Part 3
Therina was annoyed. Seth had been totally distant and out of it all day, and every time she looked at him, he was staring out into space, or whenever Chastity Harman-Redfern was around, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
What was so fascinating about her, anyway? Chastity hardly ever said a word to anyone, and always walked around like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Yet she was all Seth seemed to be thinking about.
Blaise had originally brought him to the club as a toy for her to play with, but Therina had decided she wanted him. Seducing him hadn't been too hard, after persuading Blaise to let her have him, and finding someone else for Blaise.
But Seth wasn't stupid, and had figured out something was wrong with the people in the Black Iris, he'd gotten out, but before that something had happened with Chastity.
Therina scowled, pacing up and down in her apartment. Chastity had stolen her last boyfriend. Amadeo should have been hers. But that wimpy little witch had stolen him. Therina didn't like to share.
She didn't like annoying pathetic witches butting in on her love life. But at least Amadeo had actually gotten some sense knocked into him and finally left Chastity thanks to her prompting, then he'd left her too.
No one had seen in him years.
Chastity wasn't going to get Seth as well. She was going to make sure of that.
* * *
He just couldn't get her out of his mind. She seemed to be everywhere he looked, yet Seth just couldn't catch her in time to actually talk to her. He *had* to talk to her. He had noticed for some reason that Therina seemed a little jealous. But why should she be?
He finally managed to get Chastity's address from the school office and headed over to her apartment. It was an upscale building in the suburbs. He felt a little nervous standing on the doorstep after ringing the bell. He had non idea what he was actually going to say to her when she answered.
If she answered...
The tension was driving him crazy. He could hear footsteps coming to the door. Here goes, he thought.
* * *
Chastity sighed, really not in the mood for talking to people, after being flooded with the painful memories of her past. She was trying to ignore them by focusing on the ore pleasant task of finding the boy who was her soulmate.
But the door bell ringing interrupted her. She sighed with impatience, getting up and going to answer it.
And got the shock of this particular life time.
*He* was actually standing there. His blond hair was glinting slightly coppery in the glow from the setting son. He wasn't very tall, but looked rather muscular. Something silvery and shimmery was hovering in the air between them.
Before she knew he was happening he had gathered her into his arms and was kissing her, his lips pressed against hers, his tongue eagerly exploring her mouth. She kissed him back, feeling fire running along her nerves.
A white light was blooming around them, sparkly, like fireworks igniting.
~Soulmates~ she thought.
~what's that?~ his voice asked in his mind.
~It's an idea that there's only one and one true love for everyone on earth and when you meet that person you know they're the one you're meant to be with forever,~ she told him. She had never felt so light and wonderful. Happy, she realised. She was actually happy. She tingled all over.
She pulled back, looking at him, smiling. "I don't even know your name," she said finally.
"Seth," he answered. "Seth Dawson."
She could see pictures and images in her mind, things she didn't understand, and realised why. They were *his* memories. She was inside his mind.
Suddenly she jerked back, afraid. He frowned, trying to get hold of her again. "What is it? What's wrong?"
No...no. She didn't want him inside her mind. She didn't want him to know what she was. She was a Night Person. He was a human, Night World law said it was death to vampires who fell in love with humans.
She shook her head, feeling tears spilling, her happiness shattering. She couldn't answer him, and tried to push him away, trying to get back inside her apartment where she'd be safe.
Looking around the unhappy feelings suddenly turned to panic as she noticed Therina Blackthorn walking down the street, stopping and glaring at her. She moved inside and slammed the door shut.
She moaned in dispair. Now what was she going to do?
* * *
Seth shook his head in confusion as Chastity slammed the door in his face. She had seemed so happy when he had come to the door, and then she had completely freaked. He turned and started to walk away.
Night had fallen now, and a cool breeze was starting to blow. He looked around, frowning, seeing Therina standing across the seat. Why was Chastity so afraid of her?
He stalked over to her, glowering furiously. "What the hell is your problem?" he demanded.
Therina smiled at him. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said. "I didn't do a thing."
"Not now, but she saw you and completely freaked," he snapped. "What's going on?"
"Something you don't need to know about," Therina said, walking around him and heading into one of the other buildings.
Seth stood there, looking after her, finding himself alone on the deserted street. He was confused. What was going on?
* * *
Chastity just couldn't believe it. The next day she went through her normal school routine as if she were a robot, doing all the things she was supposed to, going to class, taking notes, looking as if she were paying attention.
But she was lost inside her own thoughts. She had finally found her soulmate, her one and only, the person who was meant to be perfect for her....but it was a love that could never be.
He was human, she was a Night Worlder, it was forbidden. She didn't want the Council Heads hunting her down. She wondered if Therina knew there was something going on, or had seen it, would she tell?
It was all a little too overwhelming.
She didn't know how Seth would react if she told him. If she ignored everything about the rules that had been drilled into her brains, and decided to focus on herself and do something for her, would he understand?
What if he freaked and decided she was a monster? She would never be the same if that happened. She couldn't live with herself.
"Chastity!"
She kept going, walking out into the annoyingly bright sunlight. Why did everything around here have to look so happy and cheerful all the time? She thought rather sourly.
"Chastity, wait! Please! I need to talk to you."
Chastity turned around to see Seth hurrying through the crowd of students leaving for the end of the day towards her. She looked around nervously. Was Therina around somewhere in the darkness, lurking, just looking for the chance to kill her?
Seth came over to her, his blue eyes concerned. "What's going on? What's wrong? Please tell me."
She shook her head, looking at him, sadly. She wished she could tell him. "I can't," she whispered. "I'm sorry." She hurried away before he could ask her anything else.
Why could nothing ever go her way, for once?
* * *
Seth stood there in the emptying hallway, watching Chastity's golden head as she hurried away from him. He didn't understand what the problem was? Why was she so afraid?
He saw Therina coming down the hall. She had something to do with it. He knew she did. Chastity had just looked at her the other day and totally freaked out.
Therina looked at him, not smiling. "Why can't you just get over it?" she asked rather coldly.
He was annoyed. "What the hell is going on?" he demanded. "Why won't she talk to me? And why is she scared shitless of you?"
Therina smiled a little, which just irritated him. It made him wonder sometimes why he even liked her in the first place.
"You know," she said after a thoughtful pause, "I think that maybe you *should* know what's going on."
Seth eyed her suspiciously. What was she up to? He didn't protest as she took his arm and lead him to a secluded area with a few trees, a bench and a small, but empty fountain.
They sat down on the bench and she started to tell him everything.
He just sat there, staring at her in utter disbelief. Vampire? Chastity was a *vampire*? He shook his head. It just seemed so unlikely. She was far too innocent.
"She's not the only one, there are hundreds of them all dotted about," Therina went on, her expression darkening a little. "And it's not just vampires, Chastity's part witch too. There are hundreds of witches, vampires, shapeshifters, and they're all part of this underground organisation called Night World."
Seth didn't know how he was supposed to feel about this. His mind kept replaying that first touch, that first kiss. The wonderful sparkly thing that had bloomed between them, when their minds had touched, like drops of water merging together. She had called it soulmates...
But how could someone like Chastity, who looked so pure, so beautiful, be part of something so cold and...evil?
"How do you know all this?" he asked Therina finally. How could he be sure she wasn't just making it up to scare him away from Chastity?
Therina looked away from him. "Because she killed my boyfriend."
Seth stared at her, not sure whether to believe her or not. He stood up and walked away, slightly dazed. This was kind of a lot to take in.
But what did he do about Chastity? Was that why she was so afraid? Because he'd find out what she was and wouldn't want her if he knew? She didn't seem evil at all. He shook his head, confused. He needed to hear things from her point of view before he made his decision.
* * *
Therina smirked smugly as she gathered her things and started to go home. Seth had believed her, and it would only take a little mind control to force him to forget Chastity. How to get rid of her...that would be something for her to work on. Hell, it probably wouldn't be hard for her to convince Chastity to kill herself.
And she could have Seth.
Why did the good guys have to have all the fun?
* * *
Therina was annoyed. Seth had been totally distant and out of it all day, and every time she looked at him, he was staring out into space, or whenever Chastity Harman-Redfern was around, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
What was so fascinating about her, anyway? Chastity hardly ever said a word to anyone, and always walked around like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Yet she was all Seth seemed to be thinking about.
Blaise had originally brought him to the club as a toy for her to play with, but Therina had decided she wanted him. Seducing him hadn't been too hard, after persuading Blaise to let her have him, and finding someone else for Blaise.
But Seth wasn't stupid, and had figured out something was wrong with the people in the Black Iris, he'd gotten out, but before that something had happened with Chastity.
Therina scowled, pacing up and down in her apartment. Chastity had stolen her last boyfriend. Amadeo should have been hers. But that wimpy little witch had stolen him. Therina didn't like to share.
She didn't like annoying pathetic witches butting in on her love life. But at least Amadeo had actually gotten some sense knocked into him and finally left Chastity thanks to her prompting, then he'd left her too.
No one had seen in him years.
Chastity wasn't going to get Seth as well. She was going to make sure of that.
* * *
He just couldn't get her out of his mind. She seemed to be everywhere he looked, yet Seth just couldn't catch her in time to actually talk to her. He *had* to talk to her. He had noticed for some reason that Therina seemed a little jealous. But why should she be?
He finally managed to get Chastity's address from the school office and headed over to her apartment. It was an upscale building in the suburbs. He felt a little nervous standing on the doorstep after ringing the bell. He had non idea what he was actually going to say to her when she answered.
If she answered...
The tension was driving him crazy. He could hear footsteps coming to the door. Here goes, he thought.
* * *
Chastity sighed, really not in the mood for talking to people, after being flooded with the painful memories of her past. She was trying to ignore them by focusing on the ore pleasant task of finding the boy who was her soulmate.
But the door bell ringing interrupted her. She sighed with impatience, getting up and going to answer it.
And got the shock of this particular life time.
*He* was actually standing there. His blond hair was glinting slightly coppery in the glow from the setting son. He wasn't very tall, but looked rather muscular. Something silvery and shimmery was hovering in the air between them.
Before she knew he was happening he had gathered her into his arms and was kissing her, his lips pressed against hers, his tongue eagerly exploring her mouth. She kissed him back, feeling fire running along her nerves.
A white light was blooming around them, sparkly, like fireworks igniting.
~Soulmates~ she thought.
~what's that?~ his voice asked in his mind.
~It's an idea that there's only one and one true love for everyone on earth and when you meet that person you know they're the one you're meant to be with forever,~ she told him. She had never felt so light and wonderful. Happy, she realised. She was actually happy. She tingled all over.
She pulled back, looking at him, smiling. "I don't even know your name," she said finally.
"Seth," he answered. "Seth Dawson."
She could see pictures and images in her mind, things she didn't understand, and realised why. They were *his* memories. She was inside his mind.
Suddenly she jerked back, afraid. He frowned, trying to get hold of her again. "What is it? What's wrong?"
No...no. She didn't want him inside her mind. She didn't want him to know what she was. She was a Night Person. He was a human, Night World law said it was death to vampires who fell in love with humans.
She shook her head, feeling tears spilling, her happiness shattering. She couldn't answer him, and tried to push him away, trying to get back inside her apartment where she'd be safe.
Looking around the unhappy feelings suddenly turned to panic as she noticed Therina Blackthorn walking down the street, stopping and glaring at her. She moved inside and slammed the door shut.
She moaned in dispair. Now what was she going to do?
* * *
Seth shook his head in confusion as Chastity slammed the door in his face. She had seemed so happy when he had come to the door, and then she had completely freaked. He turned and started to walk away.
Night had fallen now, and a cool breeze was starting to blow. He looked around, frowning, seeing Therina standing across the seat. Why was Chastity so afraid of her?
He stalked over to her, glowering furiously. "What the hell is your problem?" he demanded.
Therina smiled at him. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said. "I didn't do a thing."
"Not now, but she saw you and completely freaked," he snapped. "What's going on?"
"Something you don't need to know about," Therina said, walking around him and heading into one of the other buildings.
Seth stood there, looking after her, finding himself alone on the deserted street. He was confused. What was going on?
* * *
Chastity just couldn't believe it. The next day she went through her normal school routine as if she were a robot, doing all the things she was supposed to, going to class, taking notes, looking as if she were paying attention.
But she was lost inside her own thoughts. She had finally found her soulmate, her one and only, the person who was meant to be perfect for her....but it was a love that could never be.
He was human, she was a Night Worlder, it was forbidden. She didn't want the Council Heads hunting her down. She wondered if Therina knew there was something going on, or had seen it, would she tell?
It was all a little too overwhelming.
She didn't know how Seth would react if she told him. If she ignored everything about the rules that had been drilled into her brains, and decided to focus on herself and do something for her, would he understand?
What if he freaked and decided she was a monster? She would never be the same if that happened. She couldn't live with herself.
"Chastity!"
She kept going, walking out into the annoyingly bright sunlight. Why did everything around here have to look so happy and cheerful all the time? She thought rather sourly.
"Chastity, wait! Please! I need to talk to you."
Chastity turned around to see Seth hurrying through the crowd of students leaving for the end of the day towards her. She looked around nervously. Was Therina around somewhere in the darkness, lurking, just looking for the chance to kill her?
Seth came over to her, his blue eyes concerned. "What's going on? What's wrong? Please tell me."
She shook her head, looking at him, sadly. She wished she could tell him. "I can't," she whispered. "I'm sorry." She hurried away before he could ask her anything else.
Why could nothing ever go her way, for once?
* * *
Seth stood there in the emptying hallway, watching Chastity's golden head as she hurried away from him. He didn't understand what the problem was? Why was she so afraid?
He saw Therina coming down the hall. She had something to do with it. He knew she did. Chastity had just looked at her the other day and totally freaked out.
Therina looked at him, not smiling. "Why can't you just get over it?" she asked rather coldly.
He was annoyed. "What the hell is going on?" he demanded. "Why won't she talk to me? And why is she scared shitless of you?"
Therina smiled a little, which just irritated him. It made him wonder sometimes why he even liked her in the first place.
"You know," she said after a thoughtful pause, "I think that maybe you *should* know what's going on."
Seth eyed her suspiciously. What was she up to? He didn't protest as she took his arm and lead him to a secluded area with a few trees, a bench and a small, but empty fountain.
They sat down on the bench and she started to tell him everything.
He just sat there, staring at her in utter disbelief. Vampire? Chastity was a *vampire*? He shook his head. It just seemed so unlikely. She was far too innocent.
"She's not the only one, there are hundreds of them all dotted about," Therina went on, her expression darkening a little. "And it's not just vampires, Chastity's part witch too. There are hundreds of witches, vampires, shapeshifters, and they're all part of this underground organisation called Night World."
Seth didn't know how he was supposed to feel about this. His mind kept replaying that first touch, that first kiss. The wonderful sparkly thing that had bloomed between them, when their minds had touched, like drops of water merging together. She had called it soulmates...
But how could someone like Chastity, who looked so pure, so beautiful, be part of something so cold and...evil?
"How do you know all this?" he asked Therina finally. How could he be sure she wasn't just making it up to scare him away from Chastity?
Therina looked away from him. "Because she killed my boyfriend."
Seth stared at her, not sure whether to believe her or not. He stood up and walked away, slightly dazed. This was kind of a lot to take in.
But what did he do about Chastity? Was that why she was so afraid? Because he'd find out what she was and wouldn't want her if he knew? She didn't seem evil at all. He shook his head, confused. He needed to hear things from her point of view before he made his decision.
* * *
Therina smirked smugly as she gathered her things and started to go home. Seth had believed her, and it would only take a little mind control to force him to forget Chastity. How to get rid of her...that would be something for her to work on. Hell, it probably wouldn't be hard for her to convince Chastity to kill herself.
And she could have Seth.
Why did the good guys have to have all the fun?
* * *