To me, Christian is Jonathan Rhys Myers omg image on the side.
Pearl Jam - Yellow Ledbetter (comes in handy later ;P)
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"No, mom I'm sorry. But I'll see you next week is that okay?"
She huffed over the line and I knew that it sure as hell was not okay. "Your father hasn't seen you in a month, Evie."
I flinched slightly. "I know."
"And I haven't seen you without any of your friends hanging around you. You tell me to stay, 'escorted' as you vaguely put it a month ago and yet you refuse to reveal your cryptic messaging to me when I ask about it."
"I want you to be safe." I insisted quietly aware Cal glanced toward me from the check-in desk. "With the, um, random attacks on people after dark I wouldn't want you going to the hospital by yourself."
It was silent for a moment I thought she'd hung up on me. To keep the people I loved safe, I had to hurt them it was the only way right now.
I spotted Michael in his large black Carhartt Parker speaking to Nathaniel also in a large Carhartt coat but his was a light grey. When Callum had walked into John's house earlier this morning bearing several bags of Carhartt clothing the first thing I'd said was, "The hell is this? Please tell me you didn't buy all of this."
"Yes and no," He smirked. "I bought you some stuff off one of my mates that just over-buys online. Some of it is guy stuff but its all thermal and it'll fit you anyway." He slid a puffed out plastic bag in my direction.
I dug through the endless amounts of thermal, a nice dark green Parker with a fur-lined hood, gloves and hats and said, "I'll have to repack now, thanks."
"I trust you know what you're doing sweetheart." My mother suddenly said. "Please be safe with whatever your doing. I worry when I don't hear from you. And now that you've taken my key away..."
"You shouldn't have used it in the first place and you know it!" I blushed.
She giggled. "I didn't expect-"
"Let's not talk about it, please. I'll talk to you later mom. Love you."
After hanging up, I took my carry-on from Michael's hands and we made our way through security to the terminal. I hadn't been to Alaska before, haven't even considered it. Maybe I could travel the world with Mike. I'd been to a few places but I wanted to do it all.
A nudge beside me brought me out of my thoughts. I sent Michael a smile. "Yeah?"
"How's your mom?" He asked as he grabbed my coat and shoved his along with it in the overhead compartment.
"She's good. A bit upset about me not coming over this week but she's good. She was saying how I haven't seen my dad in a month."
He blinked obviously as shocked as I was. "Has it really been that long?"
"Apparently." I sighed clicking my seat belt on. "I'm just shocked I haven't seen my own father in that long."
"You'll be spending maybe longer away from them, Evie." He dropped down beside me and leaned over to take my hand. "You'll need to get used to that."
"I know. How do you think Amy feels though? She didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to her family."
"It's not like she won't see them again. It'll be a while, that's all. Until she learns to control herself. We're going to help her through that just like we'll help you." His mouth grazed over my wrist as he watched me with his emerald eyes.
"I... well it's still-" He silenced me with a kiss and a smile.
"It's the least of our worries right now, Dimples. It's a three hour flight, why don't you get some sleep."
"And," Callum poked his head up from the seats in front of us. "We can sort out room arrangements. Me and you Evie, okay?"
"There are three rooms, Callum." Mike interjected with a smirk. "You can have your own room."
"Awh, damn. I would have enjoyed sharing with Evie."
From the seat beside him, I heard Nate's chuckle.
This little trip might not be that bad after all. It was a small get away from only part of reality but it was enough.
**
"At least Katherine booked a decent hotel." Callum said as we stopped on our floor. "So it's not like we can leave until night anyway because we don't even know if lovely Christian has a daylight pendant or ring."
And just like that, as the doors pinged open, my phone rang. Katherine. "Yes?"
"Of course he has a damn daylight ring, he's been alive nine hundred years."
Callum snatched the phone from my hands and I sighed as the two of them argued. Mike led the way to our room choosing to ignore it as well and I followed. Nate made his way to his room which was opposite ours. He sent me a wink before shutting his door.
"No," Cal said slowly. "We'll wait until dark."
I leaned my head out the door to watch him fumble with his key card and disappear with my phone. "You know in April it doesn't actually get dark enough to see the northern lights."
Michael paused. "The sun goes down right?"
"Well, yeah. But in June it doesn't get dark until midnight. Imagine our sleeping patterns?"
"This place must have no vampires at all. No wonder he comes here. Must be peaceful."
"To what, feed without getting caught?"
Michael dropped our bags by our bed. "To not have to worry about other assholes. No wonder John comes up here too."
As Michael and I idled by our bed, glanced around the room and the balcony and waited for Callum to finish his stupid rant with Kate, Nate knocked and entered.
Although Mike and Nate do talk and act civil, it was still tense to have them in a confined space together. I glanced at Nate flicking through the channels sitting on the chair and at Michael standing on the balcony texting away to who knows.
Finally, Cal knocked.
"Kate has a plan." He sung. "But it'll be tricky. She wants you to FaceTime her."
I sighed. "Mike your iPad?"
He pointed to his bag.
"Thanks, so helpful." I rolled my eyes. "Did you get your stupid argument resolved."
"Yes." Cal grunted crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't want to talk about it."
I turned the wifi on and connected to the hotel's Internet; no more than thirty seconds later, Katherine's name flashed across the screen.
"Kate?" I answered after placing the iPad on the table. "See and hear me okay?"
Her face popped up and she nodded. "Perfectly. Is everyone there?"
There were two chorused yeah's and Michael grabbed one of the spare chairs and sat beside me. "What's this difficult plan?"
"Well," Kate began. "This might piss you in particular off, Michael."
"And why is that?"
"Because in order for this to go right, or at least for it to be on the right track... Only, well, only Evie can talk to Christian. Wait! Before you begin your girly rant let me explain. From what me and Micah can see it's not a hell of a lot. Christian thinks on his feet a lot and plus we don't know who the guy really is so it's not helping us any. Since you guys plan on seeing him tonight, Micah sketched out this pub called McGinley's in town. Problem is he can only see Evie going in there. All three of you are no where in sight. After she goes in all of your futures become extremely sketchy."
"Sketchy?" Nate asked.
"Meaning from that point she walks into that pub it could go Coyote Ugly," She sighed. "Or she could be acquaintances with the man and become best friends by midnight. I don't know what will happen and I can't guarantee anyone's safety."
I didn't dare turn my worried stare to Michael so I said, "What would I have to do?"
Katherine remained silent for a dreadful fifteen seconds obviously waiting for Mike or anyone to say anything. "Before tonight I'd need you to have no contact with Nate, Callum or Mike. You need to be clean of all of their scents. So shower up, wash your hair thoroughly so it's all your natural scent, get dressed and leave the room immediately. No contact at all, Evie it's vital. Christian is obviously very intelligent and he'd sniff the scent of another vampire within seconds. That's why you three won't be there. You'll be close by and I'll be able to tell you at least ten seconds before if-"
"Ten seconds?" Nathaniel rounded the bed to come into view of the camera. "He's nine hundred, ten seconds is long enough to cut her head off with his hand."
I grimaced and shuddered.
"Ten seconds before it happens." She finished. "Eve go in, look for a guy with short black curly hair and a mustache, a small soul patch and a stubble beard on his chin. Can't see facial feature's unfortunately. But he'll look like he doesn't belong trust me."
After no answer from the three silent vampires in the room I said my goodbye and turned to them. Nate and Mike looked livid whilst Cal looked extremely concerned. Too much of a dad-look on his face for my liking.
I stood and all of their eyes turned to me simultaneously. My thoughts on this little task? To be honest I was excited to be helping. But to not know how it's going to end?
"Well," I clapped my hands together and stretched the most sarcastic smile across my face. "This'll be great."
**
"You want me to what?" I whispered reining in my anger and praying I wouldn't raise my voice enough for the others to hear.
"You need to flirt your ass off." Kate said over the phone later that evening. I was currently in the bar waiting for my cab to arrive. Michael, Cal and Nate were stood on the other side of the bar chatting amongst themselves.
"No."
"You have to. Not to the extent where it looks like you want to go home with the man but enough to befriend him. You need to."
I groaned, ignoring Mike and Nate's glances. "But... I don't know how..."
"What have you forgotten how to flirt? You're in your prime, your twenty-one not fifty. Please tell me you and Michael still flirt."
From the corner of my eye I could see Michael frowning. "Please talk quieter," I murmured.
"Look, come up with a great persona. You can use your real name, you can be yourself to an extent it should be fine. Amy and the rest wish you luck."
"Thanks." I sighed gesturing for a refill of rosé. "I'll text you later."
"Don't be drinking too much." She laughed and hung up before I could snap back at her.
I needed to get it together and do this for the team. I can do this! I wanted to help and now I've got my chance. Except now I kind of don't want it, ironically enough.
"Mike," I mumbled. "I know you can hear me. And I'd like to apologise in advance for anything that gets out of hand tonight." I turned my gaze and sent him a wink. He hadn't complained or spoken much after Katherine called earlier. The argument was as clear as day on his beautiful face. During dinner he didn't speak, not even Nate had much to say. I mean what could they say? They could say no but that meant we wasted our time coming up here.
The barman informed me my taxi was here so I halved the wine sent the boys a thumbs up and walked through reception. I'd decided casual was the way to go, especially in this weather. I had my hiking boots on, a pair of blue jeans and a v-neck white t-shirt underneath my lovely new Carhartt coat. I ran a hand through my hair before putting my hat on.
Sure, right now I was crapping my pants a bit. Sure, I'm certain I just overpaid the taxi driver a good ten dollars over the six-fifty. The black and white pint on the corner of McGinley's was illuminated. An Irish pub. I'll fit right in.
I glanced toward the parking lot aware of three familiar figures standing in a darkened corner. This was it; I'm on my own from this point onward. Slowly, I inhaled before stepping through the door. For nine o'clock on a Tuesday night I was surprised by the steady amount of people. There were business men rounded on many tables having their deserved beers after a long day at work. Tourists sat in booths, rowdy and restless probably from their hikes or long strenuous days of shopping. And then there were the obvious regulars by the bar ordering drinks or just sitting there enjoying highlights broadcasted on the muted TV above.
There were a few men with dark hair in here but I couldn't pin point a small soul patch with a beard and moustache. As I made my way through the various standing people, I noticed the music was more along the lines of 90's rock; The Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, bands like that. I approached an empty stool at the bar and claimed it. I pulled my hat off and smiled at the older woman behind the counter.
"Jack Daniels and coke."
She smirked. "ID?"
I couldn't help but laugh as I dug through my purse. "Should I be insulted?"
"Not at all, sweetie. You should be thankful you look young."
"It comes at a price." I handed her my ID card and waited for her to work out I was twenty-one before handing it back and making my drink. I paid her with a generous tip and sipped at my drink, turning in my seat to observe the people around me. No one looked like, 'they didn't belong' as Kate had stated. There were a few people with moustaches and a few with beards and dark hair but I didn't see any with a soul patch.
One more JD and coke later and nothing. I was even beginning to start idle chatter with a nice Floridian couple beside me visiting the woman's family members for the month. It'd been an hour and nothing. People came and went, a man offered me a drink but I refused politely.
I glared down at the bottom of my empty glass and sighed. I must be too early or maybe even too late.
I ordered another, this time making it a double. May as well go back to the hotel inebriated.
"A glass of Pinot please."
I froze. A voice like that didn't belong to just anyone. No, that was a voice of pure... Seduction. A voice designed to lure even the prudish of women.
I glanced from my glass down at his hand. Large strong hand. Perfect nails made ironic by a jagged scar running along the flesh between his thumb and forefinger trailing into the cuff of his white dress shirt.
I was afraid to look at his face. I honestly was. Vampires were made to be beautiful so it was easier to attract their dinner. Imagine the sheer perfection of a nine hundred year old. But I looked up anyway.
And my, was my breath taken away.
Moustache, beard on his chin and a small soul patch.
Christ. He didn't belong here. He didn't look like he was from this era funnily enough. His face was designed like a Victorian model. His hair was short however pulled back. And those eyes. Crystal clear blue. The lightest of blue I'd ever seen.
"Hard day?" Although the obvious owner of the bar as I'd learnt during my hour looked like she was trying for casual conversation, her jolted movements said otherwise.
"Very." British. He was British. Maybe even Irish, I couldn't tell. He looked early maybe mid thirties, it was hard to tell. But he was... Perfect.
I turned away. He was sitting beside me now. This was the intelligent old vampire and I had to... Flirt with him?
I snorted a little. How in heck's name... I'm not usually the kind to approach men in bars, never have been. From the corner of my eye I could see him clenching and releasing his has jaw, his fingers spinning the spine of his wine glass.
He was lean, not skinny at all but not aggressively large. His throat bobbed up and down and I realised then that I was staring.
My phone vibrated, against the wooden table top of the bar.
Kate: I don't think I'll be able to make it. Something came up. Sorry for making you wait babe x
I frowned. What?
I stared at the message for a good minute before-
"Friends have a high tendency to disappoint."
My attention was drawn to the sound of his voice. He's British.
But then I realised he was talking to me and he'd peaked over at my screen.
"Not all friends." I said.
"No, not all. Just the ones that mean the most to you." His eyes darted toward me before settling on the wall in front him.
"Quite a strong opinion."
"An opinion with evidence. I'm stating a fact."
Stubborn isn't he. "I assume you're going to speak an anecdote from your factual past?"
He turned his attention entirely toward me and I noticed the smile playing on his lips. I've done something right obviously. Maybe because I wasn't falling at his feet... Although I surely wanted to.
"I have many stories." He said. "But I wouldn't want to bore you to death."
I realised then what Kate had so valiantly done. She'd given me a topic of conversation. His nosiness or quick flick of his eye toward my screen was enough for him to approach me instead of the other way around. "Try me." I challenged.
His full top lip twitched. "My trust was betrayed by my best friend."
I waited for the obvious climax of the story and once again raised a brow. "Cliche?"
"He took my girlfriend and married her."
My smile slipped.
"Last year." He clarified grinning two rows of perfect teeth. "A year today, in fact."
Was this...?
"You're probably wondering if I'm serious, well Miss, I am telling you the God honest truth. Cross my heart and hope to die."
Maybe he is crazy...
"And now I've scared you. This is where you throw your drink in my face and walk away. "
"Actually, I'm more intrigued than anything. Plus I haven't got enough drink to throw."
His icy blue eyes examined me for a moment and I couldn't help but stare right back. He was flirting, I was a genius... Well, Kate was a genius. And then the next few words he spoke launched me into a sure night of twists and turns: "I'll buy you that drink and you can decide after whether to throw it at me."
**
"You're lying." I laughed.
He smiled and glanced down at his pint glass. "Why would I lie? I bloody told you I'd been cheated on thirty seconds into knowing you."
"You really went to their house and destroyed their wedding album?"
"I probably would have done worse if they were home." He winked.
Probably would have.
It'd been two hours upon meeting him and after he'd told his story, I'd done the talking. He was charming, sadly enough. Within those hours he'd managed to persuade me into an intimate booth, not compel but persuade. He couldn't compel me even if he'd tried thanks to Kate. He switched from wine to beer and ordered me another JD and coke. I wasn't drunk that would be stupid of me but I was happy and confident enough to continue.
After the first hour I honestly forgot he was who he was. He hadn't told me his name nor had I told him mine but he's asked me where I was from and why I'd come to Alaska.
That was a lot harder to explain without it sounding as if it were a lie. In truth Alaska was where John's cabin was but I told him I was staying in a hotel. In truth I was here with friends and hoped tomorrow we would look around. None of it was a lie.
He seemed... Nice. Maybe he was lying about the best friend story maybe he was telling the truth. His friends could be vampires. His friends could be human and dead who knew.
Maybe this was just a ploy to drink from me anyway. The thought frightened the living hell out of me but I was in way too deep to run.
After chuckling together I sighed. "You haven't said why you're in Alaska."
He crossed his arms over the table. "Trading."
"Stocks?"
"Something like that. I trade in England, New York and Italy mainly."
"A businessman. I would have guessed with the shirt and slacks."
He smiled and leaned forward. "Do you have a job?"
"Well, Starbucks."
His smile widened.
"Just until I finish college. History major."
"I thought you were younger. Eighteen at least." He teased.
I rolled my eyes. "How would I be in here?"
"Fake ID. The younger generation baffles me."
"What are you, forty?"
A genuine laugh slipped past his lips and I realised the not so private joke to himself. "I'm thirty."
"Nine years older than me. Are younger women usually what you go for?" As I said this, my eyes strayed from his to his hair. How do vampires have such awesome hair? I realised then that his head had moved slightly closer so I darted my eyes back to his to find his pupils slightly dilated. It was only a flicker before they returned to normal but the movement was there to remind me that he was still who he was and I couldn't trust him worth a damn.
"I tend to stray away from the younger ones. But you... You're different."
Now I was genuinely intrigued. Michael had said something almost exactly the same to me all those years ago. He said I was mature for my age and even then I was only eighteen.
"Can I ask how I'm different?"
My phone vibrated as he opened his mouth. I ignored it but then it rang again so I silenced it and stuffed it in my bag.
"You... It's hard to word it without it sounding odd. You're..."
"Mature?" I supplied.
He nodded but continued to purse his lips in thought. "But it's not just that."
A song I recognised by Pearl Jam started playing overhead. This was a good song. Better than some of the crap nowadays. The pub was a lot emptier now. The businessmen and tourist had left almost an hour ago probably going home or moving onto a club and all that were left were the few regulars.
I looked toward where Christian was seated to find him gone but realised there was a shadow looming over me from above. "You're not." I chuckled.
"It's practically empty in here. You obviously like the song, so yes, I am." He offered me his hand.
I shrugged my coat off. "Fine." I slid my hand into his and allowed the 6"5 male to lead me over to the vacant dance floor. His hand was warm. Meaning he wasn't thirsty. Or he was and he hid it extremely well. He faced me with a small smirk, placed his hand above my waist - such a gentleman - and cradled my hand. Unsure at first of where to put my hand I gingerly placed it on his shoulder.
"I expected you to cop a feel." I teased allowing him to lead. "Wasn't this your plan?"
"I'm a gentleman. I wouldn't unless you allowed me to."
"Not many of you left in this day and age." I chuckled.
"See it's the things you say that make you different." He said. "I've been to this pub only two other times and both times a woman had approached me with clear intent in their eyes."
"You're talking to the wrong women." I smiled. "And tonight of all nights it looks like you need a friend. Because, unfortunately for you, I don't kiss on the first date."
"Well, neither do I. Unless," He stepped just that tiny bit closer. "You asked me to. But then again, you don't know my name and neither do I know yours."
"Evie."
"Short for Evangline or Evelyn?"
"The first."
"Christian. A pleasure to meet you."
Either I was too good at this or I needed to rein this in, ask to meet tomorrow and leave now. I'm pretty proud of myself, to be honest. I got him to probably like me and it didn't take long. I still got it. What, I'm not totally sure but I got it.
To this point I thought everything was going swimmingly. I was gliding along the water without a worry or care in the world. That was of course. Everyone knew by now that I wasn't the type for things to go perfectly or right. Take my relationship for example. Mike and I weren't perfect. He was a vampire. That was enough to taint a so called 'perfect' relationship.
So imagine my shock when Christian's hand glided to my hip and the hand holding mine released to cup the side of my neck. I placed my hands on his chest and patted as a sort of signal to hold on. "I thought you said unless I-"
I swallowed the small lump that formed when his nose ran along my throat.
And then his finger tips skimmed down and along my neck... my scar.
"Did you honestly forget about this?"
My body tensed when his arm circled entirely around my waist and pulled my body flush against his. "This battle scar. A mark created by none other than a monster." I turned my head away when his suddenly cool lips skimmed across the taught skin of Florence's bite marks. "A female's mark I recognise."
I'm drowning.
"I can smell a hint of vampire on your skin. So I'm going to assume one maybe even more are close. So Evangeline, I'll give you two choices and two seconds to decide: come willingly, or unconscious."
I didn't even get a chance to reply before he cupped my neck with both hands and stared me right in the eye. "I've been alive long enough to learn the entire anatomy of the human body. I'll see you in two hours."
He... he kissed me! I pushed his chest and turned my head from his mouth. But it was as if he knew I would turn my head away because the next thing I know three fingers were pressing into the exposed area of my neck.
And like a light I was out. My vision clouded with darkness and the last thing I saw was Christian's bright brooding eyes holding me and watching me fade into black.
'Coyote Ugly' was how Kate had described how this evening could go. Would I rather chew off my own arm than go through this? One hundred times over, yes.
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*picks up laptop and hides under table* guys it had to be a cliffhanger. *Avoids all thrown android/iOS phones* SERIOUSLY I'M SORRY.
Here's a brain teaser: How long did Christian know? All night? Or not until the end? And do you think his little story about his girlfriend was true? THIS WAS FUN TO WRITE.
R.I.P Paul Walker. I WILL NOT CHANGE NATES CHARACTER EVER