Magic and Shadows: A Collection of YA Fantasy and Paranormal Romances

by T. M. Franklin

  Is that wise father? Won’t it bring more attention to us? I asked.

  “Elizabeth, there has been talk since the humans were involved in the first incident. I must have a meeting to speak to everyone. If I don’t, that will bring unwanted attention to you, and to me. I have to speak to them about what happened as the lord of this area.”

  Okay, I’m sure that you know what you are doing. I wanted to meet with you to talk today. Can we do that? I asked him, but somehow sensed that this was something that he would not agree to.

  “No, Elizabeth. For now, this is the only way we can communicate. We can’t take a chance of being seen together. I erased your memories, remember?”

  Okay, whatever you feel is best. I’m sure that he could hear the hurt in my thoughts, but I didn’t care. I decided that I would ask Isaiah for a ride home today after all, so we could talk. This thought I shut off from my father. I didn’t want to lie to Isaiah anymore. I wanted to keep him safe.

  When class was done, Isaiah was waiting by the door as promised. Jason walked right out and started talking to him. I could see that Jason was trying to sense if I remembered anything, and if I had told Isaiah anything.

  “Hey, Isaiah. How are you today?” Jason said.

  Isaiah smiled and replied, “Hey Jason, I’m doing great. How are you doing?”

  “Great. I was going to walk with Elizabeth to her next class. I wanted to talk with her about the English paper we have to do. Are you coming along, too?” Jason narrowed his eyes perplexed as to why Isaiah was outside my class this morning.

  “Yeah, I just got transferred into Mr. Tanner’s class. That’s why I was waiting for Elizabeth just now. I really wanted to be in the class, and after talking with my counselor and a lot of convincing, he allowed me to change. Guess we will all be classmates now.” Isaiah smiled at Jason.

  “Hey, that is pretty cool. Guess we could all work together on the next paper,” Jason said, watching me for my reaction.

  “I’m not sure what I’m going to write my paper on yet, but I guess we could help you out some if you needed it. Isaiah is really good with English.” I slipped my hand into Isaiah’s, and we all started off to the next class. I was so happy that Isaiah had gotten himself transferred. Now I wouldn’t be alone with Jason.

  Jason looked at both of us as we were walking. I tried again to get into his mind, but still could not read him. I felt pretty sure that he was convinced that I didn’t remember anything that had happened when he had taken me to meet with his father the other night. I think he just may believe that Jeremiah had erased my memories. Are you sensing anything different, Jeremiah? I asked.

  “I think that he’s not really sure about you. You aren’t showing fear, and that is a really big help. I hope you can keep this up, Elizabeth. Please don’t let your guard down for a second. I’m not sensing that he is getting agitated or anything at this point.”

  I won’t father, I promise. I didn’t feel as confident as I was trying to sound. I held Isaiah’s hand a little tighter.

  Jason looked from me to Isaiah. “I guess I will catch you guys later. I want to get to class a bit early, I have to ask Mr. Tanner a question.” He slapped on the back, and took off around the corner.

  Isaiah looked at me, and I put my finger to my lips for him to be quiet. I was going to have to speak with Jeremiah to see how much he had let Isaiah remember. I didn’t know if I could explain to Isaiah that vampires had really enhanced hearing.

  Isaiah smiled at me, and pointed to his head. I cocked my head to the side. I looked into his eyes to make sure that I understood him. I mouthed, “You want me to read your mind?” He nodded his head, yes. I felt the little nudge that was familiar when I connected to Jeremiahs mind.

  “I remember Jeremiah saying something about being careful around Jason and his father, that we can’t trust them. Do you think that my car will be a safe place for us to talk?”

  I nodded my head yes, and smiled at him. I knew he was smart, and I was glad to see that he was aware of how serious the situation was. I also think that Jeremiah may have taken away the part about him being my father.

  “I wish that we had someone to talk to other than Jeremiah. Do you think we can truest him? But I want you to know that I am not going anywhere.” He smiled at me. At that point, I wished he could read my mind too, because he would know how much I loved him. All I could do was smile back and nod my head yes.

  Later that day, as we rode home in his car, I asked Jeremiah if it was safe for Isaiah and I to talk. He let me know it was. I left my mind open to him, just in case he had any input to our conversation. “So, you believe what we told you?” I asked.

  “Yes, I know that you wouldn’t lie to me, and I see how much you believe Jeremiah. He worries about you, so I figure that there must be something to this. I’ve never trusted Jason, not since that first time I met him. That is why I looked for you that day he took you to his house. I could tell by your eyes when he was around that you didn’t trust him, either. I just never thought that you would be telling me that vampires existed for real.” He glanced over at me. “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t think I could if I wanted to.”

  My eyes snapped to his. “What do you mean by that?” I asked, a bit more sharply than I had intended. I could feel the fear rising in me that it was because of my being part vampire.

  “Not because you may be part vampire, Elizabeth,” he said, grabbing my hand. “I can’t leave because I love you too much.”

  “So you do believe that I may be part vampire. How do we know that it isn’t because I am that you want me so much, Isaiah? I’ve never had a boyfriend before. You remember the day you saw me for the first time? You told me that you were drawn to me. You said that I was really special, and you figured that guys told me that all the time. Well, if you remember, I told you that wasn’t true.” I waited for him to acknowledge that he remembered the conversation we’d had. “You told me that you had a really hard time believing that, because I was so beautiful. Maybe you felt like that because my vampire side was coming out.”

  “I don’t know if that is true or not. But it doesn’t matter to me. You are part of me now, and the truth is I love you, and will not let you go through whatever happens alone. So don’t even think about trying to get rid of me,” he said, rather sharply.

  “I won’t, Isaiah,” I said, as I rested my head on the back of his seat. I just wish that I knew if you wanted me for me, and not the vampire part, I thought to myself. “I hope that you don’t ever regret this, Isaiah. I hope I don’t ever have to regret this for you.”

  “I won’t. We won’t, Elizabeth. I promise.” He tried to smile at me again, but for just a moment something flickered in his eyes.

  Jeremiah said softly, “Elizabeth, he does love you. It may have happened even if your vampire side hadn’t started to come out. He seems like a good man.

  “I told you before that I knew his family. His great-grandfather helped my family when we were being hunted in Hyattsville. His family knew us, and trusted us. His great-grandfather was my friend, and I told him what I was, and he trusted me anyway. He never told anyone of my secret. If he had been alive when your mother and I were going through with your birth, he would have been the one person I would have trusted to tell about you. You can trust Isaiah. I feel this completely.”

  Thank you, Father, for telling me that. I guess we need to talk about how much he knows and what you erased from his mind. I knew he was trying to help, but it still didn’t make me feel much better.

  16

  The next few days became a blur, with going to class and trying to pretend that nothing was wrong when we were around Jason. I hoped that he was buying the act that I had forgotten him taking me to see his father twice.

  I was starting my English paper, and for some reason I felt like today at school, Jason was going to approach me about helping him again.

  Isaiah was picking me up this morning, and I was going to talk to him and suggest tha
t we tell Jason we could work at the library. It was a public place, and there would be no fear of Jason trying to pull something. I put my cereal bowl in the sink, and told Mom that I would be late coming home again today.

  Isaiah arrived a few minutes early, so we went out and sat on the back porch. The sun felt so good on my face. I glanced up at his face, and noticed dark circles under them. “What’s going on, Isaiah? Why do you look so tired?”

  “I didn’t sleep much last night. I have been trying to figure out a way to get rid of Jason, so we don’t have to help him with his paper. I really don’t like spending any time with him, and I don’t want him around you at all. I don’t understand why they are still in town if Jeremiah convinced Victor that you are just a human girl. It really bothers me.”

  “Oh, Isaiah, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault that all of this is going on. I should never have told you about any of it.”

  He turned and looked at me, taking my face in his hand. “I would not give up one minute of being with you for anything in the world. Don’t you be sorry for any of it, Elizabeth.”

  “I just wish that my life was simple. I wish that none of this had ever happened to me. Why can’t I be a normal teenage girl?”

  “You could never be a normal teenage girl. Even if you were not part vampire, I think your imagination wouldn’t allow it. You’re the most passionate person I have ever known. He looked deeply into my eyes. I searched his for any doubt. “Now, let’s go or we will be late for school.” He took my hand and led me to his car.

  When we pulled into the parking lot Jason was standing there with some people I’d never noticed around school before. I glanced over at Isaiah, and saw that he had noticed them, too. “Do you think that they are vampires?” I whispered.

  “I don’t know, but tell your father and stay with me. We can’t leave, or it may alert Jason that we are afraid of him.”

  “I know you’re right, but I have to get myself together here before I get out of the car. Let me sit for a minute.” I closed my eyes, and leaned back against the seat.

  Jeremiah, are you there? Jason is at the school with a bunch of kids that I’ve never seen before. I haven’t tried to read their minds yet. What do you want me to do?

  “Be careful, Elizabeth. I know the vampires he is with. Two of them came into town this morning. My sources tell me John sent them to investigate what Victor and Jason are doing here.

  “I don’t think Jason wants them at the school because he knows at this point that John is very upset with him and his father. Remember to show no fear, or they will sense it.”

  “I’m just off to the side of the school in the woods, watching you. My meeting with the other vampires is tonight, but at this point no one understands what Victor is doing here, least of all John. He contacted me last night. You are safe for now, so don’t show your hand, Elizabeth.”

  I will be very careful, father. I hope this is over soon. I’m getting so tired of these games that Jason and his father are playing.

  I got out of the car when Isaiah opened the door. We walked towards Jason and his “friends,” as if nothing was wrong.

  “Hey Jason, how are you?” Isaiah asked when we got up to them. “Elizabeth and I are going to the library to work on our papers today, and we wanted to ask you if you wanted to come along?”

  I knew Isaiah was trying to give me time to read the minds of the other boys. I reached out, probing to see if I could connect with any of them. As I looked at each of them, I sent a mental picture to Jeremiah. The first boy had blond hair and green eyes. He was slightly shorter than Jason, and had a stocky build. He was handsome with freckles and a turned up nose.

  His thoughts poured into my head. “She’s really pretty. I see why Jason likes her. Wish that guy wasn’t with her.” I could tell instantly that this one was just a human.

  I glanced at the next boy, smiling at him. This one was tall, slightly built, with brown eyes. His face was chiseled, like one of the marble statues I had seen in art books. I couldn’t read his mind. This one, I figured, was a vampire.

  He smiled at me, and shook my hand. “Hello Elizabeth. My name is Seth. Jason has been telling me a lot about you.”

  “I’m fine, Seth. How are you?” I did my best to give him a nice smile. “I’m afraid that I cannot say the same about you. Jason has never mentioned you to me.”

  I turned to the third boy. Again this one I could not read. He had a dark complexion with slanted hazel eyes, and a crooked smile. I wondered if he was a vampire because of the striking way he looked. He took my hand, and bowed. “Elizabeth.” He didn’t offer his name.

  Did you see them all, father? I think two are vampires, and one is a human. The human one seems not too bright, if you ask me. What is he doing with Jason and the other two? The other boys are very different from the ones who were in Victor’s

  “I saw them all. I don’t know the reason why Jason is involving the human any more than I know why his father is. The other two are vampires. I will look into them.”

  I turned towards Isaiah just as he was finishing talking to Jason.

  “Okay, we will see you after school today,” Isaiah said, and then turned towards me and took my hand. We walked away, without looking back.

  “Okay, who are they, Elizabeth?” he asked softly, talking as quietly as possible.

  “I don’t know yet. How was Jason acting?” I whispered back.

  “A bit nervous, and did you notice that he didn’t introduce us to any of them?”

  “Nope. I was too busy trying to see them for Jeremiah, and trying to read their minds. The heavier boy is human.”

  “Well, let’s not worry about any of it right now, we’re safe. Let’s get to class and try to think about our next move,” he said softly.

  He dropped me off at homeroom, and I wondered what he was up to as he walked down the hall. He seemed a little too calm.

  I made my way to my seat, and thought it was going to be a long day.

  When the bell rang later that morning I headed to our table in the cafeteria. Stacy was sitting there, talking intently to one of the vampires that had been with Jason. I was relieved that she knew nothing that was going on, because if he were asking her questions she would be completely innocent with her answers. When I sat down she turned to me, grinning from ear to ear.

  “Elizabeth, this is Seth. He just moved here from California. He knew Jason from school out there. Isn’t that cool?”

  “It sure is. I didn’t know you were old friends with Jason. When did you move here?” I asked, hoping I sounded as calm and natural as possible.

  “Just recently. My father transferred his job here.” He took a drink of his juice. “This seems like a pretty nice school. Stacy was just telling me that you two have known each other forever. Childhood friends she said.”

  “Yes, we live across the street from each other. We have known each other since we were three. How long have you known Jason?”

  “For about a year. Nothing really as interesting as you and Stacy, I am afraid. We weren’t friends in California I fear, just classmates.” He was studying me.

  “Well, at least you know someone,” I said, and turned from him as Isaiah sat down. “Isaiah, this is Seth. He knows Jason from California. They were classmates in school for about a year. Seth, you remember my boyfriend, Isaiah, from this morning? I don’t recall Jason introducing you.”

  “It is nice to meet you, Seth,” Isaiah said. Welcome to Rockville.”

  Jason came walking up just then, and I noticed that he seemed really uncomfortable. He glanced at Seth and sat down on the other side of Isaiah. He didn’t look Seth’s way again.

  After school we met Jason at the library. He kept glancing around and fidgeting in his chair. I felt a little bad for him, knowing how it felt to wonder if you were being watched. I wasn’t going to say anything to him.

  We sat, and started working on our papers. Isaiah asked him if he needed help, and Jason replied that he would be ok
ay. I guess vampires could be afraid when one more powerful than them was involved. I smiled to myself, thinking how nice it was for the shoe to be on the other foot. Little did I know my happiness would not be long lived.

  17

  “Elizabeth, something is going on. I need you and Isaiah to get to his car, and away from the library as quickly as possible. I just heard from one of my men that John is in town, and the two vampires that are with Jason have been ordered to take you to him.

  “I don’t know what’s going on. If for some reason they get to you before I get there, don’t be afraid, and continue to act like nothing is wrong. I’m on my way. I fear the meeting we had planned may have been a ruse to get you away from me.”

  I felt myself growing uneasy. If they wanted to take me I knew I could never resist them. Jason had proven that to me. “Isaiah, look at the time. We need to go, now. I told Mom I would be home at four-thirty, and you know how she is.”

  “If we leave right now we will make it home on time. No need to worry.” He got up quickly. I think he sensed something was going on.

  Jason looked at us, and I thought for just a second I saw fear in his eyes. Then that evil smile was back on his face, and he stood up, gathering his work. “I think you might be a little later than you think Isaiah,” he snarled.

  Isaiah looked him up and down, and pulled me away a little quicker than he should have.

  When we got out the front door I saw the two vampires standing by the flagpole. Seth smiled, and waved at us. I waved back, feeling my stomach lurch. Jeremiah, something is wrong. Jason is back to smirking and making threats, and those two vampire boys are waiting by the flagpole.

  “I’m almost there, Elizabeth. Don’t get in a car with them. Stay with Isaiah.” His voice sounded frantic, which only added to my fears.