The Awakening: A Witch-Vampire Romance: Feel the Heat. (8 page)

“How did…why did you leave
,” he asks softly.

“Last night
, when you found me sitting alone after dark,” I start and he nods, remembering. “My mother had just kicked me out of the house because Sabrina had called her and told her I was doing vile things with someone in the Caf. She slapped me and threw me out. After you left, my Uncle took me back to get some of my things…” I stop, feeling the tears stinging my eyes. “She was burning them all in the backyard, Jaxx.” I finally break down and start sobbing.

Jaxx move
s quickly and pulls me into his arms.

“This
is not your fault Ella. Norms are afraid of things they can’t understand. They react cruelly. That’s on them. Not you, never you, sweet girl.” He continues to rock me and whisper sweet things into my hair until I calm myself down.

“
I’m good now. You can let go. I promise not to break down again. I hate crying. I never cry in front of anyone. Ever.”

“Never be afraid to show yourself to me
, little raven. You can always be honest with me, in all ways,” he says softly.

I look at him. I mean
, I really look at him and read the truth of his words in his eyes. “Can you tell me what is going on now? I would really like to know that I’m not going crazy. And I’d like to know why I have always felt out of place with everyone around me.” I settle more into his arms.

“This isn’t going to be easy to understand
, Ella. You weren’t raised in this world, my world. There have always been our people in this world. We stay hidden because we are different from others. We stay hidden because, as you already understand, when people don’t understand something, they lash out and are most likely cruel to those who aren’t like them.” Jaxx shifts us over to the couch and snuggles me into his arms. “We are true magic users. Most would call us Wiccans or witches, but we don’t need spells or incantations to work our magic. We just will it and if it’s within our personal gifts it will be. We have been around since the beginning of mankind. Once, a very long time ago, we were respected for our talents. We were seers, healers, and great warriors, but there are always those who hate. Who hunt us out of fear and jealousy. When one of our young was born she or he was given a talisman to guide and protect them.” Jaxx pulls a thick silver rope chain out from under his shirt. It has a large moonstone hanging from it. Wrapped around the moonstone is a thin rope of jade. “The seers in our clans make the talismans to guide us to adulthood. They also have a calming effect on us. It helps us control our gifts early on. We are also long lived. It takes a lot to kill us once we reach maturity.”

“If our young are so important that we are gifted with our own tali
smans to guide and protect us, why was I thrown away like yesterday’s trash,” I ask, feeling on the verge of tears again.

What was so wrong with me that my own mother didn’t want me?

“I just don’t know, little raven. I wish I could give you all that you
seek, but that isn’t my gift.”

“What
is your gift, Jaxx? If you don’t mind me asking?”

“I draw my
strength from moonlight. I am faster and stronger than most, I can read the true intent of others, I can make myself mist when the moon is full, and I was put on this earth to protect and love my soul mate.”

I start to pull out of his arms at that. “Your soul mate? Why are you holding me
, if you have a soul mate out there waiting for you somewhere? I don’t want to start anything that we won’t be able to finish, Jaxx.”

Jaxx lean
s down and looks deeply into my eyes. “Open your heart. Open your soul, little raven. Tell me what you see in my eyes.”

I t
ake a deep breath and open myself up to everything around me. I block everything out but him. His almost white eyes with just a hint of blue, eyes of ice, and I see it. I see the truth of what he is trying to tell me. He is mine, as I am his.

“We were born for each other
, Ella. I have searched centuries for you. But I want to go slow with this. We might have been born for each other, but I want you to be comfortable with us.

I shake my head
, letting him know that I understand. Then I ask a question that is swirling around inside my mind.

“Is that why it’s a light show whenever we touch?”

“Yes, when our kind meets his or her other half, there are signs, such as the glow when our skin touches. It can, at times, be painful to be without the other, and reading each other’s feelings.”

I s
it in silence, just absorbing everything that I have learned. I believe him. I know that I would feel it if he were lying to me, but my thoughts are a whirl of wonder. I am special. I’m not trash, as I had been raised to believe. I belong to someone and he belongs to me. I have a home. I look up at Jaxx and smile into his eyes.

“Thank you
, Jaxx. Thank you for everything.”

“There
is no need to thank me for anything, little raven. I’m always here for you. For anything at all. Now, let’s take a walk on the grounds. There is a full moon tonight and I want to show you some of our world’s splendor.”

He t
akes me by the hand and opens a floor-to-ceiling window. I look at him like he is crazy. We are on the second floor and I’m not demented enough to want to become a pancake anytime soon. Jaxx steps onto the window sill and holds out his hand.

“Trust me. T
ake my hand and believe.”

I t
ake his hand and climb onto the window sill to stand next to him. Before I can freak myself out and look down, I start to feel like I am floating. I am lighter than air. I can see nothing but swirls of grays, whites, and the lightest of blues. Moments later I am back on my own two feet, firmly planted in the dewing grass. I look at him in awe.

“What was that? I felt all floaty
, then we were on the ground again!”

“That’s walking on moonlight, t
urning into the mists of the night,” he says with a grin. “I can take someone with me if I’m touching them or if they are close enough to me. Come, there is much to show you.”

We
stroll hand in hand through the vast grounds of his estate. The back of the house looks huge. It is a beautiful Colonial Manor speaking of times past. We speak of many things, never straying far from one another as I explore.

“Jaxx
,” I say suddenly as something he’d mentioned earlier comes to mind.

“If you are so old, why are you enrolled in my high s
chool?”

He chuckle
s at my question. It is one of many I have asked him tonight.

“I couldn’t come up with any other way to get close to you. I had to know you
, Ella. I am drawn to you. I’ve always known my other half was out there, that I just had to wait and be patient. When I first saw you sitting in that church, you looked so lost. So alone. Then something I did sparked something within you and you burned.” He laughs, probably remembering me flipping him the bird in a House of God.

I smile, remembering it as well.

“What do you think my powers will become?”

“I don’t know,
” he replies, wrapping me in his arms. We just stand there and rock back and forth in the moonlight.

“But if I had to guess
, I would say telekinesis, clairvoyance, and probably empathy. From what I have seen from watching you and, trust me, I have watched for a while. You have always been so kind to others, empathizing with even the worst type of person, going out of your way to put others first, always.”

I smile
, thinking I am okay with those gifts.

“We can get through anything together
, Ella. You need not worry.”

I
just nod.

“I would like to look for my birth mother when
I’m more settled into myself,” I say softly.

“I think that’s a great idea.
I’m sure you have many more questions that she can answer that I can’t.”

I yawn.
I am completely wiped from the roller coaster of the night. Up and down, in and out. My mind is starting to shut itself down without my permission.

“Let’s get you to bed
, little one,” he says with a smile.

“
I’m not that little you know,” I say indignantly. “I’m quite tall for a woman.”

“But you are little compared to me. Are you not?”

I look at him holding me in his arms and yes, I have to agree he is massive. “Whatev,” I say with a laugh.

“I’m tired, but I don’t want to go home yet.”

“You can stay here with me. This
is your home now also.”

I d
on’t know how I feel about that, but I am too tired to even really focus on what he is saying.

“I have to call my uncle
,” I mumble tiredly. Then I get my second wind when I remember the letter that my uncle gave me earlier today.

“
Jaxx,” I call out his name excitedly.

“I
n the letter that was left for me, my mother said I was a twin,” I yawn hugely, again. “A soul twin was what she called it. What does that mean, a soul twin?”

“We will talk about it in the morning
, little raven. You are too tired to even remember if I were to tell you what I knew.”

“Call Jessa
,” I tell him. “Tell her to call my uncle. She will know what to say,” I mumble tiredly.

My eyes start to close as I snuggle
deeper into Jaxx’s arms. I feel all floaty again and the next thing I know my head is hitting a very soft pillow and Jaxx is whispering sweet things in my ear. I fall asleep with a smile on my face and dream of ice blue eyes.

Chapter 6.

The sun shining through the cracks in the curtains wakes me. The first thing I notice is that my head is lying on something rock hard, it is thumping in my ear, and there is something heavy thrown over my hip. I freeze, trying to remember where exactly I am. I remember my date with Jaxx. Something shifts underneath me.

“Good morning, pretty eyes.”

“Holy shit! How did I get in your bed,” I shout.

Jaxx chuckle
s at that.

“Ella
, calm down. You passed out on me while you were still standing last night. So I tucked you in. Plus, I wanted to hold you in my arms.”

I blush
at that. I haven’t even had my first kiss and here I am sleeping in a guy’s bed. Ugh. I bet I look like a hot mess.

“You look enchanting when you sleep. Relax babe, everything
is going to be fine. Let’s get you up and showered and I’ll make us breakfast. We need to get you home soon so you aren’t late for school.”

Jaxx le
aves the bed and I assume he is heading for the kitchen.

I g
et up and hunt down the first bathroom I come to and find an unopened toothbrush. After scrubbing my teeth I take the quickest shower known to man. I find Jaxx in the kitchen already showered and making toast and jam with glasses of OJ. “This looks good.”

“Yeah,
I’m not much of a cook so this is the best I could do.”

We s
it down at the kitchen bar and I start devouring my toast. I guess I am hungrier than I thought.

“Jaxx, when are you going to finish explaining everything to me? I have so many questions. You said that most of our kin
d have had guidance since they were born. I feel like I’m playing catch up and I don’t even know the rules.”

“Ella,
relax. Take a deep breath. We have all the time in the world. We have each other and eventually you will know all that I do and more. I was thinking that maybe you would like to meet my uncle after school today. He is kind of a historian for our people. He keeps our histories. You can ask him all the questions you want. I can promise you he will be excited to meet you. I swear he missed his calling to teach.”

I
chuckle at that.

“What’s your uncle like? I feel like I know so much about you
, but then again I know nothing at all. I’m really out of my depth here.”

“I promise this afternoon all your questions will be answered. Now we have to book so I can get you home. Do you want me to drive you to school?”

“Naw, I bought some new transportation yesterday. I can’t wait to drive it.”

We g
et up from the table and Jaxx takes our plates and glasses to the sink. I grab my purse off of the kitchen counter and we are out the door in a hurry.
Sheesh, I hate being late.
I think. When we get to my uncle’s house, I reach over the console and give Jaxx a quick peck on the cheek, which earns me a smile.

“What was that for?”

“Just for being you.” I smile at him before I throw myself out the car door.

I can’t help but run
up the walk and through the front door.

I call a loud hello to Dan just in case he hasn’t left for work yet. But I get no reply so I quickly mak
e my way up the stairs to my room to search for something to wear for the day. Pants. Yes, pants since I am riding my new baby this morning. I look around for the shopping bags that I’d dropped on the floor the night before but they are nowhere to be seen. I turn to my closet and see that all of my new things are hanging there with a note attached to one of my new shirts.

You better love my ass
, beyotch!

Yes, Yes I d
o
, I think with a grin.

I quickly d
ig through my closet and find some new leather leggings, a Kelly green tunic top that hangs off one shoulder and a silver chain belt. I pair them with a pair of biker boots that come up to my knees, have a four-inch heel, and buckles running the length of them. I love these boots. Today is a new day. A new me. No more hiding. If someone doesn’t like it, fuck ‘em all. That’s my new motto. I don’t need to try and be normal anymore. Because I’m not, not even close. I am abnormal and damn it, I am going to rock it!

I r
un a brush through my hair a few times to make sure it is tame. I had never bothered with much makeup before since it wasn’t allowed in my parentals home. So today I decide to go all out. A nice smoky eye, some bronzer on my cheeks, and some slut-red lips and I am ready. On my way out the door, I grab my new leather riding jacket and helmet and head for the garage to greet my precious. Yes, I know. I’m annoying with all the pet names for my Harley, but I have wanted this thing of beauty for what seems like forever.

I
walk over to it, swung my leg over the seat, and kick the stand loose. I start the engine and it rumbles to life. Yes, it is a thing of beauty. And it rides like a dream. The looks on the faces of everyone I know when I pull into the school lot are priceless, even Jaxx is transfixed. Jessa just looks smug. I park my Harley beside Jaxx’s car and swing my leg free. Before I can even get my helmet off my head, he is there, pulling me free of it.

“So this
is your new ride, huh? I have to tell you, it’s super fucking hot!”

He wraps
his arms around me and pulls me close for a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead. I look over his shoulder and see Jessa and Devon walking over to us. I pull out of Jaxx’s arms just in time for Devon to tackle me.

“WTF
, Bitch? You buy an industrial vibrator and don’t tell me?”

I just chuckle
because my friends are always saying something crass. Jaxx’s cheeks are a little pink though. I wonder what is going through his pretty head.

“I just bought it yesterday
, I would have called you, but I figured you were still on lockdown because of the packages from Sabrina.”

“Yeah that cunt has been spewing shit all morning. Enough about her.
Look at you
! What happened to my meek little kitten? You look like sex on a stick,” he caws out loudly and his voice carries.

“I decided to shed my old skin. There isn’t any reason to pretend anymore. So why
try?” Jaxx wraps his arms around me from behind. Jessa is practically jumping up and down with something to say.

“Okay
Jessa what is it,” I ask with feigned impatience. I could never really get tired of her constant enthusiasm.

“Sabrina has been telling everyone that will listen that she got into Jaxx
’s pants last night,” she blurts out like it had been fighting to get out of her mouth all morning.

I fe
el Jaxx stiffen at that news. I just shrug and snuggle back into his embrace. I know where he’d been all night. I don’t have anything to worry about, so I just grin.

“Okay. Why aren’t you foaming at the mouth
,” Devon asks.

I shrug
again.

“I know where Jaxx was
all
night last night.”
Oh shit. That came out wrong.

I’m
pretty sure I resemble a tomato now. I can feel Jaxx chuckling behind me while my besties stare at me blankly.

“Okay that came out wrong. We just slept. I was tired,” I tell them breathlessly from embarrassment.

With that
, I turn and grab Jaxx’s hand firmly within mine and start heading toward the front doors of the school. As we pass the last line of cars in the lot, I notice Sabrina surrounded by her usual fembots and she is shooting me one hell of an evil eye. I just smirk at her and walk on.

When we g
et to our locker, I turn to tell Jaxx that I will see him in English Lit and start to dig through my open locker for my book. All of a sudden I am shoved head-first into my locker from behind. I turn and see Sabrina standing there, smiling sweetly at me.

“Sorry
, hun. You know how clumsy you are,” she giggles. “Ella, I always knew you were pathetic, but taking up with my leftovers only the morning after is a new low for even a bottom feeder like you.”

Snide bitch!

I lean in close to her and look her in the eyes and let her see just how pissed I am, but I keep my face carefully blank. I whisper my words so only she can hear.

“Sabrina
, I know exactly where Jaxx was last night. He was in his bed with
me
. And if you ever touch me again, I will personally make sure you won’t be walking up-right for the rest of your retched life. Get me,
Hun
?” She looks scared for a split second before she starts laughing really loud and saunters away with her clones trailing behind.

“Ells, did you have a lobotomy? What was that?”

“Devon, I’m tired. Just so fucking tired of her shit. I can’t stand to play her victim. I already told Jessa, I’m done taking everyone’s shit.”

“Chill
, baby girl, I get you!”

Devon reaches over, hugs me, grabs his Lit book and trots down the hallway to our first class of the day. He really is pretty for a guy. Everywhere he goes eyes follow him. From both sexes. It is hard to believe he is perpetually single.

“Whew
! What a way to start a day, but serious props, bitch. I couldn’t have done that better,” Jessa says as she high-fives me.

I just sh
ake my head, feeling really exhausted all of a sudden. Jaxx suddenly pulls me to him from behind and I feel a jolt of energy swarm me from his touch.

“Heard you
r conversation with Sabrina,” he whispers. “Proud of you, pretty eyes.”

I look over my shoulder and smile at him. We link
hands and make our way to class. I don’t feel so tired anymore. I wonder if that is what he meant when he said it would be difficult for us to be away from each other. Just another question for me to add to my growing list.

English
, and the rest of my morning classes, rush by like fast-moving water. When I’m not with Jaxx I feel sluggish and when I am with him I feel like I am hopped up on a crazy caffeine high. There has to be a happy medium somewhere in there. When I get to the Caf, everyone is already at our table talking smack and gossiping. Main topic is my response to Sabrina’s attack earlier this morning, of course. Jaxx is sitting over to the side, looking a little pale. Well, paler than what he already was, which is saying a lot. I guess the separation has been hitting him too.

I s
it down next to him, feeling too sluggish to even have an appetite. I lean my head on his shoulder and wish I could just sleep right here.

He turn
s to look at me and his eyes widen.

“You are drained
, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I d
on’t know what’s wrong with me,” I tell him in a quiet voice.

“I would assume that’s
it’s because we have been separated all day. But I just don’t know. I haven’t ever been through this before. We will have to ask my uncle as soon as school’s out.”

Our conversation
is completely private since everyone at our table is still yakking about what Sabrina will do next to get at me. “I don’t know if I told you this morning, but you look really stunning today, little raven,” he says, caressing my cheek.

“I have to. I have to keep up with
your gorgeous bum,” I smile.

I close
my eyes and leaned in to brush my lips across his. When our lips touch, I feel a jolt of energy that runs the length of my body. Lights, the color of jade mixed with moonlight, explode behind my eyes. I pull back in astonishment to look into Jaxx’s eyes and see that he is just as stunned as I am.

“Is that normal
,” I whisper in awe.

“I wouldn’t know
, pretty eyes. Our kind stays celibate until we find the one that completes us,” he whispers softly.

We
are both jolted out of our private bubble as the bell rings to signal the end of lunch. I start to sulk because we are going to be going our separate ways again.

“We are going to have to find a way to deal with thi
s. It hurts to be away from you,” I say as I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tight. He pulls me into his massive chest, holding me just as tightly as I hold him.

MMMM! I don’t think I will ever get over how lucky I am
,
I think.