Draven, as a child, standing before a mirror with a woman, his mother, singing to him.Then, I saw myself through Draven’s eyes. In the river that fateful night. I sensed his thoughts, his pity for my helpless humanity. He could not bear to watch me drown. In his thoughts, I saw him that first night, as I did in my dreams, hovering over my body.
He drank from me, and then he stopped when he felt my pain, my anguish, and it drew him back to a haunting memory of him and Emily.Then I saw her,Emily,covered in blood and a small figure next to her, just as lifeless. I felt his pain and his realization that my pain matched his own, and then felt his choice to let me live.
Time seemed to stretch and warp as we remained locked in that intimate exchange. The pain from his bite had long since healed. I was not Rosalia anymore; I was now a part of Draven, and he, a was part of me.
Finally, I pulled away from his neck, gasping for breath. My body felt electrified. Not dead, but more alive than I have felt in months. Draven’s eyes bore into mine, filled with love and relief.
“Forever you are mine, and I am yours until the end of time,” he whispered, his voice a soothing melody in my ears.
“Am I a Blood Hunter?” I asked, then my heart stopped beating, and the blood in my veins ran cold. I looked at him, searching for advice as an intense burning spread through my body, and I dropped to the ground in agonizing pain. I shut my eyes, but the pain intensified, coursing deeper through my veins. It was as if I were engulfed in flames while simultaneously submerged in an icy river.
I opened my eyes, but I could not see my surroundings. I saw my life flashing before them: I saw my father cominghome from a hunting trip; I saw my mother reading a book by the fireplace; and I saw Vail, her hair like a halo in the sun. I saw Draven, standing above me as the soft flakes of winter’s first snow began to fall.
And then I saw darkness.
FORTY-ONE
January 30, 2010
Flyers for Connor’s show were plastered all over Lakeview, stapled to lamp posts, and tucked into newspapers at cafés. I took one to bring home to Vail. She returned late last night, brimming with excitement about the local plant book that finally arrived.
Vail had left town for a few days after Sam’s revelation to Connor in the kitchen. It made her anxious, and she used it as an excuse to get away. Despite my efforts to persuade her to stay in the warded house, she was determined to leave, convinced she was on the verge of uncovering the origins of the drug or finding a potential antidote.
“Are you coming to the show tonight?” I asked Vail as she flipped through the book.
“Do I have to?” she asked, not looking up. “I’m very busy with reading this, and I’d like to stay in, to do more research.”
“Well, I’m going, so you can join me if you want,” I said, settling down beside her.
She closed her book, her finger marking her spot, and looked at me incredulously. “You’re really planning to go alone into the woods to a party with Vampire Slayers?”
“Yes, I trust Connor,” I told her, though I wasn't entirely convinced myself.
“I can’t believe you said that. You cannot trust Connor,” she said firmly.
“He wouldn’t hurt me.”
“But he might hurtme. He’s the one who thinks that I am a Vampire. So, I don’t feel safe going with you tonight.”
I placed the flyer on her lap. “Well, this is the information in case you change your mind.”
Vail took it from me, examining it, then her face changed into an exuberant expression. “You know what? Suddenly, I feel like I wouldn't miss this show for the world!”
“Really? You’re not nervous?” I asked, shocked at how quickly she changed her mind.
“Why would I be nervous? It will be fun,” she said with a huge grin spreading across her face.
Excitement bubbled within me when we received the text a few hours before the show, revealing the location: a gravel pit deep in the woods, near an old logging area. Any trepidation Vail and I had felt earlier quickly vanished. We spent the rest of the night getting ready, our anticipation growing with every moment.
We arrived early, and I quickly spotted Connor among the scattered crowd. A twist of nervousness knotted in my gut at the sight of him. String lights twinkled between the trees, and kegs were set up along the logs around the stage, casting a warm, amber glow that created an intimate atmosphere. The cool, crisp night air added to the enchantment of the scene.
I made my way over to Connor, and he leaned down as if to kiss me, but hesitated, perhaps recalling our conversation from the other day. “Sorry,” he said softly, pulling back.
“It’s okay,” I said, then wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him gently. Just because I had turned downbeing his girlfriend didn’t mean I didn’t crave his physical affection.
Connor looked over my shoulder, scanning the crowd as more people began to gather.
“Who are you looking for?” I asked. I glanced at Vail; she was chatting with someone I recognized from around town. I thought it was wise of her to keep her distance from the Slayers for now, staying low-key while the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation.
