Obsidian (Mystic Stones Series #1) (9 page)

“I’m glad I can be myself around you now,” he said.

I took a sip and set my glass down knowing I’d keep drinking if I left it in my hand. I turned to Tom and began to study him again. I could see his dark brown eyes, the way his hair laid across his forehead, and his moist lips that I’d kissed the other night.

“What color were your eyes? Before, I mean.”

“They were green. After my change they were brighter, but then they faded and became darker and darker until they landed on the dark brown you see now,” he said, looking into my eyes. “They were nowhere near as beautiful as your eyes are.”

I tore my gaze from him and picked up my glass as a nervous gesture. I took another sip. As we listened to the music I finished my second glass. I set it back down on the coffee table and mentally cut myself off. The music was so lovely I let myself relax and gaze around the room. Shelves on the south wall housed a vast collection of music, books, and items from cultures around the world.

“You have many interests,” I said.

“Yes. It comes with all the free time. Hobbies are a must if you want to stay sane.”

I listened to the music more intently. I sensed the emotion in the particular song that was playing. It was much like the man sitting before me—sweet at times and strong tones of passion at others.

Tom was a passionate man. His kiss the other night had been passionate too. I tried to make myself stop thinking about it, but couldn’t. That was before he revealed himself as a monster. I had a hard time considering this man a monster. His actions seemed too gentle. He reminded me of a movie I’d watched as a kid: Beauty and the Beast. The only difference is there’s no magic spell to break here.

Tom’s eyes were kind and gentle, but I’d seen a beast in there somewhere at the warehouse. Yet, as I looked into his eyes, what happened in the warehouse became less important. He said it was an act. The beast hadn’t resurfaced since, which led me to believe him, but there was a dangerous part of him. There always had been. He leaned forward and put his hand behind my head and gently pulled me into a kiss.

My heartbeat raced and the butterflies flew into my stomach. I kissed him back on instinct, or perhaps because I simply wanted to. The adrenaline surged as my mind struggled to gain control over my heart.

I realized I was kissing a dangerous creature.

I was kissing a vampire.

The thought made me come up for air with my eyes wide open. I caught my breath as his lips went for my neck again. He kissed it tenderly, careful not to cause me discomfort. For a split second, I wished that he would bite me, so I could be his forever. The thought disturbed me. I closed my eyes and said, “Stop.”

Tom stopped in his tracks. “I’m sorry, Ava. I got carried away again. I promise I wasn’t going to do it, though. I swear to you I won’t take you unexpectedly.”

“I know. I’m just getting so confused. My head is spinning.” My emotions and thoughts rollercoastered through my head.

“Don’t worry, my love, your change will not be as violent as mine. I keep blood on hand so you won’t drink from a human if you don’t want to. We can even mix the blood in with wine if the taste is too much for you.”

“Okay,” I heard myself say.

“I was planning on doing it tomorrow at midnight. Midnight is the time we are strongest, and you will need your strength. We could do it here. An intimate affair between the two of us. I’ll make sure you get through the change peacefully.”

Time had slipped through my fingers. In 24 hours, I would be a vampire if I didn’t do anything about it. My head swirled. I slid down to a reclined position on the couch. Tom helped me lie down all the way. Part of me still wanted him. I wanted to know why I craved him so much. The fog of his charm kept me lost in my thoughts.

He saved my life multiple times. Maybe I had damsel-in-distress syndrome. Or Stockholm syndrome.

“Would you like me to lay with you and keep you warm?”

I nodded. An action controlled by my heart and not approved by my brain. He moved me with ease, slid behind me, and then wrapped his arms around me. If he wanted to bite me he could do so easily in this position. I decided to trust in his word for tonight and use it to my advantage tomorrow. After a short while, I drifted to sleep.

I woke in a big bed. According to the color of the sheets, it wasn’t mine. I moved a little and realized Tom’s arms encased me. He moved in order to gaze into my eyes.

“Good morning. I wasn’t expecting you to wake up for a little while longer or else breakfast would be waiting.”

“That’s alright. You don’t have to go through all that trouble again.”

“Well, one advantage is I can ask you what you would like today. So, what would you like for breakfast?”

“Do you keep cereal on hand?”

“Yes, Honey Oats, Frosted Flakes . . .”

“Honey Oats sound great, actually,” I stopped him. I didn’t need any more choices to make today. The choice of how I’d behave today loomed over me. I considered completely rebelling, but the uselessness of the option turned me away. My only choice was to keep pretending I wanted to be a vampire and that I wanted to be with him. Although, I wondered if I needed to keep pretending to want him or if that part had become true.

“Okay, wait here, I’ll go make you a bowl,” Tom said. He kissed me on the forehead and left the room.

I smiled at him as guilt crept into my heart. I would not be turned into a vampire the way he planned. I had to figure out how to get out of the house.

First, I’d create a distraction just before he bit me, but after he took the wristband off. My whole plan assumed he wouldn’t leave it on until after he changed me. I would have to do everything in my power to make him trust me today.

My guilt and anxiety started to build up. I would write a note, but leave it in my room. The note would serve as the excuse I needed to get out of the room before he bit me. I’d tell him I needed to give him something before the change. Something sentimental.

Tom returned to the room with a tray and a bowl of cereal, he had a glass of chocolate milk on the tray as well. I thanked him and ate my cereal. After I finished, I told him I wanted to clean up for the day and found the way to my room.

Once inside, I found some paper on the desk and began to write a letter. I folded the letter up and put it in an envelope, before hiding it in the back of a drawer. Once I assured myself everything would work out, I took a shower and dressed myself.

I went to the window in the bedroom. The window opened easily, but the jump would be a leg-breaker. I checked the smaller window in the bathroom. It hung over the kitchen and a section of the roof sat just below. My body would fit through the window, but the feat would be tricky. If I took things slow and didn’t get panicked I could open the window, push out the screen, and then get out.

I wasn’t sure where I’d go, but Tom would start looking for me the second he found out I was missing, so I couldn’t stick around. I thought about my friend Alani. Her brother had a boat. Maybe we’d have a chance in a less isolated place. Food seemed to be disappearing fast in Hawaii. At least in California we would have access to food and other supplies. We could get out and find a way to stop the vampires—assuming I could get Alani and Hiu to believe me.

The plan balanced on a tightrope. Alani wouldn’t want to leave Hawaii, but maybe with everything going on I could convince her. Which brought about another dilemma: should I tell Alani everything right off the bat or wait until we got to the mainland? Alani might think me crazy, but it may be the only way to get her off the island. Maybe we could get other people to go. We needed protection, and numbers might help. I wished I knew how to kill vampires. The information might come in handy later. Although, I worried I might hesitate if it came down to killing Tom.

A knock came at the door. Tom’s voice rang out. “Ava? Are you coming out? I have something to show you.”

“I’ll be right out, almost finished,” I called back.

His footsteps grew distant as he walked away, and I composed myself. I didn’t want Tom to think I was plotting something. I checked the clock. It was almost noon.

Twelve hours to go.

Time overcame me like an ocean wave. I hoped I’d be able to withstand the force.

I descended the spiral staircase and walked into the living room where Tom waited. He dressed in a white button-up and dark brown slacks. The shirt hinted at his strong chest beneath it and the urge to undo a few more buttons washed over me.

“There you are! You look lovely today, as usual.”

I wore a pair of black slacks and a navy blue shirt that would please Tom by giving him the sense I wanted to look nice, but also wouldn’t give me any trouble when I made my escape.

I reminded myself to be enthusiastic today.

“Thank you. So do you. What’s the occasion?” I asked.

“Well, today is your last day as a human. I want to make sure it’s a joyous occasion, and I thought we’d eat lunch out on the terrace since it’s such a beautiful day.”

“That sounds pleasant.”

Tom led me out to the terrace where he’d already prepared a chicken dish and some other side dishes. Our plates were already made, and he served wine, as usual. In the center of the table, a small black box sat in a prominent spot.

The box seemed ominous for no apparent reason other than the fact that it was there.

“What’s that?” I asked gesturing to the box.

“That’s a surprise. For after our meal,” he said with a grin.

I smiled mischievously and glanced at the box again. Tom gave me a fake disapproving smirk.

“Ava, I’m glad we waited to do this. Today can be a celebration. I would have regretted changing you in the warehouse with all the other witnesses. This is something I wish to do as a gesture of intimacy.”

“I’m happy to share this with you, and although I’m still a little scared, I know you can get me through this. I have come to trust you over the last few days. You’ve saved my life and for that I am grateful. Now, you’re saving me from certain danger, and I don’t see how I can ever repay you.”

“Repay me by picking up your glass. Let us toast to a day of merriment, and to an eternity of bliss,” Tom said as he raised his glass of wine.

I did the same and said, “To merriment and bliss.”

With a smile from both myself and Tom, we drank our wine.

I would miss Tom’s cooking. His hospitality deserved five stars. I would also miss him. Had we met under different circumstances, Tom may have been the one, but I would never find out. After tonight, I hoped we would never cross paths again. I didn’t want to break his heart, but I didn’t want to give mine up either.

After we finished eating, Tom cleared the table while I enjoyed the sunny day. The overnight rain released the aroma of Hilo and the air gave me a moment of relaxation. After Tom finished clearing the table, he returned to the deck and refilled our wine glasses. He let his fingers trail over to the black box then handed it to me.

“I want you to take this as a symbol of my dedication to your well-being. It’s also a symbol of my deep feelings for you.”

I opened the box to find a necklace inside. The pendant hanging from it reflected the one I’d seen yesterday, but appeared smaller and more feminine. The “W” was cast in white gold and set inside a circle of 18 rubies. It sparkled in the sun on the spider-web-thin chain that made me nervous.

“Would you give me the honor of being your Swami once you are changed?” he asked, taking my hand into his.

“Yes, Tom, I would be lucky to have you as my Swami,” I replied.

“Can I wear it now?” I asked enthusiastically.

“Yes, my dear, of course you can.” Tom took the box from my hand and pulled out the necklace, then stood and moved behind me to fasten it around my neck. It hung lightly as I ran my fingers over it and smiled. Tom kissed my cheek from behind me and moved around to see the necklace on me.

“It’s perfect for you,” he commented.

“Yes, I love it. It’s so beautiful.”

“As are you, Ava.”

Sadness swept across me like a rainstorm as I realized how much I was going to hurt him. The rain turned to tears and a few escaped my eyes. Tom noticed them immediately.

“What’s wrong, sweet Ava?”

I tried to compose myself. I failed miserably. More tears came. I quickly tried to come up with a reason for the tears.

“I’m overwhelmed with happiness. You’re more than I could ever ask for. You aren’t a monster. I’m sorry I ever said that about you. No one has ever treated me so considerately before.”

Tom took my hand and pulled me into his lap as he sat in the chair. He held me there for a while as I tried to get the tears under control. He turned me so that I was looking him directly in the face and said, “Don’t cry, I know that you may feel bad about calling me a monster, but after what you saw in the warehouse, I don’t blame you. I’ve spent the last two days, and I will spend the rest of eternity, trying to make up for that. I’m so sorry that I scared you that day.”

Tom kissed my cheek and I moved so that he would kiss my lips. I pushed my fingers into his thick, gorgeous hair. The butterflies came back. We kissed on the deck for a while longer. In a whoosh, he carried me to the couch where we continued to kiss fervently. He was on top of me and I couldn’t stop myself this time. This was our last day together. As his kisses grew more and more passionate I couldn’t help but want him to be even closer to me. Somehow this wasn’t enough. I wished he would rip off my clothes, but at the same time I was afraid he actually would.