Full Moon (28 page)

She rushed to my side. “What’s up?”

“Taylor says there’s a white buck on the
shore.”

She looked. “I don’t see it.”

“Me neither,” Sam said, approaching from my
right.

Kierra shot Sam and Jesse a look, as if
they thought I was some kind of nutcase, and I suddenly wished I’d
kept my mouth shut. I had no idea why I was being plagued by
hallucinations, but in that moment, I also had to wonder if I’d
really heard a wolf in our house the night my parents had gone out
and I’d ended up at McDonald’s in my bathrobe.
Maybe all this fresh mountain
air is making me chronically lightheaded,
I thought.

“You know what that means,” Kierra whispered
to her brothers.

“Just keep your mouth shut,” Sam said.

“But she has every right to know.”

“Do you want your head on the carving
block?” Sam retorted.

“Jesse, she needs to know,” Kierra said.
“She’s been marked.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, crossing my arms
and looking at them, not at all happy that they were talking about
me like I wasn’t there.

Jesse glanced toward the shore. “There’s a
legend that those who have been marked as a petal will have a
guardian to keep them safe.”

“A petal? And why would I need a guardian?”
I asked.

“Because you’ve been chosen.”

“Besides protection, the guardians hand out
blessings too,” Sam said. “You caught a twenty-pound bass back
there on your first cast. We don’t usually catch any bigger than
ten-pounders.”

“What’s a petal?” I asked.

“Six petals form the flower for the
ceremony. It’s an ancient tradition, practiced every 500
years.”

“
Pssh. That sounds like something off
of
The X
Files
or one of those
stupid SyFy shows. It’s just a myth, like the bogeyman, Bigfoot,
and aliens being kept alive with strawberry ice cream,” I said.
“But what’s this so-called ceremony about.”

Jesse handed my fishing pole back to me and
rolled his eyes at his brother and sister. “Don’t let my siblings
scare you. Let’s leave myths in the books and concentrate on
fishing.”

“I didn’t mean to freak you out,” Kierra
said. “I just got carried away, that’s all.”

“You had me worried there for a minute. It
was only a deer. Maybe my imagination just got carried away
again.”

We continued talking and fishing, but the
mood had morphed into something depressing and somber, almost as
dark as the night itself. Something was wrong, and I wondered what
they were hiding. It was either that or they just felt sorry for
me, the lunatic who had seen an invisible buck.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me:
What if a curse
really was placed on me when I opened the tin box? Am I really
marked now?
My breath
hitched in my throat.
What have I done? Have I really unleashed some
horrible curse?
But the
woman said she’d protect me, and even Jesse said the myth speaks of
protection. I frowned.
But protection from what?
I had no idea. The one thing I did know
was that my mind couldn’t take much more of the freaky happenings.
I wanted so badly to confide in Jesse, but I didn’t want him to
think I was crazy. I was sure he had his doubts about me after the
McDonald’s bathrobe escapade, and now I was seeing Bambi the
friendly ghost. I feared that if I told him about the strange
whisperings in the wind, it would be just enough to send him over
the edge, and I didn’t want him to kick me to the curb.

I got home around seven a.m., and Jesse
searched the house and said it was clear. After telling him
goodbye, I turned on the security system, then cranked up the air
conditioning. I pulled the drapes and made the room as dark as I
could, then jumped into bed. I was asleep as soon as my head hit
the pillow.

I spent the rest of the weekend looking for
that white buck, my potential protector, but I didn’t see anything.
I even tried to Google myths, but I saw nothing about mortal
sacrifices, petals, and white bucks. I didn’t know what to make of
it.

Fortunately, I wasn’t encumbered with no
more voices or visions, and everything went smoothly while I waited
for my parents to return on Sunday afternoon.

Chapter 16

Fred was working on our back yard, and it
was really looking nice. All the towering weeds were gone, and the
place looked a whole sharper.

“The place is looking great,” I said.

Fred sipped his water. “Thanks. I’ve been
working hard.”

“Take a break. You deserve it.”

“I’ve got a present for you,” he said, then
held out a small box.

I swallowed hard. He was cute—not gorgeous
like Jesse but definitely cute. Still, I didn’t like him in that
way, and I wasn’t sure how to handle the fact that he clearly had a
crush on me. I had never been good at trampling other people’s
feelings, which was why I’d stayed with that sleaze ball, Sean, as
long as I had. Now, I was afraid if I accepted Fred’s gift, it
might lead him to believe there was more than friendship between
us. But if I refused it, it would hurt his feelings. “I-I can’t
accept this, Fred,” I said softly, trying to lessen the blow.

“Because you’re obsessed with Jesse,
right?”

“I’m crazy about him, and it wouldn’t be
right to lead you on.”

“This isn’t a romantic present.”

“It isn’t?”

“No.”

“My apologies then. I just assumed—”

“It’s just a present from one friend to
another, no strings attached.”

“In that case…” I smiled and opened the box.
The sun glittered on a silver cross necklace. “Wow, Fred. It’s
beautiful. Thank you.”

“Would you like me to help you put it
on?”

I lifted up my hair. “I’d love that.”

He clasped the necklace around my neck.

“Thanks again. It’s so pretty,” I said,
looking down to admire the dainty pendant around my neck.

His mouth became a long, thin line. “Yeah,
but I didn’t get it for looks.”

I arched a brow. “You didn’t?”

“It’s for your protection, Taylor.”

“Protection?”

“Jesse’s not a witch—or maybe he is—but I
now know what’s his family is hiding.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“I’m glad to hear you’ve dumped the witch
theory.”

“Yeah. I was completely off base,” he said,
not sounding glad about that at all.

“It was way out there. Just because we found
an altar, that’s no reason to jump to crazy theories.”

“Well, I’m not jumping to my new one. This
time, I have solid evidence.”

“You’re killing me, Fred. What is it?”

“I’m not killing you, but they might.
They’re vampires, Taylor.”

I couldn’t stifle my laugh, because this
theory was worse than the last one.

“You shouldn’t laugh. You’re dating a
bloodsucker,” he said.

“
Excuse me? Are you telling me I’m Jesse’s
future
ghoul
friend.”

He rolled his eyes. “This is serious,
Taylor.”

“It’s not possible, Fred. Vampires turn to
ash in sunlight. That’s a simple fact. They always have and always
will.”

“Yeah. I haven’t figured out how they bypass
that.”

“Simple. They’re not vampires.”

“I know they are.”

“Jesse is outside every day, and the last
time I checked, Coppertone doesn’t make 5,000 SPF.”

Fred’s gaze narrowed. “You’re in danger,
Taylor. I wish you’d take me seriously.”

“Are you listening to yourself?” I
retorted.

“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.”

I choked my laughter back. “Is that why you
got me this necklace? Because I need a crucifix for protection from
vampires?”

“Yes. Where did you meet him anyway?”

“
He was hiking…and it was love at first
bite,
” I
joked.

His lips pressed into a grim line. “Taylor,
that’s not funny.”

“Sorry,” I said. “Just trying to lighten the
mood.”

“Keep your day job. You’re a horrible
comedienne.”

My grin widened. “I will. I work with
Jesse.”

“You’re really playing with fire,” he said,
shaking his head at me. “Even if you did believe me, you’d probably
want to stay with him. What’s with chicks and vampires anyway?
They’re fiends who feast on blood and kill people, yet women find
them completely irresistible.”

“I suppose they’re kind of the in thing
right now,” I said. “The ultimate bad boy fantasy.”

“I guess, but I still don’t really
understand the whole glorified vampire phenomenon.”

I didn’t really believe Jesse was a vampire,
but I decided to roll with it and have some fun. “Don’t you get it?
Women want to feel special, cherished, protected, and loved.
Shouldn’t every girl have an Edward Cullen?”

“
If I was a girl, I’d prefer Lestat de
Lioncourt from
Interview with a Vampire.
”

“I’m more of Team Brad Pitt, so it’d be
Louis for me,” I said.

“
Nope. Maybe
Buffy
’s Angel or Bill Compton from that Dracula flick, but not
sparkly Edward or whiny, emo Louis. Why are girls so hung up on
corpses anyway?”

“They’re the coolest of the paranormal,” I
said.

“Oh yeah?”

“
Drac
solutely,” I joked. “A werewolf will tear you to
shreds. A zombie isn’t fun to hug when his rotting arms fall off.
Mummies stink to high heaven, and ghosts are nothing but air.
Really, a vampire is the only way to go.”

“Fine, but when they make out with you, they
take a little nibble on your jugular. Gimme zombies any day.
Vampires just…suck.”

“
They’re both vile, evil, and undead, and
they both feed on humans. One is just hotter, smarter, and smells a
whole lot better. Truthfully, zombies are stupid,” I insisted.
“They’ll walk straight toward a barrel of a gun, while vampires
trace away in a speeding blur if they don’t kill you in one quick
bite.”

“Yeah, but the fighting is the best
part.”

“You can fight the fanged ones too,” I
said.

“Forget wooden stakes. Chainsaws are
better.”

I smiled and shook my head. “You’re sick,
you know that?”

“What!? What guy doesn’t want to fight off
the walking dead with chainsaws, sledgehammers, and swords? Holding
up a crucifix and sprinkling water on a bloodsucker is…well, it’s
kind of sissy-ish.”

“Is that even a word?” I chuckled. “So, when
it comes to the undead, you’re saying men love zombies and women
love vampires?”

“Yeah. Zombies are way more manly, not all
pretty and stylish.”

“I hate to burst your bubble and break your
stereotype, but you’re wrong. I happen to love both.”

“Hmm. I guess you’ve proven me wrong. But
what’s the deal with Jesse? Are you in love with the bloodsucker or
what?”

I shot him a look. “No. In lust maybe.”

“Ew! I didn’t ask for those kind of
details.”

I smiled. “If you don’t want to hear the
answers, don’t ask the questions.”

He glanced down for a minute, then looked
back up at me. “I’ve read that vampires can make you fall in love
with them.”

I shook my head vehemently. “Jesse hasn’t
done that. He wouldn’t have to. Have you seen him? The guy is a
forest fire all his own, smoking hot. All he has to do is strut his
hot butt into a room and smile, and women will swarm to him
like—”

“How can you even identify with a creature
who won’t ever die? You can’t. He’s immortal, and you can’t even
begin to understand his deep desire for human blood. Your vamp
boyfriend—”

“He’s not my boyfriend…yet.”

“You need to break off all communication
with him as soon as possible, Taylor.”

I met his gaze straight on. “If what you’re
saying is true, maybe I want to tame him.”

“You can’t tame a ravage beast.” Fred stood.
“I don’t think I have anything more to say to you.”

“Wait, Fred! Come back!” I yelled as he
started to step off the porch in a huff. “You said you have solid
proof, evidence. How did you come to this conclusion anyway?”

Ignoring me, he went back to work.

“Thank you for the necklace,” I said. “I
won’t take it off. I promise.”

When he continued to ignore me, I just shook
my head and headed back into the house, rubbing the cross between
my thumb and index finger. Fred was more than a little troubled,
but I couldn’t help but be flattered by his urge to protect me.

Chapter 17

A few days later, Amy, one of Julie’s
friends, invited Jesse and me on a boat ride. I hadn’t given her an
answer yet, so Julie wouldn’t quit calling. When I saw her name on
my caller ID again, I moaned. “Hello?” I said, answering my
cell.

“Are you coming or not?”

“I went night-fishing with Jesse a few days
ago,” I said. “I kinda got freaked out on the boat.” The image of
the white buck flashed across my mind.

She blew out a long breath. “How many times
do I have to tell you it’s all just some stupid myth? How can you
let them scare you like that anyway?”

“I wasn’t scared—just a little freaked
out.”

“I talked to Jesse, and he’s coming. I just
hope one of those girls doesn’t ask him out.”

“Julie!”

“What? You know they’ll be all over him like
ants on a picnic.”

“Fine. I’ll go,” I said.

“I knew you’d see it my way,” she said,
wearing a smirk that I could hear through the phone.

“Ha-ha! Can I bring Max?”

“Sure. Be there in an hour.”

“Bye,” she said.

After I hung up the phone, I threw my
bathing suit on, then slipped a pair of blue shorts with a cute
lace tank-top. I brushed my teeth and left my hair down. I quickly
packed some sunscreen, a towel, some bottles of water, and a few
other things I thought I might need.