I'm continuing on people, so PLEASE don't lead a man hunt across all of the states in a quest to find me and make me tell you what happens. Because I might just lie to you, or I will tell you the truth and then completely change the plot of the story. You hear that Des? No man hunts.
Mara's POV
I was fidgety, okay, so fidgety was not the word I would have chose if I had a great big pool to choose from. But I didn't, my mind was racing with the nervous tension and the excitement that was all around me like a smoke bubble. It made it hard to breath, but I was managing, though if you asked me how I would just give you that look like a cow caught in the lights of an on coming train and shrug and walk away to do my thing. Yes, I have a thing, surprised a lot of people . . . including me, actually.
The house was decorated with a mixture of purple and silver, Sasha and Ocuridad's favorite colors. Streamers, balloons, you name it we had it. Sure, Destiny was getting engaged to a vampire I knew nothing about, and sure, that would mean she would not be the same when she around me. But that did not mean that she had lost her sense of decoration. She seemed to make this the most perfect day she could, she loved Sasha too and we all wanted her to be at ease today. She was getting ready at the moment, with Destiny and Zoe at her side to sooth and her remind her that after this her and Oscuridad would be going on their honey moon together. I smiled when imagined her heartbeat speeding up, which would do nothing to help calm her.
All of the guests were smoothly floating in through the large front doors, but they weren't silent this time. They were buzzing with news, for it was uncommon for a vampire to marry a human, and even more uncommon for the plan to be for the human to remain human until she wants to be otherwise. I stood near the stairs; in the gown that Destiny had let me wear. I had no makeup on; I hated the stuff with a passion. But my hair was pinned up in an elaborate show of twists. The vampires often shot me a glance or two before they made their silent way into the great banquet hall where the Christmas decorations were set up. Instead of dancing, the wedding would begin at midnight, and then the dance would follow afterward. There was to be a small after part in the family room, but only for the few who were invited. That was me, the twins, Zoe, Mr. Rupert, and two or three other people including Melissa.
"Mara!" the call of name got me attention from the dazed gaze I had fixated on the door. I snapped my head around to look down the hall beside the stairs that led to the kitchen. Kit stood there, in her maids out fit and the phone in her left hand. Her blond hair was pinned into a bun and her green eyes were dead of any emotion. Her skin was as pale as the moon, because she never went outside. She had some sort of sun phobia; I think that is what Granpapa told me.
"Yes?" I polity inquired, for any loud noise really frightened this girl. Her eyes would get wide and she would begin to shake, and nothing you said would ever calm her down. She was one of the few people around here who were my age, and it took me a lot of time to get her to just say hi to me. But now we were on a talking basis, though she had a deathly fear of vampires. And yet she chose to stay here when she could go any time she wanted too. She was a slave, and she was not a servant by unwilling means. Her parents were dead, they had both died of pneumonia about three or four years ago, and this was the only home she had ever known, she was born here after all.
"Your grandfather in on the phone." She was doing that shaking thing again, so I quickly came down the hall and gave her a hug, which she returned with relief. She smelled of cinnamon, and I pulled back with a teasing look on my face.
"Oh no, are you cooking your famous cookies?" I pretend to have fake horror, and I hid my delight when I watched a shy smile stretch across her face. "Girl, you are going to get me so fat with those wonderful cookies of yours. I swear, if you put those out even the vampires will eat them." I winked at her, and she giggled, holding out the phone and giving me a thankful smile. I took the phone and smiled at her in return and watched her walk back to the kitchen with a little more confidence than she had a moment ago. I smiled, pleased with myself and quickly put the phone to my ear, turning my back to the entering vampires. It was an instinctive gesture, and it did help a little.
"Hello?" I inquired, unable to keep the joy out of my voice. Grandad had been away for months now; oh how I missed the lessons we used to have together. He was supposed to teach me about the meaning of dreams, but he told me that would have to wait until he got back. Until then, I would just have to figure things out on my own. I had no way of getting in touch with him, and now that he was calling I was going to get as many answers as I could before he cut the connection for Gods knows how long.
"Hello Mara, why, don't you sound so much older even though I have only been away for such a short while. I am sorry to say I do not have long to speak, but I wanted to check in on you and everyone. What have I been missing." His voice was such a good thing to hear; so familiar it made me feel like I was five all over again.
"Well, Sasha and Oscuridad are getting married," I said calmly, swaying on my feet, eager to tell him about my dreams and see if they meant anything.
"Oh, are they?" he sounded sad for a moment, and then forced himself to be a little more cheerful. "Well, I think they will forgive me for the missing it, give them my blessing will you? I'm sure Sasha is nervous, especially since I am not there to keep the older vampires in order, don't worry, Oscuridad will make sure things go as planned. So, what are you up too, young lady? I can hear it in your voice, you are itching to tell me something." I sighed, relived that he was the one who brought it up, so I knew he had nothing to tell me, nothing more to say.
I proceeded through a quick sketch of my dreams, skipping certain details about the second one I had. Lets admit it, telling your family about that kind of dream is never on your to do list. I went into detail on the first, and the third dream I had, hoping he would not notice the edgy detail I gave him on the second one. He was silent the whole time, except for when he would softly intervene to ask for even more details on a certain part, or ask a question or two on my thoughts or feelings. When I finally finished my throat was dry as if I had been talking forever, and my face was red with embarrassment. The line was silent for a moment or so, and I was worried we had been disconnected.
"I see," was all he said, his voice even more soft, calming.
"Do they mean something?" I asked, switching the phone to my other ear because my right one was getting all hot and sweaty. He was quick to respond, as if this subject held some dire urgency.
"Yes, they do. Tell me Mara, when you think about that voice that you heard, how do you feel?" I thought about it for a moment, and I felt my heart begin to beat rapidly out of control. I knew he could hear it, and he got his answer. "It would seem that you have foreseen a little of the future. You have made a connection with someone, somehow, and this connection is giving you that temporary ability."
"Then what should I do? How do I find this person, this one that affects me so much, the one who has such a strong connection?"
"Well, to be honest sweetheart, I do not know. All I know is opportunity will knock. Just, please do not do anything until I get back. We will figure this out together." And my reply was quite and sad.
"I'm sorry, I can't wait. There is a boy who could die. Goodbye Grandad, and thank you for pointing me in the right direction." And I hung up on him before he could say a single word of protest. I unplugged the phone, just in case he tried to call back and warn someone. I know tonight was the only night he would be able to call for a while. He said opportunity would knock, and I had not told him in my dream I had mentioned my father. Things were starting to add up. I needed to find my father that was obvious.
I shook my head, trying to clear my head of these thoughts. Tonight was to be a night of laughter and fun, me being spaced out was not going to help. I would think of this later, when Sasha and Oscuridad were on their honeymoon and were not around to worry about my brooding mood. I took a deep breath and glanced over my shoulder, to find three female vampires standing there, staring at me like I was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Jeeze, what was their problem? I nodded towards them, as I had been taught to, and walked back around the stairs and into the family room, where the Christmas tree stood in all its glory. It filled the room with the scent of pine; this was the only time of year I ever got to see one of these trees. I loved the smell it was wonderful to me. I often time would take the pine needles and crush them to put in my room and keep the smell on my room year-round.
I sat on the family portrait rug by the fire, feeling the warmth seep into my bones. I closed my eyes, feeling the empty tension in this room help melt away mine. I sighed, until I felt the other two presences in the room with me. My eyes shot open, and I found Cora and Alex standing in the archway, their arms crossed over their chest and their eyes filled with purpose. I had not got a look at Alex, and to tell the truth he was handsome as far as vampires go. He had a prominent face, his lashes were thick, concealing his eyes when he looked down. His chest was strongly built, as were his muscle, and I would bet so was the rest of him. Hmm, was Destiny sure she chose this vamp for personality? Well, either way, if his sister was such a cow I had my money he was no better, no matter what Destiny.
"Can I help you with something?" my voice held slight venom, but it still was polite. Cora began sauntering around the room, picking up some thing and twisting them over in her hands. I knew she was trying to get me to stop thinking about her and focus on her brother. Too bad she didn't know I could multitask in my mind. So I watched her out of the corner of my eye, making sure some part of my mind was focused on her, and looked dead on at her brother.
"Yes, you can stand up and come with us." His voice was a deep rumble, like the sound of rocks sliding down a mountainside. Cora's ocean blue gaze, showed a hint of a smile, though her mouth did not copy the motion. His black hair was spiked, his eyes a much darker color than hers were. But his features were softer than hers, somehow.
"I am sorry, but I am not going anywhere unless you tell me where exactly I am supposed to be going." And there was a sudden flaming pain on the right side of my neck. I fell, trying not to cry out and putting my hand on the spot. Cora stood over me, looking down right damn scary.
"Shut up and just get up." I pulled my hand away to find it stained with blood. My eyes got wide, and when I did not respond she went to hit me again, but he grabbed her arm.
"Stop, Cora. He needs he undamaged."
"Why can't we just take her?"
"Because she had a wedding to attend to. And we don't want them to come looking for her. She needs to leave on her own will." He hissed in a low voice, his grip on her arm looking almost painful. "When we get her out of here you can do all the damage to want to her as long as it doesn't scare." And then he paused, glancing over his shoulder. Destiny stood in the archway, her face looking horrified and teary.
"Let her go!" she screamed, running towards me. But he spun around and grabbed her by the shoulders before she could reach me, and she struggled until she looked up at his eyes. Admit it, it is not easy to look up into your fiancés eyes and keep up your fight.
"I'm sorry Destiny, but you need to leave me and Cora to do what we came here to do." And suddenly he eyes looked angry and she made one quick movement broke his arm in half.
"You USED me! How DARE you!" and with another quick movement they were all suddenly gone. In a few seconds Destiny was once again in the room with me, looking like a lifeless statue.
"Where did they go?" I inquired softly, not even moving. Destiny had that dangerous air around her, I have never seen something like that around her before. She strode over to me and held out a silent hand, and I took it so she could pull me up. She did not answer me, but she pointed out the door to where Kit stood, shaking with fear. I looked at the ground and understood and began towards her. When I got to the archway I paused and glanced back at her.
"Just know that we love you Des, and you don't need to him feel loved." And I went with Kit to kitchen.
