Evan Elemental (The Evan Elemental Series)

by Crystal Groszek

  "How do you know that?" I ask in disbelief.

  "Because, he's in love with you," Lex answers simply.

  I sink back into my seat in shock. How could Lex say something like that? It couldn't be farther from the truth. "No," I sputter, "no way. He barely tolerates me. I mean, he told me this story about us knowing each other when we were kids, but I'm not sure if I even believe that. It must be made up, right? Because I've never been to Price until now."

  Lex is silent, his gaze locked on the road ahead even though we're at a complete standstill. My panic from earlier rekindles itself.

  "Right, Lex?" I whisper so quietly I don't think he hears me.

  "Evan," he starts but doesn't elaborate. He doesn't need to go on, I already have my answer.

  I pull uselessly at the door handle; it still won't budge. "What the hell is wrong with the door?" I slap the window with my hand, feeling a surge of electricity shoot through me as my palm connects with the glass. In an instant everything goes berserk: the engine starts, the lights flicker on and off, the radio blasts on darting from station to station, and a nearby streetlight bursts into a rain of sparks.

  I'm so caught up in the heady rush of so much power flowing into and out of me, that I don't notice at first when Lex gently places his hand on my shoulder.

  "Evan," he says softly. "Evangeline."

  I jerk back and my hand drops from the window and into my lap, where it burns momentarily. The engine is once again still and we are engulfed in a silence so absolute, it seems as if the very trees are holding their breath. I let out a gasp of air, realizing I am too.

  "I'm sorry," Lex says, his voice back to being steady and soothing. "The child safety locks must be on."

  "Let's just go," I reply without looking at him.

  Lex lets out a frustrated breath but doesn't say anything else. He turns the key several times and nothing happens.

  "What's the matter?" I ask tiredly.

  Lex looks at me, his eyes flush with amusement. "I think the battery is dead."

  "Oh," I respond brilliantly. I must have fried it during my outburst.

  Lex presses his lips together to stifle his smirk. It doesn't work though, because he breaks out in a huge grin and starts laughing. I slap him playfully on the shoulder, the innocent contact sending a spark from me to him. My eyes go wide and I turn away to hide my blush. Lex stops laughing.

  "I guess I'll have to call for a tow," he says gruffly.

  I lean my head back and cast a doleful look at the ceiling, suppressing yet another needless sigh. "I have a better idea, but you'll have to let me out first."

  Lex gets out of the car and jogs around to the passenger side. He pauses before opening the door and gives me a funny look. With a shake of his head, he opens it.

  "About time," I say, pushing past him. I feel sort of bad blaming him for my bad mood, but being angry with him, even for no reason, makes it easier not to love him, something I'm desperately aching to do.

  I stride purposefully toward the field that runs alongside the road where we're parked. Lex quickly catches up with me and we walk in matching stride until I'm sure we we're out of view of anyone who might not understand what I'm about to do, which would be everybody, including myself.

  I stop and grab hold of Lex's arm to keep him from walking past. I release my hold on his arm and take his hand instead. I hear him take in a sharp breath but I ignore it, the same as I ignore the pulsing beat that pounds madly where our skin meets. With a deep breath, I close my eyes and step forward pulling him with me.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  When I open my eyes, we're back at the Price Estate standing in the orchard. The late afternoon sun casts a romantic glow on the pale pink and white blossoms that are already beginning to wilt and fall from their branches. I realize I'm still holding Lex's hand so I drop it and step away.

  On the walk back to the house we don't say anything. The silences are becoming more natural between us, but that does little to console me. I know that once we're back at the house, that everything I said, everything that I decided, will become final. I rack my brain for something to say that would make everything okay, but I can't think of anything. I have to believe that this is right, even though it doesn't feel right or good and I want nothing more than to throw my arms around his neck. I want to hold him close and never let him go.

  The kitchen is empty when we enter. In fact, the whole place is positively silent. I turn to Lex, only to find that he's already gone. Panic rises in my chest and tears well in my eyes. This was my own doing: I wanted distance and he's giving it to me. I refuse to cry.

  I leave the kitchen and head toward my room. I need a moment alone before I can deal with whatever mess is waiting for me. A person can't just disappear into thin air without having to answer some questions. I'm pretty sure that what I did is the complete opposite of what Magda meant by fulfilling my duties as a lady, or whatever she said.

  When I reach the staircase I'm surprised to find Ezra sitting on the steps. He looks as unsurprised to see me as a person can look, which gives me the uneasy feeling that he was expecting me.

  "You know," Ezra says with a smirk, "you caused quite the uproar by taking off like that."

  I roll my eyes and try to step past him, but he's on his feet in a flash and blocking my path.

  "Your aunt came in here screaming about how you disappeared into thin air. What do you think she meant by that?" Ezra's eyes bore into me. It feels like he's looking straight through my skin and into every sick, dark place I've worked to keep hidden. I shiver and his smile widens.

  "Let me by," I say through clenched teeth. Ezra gives a humorless laugh.

  "Don't worry, we took care of it." He steps forward, closing the small space between us. Slowly, he reaches up and traces his index finger down the side of my face and along my jaw. His touch is feather light and impossibly gentle; my eyes close involuntarily.

  "You're more beautiful than I imagined you would be. And more venerable," he croons in silky, dark voice that fills me and causes my vision to darken.

  I struggle to remain expressionless, to not let him in on the panic that's beginning to take me. "Excuse me, but I need to get by," I force myself to say.

  Ezra's eyes drop to my lips before he steps aside. Even though I want to bolt up the stairs and get away from him as fast as possible, I force myself to walk in controlled, almost leisurely steps up the stairs, letting him know that he hasn't managed to rattle me as much as I'm sure he wanted to. Even though he has, he so has. Inside, I'm a puddle.

  "We'll talk later, Evangeline," Ezra calls out when I reach the landing at the top the stairs. I don't turn to look at him or say anything to acknowledge that I even heard him. As far as I'm concerned, that's never going to happen. I'm going to stay as far away from Ezra Volkov as possible for as long as he's here, which hopefully isn't long.

  When I make it a little way down the hall I break into a sprint, not stopping until I stand, breathless, outside the room Lilian is staying in. The door is already cracked, so I reach out and push it open the rest of the way.

  Lilan is standing at the foot of her bed, her suitcase open in front of her. It looks like she's packing. I send a mental thanks to the universe that when Ezra said, "took care," he didn't mean doing bodily harm to my aunt.

  "Lil?" I say, knocking softly on the door to let her know I'm there.

  When she turns to face me, I expect her to look upset and angry. Instead, she gives me the most peaceful smile I've ever seen on her.

  "Evan!" Lilian says brightly. "Did you have a good time?" She gives me another weird, cheerful smile.

  I stand frozen in the doorway. A good time?

  "Don't just stand there," she says gesturing for me to sit on the bed, "come here and tell me about it. I don't have much time, my plane is due in a couple of hours."

  "Your plane?" I ask carefully without moving.

  Lilian's smile melts into a pout. "Yeah, I'm sorry. Some work thing in L.A
. You're not mad, are you?" She continues to pack while I stand there. Why hasn't she said anything about my disappearing act, or even the argument we had right before I left?

  I take a few tentative steps toward her. "Lil, are you feeling okay?"

  Lilian gives me a look like I'm out of my fucking mind. "Of course. Get in here already." She gives me another heart-warming smile and pats the bed beside her suitcase. Reluctantly, I cross the room and sit down.

  "Now, did you get a dress?" Lilian asks as she expertly folds a blouse.

  My eyebrows shoot up. "Huh?"

  "Evan, are you okay? Because you're the one acting kind of weird."

  Wow. Okay. "I'm fine Lil, it's just, don't you remember..."

  "Evan! There you are." I look up and see Greta standing in the doorway. "Pablo was just on the phone, he said the dress you picked out for the Apple Fest will be ready for a fitting next week," she says shooting me a meaningful look before turning on her heel and disappearing into the hall.

  "That woman is sort of strange," Lilian comments. "So, this Apple Fest thing is kind of a big deal, isn't it?"

  "I guess." I lay back on the bed and stare up at the ceiling feeling even more hopeless than I already did. Now I know why Lilian keeps asking me about buying a dress. What I can't understand is how she doesn't seem concerned that I friggin vanished. Right in front of her.

  "Lilian, can I ask you a question without you getting freaked out?" I ask carefully.

  Lilian stops mid fold and gives me another a look that clearly says she's worried about my mental health. "Okay...what's up?"

  "Well...I had kind of a long day, you know with dress shopping, and I sort of forgot...when was the last time we saw each other? I mean, before now."

  Before Lilian can open her mouth to answer, Greta pops back in the room. This time she isn't alone. I shoot Ezra a nasty glare and he smirks in return.

  "Evan, please come with me." Greta gives me her cold smile and gestures toward the door. I glance at Lilian; she's frozen in place and giving Ezra a funny, confused look.

  "What's going on?" Lilian asks quietly. Something flits just beneath the surface of her eyes that makes me think that her cheery, happy-go-lucky act is just that: an act.

  "Evan," Greta says with a little more force that she normally uses. "Come with me and I will explain."

  I hop up from the bed and put myself between Lilian and the others. "No, I'm not leaving her alone with...with him."

  The look Greta is giving me could freeze the Sahara. I can feel my blood start to heat and electricity pop in my fingertips. A slight breeze brushes across my face and then Lex is there, beside me.

  "What the..." Before Lilian can complete that thought Ezra does his own swishy thing and is standing right in front of her. He places his hand gently on the side of her face. At the same time Lex, picks me up and rushes me out of the room.

  "God damn it, Lex. Put me down." Which he does, about half a second later in my bedroom. Lex steps back so that he's blocking the doorway, his arms folded across his chest.

  "Lex, what the hell is going on?" I shout. I'm seething and I'm terrified but I make myself stay still and hear him out. If I can't trust Lex, then who can I trust?

  Lex drops his arms to his side, his eyes filled with apology. "After what happened earlier we had to do something to make sure Lilian wouldn't remember that you disappeared right in front of her. Ezra has certain....gifts. As far as your aunt is concerned, you went shopping after breakfast and she spent a leisurely day at the estate until she was called away for a business trip."

  I'm too stunned to react. Gifts? What exactly did Ezra do to her? Then something Lex said pops out, blocking all other train of thought. "Wait. 'We?' You knew about this?"

  Lex just nods.

  I blink back a fresh set of tears. "Did you know when you came to find me?"

  Guilt washes over his face, answering the question for him. As soon as it came it's gone, replaced by his usual ever cool, ever in control, almost arrogant expression; the one he had been wearing less and less the closer we got.

  "I can see what you're doing, Lex. Don't shut me out."

  I step toward him until I'm close enough that I can feel his cool breath brush across my face, reminding me of all those times he's appeared and disappeared like nothing. His expression doesn't change.

  "Evan," he says darkly, "there are consequences to this life. I'm not going to sugarcoat it for you anymore; you need to face the facts that the people you care about can end up hurt. It's best if your aunt doesn't know anything; she'd be in danger if she did."

  "Excuse me? Sugarcoat? When have you ever done that? When have I ever asked you to? All I've been trying to do is get the truth, and you've never given that to me. You only give a fraction of the truth; whatever you think it'll take to placate me. I see that now."

  I try to push past him but he grabs me by the shoulders and won't let me move. He's not hurting me, not physically, but he's hurting the hell out of my feelings and my pride. Lex's eyes grow icy as they bore into mine.

  "You don't see anything," he growls. "I've been trying to tell you...that I can't tell you."

  I roll my eyes. "That's bullshit. Let me go."

  I stomp my foot on his insole causing him to flinch and relax his hold on me. I take the opportunity to pull out of his grip and make for the door. I barely take a step before I'm pressed against the wall, Lex's hold on me tighter than before. We're so close that I can feel the frantic thud of his heartbeat against my chest. The ice in his eyes is gone, replaced by a more familiar expression: one of desire, of hunger.

  It was then, that I noticed it, the subtle change in his eye color. His already dark eyes have turned a pure and endless black, the whites tinged red. Against every instinct in my body that is screaming at me to fight, to get away, I feel my panic lessen. Curiosity blossoms in its place.

  "What are you?" I whisper.

  But I know, I've known for a long time. The hunger in Lex's eyes deepens and he presses his body closer to mine. He lets go of my arms and places his hands on either side of my head. He's giving me a choice, but I'm riveted, my earlier proclamations about staying apart are all but forgotten. Slowly, so slowly it makes me ache, he parts his lips exposing a pair of sharp, gleaming fangs that now take prominence in the mouth that has so thoroughly ravaged me on a number of occasions.

  The truth that I've been repressing since that day by the lake forces itself into the forefront of my mind. I stare, wide-eyed at his fangs, and imagine them piercing all of my softest parts, wondering how it would feel while already somehow knowing.

  "Lex," I choke out past my own hungry desire.

  I raise my hands to his chest, sliding them up to his shoulders. In one, seamless motion Lex lifts me up and I wrap my legs around his waist. We're so close, but it doesn't feel close enough. I can feel my blood pounding, but I also feel a sort of calmness. I know I should be terrified, but I'm not, which I know is completely irrational. Right now, I don't want to be rational. I want him, all of him.

  Lex slowly leans down and presses his lips to mine. My arms circle his neck, pulling him closer, urging him to deepen the kiss. I want to know what it feels like, to kiss a vampire, to run my tongue along his fangs, to feel them draw blood from me. I don't get to find out. Right before things get good, Magda screams Lex's name. A major turn off.

  Lex sighs against my mouth before gently letting me back down. His eyes-and teeth-have returned back to normal. He starts to say something when she calls for him again. This time she sounds like she's closer by. Lex doesn't even wait for me to blink this time before he's gone.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  About twenty minutes later I'm standing in the entryway saying goodbye to Lilian who, by the way, doesn't seem to have any recollection about what went down earlier in her room. Whatever Ezra did to mess with her memory worked. I'm still not cool with it, but Lex made a valid point about keeping her in the dark. After an awkward good-bye, Lex leaves to take Li
lian to the airport, barely looking at me as he goes.

  When I get back to my room, there's a letter on my nightstand. I don't have to open it to know it's from Lex and I don't have to read it to know that he's gone.

  To sum it up, he basically says that what happened was a mistake and that I'm right in saying that we need to put distance between us. I had meant it more metaphorically, but he, apparently, doesn't think that's enough because, when Magda told him about some super top-secret thing that needed to be done, he volunteered to go. He also says some more about not being able to tell me things, but that he'll try to explain more when he gets back in two weeks. I guess I'm going to have to suffer through the stupid church picnic without him.

  The week leading up to the picnic goes by in a blur of monotony. Since most of the prepping has already been done, there isn't much to do until the day actually arrives. If it takes this much work to put together a picnic, I can't imagine what it's going to take to pull off the festival in September.

  Since Lex left, I've spent most of my time reading, listening to records, and being avoided by everyone I know. Jessie isn't answering her phone, Grace dodges my calls, and Mattie is MIA any time that isn't mealtime. Even then, she hardly speaks to me or anyone else. I want to grill her about what had happened outside of the I, but there never seems to be a good time to do it; there's always some maid or Greta hovering around whenever I try to get her alone.

  That leaves me with two options for company and neither one of them are appealing. I still find Ezra undeniably creepy and, confusingly, attractive, and I'm in no way ready to deal with what Anders told me. If he's telling the truth then it means my parents lied to me, and there is no way I want to consider that possibility. So, I keep to myself, something I used to be so good at, but am finding harder and harder to do.