by K. C. Blake
“I’ve been looking forward to this for so long,” Blaine repeated. “I am going to kill you, Jackpot, but don’t you worry. I’ll make it as slow and as painful as possible.”
“Don’t you mean quick and painless?”
Blaine looked up at the sky for a moment while he chuckled to himself. His eyes returned to Jack, and he shook his head. “No. I want it to be painful... and the more you fight, the longer and more painful your death will be.”
Jack lifted his fists to defend himself. The movement caused pain to rip through his abdomen. Water filled his eyes, and his vision blurred, but he stood his ground. It was going to be a slaughter. How could he fight when he couldn’t see or move?
Before the Albino Vampire could attack, something strange happened. He got an odd look on his face. His eyes widened in surprise, and his mouth formed a silent ‘O’ when he looked down at his chest. Jack’s gaze followed. There was a small wooden point sticking out through a tear in his emerald green shirt. The tip was covered in blood. Blaine frowned at Jack and tried to speak, but nothing came out.
The Albino Vampire collapsed.
There was a girl standing there. Silver? Somehow she’d known he needed her. It was that telepathy thing again. Their connection grew stronger every day. He rapidly blinked his eyes to clear his vision. Slowly the girl’s features started to make sense to him. Dark hair appeared instead of blonde. Another chill rocked Jack to the core of his being. Her face was familiar, but it wasn’t Silver. It was the girl who had killed him in his dream.
Jack gasped, more afraid of her than of Blaine. “Who are you? What do you want?”
“Move!”
Grabbing Jack by the front of his shirt, she jerked him forward and down at the same time. He fell onto the hard ground, landing beside Blaine. He rolled quickly onto his stomach. Loud, vicious sounds erupted in the air around him, and he realized she was fighting the group of vampires first. Then she would come back for him.
He didn’t know who to root for in this situation.
Blaine reached behind with one hand and grabbed the stake that protruded from his back. Sweat dripped down his pale face. Grunting, he pulled the stake out with a hard jerk. Unfortunately the dark-haired girl had missed the Albino’s heart. Alive and grimacing, Blaine sneered in Jack’s direction before using vampire-speed to put distance between them. In a flash, Blaine was gone.
Jack gritted his teeth as he struggled to his knees. It was going to take a while for him to get up. In all his years on earth, both as a mortal and as a vampire, he couldn’t remember feeling this weak or this helpless. Holding his breath, he struggled to his feet. What he saw when he turned around almost brought him to his knees again.
The girl stood alone in the center of a bloody massacre. Vampires simultaneously exploded like the finale at a Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular. It took a few minutes for the dust to completely settle. The girl waited patiently, a smug smile on her face. Incredible. She had killed a gang of vampires in the time it took for him to stand.
He shook his head in awe. “How did you—?”
“How isn’t important.”
“But…" He puffed his chest out. "I could have handled them.”
“Right. You’re a tough guy.”
“I am.” She had no idea. Five months ago she would have been staking him too. Now she was saving him. But why?
He didn’t trust her. She might have helped him out this time, but she had killed him earlier. Okay, it had been a dream, and Silver would tell him he couldn’t convict her for that, but there was something off about this girl. There was also something way too familiar about her. He asked, “Do I know you from somewhere?”
“That’s an old pick-up line. If you’re going to flirt with me, at least be original.”
He sputtered, “I... I wasn’t flir—.”
She cut his words off with a flick of her hand. “Whatever.”
Her eyes traveled the length of his body, and her cold expression told him she found him lacking in every possible way. For some reason her response annoyed him. Her gaze returned to the bloody part of his shirt.
“You’re bleeding.” She spoke in a monotone without emotion.
“That’s what I was trying to tell you. I could have easily taken the vampires out on my own, but I was in a fight with a rabid werewolf, and he stabbed me.”
“Stabbed?” Her eyebrows rose with a semi-amused tilt. “You found a werewolf who uses a knife?”
“They don't call me Jackpot for nothing.”
“You should go inside before you fall down. The one with the white hair got away. I’ll have to track him before it’s too late.”
A thousand questions came to Jack’s mind. “Who are you? Where did you come from? What’s your name? Why did you save me, and how did you do it?”
She held a hand up, instantly stopping his stream of questions. Her feet were walking backwards even as she spoke. “Sorry. I don’t do interviews. Besides, I need to catch that white-haired freak vampire.”
She spun on one foot and started down the dirt road. A sense of déjà vu clouded his otherwise logical mind. He’d felt this same way when he’d met Silver. Well, not exactly the same way. He’d practically fallen in love with Silver on sight. This girl was pretty enough, but he wasn’t interested in her, not like that. He just wanted her story. He wanted to know how she’d killed the vampires, and he wanted to know why he felt a connection with her.
If he didn’t do something fast, the night would swallow her whole.
Jack clutched his side, bent over, and faked a cry of pain. He hoped it sounded more realistic to the girl than it did to him. He felt like an idiot standing there hunched over, staring at his shoes. Was she going to return to help him or just keep walking? The anticipation couldn’t be denied. He peeked beneath lowered eyelashes.
Before he saw her, he felt her.
She clutched his elbow, pulled him straight up, and led him to the front door. Each step was painful. The wound hadn’t healed yet. Jack made a mental note to ask Silver about it later. It was possible she knew what was wrong with him. Or maybe her parents would know.
The brown-haired girl helped him inside and took him straight to the couch. None too gently, she pushed him so he landed on the center cushion. A real cry of pain burst through his parted lips. “Watch it,” he said.
“Don’t be such a baby.” She lifted his shirt and took a look at the pulsating wound before he could stop her. A sly smile tilted her lips. “Interesting.”
“There’s a simple explanation.” At her grimace of disbelief, he said, “Okay, it’s not simple, but there is an explanation.”
“Can’t wait to hear it.” She moved to the other side of the room. He knew what she was thinking. She was wishing she had a sharp stick in her hand. She asked, “Why were vampires trying to kill one of their own?”
“I’m not a vampire.”
“Right, and I’m not a hunter. Actually, I’m a three-hundred pound truck driver in disguise.”
“I was a vampire, but I’m not one anymore.” He tried to pin her to the spot with a hard stare, willing her to believe him. “Have you ever heard of a hunter named Silver? She and her family know all about me.”
The girl’s eyes narrowed on him. “Yeah, I know about the Reigns. One phone call and I’ll know if you’re lying.”
“Be my guest.” He motioned to the house phone. “But could you tell me one thing first? What’s your name?”
“Isobel.”
Izzy. The name vibrated through him, rattling his bones. Yes, her name was Isobel, but that wasn't what he'd called her. The little voice in the back of his head screamed the nickname in accusation. He should have known it. Hardcore memories tried to push their way to the front of his mind, but he denied them access for a second time. He couldn’t handle it. Not yet.
“Where did you come from?” he asked.
“Uh-uh-uh.” She wagged a finger at him. “You asked for one question. That’s all you g
et.”
Instead of using the phone, she headed for the door. Jack stared after her for a moment. When he realized she wasn’t coming back, he followed her outside. Isobel was already headed down the dirt road. In seconds she would fade into the night.
He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and yelled after her. “I thought you wanted to call Silver and get a report on me.”
The girl continued to walk without looking back. She didn’t glance over her shoulder at him, not once. She obviously wasn’t interested in him. That fact should have filled him with great relief, but it didn’t. He had the feeling she wasn’t done with him yet. Maybe next time she stopped by for a visit she would bring a sword with her.
******
Chapter Two:
A DREAM
Jack didn’t intend to fall asleep when he stretched out on the sofa to watch an old movie, so he was both surprised and distressed to find himself in the woods again. For the second time that night he walked through a large clump of trees, searching for Silver. Bright sunlight warmed his skin. Part of him wanted to relax, to recline on the soft grass, but he was wound too tight. Every muscle in his body strained to the point of snapping. The terrible tension came from his earlier nightmare. He scanned the area repeatedly just in case Isobel busted in on this dream too.
At least this time he wasn’t a smelly werewolf.
As if in answer to his prayers, Silver circled a thick tree trunk to greet him with a soft smile. “Hi,” she said. Her gaze dropped for a moment. Things had gotten awkward between them since the break-up. She held onto the tree with one hand and leaned sideways like a child playing a game.
“I’m glad you came,” he said. “It’s been a while.”
“Sorry. I’ve been studying a lot, and it wipes me out. I haven’t had enough energy to dream, but I wanted to see you.” Her voice lowered until he could barely hear her admit, “I miss you.”
It was the same old story. Last month Silver had told him she needed some space. She didn’t want to date him anymore. He had been stunned, angry, and hurt. While holding his hand and with tears in her eyes, she’d explained that she needed to concentrate on school work, studying for the college entrance exam, and hunting. She didn’t have time for him. She’d sworn that it didn’t mean she didn’t love him. She’d begged him to understand... and he was trying, but it didn’t help when she smiled and told him she missed him.
Jack took a deep breath and admitted, “I had a vivid nightmare, so I’m a little on edge right now.”
“What did you dream about?”
“It was just one of those dreams where something awful is chasing you.”
“Oh. Well you might be able to control what happens if you remember it’s a dream while you’re dreaming it. I do that sometimes in my regular dreams. I’ll make the bad thing disappear or a weapon will come out of nowhere, something I can use to kill the thing that’s chasing me.”
Concentrating, he slipped his hands behind his back, and for a moment nothing happened. His fingers touched. Then an electrical current passed between them. Smiling, he produced a bouquet of white roses. There were twelve perfect flowers without thorns, held together by a lavender ribbon.
She gasped. “Wow. You’re a fast learner.”
“I just did what you told me to do.” He handed the flowers to her. She brought them to her face and breathed deep. The happiness that shone in her eyes was his reward. He said, “You try it now.”
She closed her eyes and screwed her face up tight. Jack waited, curious to see how she would use the newfound power, but after a few minutes she gave up. Scowling, she said, “I can’t.”
“Maybe you’re trying too hard.”
“I just wanted to change the color of the flowers.”
“That might not be how it works. You might have to create something of your own. Hold out your hand, close your eyes again, and think about a seashell. You can make one tiny seashell.”
She tried.
Nothing happened. Her open palm remained empty, and her frustration grew. She groaned. “I don’t get it. I control my other dreams all the time. Why can’t I do it here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Try to do something else.”
“Like what?”
She glanced down at the flowers clutched in her hands. “Change the color. Let’s see if you can do it.”
“Okay.” He looked at the roses and thought about red. They instantly turned red. He thought about blue. They turned blue. The flowers continued to change from one brilliant hue to the next until he’d visited every color of the rainbow.
“Why is it so easy for you?” Silver glared at him. “Do something else. Try something really huge.”
Jack didn’t like this game. Every time he did something, it made Silver’s mouth tighten until she had a pinched look like she’d just bitten into something sour. He wanted to bring the smile back to her face but didn’t know how.
“Come on, Jack. Do something spectacular.” She waited for a few seconds before repeating, “Do something.”
“I did.”
“What?”
Jack took her by the shoulders and gently turned her until she was facing in the opposite direction. His efforts were rewarded by a soft gasp from her parted lips. He watched her face take on a radiant light. His gaze was on her instead of what he’d created because he desperately wanted to see it through her eyes. The feel of her shoulders beneath his hands felt incredible. It had been a long time since he’d touched her. He rested his cheek against her head.
“It’s beautiful,” she said with awe.
“Yes, it is,” he said, but they weren’t talking about the same thing. To him, nothing could be more beautiful than Silver. His gaze traveled up.
The sun had vanished. Stars twinkled against a black velvet sky. Directly in front of them, there was a crystal gazebo covered in pastel flowers and golden lights. A shimmering blue walkway stretched between them and it. Soft music filled the air, played by an invisible orchestra while pink and white rose petals drifted down from the sky like colorful raindrops.
“Magical. It’s like we’re at our senior prom,” Silver said. “No, it’s better than prom. Well, almost. We aren’t exactly dressed for it.” She looked down and got a second surprise. Her jeans and blouse had been replaced by a lacy blush-colored dress. “No way! How did you know about this? This is the dress I bought for the prom.”
“I saw it in your closet,” he admitted sheepishly. “I was kind of snooping around one day when you went to the bathroom.”
Instead of getting mad, she laughed. “You want to dance?”
He didn’t. “Sure.”
He took her hand and walked her to the gazebo. Looking at her was like staring straight at the sun. It kind of hurt. He was afraid to look at her for too long, afraid that the same goofy smile his brother wore when thinking about Mary would appear on his face. Then there’d be no denying his true feelings. He would be forced to admit that he loved her beyond reason and wanted to spend every waking minute with her. He would have to give her an ultimatum: him or college.
They went up the gazebo steps, stood in the center, and faced each other. Jack took her hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist. Following the music, they moved as one entity. He closed his mind off so he could follow instinct and move to the music instead of over-thinking it. He just wanted to enjoy having Silver in his arms for a while.
Jack’s hand moved up of its own accord and pushed the silky hair away from her face. Her chin lifted, and she stared into his eyes for a long time. For a moment they were both caught in a romantic time-shift. Problems and promises dissolved. They were together again as a couple... but it wouldn’t last.
Jack knew if he didn’t say something fast to distract her, she would start giving him the I-need-space speech again.
Desperate, he asked, “Any word on Jersey yet?”
Throwing the head werewolf’s name out there had the same effect as an ic
y bath. Silver shuddered, and her expression turned grim. “Every time mom and dad get a lead on him, he vanishes before hunters can get there to confirm that it’s really him. He’s good.”
“Yeah. We may never find him.”
Silver stopped dancing and took three steps backwards. Her hands went to her hips. She looked like an angry doll in the beautiful dress. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? I’d have to give up going to college and stay here forever and be a stupid hunter like you and your stupid brother.”
“What is your problem?”
“You! You’re my problem.”
“What?” Jack sighed. He started wishing Isobel had shown up instead. Getting whacked in the throat with a sword didn’t seem that bad in comparison to this argument. “How am I your problem?”
“You don’t want me to go to college or have a life outside of you. Every time I bring up school, you change the subject or sigh or roll your eyes. Do you think I haven’t noticed, because I have noticed? I just didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to fight with you.”
“Since when? All we ever do is fight.”
“Maybe that’s because you’re a jerk.”
He threw his hands into the air. “If I’m such a jerk, you should be glad we broke up.”
“Maybe I am.”
“Well maybe I am too.”
“Great! Why don’t you go find some other stupid girl then?”
“Maybe I already have.”
Silver jerked as if he’d slapped her.
The cutting remark had departed his mouth before he could hold it back. The whole time he was saying the words, he’d wanted to stop. He hated himself for hurting her. Other than Billy, she was the one person in this world he would risk his life for... so why did he keep pushing her away?
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Yes you did.” She turned her head, blinking rapidly.
He’d made her cry. The knowledge drove a spike through his heart. What was wrong with him? Why couldn’t he keep his stupid mouth shut? Trying to undo the damage he’d done, he said, “I want you to be happy. I do. It’s just hard knowing that I could be losing you. Since breaking up with me, you’ve been so happy. You’re practically glowing every time I see you, but I feel dead inside. I want you to go to college and have a life. I do. I just don’t want you to have a life without me.”
