Chapter 28

Something She May Never Know

Claude snapped his phone shut and turned to us. Behind him, a large flame began burning surreptitiously, crackling and creating a rancid smell of burning nightwalker. "I just called Rory. She's on her way with a change of clothes and blood for Ava." he announced.

I sat between Becca and Joshua, who each had an arm around me, and tried constantly to pull down Alec's shirt over my knees. Speaking of Alec, he was currently leaning against his car behind us with Lukas and Brent. Rylan and Cassidy were finishing up throwing the last of the nightwalker bodies into the growing flames.

Becca smiled appreciatively up at Claude. "Thank you. I almost can't believe you guys are back." she murmured. Claude looked at her for a lengthy time, that longing for my foster mother still burning in his eyes.

Claude had once fallen in love with Becca, and Joshua had fallen in love with Cassidy. They'd eventually split up, and that was how Joshua and Becca had met each other years ago.

And now, here I was, caught in the midst of it. I looked away from Claude and peered past the growing smoke of the fire to Rylan. He sensed me staring, and looked back at me. I still wasn't sure if I'd fully forgiven him for biting me. But it wasn't like either of us had been able to stop the pleasurable feeling it had brought.

Hesitantly, I offered him a small smile. He looked away from me for a moment at the fire, and then back at me. My breath caught when I noticed the corner of his lip twitch upwards into a partial smile. But as soon as it had come, it was gone.

I glanced over Joshua's shoulder to Max and Elly, who were leaning against each other. Max caught my eyes and whispered something to Elly. I was surprised that I could hear him say, "I'll be right back."

He stood up and brushed off his jeans, then walked over to kneel in front of me. Becca and Joshua released me and moved away, obvious to the fact that it was time for us to talk alone. Well, this would be as alone as we could get with vampire ears around us.

Max smiled at me. "I know everyone's already asked you this, but…how are you feeling as a vampire?"

I grinned. "I can smell your blood and hear your heart pumping, if that's what you mean."

It was true. I could smell every humans blood here, but for some reason, I wanted to taste Max the most. His blood smelled delicious, making my mouth water. But it was the beating of his heart that held me back from biting into his throat. I didn't want to hurt Max at all. I wondered if this was how the Darquecaster's had managed being around me all the time. I wondered what my blood had smelled like as a human.

Max's smile faltered. "Yeah… that's, uh, going to take some time getting used to." He reached out suddenly and pulled something from my hair, touching my cheek in the process.

That simple notion had Alec beside us in a second. I looked up in surprise when Alec grabbed Max's wrist and gave a low warning growl. "Hands off. Unless you want your wrist bitten into, I suggest you keep clear reign of her mouth, Max."

For a minute, everyone went silent around us. I stared in awe up at Alec, who didn't look angry, but irritated instead. Did he just call Max by his actual name and not dog or mutt? Then I noticed something else, as Alec released Max. "Are you feeling protective over him?" I asked slyly, a smirk appearing on my face.

Alec shot me a glare and snorted. "No, imbecile, it's because I know you'd regret biting him later on."

He had a point. Max became annoyed though; I could tell by the look on his face. He stood up and crossed his arms defensively. "Look, I know your reasons, and I realize she could bite me. I wouldn't let her regret it. I love her and I want her to do what she wants to do, so stay out of our relationship."

This seemed to catch everyone's attention to a breaking point. Alec blinked. He looked at me, then Max and back at me, surprise evident on his face. "How much have I missed this whole time?" he asked, astonished.

Max and I shared a look, but before I could open my mouth, a sharp pain seared through my stomach, and instantly, my upper gums in my mouth began throbbing, giving me a headache. I groaned and leaned forward, the world spinning.

Someone grabbed me and said something, but the throbbing coming from my mouth resonated through my ears. There was a distant rumbling noise in the background, and lights flashed before my eyelids.

And all at once, a delicious liquid, though a bit cold, was practically shoved into my mouth through a package. I grabbed onto it and sucked against the plastic. Each huge gulp I took lessened the pain from my gums. My stomach gladly welcomed it, and it took me a moment to realize what I was drinking.

Blood.

But it tasted delicious.

The empty blood packet fell from my hands and I sucked in a deep, shaky breath, putting a hand to my forehead. "Avanni? I've brought you some clothes, shampoo and soap." Rory's gentle, but strong voice stated in front of me. I looked up in surprise. I felt much better after drinking that blood, but now I just felt completely disgusted with myself. It helped that I had new clothes to change into.

She smiled proudly at me. "I'm glad you stayed strong through that vision. I can't wait to hear the details of what happened. And now that you're a vampire like us…" she trailed off suddenly, and I looked over at my foster parents and friends, who each had wide eyes.

I felt a sudden ache burden my shoulders. I was a vampire now. That meant I'd live longer than any of them. Becca seemed to understand first. With a bold smile and voice, she patted my shoulders and kissed my forehead. "We know, Ava. Don't feel regret, please. At least you're alive. We can discuss more after you get cleaned up and fed a bit more…eh, uh, blood."

I gave her a weak smile in response and nodded. With Rory's help, I stood up and took the clothes and shower products. Claude then led me upstairs in their torn up house to go to a bathroom that was still pieced together nicely.

When he left me alone, I tested the shower water and was relieved to find the water pumps were still working. I stayed in the shower for what seemed like ever, going over my thoughts and memories.

I'd killed the nightwalker's who had been out for revenge, and was changed into a daywalker. I'd outlive everyone I loved the most by a long shot, but I wasn't about to let that hurt me yet. They still had awhile to live.

As I washed my body, I rinsed off one of my soapy hands and touched the inside of my mouth, where my canine teeth were supposed to be. They were still there, dull, like a humans teeth. Funny, I could have sworn they'd grown sharper earlier. Did they only come out when someone was hungry?

With a sigh, I finished my shower and dried off quickly.

Rory had brought me a comfy pair of cotton pajama bottom that were black with pink, red, blue and purple polka dots. Cute and in style, really. I slipped on the white tank-top, and then the button-up black cardigan. It was cozy, compared to the bloodied white shirt of Alec's.

I looked down at said shirt and folded it up neatly, sticking it into one of the large, smooth pockets of the PJ bottoms. I could bleach it to hell and back when I got home, and hopefully it will come back out good as new.

I trotted down the stairs, wary that the smell of the nightwalker's was slowly vanishing. Downstairs, all I saw were blurs. My eyes followed the daywalker's moving around quickly. They were throwing out the broken tables, furniture, and anything of the sort into the fire pile. The carpets were being scrubbed by Cassy and Rory, and I watched as Lukas swept up the broken window glass efficiently.

I guess this was one of the things that vampires definitely came in handy for. Fast, ultra-excellent cleaning.

All the nightwalker bodies were finally burned. I peered out the window, creeping past the moving daywalker's who didn't bother noticing me, and watched Elly and Max and Joshua and Becca as they all chatted calmly by the fire, basking in the warm glow it brought.

A small smile caught on my lips.

The disaster was finally over with. The people I had banished were back and with no more lies. I could live with my friends and family until their time came, unless they wished to become one of us. It would be their choice, however.

"A lot has changed." Alec's voice said beside me. I didn't bother looking at him. My eyes traced the flickering flames of the "bonfire".

"If you'd like to see it that way." I murmured.

There was a short silence between us, and the only thing I could hear was the soft talking of the humans, and the noises of the cleaning going on behind us.

"I'm wondering if changing you into a vampire was a good thing or not." Alec commented.

I finally looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Why do you say that?"

He smirked that familiar smirk that always got on my nerves, and still did to this day. "I could have left you to die, and you wouldn't have had to worry about this dramatic world again." He shrugged his shoulders and I rolled my eyes.

"I would've figured out how to live one way or another without your help." I muttered.

"I believe that." Alec stated sarcastically.

I punched his shoulder hard enough to make him stumble back a step. I smirked at his surprised expression. "Careful what you say, Darquecaster, I have both enough mental and physical strength to take you out now."

Alec growled. "I doubt that. You're still as weak as you were when you were a human!"

I stepped toward him, my blood boiling for a fight. "Oh yeah? Want to test that theory?"

"I'd love to." Alec replied, cracking his knuckles.

Before I could retort, Elly's voice interrupted. "Shove it, Alexander Darquecaster. If you don't mind, I've gotta talk with Ava for a minute or two."

Her sudden words made a laugh bubble from my throat. Alec blinked at her, obviously astonished she was no longer obsessed with him, and she had the audacity to back-talk a vampire. I smiled triumphantly at Alec and stalked past him, our shoulder's bumping into each other as I followed Elly outside.

We walked towards the edge of the forest, well away from the ears of the Darquecaster's and Rory. She turned to me and smiled a half smile.

"So, um, I just wanted to apologize for being a stuck up bitch."

"And?" I motioned for her to continue. Her face fell.

"And for hanging out with your school enemy, Sienna."

"And…?"

Elly's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "And everything else I did that was completely one-hundred percent stupid of me. My idiocy ruined everything between us and I honestly truly missed you this whole time. You know, Sienna isn't as cool as everyone thinks. You wanna know what she does when she's alone? She-"

I immediately put my hand up. "Elly, shut the hell up. I think I forgive you about the last eight months, but I will never forgive you if you tell me what you were just about to say about Sienna Murphy."

A huge smile made its way onto Ellyria's face, and before either of knew what was happening, we were hugging. I pulled away before I had the urge to drink her blood, and smiled at her. She looked back at Max, who remained next to Joshua by the fire. Becca was now chatting with Rory, who obviously finished with the floors.

"Max really likes you, ya know." Elly suddenly mentioned.

I looked at the side of her face as she continued looking at her brother. "I knew that."

"That means if you talk to him, he'll let you go."

Finally Elly looked at me with the last word of her sentence. I stared at her, oblivious. "What are you talking about?"

Elly gave a sad smile. "I know you love Alec. Max will let you go out of his love for you, so you can continue living your vampire life without having to worry about him being a human."

I know you love Alec.

What? Her words suddenly made no sense to me, even though they were said as plain as day.