Darkness (35 page)

For a split second I panicked, and as I did so Oliver felt my flash of panic and jerked me back but not before Carter’s hand shot out lightening fast and grabbed my arm. I’m not really clear what happened next but I do know Oliver had both arms wrapped around me and was trying to pull me away from Carter while rattling off a round of profanities I’d never heard him say before–all directed at my friend, of course. At the same time Felix was trying to remove Carter’s grip from my arm. I’m pretty sure I screamed when it happened not because I was scared but because it had startled me. Our eyes never broke from one another’s, and just as Felix was able to get Carter’s hand free of my arm something flared in Carter’s eyes, something like recognition, and he smiled at me. Oliver and I fell back onto the floor as my arm was released and Oliver was instantly trying to make sure I wasn’t hurt, but I was trying to scramble back to my friend who was still lying on the couch smiling at me. Oliver gathered me into his arms and held me there on the floor at what he thought was a safe distance from Carter. I knew struggling was pointless so I didn’t even bother but I did shift myself so I could see Carter’s face again. His eyes were still on mine and his smile still lingered and that’s when I confirmed it. My friend had fangs. Just that hint of white poking out from under that sweet smile of his. Holy crap. I settled back against Oliver and his grip loosened around me. We watched silently as Felix pulled out a black bag that reminded me of an doctor’s bag you’d see in an old movie when they did house calls. He pulled a variety of different things out of the bag and checked Carter over with each one of them, including a syringe he used to take a vial of blood. Carter just lay there as content as could be with a look of sheer happiness on his face as Felix worked on him.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about what was happening. Had he turned into a werewolf but not completely? Had he turned into a vampire? But what was with the hair? Oliver didn’t have hair like that, neither did any of the other vampires I’d ever met or encountered. Was he some weird cross breed? And did he not recognize me at first...? My mind was reeling with a million thoughts and possibilities. I wanted to ask Felix tons of questions, but he was busy and the room was silent and I figured I shouldn’t interrupt. Plus, I wasn’t sure Felix would want to talk about it in front of Carter.

It was the wee hours of the night when I felt myself start nod off. Oliver scooped me up into his arms and carried me off to his room and laid me in his bed. He covered me up and then he lay on top of the blankets and held me close. It felt good to be in his arms and fall asleep. We didn’t speak of anything. We just held each other in silence until I nodded off to dreamland. And into dreamland I went.

I slept restlessly. That night I dreamt that I was being chased through the woods by wolves. I didn’t recognize the woods, it wasn’t the orchard that I’d grown up near and it didn’t seem like a familiar area of town. The wolves seemed like regular wolves. Nothing out of the ordinary with them other than they were chasing me and I was terrified. I kept stumbling but I didn’t fall down. There was something in the distance and I felt the need to get to it, that whatever I was running towards would protect me and keep me safe. The woods were dark except for the faint stream of moonlight that occasionally pierced through the mass of branches overhead and a light was coming from what I could now see was an enormous building in the clearing just ahead of me. My bare feet pounded the earth while my legs pumped with all my might to get me to that building and away from the massive pack of wolves that howled and snarled and nipped at me. As I broke free of the trees I saw a figure standing in the clearing about midway to the building. I pushed myself with what I had left. I slammed into the figure at full speed and he steadied me without even a stumble as my body collided with his. My lungs burned and my body ached in ways I didn’t know possible. As the wolves broke free of the woods and merged upon the clearing, their mad barking instantly turned to shrieks of pain and yelping. I turned towards their cries to see the entire pack being ambushed by dark figures. Wolves yelped and screamed in pain as their bodies were beaten and broken before me. Panic ignited once more as I realized strange arms held me. I turned to face a man, his dark eyes illuminated by the moon. A face with dark eyes that matched mine smiled down at me and in a voice I’d longed to hear all my life he said, “My dearest daughter, I will never let harm come to you. You are safe now.” I felt tears streak my face as he wrapped me tightly in his arms and held me against his chest. “The wolves will not harm you my dear,” my father whispered to me and I hugged him back and sobbed at the relief and comfort I felt in his presence. The wolves were still crying out in wails of pain and defeat when I looked up from my father’s chest to see the enormous building I’d been running towards. It wasn’t just any building. There, just past the clearing, was a fortress of great magnitude. It was amazing set there against the moonlight and I felt like I was home. The feeling was like nothing I’d ever experienced before and I basked in it for a moment while my father smiled down at me.

Then something brushed my ankle and I looked down to see what it was. A wolf, battered and bloody, was dragging itself to my side. Fear filled its eyes and I felt myself begin to pity the creatures that I had just feared, and then it snarled and came after me. My father shoved me out of the way and ended the vile creature’s life in a blink of an eye, and when he turned to face me his fangs caught in the moonlight.

I woke with a start to find Oliver rather concerned. He flipped on the bedside lamp and asked about the dream, saying he could feel my emotions during it and that they were amazing and strong and felt so real, unlike most dreams, but I didn’t share. I actually felt totally exhausted, just as I had in the dream, and I just couldn’t find it in me to give him the details. Plus, I didn’t want to. I had no idea what to make of the dream and I could only conclude that my subconscious was completely wacked out at the moment. Oliver didn’t leave me at all that night, and I was actually rather thankful for that. Waking in the comfort of his arms made the world a not so scary place.

Chapter 50 - Making Amends

I woke up tired but happy. Although the dream had disturbed me, and thankfully the memories of it had partially faded away, I woke in the comfort of my gorgeous vampire love’s arms. He propped himself up on one arm while the other stayed wrapped around me and he smiled down at me as I stretched.

“You had an interesting night. You okay?”

I nodded and couldn’t help smiling up at him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a quick kiss. Morning breath being a concern, I didn’t let my lips part. He propped himself back up and told me he needed to run some errands and that he would be back later that afternoon. After one more quick kiss he was off the bed. I watched him get a new set of clothes and was a little disappointed when he left the room to go change in the bathroom. I was kind of hoping for at least a glimpse of him shirtless.
Another time I suppose.

I lay there for a while thinking about many things; the dream, what parts I could remember anyways, school and how I was probably falling behind. I thought of Oliver and the fact that he and I seemed to be getting back to our norm and that filled me with such happiness I actually felt bubbly. I thought about Carter making it through his first full moon and how that was an enormous relief. I’d need to talk to Felix to find out what exactly did happen to him and then check on Carter myself. My birthday was only days away and I was actually a little excited about celebrating it with Oliver, but a sadness surrounded my heart at the thought of never again celebrating my birthday with Lilly. And then I thought of Kiera. I still had no idea what I did and why she wouldn’t answer when I called or return any of my texts. I need to fix things with her and I need to do it right then.

After getting ready for the day and having a long conversation with Felix about Carter I was ready to head out the door. I told Felix where I was going because apparently this was now my life–checking in and making sure an “adult” knew where I was at all times. Anyways, I headed to my apartment and hesitated at the door. I really didn’t think Kiera was staying there but I figured I’d try there first since she wasn’t going to give a clue as to where she was. I was actually sick to my stomach at the thought of seeing her. I didn’t know what to expect and I was nervous she might never speak to me again. And I continued to wrack my brain trying to figure out what had happened. All I knew was that she was mad and not speaking to me.

There was no sign of life in our apartment. I wasn’t surprised and left quickly to continue my search. I was locking the door behind me when I heard the faint thumping sound of feet running up the stairs. I turned around just as Carter bounded up the last few steps and about barreled over me.

“Hey Laney,” he said as he bounced in place. He was wearing light blue basketball type shorts, running shoes and a beanie. That was it. His body had more muscle tone than I’d ever seen on him and the slivery bluish hair that had lightly covered him the night before was hardly noticeable now but it was still there. I pulled my eyes away from his chest and smiled at him. “How are you feeling today,” I asked.

“I feel awesome! I don’t think I’ve ever felt so good.” He beamed.

“That’s great, Carter!” His smile was infectious and I couldn’t help smiling back at him. I had to give myself a little mental smack to get back to the matter-at-hand. “Um, do you happen to know where Kiera is?”

His expression changed slightly and he shrugged. “Nope, but I did text her and told her I wanted to talk to her and if she was willing, to meet me at Shakes later today. She didn’t respond, of course, but I’ll sit there all day and night if I have to. I think she’ll show. Eventually.”

His optimism was encouraging. “I hope she does. Well, I’m gonna go try to find her now.” I took one step away then stopped. “Oh wait, one more thing, did you ever figure out why she’s not talking to us?”

He shrugged again and said, “Nope. But I’m sure everything will be okay. Don’t worry Laney.” Still bouncing in place he quickly leaned in and kissed my cheek then he wished me good luck and jogged off towards his apartment. I was taken by surprise by his peck on the cheek and knew it would send Oliver into another frenzy. Carter was pushing all boundaries with Oliver and I had a fear he might take one step too far, very soon. Especially given his new found nature.

I thought about my conversation with Felix as I drove out to Kiera’s parents’ house. Felix had told me that he was still not fully clear on what had happened to Carter but that he believed the werewolf bite may have triggered Carter’s dormant vampire gene. But it didn’t stop there. It not only triggered his vampire gene, the toxin from the werewolf bite stayed in his system and mixed with his vampire line. He now had a dose of both species swimming around inside of him. Such a thing had never been documented in vampire history, Felix had told me, and he wasn’t sure if that was because it had never actually happened, or if it hadn’t been documented in their records for the safety of whoever could have gone through such a change. Felix seemed genuinely concerned with this lack of information, and we discussed that it would be better to keep Carter’s condition a secret while Felix did his own research to try to discover any sort of similar findings in the past, and explore how each species would feel about their races mixing. He also said, just as we were finishing up our talk, that he couldn’t imagine Carter being the first and only survivor in this sort of situation. I found that unbelievable as well.

I found myself turning onto Kiera’s street and was surprised how quickly the drive had gone while my thoughts were occupied elsewhere. I pulled up in front of Kiera’s parents’ house and shut off my car. I took a couple deep breaths to try to steady my nerves, then I left my car and headed up the walkway to the front door. Kiera had grown up in this house. It was just an average house on an average street in an average neighborhood, but it was anything but average once you stepped inside. Kiera’s parents made you feel like you belonged there. They always made you feel so warm and loved when you were in their home. But on this day, as I knocked lightly on the door, I felt cold creeping up inside me. Almost like I was unwanted there.

I waited and listened. I heard faint footsteps from the other side of the door and soon after I heard the click of the deadbolt being unlocked. The door slowly opened and Kiera’s father, a man who stood about an inch shorter than I, with thinning dark hair and glasses, stood before me. And as I had suspected there was no warm fuzzy feeling coming out of the house on that day.

I gathered my best manners and said, “Hello Mr. Blake. Does Kiera happen to be here?”

All he said was, “Yes.” Alrighty then. I took a steady breath and said, “May I please speak to her?” He stared at me for a long moment and then shut the door in my face. Didn’t slam it or anything , just closed it like I hadn’t even been there. I stood there completely dumbfounded and somewhat heartsick. What would I do if she never spoke to me again? She was my best friend. Even though I hadn’t been treating her like she was…My body sagged as I turned to start walking towards my car. I had only taken a couple depressing steps when the front door opened again and Roger, Kiera’s father, stood there beckoning me to enter. I quickly turned and trotted inside. He closed the door behind me and I stood in the entryway of the Blake home. I could hear dishes bumping around in the kitchen sink and I imagined Jane, Kiera’s mother, was cleaning up from breakfast.