Bloods Gem (17 page)

“
I love you… Kiss me.”

She looked at me and licked her lips.
“You’re… Bad.”

“
Yeah. I’ve been told.” I leaned into
her and she drew back.

“
I can’t.”

I sighed. “Then go on a date with me
tomorrow night.”

She flinched.

“
What?” I asked curious.

“
You don’t even have a car.” She
said.

“
Don’t worry I'll fix that today. Then
will you if I pick you up?” I asked. “Fine. But you have to stop
following me. It’s creepy.”

I laughed. “We’ll see.” I let her go and she
punched me in my arm. “What was that for?”

“
That was for the mind thing.” She
smiled.

“
You loved every minute!”

She winked at me. I wanted to do a happy
dance, but stayed composed. Like the sophisticated Ill-suen I was
raised to be.

I walked around the campus waiting for her
classes to end. Exploring various wild plants that grew in the
area, I ate a few. I was surprised to find that some had taste to
them. There was nothing better to do then walk around putting
random plants in my mouth. A few made me sick, so I had to spit
them out. I figured if someone was watching they would think I was
a basket case and wanted to see me eat the wrong one, maybe fall to
the ground with foam coming from my mouth. Some were poisonous but
I didn’t care, it wouldn’t cause my indestructible body any harm
just making me a little sick in the process.

I heard the bell ring and stood out front.
She came out alone. I whistled and she ran toward me.

“
Hey, what are you still doing
here?”

I pulled a flower out of my pocket.

“
I picked this for you.” I put the
flower behind her ear. “Looks good.”

“
Thanks…” She put her hand on my
chest. “Does this thing beat?” “Why do you ask?”

“
Because, you have a big heart,” she
said smiling.

“
Well thanks. Glad you think so. But
no, it doesn’t.”

“
Oh… And what about
breathing?”

I smiled. “I can… But I don’t have to if
that’s what you’re asking.”

“
I mean… do you … Or?”

“
Oh. Well yeah… I’m still part animal
in a way. But it’s just not necessary. I did until I was eighteen.
The habit stuck with me and my heart too, pumped just like yours
does now. But not anymore.”

“
Ah… Okay.”

“
What’s up with all the
questions?”

“
Just wanna know,” She
said.

“
Why is your skin warm and your breath
cold?”

“
Well Love, I don’t have all the
answers,” I smiled. “So can we hang out today?” I asked.

“
I can’t.”

“
Why not?”

“
Why all the questions?” She
asked.

“
I just wanna know,” I said mocking
her.

“
I have to study for a
test.”

“
By yourself?” I asked.

“
No.”

“
With that guy?”

“
His name is Chris… And
yes.”

I looked away scanning the parking lot for
him. “So… You’re going to ditch me for him?”

“
Stop,” she said.

“
Okay… But only if you kiss
me.”

“
Why do you want me to kiss you so
bad?”

“
Don’t you want to?” I
asked.

She sighed. “You know I do. I can’t and you
know why.”

“
Because of that guy?” She
nodded.

“
So you’ll go on a date with me but
not kiss me?”

“
Yes. We are going on a date as
friends.”

“
But isn’t mind fucking more than
friends? I mean, that’s like way beyond friends.”

“
I guess it was mind rape then,” She
said.

“
Cute. It takes two Baby. And as far
as I could see. You were enjoying it, so it’s not rape if you want
it.”

“
True… You have a point.”

“
So you did… mind elaborating?” I
smiled.

“
No… not really… Maybe in a different
life when we are both cats or something.”

My laugh echoed through the parking lot. “I
can pull that off… Would you like to see?”

“
Actually I'll pass because you’re
probably not bluffing. I gotta go.” “Alright…” I pulled her close
to me and kissed both her cheeks. “Ciao Bella.”

I went to her window that night and watched
her sleep. She moaned and I leaped into her dreams to see what was
going on. As I entered her dream, I noticed my look-alike on the
bed with her. We were making love. I quickly exited the dream
letting her have privacy with my dream self. Knowing she had that
desire for me, made me feel better.

Back in my room, I thought about what I just
witnessed. It consumed my thoughts and made me want her that much
more.

A few hours later she texted me.

Hey, you awake?

Yes. Why do you ask?

Just wondering… What are you doing?

Thinking about you. What else would I be
doing?

What about me?

Oh… I dunno everything. I would like to…
romance you and win your heart.

How do you think your going to accomplish
that?

How would you like me to?

I never said I’d like you to.

Is it possible?

Maybe.

Will you break up with your boyfriend?

No. why should I?

Because you're in love with me. It’s not
fair to him.

How do you know? And what makes you believe
I’m not in love with him?

Because I can see the difference, when
you’re with me and when you’re with him. It’s obvious which one
you’d prefer.

Okay. Daniel you’re always right…

Are you denying it? Do you love me?

No. I don’t. I don’t even know you.

Yes you do Love. I can see it in your eyes
and I can feel our connection, just like in the cafeteria.

It’s lust not love.

What we have is strong than both lust and
love.

I’m going back to bed. I'll see you
tomorrow.

Goodnight Faith.

Goodnight Daniel.

I didn't understand why she denied her
feelings for me. But I was going to do whatever I could to prove to
her, I was right for her.

I climbed in Faith's window and woke her up.
She sat up in bed. "What is it?" She asked.

"I would like to show you something."

Walking behind her house we walked a ways
into the woods. "Here should be good." I said smirking.

She cocked her head. "What's all this
about?" She asked.

"You'll see."

Closing my eyes I imagined a bright blue
lake surrounded by red, green, and yellow trees. Also creating
glowing butterflies that ranged in color swarming about. I opened
my eyes glancing over at Faith.

"Oh my gosh!" She said.

"You like?" I asked.

She nodded. "It's beautiful."

I took her hand in mine. "What to explore?"
I asked.

"Sure."

We walked along side the lake. She stopped
walking.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I had this dream. It was the same scenery
as the illusion you created."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Does that mean anything?" She
asked.

"I think it's probably a glimpse into the
future. What else happened?"

"We went swimming and found a gem. I took it
in my hand and it enclosed me. I couldn't get out. You eventually
broke it though. I don't remember the rest."

"Well, Love, if it makes you feel any better
we wont go swimming."

She slapped my arm and rolled her eyes.

Faith

Daniel picked me up after school. He wanted
to take me to dinner and a movie. I agreed of course. I wanted to
see just how well we did connect, if we had things in common and if
we could have fun together. I didn’t want to throw everything I had
with Chris away, because I felt an attraction to another guy.

I wanted to make sure. See if this was just
an infatuation, before I made a decision.

He took me to a quiet little restaurant in
Fayetteville called, Sheila’s. It was dimly lit with candles on
every table. I ordered a huge plate of sea food. He ate a rare
steak. His eyes lit up every time he looked at me, as though he was
smitten. I liked it… a lot.

“
What’s your favorite book?” He
asked.

“
Really? You want to know?” I asked.
He nodded.

“
I don’t think I have a favorite. But,
I like true crime books. They’ve always fascinated me. And I’m into
fantasy, horror, and romance. What about you?”

“
Well, I’ve read so many. But I guess
my favorite genre would be non-fiction. I already live in a fantasy
world, you could say, from my perspective. My world is normal and
then I go to this completely different one, with humans running
around. That’s my fantasy world. Just like the things humans
believe is non-existent, is their fantasy.”

“
Yeah. I get it.” I said.

“
Favorite movie?” He asked.

“
Well… I have two.” “Okay. Tell me
both.” He smiled.

“
Moulin Rouge and Closer.”

“
Hmm. Haven’t seen or heard of either.
Maybe we can rent them and watch them together?” He
suggested.

“
Sure.”

“
What’s your favorite movie?” I
asked.

“
I don’t have a favorite. But I do
have some I watch over and over again.”

“
Okay. Tell me.”

“
Nosferatu, Interview With the Vampire
and What Dreams May Come.” “Wow…”

“
What?”

“
I wouldn’t have guessed. Because you
just said, about the fantasy world and all.”

“
Yeah. Doesn’t mean I don’t like my
world. I was just saying other things are more interesting. And as
far as the movie choices, well, Interview With the Vampire, I like
to laugh about some of the things they think are accurate, but are
completely false.”

“
Like what?”

“
Well… For example, you’ve noticed I’m
more than capable of walking around in the sun without burning and
turning into ash right?”

“
Yeah…”

“
Well… What really happens, is we
blister in the sun. If our skin is exposed, we get these huge
blisters. Every few seconds it heals, but comes back if we stay in
the sun. So that’s why in the summer we’ll wear long sleeves and
pants, It’s painful and a nuisance.”

“
Huh okay…”

“
What?”

“
Nothing. It’s just something new to
me is all taking it all in.”

“
Alright. Next question. Favorite
color?”

“
Red and black. Can’t just pick one.
Both together are pretty neat.” “Yeah. That’s about right,” He said
smiling.

“
Yours?”

“
Same.” He winked at me. “How about
this one? If you could do one thing. Anything… What would it
be?”

“
My world… Or yours?”

“
Either.”

“
I would fly. And live
forever.”

He had a huge grin on his face.

“
What? Is that dumb?” I
asked.

He shook his head, “No, not at all. I mean…
most people would kill for that. Humans.”

“
Yeah. It would be awesome to never
have to die. And to fly would be invigorating.”

“
Yeah. It’s something to fly. But the
living forever thing… I mean, you get bored, lonely.”

“
Not if you had someone to share it
with you. That you loved,” I said picking at my food.

“
So
you’d
want this? What I am? Is that what you’re getting at?”

“
Who wouldn’t want that?” I
asked.

“
If… They… You… Whoever… Knew the
consequences of this lifestyle or could even imagine what it
brings, I’m sure they’d choose being a mortal instead.”

“
What’s so bad about it?”

“
Well. If you’re among your kind
forever never smelling human blood, or scent, it wouldn’t be so
bad. But then, you gotta think about how you view your afterlife as
well. I mean, yeah, we can live without disease, dying of old age,
however… we can still be killed, but it’s harder. Much harder to
kill us. But when one of us dies we wonder about our afterlives.
We’re told stories, but it’s not certain. And if you believe
there’s a god, then you will assume all demons go to hell and
that’s what we are. That’s why we want blood. Because we have
demons inside of us. So if our soul was good before the vampire
part, there’s still that issue of what if. So forever really isn’t
that long.

“
If I could give all of this up to be
pure, cleansed of demons forever, I would in a heartbeat. Just so I
could know for sure, I was going to a better place
after.”

“
Wow. Hmm. That’s deep.”

“
Sorry about that. When I start
talking--”

“
No, no it’s fine. I like this side of
you. I mean, it’s good conversation and it gives me something to
think about.”

“
You ready? We’re going to be late for
the movie.”

“
Oh yeah. I forgot.” He took my hand
as we walked to his car.