ONE
My life had become decidedly surreal, and my weekend found me carefully balancing my time with my father and best friend, during which time I had to explain my battered cheek (leaving out almost everything about Simon and focusing primarily on Cole’s misbehavior), and what was apparently now my clan as well.
I’d been surprised at how quickly Kendal had returned to Georgia, and learned he had not taken Cole by car or plane or any other typical method of transportation, but had run the entire way on foot. It seemed that it was not any easy journey, as Cole had not been willing to go. I hadn’t asked how this had been accomplished, but I got the impression violence was involved.
That shouldn’t have been shocking, but it was.
Yes, life had become very unreal.
Sometime during my time-juggling act that weekend, I learned more about the history and traits of not only sexual vampires, but other breeds as well from Simon and Maymuna. And for some reason, Kendal and Grace seemed to think it was important that I learn how to shoot pool and ride a horse. The latter was rather interesting though, as I learned animals tended to be afraid of supernatural creatures, but that Grace seemed to have a ‘special way with them’, as Kendal said.
And in between all the ‘vampire lessons’, the games and the rides, Kendal had taken the time to explain what had happened to Colton and share his view of the new incubus’ mental state. According to the Irishman, he had been out hunting alone when he heard gunshots less than half a mile away and, taking advantage of the situation, followed the sounds to the scene.
The shooter, he said remorselessly, was the first he fed on, and afterward, a young female who had been shot through the heart—he guessed from the sounds of internal bleeding it was the left ventricle. Then he had started Colton’s way, quickly recognizing the scent, and upon checking, confirmed it was his former student.
Kendal said he had taken pity on him and rushed him back to the manor, both he and Simon—that shocked me, and I made sure to talk with him after Kendal and I completed our discussion—working to keep the young man stable while Kendal replaced half of Cole’s blood with his own infected fluid.
He said rumors of my breakup with Cole had made it back to him, thanks to gossip of the high school’s female population, and from what he and Simon could tell, the younger immortal was more cautious around Kendal than their leader, something neither one had thought very suspicious until a general time period that coincided with my return. Evidently, Cole had taken to avoiding Kendal more and more, and I surmised these were the times he was annoying me by text.
Like my mate, he believed Cole’s obsession and mistaken belief that I was his mate most likely stemmed from the power of suggestion. Not that Kendal or Simon had suggested anything to my ex—he had simply taken the information and chose to twist it for his own deluded expectations, something my former teacher felt responsible and repentant for.
I assured him and Simon both that they were in no way responsible, particularly since neither had had any clue about how possessive and controlling the young man had become after graduation. They were shocked and angry when I described the scene at the Sun Dial and how I had not been the one to select my own prom dress, Cole insisting on picking what he thought I would look best in.
Unfortunately, for all its positive and not so positive moments, the weekend disappeared as quickly as it came and found me following a familiar sports car.
I watched the sleek Audi whip into the instructors’ parking lot, and continued driving past, even as I felt the dread that had been growing in my stomach turn into a full-rolling boil. I desperately had to hold back the urge to vomit while I held my cell phone in a death grip. I closed my eyes when I found a space and let my head drop onto the headrest,
My life had become decidedly surreal, and my weekend found me carefully balancing my time with my father and best friend, during which time I had to explain my battered cheek (leaving out almost everything about Simon and focusing primarily on Cole’s misbehavior), and what was apparently now my clan as well.
I’d been surprised at how quickly Kendal had returned to Georgia, and learned he had not taken Cole by car or plane or any other typical method of transportation, but had run the entire way on foot. It seemed that it was not any easy journey, as Cole had not been willing to go. I hadn’t asked how this had been accomplished, but I got the impression violence was involved.
That shouldn’t have been shocking, but it was.
Yes, life had become very unreal.
Sometime during my time-juggling act that weekend, I learned more about the history and traits of not only sexual vampires, but other breeds as well from Simon and Maymuna. And for some reason, Kendal and Grace seemed to think it was important that I learn how to shoot pool and ride a horse. The latter was rather interesting though, as I learned animals tended to be afraid of supernatural creatures, but that Grace seemed to have a ‘special way with them’, as Kendal said.
And in between all the ‘vampire lessons’, the games and the rides, Kendal had taken the time to explain what had happened to Colton and share his view of the new incubus’ mental state. According to the Irishman, he had been out hunting alone when he heard gunshots less than half a mile away and, taking advantage of the situation, followed the sounds to the scene.
The shooter, he said remorselessly, was the first he fed on, and afterward, a young female who had been shot through the heart—he guessed from the sounds of internal bleeding it was the left ventricle. Then he had started Colton’s way, quickly recognizing the scent, and upon checking, confirmed it was his former student.
Kendal said he had taken pity on him and rushed him back to the manor, both he and Simon—that shocked me, and I made sure to talk with him after Kendal and I completed our discussion—working to keep the young man stable while Kendal replaced half of Cole’s blood with his own infected fluid.
He said rumors of my breakup with Cole had made it back to him, thanks to gossip of the high school’s female population, and from what he and Simon could tell, the younger immortal was more cautious around Kendal than their leader, something neither one had thought very suspicious until a general time period that coincided with my return. Evidently, Cole had taken to avoiding Kendal more and more, and I surmised these were the times he was annoying me by text.
Like my mate, he believed Cole’s obsession and mistaken belief that I was his mate most likely stemmed from the power of suggestion. Not that Kendal or Simon had suggested anything to my ex—he had simply taken the information and chose to twist it for his own deluded expectations, something my former teacher felt responsible and repentant for.
I assured him and Simon both that they were in no way responsible, particularly since neither had had any clue about how possessive and controlling the young man had become after graduation. They were shocked and angry when I described the scene at the Sun Dial and how I had not been the one to select my own prom dress, Cole insisting on picking what he thought I would look best in.
Unfortunately, for all its positive and not so positive moments, the weekend disappeared as quickly as it came and found me following a familiar sports car.
I watched the sleek Audi whip into the instructors’ parking lot, and continued driving past, even as I felt the dread that had been growing in my stomach turn into a full-rolling boil. I desperately had to hold back the urge to vomit while I held my cell phone in a death grip. I closed my eyes when I found a space and let my head drop onto the headrest,
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