History of the Vampire (The Vanderlind Castle Series Book 4) (24 page)

Chapter 31

Colette

Lev goose-stepped me outside like I was a recalcitrant toddler. “You’re hurting my arm,” I told him, but I wasn’t sure if he was listening. There was fury in his eyes. I desperately scanned the crowd, looking for my sister or Walter. Where had they gone?

Once we were at some distance from the crowd, Lev shoved me a little away from him and said, “Let’s you and me get something straight.” We were around to the left side of the country club where no other guests had strayed. “When you’re out with me, I don’t expect to find you in the arms of some other guy. Got it?”

“We were just dancing,” I said, not sure why he suddenly thought he owned me. “It’s not like it’s any of your business anyway. Just because we came to the dance together doesn’t mean I’m your property for the evening.”

“I paid for that flower,” he said, jabbing a finger at my wrist. “I paid for the tickets. I paid for the gas to drive you here.” He took a step closer to me. “Maybe that means I feel like you owe me a little something.”

“Here,” I said, shucking the corsage off my arm and trying to hand it to him. “Tell me how much all of that cost you and I’ll pay you back,” I told him. I didn’t feel like I should have to be beholden to a man just because he’d spent a few dollars. “Just so you know,” I said, “I’m only on this date because my sister begged me. So if you spent two dollars, or three dollars, or even five dollars, then that’s fine. I have a job. I will pay you back.”

Lev’s face turned dark and I immediately regretted my words. My goal shouldn’t have been to throw the fact that I didn’t like him in his face. My goal should have been to return to where there were other people, find my sister, and get out of there. “You’re going to pay me back,” he said, grabbing my arm. “But it’s not going to be with money. You’re going to have to earn it.”

“Let go of me or I’ll scream,” I told him, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.

“Go ahead and scream,” he said with a laugh. “No man at this dance is going to come running, just because he hears some broad scream.”

So I kicked him in the shin, and when he bent forward because of the pain, I socked him in the nose. It wasn’t a solid punch, but it was enough to make him let go of my arm. Seizing my moment, I started running back toward the front of the country club. Lev lunged for me, catching my dress. I didn’t stop, even after my dress tore.

I ran without looking back. I expected that Lev would tackle me at any moment, but instead all I heard was a sharp “yipe” like someone had kicked a dog.

Once I was back among the crowd, I slowed down. I knew what Lev had said about the other guests, but I couldn’t imagine he could drag me off into the bushes kicking and screaming with nobody saying anything.

I had thought that Lev was going to come blundering around the corner in a matter of seconds, but he didn’t. I didn’t know why, but I sure as heck wasn’t going to go back and look for him. I moved deeper into the crowd of people chatting on the lawn and waited, never looking away from where I assumed Lev was going to appear.

It couldn’t have been more than a minute or two before a figure did appear from around the corner of the building. But it wasn’t Lev. It was Jessie Vanderlind, discretely straightening his bowtie and dusting dirt off of his tux. I was dumbfounded, but slipped inside the club before he could see me.

After several minutes of searching, I finally found my sister and Walter canoodling at a small table in a cozy corner by the bar. “What happened to your dress?” was the first thing out of my sister’s mouth when I finally caught her attention.

“Lev tore it,” I said, fighting back tears.

“What?” Lilly jumped to her feet. “What happened?”

“Lev got angry because I danced with another man,” I said. “He dragged me outside and said I owed him because he bought me a flower and got us these tickets. I told him I’d pay him back but…” My voice caught for a second. “But he said he didn’t want my money. I had to earn it.”

“What?” Lilly exclaimed, gripping both of my hands.

“So then I kicked him, but he still wouldn’t let go of my arm. So then I had to punch him in the nose.” I half considered telling them about seeing Jessie slinking around the corner of the building, but then changed my mind.

Walter slammed his hands down on the table. “I can’t believe it,” he all but yelled. “What is wrong with that guy? Has he lost his mind?” He got to his feet. “You two stay here. I’m going to find us a different ride home.” Spinning on his heel, Walter ran straight into Lev’s chest.

Lev was a much bigger man, but anger had blinded my sister’s beau to this obstacle. “We’re going outside,” Walter informed his former friend. “You need to be taught a lesson on how to treat a lady.”

I expected Lev to get right back in Walter’s face, or may let the fists start flying right there in the bar of the Mansfield Country Club. But Lev didn’t react in any way that I expected. Instead, he just stood there, swaying slightly on his feet. His skin looked clammy and his eyes were darting around the room.

“I came here to apologize,” he said to me in a small voice. “I realize that my actions were wrong and I really want to say I’m sorry.”

We all just stared at him, our mouths practically hanging open. Walter was the first to find his voice. “I’m glad to hear you’re sorry, but your behavior is still unforgivable. I hope you understand that I am going to find a different way to get the girls home.”

“Please don’t do that,” Lev said, his voice trembling. He scanned the room as if he was afraid there was a wild panther hiding in the corner and he didn’t want to draw its attention. “Please allow me to drive the three of you home as a way of making amends.”

“No.” Walter shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s impossible.”

Lev began to quake and tears started streaming down his cheeks. “Can’t you at least go in my car? Walter, you can drive. Lettie and Lilly can sit in the back seat. I’ll sit up front with you.” He looked at me, beseechingly. “I won’t say a word. I promise. I’ll keep my mouth shut the whole time. But please just let me see you home safely.”

He was a total wreck. It was as if we were talking to a completely different man. The Lev Wilson who was standing before us was somehow broken, like he had looked into the abyss and it had scared the fight out of him.

“I think it will be okay if Walter drives,” I said. Lev was so altered, it was shocking. I actually found myself feeling sorry for him.

“Okay, good,” Lev said, wiping the tears from his cheeks. “I really appreciate that. And I’m so sorry for…” His voice started trembling again and he had no more words.

“I think maybe we’d better just get going,” Walter said after several seconds of watching Lev cry. “Why don’t I fetch the car and the three of you can meet me at the side entrance?” I knew he was worried about Lev being humiliated in front of his boss. But then Walter remembered he didn’t want to leave us alone with him. “Or maybe…” Walter tried to think of another option.

“It’s probably best if you go get the car,” Lilly said. She obviously was thinking the same thing I was thinking; there was no need for us to fear Lev Wilson. He was a broken man.

Chapter 32

Jessie

I have never been so close to murdering someone in my life. It took every ounce of self control I possessed not to snap the brute’s spine and toss his body into the river. I was so disgusted by him that I didn’t even want to drink his blood; I just wanted to make him disappear off of the face of the planet.

But I knew killing Colette’s date would be a mistake. Violence is rarely the solution to stop violence. Instead I decided to acquaint the brute with his own mortality, just to let him know how insignificant he really was in this world.

It turned out he frightened quite easily. I was surprised how quickly he crumbled. But I suppose bullies aren’t really known for their bravery.

After giving the young man a new perspective on life, I considered borrowing a car and offering Colette and her sister a ride home. But I decided that was just me wanting to play the hero. Besides, I wanted Colette to know that she had nothing more to fear from her date. He would never harass her again. So I instructed him to find his companions and to drive them home with the greatest of care. I explained that if I ever found out he was bullying or threatening anyone ever again, I would find him. But I wasn’t too worried on that score. I had a feeling that he was going to do everything with the greatest of care for the rest of his life.

After straightening out the brute, I immediately walked across the country club lawn and left the dance. I couldn’t be around people any longer. Staying would have been a mistake. I took the flask out of my pocket and finished off its contents in a matter of seconds. Then, once I was clear from the crowd, I took to the air. I had meant to go home, but I was still worried about Colette. I found myself following the brute’s car as Colette and the rest of her party headed for home. Lilly’s escort saw her to the door, but Lettie’s escort was afraid to leave the car. I felt a pang of guilt. I may have frightened him just a little too much. I’d meant to make him a good person, not turn him into a sniveling coward.

After the boys left, I followed their car once again, waiting for my chance to catch the brute alone. I had to lessen my influence. I’d put so much fear into him, I doubted his ability to survive. I had to take pity on him and provide at least some relief, however reluctant I was to do so.

The next day was Sunday and I knew Colette would not be working at the castle. Even still, I could find no rest in my bed. I couldn’t help but wonder what she would do on her day off. Did she go to church? Did she have any hobbies? What did she eat for breakfast? I wanted to know every little detail of her life. I was already hopelessly in love with her.

But I knew it was wrong to love her. When a vampire fell in love with a mortal, it put the mortal at a horrible risk. Even though I would have rather faced the sun than harm one hair on Colette Gibson’s head, loving her still meant I was exposing her to danger. I knew I had to find a way to keep myself from her. Earlier in the evening I had thought that maybe she was about to confess to having feelings for me and I desperately wanted to hear the words that she’d never had a chance to say. But knowing that she cared would probably only make things worse; it would make parting from her all the more painful. No, there was what my heart desired and there was what was right. I had to end things with Colette before they even had a chance to begin.

By Monday afternoon, I knew I had to see Colette again. Not to profess my love or anything like that, but just to make sure that she was okay. Her date had tried to brutalize her and that weighed heavily on my mind. I knew she was a brave girl or she wouldn’t have fought her date, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t upset, or still in fear of him. I just wanted reassurance that she was unscathed.

I promised myself one last look at the girl and then I would leave her alone forever. I would confess my dilemma to my mother and explain that I needed to move away for a couple of decades. I could always return in twenty years when Colette Gibson was in her thirties, married and raising her children. Children I could never give her. With the safety of a wedding band on her finger, I knew I would find her much easier to resist.

With that resolve in mind, I set out to seek Miss Gibson. I didn’t intend to speak to her. I would just gaze upon her one last time to commit her beautiful visage to memory. I could live off of that for a few decades until my feelings of love for her began to fade.