Chapter 10-Summon

Selene

I had hoped to avoid Tanner at all costs. Something about him told me that he was the type to dig deep into other people's personal matters until all his questions were answered. Maybe I should just flash him my fangs and scare him off. I knew I would never do that though. I could face huge trouble if I exposed our kind to the humans.

Right now I was in the library, it was lunch and most people were in here copying each other's answers on homework assignments and cramming for tests that they had ignored for weeks.

I sat in my favorite spot on the ground toward the back of the library. It was the most secluded corner because it was where the old town manuscripts and files were, and since White Waters was hardly Chicago or New York City, very few people came back wanting to look up the town history.

I nestled down with the book I was trying to read earlier when I fell asleep in class. I had all but turned to the first page when a pair of worn flip flops appeared at my side. Tanner.

"What in the world happened with you today?" He asked loudly. He sat down next to me and waited for my answer. I looked at him and saw that his eyes were stern, a look that did not match his boyish face.

"I'm sorry if I worried you." I placed my book back inside my bag. "I just needed to take care of something."

"And what would that be?" His eyes were widened. "Normal people don't just storm off with the look of death in their eyes like you did Selene. I covered for you and I think I deserve to know what happened."

"It's a personal matter." I told him sheepishly. I didn't like him prying into my life, he didn't even know me. Not to mention that I really did not want to start dishing about my current situation with Cole Wilshire, I could already tell that Tanner was more interested in Cole than he should be. Cole is the last person that Tanner wants to start investigating.

"A personal matter is an understatement." He swished his hair back with his fingers and stretched his tan legs out. For a while he remained completely quiet, he did nothing but study the carpeting of the library. I pulled out my book again thinking he had nothing else to say, but then he continued to speak. "So what's there to do around here?" He asked. I looked at him in surprise, seconds ago he was telling me how he thought he was entitled to know why I ran off earlier and now he had completely switched gears.

I shrugged my shoulders and opened my book. Suddenly I felt the book being snatched from my hands as Tanner backed away from me. I looked up to see him tossing the novel back and forth from hand to hand. "Do you always retreat to a book when you don't wanna talk to someone? You know that's not very ladylike." I reached for it but he raised it above his head. "I'll make you a deal." He was grinning widely now, thinking he had the advantage. Testosterone filled human boys. "If you agree to see a movie with me, I'll give you your book back, and if you agree to eat with me afterward, I will never utter another word about your disappearing act this morning."

I pretended to be thinking carefully about his proposition. Then in one graceful jump I reached up and swiped the book back and tucked it in my arms holding it snuggly to my chest. He looked shocked as he slowly realized that I had taken it back. Never underestimate a nerdy vampire girl.

"Wow." He said. "That was impressive. What are you and Olympic jumper or something?" I smiled a little. "So, how about I reward you with the movie instead since you were able to take the book back, same terms apply for food afterward." His face seemed smug.

"I'm sorry but I'm spoken for." My eyes widened and my breath cut off as I just realized what I had said. I'm spoken for? Cole's face flashed in my mind. I could not believe that those words left my lips. I was just grateful that Cole was nowhere near here. If he had heard me say that…

"Spoken for?" Tanner asked surprised. "Come on your joking right? If you were spoken for you would be spending your time with this alleged guy of yours rather than at the library, look you don't have to be shy around me Selene, I'm very easy going and I can be quite the gentlemen on a date."

"I don't doubt that." I didn't really want to hurt his feelings, but I didn't want to give him any hope that he could pursue me and be successful. The last thing I need is for someone else to be after me.

"So who is this mystery guy that you are allegedly with?" His voice remained light; I could see that he didn't believe that I was spoken for. Which I'm not, technically, right?

"I-well-I—"

"Miss Hayward, may I speak to you for a moment?" I turned to see the school principle, Mr. Pruitt. His face was stern. Oh no, the one time I ditch school and I get caught. "Now, Miss Hayward." I did not bother looking back at Tanner as I gathered my things and followed him all the way to his office.

I sat into the seat across from his, folding my hands on his cherry oak wood desk.

Mr. Pruitt was a vampire. His family was the ones to have built the schools in White Waters, and ever since then there has been a Pruitt as principle. He sat down, removing the glasses which he only used as a prop. "Miss Hayward it has come to my attention that Cole Wilshire has asked for your hand, and that there are rumors circulating that he may very well succeed in making you his wife despite your uncle's rejection."

"Yes sir." I affirmed.

"Should this happen, the humans at this school may become suspicious about you marrying at such a young age. The Elders have advised me to inform you that should this marriage happen, that you keep it discrete. You do not have to lie, if anyone happens to ask you may tell them the truth, but do not flaunt this, at least until after graduation in June."

"Yes sir."

"As far as the traditional vampire honeymoon," he continued, getting a little uncomfortable. I have already arranged it for you to appear sick during those two weeks, so your time missed from school will not be counted against you." I felt uneasy hearing my principle discuss my possibly soon to be honeymoon period. However, I kept composure as much as I could.

"Yes sir, thank you."

"They have also asked that I give you this." He pulled a very formal looking envelope out from his coat pocket and slid it to me.

"Sir, what is this?"

"Open it and read for yourself. Good day Miss Hayward." He sat down and riffled through papers, clearly trying to tell me he wished for me to leave and read the note elsewhere. I did not hesitate; I got up and bolted out of his office holding the note tightly. I went behind a pillar outside of the building and sliced the envelope open with my finger.

Dear Selene Rose Hayward,

You have been summoned to meet at Elder Hall at dawn tomorrow morning. An escort will be by your home at five o' clock sharp that morning for the purpose to bring you separated from your caretaker Matthew Jones Hayward, your blood uncle on your paternal side.

Please wear appropriate dress and be prepared to answer any questions that the Elder members may or may not have for you.

This meeting concerns the marriage proposal given to you by Cole Jackson Wilshire and the rejection of your hand from your caretaker Matthew James Hayward.

Should the Elders reject Mr. Wilshire's request to marry you, you shall return home with your uncle and live your life as you had prior to this incident.

Should the Elders accept Mr. Wilshire's request to marry you, you shall return home with an escort who will help you pack your belongings and who will also send them to Wilshire Manor, your new home. You will spend that evening at the White Waters Inn, where you will prepare yourself for the wedding ceremony during the following evening.

The information above may or may not be repeated at the Elder Hall.

Remember you are expected to behave properly in the presence of the Elders.

Elder Jones-member two of the Elders

I folded the note up. It was so real now.

I had never been to Elder Hall before, and it was rare to see an Elder. They were scattered about in different locations. According to father there were five Elders, all representing the most powerful families of our kind. He said that there words were law, and that no one ever questioned them. Mother would tell me that the Elders were all respectable men who pushed their laws as protection for our kind, but they would not hesitate to destroy one of us if we brought harm to another vampire, or if we killed a human. I shivered. I had only ever seen one Elder, Elder Jones, Cole's great grandfather, but I knew exactly who the other four were, what they looked like, and their names.

My heart began to beat rapidly. What if Cole wins? What if we do get married?

"Busted?" I spun around looking to where I heard the voice. Guess who. "Did Pruitt see you sneak off? How long are ya gonna be punished for it?"

"He wanted to see me about something else."

"Aw, he's not the one your spoken for is he?" Tanner asked crinkling his face.

"No!" I shouted, horrified.

"I'm just kidding. So you're not working today right?"

"That's correct." I answered. I figured that I might as well warm up to Tanner a little; he was clearly not going to back off. I almost wished I was already married, that would surely make him back off.

"Cool, why don't you swing by my place?" He bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, looking like an excited puppy. "My dad would like to meet you, since he is taking over in a couple of days."

"I-I thought Ira wanted to wait a while longer?" Is the entire world against me this week?

"Change of plans, my dad wants to begin take over as soon as possible, his only hurdle right now is getting Colt off his back."

"Cole." I corrected. "His name is Cole."

"Whatever." Tanner shrugged, actually looking annoyed. "He creeps me out, no matter where I turn I see him skulking about, and I don't like him bugging my dad about buying the shop from him. That whole shop is what made my dad want to move here, he brought me and my family over on a whim hoping that he could buy from Ira, even enrolled me and my sisters in the schools here because he was so confident. Now that he actually has it, Collin thinks that he is going to be able to give a better offer."

"Cole." I corrected again.

"What's his problem? Is he like major possessive over things in this town or what? Cannot have newbie family coming in and taking over?"

"Has he mentioned why he wants to buy?"

"He just says it's important to him, whatever that means." Tanner crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

"Look Cole has lived here all his life, or so I have heard. When his parents moved away he stayed here and lived in his relatives home, where he still resides today, he must just really like it here and doesn't want anything in this town to fall apart."

"My dad can take care of things." Tanner defended. "And he most certainly can take care of Cole; you seem to be buddy-buddy with him, so you might want to let him know that he can't intimidate us."

If only you knew.