Saying I want to marry a vampire was the same thing as saying I want to be Queen of England. None of that made any sense because there are no such things as vampires. Humans would say it’s more realistic to want to marry a king and become his queen than a vampire because their logic is there are no vampires. The probabilities are more in my favor of me marrying a king than marrying the king of vampires.
But then what are the probabilities of getting pregnant by a vampire? I would like to know the probability of that.
Taking a bite out of my sandwich, I watched Ryan sitting with his red and black flannel shirt and jeans and hiking boots, drinking and eating. I had never even seen Sebastian eat anything unless you count that girl and even then he didn’t eat her in the purest sense of the word.
It was strange and familiar to eat out in the open with the sun in the sky overhead. This is something I always wanted to do. Go on a picnic with Sebastian. There were so many things I dreamed of doing and would never get a chance. My dreams outlasted his love for me.
I could never understand why he didn’t get in touch with me after I arrived home. I would have forgiven him, but now after being away from him and knowing what he was before I met him has made me wary of him.
Yet I love him and I can’t imagine being without him even as I accept Ryan’s kindness and generous nature.
Ryan has proven to be a great person to be with and looking at him he will make some woman a wonderful husband. He is handsome and fearless. Anyone who is willing to be with a woman after she has been the lover of a vampire is fearless in my book, and not to mention the idea of taking care of a vampire’s baby.
“I’m ready to go,” I said standing pretending I didn’t need Ryan’s help. I couldn’t wait to get to a bed. The longer it took to get to the house the longer it would be before I could get some rest and eat again so I started walking leaving Ryan behind.
Ryan picked up my backpack and slung his over his back and he soon overtook me and we started down the path together and the house suddenly appeared much closer. As we neared it I could see it was well kept with a large porch that wrapped around the white house that needed some paint come spring.
“I came early and placed a months’ worth of food here. There is canned food in the cellar. We have a housekeeper and gardener who takes care of the place when I don’t get up here. They won’t be back for six months to clean up the place.”
We trudged down the road and then up to the front door. I walked up the few steps with Ryan’s help and he opened the door with a key he had under a flower pot.
“Aren’t you afraid someone will come in and trash the place?”
“Not really. There aren’t anyone around for miles. If some unfortunate person happen to find the place then good luck to them.” Ryan smiled. There goes that easy smile again and for some reason I liked it and I liked the comfort and security he gave me.
Chapter Ten-Zoey
After I found my room I was surprised to discover that everything was beautiful and clean. The walls were white with white curtains on the windows. There were no shades or blinds, and the wroth iron bed was painted white. The bed had an old quilt made out of pieces of fabric from a child’s clothing. The quilt looked like something my mother once made for me.
She had said, “This is to keep you warm and from the cold. I’m making one for my grandchild.” She sat near me with a broad smile. I had never seen her smile like that before.
“I don’t think I will ever marry and have children. It’s tough being a child in this world. There are horrible things awaiting them and I don’t want to bring a child into this nightmare.” I remember saying to her when I returned from England.
Lying across the small bed, I looked out the curtain-less window and listened to the waves beat in rhythm against the rocks and shoreline which sent me into a deep sleep. When I woke it was to the aroma of cooked vegetable and meat. I cleaned up and headed in the direction of the aroma of fresh corn.
“Where did you get this?” I said picking up a large cob from a platter laid out on a counter. I took a bite. “This is good. I haven’t had this since before my mother died. She liked corn. My father not so much.”
“I’m glad you like it. I have a cellar that holds wine and canned goods and I had the caretakers bring some fresh vegetables when you agreed to come here with me.” Ryan looked at me. Then he placed a meal in front of me. “Oh wow. How did you learn to cook like this?” I cut and devoured a large piece of steak, and potatoes drowned in butter and cheese.
I stayed in the kitchen because I wanted to know where my food came from and the cooks taught me. The old cook said that I should learn to cook so I wouldn’t starve, or work some poor woman to death.” So here I am. He smirked at me and placed an apple pie on the table. My eyes grew large.
“You did all of this?” I said as he smiled and glanced at me with a mysterious smile.
“Yes. But I have one confession,” I waited, “the pie is frozen.” I reached and cut me a large piece.
“Taste home baked to me.”
“That’s my secret,” he said.
“Tomorrow we’ll have fresh fish.”
“You’re going fishing?” I asked.
“No. We’re going fishing.”
“But I’ve never fished before,” I said to him.
“Neither have I, but you need something in your diet besides meat and potatoes.” He had a lax amusing way about him.
I put down my fork and knife and looked at him for the first time. He was handsome in an easy way. He was warm in a captivating way. The kind of man you notice too late. It was as if he had always been in my mind, but it took this to make me understand that this was the life I needed.
It wasn’t the run for your life and hope you survive with Sebastian. Sebastian was right. He knew I would have a better life with Ryan. But it wasn’t for Sebastian or Ryan to decide. It was my life and only I could decide that.
Maybe I couldn’t see that until now. Sebastian had been watching over me and controlling my thoughts for a long time until I couldn’t think of or be with anyone but him. Now he has set me free. But was I really free to be with Ryan?
“So now you are a dietician besides a policeman and vampire hunter?” I said taking another bite of the sweet corn. You can’t be a dietician or a doctor because all I see here are carbs and shouldn’t you have cooked something green,” I said taking a bite.
“I didn’t say I was a dietician. That was you, remember.” He smiled and a flash of humor settled on his face.
“Point taken. Now what do you have planned for us after dinner? Sit around the fire and tell ghost stories?” I asked.
“Something like that, but first we’re going for a swim.”
“The water is cold.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me off the chair and I stood there.
“If you don’t come willingly I’m going to carry you.” I crossed my arms around my chest and planted my feet. I gave him a snarky smile.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Okay. You asked for it,” he said. I took off running outside kicking my shoes to the side to get more traction and down the path to the beach I ran. When I turned around he was standing on the porch. “Just giving you a running start.” And when he thought I had ran far enough he tore off behind me with me laughing.
“I’m waiting,” I said with my hand over my mouth suppressing a giggle.
Laughing is good, I thought. When was the last time you had a good laugh? A long time, came back my answer. Now it’s time to enjoy life. I had forgotten about everything and everybody for the first time in my life. I made up my mind to enjoy this day.
Running in and out of the water and still Ryan hadn’t caught me, but that was just wishful thinking. When he caught up with me, I was standing in three feet of water with my dress floating around my chest.
“Aren’t you going to take that off?” He said as he threw his shirt and pants to the side and waded into the water in his boxers. His
chest, wide and muscular, and his arms massive with silky hairs dotting from his elbows to his wrists.
What a handsome man indeed. Why hadn’t I seen him before? He stood looking at me seductively before he rushed into the water after me. I quickly removed my dress and dove into a wave and began swimming as he followed.
Ryan wore shirts and ties and a jacket most of the times when I saw him and I had never taken notice of his body. We both swam out into the Pacific Ocean. Then as I felt tired I signaled to him and he followed me back to shore.
“Where is my dress?” I said looking around as I stood in only my bra and panties. He turned so as not to embarrass me.
“Wait here. I’ll get you a towel.” And he rushed to the porch and back before I could ask why. He wrapped me in a large beach towel and we walked to the house. “I’ll get a fire going.” I knew what Ryan wanted but I wasn’t ready.
“I’m tired. I’d like to go to bed,” I said.
“It’s early and just getting dark,” Ryan said. He appeared slightly disappointed. I knew it was early but somehow in the back of my mind I wanted to be alone just in case Sebastian came for me. Again wishful thinking. Ryan extended his hand and I touched it and I turned and walked away from this wonderful man.
His warm smile signaled that this gesture was enough for now.
When I closed the door behind me, I headed to the shower. I stayed in there long enough not to have to face that handsome desirable man, but to face an empty room. How long would that hot interesting man in the next room wait around for me to decide what I wanted—the living or the dead.
I stumbled out of the shower ready for sleep. It was sleep I thought I needed so as not to think about the day in hopes that the day would pass, and the next day would bring something wonderful.
It had been that way since I was a child and when I was first kidnapped. I remembered the pain and loneliness of missing my parents so I would sleep to forget. Now that I’ve discovered it was Sebastian who had taken me from them, my feelings for him changed from love to indifference and now it’s back to love again.
Why should I waste my life hoping to see him? I thought, as I passed a brush through my hair, and walked out into the large bedroom with the wroth iron bed and the white antique furniture.
When I opened the door to the bedroom, I gasped. “What the fuck are you doing here? You scared me to death.”
“I thought you might need me,” Terry said looking more beautiful than before. “We’re on our honeymoon in Alaska. Land of the midnight sun. Isn’t that perfect.”
“No, perfect is where I am now, in the sunshine.” She sat on the bed and leaned over gazing at me with her beautiful golden eyes. “You look different, Terry. Marriage becomes you.”
“This is not about me, Zoey. I think you’re getting too close to that human. I saw you out there with him.”
“I am human remember. And stop checking on me for Sebastian,” I said my voice harsh and irate.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I was just making an observation about you and that Ryan fellow. He’s not exactly a friend of our kind.”
“You keep implying that I’m like you, but I’m nothing like you. I want to be left alone with Ryan.”
“Remember Sebastian asked me and Lauren to look after you,” she said.
“I remember. How could I forget that night? But I’m trying to forget him and everyone who reminds me of him.” Somewhere in that statement there was a lie.
“How are you going to forget that baby you’re carrying? What are you going to say when you have to tell him who his father is? You would be crazy to tell him Ryan is his father. Sebastian won’t settle for that.”
“Sebastian made his choice. I don’t see him here.” My voice grew loud and impatient.
“You aren’t being fair with him. He had no choice if we were going to stay alive and you and his baby were to get out of there without complete annihilation of all of us. All he thought about was you and the baby. How could you not see that?”
“How do you know? He’s a cold bloodied killer without a soul.” When those words left my lips I was as much surprised as Terry. Terry’s eyebrow raised. I felt awful at the sound of my words, but there was no denying that some are all of it was true.
“Well there is no trying to convince you of anything. Stubborn as usual,” Terry said standing.
“Before you go, how did you find me? Robbie and Ann didn’t know. All I told them was that I would be leaving with Ryan and I would get in touch with them.”
“It’s not hard if you know something about Ryan. Ryan has a very prominent family and all their property is common knowledge. The city records will tell you everything you need to know. I travel at night now, and I find out things you would be surprised. Ok. If you don’t need me, then Lauren and I will be on our honeymoon for now.” Her voice light.
“How did you get in here? I thought you had to be invited.” I said.
“Don’t believe what you’ve read. We go where we want and stay as long as we want. But not so much during the day. This is something new for me and Lauren his helping me adjust.”
When I turned my back to walk to the window and look out at the ocean water, Terry had disappeared.
The next morning was like the night before only this time Ryan had me up early. I skipped the coffee. Too much caffeine can’t be good for anyone. I ate a piece of toast and milk and felt fine.
“What are we doing today?”
“Fishing, remember. If you don’t want to you can just watch but you are coming with me.”
“I guess you’re not taking no for an answer,” I said and I gave in and we headed out. We found a stream that fed into the Pacific Ocean and sat down to fish.”
“What’s the name of this Island,” I asked.
“It’s called Blake Island. That home is my mother’s estate. She inherited it from her grandfather as a wedding present for her honeymoon. It’s been in the family since the eighteenth hundred. His father bought it from the Indians.”
“Another purchase with beads?”
“Not quite.”
“Well? For what?” I said waiting for him to tell me something bizarre.
“No, I’m afraid he got it for a bottle of liquor,” Ryan said to me shaking his head and he shrugged his shoulders. “Do you really believe that?”
“Yes I did.”
“Then would you believe that I’m in love with you?” he said and I sighed.
“Can we change the subject? I don’t think I’m ready or prepared to hear that again.” I passed my hand across my small stomach signaling my condition.
“I understand,” he said throwing his fishing line into the water.
***
We stayed out most of the day and then as we were packing up our things to go in, two men emerged from out of the forest. “Stand behind me.”
“Why?”
“Just do as I say, Zoey. This doesn’t look good.” The men proceeded in our direction. “There aren’t supposed to be anyone on this island,” he whispered to me. “If they’re here that means it’s for a reason and it has something to do with you.”
“But how do you know?”
“Those aren’t men. They can’t be vampires so the only thing I would guess is they are werewolves. I can tell by the way they amble in those boots. They aren’t used to walking with boots.”
“Can I help you,” Ryan yelled. They stopped. Then he said to me, “Reach over there and get my bag.” I leaned down and pulled the sack over to him, it appeared heavy, and he reached inside it and brought out a crossbow.”
“That’s mine,” I said to him.
“I know and do you know how to use it?”
“Not really.”
“But I do and at any moment they will get close enough to see what I have in my hands.”
“Why didn’t you bring a gun?”
“I wasn’t expecting guest. I thought I could use the crossbow to hunt deer or use it against a wayward bear or
mountain lion. If I killed an animal with a bow and arrow, then scavenger birds and animals would be able to eat it,” Ryan said attaching the arrow. “If you try to use this you aren’t strong enough and you could lose a finger.”
“Sebastian was teaching me to use it but I never got a chance to actually handle it. It was to protect me from Aare.”
“Or himself,” Ryan said looking at me and taking his eye off the target for a second.
As the werewolves neared us they shifted into two of the fiercest looking werewolves. Both of them with grey fur. They stood over six feet and their bodies hairy and their teeth jagged and ferocious.
“Don’t run,” Ryan warned.
“I’m not about to run,” I said. Ryan had the cross bow aimed and he let loose one and brought down the smallest of the werewolves and then he placed another arrow in the bow and brought down the largest of the two.
“Stay here,” he said. But I didn’t want him leaving me alone so I went with him.
Ryan kicked at one and then the other and they didn’t move. “How did you do that? I mean how did you kill both of them. You only hit him in the shoulder.”
“With silver. I didn’t think they would find us but I wasn’t taking a chance.”
“Is this what my life is going to be like?”
“I’m afraid so. Not unless you kill that witch and that vampire brother of Sebastian’s.” He placed his arm around me. “Let’s go home, Zoey. I’ll take care of them later. I need to make sure you’re safe.”
Home. Let’s go home. I guess that was the only place I had to go. I had nothing. I couldn’t go back to my father’s home and I couldn’t go to Robbie and Ann. They had their own problems.
Chapter Eleven-Sebastian
After talking to Robert, I had some unfinished business so I returned to Italy. Lauren found me boarding my plane as I was leaving Italy for the states. “I know where Zoey is if you’re interested,” he said.
“Of course I want to know about Zoey. How could anyone believe I was serious? She’s all I have and all I would ever want in a lifetime and my lifetime is long. You couldn’t have believed I was serious about living with Samantha in any way or form?” Lauren glanced at me, his face not revealing his true thoughts.
The Soul of a Vampire #3 Page 6
