The Awakening (17 page)

I called Gavin later that day after work, which hadn’t been work at all but just a very long chat with David whilst my very much under used magical powers neatly sorted out all the filing. I could tell that Gavin was surprised to hear from me, especially as I sounded so upbeat and I suddenly thought that maybe it was a bad idea and maybe he had already moved on and didn’t want me interrupting his life. Still, the conversation quickly flowed and I found myself smiling and enjoying our chat. We arranged to meet on Saturday for a meal and as I hung up the phone I realised I was actually quite excited about seeing him. The rest of the week went by quickly as me and David chatted about our lives, families and the spells I had learnt whilst my underused witch skills did all the filing. The other trainees re-joined us on Thursday and on Friday I joined, them for a drink after work and we all had a great time. I was so pleased that I could finally act normal with David and enjoy spending time with my new work mates.

On Saturday, I woke up feeling a tiny bit a little bit excited and nervous about meeting Gavin again. I spent ages deciding what to wear; eventually settling on some skinny fit jeans, with a loose t-shirt, silver necklace and earrings and some cute pixie boots. I was meeting him in a quiet and cosy bar called The Mailcoach in town as it was neutral and easy to get to and during the day was quiet so we could sit uninterrupted and unheard. As I entered the bar, I saw him talking to the barman and getting some drinks. I watched him unnoticed from the doorway and noticed he looked quite tired but gorgeous, his hair was longer than when we’d been together and he hadn’t shaved so had some noticeable stubble that made him look more manly and rugged. I observed he was wearing a jumper that I had bought him, smiled to myself, and then ventured forward. “Hi.” I said rather nervously as I finally approached the bar.

“Oh hi. I didn’t notice you come in. Are you ok?” he said turning to me and sounding a little bit nervous too.

“I’ve got you a coke,” he said indicating the drinks and paying “Hope that’s ok. Where do you want to sit?”

“Um let’s go round this corner it’s a bit quieter and away from the bar.” I replied and walked to a little booth near the back.

“You look amazing by the way. I love your hair. Wow you look like a different person.” Gavin said as he sat down and handed me a drink.

“Thanks, so do you. Nice jumper.” I smiled and he grinned at me.

“Yeah someone with very good taste bought it for me. I can’t quite remember who though.” he joked and visibly relaxed.

“It’s so nice to see you. I’m glad you called, it’s been weird the last couple of months.”

“Yeah I know I’m sorry. I just really needed some time out.” I shrugged and felt slightly uncomfortable.

“Oh I know, I totally understand. It’s fine honestly; I know you needed some space. I’m surprised you didn’t tell me to get lost sooner really. Why would anybody normal want to stick around after everything you had to go through.” he smiled, but I could see he was upset and that the breakup had affected him. “I’ve missed you.” he said quietly and looked away and fiddled with his glass.

“I’ve missed you too,” I said quietly. Momentarily he looked like he might break down but he quickly brightened. “So you’ve made a new special friend,” he said making quotation marks around the special and looking around.

“Yeah and very interesting he is too, it’s actually made me feel a lot better about everything and it’s been so nice to be able to talk to someone else. The fact that his mum is human is amazing I can’t quite believe it.”

“Neither can I. Trust you to make friends with a half breed” Gavin laughed and paused as someone passed by our table. “You were trying to avoid vampire contact and end up getting on really well with one” he said with a grin.

“I know, I know. It must have been fate or something. I’m really glad I did though as David has made me feel so much more positive about the future” I smiled checked no one was around and in a hushed voice launched into the story of David.

Gavin was as fascinated as I had been and sat completely still as I explained the whole thing. “Wow. I don’t actually know any half vampires. I know there are quite a few in existences but none in my family or any I’ve heard my parents talk about. You wait until I tell my mum she’ll be thrilled that there are so many new possibilities. The vampire council keep these things very close to their chests.”

“What do you think about the bit where they let Annette tell her sisters the secret?” I said quietly as someone passed by our table.

“I think it’s amazing. I didn’t even know witches had the power to erase memories. I better be careful around you,” he joked. “I’ve never heard this stuff before,” he continued looking astonished and happy at the same time.

“I know it’s amazing. I had no idea witches could be so powerful. I’m definitely going to speak to Annalise about it all. I wonder if my witch ancestors were ever involved with the vampire council.” I said feeling excited. “Although, maybe the vampire council wasn’t around when Elizabeth and the Moonwick coven were together” I continued, suddenly remembering that they all died a long time ago.

“The vampire council has been around for centuries and I’m sure they always had uses for a good witch. Who knows, maybe Annalise can find out some more information. I wonder if she even knows about witches erasing people’s memories.” Gavin said.

“I’m sure she does but it’s probably another closely guarded secret” I replied and then returned to my number one concern “Do you think I’d ever be allowed to tell anyone? You know like Annette.” I said expectantly.

“I really don’t know Lauren. I know it would help you a lot but I’m not sure about these sorts of rules. You were never supposed to know in the first place. Your Wiccan skills might complicate matters, I really have no idea but it’s a possibility. I can speak to my mum and maybe Annalise might know something that as well.” As Gavin paused, his phone began ringing and he apologised and looked embarrassed.

“It’s ok, answer it.” I said and used the opportunity to go to the bathroom. As I was washing my hands, I noticed an odd smudge on the mirror, but as I focused it turned into Elizabeth’s face. She was smiling, and I heard her calm quiet voice whirl around the room and felt warmth flood over me “I’m glad you have found some inner peace Lauren. I wish you and Gavin well.”

“Thank you Elizabeth.” I said aloud and her image disappeared. I gave my hair a quick brush, reapplied some lip-gloss, and smiled at my reflection feeling happy that Elizabeth seemed to also have found some peace and was no longer worried about me.

I returned to our table and Gavin again apologised “Lauren I thought my phone was on silent. I’m sorry; it was just one of the lads I play football with. Nothing important.”

“Don’t worry. It’s fine. I needed the toilet anyway and you’ll never believe it but Elizabeth appeared. She looked happy and just said she wished us well. I think she can relax again now and she’s not worried about me anymore.” I said with a grin, as Gavin looked slightly bemused.

“I’m glad she’s at peace again, but it must be a bit weird for you when she randomly pops up.”

“Yeah it is a bit, but just now it was lovely. She looked really happy and I got a warm contented feeling as she spoke. I really do now believe she always had my best interests at heart but things just got lost in ghostly translation.”

“Anyway getting back to David’s story.” I said quickly changing the subject, as I was desperate to ask Gavin something.

“Would you have ever told me? You know if we had just been a normal couple and I didn’t start having all those images and voice. Would you have told me the truth eventually like David’s dad did?” I asked expectantly and felt my stomach flip with nerves. He looked at me steadily and then slowing shook his head.

“No I’m sorry; I don’t think I ever would. It’s not allowed and I wouldn’t have even known how to explain. It’s not a normal conversation to have with your girlfriend.” He shrugged.

“What about if we had got married and had children?” I said, noticing my voice had gone high pitched.

“No I think I would have just raised the child as a human and never revealed anything about the blood supplements. Lauren you know what it’s like. The truth is so well concealed and although we are fully integrated most vampires marry their own kind because it’s easier, no secrets, no lying, no worrying about the children that may be born. The vampire council would go crazy if people just started having half breeds and telling all human mothers that they had a vampire for a child.” he said in an exasperated voice. I sighed and shook my head.

“I just wish things could be different.”

“It would be for us. If you did ever want to get back together or marry or whatever you know, so there would be no secrets and we could decide together if a baby was given blood supplements or not. We could share everything. I know it’s not ideal Lauren but you can’t help who you fall in love with.”

“I just don’t know it’s so difficult.” I shrugged. “Why didn’t you just get together with a vampire girl? It seems to be what is expected in most of your families.” I sighed.

“Because I’ve always felt more human. I think it’s how mum and dad have raised me. I did think I would eventually end up with a vampire girl but I met you and I fell in love with you straight away. I just wish I could undo everything that happened as I know it’s been so difficult for you and I hated seeing you struggle with everything and the fact you feel trapped by this information tears me apart but I can’t do anything to change it Lauren. I so wish I could.” His eyes filled with tears and for the first time I truly appreciated how difficult it was for him too. I reached over the table, took his hand, and smiled.

“I figured you’d have moved on and got yourself a hot new girlfriend by now. Someone straight forward and fun; not a witch who is grumpy all the time.” I joked and squeezed his hand.

“You Lauren are hot, straight forward, and fun although you can be pretty grumpy.” he smiled back. “and I’m not sure I can ever replace you.” He reached over and kissed me and I felt my cheeks blush, my heart rate increase, and butterflies in my stomach. I hadn't felt happier in a long time.

As we parted, we agreed to meet each other a few times and see how things went but to keep it quiet for now, as explaining things to everyone else was just too difficult. When I returned home that evening, I felt lighter and happier than I had for ages. I slept well and woke feeling refreshed and ready for the day. Gavin was coming over for lunch and I felt excited as I whizzed around the flat tidying up. I popped to the shop, got a bit of shopping, and picked up some flowers to make the flat look brighter and fresher. When Gavin arrived just after 12, I felt an overwhelming feeling of relief. I was so happy to see him, no weird voices, images or feelings surfaced, I realised just how much I’d missed him, and for the first time since finding out that he was a vampire I think I had finally accepted it and thought I could move on.

We had a lovely afternoon together, nothing exciting, but after everything that had happened a nice relaxing afternoon watching a DVD and chatting was amazing. When he left I couldn’t help smiling and went to bed feeling happy and looking forward to the following few days. We met up in secret three more times in the week. David at work was the only person that knew we were meeting up and looked at me expectantly as I entered the office. At some point during the day, we managed to find time to have a quick chat and David was really happy things were working out. He figured that now I knew all this vampire and witch information I would never be able to settle into a normal human relationship; especially as if I did it would be me hiding a secret and probably never being able to learn or perform magic again. Over the last two months me and David had formed a really close relationship and I was so glad I had met him and thanked him endlessly for helping me out but being a half breed he knew exactly what secrets were like and also struggling to fit in and the frustration to understand everything. He couldn’t wait until me and Gavin had sorted things out and officially got back together as he was dying to meet Gavin and his family.

Although me and Gavin were getting on really well, I was worried that his family wouldn’t be happy to see me back. I worried they may want Gavin to find a more straight forward and preferably vampire girlfriend, but on the first visit back to his family home three weeks after our meeting in the pub his mum and dad welcomed me with open arms. Alice couldn’t have been happier to see me and said she’d missed me and was so glad things had been resolved. I briefly worried she was only happy because it meant the secret was safer as I was back in the family unit, but she seemed so genuinely pleased to see me that I quickly dismissed the idea. Although I think she must have seen suspicion cross my face as she looked momentarily hurt.

It was my 21
^st
birthday soon and I hadn’t mentioned anything to Gavin so was taken aback when Alice asked me what my plans were. “Oh um, I hadn’t really thought.” I said with surprise. 

“Lauren it’s your 21
^st
it’s a special birthday you have to do something. Have you discussed it with your parents?” she asked with a note of excitement in her voice.

“Oh, well I briefly mentioned it to my mum and she talked about perhaps hiring a hall and having a party but I’m not sure I’ve had a lot on my mind recently and haven’t really given it any real consideration.” I replied.

“You should definitely have a party. I could help, I know things have been difficult recently, but I’m so happy you and Gavin are back together and it would be lovely for you to have something special to look forward to. You really deserve it Lauren.” and she gave me a brief hug and looked slightly tearful.

“Mum, leave her alone.” Gavin said with a smile and gave me a hug. “Mum loves parties. Absolutely any excuse and she’s in party planning mode.” he continued. “Lauren you didn’t mention it,” Gavin said suddenly looking serious. “Is it because you still have reservations about us, reintroducing me to your family and friends.”