Our Story - The Beginning

Chapter Three

Later

“Okay,” Rowan relented. “That was cool.” The vampires and Lupe rejoined the guys, plus one more, at a table.

“You have a fan,” Brayden informed Lupe before sweeping Cherish onto the dance floor.

“Cat, would you care to dance?” Tristan inquired as Lupe and the new guy walked away. Cat looked nervous. She glanced at Rowan, then at the shifters who had gotten a table nearby, then back at Rowan.

/Go on,/ Rowan told her. As they walked away she realized her problem. She was now alone with Garret.

“Could we start over?” Garret asked gently. “I think we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.”

“Understatement,” she chuckled. “But I’ll agree.” She extended her hand. He took it in his own and shook it slowly. “Okay.” They sat in silence for a few seconds. “So...”

“You were amazing out there.”

“Thanks.” She looked at his outfit again and smiled. “I’m kind if curious. Do you own anything not in black?”

He blinked as though surprised. “What? And spoil the look?”

“Look?”

“I’m going for preppy Goth.”

She raised her eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yeah, I think I’m coming off as the Grim Reaper attending high school.”

Rowan smiled. “That’s what I was thinking but I was trying to be nice.”

“Is that a smile? Wow. I was unaware that you could smile.”

“See what happens when you’re nice?”

“Yes. I’ll have to try that more often. You have a beautiful smile.” Rowan blushed.

At another table

Lupe bit her lip as she sat down with the strange man. His scent told her he was a lycanthrope. She didn’t know what had possessed her, however, to leave the pack to talk to him alone. “Um, I’m Lupe, hi,” she said and instantly cursed herself for sounding so lame.

The man smiled, though. “I’m Orion. Hi. You guys were incredible.”

“Thanks, the music was Rowan’s, we don’t sing anyone else’s for a first gig.” Dear Moon, now she was rambling.

“Just the same, you were great. I’ve never seen you around.”

“Yeah, I’m in school… college, I’m a junior.”

“That would explain it, I’m in the workforce.”

“What do you do?” Finally, something that didn’t sound like a five year old was saying it.

“I’m a lawyer.”

“Really? You don’t look old enough.”

“I’m twenty-eight. It’s the family business. Well, it’s my human family’s business.”

“You’re adopted.”

“I figure it’s always best to get that out. Let’s me make sure I’m not hanging out with a specist.”

“Rowan’s boyfriend is human, she wouldn’t tolerate someone treating him badly because of his species.”

“Good.” A smile touched Orion’s lips. “Do you want to tell your guard dogs that I’m not the big bad wolf?” Lupe looked up and saw Nick and Hunter watching Orion closely.

She stared them down telling them without words that she was a big ‘wolf and could take care of herself before turning back to Orion with a smile. “Does that make me Red Riding Hood?” she couldn’t help but tease. Orion grinned tugging gently on one of her wild red curls.

“You certainly have the hair for it, darlin’.”

“Alabama.”

“Pardon.”

“Your accent.”

“I thought I was covering it pretty well.”

“You do, but it peeks out. I like it.” A smile warmed his green eyes before it ever touched his face and Lupe instantly knew she was finally meeting someone special.

Back with Rowan and Garret

Garret looked out at all the couples on the dance floor before turning to Rowan. “Would you like to dance?”

/Yes!/ “I... I can’t,” Rowan said reluctantly.

“I’m confused. I saw how your eyes lit up when I asked. Why would you say no?”

“Jesse,” she said honestly.

He rolled his eyes. “It’s a dance. It’s not as if I’m taking you to a sleazy motel room.”

“It just wouldn’t be right.”

“Why?”

“I’ve been with Jesse for four years.”

“See that’s where you lose me. You want to stay with this guy?”

“Yes.”

“You love him?”

“I- yes.”

A raised eyebrow at her hesitation. “So, why haven’t you two ever had sex? Four years is quite a commitment, especially for a human.”

“It’s just never felt right.”

“Why?”

“I-”

“May I answer?”

“You’re probably going to anyhow.”

“It’s never felt right because it isn’t right. Like it or not, baby, you two are a different species. It’s okay for us to have casual sex with them, or even just hang out. But for you, sweetheart, it would be mating, and that just isn’t right.”

“Who do you think you are?”

“All I think is that doing this is only going to hurt the both of you in the long run. Honey, you can’t deny nature.”

“First of all: I’m going to say this one more time: it’s none of your business. Secondly: you don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. Jesse loves me.”

He snorted. He knew deep down that what he was doing was only going to piss her off but the words just tumbled out and they kept on coming. “Dream on. He’s human, they can never truly accept us, and part of them will always be afraid of us. Jesse wants you. I mean, it’s not often a mediocre human gets the chance at a woman like you. Of course he says he loves you. Isn’t that what all men claim to get into a woman’s pants?” Her hand moved of its’ own accord, she didn’t even know what it was doing until it struck him.

“I’m leaving.”

She hit him! She actually had the nerve to hit him. “Maybe you should,” he growled. “And maybe I should pay your human pet a visit.”

Rowan gaped up at him. “Are you threatening Jesse?”

“Of course not. Don’t worry, I don’t hurt dumb animals. Your pet is safe. Unless you cross me again.”

“Cross you?” she demanded.

“I am far more powerful than you can even guess, baby. Don’t cross me again.”

“You egotistical, arrogant, manipulative-”

“Don’t finish that. You look tired. Why don’t you take a little nap?” The next thing she knew she was waking up in the dorm.

The next morning

“I’m sorry,” Rowan said, for the hundredth time. “But I can’t tell you what happen.” Rowan was terrified for Jesse. She couldn’t tell them on the chance that Garret would follow through on his threats.

“Rach, you know you can tell us anything,” Cat said.

“Yeah, I mean, we’re clan, right?” Cherish asked. Rowan gave a small smile. Clan was the only true alliance for vampires. You stood by your clan no matter what. You could leave but it was punishable by death to some vamps.

“I know guys, and I want to tell you, really,” she said. “It’s just complicated. I’ll tell you when I can. Okay?”

“Okay, Rach,” Cat said. “We’ll wait.”

“Thanks. Can I use your cell phone? I need to call Jesse.”

“Sure.” Cat handed her the phone. Rowan tried calling him twice.

“Oh, no,” she whispered. Her next call was to his parents. She was only on the phone with his mother for a few seconds when she told her that he had been taken to the hospital. She talked to them for another minute before saying goodbye and hanging up. she numbly handed Cat’s phone back to her.

“What’s wrong?” Cat asked.

“Jesse’s in the hospital,” Cherish said.

“I really hope you overheard that,” she said. “If you were reading my mind again-”

“You’ll just give me another ‘the mind is private’ speech,” Cherish said dismissively.

“Let’s go see him,” Cat said cutting off the argument. Rowan stood and followed the others to Cherish’s car.

Thirty minutes later

“Let’s go,” Cat said after checking the hall.

“I don’t see why we just don’t wipe their minds,” Cherish said.

“Because it wouldn’t be right,” she said. “We can get in just fine this way.”

“Fine,” Cherish said. Finally they found themselves outside of Jesse’s hospital room.

“Go ahead,” Cat said leaning against the door.

“We’ll keep an eye out,” Cherish said. Rowan took a deep breath before walking in.

“Rowan!” Jesse exclaimed hoarsely. She gave a small, blatantly false smile, and sat down on the side of his bed. “I was hoping you’d come.”

“Of course I did,” she said giving his hand a gentle squeeze. She sighed looking at the blanket, an ugly white thing. “Listen, the doctors said that you lost a lot of blood. Some of your body started dying before they could get you a transfusion... and the blood they used... your body isn’t accepting it.”

Jesse’s eyes widened, not at the news, but at the fact that she was telling him this. “I know.”

“I can save you.”

He blinked. “How?”

“Jesse, ever since you knew me there have been some things that I didn’t tell you, that I couldn’t tell you. I’m not human.”

“What?”

“Look at me.” She closed her eyes briefly allowing her vampire self to come out for a second, just long enough to show off her fangs. Jesse gasped. The sunlight burned but she was able to endure it so he could see her as she was.

“Okay, that’s unexpected.”

“That’s who I am.”

“Rae-”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I couldn’t. But now I can help you.”

“What exactly are you talking about?”

“Turning you.”

“Uh-huh. So will I be like you?”

“Sort of. You’ll have to wear sunglasses during the day. The sun is going to be more harmful to you than us. But you’ll be alive.”

“Do it.” Jesse had lost so much blood that she didn’t have to feed from him at all. she bit her own wrist and put it to his mouth. Jesse sighed, closing his eyes and swallowing. She let him feed until his body completely relaxed. Rowan stood and looked at him puzzled. When you gave blood to someone you loved it was supposed to feel... different, sensual. This was like how it had felt when she had given blood to her sister after she had gotten hurt, comfortable, but nothing special.

/Hurry, someone’s coming,/ Cat called. Rowan touched Jesse’s forehead making sure his dreams would be pleasant before walking out to join Cat and Cherish.

“So, it was Garret,” Cherish said

“Stop reading my thoughts,” Rowan snapped half-heartedly. “Yes, it was.”

“Veil them,” Cherish said. “So, what should we do now?”

“We can’t let him get away with this,” Cat said. “Let’s go see the witches.”

Back at the dorms

Camille and Nova’s dorm was decorated in Nova’s taste. Everything was red or black. You could tell what Camille had bought. Her pink wardrobe and blankets stood out in harsh contrast. Nova was the only one at the apartment. She was sitting on her bed playing with their black kitten, Mage when we came in.

“Ah, my favorite vamps,” she smiled. “Come for a blessing? A tarot reading? A bowl of blood?”

“Your neck’s starting to look good,” Cherish growled.

“My friends,” Rowan sighed mockingly. “You really know how to make a girl feel welcome.”

“We need advice,” Cat broke in. “We think Garret-”

“Wants to kill Jesse,” Nova interjected.

“You’re rather creepy.”

“I try. So, Rowan’s new boyfriend wants to kill her old boyfriend-”

“Nova, he’s not-” Rowan said.

“Whatever,” Nova shrugged dismissively. “Have you guys ever heard of The Lost Ones?”

“Isn’t that an old vampire movie?” Cat asked.

“No, that’s The Lost Boys,” Nova laughed. “The Lost ones are a clan of vampires. They’re loyal but vicious. I’ve looked Garret up.” No one knew where Nova got her information, but if there was anything that you needed to know about she was the one to go to. “He was a member, apparently he took off. They have out a reward for information on him.” Rowan winced without realizing it. They could be out to kill him. Rowan shook that thought off. They wouldn’t get the chance. Garret had hurt Jesse; she was going to kill him.

“Why does he hate me?” Rowan sighed.

“I think it’s exactly the opposite,” Cat told me, “I think he loves you.”

“Yippee,” she muttered. But then she thought of where the turn in their tentative truce had come.

Nova looked at her cat that was now curled up on the bed. “Or at least he wants to get into your pants.”

“Thanks,” Rowan said sarcastically. Nova’s idea seemed to Rowan to be much more realistic though.

“Before we go, is there anything else you can tell us?” Cat asked.

“No,” Nova said. “But there is something she can do to help.”