Page 42 of Blood Ties
I kissed Grayson goodbye when he left for work. Not sure what to do with my unemployed self. I had spent my time since leaving Gates and Summers looking for Damien or being distracted by Shawn from looking for Damien. I went about getting ready for the day taking my time. I dressed in gray slacks and a white, silk, button up shirt.
When I had left the nest to live with Grayson, Anton had taken all my clothing and destroyed them. Grayson had taken me shopping since I had needed work attire, so that was mostly what my closet was stocked with. I had a few more casual things that Shawn and I had managed to sneak out shortly before Anton threw his tantrum. I knew I could always go shopping for more. Grayson wouldn’t mind and even if he did, I still had my own money, but I was comfortable in my professional clothing, for the most part. I had spent so much time in them it was hard not to be.
When I was done dressing I noticed the mail resting on the counter. That was when I first saw it. I didn’t normally receive mail and the fact that this didn’t appear to be a bill or junk mail piqued my interest. Tearing it open, my eyes scanned the contents causing my heart to hammer in my chest. There, written in newspaper and magazine clippings, was what could only be described as a threat. Letters were clipped in various size and colors from newspapers and magazines with an article attached. It was my engagement announcement to Grayson. I hadn’t even realized it had been released until that moment. I couldn’t even be excited about the announcement because the letter attached to it, written in large glued on letters, read,
Leave him or you will regret it.
I stared at it for what felt like hours. My first thought was Ava, but it didn’t seem her style. I thought about calling the police, but what if I was wrong and it was Ava or some other supernatural creature; the police would be of no help. Then I thought, perhaps I was simply over thinking the entire thing. What if it wasn’t a supernatural being at all? What if it was a human who maybe had an obsession with Grayson? That honestly seemed like the lesser of all the evils. We were vampires after all. I smelled it but didn’t catch a familiar scent so I crumbled up the letter and threw it away. I didn’t need anyone else threatening my relationship with Grayson. I had had enough of that with Anton. Things were finally going to be normal for us or as normal as they could be with being day walking vampires and I didn’t want anything to ruin that.
I jolted when I heard a knock at the door. I hadn’t been expecting anyone. Now that the letter had me on edge, I was leery about opening the door. Instead, I opened my senses as I moved cautiously towards it and felt waves of supernatural energy crash on me. I hesitated before slowly cracking the door revealing Sebastian on the other side. I felt my body react to him much the same way it had Saturday, but this time I was prepared for it so it wasn’t quite as overwhelming.
“Hi,” he beamed at me. He was dressed in loose fitted jeans that hung off his hips and a white t-shirt clung to his chest with a black leather jacket cast over his shoulder made him look like a model posed for the cover of a magazine. He looked like a regular human not the ancient fallen angel I knew he was.
“Hi?” We stood there in an awkward silence.
“Did I frighten you?”
I tried to shake off the feeling I developed from reading the letter. I wasn’t sure if it was my expression or the rapid beat of my heart. “No,” I declared like it was the most ridiculous notion. We stood there silently for a moment; all the while Sebastian’s gaze seemed to be studying me. “Uh, can I help you with something, Sebastian?”
He blinked then quickly recovered. “Sorry. Yes, Damien sent me.”
“Huh?”
“What?” he asked with a keen grin finding humor in my confusion.
“Nothing. I just got the impression Jade was the errand girl.”
His smile grew. “She is, but she’s resting.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.
“Resting? I thought she was a day walker?”
“She is, but when you are the only day walking vampire surrounded by regular ones, you do your best to fit in. Anyways, Damien really wanted to see you, but was too busy to get away. So he asked if I’d come in his stead.”
“So I’m being summoned?” I probed leaning against the frame.
“No, of course not.” Sebastian looked down at his feet seeming unsure what to say. The silence grew between us once more. “Can I, come in?”
I realized how rude I was being talking to him in the hall like that. “Of course.” I stepped aside letting him enter. He brushed past me and I felt a shiver run down my spine from the brief contact.
“Nice rental,” he stated looking around.
“We own it, actually,” I mumbled shutting the door.
“Oh!” He continued to take in his surroundings. “Is Grayson home?”
“No. He’s working.”
“So the transfusion worked?” He questioned while looking anywhere but at me.
“It did. Thank you for your help.” I rubbed my palms down my arms trying to ease the goose bumps I felt across my skin.
“No problem.”
“So Damien wants to see me?” I asked trying to get us back on topic.
“Right.” Sebastian turned to face me. His eyes racked over my body. It felt like he was undressing me, yet at the same time he looked at me like I was a treasure, something to cherish. My mind took that moment to remind me of the dream I had. I felt my cheeks flush. Sebastian smirked like he knew what I was thinking. “There’s something he wants to discuss with you sooner rather than later.”
“You guys ever hear of a phone?”
