Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Happiness

 

I woke up in a strange room.  It was dark out, the moon light was coming in through the window giving the room a soft white glow.  I stretched slightly, every muscle in my body was stiff and I noticed then that my head hurt, it felt as if someone had stomped repeatedly on my forehead for the fun of it and I felt a bulky bandage on my wrist.  I groaned quietly to myself.

“How are you feeling?” a familiar voice whispered.

“I ache all over and my head is killing me.” I whispered back. 

“Are you ok? How’s your shoulder?” I sat up a bit too quickly and the room started to spin like a roulette wheel.  Alex put his hands on my shoulders to keep me steady in the bed.

“You should lie back down.  You expended too much energy today.” and he gently and pushed me back towards the pillows. 

“My shoulder is fine I heal pretty fast, especially after you slashed your wrist for me.  You shouldn’t have done that.  I could have killed you.” He said seriously.

“I was so scared when you fell.  I wanted to fix things between you and me and then those jerks showed up and ruined it.  I thought that I had lost you, I had to do it and I would do it again.” I rushed in a whisper trying to hold my tears back.  He smiled down at me and brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face. 

“I’m not that easy to kill Anna and besides I’m a bit mad at you still.  Everyone knew you were back before me that hardly seems fair.” he chided.

I smiled weakly at him. “Well I knew I would be longer with you and I needed to deal with people one at a time.  I’m surprised Lizzy didn’t let it slip since the two of you are so connected.” I replied.

“We may be connected, but we have to let each other in.  It’s kind of like a two way radio, we need to be within range of each other for it to work.” I nodded.

“You still tired” he asked.  I nodded again.

“Then I’ll let you sleep” he started to get up to leave.  I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards me, I didn’t know how he would react but I knew I didn’t want him to leave.  I didn’t want to be alone.  I wanted to feel safe and for some reason he made me feel that way.

“Stay, please” I said softly.  I curled up on my side and tugged his hand again.  He curled up behind me and wrapped his arm around me.  I felt safe, and warm and above all happy. I inhaled deeply savouring the feeling of having his arms around me, his sent was almost like a combination of jasmine and vanilla, it was so soothing, it was exactly as I remember it I thought as I drifted back to sleep quickly in his embrace.

 

I woke in the morning well rested and perfectly warm and content.  I hadn’t woken up in the middle of the night soaked in sweat for the first time in months.  What a relief that was.  I stretched as I slowly started to become aware of my surroundings.  As I slowly started to move I realized that there was someone very warm beside me and at that moment I realized my head wasn’t on a pillow. My head was resting on a very well formed chest that was slowly rising and falling rhythmically.  I opened my eyes and slowly turned my face upward to peek at who I had so conveniently been using as my personal pillow.  I saw vivid green emerald eyes staring down at me with an amused edge to them.  His smirk at what was most likely sheer mortification in my eyes as I realized Alex had stayed with me all night and that I had made myself perfectly comfortable using him as my own personal heater and pillow.  I turned bright red at that moment looked down and tried to pull myself away from him.  His arms tightened and I was in an unbreakable hold, my eyes widened and I looked back into his eyes. 

“I happen to like you where you are if you don’t mind I’m not ready to let you go yet.” he said in a quiet amused voice. 

“I’m sorry, I-I didn’t mean to. I-I shouldn’t have. Oh! W-What have I done.” I stuttered in a mortified voice.  He laughed quietly.

“You’ve done absolutely nothing but sleep for the past 12 hours.  I rather like having you here, that way I don’t have to keep tabs on you through my sister although she is wondering if you’re ever going to get out of bed.  She’s a bit mad that I haven’t gotten up either but I didn’t want to disturb you and since you were using me as a pillow I had the perfect excuse.” he smiled at me.  

“So you see there’s really nothing to worry about.”  I nodded and buried my head in his chest again, I inhaled deeply trying to relax he smelled so good I must be in heaven I thought to myself.  I could feel him chuckle again as I started to relax. 

“So I’m not in trouble with you then?” I asked quietly.

“Oh! You’re in big trouble.  How could you leave like that? I almost went insane with worry?” he demanded.

“Well, I was a bit confused and terrified that I had been found at the time and it’s not like you’re my boyfriend.  How was I supposed to know that my leaving would cause you so much discourse?  I tend to run a lot, that’s how I deal with things.  I don’t know any other way of being but once I made up my mind about things I came back.” I replied almost annoyed. “And you never said that you liked me, you mostly just teased me and treated me like a little sister.  Between you and Will trying to make me blush, I can’t read your mind like your sister and she never told me how you really felt either she just hinted.” I was definitely getting annoyed.  I’ve had this pent up anxiety about how I felt about Alex for months and I never acted on any of it for two reasons, one that I couldn’t get attached to anyone because of my stupid ‘Curse’ of an eighteenth birthday that would force me into a life of servitude and two that Alex was way out of my league and how could he possibly like his sister’s best friend.

He laughed at me again.  “Are you that blind?  I would purposely be in the hall between classes to watch you.  I know you saw me, you would blush ever so nicely and I would go to the music room just to listen to you practise.  What guy do you know that would do that if he wasn’t interested?” he said exasperated.

“Oh please.  Like I knew that you were in the hall where I could see you on purpose, I didn’t even know your class schedule last semester and I’ve hardly been in school this semester.  As for you being in the music room, you ignored me.  You would work on sheet music and play at the synthesizer with head phones on.” I chided.

“Wow, you’re really a piece of work you know that.  I’ve done everything to convince myself that I was so out of your league and you’ve had as much of a crush on me as I had on you.” I almost snapped.  I started to pull away and he let me sit up this time.  He appraised me for a second and began to smirk. 

“Nice hair.” 

“Arggg.” I growled as I rolled my eyes at him.  I swung my legs over the bed and started sliding forward.  His arm was around my waist so fast I had no time to react and then I was suddenly sitting in his lap.  He glared at me.

“We’re not done yet.” his eyes narrowing slightly.  I shook my head slowly, I was not going to win a strength contest that I was sure of but I did need to go to the bathroom. 

“I will come back you know but I DO need to get to the washroom.” I said as he tightened his arms around me again.

“Please” I whispered.  He sighed and reluctantly let me go, I got up and looked towards the door I expected to be the bathroom I looked at him questioningly and he nodded.  I found my bag of toiletries on the counter so I decided to have a shower and clean myself up before I went back into see Alex.  I turned on the water in the shower I was about to get undressed when I heard a knock at the door.  I opened it a crack and looked up into his amazing green eyes. 

“You never said you were going to have a shower, that’s not fair, I wouldn’t have let you go.” he teased.  I shook my head slowly grinning.

“I won’t be long I promise but it would be nice to feel normal.  I have been asleep for quite a long time and you laughed at my hair.” I stuck my tongue out at him.  His laughter filled the room with the sound of bell like chimes it was the most amazing sound I had ever heard.

“The robe on the back of the door is for you.  I’ll shower when you’re done so leave me some hot water.” I closed the door.

“Not a chance” I replied to the door and chuckled to myself.  My shower didn’t last long enough I was too anxious to get back to Alex.  I dried myself off and donned the rob hanging on the back of the door then I brushed out my tangled hair and brushed my teeth.  I almost felt human again but I was still feeling off though, I was still exhausted from the day before.  I walked back into the bedroom.

“Feel better” Alex asked.

“Yes I do” I smiled as I walked to his side and sat on the bed.

“Lizzy brought some clothes for you, there over there on the desk.  I’ll be done in a few minutes, then I’ll rebandage your wrist and then we can go get breakfast or lunch rather” he smirked and shook his head as he went into the bathroom and closed the door.  I quickly got dressed.  Lizzy had packed my favourite jeans and a couple of different tops.  I chose a light navy blue T-shirt.  I found my hair combs and pulled my wet hair up so that it wouldn’t fall into my face.  I placed the robe I had used on the back of the chair I didn’t want to take it off because it smelled so good, it smelled like him.  I was off in my own world fiddling with the ring around my neck as he immerged from the bathroom with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.  I was awestruck.  He looked glorious, his messy wet blond hair fell perfectly around his face, his chest was perfectly formed and a six pack for abs that any guy or girl for that matter would give anything for.  He had well formed shoulders and his arms were nicely sculpted.  I felt like I was looking at one of the figures in a Michael Angelo painting.  He was beyond words, the most beautiful creature I had ever be held.  I realized I was staring when he smiled widely at me.  I turned quickly trying to hide my blush at being caught.  A few seconds later I felt his arms wrap around my waist. 

“Why are you blushing” he asked in a very amused tone. 

“Oh no reason, just a practically naked guy walked into the room and took me by surprise is all.” I said as I looked at my feet. 

“Does it bother you to be so close to me?  I already know how you feel about me.” he whispered in my ear his lips lightly brushing against my neck.  I shivered my heart racing.

“No, I like being close to you, a little too much.” I confessed.  I could feel his warm breath on my neck.

“hmm” he said.  I shivered again and I leaned my head back into his shoulder.  I never wanted to be anywhere else but in his arms.

“Here let me bandage your wrist again.  It will take a few weeks to heal but it shouldn’t scar too badly.” Alex said as he inspected the gash across my wrist.

“How do you know how I feel about you?” I asked curiously.

“Your blood told me and the fact that you whispered in my ear helped.” He smiled warmly.

“What do you mean my blood told you?” I cocked my head to the side gazing at him curiously.

“The reason we don’t drink human blood is because we can learn a person’s experiences or emotions.  Like snap shots, feelings or images.  It’s hard to explain but it also ties us to that person and if a vampire has feelings for the one they feed on it can be a very intense and rather sexual experience.  Some vampires do it to gain secrets so that they can manipulate people while others just get high from the sensation.  We’re all a bit different.” Alex explained as he put the finishing touches on my bandage.

“What did you experience?”  I asked curiously.  Alex smiled as he gazed at me deciding what exactly he was going to say.

“Well it was a very intense and interesting experience.  First I felt your fear for my life, it was so intense that it almost smothered me but once I got past that I felt your loyalty to James and my family and your love for us but I also saw your intense feelings for me.  I was shocked at how you felt.  I had no idea, I was so overwhelmed by it that I got lost in it, it was like I could actually touch your soul.  Then I saw snapshots that I don’t understand, of an alleyway and two men and a woman who looks like you with her hair blowing in the wind, it’s a beautiful image really.  Max had to stop me or I could have drained you, thankfully I didn’t drink that much or you would be in worse shape.  You’ll be weak for a few days until you replenish your blood supply.” Alex said softly as he watched for any sign of distress.

“Well you know how I feel but you haven’t really told me how you feel.  I can guess but it would be nice to hear it.” I said quietly looking down at my hands.

“Anna I could barely live without you before and now I don’t think I would survive if anything were to happen to you.  You are my soul and the light in my life, without you I’d be nothing.” He said softly.  I smiled and nodded.  I guess that was his way of saying that he loved me.  Alex brushed my cheek with two of his fingers and then traced them down my neck and finally rested his hand over my heart.  I sighed contently and then as usual my stomach kicked in and demanded to be fed.  I blushed slightly as Alex smiled and nodded.

“I guess we better get something to eat I’m sure Max and James and everyone else for that matter have a few questions for you.” Alex sighed.  When we got up I noticed he had jeans on and a cream coloured short sleeved polo shirt.  I hadn’t realized he had dressed so quickly I was too focused on our conversation, I wonder how he does that? 

“You can move really fast can’t you?” I asked.  He smiled.

“Not as fast as Max, Katie, George or Stephan but yes I do move relatively fast when I want to.  I suppose you have a lot of question about us?” he looked at me questioningly. 

“Yes I do, but I want to know where we stand before I leave this room. What are we exactly, are we dating now?” I asked quietly looking into his eyes trying to figure out how he would take the question. 

He smiled “I guess you could say that, I kind of like the idea of you being my girlfriend even if I think of you as more than that.  You are a part of me now.” he replied.

“What about this?” I asked as I showed him his ring that was still hanging around my neck.

“I’m glad you still have it.” He smiled.

“Why did you give it to me?” I asked curiously.

“I wanted you to remember me, you were amazingly strong and I was surprised that you trusted me so completely.  You always held my hand or slept in my lap.  Those few days on the bus with you changed me forever.  I knew that you were the only person I wanted to be with but I had to wait until you were old enough.  I didn’t want to leave you in New York, I wanted to keep you with me but James wouldn’t let me.  George had to drag me out of New York so that you could experience life on your own.  They were right of course and I waited patiently until you arrived here, believe me when I say that you surprised me, you’re even stronger than I remembered.” He smiled.

“Do you want it back?” I asked curiously.

“Keep it, I know how attached to it you are.  I’ve watched you play with it since you got here, it seems to help you somehow.” He said softly as he placed a hand on my cheek.

“I always wanted to be with only one person and you are that person, it’s just hard to believe that you were there with me during that horrible time but I’m glad I had your strength, thank you.” I said quietly as he took my hand and led me to the kitchen where everyone else waited our arrival. 

We walked into the kitchen hand in hand.  James, Max, Katie and Lizzy were sitting at the table talking.  Lizzy looked at us and smiled widely. “It’s about time you got up” she teased.

I blushed as usual. “Hey”

“How are you feeling?” asked Max.

“Still pretty exhausted, to be honest I didn’t even wake up soaked with sweat and screaming like I normally do in the middle of the night.” I replied.  It was nice to not have to hide things anymore.

“What do you mean?” Max asked concerned.

“Every night since she got here she would wake around three thirty in the morning, sometimes gasping, sometimes screaming.  I got used to it.  When I asked her about it, she wouldn’t say anything.” James said looking at me.

“Most of the time in the beginning I didn’t remember what woke me.  Recently though, I’ve started to remember bits and pieces of dreams.  Mostly I’m standing in a field of some sort I’ve never been to.  There are two lines of people, on one side I think it’s the ones I love, my friends and the people I consider my family on the other side is my father and his goon’s.  I believe it’s my birthday a few minutes before the claiming rite.  Two people are making a claim at the same time I’m scared because I have no control over the outcome.  I always wake up before the outcome is determined, I’m too afraid to see the outcome.” I was almost shaking with fear.  Alex put his arm around my shoulder protectively and squeezed me gently.

“It is quite possible that you are seeing a piece of your future” Katie said “Your abilities are not fully developed yet and we do not know exactly how powerful you will be.”

“Have you tried to use your second sight kid?” asked James.

“No, I never thought to try” I looked out the window at the trees along the far end of the yard.  I tried to look closer and beyond to find something. Nothing.  I couldn’t see anything beyond normal. 

“It’s not working” I said with fear in my voice. “What’s happening, why can’t I see beyond normal, what’s wrong with me?” I was shaking, my voice trembling.

“Calm down, Anna it’s going to be ok” Max said gently. “I was afraid this might happen.” he shook his head slowly from side to side.

We all turned and looked at Max. 

“What do you mean?” Asked Lizzy her voice full of concern

“When Alex was hurt Anna was enraged.  She used everything she had to protect him and protect herself.  She actually saved Alex’s life with her abilities and she didn’t even know it and before I could stop her she gashed her wrist open and fed Alex her blood.” he looked at me with eyes full of ancient knowledge “your ‘life force’ or energy whatever you want to call it, you stopped the bleeding with it I’m not sure how but you did.  Just like how you stopped those men, you wrapped your energy around them and threw one into the tree.  It’s not the same thing you did when you blinded them or tried to get them to drop their weapons, you hypnotised them and also wiped their memories. That was something completely different.  I’ve never seen someone with more than one ability like you, so I need to do more research.” Max looked at me thoughtfully. 

“But why can’t she use her abilities now?” asked Alex.

“If I’m right she exhausted all of her reserves during the fight and then replenishing you, she’s going to have to rebuild her energy and her reserves and that could take awhile.  Once you turn eighteen your abilities will be limitless if the stories are correct, I’ve only heard of two others with similar potential but their abilities were very different and they each only had one ability not multiple abilities.” Max explained.

“Anna I spoke with James we both think that you should stay here for the time being, with you not being able to protect yourself and your father still in the area we want to make sure your safe.” Katie said as she looked from James to me with a mother’s concern.

“I thought you led him away” I said confused a hint of fear in my voice and eyes.

“He has a picture of you.” I looked at her with a confused expression. “I was in his room.  I saw a recent picture, only a week and a half old.  He knows you’re here and I don’t think he’s going to leave.  He’s staying at Deer Hurst lodge.  He’s sent some of his men to follow up the leads we planted in other towns but that picture of you at the store here in town is pretty incriminating.  He still has to figure out which high school you’re at but that won’t take him long.  I’m afraid that we’re going to have a fight on our hands sooner than later and you still have two months of school left.” Katie said.            

“I don’t want to fight, I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me.” I looked down angrily. “It’s just not right, why can’t I just be normal?” I resisted the urge to stomp my foot like a four year old.

“We’ll protect you Anna. We can keep you safe.” Alex assured me.  I looked at him and shook my head at him. 

“You’ve already been shot because of me I can’t risk that, not again, Paul died because of me. I can’t lose any more people, I just can’t.” he put his fingers to my lips.

“I’m stronger than you think and I heal faster than you do. I can take care of myself, we didn’t know they were there, they were down wind or I would have known.  We didn’t realize they had gotten that close.  Now that we know exactly where they are we can get them to a place of our choosing.” Alex grinned.  Will, George, Stephan and Cassy entered the kitchen.  They had heard what Alex was saying.

“Hey we could find the perfect place to meet her psycho father, that way no one else would have to get hurt.” suggested Will.

“There are a lot of open areas that are well protected in this region.  We wouldn’t have to go that far.” said Stephan quietly.

“We’d have to take her to school early and bring her back here late so that they don’t see her, she’d have to stay indoors too.” said George

“Wait just a second.  Don’t talk about me as if I’m not here I can take care of myself thank you very much.  I’ve been hiding for years I know how to drop off the grid.” I said.

“That’s not the problem, Anna.” said Cassy “We know you can hide but you cannot hide anymore.  You must face him a decision has to be made.”

“I know you’re right.” I said looking down and sighing, I turned to James.

“James, do you mind me staying here?” I asked.

“No kid, I think it’s the safest place for you.  I’ve known this family for almost thirty years Anna, if anyone can keep you safe its them.” he said thoughtfully.  I nodded and looked at Lizzy

“Do you mind coming with me to get my stuff?  I’m going to need more than one change of clothes and I’m going to need a few other things too.” My mind was racing, I would get to see Alex and Lizzy every day but what about James, my thoughts kept swirling round and round as I moved slowly towards the front door.

“Sure let me get my bag.  Stephan I think you should come too, we’ll take the truck.” Lizzy said.  She was out of the kitchen and back in less than a minute.  She had grabbed her hand bag and she had a set of car keys in her hand, Stephan grabbed the keys and disappeared.  We walked to the front door and Stephan pulled the truck up just as we reached the steps.  We got into the truck and headed to James’ place.  It was mid afternoon we knew that my father had no idea where I was living.  It was a fluke that the men had found me in the woods.  George, Katie and Cassy left before us because they were faster on their feet, they would scout out the area to make sure it was safe.  We took the long way to James place, it almost took twenty minutes.  I knew they were just being thorough.  Once we arrived at our destination I moved quickly to gather my things.  I had done this hundreds of times.  I knew how to pack things and store things in a manner that no one would know that I had been there.  I had everything packed that I needed by the door in less than fifteen minutes.  Lizzy and Alex watched me move methodically in wonder.  They had no idea how efficiently I could move or how well I could hide things.  I retrieved several well hidden packages from around the house.  Lizzy and Alex looked at each other and then to me.  I smiled at them “My mother trained me well” I said answering their unasked question.  I placed the packages into one of the bags and I was done.  We grabbed all six bags by the door and headed back to the truck.  We got back to the Worthington’s home about fifteen minutes later. 

I knew that I had been awake for only four hours but I was exhausted. 

“I think I need to lie down for a bit.  I’m sorry but I’m so tired.  I have so many questions but I don’t know if I can stay awake long enough to ask them” I yawned as Alex and Lizzy smiled.

“Don’t worry we’ll answer all your questions later we have time.” they said in unison.  Alex led me to his room so that I could lie down.

“Will I be staying in your room or do I get my own room?” I asked looking up into Alex’s amazing green eyes.  He just smiled at me. 

“Don’t worry about that now, just get some rest. We’ll discuss living arrangements later.”  He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Sweet dreams Anna, I won’t be far I promise.” Alex whispered in my ear.  His breath was warm on my cheek.  His smell surrounded me, the scent of jasmine and vanilla, I didn’t want him to go.  He chuckled quietly, he seemed to know what I was thinking.  He took my hand a led me to the bed.  I sat down and kicked off my shoes.  I lay down and Alex pulled the covers over me. 

“I’ll stay until you fall asleep” he said quietly smiling down at me I nodded and closed my eyes.