Chapter 3
An hour later, I parked in the Robinton's driveway. Looking at the two story house, I couldn't help but feel a small sense of home sickness. Even after living here for five years, it still was not home. I shook off my melancholy state. I should be grateful to just have a home with a roof over my head and a bed to sleep on.
I sat in the car—not bothering to turn the engine off—letting the heater blow warm air on my face. I thought of Darien's last words; 'Sometimes, ignorance is bliss, Rebecca.' I scrubbed my hands over my face as if to wash away the sleep that threatened to take me.
I knew exactly what he meant. There were many things in this world that I wish that I had never known; things that I had heard or have done myself. Ignorance really was bliss. It's probably best that I didn't know what was in those bushes, I didn't need anymore nightmares.
I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Four-thirty A.M. I groaned. It was a good thing I didn't have to work today. I turned the car off and stepped out into the cold morning air. I walked up the drive to the door, trying not to trip on the steps. I was so busy trying to find the right key for the door that I never noticed the person looking at me through the window in the door. Just as I found the right key someone opened the door.
"Rebecca?" a male voice questioned.
"Good morning, Will," I managed to choke out. My heart was beating frantically. My nerves must be really frayed, I thought. I never used to scare so easily. Will Robinton looked concerned for a moment, and then a mischievous smile took over his features.
"Did I scare you?" He was highly amused, alright. "Well, that has got to be a first around here. It's usually the other way around. It takes a lot to scare you most of the time, but maybe you're starting to soften up." Will's smile had grown wider and he looked absolutely pleased with himself. I rolled my eyes. How could a thirty something year old man behave like such a…teenager. I smiled a little at my analogy.
"Ha! It will be a long time before I soften up," I teased him as I walked through the doorway. "When it comes to scares I am the master. Do you remember last Halloween?" Going super Goth had helped the scare factor in the house supremely.
"I remember," Will said dryly. "All you had to do was look at someone and they would faint in horror."
"Thank you," I replied smugly. We walked into the kitchen, both of us heading for the fridge. Will reached it first and, knowing what I wanted, handed me the orange juice. Saying thanks I got two glasses from the cupboard. Pouring the juice into the glasses, I savored the sweet and tangy scent that always seemed to permeate the juice. Though, I had to admit with a rueful grin, Darien smelled much better.
"I take it your midnight ride was relaxing?" Will asked as I handed him a glass. I put on my most innocent unexpecting air about me, as I leaned on the counter.
"Yes, it was… relaxing." More like emotional… exciting…dangerous. And it was strange but I did think that whenever I was with Darien I was in some sort of danger, not that I cared. I hid my smile with my glass taking big swigs of the tangy orange goodness.
"That's good, I guess." A frown marked his face and Will the father came out. "Rebecca, you know I don't like you going on these little night rides. Their dangerous. What if you become too tired and fall asleep at the wheel or a herd of deer startles you and you wreck? I don't like to think of the possibilities but they pop into my mind whenever I know you're out there. It scares me a little."
I was touched. Will had always been a father figure to me over the past five years, and he always let it be known that I was like his third daughter, but it always surprised and moved me when he showed fatherly concern for me.
"I know," I muttered, "but I promise you that one, if I ever feel sleepy I will pull over instead of driving farther. And two, I never panic if something runs in front of me on the road. I freeze instead freaking out. I guess it's just in my nature." Mom was always the calm one in the family; never panicking, just calm and orderly. "Besides, these midnight rides always calm me down whenever something is wrong." Bad choice of words.
Will was immediately concerned. He sat up straighter in his seat. "Is something wrong, honey? Has something happened?" He looked as if he were ready to call the Calvary.
"No, no." I said hastily, "Nothing's wrong. I had a bad dream last night and couldn't relax. That's why I went on the drive. But no, nothings wrong." This seemed to placate him. But only a little.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Will asked. I thought on it. Tell Will about the crazy nightmare where something had a hold of Darien and a beast out of a mythology book is out to get me, all the while I'm holding a strange black dagger that I had seemed to have memorized every detail of? Nope, I'll pass.
"It was just a weird dream. Nothing to worry about." A chill went through me as I was talking, as if those words might come back to haunt me. I shook the notion away. "And speaking of dreams I am going to go and hit the sack. Have fun at work, Will." Being the lawyer that he is, I knew he would.
"Always do. Have good dreams this morning, okay, Beck?" He knew I was evading. It was really a bummer when someone has known you since you were in diapers. You can't keep anything from them.
"I always try," I threw over my shoulder as I walked up the stairs. Reaching the hallway at the top of the stairs, I took a left that would take me to my room. The hallway was dark and it was easy to imagine something hiding in the black shadows. I shook my head trying to rid myself of the morbid thoughts.
Stopping at my door, I saw the light filtering in from underneath. Remembering that I had turned my light off before I had left, I almost groaned. I hoped and prayed that it was Brendon in my room and not Aurielle or Lilly Fae. I just did not have the strength to deal with them at this moment. I sighed in relief when I opened the door. Brendon was sprawled across the little black loveseat against the wall, my laptop resting on his stomach. He looked up from whatever website he was browsing and gave me a smile.
"Hey Sis," he muttered sleepily. Ever since I officially became a part of his family, Brendon always refused to call me anything but Sis. He was that close of a friend. Brendon stretched and then rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He got a good look at me. Whistling he arched his eyebrows, "Dang, Sis, what happened? You look like you've been dragged around the world and back in one night." Huh, I must have been more tired than I realized.
"No, Bro, there was no dragging, just a bed of bad dreams." I gave him a wry smile. "But a nice long drive on this beautiful December morning has cleared my head and I am now ready to crash for the day." I threw my coat in the closet too tired to hang it up. It would survive a few wrinkles. I turned back to Brendon and saw the same concerned look that his father had had a few minutes ago. Like father like son. Literally. Brendon had Will's bright blonde hair, grey-blue eyes, and six foot four broad frame. And like his father I knew what was coming. I beat him to the punch.
"Save it. Will has already beaten you on the driving at night lecture." He glared at my smug expression.
"What do you do when you go on those drives anyway," a teasing glint appeared in his eyes. "Do you drive around doing nothing? Oh! Wait. I bet you go and hang out with your vampire friends." I turned and stared at Brendon, and for the second time that night a chill ran through me. Any other time and I would have snarled back a sarcastic comeback but instead it triggered an old memory, one I had almost forgotten. I had to have been eleven at the time.
The book was titled "How to Catch a Vampire". My heart beat faster and faster as I contemplated the ways on how to beg Mom into letting me have it. My very own vampire!
"So you like vampires, eh, Little One?" a rough Irish voice sounded behind me. I spun around, clutching the book to my chest. "Well, do you?"
"Yes, sir," I replied, a little shyly. The man standing before me was old but very clean. He had a dark blue sweater on with black slacks that had been ironed precisely. His shoes were shiny and polished black. His face was very craggy. He had a head full of snow white hair and a thick beard to match. His eyes were almost the same color of his hair they were so light a blue. But where the rest of him said old his eyes said young and were full of vigor.
He chuckled a little. "Well, Little One, you won't be catching any vampires with that book." I straightened and turned defiant.
"Why not?" I asked stubbornly, "The book says I will, and it says it has all the facts." He chuckled again.
"Little One, just because a book says they have the facts doesn't mean their telling the truth. Nay, in fact, the vampires in that book are a lie." I gasped at that. I looked down at the cover of the book I had admired and coveted less than a minute ago. Now all I saw was a cheesy picture of a phony vampire in a Dracula costume and fake teeth. I was disappointed. I dejectedly placed the book back on the shelf with the others. I could feel the tears starting to well up.
The old man knelt down next to me and lifted my chin up with a finger.
"Do'not cry, Little One, for there are real vampires in the world. They just don't look like the ones in those silly pictures."
"Really?" I asked, hopeful again. "There're really are vampires?" He chuckled.
"Aye, child really." He paused. "Would you like me to tell you about them?"
"Oh! Would you please!?" I pleaded, clasping both of my hands together in front of me.
"Let's go sit on that bench over there, Little One. My bones are not as young as yours and they need rest. Then I shall tell you how to spot a real vampire." I grabbed his hand and led him to the closest bench a few feet away. He looked a little startled by my boldness but then his face relaxed into a small smile. We settled ourselves on the bench. I scooted as close to him as I could so I wouldn't miss a detail.
"First things first, Little One," he began, "real vampires don't have fangs."
I gasped. "They don't? Then what do they have?"
"They have teeth like you or me, only there're razor sharp. Now no more interruptions or I'll not tell the story, aye?"
I nodded, pressing my lips together to make sure that no sound escaped.
"Alright, now where were we…ah! The teeth! Their teeth are not only sharp but very venomous. One little slice and your infected. I won't go into the details on that though, Little One. A little too much for someone your age I think.
"A vampire has extremely white skin, white like the chalk a teacher uses. Their skin is ice cold and hard to the touch. They can be unbelievably beautiful, no matter what their age. Vampires never sleep as well, Little One, not in coffins or anything else. They are eternally awake. They have unnatural speed and strength, almost like Superman I guess you could say. They are impervious to anything as well. They can go out into sunlight but they do not like direct sunlight. No, Little One, it doesn't hurt them, just exposes them for what they really are. They like to keep themselves a secret.
"Now each vampire has a special gift of their own. Some can read minds, others can see the future. Not all vampires have such extraordinary gifts. Say if a human had a great deal of compassion or kindness, when they become a vampire they bring that over with them, only now it's tenfold of what it was. " He stopped then and the sudden intense look on his face made me a little afraid.
"But the way you know a vampire is through his eyes!" the old man said fervently, "Their eyes always give a vampire away, for when they feed off human blood their eyes will be crimson red. Never trust someone with red eyes, Little One, never!" He calmed a bit then, as if realizing that he may be getting carried away. "But not all vampires are bad. There are a few who do not wish to harm humans and they want to keep what is left of their humanity, so instead of feeding off humans the hunt animals. Deer, elk, bears, cougars, any wildlife or livestock they can feed off of. Little One, you can tell these good vampires from the bad because these certain vampires have eyes of golden amber instead of crimson red. Remember that in years to come."
I sat there, captivated into silence. The old man chuckled and then patted my head.
"That, Little One, is how you spot a real vampire."
I stood in the middle of my room, frozen with shock. After all these years the memory felt crystal clear. I could even remember the peppermint and sea salt smell that came off the old man. How could I have forgotten, I thought franticly. How could I have forgotten something like that? That old man had left an impression with me for many months, and I remember the weeks I had spent afterwards searching the crowds for that one pale person. When had I forgotten?
The wreck. Mom and Dad's wreck.
I drew in a deep breath of air. It was no wonder that I had forgotten. My mind had been a blank page at the time. My mind had been so numb after the accident that I was more like the walking dead than the living.
"Sis?" Brendon stood up from the loveseat and walked over to me. He placed his hands on my shoulders and shook me gently. "Rebecca. Rebecca, hey, I was only teasing…Rebecca, what's wrong?" Brendon shook me a little harder this time, panic starting form in his eyes. I blinked and then shook my head.
"Sorry, Brendon. I was just thinking of an old memory, one that I had thought I had forgotten." I felt my brow furrow in concentration. "It's strange. Some of my favorite books are on vampires, and I read them all the time, yet you saying the word vampire triggered the memory." I looked up at him and saw that he was on the verge of calling for help. "Don't worry, Bro, it was a good memory, if a little weird. I was at a bookstore with Mom when a strange old Irish man came up to me and started to talk about vampires with me. I still remember that accent…" I chuckled a little. "I remember the way he looked and talked reminded me of an old Irish sea captain."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Brendon was still worried. I couldn't blame him. When I first moved in with the Robintons anytime I would even have a thought of my Mother or Father I would have an emotional breakdown. Looking back at it now I must have terrified the family.
"I am absolutely fine." I told him, looking him straight in the eyes with a smile. "What I need now is to sleep the day away. Harry closed the store down today because of a niece's wedding or something, so I don't have to go to work. What about you? You're usually out the door by this time." I looked at my little blue clock on the nightstand by my bed and saw the time read five-fifteen.
"Derek called and said his Dad closed shop today as well. Something about a couple of sewage pipes bursting. He said you can't stand in the store without gagging."
"Bummer, huh?" Brendon loved working at the local sports goods shop that his best friend's Dad owned. Brendon once told me that the next best thing to playing sports is being surrounded by it when you're not out on the field.
"Usually, yes, but not today." Brendon gave me a triumphant smile. "Derek and I talked to a lot of the other soccer players and we agreed to have a party tonight at Fat Albert's, you want to come?" He gave me a 'come on, Sis, we never get to do anything anymore' grin.
Fat Albert's was a lake about twenty minutes away. The real name of the place was Lake Satin, and if you were standing on the shoreline it would seem like a perfectly normal lake. Until you saw the aerial view of it. From the air, Lake Satin was shaped like Fat Albert, thus all the locals fondly refer to the lake as Fat Albert's.
"I don't know…" But then I thought of Darien. Brendon's party would be a perfect place to get to know Darien better. Brendon's parties were always clean. No drugs or drinking were ever allowed. A rule that Brendon and the other soccer jocks reinforced. If they did find you with what they called 'contraband items' at the party you were thrown out. Only one time were the police ever called, and the reason was because the music was a little too loud. No one got a ticket or even a warning. Just a polite request to turn the music down.
"Can I invite a few people?" I enquired. Brendeon's eyes lit up.
"Embri and Lacy? Sure you can invite them." Then a little sheepishly, "Do you think Embri will need a ride or anything?" I rolled my eyes.
"Actually, I think you should call and invite her. You like her, she likes you, party at the lake, perfect date!" I almost snickered at the look that crossed his face.
"Embri likes me? But she's never shown that she does."
"Embri is the type of girl who waits for the guy to ask her out. Until then she is going to act herself around the guy that she likes, it's just how she is." My smile widened, "And speaking of dates you should have Derek call Lacy. I know for a fact that he likes her, and Lacy has had a crush on him for I don't know how long."
"Huh, I'll see about it…" A knowing look came into his eyes. "Speaking of dates, when are you ever going to get you a man?" I actually blushed a little. His eyes widened at that. I never blushed when talking about guys with Brendon. Usually my sarcastic demon came out to play.
"Actually, there was one other person that I would like to invite, if that's okay?" My blush deepened. I couldn't control it.
Brendon's smile stretched across his face. "Is this person a, oh I don't know, male by any chance?"
"Yes," I murmured, my face burning. Brendon let out a deep throated laugh that was a little too loud for the early morning.
"This is great!" Brendon exulted, "It's about time you found yourself a guy, and this will get Bryan off my back, especially if your guy is more intimidating than Bryan."
All teasing and embarrassment left me. "Wait," I said, my voice low, menacing. "Bryan Davis? As in Bryan the quarterback football jock? The guy who has made my life hell at school?!"
Brendon took a step back, as if he was afraid I would slug him. "Uh, yeah. He's been asking my permission to date you but I told him he needed to bug off. I new how you felt about him." Brendon had his hands up as if to ward away a charging bull.
I was furious. Not at Brendon but at Bryan—to think he had the nerve to even think about asking me out. Maybe Darien could pulverize him. That brought me some grim satisfaction.
"Ugh, that's okay Brendon, at least you tried to get rid of him. You can take the computer with you. I'm going to try to at least get a couple of hours of sleep, after I make a call." The call would also probably calm me down.
"At five in the morning?" Brendon arched an eyebrow at me.
"I very seriously doubt that he's asleep." Doubt it very much indeed.
"Ah, your man, eh?" Then he flashed me a wicked grin, "Can he not sleep because he is tortured with thoughts of his beloved Rebecca?"
"That's it! Out!" I shoved him towards the door, though I couldn't quite keep the smile off my face. "It's time for the annoying brother to leave!"
Brendon's head was poking through the door, "But if he…"
I put my hand on the top of his head and pushed. "Good morning and goodnight, Bro!!" I closed the door on him and started laughing. I heard him call out that the party started at seven tonight and he would call Embri and take care of Derek and Lacy. I sighed, silently thanking Brendon for taking that off my plate. Now to get down to business.
I walked over to the closet and grabbed my trench coat out. Fishing in the pockets I found the piece of paper that had Darien's cell number. Grabbing the phone I sat down on my bed and took a deep breath. Dialing the numbers I couldn't help but feel like this was a moment of truth. It didn't even finish the second ring.
"Hello?" Darien's smooth low voice answered.
"Darien?" Idiot. Of course it's Darien, you can do better than that.
"Rebecca!" Surprise was in his voice but I could tell he was pleased. "What can I do for you?" I took encouragement from the fact that he didn't seem annoyed for me calling at such an early hour, though it didn't sound as if he had been asleep.
"Um, do you remember when you said I could pick the next place for us to meet?" Still lame.
"Of course," there was defendant amusement in his voice now. "It's only been a few hours."
"Right, um, would you like to come to a party my brother is throwing?" I crossed my fingers.
"A party? That sounds good. Did you say your brother's name was Brendon Robinton?"
"Yes." I answered, hopeful.
"I believe I have heard of your brother and his parties before. There're supposed to be quite good. Yes, I'll be there. Where is the party taking place?"
I breathed out a silent sigh. "It's going to be at Fat Albert's at seven tonight."
"Fat Albert's?" Darien sounded confused.
"Sorry," I said a smile on my face, "I forgot you're new here. We call Lake Satin, which is a few miles away, Fat Albert."
"Why?' Darien asked, mystified.
I chuckled a little. "I'll tell you later."
"All right, so do you…" Darien stopped and I could here a high female voice in the background. I strained to listen to what they were talking about but their voices were too low. Suddenly, "No, Brin." Darien growled, and then I heard a clattering sound and a whoosh of air.
"Hello?" The voice that greeted me was high and musical, and clearly not Darien.
"H-hello?" I stammered.
"Oh, good! I thought I accidentally hung up on you. You must be the girl Darien told us about. I'm Brin, Darien's sister. I heard him talking on the phone and I was curious about you. It takes a lot to catch Darien's eye." It was like she never paused to breath. "Anyway I heard Darien say something about a party. Would you mind…?" I heard a Darien growl again then more clattering noises, then a high plaintitive voice, "But Darien!" More clattering noises and another whoosh of air.
"Sorry about that," Darien said briskly and I thought I heard a faint trace of Irish in his voice. "My sister can be a nuisance at times. Now back to where we were before we were so rudely interrupted. Would you like me to come pick you up or are you going to ride with your brother?" That was a tempting offer, but I knew what Brendon's reaction to that would be.
"I believe, being the brother that he is, Brendon will want me to ride with him. He takes his chaperone duties seriously." Especially after the last date I went on. I shuddered at the memory.
"I would think less of him if he didn't."
"Did your sister want to come to the party?" I inquired. "I wouldn't mind." I curious to see his sister now. What had she meant by 'it takes a lot to catch Darien's eye'?
"I would though." Darien said sourly, then in a more pleasant voice. "Don't worry about Brin, Rebecca. She'll be angry at me for awhile but she'll get over it. I'll see you at seven."
"I'll see you there. Wait, I almost forgot. Let me give you my cell number." I read the number to him and said goodbye.
"Sweet dreams, Rebecca." Darien whispered and then I heard the click of the handset. Staring down at the phone I could only wonder.
Sweet dreams indeed.
I was quiet in the backseat of the car as Brendon and Embri chattered away at each other. I had to give Embri credit. She was still acting herself even after Brendon had asked her out. Usually she went all giggly and acting like an idiot when she was with a guy that she liked, but maybe because she has known Brendon for such a long time is was that she was able to act all level headed.
Lacy had called an hour after I had woken up that afternoon and announced that Derek had asked her out. She was her usual calm and collected self, but I could detect a hint of excitement under the tone of her voice. I smiled at the thought of Derek and Lacy.
Derek was perfect for Lacy. Being a soccer player had made him fit with a good body. He was very handsome too. With his brown hair and brown eyes and semi-tan skin he could make girls fall head over heels at his feet. Derek also had a brain to go along with his handsome features. And the best part of it all was that he wasn't even aware of it. On the soccer field he was aggressive and ready to win at all times. But off the field, Derek was a shy guy who liked to keep things private. I was lucky to have him as a friend. It had helped that Derek had liked Lacy since the moment he saw her. Lacy was a very lucky girl indeed.
"Rebecca!" I jumped in my seat, startled out of my thoughts. Embri was turned around in her seat, glaring at me. "It's about time! I said, aren't you a little underdressed for tonight?"
I looked down at the long sleeved black T-shirt, my favorite pair of jeans, and my black hiking boots I was wearing. My ever present dark gray trench coat was laid to the side in the seat, waiting for me to don it. I touched my hair, which was usually up in a clippie, and felt my smooth curls laying against my head and back, actually cooperating for once instead of frizzing all over the place. I had no makeup on but that wasn't unusual. I never wore makeup except on special occasions.
"I don't think I'm underdressed." I said a little peevishly. There was nothing wrong with my outfit.
Embri looked at me like I was missing something. "This Darien is going to be meeting you here, right?" I nodded. "Then don't you think you could have dressed up just a little bit more than usual? Play it up a bit to show him that you're a once in a lifetime girl? I know what's in your closet, Beck, so don't you tell me that this is the only thing you have. What about that sexy little red shirt? That would have gotten his blood pumping." I just rolled my eyes. I had a feeling that getting Darien's blood pumping was not exactly the safest thing in the world.
"Embri, if I want a guy to like me I don't want to have to wear special outfits or tons of makeup to catch his attention. If he can't accept me for what I look like right now then I don't want anything to do with him."
"Here, here!" Brendon said a smile playing across his face. "That's the spirit, Sis." That set Embri off on him. I just sat back and smiled at the happy couple.
A thought nagged at me at the mention of Darien. The conversation with the old Irish man came to mind. Amber eyes, cold white skin, and unbelievably beautiful, I listed the requirements for a vampire. I didn't know if Darien had super speed or strength, or if he was impervious to anything. I also did not know if he had a special power of some sort. Anyway, what was I supposed to do? Go up to Darien and say, 'Hey, are you a vampire?' Yeah right.
The most disturbing part was why had the old man told me these things? I was only a seven year old girl who had liked vampires. The more I thought about it the weirder it got. Maybe he was just some old coot who had been looking for company. Maybe I had reminded him of a granddaughter or something. Maybe there was nothing to what he said at all…maybe I'm going crazy. No, the old man had been telling the truth. Even my young eleven year old mind had been able to see that.
"We're here," Brendon declared, bringing me back down to earth. "Do you see Rufus' Jeep? I need to talk to him about something before the actual party starts." Both Embri and I searched the parking area. I spotted the green Jeep before them.
"There it is," I pointed to it. "Over by that red car. Isn't that Lucas' SUV?" As I was talking I started to search the dirt parking lot for a car that would scream Darien. Apparently none of them were in the mood for screaming.
"Yeah, that's Lucas' alright," Brendon confirmed. "The whole soccer team is here. Apparently, Derek and I are the last ones." That comforted me a little. The whole soccer team was like one big happy family for me. All twenty-one of them considered me their little sister and were very overprotective of me. I could only imagine their delight in realizing that I had a date for tonight. No doubt they would put Darien through the commitment testing. I winced at that thought.
Bendon parked the car and I grabbed my coat as I stepped outside. Cold, frigid air hit me; the wind carrying the scent of fresh lake water. I shoved my arms through the coat, anticipating the warmth that would soon surround me. Embri went with Brendon to go find Rufus. I waited at the edge of the parking lot, looking for a certain car with a certain driver. Headlights flashed in the lot and I took a deep steadying breath. Until I saw that it was Derek's truck. I blew through my lips, irritated and relieved at the same time.
Derek's black truck parked close to the tree line that bordered the lake. Something about that bothered me but just as I was about to tell them to park somewhere else Lacy opened the door and spotted me.
"Rebecca!" Lacy shut the door and came running to me. Derek got out more slowly but I could see the amused grin on his face. "Is he here yet?" Obviously not, I thought sarcastically.
"No, not yet. I was going to wait for him before I made way to the crowd." I turned to Derek. "You're the last one to arrive. Brendon went off to find Rufus. He said he needed to talk to him about something before the party started."
Derek frowned and then a knowing look came into eyes. "It was probably about the new Call of Duty game coming out. Both Brendon and Rufus have been talking about it non stop. Which reminds me, the Hansfield players wants our team to do another reenactment with them, only we'll use paintball guns instead of the fake guns we used last time. A lot of the guys, including me, were hoping you would like to join in on the fun."
The Hansfield players was a soccer team a few counties over. All of their players were major Call of Duty fans. As was our team, the Arrows. Every now and then they would challenge each other at live action role playing. One team would pick the location and the other would have to deal with the unfamiliar environment. This year it was our turn to pick the location.
A wicked smile lurked on my face. On the actual game on the xbox I was average in the game play. In real life I was superior. The Hansfield team never suspected me, the overweight clumsy looking girl, to be a problem. I mean, who would think that someone like me could move through the forest quickly, silently, and deadly? They had even snickered at me. They weren't snickering in the end. I had scored nineteen of their twenty-three players by the end of the game, using both knife and gun. The times they touched or saw my team and me?
Once.
I had been the leader of the stealth team. Rufus, Roan, Matt, and John had been my teammates and under my tutelage, they were invisible and unstoppable. There had been doubt when Brendon had first invited me to play, but Brendon had known my abilities. The guys had been asking me to play ever since.
"Sure, Derek, I'll play," my smile grew wider. "I can't wait until those Hansfield players are on my territory. It will be easy pickings on the field." I gave a little evil laugh.
Derek rolled his eyes, but there was a small smile on his lips. Right then another pair of headlights flashed into view. I turned hopeful and nervous, and then my mouth dropped open.
A solid black Mustang GT parked not but three feet away from Brendon's little Nissan Altima.
"Whoa," Derek and Lacy whispered in awe. I could only stare.
Darien stepped out of the driver's side and when he saw me his face filled with chagrin. He locked the doors and started walking our way. I was trying to compose myself long enough that I wouldn't look like an idiot. I briefly remembered an image I had had of Darien sitting on a Mustang's hood flexing muscle, but I shook my head of the thought.
"Sorry about the car," Darien said. "It isn't mine. I lost a bet with one of my brothers and I had to drive it." He turned and scowled at the Mustang. He scowled at it.
"Uh, that's okay," I managed to get out. A mischievous smile played across my lips. "You have to promise me a ride though. I've always wanted to ride in one." Darien actually looked relieved.
"I can do better than that," Darien said seeming pleased about something. "I'll let you drive it." He then proceeded to grab my hand and drop the keys into them. I stared at them for a moment before looking up at him with my eyebrow quirked.
"I hope you have high insurance. Because unless that car is an automatic the trees will make sure I hit them." Darien gave me a devastatingly beautiful grin.
"I don't believe I will have to worry about the trees. Only that you keep your eyes on the road." He was right about that. Being in the car with him would be quite difficult.
Derek cleared his throat, and Lacy shuffled her feet. I blinked a few times realizing that Darien and I had been staring at each other a little too intently. Blushing I stepped back. Lacy gave me an understanding smile. A 'been there before' smirk.
"Derek and I will meet you at the shore. Okay, Beck?" She gave me a wink and then reached out and grabbed Derek's arm. Looking slightly confused he allowed Lacy to drag him along the pathway.
"Um…Brendon will probably want to meet you." I stated awkwardly. Darien gave me a small smile and, as always, offered me his arm. I could feel a tradition forming as I tucked my hand in his arm.
We started along the dirt path passing under weak lamps until we saw a stronger looking light ahead of us. A large bonfire was raging not but twenty feet from the lapping shoreline of Fat Albert's. The moon kept peeking out behind the clouds, giving extra bursts of light. Conversations floated towards us and I could make out certain faces in the crowd. There had to be at least fifty people here so far. I wasn't surprised at the turnout but I felt Darien tense beside me.
"We don't have to stay here," I whispered. "We could go somewhere else if you like." Personally, I wanted to go somewhere different. Especially when I saw Jennifer Ramsey headed this way.
He leaned down and I felt his lips brush my ear as he whispered back. "No, I'm fine." I didn't miss the emphasis he put on himself. "You on the other hand…"
"Rebecca!" Jennifer gushed, cutting Darien off. "What a nice surprise! I haven't seen you at a party in ages! And who is this that you brought along? He has to be your cousin." I tensed at her words. Jennifer was a bleach blonde, blue eyed, amazing figure of a woman, and captain of the cheerleader squad at school. Which meant she was an absolute witch. Insinuating that Darien had to be my cousin meant that she was making sure that I knew that she did not believe that I could attract anyone like Darien. I half believed that myself, but she had issued a challenge and I was not about to back down.
I tightened my hold on Darien and managed to produce a friendly smile. "Jennifer, I'd like for you to meet Darien Asimn. He's not my cousin, he is my date." My smile turned dangerous and Jennifer looked a little uneasy. "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go speak to my brother." I heard her mumble a sure, but I was already towing Darien over to where I had seen Brendon with a few of the other soccer jocks.
"You don't like her," Darien stated with an amused grin.
"Of course I do," I replied deadpan. "We have what you call a…unique friendship." I threw a rueful grin at him and he laughed quietly.
He leaned down close and whispered in my in my ear. "I have to admit, you are quite adorable when you're jealous." My blush was crimson red and he could feel the heat of it. He chuckled softly releasing me from his arm only to tentatively take my hand. His hand was ice cold—hard and smooth to the touch. He was holding my hand very gently as if I were made of glass.
"I'm not adorable," I mumbled. I had been called many things but never adorable. It was nice for him to say that though. Darien frowned at me and opened his mouth like he was about to say something.
"Rebecca! Come over here!" Embri shouted, effectively cutting off what Darien was about to say. I was silently relieved for the interruption. I had no desire to get into a conversation about my looks.
Brendon turned and saw us. The smile that was on his face was suddenly gone when he saw Darien. Suspicion and concern radiated from his face and body.
"Brendon, this is Darien Asimn. Darien, this is my brother, Brendon Robinton." I introduced.
Darien held out the hand that wasn't holding mine. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Brendon." Darien said smoothly. Brendon looked at Darien's hand for a moment then his eyes narrowed when he saw Darien holding my hand. Darien quickly released me. Brendon still did not look very happy as he reached up to shake Darien's hand. He flinched slightly at the contact, and after one shake drew his hand away quickly. I was surprised and slightly offended at his behavior towards Darien. It disappointed me.
"So…" Brendon started suspicion lacing into his voice. "You're the mystery man Becky has told me about." Darien quirked an eyebrow at me.
"Mystery man?" Darien was amused. I was not. Brendon never called me Becky. I hated that nickname.
"I never called you that." I said. I was looking at Brendon through narrowed eyes. I was beginning to get ticked off. Brendon was being rude and abrasive towards Darien, while Darien was nothing but polite. "Brendon came to his own conclusion I guess. Well you've met him, Darien, let's go for a walk." Darien looked a little confused at my hostile tone. I started to turn away but Brendon grabbed my arm.
"Wait, I need to talk to you about something." The way Brendon said it made it clear he wanted to talk to me alone. Rufus, who was standing nearby, took the hint. But instead of just walking away he came up to Darien and draped an arm over his shoulders and turned him away from us. Other soccer jocks were following them and the last thing I heard was, "…now Rebecca is like a little sister to us so…" I stood there horrified. They were going to give him the commitment testing.
"Rebecca." Brendon's tense whisper made me turn and look at him. "Who is that guy? Is that seriously your date?" Concern in his voice did not make me lash out at him like I was thinking I should. I stared at Brendon for a moment trying to figure out what was wrong. Brendon had nothing but concern on his face.
"Yes, he is my date." I answered slowly. "What's wrong, Brendon? What's the matter?"
Brendon took a deep breath. "I don't know. It's just that when I saw him I thought he looked…wrong, dangerous. That's the only words I can think of at the moment." Brendon stopped and shook his head. My heart was doing double time. Brendon wasn't the only one who thought Darien was dangerous. I have thought that on many occasions, though I never thought he was a danger to me, only to others. "I don't know." Brendon said again and then he gave me a crooked smile. "Maybe I'm just imagining things up to be the protective brother. I still remember the last date you went on." He slightly shuddered and so did I. I shook it off though.
I gave Brendon a rueful grin. "Your mind better behave itself then, because you are imagining things." And then more serious. "Darien's not like Eric. You don't have to worry." Brendon stared at me for a moment, as if he was trying to decide whether or not to trust me. Embri and Lacy saved the day.
"Brendon, come here and see what Lance has!" Embri called. Brendon looked over at them and back at me. I made a shooing motion and gave him a small smile. He took that as an okay and headed over to them. Anxiousness seemed to eat away at me. I new I would have nightmares tonight. I always did whenever someone mentioned Eric.
"Hey there, sweet thing."
In a split second my anxiousness turned to anger and contempt. I turned with a scowl and came face to face with Bryan Davis.
"Where have you been tonight?" Bryan continued to leer at me actually reaching out a hand as if to grab me. I stepped back a few paces. That made him smile wider. "Oh, come on sugar. You know you want me."
"I would rather be left in the blackest pits on earth than want you, Davis. Now back off." I snarled. Brendon did not know the reason for me hating Bryan so much, but if he did he would likely kill Bryan himself.
Bryan Davis was the Quarterback on the school's football team. He was tall, dark, and handsome personified. Every girl within a fifty mile radius lusted after him. Every girl, that is, that did not know him. Those that did, though, wish that they had never laid eyes on him. I never dated him. Never had the desire, but being the odd girl I was bound to be the target of abuse. Bryan found me one day alone at school between the alleyway of two brick school buildings, and he decided it was time to teach the odd girl a lesson.
He beat me. Hard. By the time he was done punching and kicking me I was a bloody mess. But unlike the other girls that he had abused I was not going to bow down and whimper like a dog and let him have his way. So when he decided to have his way with me like his other unfortunate girls, I put up a fight. I had punched, kicked, screamed; I had even tried to gouge one of his eyeballs out. It had worked. Bryan had loosened his grip enough on me that I could make an escape. I ran like a bat out of Hades from between the two buildings. That was two years ago. Bryan has never tried to touch me again, and Brendon had never found out.
Seeing Bryan standing in front of me now, I could not help the raw surge of anger that seemed to enfold me. I hated this boy with a passion.
"Aww, don't be like that, sugar. I know we've had our differences but surely we can kiss and make up." Bryan wasn't being nice. I heard the threat in his voice, and I recognized several of Bryan's buddies walk up behind him. I took another step back, disturbed when I realized a crowd gathering around us. Where was Brendon? Where was Darien?
"I am not your sugar," I said my voice low and menacing. "And I thought I told you to back off. I don't take kindly to people in my personal space." I had straightened my back and shoulders, taking a stance of someone who would not tolerate being pushed around. I made sure to look like I was ready for a fight.
"I always get what I want." Bryan was no longer smiling. He came up to me, so fast that I did not realize he was there until it was too late. I felt my head snap to the side and heard a sick ripping sound. I jerked my head back to Bryan and saw him sneering at me. His hand was raised up, palm forward. Bryan had turned his class ring to where the jewel was facing towards me. It was covered in blood.
My hand shot up to my face. My fingers traced a gash running along my cheek. I could feel the first signs of pain. My cheek and neck were throbbing with it. Hot sticky blood was trickling down my neck onto my coat, soaking into my black shirt.
Bryan started laughing. His friends behind him joined in, and then people from the crowd started laughing.
I stared at him vacantly. How could causing someone pain bring him, and the others, joy? Was it some sick perverse pleasure? But the strangest of all, is that I wasn't in a fury. Oh, I could feel my anger underneath, but it was more like it was just in the background. No, instead of anger being at the surface it was despair, and that was strange as well. For this despair felt as if someone from a distance was directing it towards me, forcing it into my body and mind. It did not feel like my own. It felt…contaminated, diseased somehow.
I did not notice Brendon pushing through the crowd until he was right there in front of me. Brendon took one look at me and rage contorted his features as he took in the blood dripping down my cheek and neck. He looked at Bryan, who was still laughing, and stalked over too him. Bryan never had a chance. The punch Brendon threw was so hard and fast that Bryan actually flew backwards and landed on his backside. When he looked up I could see blood coming from his mouth and nose.
"You freakin broke my nose!" Bryan shrieked. "I'm missing a tooth!" I would have laughed at him if I didn't feel so confused by the onslaught of despair.
"If you don't get your friends and your butt out of here, you'll end up with more than just a broken nose and loose teeth." Brendon was literally trembling with rage. He wasn't the only one. Derek and several of the other soccer jocks were now standing behind Brendon. Their fists were clenched ready to back up his words. Embri and Lacy were shaking from their anger. Mumbling and movement in the crowd drew me from my stupor.
Darien was pushing through the crowd, or more like walking through as people parted out of the way. My legs started moving on their own accord when I saw him. My mind was still numb from the assault of emotions. I could not yet comprehend why I had to reach him, but there was a small voice filtering through the fog, and it was urgently telling me to get to Darien before he saw Bryan.
As my legs were moving I felt a small surge of panic. What was wrong with me? The despair had turned into something different, something heavier. It seemed to smother me to where I felt numb and empty. This could not be coming from me. The panic I felt seemed to help me; I picked up the pace, praying that the fog would lift. I reached Darien just as he broke through the crowd.
"Rebecca," Darien reached out for me but then stopped abruptly. His nostrils flared, his eyes locked on to the blood on my neck. Darien went rigid, locking all his muscles, like he was holding himself in place. Suddenly Darien turned away from me; his hand on his mouth. I stopped for a moment. Darien's hand had moved so fast that I had not seen it move. I shook my head, blaming the fog for me seeing things.
Darien turned back and the expression on his face seemed to clear the fog a bit more. The first thought that crossed my mind was that Bryan had written his own death sentence. Darien looked…dead. There was no other way to describe it. His face and eyes were utterly expressionless. Darien had passed being in a fury. He had passed a whole new realm of rage.
Darien stared at me for a few more moments before his head slowly turned to Bryan, who was now standing and actually brushing his backside off. My hand moved on it's on as it shot out to grab Darien's arm as he took a step in Bryan's direction. My mind was clear enough that I new it would be a very bad idea to let Darien be alone with Bryan.
"Wait," I croaked. Darien immediately stopped and looked down at me. Despair thickly coated my voice and he heard it. My head was still clouded so I had to think hard on what to say. "Wait…please just…just let Brendon take care of him. I want you to stay with…please just stay with me, please." I was whispering by the end. My breathing was hitched and it felt like I couldn't get enough air.
Darien's face and eyes no longer looked dead but I could not even guess at what the emotion was that was swimming in his eyes. His eyebrows furrowed together and his lips were pressed in a hard line. He glanced over at Bryan, who was leaving under the escort of Brendon and several of the soccer jocks. Darien stared after them for a moment and then he turned and, without hesitating, wrapped his arm around my shoulders. Pulling me close, he walked through the crowd towards the parking lot.
I managed to get a glimpse of Embri and Lacy before we completely left the crowd. I waved at them but that did not erase the worry from their faces. The fog in my brain seemed to be almost completely cleared. Being close to Darien seemed to help to clear away the lethargy.
Darien was quiet as we made our way to through the cars. The glimpses I stole of him out of the corner of my eyes warned me not to say anything. Which was fine with me. I was so exhausted from the attack of despair that I could barely move my feet.
We stopped next a black truck that I vaguely realized was Derek's. This set of a little warning bell in the back of my head, but it was so small I could not comprehend the reason for it. Darien pulled down the tailgate of the truck and proceeded to point at it. I took that as he meant he wanted me to sit on it.
"There's a first aid kit in the cab," I told him as I threw my self on the tail gate. I almost did not make it I was so exhausted, but Darien grabbed me and helped me up. "It's behind the driver's seat. The door should be unlocked. It's big and purple so you shouldn't miss it." Derek always kept that blindingly purple first aid kit with him in case of any kind of accident. He was always the sensible one.
Darien turned and went to the driver's door. I wearily closed my eyes and let my head droop down. I heard Darien open the door and felt the truck move slightly as he stepped in. I heard him rummaging about for the kit. When he came back around to me I still had my eyes closed and my head down. I felt the thunk of the kit as Darien laid it on the tailgate. I heard the latch click and then the sound of plastic crinkling. My eyes opened as cold hard fingers lightly cupped my chin and lifted my head up.
Darien was very careful while cleaning my cheek but I still felt the sting of the antiseptic. I watched Darien as he fixed my cheek, studying his features in the low light of the street lamp. His jaw was clenched tight with anger, his nostrils flared. He was breathing in and out very slowly and a few times his face contorted with some kind of emotion. He almost looked in…pain. The bangs of his dark chocolate hair were shadowing his eyes, but I could see a slight golden glow underneath the shadows. Darien was like a livid Greek god at this moment, and it took all of my willpower to not reach out and touch him and to try to sooth him.
Darien worked in silence, never speaking as he cleaned my cheek. By the time he was putting the gauze over my scratch—it was not as bad as it had looked—I was more awake and burning with curiosity.
"What are you thinking?" I whispered. Darien looked at me for a split second. He put the surgical tape and rest of the gauze away. He then placed his hands on either side of me and, very gently, laid his forehead against mine. I froze, barely breathing.
"I do'not think that would be wise." I was surprised to hear the rough Irish accent. I had heard it before but only faintly. Now Darien's voice was low and rough with anger, making his accent thicker.
"I think you should anyway." I breathed out. He tensed and then let out a whoosh of air.
"I should have been with you." He said rushing his words. "If I had been standing next to you none of this would have happened. I would have stopped that low, abhorred, sorry excuse of a…" He stopped and I felt his body stiffen with a new surge of rage. And I was suddenly glad that I had drawn Darien away from Bryan. No doubt he would have deserved whatever Darien would have done to him, but still…I could not have let anything happen. Darien let out a long suffering sigh. "He probably would never have come up to you if I were there. It's as if I've hurt you myself." He closed his eyes as if in pain.
He thought he had hurt me? I almost laughed at the craziness of it. Obviously he was one of those people who blamed themselves for everything that happens. I gave in to my earlier impulse to comfort him.
A small shiver of excitement ran through me as I slowly brought my hands up and gently cupped Darien's face. His face was winter cold and smooth and hard to the touch.
Darien's eyes snapped open and he drew his face slightly away from mine until he was only an inch away. Wonder covered his face as he slowly moved his hand and placed it over one of mine, pressing my hand closer to his face. His cool breath swirled across my face, making it hard for me to concentrate while I inhaled his wonderful scent.
"Darien," I said slowly, carefully picking my words, "what happened tonight was not your fault. Not even close. Besides, I've had worse things happen to me before." Darien's nostril's flared at that. "Wait," I said firmly, "I'm not done. What I mean to say is all the times I have gotten hurt it was on purpose and meant to cause me harm. You on the other hand…" I lightly stroked his cheek with my thumb. Darien's eyes half closed and he leaned into my hand more. "You on the other hand do not mean to hurt me. Oh, you might get angry with me or get short with me, but I have a feeling that you would apologize for it later. Because you do want to cause me harm. Those people out there don't know me and don't care what I feel. They would never apologize but you would, because for some odd reason you actually do care for me." I stopped and just gazed Darien, marveling at how smooth his skin was.
"What is it about you?" I said suddenly, intensely. "I barely know you and yet…and yet it feels as if I have known you for years. I've only met you three times, but it feels like more." I stared at him for a moment. "Why does it feel like it would harm me if you left?"
Darien just stood there for a moment, too shocked to move. Then his face softened and turned tender as he brought his other hand up to rest on my cheek. He then very hesitantly stroked my cheek.
"How is it that you have voiced my very thoughts?" Darien murmured a tender smile playing on his lips. "How is it that you feel the same for me? I find it quite strange…and wonderful. Did you think that maybe it would hurt me if you left? That if you, Rebecca Anne Wright, girl I barely know," amusement was laced into his voice, "were to leave me it would be painful for me as well? Just thinking about you walking away from me makes me shudder and quiver with pain. No, I don't believe I could let you walk away from me now." Darien's eyes and face were intense, all humor gone from his voice. And I, having gone completely still, was trying not to hyperventilate. He was absolutely serious.
"But why?" I asked still mystified. "Why pick me? Especially when you could pick any girl out there. I mean don't get me wrong, I'm glad you did pick me but I'm not exactly the most attractive girl around." I was dead serious this time. I truly did not understand it. I was nothing but a fat teenager and somehow this Adonis of a man seemed truly attracted to me.
Darien looked angry for a moment and then his expression cleared. "You must not see yourself whenever you're in front of a mirror." Darien smiled as he gathered my hands into his. "You are very beautiful to me, Rebecca, very beautiful indeed, and I have a feeling that the girls you are thinking of may be beautiful on some standards but not mine. Now I'll let you mull over that while I go find your brother and see about getting you home." Releasing my hands, Darien gave me a supremely smug smile as turned and walked away. I sat on the tailgate too limp to move.
No one has ever told me I was beautiful. I closed my eyes, reveling in the joy that seemed to make my heart swell out of my chest. Darien thought I was beautiful. I did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Feeling the joy of the moment had me forget that Derek had parked right at the fringe of the woods that bordered the lake. So I didn't see the glowing green eyes that were staring at me. I didn't realize they were there until a long clawed hand reached out and grabbed my arm pulling me into the thick brush.
I tried to scream but the other hand came and covered my mouth. I struggled as it pulled me deeper into the woods. Then the smell hit me. I gagged at the rotting stench rolling off in waves from the beast. We stopped and its other arm encircled my arms and waist, tightening its hold on me. The body I was pressed against felt more like a skeleton than flesh; all I could feel were bones and fur. Coarse hair rubbed against the back of my neck.
I started to thrash harder but the beast just tightened his hold on me further. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a long narrow snout. It opened its muzzle and I went very still. Black cracked teeth gleamed in the low light. The rotting stench intensified making me sick to the core. Then it spoke in a low growling voice. I went cold inside at the one word it spoke.
"Mine"
~Thank you for your patience and I'm sorry it took so long to post this chapter. Between school and fighting virus's it took me awhile. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review!~