Stacy was already there. I smiled. “Hey, we have the same lunch! How is your day so far?”
I sat down next to Stacy and Isaiah grabbed the seat beside me. “Good. I have my classes all over the place! I really just have time to get from one to the next. They didn’t lay them out too cool. I might go after last class and talk to the counselor about getting some of them switched around.”
Stacy’s gaze focused somewhere behind me, she lowered her sandwhich. “What is he doing with you guys?” she whispered, pointing to Jason.
I tried to give her a look to let her know not to get into this guy, but as usual, Stacy was already looking at him from under her eyelashes and smiling at him. It made me angry with her because she claimed she really liked Samuel, and Isaiah, after all, is his brother. I wished that Samuel had the same lunch as her. I swear, if she was going to do this to him maybe it would be good to try to get him interested in Bess.
“Stacy, do you have any classes with Samuel?” I asked, knowing she was going to be mad at me for asking. She shook her head, no, and turned bright red. I knew she would not be flirting with Jason anymore today. Good. Now I can concentrate on what I need to do. I sat back and let everyone start talking while I tried very hard just to listen to what I thought Jeremiah would want to hear.
“So, Isaiah, have you known Elizabeth very long?” Jason asked, leaning forward to look past Isaiah into my eyes.
“Oh, we met this summer at the pool. We were attracted to each other instantly.” He reached over, and took my hand. “I still can’t believe that she was interested in me. I mean, look at her.”
My heart almost stopped when Jason did just what Isaiah asked. His eyes looked me up and down. I could feel myself get sick when he stopped at my neck, and his eyes seemed to widen just for a few seconds when he saw what my father had called my vampire’s kiss. When his eyes finally got to mine, I hoped that I had masked my fear. Again, he smiled that very slight smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He just kept looking at me until I put my head down, and pretended to take a bite of my food.
“I see what you mean. She is very special, this one. You are a lucky guy, Isaiah. If you hadn’t met her first, I’m sure that I would have snatched her up.”
I felt Isaiah’s hand tighten on mine. He seemed to suddenly want to put distance between this boy and I. For an instant, I felt fear in his mind. “No, I don’t think that she would have gone for you. Sorry, but I just don’t see you being her type.” The tension between the two of them was so thick you could almost feel it. He smiled at Jason, and for just a second I was really worried that the two of them would come to blows. Then Stacy said something, and Jason turned to her, the tension dissipated. I could have kissed her for doing that.
When the lunch bell rang I couldn’t wait to get out of there. I knew that I hadn’t gotten any information for Jeremiah, as the talk between Stacy and Jason had been light. He didn’t offer to walk with her, which seemed to really disappoint her. She waved and took off after some of the other kids in her class.
Jason smiled at us, and said, “I’m going to go find my next class. I’ll see you later.” This last statement seemed to be directed at me, and felt almost like a threat.
Jeremiah? I hoped that he was still listening. Please still be there. Are you listening still?
“I heard, Elizabeth. Stay clear of him. Do not believe anything that he says to you.”
I could hear the anger in Jeremiahs voice, anger and something else that I couldn’t put my finger on. But I knew I would try to do just what he’d said.
I was very happy that Isaiah had the next class with me. I felt safe having him walking by my side.
10
After school, Isaiah drove me home. Usually I walked with Stacy, but when I saw Jason lingering outside I was fearful that he would follow us back to my house. When Isaiah offered to give me a ride I agreed without hesitation.
I went by the counselor’s office and told Stacy that I was taking off with Isaiah. I told her to be very careful, and head straight home. She smiled, and told me not to worry.
Isaiah could tell that something was wrong as soon as we got in his car. “What happened today? You look really upset.” He asked as he started the car, backed out of the parking space.
“Jason is what happened. Isaiah, I don’t know why I feel like this or what it is about him, but I don’t like or trust him. Please stay clear of him, and don’t ask him to sit with us anymore.” I looked at him directly in the eyes so he could see I was really serious.
Startled, Isaiah slowed down and pulled the car over to the side of the road. “What did he say to you? Did he do something to hurt you?” I could see anger in his eyes, something that I had never seen in his eyes or on his face before.
“No, no, he didn’t do or say anything,” I said, quickly grabbing his hand in mine. “You know how I always say I can size a person up by looking in their eyes? Well, there is something about his eyes. He smiles at me, but the smile never reaches them” I glanced at him. “I know that’s a pretty lame excuse for not liking someone, isn’t it?”
Suddenly he reached over and pulled me close, hugging me tight against him. I felt so protected and safe in his arms. I wanted to stay that way forever. I also knew that I had to keep him safe, any way I could. I would talk to Jeremiah as soon as I could, and find out what needed to be done to do just that. I was not going to let any harm come to anyone that I loved.
I felt a new determination settle in. When Isaiah finally let go of me and started driving again, I made a silent promise to keep him safe always.
We pulled up in front of my house. “Listen, I have to get some things from the house and I think that we need to go talk to Jeremiah again. Do you need to call your mother? I really want you to go with me, if you can.”
“Yes, I’ll call her and let her know that we have to go to the library for school. Why do you need see him again? What does he have to do with why you are so upset?” Anger flared in his eyes again.
“He is going to help me. I can’t tell you more than that. Please trust me. If you don’t want to go with me, I’ll see if Mom will let me use the car.”
“No, I will go,” he said his shoulders sagging. He sighed and turned towards me, “I really don’t want you to go by yourself.”
We walked into the house together so Isaiah could call his mom. I told my mom the same story about needing to go to the library for a school project.
While Isaiah was calling his mom, I went to my room and gathered up my notes. I walked out into the kitchen where Mom was starting diner.
“We won’t be too late, Mom. I love you.” As we headed out the front door, my heart felt heavy in my chest. Ever since this had started, I found myself keeping more and more secrets from the people I loved. How could my life have changed so much in just a few short months?
Jeremiah was standing at his front door when we pulled up. He was wringing his hands, his brow furrowed. Worry etched on is face. When we got up the stairs, I sent Isaiah to Jeremiah’s library with the notes to look up more information about vampires, sticking to my story about the research.
As soon as he went into the library, Jeremiah took my hand and led me down the hall. “May I hug you Elizabeth?” he asked, quietly. “I know that is something that humans do when one of them is worried or upset.”
I smiled. “Yes, I would like that.” I walked forward and into his arms. It felt right, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Suddenly, unexpectedly, I was crying.
I felt Jeremiah tighten his hold on me just slightly. “What’s wrong, Elizabeth? I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”
“How do I keep Isaiah and my family safe? I have this terrible feeling that Jason is bad news, and that this is just the start. Please tell me I’m wrong.” I wanted him to tell me I was wrong. I wanted him to laugh at what I was saying to him. I wanted him to tell me everyone would be safe, and there was nothing to worry about.
“We’ll figure it out together.
I’ll keep as many of the people you love as safe as I can.” He pulled back, placed his hand under my chin and looked at my tear-streaked face. “We still don’t know if there is anything for you to worry about with Jason. I have someone looking into his family for me. Someone I can trust, but who doesn’t know about you. For now, the best thing I can think of to keep everyone safe is to not let them know about our relationship.”
I sighed loudly. “Boy, what a mess this is.” I looked up at him. “I would never have thought that meeting my real father would mean so many changes in my life. Especially since I never even knew that I had a real father to meet.” I looked up at him, and he smiled back at me. “I guess I always knew somewhere deep inside that I wasn’t like the rest of my family. I’ve always felt that I belonged somewhere else. I just never dreamed that I belong in a world that no one will ever believe exists.”
“I know. I’m sorry that you’re so unhappy. You’re so like your mother. I don’t like to see the sadness in those eyes of yours, any more than I liked to see it in hers.” He sighed and searched my eyes. “I fear I will never be able to deny you anything either.”
“Okay Jeremiah, I think we need to sit down and talk. I’m ready to hear more about your world, and what I have to fear from these others that you keep talking about. I guess I need to know what we’re facing,” I said this with much more bravery than I felt. Of course, since he could read my mind, he already knew this.
We walked over to the sofa and sat down. I waited for him to start.
“Remember how I told you that we kept you secret from both worlds because humans fear the unknown as much as we do? Since no one knew what a child from a human and a vampire would truly be, we didn’t want to take the chance of either side trying to harm or kill you because of that fear. Your world wouldn’t understand because of the fear humans have from the myths and all the movies that have been made about vampires—and I was afraid that my world would fear you because of the unknown as well. There was no one that I trusted enough to even discuss your existence with. I don’t know how we would have explained you had your mother managed to live. Someone would have seen you sooner or later. But I loved her so much, and I wanted to let her have you. I wanted us to be a family.”
His shoulders dropped and he sighed. “I want to try to keep this information between us for now, and I keep hoping that nothing happens that will make it imperative for us to get anyone else involved. So far, the person I have looking into Jason’s family hasn’t been able to find out much. But what he has been able to find out makes me feel that Jason and his family may be vampires.”
“Why the sudden interest in this area of Maryland? I can only assume that somehow they found out something and are trying to piece things together. I am waiting for a visit from the head of his family any time, now. That is usually how it works. I imagine they will be asking questions, since you say that Jason noticed the vampire kiss on your neck.
“I fear your appearance is changing. You are becoming more vampire in your features as well, Elizabeth—that is something I’ve noticed just from the last time you were here. Have you recognized any changes in yourself?”
I thought for a minute, and replied, “I didn’t burn this summer. That is not usual for me. I usually burn at least once. Isaiah keeps telling me that my hands are cold all the time, but I don’t feel cold.” I looked up at him suddenly. “I think that I have a glow about me. I thought it was because of Isaiah; you know, how people say you glow when you are in really like someone?” I jumped up quickly. The thoughts of all those boys at school today, the girls thinking how pretty I had gotten over the summer. I looked up at him. “Vampires are more attractive to humans, aren’t they?”
“Yes, it’s one of the things that humans fear the most about us, how they can’t resist our looks, our smell, or even our voices. It makes us dangerous if we are hunting because they can’t resist us.” He noticed the look on my face and placed his hand on mine. “I don’t hunt humans. I haven’t for many years. That stopped when I met and fell in love with your mother. I never started again after her death as I had you to think about. Also, I wasn’t a vampire who killed to eat. I only take what I need to survive.”
“Am I going to have to do that too?” I asked in a whisper. “I don’t know if I could ever do that.”
“I don’t know, Elizabeth. As I said, we are in unknown waters here. I wish I could tell you that you’ll not have to do it, but I can’t. Do you have any desire for blood?” he asked.
“Well, I have always eaten my steak kind of rare. Does that count, do you think? My grandfather did too though, and I don’t think he was a vampire, was he?”
Jeremiah laughed. I’d never heard him do that before. It was a lovely laugh, and one I hoped I would hear more of. “Well, I don’t know if that counts. Don’t a lot of humans like rare steak?”
“Yes, you’re right.” For the first time in what seemed like ages, I really laughed. Every time we looked at each other our laughter grew until my sides were hurting and tears were streaming down my face.
Once we had both finally settled down, he pulled a chair over and sat next to me. “I think that it will be a good idea for me to stay closer to you from now on, instead of just connected to your mind. I’ll not be visible to anyone that you are around; you won’t have to worry about that. I’m pretty good at just blending in and making people not realize that I’m there. I just think with these new developments with Jason and his family that I will feel better being within quick distance to aid you if needed.” He looked deep in thought as he finished these words.
Just as I was going to ask him why he thought I would need his help, there was a knock on his front door. We looked at each other. “Are you expecting someone?” I asked.
“I wasn’t expecting anyone this soon. Elizabeth, I want you to go into the library with Isaiah. Stay there with the door closed. Don’t talk, and don’t allow Isaiah to talk. Close your mind off to me right now. Don’t try to feel or sense whoever is here. Get a book off the shelf and read it. Think only about what you are reading in the book. Do you understand me?” I saw something in his face that scared me.
“Yes,” I answered, and went as quietly and quickly as I could down the hall to the library, thinking only of Isaiah. As soon as I closed the door I motioned to Isaiah to not speak. I sat quickly down beside him and started reading a book that he had sitting open on the table beside him. I smiled at him and motioned for him to do the same. I only hoped that he would take my cue and keep quiet He must have sensed that it was important, because he picked the book up off his lap and started reading intently.
The minutes stretched on and on. Just as I was about ready to jump out of my skin, the library door opened. I stood up quickly, the book I was holding dropping to the floor. I don’t know what or who I was expecting to walk through the door, but Jeremiah stood in the doorway, looking a little worse for wear.
“I’ll be right back, Isaiah,” I said quietly. I walked quickly to Jeremiah, and, as we went out of the room, he closed the library door behind us.
“Elizabeth, it’s exactly what I was worried about. Jason and his family are vampires. They were sent here by the head of his family in California to see if the rumors that have been spreading are true. To find out if, in fact, there is a half-vampire half-human living here in Maryland. I’m going to try to convince them that the rumors are just that, but it’s going to be hard because Jason came home from school today and told his father of you. He hasn’t realized yet that I know anything about you.
“That was Jason’s father asking questions about how long I have been living here, and if I had heard any rumors about you. I told him I had heard some rumors and was looking into the matter since it was brought to my attention that a human girl had started researching vampires. I felt it best to tell him that I had been looking into the matter since you had started digging around. So that gives me a reason to be speaking to you, and keeping a watch on you. The only thing is, they w
ant me to report whatever I find out directly to them, and they plan on keeping an eye on you as well. You’re going to have to be extra vigilant around that boy.” He reached for my hand. “You must be very careful from this point on, promise me.”
“I promise you that I’ll be careful around him. I already told Isaiah that I don’t want to be any where around Jason. Is my family safe?” I asked him. I couldn’t bear it if anything was to happen to them.”
“I think at this point your family is safe. He said they are getting no feelings or sense from your family that they have any connection to vampires. They’re baffled as to how they came to have you. I tried to tell him that I don’t think there is anything to the rumors, that you are just a silly human girl who has become very intrigued by vampire myths. I don’t know if he bought that or not.” I don’t know if he was trying to convince himself or me. I saw little lines etched around his eyes that I had not noticed before.
“I will do whatever you tell me. I have to keep everyone safe. Jeremiah, what will happen to you if they find out that I’m your daughter?”
I saw him flinch at this question, but I think he could tell from the set of my face that I wouldn’t let him go without answering it. “I will be punished. He ran his hand through his hair and lowered his eyes. “You must leave now. It’s safe, as he has gone I don’t sense him around anymore. I’ll contact you soon, Elizabeth, and please remember to keep your mind open to mine.”
I gave Jeremiah a hug and promised I would keep my mind open, and asked him to please do the same. Isaiah said his goodbyes and thanked Jeremiah for letting us do research in his library again.
My mind raced as Isaiah drove me home. Again, I couldn’t understand how a normal seventeen-year-old girl from a nowhere town in Maryland could suddenly have her entire life changed in a matter of weeks. My entire existence was a lie up to this point. Now, the truth would not only put me in danger, but my family and my real father. I knew it would destroy my mother and father; after all, they’ve raised me as their own for the last seventeen years, never knowing that they’d lost their little girl.
Magic and Shadows: A Collection of YA Fantasy and Paranormal Romances Page 185
