by Mandi Oyster
I closed my eyes and nodded slightly. “I didn’t think you would.” I huffed. “I had to try, though.”
“Appreciate the attempt.” He brushed my hair back. Then he wiggled his eyebrows while saying, “You can try again later.”
Images from my nightmare popped into my head. If it had been a premonition, it would come true tonight. Even though I doubted he’d give in, I’d have to try again. Somehow, I needed to keep him safe. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
Diamond in the Rough was filled with people I had lived by all my life but never really known. I felt self-conscious walking in there. I shouldn’t have; nobody paid any attention to me. A few people waved to Cody, but I might as well have been invisible.
While we waited for our waitress to bring our food, Cody said, “Your parents told everybody not to bring gifts, but I wanted to give you something.”
He handed me a small box wrapped in dark purple with a silver bow. Careful not to rip the paper, I opened it. The jewelry box was small. I figured it was earrings, but when I opened the lid, a ring sparkled up at me.
Cody drummed his fingers on the table. “It’s a promise ring.”
“It’s beautiful, Cody. Thank you.” I whispered over the lump forming in my throat. Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes. I didn’t deserve his affection. I couldn’t believe that after I kissed Mavros he still wanted to give me this.
“Not as beautiful as you—” he took the ring out of the box and slipped it on my finger “—but you’re welcome.”
I held my hand out in front of me, admiring it. The gold band was thin. A small oval diamond was offset by rubies and smaller diamonds. It was delicate looking and perfect. Smiling at him, I asked, “What does it promise?”
His eyes sparkled. “That I’ll love you forever. That I’ll be there through the ups and downs and everything in between. That one day I’ll make you my wife.” He reached across the table, brushing his fingers along my cheek. “And anything else you want it to promise.”
“Anything?”
He nodded.
“That you’ll stay away tonight?” I held my hand over his.
He pulled away. “Anything but that.”
Throughout breakfast, I kept glancing at the ring on my finger. It was a beautiful, unexpected gift.
Cody and I spent the whole day together, enjoying each other’s company. We did our best to keep conversation light and avoid the subject of Mavros until Samantha and Dan arrived. As luck would have it, we met them in the park where I’d first encountered Mavros.
When we drove through the park gates, my stomach lurched, and my heart raced. The air in the car thickened, becoming impossible to breathe. I gasped, but the only response was a tightening in my chest.
Cody rubbed my neck. “Breathe, Dacia.”
“Can’t,” I said around the catch in my throat.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not.” This was the place I’d met Mavros. I was afraid he’d be here, afraid of what he’d do to Cody.
Cody drove slowly, whispering to me, trying to soothe me while he looked for Samantha and Dan. We found them sitting at a picnic table, holding hands. The sight of them helped ease my anxiety.
They made such a cute couple. Samantha was petite with friendly, soft brown eyes and long, brown hair. Dan was about an inch shorter than Cody with broad shoulders, auburn hair, and an angel’s smile.
When I stepped out of the car, I saw the surprise on their faces. It seemed they weren’t aware that it was no longer a surprise party. “So, you’re painting this weekend, huh?” I said, giving Samantha a hug. “It’s good to see you.”
“Yeah, I had to come up with something.” She sounded a little embarrassed. “Your mom said it was a surprise party.”
“It was—” Cody shook Dan’s hand “—‘til Dacia had a nightmare.”
The picnic table sat over a graveled area, keeping the grass from growing underneath it. I kicked at the rocks, not wanting to look at anybody. “I met my next adversary, and in my dream, he tried to kill Cody at my birthday party. It … uh … gave the secret away, but my parents don’t know it isn’t a surprise.”
“So, did you meet him in real life or just in your dream?” Dan asked.
I tugged a shaking hand through my hair. “No, I met him here of all places.”
“What is it this time?” Samantha asked.
I looked at Cody. I knew it would hurt him when I told them about Mavros, and I felt horrible for it.
“Go ahead.” He waved his hand at me. “I’ll be okay.”
Dan and Samantha shot us curious looks but didn’t say anything.
The picnic table was in a clearing, surrounded on three sides by trees. I scanned the area, looking for anything out of place. Small animals, insects, and birds filled the forest with the usual sounds. A bunny munched on clover. It seemed safe.
I sat down on the bench and folded my arms over the table. Cody stood beside me, staring into the trees.
I focused on my hands, not daring to meet anybody’s gaze. “Mavros Malkin is gorgeous, and when he looks into my eyes, I can’t think about anything but him. All I want is for him to touch me.”
“Oh,” Samantha said at the same time Dan said, “That’s not good.” Their expressions were identical masks of sorrow as they looked from me to Cody.
“When he first appeared, he was a mist that slowly transformed into a tall, dark, handsome man. He wants me to be his friend.”
“Friendship’s good.” Samantha shrugged, lifting her hands like she didn’t see the problem.
“For eternity.” Those two words gave me the heebie-jeebies. I rubbed my arms and cringed when my fingertips came too close to my wound. “But I don’t think I need friends like him. I’m not sure what he is, but when the mist was near me, I could sense it was evil.”
Samantha placed her hand on Cody’s arm. She looked up at him, then lowered her gaze to the ground. “So, how do you fight someone or something like that?”
“I don’t know how to fight him.” I stared at my hands. “I don’t even know how to resist him. All I know is that if my dream was a premonition, he’ll show up at my party tonight, and all Hell will break loose.”
“What she means is: I’ll find them … together. He’ll kill me. She’ll try to revive me. Won’t work.” Cody’s face remained an emotionless mask, but his eyes grew cold and hard.
“I’m sorry, Cody.” I reached for his hand, but he sat beside me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder careful not to touch my wound.
“You’ve got your own demons.” He rested his head on top of mine. “Don’t worry about mine.”
“Just drop me off, then leave.”
“When I said try again, didn’t mean like this.” His voice sounded light, but pain flickered in his eyes.
“Aurelia is supposed to be here sometime today.” I siphoned off some of Cody’s strength without meaning to. As soon as I realized I was doing it, I tightened the leash on my powers. “I’m hoping she has some answers. Maybe she can tell me what Mavros is and give me some idea of how to stop him.”
Dan shot me a mirthless smile. “Well, we’ll do whatever we can to help you.”
“I’m not sure if we can do anything except be here for you.” Samantha reached across the table and squeezed my fingers.
“That’s good enough.” A heartfelt smile curved my lips. “Friends make everything easier.”
“What does Mavros want anyway?” Samantha asked.
“Me,” I said like that was obvious.
“Yeah … but why?” Dan flipped his hands up.
The wind picked up, and I wondered for a minute if it was my doing. “Oh, uh, I really don’t know.”
“I’m sure we’ll find out,” Samantha said, “but,
now for more important things. Was that a ring I saw on your finger when you reached for Cody’s hand?”
“Yeah, a promise ring.” I lifted my hand, and a smile spread across my face. “Cody gave it to me this morning.”
“Wow … that’s beautiful.” She looked at Dan. It was a look that said your turn.
“It was quite a surprise.” I dropped my hand below the table and rubbed Cody’s leg. “There’s more to tell you since you’re staying with me. I’ve been attacked by a monstrous black-panther-thing a couple times, and I’ve been having nightmares.”
“Not good.” Dan rubbed his chin. “Is the panther a dream?”
“Yes, but I’ve also survived its attacks twice already.”
The blood drained from Samantha’s face. “Do you think you’re going to have to deal with them both at the same time? Is there some connection?”
“I’m not sure what’s going on.” I tried to sound nonchalant, but my voice wavered. I pointed at my arm. “The panther attacked me yesterday. It isn’t healed. Mavros showed up right after that and helped get me in my house. He tried to get me to let him in, but I wouldn’t. He said he couldn’t enter.”
Cody squeezed my shoulder but didn’t say anything.
“So, he’s a vampire?” Samantha shook her head like she couldn’t believe she was even saying it.
The bunny darted into the trees. My grip on Cody’s leg tightened in response. Fear curled in my stomach. The others watched me. I shook my head. “Something tells me no.”
“Then what?” She rubbed her chin.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged, and my arm pulsed in response. “I’m hoping Aurelia can answer that for me.”
“It sounds like you’re having an eventful summer.” Dan shot me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sorry we haven’t been here to help you.”
“It’s okay.” As much as I wanted them nearby, my life was a mess. “You’re safer when you’re not around me.”
We hung out at the park as long as we could without Mom worrying whether or not Samantha and Dan would make it to my party on time. After the initial conversation, we moved onto more pleasant topics, like how the last two weeks had been for them and what they’d been up to. It was good to see the two of them, and I felt a little weight lift off my shoulders when I explained to them about what had been going on with me.
“Don’t forget to be surprised when you see us.” Samantha leaned out the window to remind me.
“I’ve been working on my acting for the last week. It’s hard to hide all of this”—I waved my hand through the air—“from my parents. Anyway, as far as Mom and Dad are concerned, I seem to be a fairly good actress.”
After Samantha and Dan left, my anxiousness returned. Would Aurelia arrive in time? Would she be able to help me stop Mavros, or was I on my own this time?
“Just contact her,” Cody instructed.
“Hey, I thought I was the mind reader,” I said, acting indignant.
Cody shrugged. “I know you.”
“Yeah, probably better than anyone else.” I wrapped my hand around his arm and laid my head on his shoulder. “I’ll wait. I’ll see her tonight.”
“So, uh …”
“What?” I sat up and looked at him.
His mouth opened and closed. He dragged a hand down his face before looking at the ground. When his voice managed to come out, it was quiet and broken. “Shouldn’t ask, but I need to.” He looked up at me, his eyes begging me to understand. “How does he persuade you? If I’m gonna see it, I’d like to know.”
“You don’t have to see it.” I ran my hand down his arm, but he just stared at me, waiting. “Are you sure, Cody?”
“Not knowing is worse than what you’ll tell me.” His hand trembled as he ran it through his hair. It fell down flawlessly feathered. “I’ve imagined you with this perfect man in a hundred different scenarios. Just tell me … please.”
“First, I have to tell you, he is not a perfect man. He is beautiful but far from perfect.”
“Okay.”
“Second, if you’re going to picture me with the perfect man, it shouldn’t be too difficult.” I tried to smile at him, but his anguish made it hard. “I’m with him right now.”
“Thanks.” He entwined his fingers with mine.
“Well, uh … are you sure, Cody?”
He nodded in response.
In his eyes, I saw the pain he tried to hide, and I wished there was some way I could console him. “A very passionate kiss”—shame burned my face—“that I initiate.”
“At least I know.”
“I hope not.” I looked away, unable to hold his gaze. “I’m hoping it wasn’t a premonition.”
“Yeah, there’s always that,” he said, but he didn’t sound convinced.
When we arrived at my house, everything looked normal including Cody’s expression. Somehow, he managed to conceal his true emotions. Jealousy, fear, apprehension, and misery were no longer visible on his face. He looked like the same old, good-natured Cody.
I stared at my house, the yellow two-story I’d lived in since I was six. The wrap-around porch made it look warm and inviting. I wondered where all the guests had parked. There was no evidence that partygoers waited inside.
Cody took my hand in his. “Ready?”
“Not really.” I shook my head. “How about you?”
“No.” He squeezed my fingers and opened his door. “No choice.”
As we walked through the doorway, a chorus of “surprise” rang out. The living room was full of relatives that had never seemed to like me, neighbors I didn’t know, and the few people in my life that I called my friends.
I didn’t have to act like I was surprised. Sarah, the Dean of Phlox University, and Aurelia stood next to Samantha and Dan. I hadn’t expected Sarah to be here. She was a middle-aged woman with graying hair and soft hazel eyes. On campus, she was my mentor and surrogate mother.
Aurelia stood out in any crowd. She was beautiful, tall, and slender with long golden hair, cat-like yellow eyes, and sparkly skin. She was a gold dragon in human form.
My heart lightened when I saw the two of them, and for the first time, I felt like I might be able to handle the upcoming night.
“Wow.” I looked around the room taking everybody in.
Mom and Dad moved over to hug me. “Happy birthday,” they said in unison.
“Thank you,” I said with a smile. “So, is this why Cody kept me out all day?”
“Yeah, we had a lot to do,” Dad said. “We’ve never had a surprise party before.”
“It takes a lot of work and coordination,” Mom added.
“This is great.” I held onto Cody’s hand, hoping his touch would center me.
“The party is actually out back.” Mom turned and led the way through the room to the sliding glass door. “Why don’t we head on out?”
As I walked across the room, I hugged or shook hands with all the well-wishers I passed. When I made it to Aurelia, she pulled me close and whispered in my ear, “Dan and Samantha caught Sarah and me up to speed.”
“Thanks,” I told her trying to be inconspicuous. “We’ll talk outside.”
She sniffed as she pulled away. “You are injured.”
I nodded. All of the hugging I’d done since getting home made my arm throb. I tried to put it out of my mind, but the pain pulsated with every beat of my heart, and the wound burned with fever.
Stepping onto the deck, I was amazed by the transformation of the backyard. The landscaping was always beautiful, but with the decorations my parents put up, tonight it was magical. Paper lanterns hung over an area that had been set aside for food and dancing. Many of the trees were covered in twinkle lights. The koi pond reflected the lights surrounding it.
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A DJ played soft background music. Tables were set up on the outskirts of the dance floor. One table off to the side was covered in fruit trays, sandwich trimmings, chips, and dips. In the center of it was a spectacular tiered cake.
It was all too much for me. I wasn’t used to this kind of attention, and if Mavros showed up, tonight wasn’t the best night to have so many witnesses.
While I took everything in, Cody’s family came up to me. Susan pulled me into a hug. “Happy birthday!” She patted my back. “Brent and I are so happy you and Cody finally started dating.”
“Thank you.” A genuine smile spread over my face. “Did you see what he gave me?” I stepped back and held out my hand.
Brent and Susan looked from my ring to Cody. “Promise ring.” He grinned at them.
“Very nice,” Susan said.
Brent patted my back. “He’s a lucky guy.”
“Thanks, but I’m the lucky one.” I grabbed Cody’s hand, not wanting him to get away from me.
Cody’s siblings all wished me a happy birthday before darting off.
While Brent and Susan talked to me, I kept thinking how much they’d hate me if they saw me with Mavros and how torn apart they’d be if Cody died.
It took longer than I would’ve liked, but we finally made our way to Samantha, Dan, Sarah, and Aurelia. They sat at a table away from everyone else. “I’m so glad you’re all here.” I’d said that a lot tonight, but this time I meant it.
“Aurelia told me it’s beginning anew.” Sarah patted my hand. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this again, but I thought maybe I could help you out. I need a few students to come back to campus early to help me get ready for the new semester.” She winked. “I thought maybe the four of you would be interested.”
The tension in my shoulders instantly eased. Leave it to Sarah to help me out of a bad situation. I didn’t want Mavros or the panther anywhere near my parents, and I didn’t want them to keep worrying about my nightmares. “That would be perfect.”
“I’ll have to talk to my parents.” Samantha grinned at Dan, and I knew she was excited about the possibility of spending more time with him. “I don’t know how willing they’ll be to have me go back, but hopefully, I can talk them into it.”
