Chapter Eight
When the sun began to crest the horizon I gracefully leapt from the tree. Derek and Herades and gone home long ago leaving Blake and I alone.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Home. My parents will eventually wonder where I'm at."
"Will I see you in class?"
"Of course. Remember, nobody can know. I don't want the Guild to find out. I can't bear the thought of them hurting you or my parents."
"I know. As hard as it will be I won't tell anyone."
My breath hitched and I closed at my eyes as he caressed my face. A shiver ran down my spine and my heart felt heavy. I knew there was no logical way things could work out between Blake and I. The Guild would find out and they would kill us all.
"What's wrong, Alyssa?"
"Nothing, Blake," I whispered, tears welling in my eyes.
"Something is wrong."
"I'm so conflicted. I've never felt like this."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault," I said.
He leaned down and gently kissed my cheek. "Sweet dreams, Hunter."
"I don't want to be that anymore."
"Then what?"
"A protector?"
He smiled and waved. I turned and crept home. I didn't want anybody to see or hear me, especially my parents. I snuck in through my bedroom window and slowly changed into my pajamas. I slid under my covers and closed my eyes. I wanted to forget about my night of prowling, to forget about everybody being scared of me. I was glad to have the weekend away from the school.
What do I do? I have to tell everybody and protect them.
I couldn't stop the thoughts. The only thing that would help was sleep, however; it seemed to elude me. Despite being exhausted I just could not fall asleep. I tossed and turned well after the sun was up.
I must have fallen asleep at some point because I woke well after dark and lay there, staring out my window. I didn't want to move. I heard a light tapping on my window and slowly got up. I pushed the window open and stuck my head out, I didn't see anything.
"Let's go."
I looked up, a bit surprised.
"Blake?"
"Come on," he said, reaching his hand down to me.
"Blake, it's one in the morning."
"So?"
"I can't just leave."
"Sure you can. Nobody is stopping you."
I smiled and his persistence and shook my head. "No. We can't abandon everyone here."
"You are too good."
"Perhaps," I said.
"Come sit with me then?" he asked.
I sighed and climbed out the window, sitting on the sill. He swung down from the roof and sat down next to me.
"Do you always show up at girls' house in the middle of the night?"
"Not for a long time." He laughed.
"You know, I'd get in a lot of trouble if my parents saw you here."
"I guess it's a good thing they're sleeping than."
"What do you want this late at night?"
"Would you like to go for a flit?"
"A flit?"
"Yes, a run," he said.
"I know what flitting is."
"Then let's go," he said as he leapt from my window sill.
I watched as he quietly landed on the hard ground below. I climbed back into my room and put on my shoes.
"Are you coming?"
I didn't answer. I just hoped out the window and landed next to him.
"Impressive."
"I know. Where are we going?"
"I'm not sure."
"What?" I asked
"Just hold onto my neck."
"Um, okay."
I wrapped my arms around my neck as he began to run. The breath was knocked from my lungs and the clip in my hair was flew out.
"Hold on!"
"Why?" I shouted as he launched us upwards.
"I'm climbing." He laughed.
"Oh god!"
"You all right?"
"I hate heights!" I yelled at him.
I watched as he dug his fingers into the sides of the steep, rocky cliff heading straight up.
"You're climbing a mountain?" I asked.
"It's an amazing view up there," he replied.
"If you say so."
Once we reached the top he slowly lowered me to the ground. I stumbled a few feet into a tree. I held onto it breathing in slowly trying not to throw up. My stomach felt like it was going to all come back up. The world spun but Blake was right; the view was amazing.
"How do you feel?" he asked, rubbing my back.
"Sick."
"That's normal. Just try to breath."
"I'm trying. It is beautiful up here."
I turned my head a bit and watched Blake standing near me. His nostrils flared and his eyes grew large. I knew that look. He was hungry.
"What do you smell?" I asked.
"You," he replied.
"Oh."
"I'm not going to eat or bite you."
"Well that's good."
"I don't kill humans or turn them into..." His voice trailed off.
"Into what?"
"Soulless monsters."
"You're not a soulless monster."
"I survive on human blood. So, yes I'm a monster."
"You don't kill people though."
"Not anymore."
"You're not a monster."
He sat, dangling his feet over the edge of the cliff. Leaning back on his elbows he stared out over the valley. Our town lay beneath. The lights of the houses doting area like distant fireflies. Tall pine trees and a long, winding river surrounded the town almost protecting it. The entire place was so isolated and magical.
"This place is a sanctuary for creatures like us, Alyssa."
"Like us?"
"Whether you like it or not you're one of us. You're not normal. You're immortal, you have insane fighting skills, and you eliminate monsters. You're not a normal person, even if you look like one," he said.
Blake locked eyes with me. Slowly he leaned in toward me. Abruptly, yet gently, he rested his cold cheek against the hollow of my throat. I was frozen in place. I wished I could feel his heart beating, but instead listened to his ragged breathing.
Slowly he reached up to the side of my face and slid his hands down the sides of my neck. I couldn't help but shiver, his breath hitched at the feeling of my body move under his touch. His hands never stopped. They moved to my shoulders, down my arms, and to my waist. His nose lightly skimmed my jawbone moving down to my collarbone. I could hear him inhale deeply as he drunk in my smell. His lips brushed against the tops of my breasts and slowly moved up to my own lips.
"Your heart is beating faster," he said quietly.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"I can feel it. I can smell it."
"Hmm."
"It's late again. I should take you back home."
"Okay," I replied absently.
"Wrap your arms around my neck."
I nodded and obeyed.
****
I trudged into school the next day. Not thrilled to be there. I sat the long lunch table, Chloe and Daniela rambling on about the upcoming winter formal. Heradas and Derek sat a few seats down mumbling to themselves like usual, only this time they kept staring at me. They knew something was wrong or my imagination was getting the best of me.
"What's wrong?" Chloe asked.
"Huh?"
"You're zoning. What's going on with you?" she asked again.
"Just tired," I mumbled, pushing the meatloaf surprise that the lunch ladies slopped onto my tray for lunch around.
"Hi."
I looked up into Blake's somber face. He sat across from me with the same thing. Everyone at the table stopped talking and just stared. It was the first time Blake had sat with us.
"Hey," I said back.
"Hi, Blake." Chloe said, scooting down near us. "What's going on?"
"Do you guys mind if I steal Alyssa?"
"Let's go," I said getting up, leaving my food behind. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. You just looked like you need to be rescued." He smiled.
"I did." I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.
ERTU3$