“Friends?” I asked. “Aidan Summers hardly talks to anybody. He’s more reclusive than I am.”
“Haven’t you talked to him at all?”
“Not really. But Aaron seems to highly dislike him.”
He laughed. “Yeah, people have been talking.”
“People? Or you? Because Aaron said—”
He interrupted me with his laughter, which seemed loud and unnecessary. “Aaron says a lot. But in this case, he’s right. I certainly have my suspicions.”
“What kind?”
“Just that something isn’t right with the new kid.”
I sighed. He had a name. “Aidan,” I said.
“Yeah, whatever. He just seems”—he paused and pulled his lips to one side, trying to find the right word—“odd?”
“Odd?” I mumbled. “That’s hardly a crime.” And hardly a reason to be afraid of him as Aaron had suggested.
“I don’t know,” he said, taking the seat across from me as if he didn’t hear what I said. “My grandfather used to tell me stories as a kid. My mom always hated how he did that. But I loved his stories.”
“What kind of stories?”
“There was this one he would tell me over and over—the legend of the hunters.”
“What does the legend say about hunters?”
His voice lowered to an extremely serious tone. “The legend is the hunters. I’m not talking about men in hats and boots shooting deer.”
I didn’t respond.
“The hunters are said—well, by my grandfather at least—to have certain…abilities.”
“Such as?”
“Such as extremely keen eyesight in the dark like a wolf or a cat.”
I just stared, suddenly intrigued.
“Their eyes tend to be electric looking, like a piercing color of blue, green, or gold.”
I smiled. “I like stories like this.”
“Well, that’s the thing,” he said. “I don’t tell these stories for entertainment. I tell them as more of a warning.”
I looked at him solidly, and my eyes narrowed. “What?”
“I think these stories hold truth. I think the hunters may actually exist, and the most frightening part is what they hunt.”
“What do they hunt?”
“Us,” he said. “Humans.”
Again, my eyes narrowed. He’s got a few people thinking he’s nuts.
“Are you saying that Aidan…?” I paused. “Rudy, come on.”
“Please, Jane,” he retorted, putting his hand up. “I thought of all people, at least you would believe me.”
“Okay…I’m weird, Rudy,” I said, “not crazy.”
I picked up my books and stormed quickly out of the bookstore. He didn’t follow.
Becky’s suggestion about Andrew Gallagher’s Halloween party was beginning to sound like a good idea, anything to get my mind off Aidan and the things I didn’t want to think about. Aidan may be different, but he wasn’t some nocturnal monster. Rudy now had me thinking he may be a little nuts.
Becky called me like she said she would. “So, is there anything I can do to convince you to come to Gallagher’s party with me?”
“Actually, Becky, I was thinking about it. It might be fun.”
“Really?”
“Really.” I laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised.”
She chuckled quietly. “You were just so sure earlier that you didn’t want to go.”
“I guess I changed my mind. I’ll drive over myself in case I want to leave.”
“Sure,” she said. “See you later tonight then.”
Chapter Six
I was actually looking forward to this party. I always loved getting dressed up. It was fun to be someone different for a night. I was just a little concerned about Becky. Hopefully she would cover most of her lovely curves. I dug through a few more of the boxes in my closet, still not completely unpacked. I found the costume I had worn a few years ago. It had been a while. I went through a time when I believed that Hallows’ Eve should be respected for the true holiday that it was, but though I still felt that way, I was at the point where I was able to have fun like most people.
I lay in bed and read for a couple of hours until Becky called. She was coming over to help me with my makeup as if she actually expected me to care.
“You’re so beautiful, Jane. You really should express the fact that you realize it.”
“Realize it?” I laughed. “Who said I realize anything? I’m average, Becky, and I’m okay with that.”
“You’re hopeless.”
Before she got there, I was dressed in my tight, black corset and knee-length, black skirt. I added the fishnet stockings and the red high heels that matched my red hooded cape. I opened the door, and Becky smiled.
“Wow,” she said. “You look amazing.” She hugged me.
“Wow yourself,” I said, smiling.
She was dressed in a red, tight-fitting tank top with sparkly red bra straps slightly showing. She had on matching red velvet pants that flared at the bottom, clunky platform shoes, and red devil horns. She was covered and still beautiful.
I let her do my makeup like she wanted. She was having a ridiculous amount of fun with the cat-eyed contacts she had bought me and the false, sparkly eyelashes.
“From innocent, little bookworm to evil, sexy vampire.”
I laughed. “Vampire?”
“Sure,” she said. “What were you planning to be?”
I chuckled. “I honestly don’t know.”
“Well, here,” she started, handing me a box she had in her purse. “Tooth caps. The glue never works right, so I bought you some denture paste. It doesn’t taste too bad to be honest.”
“Oh God, Becky. You bought me fangs?”
“Yeah, but…not the silly plastic ones you can’t talk with.”
I smiled. “Okay.”
She was going a little too far. She had even painted swirled designs around my left eye with eyeliner and silver glitter.
“Oh yeah,” she said, reaching into her purse again.
I shook my head. What now? She handed me a fake velvet choker with a plastic spider charm. It actually looked really neat once it was on. I stood up and looked in the mirror of my vanity I never used. I heard Becky snap a picture.
“Oh my God. You didn’t!”
She laughed. “Lighten up. You look great!”
Becky turned her hair into a beautiful mane of light brown curls and had the tips temporarily dyed red to match her costume. Her eyelids were covered in red glitter, and her lips were painted the same color. She even added the designs around her eye with red and silver.
“Time to go,” she announced.
I didn’t realize how long it had taken her to get us ready. “Already?”
“Yeah,” she said, laughing. “Come on.”
“Wait… When is it over?”
She smiled. “Calm down. For you, it’s over as soon as you leave. For everybody else, it’s over when the last person passes out.”
I sighed but smiled. “All right. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“You worry too much.” She laughed.
“Humor me?”
“Okay. I promise.”
Becky knew the way, so I followed her down the dark streets. I drove slowly, nervous over the constant rain. When we finally got there, Becky didn’t even wait for me, just rushed over to Jared Emery, her newest crush from her gym class. I guess his body was something to look at because his face wasn’t very attractive; it was very narrow, and he had a large nose. Becky looked over her shoulder and signaled me to follow. I trailed behind, still feeling like people were staring. I eventually lost Becky in the crowd and found myself alone, looking for the house. I finally spotted the cement stairs leading to the house. They were lit by jack-o-lanterns set on the steps. I gripped the railing, barely able to walk in the heels I had on. I stumbled before the next step but regained my balance until I put my foot down and realized the heel of
my shoe had slipped off. I instantly fell backward, giving a short cry. I suddenly felt as if metal clamps had closed around my arms. I felt myself lifting and settling gently on the ground right in front of the porch. I looked up to see who had rescued me.
“You’re a walking accident,” he said.
“Oh,” I breathed, placing my hand on my chest, feeling my racing heartbeat. “Aidan.” I was, at the moment, glad to see him. “Quick hands,” I said, still gasping for breath.
“Only when there is a need. Are you all right?”
“Fine, thanks to you.”
He flashed me his perfect smile.
“I didn’t even know you were behind me,” I said.
He didn’t respond. I realized at that moment that I was always so distracted by his eyes I hadn’t noticed the rest of his face very much. It had a rounded shape to it but a lovely, masculine build to his jawline and chin. He had medium brown hair with golden highlights, hanging slightly in his face but not enough to cover his insanely gorgeous eyes. He smiled at me again, and I lost my breath.
“You look…beautiful.”
I felt myself flush horribly. “Loving the Dracula costume. We match.”
I took a moment to study how the costume hung on his figure. He was slender but with more muscle mass than I had noticed before. The tuxedo he had on looked high quality and terribly expensive. I tried not to laugh when I noticed an “Allan’s party rentals” tag showing at the collar of his red, satin-lined cape.
He chuckled and held back his cape, bowing formally. He actually fit the part flawlessly.
“Vladimir Dracula,” he said with an accent, shattering the English syllables.
I laughed and responded with a curtsy. “Elizabeth?”
He smiled. “You know your history, Jane.”
“Sort of.”
He was exactly the thing I was here to distract myself from.
“So, what’s it like in there?” I asked soberly. “Anything going to jump out at me when I walk in?”
He smiled in almost a shy way. “I don’t think so, but I just got here less than half an hour ago.” He glanced at his watch. “I was just leaving.”
“Oh?” I was instantly relieved. Maybe I could use this party as a distraction after all. “Why?”
“Well…I don’t care for the atmosphere. People here are avoiding me even more than usual if that’s possible.” The sarcasm in his voice was unsettling. “Half the people here have started taking drugs, and Andrew is already drunk.”
“Oh, wow. I’m not sure I want to be here either.”
“But Becky.”
“I know,” I muttered. “She tried so hard to get me here.”
“To be honest, I’m surprised to see you here.”
“I’m surprised to see you here.”
I made eye contact, and he smiled, bowing. He moved his eyes up to look at me without lifting his head, pressing wrinkles into his forehead. I noticed he was lacking the fangs, so I smiled back, slightly showing off.
“You should stay,” he said.
“Why?”
“Well”—he laughed almost silently—“they’re having a costume contest later, and you look so amazing.”
I smiled. “Becky would crush my hopes…along with everyone else’s.”
He laughed. “She looks great, I’ll admit, but honestly, Jane, you don’t give yourself enough credit.”
Costume contest—even more of a reason for people to stare. “I’ll make an appearance,” I said. “But I don’t plan on staying long.”
“Well,” he answered, “can I at least get you a drink?”
“Sure.” I laughed. “Why not, right?”
“Right,” he said, laughing. “Be right back.”
I stepped inside. The room was dark, and flashing black lights made it hard to see anything. There were people everywhere, and I lost sight of Aidan in the sea of skeletons and wolf masks. I tried to tune out the pounding music. I spotted Becky dancing with Jared, a drink in her hand—if you could even call what she was doing dancing. She made me laugh. I looked away when I noticed some guy smiling at me. He walked over.
“Hey,” he breathed. He smelled like whiskey and marijuana.
I half smiled, trying to hide my nervousness. He was dressed like Indiana Jones. He took off his hat and smoothed back his shoulder-length, light hair.
“You wanna dance?” He sounded completely dazed.
“Mmm, dancing really isn’t my thing.”
“Well…there’s an empty bedroom upstairs if you’d like to show me what is your thing.”
I groaned, disgusted, and turned away.
“Oh, come on, sweets,” he purred. “I’m not gunna hurt you.”
Just then, Aidan came back with my drink. He noticed I was being bothered, but all he had to do was stare at the guy, and he got nervous and left.
“Thanks.” I sighed and drank the entire cup of punch, which I could easily taste the vodka in.
He laughed and handed me his. “Want another?”
“Oh, no, thanks. I have to drive, remember?”
He nodded. “Right.”
“I owe you one,” I said. “For rescuing me again.”
He chuckled. “It was nothing.”
I shook my head when I saw Becky, turned partway around, kissing Jared. He fell over and landed on top of her, spilling his drink all over her velvet pants. She stood up laughing. So much for keeping her promise. I’d have to come back later for her. I planned to relax in a café for a while until she was ready to leave. I headed for the door.
“Hey,” Aidan breathed. “Could I tempt you into a movie, maybe dinner?”
I forced a synthetic smile. He had asked me out. Oh God. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like sitting in a restaurant beside someone so beautiful. People wouldn’t understand any more than I did.
“I don’t know, Aidan. It’s late.”
“You said you owed me.”
And you said it was nothing.
“And we both know you have to come back for Becky.”
“Like this?” I waved my hands up and down, reminding him we were in costume, looking for a way out.
“Yeah.” He laughed. “We won’t be the only people dressed up. It is Halloween after all. People dress up at work—good for business.” He smiled.
I knew I should say no, but against my better judgment, I nodded. “I’d like that, Aidan.”
Damn!
I stepped outside and felt him place his cape over my shoulders.
“You look freezing.”
I remembered I was wearing that black corset. “I’m all right.” The fact that I could hardly breathe in it had actually made me feel hot.
He walked with me to my car.
“Don’t you drive?” I asked.
“Oh, I live just a couple blocks away. I walked here.”
“I see,” I answered, trying to sound interested in what he was saying.
“I’m guessing you want to drive?”
“Right.”
“Do you know your way around?”
“I’ll know where to go once you tell me.”
He smiled. “Can’t argue with that.”
I turned on the dome light and pulled down the visor. I used the mirror to take out the contacts and put them back in the case I had left in the glove compartment. I pulled out the fangs, tasting the mint flavored denture paste.
Aidan slipped off his black gloves. “They’re having what they call Flashback Week at the theatre, showing old horror movies. What did you think of Halloween?”
I laughed. “Loved it. A classic.”
He nodded. “Sound good?”
“Perfect! You know,” I started, “you have an obsession with rescuing me. You’re not stalking me, are you?”
He laughed, mirroring my smile and shook his head. “You’re different.”
“Yeah, as if I haven’t heard that before.”
“No.” He laughed. “That’s not how I meant it. I meant dif
ferent than you were in the bookstore the first time I rescued you. But…good different.”
“You’re different too,” I said, “but also the same.”
“So why did you come to North Bend?” he asked.
“I lived in California, but my parents divorced, and I couldn’t stand living there anymore after my brother died.”
“Your brother died?”
I nodded. “Three years ago.” My chest burned. “Murdered and dumped in an alleyway.”
“I’m sorry.” His voice seemed to be caught in his throat. “That’s awful. Did they catch the person who did it?”
I shook my head. “The bastard fled. They still haven’t found him.”
He was silent.
“What about you?” I asked. “Why did you come here?”
“My family wanted to move here—for some God unknown reason.”
“You don’t like it here?”
“Oh, the place is fine,” he said. “The school is fine too. It’s just the people. They seem to find me…intimidating.”
I chuckled.
“What?”
“Intimidating doesn’t even begin to cover it. You captivate people’s attention, Aidan.”
“Have I ever captivated yours?”
“You have,” I answered. “After saving my life a number of times.”
I heard a breathy laugh shake through him. “So…what kind of movies do you like?”
“Scary.”
“You’re different,” he said, “and this time I do mean it that way.”
I nodded. “I know.”
Chapter Seven
Aidan was right. Most everybody who worked at the theatre was dressed up, and I got quite a few compliments on my costume. It was very uncomfortable walking around dressed up. Everyone stared. The theatre was mostly empty except for the people working there, so that was a relief. The room was dark and lit by lights on the stairs that I still almost tripped on. The red seats were uncomfortable, and my shoes stuck to the floor. I would have much rather been at a café—by myself. I daydreamed through the movie to the point where I wasn’t even sure what was going on. I had seen it before, so it was no big deal. Any questions he asked me about it I could answer without a problem. I kept my eyes on Aidan more than the movie screen. He had that strange stone-cold hardness to his face. His gaze was locked onto the movement on the screen.
Summers' Deceit (Hunters Trilogy Book 1) Page 5
