Stalking Dead (Vampire Hunter Book 2) (8 page)

I didn’t believe that Lucas was going to disappear like he had after our cemetery trip, but I didn’t expect to hear from him that same day, either.

He called me that evening and asked to meet Henry and me. I guess he was getting paranoid about
talking over the phone, after everything that had happened.

Henry
had plans to play basketball. He offered to cancel but I had protested. “No, you’ve got to practice as much as possible if you want to make the team next year,” I had said.

The truth was being around both of them
together was extremely uncomfortable. It’s not that they
disliked
each other, but they certainly weren’t BFF.

And I was already so confused about my emotions
, what I wanted. While Lucas was exciting, sexy, and dark, Henry was stable, handsome, and I could trust him unconditionally. I was attracted to both of them.

But it wasn’t like I had a decision to
make
. Lucas cared about me – that much was clear, but he wasn’t exactly falling at my feet, asking me to be with him.

And Henry was acting virtually normal since the one time we had kissed, although I could tell he tensed up around Lucas – another reason I was glad he couldn’t come tonight.

Lucas picked me up a few blocks from Henry’s house. We’d been trying to change up the meeting place so neighbors didn’t get suspicious. I had really been lucky so far, not running into any of my classmates or my family.

“I’m just going to drive a
round,” Lucas said when I got in the car.

“Why didn’t you want to talk on the phone? Do you think
you’re
being monitored?”

“It’s possible,”
Lucas answered.

“So I wanted to talk to you tonight about what
I found out,” Lucas continued. “I told you earlier I was going to make some phone calls.  I hadn’t spoken with Nicholas in a long time – like I said, I’d heard he was a hunter overseas, but that was about it. One of my contacts knew how to get a message to him, and Nicholas called me almost immediately.”

“And?” I asked excitedly.

“Thankfully Bartholomew and Thomas hadn’t tried to bother Nicholas. I was really worried he was in danger, but they didn’t do anything to him – they just used his name to get me to agree to meet them.”

“He was surprised that the twins turned up here,” Lucas continued. “He actually said that
his
agency has been hunting them. Apparently they stirred up some trouble a few years ago in his district. Were linked to some killings, which is in violation of the rules for being allowed to live in society, amongst the humans.”

“They’ve been on the run? Hiding from the authorities?” I questioned
.

“Yeah, and Nicholas thinks they’ll keep running. There’s no way they can stay
here
for any length of time. So I think we’re all safe – for now at least.”

“Until they collect all the stuff to put me back in my grave,” I said morosely.

Lucas turned to look at me. “I promise I won’t let that happen.”

“Emmett told us today that some of those items they had for the spell are a bitch to gather – like a hair of a he
ll hound.”

Lucas chuckled. “I bet they had a fun time with that one.”

“It serves them right!”

“Anyway, I haven’t told you what else I found out from Nicholas,” Lucas said.

“There’s more?”

“Yep
, and you’re not going to believe this one. He knew
all about
you
.”

“
Me
?” I asked incredulously.

“I knew your case was
a big deal, but I figured it was just with the agencies around here. I didn’t know there was interest in you from across the globe.” Lucas ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.

“
Does that mean the company Nicholas works for is also trying to re-kill me?” I demanded.

“No, he assured me that he just
knew
about you. He doesn’t think anyone he works with has been involved with your case – not yet, at least.”

“So what next?” I asked. “I’m completely at a loss.”

“Me too,” Lucas admitted. “I hate to say it, Aurora, but maybe you should tell your parents you’re back. I mean, the more people who know you still
exist
, the harder it is for someone to get to you, to send you back to your grave.”

“Now you sound like Henry!” I groaned.

“He does have a point,” Lucas said. “You know, after all we’ve been through, I still don’t know how you died.”

“Join the club! Henry is cagey as hell about the subject.”

“That’s another reason to go back to your family. Surely they know,” Lucas suggested.

“I guess,” I said despondently.
“But how I died – isn’t that the
least
of our worries?”

“Maybe not,” Lucas said. “Don’t you think your death and your rebirth could be connected?”

Lucas was probably right – so why in the world was Henry completely avoiding the subject? I
knew
he had nothing to do with my coming back – was it possible he had played a role in my death?

Of course I didn’t think that Henry had killed me, but he wasn’t telling me what happened for a reason. And I was determined to find out what that was.

After Lucas dropped me off, I decided I had
two
things I needed to talk to Henry about. One was his father, and the other was my death. I doubted he would react well to either subject, but it was time – for both of us – to trust each other with the truth.

H
e was leaning his head against the backrest of the couch, eyes closed, when I walked into the house.

“Are you asleep?” I asked tentatively.

Henry opened one eye and peered at me, without moving his neck. “Nah, but my shoulders are absolutely killing me. All this basketball practice is intense work. I really hope I can make the team. Otherwise, this pain will have been for nothing.”

“I’m sure you’ll make it,” I
said. Henry closed his eye again.

I can’t tell him
about his dad right now! There’s no way. But when is there ever going to be a good time?

“Hey, Henry,” I said nervously. “I was going to talk to you about something.”

“Oh, yeah, sure. What’s up? Is this about what Lucas told you tonight? Why he wanted to meet with us?” Henry sat up on the couch and looked at me expectantly.

Just say it! Don’t beat around the bush. But I have to at least try to break it to him gently.

I waved my hand dismissively. “I’ll get to the stuff Lucas told me in a second.” That wasn’t the important part. I paused. “I need to talk to you about some other things, things I’ve been too scared to mention before.“

“
So, I pretty much just stay here all day by myself,” I continued.
Why did I say that? Idiot!

Henry looked at me oddly. “You don’t say?” he said sarcastically.

I stared down at my hands, wringing them together nervously.

“Hey,” Henry said, before I could start speaking again. “Would you mind massaging my shoulders? I’m in deep pain here.”

“Um, I guess not.”  Henry turned with his back to me, and I scooted closer to him on the couch. I started kneading my knuckles along his shoulder blades.

“You’re right,” I muttered. “You are tense
.” I tried to pretend that I was a masseuse and not think about Henry’s muscular shoulders.

“
Ahh, that’s really helping. Thanks, Rory. Now what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

My emotions were all over the place. I willed myself to think. It had been bad enough trying to figure out how to tell Henry when I was just sitting on the couch looking at him, but running my hands along his buff back was making me even more nervous.

In my mind, I gave myself a pep talk.
He’s your best friend. This is not romantic. He’s already told you once he doesn’t like you that way and the kiss was just a drunken mistake. Stop being an idiot! Spit it out already!

“So one day I was here, watching TV downstairs, when your dad came home unexpectedly in the middle of the day,” I said.

“Yikes!” Henry responded. “He didn’t see you, though, right?”

“No.
”

Henry breathed a sigh of relief.
“Cool, well I’m glad you didn’t get caught. Wonder what Dad was doing home during the day? He’s always such a workaholic. He barely has any time away from the office. Funny, he didn’t mention that he was working from home or anything.”

Before I could start speaking again, Henry continued. “That reminds me! I can’t believe that I totally forgot to tell you this. So when Dad surprised Mom with the cruise tickets, he had another surprise for her as well.”

He likes to fondle men? That would sure be a surprise!

“Oh, really?”
I asked with interest.

“They’re renewing their vows! You know how my parents have been together practically forever? It’s coming up on their 20
th
anniversary, and Dad is planning this huge elaborate party in three weeks!”

Wait. A party? Was it possible that was what Mr. Matthews was
doing this entire time? But why would he need to meet in a hotel room? It still doesn’t add up.

I gulped.
“Nice,” I said lamely.

“He’s rented out the Manor House for the event.” The Manor House was a beautiful, huge Victorian style home that had b
een recently renovated. Now, its primary use for was parties and events. To rent the whole thing out must have cost a small fortune.

“Wow, that’s incredible,” I said.

Have
I got it all wrong? What game is he playing?

“I was thinking,” Henry continued, “and don’t get mad at me for saying this, but maybe you could come to the party…you know, as yourself.”

Henry turned to look at me. My hands were still resting on his shoulders. “What if I’m not ready?” I whispered.

“When will you ever be ready?” Henry responded. He softened his voice. “I’m no
t trying to pressure you, Rory, but you know as well as I do that things can’t go on like this indefinitely.”

“I know,” I whispered. “I just thought there would be some point in time where it felt…right.”

“I’ve had those same thoughts,” Henry admitted. “I think you’re going to have to bite the bullet and do it. Besides, I was serious about tutoring you so that you could start back in the senior class next year.”

“That’s sweet of you,” I said. “But what about basketball?”

“You’re my best friend!” Henry exclaimed. “I would never choose basketball over you. But don’t worry; I fully intend to make time for both things. All this sneaking around and secrecy is wearing me the hell out, though. You’ve got to reveal your existence.”

“I’ll think about it,” I said. And I mean
t it. I
would
think about it. I used to love parties and social events. I longed for my old life back. Maybe I could start reclaiming it, little by little. This party might just be the perfect time for the new me to get back in the saddle, so to speak.

I had spent so long agonizing over what everyone’s react
ions would be, about what pain my death had caused and how my return might re-open some of those wounds. I think I had built it up in my head to such an astronomical event that the real thing would pale in comparison to my fears.

“Something else I’ve been thinking about,” Henry was saying. “Just seeing my parents, still so happy after knowing each other over 20 years, is so inspiring. They truly are soul mates. And you know, they started out as friends, just like us.”

I jerked my head up to look at Henry. I had removed my hands from his shoulders when he started talking and had been intently studying my nails, trying to calm my frazzled nerves, when Henry’s last sentence had sent shockwaves through my body.

Where is he going with this?
I thought frantically.

“Don’t say anything yet,” Henry continued, taking my hands in his.

Oh my god, this can’t be happening.

“I’ve been thinking about everything lately. Seeing my parents so happy has been a real eye opener about my own situation. Just the other night at dinner they were reminiscing about being friends in high
school. It took them almost two years to realize they liked each other.”

Yeah, because I’m pretty sure your dad might be gay and he probably finally decided to cave in to social pressures and be with a woman.

“Uh, huh,” I said aloud, biting my lip. I looked away from Henry’s shockingly green eyes and squirmed uncomfortably.

“Their situation, it’s not entirely different from ours. We grew up down the street from each other, been best friends for as long as I can remember.” Henry paused. “Rory, look at me.”

“I, I can’t,” I mumbled. “Look, Henry,” I started.

“I know what you’re going to say!” Henry interrupted me. “I’m like a brother to y
ou, blah, blah, blah. But can you really tell me that kiss we shared meant nothing? Maybe I was a little bit tipsy, but I wasn’t in a coma. You sure seemed to like it at the time.”

I finally looked up at Henry. I felt like he was studying my face, searching for answers.
“I don’t know what to tell you. I’m completely confused!” I managed to spit out. “Yes, I liked our kiss! But I don’t want things to change; I don’t want
us
to change.”

I started at him intently, silently begging him to understand.
I’m so attracted to you but I don’t know what I want.

“Everything changed when you died!” Henry practically shouted. “You think that didn’t turn my entire world upside down? Ever since you’ve been back, all you do is talk about how it’s affecting you. Well, yeah, I imagine it fucking sucks to be a dead girl, but can’t you appreciate for one minute the fact that you are back? And maybe stop and think about what this last year has d
one to everyone, has done to
me
?”

I grabbed Henry’s shoulders and shook him furiously. “I think about it all the time!” I yelled back. “I feel awful about what everyone has gone through. In fact
,” I sputtered, “I’m so terrified of turning everyone’s lives upside down, yet again, that I can’t bring myself to tell anybody I’m back.”

“But you,” I continued, “I thought you’d be flattered that I told you, that you were the fir
st fucking person I turned to after I clawed my way out of that grave. I’ve been a complete wreck, all over the place, but through all the shit I still knew that you were the one person I could trust with my life. Sure, I’ve been selfish, but doesn’t that count for anything?”

Suddenly, before I could comprehend what was happening, Henry cupped my chin and pulled my face towards his. At first I was in complete shock, unable to respond. But as his soft lips pressed against mine,
I felt a wave of giddy dizziness pass over me. Realizing I liked the sensation, I responded, feverishly kissing him back. I grabbed the back of his head with both of my hands, keeping his face firmly planted against mine.

Seconds passed, then minutes. I couldn’t think. I just knew that kissing Henry was right.

“Aurora.” I vaguely comprehended that my name was being spoken. Henry was pulling back, laughing, gasping for breath. “You may not need to breathe anymore, but I still do,” he said, struggling to catch his breath.

I looked down shyly, unsure
of what to do.

“Hey.”
Henry touched my hand and I looked up at him again.

“Hey,” I responded, not knowing what I should say.

“Are you okay?” he asked me.

I leaned forward and hugged Henry, resting my head on his shoulder.
I could hear his heart, pounding rapidly. I was acutely aware of the fact that I was dead inside. I
wanted
my heart to pound wildly, I
wanted
to be breathless. But I wasn’t.

“What now?” I whispered. I pushed all of my thoughts aside. I wanted this euphoric moment to last, not be overshadowed by my
incessant obsessing.

Henry ran his fingers through my hair while I clutched him tightly.
I have no idea how long I stayed there, resting against his chest. We didn’t speak, but it was a comfortable silence. I didn’t understand much about what was happening in my life, but I knew that this felt right. And for the time being, I was happy with that.