A Chosen Fate

by Amelia Wilson

  Her hands stopped, and she waited with bated breath. She was expecting for a laugh, or a snort, for her aunt to call her crazy and hit her head with a spoon. But when she looked up, Courtney’s eyes were wide, and she had dropped her fork on her plate.

  “Courtney? Are you alright?” Madison stood up and was about to shake her aunt when the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it.” Courtney hurried to the front door, tripping on her own feet once along the way.

  Madison felt worried, but there was a growing suspicion.

  When her aunt came back, she was not alone. Behind her, there was a tall, pale man who had blue eyes and ash brown hair that came up to his shoulders. He had three piercing in his ears with small, black, rounded earrings on each.

  He stepped forward and introduced himself. “I’m Richmond. Son of Ben, your aunt’s childhood friend. I’ll be staying here for a while for business.”

  His voice sounded stiff and too controlled. Madison searched for her aunt’s eyes and gauged her reaction, but she remained standing, watching their exchange.

  She reached out for his hand. “I’m Madison. Please do feel at home.”

  Chapter-6

  Madison washed the dishes after Richmond nearly wiped out the remaining pasta. Courtney excused herself for not feeling well and apologized to the male for not being able to prepare for his arrival.

  She showed Richmond his room and offered to help him unpack, but he turned her down. She then went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, thinking that he wanted to be alone.

  She jumped when he sat by the dining table and watched her do the dishes.

  “Oh, do you need toiletries? Towels? We’ve got some extra here, I’ll get them.” She opened the cupboards and fished out a new toothbrush along with a box of toothpaste. She also procured a few body towels he could use and handed everything to him.

  He accepted them wordlessly. He looked at her with amused eyes.

  She backed down and resumed what she was doing. Later on, she was typing a presentation in her laptop when he settled in the living room. She offered him the remote control, but he declined.

  It suddenly felt like Easton’s case again. Richmond was watching her every move, and she was beginning to feel scared. For a second, she thought of running up to her aunt’s room and ask her if their guest was in a right state of mind but she chose to do it later if he didn’t relent.

  It was the same next day while she was eating toast. He was drinking coffee, but he kept his eyes on her like she was some child. When she reached her breaking point, she met his eyes, thinking he would back down and look away. To her mortification, he smiled at her.

  She could not recall the last time she ran that fast away from home.

  ***

  They were waiting for their Anthropology professor when Easton wrinkled his nose in disgust.

  “What’s that?” He sniffed until he stopped at Madison’s direction. She lifted her shirt to her nose and took a sniff. There was nothing amiss. She smelled like sweat, but it was not overbearing.

  “You smell…” Awful was on the tip of Easton’s tongue, but he did not say it out loud to not offend her.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Easton,” Madison calling his name gave him chills, in a good way.

  “Like a carcass.” He admitted. He was saving his breath, and in the end opted to breathe through his mouth to avoid the foul smell.

  “What are you talking about? I took a shower before I left and I’ve never been near a dead body.” She colored and smelled her sleeves.

  “Are you sure? Because I swear, you smell like you rubbed yourself to a rotting body.”

  “I didn’t!” she huffed indignantly.

  “Okay, okay. Calm down. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  Madison scoffed and mumbled. “Yeah, right. I’m not offended.”

  “I think I’m going to sit at the last row today. The sun’s too bright for my eyes.” He excused himself and heard her grit her teeth. He still craved for her, but right now, his olfactory sense is telling him to breathe fresh air, and it was clear he would not be getting it when he was near Madison. At the back of his mind, he wondered what that disgusting smell was.

  ***

  Madison was working on her paper when Easton plopped beside her and leaned in, nuzzling his face on her neck. She pulled back, alarmed, then looked around if anyone saw him.

  “Don’t do that!” she hissed. Easton grinned back at her, making her stomach do somersaults. She knew he was aware he was good-looking. She sneered at him.

  He nuzzled again and wrapped a hand around her waist, bringing his chair closer, the sound of wood scratching against concrete deafening. The library was dead silent, but Madison deemed its ‘silence please’ policy sacred ever since she was little. She was not about to break it for a guy who could not keep his hands to himself.

  It had been weeks since that bloodsucking incident, and they became inseparable, though, to Madison, it was more like Easton insisting on being around her as much as possible. She never admitted aloud how pleased she was when he made excuses on why he should come to her workplace or when he enumerated the benefits of him walking her home. They were all nonsense, but she let it slip. It was the pull, and she never bothered fighting it ever since her admittance that it was real, and she wanted to keep Easton as close as possible.

  She elbowed him on the chest, but his hold was strong, unrelenting. “I’m busy.”

  “I won’t bother you.”

  “You are bothering me.”

  “Me being close bothers you?” Easton grinned. She was blinded.

  “Stop twisting my words.” In the end, she continued typing while Easton hummed close to her ear. It sounded like a song she heard on the radio every Sunday when the stations play old music.

  “Your music taste is ancient.” She wrinkled her nose in feigned disgust.

  “I am ancient.” He chuckled when she looked lost for a moment.

  “How old are you?”

  “Do you really want to know?” He wriggled his brows jokingly but turned serious when she waited for a response.

  “A little over ninety.”

  “You could pass off as my grandpa.”

  Easton scoffed. “I don’t recall seeing a grandfather who looked as hot as me.”

  She stopped typing, affronted at the declaration. “Who told you you were hot?”

  “Them.” He gestured at the side, wherein two girls from their History class were gawking at them. Madison unwrapped his arms and pulled away like she was burned. Her cheeks were burning. They probably thought they were close or something.

  “You amuse me in a lot of ways I could ever imagine Madison.” He wriggled a finger on her face, and she made a grab for it and brought to her mouth as if she would bite it. Surprised at the attack, he withdrew his hand.

  Madison laughed at his reaction. He was looking at her like she was crazy.

  “As if you’ll get hurt over that.”

  “We still feel pain,” he defended, but brought his chair back closer after throwing a glance behind them, relieved that there were no longer people who lingered just to sneak in on them. It scandalized him a bit.

  “You do?” She pursed her lips. “I thought you’re like, invincible to pain.”

  “Where did you even hear about that?”

  “I deduced.”

  “From what?”

  She remained quiet. There was no way she would answer that.

  “Don’t tell me you believe in those vampire movies and dramas teenagers fawn over?”

  When she did not respond, Easton bit his lip and scratched his nose with a finger. He was fighting down a smile, but he was failing miserably.

  “What was I supposed to know about vampires?” she grumbled.

  “Well, for one, we’re really immortals. But we die too.” He decided to entertain her. He smirked when she pushed her laptop away, glad to have her undivided attention.
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  “How?” She propped an elbow on the table and rested her head on her palm.

  “Put a stake through our heart then chop our parts into pieces.” He said it like it was no big deal, like it was natural for him to disclose how to kill their kind.

  “Gross.”

  “Some people find pleasure in that.” He shrugged, not bothered to reveal such details. He had lived long enough and being a vampire was not something he really desired. It would not be much if someone decided to kill him.

  “Really? What, don’t tell me there are people out there who live just to kill someone like you.”

  Easton smiled at how at ease they were with the topic like it was just about today’s weather. “There are. Me and my brother were almost killed once before. We just managed to escape.”

  “You have a brother?” she stage-whispered. She found the idea incredulous.

  “Not exactly. I mean, we were turned by the same vampire and had been together since then. I just naturally saw him as a brother.” He thought about Gavin, his introvert brother who chose the life of seclusion instead of blending in with other people; his brother who always put Easton first above everything, and smiled.

  “How about the one who turned you?” She had to admit, her curiosity was piqued with the whole idea of vampires being real. She was itching to ask these questions to Easton weeks ago when he admitted about being one but decided not to do so. She did not want to come off as prying.

  His expression dimmed. His brows drew together, and his lips curled into a scowl.

  “He’s gone.”

  Madison assumed that Easton meant that he was dead, but did not ask to confirm. She hit a nerve with that one, and she did not want to push her luck.

  Deciding it was enough for the day, she reached for his hand and traced his palm with her thumb, ignoring when he yelped in surprise. Easton just let her be while she avoided his eyes the whole time. She hoped he got the message.

  Chapter-7

  Madison just arrived from work, carrying bags of groceries which she hauled to their kitchen. Richmond was in the dining room, sipping tea.

  She almost forgot about him. He was always out of the house, doing his business, leaving early in the morning and arriving at an indefinite time in the night.

  She greeted him, and he just gave her a tight-lipped smile. He looked pallid. He took sip after sip of his tea until the hot water scalded his tongue.

  Worried, she handed him a glass of water.

  “You reek,” he said once he emptied the glass.

  “Excuse me?” They were not on speaking terms, barely acquaintances. She could not fathom how he could say such comment offhandedly like they were best friends who were comfortable enough to tell each other their deepest, darkest secrets.

  Richmond bit his lip. “Sorry, I mean.” He glanced at the counter. “Did you buy fish?”

  Comprehension dawned on Madison, and she felt embarrassed for her outburst.

  “Yes, I did. Sorry, I thought…” She trailed off and proceeded to deposit the groceries in the cupboard and the others in the fridge.

  “Does spaghetti sound okay for dinner? I’d make some meatballs too.” Richmond offered. Madison smiled. “That sounds great.” He relaxed on his seat and said nothing more.

  She took the cue and turned to her room and stayed there until she was called for dinner.

  ***

  “Who are you waiting for?” Easton stretched his neck too, watching the direction where Madison had been fixated on for the past five minutes.

  “Richmond.” She answered then brightened when a man rounded the corner. She did not notice Easton go stiff.

  Richmond stopped in front of them, eyes boring holes on Easton but handed the flash drive to Madison.

  “Thank you.” She was relieved and held the device reverently. Earlier, she panicked when it was not in her bag. She spent last night poring over her presentation, and she could not afford missing a report just because she left it at home. She thought of coming back to get it but apparently, Richmond volunteered to bring it to her when her aunt relayed the dilemma to him.

  “You’re welcome.” His jaws were set. Beside her, Easton also stood up to his full height and squared his shoulders.

  She warily eyed the exchange between the two men, who stared at each other unrelentingly.

  Confused, she saw Richmond run his eyes over Easton, chuckling afterwards. Madison stood shocked. Was that a hint of insult in his laugh?

  “You look like a college student,” he remarked, clearly a snide one.

  “I am a college student,” Easton replied. His voice was bigger than usual like it was an attempt to intimidate.

  Richmond snorted and gazed at Madison. “You hang around him?” He sneered. Madison was puzzled yet at the same time ashamed. Richmond had no right to talk about Easton in that tone.

  “What are you trying to say?” she challenged, her nostrils flaring. She never tolerated anyone’s attempt to mock someone.

  “I’m saying you should stop.”

  It was fast. Easton strode towards Richmond with two large steps and lifted the collar of his shirt.

  Richmond retaliated and held his hands tightly, trying to pull it off. “What? Am I spoiling your fun?” He had the nerve to grin. Madison almost warned him off. Pissing off a vampire could never be a good idea. Besides, she had no inkling as to why they were acting like they had some bad history. For all she knew, they only met for the first time.

  Knowing it was enough, she pushed herself in between them and detached Easton’s hold on Richmond’s shirt.

  “I don’t know what it is with you two, but please stop.” Turning to Richmond, she said “And will you please go now? I have a class to attend.” Richmond tugged at his shirt and ran a hand across the wrinkled area.

  Without a word, he turned away but not before sending a glare to Easton.

  “No wonder you reek.” Easton stormed off, and Madison was left dumbfounded at the sudden turn of events.

  She lifted her blouse and took a sniff. It smelled like detergent.

  Damn them and their sensitive noses.

  ***

  Richmond confronted her right off the bat when she came home.

  “You should stay away from that guy.” Not pleased with his condescending tone, she tilted her chin up defiantly.

  “Why do you care who I hang out with?”

  “Madison, he’s dangerous.” Madison stilled but schooled her face into indifference. There was no way Richmond knew.

  “I’ve known him for months. He never did anything that looked dangerous to me.” Lies. She remembered the time when he almost killed her. She shook the thought off.

  Richmond crossed his arms and stared her down with a stony expression. “Stay away from him.”

  Madison was fuming. No one had the right to tell her what to do. “You don’t have a say on that.” Her voice was trembling; it was a struggle to keep herself level-headed.

  They were exchanging heated stares when Courtney descended from the stairs.

  “What’s happening here?” She looked from Richmond to Madison. Both of them were mum for a while until he broke the silence.

  “I was just telling her to stop hanging out with that guy.”

  “His name’s Easton,” she snapped.

  There was a brief exchange of meaningful glances that Madison could not comprehend.

  Courtney blinked at her and slowly, she said “Richmond’s right. Stop befriending people you don’t know.”

  Feeling attacked, Madison stomped a foot. “Can you hear what you’re saying? Of course, I would never know them. At first at least. That’s why it’s called friendship. You learn about each other along the way. Have you ever befriended someone whom you already knew right from the start?” The sarcasm was overflowing, and she bit her tongue. She crossed some lines.

  “Don’t play smart with me, Madison. Stop hanging out with Easton.” She flinched upon saying the name. “Quit your job, yo
u’re going straight home after your classes.”

  Madison stormed to her room in disbelief. She was about to hurl the door close when her aunt’s voice flitted. “And don’t you dare lie to me. I know your schedule!”

  ***

  It was brief, but Gavin was sure of it. He was buying something from a convenience store earlier in the city, a place he barely went to unless necessary, and caught a whiff.