by Donna Flynn
I wanted to be mad, to rave at him for being so secretive, but when he looked at me beseechingly, I found myself reaching for his hand instead, wanting to comfort him. Tiny sparks danced between our entwined fingers, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. My mother gasped; Paul growled and took a step closer, but Aidan stayed him with a growl and my father grabbed Paul’s arm, pulling him back.
“Let us get on with this,” Kale snapped crossly, breaking through the tension.
“We have moved a few of our protectors in place at your school and around town, so you will never be out of their sight, and of course Paul will be close by, as he always has been,” Zoe told me, still staring at our entwined hands with a wistful smile.
“Protectors?” I asked uncertainly.
“A special group of vampires loyal to me, who take care of problems like this one,” Aidan explained.
“Do you think that will that be enough?”
“I think we should lock you up in a tower far away from any of these threats, but I know you could not live with that option, so this is the best course for now,” Aidan answered.
I looked at Paul and he shrugged. “I like the odds better if we protect you here. We know this area and the people here, so any stranger will immediately gain our notice,” he added.
“I agree,” my father added.
“This is ridiculous! If you would do what has to be done with the girl, then none of this would be necessary,” Kale growled angrily.
“That is not an option.” Aidan hissed angrily.
Zoe cast Kale a dirty look and I felt her calming influence move around the room. “Relax, Aidan, we won’t explore that option unless we are forced to.”
Everyone seemed to calm and I let go of the breath I had been holding. Vampire politics was not something I was used to dealing with, and I had to admit it was incredibly frightening to be around such temperamental beings.
“Paul, who is going to be with Katie during the school day, since you are in a different grade level and attend different classes?” Aidan asked, still glaring at Kale who seemed oblivious to his anger.
“I have chosen a female protector who will be ready to start tomorrow. She will be with Katie every moment of the day.”
The doorbell rang and my father strode out of the room, only to return a few moments later with a petite female with long reddish-brown hair, big brown doe eyes, and a fragile appearance that reminded me of a china doll. I felt Aidan stiffen beside me and knew he doubted her abilities.
“She’s a child,” Aidan muttered.
“I know she seems small and helpless but believe me, she is strong and powerful,” Paul explained, obviously aware of Aidan’s unhappiness with his choice.
“Paul, I have never doubted you before, but this is Katie’s life we are talking about. We cannot take any risks,” my father said, eyeing the new female worriedly.
“Beth has been one of my own guards for the last ten years and more than once has been responsible for stopping those who have tried to kill me.” Cedric, who had been quietly watching the proceedings, told Aidan. “She is loyal and would give her life for your…uh… Katie.”
Aidan nodded, looking somewhat reassured. “Beth, is it?” he asked, motioning her forward.
The female came to stand before her prince, respect shining from her eyes as she bowed low. “Your Majesty, it is an honor and I will protect your...uh…” She looked at me with puzzlement and Cedric cleared his throat. “Katie.”
“Just be sure you do,” Aidan replied sharply.
“It is an honor to serve you,” she said, bowing slightly before me, which I thought was extremely odd. But what did I know. The only vampires I had ever been around were my family and Aidan.
“Uh, hi,” I offered my hand, which she stared at with panicked eyes. Aidan reached out and pulled my hand back with a growl that had her backing away with a fearful expression. “Aidan, what the…?” He swung me around to face him, his eyes filled with rage, and I shut my mouth instantly.
“Do not ever take a vampire by the hand!” he snapped.
Tears filled my eyes. He had never before taken such a harsh tone with me. “Why?” I asked pathetically.
His face softened. “You do not know what power they hold, and it makes it easier for those of my kind who are psychic to read you,” he explained, letting go of my hand and lifting his finger to stroke a tear from my cheek.
“That girl is woefully ignorant of our ways. I knew it was a mistake to let her be raised as you wished,” Kale snarled. “If you would just…”
“Enough,” Aidan hissed, silencing the aggravating man before meeting my gaze once again.
“We have covered every possibility. Katie will never be out of sight of one of our protectors,” Zoe assured him.
“Not good enough,” Aidan snapped. “I want my people here too, surrounding the perimeter of the house, and in town keeping an eye out for anyone who might be a threat.”
Everyone began speaking at once about who was going to be where, but no one asked how I felt about everything that was happening. I wondered if they even cared for my opinion, but decided quickly that the answer was a definite no, so I sat silently trying to piece together their conversations.
“Are we all done?” Aidan asked tiredly, after what seemed like hours of arguing and planning.
“I think that covers everything,” Paul told him.
“Good, then we can go,” Kale said, rising from his seat.
“Thank you all for coming,” Aidan said, dismissing the Council.
Everyone murmured their goodbyes, and the Council was gone within moments, the lingering remnants of their power the only reminder they had ever been there at all.
I sat on the settee, staring at my hands that lay clenched on my lap. I felt nervous, afraid, and full of questions.
“Would you like to go to the garden?” Aidan asked, holding out his hand.
I nodded and took his hand, happy to be getting out of the house and away from everyone’s concerned stares.
We walked to the garden in silence. We were sitting in the gazebo when he took my chin in his hand, then turned my face so I was looking up into his concerned gaze. “Are you okay? I know my Council can be rather intimidating.” He feathered his fingers across my cheek, cradling it softly, and my breath caught in my throat.
“I am sure it will all be fine,” I told him bravely, but deep down I was terrified. I did not want to die, and I certainly did not want to meet up with any rogue vampires who sought to harm me.
“You should rest; this has been a trying day for you.”
“Oh, I’m not the least bit tired,” I protested.
His eyes met mine and suddenly my eyelids felt very heavy, belying my words. I fought to keep them open, but before I knew what was happening, my head dropped to his shoulder and they closed.
I woke sometime later to the sound of Paul speaking angrily to Aidan once again.
“You are not doing her any favors, you know,” Paul sneered.
“I do know, and I understand why you are angry, but I cannot help needing to be near her. You should understand that,” Aidan said calmly.
“I’m trying, but you need to leave until she is old enough to deal with all of this. I cannot imagine what you are going through, but if you care for Katie the way I believe you do, then leave now before you hurt her. I swear, I will keep her safe for you,” he pleaded.
“That is not as easy as you make it sound, Paul,” Aidan told him with a sigh. “I know it is best I leave, but the idea of her being in danger, and me not being here to protect her, wars with what I know is right.”
“At least consider it,” Paul said, before I heard the squeak of the gazebo steps as he walked away.
I opened my eyes to find my brother gone and Aidan staring off into the sunset, as he leaned against the wooden post of the entrance of the gazebo.
“Aidan?” I called out, sitting up, prepared to confront him about their argument.
To demand he tell me what was happening.
“Beth will see you in,” he said, disappearing before I could protest.
I walked to the entrance of the garden to find Beth striding across the garden towards me purposely. “Are you ready to go in now?” she said, upon reaching my side.
“Where did Aidan go?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I do not know. He called to me to walk you inside, so here I am.”
“I suppose I am ready to go in then,” I told her. With my head low I walked toward the house, hurt by Aidan’s curt leaving and angry about the secrets everyone was keeping from me.
Beth followed silently behind me until we reached my bedroom door. As I opened the heavy wood door she leaned against the wall, staring at me sympathetically. “I’ll be here if you need anything; just call for me.”
“Thanks, Beth.” I turned and walked into my room, and put on my pajamas. I lay down on the bed, trying to reconcile my feelings for Aidan. I had always adored him: he was my favorite person in the world, outside of my family, but the feelings I had for him since that amazing kiss were far more than those of a friend. And that complicated things immensely.
“God, I am so stupid,” I whispered, before turning out the lights and shutting my eyes.
*****
That night in my dream, I was running through a forest, my body covered in red mud, leaves stuck in my hair, my bare feet and hands covered with scratches from where tree branches and thorn bushes had gouged me. Blood seeped from the many wounds I had received, making my clothes sticky and wet against my skin, and my body ached unmercifully. I glanced often behind of me as I ran, trying to stay one step ahead of the vampire who chased me, but as I turned, strong arms enveloped me in a vise like grip, ending my attempt to escape.
“Finally, you’re mine,” the grotesque male vampire said, sinking his decaying fangs deep into my neck, tearing at the soft skin with abandon in his attempts to drain me. The blood- curdling sound of my screams reverberated around the forest, but no aid came. The vampire drank deep, taking all the nourishment my body had to offer, then lowered me to the leaf-covered ground with an evil grin before kneeling beside me, gently stroking my cheek. Blood dripped from my ravaged neck, pooling under me as I stared up at my killer with dull, lifeless eyes, ready to give myself over to the finality of death, but he had an alternate plan. With a loud chuckle, he lifted his wrist to his mouth and tore into his own flesh before pressing it to my lips, silently compelling me to drink. Weak and so near death, I was unable to fight his compulsion and found myself drinking deeply of his blood, even as my mind recoiled in horror at the idea of him making me a vampire.
“Shhh, I’m here now. I will keep you safe if it is the last thing I do,” Aidan’s soft voice whispered, pulling me from my nightmare. His strong arms held me tight in their embrace, and his light kisses feathered my brow as he soothed me. “Sleep,” he commanded. Warm and safe, cocooned in his love, I was able to slip immediately into deep, restful sleep.
Chapter Nine
Paul was waiting impatiently the next morning as I rushed into the garage, and he did not wait to start in on me for my tardiness. “You get later every morning,” he growled, helping Beth into his truck as I stood beside Aidan’s car, waiting for him to drive me in.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep well last night.” I yawned and leaned against the car tiredly, as if to back up my excuse.
“Yeah, well, maybe it was the nap you took yesterday in the gazebo,” he sneered.
“Back off, Paul, and mind your own business,” I warned, tired of all of his interfering.
He jumped into his truck and slammed the door closed, looking down on me from his window. “He’s too old for you,” he said.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, exasperated by his surly attitude.
“Aidan, He’s too old for you,” he snapped.
He had to be joking. I mean, yeah, I was totally head over heels for the vampire prince, but it wasn’t as if anything was going to happen between us. We were from two very different worlds. “Are you kidding me? You think he would even look twice at me when he could have any woman he wanted?” I snorted.
“Just don’t let your feelings for him interfere with your common sense. Date boys your own age, alright?” he pleaded.
I blushed, embarrassed he had called me on my feelings for Aidan at all, let alone in front of Beth, a stranger. “Sure, now you want me to date,” I snapped, sarcasm ringing in my voice.
“I won’t get in the way if you do, I promise.”
Aidan appeared in the doorway, giving Paul a quelling look that ended our conversation. “Come, you will be late,” he said, helping me into his car before he got behind the wheel and took off down the driveway.
We were almost at the school when he turned to me looking resigned. “He’s right, you know.”
“About what?” I asked softly.
“About you, me, us,” he said.
“Is there an us, Aidan? I don’t understand any of this,” I confided. “Since the moment you kissed me, everything has become complicated. I am so confused about what I am feeling, and it doesn’t help that you are keeping secrets from me.”
“There’s so much you don’t understand, so much I can’t tell you right now. It’s too soon, you’re not ready, and I can’t allow my feelings to override what is right for you.”
“Aidan,” I murmured placing my hand on his arm.
“No,” he cried out, pulling his arm away and looking pained. “Now is not the time. You are late for school. We will talk later.”
We pulled into the parking lot. “Have a good day,” he said softly,, handing me my bag then getting into the car staring ahead as he pulled out of the driveway without a backward glance.
Beth came to stand beside me, saying nothing as I watched him drive away. I had the growing concern he was going to leave and, as much as I wanted him to stay, a part of me wondered if it might be for the best. Even though I was sure it would devastate me.
“We should go inside,” Beth said after a few moments.
I nodded, gripping my bag in my hand, dreading the rest of the day that had started out so badly. “Sorry that you had to listen to Paul and me this morning, Beth,” I apologized, as we walked into the school.
She nodded, already down to business, scanning the area with her cunning eyes. “No problem,” she said, ignoring all of the curious male stares directed at her.
“Katie, wait up!”
I looked up to see Chad approaching. Beth stepped in front of me, ready to block him, but I put my hand on her arm and shook my head.
“Oh, hey, Chad” I called out, smiling at Beth to let her know he was all right.
She relaxed slightly, but still eyed him speculatively as he drew near.
“Hi,” he said with a shy, awkward smile as he reached my side, looking at Beth nervously. “I was wondering if maybe I could take you out…you know…sometime this weekend.”
I probably would have turned him down gently the day before, but after my earlier conversation with Paul, I’d decided that maybe he was right. Maybe I did need to date some males my own age. If nothing else, I figured it might help me understand better what I was feeling for Aidan, so I found myself agreeing. “Sure, Chad, that would be nice. Call me later and let me know when.”
“You sure are popular this year,” Jess said, pulling books from her locker as I approached.
Obviously she had overheard my conversation with Chad. “Yeah,” I answered absently, introducing her to Beth, explaining she was a friend of the family whose parents had passed away and who was staying with us for awhile, as we had planned the day before.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Jess said, never questioning the cover we had planned for Beth’s sudden presence.
I should have been relieved, but I felt like a horrible friend for lying to her. It was not something I did lightly and I hated myself for it.
“Nice to meet you, too, Katie ta
lks about you all the time,” Beth added, earning a smile from my all-too-trusting friend.
“Uh, we should go or we are going to be late,” I said, eager to get the day over with.
We headed to our first class, Jess eagerly planning what I should wear when I went out with Chad, while I silently pondered my conversation with Aidan. Me, him, us: What did it mean? Was there something between us, or was I just a teenager with a crush that would pass? I didn’t have experience with guys, so I certainly couldn’t compare what I felt for Aidan with anything I had ever felt before. So I just didn’t know.
*****
I was only to happy to get out of school when the last bell rang and end the speculation I had nursed since leaving Aidan that morning. After a quick goodbye to Chris and Jess, Beth ushered me out of the door to the parking lot, where Aidan sat behind the wheel of his car watching our approach. He got out of the car, his face void of emotion, and I knew I needn’t ponder what was going to happen any longer. It was clear he had decided to go.
He opened my door as I approached, taking my bag and tossing it carelessly into the back seat before checking to be sure the seatbelt was secure around me and closing the door. He got into the car and clenched the wheel between his hands before pulling away from the curve. I could feel his tension as he drove silently towards home, and it ate at me. I wanted to scream and protest his decision to leave, but that just proved to me why I wasn’t ready for a relationship with him. My reaction was immature and showed my inability to deal with my feelings like an adult would. Tears pooled in my eyes, my lips trembled, and it became hard to breathe, but I managed to keep it together.
When he pulled into the driveway and parked, I didn’t wait for him to open my door but got out on my own, grabbing my bag and walking directly into the house, leaving him staring after me sadly.
Once inside the sanctity of my bedroom, I threw myself on the bed and allowed the tears that I had managed to hold back the entire drive home to fall. Aidan had been around since I was a baby and had left many times before, but it had never affected me as it was doing now. I had always felt oddly put out when he left in the past, but now I felt as if a piece of me was going with him. From somewhere deep inside a loud pitiful sob came, echoing the anguish I felt.
