Reluctant Storm (3 page)

The following day I’m pretending to mind my own business, heading down the sidewalk towards the grassy commons area, when I focus in on Claire’s presence and turn. I paste a smile on my face and walk towards her, pretending to be unaware that she was there. Cutting through the commons, I find her sitting on a blanket reading some old leather book which she promptly drops as she feels my shadow invading her sunlight.

Yeah, that whole vampires will die if they are in the sunlight thing, a myth created by some fool to keep vampires away during the day, giving people a false sense of safety. Sadly, the idiots believed him. When she looks up, I recognize a small sparkle in her green eyes and it startles me, which never happens. I’ve been around girls for years and I have never experienced anything like this before; puppy lust. I can’t help but stare at her loveliness, her brown hair has just the right amount of curl and her green eyes are so bright. They remind me of the grass when I visited Ireland back a few years ago. Her feet are bare and crossed under her with her shoes sitting on the grass near her.

Stop it, Jason. Stop. You are here for a reason, and that reason is not to make her yours, no matter how badly you want it. She’s the spawn of Satan, and yet Satan’s spawn never looked so good.

Rocking back on my heels, I look down at her grinning. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay when I accidentally bulldozed into you last night.”

She looks up at me, squinting in the sunlight as I move to the left. She shields her eyes, and as she takes me in, I catch them widening slightly. Her lips part and I sense the attraction is mutual. I can’t help but feel a spark of pleasure from knowing that. I hold myself back from sitting down on the blanket and pulling her into my arms, letting my teeth—

My thoughts are suddenly interrupted when I hear something whirring near my head. I reach my hand out with lightning speed, catching the Frisbee that almost hit me in the head. Glancing around, I play off the swiftness of how I caught it. I notice her looking up at me in amazement, and this thrills me, though I’m not sure it should.

“I have amazing reflexes,” I tell Claire modestly as I try to gently throw the Frisbee so it doesn’t end up in the next county.

“Apparently,” she says laughing, motioning for me to sit down on the blanket.

“So…” she smiles, looking over at me. “I feel like we’ve never actually introduced ourselves, other than me hearing about you around school,” she says as I pull myself back to the present. She doesn’t appear to realize I wasn’t paying any attention to a word she was saying.

Holding out my hand in front of me with what I hope is an award winning smile, I say, “Well let’s do this the old fashioned way then. I’m Jason, nice to meet you, again.”

Giggling, she holds out her hand. “Claire. Nice to bump into you again.”

As I sit next to her, I peer over her shoulder at the book she’s been reading, and when my eyes zero in on it I’m slightly alarmed. It’s the Maji. I gaze at it in awe. It’s something I’ve only heard about but never seen, and here she’s reading it out in broad daylight where anyone could take it, like me for instance. The Maji is a vampire history and spell book. It’s only given to those of great power and here Claire, who has no idea that she is part vampire and part human, is holding it in public. Trying to be nonchalant, I point to the Maji. “What are you reading?”

She tilts her head and holds up the brown leather bound book. “My grandmother gave this to me one day,” she says rubbing her hands almost reverently over the pages. “She said no one else was to touch it but me. She didn’t tell me what it was about only that it’s very special.”

“So I guess that means you won’t let me borrow it, huh?” I say with a shrug, pretending not to care.

Shaking her head, she looks over at me, “No… I’m not sure why, but I feel such a connection with it that I wouldn’t want anyone to ever borrow it.”

That means her grandmother, The Great Queen, who was supposedly killed by the Western Clan, may not be as dead as everyone thinks, and by giving this to her of her own free will she just acknowledged Claire as her granddaughter, thus ensuring her a place among royalty. I wonder if Antony knows about this. I look over at her and wonder what would happen if I just grabbed the book and ran. I soon find myself bored as I continue listening to her talk. It seems when she gets started on something she talks a lot. It’s really annoying how girls go on and on about things sometimes. The Maji is so friggin’ close to me, yet so far away, the irony isn’t lost on me here.

Would a kiss shut her up? Leaning forward towards her, inhaling her sweet human smell, I find myself looking straight at her lips and watch as her pupils grow darker. I lean in to touch her lips, and just as I’m about to place mine on hers, I remember the rules. Stopping myself a few inches away, I let a rush of air leave my lips. Suddenly I don’t care about the rules.

“Screw the rules,” I mutter under my breath before I pull her face towards mine and press my mouth down onto her moist and waiting lips. Once our lips touch it’s nice but not like the fire, the utter and complete magic I had pictured in my head. I know we aren’t meant to be bond mates, and I can’t help but feel a bit relieved, just because of who she is. I’m still a guy, so when a pretty girl kisses me the sensations swirl around me making me hard, causing my fangs come out. This gives me motivation I need to pull away, since she has no idea I’m a vampire, or that she is part vampire, and this is not the way she needs to find out.

Scanning my watch, I pretend to check the time and
stand. “It’s getting kind of late. Can I walk you to the dorm?” I ask holding my hand out, which she promptly takes and a flash of something runs through my arm as I wrap my hand around hers. I help her to her feet and together we fold the blanket. I watch as she protectively puts the book in her purse without letting me look at it again. She smiles sweetly and hands me her blanket to carry. Gaining her trust is going to be easier than I thought.

I step quietly out of the black Navigator and swipe at any wrinkles that may have made their way onto my sharp black suit. I’m followed by a younger just-as-sharply dressed brown haired man. Riley, who’s my good-for-nothing son and unfortunately the next in line. That is, if he’s able to prove himself. I received a request from someone who said it was in my best interest to meet them tonight. They went through a lot to contact me, so I thought meeting them was the least I could do, even if it is an annoyance.

When a four door Mercedes pulls up to our meeting place, apprehension fills me, not knowing who or what to expect. Lifting my head and taking a deep sniff of the air, I nod to Riley, who’s staring at the car, confirming no others are near. The car door opens revealing a woman dressed in clothing to make her look half her age. Disgust instantly invades my spirit. She steps out of the car gracefully and looks me up and down appreciatively.

“Well, you haven’t changed much have you, Erika?” I say.

“So good of you to join me, Griffin,” she says in a bored tone, her eyes taking in both of us. “What exactly is Riley doing here?” she asks sniffing in disdain.

I cross my arms and look down at her disdainfully. “He’s my son, and I have my reasons, none that include telling you why. So what’s the big deal about needing to meet, Erika? Why couldn’t you just give me your name over the phone?”

“I think my phone is tapped or something,” she replies flippantly. “How goes the Western Clan these days? Still trying to find the Maji?”

“Stop. That’s none of your concern.” Glancing down at my watch, I then look up at her with shrewd eyes.

“I have news about a half vampire/half human who might be in the possession of the Maji,” she snaps.

Riley walks over, scowling at Erika. “That’s impossible.”

She clicks her tongue and dismisses Riley as she inches closer to me. “It’s not. I birthed her myself.”

I am surprised by this revelation, but I give no indication to her. What kind of a woman would tell the enemy that her child is an anomaly and should be killed? Looking over sharply at Erika, I rub my chin as I contemplate her words. The Maji: I’ve been trying to locate it for years. With it I could use the spells to rule the vampire kingdom and take down Antony. I would have supreme power…and supreme power pleases me.

“Why are you doing this?” I ask, sounding bored, trying to act nonchalant when all I want to do is strangle this mad woman.

“Her father is the Eastern King of Vampires, Antony Benali, and her grandmother was Augustine the Vampire Witch.” She lets out an evil laugh. “Claire. The girl cost me my place beside Antony, and it’s time to make her pay.”

“Such motherly love,” I murmur rubbing my chin. Snapping my fingers, one of my men brings me a prepared glass of brandy from the Navigator. I take a slow sip and it soothes my nerves instantly as the liquid makes its way down my throat. Once I have some alcohol in me I can continue on with the risky business of dealing with this devil woman. As soon as that name, Augustine, crossed Erika’s lips I knew the half vampire /half whatever she is had to die, especially if she’s had any association with Augustine. Even dead, that witch is powerful, and in order for the girl to get the Maji, Augustine would have had to give it to her personally. It would only be in the way of what I truly want, to rule the entire vampire clan, East and West. Antony stole the title of King from me, and this will be the perfect way to make him pay, by killing his anomaly of a daughter and taking the Maji. I’m so elated I pull the bothersome Erika closer and kiss her. I break away from the kiss and lean my forehead on hers. “Where is she located?”

An evil laugh escapes her thin, red lips. “She’s in a small college in New York called Bellvue.”

“Thank you,” I say with a sense of sincerity.

I step away as Erika latches her hand onto my arm. “Please take me with you. I’ll do anything for you.”

“It’s a pity you have no family loyalty, but thank you all the same.” I look down at her hand already mad at myself for my lack of judgment in kissing her. Sneering down at her
hand, that has latched itself onto my arm, my lips curling in disgust. I despise being touched. Unlatching the hand with nails so long they are like talons, I quickly brush my coat off and snap my fingers towards Riley a few feet away, signaling it’s time. I walk away, unmoved, to the sound of Erika’s faint cries. Her frail human body falls to the ground as the blood gushes from her slashed throat.

Getting into the car, I pick up the phone and press the contact button. “It’s time. She’s at a college in New York. Find her and bring her to me,” I say into my phone in a deadly tone.

“Yes, sir,” the person replies. “I will send Mikail the information. Do you want her alive or dead?”

“Alive. Oh, and if he fails he will die. I want that girl, and I will do anything that’s needed to get her,” I say into the phone almost nonchalantly.

The door opens and Riley bends down and sits next to me as he opens a bag of blood and tosses his head back. He sucks the blood down with eagerness. What a pussy. He didn’t even eat from the human. Rolling my eyes at him, I tap his leg with my foot.

“Once we get the girl I want you to do everything I taught you. Everything. She needs to be broken. She cannot be allowed to become a full vampire, not with the chance that she could have some magic from her grandmother. She would become too powerful.”

Riley nods silently, not uttering one word the entire time.

The bright sunlight shines through my open drapes and right into my face, waking me. Wincing at the brightness, I pull the covers over my eyes, opening them in the dark and feeling relief that I can open them without pain. Butterflies take over my stomach when I think of my run in with Jason. I blush at the thought and can’t believe I kissed him yesterday. I’ve never been that forward with any guy. Putting my hands over my face, I groan at my behavior. My face burns with embarrassment thinking about the encounter. I take the covers off my head and look over towards my roommate’s side of the room, and notice the bed was never slept in. Shaking my head smiling, at least someone is enjoying the college experience.

Placing my feet on the new throw rug I bought for the room, I let out a long sigh. It’s so fluffy I can’t help but sink my feet into it and curl my toes. Leaning over, I pick up my phone off the floor. I check the time and see that it’s around ten in the morning. I can’t believe I’ve almost slept the morning away. I grab my clothes for the day, towel, and shower caddy and make my way towards the community bathrooms. As I walk down the hall, chills run down my spine as I feel eyes on me. I quickly turn but see no one. Hmmm. I continue on my present course, dreading going into the shower alone. A fear has crept in, and I hope there are others in there getting ready as well.

Opening the bathroom door, I’m disappointed to find it empty. Sighing, I set my shower caddy down in a stall and turn on the water waiting for it to warm up. Once warm, I step in and let the water run down my body, soaking my hair. Grabbing my shampoo bottle I squirt some of the strawberry liquid in my hand. I can’t help but raise it to my nose and inhale its yummy goodness. Lathering my hair richly I fumble around blindly for my razor as water runs over my face. I do a quick shave, and in my haste, end up cutting myself.

“Ouch.”

I gaze down at the little line of blood that’s running down my knee, and my mouth starts to salivate. I put my finger on the cut and wipe the blood off my finger. I am holding it eye level when I hear the door squeal open. Startled, I tilt my head out of the curtain and spy something that makes my eyes bulge. There’s a brown haired guy walking in the girls’ bathroom as if he owns the place. I instantly have this really intense urge to scream, but I’m scared that if I do he’ll know I’m here. My intuition is saying this guy is bad news, and that I need to stay silent. Shutting the water off as quietly as I can, I grab my towel and get dressed. I hear kissing sounds and take a deep breath before peeking out from behind the curtain. My eyes widen at the sight of a guy kissing some girl, how random. I sigh in relief and curse at my overactive imagination. I was acting as if a serial killer walked into the shower area rather than a guy who wanted to get lucky with his girl.

I head back to my room and stare at my reflection in the mirror. I wish I had a fairy godmother to turn me into someone beautiful. As my eyes roam over my shoulder length wavy brown hair and green eyes, I glance down at my barely there chest and then my legs that lack any sort of tan. My mom used to try and insult me by saying I always looked like death. Shaking my head at myself I’m reminded again why I no longer have contact with my mom. Pulling my skinny jeans on, I think back to the guy in the shower room. College is definitely different then I thought it would be. I jump up and down, trying to wiggle into my tight jeans and tip over and fall to the ground. I sit sitting and just stare at my legs. One of these days I won’t be so clumsy. I finally right myself and then I grab my pink tank top and pulling it on with a white cardigan sweater over the top of it. Grabbing my toothbrush, I run back to the bathroom and start brushing. My canines are so sensitive I can hardly brush them. I need to make a dental appointment as well as a doctor’s appointment. Food hasn’t been very appetizing lately, and I’ve lost at least five pounds in the last few weeks. Swishing the water in my mouth, I spit it out and lean towards the mirror and open my mouth to inspect my swollen gums.

My mind still seems to be lingering on my encounter with Jason; so much so that I almost forget to grab my backpack. Checking my phone, I have about ten minutes to get across campus for my Western Civilization class.

Locking the door, I set off down the sidewalk, not making eye contact with others. I rarely look up when I walk anyway. I was taught from a young age that I wasn’t worthy enough to look at people, and it’s just something that’s been ingrained in my life. Half the time I don’t even realize I’m doing it.

The feeling that someone is following me washes over me again, and I stop looking around at the other students as they trail past me. It’s the same feeling I had yesterday. Stopping so abruptly that someone bumps into me, I apologize but don’t move. I turn my head in both directions but see no one. I continue on, but the feeling of being followed still weighs on me. I move faster and can’t contain my sigh of relief when I finally reach the open door to the classroom. I head through it and take my seat in the back corner and observe the other students filter in. I pull out my notebook and pens, checking the time only to realize I’m early and have a few minutes before the lecture begins, so I pull my book out and start reading. A voice breaks the silence in the classroom.

“Do you read all the time?”

I close the book and turn my head to the side. I am startled to see Jason Dumont, in all his masculine glory. I mean Channing Tatum has nothing on this guy. I can’t help but stare stupidly at him, my pencil in my mouth as I chew it haphazardly. My gaze fixed upon him.

“Earth to Claire…Earth to Claire…”

I jump at his words and shake my head to clear it from its present daydream. Do we share a class? I haven’t seen him in here before, but then I’ve bumped into Jason more the past few days than I have the entire few months that I’ve been here.

Without my consent, my cheeks blush, and I put the book in my backpack. “Yes, I love to read. It makes the world less lonely.” Oh gosh, that was awkward. I basically just told him that I have no friends, how pathetic.

Leaning closer to me, he whispers, “I think girls who read are sexy.”

My mouth pops open, and as I’m about to respond to him, the professor comes in. I close my mouth and
shake my head, trying to ignore the blush that keeps coming to my face from the attention he’s giving me. When class is finally done, I dart out of there as fast as I can before he can talk to me again.

A light bulb goes off in my head when I’m in line for lunch at the quad. No one has ever tried to talk to me as much as Jason has, especially one with Jason’s status as man whore. So what does Jason want with me? What is it that makes me feel so weird when I’m near him? These thoughts are swirling around my head as I sit at my usual table…alone.