Read Love & Werewolves: A Collection Of Short Stories Page 17

times.”

  “Can you call your parents and have them request a meeting for me with the council to discuss Conor,” Lucy asked.

  “Are you sure you know what you’re doing, Lucy,” Louis asked. Lucy smiled confidently.

  “Trust me,” she said.

  To everyone’s shock, the Vampire Council had agreed to the meeting almost immediately and two days later Lucy wearily stepped into the intimidating hall.

  “Councillor Water,” Lucy said as she bowed. “It is an honour to meet you.”

  “Take a seat, Miss Wilson,” he said. Lucy sat down and shifted uncomfortably as the council examined her. “Tell me, Miss Wilson, how a one year old vampire intends to take down Conor Simpson who has two hundred years experience.” Lucy swallowed.

  “I was simply planning to lure Conor out into the open,” she said. “I hoped to leave the taking down to you guys.” Councillor Waters smiled and asked

  “How do you propose to lure him out?”

  “My father owed a debt to Conor,” she said. “But because he disappeared I became responsible for that debt. I suggest that I ask Conor to meet me in an open place, perhaps outdoors, where I repay him the final instalment of my father’s debt. That’s when you guys strike.” Lucy looked around the table but the council seemed preoccupied with something else.

  “Was Conor in any way responsible for your becoming a vampire?” Councillor Waters asked.

  “No,” Lucy said. “Cassandra Riley and I were jumped about a year ago by two guys. One of them bit me.”

  “Shame,” he said. “I would have loved to charge him with that crime. Very well, you can go ahead with your plan, Miss Wilson. I propose that you arrange your meeting to take place at the pub owned by the council and we will take care of the rest.”

  “I have to say, Lucy, I did not expect to hear from you again,” Conor said as he weaved his way through the tables toward Lucy. “I thought you’d flee town.” Lucy waited until he had sat down before answering.

  “I changed my mind,” she said. “Perhaps working for you would not be too bad after all.” Conor smiled, he had his back to the door and didn’t notice a group wearing long, black robes with hoods pulled over their faces enter.

  “I’m glad you changed your mind,” he said. Lucy smiled.

  “But then again,” she was interrupted by the hooded group who grabbed Conor. “Turning you over to the council is more fun,” she continued. Conor looked very angry,

  “You tricked me,” he hissed, anger and disbelief colouring his tone. Lucy smiled.

  “Your arrogance is your achilles’ heel, Conor. Do remember that if you ever get out of prison.”

  “This is not over, Lucy Wilson,” Conor growled as the council members dragged him out of the room. “Mark my words, I will find you and I will destroy you.” Lucy rolled her eyes. She knew that Conor would find a way to escape prison and he would look for her but she was confident that he would never find her. The council were providing Lucy with a financial reward for her part in arresting Conor and she intended to use that money to get as far away as possible.

  “You can look, Conor,” she called. “But you will never find me.”

  First Love

  It takes a couple of seconds to say hello,

  but forever to say goodbye.

  Anonymous

  Have you ever loved someone so much that it hurts when you’re not with them? I loved Natasha Waterson so much that I gave her part of my heart and then I lost her but the worst part is that I can’t tell anyone how much I’m hurting. If people knew my pain they would realise that we were a couple and that’s the last thing I want others to know.

  August, 2010

  “I love you,” I whispered to her lips before resting my head on her chest and listening to her heart. She stroked my hair back from my face as she laughed.

  “Sure sure, Quinn,” she murmured as she traced shapes on my cheek with her finger. I grinned as I slowly ran my hand up and down her ribs.

  “I really mean it,” I said. I didn’t have to look at Nat to know that she was smiling.

  “Prove it,” she demanded.

  “Happily,” I said as I rolled over onto my stomach. I moved closer until my face was only inches from hers.

  “What are you waiting for?” she asked. I gently brushed wisps of hair behind her ear.

  “I’m just enjoying the view,” I whispered as I studied in her face. Her blue eyes didn’t leave my face as I brushed another strand of her long red hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes as I stroked her cheek with my finger. Her skin felt like silk as I gently cupped her cheek in my hand before leaning in. As our lips touched I felt Nat’s arms automatically embrace my waist. My eyes were closed as I began to lose myself in our kiss but Nat pulled back and I opened my eyes in protest. She held a finger to my lips preventing my protest. Nat always looked cute; even as she cocked her head to the side frowning in concentration. It took all my strength not to kiss her again.

  “You have to go,” she whispered after a couple of seconds. “I just heard my parent’s car in the driveway.” I was off the bed and fixing my clothes before she had even finished the sentence. No one knew about us, not even our parents, and we planned to keep it that way. Nat ran her fingers through her hair as I grabbed my bag.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” as headed toward the door. Nat grabbed my hand just before I reached it.

  “I love you, Quinn Michele,” she said. “Don’t ever forget that.” I smiled.

  “I love you too, Nat Waterson,” I whispered, caressing her cheek briefly with my hand. She covered my hand with hers and smiled as I turned to leave. I hurried down the stairs and met Mrs Waterson at the door.

  “Hello, Mrs Waterson,” I said. “See you later, Mrs Waterson.” I shouted behind me as I walked down the front path. I could feel Mrs Waterson’s eyes on me as I went.

  I quickly ran the brush through my shoulder length black hair before pulling it up into a pony tail. Reaching into a drawer, I pulled out some lip gloss and leaned closer to the mirror to apply it. I slipped the lip gloss into my pocket as I studied my brown eyes and debated wearing mascara. I checked my watch and decided not to, I was running late to meet Nat and I’d only be told to take it off by a teacher anyway. As much as I loved my school, there were some things I didn’t like. The green and gold coloured uniform was one of them. The boy’s uniform was alright, dress pants, collared shirt and a tie but what the girl’s were expected to wear was horrible. Not only did we have to wear stupid shirts with round collars but we were forced to wear knee length skirts. I straightened the collar on my jacket before grabbing my bag and heading downstairs.

  “I’m going, Mum,” I called into the kitchen. “I won’t be home till six. Nat and I are studying together.” My mum cut through the lounge room and met me at the door.

  “Quinn, I know you want to get into university but you’ve studied every night this week,” she said. “Don’t you deserve a break?” I looked at Mum and once again imagined telling her the truth, that Nat was my girlfriend and had been for four years. Then I thought about her reaction and the feeling passed. It was better to lie to her than to have her hate me.

  “We’ll take a break, I promise,” I said. “I have to get to school.” Mum stood aside but I could tell this conversation wasn’t over. I was still thinking about it as I reached the bench where I met Nat each morning. I’d only just sat down when I felt a pair of hands cover my eyes.

  “Guess who,” a voice whispered in my ear.

  “Morning,” I said as I pulled her hands away from my eyes.

  Sitting next to me, Nat asked “What’s wrong?” I turned away from her but it was pointless trying to deny I was upset because Nat knew me too well.

  “I hate lying to my mum,” I whispered. Nat gently turned my head so that I was facing her.

  “Do you love me?” she asked and I nodded.

  “More than anything on this earth,” I whispered. Nat smiled as she gently traced my
lips with her finger.

  “You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams,” she quoted. “Dr. Seuss said that and it’s my favourite quote. My life is better because I know you. I’m better because I know you and no matter what happens with our parents, we will always have each other. They can separate us, they can forbid us to see each other but that will never stop me loving you. Remember that.” She leaned in, her lips touching mine and I allowed myself to be lost in the kiss. If only I had known that in just a few hours I would lose her forever.

  The day passed quickly. Nat was in most of my classes so I was able to spend a lot of the day with her but it still wasn’t enough. After school that afternoon I went to her house where we knew we could be alone because her mother was working late and her father was out of town.

  “Just the way I like it,” I said as I closed and locked her bedroom door. Nat watched me bewildered.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. I didn’t answer. I walked slowly toward her, dropping my bag as I did. I slid my coat off and dropped it on the floor. Nat was no longer confused but she did look scared as I pulled my shirt out of my skirt. She walked towards me and covered my hands in hers.

  “Quinn,” she said slowly. “What are you doing?”

  “I love you, Natasha,” I said. “I want to show you how much.” I did not need to say anymore. Natasha immediately knew what I meant. She dropped my hands and backed away.

  “We agreed