Charity Rising (Charity Series Book 2) (2 page)

coating.

Once we arrived at our school, West Windrake High, cars were already flooding the parking lot. And once inside, I marveled at how

amazingly beautiful the once simple gymnasium had become.

We briefly hooked up with our other friends, which numbered somewhere around fourteen when you counted Levi’s elite and their dates. But

soon we were al scattered about, some breaking away to show off their moves on the dance floor, while others got drinks and mingled. The truth is, I was glad to final y have Levi to myself.

“You look so beautiful tonight,” he said, bringing my hand up to his lips and kissing it softly, leaving it tingling.

“Oh, puppy, you look so handsome in this tux, I’m having trouble keeping my mind where it should be.”

One eyebrow arched. “Real y?”

I nodded, smiling mischievously.

He peered down at me for a moment, his eyes melting into mine, before taking my hand and leading me out of the gym and into the

darkened hal way.

Soon, we were stepping into an empty classroom. Only the dim light from the moon was peeking through the open blinds, casting a romantic

glow. I turned to comment when he took me in his arms and kissed me with a passion that made my head spin; a deep kiss that chal enged my

sanity, as wel as control. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on tight as our passion heated. I expected the sprinklers to go off at any

moment. And just when my mind was slipping into Never Never Land, his head snapped up.

“What’s wrong?” I breathed, my eyes final y focusing on him.

“Someone’s cal ing me. You stay here, I’l be right back.” He ran from the room so fast he blurred.

I shrugged and sat down in the teacher’s chair and began to slowly spin around—once—twice—then I skidded my chair to a holt—there he

was standing in front of me, looking at me as though his eyes were seeing me for the first time.

“Wow that was fast. Who wanted you?”

His eyebrows shot up. “What?”

“Oh, never mind. Are you going to finish what you started, or just stand there and drool?”

A confused expression tainted his beautiful face, so I walked up to him, put my arms around his neck, and whispered in his ear, “Why so shy

al of a sudden? Huh?” I stood on my tiptoes and began kissing his ear, then his neck, and final y finding my way to his lips. His response was

powerful. His lips crushed mine with an intensity that startled me, and just as I was beginning to respond, his head popped up. “Someone’s cal ing

me,” he said.

“What—again?!”

Then he was gone, so quick in fact, I stumbled and almost fel .

“Werewolves,” I huffed.

No sooner had I sat down again than he was in front of me again.

“Okay, what’s going on?” I demanded in agitation.

“False alarm. No one cal ed me at al . Sorry. Now, where were we?”

I was puzzled at his odd behavior, but al was forgotten the moment he pul ed me into his arms again and kissed me with such passion that I

forgot where I was, and for that matter—who I was.

“I love you so much,” he murmured against my lips.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, inching one hand into his silky hair, and made myself memorize every moment.

Making out in the dark room, arms wrapped tightly, lips locked in sweet battle, was thril ing to say the least. We slow danced for a long while,

hips swaying in perfect rhythm, until reluctantly we made our way out and back to the others. No sooner had we just entered the doors, squinting

against the light, when Ashley grabbed my hand and pul ed me off to the dance floor, with Levi right behind me.

“I wondered when you two were gonna come out.”

We danced a few songs before taking a seat, and then Levi left to get me a drink, my eyes trailing after him until, too soon, he vanished into

the sea of colorful dresses and black tuxes. The room was so busy it was hard to find anyone past a few feet.

I gasped, almost swal owing my gum, as Levi appeared beside me.
Hadn’t he just left?
I peered up and met his piercing gaze. There it was

again—that look. “Levi, are you okay?”

“Of course,” he answered somewhat nervously.

I glanced down at his empty hands. “Um, I think you forgot my drink.”

“Oh.” He laughed apologetical y, and then he was gone again.

I grabbed Ashley’s arm and pul ed her to me. “Ash, I think something’s wrong with Levi. He’s acting al stupid.”

She giggled. “Maybe he can’t seem to think about anything but you in that dress.”

“
Hmm.” I shrugged.
She had a point. I did look amazing.

As I opened my mouth to comment more, he was back with my drink in his hand, and al my thoughts jumbled together as I stared up at his

dazzling smile. One word—dimples!!

The night was glorious. And besides Levi’s brief episodes of stupidity, he was charming right down to his sweet and gentle goodnight kiss,

which straightened my hair and curled my toes.
Or is that curled my hair and straightened my toes?
I had hoped he would stay the night with me. I was disappointed, however, to find my mom stil up and pacing aimlessly about her room. Something had her excited, and I imagined it would only

be a smal matter of time before I found out what it was.

Soon, I was settled comfortably in bed with my favorite Snoopy blanket tucked tightly under my chin and smiling as my mind revisited the

evening’s events. My mom too had final y quieted.

I was almost asleep, sweet dreams within my grasp, when I felt strong arms encircle me. The feel of him was so familiar to me, and I smiled

as I leaned into him, taking in his scent—his warmth. “I thought you couldn’t stay.”

“Wel , I decided to listen out for a while and see if your mom went to sleep, and she did. Prom’s a special night and I didn’t want to leave you

alone. Besides, I find it amazingly hard to fal asleep without you in my arms.”

“Mmm, me too. I’m glad you came back.” I turned so my eyes could absorb every inch of his face, only slightly visible from the glow of my

seashel nightlight from across the room. I knew his eyes could see me perfectly and that thought oddly caused me to have heart palpations that

shook the entire bed. “You are so handsome. Sometimes it’s hard to believe you’re real y mine.”

“Oh, kitten. You’re everything to me. You are a magnet, I am steel.”

“Um, Levi, aren’t those words to a song?”

He shrugged. “It’s stil true.”

I laughed until his lips captured mine, silencing me, and instantly my thoughts slipped into oblivion. Only the fire that consumed me held my

attention.

In the morning, as I laid across my bed, journaling al the exciting details of our Prom night, Mom cal ed up to me from the kitchen. “Charity!”

“Yes, ma’am?!”

“Would you come down here, please? Frank and I have something we want to discuss with you!”

“I’l be right there!”

Okay, what had I done now?
Granted, I had returned from spring break slightly run down and acting stranger than usual. After my kidnapping, I’d found it extra hard being at home and away from Levi. But two weeks had passed and I was fine and back to my normal, obnoxious self.

My heart raced as I took my usual seat at the kitchen table. I studied the faces of the two seated before me. Mom was giddy with excitement,

while Frank just looked—wel —like at any moment he was gonna lean over and start upchucking some groceries.

“You wanted to speak to me about something?”

“Oh, Charity,” she said, reaching across the table and taking my hand. “I’m so excited! We’re going on a family vacation!”

“Oh man, repeat that ‘cause my mind just played a cruel joke on me. I thought you just said something like ‘we’re going on vacation’.”

“Yes. I’m taking some time off, and the three of us are going for an extended weekend to Virginia. Frank has made a new friend at work that

owns a cabin in the Virginia Mountains, and we can stay there for free. Isn’t that great?”

Surely she wasn’t serious
. “Oh, Mom, I don’t think I can go on vacation with you guys. I mean what about school? Finals are coming up—and

what about—”

“Charity! Levi can do without you for four days, you’re making good grades, and aside from a couple of days after spring break, your

attendance record is very good. Your school won’t suffer in the short time we’re gone. And the break wil probably do you and Levi some good. It’s

not like you two wil die if you’re apart or anything.”

I actual y laughed, but then caught myself.

“Besides, we’ve never gone on a vacation as a family. We’ve never even left Windrake Mountain together, and the break from this town

would be good for us. Once you’ve graduated there won’t be time, what with you and Ashley moving in together and taking your nursing classes.

Now is the time. I’m not asking you, Charity. We
are
doing this.” She turned to look at Frank, whose expression resembled someone who just

received news that his plans for an intimate getaway have been fouled up by an unwanted tag-along. “Frank, honey, don’t you have anything to

add?”

He averted my gaze but tilted his head in my direction. “Charity, this means a lot to your mother. Please take a day to consider it. We’re

leaving early Thursday morning.”

“Thanks, I wil !” I jumped up and left the table before my mom could argue any further.

I could tel by the look on her face that Frank was in trouble for offering me an out.

“I’m going to Levi’s!” I cal ed over my shoulder.

“But you haven’t even eaten breakfast,” Mom protested.

“I’l get something there!” I declared rushing out the front door and letting it slam too hard behind me.

When I got to the Drake House, the hidden, underground facility that houses Levi’s werewolf pack, I went into the dining room where

everyone was gathered, eating breakfast.

Levi’s face lit up the moment he spotted me. “You’re late.” He smiled, pul ing me into his arms for a passionate kiss before guiding me

gingerly to the seat beside him.

“Wel my mom and Frank wanted to talk to me.”

“Yeah? What about?”

“They want to take me on vacation.”

His eyes widened in alarm. “You mean away from Windrake Mountain?”

“Yeah, they said it was somewhere in the Virginia Mountains. Frank has a friend who owns a cabin there. Mom thinks we need a break from

this town and al the rivalry junk. I guess being in real estate means she gets to see the rivalry between the east and west side more than we do. I think it gets to her sometimes.”

“Surely you’re not going, are you?”

“I don’t want to, but Mom’s real y pressing for this. I’m not sure what to do. They’re leaving Thursday and we’l be gone for four days.”

“Charity, you can’t go. I can’t be without you for four days. Besides, I don’t want you alone with Frank.”

“Oh please. Frank can barely look at me now much less touch me. You scared the stupid out of him the night you threatened to rip his head

off, remember? He’s even stopped drinking. Maybe he thinks the drinking made him hal ucinate, but whatever, he’s not a threat to me anymore.”

“Wel , when he’s got you miles away who knows what might happen. I’m not wil ing to take that chance.”

“Levi, he knows you’re different. He won’t dare touch me. Every once in a while he’s even nice to me.”

“Please, don’t go. I don’t want you to go.” He gently touched his hand to my cheek, seemingly memorizing every line.

“I probably won’t. You know for someone so high on the food chain you worry too much.” I smirked, reaching for a half eaten muffin on his

plate. “Are you gonna eat this?” I asked, shoving a huge bite into my mouth.

He laughed softly. “I guess not.”

“That reminds me, have you noticed anything unusual about Ashley?” I spoke through a mouthful of muffin.

He was watching me in amusement. “Um, no. Should I?”

I grabbed his glass of orange juice and took a large swig, then sitting it back down, I said, “It’s just that she’s lost weight, and she didn’t eat much last night.”

He picked up the glass, studying the new backwash floating inside. “Is there something wrong with that? Should we be concerned?”

I took another bite. “No, I guess not,” I mumbled, “not yet anyway. Just keep an eye on her when she’s here, okay? Let me know if she’s not

eating.”

“Of course I wil .”

Mr. Bones took that moment to enter the dining hal , strol ing casual y, mumbling words meant only for him. As he passed, touching his hand

to our table, his eyes seemingly far away, I was able to make out something about fearing no evil. Mr. Bones, ironical y, was a skinny old man, who could always be found walking through the facility, touching the wal s and doorways, quoting scripture, and though some often questioned his sanity, something told me he was wiser than most.

“So, what’s going on? Why does everyone look so uptight? And what’s the evil we shouldn’t fear?”

“We’ve been catching vampire scents in the surrounding forests. We think they might be trying to find us, but don’t worry they won’t get too

close. We’ve got watchers posted. The vampires wil catch their scent and stay away.”

“But Raven said the war was over.”

“Charity, you can’t trust a vampire to tel the truth. He was trying to save his own skin.”

“No he wasn’t. He was tel ing the truth, Levi. I know he was.”

A look of agitation crossed his perfect face. “Look, Charity, I know he’s your friend, but don’t put too much faith in this vampire of yours.”

“Okay, do you want a black eye to go along with your fur face? He’s not
my
vampire, but I do trust him, and I think you can too.”

“I won’t ever trust a vampire. And after al I’ve been through with them, you can’t ask me to.”

I sighed. “I know, Levi, but do you trust me?”