Fall For Me ((The Tate Chronicles #1)) (10 page)

“Like I said, Abby, it’s over.”

I turned away before she could respond. My feet felt heavy and I wished things didn’t have to be so hard. I knew how Abby felt. Grace’s rejection was eating at me, and I wasn’t sure if I could take it again.

“Wow dude, who died?” Ryan said. He was sitting on the steps outside the boys’ dorm watching everyone come and go. “Did things not go too well with Grace?”

“I can’t figure out why she’s holding back,” I said, sitting down beside him. “I can see in her eyes how she feels, but then her face clouds over and she runs away.”

“Maybe you’re losing your touch,” Ryan said, punching my arm. “What did Abby want? She looked intense.”

“Just trying to get under my skin, or win me back, or I don’t know, make my life even more miserable.”

“Come on, let’s grab dinner. I’m meeting Emma during free time.”

“Oh, that’s right, the big date. You excited?”

“Just a little,” Ryan said, smiling.

“You know Archer will kill you if you do anything wrong by her.”

“It’s cool, why would I do that anyway? She’s great.”

“Just be careful,” I said. “Something tells me Archer is the kind of guy you’d rather have as your friend than your enemy.”

We headed towards the cafeteria which was already full of students. I had no plans after dinner and study hour, but I wasn’t too crazy about being a third wheel. Lights out wasn’t until ten so maybe I’d visit my mum.

Back in the common room Ryan and I took a seat on one of the couches and waited for Emma. The girls’ and boys’ dorms were the same inside, but a mirror image. They had three floors with thirty-four rooms, ten on the first and twelve on the other two levels. There was a shared bathroom on each floor and a large common room on the first. It actually joined the two buildings together and could be accessed from the hallway of both dorms. There was also a main entrance from the outside for all students to use, because the boys weren’t allowed inside the girls’ dorm, and vice versa.

The space was comfortable with a few small tables and chairs scattered here and there. A kitchenette with sink, fridge, and microwave, sat on the back wall. There was a large pool table, TV, and two big three-seater lounges. Abby and Claudia had their heads together at a table in the far corner, and about ten other people were milling around the room. Ryan’s face lit up when Emma walked through the main glass swinging door. It was nice to see such an expression of happiness in his eyes.

“Hey,” she said tentatively.

She looked great in her skinny jeans and a yellow tank top, but I got the impression she didn’t quite know what to do or where to sit.

“Here, take my seat,” I said, jumping to my feet. “I’ll leave you to it. Think I might take a walk.”

“Catch up with you later?” Ryan asked.
“Thought we might head over to the hall for the movie.”

“Maybe,” I said as I walked out the door. I already knew I’d be giving the Tuesday night movie a miss.

The night was pleasant with the heat of the day lingering in the air. On my way to the cemetery I passed a few groups of students out enjoying the weather and eating their dinner on the grass. I stuffed my hands in my pockets, walked around the cafeteria then along the back of the main building, past the library and the hall. The big doors were open and I could hear the scraping of chairs on the floor inside, getting ready for the movie.

As I rounded the back of the library, the school’s church came into view. In the dusky light cast by the rising moon you’d have been forgiven for thinking it looked like a haunted house. Holy Trinity Cathedral was a beautiful and majestic building with grounds large enough to be a separate property. It had its own gate on the main road, enormous circular gravel driveway and front garden. Built from the same ageing sandstone as the school’s main building, it had matching wooden doors with ornate cast iron hinges. The two spires reached out to the heavens and there were seven stained glass windows down each side, beautifully depicting the fourteen Stations of the Cross. I’d never really been one for attending church, especially since Mum died, but I could still appreciate the building’s beauty. I must admit I was a little bit mad at God for taking her.

The cemetery sprawled out behind the cathedral and was old and run down, the low sandstone wall surrounding it was dirty with algae and moss, and the wrought iron pickets were mostly brown with rust. I pushed the gate open, walked through and went straight to the third row. Mum’s grave was about half way down, next to my grandparents. Their headstone was a large cross nearly twice my height, and the intricate floral pattern was stained with algae. Mum’s stone was simple and modest. Made from a slab of black marble, the gold lettering of the inscription sparkled in the moonlight.

Marion Patricia Chase 1963–2005

Wife of David, Mother of Joshua

She lives on in our hearts

Reading those words pulled at my heart, but after more than seven years I was beyond crying. I sat cross legged in front of her grave then told her all about Grace and the last two days. It felt good getting it out even if it seemed I was talking to myself.

When I’d said all I needed to say and was almost ready to leave, I resigned myself to the fact that I had nothing else to do. There was a big fat door stop of a book sitting on the desk in my room that needed reading, but that wasn’t a very exciting prospect.

When I got to my feet I noticed the night was lighter than it should have been. The back of the cemetery was home to a thick row of trees with another giant Moreton Bay fig in one corner. I watched in awe as a ball of pure white light appeared before the enormous tree. My mouth dropped open, and I had to lean against the cross of my grandparent’s grave to stop from falling over. The light began to spin, casting smaller balls of light into its orbit. Just when I thought my mouth couldn’t hang open any further, the light expanded until it became as big as the shape of a person. I was too far away to see who it was, but at that point it didn’t matter. I was wrestling with the image of someone appearing from nowhere in a ball of light. How was that even possible?

I pressed against the stone cross, trying to make myself as inconspicuous as possible. Another person emerged from the light. They were talking but I couldn’t hear them, and my brain was attempting to figure out where they’d come from. It was all very weird. Then the hairs on the back of my neck rose. Something in my gut told me I was being watched, and I was right. With my heart thumping in my chest loud enough so I could hear it, I turned and looked into the darkest, most menacing pair of eyes I’d ever seen. Then I think I passed out.

GRACE

Tuesday Night

A
rcher glanced at me as we drove out of the school. My eyes were fixed on Josh standing at the gate. If only I could explain everything to him.

“You know nothing can come of it,” Archer said.

“Why not, I’ve spent so long playing by the rules, when do I get something for myself?”

“This is different. It’s not like taking a holiday or buying a car. You’re an angel, you’re not allowed.”

“Don’t remind me,” I mumbled. I couldn’t wait to stab something with a stake. Dust on my boots was exactly what I needed.

After a light dinner Archer and I headed to the cottage. I walked up the steps onto the concrete veranda and looked at the door which hung askew on its hinges. Using my shoulder I shoved it open, wondering why we hadn’t fixed it when we did the renovations. I added its repair to my mental list of other highly important things to do.

The old veranda, which now served as the foyer, was sparsely furnished with a bookshelf on the left wall and a small table across from the door. Archer pushed the door closed with his foot, and we walked through the open plan dining room to what used to be the main living area.

At first glance it looked like any other room; white walls, a timber floor, and a couch and coffee table at one end. But once you stopped and focused, you could see the grooves of the hidden wall panels. The front window framed the shed outside. Along the far wall, we’d built a second wall about two metres in. I walked over and pushed a section of the panel. A small square flipped down to reveal a silver key pad. The buttons beeped softly as I entered the code, then part of the wall slid sideways revealing the hidden door way.

This was the bit I loved the most. I reached around and flicked the light on. Our entire arsenal was in this room. Stakes, knives, swords, axes, even a couple of whips, all hung up in rows on the wall. You name it we probably had it. The really heavy duty stuff was housed in a cabinet at the far end. Archer went back and forth loading himself up with weapons; his stake belt, a small dagger strapped to his ankle and a tiny arrow gun that could fire with the flick of a wrist. I strapped my dagger to my upper arm and put my stake belt on. 

Outside, the night was still and the stars twinkled in the dark summer sky. Dressed in our usual black T-shirts, jeans and boots, we’d be perfectly hidden in the shadows. Before we left, we practiced some manoeuvres in the clearing. Archer was a pretty good fighter, but still no match for me. While we were sparring I decided to bring up the subject of our birthday. It was less than a week away, and I thought we could have a little party on the weekend.

“A party here?”

“Yes,” I said to my unenthusiastic brother. “You know, with friends, and music, and some drinks?”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Gracie, what with the kind of people we attract to this place. It could end up turning into a big feeding frenzy.”

“Oh, come on. Even the vamps of Hopetown Valley aren’t that stupid,” I said, flicking my leg around and knocking him on his butt. “Everyone knows they hunt inconspicuously so they don’t risk exposure.”

“Everyone!” he said, jumping up.

“You know what I mean. Plenty of parties happen around here, why shouldn’t we have one?”

“We’ll talk about it later,” Archer said.

“Fine.”
I stomped off across the clearing determined to have a party whether he liked it or not.

We’d agreed to meet Charlotte at the school cemetery. Archer wanted a change of scenery but wasn’t too keen on her tagging along. I thought it was a fantastic idea. Since Matthew and his boys were after her we were bound to run into them. After one final check of our weaponry, I orbed us to the back of the cemetery. We landed in front of the big Moreton Bay Fig that stood in the far corner. Charlotte hadn’t arrived so we waited on the edge of the shadows.

The conversation with my brooding brother was not very enjoyable, and I found myself wishing Charlotte would hurry up. Archer’s moods could sometimes rub off on you.

“Snap out of it, Arch. Stop being a baby.”

“You haven’t been thinking all that straight the past couple of days, Gracie.”

“I’m thinking perfectly fine, thank you.”

“Then how come every time Josh is around you go all girly and mushy.”

“I do not,” I protested. Where did that come from? He’d obviously been thinking about it since we left school. I tried to read him but he pushed me out.

A gentle puff of wind brushed my arm and Charlotte was standing next to me. She looked worried, and it took me a second before I figured out she was reflecting our expressions.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing,” I said quickly.

Before Archer could protest, Charlotte put a finger to her lips and stood perfectly still.
Listen,
she mouthed. She was right; I could hear four separate sets of thoughts around the middle of the cemetery. I sifted through them, trying to work out who they were.

“Josh!” I gasped.

“Oh, great, just what we need,” Archer said.

Without thinking, I orbed to Josh. When I got there he was crumpled on the ground, a trickle of blood running down his forehead. Before I could blink twice Charlotte was at my side and we were facing Matthew, Cain and Tyler. Archer arrived just as Matthew lunged at Charlotte. He sent her flying across the cemetery and she landed hard against a headstone. I formed two orbs in my palms and threw them at Cain and Tyler, hitting them both in the chest. They landed about twenty metres away; it wouldn’t hold them off for long.

I spun towards Charlotte and everything seemed to happen in slow motion, like we were wading through mud. She sprung back to her feet in a defensive crouch, a guttural sound coming from her throat. Matthew was crouched as well, edging around her, fangs bared and growling. They both lunged simultaneously and Charlotte came out on top, throwing him across to the next row of graves.

Then Seth showed up. I was beginning to wonder where he was. It was unlike him to miss the action.

“I didn’t think you’d be too far away,” I said, guarding Josh. I threw another orb at Cain and it sent him flying. He landed with a thud then rolled into a crouch, his dark hair hanging like a curtain around his chiselled face. Archer had a stake in each hand and was busy fighting Tyler who unfortunately had the upper hand.

“Just came to watch the fun,” Seth said.

“Well, I have a question for you. If Charlotte’s blood is so precious, why is Matthew trying to kill her?”