Fighting Destiny (Central Coven) (9 page)

“You do know getting with Grey would be a bad idea, don’t you?” Anita asked.  “No Anita, I don’t know that, since I don’t really know him.  Is that why you are quizzing me about Finn?  ‘Cause you want to make sure I’m not going to focus my attention on Grey?”

A few hours later Dean stopped by as promised.  His face was drawn with stress.  “Went that well huh?” I asked sarcastically.  Dean chuckled without humor.  “I would like to say he is doing well with the news, but I would be lying.  He didn’t even talk to me for about an hour, and then he said we were ‘cool’.  It was like he was forgiving me.  Shit, I really thought he was going to deal if we left him alone for a while. Chloë, I hate to say this, but he really seems to blame you more than the rest of us.”  “He seemed like he was handling all of this when we left.  He said he just needed time alone.  I was sure…I mean I thought…Hell, screw him. I didn’t do anything to him, except clue him in to something his parents should have told him.  If he wants to blame me for that then he can go…” “Chloë!” Anita shouted. “Whatever, we’ll see how this works out.  You know Anita, Grey is looking better and better to me.  At least he isn’t a hypocrite.”  I grabbed a jacket and stormed out.

The rest of the week was very awkward.  I noticed right away that Finn was ignoring me, and going out of his way to avoid me.  It only took one day for me to stop trying to talk to him.  I was hopeful, but I refused to be pathetic.

I saw he was loitering more frequently on the second floor, near the room of some particularly dim-witted cheerleaders.  He was sending a message to me that whatever was beginning to happen between us was over.  Well he wouldn’t find me crying and stuffing my face with chocolate.

By the end of the week, Anita and I needed to work on an assignment for history.  We went to the library after I got back from class, to consult reference books on the first floor.  When the quarter began we did our homework assignments with Finn and Dean, but with Finn avoiding me we split up. 

We settled down to complete the first assignment, early, at a long table near the windows in the stacks.  The reference books were tucked into the corner, next to floor to ceiling windows.  The thick books muffled almost all sound in this corner of the library.  Next to the nearly perpetually abandoned fourth floor, this was the creepiest place in the library.

With everything going on we didn’t want to fall behind in our classes if we could avoid it.  It was best to get as much done in our spare time.  Plus staying busy kept my mind off of the fact Finn wanted nothing to do with me.  Finishing the assignment early guaranteed we wouldn’t have to run into each other here too.

We started filling out a worksheet designed to get us accustomed to the reference section and an exercise to learn the “Chicago Style” of bibliography (much different than the MLA system I used in high school). 

I hadn’t slept very well for the past few nights, and I felt my head begin to droop.  My eyelids were heavy and drooping, until a man knocked on the window.  We glanced toward the sound and saw a naked man pleasuring himself in front of us.  I shrieked.  I might be a witch that can fight with vampires, but I was still an eighteen-year-old girl, and not used to seeing naked men.  Anita ran to get the attention of the reference librarian and call the police.  Unfortunately, the sudden movement of activity spooked the naked man, and he streaked across campus before the police arrived.

I can’t imagine he could conceal himself easily, considering he was naked.   We gave as accurate a description to the campus police as possible. But, all I could recall was his pale, lumpy flesh, and his tiny member that was practically hidden by his hand.  I did not see his face, and couldn’t help the police much.  It wasn’t a total bust though, since Anita and I had seen him outside the window, they were able to gather evidence from the bushes.  Gross.

“I think I’m done studying now,” Anita announced.  “Me too, let’s go get something to eat.”  “You can eat?” She asked in disbelief.  “Ugh, I can try,” I answered unsure.  Other students were filing out of the library with us.  All of a sudden it didn’t seem like a peaceful place to study, for anyone. 

Behind us some girls were saying, “First that girl disappeared from Randall Hall, and then this creep shows up again.” The second girl replied, “Yeah, I’m sure it isn’t a coincidence.”  They were scared, hell so was I and I knew what was really happening.  It wouldn’t take much to send this entire campus into a panic.

We passed the dorm on the way to the dining hall, not that it was on the way, but because we were walking in a daze.  We ran into Dean and Finn on the way.  Anita was pleased, I was annoyed.  I would have loved it if Finn would talk to me and work things out.  It wasn’t my fault he didn’t know what he was.  I was more than a little pissed he was ignoring me too.

Dean ran over to Anita and spun her around.  She laughed and they kissed.  I smiled at Finn, and he turned around and ignored me. Great, still not going to get over it.  Well he could just screw himself then; I wasn’t going to bother with worrying about him anymore.

“Dean, are we going to eat?” Finn asked.  “Ummm…yeah.  What about the girls?” Dean asked.  Finn shot him a cold glare.  I can tell where I’m not wanted.  I noticed a small movement under a large pine tree.  It was Grey, and he was motioning me to come talk to him.  God what great timing he has!  “Uhh…go on ahead with them Anita, I think I have another offer.”  “Chloë, think about this,” Anita said gravely.  “I’d much rather be where I’m wanted. I’ll see you later.”  I heard Grey softly chuckle in the distance.

“Oh, Finn, you are an idiot,” Anita sighed.   “I don’t know what you are talking about,” Finn seethed.  “Your loss then. You aren’t the only one that has ever had to deal with this shit you know.  But,
you
were born with it.  This supernatural life actually happened to me.  I used to be human, and now I crave blood.  Do you have any idea how disturbing that is?  No, of course you don’t, so quit your bitching, and accept who you are. Just get over it already. The sooner you do the safer you’ll be,” Anita ranted.

“Dean, I would love to have dinner with you, but I can’t deal with this.  Chloë is upset, and just went off with Grey.  I think I will get some food at the Deli and go back to my room and wait for her to get back.” 

“Will she be okay?” Dean asked truly worried.  “I think so, she kicked his ass last time, but she is, well you saw… he can influence her,” she stumbled for an answer.  “But I thought you said he was a friend,” Dean inquired. 

Anita released a frustrated sigh, “Yeah, kinda, but he is still a vampire. He lusts for blood more than anything else, and magical blood is the most intoxicating of all.  He is drawn to Chloë, for many reasons. I believe he is attracted to her, but I’m afraid he also wants to possess her.  Honestly, I don’t know if she is safe with him or not, and I have told her so more than once.” Anita kissed Dean on the cheek and turned and headed to the student deli.

“Do you like Chloë?” Dean asked Finn.  “I don’t know anything any more,” Finn answered.  “It sounds like this Grey is going to take her off your hands.  I guess you don’t have to worry. You won’t have to make that decision,” Dean answered sarcastically. 

“Do you have a problem with me?” Finn asked.  “Yes actually.  Ever since she told you what your parents were too scared to, you’ve been taking it out on her.  She didn’t lie to you, they did.  Now a hot, smart, powerful girl you have a lot in common with actually likes you, and you’re going to push her away?  You are several kinds of stupid.  You have no idea how hard it is to date when you are a supe.  There are so many secrets you have to keep now.  And, you have pointed ears!  Anita is right, get over yourself.  I’m going to get some food and catch up with her.  Unlike you I like being with a girl I can share my secrets with.  I’ll see you later.”  Dean stormed off to catch up with Anita.

I hate hearing people talk about me. I was ready to be away from Finn’s judgmental gaze.  I headed over towards where Grey was casually lounging against the tree, but I didn’t move fast enough.  In a blur of movement, Grey was instantly standing by my side.  “Impatient much?” I asked.  He chuckled, “I suppose for as long as I have lived I should have developed more patience, but I find when you are near it almost completely disappears.”  “Is that so?” I asked and took a tiny step away.  “Why must you move away from me?”   “I’m starving, would you like to go with me to a restaurant?  Can you, even?  I mean, oh hell, you know what I mean.”  Grey chuckled, “There is a small café downtown that has a decent wine selection, since you are too young to go to the wine bar.  How does that sound?”  “Lovely.”

We headed out to my car, a green Nissan Z.  Too flashy for Ellensburg, but I only needed to hide my powers, not my money, and I loved that car.  At the restaurant the hostess sat us in a dark corner, and luckily it was unusually empty. This was perfect for us, since I would be the only one ordering any food, and our conversation might be odd if others overheard it.

“It seemed that young man, Finn, is rethinking his feelings for you.”   “That is a polite way to put it.”  “You have been hurt once already this evening, I do not see a reason to do it again,” he said tenderly.  “Thank you.  You’re right, though, I told him something his parents should have, and he is holding it against me.”  “Well then, Chloë, that makes him an idiot, and me incredibly lucky.”  He flashed his impossibly brilliant white smile at me.  It was blinding, and hypnotic.  I imagine it could also be terrifying, if I were human.

“So you would take advantage of me in a moment of weakness,” I teased.  “No, but I will take advantage of the fact he has momentarily cast you aside.  Eventually he will come to his senses, but I hope by then it is too late,” Grey stated coolly.  “How…mm…
honest
, of you to say so.  Although I don’t think I like the image of being
cast aside
.”  “I do not want us to begin on the wrong foot.  I mean to court you as properly as possible.”  I giggled, “That is both the most old-fashioned, and sweetest thing I have heard all week.”

“Ah, and it has been a bad week then?”  “Ugh the worst.  I found out people are missing, Finn has this meltdown, and…I have a feeling you already know all about this, maybe even more than I know.”  Grey smirked, with only half of his full lips quirking up, “I know many things. I would like you to tell me something though.  What sparked this,
meltdown
?”  “Well, we kissed last week, that is how I figured out that…what he is upset about,” I fumbled.  “You told him he is an elf.  I assume he now knows about you, Anita and his roommate as well.”

Of course, he already knew.  “You put them together when you broke into the housing office too didn’t you?  I don’t know why I am asking.  I know you did.  Why though?”  “You are right, I did.  They can be of use, but if he refuses to accept his heritage, he will be more of a hindrance than a benefit.  On the positive side, this has driven a wedge between the two of you, so for now he is not a rival of mine for your affections.”  “Funny, if you were worried about that you would have kept him away in the first place.”  “I carried out this assignment before I met you.  It is hard to know how you feel about someone before you meet.”

“Anita doesn’t want us spending time together.  She says you’re a vampire, and even though you have helped us you can still be a danger to me.” He laughed.  It was filled with mischief and had a dark edge to it. “I have always wanted Anita to believe vampires are dangerous.  There was a time when she and I were very close, and I grew frightened she was becoming overly fascinated with the lifestyle of vampires.” He placed his strong white hand on mine, reassuringly, “It was not a romantic closeness, I looked at her only as the daughter I was never able to have, or the sister I lost nearly a thousand years ago.” I nodded in understanding.  He seemed compassionate, very different from the warnings Anita kept giving me.

Grey
continued talking, “Anita’s parentage is somewhat of a mystery to her.  She knows her mother, but she has not seen her father since she was small.  It is apparent she doesn’t know much about him. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to discuss what I know right now.”

My brow furrowed in confusion, “What does this have to do with Anita wanting me to stay away from you?” Grey smirked and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.  “You aren’t very patient are you? I’m getting to that part, and hopefully when I am done with my tale you will not agree with Anita.”  I raised my eyebrow, “Okay, but make it good.” Grey answered with a chuckle.

“Alright, where was I? Ah, yes, well…what worried me about her was the bloodlust.  We all get it, but I had no idea what to expect for someone who only half changed.  I’d never heard of a half vampire before. I have no idea what could happen to her if she gave herself over to it.  It could make her crazy, as if she were addicted to drugs.  I’ll do anything to prevent that.  I know I didn’t changer her, but I feel responsible for what happened to her nonetheless.

One thing I am sure of, if she gives into the bloodlust she will change. I am afraid she would become more vampire than anything else. I don’t want that life for her, and I don’t trust another vampire to look after her.  I couldn’t be with her until now, so I wanted her to avoid other vampires.  Now do you understand why Anita thinks being near me is dangerous?”

“I can understand why you made her think being near you is dangerous.  But, you didn’t really explain how you did it, or what you know about her father.” “I will explain everything, the very moment I am free to do so.  But, I will talk to Anita about it alone.” I shrugged, “I don’t have a problem with that.  I only want to make sure if there is something for her to know you will tell her. Why do you think this happened to her?  I have never heard of a half-vampire before.”   “Neither have I, and I’m still researching that.  I am very glad I put the two of you together.  You are a good friend to her.”