by J. N. Colon
I jumped up and started running from the undead creature, his presence swiftly following.
Icy wind stung my cheeks and burned my lungs, releasing hot steam against the cold night. Low hanging branches scrapped my face and tore at my dark hair like angry hands. I frantically stumbled through the grove of twisting trees, fog and darkness blanketing my path.
The monster chasing me was gaining ground.
My heart pulverized the inside of my ribcage and my muscles trembled with fatigue. I peeked over my shoulder, squinting through the creeping fog to see shining teeth and sharp claws.
My gasp was echoed by a shrill, high pitched laugh.
Goose bumps exploded across my flesh.
My bare feet slipped on the dry forest bracken, tangling in a briar patch. When I wrenched my legs free I noticed an ivory hilted dagger clutched in my hand. The wicked blade was smeared with crimson.
Blood.
Sickness rose in my throat and I longed to lie down, but the presence of hot, fetid breath slithered down my nape. The monster was right on my heels. I had to keep running.
A light beamed ahead. I stretched my arms out as if I could drag the safety of the glow closer.
Almost there. Almost there.
Gnarled, boney claws suddenly snagged my hair.
My scream froze in my mouth as it whirled me around and I saw those angry, soulless eyes.
My world went black…
Chapter 19
Hands were shaking me awake as I screamed and struggled against my assailant.
“Rubi! It’s Demy. Stop.”
I focused in on his wide violet eyes, halting my frantic movements. I was breathing raggedly, my chest heaving with leftover adrenaline and panic.
Demy brushed the damp hair from my face. “Rubi, it’s okay. It was just a dream.”
I nodded, trying to force aside the image of William turning into a blood thirsty undead vampire mixed with the very first prophet dream I had before coming to Highland. It seemed like a lifetime ago I woke up from that first nightmare in my bed in Shelby, Florida, unaware of the supernatural world awaiting me.
I sat up, pulling my knees against my chest, my body still trembling.
Demy’s legs swung over the other side of the bed and he stood, quickly coming to my side. “Come on.” He pulled the covers off me. “Let’s go get something to eat.”
My stomach churned just thinking about food. “Not hungry.”
“Something to drink then.” His studded brow rose, daring me to say I wasn’t thirsty. With a sigh I let Demy pull me up, grabbing one of his hoodies that he’d thrown on my floor earlier. He tossed it over my head before grabbing one of his t-shirts off the floor for him.
“You know, you’re turning my room into a disaster zone,” I mumbled as I slid my feet into my fuzzy bootie slippers.
A crooked smile curled his lips while he wiggled his eyebrows. “You know you love my stuff in here.” He grabbed my hand and began towing me out the room. “You secretly hold my clothes to your face and smell my scent.”
I snorted on a halfhearted laugh. “You are such an idiot Demy.” I knew he was trying to make me feel better and forget the horrifying images from my nightmare. It was working a little, but I could still see William’s horrific face.
He kissed my cheeks. “I’m your idiot though.”
We entered the kitchen to find Whitmore and Miranda eating a plate of cookies, both pajama clad. Miranda sported a pretty knee length silk robe the color of emerald that matched her eyes and brought out her auburn hair that still somehow looked perfect at 2am. Whitmore was in silk pajama pants and a white t-shirt. His hair was disheveled and messy, a far cry from his usual combed black strands. He reminded me of Mac—well before he came back to life.
“What are you two doing up this late?” Whitmore asked, reaching for another cookie.
Miranda noticed the tremors still running through my body as I sat on a stool at the island, her brows knitting together. “What’s wrong sweetheart?”
Whitmore stopped crunching on his cookie, his cool gray eyes surveying me silently.
“Just a bad dream,” I muttered, hating the worry crossing their faces. It happened all too much these days even with Mac back. Now they were worried for other reasons—like I was certifiable.
“How about some tea?” Miranda asked, already filing up the kettle with water.
“Sure.”
Demy remained behind me, nearly swallowing up my body with his, spreading warmth through me. His hands came up and rubbed my arms. “You’re shivering,” he murmured in my ear.
I nodded, but it wasn’t from the cold.
“What was the dream about?” Whitmore asked, pushing away the rest of his plate of uneaten cookies as he sat on the stool across from me.
“William chasing me.” I quickly blinked the images away, shivering even more. “I don’t think it was prophetic or anything.”
Electricity hit my spine before Mac rounded the corner, his eyes half-lidded and whole appearance rumpled. He looked more like himself than he had since he returned. I smiled—until he opened his mouth.
“Are we having a party?” His tone was laced with acid.
Miranda pulled down a box of tea, setting it on the counter before opening it. “What are you doing up Mac?”
“I heard a bunch of screaming,” he grumbled, shuffling over to the fridge.
My cheeks burned red and I averted my gaze to the counter, wishing I could crawl back under the covers forever. I remembered a time that if Mac had heard me screaming he’d be right by my side, comforting me. Not making me feel horrible over it.
“McCollum,” Whitmore growled. “I’m so sorry your sleep was interrupted, but perhaps you could show a little concern for Rubi.”
Mac spun around with a bag o blood, cutting it open with his teeth and squeezing it into a glass. The smell of it hit the air, waking up my gag reflexes. I was a freaking vampire and the smell of blood was making me sick.
My nightmares suck.
“I thought that’s what he was here for.” Mac motioned toward Demy. “Aren’t you supposed to be chasing poor princess’s nightmares away?”
A growl snaked out of Demy’s teeth, rumbling through his chest and into my back. “Watch what you say Mac.”
A smirk curled his lips. “What? Upset you’re not doing a good job?” He laughed before tilting the cup up to his mouth, taking a giant gulp.
“Keep it up McCollum. You’re not too old to ground.” Whitmore calmly spoke, but the storm raging in his silver and gray eyes was enough to turn my blood cold.
“You can’t ground me. I’m eighteen!”
“Watch me.”
Mac turned his pleading jade eyes on his mother. “Mom, you can’t let him. This isn’t fair. I can’t be punished for this.”
“Oh.” Miranda sucked her teeth, her gaze flashing between all of us. I could see the torment in her own eyes, wanting to stick up for both of us. I hated that his own parents felt like they had to choose sides.
“It’s okay,” I sighed. “He’s just grumpy from getting woke up. It’s not his fault.”
“Well it is his fault he’s being a total jerk to you.” Hudson was suddenly standing next to Mac at the counter, his hazel eyes glaring daggers at him.
I sighed, and rubbed my temples. “Just let it go.”
I felt Whitmore’s hand rest on mine. “I’m just trying to help. I didn’t meant to upset you.”
“Whit, I wasn’t talking to you.”
“Oh.” His eyes searched the room.
Hudson marched toward me, laying a hand on my shoulder that felt surprisingly firm for a ghost. “I’ll drop it when Mac starts treating you right.” He looked down at his hand, surprise lingering in his eyes as if he could feel me to. Without warning he grabbed a cookie, chucking it at Mac. It smacked against his forehead, exploding in to pieces.
“What the hell!” he growled, rubbing chocolate off with his fingers.
I pr
essed my lips together to keep from laughing. Demy on the other hand didn’t care and laughter tumbled out his mouth, mixing with Hudson’s.
“Call your ghost buddy off me Rubi.” Mac’s face was livid, cheeks deeply flushed with anger. “Madison can’t screw with me whenever she wants.”
“It was Hudson.”
“Thanks Hudson,” Demy said between chuckles. “If you hadn’t done it I would have and I’d probably get a pop in the head from Rubi.”
Mac was still wiping crumbs off his forehead. “I’m so glad everyone finds this so funny.”
“You were asking for it,” Whitmore said, biting down on a cookie. “You should remain on Rubi’s good side. You never know what friends she has lurking around.” He winked at me.
I flashed him a smile trying not to think of the enemies that could also be hiding around. I never knew when they’d show up either.
***
I walked arm and arm with Marci down the center of Salem. October 31st was only a few days away and the town looked like Halloween puked all over it. Witches hung on nearly every storefront along with ghosts and goblins. Jack-o-lanterns were on every step, some with terrifying, gruesome grins while others sported happy expressions. Spider webs crawled over branches and porches, an array of creepy crawlers tangled within the depths.
I shivered remembering the bugs my tormenters brought with them. I would never be able to forget the feeling of them crawling in my mouth, crunchy bodies and squishy guts rolling around on my tongue and down my throat. It hadn’t been real, but it sure as hell felt real.
“You okay?” Marci asked from beside me, her dark eyes scrutinizing me.
I nodded. “Of course.”
Her scarlet lips curled into a smile as a pair of girls dressed as princesses skipped passed us. “Don’t you just love Halloween?” A wistful air lingered in her tone.
“Oh yeah,” I remarked sarcastically. “I love being scared out of my mind.”
Ignoring me, she continued as if lost in a memory. “I remember back in the early days, we used to have séances every Halloween. It was a big party where a renowned psychic would come and terrify us by contacting the dead. We’d all sit around a massive table, holding hands by the light of a hundred candles, waiting on the cold chill from beyond the grave.”
I tried to rein in my sarcasm. I wasn’t very successful. “You know you don’t need all that mumbo jumbo to actual speak with the dead.”
Marci clucked her tongue and dodged a pair of black cats that were being chased by a woman dressed as a witch. “Duh. But where’s the fun in that.” A smirk twitched her lips. “Why do you think you made a big show of it when you worked at Madame Josephine’s?”
I grimaced. “You knew about that?”
She scoffed. “Of course.”
My eyes drifted down the street to see Madam Josephine’s, the window plastered with Halloween décor. A mixture of sadness and guilt filled my stomach. I should really stop by and say hello before we leave.
I glanced over my shoulder, finding Daedalus directly behind us, his amber eyes hidden by a pair of sunglasses. His chin length brown hair blew in the wind around his scruffy face, a five o’clock shadow coating his square chin. His long, black jacket stretched tautly over his thick, muscular shoulders and he walked with a smooth confidence despite his large size.
Dae was definitely a very sexy, masculine man. If I wasn’t madly in love with someone else I would totally be crushing on him.
A smile twitched the corners of his lips as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. My cheeks burned and I spun back around before I tripped and fell flat on my face. I may be a vampire—and princess—but neither of those things made me immune to clumsiness.
“Checking out your royal guard?” Marci’s elbowed me and wiggled her thin brows.
“No,” I lied. “I was just making sure he was back there.”
“Um hmm. Whatever you say.”
I pointed to our destination to change the subject. “There’s Elsa’s Armoire.” It was the best costume shop in Salem. As we neared I caught sight of Rufus standing near the door, pretending to read the paper. His mocha skin shone even in the dim afternoon light while his unshaded chocolate eyes crinkled as he tried not to smile. He tipped his head toward Daedalus as he opened the door for us.
“Have fun,” he sang in a lilting British accent.
A deep, rumbling laugh drifted out of Daedalus. “I get to watch two beautiful ladies try on scandalous Halloween costumes. Of course I’ll have fun.”
The store was less crowded then I thought and I had a feeling someone had most of the patrons cleared out—a little compulsion at work. Racks were full of an array of different costumes ranging from naughty nurse to zombie cheerleader. Wigs in various colors of the rainbow ran along one wall while the other had shelves holding pounds of costume makeup kits.
“Uh, I’m not getting a costume,” I said, my eyes wondering to a shelf of vampire teeth, silently chuckling to myself as probably every vampire did.
Marci scoffed. “Oh you are so trying stuff on.”
I shot her a narrowed glare. “No. I’m not.”
“Yep. You are.” Marci confidently strode deeper into the store, confident as ever.
Marci was right. Within five minutes she had me shoved in a dressing room, trying on a zombie cheerleader costume. I almost died laughing. It was the only way I’d ever be a cheerleader. If only Terra Murray could see me now.
But after an hour I was done and begged Rufus to rescue me. Daedalus and Marci were having too much fun playing with wigs they didn’t mind I skipped out for a few minutes. Rufus followed me to Madame Josephine’s, a familiar delicate blonde slipping out the door as we neared.
“Sasha?”
She halted, her pale blue eyes widening as she saw me. “H-Hi Rubi.” She swallowed hard and glanced around nervously.
My brows knit. Why was she acting so edgy? I glanced down and saw no purchase bags from Madame Josephine’s in her hands. “No candles today?”
A forced laugh slipped out her mouth. “Oh, um no. I came in to get a special order of scented candles, but they weren’t in yet.” She tucked a lock of flaxen hair behind her ear that had gone astray in the cool autumn breeze. “I think Madame Josephine forgot to order it last time I was here.”
My gaze surveyed her shifting feet and wringing hands. Was she uncomfortable because she’d been hanging all over my mate? He was still mine even if he didn’t remember.
Good. A smile twitched my lips. She should feel guilty. “Well, I guess I’ll see you at school.”
She nodded before awkwardly moving out of the way to allow Rufus and me in.
“She’s a bit dodgy,” Rufus mumbled under his breath as we walked in.
I snickered at his British talk, earning a fake narrowed glare from him.
My eyes roamed the cluttered shop, purposefully avoiding the room to the right with purple velvet curtains framing the doorway. A shiver rippled over my spine and I felt Rufus’s hand grip my shoulder in a comforting manner as he sensed my unease.
“You sure you want to be here?” he asked, his chocolate eyes regarding mine with worry.
I nodded. “I just want to say hello.” Rufus released me and stayed in the front while I searched out the shop’s scatterbrained owner.
“MJ?” I called out, following her scent through the back then a heartbeat, which I assumed was hers. I found her down one of the more dusty aisles only the true occult practitioners shopped in. “MJ?”
She was standing still, facing the wall and simply staring vacantly at it. Her long wavy graying blonde hair framed her face like a curtain while her silky shawl had slid down her shoulders, barely hanging on one arm.
“MJ?” I called again after no response. I put my hand on her shoulder giving her a little shake.
Finally she slowly turned her watery, unfocused blue eyes on me, her face pale. “Oh, Moon-gem. Are you ready for your appointments?” Her voice was raspy and thick with
sleep.
My brows furrowed. “MJ. I had to quit, remember? I have to finish my senior year.”
She blinked, her eyes coming into focus a little more. “Oh, that’s right.” A soft laugh slipped out her mouth as she picked up her shawl to return it to her shoulders. “I forgot.” Her fingertips slowly drew together while she bit her lip, gazing down at me. “You wouldn’t happen to need an afterschool job?” Blink. Blink, blink.
Oh man. She must be toasted on something. I could see why she forgot to order Sasha’s candles.
Chapter 20
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I mumbled as I took in my reflection, an alter ego staring back. I was clearly out of my mind. I let Miranda talk me into attending the Halloween dance at Highland after all the protesting. Miranda told me I should have fun with friends.
Um… this was not my idea of fun. Definitely not.
Even more stupid, I let Marci pick out the costume. It was last minute and I had no desire to be crammed into a shop with other last minute shoppers mixed with cutthroat bargain hunters.
I should have known I was going to end up looking like a gothic slut.
I was dressed at a vampire princess—how fitting right? A silky black corset clung to my upper torso, pushing my boobs up to my damn neck. A skin tight black skirt hit my upper mid-thigh while a sheer black material with iridescent sparkles covered it, trailing down to my mid-calf boots. Gauzy, fingerless gloves covered my arms up to my elbows and a beaded black choker encircled my neck. My hair was done in curls and the top pulled a little from my face with a shimmering silver tiara on top of my head. I wasn’t about to where a pair of fake fangs when I had the real thing so I simply let them out, silvery mixing with my honey colored eyes.
“I’m going to kill you Marci,” I hissed to my reflection. At least it was only for a few hours and Demy would be with me.
I hurried downstairs, hoping the night would pass quickly. Mac was walking by the staircase as I descended, doing a double take the moment he saw me. He halted and his jade eyes nearly bugged out his head.
