Dying From The Inside2
One3
Nathaniel clutched me to his chest using his ashen hands to push against my back. Our kiss was so aggressive I had to keep moving my feet just to keep myself from toppling over. Nate kissed me like Devin never had. When I was kissed by Devin, there was always that air of restraint in his lips; he never stopped protecting me. But with Nate, there was seemingly nothing being controlled. Sometimes with him, it was hard to breathe. He most likely wasn't used to the fact that I still had to come up for air. 4
"Nate," I said, without breaking the kiss. "Nate, I can't breathe." 5
"Oh!" he said letting me slip from his grasp. "I'm so sorry."6
"Its fine, Nate, I know it can take some getting used to," I put a hand to my rapidly beating heart and took several deep breaths. "Do you have the time?"7
"Yeah, it's...about seven forty-five. Do you need to be somewhere?" Nathaniel asked me.8
"Yeah, I do actually," I said. "Devin invited me to a movie night with him and Ariel tonight and they'll kill me if I'm late again. I should go."9
"Would you like me to walk you to the road?" he asked, taking my hands in his own. 10
"Oh no, I've been here enough times to find the road by myself I think."11
"You sure?" I nodded to him in reply. "Alright, if you're positive...at least let me walk you to the door." 12
Nathaniel held my hand, while walking me to the door of his desolate cabin. He brushed his lips against my cheek.13
"Goodbye, Rena," he said as I stepped out of the cabin and closed the door. 14
Once outside I pressed my back against the wooden door, looking up at the leafy canopy above. It had been a week since I had run here to confess my feelings for Nathaniel; a week since Devin and I fought; one full week of utter guilt. And it was if no matter which way I moved I hurt someone. 15
If I remained with Devin and broke it off with Nathaniel, Nathaniel would get hurt. If I broke up with Devin for Nate then...well Devin would be hurt. And if I kept this up I would cut myself up inside. This was absolute torture! There was no way I could go on with this. 16
I hugged both arms around myself, my back still to the door of the cabin. There was no doubt in my mind that I was in love with both of them, but who did I love more than my own life? A few months ago that answer would have been easier than adding and subtracting, now however it was no easier than twelve grade calculus. 17
I loosened my grip on my shoulder and looked down at my right hand. There glinted the ring Devin had given me for Christmas the same night we kissed for the very first time. That had to have been the best moment of my life. The dead silence of the snowy night around us; the bracing cold making my whole body numb to everything, but his touch: my most perfect night. I closed my eyes, shaking the notion from my mind and walked - dragging my feet as I went - out of the clearing.18
_____ 19
When at last I reached the Collins' house I walked with caution to the basement door behind the house. I found it unlocked and let myself in. The first thing I saw when I entered the basement was Devin. He was lounging on the leather couch, watching MTV. Bullet for My Valentine's video for "Tears Don't Fall" played on the TV. I watched as Devin's lips formed the exact words to the song he knew so well.20
"Your tears don't fall, they crash around me21
Her conscience calls, the guilty to come home22
Your tears don't fall, they crash around me23
Her conscience calls, the guilty to come home."24
"Serena, where were you?" Ariel asked from beside Devin. "You should have been here a while ago. We were getting worried."25
Her voice was not angry or suspicious in anyway, but no matter how she spoke to me these days, it always felt as if I was being accused of cold-blooded murder. 26
"I'm sorry, Airy, I overslept," I lied on the spot. 27
"Overslept?" Ariel repeated, cocking an eyebrow at me.28
"Yeah, I spent the night at Chloe's and we stayed up watching movies so when I got home I just kind of crashed." 29
This was half true. I had slept over Chloe's house the night before and I had been completely exhausted by the time I had gotten home that morning. But when I laid my head down to fall asleep all that I could think of was Nate and how much I wanted to see him just as I had everyday for the past week. So - as it could be assumed - I got out of bed and went to see Nathaniel. 30
"It's alright, Serena, come and sit with me," Devin said from where he sat behind a pile of pizza boxes that cluttered the wooden coffee table. 31
Devin ran his hand on the bit of leather beside him, gesturing for me to sit. 32
I sat down next to the vampire and he leaned in gently to kiss my cheek. I flinched. I could tell that he had to hold his tongue in order to keep from asking me where I really had been that made me so late. That is how it had seemed since we made up... 33
I rounded the corner onto Devin's street to find him sitting alone on the front steps of his house. His face held no expression that told me how he felt with me being there. It was almost as if he knew I would be coming. 34
"Hey," I said meekly with my hands folded in front of me.35
"Hey," he said back.36
I almost laughed at how lame this whole conversation was.37
I sat down beside him and ran a nervous hand up and down the nape of my neck. I knew what I had just done would come back to haunt me, but for now I had to evade it from my mind. Nothing I could do or say would take back that kiss. 38
"Where did you go?" Devin asked me, touching my cheek softly.39
"Around," I answered.40
Devin nodded in reply; I could tell he did not want to push me. "You don't have to tell me where you were before the party, Serena." 41
"No, Devin..." I began, but he cut me off.42
"No, you were right: it's none of my business anyway," he paused for a moment and then began again. "I didn't mean to pressure you. I really wasn't trying to make you do anything. I would never...do that to you. All I want is for you to be honest with me from now on..."43
"This is the last thing I want for us," He added putting his hand over mine.44
"It's the same with me, Devin," I told him, gazing into those mesmerizing eyes of his.45
I meant to say something else, but it almost felt fake to ask him to "trust me." 46
Instead, to fill the silence I slid my hands around his neck and touched his face, my lips connecting with his. Devin ran his hand through my dark hair with ease. He had no idea that the girl he assumed to be faithful was in fact nothing of the sort. 47
Now, as I sat beside Devin, watching the previews for upcoming movies, I felt filthy; as if an illness I carried would infect other perfectly healthy beings. My foot was resting on the edge of the couch as the previews seemed to play in slow motion. Devin's arm was wrapped around my shoulder and he pulled me in closer to him.48
The Twilight commercial played on the screen and I let out a deep breath. I suddenly wished Bella Swan was real just so I could have someone to talk to, someone who understood the way I felt. But rather than dwell on the fact that she was fictional, I sighed. 49
"God I cannot wait for that movie to come out." 50
Devin smiled at me. "We should go see it together."51
I smiled. That was something human couples would do this fall wasn't it? Go see the Twilight movie together? What would life be like in four months? Would Nathaniel still even be in Lincoln Heights? Where would my relationship with Devin be? 52
Devin seemed to sense my tension and gently pulled me into his lap, where I rested my head against his firm chest. I should have felt safe and secure, but I didn't. Not with this dark cloud of guilt reigning over my head. 53
The movie we had picked for the night was a high-rated horror movie. I clutched at Devin out of habit during the scary parts, but besides that I did not make any display that he was there. To me it felt like cheating. 54
About a half an hour into the movie Ariel spoke. 55
"Oh I forgot the popcorn!" Ariel said popping of the couch and sprinting up the stairs leaving Devin and I alone in the basement.56
It wasn't long before the sound of yelling came from upstairs. Devin's parents were yelling so loud that I could hear everything they said with no trouble.57
"You come home late again and you expect me to just wait around for you?" Devin's mother yelled.58
"Why should I when all you do when I get home is complain about how I never come home right after work? With this kind of a welcome can you blame me?" his father snapped back.59
"Well maybe if you would just admit that you have something you're hiding..." 60
I'd heard enough. This was the perfect opportunity to bolt. Not only were these shouts drowning out the sound of the movie, but it brought a worse pang of guilt. 61
"I think I should go," I said getting up from the security of Devin's embrace and heading for the door. 62
"You don't have to," Devin was barring my way out in an instant.63
"I really think I should; this is family stuff."64
"Reeny, you know this is like a nightly routine around here, right?" Devin said to me.65
"Yes, I suppose, but I just don't feel comfortable being around when it happens." 66
"I could come with you...maybe."67
"No, Devin, I think I need to be alone tonight," I said looking from the creamy carpet to the black of his eyes.68
"If you're sure," he said placing a delicate hand beneath my chin.69
"Yeah," I shrugged. "I've seen this movie at least a million times anyway. I know how it ends. I'll just see you guys at the gig tomorrow." 70
I turned to go, but Devin's strong hands seized me, covering his lips with mine. I brought two greedy hands up to his neck and kissed him back. His lips were soft and moved gingerly, as if one inch of pressure would cause another pain spell tumbling me to the floor. His lip piercing tickled my lips and I almost smiled as I kissed him. If he kept this up he would have me here all night. 71
I took the initiative of being the one to break the kiss. The shouts of Devin's parents were so infuriated now that one found it impossible to make out what they were shouting. Devin traced a line from my lips to end of my neck with his index finger.72
"I really should go..."73
~~~~74
"Hey, where did Reeny go?" Ariel asked reentering the basement with a bowl of popcorn in one hand.75
Devin's mouth was open, one hand still outreached for where Serena's face had been just seconds beforehand. 76
"She um thought she should go. Said she felt uncomfortable sticking around with those two bickering," Devin said lowering his hand and closing his mouth.77
Ariel made a sound at the back of her throat and scratched her head. "Well there's really no point in watching the rest of the movie without her. No fun." 78
Devin crossed his arms. He didn’t understand what could possibly be bothering Serena. Her heartbeat was still regular and she did not seem to be having as many pain spells as she used to. He wanted desperately to know what was bugging her so he could help her. But as he knew from prior experience, Serena was a rock that would not budge from its place.79
"C'mon," Ariel said and Devin followed her. 80
The noise from the first floor grew louder as they approached and Devin arched his dark eyebrows with displeasure. The look on Ariel's face told him that she was trying to ignore it even though it was impossible.81
Devin opened the door to his room and Ariel followed him inside. He crossed the room to his stereo and turned the volume up in an effort to drown out the sounds from downstairs. 82
After this he fell onto his bed, eyes facing the ceiling. Ariel soon followed suit.83
"No, you think they'll ever get through this?" Ariel asked him.84
"Not the way my mom was talking a week ago," Devin said as they both shut their eyes. 85
Ariel put a hand to her head and let out a deep sigh. "What are we going to do if they split?"86
"I'm changing my last name for sure. If my Dad is really cheating I don't want to be linked to him in any way."87
"I don't either, I'll most likely change mine too," Ariel said from beside him. 88
"Thanks, Ariel," Devin said. 89
"No problem, I'm not really blood related to him anyway. I'm loyal to you and your mom," Ariel's voice sounded decided and she spoke with determination. 90
Devin could tell that she was serious about this. He began to feel grateful that his cousin was willing to change her name. "We could do it together." 91
Just then the door to Devin’s bedroom burst open and in ran a hysterical Julia. Tears streamed from her eyes and down her pink cheeks. Both Devin and Ariel jumped and looked at the crying girl in surprise. The eleven year-old ran into her brother's arms and Devin patted her awkwardly on the back, slightly abashed.92
"Why are they being so mean to each other?" 93
Julia had been considerably less bratty all summer, but it was still a shock to Devin when she wanted to hug him of her own free will. She let go of him and Devin saw that she was already dressed her pajamas.94
"Dad's been spending a lot of late hours at the office," he said plainly brushing a separate strand of dark hair from his sister's eyes. 95
"That's it! Are you happy? I'm leaving!" the sound of Devin's father slamming the door was the last that was heard from downstairs.96
Julia hiccupped and Ariel bent down to her level. "C'mon, Jules, pull it together. You can stay with in here with us." 97
Devin helped Ariel carry Julia to his bed and as soon as the little girl's head made contact the pillow she was out like a light. The two vampires watched as the girl slept peacefully, both wishing they could do the same. It felt like an eternity since they had been able to shut their eyes and block out the world with sweet dreams. 98
Devin watched his sister dream from where he stood, leaning on the wall of his room. Although the sounds had died from downstairs everyone in the room knew that things would not end well.99
"Devin," Ariel said from the opposite side of the room. "Who will protect them if they get a divorce?"100
**** 101
Serena Carlton102
I bent to place a bouquet of fresh cut flowers before my mother's grave. It had been a while since I had been here; five months to be exact. The last time I had bothered to come to see my mom had been back when Devin had moved back to New York. The time he was gone had been some of the worst days of my life - four months worth. I sat down in front of Adrianna Carlton's gravestone and began to speak, as if she were sitting there beside me.103
"You may have noticed already, mom, but...I just wanted to let you know I'm in trouble. Last time I was here I told you about Devin and how much I wanted him home. Back then I never would have thought it would come to this. I'm cheating on him, mom. I'm cheating on him and I don't know how to end it." 104
"And I don't know how to end this because I'm in love with the guy I'm cheating with..." 105
I stared down at my feet and wished I could take back the last two months. Why had I gone into the woods that day? Why hadn't I just gone home? Things would have ended up so much better if I had just gone straight home! I massaged the earth of my mother's grave between my long pale fingers and got to my feet. 106
"She was a good person; your mom," Nathaniel's voice came from behind me. 107
I found him sitting on the mausoleum steps when I finally turned around. His British accent always had a way of putting me at ease, but not today. 108
"You knew her?" I asked, staring at him from where I stood. 109
"I did. You're forgetting that her sister was my mentor," he said to me.110
I nodded sitting down to his right. "Sometimes I forget that you’re a V-Roy, Nate. You don't act the way I picture the rest of them to. Do you...do you think you could tell me about her? About my mother?" 111
Nathaniel let out a mournful sigh and without looking at me, he began. "I would have expected you to know more about Adrianna than I do."112
I shook my head. "She was killed just after giving birth to me. I know nothing."113
The V-Roy sighed again and began. "You're mother was the only V-Roy who ever showed any compassion. I can't tell you how many times Adrianna got me out of a good number of screw ups. She was my mentor for a great number of years. It wasn't until she died, that Zaneeta became my new mentor. She was an extraordinary vampire, Serena." 114
I nodded. So my mother was a compassionate vampire. She had helped Nathaniel with his training. But what had gone wrong? What had driven Zaneeta to kill her own sister? I turned back to Nathaniel and asked. 115
"Nate, I know this may sound weird coming from me, but I was never told...how she died?" 116
"Zaneeta and your mother had a falling out before she gave birth to you. You could kind of say that your mother disowned the Council. I...I remember she said that their form of punishment to the disobedient vampires was inhumane and unnecessary. Zaneeta was sent about a hundred years after her disappearance to track her. Why it took so long for her to be sent I have no idea, but she found her alright, with your father. She reported back to Galena and said that Adrianna had married a mortal and had given birth to a half-breed baby. Not only this, but she was pregnant with another..." 117
"When Galena heard this she wasn’t too happy - furious would be a better way to put it. Adrianna had gone against the Council's way of life: Baring a half human child."118
"Why was that so bad?" I asked.119
"Well the Council always feared that one of their kind would betray them and run off to reproduce an entire army of half-breeds. They plotted ways to get to her and they finally found out that you had been born. She was sent to kill your mother in her hospital bed. From what I've been told Adrianna was asleep when it happened..." 120
Nate would not look at me. It was as if he was ashamed of the way his race behaved. The cloudy day around us grew colder still. Although it was summer, the weather had a hint of the chill of autumn. I used my arms to elevate myself onto the top step of the small stone structure. My dark hair clung to my neck and back with cold sweat and I used an elastic I kept around my wrist to tie it into a messy knot at the back of my head. I fastened the hair elastic tightly; however, stray hair that was too short to fit into the bun hung loosely around my neck and face. I lowered my hands to my lap and surveyed Nathaniel from a distance. 121
"I like you hair up like that," he told me, sliding to sit before me.122
"Thanks," I said, twirling the loose strands around my pinky. "Nathaniel, can I ask you a...personal question?"123
"Sure," he said. 124
"I've been wondering. Were you born a vampire or were you made?"125
For weeks now I had been speculating - in the back of my mind – if whether or not Nathaniel had been made or born. His eyes were dark and specked with gold; the mark of a bitten vampire. But I knew for a fact that it was rare to be made and accepted by the V-Roys of England. 126
"You have the right to wonder," Nate said with solemn eyes. "I was in fact made. I was born December of 1860; my parents perished in a fire set by a gang of villains they had upset in some way. I was roughly seventeen years of age when they died. My sister, Slone, took care of me; she was exactly six years older than I and although I was an adolescent and able to care for myself, she cared for me like no one but our mother had. We wandered the streets of London for weeks, begging for food, we weren't given much, but we devoured what was found like coyotes." 127
"Months after our parent's death...I sat with my back against the brick wall of an alleyway. I had not eaten in weeks and it seemed as if I would soon die. From what Slone told me, it appeared as if I had gone insane. She would...rather die than to leave my side at that point...but when it felt as if I reached my final hour a woman cloaked in black rushed to my side with such grace she may have been in a dream." 128
"She sensed that I was dying and offered me an alternative. It was almost as if the lady had hypnotized us with her eyes. She told Slone and me that she would turn us into immortals...never to starve again. The two of us were desperate, but Slone was not stupid, she had heard of the…of the myths that were told by the townsfolk and immediately refused. But I was naïve and agreed. The woman grabbed Slone and I by the collar...and bit the pair of us...I've been a vampire ever since." 129
I stared at Nathaniel. I had never thought of how it must have been to meet a vampire in an alleyway back in the 1800s. It was horrible to think that someone so young could be doomed to drink blood for eternity.130
"I assume that the woman was Galena?" 131
Nathaniel nodded. "It's a terrible way to be turned. I woke up in a dark stone room to find what my sister and I had become...I can still remember the burn of the thirst in my throat."132
Nate looked away from my face and towards the stone wall of the mausoleum. I felt the urge to change the subject.133
"Nate, how long were you watching me?" 134
"Long enough to know you're not happy. I hope you know that if you're not happy with this relationship you have every right to end it. The last thing a vampire needs is yet another thing to add to their list of worries and I don't want to be on that list. The last thing I want is for you to feel obligated to please me when the reality is that you can't. I'll always want more from you, Rena."135
The reality of what he was saying hit me. Nathaniel was right as long as Devin was in my life I would not be able to please him. I was in a dead end place. All I could do now was climb the obstacle before me.136
_____ 137
"Now we're broken on the floor,138
She just wants me to share her.139
It hasn't been this way before.140
She just wants me to dare her."141
A local band played my favorite All-American Rejects song. A guy with green-streaked hair sang the lyrics to a screaming crowd. I remember this song had been the first Devin and I had bonded over. He had just saved me from being raped by Terrence and "Stab My Back" had been playing on the radio. Cody's band would be performing in a few minutes the announcer had said. 142
"Hey, Reeny," Chloe's voice brought me out of the past and back to the present.143
"Yeah?" I asked looking from the giant mob of screaming teenagers.144
"Did I screw things up...? With you and Devin?" she asked me, the tone of her soft voice almost sounded scarred.145
"The phone rings146
And she screams:147
Stab my back,148
It's better when I bleed for you.149
Walk on me,150
There never was enough to do." 151
"No, why?" I asked her, more than a little confused with why she would think she had screwed things up when it was clearly my fault.152
"Well I'm guessing that by telling him that you weren't with me before the party may have...been a stupid thing to do."153
"No...not at all," I replied nervously rubbing the back of my neck. 154
"It was my fault. I was somewhere I shouldn't have been and I probably should have told you. But either way he would have found out eventually. Devin's not stupid."155
"Either way...I still feel awful,"156
"You know, Chloe, you'd be feeling bad if you were wearing another mini skirt to this thing!" I said, looking up from the table, trying to change the subject to something lighter.157
"And every time he held you close,158
Yeah, were you thinking of me?159
When I needed you the most,160
Well I hope that you’re happy." 161
"Oh god! Don't remind me!"162
"Yep! The first time the two of us ever went to a gig together you wore a short skirt and a cami and that creepy guy was staring at you for the entire night! It gets funnier everytime I think of it!" I laughed, smacking the edge of the table. 163
"Yeah...I'll be sure to never wear a skirt to a show again!" Chloe said in exasperation, putting her blond head onto the tabletop, her blond curls cascading over the surface in an avalanche of gold.164
"There's no way I'm letting you!" I laughed, checking my watch. "Have you seen Devin? He said he would be here about now."165
Chloe shook her head and I told her I was going to go look for him. She smiled and nodded as I stood up to find him. 166
I scanned the mosh pit for his brooding face. It did not take me long to find it. There he was, the black-haired boy standing closest to the wall. He seemed to stand out in the sea of energetic teens jumping around nearby. 167
"I hope that love he gave you,168
Was just enough to save you.169
You nearly broke my heart,170
Just look at what you’re tearing apart!" 171
A guy that looked like he was somewhere in his twenties announced that "Meet You at Midnight" would be up a couple minutes as I made my way to Devin. I decided to try to put a smile on his face and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.172
"Boo!" I said with a cheeky grin.173
He put a hand to his chest and said sarcastically. "Ah! You scared me!"174
"I know I did," I said huskily in his ear. 175
Devin led me by the hand to a worn out couch.176
"What's wrong?" I asked him gently. The way his eyes darted around the room made me slightly nervous. 177
He entwined our fingers and looked into my eyes. "My parents were having a pretty intense argument and Jules was crying and I just couldn’t take it anymore - I had to get away to you."178
"Then why didn't you?"179
"You said you were tired, I didn't want to bother you," He put a hand to my face, sweeping my bangs away from my eyes. 180
"No, but you know if you ever just need to get away from the house you can always come to me. No matter what I say," I said, feeling awful that I had made him feel as if he couldn't turn to his own girlfriend for comfort when he really needed it. 181
"You're like my morphine, Serena,” he said to me, touching my face and scooting a bit closer. "My Dad says he's been looking at a place down in South Beach. Something like 264 Beach View Drive. I don't know. Something like that. But if my Mom really does kick him out of the house he says he'll move there." 182
"You know the address?" I asked him, trying to lighten our conversation, by cocking an eyebrow and smiling.183
"Well...I have been doing some investigating and that's what it said on this email he sent to some realtor."184
"That serious huh?" I asked, sliding my hand up and down his arm.185
"Yep, it sucks." 186
The lead singer of the band; the guy with the green-streaked hair, took his microphone and announced that my brother's band would be coming on stage. Devin and I ran from the couch and forced our way to the front of the mosh pit. The band left the stage and I spotted Krystal's outrageous hair from where we stood. It was blue and pink tonight, Matt of course was wearing his usual "Thrasher" hat, and Roy with his skull beanie. Cody, well he was just wearing colored jeans. 187
The lights dimmed and Krystal picked up the mike. This opening was the night they had been waiting their whole lives for. Matt picked up his drum sticks and began to pound on the drum closest to him, Cody began to strum on his guitar, and Roy did the same on his base. Krystal began to sing, she was an absolute natural. She was so at ease on that stage, singing for over two hundred screaming kids.188
"Watch'ya gonna do now, little girl?189
With all those lies that you've told190
And all the millions things you've put on hold." 191
Devin and I cheered from where we stood right in front of the stage. The colored lights flashed in our faces, but we never took our eyes off the young band. Their smiles were just visible from where I stood beside the vampire I loved. They were too happy for words. I turned my head to find Devin and there he was alongside me. There was a grin playing about his white face. It must have been contagious. The people around us were beginning to dance around us and Devin took my hand, urging me to follow. I began to sway my hips to the music. 192
Krystal ended Cody's song spectacularly and announced that they would be doing a cover of Shiny Toy Guns' "Starts With One." The music began to play and I could feel the beat in my sneakers from the pounding the floor. Krystal began to sing and I was thrown into my own real happy place. 193
"Starts with one194
I can't feel195
It's all in your mind anyway196
I can't heal197
Make me feel this way." 198
Devin and I continued to dance together throughout the entire song and I found that I was smiling genuinely for the first time all month. The world around us seemed to go by in slow motion. All that mattered to me was that we were together and that I remained this happy for the rest of my life.199
I could stay here forever with you. I thought as he twirled me around. 200
My smile now felt completely natural beneath my nose and I did not have to fight to keep it there. But then Nathaniel popped back into my mind. I would not let my thoughts of him ruin that moment. And with those decisions made, I made yet another: first thing tomorrow morning I would find Nathaniel and I would end this affair once and for all. 201
"Let's show them the only way202
Let's show them our hearts." 203
The second this conclusion came to me, my face fell and I looked away from Devin. Like a puppet on a string his face almost immediately became grim. 204
"Something wrong?" he asked me, concern ringing from every syllable.205
"Nothing, Devin, nothing," I said, closing my dark eyes and turning my head to the floor. "I just kind of need to get out here."206
We stopped dancing and he used his hands to support my arms. 207
"Would you like me to stay with you tonight?" his face looked hopeful.208
"Thanks, Devin, but I'm actually spending the night with Chloe tonight," I felt awful for letting him down, but I really had made prior plans with Chloe. "You can spend the night at my house tomorrow night," I said in the hopes of reassuring him.209
"Let's show them the only way210
Let's sew up their hearts211
Distorted light moves in212
Or am I mistaken?" 213
~~~~214
Devin's swift feet were practically silent on the stairs. His plan was to surprise Serena with some kind of gift. He knew she had been rather down last night and he wanted to make her smile again. But to his dismay he found his red-haired cousin and mother sitting at the kitchen table, Ariel's arm around his mother's shoulder. Thunder cracked from beyond the house.215
"What’s wrong?" 216
Ariel put a hand to her head and said quite plainly. "Your Dad left last night."217
"Left? As in..."218
"Your mom told him to pack his bags and leave until they get the divorce papers signed." 219
Devin was speechless. He looked fixedly at his family in disbelief how had they come to this? Divorce? How on earth were he and Ariel supposed to protect both parents when they were no longer living under the same roof?220
"Did you find proof of Dad's affair, Mom?" Devin asked, his strong voice shaking. 221
"He left his phone here yesterday. It told me everything," she said with tears running down her cheeks and staining her shirt.222
Ariel pushed the silver phone in Devin’s direction with quaking fingers. 223
Devin took the device from the glass kitchen table and read the screen. There in plain, was the number of calls his father had made out to some woman named "Heather." He scrolled down the list until it ended. Two calls to him and only one lone call to his mother all month. His sharp teeth ground so hard they might have broken if he had been human. 224
Devin snapped the tiny electronic shut and with a loud roar, threw the phone with all his might across the room. It shattered into hundreds of metallic pieces leaving a small, but deep dent in the living room wall. He planted both hands on his hips. The boy could not recall ever being so angry in all his life. 225
"Devin, please!" the scorned woman said to her son. "We have to pull together through this! For now what you can do for me is run to the drug store and get me a few things."226
His mother wiped her eyes and handed him a shopping list. Devin snatched it from her hands shooting one last glance at Ariel. She did not look at him. 227
With one last look at his broken family he stomped out the door to his Ford and fired up the engine driving to CVS far over the preferred speed limit. The windshield wipers worked quickly as the pouring rain tapped on the car. When he arrived he slammed the door to the black car, making pedestrians around him mutter in annoyance. The automatic door flew open and he stopped his marching once inside, pausing to reflect on the events of the past twenty minutes. 228
He could not believe this. His own father had been unfaithful to his mother for two whole months and he had had neither seen nor heard of any evidence other than his mother's accusations. What would he and Ariel do? Thoughts of cheering up Serena had been evicted from his mind as he began to search for the items listed on the strip of paper he held tightly in his hand. 229
The vampire fought hard to compose himself as he read the first word.230
Aspirin. Yep we're going to need plenty of that around the house for the next few months. He thought to himself bitterly.231
Devin impatiently read the signs labeling what could be found in the many aisles. He found the label reading "Pharmacy" and strolled past various beauty products. He blew his rain-darkened hair from his face and began to scan the wording on the pill bottles. 232
"Devin?" a girlish voice said from behind him.233
He turned to find the blond staring at him in alarm with those large blue eyes. "Hello, Chloe," he said trying to sound as if the venom in his veins was not at boiling point. "What are you doing here?" 234
"Aw nothing much, just stocking up on some more sunscreen. Florida last month really cleaned me out," Chloe smiled and giggled at her own joke.235
He smiled along with the blond even thought smiling had to be the last thing he wished to do. Wait! He thought as he analyzed everything she had just told him. 236
Florida? Last month? Serena had told him she was with her that night her father said she hadn't come home. Chloe had obviously made an error. 237
"Hold on, Chloe, did you say you were in Florida 'last month?'" Devin asked her. 238
Serena's best friend nodded with a smile that revealed every one of her perfect white teeth. "Yep, the summer has got to be the busiest season for my family! It's pretty annoying. My cousin got married in Florida and my grandmother insisted I stay for another week after that."239
"So did Serena spend the night with you at all in July?" Devin asked. 240
"No, I was gone pretty much all July. The day after her birthday party I had to fly to Miami for a wedding," Chloe's eyebrows arched and she stared at him. "You okay, Devin?"241
She turned her back to look at what was on display behind her. 242
"So how are..." 243
She turned back to look at Devin and found that she was alone in the aisle. "Devin?" 244
As her eyes flitted around the aisle it dawned on her; she had just given away a vital part of the lie Serena had told and she hadn't even known it.245
**** 246
Serena Carlton247
My feet made gross squelching sounds as I ran across the wet lawn. One thing in my life was for sure; I couldn't wear these sneakers after this. It was raining so hard that once I reached the front steps every part of my body was soaking wet. As soon as I dropped off my overnight bag in my room and changed I would drive to see Nathaniel. I had to stop this liaison before it went too far. 248
I squeezed water from my sweatshirt and was surprised to find Nathaniel leaning on the brick wall of my house. He looked somber, as if what he had come here to tell me was less than pleasant.249
"Nate, what are you doing here? Anyone could have seen you!" I looked around frantically for any weirdo on a walk in the pouring rain.250
"Your father is out and your brother spent the night with a friend." 251
I stared at him in bewilderment. "Why are you here?"252
Nathaniel took me by the hand and stared deep into my eyes making me blink over and over. "I have to go back to England."253
My hand fell from his and I stared at him in shock. He would be in so much trouble when the V-Roys found out what he had done! Or hadn't done. 254
“Nate, you can’t go back! Not with your 'job' undone!" I clasped his hands in mine. "I won't let you die because of me!"255
He chuckled. "I won’t die, Serena. They already know what I've done and they are willing to spare you in exchange for my return home." Nathaniel said with his hand against my cheek.256
"But I..." 257
Why should I be upset? This was what I wanted wasn't it? 258
Not like this... 259
"Now, Rena, do not look at this as a bad thing. Now you can be with Devin without the weight of the guilt. I'm done stealing from him. I can't get enough of you; I've got to do the right thing for once in my life; I have got to give you back. I don't care what you say either. It's evident that you and Devin are meant for each other." 260
He took my face in his ashen hands and pulled me to him. Our lips met in a goodbye kiss that I knew would shatter my heart when it was over. Nathaniel's lips were no doubt considerably colder than Devin's, but that made no difference. My arms were wrapped around his neck, running my fingers through his brown hair. It felt soft in my hands. The feeling of his hands on my face, made the kiss even more final. But of all the other times I had kissed him, this kiss had to have been the sweetest. 261
Nate's lips parted with mine and when I finally looked up he was gone. Tears poured down my face more rapidly than the rain did. I sponged my nose on my sleeve and struggled to keep back my tears, but they would not be contained. Moisture ran from my wet eyes down my face and neck until they were absorbed into hair or cloth. There was a pain in my chest that would not subside. I clutched my hand to my aching heart, as if putting pressure on it would ease the affliction. 262
I sniffed and whirled around to see if there was any trace of him, but found none. No, instead I found a figure dragging his feet on the pavement. The boy's black hair was stained with dark rain water. His converse sneakers dragged on the cement beyond the stretch of my front yard. It took me less than five seconds to register who had witnessed Nate's farewell.263
"DEVIN!" my voice broke in my throat as I took off after him. 264
"DEVIN!" I shouted again, my lungs feeling as if they may burst with effort. "DEVIN! PLEASE COME BACK!"265
But the heartbroken vampire did not slow for me. Devin's feet continued to drag across the street until he reached the opposite end. His eyes were downcast as he swerved to look at me. It was almost as if he couldn't bear to look at me. I had to admit; I couldn't blame him. 266
"Are you seeing him?" His voice shook with a perfect mixture of anger and sorrow. 267
I did not answer; I just stared into his eyes. They burned ebony as they bore into me like flaming daggers.268
He ran a bloodless hand through his rain-darkened hair. "You know, Serena that silence tells me all I need to know." 269
His dark hair blew away from his face as he turned around once again.270
"Devin, wait! We need to talk about this!" tears choked my voice as I spoke.271
"There is nothing I have to say to you, Serena. You lied to me about what happened the night you didn't come home and now it all makes sense to me! I know there’s only one reason why you didn't tell me the truth. You spent the night with him! You spent the night with that piece of scum we call a V-Roy! I don't even want to know the whole story. All I know is that it is over between you and me, Serena...for good." 272
Tears mixed in with the rain that ran in streams down my pale face. The sound of his words echoing through my head was enough to drive me into insanity. Devin may as well have ripped out my heart and shredded it into a million pieces with his sharp teeth. Perhaps it would have hurt less. The pain in my chest seemed to triple as I watched him in slow motion. Devin gave me yet another burning glance and turned his back on me. 273
He left me soaking wet in the pouring rain. I did not venture to stop him. There was no doubt in my mind; I deserved this. I had brought this pain upon myself. 274
Adding your comment:
