by Lund, S. E.
Julien shakes his head. "Eve, it's a job. It's an important job. You should do it because it's necessary – not because it gives you pleasure."
"You're one to talk."
He heaves a heavy sigh and leans back, releasing my hand. "You're too young to feel this way." He takes a sip of his beer and looks at me over the bottle. "You should be going on dates, deciding who you are as a person, falling in love."
"I am in love," I say. "I barely know who I am as a person but from my journal, I've known for years that I was going to be a vampire hunter. You have to remember what happened to me. I'll never be normal."
He won't meet my eyes. I don't know why he feels bad for me but how could he expect me to be 'normal' after all that's happened – whatever normal means.
It just isn't in the cards for me.
The next day, the Rhys girl finally shows up, and I know from the start that she isn't an Adept. She's wheelchair bound and on a respirator. She's in biology class, her chair a few rows over and at the front of the room.
Sarah Rhys, twenty years old and sweet with wavy red hair and glasses. So much for this family being part of any vampire coven – they're probably just what they seem – a family moved here from England for the chance at a new life in America, both parents teaching at the same college. Another candidate struck off our list.
After class, I make the exit first and then stand just outside the doorway, watching Sarah as she maneuvers her wheelchair out of the class, using a straw to control the motorized chair. Two of her friends flank her, and she smiles at me as she goes by. One of the girls with her knocks into me, and I manage to drop my book and pens. From roll call, I know she's Brenda Lane, a short blonde with clear blue eyes. She apologizes profusely for her clumsiness. We bend down together to pick up my things. When she hands me my pen, she touches my hand. She gasps briefly and looks at me, her mouth gaping. I freeze, staring at her, looking more closely.
"What's the matter?" I say.
"Oh, I," she says and stammers. "I got a shock or something."
I didn’t get a shock, but I smile and try to brush it off. Is she's an Adept? If she is, she might know what I am. I have to cover quickly.
"Sorry. I'm Eve Hayden."
"I’m Brenda, and this is Sarah and Miriam."
I smile and nod to them all.
"I've heard of you," Sarah says, her voice with that characteristic soft Northern British lilt. "You're the new student. You're in my father's drama class and my mother’s music class."
I nod and point down the hallway. "I have to go," I say, holding up my watch. "English."
She smiles and turns her chair to leave, her friends in tow. As I walk in the opposite direction down the hallway, I turn back and see her surrounded by her friends. Brenda glances back as well and our eyes meet. She's frowning.
Oh, oh…
I have a bad feeling about this.
Is Brenda an Adept? Is she involved in a vampire coven here in Davis Cove?
I can barely focus during English class, and I sit and think about what happened and what I'll say to Julien. I fear Brenda has touch telepathy.
English drags on as does Christian Ethics, and finally, I'm released for lunch. Instead of the cafeteria, I go outside with my sandwich and apple so I can call Julien and relay my suspicions.
"You should really avoid touching people," he says, his voice sounding frustrated. "You know that."
"I know, I know," I say, knocking myself in the forehead with a fist. "She was the one who touched me this time. She deliberately took my fingers in her hand. Most people avoid touching a stranger so I didn't expect it."
I feel a bit nauseated at the thought she might be an Adept working for Blackstone.
"Sarah and Brenda are both in my history class this afternoon," I say. "And Sarah's mom teaches my music class. What should I do? Should I just leave now? Should we abort?"
"If she only touched you for a second, she wouldn't get very much. Maybe just a brief sense of your emotions. Maybe not enough to even know that you're a hunter and Adept. Do you remember what you were thinking when you touched her?"
"I was thinking she wasn't a suspect."
He exhales loudly. "Damn. That's not good. Let me call Vasquez and get back to you. We might have to call it off."
I turn my phone off and manage to chew down a few more bites of my sandwich, but I have this sick feeling in my gut that I've blown my very first undercover operation.
About fifteen minutes later, he calls back. I'm sitting under a tree in the shade, my sunglasses on, my Biology text open to the chapter we were reading, eating an apple.
"What's the plan?"
"Vasquez says to sit it out – go to class this afternoon, see if anyone makes a move towards you. I'll swing by and pick you up after school so you don't have to walk home alone. Don't agree to go anywhere with anyone – not during class, not after. Do you understand?"
"Yes," I say, swallowing, a lump in my throat. "I'm so sorry, Julien."
"It's OK," he says, his tone lightening a bit but I know it's just him trying to be gentle. "I'll see you at 3:00."
I'm not afraid. I'm disappointed. It's just that I really like it here. I really wanted to do this job, live here for three months with Julien and learn what it's like to be his, 24/7 in such a nice place.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible."
George Chakiris
I finish my apple and make my way back inside the college to my locker, where I pick up my notebook for my classes in the afternoon. Nothing seems amiss in history. There are no strange glances from Sarah or Brenda nor does Mrs. Rhys look at me pointedly in music class. No one approaches me or appears to avoid me.
Just before the end of the day, as I go to my locker to pick up my backpack, Nate shows up at my side and leans against a locker.
"Hey, Eve."
"Hey," I say back. He’s smiling that brilliant smile again. "The Junior Pub Crawl is on Friday night. A bunch of us are going as a group and you're welcome to come with us."
I’m so surprised that he’s inviting me, I’m at a loss for words. My cheeks burn, but I smile and try to push my way through the awkwardness.
"Thanks. That's really nice of you." I close my locker and turn to face him. "I'm not sure I can come."
"Why not?" Nate said, frowning. “Your boyfriend? He can come, too.”
"He’s working."
"So he doesn’t allow you to go out without him?" he says, smirking.
“No, I can go out!”
"Just kidding. If you can, it'd be fun. Everyone goes to this. It's tradition."
"I've never been to a pub crawl. If I can go, is there," I say and hesitate. "I mean, is there anything I should wear?"
"You've never been to a pub crawl? You’re a junior. Where’d you go to university before?"
“Boston U. But I was a bit of a, I don’t know – shy.” I shake my head, embarrassed.
"I get it." He nods. "You’re a genius, right? One of those brainy girls who’s going to do a PhD or something?”
“Hardly!”
“Totally casual,” he says. “I can pick you up at about ten."
"That's OK," I say quickly. "I'll get a ride."
"Great. Invite your boyfriend. He's welcome."
I smile and he smiles back, then he leaves me at the lockers. I stand for a moment, a little dazed. His joke about me being a brainy girl going to do a PhD makes me a bit nervous. Where did he get that? I walk to the front door. Julien will be waiting for me and I don’t want him to worry.
He’s leaning against his car at the end of the walkway, dressed in his usual uniform – white v-neck t-shirt, faded jeans, thick black belt, black leather jacket, dark sunglasses, several days worth of scruff on his face, his hands in his pockets. Gorgeous, in other words. I walk through the thinning crowds of students, and feel their eyes on me as I approach him. They've all seen the new girl in town. Now they'
ll get to see her boyfriend.
When I get to him, he takes my hand and pulls me into an embrace. Then he kisses me, his arms around me, pulling me against him. I try to pull away, but he holds me there, not letting go. Finally, he releases me.
“Julien” I say, my cheeks hot. “What are you doing?”
He grins. “Just showing all the little boys who you belong to.”
He opens the passenger door for me and I get inside.
“I think they got the message loud and clear.”
He hops in beside me and puts his arm over my seat and kisses me once more.
“I hope so.” He guns the engine, the tires squealing as we drive off.
At least we leave in style.
"I've been invited to the Junior Pub Crawl," I say as we sit at the kitchen island and eat our supper.
"No way," he says, shaking his head. "Too much drinking and touching, Eve."
"It's tradition," I say. "Besides, it will give me a chance to meet people. See what the Rhys girl’s friends are up to."
"Booze and young college-aged guys mean attempts to pick you up," Julien says. "An excuse to get all snuggly with a girl so I'm voting no."
I bang my knife down on the counter, and then get hold of myself. "What if I don't drink?"
He rolls his eyes at that. "The whole purpose is to drink, cheri. I’ve been to a pub crawl or two hundred in my time."
"I'll just say no. I’ll drink soda. Besides," I say, trying hard to rationalize, "maybe Brenda really did get a shock and I didn’t notice. You can send Red Cap to shadow me."
Finally, he lets out a huge sigh of resignation.
"Forget Red Cap. I'm going with you."
I smile. I’m going to the pub crawl.
The next day, Sarah Rhys and her friends are absent from school, and the Professors Rhys as well. The funeral for Christie is this afternoon and a lot of students have taken the day off so they can attend. I want to go and check out who attended, but we’ll have to rely on the Sheriff for that. I have no reason to go and so Julien asks the Sheriff to have someone tape the funeral unobtrusively just in case. It can’t be overt – the coroner ruled the death an accidental overdose and so there’ll be no police investigation.
At the end of the day, Nate is waiting at my locker, leaning against it, smiling.
"Hey, Eve."
"Hi, Nate," I say, a bit of warmth in my cheeks.
"We're going down to the beach for a swim. If you want, come and join us. I have my car."
I hesitate, fumbling with my books in my locker, stalling for time to think of an excuse. I want to go, see what these students are like, but I know Julien will say no to that as well. Who knows what kind of touching and feeling might happen at a beach...
"Isn’t it a bit cool to swim? The season’s over.”
“Nah, it's still great. The sun’s out today. The beach is sheltered. It’ll be fun.”
“I better not. I have a job interview at the Cove Bistro at five."
"Cool. You could always come along, go for a swim, and then take off when you have to."
I shrug. "I'll see.”
“Gotta check with your boyfriend?" He chuckles. "I saw him yesterday. Nice wheels."
I smile. "He’s proud of that car."
"He should be. He’s also a bit overprotective."
I sling my backpack over my shoulder and start down the hall with him to the exit.
"Definitely overprotective," I say, smiling.
He holds the door open. "If you can join us, it’d be great."
I go to where Julien stands at the end of the sidewalk.
"Hey."
"Hello,” I say. He pulls me into another embrace and kisses me pointedly.
When I pull away, I swallow hard, wondering how to word my request.
“Nate wants me to come for a swim down at the beach."
"Eve," he says, shaking his head. "Hasn’t he got the message that you’re taken? Besides, you don't go anywhere alone. Where you go, I go."
“Julien, I’m a hunter,” I say. “I could kill these guys with a pencil in ten seconds if I wanted. I’m only in danger from another hunter or an ambush.”
“Which he could be and which this could be,” he says, his voice firm. He frowns down at me, his hands on my shoulders.
“Why don’t you stalk me?” I say, unwilling to give in. “You know, use your skills in surveillance you bragged about when we were in Norfolk. I could go alone, have a swim, act like a normal college student my age, see what they’re up to, and you could watch from a distance. If anything looked suspicious, you could swoop in and rescue me like the superhero you are.”
He just looks at me from behind his sunglasses, his lips pressed thin, his jaw clenched.
“Jesus Christ.” Finally, he exhales and glances away from me. “All right.”
“This is what we’re supposed to do – infiltrate.”
“Yeah, but to me that means we infiltrate together so we can watch each other’s backs.”
“You mean so you can watch my back, don’t you?" I say.
“Don’t forget that you can still be beaten if you’re ambushed.”
I hold my hands up in surrender. “OK, I admit it, but you have to let me go on my own sometimes.”
He nods but says nothing more, not looking at my face. “Tell your friend you’ll meet him there. I’ll take you home to get your swimsuit and I’ll drop you off. Then I’ll find a place to watch. Those are my terms. Take them or leave them.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.”
He jerks his head back. “Yes, I can. Don’t make me.”
“Julien, I don’t want to fight with you over this. You said partners. This is what partners do. Get each other’s backs.”
We stand for a moment without speaking.
“OK,” he says, and brushes a strand of hair from my face. “I’m just worried about you. I know you think you’re all tough now that you’ve graduated from fight training, but you’re a long way from being able to defend yourself on your own.”
“Thank you.”
I turn back and walk up the path to where Nate stands.
“Your boyfriend giving you a hard time?”
I laugh. “Why would you think that?”
“He doesn’t look happy.”
I ignore his words. “I’ll go home and get my bathing suit and meet you there.”
Nate smiles. “Bring him along if you like.”
“Can’t. He’s busy.”
“Too bad. I’ll see you at the beach.”
I go to the car where Julien waits, already in the driver's seat. I get in and slam the door a bit too hard.
“Hey, welder’s daughter. Don’t slam the door.”
We drive off.
I don’t say anything on the way home. When we arrive, I go to the bedroom and change into my bikini and then go to the hall closet to get a beach towel.
Julien stands at the end of the hall, watching me. “You don’t have something a little, I don’t know, less like a bra and panties?”
“Julien, are you jealous?”
"Oh, cheri," he said and shakes his head. I can tell his emotions have gotten the better of him because when they do, he drops into his French accent. “How could I not be? You look like something from a Victoria’s Secret catalogue.”
“That’s where I got it.” I turn to him, and do a pirouette. “This is what normal girls my age wear when they go out and, you know,” I say, struggling for words. “Do normal things with other college students, have fun, socialize. I read about it in a magazine. Saw it on a television show, so it must be true.”
“You didn’t socialize much at Boston U.”
“Not that I remember,” I say.
I pull a sundress over my head and slip on my sandals. Finally, I put on my sunglasses and grab my bag.
“Let’s go,” I say when he follows me. “I know, I know. No touching.”
I feel a bit nervous walking down to the water a
fter Julien drops me off – not because I’m worried I’ll be ambushed by vampires out for my blood, or turncoat vampire hunters, but because all the eyes are on me, judging me. My stomach’s all butterflies as I walk up to Nate, who leans against a picnic table, drinking a beer.
“Hey,” he says, smiling. “I wasn’t sure your boyfriend would let you come.”
I laugh. I drop my bag and take off my sundress.
“You look nice,” he said. “Come on. Let’s go for a swim.”
I follow him down to the water where several other people I recognize swim or stand in the water. A few are out in the waves with surfboards and wetsuits. I stand at the edge of the surf. It’s bloody cold but Nate just runs in, splashing through the waves until he dives in head-first.
He turns around and swims back, then floats a few feet away from me as I edge into the water. I know he’s going to splash me.
He does. “Come in – get it over with. Or I’ll come and get you!”
I laugh, and evade him, swimming out a bit and tread water. He follows me and we just laugh and have fun, like I imagine normal people my age do. Normal people my age swim and go to pub crawls and have fun. They’re not vampire hunters who see and feel violence in the world around them.
After swimming, we throw a Frisbee around while other students play beach volleyball.
Then, someone I haven’t really noticed, sitting in a recliner with a large brimmed hat and sunglasses, stands up and starts walking towards us. He’s tall, maybe six foot four, very pale and well-muscled. He takes off his sunglasses and I gasp out loud.
Soren.
He smiles, his ice blue eyes gleaming.
“Hello, beautiful Eve.”
I stand and gape at him for a moment, speechless. Beside me, Nate’s grinning. I see Julien racing down the street, then he swoops down the dune to the beach and is by my side so quickly he’s almost a blur.
He stands in front of me, his arms behind him, holding me.
“Go, Eve,” he says, his voice low and full of fear. “Get your things and leave.”
“No, I don’t think so, Julien,” Soren says and steps forward and before Julien can respond, Soren has his hand on Julien’s neck, squeezing, lifting Julien up off the ground as if he’s nothing more than a feather.
