The Awakening (The Elders Trilogy Book 1)

by TL Travis

  He continues, “I want to be completely honest with you and it wasn’t easy or safe for me to tell you I’m a Vampire. But I don’t want any secrets.”

  Choosing to ignore the Vampire comment, I ask the question I still need clarity on, “Why did you leave in the seventh grade?”

  “That’s when I started to change. So my parents had to take me out of public school and I was sent to the academy for training.”

  “Training, what kind of training?” My curiosity is piqued.

  “Once we begin to change, we must be taught how to inter mingle with humans and um, how to feed. There are many rules, both written and unwritten, and if we don’t adhere to them we wouldn’t be able to blend in the human world.”

  Well, whether I accept this or not, he clearly believes it so I’m going to see where this goes, “Did you know you were a Vampire before you started changing?”

  “No, my parents wanted me to live as normal a life as I could for as long as I could. Once we start changing, we can no longer bear the sunlight. Tales of sunlight killing Vampires are not false and we’ll die if we get exposed to it. When my parents took me away from you, I thought my life was over. It was harder on me than I could’ve imagined, it was as though my heart had been ripped from my chest. But once I began training, I knew it was imperative that I complete it. You were my muse, my driving force pushing me through so we could be together again.”

  Time now to ask the unavoidable question, which is kind of a catch twenty-two because not only did I need to know the answer, I also didn’t want to know it as well. “What do you eat?”

  “Blood…”

  The hair on my arms stands on end as I stupidly shout, “Am I your human meal ticket?”

  He snickers, “If I were going to kill you I wouldn’t have spent all those years training as hard as I did, learning self-control. I would’ve killed you the first chance I got and that’s not my reason for being here. I want us to live our lives together.”

  The breath I am holding releases.

  “I can survive drinking any blood — human or animal, but human is best. I get blood from blood banks, but on occasion I do have to hunt to maintain my strength.”

  Hunt, does he mean he hunts and kills humans?

  “Yes,” he said without my saying the words.

  Passing out seems to have become my thing, seeing this happen, he darts to my side holding me upright.

  “Let me clarify, we’re trained to seek out humans without souls. Killing an innocent is frowned upon. Soulless humans are easy to detect, if you look deeply into their eyes, you can feel the evil radiating within and generally we catch them mid-wrongdoing. The only way to lose your soul is by killing another. The more you kill the more your soul dies until there’s nothing left. I pride myself on killing humans who are so far gone there’s no hope for redemption. And I’m proud to say, I’ve never killed a human with a soul. Those who do are called Rogue Vampires and they’re excommunicated by their covens. At times, they’re hunted and killed by other covens as they place our kind at risk.

  “I don’t hunt as often as I used to. Mostly I consume the blood my contact from the blood bank provides me with, but I’ll tell you that you won’t ever see the guys who tried to rape you again.”

  Oh my God, he killed them.

  “Don’t worry your pretty little head about them, society can thank me later.”

  I don’t want to think about that. I can’t think about that. Change the subject, change the subject now, Jess. “I didn’t know blood banks sold the blood they collected. I thought it all went to patients?”

  “You’d be amazed what people will do for the right price.” Sad but true.

  Sitting there trying to absorb this, my mind whirled with questions. “Can you read my mind?”

  “Not read so much as sense what you’re feeling. Telepathically, I can transmit my voice into your mind.”

  Well that explains it.

  “I materialized in your dreams sharing my memories of our childhood in the hopes that when we finally met again you’d be more accepting of me. I wanted you to feel comfortable, not be alarmed. Fear was the last thing I wanted, but I can see that didn’t go as well as I’d anticipated.”

  “Ya, your execution’s seriously flawed. Didn’t you think it would freak me out to see someone from my dreams in reality?”

  “Not before now. I’m sorry. My plan wasn’t as thorough as I hoped it would be. Will you ever forgive me?” he pleads.

  “Yes.” Because the truth of the matter is I’ve fallen in love with him. I’m not quite ready to share that with him, yet.

  “Are you sure you’re not hungry, Jess?”

  “I could eat.”

  He helps me up, ensuring I am steady enough to walk.

  We go to the kitchen. “Have a seat and I’ll make you something.” He always has a ton of food in the house, but he doesn’t eat.

  “Why do you have food if you don’t eat?”

  “For you of course.” He winks at me.

  David throws a snack plate together for me consisting of meats, cheese and crackers. As soon as I am done, we clean up then retreat to the living room. We are sitting on the couch holding each other when I throw my girl card on the table. “Where do we go from here?”

  He kisses the top of my head. “Wherever you wish, Amor, you know that my heart is with you and wherever you are is where I want to be.”

  Time to fess up. “I finished enrolling at ASU today.”

  “Perfect, I’ll do the same. What courses did you take?”

  I snort.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Core classes and um, business.”

  We both laughed.

  Chapter 8

  Things between us progressed over the summer and before we knew it, the start of school is only a week away. We head to campus to purchase our books and supplies and to familiarize ourselves with the campus layout. Ironically, we end up in the same classes. In the interim, I changed my work schedule to days and cut back my hours to accommodate my class load.

  The Sunday before school starts my dad asks if he and I can hang out. It seems kind of odd that he would ask that, but I haven’t been home much, so I jump at the chance for some one on one time since we are both off. He wants to take me school shopping like we did when I was little and then out to lunch.

  The retailers are having their back to school sales so we are able to get tons of great deals. After shopping, we overindulged ourselves to the point of pain at the Olive Garden, partaking in their all you can eat soup and salad lunch combo.

  While eating my dad asks, “How are you going to swing work and school, Jess?”

  “I cut my hours to part time so I could take eighteen credits.”

  He is pleased. “That was very well thought out, Jess. I’m so proud of you.” He hands me a large envelope.

  I assume he is trying to give me money. “Dad, living at home has allowed me to save my paychecks to help pay for the extras my scholarship doesn’t cover, so I’ll be fine.” I try to hand him back the envelope.

  He holds his hand up, refusing it. “It’s not from me, sweetie.”

  “Huh?”

  “Open it.”

  I unclasp the back and then remove the contents. There are a few legal documents, all of which refer to a trust of some sort, but I don’t fully understand. Once I get past the legal mumbo jumbo, I’m able to decipher what this is about.

  ‘This trust belongs to Ms. Jessica Lynn Cartright. Date of Birth May twenty-fifth, year nineteen hundred ninety-three. This fund is to be dispersed to her upon her eighteenth birthday May twenty fifth, year two thousand eleven. Until that date, these funds will remain in the care of US Bank and Trust. Her Father, Thomas Wayne Cartright is the sole trustee of afore mentioned account until the maturity date above when it transfers to Ms. Jessica Lynn Cartright to do with as she pleases.’

  I’m in a state of shock.

  “The bank book is inside. Your Gra
ndfather Joe started this fund when you were born. He never told your mother or grandmother about it because he knew them all too well. Once he told me he couldn’t believe the level of selfishness portrayed by both. He said he was elated to have such a great son-in-law with a solid head on his shoulders and that he knew I would always have your best interests in mind. He started this fund with one-hundred-thousand-dollars. I placed the most recent statement in there so you’d know what your current balance is.”

  Massive explosions of tears parade down my cheeks and I can do nothing to stop them. I always knew my grandfather liked me, I just didn’t know he loved me like a grandfather should. He was always being bossed around by my mother and grandmother when we were together. They demanded all of his attention, much in the way my mother demands my father’s.

  Reaching inside, I pull out the bank book and statement. Unfolding the statement damn near causes me to fall off my chair. My hands are shaking so badly I think the paper is going to take flight. I look from the paper to my father.

  “Your grandfather loved you dearly, Jess. For each birthday until his passing he added more funds, all the while it just sat in the bank earning interest. No one but your grandfather and I knew this account existed. He was afraid your mother or grandmother would try and take it from you.”

  I am making such an ass of myself carrying on as I am that the waitress comes over to make sure I’m okay.

  “Is everything alright sir?” The waitress directs her question to my father.

  “Yes, she received some surprising, but good news and is trying to digest it all.” He smiles.

  I nod in agreement, attempting to muster a smile.

  “Okay, If you need anything I’ll be clearing the tables over there.” She nods, gesturing toward the area she was headed in before returning to her business.

  “Jess, use this money wisely, but if school and work gets to be too much, I would rather you quit your job and focus on school and use the money to live off. You’re welcome to live at home for as long as you like, so you don’t need to worry about housing.”

  I feel a sigh of relief because I am already starting to feel overwhelmed with the thought of maintaining school, work and David.

  “Jess, I love your mother with all my heart, but I know she hasn’t been the nurturing mother I hoped she’d be. I never knew why until I saw her around her own mother. Unfortunately, she’s an exact replica. Neither have an affectionate bone in their body. I’m not trying to apologize or make excuses for her, that’s not my intention, but I’m hoping this conversation can shed some light on the challenges you two have.”

  No one knows me better than my father. I’ll never understand how a mother can reject her own child, no matter how they were raised.

  We finish up lunch and head out. On the ride home I get a text from David:

  Tonight?

  I know that is his way of asking if I’m coming over so I shoot back, yes.

  Walking to the door, mine as well as my dad’s arms are crammed full of bags. “Thanks for everything, Dad, I had a great time. Even if I didn’t show it, today meant more than you know,” I tell him.

  He is choked up. “Me too, baby girl, I’m glad we got some time together.” He clams up like he might cry.

  I run upstairs to shower and get ready to go to David’s. On the way, out I give my dad a quick peck on the cheek hollering, “Don’t wait up and thanks again, Dad, I love you.”

  David greets me with open arms and kisses that always leave me wanting more. I no longer have to knock since he gave me my own key a few weeks back. We walk to the kitchen where he has dinner waiting.

  “Where did you really learn how to cook from?” I ask, smirking at him.

  “I learned while in Italy from a chef named Vicente Mastrianni. He owned a restaurant off the coast of Naples.”

  “So, your mom didn’t teach you then?”

  “Actually, she did, but Vicente taught me the proper way to prepare authentic Italian food.”

  David swirls a glass of what I assume is wine in his hand, intently watching me when a wave of chills radiates through me. “What are you drinking?”

  “…Blood.”

  My fork crashes to the ground cutting through the silence as I glare at him. I know the look on my face is less than desirable, so I do my best to retrieve my jaw from the floor, closing my mouth while picking up my fork. Nothing further is said nor does it need to be said.

  He embarks upon clearing away the dinner dishes at such a speed that I never see his feet touch the floor. My star struck gaze stops him dead in his tracks. “I’m sorry, I usually move more human-like when you’re around, but with the comfort level we’ve reached, I was hoping I would no longer need to.” He takes it down a notch to what seems normal speed by my standards.

  I’ve still not fully embraced the whole Vampire thing. I choose to ignore it because the sexual magnetism between us is well worth an unbalanced psyche.

  I walk over to him, sliding my arms around his waist. “You’re right, and if this relationship is going to work, I need to accept you for whom and what you are. I don’t want any special treatment. All I ask is that you be yourself around me.”

  He smiles and kisses the top of my head.

  Making our way to the living room he asks, “So, are you excited about school starting tomorrow night?”

  I crinkle my nose in disgust. “Well, excitement and school don’t belong in the same sentence. I’m wondering how I’ll be able to concentrate in class with you sitting beside me.”

  That gets things going and we are all over each other, our tongues fiercely locked in battle. Clothes are abruptly tossed aside. I spread my legs, offering myself to him. The exploration begins with his hands as his fingers work their magic, then his tongue. God how I love that golden tongue. I’m ready to come, but desperately want to feel him inside me. Breathlessly, I speak the words, receiving the opposite reaction I’d hoped for, “David, I need to feel you inside me.”

  “Amor, are we ready for this?” he asks.

  Tersely, I spit, “What, why?”

  “I want to make sure we’re both in agreement.”

  “Yes, oh my God, yes. I’ve been ready for a while now. David, I’m a virgin and I want more than anything for you to be the one who I give this gift to.” Now I’m wondering, is he a virgin too?

  He knows the question before I ask it. “I’ve been waiting for you as well, Amor. You’re the only one for me.”

  “David, I want you inside me, NOW.”

  He scoops me up, and before I know it, we are naked and on his bed.

  In the heat of passion, I find his icy touch refreshing, almost soothing. It excites my nipples throbbing into stiff, aching peaks, sending shock-waves pulsating between my thighs. I slide my hand down, my finger wantonly soaring in and out, increasing the wetness between the soft little curls, his gaze fixates on my self-pleasure. Willingly, I part my legs as he moves down to join the party, massaging my pussy with both our fingers. He slides down, tempting my clit with his fiendish tongue. I place my hands on his head riding the fanatical surge. In one swift motion, he thrusts his tongue inside. I arch my back releasing a squeal. Slowly removing his tongue, he kisses my inner thigh and moves up beside me. “I’m glad you enjoyed that, Amor, tasting your sweet nectar really does things to me.”

  I look down as he is touching himself, noticing the drop of dew his arousal produces.

  “My turn,” I say while coaxing him onto his back.

  Teasing his helmet, my tongue swirls the moistened tip as he thrusts his thighs up, driving deeper into my mouth. I pull back slightly, prolonging his release. The sound of teeth grinding is my queue to draw the final curtain. Sliding my mouth over the crown taking him all in while cradling his balls, teasing in soft scaling motions while sucking his erect cock like a Popsicle.

  “Faster,” he groans.

  Throwing in my trump card, my hand masturbates the shaft while my lips glide back and forth, faster an
d faster over the rim of the head which is met with the sound of sheets ripping. Not wanting to lose my train of thought, I don’t stop to look. I’m solely focused on his pleasure. When he comes, he releases with a growl, thrusting about wildly.

  As the ride comes to an end, I peer up, noticing he’s clawed through the sheet. “Is everything alright, Mr. Cordova?” I playfully ask.

  “Whoa, better than I could’ve ever imagined. That was amazing, Jess.” He rolls over facing me, pulling our naked bodies together. “Stay the night?”

  “Yes.”

  While loss of virginity doesn’t take place, I will have to say that third base is more than acceptable. I grab my phone and text my dad, Staying over at David’s will come home tomorrow before school. I don’t know what his response will be and at this moment I don’t really care.

  Chapter 9

  I can’t tell how long I slept since my attention wasn’t time focused when we passed out. David is still sleeping, but I need to get home and take care of some things before our class tonight. Once I get dressed, I leave him a note on the nightstand before taking off:

  David,

  Went home to shower and feed the dogs. Pick me up at my parents’ house.

  Love, Jess

  Last night’s erotic interlude has me in the best of moods, feeling positive about the choices I’ve made such as enrolling at ASU and most importantly, giving David a second chance.

  It is by fortuitous happenstance that when I arrive home my parents are out. I run upstairs to assemble my backpack and double check that I have all the supplies I need. Books, pens, paper, hmmm, what else? Oh ya, my student ID before proceeding to the closet to select an outfit. While buried in my walk-in, my phone started vibrating, it is my dad:

  Hope you have a great first day of school, Jess.

  Thanks, Dad!

  About a half hour later, I get a text from David telling me he’ll pick me up at seven. I neglect to remember that he needs to wait until the sun sets and after seeing the abuse the sheets took last night, I’m throwing caution to the wind and embracing the whole Vampire thing.