Fighting Destiny (Central Coven) (20 page)

“How so?” he asked.  “It is classic, beautiful, traditional, and also such a mystery,” I explained.  “You do see me much better than I give you credit for,” Grey said without looking up.  I wasn’t sure he was happy about that.  He opened the door, and held it for me to enter.  “Thank you.”  “Let me take you to your room,” he said simply. 

In the foyer there was a beautiful staircase that was wider at the bottom.  The handrail was beautifully carved with oak leaves.  He placed his hand on the small of my back and led me up the stairs to the bedrooms that were on the second floor.  “How long have you had this house?” I asked mesmerized by its craftsmanship.  “I built it, about fifty years ago.”  “You certainly are a jack of all trades,” I said in awe.  “I’ve had many years to develop many different skills,” he said with a smirk.

He opened the door to a lovely room with pale violet paint and African violets on the chest of drawers.  It had a hand carved, four-poster bed, with deep violet velvet bedding.  There was a large sitting area next to a bay window, with a matching cushion. 

“There are some clothes in the drawers that should fit you.  There is a private bath through that door.  Let me know if you need anything else,” he said and turned to go.  “Where will you be?” I asked.  “I will be downstairs until dawn, and then I will retire to my apartment in the basement.  “You aren’t going to stay in here?”  “No.  I can keep you safe from downstairs.  I don’t think even I am strong enough to watch you sleep.”

I raised one eyebrow, “I think I am going to need you to explain that.”  “Sometimes I forget how young you are.”  I looked away, since he shot directly at my insecurities.  “Don’t pout.  I only mean you are oblivious to your charms.  You seem not to realize how captivated I am by you and if I stayed in here with you all night…let’s just say I would most likely try to keep you awake,” he said with a sly smirk.  I returned his grin.  He made that scenario sound like the perfect way to pass an evening.  Suddenly my indecisiveness was gone.  With complete assuredness I said, “Rain check?”

“The moment I am sure you mean that.”  “What will happen then?” I asked intrigued.  Instead of giving me an answer he kissed me, first sweetly, then more passionately.  He grabbed at my clothes with his hands, and I clutched at his hair.  My lips parted slightly and he traced their shape with his tongue.  I sighed softly, and pressed myself against him.

I desperately wanted him to stay.  I could feel him changing his mind as his arm slid around me and pulled me tighter against him.  My breath came quicker, and my heart sped up.  “You might be closer to making up your mind than I dared hope,” he said out of breath.  “How do you know I haven’t already? Hey, I thought vampires didn’t breathe.”  He chuckled, “My heart beats, I breathe, and I can eat. I just don’t do it to the same extent you do.” 

He closed his eyes, and I could tell he was deep in thought.  He stepped away from me and sat down on the edge of the bed.  I brazenly walked over to him, and sat astride his lap.  “Talk to me,” I demanded.  “When you are sure, we will continue this,” he said finally.  I put my head on his chest, “You’re right, I am young.  I know I have hurt you.  I am so sorry about that.” 

Grey put his hand under my chin and gently raised my head.  He looked me in the eyes.  “This isn’t all your fault.  I knew how you felt about that
elf
, and I kept coming back to gain your affections.  If he were not such a complete and utter moron, I probably would not have this chance right now.  But please do not blame yourself.  I knew what game I was playing.  The difference between him and myself was I was playing for keeps while he was trying to make up his mind.”

“Well I can honestly say I am glad he is such a dumbass.” Grey looked confused by my outburst.  “I mean it. To him I was a tool to stroke his ego.  I’m not even sure if he cared, but I know I’m done with him. Always trying to make me jealous of the other girls in our dorm, and the other girls of me.  It was just too much.  We got together and broke up perhaps more than you even realize.”

“I think he cared for you more than he was comfortable with.”  I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my cheek into his shoulder.  “That might be true.  I’m not blameless either though.  I couldn’t stop thinking about you.  Dean told me about elves mating for life, and it freaked me out.  I didn’t want to be responsible for taking away all of his choices.  A relationship with Finn couldn’t go anywhere.  I’ve known that for a while now.”

“Rain check?” Grey asked repeating my phrase.  “Definitely, but now I’m not going to be able to sleep,” I whispered in his ear and kissed him just at its base.  He rolled me over, keeping his hands under my knees and wrapped my legs around his waist.  “I’m not strong enough to resist you,” he moaned.  “Who’s asking you to?” I asked.

Without another word we began to pull and tear at our clothes. “Are you sure about this?” Grey asked.  “Let me think,” I said, and kissed him on the neck. “Tease,” Grey joked.  “No, I’m not.  At least not tonight.” 

He put his hands on my sides and gently slid them down to my waist.  I slowly traced the planes of his back with my right index finger, not completely sure what to do.  Then, I looked into his eyes, and all hesitation, shyness, and self-consciousness disappeared.  I was finally sure, it was Grey I wanted.  Tonight nothing else mattered but that one truth.

I woke up in Grey’s basement apartment.  Aside from the faint glow coming from the nightlight he left on for me in his bathroom, no light reached this level of the house.  I don’t remember coming down here, but I am glad not to be waking up alone after last night.

I reached over expecting to find Grey sleeping, after all it is only eleven in the morning.  Instead, he grabbed my searching hand and pulled it behind him.  “I was wondering when you were going to wake up.”  “Its broad daylight outside.  Don’t you sleep at all?” I asked.  “I did for a few hours.  But I told you I don’t need that much sleep.  I’ve been watching you for most of the night.”

“I don’t know if that is charming or creepy,” I said playfully.  “I suppose it would have to be both, wouldn’t it?” Grey replied smiling his sharp, bright white smile.  “Hmmm,” I thought for a moment, “I guess that is true.  Funny how I forgot about those last night.”  “They were not there darling.  I can retract mine, just as Anita can hers.” Grey paused for a moment, “I’m sorry, I do not know why I showed that side of myself to you.  I just don’t want you to forget what I am.”

I placed my hand on his chest, inched closer to him, and said, “I know exactly what you are. You seem to forget you can be a vampire and a good person too.  When you see me do you first think of me as a witch? That is basically what Simone is. She is certainly evil.”  “No.  Of course not.  But I wasn’t born a vampire.  I was a human once.  That is not an experience you will ever have.  And most vampires
are
evil.  We have to prey on others just to live, in some form.  Even if I don’t kill anyone I still consume human blood.  I buy it, but someone still has to lose it for me to live.”

“It sounds to me that you still haven’t reconciled yourself with that.  I can’t help you with that ethical debate.  I don’t see a problem with it personally, but it isn’t my struggle.  I don’t judge you.  Whether you see it this way or not, we are from the same world.”  “If you see it that way, I certainly won’t try to talk you out of it,” Grey said with a sly smile.  “That is more like it,” I replied and kissed him on the cheek.

Grey had extra toiletries available in this bathroom for my use.  Extra towels, a toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, and face wash.  I was starting to wonder if he had been planning this sleep over for a while now, or if he frequently had overnight visitors.  I tried to quietly open the cabinet to see if there was a stockpile of toothbrushes waiting for other guests, and I thought I was being sneaky, but I had forgotten to take vampire hearing into account. 

I heard Grey laugh from the other room.  I let out a frustrated sigh.  I should ask Anita if some vampires, mainly Grey, can read minds.  “I got those things for you.  That is what you are wondering about right?”  “When did you get all of this stuff?” I asked.  “When I knew how I felt about you, I wanted you to be comfortable in my home when we finally managed to be together.”

“You made a commitment to us, before we were even together?” “I’m sure about you Chloë. I know this thing between us is moving very fast, but it feels right to me.”  “Me too,” I said, and kissed him softly.

My phone started to buzz furiously, hopping around on Grey’s antique nightstand.  I knew it was Anita, not that she had her own ringtone, but somehow my phone seemed to vibrate with more urgency. Only she would have such poor timing to call now.  I looked at Grey and we said simultaneously, “Anita.”  “Go on and answer it, or she will just come over,” he said.  “Yeah, she totally would.”

I picked up my phone, and pressed the screen. “Yes,” I answered gruffly.  “My, my you’re grouchy.  I thought you would get lucky last night,” Anita responded crassly.  “God, Anita!” I shrieked.  “Oh, good so you did.  Well it was about time.  You will have to tell me all about it.  When are you coming back by the way?” “Uhhmm, I’m not sure.”  “I forgot you probably need a ride, huh?” Anita asked.  “Actually, I’m hungry.  But I don’t need a ride.  I can teleport, remember?” 

“Good.  There are issues here that need your attention.  Okay, see you soon, bye.”  “Anita, Anita…”  She had hung up before I could respond.  “Weird,” I said aloud.  “What?” “Anita is in a hurry for me to get back to the dorm, and I don’t think that it is only because she wants details about last night. I wonder what she is up to.”  “Is it going to be safe?” Grey asked anxiously.  “Yes,” I said tucking myself into his arms.  “She wouldn’t ask me to return to an ambush.” 

“Call me later.  Otherwise I’ll worry.” “Of course. You are cute when you worry.”  “I don’t think anyone has ever referred to me as cute before.  I’m not sure I like it.”  Grey began to stalk me around the room.  “Grey, what are you doing?”  I backed away from him, and dashed across the room.”  “I still like the chase,” Grey said and lunged for me.

I teleported away at the last second, and he crashed on the bed empty handed.  “Gotcha,” I said as I reappeared sitting on his back. “Yeah, you got me.  Now what are you going to do with me?”  “I’m going to go get dressed so a very tiny, but very scary woman doesn’t come after us.”  Grey chuckled. 

I put on the change of clothes Grey had brought down from the chest of drawers.  I teleported myself into my parked car that was located back of the dorm parking lot.  I kept a spare set of keys in my glove box for just such cases.  I moved my car closer to the dorm. 

I didn’t want to transport myself straight into my room since it was probably all around the dorm by now that I hadn’t come home last night.  I’m sure Cynthia saw to that.  Sometimes, I hate being right.

I unlocked the back door and began to walk through the common room towards the stairs when Cynthia’s voice rang out from behind the back of the sofa, “Did we have fun last night?”  “Who me?” I asked, and tried to keep walking.  “I hear you went home with some guy last night,” Cynthia continued, ignoring me.  “Cynthia, get to the point. You really only want to know if Finn is free.  He is.  Happy hunting,” I sniped. 

“So who is the new guy?  Tracy says he’s super hot.”  “Who is Tracy?  You know what, never mind, don’t tell me, I don’t care.  My
new guy
is nothing to you.  He doesn’t go to school here.  You don’t know him, and won’t meet him.”  I turned for the stairs.  “Bitch,” Cynthia called out.  “That’s original,” I shouted over my shoulder.  Cynthia grunted and stormed off.

I got to the top of the third floor when Anita grabbed my arm and pulled me into our room.  “There you are.  Took you long enough.” “Hi, nice to see you too.  Thanks my evening was nice, how was yours?” I asked sarcastically.  “Sorry, but Cynthia the cheerleader from hell is telling everyone you ran off with some random guy. Finn is super pissed and shacked up with some cheer hag Tracy. Now Cynthia is on a warpath.  I hope you don’t mind, but Dean slept on your bed last night.”

“Wow, that is a lot of information.  No I don’t mind, as long as you change my sheets.  And that stuff about Cynthia, well that explains the tirade I just encountered when I got here.  I guess my theory was right.”  “Well, I’m lost,” proclaimed Anita.  “I’ll nutshell it.  Cynthia went psycho the second I walked through the door.  She was asking who I left with, but I wouldn’t tell her. Then she said something about how Tracy thought he was hot.  She seemed annoyed when I told her Finn was a free man.”

“Well she is pissed off because she tried to comfort Finn last night after you left with Grey, but he wasn’t having it.  Then he got fall down drunk and started hitting on Tracy, Cynthia’s friend.  Cynthia started screaming at him, saying he was a slimy bastard.  He laughed, and went into his room with Tracy.  She did the walk of shame around eight this morning.  I think she was hoping she would make it unnoticed, but I caught her on my way to the bathroom.”

“Wow.  Well that is a soap opera’s worth of drama, isn’t it?”  I furrowed my brow waiting for her to get to the part where she desperately needed me to save someone from jumping off a roof, or some emergency that made pulling me away from Grey necessary.  I waited, but she didn’t explain. I cleared my throat.

“What?” she asked.  “I’m confused.  I mean, yeah that is really bizarre.  Finn is being awful.  I can’t stand Cynthia, I pretty much hate her in fact, but he does use her as his own personal yo-yo.  She just doesn’t have the good sense to cut the string.  But, uhm, why did you call me? Which issues need my attention?”