The first bell startled me out of the fantasy world of my book. I hurried to the counter to check it out, and then started toward first period, until I remembered it was an assembly. Cursing under my breath, I was caught in a wave of students who were shuffling dutifully to the upper gymnasium. As I was pushed through the crowd toward the doors, I knew it was too late to turn around. There were too many teachers and associated student body members watching for flaky students. Then out of nowhere the tingling in my fingers appeared—and in full force, too. Fear had me twisting my head in all directions, searching for the cause of my warning signal. My eyes landed on Langdon, my ex-boyfriend, and his eyes gleamed with an evil knowing. Thoughts screamed at me to ask him who or what he was, but I knew that it was a possibility that it was one of the u da yv la dv shape-shifting. They also had the ability to change humans into one of them. All I wanted in that moment was Sebastian, but he was too upset that I was back in school to even talk to me. My pulse picked up, and sweat formed a sticky layer on my hands.
The closer the crowd of students got to Langdon, the more my hands began to vibrate. I had the sudden realization that I could explode on him and everyone would see me as a murderer without actually knowing what he was. I would go to jail, and then I wouldn’t be able to do what I was meant to do. With no concern about being suspended or getting detention, I turned and ran through the shuffling bodies. Teachers’ yells for me to stop faded as I ran faster. I pushed through the front doors so hard that the glass shook, and I kept running for the safety of everyone around me, as well as the security of my destiny. When I got to 99E, I finally stopped to catch my breath. Then, something in me told me to turn around.
My breath caught as I faced my own worst enemy. Langdon was in his car, smiling like the devil himself. I prepared myself for the irritating tingles to attack my hands, but at first nothing happened. Then he spoke, and my fingertips lit up with electricity.
“I see you have finally come into your powers.” His deep voice hissed a little and made me gag. “No matter. I will succeed where others will fail. And you will be begging me for mercy like you did when I left you after I took your virginity.” Langdon’s words slashed at my heart, and he cackled when he saw my face. “When my people come up for a new world order, I will destroy you, your sweet little nymph friends, and especially your pathetic vampire lover. And trust me when I say that all of you are just small inconveniences in my plan.”
“Why?” My voice came out in nothing but a whisper.
“Why? Because when I met you, you were the one I wanted for the rest of my life. Then one of the u da yv la dv came to me and told me everything, including how that dick of a vampire is your damn soul mate. Even did this neat little trick of showing me the future. So I joined them. You know that trip I went on with my parents? Well, that was a total lie. They changed me. Then we came up with a plan. I would mark you, and the marking would last as long as your desire for me lasted. Then that fucking vampire came along and ruined everything. Now get in the damn car.”
“No.”
“It was not a question, AubrieAnna.”
“Yeah, well I don’t care if it was or not. I’m not getting in the car.” I stuck my chin up to prove my point.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way. And quite honestly, I don’t want to ruin your face. I still like that part of you.”
“Screw you, Langdon. It doesn’t matter how you try to get me in your stupid car. I am
not
getting in.” I felt myself calling on the nature that was around me, pulling roots of trees toward his car. If I had to, I would trap him.
“Goddamn it!” Langdon began to reach for the door handle, and I let loose.
With the flick of my wrist, the tree roots that had stretched toward us broke through the concrete and began wrapping around the car, trapping Langdon inside, while heavier roots crushed the hood and trunk. The only way he could escape was if he had a chain saw or some of his little buddies came to his rescue. As I turned away, I could feel the pain of the trees so I released their grip on his car. I kept walking toward my home, never stopping to look back.
As I stepped into my house, I knew it was a mistake to come home. My mom ran to me, worry all over her face. I told her everything and watched as relief, fear, confusion, and more worry crossed her features. She offered me a cup of hot chocolate to warm me up, and I graciously accepted. Even though I was finally over Langdon, his words hit a nerve. After all, I did love him, and I gave him everything, every piece of me. Then he decided a deal with the u da yv la dv was better. In a way, I understood. I was promised to someone else, someone stronger than he was, someone who would live forever, like me. So no matter what Langdon chose to do, he would still have lost me in the end. In a disturbed way, I felt truly sorry for him.
“Hey, Mom?”
“Yes, Auby?”
“Is it wrong that I feel sorry for Langdon?” I asked her, curious for her opinion.
“Well, I guess it depends,” she answered.
“Depends on what?”
“On whether that gives you a reason to forgive him for hurting you.”
“He hurt me to protect himself. And I can understand it. I guess that’s why I feel sorry.” My voice got small as I explained why.
“I’m sure that’s how it worked in his mind at first, then he changed into one of those . . . ” She searched for their name. “Whatever you want to call them. And that’s when he changed his mind about what he was going to do. AubrieAnna, I love you dearly, but you can’t feel sorry for everyone. It’s not your problem. If Langdon did what he did to protect himself, then he should’ve done it in a better way, a way that wasn’t so cruel. I know I wouldn’t be able to forgive him or feel bad for him. And I don’t. But I’m not you, Auby. You have a heart of gold—so compassionate and strong.” My mom smiled at me and sighed softly.
“Thank you, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.” She kissed my forehead and sat the hot cocoa in front of me.
As the hours passed, I was glad that I had skipped out on school and didn’t go back. My mom and I sat at the counter and talked about everything. She asked me about Sebastian and the nymphs, and I openly told her whatever she wanted know. I even told her that when Sebastian kissed me, my toes tingled and my skin cooled, all while butterflies went on a fluttering rampage in my belly. All she did was smile at me with a knowing look. We sat there for hours, laughing at stories of friends and family. At noon she left to go pick up some stuff for a turkey casserole, and I went upstairs to change.
Since Sebastian was ignoring me, I figured we weren’t going to be training or having lessons, so I pulled on baggy sweats and a tank top. After I threw my hair up into a messy bun, I sat down on my chair and continued reading the book I’d checked out from the library. Creaking floorboards made me jump and drop my book. Sebastian was standing there with a look of frustration. Scared of getting yelled at, I smiled sheepishly at him, hoping he would soften his features a little. It didn’t work. Instead, he scowled at me. Very cautious of his mood, I stood up and walked toward him, wanting to be in his arms. As soon as I got within arm’s length, he yanked me to his chest.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice wasn’t harsh like I was expecting it to be.
“I thought you were mad at me.” I felt so small and weak in his arms.
“No, I am not mad at you. I’m just trying to find a way to get you out of school to start training more often.” Sebastian gave me a look of pure love that made my heart twist and turn in my chest.
“Oh” was all I could manage to say. I felt so stupid that I thought he was mad at me.
“Now let’s sit down and you can tell me what happened today.” He pulled me toward my bed and motioned for me to sit next to him.
“Well, it basically started the minute I heard we had an assembly. I was mad that you hadn’t shown up on my first day back, so I went and hid in the library. Then the bell rang, and I forgot about that stupid spirit week assembly, so I left and . . . wait! How did you even know something happened?”
He chuckled. “Getting off track, are we?”
“I will finish telling you if you tell me how you knew,” I countered.
“All right, I will bite. I knew because Fiora and Willow told me they never saw you after you disappeared into the library. So they thought something was up, and then I came to check on you. Now finish telling me.”
“Fine, and um, thank you. For coming to me and letting me know you aren’t mad at me.” I smiled at him and finished telling him what had happened. Once I was done, I waited patiently to see what he would say, but his face gave him away. He was too angry to answer or respond. Sebastian clearly wanted to rip Langdon’s head from his shoulders and use it as a soccer ball. Well, maybe not do
exactly
that, but something along those lines. A small smile started breaking out on my face, and I knew he was curious when he lifted his eyebrows at me. “It’s cute. How mad you’re getting. I love it. Maybe it’s because no one has really felt that strongly about me before. I appreciate you and everything you do for me, Sebastian.” I kissed his cheek softly to emphasize how I felt.
His eyes softened as he watched me. “You drive me nuts. I hope you know that.”
I smiled at him.
“Damn you. I swear to God, AubrieAnna, you are going to be the death of me. But it will be my honor if I ever have to take a bullet for you.” He kissed my forehead and squeezed me tightly.
“I . . . can’t . . . breathe . . .” I choked out.
“Right, sorry.” He let go but held onto my hand.
“Sebastian, if you ever take a bullet for me, I will make damn sure you don’t die. I don’t care if I have to sell my soul. I will.”
“I know.” We fell into silence as a deep understanding of our love settled in the air around us.
We lounged around for a few hours before Sebastian decided to start talking about supernaturals again. I liked some of the lessons, but most of the time they were pretty uninteresting. Today he was talking about gnomes. He explained some ways to tell if someone was a gnome or not. Apparently they had warts on their fingers and toes, as well as green hairs, but the green was so light that it looked blonde. Their voices were generally nasally, and they hated close-toed shoes, which made it difficult for them since people always stared at their warts. Some were evolving, though, and their warts were turning to moles, very small and inconspicuous. Gnomes were extremely gross and so boring that I started tuning Sebastian out, until my mom called for us to come down for dinner. All too excited to be done with the lesson, I jumped from my bed and practically ran down the stairs. Sebastian followed dutifully and sat down with me at the table.
“So, Sebastian, are you taking my daughter to homecoming?” My dad looked incredibly stern and protective as he asked his question.
“Well, I haven’t asked her yet. But I was hoping to, sir,” Sebastian answered politely as we passed the casserole around the table.
“Don’t brownnose me, kid. AubrieAnna’s last boyfriend did that same.” My dad paused then looked at Melly and Mickey and said, “Cover your ears. Shit, and he broke her heart. I am not dumb. I know my little girl likes you, but don’t even think about breaking her heart. I got lots of interesting ways to get rid of someone who does. And I ain’t scared to go to jail.”
Sebastian’s eyes went a little wide, and he actually seemed genuinely scared for his life when it came to my father. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I like her too, and with your permission I would like to take her to homecoming. I will gladly follow your rules to a T.”
My dad seemed to like that answer and settled in his seat easier. As we all dug into dinner, the conversation seemed to shift from threatening Sebastian to talking about finding a dress for the dance. I felt weird about going to another dance at school. The last time I went to a dance was with Langdon, and I was miserable the whole time. I’m not one to do well in crowds. They make me extremely uncomfortable. While my mom went on about going on a road trip for the perfect dress, I looked at Sebastian, who was smiling pitifully at me. And that made me feel worse about the situation. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go with Sebastian. If it was just us I would have been ecstatic, but the whole school was going to be there. And that included Langdon.
After dinner Sebastian and I went back upstairs to my room. And as my dad requested, the door stayed wide open. I felt silly, like I was back in middle school. Yet no matter how much I pleaded with Sebastian, he insisted the door stay open. My thoughts went back to his face at the dinner table. He was actually scared of my father. A smile crept onto my lips. Feeling positively wicked, I walked over to him, looked straight into his eyes, and teasingly said, “You’re scared of my dad, aren’t you?”