same thing as Deirdre. Three ravens descending with honey toward me that turned to blood. I’d never mentioned that to anyone. Since meeting Ian, I knew they weren’t ravens anymore; they were vampires. I suppose they might have appeared to Deirdre as ravens. Didn’t I think I was flying when I was a child with Ian? Could these be the same beings that killed my mother? It looked like it was my destiny or fate to find out. I really didn’t want to be this girl. How could I be? I really needed more information, and I knew where to find my answers—Ian.
DISCOVERY
I didn’t like sneaking around, but I knew Grams would not understand ditching school. School is really getting in my way, I thought. Quietly , I grabbed a power bar, some juice, and headed out the door. Grams’s old Buick was reliable, but I was used to riding with Ian; it was going to take hours to reach his cabin. I was pushing it, driving sixty-five miles per hour. The last thing I wanted was to get stranded along the way. At least I had some time to think through all of this. What was this? This was heavy. I could feel the weight of all the recent information from the past couple of days pushing down and expanding the capacity of my brain. The legend made sense; how else would it explain my dealings with a vampire? They just didn’t show up out of nowhere. It was so frustrating, because I knew Ian was holding back. I couldn’t tell if it was to protect me or him.
It really is a beautiful drive . I tried to push things aside and concentrate on my surroundings. I loved the mountains and did oddly feel a connection with nature. I just wasn’t sure how to use it. “Here we go,” I said. “This looks familiar.” I slowed the Buick down and inched further into the forest’s canopy. “I feel like I’m getting closer,” I said to no one in particular. The closer I drove, the more I could feel Ian’s physical presence. I wondered if he felt mine too. I had hoped for the element of surprise so he couldn’t flee. There, I said mentally, pointing to the road in front of me. I turned onto the dirt road and followed its path to the cabin.
***
She was near. Sophie’s presence heightened all of his senses. Ian could smell human blood and control his thirst for it, all but Sophie’s. He was tormented, feeling the demon in him rise. Her blood was like a bouquet of wildflowers. He separated the Jasmine from the honeysuckle. It was like a fine claret that intoxicated him; it rushed over him in waves. She can’t know what she does to the demon inside me, Ian thought sadly. The guardians! They must know a way for me to stop this thirst, and all of this from happening. Fists clenched, Ian slowly turned to the front door.
***
“Ian? Are you there?” I said as I knocked on the door. “I need to speak with you.” Maybe he’s still out hunting, but I swear I could feel he knew I was out here. The door opened wide.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” Ian asked. “Isn’t it a school day? I just got back and was going to pick you up after school.” He folded his arms across his chest in disapproval.
“Oh, not you too,” I said as I pushed past him into his cabin. “We need to talk.”
“Apparently,” Ian simply stated the obvious. It took me a moment to process what he’d just said, but I did catch him by surprise. He stood there not quite fully dressed. I’d only caught a glimpse of his bare chest before, and well, it left an impression. Okay, it took my breath away. I cursed under my breath as I averted my eyes. I needed to concentrate and get this out—no distractions.
Ian was clearly amused. “Are you blushing?” he asked.
“No, why?” I said, but I was actually thinking he should put a shirt on or something.
Ian walked upstairs, laughing. “I’ll be right back. I need to get a
DISCOVERY
I didn’t like sneaking around, but I knew Grams would not understand ditching school. School is really getting in my way, I thought. Quietly , I grabbed a power bar, some juice, and headed out the door. Grams’s old Buick was reliable, but I was used to riding with Ian; it was going to take hours to reach his cabin. I was pushing it, driving sixty-five miles per hour. The last thing I wanted was to get stranded along the way. At least I had some time to think through all of this. What was this? This was heavy. I could feel the weight of all the recent information from the past couple of days pushing down and expanding the capacity of my brain. The legend made sense; how else would it explain my dealings with a vampire? They just didn’t show up out of nowhere. It was so frustrating, because I knew Ian was holding back. I couldn’t tell if it was to protect me or him.
It really is a beautiful drive . I tried to push things aside and concentrate on my surroundings. I loved the mountains and did oddly feel a connection with nature. I just wasn’t sure how to use it. “Here we go,” I said. “This looks familiar.” I slowed the Buick down and inched further into the forest’s canopy. “I feel like I’m getting closer,” I said to no one in particular. The closer I drove, the more I could feel Ian’s physical presence. I wondered if he felt mine too. I had hoped for the element of surprise so he couldn’t flee. There, I said mentally, pointing to the road in front of me. I turned onto the dirt road and followed its path to the cabin.
***
She was near. Sophie’s presence heightened all of his senses. Ian could smell human blood and control his thirst for it, all but Sophie’s. He was tormented, feeling the demon in him rise. Her blood was like a bouquet of wildflowers. He separated the Jasmine from the honeysuckle. It was like a fine claret that intoxicated him; it rushed over him in waves. She can’t know what she does to the demon inside me, Ian thought sadly. The guardians! They must know a way for me to stop this thirst, and all of this from happening. Fists clenched, Ian slowly turned to the front door.
***
“Ian? Are you there?” I said as I knocked on the door. “I need to speak with you.” Maybe he’s still out hunting, but I swear I could feel he knew I was out here. The door opened wide.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” Ian asked. “Isn’t it a school day? I just got back and was going to pick you up after school.” He folded his arms across his chest in disapproval.
“Oh, not you too,” I said as I pushed past him into his cabin. “We need to talk.”
“Apparently,” Ian simply stated the obvious. It took me a moment to process what he’d just said, but I did catch him by surprise. He stood there not quite fully dressed. I’d only caught a glimpse of his bare chest before, and well, it left an impression. Okay, it took my breath away. I cursed under my breath as I averted my eyes. I needed to concentrate and get this out—no distractions.
Ian was clearly amused. “Are you blushing?” he asked.
“No, why?” I said, but I was actually thinking he should put a shirt on or something.
Ian walked upstairs, laughing. “I’ll be right back. I need to get a
Similar Books
