He leaned over her, and kissed her forehead.
“Goodnight Princess,” he said, and pulled the comforter over her. He dimmed the lights down and quietly left the room.
Cain had controlled his instincts very well through out the evening, but he was getting hungry. The smell of blood, everywhere he turned, was taking control. He walked past his own room, toward the grand staircase. It was time to hunt.
Chapter 12
Shayna had to remind herself where she was when she woke up. She remembered being on the beach, but not coming back to the hotel. She realized she must have fallen asleep, somewhere in between. How she got into her room puzzled her. She felt her bra, and tucked safely inside, was her room key. Cain must have brought me in. She thought. But, how?
She sat up in the plush bed, still dressed in Aunt Mill’s gown. The balcony doors were open slighlty, and there was a soft breeze enetering the room. The fresh morning air smelled so good to Shayna.
She got out of the bed and walked to the french doors, leading to the balcony. She opened them all the way, and to her surprise, Cain was standing there, leaning against the balcony rail, looking out at the lake. Shayna realized then, that their rooms shared the balcony. He turned with a jolt towards her, when he heard the doors open, but instantly smiled when their eyes met.
“Good morning.” He said. She looked exactly the same as she had, when he had laid her in the bed. Stunning.
Her scent filled his nostrils, mixed with the cold winter air, it was the sweetest thing he had ever smelled. His throat burned. He was beginning to crave the unique burn that came only from the scent of her sweet blood. He was getting better at controlling his urges to drink it, to taste it.
“Morning.” Shayna said, and stepped out of the room onto the balcony.
He took her in his arms, inhaling more of her. “Are you sure about this Shayna?” He asked.
“I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.” She squezzed hum harder. “I want this.”
Cain ran his fingers through her hair. “I love you Shayna, like I’ve never loved before, and I will forever treat you like the princess that you are.” He said, kissing her softly on her neck, careful not to let himself taste her sweet skin. “We should go down stairs, before breakfast is over.”
“Actually, I’m not all that hungry right now.” Shayna repsponded. “I am still full from dinner.”
“Okay.” He said.
They didn’t need to check out for another two hours, and Cain wasn’t ready to take Shayna off of the island yet. Before he could suggest going for another walk, Shayna said, “Can we go down to the beach, now that it’s daylight. I would like to see it again.”
“Sounds great.” Cain said, he was glad she wanted the same thing.
Cain had left the island during the night, and had hunted until just before the sun came up. He took down a large cow of an elk, just north of Atlanta, Michigan. The elk hadn’t been as satisfying, as one of his champion bloodline horses, but it would hold him over until he returned home.
Shayna gestured to herself, “I’m going to go freshen up a bit.” She said.
He lifted her chin gently, examining her face, “You are so beautiful just the way you are, you don’t need to freshen anything.” He kissed her neck softly.
“I’m going to go change.” She said and smiled, “I’ve been wearing this dress since last night.”
“Okay,” He said, “Go.”
Shayna wanted to kiss him, she wished it was that simple. She wondered what their kiss would be like after their transformations. Would it change? Her heart raced in anticipation, and she pulled away from him , and backed up towards the room.
“I’ll be right back.” She said.
“I’ll wait for you here.” Cain answered smiling.
He wanted more than just a brief kiss on the neck, or on the cheek. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms, and take her into her room, and lay her down on the white velvet bed, and kiss her all day. He wanted to stay in that room with her forever.
Cain stepped forward to follow her in, he needed more, he wanted to taste her sweet lips, to caress her body. But he stopped himself as she shut the door. He couldn’t. He wasn’t sure if he could control himself, if it went too far. He let the door close, wishing he could trust himself more, but knowing, not going into the hotel room with her, was the best thing.
After spending the morning walking along the lakeshore, and picking up unique rocks along the way, they headed back to the hotel to get their things, and head to the ferry dock. Shayna had traded in Aunt Mill’s dress, for a pair of khaki colored cordaroy pants, and a white hooded sweatshirt.
Shayna never wanted to leave, she would stay on the island forever if she could. She loved every aspect of it. She planned on holding Cain to his promise, of bringing her back whenever she wanted.
The drive home went by too fast for Shayna. She didn’t want to be away from Cain, and dreaded him dropping her off at home. They talked a lot about how everything would happen on the fateful day. They decided to come back to the island, to consummate their arraingement, and stay until they had both fulyt recovered from their very different changes.
Shayna was scared and excited at the same time. She was almost a little aroused even. Neither one of them knew exactly what would transpire for them. Shayna always had planned on maintaining her innocence until she was married, but to complete Cain’s transformation, she would have to give herself to him. And she was ready to. She would be his forever anyway, the didn’t need a piece of paper to document that fate.
They pulled up in front of Shayna’s house early in the afternoon. Cain carried Shayna’s bag, and the polyester garment bag in for her. Telling her that Aunt Mill had insisted to leave the dress with Shayna, that it belonged to her.
Shayna was glad no one had been home when they arrived. “Will you stay?” She asked him.
They found a note that Sarah had left on the fridge for Shayna, telling her to stay home, they were going out to dinner, and that Cain could come too, if he wished.
Cain smiled, “I can’t. I need to get down to the book store, and I need to get to the horses, too.” He said twisting a strand of Shayna’s hair. “I don’t think it would be a good idea anyway.”
“Shayna agreed with him, “You’re right.” She said. “When will I see you?”
“I will come and pick you up, first thing in the morning.” He pulled her close to him, and kissed her on the cheek, so close to her lips, that he felt a small tingling sensation. “We can do whatever you want.” He said, and laughed a little, “Anything that can be done in one day, anyway.”
Shayna liked the thought of this, she smiled mischeiviously, “Anything?” She asked.
“Yes.” He smiled again. “I have to go.”
“Okay.” Shayna said sighing, she had had an amazing time with Cain, and she didn’t want it to end. Even if they were only parting for a short time.
He took her hand in his, “ I will love you until the end of time.” He said.
Cain turned and walked out the door. Shayna remained silent, staring after him, in the middle of the livingroom. He was angry with himself for not telling her everything he had needed to. For not telling her the one thing that would ultimately seal his fate with her. He vowed to himself, walking through her yard, to tell her on Friday, or not let him change her, he wouldn’t let his deceit, blur her judgement of him.
Shayna closed the door behind Cain. Her mind was focused on what to plan for them to do the next day. Oh the possibilities. She thought. She couldn’t wait for the upcoming ‘Big Day’. She didn’t care about any pain, or anguish, that she would potentially go through. She would endure anything for him.
Cain’s eyes immediately met Aunt Mill’s, when he walked into the bookstore. She stood at the cash register shaking her head at him.
“What?” He asked.
“You didn’t tell her.” The woman accused. “You have to tell her everything.
&
nbsp; “I know.” Cain said, “I am so ashamed of what I did.” He sat down in the red velvet covered victorian chair that was next to the register. I’ll tell her in the morning. I won’t wait any longer.” He hated living with his regretful secret everyday that he spent with Shayna.
“I hope you don’t lose her Cain.” Aunt Mill told him. Her eyes filled with sympathy for the love sticken Changeling that stood before her. Hopefully she has the heart to forgive you.
Chapter 13
After being forced at dinner to give up every detail of her evening, Shayna was able to get Sarah and Melina, mostly Melina, to leave her alone, when the other patrons at the movie Sarah had taken them to began shushing them. They got home late from Traverse City, and the girls told their mom “Thank you”, and they all three went their separate ways in the big old house. Sarah and Shayna went to their bedrooms, and Melina found the remote control and her favorite spot on the couch, and started flipping through channels.
It was a little after midnight, and Shayna had just begun to drift off to sleep, when she heard a soft rapping noise at her window. She sat straight up in her bed, and looked towards the noise. Cain. She thought. And got up and slowly walked to the window.
Her room was dark, but when she got closer to the window, the dim light from the street, outlined a small silhouette, and she could see two small shiny black eyes looking at her. The rapping came again. She quietly opened her window, and wondered with a smile, how long she should make him wait, before inviting him in. She heard him scratch at the windowsill, and knew he was getting impatient.
“You can come in,” she finally said.
It was Aiden’s human form, not the hawk, that entered her room.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered to him, “My mom and sister are here, and my sister is probably still awake.”
“Then we better be quite. Did you have a good time last night?” he asked her smiling.
“Of course!” she told him, “The best time of my life. Why?”
“Shayna, you can’t do this!” Aiden’s face suddenly turned serious. “You can’t just give him your blood like that.”
“How do you know? Can you read my mind?” she asked confused.
“Oh how I wish I could. The wall in your mind is as hard to break through, as you are,” Aiden said. He took her hand and lead her to her bed, and had her sit down. “I was there Shayna. I followed you. I can’t let you do this. I will stop him.”
“Aiden, I don’t think this is your decision,” Shayna looked at him in the darkness, “My father would want me to be happy. I think he would approve,” she said.
Aiden jumped up off the bed in a tiff, “The hell he would!” he exclaimed.
“Shh. You’re going to wake them up,” Shayna whispered.
Aiden knelt down on the floor in front of her, “Shayna, I didn’t want to be the one to tell you this, I had hoped Cain would, but your giving me no choice,” Aiden said, “I knew your father for a long time. You could say he was like a father to me.”
“He created you?” Shayna said.
“Yes,” he answered, “He snuck up on me, one night when I was on my way home from seeing my love...Roslyn,” there was anger in his eyes. “He would have killed me, but I begged him to turn me, to make me like him.”
Shayna’s full attention was on Aiden as he continued, “I told him about Roslyn, and what she was. I begged and pleaded for him to turn me so I could be with her forever, and he did,” Aiden said, and wiped a tear from his eye. Shayna didn’t even know that vampires could cry. “When I recovered, and I was fully immortal, I rushed to be with her. I tried to hurry, to be with her for her own change. I didn’t want her to go through it without me. When I got there,” Aiden stuck his finger into the coin pocket of his jeans, and pulled out a very old looking gold chain with a large beautiful Emerald on it, “I found this next to her body on the bed.”
Aiden held the necklace out to Shayna, and she took it in her hand examining it, in the dark. It was ice cold it reminded her of Cain. Even in the darkness, she could tell it was a beautiful piece of jewelry.
“When I found this,” Aiden began again. “I knew who had killed her. Our mother had given us these necklaces when we had reached twelve years of age. Except mine is a sapphire,” Aiden had never shown another soul, Cain’s necklace, it had never touched any other hands than his, Cain’s and their mother’s. “Up until that night, I had thought my brother dead. Year’s of mourning him, and he came back like that,” he let a tear roll down his face and drip onto his pants.
Shayna felt bad for Aiden, but it had happened so long ago, and she knew Cain didn’t mean to kill Roslyn.
“When I found that necklace and picked it up, and touched the stone,” Aiden said, watching Shayna hold her beloved Cain’s necklace, she touched the stone, and he spoke again. “I touched it, and my mind filled with all sorts of visions. Visions of your fathers face, visions of Roslyn helping Cain when he appeared ill, visions of him draining every bit of life out of her, and visions of places that he must have traveled after his change, places I never knew he had been before anyway. I think his memories were being implanted in the emerald.”
“I don’t see anything.” Shayna said still holding the necklace.
“They faded away many years ago,” Aiden said, getting up. He sat on the bed next to Shayna. He wasn’t done, “I immediately went back to your father, and told him what had happened to Roslyn and told him to finish what he had began in the first place.” Aiden gave a little chuckle, “He refused, of course. He told me then, about Changelings, and that’s how I found out what Cain is. I hate my brother. He killed the only girl I have ever loved.” Aiden tightened his hands into fists, hidden next to his legs on the bed, it pained him to talk of what happened.
Before Aiden could go any further, Shayna interjected, “They had made a deal, and he got carried away.” Shayna was getting annoyed with always having to defend Cain to his own brother.
“I don’t care Shayna,” Aiden said abruptly, “That’s not my point anyway. I vowed at that time to never let him touch another Halfling Princess again. I’ve only failed one time.” Aiden said refering to the poor girl in the slums.
Aiden stood up and walked to the window, and Shayna wondered if he was ever going to get to his point.
“Aiden.” Shayna said quietly.
Aiden ignored her, and started talking again. “I stayed in contact with you father through out the years, he had taught me how to be a vampire, frankly speaking, he took me under his wing,” he said, “I had followed Cain to a small place in Northern California, Eureka, I think it was called.” Shayna watched Aiden pace silenlty in front of the window, she let him go on, thankful he was being quiet. “I followed Cain for a couple nights, in this place, before I realized that he was following someone too.” Aiden stopped pacing, and stared out the window.
Shayna wondered if he was going to continue, Aiden stood in front of the window, speechless, with his back to her. Then it hit her. She realized what Aiden was getting at, how Cain knew about her, who Cain was following. What Aiden was trying to convey to her, was becoming clear.
“He was following my dad,” she said. It wasn’t a question, it was a realization.
Aiden turned and looked at her, giving her a nod.
“You’re lying,” Shayna accused him.
“I didn’t say it,” Aiden said.
“You’re going to, but don’t,” Shayna stood up walked to the window too, and opened it, “Not only do I not want to hear it, I don’t believe you.” She gestured to the window, “Please leave.”
“What am I trying to say Shayna?” Aiden asked.
“Stop!” she demanded.
“That Cain ki--,” Shayna slapped Aiden across the face before he could finish. She knew she hadn’t phased him, he didn’t even move a muscle, but she just wanted him to stop, she didn’t want to hear it, even if it was true.”
“Just leave., she said to him.
�
��Fine,” he whispered.
He wasn’t going to stand there and torture her anymore. He moved towards the window and looked at her while putting one leg out.
“I’m sorry I had to be the one to tell you Shayna.”
Shayna turned away from him. She was glad he was leaving.
Aiden left knowing what he had told Shayna would soon sink in. He would come back for her at a different time.
Shayna closed the window, when Aiden was out, and went back to her bed. She had a feeling that Cain was still holding something back from her, she never dreamed it could be something this horrible, and she knew deep in her heart that Aiden was telling the truth. She buried her face into her pillow and cried, her world had suddenly crashed down around her. Then the pain came, her heart hurt, it started as a burning, then turned into a deep throbbing ache. Her heart was breaking. She couldn’t believe he had done it. Even in the short period of time that Shayna had known Cain she had truly loved him, and he lied to her and betrayed her, the whole time. She sobbed hard into her pillow.
The hawk landed on an small island, that was in the middle of a lake near Shayna’s house. He was pleased with himself, for accomplishing one of his goals. Get Cain out of the picture. Her father would definatly not approve! He thought, laughing to himself. The hawk took human form, and Aiden, walked along the beach, anticipating the events that were about to unfold. He smiled smugly to himself. He would not allow Cain to have Shayna’s blood.
Chapter 14
Cain could see the look on Shayna’s face, when he parked his BMW at the curb, and knew something was horribly wrong. He got out, and walked cautiously to the porch, where she was sitting on the swing, wondering if she already knew.
Midnight Blood (Born Immortal) Page 14
