B007Q4JDEM EBOK (20 page)

During the weeks of training, I had actually grown a little closer to Paul. He told me that he was envious of my natural skill at fighting and my impressive aim, as well as my raven abilities. He also reflected on when he first started his training. One of his favorite memories was how he used to hunt wild game with his dad, long before he even knew of his heritage. Eventually, he began training
to hunt the undead
with his sister and father but he seldom took it serious back then. He was far too focused on the relationship he had formed with Destiny, which he partially blamed for his lack of skills in archery. He regretted it, but at the same time was thankful that he spent so much time with her – before she was gone.

Every night after practice I went to Salem's house, exhausted and sore. Paul's plan was working, but not in the way he had hoped. With how much time I spent away practicing and
in bed
sleeping, I had little time with Salem. He would stay with me as I slept, and treat me to
a late
breakfast. That was about all the time we got together during the past three weeks.

“Are
you eager to return tonight?” Salem
asked, sitting across from me at the dining table. He was turning a spoon around in his fingers; the ceiling light glinted off of the metal. He appeared nervous.

“Not really,
” I sighed tiredly. “Paul wants me to
try
...changing.”

“Have either of you figured out how to do that?”

“He thinks being around your kind might trigger it
somehow
,
” I
said quietly
.
“
When I am in danger and my adrenaline is pumping
…even though it didn’t happen when I was around Mark
.
”

His eyes grew cold and the spoon clattered to the floor. “W
hat does he expect you to do?” h
is voice was harsh.

“He wants to take me hunting tonight...” I murmured, barely
touching the food on my plate, “r
eal hunting, against a vampire.”

Salem shut his eyes and sh
ook his head,
“No! You're not ready!
”

My lips curv
ed upward slightly, “Salem
, I’
ve had nearly a month's worth of practice. I think it's
just
you that isn't ready.”

“You might be right,” h
e sighed and began pacing around the room. “What if I went with you?”

“How would that
work
? Paul would know you were there
in a second
.”

“I wouldn't have to be right beside you...just within the
area
.”

“
I don’t know. It might work. I don’t really see the point in you being there though, I’ll be fine.
”

“I
f anything happened to you...” h
is voice trailed off.

“
You’ll be putting yourself in danger if you go. Don’t forget about Paul.
”

“There is no reason to worry about me,” he said assuredly.

“I guess I'll tell Paul that
I’ll do it
.
He said I didn’t have to if I
wasn’t ready, but I think I am,
” I sighed,
hoping I really was ready
. “
He says he’s been hearing some strange things down by the graveyard towards his place. He thinks it may be vampire related.
”

“
It’s possible,” h
e said simply.

As Salem cleared my plate, I reluctantly called Paul and told him I would meet him at the cemetery. I was not looking forward to it in the least. The first experience with changing had not only been startling, but also painful. I
also
wasn't quite sure I was ready to face a vampire, despite all of my practice.
Salem and Paul being in the same place together made me even more nervous
.

The day was dragging on slowly. Salem and I snuggled up on the sofa and discussed strategies for tonight's event. He was going to leave before I did and await our arrival, concealing himself behind whatever was available, and watching to make sure I was safe. As we talked, my phone suddenly vibrated. Plucking it from my pocket, I saw Jason's name across the screen.

“It's Jason again…” I murmured
.

“Answer it,
” Salem suggested, “I'll leave you alone if you want.”

“No, it's fine,
” I replied and leaned up against him again after I hit the answer button. “Hello?”

“Alex!” Jason's voice was a pleasant, welcoming sound. It felt like forever since I last heard it.
As I listened
it began to sink in how much time I had spent away from my best friends. I missed a party, at my own house, because I was spending time with Salem instead. There had once been a time when Jason, Karen and I were inseparable and now I had practically replaced
them with a boy I had just met
merely a month ago
. Yet, despite how wretched it made me feel knowing that I had abandoned my friends, I was happier now than I had ever been before – and that just made it worse. These feelings increased at the sound of Jason's voice
as he continued talking
, but I did my best to suppress my emotions.
“I have been so worried about you. You haven't been to school, and I have stopped at the house countless times and you never answer-”

“I'm fine, Jace,
” I said, breaking him off. “I have just had the flu
really bad
. I haven't been able to answer the door. I am really sorry to have
made you worry
,
”
I felt terrible having to lie to him.

“Oh...are you feeling better now?”
h
e sounded sincerely worried.

“Yeah, I'm getting better,
” I lied
again
.

“That's good,” he paused for a moment,
“I kind of wanted to ask you something.”

“What is it?” This couldn't be good.

“If you are feeling up to it...”
he paused again, “w
ould you want to go out for lunch, with me?”

“Um, when?” I stared at Salem hopelessly, wishing he could do or say something to save me.

“I was thinking today, but if some other time would be better...”

The only thing that led me to agree was the hope that it would
get Paul off my back. “Where’
d you have in mind?”

“There's this really nice diner down by my house. Mitch works there, actually.
I’m sure you know the place.
”

“Oh, that's cool. I guess that works.”

“Great!” h
is voice was over-enthusiastic. “Be ready in an hour?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“
Are you sure you’re feeling up to it?
”

“Yeah, I’m feeling a lot better, really.”

“I hope so, see ya in an hour!”

“See you,
” I muttered and hung up the phone. Salem stared eagerly at me, awaiting my story. To my surprise, he wasn't upset.

“
You need time with your friends,” h
e insisted.

“I do
n't think you understand, Salem,
” I sighed. “Jason asked me out, alone.”

He shrugged,
“Friends can eat out alone.”

“Fine,
” I grumbled. “I have to go home so he can pick me up.”

“I'll join you,” h
e offered.

“Okay, but
don’t let him see you when he shows up
.
I’d hate to have to make up some reason for why you are there.
”

The drive away from Salem's house was frighteningly enjoyable to me now. The twists and turns no longer made me nervous. I found an unexpected thrill as we went over the hills and around the bends. Part of me didn't like this, but I tried to convince myself it was merely because I was so used to the roads. A light drizzle of rain began trickling down the windshield.

My house was freezing cold and depressingly empty. It hurt more than I imagined, walking through the door knowing that I would never see Janet here again. I wouldn't see her anywhere again. Salem noticed my distraught and pulled me into his arms. The uncontrollable tears came trickling down my face in moist,
warm
drops. I wiped my eyes and looked up into his eyes.

“I
think I want to sell the house,
” I blurted out.

His eyes narrowed. “But, it's your home.”

“It doesn't feel like home t
o me anymore,
” I frowned. “I can stay with you.”

He smiled tenderly and wiped away one of my tears. “You can stay with me without selling the place.”

“There's no reason to keep it,
” I objected.

“It's the home you grew up in,” h
e frowned, and I now understood why he felt so inclined to make me keep it.

“I’
m sorry that your childhood home is gone, Salem...but this house really has no
meaning
to me
anymore…it’s just a big painful reminder.
”

“If that's how
you feel, then I won't stop you,” h
is expression finally softened again until he peered through the front windows.

My mouth fell open when I saw the headlights
glimmering
through the window, and a sudden downpour of rain reflecting in the light. I hadn't even had time to get ready! Groaning, I ran upstairs to find a pair of clean clothing, changed then brushed my hair. It wasn't as if it really mattered, Jason had seen me in far worse conditions before. When I returned downstairs, Salem was gone. I sighed and gathered my slick red raincoat from the front closet.

Jason knocked loudly on the door and I opened it reluctantly. To my dismay, he held a bouquet of brilliant yellow daffodils before him. His expression was cheerful but apprehensive. With a shaking hand he offered me the flowers.

“Thanks, Jace,
” I said happily, hiding my discomfort.

“You're welcome,” h
e smiled. I had never seen him nervous around me before, it was awkward. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah, just let me put these in
some
water,
” I grabbed a tall glass from one of the kitchen cabinets, ran the faucet and let it fill the cup about halfway and plopped the daffodils in it. “That should do it.”

Jason led me out to his car, which was still running. He politely opened the door for me and shut it after I got in. He walked over to the other side and got situated. Once we were both buckled in, he pulled out of the driveway and we were on our way.

The diner was smaller than I had imagined it would be. It was run by friends of the Banner family. The walls were painted a shade of deep burgundy, with lavender trim. At the entrance was a row of benches for when the place was packed. Fortunately, it was fairly empty this afternoon – possibly thanks to the sudden downpour. I recognized Mitchell standing behind the podium. He smirked at us, mostly at his older brother. His appearance was very similar to Jason's – the same shade of brunette hair, but his was curly and his eyes were blue rather than chocolate.

“Hey Jace, hey Alex.” He said casually. “I'll take you to your seats.”

We followed Mitchell to a cozy little booth in the back of the restaurant, right up against two large windows. The blinds were pulled up and the brewing storm was visible. I sat down on the left side of the table, Jason took the right. Mitchell handed us each a menu and asked what we'd like to drink – we both ordered sodas and he left to retrieve them.

“This place is nice,
” I commented, looking up at my childhood best friend.

“Yeah,” h
e smiled. “My family comes here all the time.”

“What made you decide to ask me
out for lunch
?” I asked curiously as I began browsing the menu.

“I have sort of
wanted
to ask you for a while,
” I looked up in shock, noting the color rising in his cheeks. “It wasn't until I ran into Paul at the supermarket that I finally got the nerve to ask. He said you could use some time out of the house.”

I swore under my breath. “I'm not surprised h
e had something to do with this,
” I
fumed
.

He frowned, “You didn't want to come?”

“No, that's not it. He's just been really bothering me lately about going out more,
even though I’ve told him I’ve just been sick
.”