by Bethany Shaw
Yes. I need to deflect the conversation away from me.
"I gave him a suggestion," he said, but something about the way he said it made him look guilty.
"Like coerced him?" she whispered as she took a step back.
"I didn't make him do anything he didn't want to." He shrugged. "I simply suggested that if he truly cared for Melanie he should take the next step. They weren't driving you a little crazy with their innocence?"
"Wait a second!" she hissed as she tried to process what he just said. "You suggestively compelled him?"
"I suppose you could call it that. I told him to follow his heart with Melanie. How he interpreted it was entirely up to him," he defended.
"You can't just take away peoples free will like that. It isn't right." She shook her head. Was what he’d done really so horrible? Depending on how he phrased it, probably not. But still...
"I promise you, they'll thank me for it in the morning. They were both miserable. I gave them a nudge in the right direction."
"It wasn't your choice to make," she bellowed.
"They've had plenty of time to do it on their own. They are both young and innocent. This time isn’t like ours. Sex before marriage is a big no-no for many people," Zak said nonchalantly. "Don't' think I don't see what you're doing." He took a step closer. "You're freaked out about what happened earlier. You liked what happened so instead of admitting your feelings for me, you're pushing me away with a fight."
"That's not true," she stammered, but it was, wasn't it? Out of all the times he was right about something why did it have to be now?
"Lying doesn't suit you, Cadence."
"And taking away someone's free will, will never sit well with me. Suggestive or not, it's still compulsion," she accused.
"I wouldn't even call it that. I didn't make him do anything. I simply told him that if he had feelings for her, he should do something about it. He didn't do anything he didn't already want to and I'm sure Melanie wanted it also," he explained. His eyes studied her for a long moment and she shifted on her feet under his scrutinizing gaze.
"Why do you fight it? Why won't you give us a chance?" he asked.
Cadence blinked and gasped at the forwardness of his question. "Because this is crazy," she whispered without thinking. It was crazy! They could never work; they were way too different.
"But what if it is right?" he pressed.
Cadence shook her head and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She swallowed the thick lump lodged in her throat. “It can never happen, Zak. I’m a witch and you’re a—”
“Monster,” he cut her off. His eyes blazed golden and she took a step back. Zak growled, spun on his heel, and zipped out of the room.
Cadence released the breath she’d been holding and clasped her arms around her middle. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes and she squeezed them shut, letting the salty liquid trickle down her cheeks. Why does it have to be so complicated?
Chapter Thirteen
Cadence groaned as something tickled her mind. The garden of roses was gone and instead she was surrounded by darkness and swirling fog. She gasped and spun around. What had caused her dream to change so suddenly?
Zak strode towards her dressed in a pair of dark wash jeans. His black top was unbuttoned giving her a clear view of his sculpted torso. She licked her lips. Maybe this change of scenery wasn’t so bad.
Wait a second! Awareness niggled at the back of her mind. Zak was in her dream. "What the hell do you think you’re doing?" she accused as she took a step forward.
"Cadence—" he began.
She didn't want to hear it. After their argument tonight and that kiss—that wonderful, blissful, confusing kiss, how dare he invade her dreams? "Don't even start, you have no right to be in my head," she snapped. "Stay out of my head, stay out of everyone's heads," she added remembering how he’d messed with Melanie and Harrison.
"Cadence—"
"Get out," she screamed.
"You know if this is a bad time, we could always come back later," Grace's sarcastic voice sliced through the darkness. "Not like it's easy to contact you or anything."
"Cadence?" Jamie said questioningly as she and the blonde vampire appeared in the fog.
"Jamie!" Cadence rushed to her friend and wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. She needed a friend right now; someone who could help her sort through her very confusing feelings for Zak.
"Are you okay?" Jamie asked concerned, looking her over as she pulled back.
"Yes," she said quickly. She was not about to discuss her problems with Grace and Zak present in her dreams. Why can’t Jaime contact just me?
"Good, we have more pressing matters to discuss," Grace said annoyed.
"What?" Cadence asked. Her belly fluttered and knotted as she flicked her gaze from Grace to Jaime. She wasn’t going to like what they had to say.
"This is important so you need to listen,” Jaime instructed. “The only way for you to get back to our time is for you to find a full moon that also falls on April the 22nd. The dates of our full moon and yours have to match." Jamie looked at the ground and sighed.
"April 22nd?" she whispered as she did the math in her head. They’d arrived in March and already jumped through time twice. Plus, they’d had another full moon. No. No. No. "But...” she trailed off as emotion clogged her throat. It can’t be.
"I know." Jamie said sympathetically. "It will be a month for us...and a year for you two.” She shook her head as she pulled Cadence back into a hug. “It's the only way for you to get back here. Time is moving differently for us for some reason.” Jaime pulled back and turned to Zak. “Also, you should know Liana has been in contact with Malcolm. I’m almost sure of it. She’s being very secretive with the coven. It’s possible they are working together. In your time as well."
"I already figured that," Zak snarled.
"He attacked you?" Grace asked concerned, her eyes darting to Cadence as her brows crinkled.
"We got away, we’re on a boat heading to England as we speak," Zak said quietly.
"Zak, you know we visited London and Paris often," Grace warned.
"I know. We won't stay there. I don't want to risk running into myself, or any of you. Especially since Cadence has compelled Eli and myself," he admitted.
"And Oliver," she added biting her lip as she looked at the fog crawling across the black abyss. She'd forgotten to tell him about that after the werewolf attack.
Zak shook his head as Grace giggled. "And Oliver,” he added. “For Cadence's safety, it would be best to avoid our past selves."
Grace gave her an appraising look. "You compelled all three of my brothers. Funny, they never mentioned that." She turned an accusing glare on her brother.
Jamie grimaced as she faltered. "I can't hold this much longer. Malcolm, he might be able to track you somehow, no matter what time you’re in. Remember April the 22nd. It has to be April the 22nd." Jamie gripped her head and groaned as rivulets of blood trickled out of her nostrils.
"Jamie." Cadence reached out for her friend, but before she could reach her she vanished.
"Looks like we're going to be spending a lot of time together, sweetheart." Zak’s eyes flicked up and down her frame. She looked down realizing she was wearing cotton plaid pajama bottoms and a black tank that made her cleavage bulge. Great! Why couldn’t she have worn jeans and a tee like him?
“I suppose you’ll have to tolerate me a little longer,” he continued as he took a step closer. “Pleasant dreams, Cadence,” he muttered. A cloud of white smoke encompassed him and his form dissipated.
She closed her eyes and exhaled loudly. A little longer? It would be a whole year or longer. What if they couldn’t find a time where there was a full moon on April 22nd? Could she deny her feelings for him for that long?
She’d have to. He was a vampire. Her enemy. Zak was the man who hurt Trent and so many other people. I have to stop caring about him. Besides, he doesn’t
believe in love. What kind of relationship could we possibly have?
***
The ground beneath Cadence jolted; her body lurched and toppled to the floor. Cadence groaned as the unforgiving wooden planks greeted her. The world continued to thrash violently about and she blinked her eyes open.
A heavy patter pelted the ceiling above her and she screamed as a few books toppled off the bookcase and landed on her back. What the hell is going on? She clawed her way to her feet, stumbling as she fought to keep her balance. She rushed to the port window and stared out.
Giant waves exploded against the window. She glanced up, peering at the darkened sky. Lightening flickered overhead and rain pelted the water in front of her.
How safe is this boat? Weren’t there shipwrecks all the time in this time period? What happened if the boat sank?
A hard knock on her door drew her from her thoughts. "Come in," she called over her shoulder unable to pry her eyes away from the scene outside.
"I brought you breakfast. I suggest you take the tray. You wouldn’t want it to fall on the floor," Zak said.
She turned around and he thrust the meal at her. There was something different about him. He was looking past her instead of at her. His jaw was locked as if he were angry.
"Thanks." Cadence took a step forward as the boat wavered violently. She grunted as she stumbled to the side and fell against the bed. Her hand grasped the edge of the bed and she hauled herself upright.
Zak shoved the tray at her again and she reluctantly took it. What is his deal?
"No training today. Stay below decks." He trudged to the door before turning back to her finally meeting her gaze. "I mean it, it isn't safe on deck, not today."
"We’re not going to sink are we?" she asked voicing her earlier fear.
"It's a storm." He shrugged. "The crew seems to know what they are doing. We will be fine. This kind of weather happens all the time.”
"But you don't know that," she squeaked looking outside again at the perilous waves.
"It's going to be fine, Cadence," he assured.
"Yeah, the people on the Titanic thought the same thing," she retorted, cringing as a wave crashed against the window.
"This isn't the Titanic, Cadence."
"No. This is much worse. We’re in a small vessel in the middle of the ocean. I bet they don’t even have lifeboats,” she rambled on.
“Well, let’s hope there are no icebergs,” he replied as a smile quirked at the corners of his mouth.
She rolled her eyes. He wasn’t funny. This was serious. They could die. Well, she could. Vampires wouldn’t drown. “I wasn't lying when I told you I've never been anywhere, Zak. I haven't. This is my first time on a boat, or ship, whatever you want to call it. It's not even one of those giant cruise ships either. This is a small boat and we’re in 1401. I bet they don't even have safety codes they have to follow when building these things," she blurted. The walls closed in around her and she drew in a shaky breath.
Everything is fine. Calm down.
Zak closed his eyes and scrubbed a hand over his face. He muttered something to himself as he strode over and sat next to her.
"It's going to be okay,” he promised. "You’ve really never been anywhere?”
“No, just Bedford Falls and Hampton. I’d never even left the state of Ohio until...now.” Where had they traveled anyway? She’d probably never know. The terrain was completely different. It wasn’t like there were states. Even if she knew the names of the towns and villages they’d been to, they probably weren’t around in the present.
“Where would you like to go? I’ll take you...anywhere,” he said gazing into her eyes.
Cadence nibbled her lower lip and looked away from him. Times like this made it hard to remember whom...what he was. She couldn’t forget.
“Paris and London are out,” she said slowly, remembering Grace’s warning the night before. Zak nodded. I knew I should’ve paid attention during my high school and college history classes. I’m not even sure I know what countries are around in this time.
"Why don't...why don't you choose," she stammered.
Zak grinned and leaned forward. "All right. I can think of a few places you’ll enjoy.”
***
"It was amazing and wonderful. I don't know what finally changed, but I've never been happier in my whole life." Melanie gushed as she beamed brightly.
Cadence chuckled as she listened to Melanie speak. She would never condone the use of compulsion, but it would seem that Zak had been right about Melanie and Harrison. The other girl had been talking non-stop for an hour at least.
"Now tell me why Zak is being so broody?" Melanie asked changing the subject.
Cadence blinked and shifted in her seat. "I don't know," she lied.
"Cadence, you helped me so much with Harrison, let me help you with Zak," Melanie encouraged as her brown eyes glistened with interest.
"We had a fight," Cadence admitted. To be honest, she needed to talk to someone, and obviously Jamie and Maddie were unreachable. Zak was the last person she could talk to about himself and her very confused feelings for him. "He...we...we kissed."
Melanie flushed and narrowed her eyes as her brows rose up questioningly. “I’m not sure I understand,” she whispered. “The two of you...”
Cadence groaned and buried her face in her palms. “We’re not together,” she blurted.
Melanie blinked as her frown deepened.
It looked like she would have to start from the beginning. “Zak and I...in our time we aren’t friends. He and his family are at war with my coven. We’ve each done horrible things. Somehow, Zak became...infatuated with me. When the coven found that out I was asked to lure him out on several occasions and spend time with him. I’m not proud of myself for misleading him.” It had been wrong to pray on his feelings. At the time she had thought he just thought she was a cute piece of ass, she couldn’t have been more wrong. She still had no idea why Zak was so drawn to her. Was it because he somehow remembered her from all those centuries ago when she’d used her magic to take away his memories? She shook her head, maybe one day she’d work up the nerve to ask him. “Anyway, I agreed to meet him for drinks one night. It was a ploy so my friends...my coven, could resurrect Liana, Zak’s mother. The coven wanted to end the vampires’ existence permanently. We almost did too, but Zak and his siblings thwarted it at the last minute. He came to my house that night. I’m not really sure why,” she admitted. Had he come there to confront her...kill her? “Liana showed up and she performed the time traveling spell and we ended up in 1014. We’ve agreed to work together and call a truce, but once we get back home we can’t be friends anymore.” And they certainly couldn’t be a couple. The coven wouldn’t allow it. Zak’s siblings would probably have a hay day, too.
Melanie blinked and sat silently for several minutes as she took in all the information. "And after all this you have feelings for him?"
"It's crazy isn't it?" she groaned, throwing herself back on the bed.
"Love is crazy, Cadence. It's blinding and passionate," Melanie replied as she pressed her hands to her chest.
"I'm not in love with Zak," she said quickly. The feelings she had were just lust. It was some weird, freaky attraction. Not love.
"Maybe not, but I think you owe it to yourself to find out what it is," Melanie advised.
“What? Why? It can never be,” she argued.
Melanie shook her head. “When I lost my family and Harrison found me and gave me a home, he told me what he was. I never thought we could be together either. He would live an eternity and I was a mere human, but fate found a way for us to be together. Love is a wonderful thing; even if it seems impossible...even if you are enemies. You can’t deny love. The coven isn’t here, Cadence. Zak is. The least you can do is see if there is something between the two of you. What can it possibly hurt?”
Cadence swallowed as she took in her friend’s words. There was truth behind them. But Melanie was wr
ong about one thing. Seeing what was between them could hurt a lot. Her heart being one of them. But, maybe she could sate her hunger and curiosity without involving her heart. Would Zak agree to something like that? Could she sample Zak without losing herself? What if she fell for him? It was too late, she’d already started to fall.
Chapter Fourteen
Zak guzzled the coppery warmth, letting it slide down his parched throat as he bled the man in his grasp. His victim’s heart had slowed to a crawl and his breath came in short, raspy gasps. He was killing him, not that Zak cared. It had been too long since he'd taken a life. He closed his eyes and sucked harder, relishing in the twitching of the man’s body. It won’t be long now.
“Zak?” Cadence gasped.
He pried his eyes open and met her gaze. What is she doing here? He removed his teeth from the man’s neck and wiped his hand over his blood stained mouth. The man’s head lolled to one side as he inhaled an agonizing breath.
Her mouth opened and she took a step back as her features paled. “I’m sorry,” she whispered as she bumped into the railing. She gripped the wood in her hand as she shook her head. Her eyes widened as they dipped to the nearly dead man in his grasp. She bit her lip, turned on her heel, and sprinted back below deck.
Perfect. Just perfect.
He drew the man closer, his hands going to his neck. It would be so easy to snap it and toss him overboard, but Cadence would know. What was she doing to him? Why did he care what she thought?
She didn’t care for him. Didn’t want him. She’d made that abundantly clear, and yet he couldn’t help his feelings for her. He cared about what she thought.
Zak gritted his teeth as he raised one wrist to his mouth and bit into it. He thrust his bloodied limb at the man he clutched, forcing the liquid into his mouth. The man coughed, sputtering as he jolted awake. Zak shoved him against the railing and met the man’s eyes.
"Go to your quarters and forget everything that just happened," he snarled as he shoved him away. He needed distance from Cadence. She was driving him insane. How the hell did one get distance on a ship? He couldn’t.
