Okay. I fail; it's official. Four days for an update...you guys are probably about ready to murder me lol. So there's only one small note: I took Darlyka's advice and changed the whole evil vamps situation. There are two women and one man now instead of two men and one woman. I went back into chapter 17 and changed that too. So...wooo :))
You guys are soooo amazing with your reviews. Like, Ashley status :)) lol. Thanks to all of you who are still reading and reviewing! You're all SO awesome!! (Yes, ElloEllo9, more awesome than me :)) haha!)
This chapter is dedicated to Blazed18 for reviewing after following along for the last 17 chapters. You are very, very sweet :))
Enjoy guys! I love you! Happy 2009!!!!!!! :))
***
Okay, maybe I was scared.
They emerged from the forest edge in a triangular fashion; a tall, dark-haired male in the lead, flanked by two females. They weren't by any means cautious looking. They carried an air of confidence as they advanced toward Ashley's family. They were all as white as powder, but they were different from the Davies' in their gait, which was seemingly catlike, always on the verge of crouching. The lead male's hair was short in contrast to the two women on either side of him. One had sleek, long black hair, and the other had a thick mane of blonde. Leaves stuck out in random places, and all three of them were barefoot. But what disturbed me most was the fact that their eyes were neither the soft golden of Ashley's or the coal black of hunger.
They were a brilliant shade of cherry red.
None of the Davies' broke their defensive formation, and I was grateful. I squeezed Ashley's hands weakly.
The dark-haired man stepped forward, smiling, and Raife instinctively relaxed.
"I'm Patrick." He flashed a white smile, and I felt the urge to smile back, even though he wasn't looking at me. He seemed friendly enough, unlike his two female companions. "These are Carmen," he nodded to the black-haired woman, "and Kelly."
Kelly's eyes kept flickering back and forth between each face vigilantly. I stepped marginally closer to Ashley's back, inhaling her calming, delicious scent as much as the distance between us would allow.
She told me to stay put, and although I was holding her hands, I needed other sensory confirmation that she was here with me.
"I'm Raife. This is my family: Glen, Madison, Jake, Kyla, Christine, Ashley, and Spencer." Shock jolted through me when I realized he had just referred to me as a part of his family.
I became suddenly aware that Ashley was rubbing soothing circles into both of my hands.
Sweet, sweet relaxation.
"If I may inquire, what brings you to this area?" Raife asked casually. I took this brief moment to take in the site of each member of the Davies' clan.
Stone statues of Greek gods and goddesses; perfectly still, frozen in seemingly permanent crouch positions.
Amazing. Simply fascinating.
"We're actually headed North, but we haven't seen any of our kind for months. We heard the game, and thought we'd drop in."
I felt the once tangible tension ebbing away, and I guessed that Jake was utilizing his mood gift.
"Ah," Raife muttered sociably, rocking back on his heels. "Please don't take offense, but we live in a permanent home just a few miles from here, and we'd appreciate it very much if you'd refrain from hunting in the area. We're trying to keep under the radar."
I watched Carmen and Kelly exchange undecipherable glances. I don't think they relished the request.
"Of course, of course," Patrick smiled warmly, and dug his hands into the pockets of his torn jeans. "Do you happen to have room for a few more players?"
I felt Ashley's perfect shoulder's tense, and her cold hands tightened a little around mine.
"I'd imagine so," Raife nodded. None of the Davies' reacted to his calm demeanor, but I'm sure that was just part of their strategy.
"I throw a mean curve ball," Kelly's husky voice sounded as she stared at Raife. The Davies' family straightened up, and suddenly, the whole field was filled with their harmonious chuckles.
I was lost. But Ashley wasn't laughing either.
As the rest of the Ashley's family moved toward the field, Carmen and my girlfriend were having a staring contest. Ashley didn't move, and neither did I. In fact, just to make myself more inconspicuous, I ducked my head a little behind Ashley's strong, sloping shoulder blade.
Three things happened simultaneously.
First, a crack of thunder resonated in the dark sky, and a powerful breeze gusted through the field, ruffling my hair. Second, Ashley stiffened, and gripped my hands so hard I was afraid they would snap. Then, Carmen turned her bright red eyes in my direction, scrutinizing me. A smile played across her lips, and she closed her eyes, breathing deeply.
"You brought a snack," she stated excitedly, and stepped into a threatening crouch. In a matter of seconds, Ashley's hands had left mine, and she was crouched protectively in front of me, a savage, animalistic snarl ripping through the silence of the field.
I had never seen her act like this, and I'm sure my eyes were about to bulge out of my sockets. Every part of my body was shaking mercilessly. This was surely the single most intimidating thing I'd ever witnessed in my life.
The rest of Ashley's family, even Madison, formed the defensive wall in front of me again, spitting and growling angrily like a pack of wolves. Patrick and Kelly flanked Carmen, Kelly mirroring Carmen's menacing stance, while Patrick stood stock straight, eyes wide.
"She's with us," Raife informed them, his voice tight and controlled as he trained his eyes on Carmen.
"A human?" Patrick asked incredulously, his deep red eyes focused on me as he took a step forward. Ashley snarled viciously, her lip curling over her gleaming white teeth as she lurched forward. Glen put a large hand on her shoulder, dragging her back.
Yet, he looked as keyed up as she did.
"We're aware of that," Glen spat through gritted teeth, liquid topaz eyes on Carmen as he attempted to steady Ashley.
I longed to reach out, and take my girlfriend in my arms, to protect her from all of this rage.
But of course, she was the one safeguarding me, and all I could do was watch idly, never more afraid in my life. Afraid for myself, and for the rest of the Davies' family.
Especially Ashley.
"We will not harm the human girl," Patrick assured the seven vampires in front of me, taking a tentative step forward. Ashley attempted to get at him, but Glen held her firmly in place.
All I could do was look on in horror.
To my surprise, Kelly stepped in front of Patrick, her posture still alert. "Perhaps a baseball game isn't favorable at the moment."
"I agree," Jake snapped. His shoulders were tensed, and his eyes were narrowed.
"We will go," Patrick said quietly, holding up a hand in defeat. "Farewell, Raife." He nodded in my direction once, and with one last fleeting look at the Davies, he began to walk back in the direction of the forest. Carmen's eyes never left my face, and I reflexively stepped backward. Then, Kelly slipped her arm around Carmen's waist, and led her away.
I watched them slink away, and stared at the place where they had disappeared until I felt Ashley loop her strong arm around my own waist. The Davies stood in a circle around us, and Raife was rattling off irate instructions.
"Glen, Jake and I will run South to spread Ashley's scent. Madison, Kyla, and Christine will be wearing a few of Spencer's jackets, and attempt to run her scent North. It's better for Carmen to think they went in opposite directions in an effort to save Spencer."
"Why should I help?" All eyes were on Madison as she looked at me coldly. I shrank into Ashley's side, inhaling the essence of her, and trying to slow the rapid beating of my heart. "What does she mean to me?"
"Mads," Ashley's voice was slightly panicked, pleading almost.
Christine exhaled sharply. "Madison, Spencer is part of this family now. You will help Ashley, and do as your father says."
Madison rolled her eyes, and crossed her arms, sulking sourly. Raife turned his attention to Ashley.
"Go," he ordered, then turned to me. I pressed my face against Ashley's cold side, and his eyes softened a little. "You're going to be alright, Spencer." I nodded fervently as if I actually believed what he was promising.
The truth was I had never been more terrified in my life.
"Let's go, Spencer," Ashley's voice was low, and strained in my ear. I was truly dazed as she led me toward the trees.
"Ashley!" We both turned at the sound of Kyla's high soprano voice. "Don't run; Carmen will find you." Ashley nodded, and ushered me toward Glen's Jeep. The harness was ridiculous. I mean utterly ridiculous.
So I let Ashley do it, focusing on trying to calm my rapid heartbeat.
As Ashley slammed the driver's seat door, revved the engine, and tore off through the field, her expression was fixed on the windshield. Her golden eyes never looked my way, not even when we began to barrel over trees in the forest.
"What, is he coming after me now?" My voice was an octave higher than usual. I think I was just too proud to admit that for the first time since I had entered Ashley's world, I was truly afraid.
"We're getting you away from here, Spencer. Far, far away," she growled, clenching her slender hands around the steering wheel, and refusing to meet my gaze.
Arthur.
"No. No, Ashley, don't do this! We can't; I can't! You have to take me home. Arthur will call the FBI, and they'll be all over your family, and--" I broke off as I struggled violently with the harness, sweat beading on my forehead as we broke the trees, and swerved onto the road.
"Calm down," Ashley's musical voice soothed me, and I stopped my fruitless escape. She grasped one of my hands in her cold one, and squeezed gently.
I was still mad, but she was doing a fantastic job of calming me down.
"Please take me home, Ash." My voice shook as I whispered the request, tilting my head as I pleaded with her. She hit the breaks, staring hard at me as we sat on the side of the road. Then, it hit me.
I had called her Ash.
The silence was deafening. Ashley closed her amber eyes, and ran her noticeably shaky, free hand through her chocolate locks.
"I can't do that, Spence," she mumbled back just as quietly. My heart fluttered.
Spence.
Nothing had ever sounded as beautiful to me as that one syllable.
"You don't understand. She's a tracker…I saw her mind. It's her obsession…and she wants you. Her plan was set before Patrick even realized you were human…she begins the hunt tonight."
So Carmen wanted me?
"But she and Kelly…" I trailed off, furrowing my brow as I fiddled with the obscene harness again. Why would Carmen want a frail human like me?
Besides, I wouldn't leave Ashley for anybody.
Her velvety chuckle rang through the car, and she opened her eyes. However, her angelic expression wasn't what I had expected.
Her tawny eyes were hard, and the laugh was bitter.
"She's going to kill you, Spencer."
My heart dropped into my stomach.
"But you…I…Kyla and Jake, and…" I stuttered. Now I was really frightened for my life.
"She'll wait until they're out of the way," Ashley explained darkly. "You didn't see…you don't understand…once Carmen commits to a hunt, she's unshakable. She won't stop until she gets you. We'll have to kill her."
I had absolutely nothing to say. I had been rendered speechless by Ashley's words.
Again.
So what does Spencer Carlin do? Change the subject, of course.
"Look, I have a plan," I began feebly, rubbing my thumb across Ashley's hand, willing her to listen to me.
"No," she said firmly, looking down at our hands, and biting her lip. I couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my face.
Even when she looked apprehensive, she still looked untouchably incredible.
"Just take me back to my house. I'll pack my clothes, and tell Arthur I'm going back to Ohio. The tracker will follow us, leave him alone, and you can take me wherever the hell you want," I finished, hoping I sounded reasonably convincing.
Ashley was conflicted, I could tell. She shut her eyes, and let go of my hand, pressing her icy fingertips to her temples.
"It's ludicrously unsafe," she murmured. I narrowed my eyes.
"I demand you take me home," I told her in my best commanding voice. Ashley opened her eyes, which widened a fraction. Her hands fell limply to her sides, and she stared at me, clear surprise coloring her pale face.
I was pretty stunned at myself too, if you want to know the truth.
"We're leaving tonight, whether you like it or not," Ashley said warily, and started the Jeep. "Tell Arthur you can't stay another moment in L.A. Pack whatever you can, and get in your truck. You have fifteen minutes, Spencer. Alright? Fifteen minutes, and I mean it. Kyla, Glen, and I will be watching, and prepared to intercede should you exceed that time frame."
I nodded tightly. I watched Ashley with fascination, trying desperately to emotionally prolong the necessary departure from my father. She pulled out a small, silver cell phone, and punched a button.
"Glen, this is what's going to take place," Ashley spoke quickly into the phone as she turned a corner. I was straining to hear. "I will walk her to the door, considering that the tracker is not present. From the second she crosses the threshold, she has fifteen minutes."
Her topaz eyes flashed briefly to mine as she purposely enunciated the last two words.
That was hardly enough time to say goodbye to Arthur. But I had to live with it, and I wasn't about to protest.
"Glen, you will monitor the outside of the house, and Kyla will retrieve the truck. I will be with Spencer in her room, then you can take the Jeep home and let Raife know what's going on."
Ashley was silent, then I was thrown back in the seat as the speedometer increased at an alarming rate.
Glen must have said something she didn't appreciate.
"Think this through. We need surveillance on all sides of the house, and if the tracker happens to be there…we will keep driving."
"We're going to make it," I announced in a small voice, not daring to look Ashley's way. The absence of sound on our end was irritating, and I finally chanced a glance at Ashley, who was looking intently out the window as she drove, listening.
"You're driving the Jeep home, Kyla," Ashley told her patiently.
Once again I was shut out of the conversation as Kyla chattered away.
"Spencer's truck doesn't contain seating for all of us." I could tell Ashley's patience was wearing thin, so I reached out and laced our fingers together. She showed me a nose-crinkling smile, and I blushed furiously.
Even in imminent danger…butterflies.
"ASHLEY, PUT ME ON CONFERENCE!" Kyla's melodic voice screeched, and Ashley held the phone away from her ear, wincing. I giggled as she pressed a button. The silver device sat between us, and Ashley used her remaining free hand to drive.
"Hi, Spencer!" Kyla's soprano voice floated through the tiny speaker, a little too excitedly considering the circumstances. The phone frequency, however, was perfect. I could hear Kyla as if she were sitting as close to me as Ashley was.
"Hey Ky."
Shortening names had now become my only vice.
She giggled in response. "Anyway, Ashley. I think you should stay behind."
The speedometer's needle crawled higher, and I gripped the harness with my right hand cautiously.
"I won't do that," Ashley growled. "I will not leave Spencer alone."
"She won't be alone," Kyla insisted. "Jake and I will take her. She'll be safe."
"I agree with Kyla," I said quietly.
My hand was being smashed, I swear.
"Spencer, listen to me," Ashley began through clenched teeth as the speedometer climbed.
"No, you listen!" My confidence was slowly trickling back, and I forced her to look at me. Her golden eyes were covered with tinges of defeat, and my voice softened a little. "Carmen saw how protective you were over me. It would be safer if we weren't together, because she's going to automatically think that I'm with you."
"She's right, Ashley," Glen's deep voice sounded through the speakers.
And as I scrutinized my girlfriend's breathtaking face, her copious amounts of resolve disappeared. I brought her frigid hand to my lips, and kissed it.
Her grin was flawless.
"Help your family get rid of Carmen," I whispered coaxingly. "Then, come meet me in Ohio. I'll be okay, Ash. Trust your siblings."
The logic was working on her.
"You realize this could potentially put your mother and stepfather in danger, Spencer," she reminded me, turning her attention back to the road.
Like that would be such a bad thing…
"I won't go home."
"You won't?" She asked, clearly confused.
"We'll figure something out," Kyla declared cheerfully, jumping back into the conversation. Ashley's head whipped back around to the phone.
"Kyla, the weather is usually very sunny in Ohio, you know."
Ashley's sister scoffed audibly. "It's called staying indoors."
I smirked. So far, I hadn't hear anybody besides Raife defy my girlfriend.
Silence on both ends, now. God, this was torture.
"Glen," Ashley snarled.
"What?" He feigned innocence, and I heard Kyla's melodic cackle in the background.
I really hated not being able to read minds like Ashley. I was out of the loop.
"The best thing is to get Carmen alone, Ash. That way, you can focus on taking her down, and not worry about Spencer's safety," he explained.
Much better.
Ashley's eyes flickered to mine, blue against gold. "Could you at least make a valiant effort to keep your opinions to yourself?"
"So noted," Glen said in a deep voice, and I could almost picture him saluting. A slow smile stretched across my face at the thought.
"Kyla," Ashley addressed the smaller vampire on the other end of the phone line, her eyes never leaving mine. "If anything--anything--happens to Spencer, I'm holding you personally responsible. Do you hear me?" I gulped.
I'd hate to be Kyla right now.
However, she seemed unphased. "Yes, I understand."
"Will Jake be strong enough for this?"
"He'll be fine," Kyla said in an irritated tone. Ashley finally broke our eye contact, and looked at the silver phone.
I suddenly wished that phone didn't exist so she wouldn't have to give it any attention.
"Can you handle this?" A hint of playfulness bled through her tone, and I smiled.
Ashley was legitimately amazing.
To my outright bewilderment, a guttural snarl was emitted from the other end. I was clutching the harness, and cowering against my seat in pure terror
I simply couldn't imagine Kyla looking as menacing as Ashley had when she was ready to attack.
"Alright, alright," Ashley conceded, and snapped the phone shut. The Jeep slowed to a stop, and I peered over the window.
My blonde hair stood up on end.
Ashley was suddenly at my side, pulling the behemoth Jeep door open, and chuckled when she saw I was still slumped in my seat. She wordlessly lifted me into her strong arms, and set me on the ground.
As she looked around, her expression had morphed into one of complete vigilance.
"Come on," she said in a low voice, and wrapped her arm around my waist, leading me to the house.
Here we go.
***
R&R, POR FAVOR :))
SPASHLEY FOREVER&EVER.