Aven's Dream (37 page)

“A movie? Really?” I smiled.

“It sounded like a suitable teenage diversion for a Friday night. I thought we would take a drive.”

I nodded, suddenly feeling apprehensive, even if I couldn’t tell for sure why. As Will drove, I looked out the window. Within a few minutes, I knew exactly where we were going. The same spot as the night of the party. When Will stopped the car, I got out and walked to the edge of the cliff, looking down its steep face. It was silent for several seconds, but I knew Will was just behind me.

“Gen told me what you asked her,” he said quietly.

I nodded, wondering numbly how much of our conversation she had divulged.
Damn
. I never should have asked her, no matter how comfortable I felt with her. She and Will were family.
I
was not.

“There were things I needed to know that you weren’t telling me,” I said defensively, continuing to look over the edge of the cliff. “And … she said that you wanted me to become like you.”

“It is all I want.”

I turned to face him.

“You’re serious?” I gasped.

He nodded.

“But you said you were a monster,” I said, almost to myself.

“Which makes me an inherently selfish creature.”

I shook my head.

“The hero is supposed to be all reluctant and self-loathing—not ‘
Hell yeah! I’ll turn you into a monster like me
’!”

Will laughed.

“I’m sorry I haven’t attained the standards of pre-teenage fiction.” I blushed when he hit the mark. “However, I never did profess to be the hero. Quite the opposite, I must point out.”

“Don’t you even turn this into a joke, Will Kincaid. Giving up my humanity isn’t an ‘
Oh, yeah. Sure!
’ type of decision. I haven’t even finished high school yet,” I growled, wrapping my arms around myself and shivering.

Suddenly Will’s entire body went rigid, his attention riveted to something across the clearing. Then I heard it—the sound of clapping. Stepping forward, I looked for the source of the noise, which seemed like it was coming from the edge of the trees.

Will reached for his phone as a figure appeared from the edge of the woods. In an instant, the form was moving toward us at a speed much faster than humanly possible. I continued to stare, unable to speak or move as Will stepped in front of me, his posture shifting like it had the day at the pool. His stance became that of a predator defending its claim. Two wolves circling one another. The image sent chills through me.

Vladimir Fidatov came to a stop several feet from us. His manner was as languid as Will’s was tense. I watched cautiously from behind Will, trying to keep very still. Fidatov’s eyes drew my attention. The irises were coal black, darker than any I had ever seen, yet glowing with menace.

“Young Aven, how good it is to see you again. I see you’ve discovered we’re all selfish monsters.”

A snarl ripped from Will’s chest, its ferocity causing my knees to go weak.

“You never should have come back here,” Will said in a low voice.

Fidatov laughed.

“What would I do without a pastime, William? Besides, now you’ve provided me with such a delicious opportunity.”

Will disappeared, and a second later I heard a deafening rumble, an instant before both of them landed yards away from. Turning in a lightning fast movement, Will tossed a glint of metal in my direction. I flinched, amazed when I actually caught his car keys in my hand.

“Drive,” Will commanded.

I stumbled toward the car, clicking open the locks. Slamming myself into the driver’s seat, I uttered a low curse when I turned the ignition and simultaneously realized that the seat was adjusted for Will, who was more than a foot taller than me. Trembling, I reached the automatic controls on the side of the seat and watched in horror as Vladimir leered and waved at me. As soon as I could reach the gas, I slammed my foot down, causing the car to rocket forward. I cranked the wheel, peering over the side of the cliff, which was only inches away as I barreled down the narrow roadway. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I tried to focus on not going over the edge.

A tremendous thud sounded on the roof, rocking the car. The tires spun, and I heard a blood-curdling scream. It took several heartbeats to realize that the sound had ripped from my lips. The car went swerving toward the edge of the cliff just as Will appeared on the passenger side before tugging me in a blindingly fast motion across the seat. The car straightened out instantly and shot forward. Still shaking, I turned and looked out the back windshield, the memory of Fidatov’s cold, black stare making my heart thud. There was nothing behind us. Only blackness.

“Are you all right?” I whispered.

His expression told me he wasn’t.

“You’re coming back to the house tomorrow,” he said quietly. “Gen will keep an eye on you.”

“Where are
you
going?” I croaked.

When he finally answered, his voice was so low I had to strain to hear him.

“To end this.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but one look from Will caused the words to die on my lips.

I
sat up in bed with a jolt, shivering. Will’s arms slipped around me, and I took a shaky breath, relieved to have escaped the nightmares that had haunted me all night. Hearing the door to my dad’s bedroom creak open, I felt Will release me. When I rolled over, it was just in time to see him slip out the window. Hearing the doorknob turn, I clutched my pillow and turned over again, trying to breathe as evenly as possible. After a second, the door closed again, and I heard my dad walk back down the hall before the screeching of the pipes in the bathroom signaled that the shower was running. Getting up, I went downstairs, not bothering to change out of my pajamas.

Putting on a pot of coffee, I fed Darcy and took out some eggs, cheese, and mushrooms. I made an omelet even though I couldn’t stomach the thought of food. Covering the pan, I sat at the kitchen table and watched the fog roll eerily through the back yard. When my dad walked into kitchen a few minutes later, his eyebrow went up when he saw the cup of coffee already poured for him. Going over to the stove, I flipped the omelet onto a plate.

“Are you about to give me bad news?” he laughed, picking up the cup of coffee.

He had a right to be suspicious. Usually, I was allergic to mornings.

“Couldn’t sleep,” I mumbled with a half-hearted smile. “Oh, and I forgot to tell you that I’m going to spend the night at Lizzie’s tonight—to study for Health. I’m going over there early so we can catch a movie.”

Liar
, a voice in my head hissed. But I hadn’t been able to come up with a better excuse.

“Another movie? How was the one last night?”

“So-so.”

As he started eating the omelet, I struggled to remember details from the movie Lizzie had seen with Sean.

“I should get my stuff together.”

“You’re not eating?” my dad asked.

“I had cereal,” I lied. “Do you need any help getting something ready for dinner?”

“There’s always takeout.”

I smirked.

“Remember to get a salad at least,” I reminded him.

Kissing him on the cheek, I turned and started walking back upstairs to my room. I was in the middle of packing my bags when Will appeared in the window with the phone to his ear. I picked up the keys to the Volvo and dangled them in front of him. It wouldn’t exactly make sense for me to leave my car in the driveway when I was supposed to be going to Lizzie’s.

“I’ll meet you at your car in two minutes,” he said. “Gen has a head start.”

“My dad,” I reminded him stiffly.

“Gen and Edmond spent the night looking. We know Fidatov is nowhere near town.” He paused. “And it’s you he wants, not your father.”

The thought was oddly comforting. The risk was mine alone, not my dad’s. Still, a chill ran down my spine as Will disappeared out the window again. I finished packing the last few items before going to my dad’s room to say goodbye. I hugged him for an extra second before lugging my backpack and overnight bag downstairs. When I opened the front door, I watched as my breath came out in white puffs. As I walked the few steps to my car, I felt my hands shaking as I reached out to unlock the door. Will appeared and deftly snatched the keys and my bags.

“Mind if I drive?” he asked.

Shrugging, I settled into the passenger’s seat of my new-old car, wondering what Gen and I would do in their absence. More shopping? I shuddered. And what exactly would Will and Edmond be doing? I tried not to think about it. Because if I thought about it too much, I would go insane.

I completely ignored the speedometer as soon as we reached the highway. Neither one of us said a word, and I knew that arguing was useless. By the time we arrived at Will’s house, Gen was already outside waiting, clad in a silk camisole, a thin sweater, and a pencil skirt slit to her upper thigh. Appropriate dress for fall—in Southern California. She swung open my door almost before the car had even come to a complete stop. Will parked and got out, glaring at her.

“Go on. They’re waiting for you,” she waved dismissively as she took my bags from me. “Have fun.”

I frowned at her nonchalant attitude as she propelled me as far as the entryway. Will took my other hand, stopping me.

“Gen, may we have a moment alone?”

“Fine, if you must,” she huffed as she let go of me. “Make it quick.”

He scowled at her before turning to take my face in his hands. I frowned up at him.

“Don’t worry,” he said softly as he leaned down to kiss me.

When our lips touched, I pulled myself against him and glued my lips to his, breathing in his smell until I was lightheaded. My heart started to race, and I brought my hand up to touch his cheek. Then, summoning all my willpower, I stepped back unsteadily.

“Do you have to go?” I asked, my voice wavering.

His eyes burned into mine.

“William, if you don’t get out of here right now, you’ll be sorry. I’ll call Edmond to drag you,” Gen called from a distance, her tone exasperated.

“Be careful,” I whispered.

He pulled me in close for a moment before turning toward Gen.

“Call me immediately if anything happens.”

“Yes, sir,” Gen said in mock obedience.

Will smiled crookedly and touched my hand before turning and taking off at a pace that was definitely not humanly possible. Satisfied Will was finally gone, Gen reappeared and pulled me inside the house. The temperature was comfortably warm, but not nearly as sweltering as my last visit.

“Don’t worry about them,” Gen said. “They’re more than able to take care of themselves. Will only wants to make sure that you’re safe.”

The fact that
I
was the cause of their departure didn’t reassure me. Gen began pulling me toward the side of the house I hadn’t yet seen. As we walked, at a human pace, I felt immensely grateful that Gen didn’t find it necessary to tuck me under her arm and bolt up the stairs the way Will had. We made our way down a long hallway that mirrored the one on the opposite side of the house until we reached a door similar to the one leading to Will’s room.

Watching Gen effortlessly swing open the enormous door, I contemplated her grace and impossible strength. If I became like Will, would that be me? I couldn’t imagine it. Stepping forward, I looked around. Gen’s room was decidedly more feminine than Will’s. On one side of the room, I saw a walk-in closet nearly twice the size of Will’s. Against the far wall I saw a music stand and a writing desk. Like Will’s room, I realized that Gen’s also contained a large bed, only hers was covered in a beautiful lilac-colored silk bedspread. I frowned and wondered why any of them would have beds when they didn’t sleep. Then my cheeks flushed as I remembered that Gen and Edmond were together.

“How long have you and Edmond been … together?”

“Since 1866,” she said easily.

“Wow,” I breathed, again reminded that Will was more than two hundred years old.

“Can you see now why we were so surprised that Will found you after all this time?”

She set down my bags and walked to her closet, gesturing for me to follow.

“Will is happier than any of us have ever seen him,” she said matter-of-factly.

“And James?” I asked uncertainly.

After all, it seemed to be my presence that was making him unhappy.

“It has nothing to do with you. Truly. He has to find happiness on his terms, not begrudge Will his.”

I turned in circles, studying the rows of designer clothing in her closet. Gen certainly knew how to shop. I watched as she retrieved a familiar collection of bags from the corner, a smile spreading over her face as she approached me.

“Will let me borrow these from your house so we could pick out an outfit for something he has planned,” Gen said.

Seeing the bag with Gen’s makeup purchases, I groaned.

“Gen, we can’t play dress-up while they’re out there …”

“Will made me promise not to let you sit around worrying about them all weekend. Believe me when I tell you they can take care of themselves. Edmond would be offended if he knew you were worrying about him. Now let’s get down to business. When I get done with you, you’ll look perfect.”

I scowled at her as she tore clothing from the bags, mixing and matching the items and then comparing selections critically before abandoning them. She finally picked out a silken black cocktail dress. My eyes narrowed as I inspected it.

“I don’t remember trying this on.”

I would have vetoed something so over-the-top.

“I took the liberty of picking it out,” she said with a smile. “I forgot how much fun it was having a girl around.”

Her comment made me curious.

“Were you and Grace … close?”

A fleeting look of regret shadowed her features.

“Close may not be the right word,” she said carefully.

I bit my lip, wondering where I fit. Before I could dwell on it, my stomach growled.

“C’mon. Will also told me to keep you well fed, and he bought enough food for an army. After, we’ll do your makeup.”

When we reached the kitchen, she left me on my own. Looking around, I realized that Gen hadn’t been joking. Will
had
bought enough food to feed an army. On the counter, I found a plate of chocolate croissants and a fresh baguette from the bakery in town. The refrigerator contained a countless assortment of beverages, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, containers filled with soups and sauces, salads. Enough to last a week. Looking around the well-equipped kitchen, I poured milk into a glass from one of the cupboards, put some berries in a bowl, and picked up a croissant.

By the time I finished eating, the sound of Gen’s impeccable bowing had begun to fill the house. I washed and dried my dishes and then wandered out to the sofa to listen to her play. After several minutes, I felt my eyelids growing heavy and wondered if Gen was unintentionally feeding off of my energy. I woke groggy, startled to find myself curled up on the couch. Gen was nowhere in sight, and the house was eerily silent.

“What would you like to do today?” Gen’s voice came from behind me.

Sitting up, I stretched.

“Weren’t we going to look for your dress?” I asked.

Then I remembered that I was under house arrest.

“Let’s go.”

“Is it safe?”

“Will called while you were sleeping, and they’ve already tracked Fidatov as far as Phoenix.”

“Wow.”

I exhaled and followed her outside to the garage where she handed me the jacket I had forgotten. She wore only a light jacket over her sweater. One of the car alarms chirped as she disarmed it, but the sound hadn’t come from the car she had driven the week before. The car we were approaching was bright red and absolutely astonishing. I stopped and stared, trying to remember where I had seen it before.

“What kind of car is this?” I asked, still staring at the glossy exterior.

“Tesla,” Gen said. “Will’s going to auction off the other cars and give the money to charity.”

“He is?”

“He says companies like Tesla are the future, and he wants to support that. We’ve lived multiple lifetimes and watched technology evolve. It is in our best interest to preserve rather than consume.”

As she approached the car, the door handle popped out and lit up.

“Wow.”

“Just wait until you get in,” Gen smiled. “Actually … would you like to drive?”

I blinked at her and shook my head.

“I can’t. I mean, I’m afraid to drive my dad’s old Volvo. What if I crash?”

“You won’t. Besides, it’s yours. Therefore you—”

“
What
?”

“I wasn’t supposed to tell you, but Will means for this car to be yours.”

I shook my head.

“No …
What
?” I repeated stupidly.

“Have you seen the safety ratings for this vehicle?”

I shook my head.

“Of course you haven’t,” Gen smiled. “Trust me. They’re unparalleled. Now, get in.”

She threw the key to me in a lightning-fast movement, and I walked uncertainly toward the driver’s side. Opening the door, I lowered myself into the seat and closed the door. When I searched for the ignition, Gen shook her head and laughed.

“You’re ready to drive.”

Knowing that Will intended this car for me—which I still couldn’t believe—I paid more attention. The interior looked like a luxury cockpit, with hand-stitched leather and digital touchscreen controls. Adjusting the seat, I checked the mirrors, unnerved by the car’s silence. Gen swiped the interactive display, causing the glass roof to slide back. Then she showed me how to put the car in reverse by moving the shifter all the way up.

“I feel like I’m in a spaceship,” I muttered.

“Just wait until you actually touch the accelerator,” Gen laughed.

Smirking, I checked my mirrors again and pressed down very gently on the pedal—not the gas pedal, I reminded myself. There was no gunning sound or lurching; the car simply glided backward with no sound at all. Looking back at the digital display, I saw a high-definition view of where I was backing up. By the time I was clear of the garage, it was time to shift into “Drive” and move forward.