Foreshadowed (3 page)

CHAPTER 5

            After finishing dinner with Alex, I left with Chaz to meet Brad at the park. A chill ran through me as we pulled into the empty parking lot. It was past nine o’clock and the park was deserted and dark. As I got out of the car, my eyes searched the area for any signs of Brad. They came to stop on a lone figure leaning up against a wooden fence to my far left. As I focused on the figure, my vision adjusted automatically, allowing me to see through the darkness with ease. At first I didn't recognize him. Brad had
always
been a khaki and polo shirt kind of guy and the person I saw was wearing ripped jeans, a black fitted t-shirt and a black leather jacket. His blonde hair was cut short on the sides and spiked on top. I had to stare for a full minute before I finally confirmed that it was, in fact, Brad. Chaz had gotten out of the car and rounded over to my side. "Is that your ex?"

            Still staring at Brad, I blinked a couple of times before saying, "That's Brad, but it isn't Brad. Are you following me?"

            Chaz raised an eyebrow.

            I went on. "The Brad I know dressed like he was going out for a day of golf." I eyed Brad's edgy new look warily. "
That
is definitely not the same Brad. Even his stance is different." It seemed more arrogant or confident-- both, maybe. I sent Alex a silent message.
I have a feeling you were right. This is going to be a
very
interesting meeting.

            I shrugged at Chaz and walked towards Brad. Chaz followed behind a little ways and I could see Brad eyeing him suspiciously.

            When I came to stand a few feet in front of him, Brad pushed off the gate he was leaning on and closed the distance between us.

            I watched as he walked lazily forward, coming to stop in front of me a little too close for comfort. I stepped back a bit, taking in the whole new Brad I was being confronted with. Things in my life just seemed to be getting weirder and weirder.

            Usually, I would have easily greeted Brad and carried on a conversation, but as it stood, with him looking like a completely different, more intimidating person-- I was at a loss for words. I stood there, waiting for him to say something while he appeared to be watching me assessingly. After a moment of scrutinizing me, he nodded to himself, as if coming to some sort of conclusion. Finally, unable to stand the strained silence between us any longer, I questioned, "Brad?" I half expected him to deny the fact.

            The friendly, open demeanor I was used to with Brad was gone, replaced by a cold, standoffish shell of what he use to be with undertones of...anger?

            "In the flesh. Which is more than I can say for you."

            I froze, my eyes widening. Was he saying what I thought he was?

            I swallowed. "What do you mean?"

            "I think you know
exactly
what I mean. Don't play games with me, Brooke," he scoffed. "I've learned the hard way what you are now." He laughed in a way that sent a cold chill running down my spine. I glanced at Chaz who, picking up on the hostility between us, had moved to stand just behind me.

            I shook my head in confusion. "Brad, I have
no
idea what you're talking about."

            "Oh, yeah? No idea, huh? How about the fact that you watched me walk right up to a vicious vampire -- without so much as a warning.
Or,
how about the fact that you let me leave with that vampire-- without even trying to stop me." He glared at me with a mixture of hurt and anger. I sucked in a sharp breath.

           
Oh God
.
He knew
.

            My thoughts flew back to the night Brad had come looking for me in the bar Anna’s brother, Kyle, owned. He had tried to talk me into giving him another chance, but then he'd become so angered when I told him that Alex and I were engaged, he'd stormed off to the bar and sat next to the first attractive female he saw. Unfortunately for him, that female was a vampire. Giving into my worry, Alex had asked Kyle to keep an eye on him that night-- and Kyle had assured us that Brad had left alone.

            What Brad was saying was coming as a complete and utter surprise to me. Even so, guilt was setting in and I was questioning whether I should have made sure he left myself. But then again, Brad had been pretty upset with me at the time. I don't know that he would have taken any advice from me about another woman. And, really, what could I have possibly told him... 'Don't go with her. She's a vampire?' He would have thought I was crazy.

            Pushing the needless guilt aside, I asked tentatively, "Brad, what happened to you that night?"

            He laughed a cruel, unforgiving laugh. I glanced quickly back at Chaz who looked interested, but not at all worried. I was not quite so relaxed. Brad was scaring me. Not so much because I feared what he would do to me, because with my vampire strength I knew we were on a more than even playing field, but because I was seeing the death of the person I used to know and love. This new Brad was not only different on the outside, but I sensed some profound changes on the inside as well. The connection between us was gone too, it seemed. I hated to admit it, but Alex was absolutely warranted in being hesitant about this meeting. Me; I was in shock. The old Brad had been completely harmless. I couldn't help but think that there was more to this situation than I knew. Right now, I knew that I needed to get the heck out of there, but then there was a bigger part of me that was curious. I couldn't leave without knowing what had happened to Brad to change him so much. 

            Guessing my next question, Brad asked, "You want to know what happened? After I left the bar she followed me outside-- met me in the parking lot when I was getting in my car. When I blew her off, the game was over, I guess. Her eyes turned bright red and her fangs shot down. She attacked me. Sank her teeth into my neck before I knew what was happening."

            I gasped, the unneeded air leaving my lungs in a swoosh. "Oh my God, Brad."

            He narrowed his eyes but didn't respond. There was a steely fire behind his eyes that had never been there before. He finally spoke. "Oh, don't worry. She didn't get to drink from me. Not before she was destroyed."

            "Destroyed? How?" I shook my head in confusion.

            He met my eyes and I struggled to find just a parcel of the Brad I use to know within them. "By a member of the Coalition, that’s how."

           
Coalition? What in the Hell was he talking about?

           
My eyebrows shot up and my eyes widened when he pulled out a shiny dagger with a jet black hilt and the sharpest point I'd ever seen.

            He held it lightly in front of him with one hand, holding it up to the moonlight with admiration. The silver blade sparkled and practically glowed.

            "I can't believe you don't know. I guess your vampire lover hasn't seen fit to inform you. That was a pretty dangerous omission on his part, if you ask me." He lowered the dagger to his side but tightened his grasp on it. He took a few steps toward me and I really hoped I wasn't going to have to fight him. I wasn't worried that it would be much of a fight. My power and strength exceeded that of even the strongest vampires-- and I also had Chaz's help as well. No, I worried that Brad would get hurt or killed and I would be to blame.

            "The coalition is a group of prestigious vampire slayers, well known for their methodical destruction of vampires. Most of us have lost someone to your kind and that's usually what drives us to join the Coalition's cause. Members of the Coalition have made it their mission to know a vampires' every weakness and use it against them to rid the earth of their presence." He said the word vampire with a fair amount of disgust in both his voice and facial expression. He stared at me for a moment before his expression softened and he reached up, tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear-- a gesture that was common for him in our years together. My eyes widened. He seemed to be in a tug of war between hate and love. I was just beginning to become afraid he was going to try to kiss me, when Alex's voice rang out in the night.

            "Well if it isn't the Coalition's newest member. What exactly is it you plan to do with that dagger you have there? You most certainly must be
stupid
to have it that close to Brooke. Unless, of course, you were planning on using it on her?"

            Alex didn't give Brad a chance to respond before he used his speed to materialize before him. I'd been so shocked by Brad's admission, and then his near attempt to kiss me, that I didn’t even noticed Alex arrive or the warmth that preceded his presence near me. Alex swiftly kicked the arm Brad was holding the dagger with and I watched in shock as it flew through the air, landing on the ground a ways off. My eyes went back to Brad, who was being held in a tight headlock by Alex. Brad wasn't fighting it at all, just watching me with a cool expression.

            Alex threw Brad to the ground and stepped on his chest, causing him to grunt in pain.

            Fixing Brad with a steely gaze, Alex spoke in even measures. "I should really kill you and get it over with, but I know Brooke wouldn't want that, so consider yourself lucky...this time."

            He put more pressure on Brad's chest, causing a wheezing noise to push past his lips. I was about to intervene when Alex relieved the pressure and went on. "I'm going to let you leave here with your head still on your shoulders. But make no mistake, if you ever contact Brooke or if you go near her again, I
will
end you."

            He stepped back, allowing Brad to struggle to his feet. Looking directly at me and heaving from the lack of air he'd just experienced, Brad said, "I wasn't going to use the knife on you, Brooke." His gaze shot over to the gleaming dagger lying in the grass nearby. "It's what's expected of me, and as much as I hate what you are, I don't think I could ever do it-- I just couldn’t destroy you." He shook his head as if clearing his thoughts and took a deep breath, the cold gleam returning to his eyes. "But I
am
warning you.” He glanced at Alex and Chaz before saying, "I don't have the same reservations about ending as many of the vampire society as I can; and I plan to do that... including these two." He turned around, walking over to the dagger, picking it up and tucking it inside his jacket before disappearing into the night.

            I was so utterly shocked by what had just happened that I stood frozen, watching the empty night where Brad had disappeared from view.

            Alex walked over to me, pulling me into his arms, and kissing the top of my head. He held me for a minute before saying, "Brooke, I'm sorry that happened. It's one of the hardest things about becoming a vampire-- realizing that people we loved as humans don't always feel the same way about us after the change. It's one of the sacrifices we make, but that doesn't make it any easier."

CHAPTER 6

            The next night Alex and I entered Kyle's bar, The Crimson Tide, and headed straight to our usual table at the back of the room. Ethan already sat there lounging back in a chair with his arm draped over the empty seat next to him. I wondered if Anna, who had planned on dropping by later, knew that Ethan would be there. Either way, things could get very interesting. Especially if Ethan continued to eye the cute blonde vampire sitting several tables away. I rolled my eyes and kicked him under the table. Ethan looked at me with a what-did-I-do expression and I narrowed my eyes to glare at him. Maybe it was time to see exactly what his plans were for Anna. I knew things were just starting with them, but he needed to know Anna was not going to be just another one of his playthings. Not if I could help it.

            I pressed my lips together while studying Ethan in the dim lights of the bar. I was contemplating a way to bring up the subject without him dismissing me with his usual superior air, when he raised his eyebrows.

            "What?" he asked me.

            Before I could speak, Alex's voice slipped into my thoughts.
Are you sure you want to go there with him?

            I let out a deep sigh of irritation.
I give up Alex. Just read my thoughts whenever you want to, okay?

            Sorry. From the expression on your face, I knew you were getting ready to rake him over the coals about something. What can I say? My curiosity got the best of me.

            Yeah well, you need to work on that.
It was definitely bothersome that Alex continued to read my mind, but I found I couldn't really be mad at him. I think his instinct to protect me was stronger than my concerns about privacy. I guess I would just have to learn to control my thoughts or block them more effectively.

           
I turned my attention back to Ethan. Anna would kill me if she knew what I was about to do, but really, it was for her own good.

            I used my straw to stir my drink nonchalantly as I spoke. "So, I hear you've been hanging out with Anna. What's the deal with that?"

            Ethan continued to lounge back in his seat, his expression not giving anything away. He shrugged a shoulder before answering. "Nothing, really. I saw her here the other night and that's about it. She's hot, but I'm thinking she might be the clingy type-- and I don't do the clingy type."

            "Oh really? Is there a type you don't do? I'm shocked."

            Alex snorted and Ethan laughed, not at all bothered by my comment. Probably because it was true.

            "Touché. But you know what I mean. She looks like the kind to require my undivided attention."

            I looked at him in disbelief. This was worse than I’d imagined. The guy really didn't have a clue. "Uh yeah, Ethan. Why do I have the feeling Anna would be into having a guy's undivided attention? She's not the sharing type, so I suggest if you don't have plans to ever progress your relationship with her past a hot night every now and then, then you may want to reconsider getting involved at all."

            Ethan's gaze shifted behind me and I glanced around to see Anna picking her way through the crowd toward our table. She was wearing a short black dress similar to the one I was wearing. The only difference was that where mine was a deep midnight blue with a lace overlay and lace sleeves, her dress was black and covered in sequins. Seeming to take in Ethan's guarded expression, Anna glanced from the empty chair he had his arm behind-- to the chair that sat empty at my side. After a slight hesitation, she sat down next to me without another glance in Ethan's direction. I smiled to myself.
Good choice Anna.
Take that, Ethan.
I was relieved that she was onto his game and not chasing him. I had a feeling that
that
was something Ethan wasn't use to and might be just the thing to hold his attention.

            Anna turned to me. "So, tell me about what happened with Brad the other night. The text you sent me was so vague."

            I nodded. It had been. There had been way too much to put into a text message. "Well, pretty much, the vampire chic Brad met the night he came here followed him to his car and attacked him."

            Anna covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide. I hurried on. "Don't worry. Nothing happened-- to
Brad
anyway. Apparently there is a group of vampire slayers called the Coalition that stepped in and destroyed her."

            She nodded and I could tell that she recognized the group I was talking about.

            For some reason this irritated me. I felt like I was missing some really important facts that no one seemed to be in any hurry to pass on. "So," I asked. "Even
you
know who they are?"

            Jeez. She wasn't even a vampire. "How is it I'm the only clueless one?" I looked to Alex and Ethan, who just shrugged. Alex gave me a look that basically said
chill out
and leaned over to brush my hair back over my shoulder. He let his fingertips trail down my arm and I was pretty sure that if goose bumps could pop up, they would. Our eyes met and locked, and I felt my agitation melting away. Oh, he was good,
really
good. It seemed that no longer than we had been together, he had me figured out. I wasn't sure whether to attribute that to the bond or just his usual tendency to excel at everything.

            He said softly. "Brooke, you've only been aware that vampires exist for a couple of months, and most of that time has been pretty chaotic. There is bound to be a lot you don't know. But, don't worry; you have an eternity to learn it."

            The amount that I had to learn about this new life was overwhelming at times. There was just so much, and I worried that one day my ignorance would cost me my and Alex's life, or even worse, someone else's.

            I turned back to Anna. "Sorry Anna. I'm freaking a little lately," I apologized. "Anyway, Brad was saved by someone in the Coalition and he came to warn me that he was a member now. And of course to threaten us."

            "What?
Brad
a vampire slayer? That's really hard to believe. He's just so straight laced." Like me, Anna had known Brad since elementary school.

            "Well, believe it. You wouldn't even recognize him now. He's got a hard edge to him. He seems kind of cold and calculating-- he's not the same Brad at all."

            She leaned back in her chair, a look of disbelief on her pretty features. "Wow. I didn't see that coming."