The Legend of the Blue Eyes (16 page)

“Then why don’t you ask me out?”

“No reason,” he replied. His serious face
didn’t flinch as he replied. Through his voice sounded like he was
telling the truth, his hand, placed on top of hers, told another
story. Arianna felt his heartbeat slightly increase as she
inquisitively stared at him, wondering whether to believe him or
not. He had been truthful with her all along, but now she got the
feeling that he was lying.

Arianna laid her head down,
and listened to the soft pounding of the heart beneath her
head.
He likes me, but doesn’t want to be
my boyfriend
, she thought.
How can that make sense?
Arianna looked up to find Devin watching her as her eyes
became heavy, and she fell asleep.

Arianna quietly sat up as the first rays of
the sun beamed through her bedroom window. Devin, still asleep on
the bed, did not move as she climbed out from under the covers.
Silently, she walked around to the nightstand that was still
holding the papers he had been reading the night before. Curiosity
overcame her as she picked them up. Without waking Devin, Arianna
looked through the folders. Arianna read the names at the top of
each before realizing they were all files on her classmates at
school. She slowly looked from one paper to the next. The details
of each student were written in Devin’s handwriting. He knew
everything about each. As she neared the end of the pile, she found
Turner’s page.

Brenton Turner
Winter
, she read. Arianna tried to
remember. She had heard the last name Winter before.
Lord Winter
, she
reminded herself. Arianna thought back, and finally remembered the
red-bearded man she had met at her party. Arianna finished reading
the paper on Turner, and flipped it into the pile with the rest.
There was nothing new on him. Lazy and rebellious were both
accurate descriptions of him. Devin was keeping close tabs on her,
so it was not surprising her knew about everyone in her class.
Arianna picked up the novel placed under the file.
He’s reading a novel
,
she mused, unable to picture Devin reading anything but the files
he was constantly going over. As she turned to the page with the
book mark, Arianna stopped in shock. Two young boys stared back at
her from the old tattered photo that was being using as the
bookmark. Arianna looked closely at the faces. The young
blond-haired boy was Devin and the dark-haired boy was
Turner.

Arianna put the book back
carefully, and hurried to get dressed.
Turner and Devin are friends
, she
thought.
Is that why Devin doesn’t mind
Turner asking me out on a date? Maybe Turner asked Devin for
permission? No, Turner isn’t the type to ask permission for
anything. Devin would have said something if he really cared. Does
Devin really care, or am I just his assignment?
Arianna pondered her options, but none made sense.
I can’t ask Devin
, she
thought, knowing he would lie to her again.
Lies, they all lie,
Arianna
thought
.
Devin
watched over her carefully, but now he was withholding information.
Arianna grew angry as she thought more about it. Everyone was
keeping secrets from her, and now Devin even lied to
her.

Arianna quietly snuck out
of her apartment. It was still too early for anyone to be awake.
Arianna walked the wooded path from her home to the school dorms.
Though no one was up yet, she was determined to wait until Turner
woke for the day to ask him her questions. It was the first time
since she had come to her grandfather’s that she was truly alone.
No one was following her. Arianna paused in the woods and listened
to the animals waking up for the day: the nest of squirrels
rummaging in the leaves, the birds chirping to wake their
neighbors, and the small rabbit munching on his morning
meal.
No humans, night or otherwise,
around,
she thought. Arianna sat down,
leaned against a tree, and watched the sun shine through the
budding branches overhead. It was peaceful to get away from
everything. Closing her eyes, Arianna listened to the sounds around
her. She could hear someone approach, but she wasn’t startled by
his presence.

“Running away from home?” Turner asked.

“I wish,” she replied. “This place is a
fortress. I managed to get out of the house, but I doubt I could
leave the grounds without anyone knowing.”

“Something bothering you?” Turner replied,
sitting beside her.

Arianna glanced around the forest, searching
for anyone else. They were alone. “This is all a bit overwhelming,”
she replied, not directly answering. “I feel like everyone knows a
secret that no one is telling me. I thought Devin was honest and
would answer all my questions, but I’m pretty sure he was lying to
me last night. It’s weird, I am constantly surrounded by people,
but I feel all alone.”

“Do you want to run away? I haven’t been
home in a while. We could ditch school and go visit my father.”
Turner offered seriously.

Arianna quickly shook her head no. There was
no way her grandfather would let her leave.

Almost sensing her dilemma, he offered,
seeing her hesitation, “I know a way out where no one would be able
to stop us,” Arianna paused. “We can just take a long weekend. I’m
sure my father would like to meet you.”

“But grandfather would be so mad if he
knew,” Arianna replied.

“Do you always do what everyone else wants
you to do?” Turner asked. “What about what you want?”

Arianna felt her heart beat faster as he
talked. Turner was the first person she’d met in her new life that
had even asked her what she wanted. She hadn’t really ever thought
about it.

Arianna sat next to the window in their
private room on the train. Turner was right. He had easily snuck
them off of the Randolph estate and to the train station without
anyone stopping them. Guilt tugged at Arianna as she stared into
the busy train station. Arianna was hesitant to leave without
telling anyone, but her anger easily made her follow Turner. Turner
sat next to her, watching out the window as well.

“How long before they know?” Arianna
asked.

“It shouldn’t take them too long. We left
your phone in my room. Once they find that you’re not there,
they’ll know we left,” Turner explained as his phone rang. He
looked at the caller ID and smiled. “It seems like Devin figured it
out already.”

Arianna took the phone and stared at Devin’s
name. She carefully opened the phone.

“What the hell are you doing? Where are
you?” Devin yelled through the phone. Arianna dropped the cell. She
had never heard Devin get mad before. He was always so quiet and
composed, Arianna hadn’t even been sure that he could get mad.

Turner picked up the phone. “Well, hello,
Honey,” Turner said, smiling to Arianna as he talked. “It’s so nice
of you to finally return my call. What has it been, almost three or
four days since I called you and you never returned my call? That’s
a bit rude. I was beginning to think you didn’t like me
anymore.”

“Is she with you?” Devin desperately asked,
a little calmer.

“Of course,” Turner replied. “She would
never had made it off the estate without me. You seem to keep her
caged in well.”

“Stay where you are,” Devin ordered.

“Well, we would, but I have a feeling we
will be moving, not of our own accord, really soon,” Turner replied
before shutting his phone and turning it off. “They’ll be here
soon. Should be fun to see if they make it on time.” Turner looked
over to Arianna who was still staring, shocked, at the phone.

“Never heard him yell before, I suppose,”
Turner added. “It’s good for him. He’s always too serious. Keeping
emotions bottled up inside is never good for anyone. Besides, we
should do things like this to keep him on his toes.” Turner easily
relaxed her. Arianna smiled and nodded. Turner was right. Devin was
always too serious, but was it okay for her to leave without
telling anyone? Arianna was starting to regret her decision after
hearing the genuine panic and concern in Devin’s voice.

Arianna stared at Turner, finally
remembering her questions. “Are you friends with Devin?”

“We were very close at one time. We kind of
grew up together. Your grandfather and my father are friends and
visit each other often. We just kind of ended up together all the
time,” Turner explained.

Arianna listened to the whistle blow,
signaling that the train was closing the doors, and she
disappointedly watched as six people hopped out of a car and ran to
stop the train. Arianna waited to be escorted off the train, but to
her surprise it began to move. Arianna glanced to Turner, who also
knew who had just boarded the train.

“Are you ready for our lecture?” he jokingly
asked, as the group neared the compartment where Turner and Arianna
sat. Arianna held her breath as the door slid open.

His face flushed, but in his normal, serious
composure, Devin entered the room and sat down across from Arianna
and Turner. Arianna listened as the other five entered the rooms on
either side.

“Are you still mad?” Arianna asked
curiously. Devin sat there without saying anything.

“If you want to leave, all you have to do is
tell me, and we can make safer arrangements,” Devin explained.
Arianna nodded. “Please think before you act in the future. If your
grandfather knew, he would have been completely lost. We only care
for your safety.”

“She did think,” Turner defended Arianna.
“She thought she needed to get away from being followed around all
the time.” Devin glared at Turner, knowing it was true.

“Ari, you need to feed,” Devin said,
ignoring Turner. “Come here,” he directed. Arianna wanted to
refuse, but knew it was true. Just sitting across from him made her
hungry.

Arianna moved to sit next to Devin as he
unbuttoned the top few buttons on his shirt. Though she was aware
that he wasn’t telling her everything, Arianna knew Devin was
always conscious of what she needed. He seemed to understand the
new night human side of her better than she did, even though he
wasn’t even one of them.

“Can’t we do the IV thingy?” she asked,
blushing from embarrassment.

“We could at home, but someone decided to
run away this morning, so we were a bit rushed getting here,” Devin
replied.

“But I still don’t know how to,” she
complained as he picked up her hand and placed it on his bare
chest. With a rush of overpowering sound, Arianna felt his heart
beating and slowly the scent of his blood was beginning to pull her
near. Kneeling beside him, Arianna closed her eyes and continued to
listen. Brushing his shirt away from his neck, Arianna neared close
enough for Devin to feel her breath. Arianna slowly bit down,
trying to not touch anything except the vein that was throbbing. As
she released her bite, she tasted his blood. It definitely tasted
better than either her grandfather’s or uncle’s blood. With her
hand still resting on his chest, and listening to his heartbeat,
Arianna drank until she felt the beat slightly change. Licking the
holes she had made, Arianna slowly pulled back and watched them
close before her eyes.

“Was that enough?” Devin asked.

Arianna pulled her hand back at his voice
and turned to face him as he spoke. Realizing she was mere inches
from his face, Arianna tried to quickly move, but was dizzy from
the blood. Devin held onto her waist to keep her from tipping
over.

“You’ll get used to that feeling
eventually,” he explained. “But for now it would probably be best
if you just sleep it off.” Devin picked up her hand and placed it
back on his chest. “It’s a four and a half hour train ride, so you
have plenty of time to rest.”

Arianna couldn’t complain. She nodded as the
sound of his heartbeat filled her mind again. Arianna heard clearer
than she had before she took his blood. Everything in the small
compartment seemed to be amplified. Arianna looked around the
compact space as colors vividly filled her mind. Turner stared at
the crystal-blue eyes scanning the room. He had been at her
coming-out party, but he hadn’t been close enough to be as in awe
as he was now, watching her. Slowly, she curled up on Devin’s lap,
placing her head against his bare chest, and she instantly fell
asleep.

Devin lightly placed his hand over her other
ear. “I don’t need her ability to feel emotions to see the
jealously written all over your face,” he teased. Turner tried not
to pout, knowing Devin was correct.

“If you ever try this stunt again, I won’t
promise that I’ll be able to keep Lord Randolph from coming
personally to take her back,” Devin continued. “Are you stupid? You
know there are many people that want to get a hold of her.”