Harmony (18 page)

       I loved him; this was going to be so hard. “You read my mind! I love breakfast for dinner. Do you mind if we eat outside?” I asked. “I want to watch the sun set.”

***

       Sitting out on the porch, Ian wasn’t really paying attention to the setting sun; he’d lost count of how many he’d seen in his lifetime. He used to crave this time when night came because it was the only way to make sense of the days. Not sleeping had a tendency to become monotonous. Now, he dreaded the night; Sophie slept and the precious moments for bonding were put on hold for another day. Ian was slowly beginning to see the significance of the rising and setting sun—a new dawn or beginning—to correct the wrong. Sophie had taught him that.

       She was a sight to behold. Ian wanted to burn this memory of her forever in his mind. Her hair was gently flying about her face from the slight breeze rolling down the mountain, and she constantly tucked it behind one ear.
He loved that simple motion.
She looked content. There was a natural glow about her that made him want to near and freeze this moment in time somehow.
He loved her, but couldn’t have her.
His appetites craved her; her body was so fragrant and intoxicating. The blood that flowed through her, Ian desperately wanted to possess, taste even. It made him ill. He didn’t want to feel that way about Sophie. Not his sweet Sophie.

       “A penny for your thoughts?” Sophie asked. She’d been watching him stare intently at her for a while now. “I didn’t want to intrude,” she lied.

       “You are beautiful, Sophie. I want to always remember you like this,” Ian simply justified his staring.

       Sophie made light of the moment again, deflecting the focus from her. “You mean eating eggs?”

      
Ian laughed. She was precious. He loved her with all of his heart.

***

       It was my last night at the cabin with Ian as we’d already decided that I would go back home tomorrow. This night was important to me. I wanted to remember it always. Change was coming, and it wasn’t something that could be altered or put off any longer. The flow of nature constantly changed from one direction to another. You just had to accept it and learn to work with what you were dealt.

       “Will you read to me?” I asked snuggling up to him on the couch by the fire later that night. “Anything in particular?” Ian asked.

       “How about one of your favorites,” I suggested. “You do have a favorite, don’t you?”

       “I’ve accumulated several favorites over the years,” Ian said as he headed over to the bookcase, “but I’m rather fond of the Irish poets.”

       I said dryly, “Can’t imagine why.” I closed my eyes as Ian read about kings, queens, lovers, heartache, and joy. Common themes for the Irish. I was a firm believer now that the natural lilt of his voice should be a requirement for reading Irish lit. The cadences were definitely created for the Irish I mused. It was absolutely wonderful listening to the stories he retold as I sat mesmerized by his side.

       “That was wonderful,” I said, feeling more relaxed. “Tell me Ian…did you always enjoy poetry?”

       Ian laughed. “No, it’s been a recent pastime.”

       I teased, “When you say recent, what do you mean? Ten, Five years ago?”

       Ian sat back, amused. “Still trying to figure out when I was born?”

       “Yes! Please give me a hint,” I begged.

       “Okay, one hint,” Ian relented. “I was alive during the great potato famine in Ireland.”

       I said incredulously, “That’s it? Thanks, that was a big help,” I huffed. “So, if I remember right, that was the late 1800s?”

       “If you say so,” Ian said, still toying with my request.

       “Obviously, you’re not going to give me a straight answer, so another question. Did you have your own family?” This was a topic that we’d never discussed, and I didn’t know if I wanted to know. I didn’t like thinking of him with someone else; he probably had been with dozens of women over the years. Or would it have been female vampires? I didn’t like that thought at all.

       Ian was pensive. “No, I didn’t have a family.” That was all he said. Book closed.

       “Sorry,” I apologized.

       “It’s late,” Ian said. Our conversation was clearly over. I’d stirred something up and was regretting it now. “I’m going to get ready for bed. Will you come stay with me?” I asked tentatively.

       Ian didn’t move from the couch. His mood was dark. “I have to go out,” he finally said. “I’ll be up later.”

       “Okay,” I said. I turned to say goodnight, but he was already gone.
Hunting.
 I could see it in his thoughts; that made my resolve even stronger. I wouldn’t cause him conflict any longer. I took the opportunity with Ian off hunting to search my mind for Connacher. He was always lurking somewhere…I’d left that little tidbit out. It was why he had such easy access to my dreams recently. If I was going to finally put an end to this, I needed Connacher to pull it off. Okay, that sounded twisted, but necessary. I shivered; I was going to be the bait for Connacher and Ian the hunter…it was what Connacher wanted all along.

FATE

Finding the underbelly of Corvallis was taking more time than I thought. There had to be some sort of shady activity in this college town. I had driven to Corvallis under the pretense of getting some books on reserve from the library for Mrs. Hewitt. That excuse was good enough for Grams. She knew that I spent most of my time at the library studying and was pleased to see me stepping up my game for graduation. I shook my head—I hated lying to Grams, but would she have let me come if I told her I was hunting down an ancient vampire? Seriously, Grams was cool about Ian, but even she had her limits.

       “Where would I hang out if I were a vampire?” I said out loud to no one in particular. My instincts told me he was here—biding his time and waiting for me. I shivered at the thought, but I kept my resolve up because I needed to do this for Ian. I hadn’t seen Ian in a day or so. After dropping me off back home, he’d said, “Off hunting. Be back soon.”  Granted, sometimes these hunting trips took longer than he’d anticipated, but I finally figured out that when he was brooding, he stayed away from me. I could read his thoughts when he was near—something that he’d figured out too.

       I frowned, my brow knit in concentration. Driving around seemed hopeless. I came up to a park, pulled over, and got out. “Well, I’ll just let him come to me,” I said, sitting on the swings. I’d loved to swing as a kid, when things were simpler then. I remembered my mom laughing, picnics in the park, play dates with friends. My childhood had seemed so normal. I searched my memory for any clue that what I was about to do now made any sense. I came up empty.

       Lost in thought again, I heard him too late. I jumped off the swing and spun around.

       “A little far from home, aren’t we?” Connacher hissed.

       “Not further than you,” I quipped back.

       “This is an unexpected surprise….you were looking for me,” Connacher said pleased.

       “Don’t flatter yourself. I have a proposition for you,” I said in disgust.

       Connacher laughed. He looked at me strangely; tilting his white, drawn-out face. I didn’t like to look at him—he really was hideous despite his once-upon-a-time handsomeness. Connacher was trying to figure out my angle. I blocked my mind. Connacher was strong, but I think I held my own and fought him off.

       “Cathbad doesn’t give you enough credit,” Connacher finally said, contemplating my new abilities. “You are stronger than when we last met.”

       “Yeah, okay, whatever. I’m sure you’ll clue him in.” I was impatient and tense, and I wanted to get this over with. “Do you want to hear what I have to say or not?” I was being more bold than I thought imaginable.

       “You’ve piqued my curiosity. I’m interested in knowing what you think you can give me,” Connacher said, twisting a gold ring around his finger.

“I can give you Ian,” I said.

Connacher shrugged, “I don’t want Ian. I want the demon that lies inside. That Ian was marvelous, calculating, and obedient!”

I shuddered. “I can summon the demon inside, but I don’t think he will be ready to serve you so quickly.”

“Ha!” Connacher hissed, “There is much you need to learn about vampires, but, I’m curious, how pray tell will you accomplish it?”

“I’ll give him my blood,” I whispered, “…he won’t be able to resist.”

Connacher was silent. The silence was excruciating. If he weren’t already dead, I’d have thought he’d croaked on the spot. Finally, he nodded in agreement. I’d give him that much; he wasn’t a stupid vampire. He knew when someone was handing him a gift on a silver platter. It was his vanity that I hoped would be his downfall.

       “Do we have a deal?” I asked hurriedly.

       Connacher tapped a bony finger to his temple. Amused he said, “I’ll play along with your little game. In the end, it doesn’t matter, but it wouldn’t hurt to have some fun along the way.” His idea of fun made me cringe. He was sick and twisted. I couldn’t imagine Ian ever hanging out with this vamp. “When is this to take place?” he questioned.

       “You’ll know,” I said firmly.

       “I don’t doubt it,” Connacher said, but not before rushing to my side and tracing his fingers down my neck. “I can see why Ian is so tormented by you.” I sat perfectly still; I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of my fear. He laughed. “I can smell the fear Sophie—no need to hide it. It’s reeking from your body. Such a delight! No matter, I just wanted to show you how easy it would be for me to take you now and make you mine.”

       Before I could react, Connacher disappeared into the shadows of the night. I got home later than anticipated, drumming up in my mind some excuse for Grams on why I was late. Ian’s car was parked on the side street. He was sitting on the porch with a dark and stern look on his face. His eyes were glistening in the dark like those of an owl on the hunt. It made me a little nervous that he was looking at me that way. Had he seen where I’d been? I didn’t think so, but his powers of perception and his blasted premonitions were a lot more refined than mine.

       I put on a fake smile. “Hi, you’re back. I missed you,” I said, sitting down beside him. “When did you get here?” It all rushed out at once. Ian didn’t say a word. He was definitely simmering. “What’s the matter?” I stammered. “Did something happen?” I tried again.

       Arms folded Ian seethed, “You tell me. How was Connacher? Do you think I’m that stupid that I couldn’t follow you?”

       I sighed. The gig was up. “So you did see.” No use lying now. “I must have been too distracted, because I didn’t feel you there,” I began.

       “Do you seriously want to die?” Ian began pacing. “I wasn’t anywhere near that I could protect you! I couldn’t drive fast enough to get here.”

       I shuffled my feet like a scolded school girl. “It’s not what you think, Ian,” I said.

       “What do you mean?” Ian asked.

       “Are you jealous?” I asked. “I’ve never seen you so upset about something I’ve done before.”

       Ian glared at me. “Jealous? Don’t be silly.”

       “You didn’t think that I, that Connacher and I…” I trailed off, reading his mind. “Ian!” I slugged him in the shoulder. “I can’t believe you’d think that.”

       “Okay, it was a stretch, but I couldn’t imagine why you would seek him out,” Ian said defensively. “You can’t tell me that what we have between us is not wrong either,” he said, waving in my direction.

        “Ian, how can you say that?” I was more than hurt. “What we have isn’t wrong, it’s just different.”

       Changing the subject, Ian asked, “So are you going to tell me why Connacher didn’t slay you right then and there?”

       I didn’t have a choice; Ian would figure it out sooner or later. I’d hoped for later, but Ian was too clever for that. I loved him too much for him to continue to risk his existence for me. I was banking on him loving me too; my whole plan revolved around it. I could feel it at times, but conversations like this left me doubting. I had to have faith that he’d come through for me.
Ian had too.
Love was what would decide our fate. I let Ian in on
part
of my plan, leaving out one crucial detail where he would drink my blood and hopefully give into his demonic side. I think I made my point that confronting Connacher was the only way to get rid of him once and for all. He didn’t react at all like I thought he would. I thought for sure that he’d jump up and shake me violently—ask me if I was mad. He just sat there on the porch steps looking at the ground.
At least protest a little bit!
I fumed in my mind.

       I stood up. “I’ve got an exam in the morning. I’m going to go get ready for bed.” It was a lame comment, I knew, and I wasn’t even sure why I mentioned it. Ian still didn’t move as I passed him on the steps. I stopped and placed my hand on his shoulder. “Ian, at least say something. Anything please,” I pleaded. His mind was blank to me.

       “When is this supposed to happen?” Ian finally asked.

       “As soon as I’m ready,” I lied.

       Ian stood up. “Well, goodnight then.” He was swiftly gone and in the car before I had a chance to say goodnight. I was regretting my decision already. I didn’t like this feeling of distance between us. I felt my heart slowly breaking.

***

       Ian drove for hours that night. He really didn’t have any particular destination in mind. The cabin wasn’t a safe haven anymore; he was constantly plagued by thoughts of Sophie there. Her scent still lingered in the air. Ian hit the steering wheel in frustration. He had been dealt such a crappy hand in life! A loser’s draw. Hadn’t he suffered enough? His former life had been cruelly taken from him, and just when he saw a glimmer of salvation on the horizon, it was being ripped from his grasp yet again.