Seen Her Squirm
"Baby Neferet's has cancelled on us."
Loren called from the kitchen. I wasn't surprised. It was obvious that she was going to from the look on her face. Though the fact that she wouldn't be coming had basically destroyed my plans to watch her squirm through the whole afternoon.
"What a surprise! I didn't expect her to come anyhow"
I replied as I walked through his loft. I heard his laugh, it was amazing.
"I don't see the point in going now you know, and we have to face everyone soon enough. So why not get it over with."
I wish I could be normal. Then maybe walking down the corridor with this man would be a little easier. Though it probably wouldn't be, he is a teacher and I am – sadly – a student. His laughter died and he looked into my eyes.
"We still haven't sorted out what we're going to do about Neferet. I think we should have a plan before we let everyone know we're together."
My nod was stiff. I had no idea.
"We can't do anything yet. We just need to try and act like an ordinary couple. She's going to be watching us, watching the way we are Loren. She knows I know what she's like, and that you do to! We have too be careful."
Sigh. This really was going to be difficult.
"Please Loren; I don't want you to get hurt because of me. I've only just got you, I need you."
I found his hand, trying to find a way to show him how much I loved him. Worry filled my body, his worry. His eye's also projected that worry and its intensity. But he nodded.
"Well what are we going to do today then?"
He asked, not taking his eyes off of me.
"We're going to go have lunch with my friends. Then we'll figure something out. Personally I'm not looking forward to all of the questions they have for me."
The look on his face was priceless. But his response was perfect.
"I told you I would deal with all of that. I'll just tell them all that I am crazy about you. It really is that easy, love!"
We walked out of his loft and through the rest off the school, followed by whispers and looks, of course. But we were together and that was all I could really think about. I was walking with Loren. A man most women dreamed about.
I was worried about the gang. I knew that I had worried them sick when we saw them. I also knew that they would want to know about Mom and everything that happened. I didn't know how much I should tell them.
"I'll be leading the conversation, so don't worry about it. I'll sort this. You need to get some energy."
Ha. He could talk; he was more worried than I was. Of course, Neferet was a good reason to be worried, but still.
"Well there's the door, you sure you want to do this, love?"
Like I could get out of it, I walked forward pulling him with me. He laughed and whispered
"That's my girl!"
His girl, I liked the sound of that. He held open the door for me and we walked in. Obviously the whole room went quiet. But I was too happy to let it bother me. We got our food and walked over to the booth my friends we're sitting in.
"Hey Z!"
They all said as I sat down. Shaunee and Erin looked happy with our company. The both of them winked at me.
"Good night Prof. Blake?"
Damien asked, I saw the twins straighten up, they sensed gossip.
"Well Zoey and myself had a quiet night actually. Our day had been pretty busy, so we just watched a film. Zoey's choice, of course"
He smiled at me.
"We had to go and see Mom and Heath. They were both pretty horrible meetings."
I added on to the end. I really wasn't expecting Jack's question.
"What about Erik?"
I looked at Loren; I had no idea what to say. I hoped that he would be able to help me with this. He did say that he would handle it after all.
"Erik Night has nothing to do with my Zoey anymore. He wasn't right for Zoey, and after Zoey and I had imprinted, we both thought it would be best if she finished their relationship."
"But why would Zoey be drinking your blood if she was with Erik and Heath?"
Another question from Jack, I saw Damien trying to quieten him down.
"To be perfectly honest I don't think that I will answer that question. All you need to know is that Zoey is with the best person she could be. Erik is going to be off working on his acting career, and Zoey is going to be here. Facing what is going to come."
I was shocked. I didn't think he would mention anything about Neferet. Then he carried on.
"It appears that Zoey's step-dad was involved in the murder on Prof. Nolan. Her family are in need of her protection. I can help Zoey deal with that stress. But I can't do it alone. You need to decide if you are on her side now! Before things become messy."
My friends looked shocked. And upset.
"I just don't think that treating Erik bad is a good thing."
Said Jack.
"But Loren's trying to tell you. Erik has his life to lead now. I can't be held back. A lot of bad stuff is going to happen soon enough. And I need you around me. All of you."
I looked over to where Aphrodite was.
"Including her"
And jerked my head to point out who I meant.
This annoyed the twins, I could tell by there faces.
"What can that hag.."
"From hell do for you"
They said.
"She is apart of this. You know that. No matter what and right now I may need to keep things from you, that I can tell her, but that isn't because I want to. It's because you can be read, by Vampyres. Whereas I and Aphrodite can't, though Loren can read me."
I looked at them all. I could see what I was saying sinking in.
"Why would you need to keep secrets from the Vamps though?"
Jack, again.
"Because like I said a lot of bad stuff is going to happen around here. And it's not all Vampyre's. Just some. I really wish I didn't have to speak in riddles. But for now, your safety comes first. If people find out how much I know, we're all in trouble."
I dreaded to think how much she already knew from Loren.
"I'm sorry."
His whisper was full of guilt. I wasn't bothered though. She'd of found out anyway.
Zoey:
Aphrodite.. come over. We need to talk!
I saw her receive the text. She nodded and started to come over to us. I knew she was nervous. Even if she didn't want us to see it.
"Herd of Nerd, well how much have you told them."
I secretly found her nickname amusing, or was that Loren. I looked up to see a guilty smile playing on his perfect lips. Yes, it was Loren.
"As much as I could, as much as they needed to know. Enough that they would know to keep there guard up, but that wouldn't get them hurt."
Aphrodite nodded carefully, trying to decide what to do or say, I guess. I moved over a little so she could sit next to me. To make her feel welcome.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded. Of course I was sure. They were my friends, the closest thing I had to family – other than Grandma. I had to make sure they were safe.
"And him"
I started to speak. But Loren interrupted me
"I know everything. I am a vampyre and I am imprinted with Zoey. So I know everything. And before you ask, yes I can shield my mind from the rest of them. I will do, for her."
The protective look in his eyes made the world seem easy again. As he made a silent promise to me, I knew that for now everything could be fine.
"So she gets to know"
Erin said, shortly followed by Shaunee with
"Why is that again?"
I wished that they could all get on. I sent a prayer to Nyx, asking for exactly that.
"Because I can't be read by the Vampyre's. As Zoey has already said. It's a unique talent of mine, I don't think a vampyre has ever really been able to get inside my head. Not really anyways."
That reminded me of Neferet and how she never really seemed to get anything out of me anymore. I had a theory. Maybe Nyx was protecting our heads from her. To help us sort everything out all over again.
"Look I need to know now. Are you with me on this? And do you understand? Because I promise you that this is for you. But I need your help."
I looked at them all in the eye... my power filling my body. I wouldn't briefly whether he would feel what was happening to me. Whether he knew what I was becoming everyday.
My friends small nods confirmed that they would be apart of this journey with me. Though I already knew that I wouldn't need to ask Aphrodite, she was the only person that spoke the confirmation.
"Now for the gossip"
Said the twins at the same time.
