Keegan's Day
The smell of lilies woke me at dawn and I opened my eyes to find Keegan arranging a vase of white lilies next to my stakes. I carefully inched my way to the door but his voice stopped me.
"Good morning."
I audibly gulped and sat up, readying myself for anything. Except his next words.
"Your mother loved lilies." He stood back to admire the flowers. "Like herself, they both loved sunshine and were flowers of purity."
He gazed off with a faint smile, "I remember the sound of her laughter, the scent of her satiny hair. She really was an ethereal Lady."
Finally he looked over at me, "You would have loved your mother." His warm smile caught my breath. "Lady Ariel Taliesin." Keegan said fondly.
I stood and conveyed my thought through body language. What do you want?
Keegan smirked and I suddenly found myself hovering in the air in front of him.
"You made a deal with me and I've come to collect." He said sinisterly as his eyes began to glow an eerie blue.
Just as I began to curse myself for never making a will, I fell from the sky and landed in a heap at his feet. Before I could recover, Keegan gripped my forearm and effortlessly pulled me to my feet.
"Shall we collect your demon, Angel?" he asked his eyes now twinkling in a normal mischievous manner.
Before I could respond one moment I was in my hideaway and the next I was in the dining room at Joan's.
Everyone stared at Keegan and me shocked into stopping whatever he or she was doing. Aunt Florence sat frozen at the table with her coffee in hand. Madelyn stared at us with her mouth agape as milk dripped safely into her bowel of cereal from a bite she was about to take. Julian and Damon were speaking and simply stared at Keegan and I with mild interest. Added to Damon's interest was a flash of something akin to jealousy. Stefan and Elena were in the stages of walking somewhere when Keegan and I appeared and stood frozen where they stood in the room.
Joan, on the other hand, recovered quickly and quietly sipped her orange juice while she waited for some answer to why Keegan was here this time.
"Good morning everyone!" Keegan greeted cheerily. "What's for Breakfast?"
"What do you want for breakfast, Keegan." Joan inquired turning her attention to the fashion magazine in front of her.
He shrugged "A doughnut?"
Joan simply pointed to a white box next to her, "Help yourself."
In a flash, Keegan was by the box with his eyes aglow, "Chocolate!"
Aunt Florence's chuckle broke the silent taboo of the room and I found Damon by my side.
What is he doing here, he asked me.
Remember the deal I made last night? He came to get you, I replied.
Damon's face darkened as Keegan devoured two doughnuts , "Lovely."
"So Angel where do you want to go today?" Keegan inquired licking chocolate off his fingers. "The mall? A friend's? The Bahamas?"
I made a disbelieving sound and looked at him weird. What was this guy's game? Why does he want to know where *I* would like to go, this was his day?!
He answered my question for me. "The sole purpose of today is so we can get to know each other."
A glance at Damon told him what I wanted to say.
"Why?"
Keegan smiled unfavorably, "If you knew that, then you might win my Game."
I gulped and thought long and hard of my next move. Interacting with Keegan was like playing chess or pool, you had to think three steps ahead of him and figure out his tactics. But why would he want to know me to know him better? It would make it easier to win?
Does he want me to win? And if so, why?
Ask if I can get a frozen mocha, I love those. I told Damon.
"She wants to get a frozen mocha." He told our enemy.
Keegan shrugged, "Starbucks okay?"
I had never had a Starbucks anything, even though Jasmina and Morigan went to one almost every day. That was the reason my jaw dropped as I nodded with big round eyes.
Starbucks was kinda like the pub. It had people of all varieties sitting around drinking their expressos and coffees. It had the same rich décor without the dim lights and funky music. And behind the bar was a bartender, only this one was in the bright lights in full view.
As Keegan ordered my frozen mocha and added in an order from Joan and Damon, I looked around the place. Nice booths with emerald green leather seats sat along the walls. Shiny chrome tables with chrome seats with the same green leather of the booths were spaced nicely around.
While Keegan paid for our drinks, Joan, Damon and I sat down in a secluded booth.
You know you and Joan didn't have to come, I told Damon.
He shrugged, Joan didn't but she and I both believe in safety in numbers.
Just then Keegan slid in next to Joan, across from Damon and me.
"After we get our drinks, where to next?" He asked of me. "What is it you've always wanted but never got?"
"An end to your stupid game." I replied through Damon.
Keegan chuckled, "Very funny."
Again I thought back to my original question about Keegan. What does he gain from getting to know me?
"I'm dead serious, what is it that you want?" he asked with an innocent cock of his head.
To ice-skate, to go dancing, shop for my own clothes…
Damon conveyed my thoughts before I could object.
Keegan rubbed his hands together with anticipation as our drinks arrived.
For a moment we drank our refreshments in silence. The scent of Keegan's mint tea wafted in the breeze as Joan sipped her diet soda in quiet solitude. Damon simply watched Keegan gaze longingly at the other customers.
Now I wonder why he looks so sad, I thought before a devilish smile appeared on Keegan's face.
"Wanna go ice-skating in New York?" he asked me, his eyes dancing merrily. "I know I really cool place. It's pretty-and-bright-and.."
Joan laughed, "Didn't know your kind knew the word pretty."
"Button it, Riley." Keegan snapped barely glancing at her and turned to me expectantly. "Well, what do you think?"
I glanced at Damon, Let's do it.
An hour later found us all bundled up and skating around in an empty plaza. Every now and again, Damon would slip and fall on his butt, sending him sliding into the wall.
When that would happen, Keegan would laugh and point at him then slip and fall himself. Which would make Joan and I start laughing at them both.
Later, time found us throwing snowballs in Alaska then swimming in the warm ocean near Florida.
Damon kept watching me splashing around in a flattering white bathing suit safely on the beach. Keegan and Joan got into a water fight later on that left both sputtering and Damon drenched as a result of someone throwing a small tidal wave at the other.
After we dried off and got back into regular clothes, Keegan transported us to a mall back in California.
Shop after shop we went into and in each at least one of us brought something out. Keegan kept buying shirts with words like "CAT- The other white meat" and "I hear voices and they don't like you" printed on them. Joan bought various pieces of jewelry, shirts and pants. Myself, I bought a pair of thigh high boots and expensive hiking boots while Damon spent a few dollars in a photo booth where all four of us had our pictures taken.
My favorite was where Damon had his tongue out, Joan and Keegan had their eyes crossed at each other and I was laughing. It was a good bribe picture.
Finally around nightfall we went to the pub to finish off my day with Keegan. There to greet us was Julian, Madelyn, Stefan and Elena.
"Anything happen of interest?" Stefan asked as Keegan and I danced up to him laughing. As I passed I dropped my favorite picture in his lap.
He looked at it and busted up laughing then showed it off as I drifted around the crowded dance floor.
A slow dance suddenly started up and I found myself in Damon's arms, slowly dancing to the music.
"You are exceptionally cruel showing Stefan that picture." He murmured wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing us closer.
I never said I was an angel, I replied and he chuckled.
So are you a demon, he asked as our eyes met each other's.
Maybe, I told Damon as his face drew closer and our lips touched gently.
"Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" I heard Joan say to no one in particular across the room, at the table where everyone had gathered.
"That you would be." Keegan said- proudly?
Joan snorted and I gave myself away to sensation.
The room's music faded to a dull thrumming, as Damon's scent became stronger. I began to lose myself to the exciting feel of his arms around me, trapping me against him. His mouth drifted across my lips and down to pierce my neck with his sharp teeth.
I gasp with shock and slight pleasure as I felt my blood flow into his mouth. I sensed the strange high he received from the stranger mix of my blood and my knees buckled sending us both to the floor.
There we broke away from each other and regained our composure. I saw Keegan watching me with obvious amusement while he effortlessly held Stefan back from attacking Damon.
Elena watched in fascination as Damon shook himself out of his reverie and stood up then helped me to my feet. Everyone watched us as we walked up to the table and sat down.
"It's been a fun day." Keegan announced brightly. "Went swimming, had a snowball fight, everything that *I* ever wanted to do."
"You've never done those things before?" Madelyn asked shocked.
"I grew up with evil jinn, what do you think?" he replied flat.
"I think you missed out." Joan said quietly.
Keegan looked off for awhile and returned his attention back to us with a diabolical grin.
"And now it's time for the final round of my Game." He announced. "You have twenty four hours to find Robert Taliesin or else, Angel and another is mine."
"Wait a second!" Julian demanded, "We have four days left."
Keegan held up his hand, "I said *by* next week not *in* one week." He chuckled, "And it is next week."
I glared at him. Stupid.
Keegan only smiled and vanished before our eyes.
"Now what?!"
The smell of lilies woke me at dawn and I opened my eyes to find Keegan arranging a vase of white lilies next to my stakes. I carefully inched my way to the door but his voice stopped me.
"Good morning."
I audibly gulped and sat up, readying myself for anything. Except his next words.
"Your mother loved lilies." He stood back to admire the flowers. "Like herself, they both loved sunshine and were flowers of purity."
He gazed off with a faint smile, "I remember the sound of her laughter, the scent of her satiny hair. She really was an ethereal Lady."
Finally he looked over at me, "You would have loved your mother." His warm smile caught my breath. "Lady Ariel Taliesin." Keegan said fondly.
I stood and conveyed my thought through body language. What do you want?
Keegan smirked and I suddenly found myself hovering in the air in front of him.
"You made a deal with me and I've come to collect." He said sinisterly as his eyes began to glow an eerie blue.
Just as I began to curse myself for never making a will, I fell from the sky and landed in a heap at his feet. Before I could recover, Keegan gripped my forearm and effortlessly pulled me to my feet.
"Shall we collect your demon, Angel?" he asked his eyes now twinkling in a normal mischievous manner.
Before I could respond one moment I was in my hideaway and the next I was in the dining room at Joan's.
Everyone stared at Keegan and me shocked into stopping whatever he or she was doing. Aunt Florence sat frozen at the table with her coffee in hand. Madelyn stared at us with her mouth agape as milk dripped safely into her bowel of cereal from a bite she was about to take. Julian and Damon were speaking and simply stared at Keegan and I with mild interest. Added to Damon's interest was a flash of something akin to jealousy. Stefan and Elena were in the stages of walking somewhere when Keegan and I appeared and stood frozen where they stood in the room.
Joan, on the other hand, recovered quickly and quietly sipped her orange juice while she waited for some answer to why Keegan was here this time.
"Good morning everyone!" Keegan greeted cheerily. "What's for Breakfast?"
"What do you want for breakfast, Keegan." Joan inquired turning her attention to the fashion magazine in front of her.
He shrugged "A doughnut?"
Joan simply pointed to a white box next to her, "Help yourself."
In a flash, Keegan was by the box with his eyes aglow, "Chocolate!"
Aunt Florence's chuckle broke the silent taboo of the room and I found Damon by my side.
What is he doing here, he asked me.
Remember the deal I made last night? He came to get you, I replied.
Damon's face darkened as Keegan devoured two doughnuts , "Lovely."
"So Angel where do you want to go today?" Keegan inquired licking chocolate off his fingers. "The mall? A friend's? The Bahamas?"
I made a disbelieving sound and looked at him weird. What was this guy's game? Why does he want to know where *I* would like to go, this was his day?!
He answered my question for me. "The sole purpose of today is so we can get to know each other."
A glance at Damon told him what I wanted to say.
"Why?"
Keegan smiled unfavorably, "If you knew that, then you might win my Game."
I gulped and thought long and hard of my next move. Interacting with Keegan was like playing chess or pool, you had to think three steps ahead of him and figure out his tactics. But why would he want to know me to know him better? It would make it easier to win?
Does he want me to win? And if so, why?
Ask if I can get a frozen mocha, I love those. I told Damon.
"She wants to get a frozen mocha." He told our enemy.
Keegan shrugged, "Starbucks okay?"
I had never had a Starbucks anything, even though Jasmina and Morigan went to one almost every day. That was the reason my jaw dropped as I nodded with big round eyes.
Starbucks was kinda like the pub. It had people of all varieties sitting around drinking their expressos and coffees. It had the same rich décor without the dim lights and funky music. And behind the bar was a bartender, only this one was in the bright lights in full view.
As Keegan ordered my frozen mocha and added in an order from Joan and Damon, I looked around the place. Nice booths with emerald green leather seats sat along the walls. Shiny chrome tables with chrome seats with the same green leather of the booths were spaced nicely around.
While Keegan paid for our drinks, Joan, Damon and I sat down in a secluded booth.
You know you and Joan didn't have to come, I told Damon.
He shrugged, Joan didn't but she and I both believe in safety in numbers.
Just then Keegan slid in next to Joan, across from Damon and me.
"After we get our drinks, where to next?" He asked of me. "What is it you've always wanted but never got?"
"An end to your stupid game." I replied through Damon.
Keegan chuckled, "Very funny."
Again I thought back to my original question about Keegan. What does he gain from getting to know me?
"I'm dead serious, what is it that you want?" he asked with an innocent cock of his head.
To ice-skate, to go dancing, shop for my own clothes…
Damon conveyed my thoughts before I could object.
Keegan rubbed his hands together with anticipation as our drinks arrived.
For a moment we drank our refreshments in silence. The scent of Keegan's mint tea wafted in the breeze as Joan sipped her diet soda in quiet solitude. Damon simply watched Keegan gaze longingly at the other customers.
Now I wonder why he looks so sad, I thought before a devilish smile appeared on Keegan's face.
"Wanna go ice-skating in New York?" he asked me, his eyes dancing merrily. "I know I really cool place. It's pretty-and-bright-and.."
Joan laughed, "Didn't know your kind knew the word pretty."
"Button it, Riley." Keegan snapped barely glancing at her and turned to me expectantly. "Well, what do you think?"
I glanced at Damon, Let's do it.
An hour later found us all bundled up and skating around in an empty plaza. Every now and again, Damon would slip and fall on his butt, sending him sliding into the wall.
When that would happen, Keegan would laugh and point at him then slip and fall himself. Which would make Joan and I start laughing at them both.
Later, time found us throwing snowballs in Alaska then swimming in the warm ocean near Florida.
Damon kept watching me splashing around in a flattering white bathing suit safely on the beach. Keegan and Joan got into a water fight later on that left both sputtering and Damon drenched as a result of someone throwing a small tidal wave at the other.
After we dried off and got back into regular clothes, Keegan transported us to a mall back in California.
Shop after shop we went into and in each at least one of us brought something out. Keegan kept buying shirts with words like "CAT- The other white meat" and "I hear voices and they don't like you" printed on them. Joan bought various pieces of jewelry, shirts and pants. Myself, I bought a pair of thigh high boots and expensive hiking boots while Damon spent a few dollars in a photo booth where all four of us had our pictures taken.
My favorite was where Damon had his tongue out, Joan and Keegan had their eyes crossed at each other and I was laughing. It was a good bribe picture.
Finally around nightfall we went to the pub to finish off my day with Keegan. There to greet us was Julian, Madelyn, Stefan and Elena.
"Anything happen of interest?" Stefan asked as Keegan and I danced up to him laughing. As I passed I dropped my favorite picture in his lap.
He looked at it and busted up laughing then showed it off as I drifted around the crowded dance floor.
A slow dance suddenly started up and I found myself in Damon's arms, slowly dancing to the music.
"You are exceptionally cruel showing Stefan that picture." He murmured wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing us closer.
I never said I was an angel, I replied and he chuckled.
So are you a demon, he asked as our eyes met each other's.
Maybe, I told Damon as his face drew closer and our lips touched gently.
"Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" I heard Joan say to no one in particular across the room, at the table where everyone had gathered.
"That you would be." Keegan said- proudly?
Joan snorted and I gave myself away to sensation.
The room's music faded to a dull thrumming, as Damon's scent became stronger. I began to lose myself to the exciting feel of his arms around me, trapping me against him. His mouth drifted across my lips and down to pierce my neck with his sharp teeth.
I gasp with shock and slight pleasure as I felt my blood flow into his mouth. I sensed the strange high he received from the stranger mix of my blood and my knees buckled sending us both to the floor.
There we broke away from each other and regained our composure. I saw Keegan watching me with obvious amusement while he effortlessly held Stefan back from attacking Damon.
Elena watched in fascination as Damon shook himself out of his reverie and stood up then helped me to my feet. Everyone watched us as we walked up to the table and sat down.
"It's been a fun day." Keegan announced brightly. "Went swimming, had a snowball fight, everything that *I* ever wanted to do."
"You've never done those things before?" Madelyn asked shocked.
"I grew up with evil jinn, what do you think?" he replied flat.
"I think you missed out." Joan said quietly.
Keegan looked off for awhile and returned his attention back to us with a diabolical grin.
"And now it's time for the final round of my Game." He announced. "You have twenty four hours to find Robert Taliesin or else, Angel and another is mine."
"Wait a second!" Julian demanded, "We have four days left."
Keegan held up his hand, "I said *by* next week not *in* one week." He chuckled, "And it is next week."
I glared at him. Stupid.
Keegan only smiled and vanished before our eyes.
"Now what?!"