by Lana Melyan
“And turn the whole cabin into a giant fireplace.” He chuckled. I rolled my eyes, smiling. “Sorry, my love,” he kissed me again, “but we still need this place to spend our weekends.”
“Nate,” I said quietly, running my fingers through the hair on his temple, “never do that again.”
“I had to give you a chance,” he said, becoming serious at once.
“A chance to do what? To lose myself completely?”
“A chance to figure out if you really wanted to be with me after what you’d learned. What if you realized you were better off without me? Of course, if you did, I would still always look after you, but I would keep my distance.”
“The moment I thought you were gone, my magic awoke, and the energy rushed me with such power it almost choked me to death. That’s how much you scared me. I love you, and I don’t wanna spend so much as a day without you, so please, no more experiments.”
“Never. I promise you, that will never happen again. You know that,” he whispered. “You know I can’t live without you. Telling you what I’d done was the scariest thing I’ve had to do in my entire life. Now, after I got that off my chest, you’re stuck with me because you are my everything, and I need you with me. All the time.”
We went downstairs. While Nate made toast, he let me kindle the fireplace.
“See,” I said, looking at catching fire, “I can do things without magic.”
“Liar.” He shook his head. “I heard your incendio. I’m not deaf, you know. ”
Laughing, I walked up to him and hugged him from behind while he put the toast on plates.
“You could pretend you were.” I kissed his shoulder.
“No pretending, those are the rules.” He turned around, kissed me, then lifted me and sat me on the island. “Eat,” he said, putting one of the plates in my hands. He filled up a glass of orange juice and set it next to me.
“Nate?”
“Hm?” He grabbed his plate, and leaned against the counter.
“Is it okay if we invite Connie and Logan for dinner tonight?” I asked, taking a bite from my toast.
“Sure. And you don’t have to ask.”
“Oh, I should.” I grinned. “You’re the one who has to do the cooking.”
“What do you want me to make?”
“What would Logan like?” I looked at him over my glass as I drank some juice.
“I knew it.” He chuckled. “You’re trying to make up for shouting at him all the time, aren’t you?”
“You heard that too?”
“I did. And he told me,” he said, nodding.
“Yeah. But I apologized every time,” I said with the excitement of a kid waiting for some credit. “You think the food will work? Or maybe I should wrap a blood bag in shiny paper, tie it with scarlet ribbons and put a card on it saying, ‘Sorry I was a pain in the ass’?”
“Nicky, he’s our friend. You can yell at him all you want if it makes you feel better. That’s what friends are for.” He put his plate down and came closer. “Believe me, he’s taken much worse from me.” He looked at my lips. “There’s a drop of juice on your lip, and I’m so thirsty.”
I tossed the plate aside. As he leaned in to kiss me, I wrapped my legs around him, and my hands crawled up his back, pulling him closer.
“I thought you said you’ve learned to control your powers,” said Connie, staring at me after I told her about the lake.
The two of us sat on the couch with a glass of wine while Nate and Logan went to the barn to get some wood.
“I can if I try. But all I could think about . . .” I shrugged. “I kinda lost it when I thought I might never see him again.”
“Nicky, before, you said that you two had a fight and you couldn’t talk about it. Can you talk about it now? You never told me what really happened,” said Connie. “He’s crazy about you, and I can’t imagine anything that would make Nate put you through this.”
“I’m sorry, Connie. I’ve never kept secrets from you, you know that. But this isn’t my secret. And also, there’s something else.” I bit my lip.
“What?” she asked, looking at me like I was that toy with a button, that she couldn’t resist pushing even though she knew the thing would pop out and scare the hell out of her, or even punch her in the face.
“I told him that I want to become immortal and—”
“You what?” She fisted my knee.
“Ouch.” I gaped at her.
“Are you nuts? You want to join their club and leave me alone?”
“Don’t tell me you never thought about it,” I said, rubbing my knee.
“Maybe I did. But it was just a thought. What did he say?”
“He got mad. And after I told him it’s not just for him, but also for the mission, he got even madder. He said that he’d sacrificed everything for the mission, and he wouldn’t let me do the same. Then he said he’s a bad influence on me and maybe he should stay away because he didn’t want to be the reason I do something I would regret for the rest of my life.”
“So you’re not going to do it, right?”
“No,” I said, remembering that what I really said to Nate was, maybe not today.
Nate and Logan came back with the wood, and by looks on their faces, I could tell they’d had a talk, too.
The food was almost ready, and Connie and I started setting the table.
“This looks delicious,” said Connie, standing next to Nate and staring into the frying pan on the stove. “What’s this?” she asked him, pointing her finger into the saucepan.
Logan was next to the table, pouring glasses of wine. I grabbed the napkins and joined him.
“Logan,” I said quietly, “I’m––”
“Forget it.” He beamed at me. “Nate told me you feel bad. Don’t. You can use me as your punching bag anytime. I can handle it. I just felt sorry it was the only comfort I could give you.”
“I’m still sorry.” I smiled.
After we ate and started cleaning up, Connie dropped a word about the school dance.
“Dance?” Nate glanced at me.
“You dance, don’t you?” Connie smirked at him.
“Why? Logan isn't taking you?”
Connie threw him an annoyed glance, then looked at me. “You’re coming right?”
“I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about it.” I set a dirty plate into the dishwasher.
“Why not?” asked Nate.
“I forgot.” I shrugged. “I had other things to worry about.”
I took another plate, but Nate pulled it out of my hand, put it back on the counter, and drew me closer.
“Would you take me to the dance?” His lips stretched in a sly, mischievous grin. “Please?”
“You really wanna go?” I stared at him with wide eyes.
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. I thought you wouldn’t—”
“I would.” He pressed me to his chest. “I wanna dance with you.”
“Well,” said Logan. “Now that that’s settled, who wants more wine?”
4
Nate stopped the car in the dark, full parking lot, and when we got out we heard the muffled sound of music.
“Are we really doing this?” I rolled my eyes at him. “I forgot when I last danced.”
“Of course we’re doing this. Isn’t this exactly what you should be doing? Having fun?”
We entered the school, and as we reached the gym and opened the door, the deafening roar from the speakers hit me in the chest, raising my heartbeat. The stage was set up at the opposite end. Above it hung Four Wolf’s big banner.
The party was already in full swing. Nate grinned at me, then, gently drumming his hands against my back to the rhythm of the music, he pushed me forward into the crowd.
I knew that Connie and Logan were already here, and my eyes traveled around looking for them. But it was Jess and Leia who we bumped into first.
“Hi, guys,” said Jess.
“I’m g
lad you two made up,” said Leia, grabbing Jess’s arm and leaning against him.
“I believe you.” Nate smirked.
“Where have you been?”
I turned around at Connie’s voice behind me.
“Hi, guys,” said Logan, stepping closer.
“I’ve been looking all over for you,” said Connie.
“We just arrived,” I said. “Sorry, it’s my fault we’re late.”
“You dragged her here, didn’t you?” She glanced at Nate.
“Come on, Connie, you know it always starts like that.” Jess grinned, looking at me. “But then she. . .” He turned his eyes to Nate. “I mean, she likes dancing. Have fun, guys.” Dragging a frowning Leia behind him, Jess disappeared into the crowd.
Nate took my waist. “Let’s go do that but then part.”
A slow song started, and I locked my arms around Nate’s neck.
“Dance me.” I beamed at him.
“That’s better.” Smiling, he kissed me.
“It doesn’t bother you, does it?” I asked. “I mean, Jess.”
“He misses you, and he is having a hard time moving on. Nicky, I know how lucky I am.” He stroked my face with the back of his hand. “I’ll probably always have competition, and I’m good with that. I’ll always fight for you.”
“You don’t have any competition. You’re my special edition, and I’m all yours. And you have enough things to fight for already, so you can cross this one off your list.” I planted a kiss on his lips. “And by the way, about the fight. I was thinking, the sword is almost ready, so maybe we should—”
“Shh.” Nate pressed his finger to my lips. “No mission talk tonight. We’re having fun.”
An upbeat song started, and he spun me around.
“Is there anything you can’t do?” I said, laughing as we danced.
“I’ve had a long time to learn things.”
“Did you just say you had a long time to—” came Connie’s teasing voice.
“You again?” Nate gazed at her.
“Yeah,” chuckled Logan. “She likes doing that. She does it to me all the time.”
Connie and I laughed.
5
Nate was right. It was fun to do something different and forget about the mission for at least one evening.
Nearly an hour later, when he and Logan went to get something to drink, Connie and I went to the bathroom. On our way out of the gym, I saw Jess talking to Dave and Emma.
“I’m surprised at how lightly Dave took this whole thing,” I said to Connie. “It seemed like he really liked Leia, and I thought he would be heartbroken.”
“Yeah. Leia is the one struggling the most right now. She let go of Dave so she could have Jess. Now she has none.”
We came out into the quiet hallway, and when we walked into the bathroom we saw Leia leaning on the window sill, her hands crossed over her chest. The moment she saw us, she dropped her hands and stepped to the sink.
“Leia, are you okay?” I asked, looking at her grim face.
“I’m fine,” she said. But it sounded more like piss off. Looking into the mirror, she ran her fingers through her long blonde hair.
“Then why are you standing here, alone?” asked Connie.
“Don’t pretend you care,” she threw at Connie, then opened her small handbag and pulled out her lipstick. “You two forgot all about me after you got yourselves new boyfriends.”
“We didn’t forget,” I said. “We just been busy with some stuff.”
“But you still have time for Jess. Even now, you tell him more than you ever shared with me.”
“Not really. He gets most of it just because he knows me so well.”
Leia dropped her hands, and her tough expression suddenly changed, becoming desperate.
“I try so hard, but he’s still . . .”
“Maybe you should try less,” said Connie. “Just be yourself. Be natural and th—”
The bathroom door swung open, and a tall blond guy appeared in the doorway.
“This is a very touching conversation,” he smirked. “And I’m very sorry to interrupt, but I’m kinda hungry.”
Two other guys showed up behind him. One walked in and stopped next to the blond one, the other lingered in the doorway.
Connie was the closest to the door, and the blond guy put his hand on her shoulder. Connie jerked away instantly.
“Nicky, he’s a vam—”
The guy grabbed her by the neck and stared at me. I stared back, trying to figure out how to free Connie without hurting her. But since he held her right in front of him, there was nothing I could do. If only someone would come from behind. I needed Nate.
I put my hand in my jacket pocket where I kept my phone.
“Connie, don’t try anything,” I said. The vampire’s grip was choking her. I was afraid that if she grabbed his hand to perform some magic, he would break her neck.
“Well, well, isn’t this interesting. She knows what we are,” said the vampire.
Leia glared at him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she shouted, staring at the vampire, then at Connie as she gasped for air. “Let her go.”
The guy laughed.
I was surprised to see her stand up for Connie like that, and I was grateful to her for distracting them. I pulled the phone closer to the edge of my pocket.
“Aren’t you brave?” said the second vampire, sneering at Leia.
I glanced down at the phone screen, found Nate’s name, and pressed it. The blond vampire glanced at me.
“Hey, are you calling someone?”
“Nicky?” Nate’s voice came from my pocket.
“Yep.” I pulled out the phone and held it next to my face. “You’re vampires, you should be happy. I just ordered more food for you.”
Nate hung up.
“Give it here,” said the second vampire, coming forward.
“If you take another step,” I said in a calm but also ominous tone, “you’ll be very sorry.”
“Really?” the guy chortled. “Let’s see. Here’s one.” He took a step, then looked straight into my eyes and slowly moved his second feet forward. “And here’s anoth—”
I punched the air. He flew out the door, taking with him the vampire in the doorway. The two of them crashed down the hallway. Leia’s jaw dropped, and her eyes became egg-size.
The one I stunned was unconscious, but the second one was still moving, trying to pull himself up from under his friend’s body.
“Now,” I said to the blond one, who scowled at me. “Let her go.”
“So you’re a witch,” he growled, baring his fangs.
“Oh my God.” Leia let out a terrified gasp.
“Then come and get me.” Still holding Connie, he flashed out the door.
I dashed after him. But as I reached the door, another silhouette flashed before me down the hallway. And the third vampire, who had just gotten to his feet, suddenly flew away.
I saw Nate in the hallway, his hand still in the air. As I looked at the other end of the hallway, I saw Logan holding the blond vampire by his neck, and Connie panting a few feet away.
Logan roared, his eyes red and fangs out. He punched the vampire in the nose with his free hand, then pinned him to the wall.
“Logan, stop!” shouted Nate as Logan raised his hand and crooked his fingers, aiming them at the vampire’s chest. “We’ve got a big enough mess to clean up already.”
Oh God, was Logan about to rip out his heart?
Logan growled. He lowered his hand, then grabbed the vampire’s head and snapped his neck.
“Nicky?” Nate hurried toward me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Logan stepped away, took a deep breath to calm down, then rushed to Connie and pulled her into his arms.
“I’m so sorry,” he breathed out kissing her on top of her head.
“I’m okay. Calm down, I’m okay.” Connie locked her arms around him.
&n
bsp; “Let me see.” He looked at the red spots on her neck.
“I stunned one of them,” I said. “But this one was holding Connie and I was afraid if I did something I would hurt her too.”
Leia was standing in the bathroom doorway.
“Did you see his face?” She was in shock. “And how the hell did you do that?” She stared at me.
“She saw it?” asked Nate.
I nodded. Leia stood gaping at the three guys on the hallway floor.
“Logan, let’s get them out of here before someone sees this,” said Nate.
The gym door opened, and we all turned our heads. It was Jess.
“Leia?” he stared at her.
Leia threw herself into his arms.
“What are you doing here?” asked Jess, rubbing her shoulder.
“I came to the bathroom, but then . . .” She looked back at the floor.
Jess frowned as he glanced around. Then he stopped his eyes on Nate.
“I saw you and Logan run and I . . . Guys, what’s going on?”
“Jess, he looked like a vamp—” started Leia, pointing her hand at Logan.
But Nate cut in.
“Those three attacked the girls in the bathroom. She’s in shock. We’ll explain everything to you later. Right now we need your help.” He glanced at me. “Don’t let her away from your side.”
I nodded. They’d seen too much; we couldn’t let them go until we erased their memory. Nate grabbed one of the stunned vampires, threw his arm over a shoulder, and pulled him up. So did Logan with the blond one. The vampire I had stunned was coming around. I raised my hand and, forcing all my energy into my palm, I turned it, snapping his neck.
“Nicky!” Jess gaped at me. “Was that . . .”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “He’s not dead. None of them are. I had to do it so it would be safe for you to carry him.”
“How did you—”
“We’ll explain everything,” said Nate. “But now we need to go.”
“Where are we taking them?” asked Jess, looking confused.
“To the car,” said Nate. “And we better do it before they come around.” He took a few steps, then looked back at Jess, frozen to the spot. “Move,” Nate barked.
