by J. N. Colon
Mac’s jade eyes regarded me coolly, raking over my appearance. “I don’t remember choosing her.”
I suddenly felt more self-conscious than I had my first day at Highland Academy. I must have looked a mess after being asleep for a full day and without blood or food. I regretted not even glancing in the mirror before I came.
But Mac never cared about that before. He loved me no matter how I looked. He told me a million times.
The way he was making me feel was not loved or even liked. It was almost as if he despised me.
I swallowed hard, forcing down the dark feelings threatening to overcome me. I pulled out the ring on my necklace. “T-This is yours.” I showed him my matching one. “We bonded with them.”
He sighed, annoyed by me. “Like I said I don’t remember.”
I reached up and tried to unfasten the necklace with numb, trembling fingers. “You should have it back.”
“No thank you.” He leaned back on the couch, spreading his arms and legs. “You can keep it.”
“I’m afraid that’s not how it works son.” Whitmore rubbed his temples, frustration and fatigue coloring the edges of his tone. He’d apparently been having the same conversation for hours. “You and Rubi are bonded.”
“I don’t remember.” He gave a noncommittal shrug. “Shouldn’t that make the arrangement null and void?”
My jaw hung open, shock stealing my voice.
“You don’t remember growing a pair. How ‘bout we make those null and void too,” Demy growled, his accent thicker and eyes a burning shade of violet.
Mac’s eyes narrowed infinitesimally. “Try it Russian.”
“Boys!” Whitmore snapped, silencing them.
“Mac, you love Rubi.” Miranda strolled forward and ran a hand over his hair, mussing it up until he looked more like himself. “You’ll get your memories back and you’ll see.”
His hands immediately smoothed down his unruly midnight locks. “And if I don’t?”
“Then you’ll fall in love with her again,” Whitmore said.
Mac’s cold jade eyes landed on me, his lip curling ever so slightly. “I doubt that,” he mumbled under his breath.
My heart shattered into a million pieces once again. I’d gone through agony these past few months. I watched the life fade from Mac’s eyes as he died cradled in my arms. I’d felt cold and dead inside, my world irrevocably destroyed. That was the single worst moment of my life.
This was second.
Mac was alive and yet the person before me was not my mate. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever have him again.
***
The supernatural world was astounded when the news about Mac’s miraculous rise from the dead spread. Several vampires had stopped by to see the prince himself. Funny how he didn’t remember them and yet he didn’t treat them like a sweaty old sock that needed to be discarded. Nope. He saved that especially for me.
No one knew the cause of his return. He was dead. His heart had stopped and body ceased to move. He’d been in the ground for months before he clawed his way out. It couldn’t be as simple as the poison wearing off otherwise Hudson would have returned as well. I’d seen his ghost plenty of times to know he was dead for good. Now I knew why Mac’s spirit had never come through. It was still inside his body.
Mac didn’t remember being dead or digging himself out. He didn’t remember finding his way home or why he went directly to me. He wouldn’t acknowledge that his half-crazed self came looking directly for me. Then he might have to admit there was a connection between us.
He also denied the electricity he feels when I walk into a room. He claimed it must have gone away when he died.
Total BS.
He typically avoided me anyways. I couldn’t say it didn’t rip apart my heart every time because it did. It made me want to fall back into a pit of darkness and shield myself from the pain and agony. But then again, I’d rather feel the sting of his constant rejection than have him still dead.
I’d go through an eternity of agony just so he could live. I loved him that much. I only wished he remembered he love me the same.
Demy remained in Salem with me, flat out refusing to return to school. I was secretly glad. He was probably the only person keeping me from crying my eyes out on a daily basis. I hadn’t fed from him or had any racy make out moments—not after we almost went too far. But most nights he still wound up in my bed. I still had nightmares about Mac’s death and now they were coupled with ones of him turning into one of those undead creatures.
I sighed and stared unseeingly at the book I was reading at the massive kitchen island. I paid more attention to the sparkling black veins within the white marble countertop than I did the words on the page. Tiny flecks of silver probably invisible to humans sparkled in the soft overhead lighting, reminding me of vampire eyes.
Rows of dark cabinets contrasted with the light counters and travertine floor while stainless steel fixtures and appliances gleamed almost like chrome. A tray of brownies Miranda baked earlier sat next to the stove, scenting the air with chocolate and sugar. A window above the sink displayed a courtyard outside, draped in darkness from the night. I could see the inexplicable fog natural to Salem, swirling around the rot iron table and chairs.
With a grimace I returned my attention back to the book. The history of vampires wasn’t as thrilling as I expected, but I was determined to prove to everyone I was capable of being a good leader—even if Mac didn’t want me anymore.
A cold chill shivered up my spine, alerting me a ghost was lurking close by.
“That answer’s wrong.” Madison pointed to the test Miranda gave me, attempting to tap it with her chipped purple nail. “It’s B.”
I cut glare at her. “How the hell do you know? You were a vampire for like a day.”
She shrugged, moving her shoulder length black and red hair. “I was a hunter long before that and we had to study vampire and shifter history.”
Of course even hunters knew more than me—the future queen!
I suck.
“What about this one?” I pointed to another one giving me trouble.
“A.”
My brow arched suspiciously. “Are you lying?”
She grabbed her chest dramatically and gasped. “Moi? Lie? Of course not.”
I groaned and put down the pencil, resting my chin in my hand. “This sucks!”
“Your vamp husband still giving you the cold shoulder?” she asked, hopping up on the counter and kicking her black combat boots in the air legs. The remainder of her attire consisted of black cargo pants and a tight black knit shirt—the way most hunters dressed.
“That would suggest he was actually talking to me.”
“Ah. What about your Russian shifter boy toy? He’s scrumdiddlyumptious.” Madison wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Why don’t you go play with him?”
A flush dusted my cheeks thinking about how much we had already played. “It’s not that simple.”
Electricity sparked along my spine just as Mac strolled into the kitchen, dressed in pristine dark jeans and a gray button down shirt. Normally the sleeves would have been rolled up and top undone to reveal the t-shirt below. But not the un-Mac. His was buttoned up neatly. His midnight hair was also combed and brushed away from his handsome face. Don’t get me wrong. He was still filet mignon hot. He just wasn’t what I was used to—the wild and unkempt, sporty, secretly smart guy with a devil-may-care smile.
Mac spared me a fleeting glance while trekking to the fridge, his jade eyes an icy emerald instead of the familiar green fire. He grabbed a bag o’ blood and a cup from the cabinet, setting it down on the marble counter with a clank.
“Maybe if I possessed him and showed him my memories of you guys it might jog his,” Madison mused, watching him squeeze the thick scarlet liquid into a cup.
“I doubt that would work,” I answered, picking up my pencil to continue the test.
Mac paused and looked around, his brows furrowing. �
�Are you talking to yourself?”
Holy ham hocks he spoke directly to me! Maybe I should call in the marching band and start a parade.
Not.
“No. I’m talking to Madison.”
The lines in his forehead deepened and he stared at me as if I’d gone off my rocker. “I hate to break it to you Rubi, but there is no one else in here.” He shook his head and went back to his blood. “I’m mated to a freaking nut job,” he mumbled under his breath.
Madison’s lip curled in disdain. “Damn, what happened to him while he was dead? Did the worms chew his brain?”
I shot him a pointed look. “I’m not crazy. Didn’t anyone tell you I can communicate with ghosts?”
Mac licked blood from his lips. “Maybe. I usually tune any conversations with or about you out.”
“Ugh. What a dick.” Madison shot daggers at him, her dark eyes narrowing.
An ache twisted my chest and I bit my tongue to keep the emotions off my face. “Yeah, well, I can. And I’m talking to one now.” I tapped my eraser next to another multiple choice question. “Come help me with this one.” My gaze flickered toward Mac before he could open his smart mouth. “Madison,” I annunciated.
She danced toward me and read over my shoulder. “D for duh.”
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.” I could feel Mac’s stare on me. “What?” I breathed out, dreading his answer.
“You may not be crazy, but you are seriously weird.” He crossed his arms against his chest, straining the material of his shirt over his thick shoulders and leaned on the counter.
Madison stood straight and planted her hands on her hips. “Want me to possess him and have him strip and run around Highland Academy, professing his undying love for Brant?”
I snorted on a laugh. “No.” My gaze met his across the room. “Well, maybe later.”
“What? Did she say something about me?”
“She asked me if I wanted her to possess you and have you run around naked, claiming your love for Brantley Dentwood.”
Mac scoffed. “Yeah right. She can’t do that. That’s only in horror flicks.”
My life was a horror flick.
Madison wiggled her brows and smiled darkly. “We’ll show him.”
“I wouldn’t piss her off,” I smirked. “She’s pretty strong.”
Mac took another sip of his drink. “How do you know her anyways? Just some random ghost?”
“She was a hunter and tried killing us.”
A smile twitched at his lips. “So she’s tormenting you?”
Wow. My possible anguish was cause for his happiness. We’d hit a new low. “Nope.” I circled the answer to one I was actually sure about, ignoring the pains in my chest. “She’s helping me. Something about redemption.”
His face scrunched up. “So you trust her?”
My gaze flickered toward Madison. “Not really.”
“Hey! No fair. I helped you before.”
I shrugged.
“I’ll help you some more.” With the grace of a ballerina—or deadly hunter—she sauntered over to Mac, blowing the hair on his neck.
He shivered and looked at the blood in his cup as if it were responsible. He shrugged and then downed it, setting it in the sink. Madison blew some more, really putting power behind it. Mac shivered again.
Suspicion crossed his handsome face. “S-She’s not doing anything to me right now is she?”
My lips pursed. “Not at this moment.”
He sagged against the counter in relief.
“Oh, but she was just blowing on your neck a few moments ago.” It was my turn to smile at his discomfort.
Madison did it again, forcing him to jump. “Hey! Cut that shit out.” His cold, angry jade eyes flecking with silver pierced me. “Tell her to stop.”
I shrugged innocently. “I can’t control her. She does what she wants and right now she feels like screwing with you.”
Madison took a deep breath and blew so hard his hair violently stirred, ending in that messy, tousled way I preferred.
His cheeks flushed red in anger and he swatted the air, missing her. I snorted on a laugh, earning a dark, threatening glare. “You’re telling her to do it on purpose because you’re pissed at me.”
My hands lifted in surrender. “Did you hear me tell her that? I can’t send secret mind messages so if you didn’t hear me say it, I didn’t say it. Maybe she just doesn’t like you.”
Mac let out a huff.
“Not everyone adores you, you know.”
“Whatever princess.” His tone was mocking. “Just don’t sick your ghosts on me again.” He stalked out of the room, mumbling freak under his breath.
That one word from him doused any humor that was lighting my mood.
Madison sucked her teeth. “You’re the freak! You’re the one who came back from the dead.”
He didn’t hear her.
Chapter 13
Leah sat across from me looking petrified while her teenage daughter, Kayla, was beside her, her brown eyes roaming the room with more curiosity than anything.
“Do you want something to drink?” I asked Susan.
She shook her head. “No thank you.” Her blonde hair was tied back in a messy ponytail, brown roots beginning to grow longer. Dark circles bruised beneath her hazel eyes and her lips were severely chapped. Clearly she hadn’t been taking very good care of herself since her son’s death. I couldn’t blame her. She was utterly heart broken.
Her five year old, Zach, had been struck by a speeding car on their quiet neighborhood street. No death is easy, but this was truly tragic. I knew what it felt like to have someone you loved suddenly ripped from your arms. Hell, in a way, I was still experiencing it. Mac was alive, but he wasn’t back. He was the un-Mac.
I nodded and looked over at her daughter. “You Kayla?”
Her wide doe eyes flickered to mine as she shook her head. “No thanks. I’m okay.”
A phone loudly sounded, shattering the awkward, heavy silence in the dark, candle lit room. Kayla winced and removed her phone from her back pocket while her mother silently scolded her with a glare.
She promptly turned it off. “Sorry. I forgot.” She tucked locks of brown hair behind her ear while she slumped lower in her seat.
I smiled reassuringly at the teenage girl who wasn’t much younger than me. “It’s okay. I do it all the time.” I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. “Okay. Let’s get started.” I didn’t bother donning my usual costume or stalling with a fake tarot card reading or any other mumbo jumbo. Susan didn’t need any of that and she was clearly petrified already. I figured me looking like my normal, ordinary self would be better.
Of course she’d probably be running for the hills if she knew I was a vampire.
I never purposely attempted to contact a child before so I’d sent Hudson to find him. That was several hours ago. Hopefully he wouldn’t be much longer.
Stalling I closed my eyes and concentrated on the picture of Zach, hoping it might speed up the process. Moments later I felt a cold, ominous chill drift down my spine, something not usually associated with kid ghosts. A sickly, skin crawling feeling accompanied, making the hair on my arms stand on end.
My eyes slowly opened and fixed on the figure standing against the far wall, the flickering candlelight casting ominous shadows across her already disturbing form. Strings of raven hair obscured most of her face and dripped down her thin shoulders. A soiled white uniform shirt hung loosely on her emaciated frame, matching the tattered gray tartan skirt. Knobby white knees trembled in the darkness.
Dana Livingston.
My blood turned ice cold.
Leah noticed my line of vision was stuck to something behind her. She nervously glanced over her shoulder. “I-Is Zach here?”
“No. Someone else.”
“Hello princess,” she drawled, her voice layered with other entities. “Enjoying your little job?”
A horrible thought struck my mind, forcing pan
ic through my cold veins. “Are you keeping him away?”
A deep, skin-crawling laugh slithered out. “Maybe.”
“Who are you talking to? Where’s my brother?” Kayla asked, twisting in her seat to look at the empty space behind her.
Unfortunately the space wasn’t empty for me. Nope. “Go away,” I hissed between gritted teeth, hoping she couldn’t detect the fear in my voice.
By the gleam in her dark eyes she could. And she liked it.
Thick, crimson blood began oozing down the purple walls, glistening like wax in the candlelight. Dread curled the insides of my stomach, painfully clenching every muscle.
“You didn’t think we were going to leave you alone, did you?” Bronson appeared beside Dana, his blonde hair dripping slime down his severe face.
My jaw snapped tight to keep the gag from the foul odor inside.
“Rubi, W-What’s going on?” Leah gripped her daughter’s hand. “Maybe we should go.”
“No mom. I’m sure it’s fine.” Kayla shot me a nervous smile. “We’re already here. What if we leave and Zack comes?”
“Maybe you guys should…” My words were cut off at the appearance of Robert’s ghost crawling on the floor. Shivers rolled over my spine as he inched closer, his hazel eyes burning a hole through my skull. His deformed legs dragged behind him, leaving a trail of acidic slime in his wake.
Bugs began to crawl along the walls, some already raining down on the table unbeknownst to Leah and her daughter. My stomach churned and bile crawled up my throat. Choruses of guilty and other blaming words drowned out the mother and daughter.
Dana slowly approached, running a long, corpse-like fingers through the bloody bugs on the table. “Did you really think you could continue your little freak show without us interfering?” Her dark eyes flashed crimson while her eyebrow arched, daringly me like in the photo of her. “Did you really think we’d leave you alone?”
Robert slithered forward, a terrifying smile curling his lips as miraculously skittered up the purple table cloth and plopped himself up on the table with a sickening splat. I gasped and shoved away from it, my chair scrapping loudly on the wood floor.
