by Myers, J. L.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Ty said, seeming to have read my mind, or to have at least interpreted my searching expression. “Look,” he rushed on, lines of frustration pinching his brow. “This is a dream. You’re dreaming. It’s the only way…”
“Well then,” I scoffed, cutting him off. Dreaming? What a joke. “If what you’re saying it true, and I highly doubt it, then I’ll just wake up.”
Ty shook his head looking rueful. “I am afraid I can’t let you do that. I brought you here. See,” his voice dropped to a whisper and he spread his arms out wide. “I created this place.”
In an instant shift, the moon and stars began to disappear. The sun rose swiftly over the adjacent mountain. Captivation held my widened eyes, as the burning globe crept higher and higher. Its growing beams of light stretched down to the valley below. Warmth and a golden hue spread over everything it touched. Wakened by the dawn, the sounds of chirping birds rose from the treetops.
The tension stiffening my clawed hands released. I cocked my head to the side, wide eyes shifting to Ty. I believed he was telling the truth. Still, there was no way in hell I wanted to stay here and listen to his version of events. My own memories of that night were enough. But I was trapped and out of options. “If I listen to you, you’ll let me go?” At Ty’s nod I walked back over to the oak tree edging the cliff and dropped to the ground. My arms and legs crossed in defiance. “Hurry up. I’m already bored with this.”
Ty edged closer, hands clasped under his chin. “I know you don’t want to hear anything I have to say. But I need you to know the truth.”
Like a stubborn child I ‘humphed’, irritated and unwilling to give him any satisfaction.
Ty blew out a breath of exasperation. “Fine, if you won’t respond at all, I’ll just do the talking.” Angst radiated from his tightly coiled body as he began pacing. “What happened that night, it’s not what you think. See, I thought I was in bed with you. I was mortified when you appeared at the door.”
My head came up with eyes throwing poison. “Liar! You are so full of shit!” His words infuriated me, tearing fresh, jagged strips from my heart. It took every ounce of my self-control not to lunge at him with barred fangs. The idea of tearing into him was so tempting. “Why don’t you do us both a favor and stop talking? You’re just insulting my intelligence and embarrassing yourself with your ridiculous lies.”
Ty raked his fingers through his hair, clearly frustrated. I glared away, struggling to hold at bay the boiling anger that was cascading up my neck and across my face, verging on an uncontainable explosion. What a jerk!
“Amelia, please,” he pleaded. “It’s true. Didn’t you notice that the girl looked like you?”
A jolt of pain-filled memories rose to the surface; her pale vampire skin and long, blond hair. Then I saw the eerie dream that shockingly revealed my own likeness as the girl beneath him. The overwhelming sensation to gag curdled my stomach. It was just a dream, wasn’t it? My brain pulsed against my skull. He’s lying, he has to be. “So what,” I hissed. My eyes closed while I struggled to slow my elevating breath. “We looked slightly alike, and, and that was good enough for you? I can’t believe…”
“No!” Ty shouted, cutting off my rant. “Not slightly, exactly!”
The conviction that radiated from Ty’s voice forced my eyelids to fly open. For the first time since this so-called ‘dream’ had started, I actually wanted to hear what Ty had to say. “What the hell does that mean?”
Ty stepped toward me, realizing the slight shift in my temper. Though his words rushed as if he feared I’d shut off at any moment. “After I went up to your room to call my father, you came in. Well, at least I thought you did. She looked like you in every single way. She even sounded and smelled like you. You—I mean, she—coaxed me into the bed, and I followed. I never thought for a second…” His expression strained, hands curling into fists. “Amelia, I honestly thought she was you. I would never jeopardize what we share. Never betray you in any way. You mean everything to me.”
Tuning my senses, I studied his face. There were no hints of deception. His eyes were glassy and despairing, unwavering as he held my gaze. On top of that there was no flutter to his heart, which he’d taught me was an indication of deceit. I believe him. The realization shook me like the aftershock of an earthquake. “How is that possible?” I whispered. “And who was she?”
Ty’s expression darkened. “The girl was…Marika.”
I slapped my forehead. So freaking gullible! The girl I had glimpsed had been a stark contrast to Marika and her black abyss of hair, deep brown eyes and dark-tan complexion. “Well done.” I clapped with mock applause, masking the fresh sting of barbs that pierced my heart. “I almost believed you.” The anger was rearing within me again, like a deep and sickening inferno. It engulfed my stomach, sending scorching waves snaking outward. I had to get out of here. I wouldn’t endure this revolting torture and longer. Beyond contemplation, I dug my heels into the dirt. My muscles tightened, ready to leap off the cliff.
“She’s a werewolf!” Ty’s desperate, shouted words brought me to an abrupt halt at the edge of the cliff. He continued in a breathless rush. “I didn’t know it then. Female-born lycanthropes are so rare. I never suspected.”
Shaking my head I turned, lips pinned to look at Ty. My head was pulsing with the rapid beat of my heart, fueling a confusion-driven migraine. Where is he going with this? Marika being a werewolf made her wanting to get between Ty and me understandable. Their kind was raised to despise ours. I recalled her intense argument with Troy at his party and her plea for Ty’s forgiveness in the cafeteria. At the auction I had even directed Ty to my room after she’d brought up the sleepover. She knew where to find him. All of this provided a valid motive. Still it was not enough to explain all the evidence away, the fact that the girl resembled me and not her. “Tell me how.”
Ty’s lips parted, but no sound came out. He was vanishing right before my eyes. As he did, mouthing “sorry,” my surroundings darkened. Empty blackness enveloped my body as everything became quiet and still.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I ambled from English class, our last subject for the day, feeling totally disheartened.
After last night’s dream, I had woken disorientated and utterly confused. Had any of it been real? I’d waited all day to see Ty, to catch a glimpse of him. His expression alone would give me the answer. But he had been glaringly absent from the cafeteria at lunch. I sighed. I’m seriously losing it. Losing my grip on reality…
“What’s wrong?”
The sudden voice caused my body to stiffen. Kendrick had been walking beside me this whole time. Crap. As usual, I’d been wrapped up in my own jumbled thoughts. Who I was with or what surrounded me hadn’t even been a second thought.
I shook my head and ambled down the aluminum-treaded stairs. “It’s nothing.”
Kendrick looked doubtful. His eyes slid sideways, watching me. “You didn’t sleep well.”
Surprise stole my face and my pulse jumped. “What?”
We had reached the bottom of the stairs. Students rushed left and right, wanting to escape the end of a school day as fast as possible.
Kendrick smiled. “I came in to check on you last night. You were tossing and turning and I tried to wake you. But nothing I did worked. You just mumbled incoherently and struggled harder against me. It was like you were locked in your dreams. So I just waited until you settled.” He raised his hand, thumb grazing my cheek to hook a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “The nightmare, what was it about?”
My heart skipped a beat and I looked away. How could I tell him what I’d dreamed? And that I wanted to believe that the dream itself and Ty’s ability had been real? I barely believed it myself. Hell, I was wondering if I was losing my mind. He’ll only think the same. I shook my head, forcing my eyes back up to his. “Nothing worth worrying about…”
Soft lines creased Kendrick’s face. “You don’t have to tell me. I know he st
ill haunts you.”
Kendrick’s clear perception turned my stomach. He had spent the night in my room and bed the night after Ty’s texts, his arms holding my shaking body through every waking nightmare. He was well aware of how much what Ty had done still affected me. And he was forever devoted. He’d only returned to his own room and bed last night after I claimed I’d be okay. I blinked back the tears threatening my eyes. I had to tell him. Tell him everything, about Ty, the wolves…
“Let’s go bowling,” Kendrick suggested suddenly, face brightening.
Caught off-guard I frowned as my inner thoughts of confession crumbled. “What?”
“Take your mind off everything,” Kendrick said smiling. “Have fun. You do remember fun, don’t you?”
I slapped his arm, the corners of my mouth lifting in an unrestrained smile. “Okay.” I motioned to the books cradled in my arm. “Let me dump these and I’ll meet you at the car.”
Kendrick nodded and fell in step with the throng of students heading out the building’s main doors.
I sighed again and weaved through the remaining students down the hall. Passing the procession of double-stacked lockers spanning between each classroom door, I made for my own. I felt torn apart inside. Continuing to keep secrets from Kendrick was taking its toll. A deepening pit was weighing down my stomach. Eventually I’d have to come clean, about everything.
When I reached my locker, my head was beginning to ache with a rhythmic throb. A fluorescent-pink flyer was taped to the door, announcing that there was a Creative Arts and Psychic Fair coming to town. I yanked it down, turned the combination then swung the door open. A folded piece of paper slipped from behind the TVD poster I’d taped to the door, and flitted to the ground. My eyes scanned the faces of preoccupied students moving up and down the hall, but no one was watching me. I bent to retrieve the paper and unfolded it. Inside was a note, hand-written in neat cursive.
‘Sorry I couldn’t explain everything last night. Lost without you, Ty.’
My heart clenched, tight in the hands of a vice-grip. The dream was real. Even now, I could remember every scent, every detail, and every word Ty had said. Not crazy. The relief that washed over my entire body tingled all the way down to my toes. The throbbing within my skull ceased. I ached to believe everything Ty had told me, but all the pieces weren’t in place. I needed the whole story. I needed to talk to Ty. But Kendrick was waiting for me. Calling Ty would have to wait.
~
The Portsmouth Bowl-O-Rama was raging tonight. With heating and a licensed bar, many adolescents had taken to it as their impending winter hang. Some kids I even recognized from St. Volaras.
I shrugged out of my wannabe motorbike jacket, shaking off the dusting of freshly fallen snow. Then we crossed the stained, brightly swirled carpet to stand before the front desk. It was a plywood counter that housed a computer monitor and keyboard. Its glass front revealed glossy bowling balls on individual stands.
The manager—as stated on his striped bowling shirt—looked up. “Booking?”
Kendrick shook his head, folding his arms over his favorite Three Days Grace t-shirt. “No.”
“Well, we’re packed tonight,” the manager informed. “Everything’s booked out.”
I scoured through the multicolored lights that flashed casting beams over eighteen lanes. There were only two unoccupied lanes, one and twelve.
“No,” Kendrick retorted. He pointed toward lane one without shifting his gaze from the manager. “It’s not.”
The manager followed his extended hand then looked back to him, frowning. “Already book…”
“We booked lane one,” Kendrick cut in. He leaned forward, holding the man’s eyes with his. “Kendrick Baldassare. Check your screen and you will see my name.”
Kendrick’s commanding tone drew my attention. The silver of his eyes sparked as his pupils grew, almost extinguishing his irises entirely. I jabbed him in the ribs. “What are you doing?”
Keeping his eyes locked on the manager’s, Kendrick smiled. “Trust me.”
My gaze shot back to the manager whose frown had dissipated. His head dropped to the computer screen in an almost mechanical movement. “Oh, yes. There you are.” A befuddled expression wrinkled his middle-aged face. “My mistake.” He drummed his fingers across the keyboard and glanced up. “All set. Now, what shoe sizes?”
After collecting our shoes we headed for our lane, my head swimming. The way the manager had responded to Kendrick reminded me of my only successful attempt of compulsion on the bouncer outside Pulse.
At the cabin Mom had explained compulsion. It was a form of mind control, of distorting someone’s perception of reality. She’d even tried to teach us how to use it. But like my lack of natural vampire agility, the ability to compel seemed to escape me as well as Dorian.
“Head’s up!” Kendrick’s light voice startled me.
My head snapped up. Any thoughts of compulsion shrunk as a black bowling ball hurled through the air. It was flying straight for my head. In a split second my muscles snapped into action. My hands flung up just in time to catch the black boulder. I dropped onto the u-shaped bench bordering lane one, my heart pounding. Having a ball flying through the air at my head had shocked me. And I was surprised my reflexes had reacted fast enough to catch the thing. “I can’t believe I caught that.”
“I know. You’re getting faster,” Kendrick said, pulling on his oversized bowling shoes. He stood up lifting a matching ball to mine from the ball retriever. It was the heaviest available. “Let’s bowl.”
Kendrick sauntered toward the lane, rolling his arm back before flinging the ball forward. The black ball met the buffed and oiled lane with barely a sound. It spun as it sped forward, colliding with the pins in an explosive crash. Every single pin was knocked over. Kendrick turned with a haughty smile.
“Well done,” I congratulated, still yanking on my shoes. Then with my ball in hand, I strode forward, gauging my shot. From our training at the cabin, I knew my strength lay in planning my next move. In a second my attack was set. Stance slightly right of the lane, eyes zoned just left of the ten-pin center. I curved my wrist slightly and lifted the ball to my chin, leading with my right foot. The ball flew from my grasp with the flick of my wrist, grazing the wood with a light thud. I turned to Kendrick with a pleased smile playing across my lips as the ball struck the pins with force. I heard each individual pin fall and hit. Nine of the ten had dropped.
“You missed one,” Kendrick gloated.
Unwavering confidence broadened my smile. “Oh, I don’t think so.” The last standing pin was spinning upright, but it was slowing. It wobbled audibly before it gave way and fell with a thud. Strike!
After our first game, we decided we’d worked up an appetite and ordered beef nachos. The plate arrived quickly, topped with sour cream and guacamole. As we ate, Kendrick complimented my superior development in reflexes, aim and control. But I couldn’t keep the earlier thoughts of compulsion from my mind.
In a surreal shift, the flashing lights around me faded and I was back in the alley outside the club in Anchorage. Kendrick spoke in a low even voice while forcing Joel’s attention. “You were attacked by a rabid dog. We saved your life.”
The memory faded and my eyes refocused, bringing me back to reality. I looked to Kendrick. “I want you to compel me.”
“What?” he spat, dropping the corn chip he was about to eat.
I shrugged. “I’m getting better at the other vamp stuff. So I just thought that maybe we could try again. You can show me instead of telling me how.” Kendrick’s frozen expression surged an unexpected bout of paranoia through my stomach. “Oh, crap. Have you used it on me before?
Kendrick’s brows knitted, clear hurt saddening his eyes. “Amelia, I would never—.”
“Sorry,” I said, cutting him off. I felt terrible. How could I have even thought that? I turned on the bench to face him. “Stupid question. I know you wouldn’t do that. But now I’m asking you
to. Will you show me how?”
Kendrick’s expression strained. “Are you sure?”
I nodded again and took his hands in mine. “Definitely. Compel me.”
“Alright then,” Kendrick said, still looking a tad reluctant. He stared down at our entwined fingers. “As I told you at the cabin, it’s all in the eyes. It’s the concentration of looking not just at a person’s eyes, but through them. Like you’re glimpsing into the very core of someone’s soul.” His eyes rose to meet mine. They sparkled like drops of liquid silver swimming in a sea of aqua. He took a deep breath. “Ready?”
At my nod, his irises began to rage. They looked like an impressive electrical storm, liquid silver struck through by blue-sparked lightening. The sight was so enthralling it was impossible to look away.
“Kiss me,” his ragged voice whispered while his pupils dilated.
“What? Don’t be silly…” I faltered as my expression fell slack. My want and need to refuse him dwindled like a snuffed flame.
“Kiss me,” Kendrick repeated. This time his voice was deep and commanding. It sent invisible fingertips dancing across my cheeks and down my neck. “You want to kiss me.”
The world around us faded, flashing lights replaced by an endless black abyss. Yet in the darkness, Kendrick’s eyes remained. His glossy black pupils grew until they had extinguished his silver irises entirely. Without rational thought, my body leaned forward closing the gap between us. My lips edged closer and closer, parting to graze his. I could feel the warmth of his breath tickling my lips, and taste the sweetness a single kiss would grant. There was nothing I wanted more than to press my parting lips to his full and waiting ones, eliminating any and all space between us. But a millisecond before I could take what I so inherently needed, something buzzed against my leg breaking the spell. It was my iPhone signaling a new text.
