Crystal awoke in his room; it was nearly sundown. She sat up and looked around. Where is Garan? What is going on? I am so confused. Garan was my love in a past life? And now what does he plan to do with me? Her head was swimming with questions and feelings of uneasiness. She stood up and looked out the window to see her smashed car parked in front of Garan's white Pathfinder. White and Black, light and darkness, what irony… Crystal fell to her knees suddenly. A vision…a shadow approaching her…stabs her in the back. What was that? She stood up, regained her composure, and started walking to the living room.
The sound of a car rumbling up the driveway distracted her. Crystal ran over to the front door and looked out. It was a brand new black 2002 Ford Thunderbird hardtop convertible. She stepped outside to investigate, slowly walking toward the car. The windows were all tinted limo black so she couldn't see inside. Suddenly the door swung open and Garan stepped out. He walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead while placing the keys in her hand. "What is this for?" she asked.
"It's yours." He replied and smiled, something rare for him to do.
"You're kidding. That's at least a thirty-six thousand dollar car!"
"Forty even, fully loaded. Don't worry about it; I have connections. Just think of it as a gift."
Crystal was stunned. "Thank you so much. I don't know what to say."
"Like I said, don't worry about it. Listen, I have to go attend to an important matter. Meet me at the Haven later around 10. You know where it is? It's a popular club."
"Yes, of course I know where it is! My friend owns the place."
"Good, now go rest and get ready." He told her as he walked away. She went back inside and called Megan from her cell phone.
"Hello?" Megan answered, sounding exhausted.
"Hi, it's me. Come with me to the Haven tonight. Bring whoever you want, Garan wants me to meet him there."
"Um, ok. I have to take a shower etc., but I'll go. What time?"
"Meet me there at 9:50."
"Ok, see you then. Bye."
"Bye." Crystal hung up the phone and placed it back in her grey Polo sport bag.
She hurried to shower and put her clothes back on, then got into her pretty new car and headed to the Haven. She pulled into the parking lot and walked over to the entrance.
Crystal scanned the area looking for any sign of Garan. It's amazing how my sight has improved; I don't even need glasses anymore. From outside she could hear people talking inside the club, music playing.
She entered through the large glass doors into the foyer where a large security guard checked her ID and permitted her to enter. The main room was very dim, there was a dance floor in the middle and round mahogany tables with red chairs lined the walls. Megan spotted her coming in and waved her over. Her friend James was next to her, he looked quite uncomfortable and out of place. Crystal glanced around the room and spotted him finally. He was perched upon a ledge at the back of the room. Garan hopped off the wall and walked toward them. He leaned over and lifted Crystal's chin ever so slightly, and moved in to kiss her. Megan's jaw dropped. "Ok, WHAT have I missed?" she shrieked.
James started laughing and said, "Aww, they're soo cute. Aren't you happy for them Megan?"
She grinned. "Yes, but I wanna know when this happened! Just the other day they were ignoring each other…and now this!"
Crystal smirked. "Well, I am just irresistible."
Garan laughed, "Yes you certainly are."
Megan just rolled her eyes. "Ok, we're gonna go grab a table." She and James walked away, leaving Garan and Crystal alone.
"So…I need to talk to you. I have a lot of unanswered questions still." she said. He nodded and said, "Let's go sit over there." as he pointed to an empty table. They walked over and sat down. Crystal cleared her throat.
He looked at her and placed his hands on her cheeks. "Your beauty and your vision enraptured me. I had an insane desire to be with you. You were a mortal, and it is forbidden for us to fall in love with mortals. I sincerely apologize for involving you in all this."
"I understand, it's just fate I suppose. But I felt an instant attraction to you the moment I laid eyes on you. You can't call that a coincidence."
"True. But believe me, I would never have embraced you against your will. It's just that I had no choice…"
"Shh, I told you it's ok."
He smiled. "Come on, dance with me."
"I can't dance!" she cried.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the seat. "That's alright, you'll learn." They sifted through the crowd together underneath the flashing lights. Danielle watched from afar in the shadows, a thin smile spread across her face.
Garan held Crystal's hands and started to move with the music. She laughed and tried to keep up with him. "Oh come on!" he shouted over the music, "You were a fantastic dancer, don't you remember?"
"No!"
"Ok, you can go sit with Megan and James. They are waiting for you." He released her hands and started dancing by himself, moving incredibly fast and fluid. People around him stopped dancing and started watching. Crystal sat down with Megan and James. They were both staring at Garan too. "Wow, he is good!" Megan said out loud. James gave her a funny look. "Eh, he's not that great."
She laughed at him. "Jealous?"
"Of course he is!" Crystal chimed in, making a sweeping motion with her hand. "I think just about every guy here is jealous."
Garan finished his routine and stepped off the dance floor to a round of applause. He silently walked over to the table they were seated at. "That was great Garan!" Megan gushed. He stood next to Crystal and sighed, "Music is one of man's greatest creations."
Crystal corrected him. "No, the arts as a whole, not just music."
James gave him a quizzical look. "So, where did you learn to dance like that G?"
"Oh, a very long time ago…" his words drifted off as he turned to the main entrance. A strange man emerged from the front hallway. Garan stopped in astonishment and confusion. The stranger was dressed in a black punk band t-shirt with baggy blue jeans and black sneakers. He was about 6' ft tall, a little chubby in the midsection - short black slicked back hair, with intense grey eyes.
Unexpectedly, Danielle stepped out of a side door from one of the back rooms. Marc was at her side, fashionably half-dressed as usual. She stared at the man with pure hatred as he approached the table Garan and Crystal sat at. Crystal did not recognize him right away. "Hello Gareth, long time no see." The stranger spoke in a snide manner.
Crystal glanced back and forth between them. Garan actually seems frightened! What is going on?
"Get out of here now Paul!" Garan demanded. Paul ignored him and stared past him at Crystal. "Hey cutie-pie!" He said with a wave and laughed. Garan spun around with amazing speed and punched him right in the face. "Whoa!" James yelled aloud. Paul glared at Garan. You embraced her eh? I will see to it that you regret it. She will die again. Garan held himself back from tearing Paul's throat out right there. Danielle and Marc ran over immediately. "Get out of my club, before I call the authorities." She ordered.
He licked the thin stream of blood that trickled down from his nose. You are in love with a mortal now Danielle? That's pathetic. You should stick with your own kind! I could have more fun with this one though… Her face instantly switched from annoyed to furious. You leave him out of this! Get the fuck out of here now Baldric!!
Paul turned and left as quickly as he came. "Wow, he was a total weirdo." Megan said.
Marc nodded in agreement. "Yeah, but I like when Garan clobbered him!"
Garan just sighed. Thank god he is gone! Crystal placed her hand on his shoulder and motioned to leave. They said their goodnights to all. Once they were outside, she asked him how the hell that vampire was following them. "I don't know." Garan answered. "All I know is he still wants revenge on me." Crystal looked rather frightened. "Don't worry." he said as he gave her a hug. "Just go home and relax." "Ok..." she replied reluctantly.
Crystal hopped into her T-bird and cruised home. She collapsed in bed, passed out, and began to dream. She and Garan were back in the medieval times again. They were romping through a field of wildflowers. The looks on their faces were ones of joy. Just then, the sky grew black, the sunlight faded. A wave of fear overcame her. All of a sudden, she was standing on top of a cliff, in the middle of a fierce storm. Her hands were bound behind her back. Someone was standing behind her. She felt a sudden push... and awoke in a cold sweat. She glanced over at her clock. It read 7:05 p.m. She grabbed the dog's leash and headed outside to walk him. On the way back she spotted a man she'd never seen before staring at her from afar. He had dark wavy hair and gray eyes. Weird. she thought to herself. Once she returned she quickly got dressed, hopped in the car and booked up to Menlo. On the way, she buzzed Trinity's phone.
"Crack heads Anonymous! How may we support your habit?" Crystal heard as Trinity answered her phone obnoxiously.
"Hey, what's up? Need to talk with you. Meet me at that place you showed me."
"Ten four. Received," Trinity said as she began to hang up the phone.
She arrived at the usual spot in the back hallways of the mall just as Trinity bounced up. Crystal looked about suspiciously.
"Anyway." Trinity said, "What did you need to talk about?"
"You said you liked an older guy named Paul. What did he look like?"
"Umm, short black slicked hair, grey eyes, no facial hair, about 6' ft tall."
"What do you know about him?"
"He's a fat pedophile, that woke me up once by sucking on me. Really gross." Trinity replied with a disdainful look.
Crystal motioned shh as she heard footsteps on the stairs. Trinity looked over the railing. "Nobody there." she reported.
Crystal breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, "Ok let's get out of here." Trinity led the way and they emerged outside near the arcade. Crystal pulled a clove out of her bag and lit it.
"Great idea! I think I'll join you." Trinity said, "So why did you want to know about Paul?"
"Oh, just curious..."
After they were finished their smoke break Trinity went back inside to patrol and Crystal went to look for Garan and Megan, who, she assumed should both be at the arcade by now. They strangely were not there, so she went down to the middle floor of the parking garage to see if their cars were there.
Chapter 6 >>>