Author's Note: I am so glad I decided to write this sequel because - after
what we've just had to endure - I can't stomach much more of The Gift.
Rest assured - like you couldn't guess anyway - Caleb doesn't get within 2
feet of Alison in my story and the barn is still standing and untainted by
all of that nonsense. :-(. To each his/her own - but that was truly
something I never wanted to see.
ANYWAY - Here's to happy Rali moments - many, many, many more will be written about here. As always - thanks a million for the reviews and enjoy. xox - G
Chapter Fifteen
Night had fallen, the midnight blue sky aglow with stars as bright as diamonds. Two people were seeking what they lost - both desperate to have what belonged to them back safe and sound.
**********
Caleb slid from the bed and stood for a moment, staring down at Livvie. In sleep her features were peaceful, almost gentle - but he knew the truth. She was still feeling guilty - still vengeful - still wanting blood. Though her passion in bed always thrilled him, she had a lot to learn about control when she was out of it.
That was what always thrilled him about the life he led. The quest, the journey - the powers he possessed control all around him - the strength just knowing he had an ace up his sleeve with his ring a comfort to him. The challenge of achieving his goals without it a game he loved to play. At the moment, his patience seemed boundless, but he was concerned that the time would come when he would lose it.
As he finished dressing he leaned down and placed a kiss on Livvie's hair. His real need to possess the ring came from her. She felt guilty for losing it - she'll feel responsible for getting it back and her guilt and envy would make her a danger to those around them, but most importantly, a danger to herself. And to him.
She could ruin everything.
"I won't let that happen" Caleb vowed, as much to her as to himself. He stepped soundlessly out into the night.
*************
Abby looked around the gym and glanced at the staircase leading upstairs. This afternoon, whatever had happened had Alison so upset. She was almost certain everything was fine now. No matter what had happened, if anyone could comfort Alison - it would be Rafe.
Their future was looking brighter each day. Abby saw their wedding in her mind. For once, all the events she was seeing concerning them were happy ones. Every day the happiness she saw for them grew. She intended to make sure it continued.
As she locked the door and stepped outside Abby sighed. It was getting harder, not easier. As she stood on the sidelines and watched the life her sister was beginning, something dangerously close to jealousy was inching towards her heart. She didn't begrudge Rafe and Alison their happiness. If anyone deserved a moment's peace it was those two. But seeing Cameron again made her own heart ache, the very dreams that were coming true for Rafe and Alison were robbed from them and she wanted to know why.
She didn't need to look up to see where she was going. She was going to the place that she could feel him close to her again.
Abby sat on the bench and, as she always seemed to be doing lately, fought tears. She wanted to know - it seemed impossible to imagine. Would she ever really be happy again? Would there ever be a time she didn't miss him, want him, need him? She didn't know how much more she could bear.
Abby took a deep breath and wiped her eyes, pushing her glasses to the top of her head. She had noticed something earlier that day. Caleb's ring seemed to grant wishes. She remembered holding it when she had last seen Cameron, right as she wished him to come see her. She remembered wishing that Alison and her mother would make up, and watched it happen before her eyes. She wished for more sleep this morning and could swear that her clock spun backwards. Each time she made a wish with that ring nearby - it seemed to come true.
Which is precisely why tonight, she'd left the ring at home. She didn't want to have to fight the temptation to use it - especially while she was here.
She knew it was a horrible idea. To cause the ones above to release Cameron by using a vampire ring would cause some sort of cosmic imbalance - she was certain. But she wanted to. She wanted to - more than anything.
A voice came from the dark, startling her.
"Didn't your mother ever warn you. The park is a dangerous place at night."
"Caleb." Abby nearly gasped, fear snaking up her spine.
"Abigail." Caleb drawled, his voice seductive. "How lovely you look in the moonlight."
"Save your compliments, Caleb." Abby tried to keep from shaking as she got up to face him, her voice issuing a dare she wasn't sure she could take, "What do you want?"
He was certain now. Without her glasses - it was even easier to see. Her eyes betrayed her. They were so open and honest it was all too easy to figure out. Abby had his ring. She looked remarkably like her sister, but honestly, she also had that pesky slayer-like do-gooder instinct of her future brother-in-law. An amusing combination, Caleb thought as he glanced at her again. Watching her squirm - this will definitely be fun.
"If I said I wanted you - would that shock you?" Caleb asked with a wicked grin.
Abby's eyes went wide, her voice filled with disgust. "No. It would sicken me."
"Such a dirty little mind, such an innocent little face. I meant figuratively, not literally, sweetheart. Unless - could it be you are saying you want me? You do seem incredibly lonely to me and quite frankly, always are a bit tense. Could that be it?"
"Nothing could be further from the truth - but I wouldn't put it past you. I'd put nothing past you." Abby raised her chin and stared him in the eyes.
"I've always thought you were a smart girl."
Abby glared at him as he continued. " I hope you are smart enough to survive."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Abby asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.
Caleb closed the distance between them, as Abby stood frozen with fear. He held her face in his hands, his mouth moved within mere inches of her ear, the warmth of his breath stinging her skin. Abby shivered and tried to move away, but he held her still. "It means, sweet Abigail, that I hope you are smart enough to make the right decision. To set things right again. The power to do so is in your hands - the consequences if you don't - well, let's just say - they will be deadly."
He released her and Abby stared at him, so scared she couldn't speak.
"Just to let you know how nice I can be - I'll give you some time to think about it. I know you'll do the right thing."
With those words and their thinly veiled threat hanging in the air, he slipped off into the night.
Abby knees gave out and she slid onto the bench - her heart beating wildly. She was absolutely terrified. She thought she could handle this - but she was in way over her head.
ANYWAY - Here's to happy Rali moments - many, many, many more will be written about here. As always - thanks a million for the reviews and enjoy. xox - G
Chapter Fifteen
Night had fallen, the midnight blue sky aglow with stars as bright as diamonds. Two people were seeking what they lost - both desperate to have what belonged to them back safe and sound.
**********
Caleb slid from the bed and stood for a moment, staring down at Livvie. In sleep her features were peaceful, almost gentle - but he knew the truth. She was still feeling guilty - still vengeful - still wanting blood. Though her passion in bed always thrilled him, she had a lot to learn about control when she was out of it.
That was what always thrilled him about the life he led. The quest, the journey - the powers he possessed control all around him - the strength just knowing he had an ace up his sleeve with his ring a comfort to him. The challenge of achieving his goals without it a game he loved to play. At the moment, his patience seemed boundless, but he was concerned that the time would come when he would lose it.
As he finished dressing he leaned down and placed a kiss on Livvie's hair. His real need to possess the ring came from her. She felt guilty for losing it - she'll feel responsible for getting it back and her guilt and envy would make her a danger to those around them, but most importantly, a danger to herself. And to him.
She could ruin everything.
"I won't let that happen" Caleb vowed, as much to her as to himself. He stepped soundlessly out into the night.
*************
Abby looked around the gym and glanced at the staircase leading upstairs. This afternoon, whatever had happened had Alison so upset. She was almost certain everything was fine now. No matter what had happened, if anyone could comfort Alison - it would be Rafe.
Their future was looking brighter each day. Abby saw their wedding in her mind. For once, all the events she was seeing concerning them were happy ones. Every day the happiness she saw for them grew. She intended to make sure it continued.
As she locked the door and stepped outside Abby sighed. It was getting harder, not easier. As she stood on the sidelines and watched the life her sister was beginning, something dangerously close to jealousy was inching towards her heart. She didn't begrudge Rafe and Alison their happiness. If anyone deserved a moment's peace it was those two. But seeing Cameron again made her own heart ache, the very dreams that were coming true for Rafe and Alison were robbed from them and she wanted to know why.
She didn't need to look up to see where she was going. She was going to the place that she could feel him close to her again.
Abby sat on the bench and, as she always seemed to be doing lately, fought tears. She wanted to know - it seemed impossible to imagine. Would she ever really be happy again? Would there ever be a time she didn't miss him, want him, need him? She didn't know how much more she could bear.
Abby took a deep breath and wiped her eyes, pushing her glasses to the top of her head. She had noticed something earlier that day. Caleb's ring seemed to grant wishes. She remembered holding it when she had last seen Cameron, right as she wished him to come see her. She remembered wishing that Alison and her mother would make up, and watched it happen before her eyes. She wished for more sleep this morning and could swear that her clock spun backwards. Each time she made a wish with that ring nearby - it seemed to come true.
Which is precisely why tonight, she'd left the ring at home. She didn't want to have to fight the temptation to use it - especially while she was here.
She knew it was a horrible idea. To cause the ones above to release Cameron by using a vampire ring would cause some sort of cosmic imbalance - she was certain. But she wanted to. She wanted to - more than anything.
A voice came from the dark, startling her.
"Didn't your mother ever warn you. The park is a dangerous place at night."
"Caleb." Abby nearly gasped, fear snaking up her spine.
"Abigail." Caleb drawled, his voice seductive. "How lovely you look in the moonlight."
"Save your compliments, Caleb." Abby tried to keep from shaking as she got up to face him, her voice issuing a dare she wasn't sure she could take, "What do you want?"
He was certain now. Without her glasses - it was even easier to see. Her eyes betrayed her. They were so open and honest it was all too easy to figure out. Abby had his ring. She looked remarkably like her sister, but honestly, she also had that pesky slayer-like do-gooder instinct of her future brother-in-law. An amusing combination, Caleb thought as he glanced at her again. Watching her squirm - this will definitely be fun.
"If I said I wanted you - would that shock you?" Caleb asked with a wicked grin.
Abby's eyes went wide, her voice filled with disgust. "No. It would sicken me."
"Such a dirty little mind, such an innocent little face. I meant figuratively, not literally, sweetheart. Unless - could it be you are saying you want me? You do seem incredibly lonely to me and quite frankly, always are a bit tense. Could that be it?"
"Nothing could be further from the truth - but I wouldn't put it past you. I'd put nothing past you." Abby raised her chin and stared him in the eyes.
"I've always thought you were a smart girl."
Abby glared at him as he continued. " I hope you are smart enough to survive."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Abby asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.
Caleb closed the distance between them, as Abby stood frozen with fear. He held her face in his hands, his mouth moved within mere inches of her ear, the warmth of his breath stinging her skin. Abby shivered and tried to move away, but he held her still. "It means, sweet Abigail, that I hope you are smart enough to make the right decision. To set things right again. The power to do so is in your hands - the consequences if you don't - well, let's just say - they will be deadly."
He released her and Abby stared at him, so scared she couldn't speak.
"Just to let you know how nice I can be - I'll give you some time to think about it. I know you'll do the right thing."
With those words and their thinly veiled threat hanging in the air, he slipped off into the night.
Abby knees gave out and she slid onto the bench - her heart beating wildly. She was absolutely terrified. She thought she could handle this - but she was in way over her head.