you?”
“I made a promise so he can take us where we need to go.”
He shook his head laughing. “Oh, its way more than that or didn’t that piece of slime tell you?”
“What do you mean?” I asked hesitating.
“I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough,” he said sighing. I didn’t like the sound of that at all and I made a mental note to grill the crap out of Viale once I dealt with the current problem at hand.
“Its time for you to go now,” I said pushing him towards the window. Even with all of the anger and frustration boiling between us I knew he wanted to stay and plead his case, beg me to stick with him. It wouldn’t help. At least not right now anyway, but that didn’t stop him from pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around me. Draven gave me a meaningful look, like he wanted to rush over, but I put my hand up signaling him to stop right where he was. Cole’s dazzling eyes bore deep into mine as he leaned over and kissed me on the lips. I tried my hardest not to return it though I failed slightly and just barely managed to pry him away. How could he still make me feel this way even after everything I knew? He started to climb out the window and just before he was going to leap he looked back at me and said, “We belong together and if I can’t have you, I will make sure nobody does.”
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