Vampire Girl (19 page)

My mom has been moved to a private room in the long term care wing, as promised by Asher, and I confirm with the nurse on duty that she is getting the best care available. When we enter her room, it is filled with fresh flowers and the curtains are open to let in some light. "I wonder who sent the flowers."

I check for a card, but there isn't one. Fen clears his throat, like he's guilty of something. "I asked Asher to have them sent regularly, so she'd have something fresh and pretty in her room."

I suck in a breath and try to keep the tears from welling in my eyes at his thoughtfulness. I surprise him with a hug, resting my head on his chest. His arms wrap around me somewhat reluctantly as I thank him.

His reply is gruff and self-conscious, and I pull away to see my mom.

She looks well enough, all things considered. Her color is good and all her machines seem to be clicking along as they are meant to. I take her hand, and she feels colder than I imagined. My fingers trace the outline of her demon mark that matches mine. "Hi, Mom. It's me, Ari. Are you doing okay?"

I know she won't respond, but I talk to her anyways, telling her things I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but she's unconscious and can't hear, and even if she could, she made a deal with a demon, so she obviously knows about this stuff. Fen doesn't stop me, so I just talk and talk until I can't think of anything else to say. We've been there for hours when Fen checks his watch. "We should be going if you want to see your friends."

It's hard to say goodbye, knowing it will be another month before I can see her again. Knowing it will be seven months before she will be free of this curse. But I kiss her head and walk out with Fen by my side.

He takes my hand again. To comfort, of course, but I appreciate it nonetheless.

We take the limo to The Roxy, and though it's the busiest time of night, everyone on duty makes time to say hi. Es is most excited as she hangs up her black apron and shouts that she's leaving for a bit.

She keeps hugging me and grabbing my hands, while simultaneously trying to wipe tears away without messing up her makeup as we walk along the dark streets of Portland. "Girl, I have missed you. You can't even know how much."

I sniffle back my own tears and smile. "I've missed you too. Es, I'd like you to meet Fen. Fen this is Es, my best friend."

Es studies the man next to me, her eyebrow raised high. She holds out her hand for a kiss, and he obliges. She giggles and claps. "Oh Fen, it's such a
pleasure
to meet you. Tell me, do you work with Ari?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

"You know the guy who was here offering me the job?" I ask, speaking of Asher.

"How could I
ever
forget that tall drink of water?"

"He and Fen are brothers."

I swear Es is about to faint. "You know if I wasn't spoken for, I'd be asking if there are more where you boys came from."

I laugh. There are indeed five more, and I have to marry one.

"How are you, Es? What's been going on?" I don't have a lot of time left, so I have to cram as much BFF bonding in as I can.

"We miss you," she says. "A lot. But things are going well. Living at your place has been an absolute godsend. Thank you for that."

I smile, glad it's helping her.

Then she stops walking and clasps my hands. "And the best news of all... I have enough for my surgery. It's scheduled for next month. I'm hoping you can come back for it."

I hug her and squeal. "That's amazing news. I'm so happy for you." Then I frown and pull away. "Es, I don't know if I can be there. I'll try though, I swear."

Es glances to Fen then back to me. "You know, I keep up the smiles and banter because I love you. But I'm not a fool, Ari. I know when I'm being lied to. What's really going on?"

I suck in a breath and kick myself for being such a fool. Of course I couldn't pull this off without Es knowing something was up. Fen glares at me as if I need further warning not to spill the secret beans. "I'm okay, Es, I swear. It's... complicated, but what I'm doing is helping my mom."

I'm wearing a coat that covers my wrists, but as Es holds my hands her fingers slide over my raised mark. She pulls my sleeve up and stares. "What is this? This is like your mom's!"

I yank my hand back and cover the mark with Fen's coat. "It's nothing. Nothing you should worry about."

Es steps back, her expression one of betrayal and hurt. She walks over to Fen and points at his chest. "Is this your doing? Are you hurting her?"

"Es, he's not hurting me, he's helping me," I say, trying to push between the two of them. I give Fen a warning glare and he nods, seeming to understand my best friend is off limits.

Es looks to me again. "You've changed," she says. "It's like you're a stranger." She turns away, toward a bar with a glowing red open sign. She puts her hand on the door. "I'm going to use the ladies' room to regain my composure. Excuse me."

I stand, stunned, as she enters the bar, leaving us alone on the sidewalk.

"If she figures out the truth, she will be in danger," Fen says.

I swipe at a tear. "No one is to know she suspects something, and I won't tell her a thing. She's to be left alone, Fen. She's the only other family I have besides my mother."

Fen nods. "I will not tell. But be careful with her, Ari."

"I will."

We wait a while longer, but something isn't right. She's taking too long. Fen follows me into the crowded bar, and I navigate to the back alley where the bathrooms are. The air smells of cigarettes and booze.

Three beefy men surround Es. Their words are slurred and their steps wobbly. The biggest pushes against her. "Hey tranny, let's see your pecker!"

"I don't think you have the right parts for this bathroom, sheman," another says.

"Back off," I shout at them.

They don't see Fen yet. He's hidden by the shadows. So they laugh.

Big mistake.

Fen steps out of the darkness. They step back.

"What's going on here?" Fen growls.

The biggest, who seams to be the leader, smirks. "Can't you see for yourself? This freak's trying to get into the girl's room. Probably to molest and rape someone."

Fen steps forward. "What I see is a lady trying to use the bathroom. And pathetic excuses for men trying to stop her." He looks at Es. "Go ahead and use the bathroom. I'll have a chat with our new friends here."

Es looks at me, and I nod and join her in the bathroom.

There are thuds outside. Screams and yells. I don't know what Fen does to those guys, but they are gone when we come back out. Es walks over to Fen, and I hold my breath waiting.

She holds out her hand. "Thank you."

They shake. "You're welcome. You deserve to be treated like the lady you are."

I think Es is going to cry. I know I am.

Is it any wonder I'm falling for this man?

We walk Es back to The Roxy, and as we are about to leave she pulls me into a hug. "I won't say a word to anyone. Not even Pete. I don't know what's going on, but that man is in love with you, so I know he'll keep you safe."

I choke back a sob. "I love you, Es. I'm sorry."

She wipes a tear from my eye. "Love you too, girl. Be safe."

When we return to the limo, I feel more homesick than ever. But the home I'm missing is Stonehill, not Portland.

––––––––

"
Daison, I'd like you to meet Princess Arianna, guest of Prince Fenris. Princess, this is my speaks-before-thinking apprentice, Daison."

—Kayla Windhelm

I
t takes another
three days before my sword is finally done. It seems surreal that I helped make the beauty I hold in my hands. Kayla grins like a fool. "You did an amazing job, Ari."

I look up at her and smile. "I really think this was more you than me. But thank you."

I worked the pendant stone Es gave me into the hilt, and Kayla helped me etch elaborate designs into the steel, so it wouldn't just be a stab and swipe kind of blade, but a real work of art.

I slide it into its custom black scabbard and practice drawing the sword. It hangs from one side of my hip, with the dagger Daison made on the other.

The boy stands in the shadows, beaming. He's become more comfortable with me recently, and we've fallen into a camaraderie that I enjoy. "You're a natural at blacksmithing," he says.

I'm about to argue, but Kayla cuts me off. "He's right. You have a gift for this. I hope you keep practicing when you leave."

I don't like thinking about leaving Stonehill, but my month will be up soon. I'm supposed to go to Dean next. Kayla knows how I feel about that, and she squeezes my hand. "This too shall pass," she says. "And then you can choose from your heart."

"You know I can't." My breath hitches. "You know he doesn't want this."

"My brother has a lot of secrets that keep him trapped in his own darkness. You might be the one who can help him into the light. Don't give up on him just yet."

I nod and push away unhappy thoughts as I swing my sword, practicing the moves Fen has drilled into me over weeks of training. I have muscles where none existed before, at least none you could see. I even have abs. I'm quite impressed with myself, to be honest.

"What's its name?" Daison asks.

"What?"

"Your sword. Every proper sword needs a name. What will you call yours?"

I raise the blade, admiring the swirls and eagles etched into the steel. "Spero. It means hope."

"Fitting," says Kayla.

Daison shrugs. "I would have gone with Dragonslayer or Heartbreaker personally."

I sheathe Spero and sigh. "Do you mind if I beg off today?"

Kayla laughs. "Let me guess, you want to show your sword off to Fen?"

I blush. I'm too easy to read. "Yeah. Basically."

She shoves me out of the smithy. "Go. Show off. You deserve it. But I'll expect you back here tomorrow ready to work."

I salute her in mock seriousness. "Yes, ma'am."

She rolls her eyes at me. "Cheeky girl. Get gone."

I walk quickly back to the castle, enjoying the weight of steel at my hip. I feel like a kid at Christmas and can't wait to share my excitement with Fen.

He's in the training arena talking to his soldiers when I approach.

His eyes fall to my hip, and he raises that one sexy eyebrow with the scar. The soldiers leave us, and he walks to me. "It is finished?"

"Yes!" I draw Spero and hand it to him to examine.

He studies the design, then raises the blade and considers its weight and balance before handing it back to me. "You did well. It's a perfect fit for you. Are you ready to begin training with real steel now?"

I nod.

He grins. "Very well. Prepare yourself." He pulls out his sword, and our blades clash together as he takes me through one of our sparring forms.

I can feel the difference in using a real sword versus wood, and I know I'm going to need to get even stronger to be a decent fighter. Working in the forge has helped build muscle, but I need more stamina then I have. I know I have untapped potential in me. I just need to push harder.

I'm sweating hard when a messenger runs at us, as if being chased by lions. "Prince Fenris! You must help! The Fae. They're at the walls."

My heart drops into my gut. I freeze, but not Fen. He's already shouting commands, rallying troops.

He turns to me and grips my arms so hard they will bruise. "Get into the castle and barricade yourself until I come back. I'm sending Roco and Marco with you for protection."

"No, Fen. I'm not going to hide when people in Stonehill need help. I'll find Kayla. We can evacuate the city while you and your soldiers fight off the attack."

He frowns. "You are too important to risk."

"I'm not a piece of property, and I'm not a political prop to use when it suits you," I argue. "I make my own choices."

"I could have you locked in your room until I return." He looks serious, and I can tell he's worried.

"Fen, listen to me carefully. If you lock me away, the consequences will not easily be undone."

He places a hand on my shoulder. "And if you die or get hurt,
those
consequences will undo me. Do not die, Princess."

"I won't."

He finally nods. "Fine, but stay within the city walls. There's a secret way out through the mountains. Kayla will know where it is. Get them out and get to safety. I'll find you."

I consider whether I should use my horse or just run, and I decide on running. Kayla's forge isn't that far away, and I won't have time to deal with my horse.

Heavy snow falls from the sky. It crunches under my feet as I retrace the steps I took just a few hours ago.

My mind is focused as I approach the center of the city. Fen's soldiers take formation at the gates and archers line the walls. I run to Kayla's forge and fill her in on what's happening. She looks at Daison, who has dropped his tongs. "Ring the bell and alert the people," Kayla says. "We need to get everyone out."

When he's gone, she pulls a leather bag from her counter and begins filling it with bandages, vials and jars she keeps on a shelf in case of injury. "Hand me that one over there," she says, pointing to a jar filled with brown sludge on the shelf behind me. I hand it to her.

"We must hurry," she says. "Go help Daison round up the people. We must lead them through the mountain pass quickly. There is a storm brewing tonight. If we aren't fast enough, we will be snowed in." She shoves the bag at me as she fills another one. "Keep this with you, just in case."

I take it from her. "I'm on it!" I run out and find Daison.

He rings the city bell and yells for people to hurry. "We haven't much time. Raiders are coming!"

That gets them moving faster, and buzz begins to spread. The Fae from the Outlands are here. They are here to kill and steal and rape.

To hurry things along, I go door to door, sharing the news as quickly as possible, helping pack when needed, carrying babies and guiding young children while their parents pack. As I do, I get small glimpses into these cloistered lives. I see the things they value most and the things they are willing to leave behind to burn, if it comes to that. They are a practical people, for the most part, choosing food, clothing, bedding, but almost everyone also has a sentimental item or two they can't leave behind. A special book, a cherished piece of jewelry. One woman brought her husband's old shaving kit, though he's been dead for many years now. "I can't leave it behind," she told me. "It still smells of him."