B007Q4JDEM EBOK (17 page)

“It wasn't nearly as ev
entful as what you went through,” h
e replied quietly, running his hands through my hair as I listened. “I spent most of the time here, waiting for you.”

“Didn't you get bored?”

“Not at all,” h
e mused. “I should think you would be more traumatized right now than you are.”

“
I don’t know, I think I am just in shock
.
It feels like I should just wake up and all this had been a nightmare.
Everything is just so surreal.
”

“
I understand
,
”
I knew he really did. He kissed my forehead and cont
inued, “Y
ou have been through a lot in these last few days.”

“I need a vacation,
” I laughed
half-heartedly
.

“That
was exactly what I was thinking,” h
e said and I lifted my head to look at him.

“What do you mean?”

“Let's go somewhere, away from all of these troubles.”

“But Salem, I just got back from a trip...and what about school?”

“Are you really that concerned about school?”

I thought about it for a moment, reflecting on my poor grades, my lack of interest
aside from music class
, and my current situ
ation. “No,
” I replied honestly. “But, I'm not sure if I
could stand another plane trip if that was what you were thinking
.”

“We could drive,” h
e suggested eagerly.

“
Salem, does this have anything to do with Paul..
?”

“It isn't safe anymore, for either of us.”

“
Why not
? Your only dan
ger is Paul, and so long as we’
re together, I am not letting him
touch you
.”

“I just have
an
uneasy feeling, Alex,” h
e sighed. “But if you are more comfortable staying here, we just have to be extra
careful
.”

“Let's go to you
r house,
” I suggested.

He appeared thoughtful for a moment. “
As far as I know
Paul doesn't know of it, so we would be safer there.”

“Then, it's settled,
” I smiled. “We'll stay there. “

“Alex...” His expression had been so certain, so ready, but now he looked disappointed. “I'm not sure this is the right thing to do.”

“Would you rather we stayed here...?”

“No,
it isn’t that. I a
m stealing you away from your life.”

“What life!
?
I just lost the only family I ever really had, my father is angry with me because I
am hanging out with a vampire and
my mom…my mom is dead. W
hat else is there?”

“
You have friends
.”

“I can still keep in touch with them. We don't need to see each other every day.”

He seemed unconvinced. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

“More than anything,
” I smiled and took his cold hand in mine. “Before we go, I wanted to ask you something.”

“Another question?” h
e playfully groaned. “Well, let me have it.”

“Mark was like you, right? He was against feeding on humans.”

Salem nodded slowly.

“He said that he hadn't meant to hurt her...that she cut herself with a knife accidentally and the
scent of her blood caused him to…well…do what he did
,
” I didn't want to finish what I needed to say. “If I...”

He put his finger to my mouth to stop me from speaking. “You ha
ve nothing to worry about, Alex,” h
is voice was reassuring and gentle. “Mark was a young vampire, making him less capable of controlling himself in such a situation. I have much more practice.”

“That sounds
weird
,
” I laughed.

“What does?” h
is brows rose slightly.

“The
thought
of h
im being younger than you. He looked forty and you look my age.
”

“Don't
go making me feel ancient, now,
” Salem smirked. “Let's head home.”

I liked the sound of that…m
aybe
a little too much.

I didn't bother packing any of my belongings – there was no sense in it when Salem could summon practically anything I desired – aside from the laptop Jason gave me for my birthday. A twinge of guilt welled up inside me as I contemplated the idea of never seeing Jason or Karen again. Then again, no one ever said I would
never
see them
again
. I tried my hardest to hide my struggling thoughts from Salem as we entered the old Victorian house.

“What do you want to do now?” h
e inquired as I set my laptop on the dining room table.

“I'm not sure,
” I replied honestly. “I am so used to having a schedule that tells me what I should do and where I should be and when. I'm not used to
being able to just do whatever
.”

“Welcome to my world,” h
e grinned. “We can do almost anything...whatever you desire.”

Just what
did
I de
sire? At that moment, it was a
complete mystery. I knew I would have been happy just sitting on the sectional having a conversation with Salem, or reading a book in the nook beside the book case, but I longed for something more. I pondered the idea of walking down to the creek again, but there had to be something more we could do.
What did I desire,
a
side from the gorgeous vampire that was staring at me
patiently awaiting my decision?

“
The lake!” I shouted, much louder than I had intended. “I still haven
’t gotten to really see it yet
.”

Salem shr
ugged, “If that's what you want,” h
e took my hand and led me behind
the spiral staircase, where
a door
stood
that led out back. We walked together along a stone path that led away from the house toward a field of bright green grass. He stared at me awkwardly for a moment as I tore off my shoes and socks. I simply grinned up at him and ran through the cool grass. It felt amazing against my bare feet. Salem stood behind, chuckling at me as I made a fool of myself.

“C'mon!” I hollered, “It feels good!”

“I'm not so sure I can appreciate it quite as much as you can.”

“At least give it a try,
” I beckoned him over with a wide smile on my face.

Salem shook his head, still laughing, and removed his
shoes
. “I suppose it feels nice,” h
e said quietly,
and then
grinned playfully at me.

I screamed, running toward the water's edge. I collapsed onto my back against the cool blades of grass as he pounced on me. His expression was calm and gentle.

“Did I startle you?” h
e asked as he rolled off of me and over to my side, staring up at the darkening sky.

“Maybe a little,
” I whispered, waiting for my heart to settle down. I nuzzled up against him and peered upward, following his gaze. “It must be stran
ge for you,
” I said thoughtfully.

“What do you mean?”

“Seeing the world change over the years
.”

“It
has certainly been interesting,” h
e mused. “But the world really isn't that much different. More technologically advanced, though, that's for sure.”

“Doesn’t it
bother you?”

“No, but it doesn't much interest me either.”

“What does interest you, Salem?” I asked as a shooting star soared across the horizon. “Aside from me, that is.”

“I have spent years reading, researching, learning to adapt with the changing world, but
exploring the world was my ideal quest, until I decided to stay here.”

“Am I s
topping you from doing that now
?” I frowned, but he couldn't see it.

“Of course you aren’t,” h
e said happily, “I have
something new to experience and explore now.”

I would have smiled at his comment had I not suddenly felt excessively warm, despite his cool body beside me.
For some reason the picture of Mark standing over Janet with his red eyes gleaming and that sickening smile rushed into my mind.
My palms felt clammy an
d a rush of nausea overcame me.
I grasped onto Salem's arm tightly and he sat upright, lifting me up with him. I wished he hadn't – it only made me feel worse. He could tell something was wrong, I could see it in the alarmed expression on his face.

“Wha
t's wrong, Alex?” h
e frowned, putting his hand to my forehead, “
You’re burning up!
”

“I-I don't know,
” I stuttered with panic. The world felt like it was spinning, and I clung onto him even tighter.

Salem stood, pulled me up into his arms and carried me over to the lake. “You aren't going to like this very much, but it
will cool you off
.”

My eyes widened in fear as I realized what he was about to do. He walked into the water, and I stared downward noting with each step he took how much closer I came to touching it. “Salem, it's going to be
too
cold!” I cried.

“That's the idea,” h
e smiled and walked further in, his knees were engulfed by the darkness. Soon, his waist was hidden beneath the water's depth and I closed my eyes tightly as I anticipated the frosty liquid touching my skin. I cringed when it first touched me, shivering against his body as he held me close. I felt little relief, however.

“It’s not helping!
” My eyes were still shut and I leaned my head close against his shoulder.

“Give it
time;
the cold will help the fever
,
” He didn't appear affected at all by the
ice
cold
waters
.

I could only imagine how it ap
peared from his point of view: a
sudden gust of wind, a whirl of black and violet feathers swarming around us. He gasped in shock and I felt his grasp loosen. I screamed as I felt my body falling into the lake, but the cold never came. A gruesome, snapping, twisting sound came to my ears. I heard Salem's voice, he sounded frightened and concerned, but I could no longer see him. Nor could I feel him anywhere around me.

My eyes opened finally. I was hovering over the lake; I could see Salem standing several feet below me, staring up in horror. I felt lighter and at ease. Had I drowned and not realized it? Was I a spirit, suspended over my dead body as it floated down to the bottom of the lake? I tried to scream, but no sound came.

“Alexis...” Salem mouthed, his jaw dropped in awe. “Can you hear me?”

I failed to answer him, although I was positive I was opening my mouth. I nodded my head – perhaps he would notice.

“But you cannot
speak?”

I shook my head.

“Do you know what happened?” h
is eyes had yet to return to their normal size.

My head shook again.

“Look down...”
h
e murmured.

I lowered my eyes toward the
now-
still
water, transfixed at what I sa
w reflected on the surface. The
brunette-haired, hazel-eyed girl I was used to seeing did not stare back at me. Instead, I saw a magnificent bird with violet and blue hues shimmering against its otherwise ebony body. The wings were outstretched and flapping at its side. Piercing black, beady eyes stared back at me. The flapping ceased and I noticed with fear that I was falling. I plummeted into the freezing water.

The sound of stretching, cracking and twisting bones came to my ears again. My eyes were wide open but I could see nothing. I was completely surrounded by dark, cold water. As I felt my consciousness
slipping
away, Salem tangled his arms
under
my
own
and pulled me to the surface.

“Alexis?” t
he gentle, accented voice reached my ears, but it seemed so distant. “You're
safe now
.”