Page 13 of To Save a Vampire
I am too, my friend.
As casually as possible, I pull away from him and grab my blanket as I stand. It’s nearly dark out and I can’t stay another minute in this cave. My safe haven has been turned into a torturous jail. A jail where I’m the punisher and the prisoner and the end result is only embarrassment and stupidity.
I refuse to look back at him as I walk past and start climbing down the wet rocks. My fingers slip against the crevices in my hurried escape, but my mind doesn’t acknowledge the fear of falling. My hands move without hesitation toward the ground below.
It’s slightly colder now that the sun has set, but humidity clings to the air. The sky is a beautiful orange and blue color. The water below the falls pools into a deep lake. I shed my clothes at the shore and wade into the warm water. My muscles ache, but the water relaxes and soothes my joints.
The clear water starts to darken the farther out I dog paddle yet I keep going. I’ve swum here hundreds of times since I was little. My slow and my uneven motions are tiring, yet I enjoy the water against my limbs. All the times I spent here with Ayden wander into my mind. I pause, wondering if he’s noticed my absence yet. We’ve been gone about twelve hours now. Ayden must have finished his chores hours ago.
I wish I could have told him not to worry about me. Or maybe I should have told him to worry for me. With the lack of answers from my mother, I guess I have no idea what danger I may or may not be in.
I run my fingers through my tangled curls and then float on my back, looking up at the darkening sky. The orange has faded, and hues of purple start to stain the clear sky. My mother will wake soon. I probably have less than an hour before I’m back on the run again. My legs ache in protest at the thought.
I’m dreading my immediate future when I hear movement at the water’s edge. I still in the water, my breathing coming in minimal doses as I check my surroundings, my feet kicking wildly to keep me afloat.
Forty-four walks into the water, staring right at me. The hue of the fading sun surrounds us, casting fiery light onto the water’s surface. I can see him move closer to me. He wears only his underclothes into the water. I purposely avoid looking at his chest because I can’t be caught. Again.
He swims around me, keeping space between us. He glides through the water as gracefully as he walks on land. His waves ripple through the water toward me and are the only sound between us. After a few minutes in silence, I try to think of something to say, but once again, we have our conversation barrier because I don’t know sign language and I’m apparently not great at reading lips either.
I try to think of yes or no questions. “You know how to swim?” I ask in confusion, watching him swim perfect laps around me. A stupid but easy question.
He circles me once more before stopping a few feet in front of me and nodding. Water clings to his dark lashes, amplifying his gray eyes.
“So you weren’t born into the compound?” I ask, wondering more and more about his past.
He shakes his head no. I was probably more born into the compound than he was. I grew up watching my mother work there for as long as I can remember.
I think about my next question, not sure if I should ask it or not. “Have you ever bitten anyone?” He looks away from me and into the dark water. The sun has set, and it’s nearly dark now. After a moment, he nods slowly. He’s not ashamed and he’s not proud either.
I’m not surprised by his answer. It only makes me hungry for more answers. I have to tread carefully if I want them answered. I’m not used to asking so many questions. However, I know from experience that if you expect to get an answer at all, your phrasing has to be well thought out with caution. I try to think of something less serious to ask, to take away the apprehensive look he has right now. “Have you ever tossed a girl over your shoulder before?” I ask trying to force a glare through my smile.
He laughs quietly, sure to not set off his chip before he shakes his head no.
“My ass still hurts, just so you know,” I say, splashing water his way. My waves fall short and barely touch him. He raises his eyebrows in mock surprise before splashing me back. I swim away the best I can, but his retaliating wave of water hits me right in the face. I laugh and kick my feet hard at the water’s surface trying to get him back with rapid-fire waves as I make my way slowly to the shore.
Just as I’m a few feet from my clothes, I turn to look at him. He’s much closer now. The smile falls from my face, and I lose my breath when I realize how close he is. He’s not touching me, but he’s only inches from me. The dark water separates our bodies. My heart’s pounding again, and I get the urge to pull him to me and never let go. He can hear or maybe see my pulse because he looks from my lips to my neck, and I wonder if he would bite me. Strangely, the idea doesn’t spike fear into my body but a shiver to run through it. I wonder what it would feel like; his sharp canines against my neck.
I clear my throat and look away, trying to find a sense of normalcy. “Can you turn around while I get dressed?” I ask in a whisper.
He doesn’t reply. He only turns away from me. I walk out of the water, dry myself with my blanket, and pull on my underclothes.
Just as I finish pulling my black jeans on and I’m half way into my shirt, my damp skin not allowing my arms easy entrance into the sleeves, cold water drenches my back. My shoulders tense as I suck in a clipped breath and slowly turn to face him. He’s smiling as he floats in the lake like nothing happened. He’s like a crocodile inconspicuously lurking within the water.
“That was low!” I say, but he only licks his lips and splashes me again. I heave in a breath as the cold water hits my half bare stomach.
I’m defenseless unless I want to get back into the water, but I’m already dressed. Instead, I try to hurt his ego. “Remember when I said it was embarrassing for a big bad hybrid-vampire to use a little knife to threaten us?” His eyes light up in interest at my mocking tone. “This is kind of like that. Throw in the last splash when my back’s turned and I can’t get you back. How very threatening of you,” I say sarcastically, pulling my shirt down and resting my hands on my hips, trying to hide my nervousness from being exposed to him.
He opens his mouth in a half smile before standing in the water. The water comes to his knees and it takes him less than a second to run onto dry land. Before I even have time to react, he’s hugging his drenched body against my dry clothes, soaking my jeans and shirt. He shakes his hair out onto me to prove a point. Water droplets rain onto my forehead and cheeks.
I twist, pushing against his wet chest, but my hands just slide against him. Slick, rigid muscle flexes beneath my fingertips. I’m laughing and trying to catch my breath that I’ve somehow lost just by making contact with him.
“Forty-four, stop, I can’t even run well in dry clothes, there’s no way I can run soaking wet.” I try to reason with him, but I’m still laughing. He only holds me closer, pressing his wet forehead against my neck.
A tingle runs through my core and settles, making its home there. I keep focused on pulling and pushing away from him when my mind wants nothing more than to stay in his strong arms a little longer.
“What the hell are you doing?” A familiar and angry voice asks, causing my laughter to die on my lips and Forty-four’s arms to slowly fall away from me.
I look up to see Ayden staring at us, his dark eyes wide with anger. His jaw is clenched like he’ll never speak again. He does speak. Furiously. “Do you think you have a right to touch her?” Ayden cocks his head at Forty-four, who brushes against my arm, moving closer to where Ayden stands. I step in front of Forty-four in a casual way to halt his steps.
