Mikaine

Chapter One

Modern day

“Bitch!” Jessica just managed to duck the second blow. He was drunk again. Her stepfather wasn’t a kind man sober but drunk he was much, much worse.

“I’m sorry,” she stammered bending to pick up the shattered pieces of the vase he had knocked over when he had slammed the door. “I’ll clean it up.” Her mistake tonight was the look of horror as she saw the vase; a gift from her father soon before he had killed himself, fall to the ground. Luckily, he was drunk enough to lose interest in her as he shambled to the television.

Jessica threw the pieces of the vase into the trashcan remembering her father’s smile as he handed her the vase on her sixteenth birthday with a bunch of tulips inside of it. Tears burned behind her eyes as she walked to her bedroom. One more year, she promised herself. Once more year and she’d graduate college and would be able to move out on her own. She thanked God that she’d be moving back into her dorm tomorrow. With any luck she wouldn’t see this room again until Christmas.

She curled up on her bed, cuddling with her old stuffed tiger and staring blankly at a picture on her nightstand. In it her father was caught laughing as he twirled a younger, giggling Jessica in circles. They were at a beach on a beautiful early summer day. Jessica smiled sadly, remembering how badly she had gotten sunburned and how her mother had scolded her father. It was okay though; everything was good back then.

The tears she had been fighting rolled down her cheeks, one after another. “Why’d you leave me, daddy?” she whispered blinking the tears out of her green eyes.

Ireland

“What do you want from me?” Mikaine growled. “I apologized. What more do you want from me?” This wasn’t where he would have chosen to have this fight: in the middle of the hall in their castle.

“I’d like for you to mean it for one,” Alaza said. “You could try apologizing to her for two.”

“I’m apologizing to you because I don’t know you two were friends,” Mikaine said. “I owe her no apology.”

“She said-”

“I told her when our little affair began that I wasn’t going to settle down. It’s not my fault if she didn’t listen.”

“When will you stop punishing the entire female race for Vaultine’s actions?” Alaza asked softly.

Mikaine’s eyes hardened. “I’m going to leave for a couple months.”

“What a surprise!” Alaza exclaimed mockingly. “I mention Vaultine’s name and you run. God forbid you stop and deal with your emotions.”

“I’ve dealt. It’s been over seven hundred years. I’m over it. Apparently, you aren’t.”

“I just want you to be happy.”

He groaned. He loved his sister but she was such a meddler. “I am happy! I’m immortal, I’m not in any hurry to settle down, Laz. I’ve done that for over a thousand years if you remember. I’m just getting a feel for the other life.”

“Kaine, this won’t make you happy?”

“I’ll be the judge of that. Meanwhile, I’m going to leave for a couple months. I think we could both use a little space.” She didn’t argue. “Good, if you need me call me.”

“I will. Be careful.” His sister got a faraway look in her eyes. She shook her head. “And Kaine?”

“Yes?”

“Please, remember that not all women are like her.”

“I love you don’t I, little sister?” Mikaine asked, a little annoyed. “I’m going to go pack.” Yes, he did love her, Alaza knew that, but she also knew that if she weren’t his sister Mikaine would hate her as much as he did any woman who didn’t reside in their home.

Three months into the school year and Jessica couldn’t be much happier. Everything was going so well. She loved her classes, her new roommate was nice and her mother just called to tell her that she and Jessica’s stepfather would be going out of the state for Christmas.

“Let’s go out,” Holly, her roommate said. “My boyfriend’s fraternity is throwing a party tonight and I need some company. He’s probably going to get drunk. It’ll be fun. I promise.”

“Gee, drunk frat guys,” Jessica drawled. “Sign me up.”

“Please,” Holly begged.

“Okay, I’ll go. But I’m going to leave if I’m not having any fun.”

“Thanks! You’re the best! Come on, let’s find something to wear.” Jessica allowed herself to be drug to the closet. She hated drinking but one party wouldn’t hurt.

“Hey, baby,” a man said grabbing Jessica’s arm and she came back into the room from the bathroom. “Dance with me.”

Jessica pulled her arm away. “No thanks. I don’t dance.” She tried to walk away but the man followed.

“Come on, it’ll be fun.” I’ve heard that one before, Jessica thought wryly. Holly had spent thirty minutes with her before going upstairs with her boyfriend. She had been gone for forty minutes. “There’s no reason to be unfriendly.”

“The lady isn’t interested,” a man behind her said. The man’s eyes narrowed but he backed off. Jessica turned to her savior. He was tall and broad shouldered. Pure black hair cascaded down his back.

“Thanks, but I could have handled it.”

“I’m sure but now you don’t have to worry about it,” the man shrugged. “You don’t seem the type to go to frat parties.”

“I know,” Jessica sighed. “I’m here with a friend.”

The man smiled and made a show of looking around. “Let me guess, she’s in the bathroom?”

Jessica smiled back. “No, that’s where my body builder boyfriend is.”

“Ah.” She took in his clothing. It was casual but much too expensive for a student at this college.

“I’ve never seen you on campus.”

“That would make sense. I graduated a few years ago. I came by for the weekend to see my little brother. Somehow, I ended up here.” The two sat down near the makeshift bar. They talked and Jessica found herself telling him about her family, something she told no one. They shared a couple drinks, coke in Jessica’s case. Two hours later she yawned.

“I’d um, better get back to my room. I need to get some sleep if I’m going to drive home tomorrow.”

“Could I walk you?” He smiled disarmingly. “I wouldn’t want for you to get accosted by drunken frat boys who want to dance on your way out without me there to protect you.”

“You don’t have to,” she told him, standing.

“I know, but this party doesn’t have any appeal to me either,” he shrugged. “My brother is passed out upstairs.”

“Suit yourself.” She grabbed her jacket and they left. The two cut through the parking lot when Gabriel stopped at a car.

“Jessica,” his voice was suddenly soft, smooth as silk, and strangely compelling. “I’d like you to get into the car and take a nap. Okay?” Wordlessly, she found herself opening the car door and getting in. Her last conscious thought was that she didn’t even know the man’s name.