We have all the clearing up done in no time with everyone’s help and before long we’re huddled around the camp fire. It must be coming onto midnight but I don’t want the evening to end. I’m on my fourth can and everyone is happy and laughing. I can’t stop myself from smiling as we all chat and I get to know everyone. Izzy is the life of the party. She’s so energetic and positive not to mention hilarious with her quick witty remarks. Caleb is the quietest and keeps looking down at his tablet but even he joins in with the nonsense sometimes. Jason and Penny are snuggled together under a blanket. Herhead resting on his shoulder as he delicately runs his fingers through her hair.
“So when are we going to hear about how Krista bested Alistair anyway!?” shouts Jason. “Honestly I’ve been dying to hear the gory details all day!”
Izzy swivels in her seat to look at me. “Yes! Me too! It’s about time someone made him feel pain!”
“It wasn’t just me. Mum was there too. It was a team effort.” I look to her to carry on. She seems to get the point that I don’t wanna give a play by play.
Partly because I’m worried it would open our connection and cause me to feel like I’m having a heart attack but mostly because I don’t want to feel my connection to him in the first place. I don’t want to be tied with him. He’s an evil monster. I’d rather forget he even exists.
“I helped until I was unconscious! We buried him under mud and stone but when he burst free I was thrown. When I woke he was bound to a tree with its branches and Krista looked like she was about to pull his head from his shoulders. It looked like a tornado had swept through!” She says proudly.
“So how did you get Hades to let us go? Carter said it was some sort of trade?” Caleb asks, leaning forward holding his thumb and forefinger to his chin. His eyes bore into mine searching for answers. It feels like he’s challenging me to confess to something.
I straighten my back to show I won’t be intimidated. “I gave Hades a choice. Free you all or watch his son die.”
“And he bought that threat?” Caleb says in a disbelieving tone.
“He had no choice. I had two branches impaling his son's neck and another branch holding Alistair's mangled ribcage apart whilst my fist was around his beating heart.” I say in a dead tone.
I take a deep gulp of my drink to force down the rising bile in my throat. The fact that I was capable of that still makes me feel sick. Thankfully my link to Alistair remains firmly shut off.
Everyone is silent. Seemingly in shock I guess. To be honest I can’t even believe I did it. Caleb leans back in his chair deep in thought. What is up with that guy? He’s so intense all the time. I wonder if brooding is just his normal state? My dad looks at me with a supporting smile as he hugs my mum close to his side. I see emotion in his face that looks almost a little like pain. The same expression I’ve seen my mum have the last couple of days. Pride mixed with worry? Regret?
Penny’s voice is the first to break the short silence.
“I’m shocked that his heart was even beating! I thought vampires were meant to be dead? Like a living corpse or something.” She says exasperatedly.
“That’s zombies!” Chuckles Lukas. “Although I’m pretty sure Zombies don’t exist!”
“Could you imagine!?” Izzy pipes in.
They start a debate on how vampires and Zombies are different, but it sounds to me like they’re just really enjoying taking the piss out of them.
Before long we start yawning and the night looks like its drawn to an end. Caleb stands up muttering something about final patrols before disappearing into the darkness. Within moments I sense he’s on all fours and prowling in a circle around the ranch. Penny and Jason tell us all goodnight and go into their cabin. Izzy does the same then it’s just my mum and dad, Lukas and me.
My dad is the first to speak. “Gwen and I are going to take a midnight wander. I think we need some time just the two of us.” He kisses her tenderly on the cheek as they stand and walk into the trees.
“Goodnight sweetheart.” My mum calls back.
“Night mum. Night dad.” I smile as I watch them go. I feel so lucky to have both parents again. It makes me feel whole and secure.
Lukas and I sit in a comfortable silence for a few minutes but another yawn tells me I need to get some sleep. Then it occurs to me. I have no idea where I’m sleeping. Is my stuff still in the jeep the other side of the clearing? Why didn’t I think of this sooner? The buzz from the alcohol has me giggling to myself.
“What’s so funny?” Lukas asks.
“I’ve just realised I have no idea where I’m sleeping.” I chuckle.
“Oh right.” He stands up and gestures for me to go with him. “We grabbed all your things earlier and put them in your bedroom. I’ll show you.”
We walk into the house and up the wooden staircase. The large landing has three doors coming off it. One on each wall. With another staircase to the third floor going up behind us. Lukas opens the door on the right-hand side and holds out his arm inviting me to go in.
“There’s an en-suite just on your left which joins onto my room. I hope you don’t mind sharing?” He tells me apologetically. “There’s a lock on both doors so we won’t walk in on each other or anything and besides I’ll be able to hear when you’re in there pretty easily so err…” He scratches his head as he realises how that came across.
I hold my hand up to get him to stop. “It’s fine. Don’t worry.” Although the idea that this guy is gonna hear me on the loo every day is a bit awkward. “Just try not to listen too much, OK?” I say it as light-heartedly as possible.
“Yeah no of course.” He genuinely seems nervous. “Umm… good night then.” He smiles and closes the door behind himself.
I go across the room and slump onto the bed taking a look around. It’s a really nice room with cream walls and exposed beams. The bed is a double with loads of throw pillows in shades of green and pink. They match the curtains which makes the room look feminine and quaint. There’s a cow hide rug across the floor and the chandelier is similar to the one’s downstairs just on a smaller scale. All the furniture is wooden and a fur throw is stretched across the bed. My bag is on top of the dresser and I grab my phone out of it. Surprise, surprise it’s dead so I plug it in to charge on my bedside table. I rummage around in my bag some more to find something to sleep in but it all needs washing. I sigh and open the draws to the dresser out of curiosity. Lo and behold clothes! In my size! Going through all the draws and opening the wardrobe I find everything I could need. Underwear, t shirts, jeans, shorts, jumpers. You name it. It’s all simple and plain which is just my style. There’s also a pair of trainers, converse and fur lined boots. Next, I find toiletries and a little make up.
