Seth's Mess 7- Liability

DAY 7- Liability

As soon as I woke, the sun shined bright in my direction. At first I felt mocked, that the sun was smiling so bright, not for my day but in spite of the night to come. Well, forget that! If this was going to be my last day on Earth, than I was going to live it right.

For the first time in days, I sprang out of bed, and actually felt awake. Whether it be from my time down by the water yesterday, or my change in perspective, I was energized and ready to go.

I turned on cartoons in the living room as I passed to the kitchen. With everything being so spotless, I felt no hesitation in making a mess as I made my breakfast. I was in the mood to be extravagant, so along with my egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich I also cut up some fruit for a small salad and made a banana smoothy. Now that's how you make breakfast!

After I was full and clean up was done, I decided to call Rae. She did want to hang out after all and I wouldn't mind a little shopping myself.

We headed over to the mall around 11 A.M. and I found myself looking for something different. Everything I looked at just didn't seem like anything I wanted at the moment.

"Kailey, you want to stop into Victoria's Secret?" She wiggled her eyebrows playfully.

I just scoffed back. "You know I don't have any need for stuff like that."

Rae had already made her way in the store with me trailing. "And you're never going to until you give in!" She picked up a few items and held them up too me. "Ugh! Much too plain!"

I just let her have her fun and played along. When I finally dragged her out of the store though, I ran right across the way into the next one.

"Kailey? What's up?" She jogged over to me with shopping bag flopping around loosely.

I just gawked at the vision that I happened upon from the window. A navy blue knee length dress. It had thick straps and a scoop neck with a low back and was absolutely perfect.

I picked my size up off the rack behind me and twirled around. "This," I walked up closer to my snickering friend. "This is what I have been searching for all day." I ran the dress into the changing room knowing she would follow and struggled too quickly with my own clothes. I though I would just start ripping if I couldn't get them off any faster. In no time I was wearing the dress and striding in front of the mirror.

"It's beautiful." Rae was serious now. She sat cross- legged on the store floor and just stared up at me. "Really."

"I'm getting it." And just like that it was mine. At first a little more than I would have liked to spend, but I was pleasantly surprised with a sale.

The noise on the ride home was mostly fueled by the radio, both of us unusually quiet. It wasn't long before I could feel Rae's questioning glances. She new something wasn't right.

Finally we made it to my driveway. "Thanks a lot for-"

"Do you want to talk about it?" Rae wasn't stupid, or deviating for that matter.

I just gave her a sigh and a smile. This was why she was my friend after all. "I had a great time today. And thanks again." I stepped out of the car and retrieved my bag from the back. "I'll call soon okay?"

She knew what I meant by that and gave a solid nod. "I'll be waiting."

Inside the house, I just kept smiling to myself. You will have a chance to call her back. I repeated the line over and over keeping that smile planted as I hung up the dress in my closet. Not that I had a lot or even wore them often, but I loved dresses.

Looking through my clothes I began to wonder what I would wear to meeting. I had told Seth that it was a priority. What a trivial worry.

I had eaten lunch out with Rae so I wasn't hungry. I tried to think of anything that I had to get done today. I figured my only loose ends could be summed up in a few phone calls. I got a hold a few of my closer friends and chatted about going back to school and a few other minor worries compared to what was ahead of me.

A week ago I was worried about the end of the year homework to come and track meets. Now my head was swarmed with the possibility of my own demise. I could die. I could really die tonight. And if I did by the hands of some sadistic vampire, I was pretty sure that it would neither be quick nor painless.

Yet how could I doubt anything? I didn't truthfully know anything about what I was dealing with. Why didn't I though? Seth was with me during most of his waking hours and yet I hadn't gotten any useful information out of him. If I was going to be putting myself in danger tonight, then I was going to get a few things straight before I did so. I wanted to know all I could that would help our chances.

I also needed to be prepared in other ways though. With my mind so mangled, I was all too sure that sleep would evade me. As chances were these days, it probably wouldn't do me much good anyways. So, off to the water I went.

It wasn't as cold as it seemed before so I decided to sit on the shore with my feet wading out in front of me. It didn't take long before my eyes started to lose focus and I had my hands feeling numb. What an amazing feeling it was to be so out of control.

"Kailey." Cool lips were on my shoulder and arms pulled tighter around my waist and ribs as I jumped in surprise. Seth chuckled as he pulled me to lean back into his body.

I noted that the tide was out and my legs were dry as my eyes adjusted to the darkness around me. It seemed strangely like it wasn't dark enough, that the sun was still just poking above the horizon behind my house.

The sun. "Seth?"

"Hmm?" I strained my head back to see that his face was staring solemnly towards the water as his finger traced the scars on my neck aimlessly.

Could he really try something like this on purpose? "How long ago did the sun set?"

Seth's face went blank and then turned to eye mine as he mulled over his words. "It's just finished really. I only got here as it was doing so." His gaze whipped away from mine as he let his head fall back into the dirt. "Why do you ask?"

"You seemed kind of early." Seth's hair meshed with the sand and small stones he lay on as he directed his vision back to the ripples within the black liquid before us.

He chuckled. It was light and half hearted almost sounding staged. "I don't think that I can be early."

"Right." I started to get up but Seth pulled me back down. I was facing him now, my stomach to his. I just laid there perfectly still for a moment, feeling slightly awkward being partially between his legs. That feeling didn't last long though. All he had to do was place a caressing hand on my hip and all those 'awkward feelings' turned very primal.

He smiled at me a tantalizing smile that beckoned me closer. And I obeyed the call. I wormed and stretched my way up to Seth to meet his eager lips without hesitation. They were warmer than usual, but at the moment I had no intention of being distracted by any such detail.

His arms wrapped around me to pull me the few inches closer that made all the difference to deepen our kiss. I breathed heavily on him, and almost through him it would seem, as he rolled our bodies so that he could hover over mine.

Seth pulled his lips away from mine to trail from my jawline to my collarbone. He stopped there for a moment making his breath send shivers up my spine.

As I started to regain the feeling in my fingertips, I unwound them from Seth's hair to place on his neck. They worked their way down his shoulders and arm to cross over to his chest. Seth's face flew greedily back up to mine to captivate me in an urgent but brief kiss. I clung on to his shirt and tried to put him back to me, but instead he lifted us both up to stand.

"We need to stop." He sighed.

I groaned in response. "Why?" I sounded like a stubborn four year old who didn't understand that you didn't get presents too on someone else's birthday.

"Because this is risky and I already let myself go more than I should have." I could tell that he was chastising the both of us for that.

"But you have air!"

Seth sneered at me. "Yes, that worked well for a kiss." He quickly regained his composure as he noted my annoyance. "But I think that we may be crossing that line..."

I slumped in defeat. "Let's go inside. I want to talk." I started walking without another word or missing Seth's display of worry and intrigue.

We made it to the door as I felt a sudden jump in my heart and a pain in my throat as they collided. How could I be so stupid as to have left the door unlocked. I hadn't taken anything down with me to the water, not even thinking about the newly acquired danger surrounding my premises. "Oh shit!"

Seth was next to me in a flash. He looked from me to the door knob and back. I was expecting him to be angry, but he only looked concentrated to my surprise.

He nudged me back from the door so that he could stand in front of me as he opened it slowly. Thank god there was no creek or I think the tension would have made me snap.

Seth walked in making no noise at all and scurried around in the dark before coming back to get me. "It's all clear. No scents besides us."

I came in and turned on the light before I bolted the door up tight. "You know that couldn't keep us out right?"

I nodded to him because I did know but it made me feel better to have it done. Maybe then at least if someone did break inn I might hear it.

Us. So, Seth was including himself in that category now. I guess I had no right to want to change his mind, but it scared me that he had accepted this. He was part of 'us.'

"You wanted to have a 'talk.'" He reminded me. With quotations.

"Yeah." I sat down on the couch and motioned for him to sit next to me. We both sat towards each other, but kept little eye contact. "I think it would be best for both of us if you explained to me more about being... what you are before we go out tonight." Seth gave me an eyeful. "The more I know the more prepared I can be and the safer I will be." I knew that that last part had won him over.

He began to fidget restlessly as he spoke, slowly growing more and more comfortable with the conversation that lay ahead of us. "First of all, I'm a vampire Kailey. You have to accept that as a fact." I nodded in response but he waited. "I want to hear you say it."

"What?"

"Tell me what I am. I want to hear you say the words." He was smirking slightly at the dark corners of his mouth. Lips brought up only in incriments that could be mistaken.

I scowled back. "Seth, you are a freaking cold- blooded vampire." Seth let his smile go full blown. "Happy?"

"Very." He sighed then. "Second thing: never underestimate what you've heard. Expect the strength, the speed, the charisma and cunning. I can't read your mind but your expressions speak as loud as your words."

"What about the whole smell thing?"

For all of two seconds, Seth looked annoyed that I had interrupted him, but quickly disposed of that display. "When we were in town the other day I didn't pay much attention to anything but the one scent I had caught. It just kind of overthrew me. But when we went back, I managed to pay a little closer attention to my surroundings." He stopped for a moment to, what looked like, try and find the right words. "There was nothing like you."

I understood all too well what that meant and knew that I was showing it when he pulled me closer to himself. We weren't in an embrace, just sitting much closer, his arms on mine.

"I still don't know if you are the same for all of us. Maybe it's just to me. But I'm not taking chances."

I nodded again and try to form what my brain would let me of a smile. "I trust you."

Seth seemed relieved at this. "The last thing you really need to know for tonight is that you shouldn't trust who you believe is and is not a vampire." I was confused by what he was saying. I could see so much difference in him that I figured it would be all too easy. "You probably think that I'm the only vampire you've met right?"

Now I was more worried than confused. How could I not know if the people in my life were alive or undead? "Yes..."

He chuckled and then when realizing there was no joke on my part revealed to me the name that seemed to fit all too well. "Jason."

"I knew it!" Seth was surprised by my reaction, no doubt about that. "He did this thing in the alley when we were in town, and then... and then he caught me... and it was like we were flying!" I was standing now all too hyped up in my own epiphany.

Seth looked at the clock and leaned back on the couch. "You should probably get ready, if you are going to change or anything. They will be here soon." I ran into my room really not wanting to make my vampire chauffeur impatient. Damn, I never picked out an outfit. I ransacked my closet finding that the most reasonable clothes would be comfortable and classy. With shoes that were made for running. So, loose jeans and a white button- up it was.

In the bathroom, I brushed my hair down and chose to avoid make- up. Then I went out to grab my sneakers. I was tying the laces when I realized that there must have been something big and scary on my face because Seth wouldn't stop staring.

"You may be able to read me like a book, but really most of the time I'm clueless." He didn't say anything. "It would be really awesome if you told me what you were staring at."

Seth was crouched in front of me looking me over by the time I blinked. "You can't wear that."

"Why?"

"Do you want to make it home?" He seemed completely serious. I tried desperately to make sense of what he was trying to get across but didn't work fast enough for him. "You can tempt me all you want when we get back, I promise, but please refrain from doing so in front of the vampire hordes."

I could only choke back the laugh that was forming. It was too quick for me to completely stifle. Seth scoffed in response. Obviously we weren't finding any of the same things funny tonight.

"I wasn't joking."

"I figured you weren't." I managed that much as my laughter died. "Maybe you're just not used to your enhanced eye sight yet and it's throwing you for a spin?"

Seth stood to tower over me. I looked up, but in an unintimidated and insignificant way. "Or maybe you are still just taking things a bit too lightly." Seth slipped his fangs out just slightly, but enough to shake me a little.

Lights shined through the living room curtains to contour the shadows on our faces. "Let's go." I stood and walked around Seth to turn off all the lights but one and then waited at the door. He walked passed me and I locked the door behind us.

We walked along the gravel together and he slowed only a step to place his face over my shoulder. "I'm sorry if I scared you."

I stopped at the back door and opened it to stand in the gap. "I told you, you don't scare me." I smiled but Seth frowned at the statement. He went around to the other side as I buckled my seat belt.

As soon as all the doors were closed, Jason pulled the car out of my drive and headed into the mainland city, away from the island. He looked at me through the rear- view mirror and I could see the smile in his eyes. "Think you can keep up tonight?"

Seth, who had been staring out the window, whipped his head towards Jason. I figured that if he wasn't driving Seth would have knocked him a good one. I giggled at both the comment and reaction.

Todd then turned in his seat to face back towards Seth and me. "I presume that you will be on your best behavior tonight." It seemed that no one was going to be on Seth's good side tonight. That meant it was up to me to keep him cool. No good would come out of him lashing out on the next person who rubbed him the wrong way.

Before Seth could retaliate I reached for his hand and held it in my own. He looked at the entwined fingers, immediately composing himself, and then up to me with a thankful smile. I knew he wouldn't be leaving my side tonight, not with the risk of endangering us both.

"Yeah, I'm behaved." It was a delayed response but I knew it was directed more to me than Todd anyways. He didn't appreciate our affection and quickly turned away.

The rest of the ride was quiet as was rode through the city and then proceeded through the back roads. When we finally came to a stop Seth squeezed my hand and we locked eyes for the briefest moments before exiting the car. Jason appeared on the other side of me and to my surprise both boys kept their eyes ahead of them and their thoughts unspoken.

The building that we arrived in front of was on one of the private roads I had never taken in the wealthy residential area. It was three stories of modern perfect surrounded by a pond on one side and garden on the other. Um, where are the headstones and creepy dead trees?

Maybe that was being stereotypical but Seth had told me to believe what I had heard about everything else. Was I wrong to assume?

With my hand still in his, Seth pulled me forward to the Stepford house. Oddly enough, nothing inside me was holding me back. I always figured that I would have to fight some part of myself that would be screaming to get back in the car, but there was nothing.

I smiled up at him as we waited on the porch for someone to answer the door. Todd stood in front of the rest of us and tapped his foot in impatience. When the door finally opened, Jason gave me the sliest of smiles. We all headed in and as soon as our bodies were far enough inside the door closed behind us to lock up tight.

It was an eerie sound, the sleek metal, as it slid into place to keep us all securely inside. I had a sudden mental image overthrow me of my own deadbolt and chain. It was probably kiddie stuff compared to the equipment inside and out of this fortress.

Seth pulled me a little closer to himself as we made our way into the light of the entrance room. There was a pure crystal chandelier hanging in the center of what seemed like a twenty foot high ceiling. It sparkled and shined like real diamond and I wouldn't doubt that it was. The rug that we stood on was maroon, black and tan and was so complimentary to the mahogany wood floor beneath. It was thick and amazingly spotless for any rug. In front of us was a marble flying staircase. It was polished so smoothly that it we got any closer I might be able to see our reflections.

"Follow me please." Todd was already halfway down a short hall to our left.

Jason swooped by me and then turned to stride backwards. "I told you to keep up." His words were gently mocking as he flipped back around to speed ahead of me.

Seth pulled up right beside me as soon as Jason was, what I assumed to be, a comfortable distance away for him. He reached for my hand and I accepted, entwining my fingers with his. We walked with a slowness that screamed deep thought and contemplation, but with each step we still framed our modest smiles. They were meaningless really; only for show if that. We both knew that they only remained because some helpless part of us wanted to appear brave in front of what ever was to come.

At the end of the hall was a three way intersect. Both Todd and Jason were standing on either side of a set of large double doors setting down the hall to the left. And behind door number one...

I moved to walk forward first and Seth gripped my hand tighter. I turned to him to see him glance back the way we came and then to me. I knew he was holding back from wanting to tell me to stay where I was or get out of there. He knew no such options were conceivable.

"I trust you." I repeated the words that I had told him earlier. I meant it with all my heart both times and couldn't regret such words if I tried. It was so much like another phrase that kept making its way out of my mouth. But now wasn't the time for that.

Seth replied with a heavy sigh and a longing look in his eyes directed towards the doors. I made progress to move forward once again somehow ready to face the inevitable. Seth decided to move with me this time and the realization that we were actually headed closer to the door this time set my heart pounding.

I wasn't at all embarrassed that Seth was subject to the racket I was making but soon realized that there would be many more ears perking up if not already. I took a couple deep breaths trying to calm myself but soon lost all hope when Jason caught my eye. His head was tilted back and his eyes closed in mental repose. He was enjoying the thundering in my chest way too much for my comfort.

Another internal noise disrupted my own, and as the attention drew away from myself I relaxed. Seth let out a second growl to echo its way through the empty halls.

With that Jason finally brought his eyes to meet mine. The flare that usually engulfed his stare was burning more brightly than I had ever seen and his expression left me working even harder to breathe deep. He didn't hold any of that same spunk that always seemed to radiate off of him. There was a change in his air that threw me off for a moment and his expression gave me chills. It almost seemed familiar.

I stopped walking, feeling submerged in hostility. This hallway just screamed Death Row. Seth stopped with me and noted my apprehension. "I won't let him touch you." He spoke the words with such confidence and sincerity that I was immediately blunt.

"What are you talking about?" I hadn't been thinking about anyone in particular.

Seth looked away from me and I followed his line of sight. I knew some sort of gasp made its way out of my mouth though not one of us acknowledged it. I was just too dumbfounded by my own realization.

I thought that Jason held a familiar look because it was the same one that Seth had worn when he had starved himself. Jason craved me, and Seth had seen it so plainly from experience. And he wasn't going to let him touch me... I had told Seth I trusted him and it was about time I proved it.

With Seth's hand tighter in my grasp, I started moving forward once again all the time watching Jason's feet. He kept up his sticky grip, where he was fighting the urge to bound towards me, but always stayed in place. The soles of his shoes would rise an inch or so and then fall back down, defeated by self- discipline.

With Todd on my side of the door and Seth standing between Jason and myself, I gave a light rapping. The hard polished wood hurt my knuckles as the sound echoed threw my ears. I was about ready to knock again, this time with my head when a young girl opened the door.

She looked about twelve or thirteen and had brunette locks that flowed with such grace that I had to wonder how beautiful they looked when rustled by a breeze. Her face was porcelain and she curled her ruby red lips into the faintest of smiles. I couldn't get a good look at her eyes though because she was so much shorter than me and her bangs got in the way.

Her movement was so sudden as both doors flew open and she took both Seth's and my free hand and pulled us into the bright light of the room. I was momentarily blinded as I was thrust into the room where I knew Seth's existance and my life would be thrown for quite a spin. Big things were about to change and there was no way of predicting how much could be changed throughout this night. If only I could be sure if I could even make it out alive in the end.

I trust you...