CHAPTER. TWENTY-FIVE
They both decided to go downstairs and sit in the living room to talk.
"Why did your parents kidnap mom?" Eden asked him.
"They wanted to cast the devil out of her."
"They were going to perform an exorcism?!" Eden boasted.
"They were, but I wouldn't let them. I snuck her out and was never allowed back here again."
"You didn't care that she was a witch?"
"Of course not! That's what made her so beautiful Eden. I loved everything about her. Abby took me in and I lived with them until your mom got pregnant for you. She found a job in Seattle that paid very well and she wanted you to have a life without witchcraft. I wanted to go with her, but I was just getting into the contracting business with a friend of mine. Diana told me that I could stay behind, so we decided to part ways."
"Did you see me at all?"
"Of course I did! I was there for your birth and your first birthday. After that, your mom didn't think it would be the best thing for me to come out anymore. I sent her money every week to ensure that you had everything you needed and she sent me dozens of pictures. I tried to talk her into letting me come and meet you, but she felt that if I did, it would mess up everything, so I didn't. I regret that decision everyday. You two were the first things I thought about in the morning and the last things I thought about at night, you still are in fact."
"That makes me angry though. Mom didn't think about how it would affect me not having you around!"
"You can't blame her. She was doing what she thought was right for you."
"You were the one she talked to late at night, weren't you? You were the one she said she missed?"
"That would be me."
"The first time I overheard her was the first time I had the dream about this house. How funny is that?"
"Sounds like a sign to me."
"It was. I mean, look at us now" Eden smiled.
"Is this going to be weird for you?" Simon asked.
"Having you in my life now? Absolutely not! Do you have any idea how happy I am? I feel like I am the luckiest girl in the world! If I could fly, I would!" They both laughed and hugged each other.
"What about the key?" Eden asked.
"Key?" Simon questioned.
Eden stood up and walked to the closet next to the staircase. She opened the door and saw that the hole in the wall was covered up.
"You covered the hole."
"Are you talking about the half moon key?" Simon asked her.
"Yeah!" He reached into his shirt and took out the chain. On the end of it was the key she saw in her dream.
"I wear it all the time" he told her. She smiled as he took it off.
"What are you doing?"
"I want you to have it."
"Really?"
"It's yours."
"Thank you. I want to ask you about this necklace." Eden took out the chain from underneath her shirt; it was the Amethyst she found in her mother's room.
"I remember that. I gave it to her when I found out she was pregnant for you. I'm sure you know what the Amethyst stone does, right?"
"Yeah, I read up on it in one of my books. It was the one piece of jewelry that wasn't destroyed in the fire" Eden replied, grasping the stone.
"I won't ask you about it." Eden nodded and they went into the kitchen.
Eden had dinner with her dad and they caught up with events in both of their lives. Eden's smile never left her face as Simon told her stories of when him and her mom were younger and how they met and everything they went through to be together. Eden told Simon about what was going on between her, Vincent, and Caleb. She could tell he didn't have experience with the subject and laughed when he stammered his words.
Eden walked through her front door around seven thirty. She saw the worried look on Abigail's face.
"I'm fine Gram" Eden told her.
"Where have you been? I came home and there was no note! I started thinking the worst!"
"I was at dads." Abigail went to say something, but she couldn't get the words out.
"You know?"
"Yeah, I know. Nina saw my drawing of the house and told me where she had seen it before. Imagine the surprise I got when Sam opened the door. I looked around and when I got into the room upstairs, that's when everything came out."
"You're probably upset with me."
"No, I'm not. I understand why you didn't tell me and I'm glad I know the truth now. We talked all day and we had dinner together. It's a great feeling meeting him and conversing with him. We laughed, we cried, we had a great time."
"I'm happy that you and your father connected. I wish I could have told you earlier, but with your mother being gone, I didn't think you could handle that type of news."
"I probably wouldn't have been able to. I think I'll head to bed early tonight."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight. Come on Clark!" Clark beat Eden upstairs and she went into her room, closing the door behind her. She changed her clothes and laid down in bed, staring up at the ceiling.
What did it feel like to meet your dad after all these years? (Clark)
"It was great and emotional."
I wouldn't know. I don't remember my parents. (Clark)
"I do. Your mother's name is Luna and your father's name is Apollo. You look identical to your mom" Eden smiled.
Is that a good thing? (Clark)
"She's beautiful, so yes, it's a good thing" Eden laughed.
Just as long as I'm beautiful. (Clark)
Eden laughed again and scratched her dog's head.
Halloween. The night where you can be anybody you want and no one can say a word. Of course, that doesn't stop the judgment from floating around.
Nina called Eden that morning and Eden told her about her dad, so by that night, the whole group will know. She was pumped and ready for questions.
It was a boring afternoon until Eden joined her grandmother and her dad for lunch at a restaurant in the plaza called The Junction. Eden heard more stories about her mom when she was younger and was also told about Andrew, her deceased uncle. She even saw a few kids from school that worked there. All they talked about was the haunted house and how much better it was going to be this year. The more Eden heard about it, the more excited she became.
Nina told Eden that she was picking her up around eight o' clock to go to Webster Park.
Eden took a shower, did her make up, and put on a pair of jeans, a purple tank top with a pink no button sweater, and her sneakers. She left her hair down, grabbed her purse, and went downstairs.
"Is this okay for a haunted house?" Eden asked her grandma.
"It's fine dear, you look nice."
"Good. Nina should be here any minute."
"Do you know when you'll be back?"
"No, but I have my cell phone just in case you need me. I'll be with the guys."
"I know, but that doesn't mean I don't worry." Eden heard a car beep its horn outside.
"I have to go, but I will see you later." She kissed her grandmother's cheek and hurried out the door.
Nina parked the car in the lot and Eden, Rowan, and Nina made their way toward the haunted house. The park was full of kids of all ages, as well as a few parents and college students. They spotted Vincent and the other three guys by the entrance and smiled at them as the ladies approached.
"Eden!" she heard someone shout from behind her. Eden turned her head and saw Caleb walking in her direction. She smiled and asked, "You joining us on our walk through?"
"That's what I'm planning on."
"Eden, come with us to get tickets!" Rowan shouted to her.
"Okay." Caleb joined the guys and they watched as the girls walked over to the booth.
"Eden knows the truth about her dad" Reid told Caleb.
"Is that all she knows?"
"So far yeah. Anything on Quentin?"
"Nothing, but he'll show up here tonight. I checked around the area and his scent is strong, so just be on your guard. Does Rowan and Nina know about you guys?" Caleb asked.
"We told them everything, except that you're a vampire," said Trent. The girls walked back over and handed everyone their ticket.
"Let's check this thing out!" Trent hollered.
"You have way too much energy" Nina laughed. Her hand was laced with Chad's and they headed through the main doors. Eden followed Vincent in with Caleb close behind her. She reached her hand back and intertwined her fingers with Caleb's and his lips formed a smile that she couldn't see.
As they walked through the different scenes, it got creepier and creepier. Whoever was in charge of setting up the haunted house did a fantastic job. Skeletons, coffins, realistic stand ins, people jumping out at you, and gallons of blood everywhere.
Something Eden noticed was the same person in every scene and he always seemed to be smiling at her. She recognized him as someone from Seattle. He gave her an unsettling vibe.
"Are you okay?" Caleb asked her.
"Yeah" she lied. Vincent glanced at her, then at Caleb. Caleb looked back at him and then around the room. Nina, Chad, Rowan, and Trent had already gone ahead of them and Eden stared straight in front of her. The guy was staring back at her with dark eyes. Caleb finally noticed him and stepped in front of Eden.
"Get her out of here Vincent" Caleb told him.
"Don't move her!" Quentin came into view and Eden stepped in front of Caleb.
"Eric?" she asked him.
"His name isn't Eric," Vincent said to her.
"I'm afraid he's right Eden" Quentin smiled.
"What are you talking about?"
"Let's do this somewhere else Quentin."
"I think this is a perfect spot."
"You really want to draw attention to yourself? Let's go outside."
Quentin snarled, stepped closer to them and added, "After you."
Reid, Vincent, Eden, and Caleb hurried out of the haunted house and kept walking until Quentin told them to stop.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Eden asked.
"First, the two boys who have nothing to do with this need to get the hell out of here."
"Make us" Reid told him. Quentin's eyes flashed red, but before he could lunge, Caleb said, "Just go!"
"We don't take orders" Vincent told him. Caleb took his focus off of Quentin, which gave Quentin a good opportunity to forcefully kick Reid several feet away from them. Vincent tried to fight him off, but Quentin sent him soaring backwards into a tree.
Before Caleb could react, Quentin had Eden in his grasp and his fangs were extended to their fullest.
"Don't make me do it Caleb!" he shouted. Caleb froze in place.
"Let her go. This is between you and me." The grip of Quentin's hands were hurting Eden's neck and she started to panic.
"I told you I would give the island a little break, but now…I have the next target" Quentin smiled wildly. His mouth opened and he sunk his teeth in Eden's jugular. She let out a scream of pain as he consumed her blood.
"Eden!" Caleb's eyes were as dark as Quentin's and his fangs were now exposed. He forced Quentin off of Eden, sending her to the ground in a heap. As Caleb and Quentin fought, Quentin ripped gashes on his stomach, arms, and face.
"You think you're a match for me?!" Quentin shouted. Eden was just coming to when she saw the two vampires fighting each other.
She could hear voices approaching them and saw Reid and Vincent. She sat up slowly, holding her head from the fall, and Reid sent a blazing fire ball at Quentin. Quentin jumped off of Caleb and disappeared into the woods. She looked at Caleb and saw that he was covered in blood. Caleb crawled towards Eden, bit into his wrist, and placed it up to her lips.
"Drink it Eden, they will heal your wounds" Caleb told her. She hesitated, but started to ingest his red liquid. It didn't taste like blood to her. It was rich and had a sweet taste.
"Eden don't!" Vincent shouted.
"Shut up!" Caleb yelled. He removed his wrist and collapsed backward onto the ground.
Eden placed both of her hands over Caleb's body and channeled most of her energy into him. As she watched his cuts heal, Eden felt tired and on the brink of faint.
Reid pulled her away and she let her body fall backward onto the grass.
"Get her into the car Reid, I'll be there in a minute." Reid picked her up and hurried her to Vincent's car that was parked nearby. He explained what happened to Trent, Chad, Nina, and Rowan and told them to go home and stay there.
Vincent helped Caleb up off the ground.
"Can you get home by yourself?" Vincent asked him.
"I can manage" Caleb replied, out of breath.
"I'm taking Eden back to my house. I'm sure she saw what happened and will have questions. What she does with you has nothing to do with me."
"I know. Tell her that I said thank you."
"I will." Vincent turned and started to the car.