Bloods Gem

by Gloria Conway

  “You think I’d risk being seen in that way just because he was yelling at you?”

  She thought about it for a moment. “I can’t believe he’d….”

  “I know. It’s hard to imagine, because you were close to him. But it’s the truth.”

  I felt elated to have bested my enemy. I smirked at that.

  “How can you be so happy about what happened?!” She yelled. I hid my expression from her. “I’m sorry, I'll stop.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Daniel

  Months of being confined to my small room in the hotel made me realize I needed more space. I was accustomed to better accommodations when I lived with my family and decided to go look at houses for purchase. I’d already bought a new car, so I could pick Faith up from school and home. I was tired of renting cars just for dates.

  When I picked out the black mustang I had a hidden agenda behind it. I didn’t tell her, but it would be her present soon. I wasn’t sure how she’d react, or what she’d tell her mother about this new extravagant gift. Faith had yet to tell her mother about me. But I supposed these things couldn't be rushed. I figured she needed time to come up with a version of how and where we met. I wasn’t going to pressure her into anything.

  By picking out a house, the idea crossed my mind, of asking her to move in with me. I took her house hunting with me so I could get an idea of what she liked.

  “Are you sure you want to live here?” She asked. Caressing her cheek with one hand stirring with the other as I drove, “I don’t want to live anywhere without you Love. You know this already.”

  She pressed her cheek closer to my hand, closing her eyes. I knew what she was thinking. Tried not to hear her, but it was difficult.

  She wondered when I was going to ask her to live with me, and what excuse she would give to her mother. I wouldn't ask until I knew she had a plan.

  “So… Are you going to give me an answer about what I asked you?” She shrugged.

  “You don’t want me to or…?” I asked.

  She stared for a moment. “I don’t want you to do this just for me Daniel.”

  “Love, do I need to remind you how many degrees I have?” I said smirking. “This stuff is cake for me. It’s like a fifty year old going to preschool all over again. I just want to be close to you.”

  She smiled, “If you really want…”

  I had decided to take the same classes as she had. I wanted to spend more time with her and experience the human life with her as much as I could. I was going to wait until the next school year before I enrolled to give her more time to think about it, just in case it was too much for her. We were spending a lot of time together.

  Of the homes we looked at, the one she fancied most was by far the best. It was a two story, inside the stairs spiraled leading to a sitting room which she enjoyed as she ran up and down them at least a dozen times. The newly built home has hardwood floors and a spacious kitchen with a modern theme. I bought the home along with the land surrounding it. It had three hundred acres, enough for hunting. I didn’t tell her I’d bought it because I wanted it to be a surprise.

  I decided to take her to a nice restaurant for Valentines Day. But first I went to Fayetteville to buy her a nice gift. Nothing seemed good enough. But I decided to get her a heart-shaped locket with diamonds imbed into it.

  I found a photo booth in the mall and crammed myself into it as part of her present. An obnoxious flash hit me several times in the eyes and I couldn't find the button to stop it. I figured the pictures would be the worst I'd ever taken since it looked as if someone was trying to kill me.

  I felt dumb. This hidden sensitive side made me feel vulnerable for the first time in my life. It was a little strange for me but I knew it what she liked. It wasn’t that I didn’t know how to treat a lady, it was more that I never knew I had this in me. To be this person, who was taking photos in a cramped booth for a present. I tore the photo to shape it into the heart, and placed it in the locket. Knowing the picture was horrible, I hoped she would like it. What I really wanted to get her wasn’t accessible here. I wanted to give her the world.

  On my way back home my phone started ringing. I checked the number and saw it was my sister Celeste. She asked about Faith and I told her everything. I let her in on my plans for Valentines Day and about the present I’d bought Faith. She said it was the thought that counts. Changing the subject she made me promise not to do anything rash about what she was going to tell me. I hesitated but agreed.

  Father and Adrian were no longer on speaking terms. An argument about me had caused some dissension. She didn't want to go into detail, but said Adrian had moved out and she didn’t know where he was.

  "You need to tell me everything or I'm coming home now," I demanded.

  "I knew this would happen. I shouldn't have told you."

  "Do I need to make a trip?" I asked.

  "No. I'll tell you. But Dan it's really nothing to worry about."

  "I'll decided that."

  "Adrian told father that you met your gem in London and thought you were being secretive about it. Father told him to mind his own business and that's when things got heated. Adrian said he would feed you to the hunters, so Father banished him."

  "I'm coming home."

  "No, you need to stay with Faith!"

  "Is he coming for me or Faith?" I asked.

  "I don't see anything in the near future. I think you two will be fine. But just in case you need stay close to her."

  “Is he in London now?”

  She paused. “I don't know. He blocked me. But I sense he’s far away.”

  I slammed my hand into the steering wheel. “DAMN IT!”

  “Dan don’t worry. If he’s coming that way you will sense him. You’ll know what to do.”

  “No. I don’t know what to do if he comes looking for me. I cant fight our brother Celeste. I can try to talk some sense into him, but you know the consequences if one of us kills a family member. I can't let anything happen to faith. I haven’t even told her that if I die she dies too.”

  “I doubt it’ll come to that. But if you sense him, call me and I'll round up the squad and we’ll take him in for interfering with the process.”

  I stopped driving now. I couldn’t focus on the road ahead. I didn’t know why he was doing this, why he hated me now. What did I ever do to him? “Sis, what brought this on?” I asked, curious.

  “We were sitting around talking about you and dad started getting emotional. That’s when Adrian blew up. He was really angry.”

  “Alright. Please keep me updated. I'll need a heads up if something changes.”

  “Okay. Take care Dan. Love you!”

  I hung up and laid my head against the steering wheel. I would have to change my plans. I needed to convince Faith to live with me. I couldn't leave her alone, just in case he came after her instead of me. If he really wanted to get to me, that’s what he’d do.

  My phone began beeping. It was a text.

  Hey sorry to bother you again. I just wanted to make sure, but did you unold her yet? I hope you did because it will make you both stronger if anything was to happen.

  Shit! The most important thing I was supposed to do had slipped my mind for months. Great. This was going to be bad. I wasn't sure I should tell her before I did it. Should I just get it over with? Perhaps I can wipe her memory.

  I doubt she’d mind. It wasn’t anything that would harm her or make her mad. It was just another “thing” I needed to get out of the way. I hated there was a process. Why did I have to make her choose me this way? Once I did it she would have no other choice.

  I liked how the things were, we accepted each other as we were. Why did it need to change? It wouldn’t change much, except, she would become like me, if her inner spirit chose it. I didn't think I can do it. Not right now.

  I need more time to explain to her. Perhaps wait a year so she could get used to the idea of being with someone like me.

  If som
ething happened or my brother was to try something… No! Won’t happen! I would be right by her side every second. He wouldn’t be able to get to her. I didn’t know how to ask her to live with me. I wasn’t going to tell her about the situation back home. I would be romantic about it and if I need to… Just to protect her, I would use my ability to convince her to live with me. This was for her safety. I was protecting her. I kept telling myself. To make me feel less guilty.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Faith

  Daniel would be picking me up in a few hours, but I still hadn't told my mom about him. And she would be there when he arrived. I didn’t have much time so I just wanted to get it over with. I had thought about a few things I could tell her but it didn’t sound like the truth. I would just have to tell her the truth and keep the vampire part out. I would tell her I fell in love in London. Love at first sight.

  Though she might think it was childish, I’m an adult now and make my own choices. I would just have to endure whatever she said about it.

  I knew when I came to her about things she was usually pretty good about understanding. I just wasn’t so sure this time. I was a little scared that she would disapprove of the relationship. I hoped she would be nice to him when he picked me up and not embarrass me. I decided to do it before I lost the courage.

  She was in the living room reading. I took a deep breath before starting.

  “Mom…”

  She laid her book down. “What is it honey?” she asked.

  “I kind of need to talk to you about something…”

  She sighed, “Boy troubles again?”

  “Not quite mom…” I sat down on the couch beside her. “I’m in love with a guy I met in London, and he’s coming to pick me up for dinner in a few hours.” I held my breath.

  She took her glasses off and set them down on the table next to the couch. I couldn’t read her expression, it was sort of confused. “What about Chris?”

  I shook my head. She put her hand to her head as if she was thinking really hard. “Okay well do I get to meet him at least?”

  I started breathing again, jumped up and hugged her. “Thanks Mom. I wasn‘t sure how you’d react,” I said.

  “Did you think I was going to yell at you for falling in love with someone?” “Truthfully, I wasn’t sure what you’d think. I thought you would think it was too quick.”

  “Well yeah, I do. But you need to make mistakes. You're still young and you’ve been shut off from the world for awhile Faith. It makes me happy that your trying to actually live again,” she smiled.

  “Oh.” Is all that came out.

  It all came back to me, how I’ve lived so long hiding from everything, closing everyone out, except my mind. It made me feel a little sad, that before Chris and Daniel I really didn’t have much of a life. Never feeling happy or feeling anything for that matter.

  The feeling I had now was different. I was breathing fresh air that I was born to breathe and the new feelings I had were amazing.

  “Well I’m going to go take a shower and start getting ready, you can meet him when he gets here,” I said smiling.

  I went to my room and picked my phone up to tell Daniel in text that I had told my mom about him.

  Hey guess what… I told my mom about you, I just told her I met you in London and fell for you, and she was okay with it. She wants to meet you when you get here!

  That’s great! Thank you for doing that. I wasn’t expecting it but it’s a relief that she knows about me. Hey do you have a nice dress you can wear tonight? I’m going to take you somewhere special.

  I can see what I’ve got. I don’t have many dresses that would be classified as “classy” but I'll raid my Mom's closet to check.

  Okay love… Let me know if not. I'll stop and get you one… Happy Valentines Day my love!!

  You too sexy man! Ill look… But don’t laugh if I look like a dork tonight he he…

  God made you too perfect Love… You will never be anything less in my eyes…

  The things he said to me made me feel loved and wanted. I didn’t know how to conceal the joy I felt. I wanted to jump around like an idiot every time he said something romantic.

  I ran to mom’s room to look for a dress and she was already in there.

  “Mom, what are you doing?” She was in her closet already looking through her dresses.

  “You’ll need something nice to wear tonight. I’m trying to find you something.”

  “Well you read my mind because I was fixing to raid your closet!” I said. “This one will be perfect,” she said holding up a long black dress. It had a slit from the thigh all the way down, and it was strapless.

  “Beautiful!”

  “Go get in the shower and I'll put it on your bed.” I smiled and ran to the bathroom.

  After showering I text Daniel again, letting him know my mom found me a dress.

  Excited, he asking me what it looked like. I told him he’d see when he picked me up.

  Mom helped me with make up. I didn’t really know what to do when it came to makeup. Usually just using eye liner and lipstick, but she did the works, without over doing it. She made me look beautiful. We left my hair down and curled it. Using two curling irons, I took one side she took the other. My hand was hurting by the time we were done.

  I looked in the mirror and stared. I didn’t know who I was looking at anymore. I felt like a woman.

  I knew I was going to have a hard time walking in the high heels, since this was only the third time wearing them. It didn’t bother me to stumble a little knowing there was someone who would pick me right back up and help me keep my balance.

  I was hoping the gift I got him was somewhere close to good enough. I had a poem I wrote engraved on a plaque. I was hoping he didn’t spend too much money on my gift, considering how wealthy his family was. But I didn’t want him to think of me as that kind of girl, who just wanted his money. I wanted to just enjoy the night with the man I wanted to spend forever with.

  Mom and I sat in the living room talking until we heard him pull up. I stood and adjusting my dress. Mom glanced at me, reminding me to breathe. I felt light headed.

  Mom answered the door when he knocked. I stood outside his line of sight so he could talk to Mom before he saw me.

  “Missus White,” He addressed her.

  “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Daniel Hill.” He shook her hand.

  “Nice to meet you too Daniel. Please come in,” She said.

  Nervous, I wasn’t sure how this would play out or how awkward it would feel. He walked in his eyes quickly finding me. Looking me up and down, eyes glued to my body.

  I blushed.

  “Doesn’t she look beautiful Daniel?” Mom asked smiling at us.

  “Yes. She’s quite something,” he said softly.

  I shook my head walking toward him, wanting to get out quickly.

  He was embarrassing me in front of Mom by leering at me that way. I took his hand and pulled him towards the door. “Love you Mom. Bye!” I shouted. He looked back at her, “It was nice to meet you,” he said before I pulled him out the door.

  I turned to him, “Please don’t embarrass me like that again. I thought I was going to die in there!” He smiled, “I was just admiring you Faith. Nothing wrong with that.” I shook my head feeling the blood coming back to my body still feeling embarrassed. He opened the car door and I got in.

  Daniel took me to a nice restaurant. It was fancy and I felt a odd not knowing which utensils to use. He showed me which ones to use for what and I kept up.

  Waiters brought us food and it seemed like the courses would never end. He made himself eat the human food that was set in front of him.

  “You know you don’t have to eat this stuff just because of me.”

  He smiled and started playing with my hair. “I just want to have human experiences with you, is that wrong?”

  “But you're making yourself eat stuff you don’t even like,” I said.

  �
��It doesn’t bother me Faith. Really. I can’t taste any of it except for the steak when it’s rare. I can at least enjoy that,” He smirked.

  I bit my lip looking at him. “Why are you putting yourself in situations like this for me?” I asked curious.

  He sniffed and leaned into me whispering in my ear, “Because I’m completely and utterly in love with you Faith, and these things I do, are nothing compared to what you do for me.”

  I felt as if the room was spinning around me, as though I was going to pass out from all the emotions.

  My eyes stung, tears fell down my cheeks. Wiping them away with his finger he asked, “Why are you crying?”

  I put my head down not knowing what to say. “You just make me feel so…. Loved,” I let out.

  He put his hands on the sides of my face looking directly at me. “Because you are loved, and always will be.” He leaned in and kissed me.

  I reached under the table for his gift. “I got you something. I hope you like it.” I gave it to him. He smiled. “You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said. “Just open it!” I demanded.

  He opened it and read it out loud. From the moment I looked into your eyes I knew, there were no questions, no thoughts, and no words to explain the way I feel about you. You’re in my world now, and I hope you will continue to stay in it with me, forever now and always….

  The words choked him up. He swallowed and said thank you, kissing me again. Holding me next to him, I tried to hear his lifeless heartbeat. I imagined how it would sound if it were active. It would be as rapid as mine every time he touched me. I could see that now. I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

  His body language and words said it all. Taking something from his jacket pocket, was a small black box. “Before I give this to you, one… You have to promise not to laugh at your present inside the present.” He glanced at me waiting for me to promise.

  I smiled and crossed my heart. “Okay, and two…”