Leticia

  “Go where?”

  “What’s it to you?”

  “You’ve got nowhere to go Leticia, you’re being pathetic.”

  “I’m pathetic?” I gasped, stopping and turning to face him. “I’m pathetic. You’re a fine one to talk, oh feel sorry for me, oh I’ve had my heart broken, oh I’m going to treat everyone like shit but then play badly done too.” I mocked.

  “Don’t talk to me like that; sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.”

  “Whatever, you make me sick; I can’t believe I actually allowed myself to like you. Why am I still even talking to you?” I snapped, attempting to walk away again.

  He grabbed my arm and dragged me against him. “Leticia if you walk out on me now don’t ever come back.”

  “I have no intentions of coming back anyway, why would I want to be anywhere near you?”

  “I’m sorry OK, I’m sorry.”

  “Too late. You’re like a teenager, I’m more grown up than this.”

  “Please.”

  “Look, you’ve been warned, you act so cold, then the next minute you’re as close to me as you are now, you act like you’re about to kiss me then you just walk off and go cold again.”

  “I do want to kiss you.”

  “Then stop messing us both around and just do it!!”

  “Fine!”

  The next thing I knew his lips were on mine. My whole body felt as though it was about to turn to jelly. He tightened his grip on me and I melted into him. He was a beautiful kisser, soft yet passionate. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders; I don’t think he expected that, his grip tightened even more.

  When the kiss ended, and that was a good few minutes later, he kept his face close to mine.

  “I should have done that a long time ago,” he whispered.

  “Yeah.”

  “Tell me you’re not leaving me.”

  “If I stay, what happens next?”

  “I don’t know. I never expected this to happen.”

  “What do you want from me Jackson?”

  “Everything.”

  “And will I get the same in return?”

  “I can try...”

  “Not good enough,” I sighed, pulling away from him.

  “All I can do is try and get better at being the old me.”

  “You’re fully capable of being the old you. You let it out when you feel like it and shut it away when you don’t. You’re not prepared to let it out fully, so I’m not prepared to take this any further. I’m sorry; tell Nancy I’ll keep in touch.”

  Chapter 24

  I walked inside and packed my things, I didn't have that much with losing it all in the fire. I made my way back downstairs; Jackson was nowhere to be seen. I tried to open the front door, but it was locked. I looked on the holder for the keys; not one set was there. I tried leaving through the back, but that too was locked and again all keys were missing. I walked into the living room; Jackson sat on the sofa staring at me.

  “Looking for these?” he asked, dangling several sets of keys in front of him.

  “Don’t be an ass, let me out.”

  “No.”

  “Jackson I’m not in the mood...”

  “I don’t care.”

  I dropped my bags and went over to him. I tried to get the keys off him, but he was quite a bit taller than me so when he held them up I couldn’t reach. This seemed to amuse him, and as much as I tried to stay annoyed and serious, I couldn’t help but smile.

  “I didn’t realize just how little you were,” he laughed.

  “Erm, I’m 5ft5, that’s not little.”

  “Yeah it is.”

  “Well good things come in small packages... like poison and bullets.”

  “Oh so vicious,” he laughed again.

  “Just give me the keys.”

  “No.” He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against him again. “Don’t leave me, please...”

  “Jackson I....”

  “Please?”

  “Oh for god’s sake, I swear if you ever...”

  He silenced me with another kiss, not a full blown one, but it did last a fair few seconds. It seemed his confidence was growing already. Afterwards we both sat back on the sofa but then Jackson decided he wasn’t comfortable enough, so we ended up lying across it, facing each other.

  “I didn't think I’d ever be this close to you,” he said, stroking the side of my face.

  “Well, you thought wrong, I’ve liked you since the first day we met.”

  “Even though I piss you off?”

  “Yeah,” I smiled. “There’s a lot of love in you, you just need to open your heart again.”

  “I was just so frightened after what happened last time, you know with Clara. I can’t describe how it felt, I was besotted with her.”

  “Are you sure you weren’t in love with her?”

  “I’m not sure, I don’t think I was in love with her, but I cared for her a great deal. If I’d stayed with her a little longer then I probably would have fallen for her completely.”

  “Love is a strange thing.”

  “I know. I haven’t even given a girl the time of day since... until I met you. I found myself thinking about you all the time, I always wanted to be around you, but I was scared of the same thing happening again; then I realized something that frightened me even more...”

  “Tell me,” I said, holding him closer to me.

  “I realized my feelings for you were stronger than they were for her. In fact, if you want the honest truth, I’ve never felt so strongly for someone.”

  “Never?”

  “No, I’ve dated a few women in my time; all of them seemed to want my money...”

  “Because you give it to them too easily.”

  “I know,” he nodded. “I just like the woman I’m with to be happy, to have nice things.”

  “Money can buy nice things Jackson, but it can’t by health or happiness.”

  “I know.”

  “You need to keep your money and spend it on you.”

  “You’re the first person to ever say that to me.”

  “I’m sure I won’t be the last.”

  “I hope you are.”

  “Why?”

  “I... I don’t want anyone else.”

  I didn't respond I just smiled and kissed him.

  “Leticia I know you’ve had a lot of upset in the past, with Luke I mean. I would never do that to you, I would never hurt you. I know what you are and I love it, you fascinate me. Anyway, I just want you to know you can trust me... always.”

  “I know,” I smiled. “That’s something you don’t have to tell me.”

  We heard the front door open and Nancy shouting ‘Hello’. We didn't respond, and to my surprise, Jackson didn't move. I’d expected him to sit up quickly and act all cool, but he didn't budge.

  “Oh my god,” she cried in excitement when she walked in the room. “Ha ha, brilliant!”

  Tristan walked in to see what all the shouting was about. When he saw us together he smiled and clapped his hands. “About time,” he said looking at Jackson. “Told you didn't I?”

  “I know.”

  “I’m pleased for you both. I’m assuming you’re a couple now?”

  Jackson looked at me with hope in his eyes.

  “I think so,” I told him.

  “I’m hoping so,” Jackson kinda sighed.

  “Well that means you are,” Nancy confirmed, getting excited again. “Oh I’m so so happy. Leticia we sooo need girl time later so you can tell me absolutely everything that happened.”

  “OK,” I laughed.

  “Nancy my love,” Tristan said, taking her hand. “Maybe we can give them some time alone.”

  “Oh yeah, sorry of course, see you later,” she smiled again.

  They walked out and Tristan shut the door behind them.

  We stayed on our own another half an hour or so before begrudgingly getting up. We hadn’t spoken much, all we’d done was
hold, kiss and stare at each other. We went into the study and found Tristan.

  “So did you see anyone lurking around?” I asked him.

  “We didn’t see a soul.”

  “Great, maybe they’ve realized we’re more than they can handle.”

  “It would be nice to think that.”

  “But you don’t?”

  “Not until I have it confirmed. Things aren’t always what they seem to be,” he warned.

  Nancy didn't let us talk much longer. She grabbed my hand and led me back into the living room. She closed the door and threw her arms around me.

  “I’m so happy,” she almost cried. “I haven’t seen him like that with someone in decades; you must tell me everything that happened.”

  When she eventually let go of me I told her what she wanted to know, from the failed kiss attempt upstairs, to when they walked in. Not once did she take the smile of her face.

  Later that evening I stood in the back garden admiring the views. I felt someone’s arms wrap around my waist just before Jackson put his head next to mine.

  “This is going to take some getting used to,” I laughed.

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, but I’ll do it quickly.”

  “Do you fancy going for a walk?” he asked.

  “Why not.”

  We told Nancy we were going out and quickly left. We didn't want them tagging along. That’s not meant to sound as awful as it does, but we wanted time on our own, uninterrupted. We wanted to get to know the loving side of each other.

  We walked hand in hand deeper into the hills, and didn't stop talking for even a second. Neither of us cared where we ended up, it’s not like we could get lost. We talked about everything and anything, from what we were like when we were children, to what our favorite foods were. It felt so strange being like this with him, but I admit I loved it. He rarely let go of me, he kissed me every few minutes. He really had pulled down that wall around his heart and believe me; his heart was proving to be even bigger than I imagined it could be.

  After a couple of hours we decided to head back. The weather was turning, the wind was picking up and rather menacing looking clouds were quickly heading in our direction. Neither of us had our coats on, so when the rain caught up with us we had to run. It was a useless attempt at trying to stay dry though, by the time we reached the house we were soaked to the bone. We stood on the porch laughing and kicking our muddy shoes off. We went straight into the downstairs bathroom and rubbed our hair with the towels.

  “Wow,” he laughed at me. “Your hair is just a mass of curls.”

  “Shut up, I can’t help it.”

  “Actually it looks nice; you should have it like that more often.”

  “I don’t think so, anyway, I’m going to get changed.”

  I threw the towel at him and went upstairs. I pulled a pair of comfy jeans on and a tank top and decided to make us both a hot chocolate.

  I walked into the kitchen; the clouds were now so thick that the kitchen was almost in complete darkness. I flicked the light on. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.

  “JACKSON!” I yelled.

  The table was in pieces scattered across the room, only one chair remained, lying in the center of the floor. Two cups were smashed and had sent their contents of coffee half way up some of the cupboards. The curtains were torn, the counter had been cleared and the few ornaments and plates that were normally neatly set out, were now shattered.

  “What’s wrong?” Jackson panicked, appearing beside me. “Oh my....” He ran into the hallway and started checking the other rooms. “NANCY! TRISTAN!” He shouted frantically.

  We searched the whole house, the cars, the surrounding grounds, but they were nowhere to be seen. What had happened? How the hell could a few humans take a century’s old powerful vampire and a shape shifter?

  “SHIT!” He punched the living room door. “I don’t know what to do! I don’t know where to start! Where do we even look?”

  “Jackson, take a breath, they couldn’t have gone far. It wouldn’t have been easy to take them.”

  “I swear to god if anything happens to them I’ll hunt every single one of these bastards down and rip them apart with my bare hands.”

  “I know, I know,” I tried to comfort him. “We’ll find them.”

  I went to put my arm around him, but he pushed me away. I didn't say anything to him; I just stood there in silence. A moment later he wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his head in my neck.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  “It’s OK, I understand.”

  We heard banging near the front door, we let go of each other and got to the hallway just as Nancy literally fell through the door. She was bruised, bloody, and tear stained.

  Chapter 25

  Jackson ran over to her and gathered her in his arms. He carried her upstairs and laid her on her bed; I followed close behind them.

  “What’s happened to you, where is Tristan?” he asked, moving strands of bloody hair off her face.

  As soon as he mentioned Tristan’s name, she burst into tears again.

  “Nancy, where is he?” I asked.

  “He’s gone, they killed him!” she cried.

  “What!” We both gasped.

  “They weren’t human, not all of them, they were so strong, they took us by surprise.”

  “I don’t understand,” Jackson frowned.

  Nancy was struggling to keep her eyes open now, she looked exhausted.

  “I can’t.... I don’t know...” she tried to say, slipping in and out of consciousness.

  “Jackson let her rest,” I advised. “She been through a lot, let her sleep, when she comes around she can tell us.”

  “Tristan...” she breathed, as her eyes closed.

  I covered Nancy with a blanket, then took Jackson’s hand and led him out of the room.

  “She needs to rest; God only knows what she’s been through. She’ll come to us when she’s ready”

  He nodded and we made our way downstairs. He told me he needed some time alone and walked into the study. I needed to do something, anything; I couldn’t just sit on my own in silence. I went into the kitchen and started tidying up. I put the broken furniture in a pile in the back garden, along with black bags full of broken plates, cups and ornaments. It took me just over an hour. The kitchen looked bare now, no table for us to all sit at and chat, no little decorations that make a house more homey. Only the extreme basics were left.

  I studied the room, one question now buzzed around in my head. How the hell had the attackers gotten inside the house? Both the front and back door were locked when we got back, none of the windows were broken. Had one of them let the killers in?

  I looked around the back of the house, checking the windows again in case we had missed something. All of them were in perfect condition. Then I noticed the outside entrance to what I assumed was the Basement. Normally it was fastened shut by two large thick chains with a padlock securing them. However, now they were split in two. I went closer to inspect them, they hadn’t been cut, they had been pulled apart; it would take some strength to do that. Then something else caught my attention, next to the door handles were what appeared to be claw marks. Big ones. My stomach sank; there was only one thing I could think of that could create these marks... another wolf.

  I disturbed Jackson and dragged him outside; he was shocked, but in agreement.

  “How the hell has he got another of your kind working with him. That wouldn’t happen. The wolf would turn on the human to protect its kind. How the hell has he done this?” he wondered.

  “Good question.”

  “Maybe it’s just a trick, you know, maybe they’re trying to panic us.”

  “That wouldn’t surprise me with Luke,” I sighed. “He would do anything to try and get one over on people.”

  “I’m not being funny but if this is the sort of person he is, I don’t see how you could have loved him.”

&n
bsp; “He wasn’t always like this.”

  “Well... if you say so.”

  “How long should we leave Nancy for?” I asked.

  “Let her wake up on her own,” he said heading towards one of the garages. A few minutes later he walked back with two more thick chains. “Don’t touch these,” he warned. “They are solid silver. Let’s see them get in here again.”

  “Where does this lead to?”

  “You can get access to one of the storage rooms through here.”

  I watched as he re-chained the doors, then walked back inside.

  “I feel useless, I need to find them, I need to find Tristan,” I seethed.

  “We don’t know where to start. We need to wait for Nancy to wake, then we can make a move. I know how you feel though. Maybe we should try and get some rest. I think we’re going to need every bit of energy we can get.”

  “OK.”

  We checked on Nancy again before heading to our own rooms. She was still fast asleep. Jackson didn't even say ‘good night’ he just walked away. I got changed and under the duvet, I didn't know how I was supposed to sleep when all I could think about was Tristan. Where was he? Could he really be dead? What had they done to him and Nancy? Why did I allow them to help me? All they were facing now was heartache and pain. It was all my fault. I had to leave, I had to find these scumbags and I needed to find Tristan.

  I got up and pulled the gun Jackson had given me out of my drawer. There were plenty of bullets left in it. I placed it on the bed and was about to get dressed again when there was a knock at my door. Jackson came in; the first thing he noticed was the fresh clothes on the bed, and his gun.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “Nothing,” I lied.

  “Let me change the question. Where are you going?”

  “I... I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You’re lying to me.”

  “No...”

  “You’re going after them, you’re doing the same thing I got a roasting for,” he shot, his voice becoming louder with anger. “I will not let you leave.”

  “Jackson, firstly, don’t shout at me, secondly, we both know I’m stronger than you. You couldn’t stop me no matter how much you may want to.”