by K. A. Poe
Salem and I rushed towards the baggage claim and exit doors area, as we knew no one other than travelers and workers could be out in the terminals themselves. This airport was huge, much larger than the one we had departed from. I hoped that whoever was supposed to pick us up would be able to find us. Jason had been vague on who exactly would pick us up. Then it hit me – I had promised I would text him our flight info so someone would be here on time, and know where exactly to get us. Great…this would make it take even longer to get to Karen. I would need to text that we were here and wait for – whoever – to drive through who knows what kind of traffic and get us. I brushed my hair away from my ear with my hand and pressed the little black cell phone to my ear. “Oh please, Jason, pick up.”
“I don’t think Jason’s going to pick up,” I heard the familiar voice of his brother Mitchell from behind us.
“Mitch!” I exclaimed ecstatically and pulled him into a close embrace. He flinched slightly at my touch.
“They told me you were going to Florida, not the Arctic! You’re freezing.”
I grimaced. “It was just really cold on the plane,” I lied. “Plus we hadn’t made it to Florida yet. We were in Texas when we found out. How is she doing?”
“I’m not sure; I haven’t heard anything in a while. Last I was told she was coming in and out of consciousness.”
“The sooner we get there, the better,” Salem said hurriedly. “Alex is very anxious to see her.”
“Of course,” Mitchell replied and started leading the way out to his prized possession – the red Mustang.
“Mitch…how did you know where to pick us up, anyway?”
“Well, I popped online and looked at the flights arriving and saw when the next few were landing and figured if I knew you you’d be on the first one you could. Plus this is the baggage claim for this whole side of the airport and I know you’d have to funnel out here eventually. And just in case I was wrong and missed you, I brought Jason’s phone.”
“I’m glad it’s you…for a little while on the plane I was worried it’d be…her.”
“Eila? Nah, she isn’t going to let Jason out of her sight at a time like this. She thinks he’s going to dump her and get with Karen after this is all over or something.”
As we entered the car I semi-hoped that would be exactly what would happen. I knew it was bad to wish that on Eila and I had nothing against her, but it felt like that was how things were supposed to be. After Salem and I became mortal again we could grow old with Karen and Jason by our sides.
11. HOSPITAL
Hospitals always made me nervous, but never more than today. My best friend was in one of the hundreds of rooms, unconscious and unaware of my presence. The idea of seeing her lying on the hospital bed terrified me. I wanted to run away and pretend this wasn’t really happening – but I knew it was happening and that it was something I would have to face. On top of all this I had the burden of being able to hear and smell things wafting through the hospital that no ordinary person could have. Top amongst these scents was blood, and God help me, it smelled delicious.
I gripped Salem’s hand tighter than I ever had before as he and I silently walked behind Mitchell. He led us down a white tiled hallway, into an elevator, and eventually to the room Karen was staying in. The door was cracked open, and I heard chatting from inside. Jason’s voice was easily recognized, followed by Eila’s light voice and Karen’s parents as well. It had been a long time since I last saw Mr. and Mrs. Williams, and I wished our reunion could have been at a better time, under better circumstances. They were the closest things I had left to parents in this world now.
There was a part of me that felt empty and useless as I silently entered the room. I should have felt miserable – not just emotionally, but physically. My stomach should have been on the verge of nausea, my heart should have been racing, and my limbs shaking with all of the nerves I felt. I should have been able to cry, but that was impossible in this immortal body. My eyes cautiously peeked into the room, and I suddenly felt shy and uncomfortable in the presence of everyone.
“Alex!” Jason yelled, leapt up from his chair and pulled me into a tight, constricting hug.
I laughed and squeezed him back, happy to smell his familiar scent and feel the touch of his skin. Unlike Mitchell, he didn’t recoil at the touch of my cold flesh and refused to let me go until Eila cleared her throat to gain his attention. He apologized in a mumbled tone and returned to his chair. I waved briefly at Eila, and then turned toward Karen’s parents who enveloped me in a joint hug.
“It’s good to see you, Alex,” said Mr. Williams, who shared the same blonde hair as his daughter. He had thick-rimmed glasses and a crooked nose, which made his spectacles lean somewhat to the left. Mrs. Williams had a dark mane of hair that cascaded down her back, straight and perfect – just like Karen’s. She had wide bright green eyes that were the main focal point of her face – something about them drew you in and you would find yourself staring into them. I blinked and looked away momentarily.
“I only wish the circumstances were different,” I replied with a frown and turned away from everyone to get a glimpse at the one person I needed to see most.
“We’ll give you some privacy,” Mrs. Williams said and dragged her husband out of the room. Mitchell and Eila followed them, but Jason remained.
It was difficult to look at her. My beautiful, perfect friend was broken. Her arms were both wrapped in casts; one leg was bandaged up to the point that not a single inch of skin was visible. Scrapes and bruises marred her face and there was a bandage wrapped around her forehead. Her eyes were shut yet moving rapidly beneath the lids, and her breath was labored. IVs and other tubes were poking out of her body and I felt disgusted with myself for having not been able to do anything. Worst of all was the scent of fresh blood swirling around in the otherwise-stale air. It was tempting and I wanted it.
Salem seemed to notice a sudden change in my appearance and pulled me away from Karen.
“Alex…” he whispered into my ear, eying Jason with concern. “Your eyes are…changing.”
“What?” I gasped, noting an unintentional guttural growl in my voice.
“Do you need to step out of the room?”
“No! I need to stay here!” I shouted and broke free of his grasp. “I can control myself.”
“Is everything okay?” Jason asked from his chair.
“Yeah,” I replied quietly. “I was just tearing up…that’s all.”
“You don’t have to hide that from me, Alex.” He nearly laughed. “Not like I haven’t seen you cry before...and not like I haven’t shed my share of tears in this room.”
“I know…I’m sorry, it’s just…” I sighed and went to Karen’s side, facing away from Jason in case my eyes changed again. “It’s not easy for me to be around her like this.”
“I understand,” he said.
“No you don’t!” I snapped back without realizing it.
“How can you say that, Alex? She’s my best friend, too.”
“That’s not what I meant, Jason. I’m sorry. Just…leave us alone for a minute, okay?”
“Yeah, sure…” he muttered and left the room without a second glance at me.
Salem stood behind me, ready to pull me away from Karen if I let myself get carried away. Human blood had never smelled so inviting, yet I had never been around anyone with open wounds before…the smell was invigorating. It was difficult to ignore, but I had to try.
I clasped my hand around Karen’s and glanced at her pale face. She looked miserable yet serene at the same time. It was unnatural to see her in such a state – she was always lively and chatty, it was often hard to get her to shut up. I wished she would sit up and start talking, about anything…even mundane things that didn’t matter. I needed to hear her voice again, to see her active and healthy.
“Karen,” I whispered, hoping that she somehow could hear me. “I can’t believe this happened…you look so fragile. But it won’t be long before you
are back on your feet, studying makeup and hair styles and I’ll stay in Colorado and we can hang out every day if you want…”
Why the hell could I not cry! Of all of the things that were taken from me upon becoming a vampire, why did I have to lose the one way to express my sadness? I wanted to bawl my eyes out until they burned!
“Alex.” I gasped and looked up at Karen as my name eased through her parched lips. She wasn’t entirely awake, but she was obviously somehow aware of my presence. I squeezed her hand tightly.
The door swung open and distracted me. A stout pudgy woman in a nurse’s uniform peeked in and announced that visiting hours were over. With a sigh, I kissed Karen on the forehead and left the room with Salem right on my tail.
Mitchell drove Salem and me to the hotel he, Jason and Eila had been staying at and we rented a room. Part of me desperately wanted to stay at the hospital by Karen’s side throughout the night, but there was little I could do about that. Jason followed me to the room I would be staying in so that he could take some time to talk to me, away from Eila. While I was thankful for the company, I was almost afraid to be around him.
“So, Texas, huh?” he said casually as he sat down in a red armchair against the hotel window. “Mitchell told me that’s where you flew in from. What was that like?”
“It’s pretty dull there,” I replied and sat on the edge of the mattress. Salem stood in the hallway, observing us from afar. His eyes were distant, his face expressionless. “So, how have things been?”
“Good. I got promoted to store manager at Howard’s.” He shrugged as if that was insignificant news; however I was proud of him. “Eila is looking into colleges here in Denver, which might put some strain on our relationship because I don’t want to give up my position at work. I know it’s not the most glamorous career but I’ve worked hard. They say I’m the youngest store manager the store’s ever had.”
I nodded somberly. My friends were growing up while I was stuck in a state of eternity as a teenager – how could I possibly have considered that I could keep in touch with them over the years? Obviously they would notice the fact that I never changed. They would get older, have careers…children. None of that mattered now, as long as the fountain existed and I managed to get to it. I shook those thoughts from my mind – right now I should be focusing on Jason, getting in as much time with him as I possibly could before I had to leave again.
“Long-distance might not be too bad. It’s not that far from home, really,” I said quietly. “You haven’t seen Paul lately have you?”
“Nope. I’m not sure what’s up with him. Kate works at Howard’s now, actually. She took my old position. I thought you of all people would know what the matter with him is. Maybe you should go see him?” he suggested.
I laughed. “No, thanks…we’re not exactly on good terms right now. It’s partially my fault for how he’s been.”
“What do you mean?” he asked as he crossed his arms across his chest and shivered. The air in the room must have been cold.
“We got into a bit of an argument before Salem and I left…it’s kind of what made us decide to take a vacation.” I sighed and thought over what had occurred that night, it still made me shudder.
“Was it something to do with Salem?”
“Kind of…why?”
Jason shrugged. “I just sort of figured he might’ve had something to do with it. Paul’s probably just being over-protective of you. You’re the only family he’s got really, right?”
I laughed again. “It has nothing to do with that…it’s much worse.”
He looked at me for a moment, studying the expression on my face. His mouth opened to speak then shut quickly when Salem approached me with a stern look.
“You do not want to make any mistakes, Alexis.”
“Jason deserves to know the truth, Salem…he can handle it.”
“I disagree.”
“So, you’re trying to tell me what I can and can’t do now?”
“The consequences of his reaction will affect me just as much, if not more, as it will you.”
Jason looked back and forth between the two of us as we argued. He looked rather apprehensive. “What’re you two talking about?”
“It is of no importance to you, Jason. If you want to keep yourself and your family safe, you will stay out of it,” Salem said warningly.
I sighed and glowered in Salem’s direction. This was my decision to make, not his. Jason was my friend and I knew he could be trusted with our secret.
“What if it could save Karen?” I asked remorsefully. “What if I can help her?”
“Alexis!” Salem tried to interrupt.
“I could do it, Jason, I could save her.”
“What are you even talking about?” Jason said, staring at us awkwardly. “Karen is going to be fine.”
“I am going to tell him, Salem,” I said stubbornly.
Salem glared at me through his pale blue eyes, a strand of black hair falling across them and he frowned. “You’re making a big mistake here Alex, mark my words.”
I watched him turn around and leave the room without another word, the slamming of the door putting a final exclamation on what he had said.
12. SECRETS
Jason came and sat beside me on the edge of the hotel mattress and draped an arm around my shoulder. It was comforting, but the dreadful feelings did not ebb away. How was I supposed to blurt out the truth to him, remembering how I freaked out when I first found out about vampires? Would he see me differently? Would he think I was crazy?
“You can tell me anything, Alex, you know that,” he said to break the silence. I leaned my head against his shoulder and stared off into the distance.
“It’s complicated,” I mumbled, glancing at our reflections in the small television screen that sat across from us on the hotel dresser. It was comforting to see him beside me, to know that even after all of these years Jason Banner was still in my life. I didn’t want to lose him, even if it meant keeping this secret from him…but somewhere deep down I knew that he had to know in order for us to remain friends. For all I knew the fountain was fake or no longer worked, and if that were the case I would have to sacrifice my friendships for good and live far, far away in order to keep them from growing suspicious.
“We’ve always told each other everything, Alex. Look…I know you are with Salem now…but don’t let him stop us from being able to talk. No matter what it is you can tell me, okay?”
“I guess,” I said quietly. “I don’t even know where to start...or what to say. When Salem first came to me about it, it was something I needed to know...something I would have probably found out about eventually anyway. With you, it’s more of an ‘I don’t want to keep a secret from my best friend anymore’ kind of thing. You don’t need to know.”
He looked suddenly uncomfortable. “What is it, Alex?”
I placed my left hand gently on his leg and patted it, about to reveal my secret when he gasped and pulled away. “Alex…” he mumbled, staring dumb-founded at my hand. At first I didn’t understand why, then I saw the glimmering jewelry wound around my finger. “Is this what you wanted to tell me about? You and Salem are getting married?”
“N-no,” I stuttered, unprepared for this moment. “Well, I mean yes...but that isn’t what I was talking about.”
He looked hurt and shocked. “You’re getting married. To him.”
I nodded, trying to force away the grin that so desperately wanted to come out. “Eventually,” I said.
“Well congrats, then,” he murmured, then started to stand up.
“You don’t sound happy,” I commented.
“No…I’m happy for you, Alex…really, I am,” he said and sighed. “I just always hoped we’d end up together.” His cheeks grew red and he lowered his head in shame. “I know that’s wrong to say considering the circumstances…you’re in love with him, and I’m…well I’m with Eila…”
I stared at him in awe. Jason had more than
just a little crush on me…he loved me. This was all wrong and confusing. How had I been so blind? I thought he was over me once Eila came into his life, but was she just a distraction or an attempt at making me jealous?
“Oh, Jason…” I took his hand in mine. “I will always love you, and you’ll always be my best friend…but Salem is the love of my life.”
“Nothing could hurt more than hearing those words,” he sulked and I saw moisture in the corner of his eyes, “so you might as well get on with whatever you were going to say before.”
“Please don’t cry, Jason,” I pouted and pulled him into a hug. “I’m not worth your tears.” I could feel the beat of his heart pounding against my empty core, smell the resplendent blood coursing through his veins and the monster inside me wanted it…desired it…needed it. The vampire in me made up the decision for me before I had the opportunity to stop myself. My lips were against his jugular in seconds, ready to strike – but he took it as more of an intimate gesture and I was grateful when he pushed me back against the mattress and stopped me from ripping his throat out. His lips were against mine and I almost let myself get carried away by his tender touch but I pushed him away and scooted off of the bed.
“Jason, no! What are you doing?”
“What? You started it.”
“No…I…this is wrong, Jason,” I said and frowned. “I’m dangerous around you.”
“I don’t mind,” he whispered seductively and approached me again, placing a hand on my waist and tugging me close.
“No, you don’t understand…” I protested and pulled away with all of my strength. “Think about Eila!”
He blinked and stared at me with a bewildered expression and a look of sudden guilt. “You’re right,” he muttered and backed away from me. “I-I’m sorry…please, don’t hate me for this. I don’t know what came over me.”
“I could never hate you, Jason,” I said soothingly and sat in the red armchair. “You just about got yourself killed, though.”
