Cheers went up as I entered the ballroom and I felt my face flush. It amazed me how people who knew me so little could care so much. Helena showed me into the main room at the front of the house and we stopped in front of a clock that I’d never noticed there before. She turned the hands to 12:01, smiling when she whispered, “It’s the exact minute you were born.” There was a loud click and she slid open a hidden door.
A thin, well lit hallway lay beyond the secret door, lined on both sides with very old looking books. Long strips of wood made up both the ceiling and the floor, and they creaked as Helena stepped first into the hall.
“Come child,” she said motioning for me to follow. “This is your family’s private collection of spells. They’ve been passed down for generations. When your abilities manifest, you’ll be studying from these books.”
I followed her into the hall, staring up at the rows of dusty looking books. The fact that I was descended from witches—that I myself was a witch, still surprised me.
The hall emptied into a small room with doors on either side. Helena moved for the door to the right which was shut; my attention was on the opposite door— it was slightly ajar and vibrated loudly with the sounds of voices. There had to be a hundred people in there.
The room we entered was small, with bare wooden walls and a couple of plain, low lying benches. Helena’s expression read as apologetic.
“I’m afraid that underage witches are not allowed to attend council.”
“You mean I have to stay in here?”
“A few of your classmates will be joining you soon. But you will, as a future council member, have to wait here, at least until this preliminary session is complete.”
I frowned and nodded my head. I tried to focus on the fact that this might mean that I’d get the chance to spend a little extra time with Darren. Unfortunately, it could also mean extra time with London, too.
After Helena’s exit, I spent what felt like an eternity alone in that room. I thought about the boy who’d caused all of this, the mysterious visitor who’d been so desperate for my attention. I thought about his question to me: “If I come for you, will you leave with me?” How could I have agreed to that? Well, he didn’t look like a vampire, at least not like the one I’d encountered back in South Carolina. Mrs. Moorer’s words came to me next, “I thought that they were angels at first, so beautiful, their movements so effortless.” That description did fit my green eyed stalker. Honestly, it frightened me how little I truly knew about them. The question remained. Could I have really agreed to leave with a vampire?
The door creaked open and a red haired girl poked her head inside. She said “Hi” nervously and quickly moved to take a seat on an adjacent bench. I could feel her staring. I looked over at her and she immediately looked away. I turned back around and she said, “My mother and father talk about you all the time, about how much you look like your aunt. They’re hopeful that you’ll be just as great as she was.”
What in the world was I supposed to say to that? “Me too,” I said, hoping that was the reply she was looking for. It must have been, she was beaming now.
“You and Darren make a cute couple,” she followed.
“Oh, thanks,” I said, this time dropping my head. “But I don’t know if we’re actually a couple or anything.”
Before she could respond, the door had swung open again. Two dozen or so of my classmates—I recognized some of them from Darren’s lunch table—came in all at once, each nodding their hellos. I looked through the crowd for Darren, but he wasn’t with them.
Time seemed to freeze for London’s entrance, as everyone stopped what they were doing and took notice. She still had on her cheerleading uniform, so her long legs were on display. The edge of her mouth rose slightly. “Carry on,” she told them. Then she came to sit directly next to me.
“So what happened?” she asked curtly, as if merely speaking to me was some kind of annoyance.
I was going to ignore the question. That is, until I realized that everyone here was waiting for my reply. I took a deep breath and answered her. “Mrs. Moorer thinks that a vampire came to visit me at school today.”
Some of the boys burst into laughter. Others just stared disbelievingly.
“But that’s impossible,” London replied.
I bit my lip and shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t think he was a vampire either.”
“Man, I always knew Mrs. Moorer was off her rocker,” said one of the boys. “Heard she sleeps with all her lights on.”
“Shut up, Aaron. She’s been through a lot,” returned the red haired girl. “You know what it’s like outside of Brighton.
The boy’s face sobered.
“Hey, my brother’s in Council,” announced one of the others. “If I dial his number, we can listen to what’s going on across the hall on my cell phone.
“Do it,” Aaron insisted.
He sent his brother a text message explaining what he was trying to do. After getting the okay from his brother, he dialed the number and we all huddled into a circle to listen. He clicked on the speakerphone and my grandmother’s voice blared out of the receiver:
“Sharon Moorer would have you believe that we are under siege by an army of vampires. An army that only she’s noticed. Zero reports of violence over the past week. Then she proclaims that one of them came by my granddaughter’s classroom to have a quick chat. These are the kinder, gentler vampires, you see. You all laugh but this is the reason we are here today, is it not Sharon...?”
I stood up and went back to my spot on the bench. They were all laughing at her—my grandmother was making her sound like a fool. I couldn’t listen anymore, not when all she was doing was trying to protect me— and everyone else for that matter.
The Council Meeting dragged on and on, and I felt myself getting drowsy from the monotony of it. I also realized that Darren probably wasn’t coming. Once I’d found a comfortable place to rest my head on the wall behind me, I closed my eyes, prepared to let sleep carry me through the rest of this.
“I know you can hear me. We’re alike you and I.”
It was London’s voice, as clear as if she were whispering into my ear. Only, she wasn’t anywhere near me. She was still down on the floor listening to the Council Meeting with the others. Okay, so I was very much awake now.
“We have the same gift Ana, we can read the thoughts of others. It’s how I knew that Mr. Bonderman’s cheating on his wife. I know you feel bad for Mrs. Moorer, but don’t, it has to be this way. You’ll see. I wish I had time to explain things, but I’ve only got a few minutes to do this. I’m going to show you something, but I need for you to stay calm, okay? I need for you to trust me. My hating you is only an act. Blink twice if you understand.”
As I listened, I also watched her. Her lips hadn’t moved, nor had she so much as looked in my direction. It was surreal. When she did glance over, I blinked twice.
“Good. Now I want you to try to remember what happened the other night. I know it’s a blank spot in your memory, but just focus on that time period.”
I closed my eyes and concentrated on the missing pieces of my memory. Slowly, images began to emerge: I saw myself running...I was in the maze...and then I saw his face, he was holding me.
My eyes shot open and I met London’s gaze. I couldn’t believe it. I hadn’t had an anxiety attack. I’d been running to meet him.
“I can't show you everything. Whatever they've done to make you forget is powerful magick. Are you willing to meet with him again?”
I nodded. I had to know what was going on.
“Then go, he’s waiting in your room.”
Emotions stirred up inside of me, and I stood up and ran out the door. I turned down the slender hall and pushed open the hidden door. The main room was filled with people, and my exit had everyone’s attention.
“Is it over?” a man asked.
“What have they decided?” a woman inquired loudly.
I didn’t know what
to say. Thankfully, Helena appeared.
“Another anxiety attack?” she asked, putting her arm around my shoulders.
I nodded.
She guided me through the crowd and up the stairs. Once we reached the top I turned to her. “Helena—“
“I know he’s here,” she interrupted. “I’m the one who let him in.”
“What is it they don’t want me to know?” I asked. “Why did they make me forget what happened?”
She smiled. “Why don’t you see for yourself?”
She moved past me and pushed open my door. I took a calming breath and followed her inside.
Chapter 13
Foolish
“You came,” he said from the balcony doorway. The room was dark and his silhouette was all that I could see.
“W-who are you?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“Tristan,” he answered. “Do you remember anything about me?”
“I…I know that I went to meet you last night, but I don’t know why. And, I know that I know you somehow, I felt it when you came to my room last night and again at school today. But they’ve done something to make me forget who you are.”
He nodded to himself. “If you come with me, I can take you to a place that will answer all of your questions.”
Despite the overwhelming sense of familiarity I felt for him, the thought of being alone with him scared me. “Are you a vampire?” I asked him flatly.
“I am,” he replied. “But please, don’t be afraid of me—I won’t hurt you. Can you trust me?”
His reply made me shiver. Shaking, I turned to Helena, who had moved to the end of my bed. Her face was damp and without my having to ask, she answered my question. “You can trust him, dear. More than anyone else in this world.”
I looked at him again. Who was this boy? I had to know. I swallowed. “I’ll come with you.”
He started toward me. “I’m going to pick you up, is that alright?”
I glanced at Helena once more, and then nodded.
At his touch, I jerked away from him. As much as I tried to convince myself that this was okay, my body still remembered being trapped under that bed with that monster. What he was, terrified me.
“Look into my eyes, Ana. You know me. There’s a reason you agreed to meet with me—to leave with me. I would never hurt you.”
There was just enough light from the hall that I could see the intensity in his eyes. It took me a moment to speak. “I believe you, it’s just—“
In a flash he’d taken me into his arms and started for the balcony. How anything could move so fast, I didn’t know. I closed my eyes and felt him leap; the wind was rushing against my face, blowing through my hair… I stole a peek and saw the ground rushing up to meet us. I closed my eyes again, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck until I felt the impact of his feet meeting the earth. There was something reassuring about being in his arms, the feeling you get from returning to something familiar and comfortable—like home after a long trip. This felt so normal to me, as if I’d been here a thousand times before. His scent was sweeter than anything I’d known. I laid my head against his chest, and felt the tension ease from my limbs.
“You can open your eyes now, Ana.”
First, I’d been terrified of him, and now I couldn’t let go.
“Please,” he spoke softly. “We have to hurry.”
He dropped his right arm, allowing my legs to drop beneath me. The sun was setting and we were in front of a wide lake, I’d seen it from my balcony but it had always looked so far away then… I whipped my head around to find the house was now the thing that was off in the distance. We’d covered what had to be a mile in a matter of seconds.
“Follow me,” he said next.
I followed him around the lake, watching the lightning bugs twinkling around us like tiny stars. He pulled an old wooden row boat from behind some tall grass and dragged it down to the shore. As I watched the grass sway back into place, an image of a leather bound book flashed in my head.
He pushed half of the boat into the lake and then motioned for me to join him. He stepped inside and then jammed one of the oars into the dirt to keep it steady.
“Where are we going?”
“The answers to your questions are on the other side of this lake, just beyond those trees,” he pointed.
I tried to look through them, to see what was there, but could only see tree trunks. I sat down at the other end of the small boat and he pulled the oar free. He pushed us away from the shore with his foot and we were sailing. Me and a vampire.
He didn’t speak while he rowed, the trip being serenaded only by the oars slipping into and out of the lake. I wrapped my arms around my knees and watched him. The strands of his dark hair fell messily over his face, and yet I’d never seen anyone look so perfect. The curve of his jaw, the shape of his lips, he was so…beautiful. Something inside me longed to go to him, to have him touch me again. I felt restless and couldn’t sit still. I’d never felt this strongly about anything. His scent still lingered in my nostrils…
He was doing his best not to look at me. Some kind of pain flickered in his eyes. Something was hurting him—that much was clear—some thought, some… person? I wondered if it was me; if my not remembering him was triggering this anguish.
“I’m sorry,” I said, piercing the silence.
Finally, he looked up at me, just as a lightning bug was passing near his face. The light caused his saddened eyes to glisten, and it was all I could do not to crawl across the boat to comfort him. Seeing him hurt like this, it caused something in me to hurt as well. It was like we shared the same soul.
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for,” he said quietly, before avoiding my eyes again.
“For my not remembering you—“
“We’re here,” he interrupted. He stood up and tied the end of the boat to a metal pole sticking up from the ground. With one foot on land, he guided the end of the boat around so that it floated parallel to the shore. He reached out and I gave him my hand, his touch flaming hot against my skin.
“Follow me,” he said. His face changed. “Wait— if you want to go back now, I’ll understand. I won’t be angry with you. And I won’t bother you anymore, I swear it.”
His eyes were desperate, as if he were suddenly begging me to turn back. It scared me.
“What shouldn’t I see?” I asked in a meek, child-like voice. “What is my grandmother protecting me from?”
“Yes or no,” he insisted.
“Y-yes.”
He closed his eyes. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. No more cautious Ana. I just prayed this train of thought didn’t get me killed.
“Then follow me,” he sighed, starting toward the trees he’d pointed at before.
The woods were shallow, and as we broke through the first line of trees I could already see a clearing, the hiding place of a battered little cabin. I couldn’t help but notice his expression as we approached; he looked awful, as if every step closer was more painful than the last.
My mind raced as I replayed the exchange we’d just had. “Is this a trap?” I wondered. Had he placed some kind of spell on me to make feel these emotions? To make me feel this way about someone I had no memory of? Was I walking willingly to my own death?
“We’re here,” he said once we’d reached the door. Having momentarily disappeared into my own head, it seemed to come too fast. He pushed it open. It was dark inside. He looked me in the eyes, the same tortured expression etched into his face. “This is the last chance to turn back, Ana. Once you go inside, once you know why I brought you here, there is no turning back. Understand?”
My heart was pounding and mind was swimming. It was very possible that I’d been lured out here by a vampire to die. That he’d done something to make London and Helena betray me. Why else would he look so conflicted? But why now? He’d had so many chances already. Maybe he’d tried to resist, but had finally given in to the monster inside him. Mayb
e he was giving me one last chance to live.
My mind was telling me to run as fast I could in the opposite direction. But my heart had never felt this before. I’d never experienced the longing I felt for this stranger. It begged me to stay near him. If there was any chance that this was real, any chance at all, how could I turn from it?
But was it worth dying for?
I stepped into the cabin, shivering in the darkness and uncertain if my beautiful seducer was about to end my life.
He followed me inside, shutting the door behind him. He sighed. “Very well then.”
Chapter 14
History
I heard his footsteps move past me in the dark. I exhaled.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Yes,” I answered.
Lights flickered on, and what I saw shocked me. Photographs covered every inch of every wall and Tristan was in all of them. But he wasn’t alone. Several different girls shared the frames with him: A short, blonde haired girl sat with him on the back of a beat up pickup truck; a chubby brunette waved to me from the deck of a large steamboat; a pretty red headed girl put playful bunny ears behind his head as they posed in the sand… They were all in love with him, totally and completely; it was evident in their eyes. They were content.
“Are these the photographs of all the girls you’ve been in love with?”
He nodded slowly. His stare was intense.
It surprised me how much hearing those words had hurt. Still, I followed the wall around, taking in every face. I had to see them, to know who they all were—that is, until I saw my own face staring back at me. Just like before, it stopped me in my tracks. While the other girls had dozens of photos hanging, my aunt had only one. They were seated at the center of the maze; I recognized the fountain from the images London had shown me. He held her in his arms, with her head nestled beneath his chin. Her eyes were shut, and their fingers were interlocked.
Jealousy boiled within me. I hated them for having had his heart, and I was angry that he’d made me aware of them. It was stupid, I knew this. He was a stranger, a vampire. I shouldn’t even know him. Still, my heart ached.
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