you, but maybe my brother can fill you in on the details. It was his violence that changed things. Nora, I do what I must because it has shown to be the only way-”
“How? What if you just stop? Just let the cycle not happen?”
He holds my face in his hands. “Again, a story for another time. Suffice it to say that the penalty is great. And now, I need to know. I need to see what he does, who he is.”
“So you’re using me - as a test? Is that it?”
“I’m not using you. One of us must go. To be frank, I don’t trust him with my future. Sometimes I think he needs this cycle to have a purpose. It has to be me; at least I can promise I have a reason to return.” His lips press against mine again, but it’s a terrifying kiss; it feels so final.
“Be safe and come back for me,” I whisper.
He kisses me again quickly, his lips still a whisper on mine when he turns to leave. “I love you, Nora. What happens from here will not change that.”
And so , he disappears into the darkness, while I walk quietly back into the warmth of his brother’s cabin, having no idea what waits.
9.
Caleb’s protective duties are not very involved for the first few days and, in fact, he seems barely to register my existence. All of the sexual tension and, well, actual tension between us is gone; now, he is just a guy I see around sometimes. I prefer it and grow comfortable seeing him looming in the distance as I walk between buildings every so often. It’s almost funny; he looks like a stalker. Fortunately, no one else seems to notice and my life appears to have gotten back to normal. Minus, of course, the missing professor, immortal boyfriend, and hunt for the mother of all monsters. I go to classes, worry about Henry while the TA bumbles through Henry’s lecture notes, and listen to Scarlet mourn her relationship (although she knows nothing about revenants, vampires, or even Alec). Therefore, it’s safe to say that I become somewhat complacent about the idea that I am in the middle of an unholy war. It almost feels like I stayed up too late reading and my sleepless night has mixed the story with the truth. I suppose then that it’s my fault when I come back to the dorm and find my room destroyed.
“What in the fuck?” Scarlet’s eloquence is beautiful music and I rush her in the doorway, crushing her in a hug. At least she’s safe. My things - not so much. However, they’re only things.
“You’re okay. I thought-”
She pushes me away and adjusts her dress. “Well, I’m fine. But Jesus, Nora, I do not feel like cleaning this.”
I wonder briefly if vampires have some magic ability to make things disappear. Scarlet’s right; this is going to be awful. All of my clothes are thrown around the room, my mattress is ripped and something drips from the tears, my books and notes are shredded, and the window is smashed. As much as I’d love to drop a match and pretend none of it happened, I assume Scarlet would disapprove. Great. I guess someone isn’t seeing her security deposit ever again.
“Guess we should start cleaning,” I say. I go first to the window and pick up the broken glass, stepping on a piece that had landed under my notes on Cain and Abel.
“Damn it,” I cry out, the glass having burst through the sole of my shoe and torn into the flesh on the underside of my foot. I pull off my shoe and blood seeps into my notes, making them useless; I suppose it doesn’t really matter. I figure, at this point, I either am acing this exam or will be dead before it takes place. Or my professor will be.
I collapse on Scarlet’s bed, since mine is more loose stuffing than bed now, and try to elevate my foot. The blood is rushing and I grab a tissue to staunch the flow. Although I know it is normal and not even a deep cut, seeing this much blood makes me woozy. Scarlet is just staring at me with suspicion when Caleb appears behind her. He doesn’t notice her as he hurries to my side; joining
“How? What if you just stop? Just let the cycle not happen?”
He holds my face in his hands. “Again, a story for another time. Suffice it to say that the penalty is great. And now, I need to know. I need to see what he does, who he is.”
“So you’re using me - as a test? Is that it?”
“I’m not using you. One of us must go. To be frank, I don’t trust him with my future. Sometimes I think he needs this cycle to have a purpose. It has to be me; at least I can promise I have a reason to return.” His lips press against mine again, but it’s a terrifying kiss; it feels so final.
“Be safe and come back for me,” I whisper.
He kisses me again quickly, his lips still a whisper on mine when he turns to leave. “I love you, Nora. What happens from here will not change that.”
And so , he disappears into the darkness, while I walk quietly back into the warmth of his brother’s cabin, having no idea what waits.
9.
Caleb’s protective duties are not very involved for the first few days and, in fact, he seems barely to register my existence. All of the sexual tension and, well, actual tension between us is gone; now, he is just a guy I see around sometimes. I prefer it and grow comfortable seeing him looming in the distance as I walk between buildings every so often. It’s almost funny; he looks like a stalker. Fortunately, no one else seems to notice and my life appears to have gotten back to normal. Minus, of course, the missing professor, immortal boyfriend, and hunt for the mother of all monsters. I go to classes, worry about Henry while the TA bumbles through Henry’s lecture notes, and listen to Scarlet mourn her relationship (although she knows nothing about revenants, vampires, or even Alec). Therefore, it’s safe to say that I become somewhat complacent about the idea that I am in the middle of an unholy war. It almost feels like I stayed up too late reading and my sleepless night has mixed the story with the truth. I suppose then that it’s my fault when I come back to the dorm and find my room destroyed.
“What in the fuck?” Scarlet’s eloquence is beautiful music and I rush her in the doorway, crushing her in a hug. At least she’s safe. My things - not so much. However, they’re only things.
“You’re okay. I thought-”
She pushes me away and adjusts her dress. “Well, I’m fine. But Jesus, Nora, I do not feel like cleaning this.”
I wonder briefly if vampires have some magic ability to make things disappear. Scarlet’s right; this is going to be awful. All of my clothes are thrown around the room, my mattress is ripped and something drips from the tears, my books and notes are shredded, and the window is smashed. As much as I’d love to drop a match and pretend none of it happened, I assume Scarlet would disapprove. Great. I guess someone isn’t seeing her security deposit ever again.
“Guess we should start cleaning,” I say. I go first to the window and pick up the broken glass, stepping on a piece that had landed under my notes on Cain and Abel.
“Damn it,” I cry out, the glass having burst through the sole of my shoe and torn into the flesh on the underside of my foot. I pull off my shoe and blood seeps into my notes, making them useless; I suppose it doesn’t really matter. I figure, at this point, I either am acing this exam or will be dead before it takes place. Or my professor will be.
I collapse on Scarlet’s bed, since mine is more loose stuffing than bed now, and try to elevate my foot. The blood is rushing and I grab a tissue to staunch the flow. Although I know it is normal and not even a deep cut, seeing this much blood makes me woozy. Scarlet is just staring at me with suspicion when Caleb appears behind her. He doesn’t notice her as he hurries to my side; joining
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