Replacement

by Wojciech Cram

  The world around them fell away. She was no longer aware of Storm physically at least. It felt like their minds, both Storm's and Emerald's, were being pried open.

  As their minds opened up, Emerald could feel something forming between them; connecting them.

  In a sheer alarm Emerald's eyes flew open but it seemed as if she'd been removed from her body. She wasn't looking up at the ceiling of her suite at the Marriott, but at Storm's

  soul. A soul that was just hanging there. No restrictions, no limitation, no… walls. It was just there, unprotected, vulnerable. And Emerald had a feeling he saw hers as well.

  Their souls, minds, beings seemed to gravitate toward each other. His soul touched hers, intertwined with hers. It was a fascinating sensation. Something so light, so tender…

  nothing she'd felt in what seemed like ever. His mind surrounded her, engulfed her. Like the flash of lightning and she was surrounded in beautiful blue that crackled and sparked.

  However, as Emerald looked around in wonder she realized there were dark purple clouds looming in the distance. It was weird because it was like your regular thunderstorm. She

  could vaguely hear the booms, and see the flashes of lightning within the clouds.

  This stirred her curiosity and instantly felt Storm try to put up his walls, but it wasn't working. Their minds had melded. Nevertheless she could feel he was trying to pull away, and

  this made her feel startlingly hollow.

  You can trust me. She spoke to him softly.

  Storm pulled away even more. Why does it even matter? His voice was sharp, cold.

  It was Emerald's turn to bring up her walls. To block him out. But this only made his curiosity illuminate. Emerald started her retreat; tried to pull away from his probing. She didn't

  want him to know! She thought desperately. She didn't want anyone to know.

  She tried her hardest, her best to keep Storm out, to keep him away. But she knew sooner or later that he'd find it. He'd find out what she was trying so frantically trying to hide.

  There was nowhere to conceal anything any longer, her thoughts weren't safe. She was out in the open.

  But I won't be much longer. Emerald thought solemnly. No!

  With a jolt Emerald and Storm were pulled back into their own minds, but Emerald could still feel that strange connection. Like a cord that had formed between them. Strong like

  steel, yet flexible enough you could wrap it around the whole world an infinite amount of times. Right now it was humming, vibrating, like someone had just strummed it.

  Emerald was looking up at Storm's blue eyes, which seemed to have darkened slightly. Somewhere in there he'd stopped drinking from her. Now they were holding each other, still

  standing between the two beds of Emerald's suite.

  It was silent for a few moments. They didn't speak. They didn't look at each other.

  Emerald looked at the clock.

  "Listen, Emerald—" Storm started.

  But Emerald stood, Storm following, and cut him off. "I need to get back to school before lunch ends." It was amazing all that happened had only been twenty minutes at the most.

  Go figure.

  She still wouldn't look at him as she continued when Storm didn't say anything. "You should… you should go. I—"

  "Look at me." Storm commanded, his voice almost shaking. Emerald's head snapped up and their eyes locked.

  "I really just need some time to… work this out." she finished.

  "What's to work out? We're soulmates—"

  Emerald broke his gaze and raised her hands, a motioning to stop. "It's just…" she said slowly, lowering her arms, "a lot to take in, in one afternoon." She looked back at him, her

  eyes looked slightly watery but there were no tears. "I mean, you're a vampire—"

  "Yeah, and you're a hunter." Storm retorted.

  Emerald stepped closer to him. "Exactly. Don't you think that you'd want to think about this a little? You can't just drop the 'Oh we're soulmates' bomb on someone and not expect

  them to freak out, to need a little space to think about things, to sort some of their thoughts." She met his eyes again a silent beg within their ambergreen depths.

  Storm's eyes smoldered making Emerald's heart thump irregularly.

  "Stop that!" she exclaimed turning away and heading toward the front door, with Storm on her heels. "I'm leaving right now. When I get back I want you to be gone. If I want to talk

  to you I'll call you or something. Okay?" she asked opening the door.

  Storm didn't answer, instead he pressed his hand against the door, slamming it shut, and leaning on it. Emerald quickly spun around before veering back not realizing how close he

  was. She froze, her thoughts stopping. She almost stopped breathing.

  Storm slowly leaned forward, enjoying hearing her heart pound. Seeing the blood, as bright and as red as roses, rush into her cheeks. His lips brushed hers and she let out a small

  gasp. But Emerald put her hands up, onto his chest and turned her head away slightly.

  "I'll see you later, then." Storm whispered in her ear, before opening the door and stepping out.

  Emerald stood there for a moment, palms sweaty, whole body shaking slightly. As the feelings slowly faded, she took control of her emotions and took calm, soothing breaths. Then

  she looked at her watch. She now had five minutes to get back to school. With a big, gusty sigh she paused for one more moment making sure her emotions were in check and then

  booked it back to school.

  "There you are!" Carter exclaimed coming up to Emerald's locker, Danny and Mackenzie close behind. "We waited for you but the bell rang and we had to get to class."

  "Oh, yeah," Emerald closed her locker and slung her backpack over her shoulder. "Well, I got back just at the bell rang, so I had to get to class before the late bell."

  Her three friends crowded around her as they walked out of the building.

  "So, what happened?" Danny asked.

  "You promised us an explanation, remember?" Mackenzie put in.

  Emerald shrugged, turned to face her friends, and grabbed her skateboard from her pack.

  "A minor family emergency. Everyone's fine." she assured them.

  Carter opened her mouth, no doubt to ask Emerald more questions, but just then Anthony came up to them with a warm smile for Carter.

  "Hey, cutie," he said putting an arm around Carter's shoulders and kissing her temple. She blushed a deep red and giggled a little hysterically. Mackenzie and Danny made disgusted

  faces and Emerald rolled her eyes. "What are we talking about?" Anthony continued.

  "Oh, just the event on Saturday. You still coming?" Emerald said before any of her friends could tell him about her love life and family problems.

  Anthony smiled his zircon eyes sparkling. "Totally. Wouldn't miss it. I have to go now. I'll see you later." He pulled back to look at Carter.

  Biting her lip she nodded and mumbled out something that sounded like a goodbye. Anthony headed off.

  "Well, it looks like it's going good." Emerald commented since she knew no one else would.

  Carter sighed and nodded her eyes still on Anthony's retreating figure. "Yeah." she breathed dreamily.

  Danny and Mackenzie exchanged a glance with Emerald.

  "Well, I have to be going now." Danny said just as Mackenzie said, "I should get home. My mom will be expecting me soon."

  "Come on Carter, walk with me." Emerald suggested stepping forward and beckoning her dazed friend forward.

  "Thanks you." Mackenzie mouthed.

  Emerald made a face and stuck her tongue out them. "Cowards." she mouthed before turning her back on them so she couldn't see their responses.

  "Has he kissed you yet?" Emerald finally asked when they were out of earshot. She toyed with her board as they walked down the usual route she took to get home.

  Carter sighed wistfully. "No, not yet." Then her voice brightened up. "
But we're planning on going out for a late lunch on Saturday and that's going to be the third date, so I'm hoping

  he makes a move then."

  "You do realize that it was just a movie." Emerald pointed out taking a sideways glance at Carter. Her eyes were still dreamy.

  "Yeah, but he saw it too. A girl can dream can't she?" she asked blinking and looking over at Emerald with a smile.

  "I suppose," Emerald muttered her mind straying suddenly to Storm. Blinking she quickly asked, "How are things going in the relationship?" to get her mind off of him.

  "Wonderful!" she proclaimed. "He's such a gentleman. Definitely not a jerk, like most jocks tend to be. He really cares about me, you know? He asks about my day and actually

  listens. He opens doors for me. He pulls out my chair for me and won't sit down unless I'm seated."

  "Wow, sounds almost too nice." Emerald pointed out.

  Carter hit her arm playfully. "Oh, you're just jealous." Emerald looked over at her Carter. She was smiling, but it didn't match her eyes.

  "Okay, what is it. I know something's bothering you. You can tell me."

  Carter shook her head, her curls swinging. "No, it's kind of embarrassing." But the tone of her voice was almost hurt.

  Emerald stopped and took Carter's shoulders in her hands. She still avoided her gaze. "Look at me." she ordered. Carter slowly lifted her head. Her amber eyes were watery. "Oh,

  don't cry. I'm sorry if I upset you." Emerald pulled her in for a hug and rubbed her back.

  Carter sniffled and pulled back with a small smile. They continued walking.

  "It's okay. It's just…" She exhaled sharply. "He's always asking about you."

  Emerald almost tripped over one of the concrete squares that was sticking out of the sidewalk. "Me? Why?"

  "I don't know." Carter said miserably. "I mean, it's not like constant. But it just pops up when you don't expect it to. We'll just be talking and then he'll ask, 'Oh, how's Emerald

  doing?' or 'What's Emerald been up to?' 'Have you seen Emerald?'"

  "Gee, I'm sorry. Does he ask about Danny or Mackenzie?" Emerald queried hopefully.

  Carter shrugged. "He's only asked once or twice. It's your name that keeps popping up."

  "But, hey, he likes you. I mean, he did ask you out. And you guys look so good together. I'm sure it's just a phase." Emerald tried to encourage.

  Carter smiled. "Thanks."

  They turned a corner and someone ran forward crashed into Carter, shoving her roughly against the wall. She yelped but the man, who was wearing a navy blue track suite, the

  hood pulled up, shadowing his face, pulled out a large hunting knife.

  "Neither of you move, or make a single noise." he ordered in a low, gruff voice.

  Emerald had the strong urge to taunt him, but bit her tongue. If she were by herself, she could've taken care of this easily, gotten a few insults here and there, because that was

  just how she rolled, but with Carter's life on the line… She'd never do something like that.

  Besides, this was a human mugger, he'd respond differently than a vampire.

  "Wwhat do yyyou want?" Carter asked through her tears.

  The mugger didn't answer, or rather, he didn't answer with words.

  Carter yelped as he ripped her backpack off and threw her over to where Emerald was standing, trying to think of a plan. She stumbled into Emerald, who righted her and muttered,

  "Get behind me." Carter didn't pause or hesitate, she quickly dodged behind her best friend without any questions.

  The mugger was now going through Carter's backpack, and that was the moment Emerald picked to walk up to him, board raised. He looked at her in alarm right before she

  slammed the nose of the board right between the mugger's eyes. The guy let out a cry and staggered back, dropping the pack, its contents spilling out onto the alley floor.

  "Emerald—" Carter's voice was shocked, to say the least. She broke off when Emerald brought her board back for one more blow to the side of the head. The mugger went down,

  and didn't get up.

  She turned back to Carter who was staring openmouthed at her friend.

  "Come on, get your stuff and let's go." Emerald said putting urgency into her tone. Carter didn't move. She looked frozen, her face was ashen and clammy, her lips as white as a

  ghost's. She was going into shock.

  Emerald quickly stashed her skateboard on her backpack before bending down and picking up Carter's things. She slung one of the straps over her shoulder before taking Carter's

  hand.

  "Can you walk?" she asked quietly.

  She nodded robotically.

  "Do you feel dizzy, sick, weak?" Emerald asked taking a couple steps forward. Carter followed slowly.

  "Aa… a little dizzy. Kind of weak." she answered her voice not even a whisper.

  Emerald put an arm around her friend's shoulders, and led her away a little quicker than before. "Let's get you to my place then."

  They weren't very far, and it only took them a few minutes to get back. Carter was holding up well, but Emerald was still really concerned. She hadn't spoken the whole way and

  her lips were starting to turn a disconcerting blue color.

  Emerald helped her onto the bed, and propped her feet up.

  "Are you cold?" she asked when she had Carter situated.

  "No," she groaned despondent.

  "Warm, then?"

  Carter nodded. Emerald hurried off to run a washcloth under icecold water, folded it up and let it rest on Carter's forehead. She also got her a glass of water and insisted that she

  eat at least half of a granola bar. To Emerald's relief her color came back to her lips and face, and Carter fell asleep.

  After about a halfhour of debating, Emerald decided to call Anthony. He was, after all, Carter's boyfriend now.

  Chewing on her lip, pressing this horrible gut feeling she had down and ignoring it as best she could, she dialed the number she got from Carter's cell.

  He was over faster than Emerald thought possible with all the traffic in Manhattan right about now.

  "She's in there," Emerald pointed to the bedroom. "She's asleep right now."

  Anthony nodded and headed in. Emerald closed the door and followed. She stood in the doorway. Carter had woken up, her cheeks flushed, her eyes just as bright as ever.

  They said a few words and just like that Anthony leaned down and kissed Carter. Emerald quickly turned and walked out. Her mind strayed to that afternoon, when Storm had

  practically kissed her as she was trying to escape. Her lips tingled just from the mere memory.

  Emerald froze and stopped those thoughts. Now, wait a minute, this was so not the time to be thinking about him. She still needed to think long and hard about what had happened

  today. Soulmates or not, could she really give herself to him? Trust him? She'd been jaded one too many times, not only by people surrounding her but vampires. Especially

  vampires, they had done nothing but hurt and torture her all these years. How could she go and trust one now? Why should she even trust him now?

  She'll admit she'd let him feed off her, but that was just… lapse in judgment. She just… hadn't been thinking then! He'd probably used his telepathic powers to somehow convince her

  to

  Oh, who was she kidding? She was in love with a vampire.

  You'd think that getting the chance to meet her alltime favorite famous person in the skateboarding world would make Emerald the happiest, luckiest person on this entire planet.

  Okay, so maybe it did, but the woe she was feeling trumped all the other feelings.

  Maybe it was irrational, maybe it was different than you'd expect (you know, the feeling of first love and all), but he was a vampire! She'd been killing them for three years

  straight. How could she just turn her back like that? Especially with her past.

  They could talk about it… maybe.

&
nbsp; Emerald sighed dismally. She was sitting at one of the tables in the skate park, watching the crowd around Shaun. Some were still skateboarding but most were wanting autographs

  and pictures. The rest of her friends, Carter, Mackenzie, Danny, and Anthony had gone in and hadn't come out.

  Emerald would probably be boarding with the other in the park right about now, but when she'd told them she wasn't coming, Carter stole her board.

  "You'll thank me later." she had sung dashing off toward the crowd.

  Now she was just waiting until her friends came back. Which was taking a lot longer than she expected.

  Something prodded Emerald's ankle. She looked down. It was a skateboard that had slowly rolled over in her direction. A kid, probably eleven or twelve ran over and quickly

  snatched it up.

  "Sorry." he muttered to Emerald before shooting a glare in the direction of a guy who was currently on the ground.

  "It's fine." Emerald responded shrugging, looking at the guy with narrowed eyes. The kid shuffled away awkwardly. Emerald stood up and walked over to the guy sprawled out on

  the ground. It looked as if he had stepped on the kid's board and it rolled under his weight, which made him lose his balance.

  She crossed her arms tightly over her chest and stared down at Storm.

  "You aren't stalking me are you?" she asked.

  He blinked and smiled. "Am I in heaven?" he joked.

  Emerald rolled her eyes. "What are you doing here?" she tried again.

  "Are you an angel?"

  Without her permission, blood rushed up to Emerald's cheeks.

  "Don't do that, not here." she said when she found her voice. She reached down and grabbed his hand, ignoring the chill that ran down her spine, to help him up.

  "Wait, I might need medical attention." he objected as she hoisted him up. "I could be seriously injured." Storm said as Emerald turned and walked back to the table and sat down,

  leaning forward and resting her arms out on the table, one fully extended, one bent at an angle. Storm came over a moment later and sat down across from her.

  "You shouldn't be here. I told you I needed a little time. Like… a few days at the most. Give or take." Emerald said, resting her head on her folded arm.