3.5 The Innocence of White (2 page)

“From the sounds of it
, you don’t have any doubts about Jack, and that’s a good thing. We want you to be happy, Gabi. Based off what we’ve experience of Jack though, we’re just questioning whether or not he’s the right man for the job. He’s a powerful vamp who doesn’t quite seem to know how to use his powers for good. That’s the impression I got anyways. I’m willing to look past it all if he can make you smile though. I guess I just want the confirmation from you. If he’s who you want, then I’ll support you. But if it turns out you’re merely another game to him, I’ll be the first to sell a vampire’s balls on the black market. After all, I do
have access to
a gold dagger.”
I heard the smile in her voice at the end.

“As much as I appreciate the gesture, I’m confidant that it won’t be necessary. I know he’s burned a lot of bridges, but deep down, he’s a great guy. He’s made some bad decisions, but you can’t deny that you didn’t learn something from him.”

“Don’t even argue that card with me
,” she snorted.
“
That’s a touchy subject still considering I almost lost my life d
uring his charade. I did say I was
willing to give him a chance because I love you
. We all do, which is why he hasn’t been crucified. It’s your attraction to him that’s keeping him alive right now.” Lexi sighed. “I don’t want you
r
day to be filled with negativity so let’s stop talking about it.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

“I’m happy for you,
amiga
. If this is a vamp who makes you feel like you have a heart that’s actually beating, then I’m
excited
for you. And that’s the key. As long as you’re
content
, it doesn’t matter what anyone else has to say or what they think. It’s your life. Only you can define happiness for yourself, and if Jack’s in that definition, then more power to you.

“So stop worrying about having to pacify everyone and just do you. Focus on your wedding day. Focus on the man you’re going to marry, and then focus on the wonderful honeymoon you’re going to take. Has he told you where he’s taking you yet?”
She pepped up, as if she was trying to encourage me to do the same.

“No! And it’s driving me crazy! God, I wish I could spike blood right about now, but alcohol just doesn’t taste the same to a vamp.” Nothing tastes the same to a vamp th
e way it does to
a human; it’s upsetting to a vamp
ire
who loved food as much as she loved air as a human.

“I’m sure it’ll be great and you’ll have fun. Now go get ready for your big day. Call me when you get a chance.”

“I will. Thanks, Lex.”

“That’s what friends are for. I wish you would have let me be there, but I understand your reasons for going off alone.”
I knew she was a tad disappointed. It was hard not to feel guilty, but she was right, I had to do what was best for me.

Who wants
non-supporters at their big day? I knew not everyone
was
accept
ing
of my union to Jack, and
I didn’t want their opinions to dampen my big day. A
fter all, a
girl only
gets married once… Okay, twice
,
or three times
…
or more for some, but I wanted this to be my one and only
.

“I’m glad someone does. I swear, w
hen I get back to South Carolina, I’m going to ring those Hawaiian vampires’ necks! Kalel at least wished me all the best, but Kai was a straight ‘insert any expletive you want here.’ He really irked me the wrong way.”

“Egh. They’ll come around. You guys are always at each other’s throats for someth
ing. I told you before that y’
all shouldn’t live together. That would probably go a long way in lessening the tension.”

“Lex, if I moved out, that house would be a pigsty. Dishes would be piled to the ceiling,
clothes
would
n
ever get washed, and justice wouldn’t be served for half our prisoners.”

“You’ve got to let go of the reigns at some point, Gab. You won’t be around forever. Plus, they can hire a housekeeper, and you know I don’t mind stepping in for you from time to time at the lake house,” she said.

“I know.” I took a deep breath, checking the clock on the nightstand. “I better let you go, Lex. I’m still sitting in my pajamas, and Jack agreed to meet me at the courthouse in two hours.”

“Ooh! You actually followed the tradition of not letting the groom see you
the night
before?”

I felt myself blush. “Yes. I may not be getting married in a church, but I at least want a tad bit of tradition.”

She chuckled. “I love it. Now go get all glamorous and sexy so when he sees you his jaw hits the floor. Send me a pic before you walk out the door, and make sure someone at the courthouse takes at least a couple pics of you two together.”

“Yes, mother,
”
I droned.

I heard her cover the phone;
mumbled voices slipped through
the receiver of her phone though
. She came back a couple seconds later. “Kellan says he’s happy for you and good luck.”

“Tell him I said thanks.”

She quickly relayed the message. “Okay. I’m really going to let you go this time so you can get ready. I love you. Have fun, and don’t worry about anyone but yourself and Jack today.”

“I’ll try, thanks. Take care. Love you like a sis.”

She grunted. “A siste
r you bar from your own wedding,” she sarcastically huffed.
“B
ut we’ll discuss that when you get back. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

I smiled. “Bye.”

I hung up the phone and tossed it haphazardly on
to
the bed. I’d only known Lexi for a short bit o
f time, but she was the sister I’d missed having
. Being turned meant you abruptly lost your human family. I had a cousin who worked for me, but we weren’t close. He was all brains and no fun. I was all fun, all fashion and no size two. While Kai and Kalel had taken a brotherly role in my life, we didn’t have the emotional heart to heart
s
every sister has at some point. Lexi filled that void. Ironically, she reminded me of my blood sister from my human years.
She had t
he s
ame demeanor and
the same firm yet loving way of handling me.

I pushed the past down, willing myself to focus on my present. I grabbed my suitcase off the floor and began pulling out the necessities to get ready for my
wedding
.

Chapter 2
Jack

“I can’t believe you endangered the couple meant to save the vamp races,” my mother
, Imara,
fumed, her eyes locking me in place the way every mother could.

“Nothing happened to them.” I squared off with her. I knew my actions would never be justifiable in her eyes. Truth was, I knew they weren’t justifiable at all. It was every vampire’s impulse to act on instinct, whether the action
was
rational or irrational.

“Alexa almost died! I didn’t birth you so you could destroy the hope of our kind. I didn’t raise you to toy with the lives of others as if they were dispensable rats. I didn’t bring you into this world so you could shame me.” Her eyes blazed, the irises shifting to an orange-red hue. My mother was intuitive, powerful. She was connected to other worlds in ways I still didn’t comprehend. Above all though, she was honorable.

I watched as she adjust
ed
her sarong, the bright orange and gold hues playing off the color of her eyes at the moment. It took a lot for my mother to lose her temper. She prided herself on her control. Given the hours she spent meditating each day, patience was engrained in her.

“I apologized. Perhaps I’m not the vampire prodigy you wanted me to be, but I have learned.”

She gave me a small smile. “Yes. Alexa did teach you a valuable lesson on your targets. They’re as unpredictable as you. You are lucky you’re still alive considering the level of electricity she shot at you, and had Gabi not whisked you from her path, you would be dead.”

She walked around the
glass
coffee table and sat beside me on the white leather sofa.
She grabbed my hand, her copper skin nearly white in comparison to my coffee color. “It is only for the sake of love that I allowed you to continue. I knew this was the only chance for you to meet your soul mate again in this lifetime. I shall warn you though. Gabriella will not put up with child’s play. For existing as long as you have, Jacques, you have embellished your life with
immaturity
far too long. Every boy must take the step into manhood at some point.
Lexi
gave you the push you needed, and Gabi is the one who sha
ll keep your maturity in check.”

She dipped her head for a moment before connecting with me again. “
I approve of this union between the two of you. I believe she will offer you the balance you need so long as you bear no secrets. You are not a perfect man, but the two of you are a perfect match. I’ve seen the alignment of your souls in the stars.”

I’d know
n
she was the one the moment I laid eyes on her. The fierce connection I felt eight decades ago hadn’t diminished over time. Gravity pulled us together. Even if I wanted, I couldn’t keep away from her. I’d inadvertently gambled her heart in my games, but I swore never to dare fate again.

“Gabi is the reason
I’ve embraced a new life. She is the only reason why I’m withdrawing my contracts with the school in Japan. I’ll be losing a good chunk of my income, but she’s convinced me that putting human and vamp lives at risk for a bit of ninja training isn’t worth it.”

Imara closed her eyes, gripping my hand tightly. The picture projected into my mind before I could get my bearings.

A small white room came into focus. White floors reflected the light back on the white walls and ceiling. One by one, a bloody body collapsed onto the floor, seemingly falling from thin air; the blood from their battered figures splashed the pure room with sin’s consequences.

The lone hanging lamp dangling from the center of the ceiling flickered as the body count continued to rise. Thirty-three, thirty-four… Humans and vamps alike were squashed together, the rancid scent of their death overwhelming my senses, even through my mind.
The white of the room was now smeared with blood, smeared with the dirt on their tattered clothes, proof of their struggle until the end.

Soon, the room
could no longer contain
the beings
; limbs began punching through the drywall of the walls, the floor began to buckle under the weight of the pile and the ceiling began to crack as the bodies pressed against every surface of the space.

Abruptly, water burst through
a wall
, washing away the bodies, but leaving behind it a black stain that tarnished the shell of a room. What was once crisp white innocence was now a molded black abyss.

My mother faced me, her eyes
awash
in white. “You allowed your innocence to be soaked in sin, and your sins are grave, my son. You have killed
far
more than you’ve saved.
Your repentance is owed for all of eternity to erase the karma of your past. You shall never achieve enlightenment without first achieving humility and grace.”

She blinked several times, her irises reappearing. She cocked her head, staring into the distance. “We must be going. Gabi is ready.” She pat
ted
my hand before standing.

My pulse quickened at the thought of
Gabi
. She was my saving grace. Mother hadn’t said it, but I felt it. Before, I lived only to indulge in myself. I was selfish. But now, I wish
ed
to l
ive for her; to be all she needed
me to do.

To most men, love at first sight is a myth we don’t believe
in
. It took experience for me to change my view. It took Gabi for me to reconsider what I was doing with myself. She grabbed hold of my heart in less than two seconds and has held it tight ever since
. In merely three days, she
turned my world upside down. She challenged every action I’d taken, yet didn’t judge me for it. She forced me to face myself, yet loved me in spite of who I was. Despite her unconditional love, I found myself wanting to change for her
, and for myself for the first time ever
.
Oh, the things one does for love
.

I stood, adjusting my button up white shirt, ensuring it was perfectly situated. I grabbed my black suit jacket and headed for the door.
I stopped and turned back, waiting for my mother to come. The blue of the ocean outside the glass walls of my corner condo caught my attention. The sun was bright, illuminating Earth’s brilliant palette. Today was going to be a good day.
I could feel it.