Our Story - Part Four - The Lost Ones
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Vampire › General
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Category:
Vampire › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
11
Views:
1,038
Reviews:
1
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty
“Please?” Garret actually threw in the puppy-dog look for good measure. “I guarantee we’ll have fun.”
Rowan didn’t respond for a few moments. A month had passed since she and Kalena had begun training. They had gone a month without hearing from Lupe or hearing anything about her. Garret still had her mind in grasp, all he could tell, though, was that she was still a live. Now Garret was expressing his interest in going to see his clan and bring her with him. “All the stuff you told me about them…”
“I know, but they promised to be on their best behavior. I want you to meet Liam.”
Rowan cut her eyes over to the woman sitting across from the couple who had been glaring at Rowan since she had come in. “If he’s anything like Angie I’ll pass.”
“My name’s Angela!” Angela snapped. The two girls had an instant dislike of each other. It had only grown stronger over time. Rowan didn’t know what it was about her that Angela hated but wasn’t about to back down.
“She needs to move back to the hotel,” Rowan announced crossing her arms.
“Rowan-” Garret sighed.
“She hates me.”
“She doesn’t-”
“I do,” Angela put in helpfully.
Garret sighed. “Okay… but I can’t make her stay in a hotel.”
“I can,” Rowan said helpfully. Ayden looked between the two interested.
Garret took a deep breath praying for patience. “Rowan, there are people kidnapping your friends,” Rowan flinched at that reminder, “do you really want her to be in a hotel all by herself?”
It was tempting but… “No. I’ll go with you.” Rowan knew how much his clan meant to him. Liam was the closest thing he had to a father. He wanted her to meet his family. Besides, she could see that this announcement really pissed Angela off.
“We can all go together,” Ayden gushed, “one big happy family.” Rowan turned to Garret who shrugged looking apologetic about his friend’s behavior.
“I’m glad you changed your mind,” Garret said.
“I have one stipulation,” Rowan said a thought occurring to her.
Garret looked at her for a few seconds. “No.”
“I didn’t even say what it was!”
“You didn’t have to, angel. I know you and I know that look. You want to take some one I’d object to and it’s either-” He stopped, looking at her with something akin to horror. “No. You wouldn’t do that to me.”
“It’s Christmas time and she doesn’t have any family.”
“Maybe I wasn’t clear. Let me try again. No way in hell.”
“Garret-”
“I’m sorry, Row, but you know how I feel about her.”
“Yes, and you know how she feels about you. You said that the Predators were close to your clan. Maybe she can find something out.”
“Or maybe she can sell us out and kill us all.”
“You’re very paranoid.”
“No. I’m a realist. She hates me.”
“Right. Hates you. We get a long fine.”
“I’ll never understand you.”
She smiled. “Is that such a bad thing?”
“No.” /You’re lucky I love you so much./
/I know,/ she sent back sticking her tongue out at him. He smiled at her antics.
“I’d kill to know what they’re saying,” Ayden mused.
“I’d kill not to,” Angela said.
“If Kalena agrees to a car ride with just us vampires then she can go,” Garret allowed. Rowan smiled. “You’re killing my rep.”
“I think it’s cute,” Ayden said.
“Drop dead, Ayden,” Garret snapped.
“Once again, your words are so hurtful. Why are you so mean?” Garret shook his head barely muffling a growl.
Later
Rowan met up with Kalena at the dorm. The others were out so they cleared the furniture to spar in the living room. “You want me to what?” Kalena was torn between outrage and amusement.
“It’s not that bad,” Rowan tried.
“Row, you’re asking me to sleep in a house full of vampires. Some who have killed.”
“I’m not,” Rowan protested. “But the other Predators are there.”
“And? I’ve shunned them too, remember? Or is this a test?”
“If I didn’t trust you I wouldn’t spend all this time defending you from Garret.” Rowan paused looking at the entertainment center, the only piece Cherish had been able to afford, but it was the nicest of the set. She adjusted herself so when Kalena took her down, as she was likely to, she wouldn’t hit it. Kalena was watching her looking bemused.
Rowan sighed before continuing. “I know this is a lot to ask from you but I need to find Lupe. I don’t know what they’re doing to her. Garret’s clan doesn’t have them. The Predators are our only remaining hope. I’m afraid if we don’t find her soon… I shouldn’t be burdening you with this. I’m sorry, it’s completely up to you, it won’t change anything if you say no. I’ll understand.”
“Why would they keep her alive, though?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe it’s an experiment.” Kalena was quiet for a while letting that sink in. An experiment. “If you can do this you can consider any debt between us paid in full
The more Kalena thought about it the more sure she was that Rowan was right. It was the Predators who were responsible for this disappearence. “No,” she said finally. “This one’s free.”
“You sure?”
“What the hell? Why not? And if I die, oh well.”
“Don’t say that?”
“Why not? Face it, Rowan, no one really cares.”
“Like it or not, you’re my friend and that means you aren’t allowed to die on me.”
Kalena just looked at Rowan for a few seconds. “Not allowed?”
“Yes, not allowed. It’s against the rules of friendship.”
“Rules?”
“Yep.”
Kalena rolled her eyes. “When are we leaving?”
“Next Friday, after winter break starts. We’re all meeting at Garret’s dorm at ten in the morning.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Thanks. So, shall we get started?”
“After this? Yeah, I’m looking forward to kicking your ass.”
Friday came quickly. “Be careful,” Nova ordered hugging Rowan first then Kalena. “Don’t take candy from strangers and all that.” Kalena rolled her eyes. The others had started heading home earlier in the day. Nova was staying in Garret’s apartment, wanting nothing to do with her parents.
“Watch out for yourself too,” Rowan told her friend. “Call if you need me.”
“I will.” /Have fun driving all that way with all of them./
“Thanks.”
/If you get too tense Garret’s right there if you need him./
“Shut up, Nova.”
“I would love to know what they’re saying,” Ayden said.
“Judging by that last comment, no, you wouldn’t,” Garret told him.
“Garret,” Nova said.
He turned to the short witch. “Yes?”
“You watch out for her, okay?”
“Will do.”
“I mean it, take care of her, make sure all her needs are met.”
“That’s what I live for,” Garret smiled as Ayden snickered.
“Garret, must you encourage her?” Rowan asked exasperated.
“You keep asking me to be nicer to your friends,” he pointed out.
“So not the point,” she pouted.
“Let’s go,” Angela said clearly not amused by the conversation.
“Yes, master,” Ayden said in his best Igor impression complete with hunching over and walking with a limp.
“Idiot,” Garret said mildly.
“Kalena, do you want me to sit in the back with you?” Rowan asked.
Kalena smiled pulling out her new favorite toy, a knife with a silver hilt and a blade made out of mahogany. “I’ll be fine.”
Angela looked at Kalena then at Garret. “I don’t want to sit with her.”
“She won’t hurt you,” Rowan said, “unless you do something to deserve it.”
“Or just piss me off,” Kelena put in ever so helpfully.
“Garret,” Angela said looking worried.
“Ayden can sit in the middle,” Garret said. “Ayden, be good.”
“Spoil all my fun,” Ayden pouted.
“No,” Garret said. “For some stupid reason I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“Spoil my fun,” Kalena said with a good imitation of Ayden’s pout. Garret sighed and opened the door for Rowan.
“I have a prediction,” he told her.
“Yeah?”
“By the end of this trip I’m going to shoot myself.”
Rowan smiled. “Hey, you’re the one who didn’t want to fly.”
“I have a car,” Garret pointed out. “Why would we fly?”
“He’s scared of heights,” Ayden told Kalena.
“I’ll remember that,” Kalena said. Garret gave Ayden a hard glare and the blond smirked at him before hopping into the car. The others followed suit. Angela sat behind Rowan much to her unease, Garret wasn’t much happier with Kalena behind him. Rowan waved to Nova as Garret pulled onto the road.
“Are we there yet?” Ayden asked after twenty minutes of silence other than the radio.
“Ayden, I want to warn you right now,” Garret said calmly. “I know you have a cell phone so I will not hesitate to stop the car and leave you on the side of the road.”
“Damn someone’s PMSing,” Ayden said. Kalena hit him. “Ow!”
“Don’t be an idiot,” she told him.
“Idiot is what Ayden does best,” Garret said. Kalena snorted but didn’t respond. Rowan yawned and looked out the widow. This was going to be a long ride.
“Please?” Garret actually threw in the puppy-dog look for good measure. “I guarantee we’ll have fun.”
Rowan didn’t respond for a few moments. A month had passed since she and Kalena had begun training. They had gone a month without hearing from Lupe or hearing anything about her. Garret still had her mind in grasp, all he could tell, though, was that she was still a live. Now Garret was expressing his interest in going to see his clan and bring her with him. “All the stuff you told me about them…”
“I know, but they promised to be on their best behavior. I want you to meet Liam.”
Rowan cut her eyes over to the woman sitting across from the couple who had been glaring at Rowan since she had come in. “If he’s anything like Angie I’ll pass.”
“My name’s Angela!” Angela snapped. The two girls had an instant dislike of each other. It had only grown stronger over time. Rowan didn’t know what it was about her that Angela hated but wasn’t about to back down.
“She needs to move back to the hotel,” Rowan announced crossing her arms.
“Rowan-” Garret sighed.
“She hates me.”
“She doesn’t-”
“I do,” Angela put in helpfully.
Garret sighed. “Okay… but I can’t make her stay in a hotel.”
“I can,” Rowan said helpfully. Ayden looked between the two interested.
Garret took a deep breath praying for patience. “Rowan, there are people kidnapping your friends,” Rowan flinched at that reminder, “do you really want her to be in a hotel all by herself?”
It was tempting but… “No. I’ll go with you.” Rowan knew how much his clan meant to him. Liam was the closest thing he had to a father. He wanted her to meet his family. Besides, she could see that this announcement really pissed Angela off.
“We can all go together,” Ayden gushed, “one big happy family.” Rowan turned to Garret who shrugged looking apologetic about his friend’s behavior.
“I’m glad you changed your mind,” Garret said.
“I have one stipulation,” Rowan said a thought occurring to her.
Garret looked at her for a few seconds. “No.”
“I didn’t even say what it was!”
“You didn’t have to, angel. I know you and I know that look. You want to take some one I’d object to and it’s either-” He stopped, looking at her with something akin to horror. “No. You wouldn’t do that to me.”
“It’s Christmas time and she doesn’t have any family.”
“Maybe I wasn’t clear. Let me try again. No way in hell.”
“Garret-”
“I’m sorry, Row, but you know how I feel about her.”
“Yes, and you know how she feels about you. You said that the Predators were close to your clan. Maybe she can find something out.”
“Or maybe she can sell us out and kill us all.”
“You’re very paranoid.”
“No. I’m a realist. She hates me.”
“Right. Hates you. We get a long fine.”
“I’ll never understand you.”
She smiled. “Is that such a bad thing?”
“No.” /You’re lucky I love you so much./
/I know,/ she sent back sticking her tongue out at him. He smiled at her antics.
“I’d kill to know what they’re saying,” Ayden mused.
“I’d kill not to,” Angela said.
“If Kalena agrees to a car ride with just us vampires then she can go,” Garret allowed. Rowan smiled. “You’re killing my rep.”
“I think it’s cute,” Ayden said.
“Drop dead, Ayden,” Garret snapped.
“Once again, your words are so hurtful. Why are you so mean?” Garret shook his head barely muffling a growl.
Later
Rowan met up with Kalena at the dorm. The others were out so they cleared the furniture to spar in the living room. “You want me to what?” Kalena was torn between outrage and amusement.
“It’s not that bad,” Rowan tried.
“Row, you’re asking me to sleep in a house full of vampires. Some who have killed.”
“I’m not,” Rowan protested. “But the other Predators are there.”
“And? I’ve shunned them too, remember? Or is this a test?”
“If I didn’t trust you I wouldn’t spend all this time defending you from Garret.” Rowan paused looking at the entertainment center, the only piece Cherish had been able to afford, but it was the nicest of the set. She adjusted herself so when Kalena took her down, as she was likely to, she wouldn’t hit it. Kalena was watching her looking bemused.
Rowan sighed before continuing. “I know this is a lot to ask from you but I need to find Lupe. I don’t know what they’re doing to her. Garret’s clan doesn’t have them. The Predators are our only remaining hope. I’m afraid if we don’t find her soon… I shouldn’t be burdening you with this. I’m sorry, it’s completely up to you, it won’t change anything if you say no. I’ll understand.”
“Why would they keep her alive, though?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe it’s an experiment.” Kalena was quiet for a while letting that sink in. An experiment. “If you can do this you can consider any debt between us paid in full
The more Kalena thought about it the more sure she was that Rowan was right. It was the Predators who were responsible for this disappearence. “No,” she said finally. “This one’s free.”
“You sure?”
“What the hell? Why not? And if I die, oh well.”
“Don’t say that?”
“Why not? Face it, Rowan, no one really cares.”
“Like it or not, you’re my friend and that means you aren’t allowed to die on me.”
Kalena just looked at Rowan for a few seconds. “Not allowed?”
“Yes, not allowed. It’s against the rules of friendship.”
“Rules?”
“Yep.”
Kalena rolled her eyes. “When are we leaving?”
“Next Friday, after winter break starts. We’re all meeting at Garret’s dorm at ten in the morning.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Thanks. So, shall we get started?”
“After this? Yeah, I’m looking forward to kicking your ass.”
Friday came quickly. “Be careful,” Nova ordered hugging Rowan first then Kalena. “Don’t take candy from strangers and all that.” Kalena rolled her eyes. The others had started heading home earlier in the day. Nova was staying in Garret’s apartment, wanting nothing to do with her parents.
“Watch out for yourself too,” Rowan told her friend. “Call if you need me.”
“I will.” /Have fun driving all that way with all of them./
“Thanks.”
/If you get too tense Garret’s right there if you need him./
“Shut up, Nova.”
“I would love to know what they’re saying,” Ayden said.
“Judging by that last comment, no, you wouldn’t,” Garret told him.
“Garret,” Nova said.
He turned to the short witch. “Yes?”
“You watch out for her, okay?”
“Will do.”
“I mean it, take care of her, make sure all her needs are met.”
“That’s what I live for,” Garret smiled as Ayden snickered.
“Garret, must you encourage her?” Rowan asked exasperated.
“You keep asking me to be nicer to your friends,” he pointed out.
“So not the point,” she pouted.
“Let’s go,” Angela said clearly not amused by the conversation.
“Yes, master,” Ayden said in his best Igor impression complete with hunching over and walking with a limp.
“Idiot,” Garret said mildly.
“Kalena, do you want me to sit in the back with you?” Rowan asked.
Kalena smiled pulling out her new favorite toy, a knife with a silver hilt and a blade made out of mahogany. “I’ll be fine.”
Angela looked at Kalena then at Garret. “I don’t want to sit with her.”
“She won’t hurt you,” Rowan said, “unless you do something to deserve it.”
“Or just piss me off,” Kelena put in ever so helpfully.
“Garret,” Angela said looking worried.
“Ayden can sit in the middle,” Garret said. “Ayden, be good.”
“Spoil all my fun,” Ayden pouted.
“No,” Garret said. “For some stupid reason I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“Spoil my fun,” Kalena said with a good imitation of Ayden’s pout. Garret sighed and opened the door for Rowan.
“I have a prediction,” he told her.
“Yeah?”
“By the end of this trip I’m going to shoot myself.”
Rowan smiled. “Hey, you’re the one who didn’t want to fly.”
“I have a car,” Garret pointed out. “Why would we fly?”
“He’s scared of heights,” Ayden told Kalena.
“I’ll remember that,” Kalena said. Garret gave Ayden a hard glare and the blond smirked at him before hopping into the car. The others followed suit. Angela sat behind Rowan much to her unease, Garret wasn’t much happier with Kalena behind him. Rowan waved to Nova as Garret pulled onto the road.
“Are we there yet?” Ayden asked after twenty minutes of silence other than the radio.
“Ayden, I want to warn you right now,” Garret said calmly. “I know you have a cell phone so I will not hesitate to stop the car and leave you on the side of the road.”
“Damn someone’s PMSing,” Ayden said. Kalena hit him. “Ow!”
“Don’t be an idiot,” she told him.
“Idiot is what Ayden does best,” Garret said. Kalena snorted but didn’t respond. Rowan yawned and looked out the widow. This was going to be a long ride.