The bell rang ten minutes ago, and the teacher still hadn’t shown up. I was giving the old fart five more minutes before I ditched this class. Right on cue, the door opened and in waltzed the teacher, except it wasn’t old-man Gray. The guy that walked in looked to be in his twenties with buzzed cut hair, dark eyes, and an amazing body. I could tell by the way those jeans and button-down shirt molded his body. He exuberated confidence and mystery. He was just drop-dead sexy. The smirk on his face had my mouth watering. From the looks on the other girls’ faces, they obviously felt the same way.
“Who is that, hottie?” Josie leaned over to whisper.
“I don’t know, but I want to find out,” I said, not taking my eyes off the man.
He turned to the board, grabbing a piece of chalk. The class was silent as they all watched what he wrote.
T-A-L-O-N
He finished writing the letters on the board, dusted his hands off, and then turned back to face the class.
“Good morning, class. My name is Talon, and I am your substitute for today.” The geek god named Talon said as his eyes drifted over the class; almost like he was searching for something.
“Before we start, I’m looking for a girl. Her name is Ana. She has long black hair and blue eyes. Anyone know where she is?” Talon asked.
“Uh, yes, mister Talon, she goes here, but I don’t think she’s here today.” Amber, the school slut, quickly answered. Amber was twirling a piece of hair between her fingers, clearly trying to look sexy. Too bad, she was failing miserably.
I wondered why he was looking for Ana.
“Thank you. Okay, take out your books, and do whatever you want. I have better things to do,” Talon said and then left the room.
It was the look in his eye that had me jumping out of my seat to follow him. He didn’t look like he wanted to find Ana because he loved or missed her. He looked like he hated her.
“Hey, wait!” I shouted once I was in the hall. Talon stopped and turned back to me slowly.
“What?” He snapped.
“W-why are you looking for Ana?” I asked.
In a flash, Talon was in my face, barely an inch between us. My heart began to pound in my chest. No one ever made her feel like this, not even Jace, and Talon hadn’t even touched me yet.
“Why do you ask?” he said, taking a piece of my hair between his fingers. I had to swallow hard and force my knees not to buckle. He was just so sexy. All I wanted was for him to take me right there on the hallway floor.
“Sh-she’s my sister.” I sputtered out.
Talon dropped my hair and looked me right in the eye. I didn’t know what he was thinking, but his lips looked so soft right now.
“I need to find her because I want to kill her.” Talon replied in a serious deep voice.
He watched me, waiting for my reaction. Maybe he thought I would freak out and try to stop him. After all, that was what normal sisters did. Well, Talon was in for a surprise.
“I want to help,” Kim said.
Talon raised a brow and folded his arms across his muscular chest.
“Help what?” he asked like he was talking to a child.
I pushed my lust aside and looked him dead in the eye. I wanted to make sure he would take seriously what I was about to say.
“I want to help you kill my sister.”
Chapter 24
Is Santa Clause Real Too?
Ana
I stood outside my motel, feeling the morning sun against my skin. I checked my watch for the hundredth time. It read 8:27 a.m. Most people would be heading to their first class by now but not me. No, I was standing outside counting the seconds, and hoping with all my might, he wouldn't abandon me. It was at this moment that I realized how much I needed him to accept me. If he didn't come back, I didn't know how I would be able to do this.
The door behind me opened, and I heared lights steps on the pavement.
“You've been out here since 6 a.m.” Marie said, coming up beside me.
I offered her a small smile. It was the best I could do given the amount of anxiety I was feeling.
“I know. I'm just worried I’d lose him. It's not like I could even blame him for not coming back,” I said, dropping my head and fighting my tears.
Marie's tiny hand gently touched my shoulder. The action offered me some soothingness.
“Ana, he will come back. He cares too deeply for you to just leave you now,” Marie said softly.
I closed my eyes and tried to find comfort in her words, but I couldn't. I was too afraid.
“He's my best friend! I need him! When I close my eyes, all I can see is Simon’s horrified face.” My voice got a bit hysterical as my mind flashed back to last night when everything changed; when I told my best friend in the whole world that I was a vampire.
***
Ana
“Come on. You have something else to do,” Seb said, beginning to walk off.
“What else do I have to do at 2 a.m.?” I asked half complaining.
He stopped and turned back to me with a serious face.
“You have to tell your friends you’re a vampire or leave them forever. Your choice, Ana.”
Seb turned to walk back to the motel, not aware of the turmoil his words just caused in me.
He couldn't be serious. I just got Simon back in my life. Telling him I was a vampire would surely send him packing. Or, at the very least, he would try to get me committed for insanity.
“No.” I whispered.
Seb stopped and slowly faced me.
“What?” he asked.
I looked him the eye and squared my shoulders.
“No!” I repeated more confidently. “I won't tell Simon.”
“You must…”
“I can't! He is all I have! He is my bestfriend and the only one who has always been there for me! If I tell him, I'll lose him.” The last sentence actually hurt as it came out of my mouth. Simon had been the only person I could count on. I never even considered telling him about my turning. Simon was such a reasonable person that vampires didn't fit into his thinking. Sure, he loved science fiction, but it was always just fiction to him. He would lose it if he found out some things weren't just much fiction after all.
“Ana, I know you’re scared, but it's for the benefit of everyone. Marcos and Talon are after us. You have to explain the danger you accidentally put him in and why. If not, we have to disappear. And I know it'll hurt you more if you leave him again, searching answers he will never find,” Seb said slowly, making me understand as he took steps towards my direction.
I gazed at him with tears in my eyes because he was right. If I just take off now, that would hurt Simon more than it did two years ago. He deserved an explanation. Even if I lose him in the process, at least, I let him make the choice himself.
“I hate it when you’re right,” I said with a chuckle.
Seb graced me with that beautiful smile of his that he rarely showed.
“I know. Now let’s go.” He responded, nodding his head in the direction of the motel.
Grudgingly, I followed. I knew I had to tell Simon the truth, but that didn't make it any easier.
We entered the room to complete silence. Jace was standing by the window, lost in thought. From the scowl on his face, I was sure it had something to do with that kiss earlier. Simon and Marie were sitting on the bed. And Lily, strangely enough, was eating pizza.
“Where'd you get a pizza at this time of night?” I asked, fully stepping into the room and closing the door behind me.
“Money can get you anything. Want some?” she said, shoveling another piece into her mouth.
Pizza was the last thing on my mind. I took a glance at Simon. He had a warm smile on his face. That would fall off after I dropped this bomb on him.
“You feel better?” I asked Simon as I took a seat on the other side of him.
“Yeah, I puked up most of the liquor, and Marie here nursed me back to health.” Simon responded with a grin
on his face.
Marie had a slight blush to her cheeks as he said the words. I wondered what that was all about.
I stood back up and began to prepare myself for my next announcement of the night. Glancing around the room at everyone, I started to feel slightly nervous. Even though only two of them didn't know my secret, I was still a wreck.
Well, it was now or never.
I swallowed the dry lump in my throat and began.
“Umm, I have something to tell you.”
I looked Simon in the eye. He gave me a questioning gaze in return.
“It's cool Ana. I know that fight between you and Kim wasn't your fault. Honestly, I'm glad that you finally defended yourself. I like the new Ana,” Simon said, smiling proudly at me.
That was great that he just had to say that and make this even harder. Let’s see how much he likes the new Ana when he finds out she was a bloodsucker.
“Uh, thanks, Sy, but that's not what I meant.”
My eyes met with Seb’s and I could see the encouragement in his. I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly.
“Simon, what I'm about to tell you is the truth. And, please, don't freak out. But…” I stopped again, closed my eyes, and blurt it out. “Simon I'm a vampire.”
For the second time tonight, I was met with silence after a declaration. Peeking open my eyes, Simon’s confused face came into view. If my heart could beat, it would have been hammering.
All of a sudden, Simon burst out laughing.
“Wow! New Ana has a sense of humor! Awesome!” he said, still laughing.
No one in the room spoke. We all just watched Simon’s hysterical laughing. It even left me speechless. Simon finally realized that he was the only one seeing this as a joke then his laughter died down.
“Whoa, wait. You’re serious?!”
All eyes turned to me. The only thing I could do was nod my head.
“Ana,” Simon said, standing and gently taking my hand, “vampires aren't real. I don't know what happened to you during the last two years, but now that your home, we can get you the help you need.” Simon told me nicely as he pet my hand like he would an injured puppy.
Was he trying to call me crazy?
Of course he was! This was Simon!
I pulled my hand back. “Sy, I'm not crazy” I was a little offended by his assessment of my sanity.
The expression on his face was enough to know he didn't believe me.
“Okay. Do you want to talk about what's been happening since you left?” he asked in a manner someone would when talking to a basket case.
This was unbelievable! I was sure that he would freak out, not treat me like a mental patient! Okay, maybe I thought he would think I was crazy but not to this point.
“Look, I'm perfectly sane considering all the crap thrown in my life. But if it helps you understand, I'll tell you what happened. I ran away, tried to save a girl and failed. The man that killed her was a vampire. He also killed me except I didn't stay dead. Instead, I turned. He kidnapped me for the last two years until Seb and Marie helped me escape before escaping themselves. That pretty much sums it up.” I rambled on so fast, I wasn’t sure he heard it all.
I gauged him for the reaction I was expecting.
Still, Simon didn't react.
He just gave me that look of pity. My best friend truly thought I had lost my marbles.
“Ana, maybe we should take you home to see your mom.” Simon suggested.
Oh my gosh! That was it! It was time for some drastic measures. Not thinking beforehand, I let my fangs sprout from mouth, accompanied by a frightening vampire hiss. Both Simon and Lily screamed. Simon’s was higher in pitch.
My best friend tried to get away from me so fast, he tripped over his own feet and fell hard on his ass. The look of fear on his face had me wishing I should have thought that through more. I watched wide-eyed Simon scramble on the floor away from me.
“WH-WHAT THE HELL, ANA!” Simon finally got off the ground and went to the other side of the room, next to Jace.
“I tried to tell you, but you kept treating me like I was loco, so I just showed you instead.” I explained, making my fangs retreat.
“YOU HAVE FANGS! YOU’RE EYES TURNED RED! THIS CAN’T BE REAL!” Simon shouted and was now pacing and mumbling to himself. Honestly, this was going better than expected. I mean, he was still here, even if he may be going a little insane himself.
“That probably wasn’t the best way to break the news, Ana” Jace said, clearly annoyed by my methods
“YOU KNEW?!” Simon shouted at Jace.
I really wished he would stop yelling.
Jace nodded
“I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS! VAMPIRES! NO WAY.” Simon continued to rant.
“Jace is a witch!” Marie said out of nowhere.
We all turned to her small frame which was now standing next to her brother’s much larger one.
“Well, he should know Ana isn’t the only one with secrets.” Marie added. Defending me or herself, I couldn’t tell.
“Is that true?” Simon asked Jace in a much calmer voice.
Jace narrowed his eyes at Marie before turning back to Simon.
“Yes,” he finally admitted.
“Half-witch to be exact.” Seb tossed in with a smirk.
Simon collapsed onto the bed, face toward the ceiling. For a second, I thought he fainted but realized quickly he was just staring at the checkered roof in shock.
“THIS IS SO COOL!” Lily screamed, jumping from her chair.
Just my luck to put my real best friend in shock and my stalker in heaven.
“You are the coolest person I know! I mean, you’re a vampire! That is so awesome!” Lily went on gleefully in her own world.
I was starting to think she needed to be committed. Who in their right mind would think this was cool.
“I want to be like you when I grow up!” She added.
“You’re older than me.” I reminded her.
She waved me off and turned her wild antics on Jace
“So, are you a wizard? Or a warlock? Do you have a wand?” She fired questions at Jace, inching closer to his face.
Jace’s expression almost made me laugh. He tried to put space between them, but Lily had him in a corner.
“I-I’m not a warlock or a wizard, and I don’t have a wand. Those are fairytales.” Jace said, trying to get around Lily.
“So what are you? I thought witches were girls,” Lily said, blocking his escape.
“No. Being a witch isn’t gender specific the way humans make it out to be. It’s a birthright. Humans just tend to only catch female witches practicing. Now, can you move?” Jace didn’t wait for Lily’s answer and swiftly darted his way past her.
“As entertaining as this all is, Ana didn’t make her announcement for fun. There are some vampires after her to harm her. You three must choose to help Ana fight or stay out of it. Either way, we will leave at daybreak,” Seb said, stepping up and putting us back on course.
I looked back to Simon as he remained in his shocked state. I wanted to talk to him alone, but if I got close to him, I might scare him. All I could do is wait and hope he could handle this. At this point, it was not looking so good.
“I’m in!” Lily jumped up, raising her hand and beaming at me.
Of course she was! I didn’t think I could get rid of my new friend if I tried. Harder that is.
Simon abruptly sat up. I took a step in his direction, but the look in his eyes stopped me. He was afraid of me. Seeing that hurt me deeply. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. I wanted for a second for everyone to disappear and give me a moment with my friend.
Jace slowly walked over to Simon and handed him the old book Helia gave me. Why would he do that? Simon gave him a weary gaze before slowly taking the leather-bound book.
“This explains what we are and where we come from. It should help you understand,” Jace said, moving back to give Simon some space. Simon nodded and swallowed s
o hard, I saw his Adam’s apple bounce. I felt like I should say something, but I couldn’t find any words. My worse fear was coming true.
Simon glanced around the room cautiously. When his eyes landed on me, I could see how torn, confused and afraid he was. He stood and made his way to the door.
“Simon, please don’t go.” I begged, finally finding my lost voice. He paused with his hand on the knob.
“I’m sorry, Ana.” He whispered and went out of the room. By the time the door closed behind him, the tears fell.
“I’ll go make sure he gets home safe,” Jace said, following Simon out of the room.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I wondered if that would be last time I saw my dearest friend.
***
Ana
Present
“Ana, its 8:45 a.m. We can’t wait much longer.” Seb’s voice cut through my thoughts of last night’s events. Even though Simon walked out on me, I still held hope he would come back. We were, after all, close. I pray he didn’t forget that. Another minute slipped by, and my hope slowly faded. How stupid of me to think that I could tell someone like Simon I was a vampire and expect him to just “hey, that’s great”. Yeah, right. He was not Lily.
Speaking of Lily, I could hear her talking to Marie from inside. They were arguing about Lily’s mini skirt not being practical for our trip. It was funny eavesdropping from so far away.
Got to love these vampire ears. Though I would trade it all to have my friend back.
Just as I was about to meet the others inside, I heard the sound I’ve been dreaming to hear all morning: the screeching of Simon’s beat-up car trudging into the parking lot. I was so overwhelmed with joy, my vampire speed carried me to the parking lot in a second. Simon didn’t even have the car in park yet, and I eagerly ripped the door open. Literally, I tore his rusted door right off the car.
“Holy shit, Ana!” Simon said, clutching the steering wheel.
“Sorry, I got too excited,” I said sheepishly, placing the door gently on the ground. “I’ll fix that.”
Simon laughed as he got out. The sound was music to my ears.
Pure: A Paranormal Romance Page 25
