Chapter Twenty
"So yeah, Hugo will be here soon and we can go over the cover story that we're going to use," Sookie grinned as she took a sip of her orange juice. Her hair was curly, with some pulled back and out of her face, and she was wearing an adequate, patterned, navy summer dress that didn't do much for her curvy figure and looked pretty dull and innocent. Admittedly, it looked good against her tanned skin and showed a little bit of cleavage, but I wasn't keen on it.
She said it was to look somewhat respectable when going to their church. I had just wrinkled my nose at it, but to be fair, it did look alright on her… if you hadn't seen some of the other outfits she wears that is.
"Well, I was going to dress myself to look eighteen. I have an I.D for it too. From when I was in a small town east of London," I grinned as I ate a Melon chunk. Yes, before you comment about anything, I am eating healthily. It's better for me to recover and then some. Oh hush, I can hear you laughing…
"Well, you could be a niece or a cousin of mine?" she suggested and I bobbed in my seat excitedly.
"That sounds like fun!" We laughed and continued to talk about our cover. I was her niece who was born and raised in England, but because of the tragic death of my parents (By vampires for the pity vote), I had to come and move in with my aunt Sookie.
"Hugo!" Sookie stand up and walked round to shake hands with a male behind me. I pushed the chair back and stood up to face a tall, scrawny man with a receding hairline and dark eyes. He had to be in his early thirties. I arched a brow with a small smile to Sookie and she introduced us.
"Hayley this is Hugo. He'll be accompanying us to the church. He's Isabel's," she had a bright grin on her face and pulled over a chair for Hugo to join us at the table. I smiled politely and shook his hand before sitting back down.
"I suppose it'll look better to have a guy with us when we turn up?" I asked and Sookie nodded.
"That reminds me actually," Hugo said and pulled out a ring and handed it to Sookie. She grinned.
"Oh Hugo! Yes! A thousand times yes!" she slipped it on whilst we laughed quietly together.
"It'll look better and give us a good reason for wanting to join their church," he commented and my head bobbed in agreement as I ate another piece of fruit.
"Can I be your Maid of Honour?" I asked and Sookie grinned enthusiastically. Hugo just smiled awkwardly.
"Also, erm, just so they believe we're an actual couple about to get married, you should probably let me do most of the talking."
I arched my brow, but looked down at my food as I ate it. He seemed awkward and nervous, even if he was being a bit light-hearted about it. I wasn't sure what to make of him really. You know when you can just… sense something about someone? Yeah well… My vibes are all over the place with him…
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll just shut up and look pretty," Sookie grinned sarcastically.
"That's not what I meant," he shot back guiltily.
"Yeah, it was, but its okay. It'll be a lot easier for me to listen in on others if I don't have to worry about carrying on a conversation."
I looked up with a smile. "You won't have to worry about stress Sookie, I'll be there," I winked making the blonde laugh. I saw Hugo give me a confused look with his brows furrowing together. I just smiled. "I have a few abilities myself to help with the situation. Empathy being my favourite."
He just nodded and fidgeted in his seat a little.
"If they ask you two any questions, are you going to be able to say the things about vampires that they'll want to hear?" his eyes were shifting between us every now and then to take in our reaction.
"Hugo, I don't just hear the things hateful people say, I hear the things that are so hateful that hateful people won't even want to say them out loud," she smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about me, I got plenty of material to work with."
His eyes trailed to me and I smiled. "I've been with a lot of different crowds," my head was bobbing as I said this, "My parents were killed by vampires so that might just help."
His eyes widened a fraction and I laughed.
"It's her cover story," Sookie placed a hand on his shoulder and I nodded.
"Well, it's half true anyway, but it happened a while ago and with that, I got my revenge."
Sookie gave me a knowing look and I smiled sweetly to Hugo before returning back to my fruit. I sensed I was scaring him a little bit. Huh… I must intimidate him. Awesome?
"It's funny, I don't even know you really, but you're the only other person I have met whose dated a vampire…" Sookie started and my head shot up, giving her a mock hurt look, she laughed, "Oh Hayley, you're not dating Vampires, you're just living with one."
I shrugged.
"We have an open relationship!" I pouted making her laugh and shake her head.
"You know what I mean Hayley. And you're not with Darren," her bright smile made me automatically forgive her and shrug, returning to my food.
"I'm sorry Hayley, but, how old are you?" Hugo asked and I grinned.
"Eighteen," I replied sweetly seeing his eyes widen and his brows shoot up high. When I returned to my food I gave Sookie a look and allowed her to read my mind for a split second. 'I don't want many people knowing I'm immortal. I need to hide my identity to the best of my ability.'
"Whoa… Really? I-I mean, you don't really look it…" he stuttered and I laughed raising my head to look to him.
"Well, I am, but maybe you are influenced by my attitude and maturity?" I grinned cheekily making him smile, shoulders shaking in a silent laugh.
"Well Sookie, what would you like to know?" he turned to her. I could tell he didn't know how to act around me, but with Sookie he could. Maybe because he knew a lot about Sookie and not me, I wasn't offended or anything. Just curious.
I wasn't exactly dressed badly… I was wearing my dark skinny jeans with black and pink trainers and a black t-shirt with an array of stars over my chest.
"Everything," Sookie sounded excited, "Li-like, do you and Isabel ever fight?"
"Oh we fight like crazy," his tone was light-hearted. "But I have been with women where I didn't fight with before and with every one of them, I found that the reason that we never fought was because I didn't care enough to bother." So… that sounded a bit… wrong… Not my conversation so not getting involved. This is for Sookie.
"Oh, Hugo, that is messed up." Thank You Sookie Stackhouse. Now I get to find out… I'm feeling quite nosey about this…
Hugo chuckled as he replied, "Well, Maybe, but it's also true."
"It's funny but, whenever Bill and me fight, even as I'm screaming and I'm so mad I don't think I'm ever going to stop, somehow, in the middle of all that, I know we're both fighting for our relationship."
Really? Really Sookie? Not because Bill can be a total asshat? I had to keep mentally chanting to myself that Sookie was happy and hearing my opinion would probably be silly. She loved Bill. Even with all his douche-y qualities.
During my thought process, the conversation had continued. It was about turning. Uh oh. He mentioned the age card on her. Well Done mate, you have to bring mortality into it! Sookie's going to be thinking about it!
I looked up at her from under my lashes and she was slowly nodding. It had gotten to her. Never bring up the age card to a happy couple when one of them isn't immortal!
"Erm… We should go," she muttered and stood up, Hugo tried to apologise but Sookie won't have it, saying something about if she died today she never have to feel old, unloved and unwanted. I bit down on my tongue to refrain from glaring at Hugo. Moron.
I stood up and ran a hand through my straightened hair.
"I'll meet you guys at the church. If I am going to look like your niece, I'll have to change and stuff," I smiled and Sookie's brows furrowed, "Erm… when you get there, mention your niece visiting and meeting you there to take a look at it. You know I have some things to sort out today anyway." I hugged her briefly when she accepted this and pulled her bag on her shoulder.
"Now you be careful and dress appropriately," her voice was slightly stern, but the smile gave it away on the fact that she was playing the aunt card. I grinned and nodded with a mock salute.
"Gotcha Auntie Sook. See you Uncle Hugo," I laughed before skipping off to the elevator to change into something… so not me…maybe.
I finished curling my hair similar to the way Sookie's been this morning, and placed a headband in there with a small bow to look innocent. My make-up was made to look clear and similar looking to my favourite aunt Sook- I mean Holly (I had gotten a text explaining that they were going to use cover names. She was Holly Simpson and Hugo was Rufus Dobson). Because I was slightly paler in comparison to her, I added a bit of pink blusher to my cheeks to give me a rosy looking complexion and leaned back to examine myself shoulders up. I looked between sixteen and eighteen. Awesome.
I got up and walked to my cupboard trying to find my youngest looking outfit. I didn't have anything really… when I was looking my youngest, I was wearing that pink dress I wore on the plane, but because of the sweetheart neckline, it wasn't very suitable. Sweetheart necklines were also my favourite choice when it came to nice dresses. Made my chest look good.
I turned to face my bed. It was made around Eric with his clothes folded neatly at the end. I had placed his shoes by the door during my clean up of the place. I smiled lightly at his relaxed pouted features, and the way his arms were laid so I could easily curl up in them if I wanted to. I have to say, it was very tempting…
I turned back to my few clothes in the wardrobe and mentally scolded myself for packing quickly. The annoying thing was that I had the perfect summer dress at home! Wait… It was at home. It wasn't anywhere dangerous. I could so easily teleport myself there.
I closed my eyes and let everything go, thinking of nothing but my bedroom at home. I thought of the fluffy hot pink carpet, the smooth white walls with the off canvas of pink flowers dotted around. My Bed. My standard four poster double bed with soft deep pink and white cotton sheets and the drapes around it. I had wanted a princess-like bed when coming here and I got it. I couldn't draw the curtains on it, but I had no reason to. It was decoration only.
I began to feel very light on my feet before the feeling of my fluffy carpet cushioned my bare feet. My eyes fluttered open to see my room. It had been cleaned and there were fresh sheets on the bed. Darren must have been bored, bless him. I squealed in excitement and skipped into my wardrobe pulling out the perfect hot pink summer dress, slipping it on straight away. Did I forget to mention I was in just my underwear before teleporting myself here? Eric was Dead to the World so I wasn't worried about him waking up…
It did have a sweetheart neck line, but it didn't reveal as much cleavage because of the lace on the straps and the hem. A large white bow pulled in the dress just under my bust to give it some shape before falling down my body with a gypsy skirt to just above my knee in strips of the fuchsia and dusty pink.
I slipped on a pair of three quarter length white leggings and slipped them on underneath and I had a nice pair of matching dusty pink flat ballet pumps in the hotel room. I could also wear that white shrug I wore with my other dress I wore on the plane there.
I was giddy when I had teleported back into the room. After pulling on the needed items, I was twirling and giggling like a small girl in front of the mirror who was wearing her mother's pretty dresses. I looked like a young lady that was still a teenager. I loved it.
I picked up my phone and saw I had a text from Sookie.
Heya Hun, hope your journey was fine. Our tour is taking longer than normal so if you could get the taxi to stop you by mine to drop your stuff off, you can come straight here! We have warned the Newlin's of your arrival so you can be taken to us straight away.
Love you lots. Holly. xx
I smirked at the text as before closing my phone and slipping it in my little hot pink back-pack a long with a purse (after switching the I.D. for my eighteen year old one) and my house keys for home to make it seem like I picked them up from 'Aunt Holly's house'.
I had taken a taxi from the hotel to the town nearest the church and gotten another taxi to take me to the actual church. By the time I had finally reached the church, it was sun down. I paid the cab driver and walked slowly to the entrance of the church clutching the straps of my backpack nervously. Even though I was an Angel, some churches gave me the heebie-jeebies… and this place… It made the hairs on my body rise. Bad feeling about this right now…
As I walked into the lobby I saw a tall blonde, who reminded me of a Stepford wife, walk in. She looked shaken up at first, but when her eyes saw me a false bright smile was on her lips straight away.
"Why hello there, you must be Hayley!" yep, definite Stepford. I smiled brightly and nodded, bouncing on the spot slightly.
"That'll be me. How did you know?" my voice was a bit higher than usual to help me sound younger and a spark of guilt flashed in her eyes.
"Well your aunt Holly just spoke about you the whole time and I must say you're as cute as a button," she held her hand out to me and I took it gently. Guilt, fear, hurt and betrayal came flooding to me, but I giggled nonetheless at her comment and forced a blush to my face as I looked away. Why was she feeling such emotions?
"I haven't been called that since I was twelve," I mumbled shyly making her laugh.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you, how old are you?" she took her hand away from mine and I bit my bottom lip.
"I turned eighteen a couple of months ago," I continued the shy demeanour as I looked at her from under my lashes. I saw her face fall before she gasped in an evident false shock.
"Oh my, you certainly don't give that impression! My, you're like a sixteen year old," she laughed and I forced my face to blush a deeper shade of red by thinking of my night with Eric. If you want to blush on demand, think of something utterly embarrassing or heated. My night with Eric was definitely heated to say the least…and… I looked sixteen. Wow. Awkward...
"Is my Auntie Holly almost done with the tour?" I asked and her face paled, her eyes full of the guilt, yet she kept that false bright smile on her face, in attempts to hide all emotions. Probably would have worked… but wow those emotions are really powerful. What was wrong with this woman?
"Oh of c-course, Steve left them with Gabe to finish the tour, but I'm sure I can go get him for you. They all really wanted to show you where they will be saying their sacred vows," she smiled and I sucked in a breath, trying my best to look excited.
"Really? Oh I would love to see it. They said yes to here? Oh wow! I'm so excited!" I jumped on the spot, making her laugh nervously.
"Now you just stay here and I will fetch Steve myself," she smiled.
"Steve Newlin? I get to meet Steve? This is my lucky day!" I squealed and jumped forward to hug the woman. She laughed nervously and returned the hug tightly for a split second. I felt stronger waves of her guilt and her fear, but it was based towards me. Her fear for me. She felt guilty for me. Why me?
When she pulled back I thought about Eric's skilful tongue trailing down my torso to help the blush on my face. Wow… I was turning myself on now… calm down a bit Hayley cause… that's a wee bit sick.
"I'm sorry. It's just… recently, watching Steve Newlin on the TV has really helped me recently." I forced the tears to my eyes. Tears on demand? Easy, get into character and really think about the reason for them… or think of something really sad… like if I lost both my mother and Darren… Oh dear… that helps…
"Oh Child, he has helped a lot of people," she smiled placing a hand on my shoulder. I shook my head and looked down, feeling a tear trickle down my cheek… That bad thought won't happen. Never. Darren's too smart for that. I'll never loose my Dare-Bear.
"N-No… I mean it. After my parents were murdered by those… those blood suckers! He helped me find the Lord," I sneaked a look at her through my damp lashes and she wiped a tear delicately from my cheek.
"Oh no," she gasped and pulled me into another tight hug. Her fear had risen tenfold as well as her pity. She was a sweet women. I could see it in her heart, but I could also see something else. She was a misguided soul and I think she was in too deep now. It's such a shame really… she was nice.
I laughed and pulled back, accepted her offered tissue to wipe my eyes. None of my make-up came off thank God.
"Now what do we have here Sarah? Why is that poor child crying?" my head shot up and I saw a tall, proud man in a navy suit walk up to his wife and place a hand on her shoulder.
"Steve, this is Holly's niece…" Sarah started and Steve's face lit up.
"Hayley Butler. Your aunt spoke about nothing but you during her tour. I just left her with my friend Gabe to finish the tour of the church," he held his hand out to me, but I stood there frozen. I recognised that voice and it chilled me to the bone, but luckily he seemed to think my shocked expression was out of star truck. His knowing grin said it all. It was his voice from my nightmare… Which means…
"Oh…" I gasped and shook my head, "Wow. Steve Newlin." I felt the tears in my eyes, but not the fake ones I conjured up. These were real. Steve Newlin was going to try and kill me. I needed to get out of here. Fast.
"Steve," Sarah stepped away from her husband and round to place a comforting hand on my shoulder, "Hayley's parents were victims to a vampire attack."
I winced and I covered my mouth with my hand as I tried to force the tears back. I realised what the guilt was now. They had taken Sookie and Hugo somewhere, but I was confident to know that they were alive. They wouldn't kill them. They can't be that sick can they?
Steve's face twisted into one of false sympathy. He saw through my façade straight away as soon as Sarah mentioned my parents. He had a intelligent sparkle in his eyes. He knew straight away. He knew I was a lie and I am guessing the same with Hugo and Sookie. What went wrong then? How did he find out?
Before I knew it, I had Steve's arm wrapped round my shoulders with him guiding me off to main hall. I didn't hear anything as he opened the double doors and my eyes scanned forward to see the alter, a stone table with a large window viewing out onto a beautiful open land with trees that seemed to be positioned perfectly for what would be a flawless sunset. That's when everything seemed to just… slow down for me as realisation really sunk in. Oh holy mother of Fudge cakes. I'm really screwed.
The whole place was open as he walked with me up the isle, rambling on about something. I didn't hear. I couldn't being almost paralyzed in fear. This all felt too similar and it petrified me. I blinked, feeling tears dropped down my cheeks.
"So what do you think?" Steve released me and took a few paces forward before turning to me. I saw a tall, broad fellow with a shaved head and a grey jumper with some logo on it walk forward with a smile. I wrapped my arms around my waist and looked down, composing myself before looking up with a bright smile.
"It's brilliant! I-I love it. It's p-perfect," I whispered, trying to speak. Steve nodded smartly and turned to face it. My eyes flickered to the big guy behind and I noticed they exchanged a nod.
"Did you know your Aunt and Uncle will be coming for the lock in tomorrow?" he spoke proudly and turned to face me. I shook my head cautiously slow.
"N-No, but it sounds like fun," I pulled another smile onto my face and he nodded.
"Oh it sure is. I know what, we'll take you to them, if you want," he wrapped his arm around my shoulders once more and started walking me back down the aisle. I released a sigh of relief and saw Sarah walking the opposite way. She looked completely rigid.
"It was nice meeting you ma'am!" I called out and she turned to smile at me and then stood there with an unknown emotion to me as I was guided away, the broad man trailing behind. I sensed excitement coming from him and I had to stop myself from shivering. We came to a door and he opened it, it was leading down a narrow stair case and I felt fear straight away. I gasped and felt myself go frigid. The fear I felt doubled because I could feel it from down the stairs… I'm guessing Sookie and Hugo were down there and if they were down there then… maybe that's where the start of my nightmare started. Down there. I never had any recollection of it, just the voices.
"W-What's down there?" I stuttered, stepping back, but his arm on my shoulder held me still.
"I like to keep my office out of the way, your aunt and soon-to-be uncle are just down here," his voice sounded slightly strained with anticipation and I shook my head.
"Ahh, I'll wait up here, I'm a bit claustrophobic" I spoke up trying to step away, but he pushed me towards the door.
"I insist you come with me, your Aunt Holly has been looking forward to your arrival."
I smiled sweetly, but when I looked into his eyes and saw a glint of something and I pulled myself away sharply.
"I-I rather not. Please just tell them I am up here," I explained and he sighed shaking his head.
"Gabe, some assistance please," and the big burly guy took a step forward. I shrieked holding my hands out in front of me. I used everything in me, all the fear I felt, all the fear that was coming from down those stairs, all of it and sent it his way. I couldn't think of anything else. I just had to get away from here.
The large man shrunk, his eyes wide with fear and confusion as he whimpered. He wailed and I lowered my hands, backing away from him, preparing myself to just spin round an run. I felt my arms be pulled behind me and I screamed, kicking my legs out in protest. The burly man, Gabe, who had recovered from his fear, had jumped up to grab my kicking legs. He looked furious, beyond furious actually. I was able to strike him in the jaw with my heel, but he growled, shoved my legs away and landed a strong punch onto my cheek bone. I think he shattered it or something because I swear I heard and felt a slight crunch.
I cried out in pain as he landed another blow to my face and I was then thrown down the stairs. I heard more crunches and I dislocated my shoulder and I think broke a rib or two. This was going to really hurt in the morning… If I was still alive that is… Oh gosh, I can't think like that. I just can't fucking think like that. I got to get out of here. I need to wake up!
I felt someone grab me up by the hair and sigh. I tried my best to ease the pain, but I couldn't move my arms. Why haven't I woken up yet? I normally wake up when I want to! When I need to the most! This… This isn't my dream though. This is reality and it's actually happening before I could even realise it! Why couldn't I just see it as soon as I saw him? Why didn't I just run?
"I don't know what you did to Gabe, but I'll make sure that'll never happen again." Steve threw another punch and I slammed into the wall. I spat some blood to the floor and felt him yank me by the hair once more. My hand, that could actually move right now, gripping his to try and pull myself up to relieve the pain on my head by at least a fraction. I heard a shriek before I was thrown to the ground and a pair of hands scanning my whole body. I groaned in pain and rolled to my side to cough up more blood.
"What have you done to her!?" I heard Sookie shout all to familiarly and I convulsed in both pain and fear for what was going to come, shutting my body down to try and recover. I should have legged it when I had the chance.
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter and some questions have been answered.
My question for you is:
What do you think is going to happen next? My main man Eric gonna come in and save the day? what about Godric? Will be interesting to know.