Rock n Roll Promises (YAE) (Rock n Roll Paraphantasy Series) (3 page)

“Fine for now, we will table it. However, you are
going to have to answer some questions. I get the
feeling there is something I don’t know. The look
upon your face tells me I’m right. I can’t believe
you would keep something from me.”

“It’s nothing really. I’ll tell you another time. For
now, how about we concentrate on one problem at a
time? What are you going to do? Think about it or
move?’

“Any advice on the subject?”

 

“Yes, do what he says. What could it hurt?
Perhaps there is something there.”

“One of the big benefits of being a vampire is
my mind is perfectly clear and my memory doesn’t
fade. What’s there to be learned from this little
game?”

“I’m aware of how your crazy mind works.
Maybe there’s something you overlooked or knew
about but never paid it much attention. Perhaps
there was something that was said or done that you
didn’t understand at the time and looking back will
make it clearer.”

She sat back in her chair and thought about the
suggestion.

 

Maybe…hmm
“So you think he is telling me the
truth?”

“I have no idea. It’s strange, though. How does
he know? Only a few people know about you. Well,
know that much about you. I mean, Ozzie now
knows what you are, but he has been recently added
to that very short list.”

“Yes, and given his profession I’m surprised he
hasn’t come after me yet. You know I love you,
Paige, but if his hunter side comes out and he comes
for me…I will kill him.”

“He knows that, but he also knows that you don’t
take human life. That’s what he really hunts,
supernatural things that are a threat to human life.
Although, I must say, some of the things he says he
hunts just puzzles me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sometimes I have to keep from laughing when
he talks about his work. I mean, come on. Some of
the stuff just doesn’t really exist. I see that look,
ghosts don’t exist, Anna. You and I both know that.”

“Really? I have to disagree with you.”

 

“You’re kidding, right? How can you possibly
think they exist? It’s just old legends and such.”

 

“I’m of old legends and such.”

“No you’re not. Legend says vampires are all
blood-sucking demons. I have met plenty of vamps,
you included, and they’re not what legend says they
are. All of them are different in one way or another.
Some crave blood while others crave different
things. Most of you don’t need to take human life to
feed. Only the sadistic ones take human life.”

“See, you just made my point. What you mean to
say is they exist but not in the way legend portrays
them, so I think ghosts exist, yes, but maybe not the
way most people think. Maybe you should ask him
about it. He’s a hunter after all. I have been with
Ozzie on a few hunts, he knows his stuff. If he came
up to me and said he knew a pink and polka-dotted
minx existed, I would believe him.”

The look of concession on Paige’s face made her
smile. She almost laughed out loud when her friend
rolled her eyes before she spoke.

“I guess you have a point, so I will ask. Now
back to your problem, stop evading. What are you
going to do?”

“Not sure yet.” She sipped more of her coffee.

 

“I still think you should do as Jaxson says. If you
want, I can stay and talk it out with you.”

Sighing deeply, she answered, “No that is fine. I
think I should do this alone. I can put myself into
deep vampire meditation and re-watch my whole
vampire life.”

“What’s that like?”

“It’s a lot like a cross between a coma and a TV
show. You feel yourself there, but you have no
control over what happens. You are just there going
through the role.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s
kind of cool and creepy.”

“Weird. Do you want someone to watch over you
while you are in this state? Ozzie and I can take it in
shifts, you know he won’t mind. He likes you.”

“I hadn’t thought of that, but now that you
mention it, it might not be a bad idea. You two can
stay here in the guest room. I had it redone with you
in mind. It has a woodsy scene with a hint of a
woman’s touch. “

“Really? That’s wonderful. I will go get Ozzie,
and we will be back in about an hour.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“No, Anna, thank you! If this works, I won’t
have to find out if Ozzie would follow me if I left.”

“I think you have nothing to fear on the Ozzie
front, but you’re right. Even if I don’t get the
answers that Jaxson thinks are there, I may learn
something I need to know, anyway. Besides, I have
been looking for Sebastian for six years, so maybe
doing this will clue me in on how to find him.”

“Why are you looking for Sebastian? I thought
you hated him.”
“Not hate, just despise. I used to, yes, but now I
despise him for what he did to me. Granted there
are some major Benefits to this life, but it’s
unnatural. No one is supposed to live forever. Even
you, with your condition, don’t live forever. You
age slower, but you will eventually die.”

“True, but you still didn’t answer my question.”

“I want to find him because I have questions of
my own that need answers; answers only he has.”
“Such as?”
“One problem at a time, remember?”

“Oh, right. OK, I will go and get Ozzie, you get
whatever you need to be ready and I will see you in
a bit.”

“OK. Thanks again.”

Warmth surrounded her frame and seeped
through her skin. It embedded in her bones when
she hugged her friend goodbye. Pulling away, she
felt unease and sorrow where happiness and joy
usually resided—her heart. There were butterflies in
her stomach as she moved her tight muscles and
walked her friend to the door.

I hope for her sake this works. If it doesn’t…I
will just be without answers. I could never stand the
pain in her eyes if she had to lose him.

The cold metal sent chills through her body as
she leaned against the door. She took a deep breath,
shoved off the door with her shoulders and walked
to her room. Her feet went from warm to cold as she
strode from room to room, carpet to wood. Her
entire body felt tired and weary as she entered her
bedroom. All the stress started to take its toll. Soft
carpet massaged her soles as she walked the
distance to her big fluffy bed. She took a deep
breath and flopped onto it in an awkward position.

This is my favorite place to think. My room! It's
so serene, so peaceful. Soft lavender walls, plush
white carpet covering the floor and matching satin
curtains over the windows. My little piece of
heaven. Oh, I need matches.

Rolling onto her side, she pushed off the bed and
stumbled to her bedside table. She bent over the
opened drawer and shuffled through her collection
of junk.

I know those matches are in here somewhere.
Frustration took over. She slammed the drawer
shut and nearly jumped for joy when a book of
matches slid off the table and onto her feet.
Oh, right, forgot I put those there. I really need
one of those long, candle lighter things. I would at
least see where I put that.
With the matchbook flipped, she pressed against
the back and pulled the match through it. A small,
hot flame erupted at her fingertips. Her hands
moved slowly. She lit the three candles on her
bedside table and hurriedly and carefully lit the
three on the other side.
Ugh, lavender and sulfur don’t quite mix well. At
least the sulfur will fade. This never gets old. The
smoke from the candles against the wall gives the
illusion of purple haze. Ha ha, “Purple Haze.”
Hmm, I wonder if I said that to Paige if she would
get it. Anyway, I guess I better get back to getting
ready. No time like the present or some sort of
crap….
Shaking her hand, she extinguished the flame
and tossed the match in the ashtray.
Guess since I am basically going to sleep, I
should probably put on my PJ’s. I wouldn’t want to
wake up because I was uncomfortable.
Casually she dropped the matchbook. She
headed to the dresser, stripping out of her clothes as
she went. The cool air from the open window
played along her bare skin.
Now, what pajamas to wear? I need something
comfy, very comfy.
Drawers opened in layers, her hands covered
with fabric as she sifted through her dresser.

Oh perfect! Look, my soft and fluffy AC/DC
jammies. Love these!
Dressed for bed with her pillows scrunched and
comforter up to her chest, she rolled onto her side
and prepared her mind for meditation. She held her
breath and let it out slowly. Her eyes closed, and she
dove into her mind.
OK, focus…1972, Australia, New Year’s Eve…
Sebastian.
Her muscles locked tightly in place as she began
mentally sifting through her subconscious. Flashes
of her life came to dance behind her eyes.
Chapter 3

Swinging her arm back, she shut the door and
rushed into her retro style living room. She placed
her keys and purse on the hall table then paused
momentarily to take off her shoes and call out for
Ozzie. There was no answer.

Hmm, maybe he went back to sleep.

Crossing from the hall, she entered her living
room and stopped abruptly.
He looks so cute when he’s sleeping. He must
have fallen asleep waiting for me to get back.
With her hand on her chest and a tear in her eye,
she looked at the love of her life, perfect, still, and
handsome. His tussled brown hair matched his
body. He lay with his arms and legs stretched out in
every direction. His muscled framed looked softer
and less threatening sprawled over her long couch.
I don’t understand how one hand hanging off the
couch and one leg draped over the top can be
comfortable, but there he is, sleeping soundly.
Her socks rubbed against the carpet as she
crossed the room to her couch. She stood at his
shoulders, bent down and laid a soft kiss upon his
lips. Ready for it, she quickly moved to the side and
watched his body jerk and land on his feet in front
of her.

“Ouch! What the…oh, Paige. You know I hate it
when you do that.”
“Kiss you while you are sleeping?”

“Yes, wait, I mean no. You know what you do;
rub your feet across the rug, so when you kiss me
the static electricity shocks me and makes me
jump.”

A playful and coy smile crossed her face. “I told
you my kiss was electrifying.”

 

“Yes, well, you don’t need to work up static for
that.”

 

“No? Well, you do look cute when you are all
jumpy.”

 

“Is that so?”

She stepped closer, placed her hands on his
chest, and leaned on her toes to kiss him for real.
Her mouth moved with his as her tongue explored
his mouth and her breathing got heavier. Pulling
away, she glanced into his face and returned his
smile.

“You drive me crazy, woman, but I love you.”

 

“I love you, too.”
“How is Anna?”

“She is going to be fine, but we have to go.”
Dropping her hands, she rushed to her bedroom and
grabbed her overnight bag, tossing it on the bed.
She noticed Ozzie standing in the doorway. She
blazed a trail between her bed, closet, and dresser.
“She is putting herself into deep meditation. We are
staying at her house, so we can take turns watching
her.”

“Watch her? Sleep?”

Stopping mid stride with her hands full of
clothes, she turned to him. “Well, not actually
watch her sleep, just be in the house and peek in on
her. While she is under, she is vulnerable. She is, for
a lack of a better word, dead to the world.”

“Like, vamp dead?”
“Yes and no.” She walked to the bed, dropped
her clothes on her bag, and sat down. “Come here
and sit down. I will explain it.”

“OK, I’m sitting down and trying to stay calm.
Now tell me how this works. You look worried and
that kind of scares me.”

She grabbed his hand and looked into his dark,
gray eyes. “In this state, she’s as I said, dead to the
world. She can’t wake up until her journey is over.
Once she induces the sleep, she stays that way until
she finds what she needs. The needs are different. I
have seen her do it once before. She did it because
she was badly injured. This time she is taking a
journey, so to speak.”

“A journey to where?”

“Her past. She is looking for Jaxson. She was
with him earlier and he told her to look for him in
her past, so she’s going to try and find him.”

“OK, so we need to watch over her because in
her state she won’t awaken if danger approaches. Is
that it?”

“Yes. She’s defenseless in this condition. That’s
why it’s dangerous for her to do it. Her enemies
could come in and kill her and she wouldn’t know.
She would simply be killed.”

“Does this have something to do with the fact
that Jaxson is in love with—”

 

“Yes, and Anna doesn’t think they can be
together, you know, because of what she is.”

 

“You mean because she thinks he is human?”

 

Furrowing her brows, confusion laced her voice
“What do you mean ‘think’?”

 

“Did she sleep with him?”

 

“Yes she did, that is why she was there in the
first place.”

 

“Well, the fact he survived should have been her
first clue.”

 

“First clue to what? Ozzie, what are you not
telling me?”

 

“Do you think she will wait until we get there
before she goes to sleep?”

The tight grip of fear clutched at her heart as the
answer to that question surfaced. Her pulse raced,
her heart pounded, and her eyes bulged as her body
reacted. Snatching up her bag, clothes and all, she
raced out of the room.

“Ozzie, let’s go! She won’t wait. And when we
get there and all is well, I need you to explain to me
what you are talking about.”

“I am right behind you. You get in the car, I will
grab the keys.”

Colors blurred in her peripheral vision as she
raced through her house and out the front door. Her
arms were full of unpacked clothes and her
overnight bag as she twisted her hands and fiddled
with the door handle. Her feet raced gracefully
down the steps to the 2012 black Dodge Challenger.
She wrapped her finger around the cold metal
handle and pulled the door open.