Chapter fourteen: The Puzzle
Exhausted, I collapsed against Damir's chest. Without my asking him to, he wrapped his long arms around me securely, burying his head in my hair. "I apologize. I should've told you to quit a lot sooner. It was madness for me to encourage you like that."
"No, it's alright. I'll be fine." I said breathlessly. I looked down at Mira, wonder and fear in my eyes. In the silence of my thoughts I had heard what the other's had not been able to hear. A warning that chilled my blood and shocked my mind.
"In her sorrow she reaches out for one who ties the stories. The one who is blood with the bloodless. The one who shall steal the innocence from the Innocent."
"Mira," I whispered, shakily, "Tell me what you mean."
Mira only shook her head sadly. "No."
I turned to Damir, panic in my eyes. "I don't know what she means. She won't tell me. What can I do, Damir? What can I do?" I buried my head in his chest, fighting back tears of exhaustion and frustration. My headache had only grown worse and I felt like I could burst.
"You need to sleep, love. I'll take you home," Damir murmured, stroking my hair reassuringly. He looked up at Raven and Alyce. "Please excuse us. I'm sorry that my first official meeting with you both is this unpleasant. I hope to have better encounters in the future,"
"Y-yeah," Raven stuttered. "S-sure." Alyce finished, stuttering also.
Damir nodded, then grabbed my arms and gently pulled me up until we were both standing tall. My legs were weak and I leaned heavily on him as we left. Groggily, I turned and waved 'bye' to my sisters. We made our way slowly down the stairs and out the door, Damir's arm around my waist. "We made it just in time," he muttered to himself when we reached my doorway. I glanced at the road as Raven's dad drove in, a James Taylor CD playing quietly in his car. "You'll be able to sense these things when you become a vamp. It's second nature to have extra senses. Part of our 'mind over matter' stuff," With that he swung me up in his arms and opened my door in one motion. From there he proceeded up the stairs, avoiding the creaking stair before I could warn him, and into my room without my parents' knowledge.
"I'll leave while you get dressed for bed," he whispered roughly. He was embarrassed.
"No. It's alright. I've got a closet," He eyed the door skeptically.
"It's too small for you. I'll go," Damir offered, his face mimicking a martyr's.
I huffed. "Damir, if it's too small for me- which it's not- then it's too small for you," I grinned triumphantly, sure he couldn't find fault in my logic. Logic that was fueled by exhaustion- logic that was fueled by an overload of information… and lack of food. I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast and now it must be about nine or ten 'pm'. My stomach growled, vibrating in my gut. Then, I'm sure my face turned pale as the hunger pains hit. "Ow," I whispered.
Damir looked at me, his sweet eyes reflecting my silent pain. He walked toward me and encircled my waist in his warm, strong arms. "That's an understatement, love." He whispered in my ear. Then he pulled back and studied my face. "Come. Let's get you some food,"
My own personal vampire strode across the room and opened my door without a sound. As he proceeded down the stairs I traipsed after him. "What about my parents?" I hissed.
Damir turned and flashed me a wide smile. "You think I can be stopped by foolish adults?" he faked at arrogance.
I scowled. "I am so not explaining you to my parents tonight." I growled. He only grinned wider and told me to wait in my room. And change while I was at it. I turned and muttered under my breath all the way to my closet. About two minutes later I lay down in my bed and picked up my remote. Wearily, I turned on Phantom of the Opera; just like every night. But those other nights I didn't have Damir bringing me a late dinner. I blushed at the thought.
When I did get to see my food Damir laughed at my expression. The full meal was made to perfection. The roast beef in the bowl of stew steamed and my room filled with the succulent smell of old-fashioned food. I could practically feel the drool dripping from the corners of my mouth. "How the hell did you hide this from my parents?"
He shrugged. "You're microwave is quiet." I eyed him skeptically. He sighed. "Fine. The 'rentals had this for lunch. I thought I'd warm it up. Happy?"
"Incandescently." I grinned, grabbing the tray from him greedily. Eagerly I devoured my dinner, only pausing when Damir teased.
"This movie again? How many times have you seen this?"
I glanced up at him, my T.V. where Erik the Phantom was luring Christine into his lair, and back to my stew. "Five hundred sixty-two." I whispered automatically. What Damir didn't understand from his obvious silence was the fact I just made the whole number up. 'Joke's on the vamp now. I could have so much fun with this!' I thought to myself.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mira mew something in Erik the Cat's ear. Erik let out a series of small 'mews' which made Damir smile. "Thanks you two," in a moment I understood what Erik had said.
My eyes cut to Mira and Erik. 'The phrase "if looks could kill" comes to mind, Annabel. Tone it down,' Mira laughed at me. "Damn you." I muttered.
"Hey now. It's not their fault! Who lied anyway?" Damir chuckled as he scooted himself close to me. "Easy now love." He whispered, taking my face in his hands. "Look, my bad. I'm sorry. Shouldn't have provoked you. Happy now?" he smiled wider, his eyes sincere.
"Alright. Fine." I tried to sound mad, but I slipped and smiled.
"Oh, just 'fine'? What happened to 'Incandescent'?" Then that stupid, arrogant, totally hot vampire laid his lips on mine. His breath mixed with mine and I couldn't do anything but breathe him in. The sweet scent of honeysuckles and roses bloomed around me. Light bells chimed in my ears. After a few seconds though, he pulled back, his eyes still teasing, but I thought they looked a little darker than normal. "Still happy?" There was a new edge to his voice. An echo in my head of the growl of a large cat. The roar of a waterfall. So beautiful. So dangerous.
"Damir," I pleaded. "I am perfectly, utterly overjoyed. Now please don't lose it. I'm not ready to tell everyone 'good-bye' yet," I moved back a little and watched as a million emotions crossed his light purple eyes. Hurt. Frustration. Happiness. Understanding. Embarrassment.
Self-loathing.
He scooted back, obviously hating the newly needed distance. "Damn. This is harder than I thought it would be,"