H.T. Night's 8-Book Vampire Box Set (26 page)

We both transitioned into our Mani forms on
my front porch. I picked up the suitcase and grabbed a key that was
hidden under a pot by the door. I knew any idiot would check there
first if they intended to rob me, but I really didn’t care, I had
renter’s insurance.

I unlocked the door and we went inside. I
looked around quickly to see if Tommy had shown up. There was no
sign that he had been in the house, everything was the way I left
it.

“Let’s re-duct tape the curtain drapes and
blinds.” I said to Lena. “Light has a funny way of getting inside.”
I grabbed two rolls of duct tape off the table and handed one to
her. I went around my house, reapplied duct tape on all areas that
light could get in, and Lena did the same. In a few minutes, we had
finished. We were sure that no sunlight could get in under any
conditions. But then, neither could air.

We both went into my kitchen.

“So what happened?” Lena asked.

“With the wolves?”

“Yes, we all showed up at 3:15 a.m. and you
were nowhere to be found. We transitioned and flew toward the ranch
and saw Goliath finishing off one of his own, the way he did to
Tommy. We all hoped it was because you worked him good. We flew
around looking for you for a little while and just figured you had
split.”

“I might have fibbed about the time.”

“Why would you do that?”

“I wanted to take care of my own business.
And protect my friends.” I walked past Lena, went into the living
room, and sat on the couch. Lena turned and followed me.

“Look, you’re going to need protection.
Everyone does. No one expects you to fight 30 Carni all by
yourself. That was preposterous, what you did.”

“Well, I did fine.”

“You can’t see the back of your head. It’s
dented! Why are you being so stubborn?” Lena wasn’t messing around.
She was becoming really upset. “You don’t have to do this
alone.”

“Maybe I want to do it alone,” I said
defiantly.

“Then you’re going to get killed. You might
have been Chosen, Josiah, but don’t forget we all were. We have
been called to help you. Serve you.”

I looked down at Lena. I needed to tell her
the real reason why I gave her the wrong time. “I told you the
wrong time because I didn’t want you to get hurt.” Lena raised her
head and gently looked up at me. I looked down at her and for the
first time, showed how vulnerable I was in her presence. “I don’t
care what I have to do; I’m always going to make sure you’re
safe.”

Lena reached out her hand and rubbed my arm.
“Please let me help you, it’s what I’ve been called to do.” The
slightest touch from Lena made me melt. She looked at me lovingly.
Dammit, I was falling hard for her. “There is just so much I don’t
understand,” I said and took Lena’s hand in mine.

“That’s why you need all of us. We all need
you, too.” Lena sat next to me on the couch. Her legs were now
touching mine.

I turned to her and said, “It’s hard for me
to trust a bunch of people who were trying to kill me a month
ago.”

“I know it is. But, you need to remember,
you’re one of them now. We both are and we’re all in this together.
Wyatt and Hector have had amazing lives. They are good men. They
have seen and done things that would blow your mind. You need to
trust them. And I don’t have to tell you about Yari. All of them
will lay down their lives for you, the same way they were prepared
to do for Atticai.” After Lena said ‘Atticai’ she stopped and
stared straight ahead.

“Do you still love him?” I asked.

“That kind of thing doesn’t just go away.”
Lena let go of my hand.

“Look, I know that there is this beautiful
romantic part of you that wanted to live forever by his side. But,
you are aware that he was only using you?”

“I know.” Lena held back tears. “I’m just
confused.”

“Why?”

“I had my own visions, Josiah. I had amazing
dreams where I was this beautiful angel watching over The
Chosen.”

“Was it visions? Or wishful thinking?”

“All I know is that I felt so much love when
I was watching over him.” Lena shook her head with disgust. “You’re
right. It was just some little girl fantasy that got into my
subconscious.” Lena now looked defeated.

I couldn’t let her feel this way. “Lena,
don’t be upset with yourself. You are this amazingly beautiful
woman inside and out. Your heart and soul is why the Triat chose
you for this venture. Just because the details weren’t what they
seemed, doesn’t mean anything less. You’re a spectacular
woman.”

“I guess I’m still that.” Lena looked at her
body. “I may be a Mani, but I’m still a woman.”

I looked at Lena and she was as beautiful as
ever. “That you are.”

“The sun is up,” she said.

“Yes, it is. We should probably get some
rest.”

I got up and Lena laid her legs across the
couch. She closed her eyes. I went to the closet and got out a
blanket out for her. It was an orange and white cover; one that my
grandmother had made for me when I was five years old. It was my
favorite blanket. I walked over holding the blanket and looked down
on this beautiful young woman lying on my couch. Why did I have
such intense feelings for her?

Lena opened her eyes and looked up at me.
She gave me a warm smile. “Do you need something, mister?” she
asked in a very sweet, innocent voice.

“Do you want a blanket?” I asked.

“That would be nice.”

I laid the blanket gently on top of her. I
then sat on the floor and leaned my back up against the couch. I
closed my eyes and sighed aloud. I just wanted to be near her.

Lena said softly in my ear, “Before all this
happened, Josiah. What did you believe in?”

I sighed again. “I don’t even know.”

“Really?” You didn’t believe in
anything?”

“Do you mean like God, heaven, and hell?

“Yeah. Did you believe in any of that?”

“I remember going to a church youth group
when I was a sophomore in high school with a girl I was dating at
the time. The pastor guy asked if anyone wanted to come forward to
be prayed for. I remember wanting to believe in what he was saying
so badly. I even went forward and got prayed for. The guy prayed
with me. I had to admit, it was intense.”

“So what happened?”

“Nothing happened. I started wondering if
what I felt was more of a belief in a Creator or for something
greater than myself.”

“What do you mean exactly?” Lena sat up
again. She seemed very interested in what I thought.

“Maybe what I felt was a hope that a God
could exist and that my life had a plan.”

“But it does have a plan,” Lena said with
conviction.

“I know now that it does. I’m trying to
figure out what my stake in this is. I guess I can accept that I am
needed to help make a change. But I still need guidance. I feel
like I’m dangling. I feel the Triat, or whoever is leading this
life, has left me to figure it out on my own.”

“Have you stopped to listen?”

“Listen to whom?”

“I’m not going to pretend I know the
answers, Josiah. But one thing is for sure, I’m listening.” Lena
closed her eyes. She lay back down and wrapped herself up in the
blanket.

She was quiet and I just listened to her
breathe. I had never done that with anyone before. It was
comforting.

I got up and tucked her in, went to my room
to grab a pillow and blanket and walked back to the living room. I
made a little bed with my blanket on the carpet and lay on the
floor next to Lena.

As I rested, I closed my eyes. I felt my
body and mind drift off. I could feel my muscles rebuilding. I’d
had an insane night and my body definitely needed to relax and
recover. I concentrated on my muscles and tendons. It felt
wonderful lying there. I was in harmony with my body.

Suddenly, I felt a jolt through my entire
body. I opened my eyes instantly. I was in a dream; this was my
first one since becoming a Mani. I was lying in a field on the side
of what appeared to be a hill. I was in front of a gigantic
beautiful white castle. The castle was huge and majestic. It was
something out of a fairy tale. I got to my feet and walked toward
this magnificent place. There was brush out front, and what
appeared to be pine trees. At the front of the great white castle,
I could see something moving. Whatever it was, it wasn’t that tall.
I walked closer to this creature. It was a grayish-blue color. It
almost looked like a gnome without the pointed hat. He was no
taller than three feet.

A sudden burst of wind came over me. And the
air became smoky. The little blue man walked over to me.

“Come and see me,” he said.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“As of right now, that will not be
important. But I do have a message for you.”

This was definitely a vision. My
surroundings felt as real as day. “What is it, friend?”

The creature looked at me with disdain, as
if to say, “We are not friends.” He looked off to the side as if to
purposely not look me in the eyes. Finally, he said, “Tame the
wolf.”

“Huh?” I replied.

“If you tame the wolf, you will find
yourself.”

I looked at the blue Smurf-like creature.
“What wolf?” I asked.

“Tame the wolf and you will find yourself,”
he repeated. He was obviously being cryptic on purpose.

“Will I see you again?” I asked.

“Most definitely,” the little man replied.
“For now, you need to do what I’ve told you.”

With that I woke up and was staring at the
ceiling in my living room. I looked at the clock, it was 7:00 p.m.
Man I was out a long time. I could hear dishes being washed in the
kitchen.

“What are you doing?” I called out to
Lena.

“Cleaning up; you live like a pig.”

“I do the necessities.” I got up, stretched
my arms, and then made my way to the kitchen.

“There is a green fungus growing in your
sink that I’m pretty sure would have killed you if you were
mortal.”

I laughed, “You don’t have to clean,
especially a life-threatening green fungus.”

“Trust me, if I’m going to be staying here,
it’s the least I can do.”

“I have a guest room you can sleep in. You
don’t have to sleep on the couch.”

“That will be fine. Thank you.” Lena put the
last of the dishes away in the cupboard. I liked seeing Lena in my
kitchen. It felt right, almost natural.

“So, you’re pretty domestic?” I asked.

“Not really. I just can’t stand filth.”

“I guess I’ve been living like a slob as of
late. That’s what barricading yourself in a house will do to you.
Why don’t you put your things in the guest room?”

Lena nodded and walked by me to get to the
living room where her suitcase was still on the floor next to the
T.V. I caught a whiff of her perfume or deodorant. Whatever it was,
it was intoxicating.

“Wow, you smell good,” I said, a bit
awkwardly.

“Do I?” Lena stopped and smelled her shirt.
“I’m not wearing fragrance. It’s just little ol’ me.”

“Well, you smell great.” Now I had made
things even more weird by piggy-backing my original compliment. I
tried to save myself, “I’ll go to the store later and get some
things for your room. Who knows, I might even decorate it.”

“You don’t have to do that, Josiah.”

“I would love to. How about a nice ballerina
theme? We’ll do the whole thing in pink.” Lena socked me in the arm
playfully.

“You’re right.” I said. “You have gotten
stronger. I almost felt the punch.”

“Oh really, tough guy? Almost felt it? I’ll
give you something to feel.” Lena began playfully punching me all
over. “Chosen One or not, I’ll whip your ass.”

“Oh, you think.” I grabbed Lena’s arms after
her last punch nearly got me in the chin. I had a sister growing up
so I knew how to be physical with a girl without being rough. In
one quick motion, I turned her body around so her back was pressed
against me. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight in a
bear hug. Not too hard, but I was definitely in control.

“Oh, big, bad, Josiah has to prove his
manhood.”

“I don’t need to prove anything. Don’t
forget I’m kind of special.” I loosened my grip. As I did, Lena
paused and then backed into me as if to say, “Don’t let go.” That
threw me off a little bit. But I definitely liked it. It was a
subtle gesture. I leaned into her and my grip became a hug. I
rested my head on the top of hers. She felt nice in my arms.

We stood there in my kitchen, just swaying
almost as if we were slow dancing. Neither one of us said a word.
We were two people, two new vampires, having a moment. One thing
that hasn’t changed since becoming a Mani was my heart and my soul.
I loved the same, maybe even more. It was like I could see truth in
another light. Lena was my truth. She was my salvation in the midst
of all this madness.

Lena turned around. “Josiah.” She cupped my
face. “What have we gotten ourselves into?”

“I don’t know.” I looked at her and stared
into her eyes. I felt her love toward me. My love for her was
overwhelming. Why was I an open book to this woman? “This is hard,”
I said. “I’m trying to be strong, but it’s damn hard.”

Lena turned around and now she was facing
me. She was a foot shorter than me so I crouched a little. She
touched my face with the back of her right hand. I could feel tears
burning my eyes.

“Sweet, Josiah,” Lena whispered. “How did
you, of all people, get caught up in this?”

“I’m a little more than just caught up in
it. I’m being consumed by it.” I felt the warmth of Lena’s breath
on my neck. She wrapped her arms around my waist.

“I’m not upset about Atticai. I need you to
know that.” She looked up at me and tightened her grip around my
waist. “I need you to know that I am very grateful that you saved
my life.”

I looked down on this petite, delicate
woman. She had my heart.