Part 6
Kaitlyn shook her head. This was just...just completely, totally insane. She had been drawing none stop for almost a week now, each drawing more vivid and each more frightening. And she didn't understand them at all.
They all showed the same boy. He seemed like every average ordinary guy, dark hair, nice blue eyes, well built, casual dresser, quite attractive. And yet, when she drew him like that, he was in her arms, his face twisted in pain and agony, she was smiling at him, her fangs dripping with what she presumed was his blood.
She shuddered. They were all spread out on the desk around her, and she studied them, trying to figure out what they meant. They had to mean something.
She picked one drawing up. It didn't seem to fit in sequence with the others. Not the boy, not herself, but another girl. She was drawn almost completely in black and white, except her eyes, which were coloured in red. Bright, shining red, that seemed to blaze from the picture, a face that radiated danger.
"They're fantastic drawings," Kait's roommate said, glancing over Kaitlyn's shoulders and peering at them. "Kind of morbid, but still really good."
Kaitlyn frowned. "Rowan do you recognise this girl?" she asked.
Rowan moved closer, studying the picture. "I've seen her around campus. But I don't know her, no. I could ask Kestrel, maybe she knows. Why?"
Kaitlyn finally looked up, looking totally bewildered. "Because I have no idea who this girl is. Sometimes, I kind of - see things - and I have to draw them down on paper."
"Like a vision?" Rowan asked. "I've heard of things like that before. But I've never seen such vivid interpretations."
Before Kait could say anything there was a knock on the door. Rowan moved to answer it. It was Anna, and Anna's new boyfriend. They'd met in animal care a few weeks ago and Anna had been talking about him non-stop. Which was completely unlike her.
Rowan left then, to go meet her friends. And Anna and the guy came into the room.
"Kait I'd like you meet Sebastian," Anna said happily. "Sebastian this is my best friend Kaitlyn."
Kaitlyn covered the drawings with a few textbooks, and turned to smile politely at the new guy. She turned to meet his eyes, and lost her breath from shock.
She was face to face with the boy from her drawings.
* * *
Part 7
Anna was confused at Kaitlyn's reaction to Sebastian. Kait's eyes had gone wide with what looked like terror, and her face had gone white, as if she'd seen a ghost. She was almost shaking.
She glanced over at Sebastian, who seemed somewhat amused by the reaction. It didn't seem to bother him. "Uh, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I - I'm fine," Kaitlyn managed finally. " I just - " She trailed off and shook her head. "I...sorry. It's nothing." She turned back to her desk. Anna was upset. It wasn't like Kait to be rude like this.
"I guess we should go now," Sebastian muttered to her.
"Yeah, I guess so," Anna muttered. She turned to look at Kaitlyn again, who kept her back to them, as if she wanted to look anywhere back at him.
They were about to leave when Rob and Lewis came in. There were quick introductions, then Anna left, leaving them to figure out what was wrong with Kaitlyn.
* * *
Kaitlyn had to admit she felt bad about upsetting Anna like she had. But she hadn't been able to help her reaction. It was without question the same boy. If she said something to him he would think she was insane. She was so deep into her thoughts about what to do when she heard Rob's voice.
"Kaitlyn what *is* it?" He sounded worried, and Kait could tell it wasn't the first time he'd asked the question.
"Do we call a doctor?" That was Lewis. He sounded worried and concerned too Kaitlyn turned around to face them, forgetting to cover the drawings. Rob saw the drawings instantly, and reached out to take them before Kaitlyn could stop him. His face clearly showed surprise - and horror - as he studied the drawings.
"Kait what are these?" he asked.
Kaitlyn shook her head, feeling tears rising. She hadn't cried in such a long time, but now she found herself unable to help it. The drawings were frightening, and they all seemed to show, that someway or another, she might die or become a vampire. She didn't want either to happen to her.
"I don't know," she managed in a shaky voice. "They've been happening all week. I don't understand them and I panicked and..."
"Hey." Rob out a comforting arm around her shoulder and held her while she sobbed out her frustrations. She felt better afterwards, and showed them each one, telling them when it came. Neither of them recognised the girl in the last one.
"And you're sure the guy's the same one Anna just went out with?" Lewis asked. "And he's a vampire?"
"It would appear so," Kait said. "So what do we do?"
"Tell Anna," Rob said instantly. "Her boyfriend's undead, she deserves to know about it."
"Who's boyfriend's undead?" Gabriel asked as he walked in. Then he saw everyone's face. "What's going on? Kait?" He moved over to her side, seeing her upset. Kaitlyn found herself grateful again for the comfort. She hadn't seen much of Gabriel lately. Whenever she tried to see him, he was always "busy."
Rob told him about the drawings, and held out the last picture of the girl to him. His face remained black and impassive as he looked at it. "Who is she?" he asked. Something about his expression gave Kait an idea that he knew more than he was telling.
"We don't know," Kait said finally. "You sure you don't recognise her? I won't be mad if you do."
He looked at her a moment, then shrugged. "All right, I do recognise her. She's in my psych group. Her name's Nyx Blackthorn, that's all I know. Who's the other guy?"
"Anna's new boyfriend," Lewis said. "We're debating on whether or not we should tell her."
Gabriel shrugged. "It's not our problem, it's Anna's."
Kait stared at him. "How can you be so insensitive?" she snapped.
"I'm not insensitive," Gabriel said impassively. "I just don't care about other people. Well, I guess I can make one exception." His eyes met Kaitlyn, and she smiled slightly forgiving his dry, annoying sense of humour. She kissed him.
Lewis made gagging sounds. "Hey guys, cut it out. If I wanted to watch an X-rated movie, I'd rent one."
"No one's saying you have to stay and watch," Gabriel said without taking his eyes from Kait's. "Leave Anna and her boyfriend alone. Maybe it's nothing. She'll think you're all crazy if you tell her that her boyfriend's a vampire, she won't believe you." He stood up, trying to pull Kait to her feet. "Come on Kait, let's get out of here."
Kaitlyn pulled her hands free. "No, I think I'd rather find Anna. It doesn't matter if she thinks we're nuts, Rob's right, she should know."
Gabriel's face darkened, and his eyes went cold. "Fine," he snapped, and stormed out.
"What's his problem?" Lewis muttered.
Kaitlyn sighed. "I'll make it up to him later. Let's go find Anna. Do you guys know where they went?"
"Hang on a minute," Lewis said. ~Hey Anna.~ he called through the mind web that still linked them. ~Where'd you guys go?~
~The movies~ came Anna's answer. ~Is something wrong~?
~No, we were just curious, is all,~ Lewis answered. ~See you later.~
Kaitlyn smiled. She'd forgotten about the web. They didn't use it all that much anymore, but it was still helpful when they did need it.
"Anna's at the movies," Lewis said.
Rob stood up. "Let's go," he said. He picked up Kait's drawings and put them in a manila folder he'd found. "We'd better take these and show her."
They left the room, and all Kait could think was they had to hurry. She didn't know what it was, and all she did know was that something was about to go very, very wrong.
* * *
Part 8
The campus movie theatre only had two screens, and of course, it was packed. Spotting Anna in here was going to be close to impossible. Kaitlyn realised she should have asked Anna what movie she and her boyfriend were seeing. They had to chose between *Scary Movie* and showing of the old *Rocky Horror Picture Show.* As far as Kait knew, neither of those movies were to Anna's taste.
And of course, Rob had pointed out they could have gone to the theatre in the city centre. Kait was about to suggest they give up and go there, when Lewis shouted ~I've seen her! ~ The crowd was so large, as people milled around, waiting to go into the theatres, or waiting for the snacks line or whatever, and noise was too loud to hear people speak, so they'd resorted back to the mind web.
Kait spotted Lewis heading out the door, and Rob following. It took about five minutes before she could catch up with them, and by that time Anna and her boyfriend were already driving off.
Damn, Kait thought, we'll never find them.
~Yes we will,~ Rob said.
Kaitlyn sighed. She would have to be careful. She'd forgotten every thought was heard by everyone. In that case, then Anna should hear them too.
~Could you guys tell me what you're doing?~ Anna asked politely. She sounded rather annoyed.
~Where are you going?~ Ron demanded.
~I don't see what business of yours it is,~ Anna replied.
~We're probably just out our minds, but I've had a vision of Sebastian, and I think he's dangerous. That's why I reacted weird.~ Kait said.
Anna didn't reply for a while. By this time they had all piled into Rob's car. But driving aimlessly, not knowing where to go was not going to get them very far. Then Anna said, ~We've just pulled up at the beach. Should I be worried?~
~Be cautions. We're on our way,~ Rob said. And then out loud, "Hold on everybody."
And the car took off at such a speed that skid marks were left on the roads. They raced for the beach of the small sea side town the university was in. Don't let us be late, Kait thought. Let us get there. She has to be all right. She has to.
They arrived to hear a scream. "That's Anna!" Lewis said sharply. They scrambled over a small wall of rocks and pebbles, to a secluded little area where Anna was struggling in Sebastian's arms. There was something very wrong with his face.
It was twisted and monstrous, his eyes were shining silver like a wild animal's and even from where she stood Kaitlyn could see the length of his long, white canine teeth, shining with a pearly shimmer in the moonlight, edging closer to Anna's throat.
"No!" she shouted. "Get off her you bastard!"
Rob threw himself at the guy, shoving Anna out the way. Anna scrambled up, and backed away, heading for Kaitlyn, her long dark hair a dishevelled mess around her, tears streaking her face.
Before Rob could really do any damage, Sebastian grabbed the front of his shirt, lifted him up effortlessly and threw him down the beach like throwing a football. Both Anna and Kaitlyn cried out.
And then Sebastian looked at Kaitlyn. His shining animal eyes met hers, and in that instant Kait knew that he'd seen her drawings.
"You'll pay for this," he snarled. And disappeared into the night before anyone could catch him.
* * *
Kaitlyn shook her head. This was just...just completely, totally insane. She had been drawing none stop for almost a week now, each drawing more vivid and each more frightening. And she didn't understand them at all.
They all showed the same boy. He seemed like every average ordinary guy, dark hair, nice blue eyes, well built, casual dresser, quite attractive. And yet, when she drew him like that, he was in her arms, his face twisted in pain and agony, she was smiling at him, her fangs dripping with what she presumed was his blood.
She shuddered. They were all spread out on the desk around her, and she studied them, trying to figure out what they meant. They had to mean something.
She picked one drawing up. It didn't seem to fit in sequence with the others. Not the boy, not herself, but another girl. She was drawn almost completely in black and white, except her eyes, which were coloured in red. Bright, shining red, that seemed to blaze from the picture, a face that radiated danger.
"They're fantastic drawings," Kait's roommate said, glancing over Kaitlyn's shoulders and peering at them. "Kind of morbid, but still really good."
Kaitlyn frowned. "Rowan do you recognise this girl?" she asked.
Rowan moved closer, studying the picture. "I've seen her around campus. But I don't know her, no. I could ask Kestrel, maybe she knows. Why?"
Kaitlyn finally looked up, looking totally bewildered. "Because I have no idea who this girl is. Sometimes, I kind of - see things - and I have to draw them down on paper."
"Like a vision?" Rowan asked. "I've heard of things like that before. But I've never seen such vivid interpretations."
Before Kait could say anything there was a knock on the door. Rowan moved to answer it. It was Anna, and Anna's new boyfriend. They'd met in animal care a few weeks ago and Anna had been talking about him non-stop. Which was completely unlike her.
Rowan left then, to go meet her friends. And Anna and the guy came into the room.
"Kait I'd like you meet Sebastian," Anna said happily. "Sebastian this is my best friend Kaitlyn."
Kaitlyn covered the drawings with a few textbooks, and turned to smile politely at the new guy. She turned to meet his eyes, and lost her breath from shock.
She was face to face with the boy from her drawings.
* * *
Part 7
Anna was confused at Kaitlyn's reaction to Sebastian. Kait's eyes had gone wide with what looked like terror, and her face had gone white, as if she'd seen a ghost. She was almost shaking.
She glanced over at Sebastian, who seemed somewhat amused by the reaction. It didn't seem to bother him. "Uh, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I - I'm fine," Kaitlyn managed finally. " I just - " She trailed off and shook her head. "I...sorry. It's nothing." She turned back to her desk. Anna was upset. It wasn't like Kait to be rude like this.
"I guess we should go now," Sebastian muttered to her.
"Yeah, I guess so," Anna muttered. She turned to look at Kaitlyn again, who kept her back to them, as if she wanted to look anywhere back at him.
They were about to leave when Rob and Lewis came in. There were quick introductions, then Anna left, leaving them to figure out what was wrong with Kaitlyn.
* * *
Kaitlyn had to admit she felt bad about upsetting Anna like she had. But she hadn't been able to help her reaction. It was without question the same boy. If she said something to him he would think she was insane. She was so deep into her thoughts about what to do when she heard Rob's voice.
"Kaitlyn what *is* it?" He sounded worried, and Kait could tell it wasn't the first time he'd asked the question.
"Do we call a doctor?" That was Lewis. He sounded worried and concerned too Kaitlyn turned around to face them, forgetting to cover the drawings. Rob saw the drawings instantly, and reached out to take them before Kaitlyn could stop him. His face clearly showed surprise - and horror - as he studied the drawings.
"Kait what are these?" he asked.
Kaitlyn shook her head, feeling tears rising. She hadn't cried in such a long time, but now she found herself unable to help it. The drawings were frightening, and they all seemed to show, that someway or another, she might die or become a vampire. She didn't want either to happen to her.
"I don't know," she managed in a shaky voice. "They've been happening all week. I don't understand them and I panicked and..."
"Hey." Rob out a comforting arm around her shoulder and held her while she sobbed out her frustrations. She felt better afterwards, and showed them each one, telling them when it came. Neither of them recognised the girl in the last one.
"And you're sure the guy's the same one Anna just went out with?" Lewis asked. "And he's a vampire?"
"It would appear so," Kait said. "So what do we do?"
"Tell Anna," Rob said instantly. "Her boyfriend's undead, she deserves to know about it."
"Who's boyfriend's undead?" Gabriel asked as he walked in. Then he saw everyone's face. "What's going on? Kait?" He moved over to her side, seeing her upset. Kaitlyn found herself grateful again for the comfort. She hadn't seen much of Gabriel lately. Whenever she tried to see him, he was always "busy."
Rob told him about the drawings, and held out the last picture of the girl to him. His face remained black and impassive as he looked at it. "Who is she?" he asked. Something about his expression gave Kait an idea that he knew more than he was telling.
"We don't know," Kait said finally. "You sure you don't recognise her? I won't be mad if you do."
He looked at her a moment, then shrugged. "All right, I do recognise her. She's in my psych group. Her name's Nyx Blackthorn, that's all I know. Who's the other guy?"
"Anna's new boyfriend," Lewis said. "We're debating on whether or not we should tell her."
Gabriel shrugged. "It's not our problem, it's Anna's."
Kait stared at him. "How can you be so insensitive?" she snapped.
"I'm not insensitive," Gabriel said impassively. "I just don't care about other people. Well, I guess I can make one exception." His eyes met Kaitlyn, and she smiled slightly forgiving his dry, annoying sense of humour. She kissed him.
Lewis made gagging sounds. "Hey guys, cut it out. If I wanted to watch an X-rated movie, I'd rent one."
"No one's saying you have to stay and watch," Gabriel said without taking his eyes from Kait's. "Leave Anna and her boyfriend alone. Maybe it's nothing. She'll think you're all crazy if you tell her that her boyfriend's a vampire, she won't believe you." He stood up, trying to pull Kait to her feet. "Come on Kait, let's get out of here."
Kaitlyn pulled her hands free. "No, I think I'd rather find Anna. It doesn't matter if she thinks we're nuts, Rob's right, she should know."
Gabriel's face darkened, and his eyes went cold. "Fine," he snapped, and stormed out.
"What's his problem?" Lewis muttered.
Kaitlyn sighed. "I'll make it up to him later. Let's go find Anna. Do you guys know where they went?"
"Hang on a minute," Lewis said. ~Hey Anna.~ he called through the mind web that still linked them. ~Where'd you guys go?~
~The movies~ came Anna's answer. ~Is something wrong~?
~No, we were just curious, is all,~ Lewis answered. ~See you later.~
Kaitlyn smiled. She'd forgotten about the web. They didn't use it all that much anymore, but it was still helpful when they did need it.
"Anna's at the movies," Lewis said.
Rob stood up. "Let's go," he said. He picked up Kait's drawings and put them in a manila folder he'd found. "We'd better take these and show her."
They left the room, and all Kait could think was they had to hurry. She didn't know what it was, and all she did know was that something was about to go very, very wrong.
* * *
Part 8
The campus movie theatre only had two screens, and of course, it was packed. Spotting Anna in here was going to be close to impossible. Kaitlyn realised she should have asked Anna what movie she and her boyfriend were seeing. They had to chose between *Scary Movie* and showing of the old *Rocky Horror Picture Show.* As far as Kait knew, neither of those movies were to Anna's taste.
And of course, Rob had pointed out they could have gone to the theatre in the city centre. Kait was about to suggest they give up and go there, when Lewis shouted ~I've seen her! ~ The crowd was so large, as people milled around, waiting to go into the theatres, or waiting for the snacks line or whatever, and noise was too loud to hear people speak, so they'd resorted back to the mind web.
Kait spotted Lewis heading out the door, and Rob following. It took about five minutes before she could catch up with them, and by that time Anna and her boyfriend were already driving off.
Damn, Kait thought, we'll never find them.
~Yes we will,~ Rob said.
Kaitlyn sighed. She would have to be careful. She'd forgotten every thought was heard by everyone. In that case, then Anna should hear them too.
~Could you guys tell me what you're doing?~ Anna asked politely. She sounded rather annoyed.
~Where are you going?~ Ron demanded.
~I don't see what business of yours it is,~ Anna replied.
~We're probably just out our minds, but I've had a vision of Sebastian, and I think he's dangerous. That's why I reacted weird.~ Kait said.
Anna didn't reply for a while. By this time they had all piled into Rob's car. But driving aimlessly, not knowing where to go was not going to get them very far. Then Anna said, ~We've just pulled up at the beach. Should I be worried?~
~Be cautions. We're on our way,~ Rob said. And then out loud, "Hold on everybody."
And the car took off at such a speed that skid marks were left on the roads. They raced for the beach of the small sea side town the university was in. Don't let us be late, Kait thought. Let us get there. She has to be all right. She has to.
They arrived to hear a scream. "That's Anna!" Lewis said sharply. They scrambled over a small wall of rocks and pebbles, to a secluded little area where Anna was struggling in Sebastian's arms. There was something very wrong with his face.
It was twisted and monstrous, his eyes were shining silver like a wild animal's and even from where she stood Kaitlyn could see the length of his long, white canine teeth, shining with a pearly shimmer in the moonlight, edging closer to Anna's throat.
"No!" she shouted. "Get off her you bastard!"
Rob threw himself at the guy, shoving Anna out the way. Anna scrambled up, and backed away, heading for Kaitlyn, her long dark hair a dishevelled mess around her, tears streaking her face.
Before Rob could really do any damage, Sebastian grabbed the front of his shirt, lifted him up effortlessly and threw him down the beach like throwing a football. Both Anna and Kaitlyn cried out.
And then Sebastian looked at Kaitlyn. His shining animal eyes met hers, and in that instant Kait knew that he'd seen her drawings.
"You'll pay for this," he snarled. And disappeared into the night before anyone could catch him.
* * *