Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Three

Oliver’s house was in front of me. I thought back to the last meeting we had. Why was I here? Nothing was going to change; he still hated me with all of his being. I saw that all the cars were gone in his driveway except one: his.
I slowly walked up to the door, holding my breath. I knocked on the door hesitantly. When the door swung open, I nearly cried.
“Jade? What are YOU doing here?” he asked, venom coating his words.
“I came to…I don’t know…to talk. Oliver, you’re my best friend and--”
“I WAS your best friend. WAS, Jade.” He interjected.
I shook my head back and forth. “Oliver, please. Why are you being like this?”
“You’re back with Gabriel, Jade! You USED me! You’re one of THEM, now! You don’t NEED me anymore! Get out of my life and get away from me!” he shouted.
“Oliver, please, I still love you!”
He snorted. “Oh, please, as if you know what love is, Jade. All you know is how to love yourself. That’s all you’ve ever known.”
That was it. “That’s why I risked my ass for you, isn’t it?” I asked with silent fury.
“You risked your ass for Gabriel. Not me.”
“I left the freaking state for YOU, Oliver. To keep YOU safe. YOU, a weak human. I was protecting YOU.” My voice stayed quiet but the fury was making it waver.
Oliver was shaking his head and I could see tears glistening in the sunlight.
“Oliver, listen, I need you in my life. I NEED you, Oliver. I especially need you now. I wouldn’t be able to stand it if I died without you in my life.”
Oliver’s head snapped over to look into my eyes. Finally, all his resentment was gone. It was the same raw Oliver I had always known.
“You’re dying?” he whispered.
I sighed and looked at the ground. “I don’t know, to be honest.” I lifted my head up and pointed to the patch of skin that was returning to a normal color. “This is a little concerning to Gabriel.”
Oliver stepped forward and inspected it. “So what? It’s a different color. How is that significant?”
“I don’t know. To Gabriel, Alec, and Jagger, it seems to be.”
“Jagger?”
I sighed heavily. “We have a lot of catching up to do…that is, if you forgive me.”
Oliver looked into my eyes. Something flashed before my own. A memory of his. With me. I wanted to look away but I couldn’t. It was powerful. I was seeing myself through the eyes of Oliver. An overwhelming warmth surged through my veins and I had never felt so alive. I saw Oliver and me kissing and something seemed to explode in my chest. I gasped and fell to my knees.
“Jade? Are you okay?” Oliver asked grabbing my arm.
I shook my head back and forth, the warmth subsiding.
“I’m fine.” I breathed.
“What happened?” he inquired, helping me to my feet.
“I forgot about my power.” I said as my vision began to come back.
“What power?”
I laughed despite my swirl of emotions. “Like I said, we have a lot to catch up on.”
“Sounds like it.” Oliver muttered then opened the door for me, allowing me inside.
The familiarity of the house was almost haunting. It felt so welcoming to be back in his house again.
“So, what’s been going on?” I asked, flopping down on the couch.
He looked at me curiously. “I should be asking YOU that. My life isn’t that interesting.” He joked.
It felt good to see him being humorous about all of this.
“So much has happened, Oliver.” I paused and looked into his deep sea green eyes. I felt a stab of pain in my chest. “I’m so sorry for hurting you.”
Oliver smiles. “Jade, I know you are. I’m sorry for the cruel things I said to you. I may not ever understand your love for vampires but I still love you no matter what kind of crazy creature you are.”
He punched my shoulder gently and laughs. It was hard to believe that just five minutes ago he was calling me selfish and an awful person.
“Jade, I didn’t mean what I said.” He told me as if reading my mind.
“Yeah, I know.” I sighed heavily.
“Are you going to tell me about this awesome power of yours?” he asked me.
I smiled and started from point A, where I became a vampire, up until point B, where we were at the time. It was amusing to watch Oliver’s face twist from all the different emotions from me telling him the story so far of my immortality. When I finished, Oliver sat back and whistled.
“That is some story. Did you expect that moving to Calhoun Falls would lead to this?”
I shook my head. “Definitely not. I never would have expected anything like what I have right now. The thing is, Jagger and I are on the same side now, but he warned me that he’s not the only dangerous vampire out there. What do you think that means?”
“I think it means that as much as he’d like to believe it, he’s not the strongest vampire out there. I think it means he’s warning you to be careful. I think it means you need to be careful, especially since you don’t know what that skin hullabaloo is about.”
“I can’t imagine being in danger again, Oliver. I can’t believe I’ve made it this far. There were so many times that I could have died…that I almost did but every single time, Gabriel bailed me out.”
Oliver put his hand on his shoulder then recoiled as if I had slapped him.
“What’s wrong?” I asked worriedly.
“Your cold.” He mumbled sadly.
“Oh. Well, I’m dead.”
Oliver cringed and I realized that I shouldn’t be so blunt around him, at least not until he adjusted to all the changes.
“I should go, Oliver. Can I come over again tomorrow?”
He nodded and touched my hand. His face twisted momentarily but he didn’t let go. I looked outside to see that it was dark.
“Do you want me to take you home?” Oliver offered.
“No, I’ll be fine. I’m a predator now, remember?”
Oliver cringed again and I cursed myself for not sticking to my new plan. I hugged him and walked out the front door smelling the fresh night air for the first time as a happy vampire. I felt like dancing through the streets and embracing myself. It was an amazing feeling. Maybe being a vampire wouldn’t be so bad if I could have felt like this all the time. I was about to literally dance when something hit the back of my knee and I fell to the ground. I rolled around to my back see crimson eyes staring down on me with hatred. I couldn’t see the face because my vision was fading in and out. I began to panic but I couldn’t voice this panic. I was frozen on the ground with nowhere to run.
“Jade, you should have listened to Jagger.”
The voice was menacing and it taunted me. I recognized it from somewhere but I couldn’t place where I had heard it before, and since I couldn’t get my eyes to focus, I had no hope of seeing him. I was suddenly unconscious, peculiar for a vampire.

It was a struggle to open my eyes but I could see fire surrounding me. I wondered what was going on. My vision was blurry and my body felt like lead.
“Rise and shine, Jade. Welcome to my home.”
I sat up slowly, trying to steady my swaying body. I looked around. I was out in the middle of the woods in God knows where and there was a fire in front of me. I looked at the person who spoke to me.
Leo.
“What do you want?!” I demanded, standing up, my fists clenched.
“Just a chance to be with you, sweetie. I hear you’re special. I hear you’re not like other vampires.” He taunted.
“Who told you that? Tell me!” I exclaimed.
“Who else would tell me that but Jagger? You thought he was your friend, didn’t you? You thought you were playing on the same side. No, he still wants you dead. Now that we know your weaknesses, it will be so much easier.”
I couldn’t believe what he was telling me. Why would Jagger do that? What happened to us being on the same side now? Was it truly all a lie? I should have known…I should have expected that from Jagger. I shouldn’t have believed that just because I was a vampire that it meant I was off of his radar. I could be so stupid sometimes.
“What do you want with me, though?” I asked stupidly.
“Just to spend some time with the most peculiar vampire out there.” He replied with a smirk.
“Did you ever consider that maybe she doesn’t want the same?” I retorted.
“Of course, I did, but that doesn’t matter. You’re here now and you have nowhere to run to. You have no idea where you are.”
“I’m a vampire. I can figure it out.”
Leo gave a small laugh and came up to me. He stood only centimeters from my face. He reached up and gently pushed a strand of hair out of my face then caressed my cheek. I shoved his hand away and growled. It was a deep, rumbling sound in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t expect it to happen but it felt good to express my anger in that manner. Leo laughed softly again then pulled me to him.
“You are so much more gorgeous now that you are a vampire, Jade. You are finally up to my standards.”
“Get your hands off of me!” I shouted shoving him to the ground.
“Be careful, little Jade. You don’t know who you are messing with.”
“And what are YOU going to do about it, Leo?” I spat.
He stood up and brushed himself off.
“Nothing for now.” He replied, hinting at something soon to come.
He walked away from me, laughing at what seemed to be some hidden joke. I watched the flames dance in front of me and wondered what to do. I could try to run but Leo would follow me. Why was I getting a sense of déjà vu?
I reached into my pocket to see that I still had my cell phone. I decided to call up Gabriel just to let him know that I was safe...well, safe-ish.
“Jade?” Alexander answered.
“Yeah, um, hi. Is Gabriel around?” I asked.
“No, he went out looking for you. Where are you?”
“I have no clue. I’m with…I’m with Leo.”
“Leo? What the hell are you doing with him?!” he demanded.
“He brought me here when I was unconscious…I can’t explain right now. I’m still confused by it all. All I know is that Jagger told him that I’m ‘different’. They both still want me dead. I don’t know what’s going on, Alexander, but stay away from all of this. That goes for Alec and Gabriel too, okay? Just stay out of this.” I explained.
“Jade, you know that’s not possible. It is for me but not for Gabriel. You know he’s going to come after Leo and come to your rescue, the idiot.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Well, no offense Jade, but you do seem to be a magnet for bad luck. I would rather not get caught up in the battle between my brother and you.”
I sighed and heard movement in the woods.
“I’ve got to go. Remember what I said.”
I quickly hung up and turned off my phone, then shoved it into my back pocket. A woman emerged from the woods. She was beautiful. She had long blonde hair with beautiful silver eyes. She appeared to be about six feet and had soft, chalk-white skin. She wore a pair of blue jeans and a tight, form-fitting silver sweater.
“Hello. I am Helena.” She said to me.
I didn’t respond. I just stared at her. I couldn’t figure out if she was a friend or an enemy. Her voice was soft and inviting, but so was Leo’s when he wanted it to be.
“You are Jade, correct?” she asked.
She took a step towards me and I took a step back.
“Do not fear me, Jade. I am here to help you.”
“I’m not afraid of you!” I exclaimed.
She pushed a strand of blonde hair from her eyes.
“Helena? What are you doing here?”
I turned to see Leo standing behind me, a look of longing in his eyes. There was also a hint of pain. Part of me wanted to stare into his eyes and figure out the emotions but I wouldn’t dare attempt that. There was no telling how Leo would react. I looked back at Helena who was standing like stone now, a deep frown on his face, but not wrinkling her forehead. It was quiet in the air. They appeared to be silently exchanging words.
“Jade, this is Helena in case she hasn’t already told you. She’s my…friend.” He said slowly.
I sensed that something more was between the two, but I didn’t dare ask questions.
“We once were friends.” Helena corrected, a slight tone of bitterness in her voice.
An awkward silence fell into the air. Leo put a hand on my shoulder.
“Well, we must be off. It was nice talking to you again, Helena.” Leo announced.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the woods. I glanced over my shoulder to see Helena standing in the same place, a troubled expression on her face. I wondered if she was going to follow, but then she turned and walked in the opposite direction.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

I had been lying awake for hours when a soft tap on the window caught my attention. I looked over and saw a shadowy figure behind my curtains. My heart leapt. Could it have been Oliver? I walked over to the curtain and opened it and nearly screamed with fear. It was Jagger.
“Let me in!” he shouted from the outside of the window.
I carefully unlocked the window and opened it. Jagger leapt in and gracefully landed on his feet.
“What do you want?” I asked, closing the window and curtains.
“To get back in my house. I locked myself out.” He answered as if I was the dumbest person he knew.
I sighed and sat on my bed. Jagger started to leave but then stopped. He turned and looked at me.
“I don’t hate you.” He told me in a hushed town as if afraid that someone would hear him being nice.
“Good to know.”
“Jade, it’s not your fault that you have this power. I understand that. Maybe one day I’ll let you in, just not today.”
With that, he left. I was stunned. Jagger being nice? That just couldn’t be. It was nice while it lasted though because I knew that he would deny it to anyone else.
I began to think about Jagger carefully. I knew that he wasn’t going to hurt me and yet, I was still afraid of him even though he was afraid of me. It was truly ironic but it didn’t change anything. I couldn’t understand how a simple change in me would just automatically get him off of my tail. It truly couldn’t be THAT easy. I still had to stop him from continuing with the killings, especially since it affected me personally now.
That thought caused me to go after Jagger. I found him in the kitchen chewing down on a slab of raw steak.
“Jagger, can I ask you something?”
He looked up at me, annoyed. “I’m a little busy.” Was his response.
“It’s important. Please?”
He sighed and put the steak down and wiped his face on his arm.
“Well, what is it?” he pushed.
“You killed my parents.” I whispered.
He didn’t say anything and looked away from me.
“Why? Gabriel thinks it was unintentional that it had something to do with me. Is that true?” I demanded.
“Partially.” He replied.
“How can it be partially? It’s a yes or a no!” I exclaimed.
“I knew they were your parents but I didn’t kill them to hurt you, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“Bullshit! You are full of so many lies! You killed them to hurt me! You are so—“
The lights turned on and I turned to see Alec.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
I turned back to Jagger and glared at him.
“Nothing at all. I’m going to go for a nice little stroll. I’ll be back later.” I responded.
I started to walk away but Jagger stopped me.
“Careful out there, little Jade. I’m not the only dangerous vampire out there.” He warned, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“I can take care of myself.” I answered, tension in my voice.
I thought I heard him laugh and I whirled around on him.
“I’m a vampire now.”
Jagger nodded, a look of true amusement on his face.
“Be careful, Jade.” Alec said.
“Maybe one of you big bad vampires should protect me!” I put one hand over my heart and the other hand over my forehead.
Jagger shook his head and went back to eating. Alec just stared. I shifted when I noticed that Alec hadn’t looked away.
“What?” I asked.
“Is that…what’s that…on your neck?” Alec answered.
“My neck? What’s on my neck?”
Jagger looked up from his steak and noticed what Alec was staring at. He too seemed to go blank. He crossed the room until he was right in front of me and tilted my chin back up.
“That’s…not…normal…” Jagger mumbled.
“What’s not?!” I exclaimed, starting to panic.
“You’re color is coming back to your neck, starting in the place where you were bitten.” Jagger replied.
“What does that mean?” I questioned.
Alec looked at Jagger, wondering the same thing.
“I can honestly say that I have no idea.”
I backed away from them and went back to Gabriel’s room. He was lying awake, staring at the ceiling.
“Gabriel, something’s wrong with me!”
He sat up and looked at me concerned. I turned on the light and crossed the room. I sat beside him.
“Look at my neck! Jagger and Alec said my color is coming back! What does that mean?!” I demanded.
Gabriel inspected my neck closely, his face erased of all emotions.
“Your color IS coming back…but it doesn’t necessarily have to mean anything.” He told me gently.
“You sure?”
He nodded but I didn’t believe him. I wanted him to look me in the eyes so I could search his memories to see if he was coming up with something, but it was as if he was reading my thoughts because he was looking everywhere but in my eyes.
“Gabriel…what’s going on?”
“I don’t know. You’re not…dead. I can smell you now. It’s not vampire scent. It’s not human either. I’m not sure what it is.”
“Great! So, I’m a freak? I’m a freak even to vampires! This is just great!” I exclaimed throwing my hands in the air in exasperation.
“Jade, that’s not it. I’m sure you’re not a freak. I mean, you don’t suck people’s blood, at least not yet.”
“Then Gabriel, what’s WRONG with me?” I demanded.
“I don’t know! I’m not sure if I’ll ever know. You’ve never been one for normalcy; especially not now in vampire form either. “
I wasn’t sure if he meant that as an insult or a compliment. It wasn’t fair. I was a vampire now; I shouldn’t have had color in my cheeks and I most certainly should not have had a heartbeat. I should have been dead like Alec, Alexander, Jagger, Leo, Gabriel…but I wasn’t and I wasn’t sure what that meant. Part of me wasn’t sure I had the desire to know what that meant. It could have meant that I was dying…for real this time.
My spine shuddered and I looked over at Gabriel again. The look on his face told me that the same thought had crossed his mind as well.
“I’m not dying am I?” I asked out loud.
He didn’t respond nor did he look at me. It meant he wasn’t sure but he didn’t want to say that because it could scare me.
Jagger came in and looked at the distress on our faces.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean anything, you know. Don’t start panicking until we know for sure that something is wrong.” He told us, sounding more annoyed than trying to comfort us.
Gabriel nodded. “He’s right, Jade. Unless something serious happens that is cause for worry, then we shouldn’t worry about it. Now, let’s all just relax for the rest of the night, shall we?”
I wanted to believe them. I wanted to be on board with the plan but I couldn’t shake the panic off. I wasn’t ready to die, well not completely.

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-One

I went to Gabriel’s after talking with Oliver. I wasn’t sure I could feel much worse about it all. It seemed like Oliver hated me even though he swore that we would always be friends. I wasn’t that different. I didn’t even have the urge to attack him when I was with him.
“How’d it go?” Gabriel asked me upon my return.
I didn’t say anything. Instead, I walked right past him and to my room. I curled up on the bed and felt like dying. Why couldn’t I have worked more on my thought screening? If I would have blocked my thoughts, Alec wouldn’t have known anything. I wouldn’t be a vampire. Oliver wouldn’t hate me.
“Hey, Jade?”
I looked over my shoulder to see Alexander. What was he doing here?
“Gabriel thinks maybe I can talk to you. I think I know what happened. I’m sorry about it. I know what it’s like to lose someone because of what you are.” He said sympathetically.
I laid my head back down on the pillow. Alexander sighed and came in further. He sat on the edge of the bed nearest me.
“I was going to get married once to a girl named Eva. She was amazing…everything I could have asked for in a woman but then I got changed. I thought I could trust her to still love me if I told her the truth. She left me, first calling me insane and then she believed me and wrote me a letter. She apologized for calling me a liar but told me things still wouldn’t be the same…that she had found someone else anyway.”
I sat up and looked at Alexander, seeming like I was seeing him for the first time in true light.
“What did you do?” I asked quietly.
“I moved on with my life. There wasn’t much else I could do. I mean, yeah I was heartbroken and I lived in silence for months. I thought I was a monster but my brothers were there for me. We were there for each other.”
“I’m so sorry.” I said.
“I don’t think Oliver will do what Eva did to me. That kid is crazy about you. He’ll come around. Just give him time. He’s in shock right now.” Alexander told me.
I nodded and inhaled deeply willing his words to sink and the pain to go away.
“There’s something else, Alexander. I’m confused about something.”
“Okay. What’s that?”
“I can’t read minds. I ran into Alec and—“
“Alec? What’d he have to say?” Alexander seemed infuriated.
“He was going…never mind, would you listen please?” Alexander closed his mouth, his unspoken words seeming to simmer in his stomach. “Why can’t I read minds? I thought all vampires could.”
“That is interesting. Maybe it means you’ll have an extra power.”
“I don’t have any powers, Alexander. I’m the most normal vampire around. No hocus pocus here.”
“I believe you do have one. It’s interesting. It definitely carried over.”
“What are you going on about?”
“I can’t read your mind. Gabriel can’t either. No one can. You learned how to do that in your past life and here it is now, in full blown vampire coolness form.” He smiled at me.
“Oh, wow. What do you think my other power is?”
“I have no clue. I’m not even sure if you’ll have another one. I’m not sure how this vampire stuff works.”
“You’ve been one forever though.” I pointed out.
He shrugged and stood up.
“You going to be okay?” he asked me before leaving.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” I answered.
He nodded and left. I sighed and laid back down. I tried to believe that Alexander was right about Oliver but I just couldn’t be sure. I had never seen him so upset about anything. It broke my heart.
“Knock, knock.” Came Gabriel’s voice. I smiled in spite of my emotions.
He laid down beside me and put his arms around me.
“I’m glad we’re us again. I missed you.” He whispered in my ear.
I smiled wider. “Me too.” I replied.
The next day went about the same. There wasn’t much for us to do. I wanted to go and try to talk to Oliver again but Gabriel suggested that it wasn’t a good idea, that I should let him come around on his own. If he truly cared about me, he would soon accept me again.
Around noon, a knock came on the front door.
“Do you think it’s Oliver?” I asked hopefully.
“No, go in the bedroom and close the door. Don’t come out unless I tell you to, got it? Be quiet back there too.” He answered in hushed tones.
I obeyed his strange orders but I left the door open a crack so I could hear what was going on.
“Jagger, you can’t be here right now.” Gabriel said.
My heart seized up for a moment, or it would have if I wasn’t dead.
“Why not, my brother? Are you hiding some meat in here that I don’t know about?” He laughed darkly.
“No, but trust me, it’s not a good time.”
“Gabriel! We have not seen each other for so long. Shouldn’t we reconnect and spend some time together?”
“Not. Now.”
“Why are you so tense? You are hiding something, aren’t you? Where is she? Where’s the girl?”
I heard his footsteps coming towards the door and I tensed up. What would he do when he found out? He stopped at the door.
“I don’t smell her anywhere. I smell something different…something…fresh…”
“Jagger, I need to tell you something.”
“Is Alec hiding here?”
Gabriel sighed with relief.
“Yes, yes he is. We are trying to tame him. It isn’t right for you to control him.”
“I created him. I should decide that, Gabriel.” Jagger spat back.
“What you’re doing is wrong, Jagger.”
“Ha! Have I ever cared about what is right and what is wrong?”
“No but it’s high time you started.”
“You are such a hypocrite, Gabriel. Do you think it’s right that you chased after that human girl? Wouldn’t she have been better off without you? If you had never pursued her romance, she wouldn’t be in this mess, now would she? Think about it, Gabriel. I’m doing my job as a vampire. Are you?”
The silence that fell between them was deafening. I wanted to scream out loud and make Gabriel see that I wasn’t a mistake. So, I did something irrational, as usual.
I stepped out of the bedroom and behind Jagger. Gabriel’s eyes were filled with regret and sorrow but turned to fury when he saw me. Jagger turned around and I swear, I had never seen him so vulnerable.
“You turned her. I’m so proud.” Jagger said through gritted teeth.
“He didn’t turn me.” I said simply.
“Oh? Who did? Alexander?”
“No.” I answered.
“Who, then?”
I opened my mouth to answer but another voice answered for me.
“I did.” I turned my head to see Alec.
“You did?” Jagger laughed. “What reasoning would you have for that?”
“I lost control. She hurt my brother.”
I flinched, a stabbing pain in my chest.
“Alec, I’ve told you, I am your brother now.”
“Quit brainwashing him!” I shouted, which surprised me.
Jagger looked over me, sizing me up.
“I can’t read your mind. How interesting.”
“I can’t read yours either.” I snapped.
“Really? Hmm, how curious.” He leaned into me, inhaling.
Gabriel was in front of me so fast, it surprised all three of us.
“What was I going to do, Gabriel? She’s one of us now. I am now on her side.” His grin was menacing.
“It can’t be that easy.” Alec said, confusion in his voice.
“Oh, but it is. Why would I try to hurt one of our own?”
“You HAVE tried to hurt one of your own. Or maybe you don’t remember. You tried to kill me for protecting her.” Gabriel replied angrily.
“I did not do that or perhaps it is YOU that doesn’t remember. Alec did that.”
“But you told him to!”
“Did I? I don’t recall.”
“You said to kill anyone that gets in the way!”
“But I never told him to attack YOU.”
Gabriel was fuming and all I wanted was for Jagger to go away. He could twist words with anything to make it not his fault.
“Relax, Gabriel, he’s not going to hurt me.” I said suddenly.
Everyone looked at me and I was shocked at myself. I didn’t even know WHY I said that.
“Jade, do you honestly believe that?”
I turned to face Jagger and looked him in the eyes and I saw something buried deep inside but I couldn’t pull it out of his head. Jagger’s face suddenly changed and he roared and all I saw was his hand coming at the back of my face. The force knocked me into the wall and to the floor.
He started to run out but I called out to him.
“Jagger! Jagger, wait!” I shouted breathlessly.
I heard Gabriel shouting strings of profanity. Alexander finally came out to see what all the commotion was about. He saw me on the floor, holding my face and Gabriel and Jagger about to go at it. He then looked over at Alec whose face was blank and uncertain. Alexander approached me first and offered me a hand. I took it and then stood up.
“Are you alright?” Alexander asked me but I was too focused on Jagger.
I walked up to him who was still shouting at Gabriel with Gabriel shouting back. I stood in between them and turned to Jagger.
“Let me in.” I whispered to him.
“You think it’s that easy? What are you, anyway? You can’t read minds but you can read my memories?” It was the first time I’d ever seen Jagger that vulnerable and…afraid.
“Jagger, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I don’t know what I am. I didn’t do it on purpose.” I told him, a softness in my voice as if I was speaking to a child.
I took a step towards him and he took one back. “Stay away from me!” he shouted and then ran out.
We were all left completely stunned and unsure of what to do next.
“What did you DO to him?” Alec asked me.
“I…I don’t know. It’s like I knew he wasn’t lying and then when I looked into his eyes…” I shook my head and looked out the window to see Jagger on the front porch, head in his hands. How could this satanic enemy suddenly be a hurt puppy?
“He must be trying to hide something really interesting about his past then.” Alec said thoughtfully.
I looked up to see Alexander and Gabriel exchange looks.
“What is it?” I asked them.
“There’s a lot about our brother that you don’t know or SHOULD know.” Alexander answered me, his eyes filled with hatred. I flinched away.
Gabriel came over to me and put his hands on my shoulders then forced me to look into his eyes. “Listen to me, Jade. I love you no matter what but you need to leave Jagger alone forever. He’s no longer OUR enemy but you are HIS now. His worst enemy is the one that can find his weakness. No one can do that…except you, I guess.”
I felt an emotion penetrating into my body but I wasn’t sure where it was coming from. An image flashed before my eyes. A little boy was crying on the front porch steps of a mid 20th century brick house.
Gabriel looked away from me at that moment.
“Don’t look her in the eyes, ever, Alexander. You, too Alec unless you want her to know your memories.”
The hurt must have shown on my face because Gabriel looked back at me.
“You’re just different, Jade. This is an unusual power for a vampire. It may be the most powerful because you can unlock the secrets that no one wants anyone to ever know. You can find weaknesses…”
“She’s a freak!” Alexander shouted at me.
Just when I thought we were getting somewhere, I thought hopelessly.
“No, Alexander, she’s not. She’s just…different.”
The words rang through my head, pounding against my ear drums and reverberating off of the sides of my head. I clutched myself around the stomach and escaped into my room. I slammed the door and locked it. I felt stupid for locking it because if any of them in the house wanted in, they wouldn’t have to worry about a lock; they could just break the door down without lifting a finger.
I went to my bed and lay down.
The words were still ringing in my ears.
Just different, I thought. Or maybe just a freak.

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

“What do we do?!” I heard Alexander exclaim.
“I…I don’t know. I have to…but it would be…” Gabriel’s voice sounded like at any given moment, he would be very sick.
“Do we stop it?”
“I don’t know…Alexander, any second the venom will take its course…”
“Should we let it go?”
Venom. Alec injected venom. I was changing into a vampire.
Cold hands touched the side of my face and frozen lips brushed my forehead.
“Jade, if you can hear me, listen to me carefully, okay? I want you to know that I love you. Remember me, okay? It’s going to be painful at first but it will go away. Relax and don’t fight the pain, okay? I love you and I’ll see you on the other side.”
With those words my body lurched and I screamed at the agony that was pulsing through my veins. I could feel the venom spreading everywhere, especially into my fingertips. It was unbearable. There were flashes of red and white back and forth very quickly; it was maddening. And then several colors began swirling before my eyes at once at the same time that stabbing pain surged into my head. It felt ten times worse than a migraine. I was screaming, I knew I was because I could faintly hear Alexander shouting at Gabriel. The pain was too intense and I wondered why I was dying. Why couldn’t I just die? Dying would be more calming, more relaxing. But this…this was too much. I couldn’t take it. I wanted someone to stab me in the heart and twist the knife around, slicing my heart up. That would have been less painful, I was sure. I just wanted to close my eyes and never wake up. I wanted this pain to stop. I let out another scream. It rang off of every wall, reverberating back into my eyes. The red and white came back. The white was blinding and it made my eyes feel they were going to fall out of my sockets. The red was intense and it made me long for something I couldn’t place. The flash between those feelings was unbearable and agonizing. The pain began to briefly subside long enough for me to whimper Gabriel’s name and ask him why he was doing it to me.
“No, Gabriel! Stay away! It’s too late!” Alexander shouted.
I turned my head and my vision began to focus. I could see that Alexander was physically restraining Gabriel and that he was struggling with that. Gabriel’s face had the worst possible emotional pain one could imagine. I wanted to reach out to him, to touch him. I lifted my hand from the floor, which felt like lifting lead blocks, and held my hand out to him. At the same moment my entire body shuddered. The taste of rust and iron was in my mouth and before I knew what was happening, blood was coming up out of my throat. I rolled onto my stomach quickly allowing the blood to pour from my mouth…pints and pints of it pouring from my mouth. The blood began to get thicker and thicker and harder to choke up and more painful. Blood was all over my face and body. My stomach lurched and vomit came up now with the blood. I felt like I was puking everything I had ever eaten because I didn’t stop vomiting for a few minutes.
When the vomit stopped coming up and the blood stopped pouring from my mouth, I felt the weakest I had ever felt. I couldn’t hold myself up on my hands and knees. I collapsed to the floor in my giant pool of stomach juices and blood. My vision began fading and I couldn’t focus on anything. All pain had ceased. Was I finally dying? I closed my eyes and relaxed. I saw the white light again and I felt at peace. Death was finally coming for me.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a white ceiling that seemed bright as the sun. I smiled wondering if this was heaven. I sat up and looked around. The room seemed familiar but I couldn’t place it. Everything was illuminated even though the room appeared to have no lights on. I looked to my left and saw a window. I looked up and saw stars that were shining bright as the sun. I covered my eyes and looked away. What I saw to my right almost made me pass out with delight. A glowing figure was looking at me with an expression I couldn’t read.
“Angel.” I whispered surprised by the sound of my own voice.
He reached out to me and touched my face. It felt like an electric surge but I couldn’t explain why. He seemed familiar but I couldn’t, for the life of me, tell you where I had seen him before.
“Jade? Jade, I’m Gabriel, remember?” When he spoke, I swear the room lit up brighter.
I shook my head. I couldn’t recall any Gabriel’s I had ever met…come to think of it, I couldn’t recall anyone I had ever met, including myself. Jade. That was my name? It was pretty. Someone came into the room. He was gorgeous just like Gabriel but the difference was that I could stare at Gabriel all day. This guy I wouldn’t care if I looked away from as long as I could be next to Gabriel.
“She’s giving me a blank stare. She doesn’t remember anything, does she?” said the guy in the doorway.
I looked over at Gabriel who shook his head sadly. I didn’t want him to be sad. I reached out to him and took his hand with a small smile.
“At least she remembers subconsciously.” The other one said softly, amused.
“She doesn’t remember you, though. I wonder if she remembers Jagger…or Oliver.”
These names seemed to ring a bell but I couldn’t recall the faces.
“Jade, look at me, please.” Gabriel asked me and I did so willingly. “Anything? Do you remember anything?” He looked at me with intensity in his eyes and something resurfaced, briefly, but it did.
I remembered Biology class. The way he knew everything about me without ever holding an actual conversation with me. The way I wondered how he was reading my mind and then felt stupid for believing that he actually could. And then he told me he was a vampire.
Vampires.
I leapt off of the bed touching face, my hands, my stomach. I looked over at the other one and almost felt lightheaded. Alexander. That was his name.
“You remember.” Gabriel said quietly.
I nodded and sat back down on the bed trying to get a grip. I clenched my fists and then unclenched them.
“Jade, do you know what you are?” Gabriel asked softly, sliding towards me on the bed.
“WHAT I am? I know WHO I am…isn’t that all that matters?” And then it dawned on me. “Oh, God…I have to go!”
I stood up and started to leave but Alexander intercepted me. “Go where, exactly?” he inquired.
“Oliver…how long have I been gone? He’ll be worried sick about me. I have to tell him I’m okay. I can’t believe that I’m leaving him again. I can’t believe I cheated on him. Oh, God, Oliver is going to hate me.”
Gabriel came up to me and took me by the shoulders.
“Jade, you can’t go back there. Not for a while at least.”
I shook him off. “I’m going back. I know I can control myself. I don’t even WANT blood. That sounds so gross. I have to talk to Oliver.”
Gabriel sighed. “Fine but let one of us go with you.”
“No! Oliver will…no, it’s just not a good idea. Trust me, Gabriel.” I pleaded him with my eyes and I could tell it was working.
“Don’t give in Gabriel! She’s not safe!”
I shot him a glare and then looked back at Gabriel.
“I trust you, Jade.” He said quietly, touching my face.
I nodded then walked out the door, beginning my walk to Oliver’s. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to him nor was I sure of what he was going to think if figured it out. When his house came into view, I began to feel very nervous and unsure of what was going to happen. My knees felt weak as I approached the front door. I felt myself hold my breath as I knocked on the front door. And I nearly fainted when Oliver’s face appeared in the window. I nearly collapsed when he opened the door.
His scent wasn’t appealing, per say. It was a very nice scent that entered my nose but I had no desire for his blood. It still grossed me out to even think about it.
Oliver’s eyes were wide with shock. “Jade? Is that you? What…what happened?”
“We have a lot to talk about.” I said softly.
“I’ll say! You’re like…a goddess…I mean, you were beautiful before but Jesus. Come in.” Oliver replied in awe.
We sat on the couch as I began to contemplate where to begin…where the best place to begin would be.
“Jade, I can’t believe it’s you. What happened?” Oliver asked.
“I saw your brother.” I said calmly trying to not worry him.
“Alec? You saw Alec? Are you serious?”
I nodded then looked at him. “I went to Gabriel’s.”
Oliver inhaled sharply and nodded as if he knew it was coming but what I was about to tell him next, he wouldn’t be ready for.
“What did you do there?”
“Gabriel and I kissed…a lot. And I love him.”
Oliver’s face fell and I felt a pang in my chest. I wanted to reach out to him but that might have been too much for him.
“But you said you love me.” He whispered mostly to himself.
“I DO love you, Oliver. I’m just not IN love with you. Gabriel and I are inseparable. I’m sorry but it’s just the way it is.” I told him softly.
He was shaking his head now, tears welling in his eyes.
“Oliver, don’t…don’t cry, please. I want to be in love with you. I do, but I can’t force myself. Please forgive me.” I pleaded quietly, the urge to reach out and hug him nearly unbearable.
“Why are you different looking now?!” he demanded, standing up.
“I think you know why.” I answered trying to remain calm and collected.
“NO! NO YOU AREN’T ONE OF THEM! YOU’RE STILL JADE! YOU’RE STILL MY JADE!” he shouted.
I stood up and took him by the shoulders. His body was heaving and shuddering beneath my touch.
“Oliver, listen to me. Nothing is different on the inside, okay? I’m still Jade. That hasn’t changed. I’m still your best friend. I still love you. The only thing that is going to be different is my eating, okay? Calm down.”
“NO! THEY CHANGED YOU! THEY COULDN’T HAVE JUST LEFT YOU ALONE! THEY HAVE TO CHANGE YOU BACK! I’LL MAKE THEM! I’LL FIGHT THEM!”
“Oliver! Sit down and calm down! I can’t be changed back!”
“I’LL FIND A WAY! I’LL CHANGE YOU BACK! I SWEAR I WILL! YOU ARNE’T ONE OF THEM! YOU’RE STILL JADE!”
My heart was twisting. I couldn’t take this much longer.
“Oliver, I’m a vampire now. You have to accept it.”
“NOOOOOOO!!!”
Oliver leapt onto me, knocking me to the floor. He pressed his lips forcefully against mine. I pushed him off.
“Oliver, stop it. You’re losing it. Relax.” I scolded him.
“No! No, no, no, no, no!” Oliver clutched either side of his head and shook it back and forth quickly.
I reached out and touched his arm. He slapped it away. I sighed, the feeling of tears behind my eyes. Oliver wouldn’t accept me like this. I should have known. I stood up but Oliver grabbed my ankle, making me lose my balance. I fell to the floor with a crash. I didn’t feel the pain but I felt the impact and it shocked me.
“Don’t leave. You’re mine, Jade! You’re mine! I saw you first! I loved you first! I loved you as a human and I will always love you! Don’t leave me! DON’T LEAVE ME!”
I looked at him sympathetically. He was losing it. I had to leave before it got out of hand. I stood up again looking at Oliver for one more fleeting moment. He was on his hands and knees pounding the floor. My heart hurt seeing him like that and it hurt even more leaving him like that. But it had to be done and I left swiftly, slamming into a hard stone figure at my exit. I half expected it to be Gabriel and I was about to start yelling but when I looked up, it was Alec’s face that looked down on me.
“I have to talk to him.” He said mostly to himself.
“I wouldn’t do that right now. He’s having an emotional overload.” I warned.
“I don’t care. He’s my brother. Just because you hurt him doesn’t mean I have to also.”
“I didn’t mean to—“
“So you accidentally kissed Gabriel back then?”
I looked at him questioningly.
“I can read minds and I can see memories. I saw what you did to my brother. That’s why I lost control and attacked you…” I wasn’t listening anymore because something dawned on me. If I was truly a vampire, why wasn’t I reading anyone’s mind?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

It had been three weeks since that incident and vampires had been on my mind more than ever even though I didn’t mention them. I was trying to forget about them and pretend like they had never come into my life. But it seemed like the more I tried to forget, the more it became impossible to do that.
Every time Oliver touched me, it shocked me that his skin felt warm instead of ice cold, and then I’d want to slap myself for being so stupid.
Every time Oliver brushed my hair out of my face and kissed my cheek, I wanted to feel the leap in my heart the way I felt it when Gabriel would do the same thing to me.
I was pretty sure Oliver knew that my feelings weren’t completely there for him but it was fun for both of us to pretend.
His mom didn’t know about us. Around her, we acted like we were still just friends but when she’d leave, Oliver couldn’t keep his hands off of me. I should have been flattered and should have been thrilled at the thought of a human loving me but I still missed Gabriel. A lot. My love for Oliver was powerful but not near as powerful as my love for Gabriel.
I woke up on a Saturday morning confused for a moment. I half expected myself to be at home listening to my parents screaming, but all was silent except the soft breathing from Oliver on the floor. I looked at my watch to see that it was only six AM. I sighed and yawned knowing that I wouldn’t get back to sleep. I got up and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth when I heard a soft voice coming from the office. I didn’t want to be nosey but it sounded like Oliver’s dad. I wanted to talk to him anyway; I’d hardly met the guy. I walked towards the voice and realized he was talking on the phone. I knew that I should have just walked away but I didn’t. I felt compelled to listen to him speak.
“No, Carol, not today.” I heard him say firmly.
He was quiet as he listened to the reply then said, “Carol, you know that I care about you but I have a wife…No, I’d never leave her but…Yes, you’re right. I do….Just not today, okay? I need to spend time with my family…yes, I did enjoy that very much but…” I stopped listening for a second. Was it possible that this Carol lady that he was talking to was more than just a friend? No, I was just jumping to conclusions. “Yes, that sounds nice. I just need to find some time to get away from my wife…oh, well, I’ll try to get those next time.” He laughed as if there was some dirty joke hidden between them. I felt sick. Poor Oliver!
I quickly went into the bathroom and went ahead with my morning duties. There was no way that I could tell Oliver what I heard…but shouldn’t he know? He should have the right as James’ son. But it would tear Oliver up. I couldn’t do that to him. It was better for him to find out on his own. I went into Oliver’s bedroom and dug through my bag for my cell phone realizing that I needed to get a job if I wanted to continue to have one. I checked my messages and saw that I had several missed calls, voice messages, and text messages.
I opened the first text message. It was from Carlie.
“Hey gurl. Wish you could’ve stayed longer here. Ethan wants to apologize for being rude. Call me or text me. Love ya!” it read. I smiled and read my other text messages.
"Please just text me and tell me ur ok. Thnx.” Jared. I smiled again and texted him back telling him everything was fine.
Oliver came in a few minutes later when I was done sifting through my messages.
“Hey, Jade. You’re up early.” He commented, leaning against the doorframe. His hair was everywhere and he looked just as dorky as I always knew he was.
“Yeah, I just…couldn’t sleep, you know?” I replied.
He nodded, his eyes wondering if I was hiding something. I looked away and pretended to still be fiddling with my phone. I couldn’t tell him what I heard. I wouldn’t tell him.
“Jade, you’re hiding something. What’s wrong?” he asked sitting beside me on the floor.
He touched my hand. I casually pulled it away. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs. I wanted to end this before it got too far. Of course, it already had.
“Oliver, I can’t tell you what’s bothering me but trust me, it’s something you can’t know right now.” I said softly not wanting to meet his eyes.
“Okay…does it have to do with…” his voice trailed off. I didn’t answer. It was better for him to believe it was about vampires than his own father’s affair.
“I need to get a job.” I said quietly after a few moments of silence.
“A job? What for?” he repeated.
“Because my parents are dead and I need to find some way to prove that I’m taking care of myself so that social services don’t take me away from here.” I answered curtly.
“Oh. Sorry…they can’t take you away. You’re seventeen and have a nice home right now. You’ll be eighteen soon, won’t you?”
I nodded. “It doesn’t matter. I’m still a minor. I have to prove that I’m balancing my life well which means that I have to get back to school and get my grades up and I have to get a job.”
“My mom might be able to hire you. She’s an interior designer. You could be her secretary or something.”
“Would I get paid?”
“I’m sure you would.”
“Sounds like a plan. Just check with her and if she can’t do that then I’ll just apply somewhere else.”
“Okay…Jade?”
I looked at him and I knew what he was going to say and it was going to kill me.
“I love you.” He told me.
I smiled my ever fake smile and returned the words even though a rift was opening in my chest saying the words towards him when I wasn’t even sure I meant them the way he wanted me to. Oliver reached out to my chin and turned my face towards him. He pressed his lips against mine and with great guilt, I pressed my lips to his as well.
Oliver’s mom walked by at that moment and Oliver began talking to her about a job for me. I pretended to not be listening and it was working up until I realized that his mom was being quite hesitant towards the idea of me working for her. I didn’t understand why. Most of my friends’ parents have always loved me. Did Monica sense that I was dangerous to be around?
“Something’s just not right about her.” I heard Monica say under her breath. I knew I wasn’t intended to hear but I began listening at that moment.
“What do you mean? She’s amazing!” Oliver argued.
“I’m sure she is, honey, but something is just off about her. I sense something…it’s a mother’s instinct. She’s hiding something from you, Oliver. To top it off, she doesn’t even seem fazed by the fact that both of her parents are dead.”
“Mom, her parents were awful parents. I wouldn’t be upset either.”
“Oliver! That’s a terrible thing to say!” Monica exclaimed.
“I know it is but it’s true. Her parents were nuts! They were straight up alcoholics and they were terrible to her. I’m not sure if they ever hit her but they weren’t exactly kind to her either. If you could have seen the pain in her eyes when I first met her when I brought up parents...Maybe this is God’s way of releasing her.”
“Oliver! Don’t you dare twist the Lord’s Will to mean death!”
“Why not? Everything happens for a reason, doesn’t it? Everything that happens is part of God’s plan, right? I think he did this for Jade. If I was God, I would do it for her.”
“Oliver, be quiet! That is NOT the Lord’s will. You are talking crazy right now. I’ll think about giving her a job and while I do, you need to consider going to church tomorrow.”
Oliver came back into his room.
“You heard all of that didn’t you?” he asked when he looked on my face.
“She thinks I don’t care?” My voice trembled, threatening to crack.
“No, she just…she thinks it’s odd that you don’t even seem to be upset but I know you are. Just ignore my mom. She can be a bit of a prick sometimes.”
I looked down at my hands thinking about what Monica had said about me. She sensed the trouble with me. She knew I was dangerous to this family . Although she didn’t suspect the fact that I was caught up in a twisted mess of vampires, she knew more than she thought she did. I needed to get out of the house. I had been cooped up indoors for a week and I needed to get out and get some fresh air. I stood up and made my way to the front door.
“Where are you going?” Oliver asked. I was a little annoyed but I knew that Oliver was just a little paranoid.
“For a walk. I need some fresh air so I can think.”
“About what? Can’t you just talk to me?”
“Oliver, you’re great to talk to and all but I just need to be alone with my thoughts, okay?”
He reluctantly let me go but not without giving me his cell phone telling me to call his house if I needed anything.
I walked around the block a few times at first my mind trying to wrap itself around the word orphan. That was what I was then, wasn’t it? An orphan. A girl without parents. Alone. It didn’t settle well with me. I began walking towards my house wondering what I’d find there, if I’d find anything. Instead of going inside my house, I walked right on by without a second glance. I wasn’t sure where my feet were taking me.
I tried to block out the thoughts of the vampires. I needed to just forget about them. So far, it was working. Oliver was happy and nothing affecting me had happened. I had to continue with that fake world where vampires didn’t exist and everything was fine in Happyville. I knew it couldn’t last forever because Jagger would eventually catch up to me and figure out my plan and try to destroy my life before destroying me.
I stopped walking when I realized where I had taken myself. I stared at the house feeling my heart racing in my chest. I could feel it…the vampires where inside. Gabriel was inside. I could sense him and almost feel him. I inhaled sharply when I thought I could actually taste the sweetness of his lips.
Just walk away, Jade. Walk away, I told myself.
But I couldn’t. It was impossible for me to just walk away at that point. Somehow I had been drawn to this place. My time of pretending that vampires didn’t exist was over.
And I was tired of running and hiding.
I took a step towards the house hardly believing what I was doing. I needed to just turn around and go back to Oliver’s but then I saw a face in the window and it seemed like an angel had reached out to me. I saw the face smile and I swear I could have melted onto the sidewalk at that point.
Turn around, Jade! I scolded myself but no, it was too late. I was there and I wasn’t leaving no matter how badly I needed to. Gabriel was in the window and he was smiling at me, welcoming me home. I forgot about everything in that moment when our eyes met, including Oliver. It seemed like the stars had aligned and that universe was giving me all of its energy.
And the next moment brought me to my knees because I couldn’t stand up any longer. The adrenaline wouldn’t allow it.
Gabriel was walking towards me, smiling the widest smile I could imagine. It was just how I’d pictured us meeting again, except I wasn’t on my knees in a heap of tears.
Gabriel knelt down to me and held out his hand to me. I took it and when I felt the iciness, a surge of pure bliss swept through me, strong enough to knock someone off of their feet. Gabriel lifted me from the ground and I fell into his stone chest. I didn’t care about anything except the fact that Gabriel and I were embracing once again with me sobbing. I couldn’t explain why I was crying but I believed it was probably from happiness. Gabriel held me closely, kissing my hair, my face, my neck. It was then that my mind was made up about who I loved. I didn’t care anymore about how much Gabriel had hurt me. It was moments like this that made it worth it. Gabriel and I belonged together: the ice and the fire. We were complete opposites but we just belonged. I loved him with every ounce of my soul and I knew that Gabriel loved me with every ounce of his soul. I wasn’t sure what had changed my mind about him. Maybe the way that we had spent so much time away and I had had so much time to think and then seeing him again after all of that…I lifted my face up to his and pressed my lips fiercely against his and he returned the kiss. Everything around us spun and the earth seemed to stop rotating. I felt like fireworks were erupting from every part of the sky and that all the colors were swirling together around us. When we pulled apart, I was smiling the widest smile I had ever smiled and Gabriel seemed to be doing the same. My mind was having trouble processing it all and piecing it all together.
Gabriel grabbed hold of me and I swear he was speaking to me but I couldn’t tell you what he said to save my life because I was too distracted by it all. He took my hand and led me into his house. We sat on his living room couch. When Alexander came in, it was like a family reunion. I almost leapt off of the couch and hugged him when I saw him but the next person that came in made everything stop…all the bliss, the swirls, the fireworks, the happiness…it halted. When I saw the face I remembered everything…the reason why I was hiding…Oliver…everything and my face fell and tears burned the back of my eyes with guilt. What was Oliver going to say or think if he found out? I was going to break his heart, as if his father wasn’t enough.
“We stole him, so to speak, so we could tame him. He’s actually made quite a bit of progress considering the fact that he’s not at your throat right now.” Gabriel said.
I stood up and walked over to Alec. I could tell he remembered me but his face was twisted with an emotion I couldn’t place. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Alexander seemed tense and on edge. And then it clicked; Alec was trying to not inhale my scent because that would be very, very bad. I took a step back and he seemed to relax a little more but then something changed in his face.
“You. Did. WHAT?!” he roared and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor, blood everywhere.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I walked around in the deadly silenced house. It looked as if someone had just left. There were still champagne glasses and beer bottles on the coffee table and side tables. The house still smelled of alcohol and my mom’s perfume. It was a strange emotion surging through me. I was sad but not sad at the same time. I didn’t feel like I was broken but maybe it was just the shock. I mean, my parents didn’t want me. They made that very evident at times…but then again, they were drunk at those times. What was I supposed to be feeling towards them? Most kids would have been crying their eyes out but I wasn’t. Did that make me an awful person?
“Jade?”
I turned to see Gabriel standing in the doorway of the house.
“What?” I snapped not exactly too pleased to see him.
“Jade, I’m sorry.” He said quietly.
My entire body began shaking. I couldn’t believe he was standing there. It was all his fault anyway. Everything was his fault.
“Why are you here?” I asked, trying to control my anger.
“Because…Jagger didn’t know those were your parents. I told you that his killings are totally random. He didn’t know.”
“So that makes it okay?!” I screeched.
“No! Not at all! I’m just telling you that he wasn’t trying to hurt you here.” Gabriel responded.
“Well that’s fantastic then, isn’t it?! It’s just wonderful! I should just forgive him then, right? I should just…oh you are pissing me off so badly, Gabriel.”
“Jade, I love you…”
“Really? You love me?” I asked quietly, sarcastically. “I. Don’t. Care. YOU LET ME WALK AWAY FROM YOU IN THE WOODS! YOU LET ME WALK AWAY! YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT ME! YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT YOURSELF! I HATE YOU, GABRIEL CALPH!” I screamed and then pushed past him out the door again where Oliver was waiting in his car.
I started to get in but Gabriel came up behind me and spun me around. He crashed his lips into mine and immediately, I forgot everything. Literally. Everything. All I could think about was Gabriel and how his lips were forming against mine so perfectly and how much I loved him even though I wanted to hate him.
When he pulled away, I felt confused and dazed and…happy. It was strange. I shouldn’t have been feeling like that but I was. Gabriel looked into my eyes and put his hand up to the side of my face. The iciness made me shiver.
“Jade, I love you.” He whispered.
I couldn’t bring myself to respond. I reached behind me for the door handle and pulled on it. When the door was open, I collapsed inside and closed the door. Oliver drove us away, without another word until we arrived at his house. He removed the keys from the ignition but didn’t make any motion to be getting out of the car. I also didn’t move. Oliver’s face was blank. I wish I knew what he was feeling and thinking.
“Oliver?” I said quietly.
He inhaled deeply and then exhaled.
“Oliver, what’s wrong?” I asked.
“It’s just that…earlier I actually thought I had a chance but then when I saw him kiss you and the way you held onto him while you were kissing him back. Jade, you don’t have any feelings for me and you know it.” He replied sadly.
“Oliver, I don’t know what I’m feeling.”
He shook his head slowly. “I know what you’re feeling. I can tell. Every time I mention Gabriel, I see the pain in your eyes…the only way that much pain can be present is if you truly loved him and you did…you do.”
“Are we still friends?” I asked mostly to myself.
“Jade, of course we are. Why would you even think that we aren’t?”
I shrugged. “Sometimes when one friend has feelings for the other friend, things just don’t work out between those friends.”
“Jade, I know how I feel about you but I also know how you feel about me. I accept that, okay? And I will always, always be your friend.”
I smiled and nodded. “Am I still welcome at your house?”
“My mom can’t not let you stay now, Jade.”
I looked down at my hands. Oliver reached over and touched my knee.
“Everything is going to be okay.” He told me quietly and I believed him for a moment but I knew that there were bigger problems than my parents being dead.
“Oliver, can I ask you something?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“How come I never see your dad around?”
I knew it was a random question but it got the focus off of me and my issues.
“I…I don’t know. I never even…wow, he never is around, is he?”
I shook my head and Oliver’s eyes saddened.
“What’s wrong?” I questioned.
“Nothing. I’m just jumping to conclusions. My dad wouldn’t do something like that.”
“Like what?” I pushed.
“Never mind. It’s nothing. Let’s go inside now and figure out your living arrangements.”
I gave him a lingering look before going inside with him.
“My mom left already…you can just hang here until we figure out something to do.”
I nodded and went inside with him. I plopped down on the couch and all I wanted to do was sleep. I couldn’t think of what else to do. Gabriel had kissed me. My parents were dead because of Jagger. I couldn’t believe that Gabriel had defended him. Was I going crazy or had that really happened? I couldn’t bring myself to believe that Jagger’s attack on my parents was completely coincidental. On top of that, I had reason to believe that Doug was now a vampire. He went missing…wasn’t found dead but was gone. I closed my eyes for a moment and curled my knees into my chest trying to block out the insanity of being caught up in this vampire world.
“Jade?”
I opened my eyes and saw Oliver standing over me. I didn’t really want to talk to him at that moment in time. I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts.
“Jade, please, hear me out, okay?” Oliver said, sitting down beside my feet on the couch.
I wanted to ask him why I should because I knew what he was going to say but I restrained myself.
“I’m just tired of seeing you being hurt by Gabriel and his little vampire buddies. If this doesn’t stop, you’re going to get killed, Jade. Is it worth it?”
I sighed and I knew he had a point but I couldn’t deny that I still had very strong feelings for Gabriel. There was no way I could just turn my back on the vampire world now. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t hide. I had to face them face on if I wanted to survive. No more surprise attacks. I had to save myself and I had to keep Oliver safe.
But for now, in case my death did come soon, I had to do what was best. I had to make Oliver happy in case I died. I didn’t matter to myself anymore. I didn’t care if I lived or died, but I did care about Oliver. I would keep him safe and happy.
I looked up at Oliver, changing my facial expression. This was it, the moment of change. The moment of giving in.
I stood up and looked deep into Oliver’s eyes. I could hear Oliver’s breath catch in his voice. I could almost hear his heart racing. I could see the sweat beading up on his forehead. Before I could think twice, I leaned in and kissed him. He didn’t pull away but sank into me, giving into his desires.
I couldn’t help but think as I was kissing him and I became pessimistic very quickly.
Well, I thought carelessly, this is the end of my forever.
As the thought floated through my head, Oliver and I took the next step and I knew that vampires were once again nonexistent in my head.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

I stayed the night at Oliver’s. How could I have not? I couldn’t go home. My parents would flip if I just randomly came home now. Why weren’t they flipping already though? Shouldn’t they have called or something? No, because that’s what good parents do.
I was almost tempted to go to Gabriel’s but I didn’t. I couldn’t give in. I couldn’t go back to him. He walked away from me and I walked away from him…both times putting me in danger.
I couldn’t go to sleep that night. Too much was going through my head. There was too much heartache…so much fear…so much love. I sat up and looked at Oliver who was sleeping soundlessly like I knew he would be. I stood up and quietly crept over to his bed and sat down on the edge. Oliver didn’t stir. He was a deep sleeper. I lay down beside him and curled up against him. The warmth of his skin was shocking. I almost forgot what it felt like for human arms to embrace me. I had gotten so used to the iciness of vampire skin. It sent shudders down my spine with comfort and desire.
I carefully stroked the hair out of his eyes and looked at his peaceful state. I laid my head on his chest. Oliver, still snoring, threw his arm over me and let it hang there. I wanted to laugh but I bit my tongue. I rested my head on the pillow beside him and fell asleep that way. When I woke up, Oliver wasn’t there. For a moment, I panicked, but then I smelled the scents of a good breakfast wafting in from the kitchen. I stood up and put on my hoodie then made my way to the kitchen. I stopped when I heard Oliver’s voice sounding heated.
“Nothing happened, Mom! She was gone for a long time! She probably missed me or something. I don’t know!” He exclaimed.
“You were in the same bed! Your sisters just two doors down. The original arrangement was for you to stay in your room and her sleep in the living room. Oliver, you two weren’t just in the same bed…you were embracing each other!”
“Mom, listen to me. She has a lot going on that I can’t tell you about. Trust me, she just needed the warmth and comfort.”
I heard her sigh heavily. “You promise that nothing happened?” she said softer.
“Mom, I swear.”
I went into the kitchen pretending like I hadn’t heard anything.
“Hi. Wow, this all looks great.” I said trying to seem happy.
“Thanks, Jade. Are you staying for breakfast?” she asked trying to act like she wanted me to.
“No, thank you. I actually need to head out and take care of some business. Is it alright if I jump in the shower before I go?”
“Yes, of course. Clean towels are in the linen closet outside the bathroom.”
“Thanks.” I said then darted to the bathroom.
While I was digging for towels, Oliver came up behind me.
“Did you hear our conversation before you came in?” he asked me sadly.
“No, I really do have to go. Why? What happened?”
“Nothing. My mom just jumped to some wrong conclusions…can I ask you something?”
I nodded while pulling out two red towels.
“Why did you…um…get into the bed with me last night?”
I paused and picked at the fuzz on the towels.
“I’m not sure. I just…missed you, I guess.” I mumbled.
An awkward silence fell between us.
“It just surprised me, I guess. I mean, do you have feelings for me?”
I turned and looked at him…at his forlorn face and dorky appearance that I loved…but in what way did I love it? I knew that I loved him as my friend but could there ever be a flame there? He was the only human that had ever truly loved me.
“I don’t know, Oliver. Everything is too complicated right now. I just need a shower and then I have to go, okay?” I said then walked into the bathroom.
Oliver grabbed my arm and spun me around.
“Jade, where are you going?”
“I…don’t know.” I admitted.
"You’re going back with vampires, aren’t you?”
I looked at him and he knew right then that I was.
“Jade! Why can’t you stay here where you’ll be safe?”
“Because then YOU won’t be safe.” I said quietly.
“Jade, I’ll be…wait, you’re being completely selfless.”
I rolled my eyes. Why was everyone always so surprised?
“I just learned that sometimes there are things…there are people worth fighting for.” I responded mostly to myself.
“Jade…if you care so much, then why—“
“I have to take a shower.” I interrupted then closed the door.
When I was finished with my shower, I got dressed and attempted to sneak out of the house but Oliver was in the living room.
“Jade, wherever you’re going…please, let me come and help.” He said standing.
“No, Oliver. End of story. I’ll be back, I promise.”
“When though? Months from now?”
I sighed and looked at the floor. Maybe leaving wasn’t a good idea…If I was with Oliver; at least I knew he was safe. If they wanted me, they could just take me instead of taking Oliver. But what if they decided to take him anyway? No, they wouldn’t. I would willingly go with them if they came here. We just had to lay low…only go out if absolutely necessary.
I dropped my bag on the floor and went into the living room. I flopped down on the couch and sighed heavily.
“Jade…”
“I’m not leaving unless your mom wants me to leave.” I stated.
Oliver’s face lit up like he was going to bound on me in a hug. I wasn’t in the mood for any mushy stuff at that particular moment in time. I wasn’t sure why, but it was probably because of my uncertainties with him. My feelings, that is. I was so confused. After last night when we slept side by side, warm skin against warm skin, I wasn’t sure what I felt anymore. What did I desire more? My human best friend that could grow old with me…that everything would be NORMAL with... Or the vampire god that would never age and could love me forever unconditionally…
“Jade?”
I looked up at Oliver. He sensed that something was bothering me. I sighed with a smile, happy that he wasn’t reading my mind. That was another great thing about having a human friend.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind. So, what do you want to do today?”
“I don’t know…watch some TV?”
I shrugged and settled into the couch. Oliver reached over and turned on the TV. The morning news was on. Oliver started to change the channel but I saw something about the mass killings and stopped him.
“Oliver! Wait!” I exclaimed and he froze.
I watched the TV screen closely.
“…This is an unusual case because we have yet to identify a body. A teenager by the name of Doug Fitz has gone missing. He disappeared sometime yesterday morning and no one has seen him or heard from him since then. If you see this young man (a picture came on the screen) please contact…”
I inhaled. It was Doug! The Doug that hit on me the first day of school! Why was he missing? Where was he? Was he dead? Had Jagger gotten to him.
“…This just in: two bodies have turned up dead. It is our belief that they are connected to the mass murders by the person who has yet to be caught. We have identified the bodies…” Two pictures came on the screen and my entire body froze.
“Jade?”
I ran out of the house, down the street, and to my house. I flung open the door and no one was home. I searched and searched screaming their names.
But no one was there.
My parents were dead.