Thank you to gothout 13 for reviewing! I know the first chapter was pretty boring... so here's one with a little more exciting-i-ness (it's my new favourite word! Do you like it?) Enjoy :) -To be honest this story will get better further on, it's just getting set up really-
Chapter 2: Home
Eve said her last farewell just before dawn, kissing Michael all too passionately for Shane and Claire's liking, but they guessed that she probably wouldn't see the three of them for a while—it was a plausible excuse.
Claire was crying as she waved her best friend off, Shane holding her in the tight capsule of his safe arms. Michael looked like he was about to cry... but it was Michael so he didn't. The three of them sadly waved as the black Cadillac pulled from the street curb to roll off, into the rest of the black tarmac street to pass other houses next to theirs.
Eve bit her trembling lip as she glanced in the mirror, watching Claire stumble backwards in the doorway and then Shane grabbed her, just before she fell to the floor. And Michael, he was watching Eve. No one else—he was just staring at the black car as it hummed out of the street and turned around the right corner.
Eve sighed, took in a deep breath and managed to keep herself together. "It's fine... I'm leaving this place now..." she told herself, erasing the images of her distraught friends from her mind. "It's good... I've my got my journalist pass and I'm leaving... without them..." She squeezed her eyes shut for a second and opened them again, blinking back the urge to shed a whole sea of tears.
She eyed the journalist pass on the passenger seat next to her. Michael had given it to her—apparently, the pass let you out of Morganville and allowed you to remember everything about it too, so it had some defence against the physic force holding memories of the vamp city from you. She hoped to God Michael was right... and she couldn't help wondering how long Michael had held the pass in his possession... and just how he'd got it–end of story.
Vampires were disappearing on the streets now, only the few that were old enough were exposed to the rising sun—others perishing or just vanishing in the heavenly white rays as they rained down over the city.
Her head ached from exhaustion even though she'd only awoken an hour and a half ago. She guessed it was because of the pain of actually leaving the ones she loved behind, and that seeming like the best answer just hurt her even more. The journey out of Morganville seemed so slow as her memories of the Glass House flashed before her, ones of being with Michael, with Shane... and then she reminded herself of the day she met Claire, when Glass House was finally complete...
She swallowed and fidgeted about in the leather seat, focusing back on the road ahead.
Another road. Another left turn. Another straight. Another left. Another right... Just winds on roads that meant nothing yet something—she didn't know how to feel about it.
Another road, another straight.
She stopped at a gate... a large, fifteen foot in the air gate with only a small lock at the bottom, presumably for some sort of key. Did she get out of the car and see what was going on or what? Or did some weirdo come up to your window like when you cross country borders? She really hadn't thought that she'd reach the edge of Morganville this quick... so she hadn't had any time to plan any speech for any 'crossing option'. Which was unfortunate.
Her azure eyes suddenly seemed like huge supernatural orbs, glued on the thick inky black doors in front of her.
A double tap on her driver window made her shoot a glance away, to face a rather gawky looking police guy... nerdy, definitely nerdy. And his colleague stood behind him, who was a typical American sheriff, complete with Miami shades, hand gun, cuffs, hat and moustache.
Eve forced a smile, the sweetest she could shoot, opening the window to meet the strangely fresh air of Morganville.
"Hello Miss," the nerdy one greeted, tipping his hat to her with the geekiest smile imaginable. "We'll let you out; only if you got your documents... like your driver's license... umm... what else will she need Kent?"
The scarier looking one stepped up next to the weedy one, his grey eyes peeking out from behind his tinted shades. "I don't think that 'lil Missy here will be needin' her documents Brett."
Eve gulped.
Shit. Now she'll never get out of here... and there's no way in hell that she could go back to Glass Houses now... not after all the trouble that the 'advert' caused...
"Why would she need any documents when Miss Rosser has this?" the scary one asked, reaching over Eve to grab her pass. "Ah... a journalist are y'girl?" Eve nodded. "Yeah, I'm doing research for Amelie. It supports the whole of Morganville."
The officers looked at each other and nodded. "In that case, I guess we'd better let you right on through. Good luck, Miss Rosser." The one with the moustache handed Eve the pass and the geeky one was unlocking the gate.
Eve sighed and rolled up her window, watching the large iron doors in front of her unfold, the world outside looking so much brighter... sunnier, more summery—Morganville's summer sucked and hardly got any sun so it was refreshing to look at. Eve had never been out of Morganville before... and now she was leaving the place. Hopefully forever... but she'd make sure she'd get the others out too. She'd definitely come back for them.
The officers waved the car through the gates with huge, creepily huge, smiles. Eve nodded and obeyed, the car gently revving and travelling out through the gates. Before she registered it, her foot was on the accelerator and she was speeding down the Texan road out of the worst place anyone could grow up in. Eve cursed and almost started crying with joy when she spotted a normal motorway, full of traffic from everywhere in America... lorries, pickups, cars, motorbikes, scooters—everything.
This was it.
This was happening.
She really would be getting out for good...
She smiled, watching the shimmering sun in the sky as it hit the shining tarmac in front of her, making each particle glisten carefully. She glanced at the car's timer—six fifteen. She would be at Collinsport sooner than she expected... but it would still take day to get there.
'Oh well,' she thought, 'No time like the present!'
Eight days later
Collinsport, Collinwood 10:06 AM
"Do you really think she will come? The advertisement was up eight days ago and we've heard nothing."
"Yes. Of course. I am certain of it. Why do you ask?"
"I just think it's a bit brash just... y'know asking someone who lives... at the other side of America, to come up to Maine and work."
The eccentric man, who was deathly pale, sat forward in his arm chair, smirking as he picked up his cup and saucer. "Do I detect a slight tip of jealousy, Carolyn?" he teased, sipping the hot steaming liquid from inside. The middle aged woman narrowed her eyes at him, standing up to leave him in peace. "Look, if the girl really craves having a job that much, surely she would take a week's drive to get to us?" he offered, calming the slightly worried woman.
Carolyn sat back down.
"Yes. I think she would. But having not seen her physically, how will we even know when she gets here? Or who she is?"
The male took another sip, staring at her with his raven orbs from behind the antique cup. "You will know, mark my words."
Carolyn nodded and swallowed, slightly afraid of what her Uncle was trying to insinuate. She stood suddenly and he frowned up at her, his young features making her feel even older as she wearily straightened her back. "I'd better go and collect Calvin from school." He nodded. "See you when you get back."
Carolyn left swiftly, making sure not to take another look at the strange, eccentric man in the leather armchair, part sipping his coffee, part viewing his stock shares. She rolled her eyes when she came back with her bag and door keys, and he was still sat, fascinated by the scores he was reading. "See you later," she called, slamming the door behind her before she heard his uninterested 'Farewell'.
He suddenly shot from his seat, to lie over the sofa, eyes slowly shutting and head slowly lolling forward... Carolyn never let him slouch around idly... but today he was bored and he'd had a restless night the other day... so he'd thought he'd have a little catch up on sleep...
Collinsport, High Street, 10:08
Eve had never driven so much in her life! Her hands ached from the steering wheel and her neck hurt from the lack of comfort in the Cadillac. The car was good for sitting in... but not for lying asleep in.
She'd felt more refreshed today however, since the amount of air she'd been inhaling the past few days was phenomenal, it'd built up and made her feel more alive. And she was almost happy now she'd woken up in her car to find herself in Collinsport. It seemed like an awesome place to her... plenty of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, shops, music clubs and there were loads more... but the fishing industry seemed the biggest outlet in the place. There seemed to be two major companies—she guessed anyway, but she was too overjoyed with being in a livelier place, that she couldn't be bothered thinking more of it.
"I'm here. After a week... and four whole damn tanks of gas... I'm here!"
Eve laughed, rolling down her windows to let the early morning (well it was like ten in the morning, apparently she'd overslept) air flow through the car.
She smiled, stepping on the accelerator as she adjusted her seatbelt. She was almost there, she just needed to find Collinwood now... whatever or wherever that was.
She drove passed more entertainment venues and other kinds of shops, mostly normal... but some were dark inside and selling Goth stuff, so she was kind of excited about that too... She was starting to love this place and suddenly remembered about Michael back in Morganville, how he couldn't actually step out of the house... and there she was, enjoying exploring her new hometown.
She swallowed back the lump in her throat and told herself to stay strong, that she would be there soon...
Collinsport, Collinwood, 10:29
A car's engine. He'd sworn he'd heard it. He suddenly sat up, rubbing his eyes tiredly, knowing that it must be Carolyn coming back with her grandson Calvin. He stretched up his arms, yawning as the sound of screeching brakes echoed from outside.
"She wasn't gone long..." he muttered, frowning at the time on the clock. "It usually takes longer than twenty-five minutes." He shrugged and tiredly strutted up a couple of stairs to reach the front door, which he always opened for her, with him being so gentlemanly.
Eve couldn't stop gawping at the size of Collinwood, at how magnificent it was. Clearly it had been rebuilt some time ago, but she was still delightfully pleased with where she was applying for a job...
Her smile grew as she jumped out of the car, pulling her clean skirt further down her legs neatly, wanting herself to seem smart (she always was with clothes) for her first impressions. God, she hoped she looked okay... and seemed okay... and sounded okay... and hoped they (whoever 'they' were) were okay too...
Eve took a deep breath, pushed her Cadillac door and turned when she heard it close. She carefully stepped up the stairs, which was difficult in six inch Goth boots, but she'd cut it down to a fine art now. She almost fainted when she knocked on the door, the sleek black varnished finish on the wooden doors fascinated her...
On her first knock the door opened, which threw her off completely.
She gasped when a rather pale male revealed himself to her, dressed smartly, old fashioned, yet in Eve's eyes, he was to die for... Pale milk white skin, dark brown—almost black—eyes, jet windswept hair, high cheekbones—his white shirt was undone at the top too, revealing just a little too much greyish flesh from beneath, and that's where Eve found herself taking her eyes away from his chest before he noticed her greedily checking him out...
"Oh... I am sorry... I-I apologize f-f-for s-s-startl-"
He stuttered for some time, clearly he was surprised to see Eve on his doorstep. She blushed, as his dark eyes skimmed over her figure, ever so slightly making her a little flattered.
"Its fine," Eve butted in, smiling as he backed away from the door slightly, avoiding the ray of light about to hit his skin from the window. "I'm Eve. Eve Rosser... I wanted to apply for the bar job. This is Collinwood right?"
He nodded, dazed (or something else she wasn't sure, he could have been on something but he seemed too...nice and good looking to be taking anything...) by something behind her—no hold on, was he looking at her?
"Ah yes. Miss Rosser! The barmaid job... of course... I-I didn't think you would be so-"
'Beautiful?' Eve thought, smirking. 'Well y'know... I can't help it... and neither can you...' The young man paused for a long time, actually seeming like was going finish his sentence with what Eve had been thinking—she could hear it on the tip of his tongue...
"-early. I apologize for the absence of my colleague, and also, I must apologize for the way I am dressed..."
"That's okay." Eve replied, finding herself smiling again. "So do I have to fill in a form or have an interview or..." He shook his head, his eyes studying her again.
"No, no. You have the job. It's yours; you have no need to be interviewed. You will need some accommodation, yes?"
She nodded her head slowly, frowning in bewilderment at the seductive-eyed male in front of her, gesturing for her to come in. She smiled as she stepped in, listening to the echo of the great hall, where a lit fireplace was, a silk couch in front of it. It looked a nice place to sit, to chill out, or lie down and...
"Allow me to show you to your room, Miss Rosser." He whispered; so close to Eve's face that she wouldn't have been surprised if he'd kissed her. She nodded, and then suddenly, he took one of her hands, in his long fingered one. "Wait! What about my suitcases?!" she said loudly, just remembering about them, all alone in the boot of her Cadillac. He smiled and started to pull her from the direction of the door. "Let me show you the room first, and then you may choose whether you will be staying here, or elsewhere..." he replied quietly, leading her to a long, sweeping staircase in the centre of the main lobby. Eve smirked, loving the way the stranger was lightly grasping her hand in his. She didn't need to be persuaded... she already knew she was going to love the place. It reeked of Gothic... of ... her.
Before they reached the first step, she suddenly halted and he turned to face her, those burning eyes scorching into her and melting her easily, like she was a candle made of wax.
"I don't want to go anywhere until I know your name."
"Eve, my dear, I must have told you?"
She shook her head, studying his mysterious eyes as they raked over her face again.
"My name is Barnabas Collins, and this," he paused, turning away to gaze at the magnificent staircase. "This is my home. And soon, it may be home to you, too."
Okay! Lame ending at the moment but there's more to come. I'm just really tired today so I'll continue it later on! Thanks for reading!
SecretSparrowTodd ;)
-Keep writing, reading and reviewing! x
