9. Meeting
I never let Jason out my sight for the rest of the day. I knew I would have to talk to the rest of them to see what I should do with him. Take him away or stay here till spring break was the question. I skipped my class, the only class I have without him, and watched him from whatever way I could. When it came to the final class of the day, the one I really didn't want to take part in, Jason was in a full panic attack.
"What are we going to do? Are they going to come back?" was the first words out of his mouth. I took his hand in my left hand and his face in my right. I pulled him closer and kissed very shortly just to calm him down. That was the first kiss we had ever had in public and I saw some kids stop to stare, amazed.
"Jason everything is going to be fine. I won't let them touch you. They would have to kill me first." We both flinched at the word of anyone of us dying like this. His posture relaxed, but I knew Jason well enough to know his panicking was far from finished. "Breathe." I commanded, laughing a little.
He took in a deep breath and then started to walk into the classroom, side by side. We sat in our normal seats and we waited for our teacher to come in and give us our normal lecture. He never came. We started talking and playing games while one student-who's name I believe was Kyle-watched for our teacher to return. He still didn't show up. I started to get anxious. Syd was around here and she still hasn't' be able to control herself and Ben can't really control her. And Mr. Mortz-our teacher-liked to go out for lunch. This was getting bad. Jason saw my expression and soon we both were worried.
Then Nick burst through the door. "Claire grab Jason! Something is wrong." By his tone I knew he meant Mr. Mortz. I yanked Jason from his seat and started off with a dead sprint. Whispers started off as soon as was out the door, but I paid little attention to him as Angel appeared in the hall.
"I've got him. I'll keep him safe, Claire. I'll come back when the coast is clear." She told me as I handed Jason to her.
"Claire." Jason choked, reaching his hand out to me. I went back to him, gave him a small kiss on the cheek and then ran after Nick's scent. It went into the woods, onto a trail I was unfamiliar with. It stopped when I saw our teacher on the ground gasping in pain. There was blood everywhere with a bite mark on his neck.
"Syd?" I asked. Thinking I already knew the answer.
Skylar shook his head. Then when I caught the scent I knew so well that I gasped in shock. I had not expected him to be here? I mean what was this newborn thinking? "Cody." We both said in agreement.
"What was he doing here?" Nick chimed in. I almost forgot he was there when I saw his little blond head emerge from the trees. I couldn't believe what I had gotten my coven into.
Skylar shrugged trying to figure out the answer, but I already knew it. Cody was thirsty and he never liked Mr. Mortz, so he decided to attack himself. I was beyond being pissed. I felt I was burning hotter than hell. (No pun intended.)
"What do you want me to do? Save him? Finish him off?" I asked, not knowing why they would bring me here. The blood was already starting to draw me in inch by inch. Just a little closer and-
Skylar interrupted my train of thought. "Save him at least. And if he knows too much…well we'll cross that bridge when we get there." I was sure he was quoting something, but I didn't feel like figuring it out. I nodded and then thought about his life. I thought about how to breath and how to make the heart pump. At last I felt the venom that was killing him vanish and he was back to normal. His breaths came in short gasps and his heart rate slowed down to at least…well I don't want to really say. (Yeah, its that bad.) I felt his pulse come back to a normal human speed and then his eyes fluttered open.
"W-who's there? Claire? Skylar? Is that you? What are you guys doing here?" his voice croaked.
I turned helplessly to Skylar. I didn't know how to go on. I have never been faced with this issue before. Then I got an idea.
"Do you remember what happened?" I asked him with a sure, strong voice. If he didn't know then I could let him live, but if he saw Cody then it's either death or a vampire. If I had the choice earlier I would have chose death, but now I have Jason and I would give anything to keep him mine.
"No I don't. It all happened so fast. First I was standing here and then nothing. Then I saw you guys here." He was confused. He didn't even trust his own words. Skylar and me both sighed with relief that Cody had done no damage to him that would have fate decide for him. I would have to explain him the rules later, and what would happen if he didn't obey them. I shuddered at the thought of it.
"Skylar and I will carry you to the school. We'll have the nurse check you out. Don't worry everything will be just fine." I pretty much sang to him. No one on earth could resist not believing my voice. It was so musical and worth trusting…for now at least.
His face nodded and we both picked him up. The only reason both of us picked him up was because we needed to stay normal. If just Skylar or me carried him it would give something away from us. It would say we were inhumanly strong. We made it down the low hill-it was so low I can't believe they even called it a hill-and we walked through the hallways. Many eyes were on us and whispers floated around. Jason looked at me with relief as Angel held him back from me. Nick grabbed Mr. Mortz for me and I made my way to Jason's hand. It was bruised and I was sure he wasn't like that when I left him.
His face was unsure and it looked like someone had given him a black eye. There was dried bloodstains coming from a large gash on his forearm. His hand was sweating like he was nervous. What had happened to my Jason?
I looked over at Angel and her eyes were full of despair. I grabbed her arm and found a bite mark, from a vampire, on her wrist. She was sad that she had let me down.
"What happened?" I forced out. My breath was quick and low. Only Angel could here me now.
Others started to form back into their next class and we were the only ones in the hallway. "Cody." She mouthed. I gasped and I turned to Jason. Had he seen what I have done to his friend?
Skylar came first with Nick close to his side. There was no use going to class now. I grabbed Jason in my arms and ran like I was running from something I was afraid of. It wasn't hard for the others to keep up, but I could feel them slowly falling behind to give us some time alone. I burst through the window in my room and I flopped Jason on the bed. I ran through the door leaving Jason alone in search for Cody. He was sitting in the living room with grim face. The life I tasted from him was slowly going down. Not in the sense of him dying, but in the way that there was nothing for him to live for anymore.
I went up to him and glared at him murderously. He flinched at my face, but did not other than that. I growled so loudly I felt the floorboards underneath me tremble. His eyes finally met mine and I held them there. "How dare you." my voice stopped from the anger raging inside of me. "How dare you, Cody. I really should kill you right now. You don't deserve to live. Not after what you have done to Jason! How could you do that to him?" the anger seemed to be melting away, fading from my touch. In its place was a softer voice. I wanted these answers and I wanted them now.
"I didn't mean to." He started. His voice was like a violin playing the end of a sad song. "When I saw him, my thirst rose inside of me. I didn't mean for him to see me, but when I was leaving I caught his scent. It wasn't the best scent ever, but it was good none the less. Angel got defensive and I finally got to Jason. I," he waited a moment, "I never wanted him to get hurt." It was like he was pleading with me.
I was about to yell at him again when I realized it would have done me no good. I let it go and went upstairs to get Jason. He was sitting on my bed zoned out, staring out the window.
"So this is what you were hiding." His voice was barley audible. He was making a statement, not a question.
It was like I couldn't find my voice to answer him. "You could have told me you know. I would've understood what happened." At that moment, the way he talked to me, I wish I had told him from the beginning.
"I should have." I agreed. It was my entire fault that Jason got hurt. It was my fault Cody is a vampire and it's my fault that I got him into this mess. He looked at my face and was troubled by my expression. I looked away. I didn't want to see his injured face. I leaned against the wall and I slid down into a sitting position. I felt his soft footsteps coming near me. He sat next to and tried to pull my face from my hands. When he knew that he couldn't get my eyes on his he gave up with that. He decided he would just talk.
"I don't blame you, Claire. And I don't blame Cody either." A hiss escaped my lips when he said that. Jason just acted like I never made that sound. "Things happen. Not even a vampire is perfect." He smiled. He took his left hand and put it on my hair. It was like he was petting it. "I love you Claire. No matter what happens between us, that will never change." He promised.
There was an argument going on downstairs. I knew who it was, but I didn't feel like joining it. Then I heard glass break and an ear splitting scream. My head snapped up when there was fast feet coming up the stairs. I got into a crouch in front of Jason. I snarled a warning at the coming vampire.
"It's just me." Skylar's voice said. "I think its time we had a meeting." I couldn't have said it better my self. Well I'm sure I could of, but I didn't say it.
I grabbed Jason's already shaking hand and towed him downstairs. I went down to see Cody on the ground in pain. Angel was growling and I let out a loud gasp. Angel was the one who attacked Cody. Angel, gentle Angel, had caused this fight. I was more surprised than she was at the moment. Angel, not taking her eyes off Cody, made her way over to Jason and me. Skylar, who was flanked by Nick, stood in front of Angel, Jason, and me. I saw Skylar turn around and wink at Jason supportively. Jason suddenly relaxed. I could see how close they both came to be, like they have been brothers forever.
The whole atmosphere started to relax when my voice filled the empty silence. "I need everyone's opinion on what we should do next." Another hiss was made. And this time it was from Angel. She knew I meant Cody's too. Even after what he had done, but he was part of this family now and we had to forgive each other. I did not stop talking. Only a second had passed. "What happened today was a surprise. I know that they know where we are now. They know we did not leave. Therefore I need to know if I should take Jason and run now or stay for a little while longer." My voice faltered when I said this at the end.
"I think we should wait. They know where we are, but we know they are near so we would be ready. I don't think Keith would be that stupid to attack like that." Skylar was the first to speak. His opinion was one of the most important, since he was my second in command.
Nick was next to speak up. "Skylar is right. Keith," he snarled at the word like I was stabbing him, "wouldn't be that suicidal, not if he really wanted you gone."
"No!" Jason said agonized. He looked at me with the most tortured expression. He looked like a man burning at the stake.
Skylar took his arm. He was gentle and sincere with his touch. "I won't let anyone hurt her. I love her and I would never be able to live with myself if I let her go." Skylar cringed at the thought. "To look into your eyes knowing you lost her and then to come home and to never see her smile or that burst of laughter that comes out of no where." He smiled at the memory of just me and him traveling around the world. Just him by my side. No distractions. Just a brother and his sister.
Jason's face seemed to get angry. When Skylar said he loved me I was sure Jason recalled the fight in the park where he found out that he kissed me. My grip tightened on him. My face went blank and my mouth was wide open. I have never seen Skylar give that much emotion about me, especially around half on my family. Jason seemed to call down when he felt that Skylar meant love as a brother and sister.
I gasped. I remembered something from my party I had earlier. I knew how to keep Jason safe when we did run. It would be a way no one would find us, but I had to finish this meeting first.
"What?" Nick's voice called to me.
I shook my head. It was saying I'd talk about it later. "Angel?"
Her face looked at me. "I'm with Skylar and Nick. We should wait till the end of the week to run." I nodded then turned to Cody.
"Cody?" there was synchronization in snarls as I asked for his vote. He looked at me like I had too heads. My face meant for him to say something. He took a deep breath. "I have no say in what happens to Jason now. If I did I would want for him to stay here for a little while." He stopped before Angel could lunge at him.
"Angel cut it out!" I barked at her. She stopped short and looked at me with a sincere smile that would have stopped my heart, if I had one.
I nodded to Cody and then I looked at Jason. "Jason?" I asked. His face went from anger, to calm, to puzzlement. "You're part of this family now too, so you get a say in what we get to do." I put my hand on his cheek and he shuddered for a moment from the cold touch.
"I-I am with Skylar's idea." He finally said. I rolled my eyes and held him closer. Nick made the gagging sound.
"Get a room." He snickered. That did it.
I tackled him to the ground. We went rolling in different directions and if Skylar didn't have a chance at winning, Nick didn't even have a prayer. I pinned him down and pressed me teeth towards his jaw, not yet biting him. "Time?" I asked. I wanted to know if I had beaten my record.
I could almost hear Skylar rolling his eyes. "1.2 seconds. In other words you beat your record."
I got up to see Jason's face red. He was blushing from Nick's comment. "I put up with you guys when you fell in love the least you can do is put up with me for a while." I had put up with the love and couple crap for over 300 years. I hated double standards.
"Crap." Jason muttered.
I was aware of everything at once. "What?" I asked impatiently even though he just said that.
"I have to get home. My dad is probably having a heart attack." He went to the door and I followed. He got into my car and sat there waiting for me. I jumped in the drivers' seat and took off going 80 before I got out of the driveway. The streets were empty tonight so I could go even faster. I made it to his house-which is about 100 miles away-in about 2 minutes. A new record in my book. I just loved vipers.
And Jason was right about his dad. The light was on and I could see his shadow, hear his breathing, taste the life that came off of him and it was all there in the living room. When Jason got to his door I saw him wave at me. I had to go home. There were certain things that need to be done and things that need to be taught to a certain someone. Cody needs to learn big time.