SYNCHROCITY

A Partner

I crouched behind the corner, my shoulders tense and my ears straining for the whisper of footsteps. But there was nothing. My grip on the stake in my hand tightened. It had to be just in front of me, listening for me as I was for it. I turned my head very slightly, using my peripheral vision to check that it hadn't snuck up behind me.

Suddenly, there it was. I could feel it before I saw it. The cold wave of air rushed over my body and anticipation sizzled in my nerves. If I moved at all, it would sense me, and attack. I froze my body, using the techniques we had practiced so much in class. I felt myself begin to feel faint as very little oxygen came into my brain. But I wouldn't breathe. I just wasn't going to let myself. Then, I felt the worst thing that could happen in that moment.

The top of my nose started to tingle and tighten. My eyes began to water. Oh god, I was going to sneeze. Shit, shit, shit. I blinked my eyes, and twitched my nose, taking a risk in order for it to just go away. It didn't work. I had to make a decision. Spring at it now, and sneeze while in action. Or sneeze, let it find me in a millisecond, and then try to defend myself and hack it into pieces. I didn't have enough time.

I sneezed. I swore in my head as I did. Unbelievable. How could I sneeze at a time like this? As soon as my eyes were open I could see it in front of me, mouth open, fangs bared. Even in the dim light, I could see his gray eyes, tinged by the red veins only so viciously evident when vamps were hungry. Shit. This was not going to go over well.

He came at me with his claws, growling. I socked him in the face and quickly turned to kick him in the stomach. He fell back a few feet but came at me again, with the same fervor in his eyes.

"Come girl," He said in his surprisingly smooth voice. "My fangs want to sink into your tender flesh." His tongue slipped out, as if tasting the air. "Yesssss, you will be a wonderful meal. Come dear, I haven't all day."

I flipped the stake around in my hand so that the point faced forward. I bent my neck invitingly.

"Come and get it then," I said.

The vampire grinned and darted forward. I was prepared for his speed and immediately jerked my stake up to meet his heart. I heard the crunch of bone as the stake fractured his ribs. The vamp howled in pain and glared at me murderously. He brought up his hands and one latched onto my shoulder while the other grabbed my face. His nails dug into my skin and I cried out similarly in pain. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my knife, driving it into his face. He immediately let go and I pushed him backward. He fell onto the floor and writhed in pain. I stood there and waited until his tremors stopped, then I reached forward and pulled my knife out of his cheek. It hadn't gone in very far, but it was still bloody.

I wiped it off on his clothes and then walked to the wall. I slid my fingers along it, feeling for the crack of the door. I looked straight ahead and braced myself for the nausea that had to be coming. It got less and less every time, but was still always there, taunting me as the only weakness I've ever had. I felt the bile rise to my throat, and I forced myself to swallow it down covering my mouth to make sure nothing came out. I tried to look like I wasn't about to throw up, since I knew that they were watching me through the cameras.

When the nausea passed, I wiped the sweat from my face, and knocked on the wall in front of me, hard. When nothing happened after a minute, I groaned and knocked again, not wanting to be in this dark hellhole any longer than necessary. The wall to the right of me slid open, and a calm, collected voice reached out for me.

"You missed," It said.

I felt the blood rush to my face. Damn cracks, there were too many of them. It was hard enough to find the ones for the door. But to have to tell them apart from others was perhaps even more of a challenge than killing the vamp.

I closed my eyes hard and opened them again to see Daniel leaning out of the door, watching me. I swallowed my embarrassment and walked toward him. His eyes left me and traveled to the body laid out behind me.

"Nice work," He said, a smile now playing about his lips. "The stab to the face might have been a little extreme."

"He was tearing up my face, I just stabbed his in return," I said, waiting for him to get out of the way.

He laughed at my response but still didn't move. Now his gaze had returned to me. We stood there for a moment in silence.

"Well," I said finally. "Are you going to move?"

He truly smiled now, and pulled his body back so that he was up against the wall behind him. But these walls were built for one person to walk through, so it wasn't as if I could comfortably get by.

"Thanks," I said, and brushed past him. There was no way I could avoid touching his body as I walked by. I even had to turn sideways to get through. And I knew he was doing it on purpose.

"They want to talk to you," He said as we walked through the hall.

I stopped walking and I heard Daniel stop just behind me. The walls were lined with Christmas lights, and so were not incredibly illuminated, but there was enough light was there to see where you were going.

"They want to talk to me?" I asked. He nodded solemnly.

"Well, where are they?"

"I can take you to them," He said, and then waited for my response.

Of course I was going to have to ask him to tell me. It's not like I could have gotten there myself.

"Ok then," I said, my patience beginning to wane. "Can you take me?"

A grin immediately popped up on his face.

"Sure," He said. "Follow me."

And of course, following him meant needing to get behind him, which meant he had to brush by me to get in front. I caught the small grin on his lips and he scooted by.

I entertained the thought of letting him walk off while I ran the other way, but if the council had called me, I had to go to them.

It seemed like forever until Daniel turned and led me down a different hallway. Finally, he stopped at a door that was barely noticeable. He turned to smile at me and knocked on the door with his knuckles.

"Do you know why they're calling me?" I asked him, trying not to let my nerves show. After the practice vamp killings each week, we usually just went back home. Council callings were not common at all.

"I think they're assigning you a partner," Daniel said. The smile had left his face.

"Why aren't you happy about that?" I said, almost smiling at his scowl.

"Because they didn't choose me," Daniel said, still very serious.

I tried not to laugh.

"They wouldn't partner me with a guy," I said. "Heterosexual partnerships aren't the thing around here."

Daniel's eyebrows raised, "Well I've heard some things. Just let me know how it all turns out."

The door slid open, revealing a long table inside, around which many old and seasoned vamp slayers sat. Daniel raised his hand to his brow and flipped it upward in goodbye. Then he turned and loped down the hall.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside. It was completely silent and all eyes were turned toward me. There were only about ten people in the room but I felt as though I was under the scrutiny of thousands. I took a quick survey of the room, as I had been taught since I was fourteen.

"Arabella Fronter," A warm voice said.

I cringed at the use of my full name. My teeth clamped onto my tongue before I could blurt out, "just call me Ally." I nodded my head in acknowledgement to my name.

"Do you know why we have brought you here today?" The voice asked. My eyes drew to the head of the table, where the man who was speaking sat.

"No," I said quietly.

The man nodded, and continued.

"It has been decided that you are ready to be assigned to a partner."

My heart leapt in my chest. This was what I had been working toward for the past four years.

"We would like to introduce you to him," He said.

My heart stopped leaping. Him? I was actually being partnered with a man?

My shock stopped me from asking why, and I didn't even notice when someone stepped out from the shadows behind the head man.

"Please meet Zachariah Gery," the man said, extending his hand out to indicate the man.

At his name I looked up, and met his gaze. It was shuttered and cold. It did not look like he was happy about being partnered with me. Just my luck.

Even with his closed expression, he was attractive, with his long eyelashes and intense blue eyes and dark hair. But his face was so, hard. So tough, so weathered. Even so, he didn't look that much older than me. Maybe twenty-two at the most.

The whole council room was dead silent as Zachariah and I stared at each other. I finally broke the silence.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand," I said, pulling my gaze away. "I was under the impression that when I was partnered with someone, it would be a female."

The man listened to my complaint and immediately countered it.

"That would normally be the case," He said. "But we have been studying you, watching you for the past year or so. And we truly believe you have the potential to be great."

He stopped there and expected that to answer everything. That wasn't really going to work for me. I shook my head.

"I'm sorry, I still don't understand," I said. "Many slayers have been great with the same gender. I just don't know why I'm an exception."

The man's mouth curled up in a grin, "Female-male partnerships always have great advantages and disadvantages. We believe that you have the willpower to ensure that the disadvantages will not be a problem in your partnership."

In my head, I grumbled. It would have been a lot easier if my partner had been ugly. I bowed to the council, as was always called for.

"Thank you," I said. And then turned on my heel to walk out the door. When the door did not open, I felt my face heat up.

"Ah, we are not done yet Miss Fronter," The man said, amusement coloring his tone.

"Great," I whispered to myself, and then turned back to the council.

"How may I further serve you?" I asked courteously.

"You have done very well, and trained very hard," the man said, his face serious. "But now you must train harder. You must utilize your partner and find all the ways you can use each other to defeat your enemies."

I nodded briskly, refusing to look at Zachariah. I waited for him to keep speaking, but the room remained silent. I pursed my lips to keep from asking whether we were done yet. After a few minutes of this silence, the man smiled and spoke.

"Your training begins tomorrow. Do not be late."

I bowed again, glad the conversation was over.

"Thank you council," I murmured and turned toward the door, hoping it would open this time.

It did. I let out a pent up breath of relief. As soon as I walked out the door, I realized I was not completely sure of how to get back. I closed my eyes and tried to remember.

"Do you need help getting back?"

I turned around. Zachariah was standing just behind me. His voice was as formal as his eyes. I immediately moved aside so that he would be able to come out into the hall as well.

"No thank you," I said, trying to be as cold and polite as he was. "I can find my own way."

His eyes narrowed, "We're partners now, we can't be afraid to ask for help from each other. Our paths are entwined."

My eyebrows raised. For someone who didn't seem happy about being partnered with a woman, he seemed to be interested enough that we work together as a team. And man, was he cheesy.

"Ok then," I said. "Please show me the way back."

For the barest second I thought a saw a smile form in the corner of his mouth, but it disappeared so quickly, I couldn't be sure. He turned into the hallway on the right and began walking.

As I followed behind I admired his walk. It was very graceful, and very quiet. If I stopped walking I was sure that I would not be able to hear his footsteps. I sighed. He must be a great slayer. I almost felt sorry that he had to be trapped here with me.

"What did you think of your kill today?" He asked suddenly. He must have been watching my practice with the council. I thought for a moment, gathering my answer.

"The vampire was starving," I said finally. "It affected his actions and he did stupid things a fed vampire would never do."

"I agree," came the curt response. "So would you consider that kill easy?"

"Well," I began slowly. "Starved vampires are dangerous because they'll stop at nothing to drink your blood. But that is also their weakness. They do not think because they are so hungry."

I paused, waiting for him to contradict me but when he did not speak, I continued.

"It was probably a medium kill for me," I said quietly. "But I am sure you have experienced much worse."

He still did not reply. I silently followed him, trying to mirror his walk and not make noise whatsoever. We passed the rest of the walk in this way. Him leading, silent and graceful as a panther. I followed, trying to be a panther, but only succeeding to sound like an elephant in the quiet hallways. In my concentration, I failed to see that Zachariah had stopped. I ungracefully plowed into him. We both grunted.

"Sorry," I said automatically. Jeez, he was hard. He probably actually hurt me more than I hurt him. I immediately jumped back and, unsurprisingly, tripped backwards. I was extremely grateful that the lights were not bright enough to show my red face. I was usually never so clumsy. That was my pride. Why did it have to go wrong while he was here?

He extended a hand out to me to help me get up as I sat dejected on the floor.

"Thanks," I grumbled and grasped his hand. A shock ran through me as my palm touched his. My eyes widened as he pulled me up into a standing position. As soon as I was up, he let go. He immediately looked at his palm, and then nodded. What was that about?

"They were right," He said quietly.

"What?" I asked, leaning over to see his palm. But he dropped his hand before I could see anything.

"It's in your own palm as well," Zachariah said. I quickly raised my palm to my face. For a second I didn't see anything. But then I realized, that was just it. There was nothing. No lines, no cracks. It was just, smooth.

"What happened?" I asked in wonder.

"The council says that it happens when you meet your true partner," Zachariah said, just as quiet and calm as before. "The lines of your palm disappear, because your life can no longer be dictated by fate."

I let my fingers close over my palm and then dropped it, my hand still curled in a fist.

"But I've never heard of this before," I said, looking up at his face. "None of my teachers mentioned this."

He kept his focus on the wall in front of him, "Because most partnerships are well matched, but not destined to be together. It is hard to find that sort of pair."

It sounded like the corniest thing I'd ever heard. But Zachariah wasn't serenading me with lines from a love story. His face was a complete mask of solemnity.

"How can they tell?" I asked. Zachariah turned and began walking again. I hastened to follow.

"My birthday is on June 21st," Zachariah said. "Yours is on December 6th. We are perfect opposites."

I almost laughed, "That's all it's determined by? Our birthdays?!"

"That, and the fact that we are opposite genders, and we are both trained as vampire slayers," Zachariah said.

"Then wouldn't you think that it wouldn't be rare to find such a couple?" I asked. "There are plenty of people born on opposite days of each other."

"But many of them are not trained as you and I are in vampire slaying," Zachariah said. "We have a very small community of vampire slayers. As you might have noticed, it's very hard to even find female vampire slayers."

I remained silent as I processed his information. Then my mind drifted to another question.

"What are the disadvantages that the council brought up?" I asked.

"The physical attraction between a man and a woman," Zachariah said almost immediately.

"There are no other disadvantages than that?" I said.

"No," He said. "But it is a great disadvantage. Like when a vampire is starving. You no longer think, you just act."

Fearing that he may be growing agitated at all of my questions, I remained silent until we reached the door I knew would open into my house. Zachariah nodded at me and then walked off in the direction we had come. If I had not been watching him, I would have thought he had disappeared. I sighed once he was gone. What I would give to be as noiseless and graceful as him.

I opened the door and slipped into the house I shared with five other vamp slayers, all of which were boys. I quickly checked my watch. It was around 4:20 AM. We rose and slept as the vampires did, so that we would never be at a disadvantage. Since it was four, it meant that some people could still be up, and some might be drifting asleep.

I tiptoed up the stairs, knowing that someone would probably be sleeping on the couch right next to where I was coming up. As I reached the top, I leaned to the left to see who was occupying the couch tonight. It was Dustin. I smiled, grateful that he was asleep. Dustin, or Dusty, was from Texas, and I adored his Texan drawl but being a teenage boy, he was a little overbearing at times.

I tiptoed again, up the next flight of stairs and was almost safe to my room when a shadow stalked toward me. This had happened enough times that I knew how to react.

"James," I said calmly, trying not to be loud.

A grin appeared on his tan face.

"I heard you got yourself a partner," James said. I nodded, hoping he would let me pass.

"I heard he was a guy," He said, his smile growing wider.

I gritted my teeth. Who knew men gossiped so much.

"I'll tell you about it in the evening," I said. "I really need some sleep."

James studied my face for a moment, and then stepped aside to let me pass.

"In the evening," He said as a confirmation and then disappeared into his own room.

Since I was the only girl in the house, I got my own room, while most of the guys had to share rooms and bathrooms. I breathed a sigh of relief as I opened the door to my room. Of course, there was a note resting on my bed. I picked it up and read it.

"Ally. Hey, I heard you were assigned to a partner today. Congrats. Wish it had been me, but then I realized that you would have been too distracted by my charm and good looks. Talk to you in the morning. -Ricky"

I rolled my eyes. Ricky was housemate number 3. The two others, George and Kevin, had undoubtedly sent me emails and would likely also attack me in the morning. They were sometimes like a group of mother hens, as crazy as it sounds. I didn't even bother checking my emails, knowing that they would be full with questions and congratulations from the slayers at school. I just didn't want to see it. I wanted to change for bed, and then sink into my comforter, and then sleep like there was no tomorrow.

I tugged off my shoes and then shuffled into the bathroom.