Chapter 9
The buses started to pull away as I reached the front of the school. I tended to hang back—to avoid the mass of humanity. I noticed Mrs. Hall wasn't at her desk and surmised she must have taken Cathy home. I was worried about Cathy. If she'd experienced anything like I did, she must be very confused and probably scared. Still, it didn't really make any sense—at least I'd never heard of any such issues with human contact—of course, I was a newbie as far as vampires went so it was entirely possible this wasn't that uncommon. People seemed to associate Cathy's behavior with some sort of emotional issue so it didn't seem like she posed any kind of substantial threat. Still, I hated to see her hurting. I lingered out front until all the buses were gone and then headed for my car. It wasn't until I tossed my books in the back seat and glanced back that I saw the football team trickling out from the locker room on their way to the field. Should I? I wondered. Did he really want me to watch? Why? I started a slow, indecisive walk toward the practice field. The school yard cleared quickly except for the sport teams that were in their designated practice areas. I walked along the stadium fence line until I was standing at the corner next to the football practice field.
Coach Singleton had the boys huddled around him and was in the midst of a stern lecture on their behavior on and off the field—how football was more of a character builder than a sport. He glanced up once, seeming to notice me.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Andy asked as he passed, not waiting for an answer. As he closed on the others, the coach made a circling motion over his head. Andy groaned and veered off to do a lap.
"Alright, let's get to work. Lineman take a lap, everyone else take two. Today, people!"
I stepped back, away from the corner as the boys started their run. The faster kids were already streaming past. I would have recognized Jason under his helmet even if he hadn't done a pirouette as he passed. He seemed genuinely pleased to see me. The harsh glares from Derrick and his crew were just as obvious. I lingered near the fence for most of practice, and it was apparent that Jason was an outsider. He looked to be a quarterback maybe second or third behind Derrick. It was getting dark when I first noticed my parched throat—I was thirsty. The boys were doing laps as I drove past the field on my way home.
Benjamin, Elizabeth and Tink joined me on the hunt. It was the first time in a longtime that I could remember hunting together. Even Melanie and Nathan joined us as we moved north along the mountain range. For the others, the hunt seemed settling; but for me, giving over to the suppressed instincts had the opposite effect—I was agitated—unable to reel back in the savagery. I drifted behind as the others started for home, but they weren't yet out of sight when Elizabeth and Melanie broke off. They spoke softly, below my ability to hear, and then started back toward me.
"Not quite finished?" Elizabeth asked, sitting down on the log next to me. Melanie pinned me in on the other side. I didn't like the looks of it.
"No, I've had enough, it's just—"
Elizabeth patted my knee with a blood stained hand. It was such a contrast to her southern belle persona. "There is a bit of a backlash effect if you attempt to control your natural instincts for too long."
"Natural?" I choked, but let it drop. "I didn't know that."
"You're young, you still have a lot to learn."
"But she's done well," Melanie added.
During the awkward silence that lingered I noticed several glances between them. They seemed to each be waiting for the other to begin.
"How's school going?" Melanie finally said.
"Fine, I guess."
"You were late today," Elizabeth probed.
Uh oh, maybe this was an inquisition. They'd both know if I lied, especially Elizabeth, but I didn't want the conversation to be about school—or why I was away from them so much. "I, uh, watched some of the sports. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking about going to the football game this Friday—trying to take in the entire experience, you know."
Elizabeth's eyes flashed to Melanie for a fraction of a second.
"Really," Melanie replied, "I didn't know you liked football."
I didn't respond.
"It seems like you're hardly at home anymore," Elizabeth continued.
This was beginning to feel like the inquisition I feared. I got up and stepped out from between them. "The pool isn't far from here, is it?"
"Just a few miles," Melanie replied, "Please don't leave. This isn't what you think."
"Isn't it? Besides, how do you know what I think?" I stepped back as Elizabeth stood.
"We're not prying, but we know you are under a lot of stress with all the human contact. We just wanted to remind you that we are here for you."
She seemed sincere, but Elizabeth could do that. I wasn't going to fall for it.
"You've been using the creek?" Melanie questioned.
"Yes," It wasn't exactly a lie. "It's a good place to cleanse your senses when things get—well, a little intense."
Melanie smiled and looked toward Elizabeth. "See, she's very clever, don't you think?"
Elizabeth returned a forced smile, but glanced at me suspiciously. "Yes, Izzy can be quite resourceful." Her tone held all the mistrust I'd anticipated. Despite her congenial pretense, she was obviously still opposed to what I was doing. This was forced on her by Benjamin. Her gaze returned to me. "Know this child, you are still my charge until such time—" She broke off and turned away. "I can't protect you if I don't know where you are," She continued in a more controlled voice.
"Until such time as what?" I pressed.
Elizabeth turned back to me and gently cupped my cheek in her hand with a sincere smile. "Well, I really should catch up with Benjamin, he's gotten quite moody."
"Why is that?" I asked, stepping back to break the uncomfortable contact.
Elizabeth looked surprised by my question and hesitated before answering. "He gets that way when he paints."
"Why?"
Elizabeth's shoulders visibly drooped—I'd never seen her display such remorse.
"What? What is it?"
"You will have to take that up with Benjamin it is after all, his story." Her gaze shifted from me to Melanie and then back. "Remember, your resolve can vanish in an instant. You must maintain an acute awareness of your surroundings at all times. There can be no surprises."
"I know." She didn't need to know how many there had already been.
Elizabeth smiled and then darted off through the forest.
"So how is Jason?" Melanie began. "Still alive?"
"That's not funny," I said, whirling around, "but yes, he's fine."
"Playing football, I presume." Melanie didn't miss much. "You've not been to your pool."
"No," I confessed, "there's a creek near Jason's house—"
"His house?"
"What, you're on her side now? I don't need suspicions from you too."
"There are no sides, Izzy."
"Aren't there?"
"No, we're both trying to help in our own way."
"What did she mean, 'I was in her charge?'" When she didn't answer, it began to sink in. "So none of you changed me, did you?"
"Like we've always told you, no. None of us would do that to you or anyone else for that matter. Our days of human blood consumption are in the distant past."
"Do you know who left me here, or where I came from?"
She shifted uncomfortably. "So you've been to his house?" She changed the subject.
"I've just been getting used to him—small doses like you said. He lives with his mother and as it turned out, I was better able to tolerate her similar scent."
"Interesting. So you're coping?"
I sighed and sat down next to her. "I guess. It isn't easy—the conflicting emotions—but I'm managing. As a matter of fact, something changed today."
"Really, do tell."
"Jason sits in front of me in History—"
"That close."
"Do you want to hear this or
not?"
Melanie shrugged. "Forgive me, that was rude."
"So, as class wore on, it was getting more and more difficult to manage. I don't think I'd moved in half an hour—"
"Really, you have to keep up the human quirks, or—"
I frowned.
"Sorry."
I slid closer to her and unnecessarily lowered my voice. "The tightness in my chest was unbearable—I was concentrating so hard, but I was afraid I was going to lose it, and then—well it just melted."
Melanie rocked back, her placid expression hiding obvious shock. "Melted?" she mumbled.
"Well, not exactly, it was more like a cocoon hatching—you know, like into a butterfly."
She gawked.
"What?"
Melanie jumped up.
"What? What's wrong?"
She stared intensely into my eyes, her head shaking from side to side. "I never thought it would go this far or I wouldn't have helped, you're too young—you'll never manage."
"I am not too young, and what do you mean, 'it would never go this far'?"
She grabbed my shoulders and jerked me to my feet. "Stop this, right now."
"Stop? Are you kidding me? I'm just getting used to him."
Melanie shook me, let go and then took a step back. "End it Izzy, while you still can." She abruptly raced off into the forest.
"Melanie?" I called after her, but her footsteps were already a quarter of a mile away. She wasn't going home, though, she was headed after the others—Elizabeth. I felt a moment of panic, but knew Melanie wouldn't betray me. Still, what was she afraid of? It was working; there wasn't any reason for her to be afraid. I was just learning to cope with Jason so I could continue with my plan. Is that what she meant by end it? Had she figured out what I was doing? It didn't make sense, not from this conversation. My confusion led to rapid pacing—the pool—yes, that's what I needed.
The cool evenings of fall had burned much of the lush vegetation away from the pool, replacing the palette of green with shades of amber and brown, revealing yet another layer of beauty. The crisp water was refreshing, but I kept my head above the surface—no need to frizz my hair anymore than it already was. The moon set early, leaving only the stars visible through the thinning canopy. The splashing water consumed my every thought until I noticed the tiny rings of rain on the surface. It was then I realized the sky was lightening. I eased myself out of the water slowly, not wanting to disturb the tranquility and wrung out my clothes. This was a special place—my special place.
I was halfway home, in the mountains east of Boonsboro, when I stopped to consider. Did I really want to go home and face Elizabeth, not knowing what Melanie might have said? It was obviously going to be a rainy day which meant my skin didn't need covering. There were my books, but I could just say I'd forgotten them. I headed west even though it was still an hour before school started.
I stayed out of sight until the buses started to arrive and then slipped inconspicuously in with the other students. As we walked along the sidewalk toward the doors, I heard Jason's Jeep approach. He was laughing, but so was she. I paused, glaring out into the parking lot as Jason pulled in with Lisa in the passenger's seat. He hardly made it to the front of the Jeep before she met him and wound her arm around his arm. I could still hear their laughing as I bolted through the school doors.
Cathy was nowhere to be seen, neither was Mrs. Hall, so I presumed she was absent. With all that had gone on yesterday, I'd forgotten about the incident in Art. I was standing there—staring into the empty front office—when Jason and Lisa passed without acknowledging me.
"Get out of the way, freak," Derrick said as he and several of his crew stormed past a short distance behind them.
They weren't going my way, but I followed them to the corner of the hallway like most of the other kids.
"Hollywood!" Derrick boomed when they were out of sight from the front office.
Jason stopped and turned around, Lisa still clinging to his arm.
"She belongs to me."
"Really," Jason said, holding out Lisa's hand to examine her fingers, "no, I don't think so."
This was bad. Didn't Jason realize the danger Derrick and his gang posed. They'd attacked me over just a spilt soda.
"Later." Jason turned around and he and Lisa strolled off as though the conversation hadn't happened.
Derrick was almost trembling with anger when his demeanor suddenly changed. "Hey, Coach."
"You boys better get to class. It's almost time for the second bell."
The crowd that had gathered dispersed quickly.
As I'd expected, I had to make excuses for not having my Latin book, but Miss Berkshire let me use a spare. Cathy wasn't in Art—I hadn't expected her to be—so I was alone. Once everyone was working, Mrs. Snyder came by my table.
"Have you heard from Cathy?"
"No," I replied, "Have—"
"No, but I'm sure she'll be okay. Oh, with all the confusion yesterday, you left your drawing, I have it—"
"That's alright. I decided to do something else."
"That's a shame. It was coming along very nicely. You do exquisite detail. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite like it."
"It was just a sketch."
She didn't press the issue and so I spent the rest of class basically just doodling.
Like Art, I was alone at lunch. Jason arrived late with Lisa still clinging to his arm and they sat with the other cheerleaders. One of the cheerleaders—a freshman, I think—was sitting with Derrick. He had his hands all over her. Lisa kept glancing over at them. I was going over the vocabulary from Latin when a finger—Jason's finger—slid a folded scrap of paper across the table. When I looked up, he glanced over his shoulder at Lisa. She was still at the table, busy with her friends.
"You coming to the game tomorrow night?" he whispered.
"So what, now you're talking to me?"
"You coming or not?"
"No."
He withdrew the piece of paper to the edge of the table and stuffed it into his pocket before glancing back at Lisa.
"You're such a tool for letting her use you like that—anything for the image though, right?" A twinge of guilt washed though me as his expression drooped, but it vanished when Lisa appeared next to him.
"Is she still bothering you?" Lisa said, turning Jason away from me. Her glare was meant to be intimidating, but to me it was ridiculous.
I didn't look up when Jason got to History. He seemed to linger beside his desk—staring I presumed—before he finally took his seat. I was confused by his mixed signals. On the one hand, he seemed to want to be friends, then on the other, he ignored me. I was better able to control myself, even managing to answer a question. When the bell finally rang, Jason left quickly, without looking back.
Halfway though Software Apps, Coach Singleton and the football players left class. He left us with an assignment and a substitute teacher from the front office. I liked the computer and finding the Seven Wonders of the World with Google Earth was interesting.
A lot of the students seemed to be going to the JV game after school. It wasn't until I got to the parking lot that I realized I didn't have my car. I was walking back to the school when Mrs. Snyder came out of the side entrance.
"Oh, hi, Izzy, I'm glad I ran into you. Can you come in early tomorrow, say half an hour?"
"I guess, did I do something wrong."
"No. No. Nothing like that. I have something I want to share with you and another student."
"Another student?"
"Don't worry about that, can you make it?"
"Sure."
"Perfect." She glanced around. "Is someone coming to pick you up?"
"Yes, my mother."
"I'd love to stay and meet her, but I have an appointment."
"Maybe some other time."
"Yes, that would be nice. I'll see you tomorrow then. Just come back to the Art room."
"Bye."
I waited until
she drove away and then walked down the sidewalk toward town. When I was certain I couldn't be seen, I darted off across a field toward the woods and home. Elizabeth seemed to notice my glum mood, and although she made several appearances outside my room, she didn't press. I was grateful for that. I didn't really know what I was feeling.
I knocked out my homework quickly and through absolute boredom started doodling, and naturally, there was only one thing I would draw. I ran the pencil across the paper so lightly that the graphite left behind would have been invisible to the human eye. Slowly, delicately I traced it over and over until I achieved the correct proportions. A picture wasn't necessary. I'd memorized his every dazzling feature. When I was satisfied I could do no better—after all, there was no way I could do him justice—I gently added a firmer stroke. Working from the center out, his incredibly beautiful face slowly emerged from the paper. I'd captured him well enough I even felt the butterflies again and those took me back to the pool near Melanie's. I imagined Jason there with me, lying on the soft sand, the water trickling from the rock face with a sensual, rhythmic pulse. His scent intermingled with the aromatic beauty of the surroundings was impossible to imagine. He looked deeply into my eyes and slowly reached toward my face.
"It's beautiful," Elizabeth complimented.
I nearly jumped out of my skin.
"I didn't mean to startle you, dear."
"I have a hard time with people. I was really engrossed in the drawing."
Elizabeth took a closer look. "Someone you know?"
"No, nothing like that, just practice."
"The intricacies of your pencil work around the edges of his face are exquisite. You've captured a gentle inner beauty in the young man's face. Would you mind if I sent Benjamin up to have a look?"
I tore the page out of my sketchbook and handed it to her. "You can have it. I was just going to throw it away."
"That would be a shame. It really is quite good."
"Thanks."
Without another word, she was gone.
I tried listening to music, reading, but I couldn't concentrate. Jason's mixed signals had me totally confused—tormented—and I didn't like it one bit. Finally the sky began to lighten. I changed clothes and headed downstairs.
"Izzy," Benjamin murmured. He was standing motionless behind his easel in the parlor, apparently waiting for the sun so he could continue painting.
"Yes." I walked up next to him and got a good look at his painting for the first time. It was definitely the landscape beyond our front yard, but in a different time. There were portions that were incredibly detailed, while others were far from complete. The oddest thing though, was the fog that hung over the valley. It didn't look like fog at all. It had a blue tint more like smoke. "It's intriguing. I can't wait to see the finished piece."
Benjamin nodded, stroking his long mustache, deep in thought. "It's getting there." He turned from the painting to face me. "Elizabeth showed me your portraiture. It shows tremendous talent. I had no idea."
"Thanks, it was just practice."
"Yes, well you've done an outstanding job breathing life into your subject. I look forward to seeing more of your work." He smiled and turned back to his easel.
I went into the kitchen to get my keys. There was a certain irony in what Benjamin said, 'breathe life into your subject'. Most of the time I wanted to suck it out of him. Then I remembered what Lisa said, 'he's taken,' presumably by her. I looked down at my reflection on the countertop and grimaced at the monster staring back. I was a monster—a very dangerous monster especially where Jason was concerned. I sighed, a human gesture of futility. It was for the best to leave him to her. No good could come out of pursuing him. I would only hurt him or worse, and I could never live with that. Besides, he looked happy.