Rock n Roll Promises (YAE) (Rock n Roll Paraphantasy Series) (2 page)

“So, talk. You have a two-cup time limit. When I
finish the second cup, I’m leaving.”
“Drink up. Let’s review the facts. Fact one: Yes
you were bitten, but you are not a vamp...”

“How do you figure? I was turned. Trust me, I
know. I was there.”
“Alright, you were bitten and turned, but you
don’t act like a vamp. I mean, you don’t feed off
people or even animals. As I far as I can tell you
don’t feed off blood at all. Your body relies on food,
just like any other human.”
“But I’m not any other human.”

“I know! I know you, Anna, you may not think
so, but I do. You can quiz me if that is what it
takes.”

Dropping her arms, but not her gaze, she set the
cup on the counter.
A test? That’s wonderful. This will solve my
problem easily. If he knew all there was to know, he
wouldn’t be so hell bent on being with me.

“
Okay Mr. Know-it-all, here is your first
question. When was I turned?”

“Australia, 1973, New Year’s Eve, in a small bar
where I believe a new up-and-coming rock group
was playing. That is the night you met him. He
bought you drinks. You danced, talked, and partied
until almost dawn. Three hours before dawn you
left with him and went back to his apartment. The
party continued there and you ended up sleeping
together. Before the sun had risen, your life
changed. When you fully awoke a few days later, he
told you of what happened. So, I guess technically
you were turned New Year’s Day, 1974.”

“How did you know that?”
“I’m correct, then?”

 

“Yes, deadly accurate, but answer my question.
How did you know?”

 

“I told you I know you. Ask another one.”
Anger flashed through her faster than the coffee.

“No, tell me how you knew. I have only told one
other, my best friend, Paige Hendrix, and I know
she didn’t tell you.”

“No, she did not. Someone else did.”

 

“Who told you?”

 

“I will answer that question last. Any more
questions you want to ask?”

 

“What is the name of the man who turned me?”

“Sebastian. No last name. Tall, muscular, faded
black jeans and a white silk button up shirt with
only the bottom three buttons fastened. Well, that is
what he looks like now a days.”

“How do you know about him?”
“We will get to that later. We are not talking
about me, next question.”

She sipped the coffee and thought about what to
ask next.
Where is he getting this information? I
have to find out. I am just going to have to play
along for now.
Her body warmed, but her muscles
felt tense and her mind settled into unease.
This
should throw him off.

“
Why do I drink coffee?”

“Two reasons. One, you are a sucker for French
Vanilla and two, it warms your body so you can
pass for a regular Joe. Your body temp will feel like
everyone else’s. Keep them coming, I will refill
your cup for you.”

Dang, boy has done his homework.
She eyed him suspiciously as he moved around
the bar and refilled her cup. Sliding off the stool,
she retraced her steps and went to the bedroom with
Jaxson hot on her heels.

“What are you doing? You haven’t finished your
second cup of coffee yet.”

“I’m getting my stuff. I’ll be leaving soon. I have
a few more questions for you and then I want to
hear how you know so much.”

“Come back to the kitchen, sit down and ask
away. I will not shy away from anything you ask.”
She stared into his eyes and saw the truth of his
words reflecting back at her. Her heart pounded in
her ears and her pulse quickened.
I can’t fall in love
with him, it won’t work.
Sighing, she dropped her stare and bent over to
pick up her bag. She strung it over her shoulders
and walked around his frozen frame and watchful
gaze as she headed back to the kitchen.
The sunlight through the windows danced across
the walls in the living room as well as her skin.
So warm and bright.
She crossed to the stereo and flipped open the
player. She snatched a CD from the pocket of her
bag, popped it in the player and pushed play. She
turned the dial to raise the volume and “Country
Song” by Seether filled the room.
The lyrics played in her ears and her heart
matched the beats of the song, causing her feet to
tap and her body to fill with energy. With heat on
her skin, eyes closed and her breathing even, she
stood statue still in the center of the room. Every
hair and every muscle danced to the same beat as
the music pounded through the speakers.
Glorious!
Instinctively she spun, her hands wrapped
around flesh, she picked it up and thrashed it onto
the floor.
As light as a feather.
With her teeth clenched and a growl in her
throat, she refocused her eyes to find chocolate
mousse staring back at her.

“Jaxson!” She released her grip and she stood.

 

“What was that for?”

 

“Never, and I mean never, touch me when I lose
myself.”

 

“Lose? What does that mean?”

 

“Nothing. Never mind. Are you OK?”

“I’m fine, and let me say, that was awesome! I
knew you were quick, but dang, I never saw it
coming. I went from standing and touching your
shoulder to on my back with your hands around my
throat in less than a heartbeat. Like I said,
awesome! I mean, look at you. You’re tall, lean and
very strong, but more to my point, you don’t look
like what most people would expect a vamp to look
like.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Look at all the movies and books
over the years. Ghostly white runway models
basically, or old horror movie monster. You are a
very beautiful, healthy, average-size woman. Not a
pencil. You have curves and nice ones, I might
add.”

Her eyes rolled and she shook her head.

“It would have served you right if you were
hurt.”
“Can I get up now, or are you not done standing
there glaring at me?”

“I’m so done.” She scooped up her bag and
walked toward the door.

 

“Wait!” He said.
She stopped her advance but didn’t turn around.

 

She asked, “What?”

 

“You said you had a few more questions, so ask
before you leave.”

With her back to him, she tilted her head slightly
in his direction. “If you can answer this question
correctly, I will listen to the rest of your argument
because if you know the answer to it, you might
actually know me. What is it I crave, the one thing
as a vampire I have to have in order to live? You
already know it is not blood.”

She leaned her ear toward the living room and
listened to his heartbeat, his breathing, his pulse
picking up and even the proverbial wheels spinning
in his brain, but she did not hear an answer. There
was only silence.

That is what I thought.

 

Without glancing back, she moved once more
and his voice stopped her yet again.

 

“Anna! Do this, think back over your life since
you were changed and you will see I have been
there the whole time.”

“Jaxson, my memory is crystal clear, and you
stepped into my life when I moved from Australia
back to Faytown.”

“You asked how I knew, and I am telling you, if
you think back, really think back, you will find me.”

Spinning on her heels, she faced the man still on
the floor. “What is the purpose of this? What is this
going to solve? Why can’t you just tell me how you
know?”

“Because, Anna, by doing it this way, it will
answer more than just one question. When you find
me in your past, you will understand why I
can
be a
part of your future. I have never left you and I never
will, no matter what you decide.”

“I hate riddles, Jaxson! If you really knew me,
you would know that.”

“I do know that, and I am sorry, but this is
something you are going to have to do or you are
right, we will never work because you will never
understand.”

“Whatever, Jaxson. Call me when you are ready
to tell me more than riddles.”

 

Chapter 2

The phone was in her hand, the cold plastic to
her ear. Her aggravated voice pushed through the
receiver. “Paige, you need to get over here. I need
to talk to you.”

“What happened, Anna?”

 

“I will explain it when you get here, but basically
Jaxson knows everything.”

 

“What? I will be right there.”

Her ears picked up the sound of fabric rustling
and soon the dial tone. Plush carpet cushioned her
steps as she paced the length of her living room.
Her mind, a train station of thoughts and confusion,
were coming and going in all directions at once.

What am I? Think about the past. Find him.
Crap! None of this makes sense. Nineteen seventytwo...Sebastian…intoxicated…turned….

“Anna!”

She stopped moving, snapped her head up, and
looked at her dearest friend standing in front of her.
Paige was a petite athletic body shape covered in a
baby blue jogging suit that perfectly matched her
eyes. Hair as stubborn as straw and colored the
same framed her face. Her brows were furrowed
and there was a frown on her lips. She looked both
upset and confused.

“What? Why are you yelling? I have sleeping
neighbors.”

“I knocked three times and called your name
several times and got no answer, so I came in and
you didn’t even notice. I had to yell to pull you out
of your own mind. Me being able to sneak up on
you tells me this is serious. You would be dead if I
had been a hunter.”

“No I wouldn’t have. Your scent is a safe one.
It’s one I know and I connect it with friend and
safety. Had a hunter shown up, their scent would
have interrupted my thoughts immediately.”

“Anyway, tell me what happened. I thought you
were…doing the deed.”

 

“We did.”

“How was it? Was the…presentation bad? Small
pointer and boring pitch?”
“No, actually it was great. He knows what he’s
doing, and the pointer…well larger than life.”
A smile broke across her face and a flush heated
her cheeks. “That is not the point. He knows more
than just the secret itself.”

“What do mean ‘more’? What all does he know?
He can’t possibly know every—have you fed this
morning and had your coffee?”

“Yes on both, but I could use more coffee. Join
me in the kitchen and I will make us some.”

 

“And explain!”

 

“Yes, and explain.” She walked to the small
kitchen and started making coffee.

 

“How about some music? That always helps.”

 

“That’s probably a good idea.”

Water sloshed in the small glass pot as she
moved from the sink back to the counter. She filled
the coffee maker with water and put coffee grounds
in the filter, and she smiled when the music filled
the room.

One of my favorites, “All American Nightmare”
by Hinder. Love this group. Good friends always
know what you need.

Her
muscles relaxed and her breathing calmed.
She closed her eyes and let her mind and body fill
with the beat of the music. Half the song had
already played before she opened her eyes. She
pushed the start button on the coffee maker just as
Paige walked into the room.

“I have to say, I love what you did with the
place. I love all the colors.”

 

“Thanks. How long has it been since you have
been here?’

“Two months, I think. Remember? I was gone to
that nursing conference and then Ozzie and I went
on vacation?”

“Oh, right, Virginia and then Hawaii. Well, I had
to do something while my best friend was gone.”
She smiled at Paige and poured a cup of coffee for
herself and her friend. “So I redecorated.” She
handed the cup to Paige.

“It looks as if everything is new. How did you
come up with the colors?”
“Everything
is
new.” She sat at the table across
from her best buddy. “I went with themes. The
kitchen, as you can see, is a vintage café theme. The
color on the wall is mocha. I got a great deal on the
café table set.”

“I love the Italian café mural. The window across
from it makes the colors brighter. It's nice.”

“Thanks. I think it makes the small space look
bigger.”
“I think you’re right. This is a huge house. Did
you redo all of it?”

“Yep. Let’s finish our conversation about Jaxson,
and then I will give you a grand tour.”

 

“Oh, right. Yes, let’s do.”

With her knees pulled to her chest and butt in the
chair, she retold the entire story. Music played in the
background and warmth from the sun swam across
her skin as she spoke her mind. Her body relaxed
completely and she felt calm.

Paige always helps me sift through the crap and
find an answer.
The coffee mug was warm against her lips. She
sipped her drink of choice and waited for her
friend’s reply.
Well, here it comes. I see it on her face. I know
what she’s going to say.

“Well, you have two choices. You can either do
as he asks and hope to find some answers or you
can move once again. Before you object, I would
never let you be alone. I would move with you.”

“I don’t know what I am going to do, but if I
leave, you can’t come with me.”

 

“Why not? We have always taken care of each
other. We have been friends since grade school.”

She could see the hurt on Paige’s face and
quickly clarified. “What about Ozzie? Would you
really leave him behind?”

“If that is what it takes. He would have a choice.
He could either come along or stay behind.”

“Paige! How can you say that? I know you love
him.’
“Yes, I do, but I’m sworn to you and that’s my
first priority.”

Reaching across the table, she laid her hand on
her friend’s fingers. “Thank you for that, and I’m
grateful for your friendship, but I couldn’t allow
you to leave the man you love. As you said, we
have been friends since grade school. It would
break my heart to know you gave him up.”

“I would have to. There is no other choice, Anna.
Wait! Before you ask anything else, how about we
cross that bridge later and table this conversation
until you decide what it is you’re going to do? If
you figure something out, you may not have to
leave and this argument, which it is bound to turn
into, will not be necessary.”