Chapter 16: Tales of An Unwilling Vampiress

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Chapter 163

Delusions of Eyes Wide Shut4

I exhaled, licked my lips and sat down on my bed to think rationally.5

Don’t flip, Emmy. Just breathe. She’s fine. Alan’s not dumb enough to do anything with all these people around . . .6

But she wasn’t with Alan, was she? No, she was with his psycho twin, the guy who thought that killing someone and spreading her guts all over a car to frighten me was perfectly fine.7

What had Alan been doing then? Distracting me? Here I’d thought he’d wanted to “get to know me”. 8

God, I was so naïve. The guy had less interest in me than Pamela Anderson did in a chicken’s health.9

I leaped to my feet, swallowing, and grabbed my trusty bat again. I flicked off the light, and then paused. Stooping, I extracted a pair of scissors from Miranda’s accessories’ bag.10

Not as good as a knife, but it did have a pain-inducing end.11

At this point, I feel I must point out that I wasn’t entirely sure what I planned to do if—when—I found them. Stab the clone, maybe?12

But I was acting on instinct. There was no way I was going to let him hurt Miranda.13

The sudden recollection struck: I’d left Vampire Theory under her duvet. 14

Lurching forward, I yanked Miranda’s duvet off her bed, and nearly died in relief. The book lay nestled smugly in the crook between her bed and the wall. I yanked it up and deposited it under my bed, shoving my bags in front of it.15

I was debating whether or not I should waste time awakening Luke—who happens to be a heavy sleeper—when the cabin door swung open.16

I jerked backwards, almost toppling over the foot of my bed, and stared at the figure in the doorway, framed by the clear moonlight outside.17

A flash of blond hair, and I drew a breath. “Mi—Mind?”18

Or the psycho clone? Given my luck, that wouldn’t be shocking . . .19

The figure stayed frozen in the doorway, but I could feel its eyes on me. I swallowed again, feeling the hair rise on my arms. The back of my neck prickled as the figure moved forwards, ever-so-slowly.20

“Miranda?” I asked in an uncertain whisper. The figure made an odd breathing noise, and I felt my chest constrict, a flash of fear creeping over me. I gulped in a breath of air, edging backwards onto my bed, my knuckles tightening on the handle of the bat, the scissors pricking my jeans pocket.21

If this was Miranda, there was something very, very wrong here.22

“Emmy?” Miranda’s breathy voice spoke through the darkened room. I nearly dropped the bat with relief. 23

“Mind, where’ve you been?” I asked, leaping to my feet. I froze when she staggered forwards. Her movements were eerily familiar, reminiscent of . . . Silvia.24

Oh, God, no...25

Anything but that.26

“I left you a note,” Miranda replied, weakly, her face still in shadow. I squinted, trying to see her eyes, but could make out nothing by the illumination cast behind her from the moonlight.27

“Mind, why did you go off with him like that? It’s . . . the middle of the night!”28

“We had fun,” Miranda replied, almost drowsily. She sounded, in fact, half-dead. I bit my lip, hard, struggling to keep down a new wave of panic.29

Miranda stepped forwards, into a ray of moonlight falling on her bed. Her blond hair shone, deep-blue eyes clouded. She was dressed, unlike me, in a baby-doll top and jeans. Of course she wouldn’t go to meet a hot guy in the woods in her PJs.30

“Mind, what’s—what’s wrong?” I asked, still wary of advancing nearer. Silvia’s freaky exploits were fresh in my mind, and, best friend or not, I didn’t really want to end up the same way if Miranda had been infected.31

“I don’t . . . know, Emmy,” Miranda replied, sinking onto her bed. She dropped her head in her hands, flinching when I leaped over and flicked on the lights. I turned to give her a bemused look.32

“Don’t know?”33

“I feel . . . drained, I guess, you could call it. Like, energy bars sound really good right now.”34

The sickening realization dawned. I advanced towards Miranda, dropping onto my knees beside her. I didn’t think she’d hurt me now; the fear factor was gone.35

The horrified factor hit a peak.36

Miranda was pale, tan skin almost translucent through bloodloss, her eyes glazed over. She gave off an undeniably flimsy aura. The cause was obvious.37

There were two very obvious reddish pinpricks on her neck. About bite-sized distance apart.38

Obviously Alan’s evil twin had had more than a stroll in the moonlight in his romantic mind.39

***40

“Emmy, wake up, you’re in the freaking lunch room,” Miranda urged, prodding me in the side with the butt of her butter knife. I groaned, not lifting my head off the table.41

She wasn’t the one who had to hold onto all those creepy details about vampires and bites. She could easily just assume that the story Alan’s evil doppelganger had fed her, about her having hit her head when they were busy making out—yes, creative, I know—had left her feeling woozy.42

I envy the ignorant.43

I, on the other hand, had deduced that he’d used the kissing to distract her when he moved his mouth down to a more sating spot—her neck veins.44

Why the jerk had left her to walk off alone hadn’t been as easy to figure out. Did he think I’d take a stake to him or something?45

He was, most likely, just too fiendish to care any for his prey, and was probably out plotting with Alan on how to acquire the next victim, most likely another girl.46

Miranda hadn’t been too weakened by the encounter, however. I’m guessing it was just the fact that he drained her too fast or something that had made her feel frail. But she was fine now, even though I kept handing her protein-fortified food constantly, on the pretence that she looked feverish.47

An arm circled around my shoulder, dropping a disposable cup of hot chocolate in front of my bowed head. The sweet, seductive aroma of cocoa and melted marshmallow enticed me into raising my head enough to thank my savior. Luke tutted down at me, both arms resting on the table on either side of my head as he leaned over my seat.48

“I just stole Miranda’s drink, Em, so I’d advice you to finish yours before I take my generosity back and finish this one off too,” he drawled, matter-of-factly. I heard a harrumphing noise somewhere to my right, guessing that Miranda had finally figured out where her smoothie had gone.49

“You—you—thieving arse!” she stuttered angrily. I dropped my head back down, repressing a grin. Luke shot her one of his arrogant smirks and yanked on the ends of my hair. I’m not certain, but I’m fairly sure he was trying to raise my head, horse-rein-style.50

“Do I really resemble a horse so much you have to pull my reigns?” I asked, dryly, titling my head up to scowl at him. Luke nearly asphyxiated, almost shaking with laughter.51

“You were supposed to leave the insulting to me, Emmy, you don’t have to do it.” His eyes twinkled with suppressed mirth, and I glanced around the table for a blunt, but heavy, object.52

Miranda handed me a loaf of French bread. Luke’s eyes widened as I smeared butter all over it, turning in my seat to raise an eyebrow at him.53

“Aw, you’re kidding, right?” he asked, sounding slightly dubious. I shook my head and he blinked, stepping backwards. I turned around fully in my seat, swung, and caught him in the side, leaving sloppy butter patches all over his dark-green button-down shirt.54

“Hey!” He fumed, eyes darkening to match the shirt. Miranda and I doubled over laughing as he swiped at the oily stain with a paper napkin.55

“Nice shot, Emmy,” Miranda complimented me. Luke’s scowl deepened.56

“Just for that, I’m taking that hot chocolate.”57

He dove over me, hands aimed for said beverage. Acting instinctively, I jabbed him in the gut as he leaned over my seat and he dodged sideways, loosening his grip on the cup enough for me to snatch it away. The bread-javelin crumbled in half in my hand. 58

“Playing dirty, are we?” He raised an eyebrow as I took a victorious swig. I grinned, and then realized half the room was staring at us.59

Luke’s hand flashed out of nowhere and, on impulse, I pummeled his head with the loaf half still in my hand. He stared down at me, crumbs falling down his shoulders like a nightmare case of dandruff, obviously floored by my intuitive reaction.60

Yes, I’m exaggerating. It was the dumbest thing I’ve yet done. I guess I was taking out the stress of the night before in a madly-playful way.61

Had it been any other guy, he’d have backed off, pretending to not know the Looney Tunes that was me, but this was Lucas. His dimples appeared briefly in a reluctant smile and he ducked sideways, snatching up Miranda’s bread-knife from her startled hand and turning to face me. 62

I briefly wondered what he was going to do with it when he shot forwards, spearing the loaf in my hand with the knife and pulling it out of my grip. 63

“What the—!” I opened my mouth, and then closed it, staring down at my now-empty hand. Miranda—that renegade—was laughing her lungs out, no doubt at the perplexed look on my face.64

Luke, now holding the knife aloft with the French bread-half still impaled on it—and if you’ve ever seen that with your own eyes, you’ll never forget it—gave me an egotistically-smug grin.65

“I’ll get back to you about my prize, Em,” he promised, infuriating grin widening. I inhaled, ignoring the weird looks now being thrown in our direction, mentally running through a list of all the cuss words I was about to use on him—66

Luke turned for the door, and paused by me. He ruffled my hair playfully, dropped the knife—bread and all—in my lap, leaned down and gave me a light kiss on the cheek, and then sauntered his way out of the room.67

Despite the casualness of the gesture, I froze in my seat, feeling my heart lurch to a stunned stop. I didn’t need to see Miranda’s wide eyes, nor the ogling stares of the other people, to baffle my mind any more.68

Feeling heat flood my face from where Luke had pecked my cheek, I glanced up, noting what looked like a supervisor, in a badge-adorned jacket, headed my way.69

“See you in a few,” I told Miranda, pulse still pounding madly in my ears, dumping the incriminating knife and bread onto the table, grabbing my drink, and leaping to my feet. I pretended I didn’t hear the guy when he called out, “Young lady, a word if you please,” instead, hastening to the door and bolting.70

Thanks a lot, Lucas, I thought, scanning the area to see if I could spot him.         71

Although, in all honesty, I didn’t think I wanted to be around him right then. I felt hot and cold all over. I know it’s no biggie if a guy kisses you on the cheek, I guess . . . but that was the first time. Wasn’t I allowed to freak out a little bit?72

And it wasn’t like I could control the impatient thudding in my chest, or the heat coursing through my cheeks, or the icicles of an unknown thrill running down my spine.73

Ambling towards the lake, I sank down near the bank, curling my legs underneath me and thanking the Lord I was wearing jeans. 74

What had just happened, both out there and inside me? I wasn’t stupid. I knew what it was; I just didn’t want to say it. It would make it far too undeniably real.75

Because I didn’t want to crush on my best friend. My best friend who was most likely still chasing Miranda, even if he didn’t admit it. He had asked me those pointless questions the day of that failed meeting with Raymond. That was also the day, as far as Luke knew, that Miranda had gone out with Alan.76

Coincidence?77

The sad part was, this feeling had most likely been building inside for a while, now that I looked back over the past few weeks. When had I crossed the line form feeling platonically for him to . . . this? Was it during that party where we’d discovered Annette’s corpse and he’d been around to comfort me? Or was it during that small awkward exchange that day after his basketball match? Or had it been even earlier, after he’d beaten the hell out of Raymond and followed me home from that ill-fated party three years ago? When he’d been holding me and telling me Raymond didn’t know what he’d lost, along with an unblemished nose?78

Why am I even thinking this? my mind argued. This is never going to go anywhere. He thinks of you as a freaking sister!79

This was true. He had just given me a brotherly peck on the cheek, hadn’t he? 80

Or had I misinterpreted it? my mind asked snidely. My pulse stuttered as the train of thought deflected involuntarily in this direction. It was impossible, far, too weird to happen, after all. Why would he think of me, out of all people, that way? I wasn’t planning on deluding myself by imagining I was competition for all the usual girls he ran with. I was me, plain-Jane, girl-next-door, predictable Emmy. And besides, he’d always been a bit . . . forward. This didn’t mean anything to him. It was incomprehensible to even believe it did.81

Wasn’t it?82

I dropped my head into my hands, noting how my heart seemed to be sinking slowly into my stomach, bit by bit dissolving all of me. I swear that’s what it felt like right then: like I was crumbling from the inside.83

“Why does this happen to me?” I asked the lonely lake softly. “Why did the first guy I crushed on after Ray happen to be the worst choice possible?”84

As lakes go, this lake had nothing to say to that, but then again, pretty soon it would be filled with madly thrashing boats, screaming kids, and even louder adults.  I doubted it would even remember what solitude meant.85

I’m guessing I don’t make a very good damsel-in-distress, because fate chose to intervene at that moment.86

No, unlike the movies, it did not send along the last person I wanted to see, the parson I was mentally berating in my head for his impromptu forwardness.87

Instead, it sent the second-last person I wanted to see.88

“Emmy, can I talk to you . . . ?” Alan’s voice trailed off when I turned to face him. His piercing eyes narrowed, a frown creasing his forehead. He sucked in a breath and asked, “What’s wrong, Em?”89

“Oh, wow,” I muttered, turning to face the lake again as Alan sank to his knees beside me, “this from the guy who tried to distract me so his evil clone could use Miranda as his own personal energy bar.”90

At that moment, the common-sense question slapped me in the face, and I straightened, an uncertain haze of fear creeping over me. This was Alan, wasn’t it? Because if it wasn’t, I’d just signed my own death warrant.91

The blood drained from Alan’s face. “So that’s what’s wrong with her . . . I should’ve seen it.” He clenched his jaw briefly as I gave him an incredulous look, even though I’d almost deflated from relief. No way could anyone fake concern like that. It was indeed Alan, the “good” twin.92

Like I said, irony’s rightful seat is in books only.93

“Alan, sorry to break it to you, but humans mostly tend to weaken when you drain their life-stream,” I informed him, coolly. “You should’ve remembered that before you sicced your psychopathic brother on her.”94

I wasn’t sure why I was being so callous around him. I lay blame to the fact that my mind was still in destructive-mode and it showed through as all of my strong emotions had a knack to do.95

Alan’s eyes darkened to an unsettling ocean-blue. “I didn’t sic him on anyone!” he returned vehemently, a muscle working in his jaw. When I snorted and turned away, he fumed silently for a second, and then leaned over, grabbing my shoulders and forcing me to look at him, bending down so his angry breathing tickled my lips.96

Not a very comfortable position.97

I winced slightly under his hard grip and he loosened his clamping hands, but didn’t move away. From the abrupt bare inches of distance between us, I could suddenly note the flecks of darker aqua in his light-blue eyes, dazzling from this proximity. The colors danced together, and my mind joined in, leaving behind the sharp edge of irritation. I suddenly felt blissfully calm.98

It hit me then, that he was using his hypnotic prowess to seduce me again.99

My hands shot up, slamming into what felt to be the iron plates of his chest, and I shoved him backwards. Sadly, he didn’t move too far, instead only breaking off his mesmerizing gaze. 100

He lifted his head away from mine, cocked it to the side, and asked lightly, “Dontcha feel better now?”101

I opened my mouth to dispute this and felt my words die in my mouth. I hadn’t felt exactly hypnotized in this case, unlike all the other times. 102

No, I’d felt . . . like something—someone—had lifted off everything that had been eating at me. I blinked, looking away, feeling my mind clear.103

“I—I guess . . . .” I mumbled to the grass. Alan laughed to himself, shaking his head in mock-pity at me.104

“Emmy, you’re really dense sometimes, y’know that?”105

“Thanks for telling me just how stupid I am,” I muttered wryly, and his grin widened.106

“I meant, seriously, if you think about it, if I really were that evil, why wouldn’t I have ratted you out to Rhys already? You wouldn’t be sitting here enjoying the sunshine.”107

I sat there, letting this sink in. Come to think of it, it did make sense . . .108

Hold it! My ears pricked up, as did my head. “Rhys?”109

“What else have you been referring to him as?” Alan asked, curiously. My cheeks reddened.  110

“Uh, jerk, evil clone, scum, evil twin, evil doppelganger . . . .” my voice trailed off as Alan stifled a laugh. 111

“You could’ve just asked me his name.” He shook his head at me again, eyes sparkling with laughter, and I noted out of the corner of my eye, that a bunch of girls I’d never seen before in my life were eyeing me as if I’d filched their family heirlooms.112

Call me vain, but this lightened my mood somewhat. I shrugged at Alan, absently scanning the lakeshore for anyone I knew,113

“Well, I guess you can use those creative names for when he’s not around. He’s fine with being called Jerk, actually. But mostly Rhys to his face.”114

“He doesn’t know about my knowing he exists. I’d just call him Alan,” I rebutted. Alan frowned and then nodded in agreement.115

“You know, I meant to tell you, even though he’s been kinda careless, I am impressed you figured it out. Mind telling me how, just so we don’t freak out any more innocent by-standers?”116

Taking my eyes off the opposite shoreline, I turned back to face Alan, pulling my knees up and resting my arms on them. Maybe it was the sunlight and crowds around, but I didn’t feel anywhere near as paranoid as I had the night before. It occurred to me, through my new uplifted spirits, that Alan’s hypnosis may have been a root-cause as well, but the thought didn’t really register then.117

“Um . . . small stuff, like you said,” I replied hesitantly. I stopped for a second while my mind went into hyper drive, trying to discover any catches in this question. What would the twins do if I told them their weaknesses? Repair them so no other humans knew?118

Fat chance of that occurring anyways. I mean, they’d been surrounded by the geniuses at our high-school for more than a month now. The odds of anyone spotting anything now that I’d already unconsciously alerted the two vampires were infinitesimal.119

I glanced down at my lap, semi-consciously tugging at a strand of my hair. “I guess . . . that day I came to your house was a big hint. When you left drenched to the bone, came back dry and all cleaned up, and then vanished amazingly-fast and returned in your old disheveled state . . . at the time, I didn’t get it, but now it makes sense.” I raised uncertain hazel eyes to Alan’s crystalline-blue. He was watching me, the barest flicker of a frown on his smooth forehead. Catching my gaze, he nodded at me to go on.120

I licked my lips and exhaled. It wasn’t like they could make me forget what I already knew . . . could they?121

“I’m just curious,” he spoke reassuringly, as if he’d heard me. The light smile that slipped onto his expression eased my “drugged” mind.122

“When you were making plans for L’Aurier’s,” I continued, glancing back down at my lap. “It wasn’t obvious, but then I figured Miranda would’ve told me about it as soon as the plans were made, unless it’s really late at night. So you had to have made plans over the phone, or you met her really late that Monday night. If you had done either of these, then you couldn’t possibly have been the same guy who kidnapped that girl on their pseudo-date and—and—” I faltered, and Alan’s head shot up, “—murdered her and spread her guts all over that car in the p—parking lot. The guy was described as a blond, but that’s all anyone really knew . . . it had to be Rhys,” I finished, looking back up at him.123

I have to say, the thrown look on his usually-composed face did wonders for my esteem.  He shook his head at me, giving a low whistle..124

“Anything else?” he asked, sounding slightly hoarse.  I nodded. He shook his head. “Save it. I’m satisfied.” He lifted his gaze to mine, an unabashed grin lighting up his eyes. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling goofily back, and instead diverted my gaze back to the shoreline.125

“I have to say, I’m floored, Archer,” he muttered softly, as if it wounded his pride to admit a mere human, much less a girl, had broken past his twin and his infallible defenses. Ignoring the feminist irritation inside me, I trained my eyes back on him, deciding to focus on another thing of dire importance.126

 “Alan, if Rhys would kill me if he knew what I know, then why don’t you . . . ?” It was a question that had been plaguing me for a while. Why was he just sitting there?127

Alan looked uncomfortable. “Emmy, uh, I’d rather not do this within earshot of about fifty other people.”128

I frowned up at him. “What are you suggesting we do then?” A small prickle of alarm shot through me. Alan sighed, gaze roving the water.129

“Hmm . . . how about I tell you on the kayaking trip? I’ve kayaked before, so it wouldn’t be very hard for me to get a good distance away. Rhys is insisting on going with Miranda. No worries, he’s not hungry. Just prefers to remain dry. I’ll meet you guys after the training sessions are over. You’ll have to explain to Luke why I’m in two places at once, I guess. Besides, there’s this awesome place I found—” He stopped. “Oh, sorry, I forget, not exactly in your good graces, am I?” He gave me a small smile, borderline sadness. I bit my lip.130

“I’ll come if Luke comes with me.” Luke, unlike me, had no qualms against violent defense.131

Alan nodded. “I figured he’d know at least a little.” He paused, his gaze probing. “You guys are pretty tight, huh?”132

I swallowed a lump in my throat, heartbeat stuttering. “Yeah, I guess.” Why this topic? 133

Alan suddenly lifted his head. “Why so nervous?” he quoted, a half-smile slipping onto his face. I didn’t falter the vague grin I returned.134

“How did you know—?”135

“I’ve got Daredevil hearing, remember? I can hear your rabid-horse heartbeat from here,” he reminded me.136

“Why would you ever need that, though?” I asked, my inner-reporter jostling to the surface. Alan looked vaguely perturbed again. 137

“Uh, I’ll answer that question too. Just know this: everything we have, we’re given for a reason.”138

He stopped, giving me a funny look. “Do you know how weirded-out I feel right now?” He shook his head, seemingly bewildered. “I’m talking to a—a—normal human about my, er, issues.”139

I almost choked on a lung. “You feel weirded-out? It’s my world that’s been thrown into a fantasy realm.”140

He grinned knowingly. “Feels kinda like you’re the only nut in the midst of a gang of NASA scientists.”141

I raised an eyebrow. “NASA scientists aren’t exactly poster children for sanity themselves. Not a very good simile.”142

Alan snickered. “What do you have against NASA?”143

“Are you up for a three-hour rant?” I asked mildly.144

***145

“Em, where’ve you been?” Miranda asked me, bursting through the cabin door, looking remarkably like a blond version of the Kool-Aid Man. 146

I glanced up from Vampire Theory, slammed it shut and tossed it over the side of my bed. Yes, a tad bit extreme, but no point setting her curiosity off.147

“I, uh, I was hanging around the lake. Saw Alan, talked for a bit but then I think he took off looking for you, so I decided to rest up before the kayaking trip,” I answered truthfully. 148

Well, okay, so I left out the bit where I was trying to not run into Luke. I didn’t know why, but I wasn’t sure how to act around him anymore without giving myself away. I didn’t want to freak him out, after all.149

“Oh.” Miranda leaned against the doorframe. “Um, what were you reading anyways? Looked pretty engrossed." She raised a blond eyebrow while I bit the inside of my cheek.150

“Some vampire novel,” I replied, evasively. She nodded, walking over to lounge on her bed.151

“Was it good?”152

Oh, great, she must either be bored, or wanting to talk me into something. She never cares what I read, my mind reasoned. I shrugged noncommittally at her.153

“Was okay . . . if you have any other options, I’ll be willing to check them out,” I offered, feeling my insides twitch. Knowing Miranda, her pastimes would—154

“Come see the trail I went to with Alan last night?” she asked, leaning forwards eagerly. I blanched, the hair at the back of my neck rising.155

I knew she hadn’t been “infected” and all, but it struck me as odd nonetheless. Why would she—?156

“It was gorgeous,” she cooed, dreamily, eyes glazing over as she stared at the boring blank wall above my head.157

Well, there was the reasoning. My stomach twitched again in affirmation of my earlier guess.158

“Um….we have less than a half hour before I’ve gotta go meet Luke for the kayaking trip, and you have that nature walk,” I informed her, and she pouted in her usual diva way.159

“True, I guess. I wish you and Luke were coming with us. For one thing, it’s going to last well into the evening. All,” she paused, eyes twinkling mischievously, and I swallowed, “romantic and serene.”160

I narrowed my eyes, hoping fervently my cheeks weren’t blushing as I could feel them doing, and stated sibilantly, “Which is my point exactly. You and Alan are going out. Luke and I don’t have dates here, yet,” I added on that last word to throw her off.161

Sadly, given my luck, that didn’t work out either.162

“Yet, you’re not. I mean, it’s so obvious he likes you, Em,” Miranda twisted my words around shrewdly, studying her cuticles. My scowl darkened.163

“He likes me as his sister, Mind, for goodness’ sake!”164

Miranda rolled her eyes, flopping back onto her bed. “Whatever you say, Em. I don’t see him going around with other girls like the rest of the jocks at school. He’s always around whenever you need him. Heck, he’s probably the only guy who’s never stood up a certain girl, and he’s not even your boyfriend! Plus, I can tell by the way he looks at you sometimes, when he thinks no one’s looking.” Miranda paused to breathe, having run out of steam for a brief second. I opened my mouth, suddenly finding it hard to breathe, but she beat me to it. “All those parties he drives you to, your place is completely out of his way. He’s always buying you something, even if it’s just your lunch. In ninth grade, he took on like half the basketball squad’s fury when he beat up Ray—fellow teammate—a week before the semis, even though they were the only ninth-graders on the team. He did that for you, Emmy. And he was there for you then and whenever anyone gives you grief. Didn’t he break Nick Haden’s nose? For all you know, he might just be waiting—”165

“Miranda, shut up, okay? I know he doesn’t like me that way,” I snapped, ignoring how my insides seemed to crumble at the words. My eyes stung suspiciously but I gritted my teeth. I would not cry over this if I could help it. No point dishing out false hope, in my opinion.166

Even though, everything she’d said was true. But if I took it that way, then Luke had been feeling unplatonic towards me for a long while. Which was impossible. He’d dated several girls already this year, a fact I voiced at Miranda.167

“And he dumped all of them within a week, don’t forget,” she said smugly. I flopped sideways on my bed, face buried in a pillow, not even bothering to answer, because again, she was right.168

I really hated her right then.169

Miranda sat up, in complete disregard for my misery, eyes musing. “Why can’t you just accept it?”170

I groaned, unable to believe we were having this pointless conversation. “Come on, if he liked me, he’d have made a real move, not danced around the handle like this! He’s a walking flirt-machine, remember? Besides, we’ve known each other way too long already, as friends, that is. It would be just weird for him to like me.” As I said this, I realized the opposite should be true in effect as well.171

Not a very cheering thought. Why was I so inordinately naïve? There were a million other guys I could’ve crushed on!172

Well, okay, so none of them were really my type, but . . .173

Why one of the school’s “bad-boys”?174

“Besides,” I went on, talking into the pillow, “it’s practically incest, Mind.”175

Miranda raised a cool eyebrow. “No, it isn’t. You’re not related to him at all.” She ignored my feeble squawk of “might as well be”, instead adding, “Why can’t he like you, Em?”176

I scowled into the feathers obscuring my breathing. Not that I could breathe very well regardless anyways. My heart seemed to have overdosed on sleeping pills. Either that or it was still in shock over the bizarre situation I faced.177

“Mind, wake up! He runs with girls who look like, well, like they can stand up to your level. I like myself the way I am, but I’ll never fit in with those kinds of people. I’m the odd one out here. They’re all gorgeous, some are even smart, athletic, plus they have all the latest bling,” I added pathetically.178

Miranda scoffed. “Emmy, are you serious?” At my questioning look she added, “I do not know where you got that mad notion from, But Em, you can so hold your own in the looks department. Do you have any idea what those gorgeous girls go through to get there? You could do it with half the effort! But you don’t! And I’ll bet that’s what caught him. You’re one of the more original people at that pathetic school, Emalyn.” Miranda regarded me seriously. “As for athletic, please. Like you need more workouts. Plus, you’re not clingy and whiney, like the rest of them. Heck, you’re not even much of a flirt.”179

“Thanks,” I muttered, dryly, unsure whether to feel insulted or complimented. But it helped, everything she’d said. It gets to you, I guess, being the only plain Jane in a sea of fashion-plates. Not that my fashion sense was lacking. It was just too decent or something.180

Miranda studied me, an inscrutable look on her face. “Em, do you like him? As in, like, like?”181

I lifted my gaze, biting the inside of my cheek.182

“Mind, can you quit playing matchmaker? You know just how well the whole Ray thing turned out. I don’t honestly think I want to dive into another thing right now. Or ever,” I tagged on, just for a safety measure.183

“You didn’t answer my question, Emalyn,” Miranda pointed out. “I didn’t ask if you were ready, I asked if you liked him. Big diff there,” she said, complacently.184

I bit down on my lip so hard, I tasted my own blood. Despite the awkwardness of the current scenario, I couldn’t help but be glad the sight of blood didn’t affect Miranda. Yes, I was still paranoid.185

“Why are you killing your poor lip, Em?” Miranda asked, grinning cheekily. I glared. Okay, so she had noticed, albeit not in a scary way.186

Who was I kidding? At that point in time, I’d rather she’d noticed it in a vampire-hunger way. 187

“Miranda, no, I do not. Sorry to disappoint you, but you’re mistaking my and Luke’s close friendship as something else entirely, okay?” I snapped, a bit more harshly than the situation called for. Miranda simply shrugged.188

“Fine, whatever.” She dropped back onto her bed, closing her eyes. 189

“I hate you,” I told her, rising and leaning back against the wall along my own bed, wishing I could just erase the previous fifteen minutes out of my life. My mind was even more uncertain now than before.190

***191

It was as I was stalking out of the cabin sometime later, headed for the river dock, that someone came up behind me, grabbed me around the waist, and spun me in a dizzying circle. I yelped, squirming, even though the amused laughter from the guilty perpetrator told me who it was.192

“Mature, Lucas,” I remarked, feeling goosebumps rise up my arms and staggering a bit after he set me down. Luke smirked, eyes twinkling as he grasped my arm in time to stop me colliding with some guy walking past. Suddenly unable to breathe, I shook him off, hastily patting my hair into some semblance of presentable.193

“Kayaking session cancelled,” he announced cheerfully, not appearing to notice how I’d caught my breath, and yanking at a strand of my hair. I swatted his hand away irritably, and he snickered.194

“Why is it cancelled?” I asked, trying to appear calm, even though my insides were jolting madly. 195

“Storm warning in a few,” he informed me, raking a hand through his unkempt dark hair. “Postponed ‘till tomorrow.”196

“Oh.” I stood there for a second, debating over my planned meeting with Alan. Did he know about the rearrangement? I’d been looking forward to talking to him, I realized, even though I still wasn’t fully certain I trusted him.197

“The wood trail trip cancelled too, then?”  I enquired. Luke frowned, and then nodded.198

“Probably is. I don’t think the guests wanna play Survivor on the first day of camp.” He grinned at something in mind.199

“Uh, I guess I’ll see you at dinner then?” I asked, already edging away. One good thing about the cancellation: I wouldn’t have to hang around Luke that day.200

“Why, where are you going?” he asked, raising an eyebrow curiously. I froze, racking my mind for the most boring thing I could think of.201

“Uhh . . . browsing the gift shop,” I muttered. Luke’s eyes flashed in a way I couldn’t quite make out.202

“Mind if I tag along? Wanted to check out those t-shirts in there,” he remarked, voice carefully expressionless. I stared at him, a fleeting buzz of panic arising. Did he guess? Why is he doing this?203

“I’m bored dodging idiotic girls,” he said, as if he’d read my mind. “Did they all just come up here so they could chase guys? I’m considering telling them I’m taken.” He grinned, and I swallowed. All those comments I’d heard about his disarming, dimpled grin shot back at me full force now, finally registering. Curse those teenage hormones.204

“Yeah, might not have worked even then . . .” I mumbled, looking away. He gave a resigned snort of agreement.205

I decided, as we headed for the gift shop, that I’d have to train myself to be a bit more careful. Why this had to happen in my already tilting reality, I didn’t know, but someone up there was having a good laugh at my expense.206

Fortunately, the gift shop had plenty to distract a girl, and I soon lost Luke as I wandered the aisles of custom jewelry, alighting at a beautiful reddish-brown and gold beaded necklace, a gold charm of a dove adorning the delicate beadwork. I hefted it out of its stand, draping it experimentally around my neck, smitten. It set off the orange tint in my hazel eyes magnificently.207

Unfortunately, the price was just as magnificent.208

“Fifty dollars for this?” I muttered out loud in annoyance, fingering the dove longingly. As much as I loathed the price, it did work well with my dark hair and eyes.209

“It looks awesome though,” Luke spoke from behind me. I started, the unclasped necklace slipping from my throat to the floor. Ever the athlete, Luke snatched it mid-dive out of the air, turning it over in his hands so he could inspect it.210

“You should get this, Em,” he told me, for once sounding serious. I shook my head.211

“Didn’t you just hear my reasonable outburst? Who’d pay fifty for this?”212

Luke sidestepped the question, instead saying, “Shouldn’t we be getting to dinner now? I found a t-shirt I like, plus a couple souvenirs for Leah.”213

“Uh, yeah.” I waited for him to place the necklace back, but he just stood there, green eyes fixed at something in the distance.214

“You coming?”215

He started. “Uh, yeah, let’s go.” He nudged me ahead of him, slowing down, presumably so he could place the necklace back. I sighed. I know, petty me. It was just a necklace. But can I help it if I give in to my girly side sometimes?216

Plus, Luke was right. It did look awesome, even if it was just me wearing it.217

Luke joined me at the door after a few seconds, a couple of bags in his hands. He remained oddly distracted as we made our way to the lunchroom, obviously having something on his mind.218

***219

There were two paths in front of me, two completely different outcomes up those long stone corridors. I stood at the fork, uncertain as to where the better choice lay. A cold draft swept past me, inviting me to the one on the right. A blast of heat brushed past, disappearing into the corridor on the left.220

I stood, perturbed. As appealing as warmth sounded, I feared burns. I trotted into the right-hand tunnel, immediately feeling chills down my spine. The moisture in the air clung to my skin, the cold dampness seeping down my face, running past my lips—221

Wait a second, this isn’t a dream. There really is something dripping down my face!222

I jerked upright, panting, heart pounding madly in my chest like a drum beat on bass. I swiped my fingers across my face and felt them come away wet. I glanced down at my hand as I propped myself up on one elbow, and felt faint.223

Something dark, sticky and warm was smeared across my fingertips. I may have been half-asleep, but I wasn’t blind. I gazed down at my hand, an incontrollable scream bubbling up inside my chest.224

“Evening, Archer. I was beginning to wonder if you’d died.” The smooth, husky voice emanated somewhere from the foot of my bed, accompanied, like some sick sort of pathetic fallacy, by a thunderclap as the storm hit outside. 225

My head spun to face the blond-haired boy lounging near my feet, one foot propped up on the bed, the other hanging over the edge, a ray of moonlight hitting him perfectly, setting off his dazzling eyes.226

“Alan, what are you doing here?” I asked, groggily, still not catching on. A flash of lightning lit up the room for a brief second, and in it, I saw Alan’s smug grin widen.227

“I thought it was about time I paid you a visit, Archer,” he said, simply, raking blond hair out of his eyes.”And—oh, wait.” His blue eyes glittered with what I could only label as amusement. “Did you just call me Alan? Hasn’t he told you my real name by now? You two seemed awfully close, given the way he mentioned you.”228

I didn’t answer. My mind had stopped registering anything after the two sentences. Icy chills broke out all over me, and my hands shook as I clasped them in my lap. I was suddenly no longer able to hear the storm raging outside. All of my energy was focused on one very patent fact.229

This was not Alan.230

I glanced over at Miranda’s bed, realizing with a pang of trepidation that it was vacant.231

The smirking guy sat up, a leer breaking out over his handsome features. “Alan is out with Miranda. I may be wrong, but I’m fairly sure he’s trying to prevent me from turning up anywhere near her. Pathetic really.” Rhys’ blue eyes, so like his brother’s, glinted maliciously at me through the moonlight. “It’s not like she’s the only potential victim around, right Emmy?”232

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